france24--2020-09-30--UN calls on new Mali government to implement peace agreement

Moctar Ouane , pictured in January 2009 , has been appointed as Mali 's new prime minister UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this week called on Mali 's transitional government to maintain a 2015 peace agreement deemed critical for the country 's stability .
The appeal came in a report submitted to the Security Council .
`` The peace agreement remains the relevant framework for the urgently needed institutional reforms , and its implementation must remain a priority , '' the UN chief said in the document , which has not yet been made public but was obtained by AFP .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country 's previous president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , was meant to disarm rebel groups and integrate them into the national army , but its implementation has dragged on for years despite international pressure .
`` There is no viable alternative .
I call on the transitional authorities to take ownership of the agreement , '' Guterres added .
A military junta overthrew Keita last month , before taking over leadership of the West African nation long plagued by instability , a simmering jihadist revolt , ethnic violence and endemic corruption .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it may further delay the implementation of the peace agreement , and the reform agenda , which had already slowed down significantly in previous months , '' Guterres said .
Mali 's interim president Bah Ndaw on Sunday named former Malian foreign minister Moctar Ouane as prime minister .
The appointment of a civilian premier opens the way for the country 's neighbors to lift sanctions imposed after the August military coup .

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this week called on Mali's transitional government to maintain a 2015 peace agreement deemed critical for the country's stability.
The appeal came in a report submitted to the Security Council.
"The peace agreement remains the relevant framework for the urgently needed institutional reforms, and its implementation must remain a priority," the UN chief said in the document, which has not yet been made public but was obtained by AFP.
The peace deal, signed under the country's previous president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, was meant to disarm rebel groups and integrate them into the national army, but its implementation has dragged on for years despite international pressure.
"There is no viable alternative. I call on the transitional authorities to take ownership of the agreement," Guterres added.
A military junta overthrew Keita last month, before taking over leadership of the West African nation long plagued by instability, a simmering jihadist revolt, ethnic violence and endemic corruption.
"The political vacuum is of great concern, as it may further delay the implementation of the peace agreement, and the reform agenda, which had already slowed down significantly in previous months," Guterres said.
Mali's interim president Bah Ndaw on Sunday named former Malian foreign minister Moctar Ouane as prime minister.
The appointment of a civilian premier opens the way for the country's neighbors to lift sanctions imposed after the August military coup.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Gomez double punishes Lazio, five-goal Inter beat Benevento

Atalanta captain Papu Gomez ( C ) scored twice against Lazio in Rome .
Papu Gomez scored twice as Atalanta overpowered Lazio 4-1 in Rome while Serie A title rivals Inter Milan crushed promoted Benevento 5-2 on Wednesday .
The two scheduled season-opening matches had been pushed back because of Atalanta and Inter 's European campaigns in August .
And the two northern rivals gave a demonstration of their firepower which they hope will deny Juventus a 10th consecutive Serie A title , with the champions settling for a point at Roma on Sunday .
Atalanta and Inter are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside Napoli , Hellas Verona and AC Milan with a maximum of six points from two games .
Juve have four points before they host Napoli on Sunday .
Atalanta were three goals up at half-time with Robin Gosens , Hans Hateboer and Gomez all scoring , and avoided last season 's slip-up where Lazio came back from three goals down to draw 3-3 .
`` We all knew what had happened last time and we talked about it at half-time , '' said Netherlands defender Hateboer .
`` We knew that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , but when they scored we got the fourth and closed it . ''
Felipe Caicedo pulled a goal back for Lazio after 57 minutes but Gomez completed his brace just after the hour mark rifling in to deny any Roman comeback .
`` The squad is the same ( as last season ) and this is a strength , '' added Hateboer of his side who finished fourth last campaign .
`` But it 's too early to talk about the Scudetto . ''
Simone Inzaghi 's Lazio have another tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After their last-gasp 4-3 win over Fiorentina last weekend Antonio Conte 's Inter achieved another big win over Benevento who had shocked Sampdoria 3-2 last time out .
Romelu Lukaku scored twice , the first within 30 seconds and Achraf Hakimi impressed on his debut start .
Hakimi , who has spent the past two seasons on loan from Real Madrid at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund , unlocked the match with his acceleration down the right finding Lukaku to blast in the opener .
The Morocco international then set up Roberto Gagliardini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukaku for Belgian 's second just before the half hour .
Hakimi got on the scoresheet himself three minutes before the break , catching the Benevento defence napping with Argentine Lautaro Martinez making in five with 20 minutes to play .
`` I enjoy watching the team play like they did tonight , with incisive attacking moves , '' said Conte .
`` The outright biggest source of satisfaction for a coach is to see that , no matter who ’ s playing , the idea of the game doesn ’ t change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play that we ’ ve been pursuing since last year .
`` We 've got more options and we 're a team that likes to play , that attacks and that creates lots and lots of chances .
`` We 've got to work more on our balance because today we also conceded two goals .
But it seems that the new arrivals have slotted in rapidly to a tried-and-tested system from last season . ''
Arthur Vidal and Christian Eriksen also came close to scoring for last season 's runners-up , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caprari scored for Benevento after 34 and 76 minutes .
`` I 'm very happy with how I have adapted to the team even if I still have to learn certain mechanisms , '' said Hakimi .
`` Some moves are similar to those I did in Dortmund , I have the skills to play in this team .
`` The team mates helped me a lot , and I 'm learning quickly .
`` The Scudetto ?
We are working towards this , we have a great team to fight for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first ever top-flight win 2-0 against Udinese .
Andrey Galabinov scored in either half with the Ligurians holding on despite playing the last half an hour a man down after Claudio Terzi was sent off for two yellow cards .

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Papu Gomez scored twice as Atalanta overpowered Lazio 4-1 in Rome while Serie A title rivals Inter Milan crushed promoted Benevento 5-2 on Wednesday.
The two scheduled season-opening matches had been pushed back because of Atalanta and Inter's European campaigns in August.
And the two northern rivals gave a demonstration of their firepower which they hope will deny Juventus a 10th consecutive Serie A title, with the champions settling for a point at Roma on Sunday.
Atalanta and Inter are now both top of the Serie A table alongside Napoli, Hellas Verona and AC Milan with a maximum of six points from two games.
Juve have four points before they host Napoli on Sunday.
Atalanta were three goals up at half-time with Robin Gosens, Hans Hateboer and Gomez all scoring, and avoided last season's slip-up where Lazio came back from three goals down to draw 3-3.
"We all knew what had happened last time and we talked about it at half-time," said Netherlands defender Hateboer.
"We knew that when they score a goal they could score others, but when they scored we got the fourth and closed it."
Felipe Caicedo pulled a goal back for Lazio after 57 minutes but Gomez completed his brace just after the hour mark rifling in to deny any Roman comeback.
"The squad is the same (as last season) and this is a strength," added Hateboer of his side who finished fourth last campaign.
"But it's too early to talk about the Scudetto."
Simone Inzaghi's Lazio have another tough fixture on Sunday when they host Inter.
After their last-gasp 4-3 win over Fiorentina last weekend Antonio Conte's Inter achieved another big win over Benevento who had shocked Sampdoria 3-2 last time out.
- 'Enjoy watching' -
Romelu Lukaku scored twice, the first within 30 seconds and Achraf Hakimi impressed on his debut start.
Hakimi, who has spent the past two seasons on loan from Real Madrid at Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, unlocked the match with his acceleration down the right finding Lukaku to blast in the opener.
The Morocco international then set up Roberto Gagliardini to volley in after 25 minutes and Lukaku for Belgian's second just before the half hour.
Hakimi got on the scoresheet himself three minutes before the break, catching the Benevento defence napping with Argentine Lautaro Martinez making in five with 20 minutes to play.
"I enjoy watching the team play like they did tonight, with incisive attacking moves," said Conte.
"The outright biggest source of satisfaction for a coach is to see that, no matter who’s playing, the idea of the game doesn’t change.
"It's a style of play that we’ve been pursuing since last year.
"We've got more options and we're a team that likes to play, that attacks and that creates lots and lots of chances.
"We've got to work more on our balance because today we also conceded two goals. But it seems that the new arrivals have slotted in rapidly to a tried-and-tested system from last season."
Arthur Vidal and Christian Eriksen also came close to scoring for last season's runners-up, the Dane rattling the crossbar late.
Gianluca Caprari scored for Benevento after 34 and 76 minutes.
"I'm very happy with how I have adapted to the team even if I still have to learn certain mechanisms," said Hakimi.
"Some moves are similar to those I did in Dortmund, I have the skills to play in this team.
"The team mates helped me a lot, and I'm learning quickly.
"The Scudetto? We are working towards this, we have a great team to fight for this goal."
Promoted La Spezia getting their first ever top-flight win 2-0 against Udinese.
Andrey Galabinov scored in either half with the Ligurians holding on despite playing the last half an hour a man down after Claudio Terzi was sent off for two yellow cards.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine won't be ready by US election: report

Moderna 's Stephane Bancel told the Financial Times : `` November 25 ( 2020 ) is the time we will have enough safety data to be able to put into an EUA file that we would send to the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) '' US biotech firm Moderna wo n't seek an emergency use authorization for its coronavirus vaccine before November 25 , its CEO told the Financial Times on Wednesday .
The news deals a blow to President Donald Trump 's hopes of having an injection ready before the election to give his campaign a much-needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` November 25 is the time we will have enough safety data to be able to put into an EUA file that we would send to the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) — assuming that the safety data is good , i.e .
a vaccine is deemed to be safe . ''
Trump , whose approval has taken a hit over his handling of the Covid-19 crisis , has frequently hinted a vaccine could be ready before the November 3 vote .
This has raised concern among experts that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory process for political reasons .
The Republican repeated his claim on Tuesday night , during a debate with his Democratic rival , former vice president Joe Biden .
`` It 's a possibility that we 'll have the answer before November 1 , '' he said .
Moderna 's vaccine is one of 11 experimental vaccines in final stage trials .
Another is being developed by Pfizer , whose CEO Albert Bourla has taken the position that his company may have a clear answer about whether their shot works by October .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , believing that the ongoing trials will not have sufficient statistical data to prove the drug 's safety and effectiveness by that time .
Speaking to the Washington Post on Tuesday , Bourla denied he was attempting to curry favor with the president by making his October claim .
`` For me , the election day is an artificial day .
The end of October is an artificial day .
This is how we operate .
If we can bring it earlier , we will , '' he said .

Washington (AFP) –
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US biotech firm Moderna won't seek an emergency use authorization for its coronavirus vaccine before November 25, its CEO told the Financial Times on Wednesday.
The news deals a blow to President Donald Trump's hopes of having an injection ready before the election to give his campaign a much-needed boost.
Stephane Bancel told the newspaper: "November 25 is the time we will have enough safety data to be able to put into an EUA file that we would send to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) — assuming that the safety data is good, i.e. a vaccine is deemed to be safe."
Trump, whose approval has taken a hit over his handling of the Covid-19 crisis, has frequently hinted a vaccine could be ready before the November 3 vote.
This has raised concern among experts that his administration may attempt to interfere with the regulatory process for political reasons.
The Republican repeated his claim on Tuesday night, during a debate with his Democratic rival, former vice president Joe Biden.
"It's a possibility that we'll have the answer before November 1," he said.
Moderna's vaccine is one of 11 experimental vaccines in final stage trials.
Another is being developed by Pfizer, whose CEO Albert Bourla has taken the position that his company may have a clear answer about whether their shot works by October.
Most experts are skeptical of the claim, believing that the ongoing trials will not have sufficient statistical data to prove the drug's safety and effectiveness by that time.
Speaking to the Washington Post on Tuesday, Bourla denied he was attempting to curry favor with the president by making his October claim.
"For me, the election day is an artificial day. The end of October is an artificial day. This is how we operate. If we can bring it earlier, we will," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Madrid miss Hazard as Vinicius sneaks win over Valladolid

Real Madrid missed the creativity of the injured Eden Hazard as only a fortuitous goal from substitute Vinicius Junior earned them a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid in La Liga on Wednesday .
Vinicius capitalised on some chaotic defending in the Valladolid penalty area after coming on for Luka Jovic , Madrid 's misfiring striker who was committed but ultimately fruitless again in front of goal .
Jovic could yet be allowed to leave before the end of the transfer window on Monday and he must have looked on enviously as a simple chance fell to Vinicius to give Madrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the lack of goals only served to highlight the absence of Hazard , who had been due to make his first appearance of the season only to pull out of the squad earlier on Wednesday with a muscle injury in his right leg .
Hazard sat out Madrid 's opening two games , with Zinedine Zidane adamant the Belgium midfielder needed to be fully fit and completely pain free from the troublesome ankle problem he struggled with last term .
Yet a separate injury means Hazard is now expected to be out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving Madrid to cope without their 100 million euros ( $ 117 million ) signing , just as they had to for prolonged periods during his opening year .
With Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez gone , the attacking onus will fall on the likes of Vinicius , even if Zidane preferred to start with the Brazilian on the bench and give Jovic another chance to impress alongside Karim Benzema .
Jovic , who has scored only two goals since joining from Frankfurt for 60 million euros in July 2019 , could not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was arguably Madrid 's busiest attacking player in the first half .
But two good chances went begging and Zidane finally brought on Vinicius just before the hour .
Seven points from nine continues a solid start for the reigning champions , with Barcelona due to play away at Celta Vigo on Thursday .
Earlier , Atletico Madrid followed up their 6-1 thrashing of Granada on Saturday with a much less spectacular goalless draw away at Huesca .
Valladolid are still without a victory after four games , having only managed draws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vigo .
Jovic was involved early for Madrid , his driving run down the left giving Marcelo a sight of goal , before a speedy counter-attack ended with Fede Valverde sliding the ball across , but he fired over .
Jovic lashed into the side-netting after some good work by Luka Modric and then saw a header saved early in the second half , with Casemiro smashing the rebound against the crossbar .
With the game in the balance , Valladolid sniffed an opportunity .
Waldo Rubio dragged wide from close range and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thibaut Courtois into a smart save .
But as the visitors were gaining in confidence , Madrid struck , Vinicius taking advantage of a string of defensive errors , the last committed by Bruno , his attempted clearance falling to the feet of the 20-year-old , who made no mistake .
Raul Garcia and Waldo went close to an equaliser before Modric hit the post late on .

Madrid (AFP) –
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Real Madrid missed the creativity of the injured Eden Hazard as only a fortuitous goal from substitute Vinicius Junior earned them a 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid in La Liga on Wednesday.
Vinicius capitalised on some chaotic defending in the Valladolid penalty area after coming on for Luka Jovic, Madrid's misfiring striker who was committed but ultimately fruitless again in front of goal.
Jovic could yet be allowed to leave before the end of the transfer window on Monday and he must have looked on enviously as a simple chance fell to Vinicius to give Madrid their second win of the season.
But the lack of goals only served to highlight the absence of Hazard, who had been due to make his first appearance of the season only to pull out of the squad earlier on Wednesday with a muscle injury in his right leg.
Hazard sat out Madrid's opening two games, with Zinedine Zidane adamant the Belgium midfielder needed to be fully fit and completely pain free from the troublesome ankle problem he struggled with last term.
Yet a separate injury means Hazard is now expected to be out for at least another two weeks, leaving Madrid to cope without their 100 million euros ($117 million) signing, just as they had to for prolonged periods during his opening year.
With Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez gone, the attacking onus will fall on the likes of Vinicius, even if Zidane preferred to start with the Brazilian on the bench and give Jovic another chance to impress alongside Karim Benzema.
Jovic, who has scored only two goals since joining from Frankfurt for 60 million euros in July 2019, could not be faulted for a lack of effort and was arguably Madrid's busiest attacking player in the first half.
But two good chances went begging and Zidane finally brought on Vinicius just before the hour.
Seven points from nine continues a solid start for the reigning champions, with Barcelona due to play away at Celta Vigo on Thursday.
Earlier, Atletico Madrid followed up their 6-1 thrashing of Granada on Saturday with a much less spectacular goalless draw away at Huesca.
Valladolid are still without a victory after four games, having only managed draws at home to Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo.
Jovic was involved early for Madrid, his driving run down the left giving Marcelo a sight of goal, before a speedy counter-attack ended with Fede Valverde sliding the ball across, but he fired over.
Jovic lashed into the side-netting after some good work by Luka Modric and then saw a header saved early in the second half, with Casemiro smashing the rebound against the crossbar.
With the game in the balance, Valladolid sniffed an opportunity. Waldo Rubio dragged wide from close range and then Shon Weissman raced forward and forced Thibaut Courtois into a smart save.
But as the visitors were gaining in confidence, Madrid struck, Vinicius taking advantage of a string of defensive errors, the last committed by Bruno, his attempted clearance falling to the feet of the 20-year-old, who made no mistake.
Raul Garcia and Waldo went close to an equaliser before Modric hit the post late on.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Argentine creator of Mafalda cartoon strip dies

Argentinian cartoonist Quino , creator of the `` Mafalda '' comic strip , holds a drawing of his famous character at the Paris Book Fair in March 2014 Argentine cartoonist Joaquin Salvador Lavado , who created the beloved comic strip Mafalda , has died aged 88 , his publisher announced Wednesday .
Under the pen-name `` Quino '' he created Mafalda in 1964 , and the strip became popular in newspapers across Latin America , Europe and much of Asia before being turned into books .
`` Quino has died .
All good people in the country and in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Divinsky , head of Buenos Aires publisher Ediciones de la Flor , wrote on Twitter .
His death was mourned in an avalanche of farewell messages and tweets that quickly began trending under # Quino in Argentina .
People left flowers in tribute to the cartoonist at a sculpture of Mafalda and her cartoon companions on a bench in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of San Telmo .
`` I had to go out to do some paperwork and I thought of coming to greet Mafalda , Susanita and Manolito , because there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orphaned today , I think .
And they even more so , '' San Telmo resident Damian Lozada told AFP .
`` Quino leaves behind an extraordinary body of work for the world .
It is love and it is humor .
It is tenderness and it is intelligence .
It is scathing observation and also innocence , '' Lozada said .
Quino died in the central city of Mendoza , where he was born to Spanish immigrant parents in 1932 and studied at the city 's college of fine arts before having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 18 .
`` I draw because I speak badly , '' he once said .
His complex over verbal communication pushed him to create Mafalda -- an irreverent 6-year-old who hates communism and soup and loves The Beatles -- for an advertising campaign for electrical appliances .
In the series , Quino reflects the world of adults as seen through the eyes of a group of children , with the ironic , non-conformist Mafalda as the central character .
`` She is a girl who tries to solve the dilemma of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bad guys in this world , '' he once told journalists .
`` At the age of three I drew my uncle .
I discovered that people , horses , trains , mountains could come from something as simple as a pencil ... a pencil is something wonderful , '' Quino told foreign correspondents in Mendoza in 2014 .
Following the military coup in Argentina in 1976 , the young cartoonist fled to Milan , before becoming a Spanish citizen in 1990 .
He has lived alternately in Madrid , Paris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quino was a declared lover of freedom , although he suffered censorship from the very beginning .
`` In Argentina I had to censor myself because when I started to draw in Buenos Aires they clearly told me 'no military , no religion , no sex ' .
And then , I talked about all that but in another way , '' he once recalled in an interview .
When Mafalda arrived in Spain , during the Franco dictatorship , `` it went out with a band that said 'for adults only ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Chile and Brazil , '' when those countries were also under military dictatorships .
Apart from numerous international prizes for humor , Quino was awarded Spain 's prestigious Prince of Asturias award for Communication and Humanities in 2014 .

Buenos Aires (AFP) –
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Argentine cartoonist Joaquin Salvador Lavado, who created the beloved comic strip Mafalda, has died aged 88, his publisher announced Wednesday.
Under the pen-name "Quino" he created Mafalda in 1964, and the strip became popular in newspapers across Latin America, Europe and much of Asia before being turned into books.
"Quino has died. All good people in the country and in the world will mourn him," Daniel Divinsky, head of Buenos Aires publisher Ediciones de la Flor, wrote on Twitter.
His death was mourned in an avalanche of farewell messages and tweets that quickly began trending under #Quino in Argentina.
People left flowers in tribute to the cartoonist at a sculpture of Mafalda and her cartoon companions on a bench in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of San Telmo.
"I had to go out to do some paperwork and I thought of coming to greet Mafalda, Susanita and Manolito, because there are several generations of us feeling a little orphaned today, I think. And they even more so," San Telmo resident Damian Lozada told AFP.
"Quino leaves behind an extraordinary body of work for the world. It is love and it is humor. It is tenderness and it is intelligence. It is scathing observation and also innocence," Lozada said.
- Speech complex -
Quino died in the central city of Mendoza, where he was born to Spanish immigrant parents in 1932 and studied at the city's college of fine arts before having his first cartoon published at the age of 18.
"I draw because I speak badly," he once said.
His complex over verbal communication pushed him to create Mafalda -- an irreverent 6-year-old who hates communism and soup and loves The Beatles -- for an advertising campaign for electrical appliances.
In the series, Quino reflects the world of adults as seen through the eyes of a group of children, with the ironic, non-conformist Mafalda as the central character.
"She is a girl who tries to solve the dilemma of who are the good guys and who are the bad guys in this world," he once told journalists.
- Power of the Pencil -
"At the age of three I drew my uncle. I discovered that people, horses, trains, mountains could come from something as simple as a pencil... a pencil is something wonderful," Quino told foreign correspondents in Mendoza in 2014.
Following the military coup in Argentina in 1976, the young cartoonist fled to Milan, before becoming a Spanish citizen in 1990. He has lived alternately in Madrid, Paris, Milan and Argentina.
Like Mafalda, Quino was a declared lover of freedom, although he suffered censorship from the very beginning.
"In Argentina I had to censor myself because when I started to draw in Buenos Aires they clearly told me 'no military, no religion, no sex'. And then, I talked about all that but in another way," he once recalled in an interview.
When Mafalda arrived in Spain, during the Franco dictatorship, "it went out with a band that said 'for adults only' and it was also censored in Bolivia, Chile and Brazil," when those countries were also under military dictatorships.
Apart from numerous international prizes for humor, Quino was awarded Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias award for Communication and Humanities in 2014.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Tainted Astros sweep Twins to advance in MLB playoffs

The scandal-tainted Houston Astros became the first team to advance to the division series round in Major League Baseball 's postseason on Wednesday , beating the Minnesota Twins 3-1 to complete a series sweep .
The Astros will now head to Los Angeles to face either the Oakland Athletics or Chicago White Sox in their American League Division Series match-up .
Last season 's World Series runners-up , the Astros only squeezed into this year 's expanded 16-team playoffs as sixth seeds after winning 29 games and losing 31 in baseball 's abbreviated 60-game regular season .
But the 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wild card series on Tuesday with a 4-1 victory at Minnesota 's Target Field .
On Wednesday , Astros starter Jose Urquidy restricted the third-seeded Twins to just one run through the opening 4 1/3 innings and reliever Cristian Javier delivered three scoreless frames .
The Astros had taken the lead in the top of the fourth inning , when a Kyle Tucker single to left field brought Michael Brantley home to score .
Minnesota levelled it up in the bottom of the fifth , when Nelson Cruz 's doubled from a line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gonzalez to score .
It was left to Carlos Correa to bust the game open in the seventh innning , belting a 430-foot homer off reliever Cody Stashak to restore Houston 's lead .
Tucker then put Houston 3-1 up in the top of the ninth , driving a ground ball to right field that sent Brantley scampering over home plate for 3-1 .
The defeat was a crushing end to the season for Minnesota , who had not suffered consecutive home defeats this year before Houston 's back-to-back playoff victories .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisional round that will take place at Dodger Stadium -- scene of their tarnished World Series triumph three years ago .
The Texan club have spent this season under a cheating cloud following revelations last year that they had used an elaborate and illegal sign-stealing scheme during their World Series-winning campaign in 2017 .
The Astros were fined $ 5 million following an investigation into the scandal while general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J .
Hinch were banned from all baseball activity for one year .
Luhnow and Hinch were subsequently fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scandal .
In other playoff games on Wednesday , the Atlanta Braves took 1-0 lead in their National League wild card series against the Cincinnati Reds after a record low-scoring 13-inning battle .
Freddie Freeman 's walk-off gave the Braves a 1-0 win .
The game had made baseball history as the first ever postseason game to go scoreless through 12 innings before Freeman 's winning single .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The scandal-tainted Houston Astros became the first team to advance to the division series round in Major League Baseball's postseason on Wednesday, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-1 to complete a series sweep.
The Astros will now head to Los Angeles to face either the Oakland Athletics or Chicago White Sox in their American League Division Series match-up.
Last season's World Series runners-up, the Astros only squeezed into this year's expanded 16-team playoffs as sixth seeds after winning 29 games and losing 31 in baseball's abbreviated 60-game regular season.
But the 2017 champions had taken control of their best-of-three wild card series on Tuesday with a 4-1 victory at Minnesota's Target Field.
On Wednesday, Astros starter Jose Urquidy restricted the third-seeded Twins to just one run through the opening 4 1/3 innings and reliever Cristian Javier delivered three scoreless frames.
The Astros had taken the lead in the top of the fourth inning, when a Kyle Tucker single to left field brought Michael Brantley home to score.
Minnesota levelled it up in the bottom of the fifth, when Nelson Cruz's doubled from a line drive to allow former Astros player Marwin Gonzalez to score.
It was left to Carlos Correa to bust the game open in the seventh innning, belting a 430-foot homer off reliever Cody Stashak to restore Houston's lead.
Tucker then put Houston 3-1 up in the top of the ninth, driving a ground ball to right field that sent Brantley scampering over home plate for 3-1.
The defeat was a crushing end to the season for Minnesota, who had not suffered consecutive home defeats this year before Houston's back-to-back playoff victories.
The Astros meanwhile march on to a best-of-five divisional round that will take place at Dodger Stadium -- scene of their tarnished World Series triumph three years ago.
The Texan club have spent this season under a cheating cloud following revelations last year that they had used an elaborate and illegal sign-stealing scheme during their World Series-winning campaign in 2017.
The Astros were fined $5 million following an investigation into the scandal while general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were banned from all baseball activity for one year.
Luhnow and Hinch were subsequently fired by the Astros for their roles in the scandal.
In other playoff games on Wednesday, the Atlanta Braves took 1-0 lead in their National League wild card series against the Cincinnati Reds after a record low-scoring 13-inning battle.
Freddie Freeman's walk-off gave the Braves a 1-0 win. The game had made baseball history as the first ever postseason game to go scoreless through 12 innings before Freeman's winning single.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Bayern win German Super Cup to lift fifth title in 2020

Bayern Munich claimed their fifth title of the year on Wednesday as a late Joshua Kimmich goal sealed their 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to land the German Super Cup .
Hosts Bayern built a 2-0 lead with first-half goals by Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Mueller , only for Erling Braut Haaland to equalise early in the second half after Julian Brandt pulled a Dortmund goal back just before the break .
However , Kimmich settled the matter through sheer determination behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena .
His initial shot was saved by Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looped in for the winning goal eight minutes from time .
`` Joshua is a classy player .
The way he chipped that ball in , '' said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer in admiration .
Having had their record 23-match winning streak ended by a shock defeat at Hoffenheim on Sunday , Bayern bounced back with Kimmich leading the charge .
`` As long as I have known him ( Kimmich ) , his mentality is very special .
He is well on his way to being one of those players who shape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hansi Flick told broadcaster ZDF .
Bayern have already won an eighth-straight Bundesliga title , the German Cup , Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup this year .
This is the fourth time in five years they have won the showcase match .
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki and England winger Jadon Sancho missed the flight to Munich with `` a respiratory infection '' , the club said , but both tested negative on Monday for Covid-19 .
Flick made five changes from the side which lost 4-1 at Hoffenheim .
Leroy Sane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leon Goretzka rested and Segre Gnabry started on the bench .
Canadian left-back Alphonso Davies moved up to the wing and Tolisso started in central midfield .
The Frenchman gave Bayern the lead when Robert Lewandowski put in a short cross from the right wing and Tolisso side-footed home on 18 minutes .
Mueller grabbed Bayern 's second when he headed home after Davies floated in a cross on 32 minutes .
Brandt put Dortmund back in the game five minutes before the break when Benjamin Pavard 's loose pass was snapped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move .
It was 2-1 at the break , but Dortmund defender Thomas Meunier fired a golden chance over the bar early in the second half with just Manuel Neuer to beat .
Dortmund drew level when central midfielder Thomas Delaney slid a great pass into Haaland , who showed ice cool finishing to fire past Neuer on 55 minutes .
It was the 20-year-old 's 19th goal in 22 games for Dortmund .
With time running out , Kimmich robbed Delaney of possession near the halfway line and sprinted clear with Lewandowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and although Hitz saved the inital shot , the rebound looped over his head into the Dortmund goal after clipping Kimmich 's boot .
The Super Cup was the final game for Bundesliga referee Bibiana Steinhaus , 41 , the first female to officiate in one of Europe 's top leagues , before retirement .

Munich (Germany) (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich claimed their fifth title of the year on Wednesday as a late Joshua Kimmich goal sealed their 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to land the German Super Cup.
Hosts Bayern built a 2-0 lead with first-half goals by Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Mueller, only for Erling Braut Haaland to equalise early in the second half after Julian Brandt pulled a Dortmund goal back just before the break.
However, Kimmich settled the matter through sheer determination behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena.
His initial shot was saved by Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz but the rebound clipped Kimmich's boot and looped in for the winning goal eight minutes from time.
"Joshua is a classy player. The way he chipped that ball in," said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer in admiration.
Having had their record 23-match winning streak ended by a shock defeat at Hoffenheim on Sunday, Bayern bounced back with Kimmich leading the charge.
"As long as I have known him (Kimmich), his mentality is very special. He is well on his way to being one of those players who shape this club," Bayern head coach Hansi Flick told broadcaster ZDF.
Bayern have already won an eighth-straight Bundesliga title, the German Cup, Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup this year.
This is the fourth time in five years they have won the showcase match.
- Sancho missing -
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki and England winger Jadon Sancho missed the flight to Munich with "a respiratory infection", the club said, but both tested negative on Monday for Covid-19.
Flick made five changes from the side which lost 4-1 at Hoffenheim.
Leroy Sane was sidelined by a knee injury, Leon Goretzka rested and Segre Gnabry started on the bench.
Canadian left-back Alphonso Davies moved up to the wing and Tolisso started in central midfield.
The Frenchman gave Bayern the lead when Robert Lewandowski put in a short cross from the right wing and Tolisso side-footed home on 18 minutes.
Mueller grabbed Bayern's second when he headed home after Davies floated in a cross on 32 minutes.
Brandt put Dortmund back in the game five minutes before the break when Benjamin Pavard's loose pass was snapped up by Marco Reus and Brandt finished the move.
It was 2-1 at the break, but Dortmund defender Thomas Meunier fired a golden chance over the bar early in the second half with just Manuel Neuer to beat.
Dortmund drew level when central midfielder Thomas Delaney slid a great pass into Haaland, who showed ice cool finishing to fire past Neuer on 55 minutes.
It was the 20-year-old's 19th goal in 22 games for Dortmund.
With time running out, Kimmich robbed Delaney of possession near the halfway line and sprinted clear with Lewandowski in support.
The pair exchanged passes and although Hitz saved the inital shot, the rebound looped over his head into the Dortmund goal after clipping Kimmich's boot.
The Super Cup was the final game for Bundesliga referee Bibiana Steinhaus, 41, the first female to officiate in one of Europe's top leagues, before retirement.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Canada extends ban on international travelers

The extension comes amid a second wave of infections caused in part by the return to school or work of @ @ @ @ @ breaks Canada on Wednesday extended a ban on non-essential international entries until the end of @ @ @ @ @ gripped by a surge in coronavirus cases .
The extension comes amid a second wave @ @ @ @ @ by the return to school or work of millions of Canadians after summer breaks .
@ @ @ @ @ existing restrictions on non-U.S. international travel into Canada until October 31 , 2020 , '' @ @ @ @ @ said in a Twitter post .
The restriction , which has been in force since @ @ @ @ @ for spouses , children , parents or guardians of Canadian citizens or permanent residents .
@ @ @ @ @ relationship with Canada under which non-essential travelers are n't allowed into Canada but essential workers @ @ @ @ @ .
That arrangement expires on October 21 .

Ottawa (AFP) –
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Canada on Wednesday extended a ban on non-essential international entries until the end of October as the country was gripped by a surge in coronavirus cases.
The extension comes amid a second wave of infections caused in part by the return to school or work of millions of Canadians after summer breaks.
"We are extending the existing restrictions on non-U.S. international travel into Canada until October 31, 2020," Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a Twitter post.
The restriction, which has been in force since mid-March, makes an exception for spouses, children, parents or guardians of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
The US has a separate relationship with Canada under which non-essential travelers aren't allowed into Canada but essential workers can get across the border. That arrangement expires on October 21.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-30--Bayern Munich win German Super Cup to lift fifth title in 2020

Bayern Munich claimed their fifth title of the year on Wednesday as a late Joshua Kimmich goal sealed their 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to land the German Super Cup .
Hosts Bayern built a 2-0 lead with first-half goals by Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Mueller , only for Erling Braut Haaland to equalise early in the second half after Julian Brandt pulled a Dortmund goal back just before the break .
However , Kimmich settled the matter through sheer determination behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena .
His initial shot was saved by Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looped in for the winning goal eight minutes from time .
`` Joshua is a classy player .
The way he chipped that ball in , '' said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer in admiration .
Having had their record 23-match winning streak ended by a shock defeat at Hoffenheim on Sunday , Bayern bounced back .
`` He ( Kimmich ) has enormous quality , he is in great form , '' said Bayern head coach Hansi Flick whose side have won an eighth-straight Bundesliga title , the German Cup , Champions League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is the fourth time in five years Bayern have won the showcase match .
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki and England winger Jadon Sancho missed the flight to Munich with `` a respiratory infection '' , the club said , but both tested negative on Monday for Covid-19 .
Flick made five changes from the side which lost 4-1 at Hoffenheim .
Leroy Sane was sidelined by a knee injury , Leon Goretzka rested and Segre Gnabry started on the bench .
Canadian left-back Alphonso Davies moved up to the wing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frenchman gave Bayern the lead when Robert Lewandowski put in a short cross from the right wing and Tolisso side-footed home on 18 minutes .
Mueller grabbed Bayern 's second when he headed home after Davies floated in a cross on 32 minutes .
Brandt put Dortmund back in the game five minutes before the break when Benjamin Pavard 's loose pass was snapped up by Marco Reus and Brandt finished the move .
It was 2-1 at the break , but Dortmund defender Thomas Meunier fired a golden chance over the bar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manuel Neuer to beat .
Dortmund drew level when central midfielder Thomas Delaney slid a great pass into Haaland , who showed ice cool finishing to fire past Neuer on 55 minutes .
It was the 20-year-old 's 19th goal in 22 games for Dortmund .
With time running out , Kimmich robbed Delaney of possession near the halfway line and sprinted clear with Lewandowski in support .
The pair exchanged passes and although Hitz saved the inital shot , the rebound looped over his head into the Dortmund goal after clipping Kimmich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final game for Bundesliga referee Bibiana Steinhaus , 41 , the first female to officiate in one of Europe 's top leagues , before retirement .

Munich (Germany) (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich claimed their fifth title of the year on Wednesday as a late Joshua Kimmich goal sealed their 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to land the German Super Cup.
Hosts Bayern built a 2-0 lead with first-half goals by Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Mueller, only for Erling Braut Haaland to equalise early in the second half after Julian Brandt pulled a Dortmund goal back just before the break.
However, Kimmich settled the matter through sheer determination behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena.
His initial shot was saved by Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz but the rebound clipped Kimmich's boot and looped in for the winning goal eight minutes from time.
"Joshua is a classy player. The way he chipped that ball in," said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer in admiration.
Having had their record 23-match winning streak ended by a shock defeat at Hoffenheim on Sunday, Bayern bounced back.
"He (Kimmich) has enormous quality, he is in great form," said Bayern head coach Hansi Flick whose side have won an eighth-straight Bundesliga title, the German Cup, Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup this year.
This is the fourth time in five years Bayern have won the showcase match.
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Buerki and England winger Jadon Sancho missed the flight to Munich with "a respiratory infection", the club said, but both tested negative on Monday for Covid-19.
Flick made five changes from the side which lost 4-1 at Hoffenheim.
Leroy Sane was sidelined by a knee injury, Leon Goretzka rested and Segre Gnabry started on the bench.
Canadian left-back Alphonso Davies moved up to the wing and Tolisso started in central midfield.
The Frenchman gave Bayern the lead when Robert Lewandowski put in a short cross from the right wing and Tolisso side-footed home on 18 minutes.
Mueller grabbed Bayern's second when he headed home after Davies floated in a cross on 32 minutes.
Brandt put Dortmund back in the game five minutes before the break when Benjamin Pavard's loose pass was snapped up by Marco Reus and Brandt finished the move.
It was 2-1 at the break, but Dortmund defender Thomas Meunier fired a golden chance over the bar early in the second half with just Manuel Neuer to beat.
Dortmund drew level when central midfielder Thomas Delaney slid a great pass into Haaland, who showed ice cool finishing to fire past Neuer on 55 minutes.
It was the 20-year-old's 19th goal in 22 games for Dortmund.
With time running out, Kimmich robbed Delaney of possession near the halfway line and sprinted clear with Lewandowski in support.
The pair exchanged passes and although Hitz saved the inital shot, the rebound looped over his head into the Dortmund goal after clipping Kimmich's boot.
The Super Cup was the final game for Bundesliga referee Bibiana Steinhaus, 41, the first female to officiate in one of Europe's top leagues, before retirement.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-02--AC Milan survive in Europa League after late goal and marathon shooutout

Harry Kane completed his hat-trick with a chip over Maccabi Haifa goalkeeper Josh Cohen as Tottenham won 7-2 in the Europa League AC Milan avoided being eliminated in a preliminary round in Europe for the first time on Thursday by equalising with a penalty in the last seconds of extra time and then winning a 24-kick shootout 9-8 .
The seven-times European champions trailed going into added time in extra time but Toni Borevkovic handled in the penalty area , earning his second yellow card and Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the spot to give Milan a 2-2 draw and set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't win without suffering , '' said Milan manager Stefano Pioli .
Elsewhere , former European champions Red Star Belgrade , Celtic and PSV Eindhoven all advanced with away victories .
Tottenham romped to a 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa , Granada , competing in Europe for the first time , won 3-1 in Malmo but Basel let in three goals in the last 18 minutes and lost 3-1 at home to CSKA Sofia while Bundesliga club Wolfsburg also blew a lead and went down 2-1 to AEK in Athens .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put Milan ahead with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area after 51 minutes .
In the first minute of extra time , Gelson put the home team ahead .
Milan had 24 strikes on goal but only levelled when Berokovic jumped to head a harmless lob , missed the ball and was struck on the arm .
Calhanoglu drilled the spot kick in off the base of the post .
Milan went first in the shootout .
Both teams converted their first six attempts .
In the next four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win ; following a Milan miss with one of their own .
In that sequence , Nelson Monte hit both posts before his shot rolled away from goal , the two goalkeepers took consecutive kicks and both blasted over and Geraldes also hit a post .
The sequence was broken when defender Simon Kjaer converted for the second time in the shootout and then Gianluigi Donnarumma hurled himself high to his right to push away Nuno Santos ' penalty .
`` It 's difficult to control emotions , '' said Pioli .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a moment and vice versa . ''
Milan were without a host of experienced players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic .
`` We were strong , especially mentally , with a very young team , '' said Pioli .
In London , Harry Kane scored a hat-trick for the hosts .
Giovani Lo Celso tripled his total of goals for the club with two in three minutes , Lucas Moura and Dele Alli , with his first goal since March , also scored .
Celtic squeezed through 1-0 after Odsonne Edouard prodded home a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to FK in Sarajevo .
In Basel , the home team took the lead after 54 minutes when Arthur Cabral converted a penalty but Portuguese midfielder Tiago Rodrigues levelled after 72 minutes and then put CSKA ahead in the 88th minute .
Ahmed Ahmedov added a third deep into added time .
In Athens , Swiss striker Adir Mehmedi gave Wolfsburg the lead in first-half stoppage time but Portuguese midfielder Andre Simoes replied after 64 minutes and Iranian attacker Karim Ansarifard hit the winner four minutes into added time .

Paris (AFP) –
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AC Milan avoided being eliminated in a preliminary round in Europe for the first time on Thursday by equalising with a penalty in the last seconds of extra time and then winning a 24-kick shootout 9-8.
The seven-times European champions trailed going into added time in extra time but Toni Borevkovic handled in the penalty area, earning his second yellow card and Hakan Calhanoglu converted from the spot to give Milan a 2-2 draw and set up an agonising shootout.
"You can't win without suffering," said Milan manager Stefano Pioli.
Elsewhere, former European champions Red Star Belgrade, Celtic and PSV Eindhoven all advanced with away victories.
Tottenham romped to a 7-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa, Granada, competing in Europe for the first time, won 3-1 in Malmo but Basel let in three goals in the last 18 minutes and lost 3-1 at home to CSKA Sofia while Bundesliga club Wolfsburg also blew a lead and went down 2-1 to AEK in Athens.
In Northern Portugal, Belgian attacker Alexis Saelemaekers put Milan ahead with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area after 51 minutes.
Francisco Geraldes levelled after 71 minutes with a first-time shot.
In the first minute of extra time, Gelson put the home team ahead.
Milan had 24 strikes on goal but only levelled when Berokovic jumped to head a harmless lob, missed the ball and was struck on the arm. Calhanoglu drilled the spot kick in off the base of the post.
Milan went first in the shootout. Both teams converted their first six attempts. In the next four rounds, Rio Ave spurned three chances to win; following a Milan miss with one of their own.
In that sequence, Nelson Monte hit both posts before his shot rolled away from goal, the two goalkeepers took consecutive kicks and both blasted over and Geraldes also hit a post.
- 'We were strong' -
The sequence was broken when defender Simon Kjaer converted for the second time in the shootout and then Gianluigi Donnarumma hurled himself high to his right to push away Nuno Santos' penalty.
The Milan players celebrated with extraordinary energy.
"It's difficult to control emotions," said Pioli. "We went from winning to losing in a moment and vice versa."
Milan were without a host of experienced players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
"We were strong, especially mentally, with a very young team," said Pioli.
In London, Harry Kane scored a hat-trick for the hosts. Giovani Lo Celso tripled his total of goals for the club with two in three minutes, Lucas Moura and Dele Alli, with his first goal since March, also scored.
Celtic squeezed through 1-0 after Odsonne Edouard prodded home a rebound midway through the second half away to FK in Sarajevo.
In Basel, the home team took the lead after 54 minutes when Arthur Cabral converted a penalty but Portuguese midfielder Tiago Rodrigues levelled after 72 minutes and then put CSKA ahead in the 88th minute. Ahmed Ahmedov added a third deep into added time.
In Athens, Swiss striker Adir Mehmedi gave Wolfsburg the lead in first-half stoppage time but Portuguese midfielder Andre Simoes replied after 64 minutes and Iranian attacker Karim Ansarifard hit the winner four minutes into added time.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Slow progress on women's rights decried at UN summit

Protesters , led by the group the Feminist Collective , demand Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez declare a state of emergency in response to recent gender-based femicides , assaults and disappearance of women in San Juan , September 28 , 2020 More than 170 countries promised during a virtual UN summit Thursday to step up their efforts to advance women 's rights , while the US took aim at China 's claims of leadership on the issue .
The meeting , which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly , marked the 25th anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing .
`` In the coming five years , China will donate another $ 10 million to UN Women , '' President Xi Jinping said in a pre-recorded video , proposing another world meeting on gender equality for 2025 .
In her own pre-recorded address , US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos condemned the treatment of women in Venezuela , Cuba and Iran , but saved her harshest criticism for Beijing .
`` The worst violator of all in both scope and scale is the host of the conference we commemorate today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Chinese Communist Party has been responsible for the murder of millions of baby girls through brutal population controls on industrial scale , unfortunately with the support ( of ) UN agencies . ''
She specifically took aim at Beijing 's operations in the Xinjiang region , which some rights groups and lawmakers in Washington have said could amount to genocide .
DeVos called out practices of sterilization , abortion and birth control she said have been forced on Uighur Muslim women .
Meanwhile , France and Mexico committed to hosting an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paris next June -- a meeting which was scheduled for July of this year but was canceled due to the pandemic .
French President Emmanuel Macron lamented the slow progress of the last 25 years .
`` Everywhere , women 's rights are under attack , as are human rights , from which they are inseparable , '' he said .
`` Progress achieved by great efforts is being undermined even in our democracies , starting with the freedom for women to control their own bodies , and in particular the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointing out inequalities in schooling , pay , domestic work and political representation .
Even at the UN General Assembly , there were only a handful of women speakers among the representatives for 170 countries .
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said gender equality was `` fundamentally a question of power , so it starts with the equal representation of women in leadership positions . ''
He bemoaned the circumstances that lead to one in three women experiencing violence and 12 million girls marrying under the age of 18 every year .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a family member every day in 2017 .

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
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More than 170 countries promised during a virtual UN summit Thursday to step up their efforts to advance women's rights, while the US took aim at China's claims of leadership on the issue.
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, marked the 25th anniversary of the seminal 1995 World Conference on Women in Beijing.
"In the coming five years, China will donate another $10 million to UN Women," President Xi Jinping said in a pre-recorded video, proposing another world meeting on gender equality for 2025.
In her own pre-recorded address, US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos condemned the treatment of women in Venezuela, Cuba and Iran, but saved her harshest criticism for Beijing.
"The worst violator of all in both scope and scale is the host of the conference we commemorate today," she said.
"Since 1995, the Chinese Communist Party has been responsible for the murder of millions of baby girls through brutal population controls on industrial scale, unfortunately with the support (of) UN agencies."
She specifically took aim at Beijing's operations in the Xinjiang region, which some rights groups and lawmakers in Washington have said could amount to genocide.
DeVos called out practices of sterilization, abortion and birth control she said have been forced on Uighur Muslim women.
- 'Question of power' -
Meanwhile, France and Mexico committed to hosting an international forum on women's rights in Paris next June -- a meeting which was scheduled for July of this year but was canceled due to the pandemic.
French President Emmanuel Macron lamented the slow progress of the last 25 years.
"Everywhere, women's rights are under attack, as are human rights, from which they are inseparable," he said.
"Progress achieved by great efforts is being undermined even in our democracies, starting with the freedom for women to control their own bodies, and in particular the right to abortion," he said, also pointing out inequalities in schooling, pay, domestic work and political representation.
Even at the UN General Assembly, there were only a handful of women speakers among the representatives for 170 countries.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said gender equality was "fundamentally a question of power, so it starts with the equal representation of women in leadership positions."
He bemoaned the circumstances that lead to one in three women experiencing violence and 12 million girls marrying under the age of 18 every year.
He also pointed to 137 women being killed by a family member every day in 2017.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Belichick looks to solve Mahomes riddle

Belichick looks to solve Mahomes riddle

The greatest tactical brain in the NFL goes up against the league 's hottest quarterback on Sunday when Bill Belichick 's New England Patriots attempt to put the brakes on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs .
Just three weeks into the NFL season , Mahomes and the Chiefs have already lit up the league , establishing themselves as early favorites to successfully retain their Super Bowl crown .
In a 34-20 rout of the Baltimore Ravens on Monday that was more one-sided than the final scoreline suggests , Mahomes was borderline unplayable as he unleashed the full range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The prolific 25-year-old gunslinger is on track to shatter a range of records if he maintains the pace set during his first three full seasons in the NFL .
In his first three games of the 2020 campaign , Mahomes has completed 67.8 % of his passes , averaged just under 300 yards a game and accumulated nine touchdowns with no interceptions .
In 34 regular season games since his debut as a rookie in 2017 , Mahomes has amassed 10,310 passing yards and 85 passing touchdowns , more than any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage .
It means that Belichick , the unparalleled master of designing gameplans capable of containing potent offenses , will have his work cut out for him at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday .
The famously taciturn Patriots coach was left impressed after studying the Chiefs quarterback 's latest masterclass against the Ravens .
`` All the superlatives that have been said about him , I 'd just be repeating them all , '' Belichick said this week when asked to assess Mahomes ' display .
`` I mean they 're really good , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an MVP quarterback and great offensive coordinator and head coach .
`` They 've got a lot of good skill players , a lot of experienced players .
I think the backs are a big weapon for them , both in the running game and in the passing game .
`` So , yeah , there 's a lot to stop .
We 're going to have to play well collectively as a team . ''
The Chiefs , one of seven teams remaining with a 100 % record after three rounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat posed by rejuvenated Patriots quarterback Cam Newton .
Newton , the 2015 NFL MVP , has been a revelation in the opening weeks of the season after replacing the departed Tom Brady .
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says Newton 's formidable rushing and solid passing will cause problems for his defense .
`` Cam can do anything .
Cam , he ’ s been the passer , he ’ s been the runner , he ’ s been the whole deal , '' Reid said .
`` They have the run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also have a guy that can throw the football .
`` I 've played against Cam enough and seen him enough to know how explosive he is doing both . ''
Reid is also expecting Belichick to have devised a plan to stymie the Chiefs ' free-scoring offense .
`` Any Bill Belichick team is going to be well-coached in having answers , '' Reid said .
In other games on Sunday , Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks take their unbeaten 3-0 record on the road against the Miami Dolphins while another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel to Nevada to face the Las Vegas Raiders .
On Monday , Aaron Rodgers will look to extend Green Bay 's unbeaten start to the season when the Packers host the Atlanta Falcons ( 0-3 ) at Lambeau Field .
Rodgers has enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign so far , with 887 passing yards in three games where the Packers ' offense has averaged just over 40 points per game .
Week four is taking place after the season 's first outbreak of coronavirus , with 11 members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Titans game against the Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled for Sunday has been postponed until later in the season following the cluster of cases .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The greatest tactical brain in the NFL goes up against the league's hottest quarterback on Sunday when Bill Belichick's New England Patriots attempt to put the brakes on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Just three weeks into the NFL season, Mahomes and the Chiefs have already lit up the league, establishing themselves as early favorites to successfully retain their Super Bowl crown.
In a 34-20 rout of the Baltimore Ravens on Monday that was more one-sided than the final scoreline suggests, Mahomes was borderline unplayable as he unleashed the full range of his talents in a five-touchdown performance.
The prolific 25-year-old gunslinger is on track to shatter a range of records if he maintains the pace set during his first three full seasons in the NFL.
In his first three games of the 2020 campaign, Mahomes has completed 67.8% of his passes, averaged just under 300 yards a game and accumulated nine touchdowns with no interceptions.
In 34 regular season games since his debut as a rookie in 2017, Mahomes has amassed 10,310 passing yards and 85 passing touchdowns, more than any other quarterback in NFL history at the same stage.
It means that Belichick, the unparalleled master of designing gameplans capable of containing potent offenses, will have his work cut out for him at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
The famously taciturn Patriots coach was left impressed after studying the Chiefs quarterback's latest masterclass against the Ravens.
"All the superlatives that have been said about him, I'd just be repeating them all," Belichick said this week when asked to assess Mahomes' display.
- 'A lot to stop' -
"I mean they're really good," Belichick added. "It starts with an MVP quarterback and great offensive coordinator and head coach.
"They've got a lot of good skill players, a lot of experienced players. I think the backs are a big weapon for them, both in the running game and in the passing game.
"So, yeah, there's a lot to stop. We're going to have to play well collectively as a team."
The Chiefs, one of seven teams remaining with a 100% record after three rounds, are meanwhile focusing on the dual threat posed by rejuvenated Patriots quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, has been a revelation in the opening weeks of the season after replacing the departed Tom Brady.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid says Newton's formidable rushing and solid passing will cause problems for his defense.
"Cam can do anything. Cam, he’s been the passer, he’s been the runner, he’s been the whole deal," Reid said. "They have the run game that’s tremendous. You also have a guy that can throw the football.
"I've played against Cam enough and seen him enough to know how explosive he is doing both."
Reid is also expecting Belichick to have devised a plan to stymie the Chiefs' free-scoring offense. "Any Bill Belichick team is going to be well-coached in having answers," Reid said.
In other games on Sunday, Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks take their unbeaten 3-0 record on the road against the Miami Dolphins while another surprise 3-0 team, the Buffalo Bills travel to Nevada to face the Las Vegas Raiders.
On Monday, Aaron Rodgers will look to extend Green Bay's unbeaten start to the season when the Packers host the Atlanta Falcons (0-3) at Lambeau Field.
Rodgers has enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign so far, with 887 passing yards in three games where the Packers' offense has averaged just over 40 points per game.
Week four is taking place after the season's first outbreak of coronavirus, with 11 members of the Tennessee Titans testing positive for Covid-19.
The Titans game against the Pittsburgh Steelers scheduled for Sunday has been postponed until later in the season following the cluster of cases.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--US trio matches defending champ Munoz for PGA Sanderson lead

Defending champion Sebastian Munoz of Colombia shared the lead with Americans Jimmy Walker , Charley Hoffman and Kevin Chappell after Thursday 's opening round of the US PGA Sanderson Farms Championship .
All four fired eight-under par 64s in the opening round at the Country Club of Jackson ( Mississippi ) to share the lead .
Canada 's Michael Giligic and South African M.J. Daffue were on 65 .
Munoz won his first PGA title last year in Jackson with a par on the first playoff hole to defeat South Korea 's Im Sung-jae .
The South American , trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner , birdied four of his first five holes , made his lone bogey at the ninth , then ran off four birdies in a row starting at the par-3 13th .
`` I just kind of tricked myself into thinking I was not the defending champion , just thinking it was another tournament at a course that I really like , '' Munoz said .
`` It has been working so far , so I 'll keep doing that . ''
Hoffman , a four-time PGA winner but never after leading or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reeled off four birdies in a row starting at the par-5 third .
Chasing a fifth PGA title and first since 2016 , Hoffman birdied the odd-numbered holes on the back nine , including a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-3 13th and a birdie putt from just inside 22 feet at the par-4 17th .
`` A few under par on this tract , I 'm happy , '' Hoffman said .
`` To get 8-under is really good .
I did everything well , I made some putts and that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t won since taking the 2016 PGA Championship for his sixth tour victory , having battled Lyme disease since 2017 and nagging elbow and shoulder pain this year , missing six of his past seven cuts .
`` I have n't been playing very well , but I feel good .
It just has n't clicked yet , '' Walker said after a bogey-free day .
`` I 'm seeing some putts go in . ''
Chappell , whose only tour title came at the 2017 Texas Open , started on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first six holes , then finished with back-to-back birdies .
`` I 'm just out there trying to play good golf .
Good golf from me is good enough to play at the highest levels out here , '' Chappell said .
`` The focus is just on enjoying it and playing good golf .
The results will come . ''
India 's Anirban Lahiri and Australian Cameron Davis were in a pack sharing seventh on 66 .

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Defending champion Sebastian Munoz of Colombia shared the lead with Americans Jimmy Walker, Charley Hoffman and Kevin Chappell after Thursday's opening round of the US PGA Sanderson Farms Championship.
All four fired eight-under par 64s in the opening round at the Country Club of Jackson (Mississippi) to share the lead. Canada's Michael Giligic and South African M.J. Daffue were on 65.
Munoz won his first PGA title last year in Jackson with a par on the first playoff hole to defeat South Korea's Im Sung-jae.
The South American, trying to become the event's first repeat winner, birdied four of his first five holes, made his lone bogey at the ninth, then ran off four birdies in a row starting at the par-3 13th.
"I just kind of tricked myself into thinking I was not the defending champion, just thinking it was another tournament at a course that I really like," Munoz said. "It has been working so far, so I'll keep doing that."
Hoffman, a four-time PGA winner but never after leading or sharing the lead in any round, reeled off four birdies in a row starting at the par-5 third.
Chasing a fifth PGA title and first since 2016, Hoffman birdied the odd-numbered holes on the back nine, including a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-3 13th and a birdie putt from just inside 22 feet at the par-4 17th.
"A few under par on this tract, I'm happy," Hoffman said. "To get 8-under is really good. I did everything well, I made some putts and that's a really good formula."
Walker hasn’t won since taking the 2016 PGA Championship for his sixth tour victory, having battled Lyme disease since 2017 and nagging elbow and shoulder pain this year, missing six of his past seven cuts.
"I haven't been playing very well, but I feel good. It just hasn't clicked yet," Walker said after a bogey-free day. "I'm seeing some putts go in."
Chappell, whose only tour title came at the 2017 Texas Open, started on the back nine and birdied four of his first six holes, then finished with back-to-back birdies.
"I'm just out there trying to play good golf. Good golf from me is good enough to play at the highest levels out here," Chappell said. "The focus is just on enjoying it and playing good golf. The results will come."
India's Anirban Lahiri and Australian Cameron Davis were in a pack sharing seventh on 66.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Mourinho takes swipe at 'Gary' Southgate

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho took a swipe at Gareth Southgate on Thursday as he called the England manager 'Gary ' and questioned his plans for Harry Kane .
Mourinho does not think Tottenham striker Kane should be involved in all three of England 's forthcoming friendly against Wales and Nations League fixtures with Belgium and Denmark .
After a gruelling run of fixtures for Tottenham , which continued with a 7-2 win over Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League on Thursday , Mourinho fears Kane could be in danger of burnout .
Southgate recently said Mourinho must look after Kane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Championships around the corner .
With tongue in cheek , Southgate also pointed out that Mourinho had only namechecked England assistant coach Steve Holland as a friend in his comments .
Kane showed why both men want him to play every minute of every game with a hat-trick and an assist in the romp over Maccabi Haifa which booked Tottenham 's place in the group stages .
But Mourinho used his interviews after the game to get the final word in , although he made a slip by calling the England boss 'Gary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my friend Steve Holland and for Gary ( sic ) not to be jealous .
For my friend Gary , I can promise that until the end of the season I do n't play Harry Kane one minute of any friendly match , '' Mourinho said .
`` His match was a fundamental match for us .
A match that means a few million pounds and means that we are in a group phase of a competition that we have ambitions . ''

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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho took a swipe at Gareth Southgate on Thursday as he called the England manager 'Gary' and questioned his plans for Harry Kane.
Mourinho does not think Tottenham striker Kane should be involved in all three of England's forthcoming friendly against Wales and Nations League fixtures with Belgium and Denmark.
After a gruelling run of fixtures for Tottenham, which continued with a 7-2 win over Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League on Thursday, Mourinho fears Kane could be in danger of burnout.
Southgate recently said Mourinho must look after Kane in April and May with the European Championships around the corner.
With tongue in cheek, Southgate also pointed out that Mourinho had only namechecked England assistant coach Steve Holland as a friend in his comments.
Kane showed why both men want him to play every minute of every game with a hat-trick and an assist in the romp over Maccabi Haifa which booked Tottenham's place in the group stages.
But Mourinho used his interviews after the game to get the final word in, although he made a slip by calling the England boss 'Gary'.
"What I can promise to my friend Steve Holland and for Gary (sic) not to be jealous. For my friend Gary, I can promise that until the end of the season I don't play Harry Kane one minute of any friendly match," Mourinho said.
"His match was a fundamental match for us. A match that means a few million pounds and means that we are in a group phase of a competition that we have ambitions."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Southgate lays down the law to England stars

Gareth Southgate has warned his England stars to appreciate what it means to represent their country after he dropped Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden to send a `` message '' following their behaviour last month .
Manchester United forward Greenwood and Manchester City midfielder Foden were sent home after breaching coronavirus regulations in September .
The pair invited local women to the England team hotel just hours after both had made their senior debuts in a 1-0 Nations League win over Iceland .
Southgate left the youngsters out of his squad for the forthcoming friendly against Wales and Nations League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed he had already told both players they would not be included this time around before they left Iceland last month .
The England boss also said he will talk to his 30-strong squad ahead of the upcoming game about the importance of representing the country when called on to do so .
`` What we found in the last camp was lots of new players coming in , '' he said .
`` So I think that maybe as a reminder when you have got lots of new players that you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assuming that people are going to understand how you work and pick it up from the rest of the group .
`` But I think always you have to work at culture .
It never is embedded forever .
It 's constantly evolving .
The team group is constantly evolving , as players come and go .
`` So you have always got to keep affecting that , keep addressing that and we will discuss the shirt , what it means to wear the shirt and some reminders on how we work - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading the riot act .
`` That 's a case of asking the players what sort of team they want to be involved in . ''
Southgate may have exiled Greenwood , 19 , and Foden , 20 , for now , but he said they will be available for selection for England 's games in November .
`` We have to send a message to all our players in our teams at every age level that that sort of thing is n't how we do things with England , '' Southgate said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehabilitate these two boys .
Young people will make mistakes .
These lads have suffered enough now .
`` I think they need this period of reflection but that gives them the opportunity to get back on their feet with their clubs , enjoy their football again .
`` I can speak to them after this camp and it will be just be about their form then . ''
Southgate also refused to rule out a future recall for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy .
The 33-year-old stepped away from international duty after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club career .
Vardy never officially announced his England retirement and he finished last season as the Premier League 's top goalscorer , winning the golden boot with 23 goals .
He has started the current campaign in similar form , scoring five in the opening three fixtures and Southgate still has him in mind .
`` We know that Jamie is still around and we still communicate a lot , '' Southgate said .
`` I 'm not in any way ruling him out if it 's the right thing at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fold . ''

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Gareth Southgate has warned his England stars to appreciate what it means to represent their country after he dropped Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden to send a "message" following their behaviour last month.
Manchester United forward Greenwood and Manchester City midfielder Foden were sent home after breaching coronavirus regulations in September.
The pair invited local women to the England team hotel just hours after both had made their senior debuts in a 1-0 Nations League win over Iceland.
Southgate left the youngsters out of his squad for the forthcoming friendly against Wales and Nations League matches with Belgium and Denmark.
Southgate revealed he had already told both players they would not be included this time around before they left Iceland last month.
The England boss also said he will talk to his 30-strong squad ahead of the upcoming game about the importance of representing the country when called on to do so.
"What we found in the last camp was lots of new players coming in," he said.
"So I think that maybe as a reminder when you have got lots of new players that you have to be a little more... not assuming that people are going to understand how you work and pick it up from the rest of the group.
"But I think always you have to work at culture. It never is embedded forever. It's constantly evolving. The team group is constantly evolving, as players come and go.
"So you have always got to keep affecting that, keep addressing that and we will discuss the shirt, what it means to wear the shirt and some reminders on how we work - but that's not a case of reading the riot act.
"That's a case of asking the players what sort of team they want to be involved in."
- Vardy in mind -
Southgate may have exiled Greenwood, 19, and Foden, 20, for now, but he said they will be available for selection for England's games in November.
"We have to send a message to all our players in our teams at every age level that that sort of thing isn't how we do things with England," Southgate said.
"Then we've got to rehabilitate these two boys. Young people will make mistakes. These lads have suffered enough now.
"I think they need this period of reflection but that gives them the opportunity to get back on their feet with their clubs, enjoy their football again.
"I can speak to them after this camp and it will be just be about their form then."
Southgate also refused to rule out a future recall for Leicester striker Jamie Vardy.
The 33-year-old stepped away from international duty after the 2018 World Cup to focus on his club career.
Vardy never officially announced his England retirement and he finished last season as the Premier League's top goalscorer, winning the golden boot with 23 goals.
He has started the current campaign in similar form, scoring five in the opening three fixtures and Southgate still has him in mind.
"We know that Jamie is still around and we still communicate a lot," Southgate said.
"I'm not in any way ruling him out if it's the right thing at the right time to bring him back into the fold."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Pandemic creates 'surge' of flawed research

Since the novel coronavirus appeared late last year there has been more than 4,000 papers relating to the virus , many of which have appeared online without undergoing a full peer-review process The Covid-19 pandemic has created a surge in potentially flawed scientific studies as researchers rush to publish results without adequate oversight , a leading medical ethicist said Friday .
Since the novel coronavirus appeared late last year there have been more than 4,000 academic papers relating to the virus , many of which have appeared online without the benefit of a full peer-review process .
Writing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a professor at the Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine , Queensland , warned that rushed or inaccurate research could put lives at risk .
`` Patient harm that is significant , permanent and irreversible could result from using faulty research results from pre-prints as well as published papers , '' she wrote .
As of the end of July , there were 19 published articles and 14 pre-prints -- papers that have not yet been peer reviewed -- dealing with Covid-19 that were retracted , withdrawn , or tagged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Most of these occurred in Asia , with China alone responsible for 11 retractions or withdrawals .
One of the most high profile retractions was of a paper published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal on the effectiveness of treating Covid-19 patients with the anti-arthritis drug hydroxychloroquine .
The research , released in May , prompted the World Health Organization to pause its trials of hydroxychloroquine after the results suggested the drug had no positive effects on hospitalised individuals and may in fact increase the likelihood of death .
The study was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` both methodological and data integrity concerns '' about it .
In September The Lancet said it had bolstered its peer-review system to ensure at least one reviewer was an expert on the area of research in question .
Another study -- also in The Lancet -- on a potential Russian vaccine raised concerns among Western scientists over a lack of safety data .
An open letter signed by more than 30 Europe-based experts last month cast doubt on the Russian findings , pointing towards potentially duplicated data .
The Lancet has asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bramstedt said that scientists were under increased pressure to get research out in the public sphere as the world races towards effective Covid-19 treatments and vaccines .
`` Research normally occurs at the speed of a marathon , but during a pandemic , the pace is more like a sprint , '' she wrote .
She said the pandemic had created a `` surge '' of manuscripts , something which the fleet of journal reviewers were struggling to keep pace with .
`` No research team is exempt from the pressures and speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Bramstedt .
`` And this can increase the risk of honest error as well as deliberate misconduct . ''

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The Covid-19 pandemic has created a surge in potentially flawed scientific studies as researchers rush to publish results without adequate oversight, a leading medical ethicist said Friday.
Since the novel coronavirus appeared late last year there have been more than 4,000 academic papers relating to the virus, many of which have appeared online without the benefit of a full peer-review process.
Writing in the Journal of Medical Ethics, Katrina Bramstedt, a professor at the Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Queensland, warned that rushed or inaccurate research could put lives at risk.
"Patient harm that is significant, permanent and irreversible could result from using faulty research results from pre-prints as well as published papers," she wrote.
As of the end of July, there were 19 published articles and 14 pre-prints -- papers that have not yet been peer reviewed -- dealing with Covid-19 that were retracted, withdrawn, or tagged with an "expression of concern".
Most of these occurred in Asia, with China alone responsible for 11 retractions or withdrawals.
One of the most high profile retractions was of a paper published in the prestigious Lancet medical journal on the effectiveness of treating Covid-19 patients with the anti-arthritis drug hydroxychloroquine.
The research, released in May, prompted the World Health Organization to pause its trials of hydroxychloroquine after the results suggested the drug had no positive effects on hospitalised individuals and may in fact increase the likelihood of death.
The study was withdrawn after a group of experts raised "both methodological and data integrity concerns" about it.
In September The Lancet said it had bolstered its peer-review system to ensure at least one reviewer was an expert on the area of research in question.
Another study -- also in The Lancet -- on a potential Russian vaccine raised concerns among Western scientists over a lack of safety data.
An open letter signed by more than 30 Europe-based experts last month cast doubt on the Russian findings, pointing towards potentially duplicated data.
The Lancet has asked the authors in Russia for clarifications.
- Publishing 'sprint' -
Bramstedt said that scientists were under increased pressure to get research out in the public sphere as the world races towards effective Covid-19 treatments and vaccines.
"Research normally occurs at the speed of a marathon, but during a pandemic, the pace is more like a sprint," she wrote.
She said the pandemic had created a "surge" of manuscripts, something which the fleet of journal reviewers were struggling to keep pace with.
"No research team is exempt from the pressures and speed at which COVID-19 research is occurring," said Bramstedt.
"And this can increase the risk of honest error as well as deliberate misconduct."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Amazon says nearly 20,000 of its workers got Covid-19

E-commerce giant Amazon says that its 1.37 million frontline workers , including those at its Whole Foods Market grocery stores , have a lower virus infection rate than expected Amazon on Thursday said that slightly more than 19,800 of its employees have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of March .
Data on the e-commerce giant 's 1.37 million frontline workers , including those at its Whole Foods Market grocery stores in the United States , showed a lower infection rate than expected , Amazon said .
The release of the figure comes as some workers in logistics centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect them from the pandemic as well as its reluctance to share information about colleagues who get infected .
Amazon has ramped up testing to 50,000 a day across 650 sites , according to the Seattle-based company .
`` Since the beginning of this crisis , we 've worked hard to keep our employees informed , notifying them of every new case in their building , '' Amazon said in a blog post sharing Covid-19 infection rates among its frontline workers .
If the rate of infection among Amazon and Whole Foods workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population , the number of cases would have topped 33,000 , according to the company .

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Amazon on Thursday said that slightly more than 19,800 of its employees have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of March.
Data on the e-commerce giant's 1.37 million frontline workers, including those at its Whole Foods Market grocery stores in the United States, showed a lower infection rate than expected, Amazon said.
The release of the figure comes as some workers in logistics centers have criticized the company's safeguards to protect them from the pandemic as well as its reluctance to share information about colleagues who get infected.
Amazon has ramped up testing to 50,000 a day across 650 sites, according to the Seattle-based company.
"Since the beginning of this crisis, we've worked hard to keep our employees informed, notifying them of every new case in their building," Amazon said in a blog post sharing Covid-19 infection rates among its frontline workers.
If the rate of infection among Amazon and Whole Foods workers were the same as the general US population, the number of cases would have topped 33,000, according to the company.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-01--Stephenson, Lee shoot 63s to share LPGA ShopRite lead

American Lauren Stephenson fired an eight-under par 63 , the lowest round of her LPGA career , to share the lead with South Korea 's Lee Mi-hyang after Thursday 's opening round of the ShopRite Classic .
Stephenson , a 23-year-old former US college standout at Alabama , made an eagle , eight birdies and two bogeys at Seaview in Galloway , New Jersey .
`` I feel amazing , '' Stephenson said .
`` It was a beautiful day out , the weather was amazing and the golf was really good on top of that .
`` I got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I also played some good golf .
It was really nice to see hard work paying off . ''
She was matched in the late afternoon by 53rd-ranked Lee , who closed a bogey-free round with back-to-back birdies to match Stephenson for the lead .
`` It was really good start for me the first round , '' Lee said .
`` Just want to keep doing my best .
I did n't get any bad shots and bad putts , so everything was good .
That 's why I shot 8-under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Seoul , seeks her third career LPGA title after the 2014 Mizuno Classic in Japan and the 2017 Scottish Open .
`` I have experience tied for the lead the first round before , but anyway just I have three more rounds left , '' Lee said .
`` I have to just concentrate on my golf and then just keep going .
`` I do n't want to change anything and I do n't want to think about any more bigger than just right now . ''
Japan 's Nasa Hataoka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 64 with American Jennifer Song another stroke adrift .
Stephenson shared eighth in last year 's Vic Open in Australia in her rookie season LPGA debut for her only top-10 tour effort so far .
She birdied four of the first five holes Thursday , took a bogey at the eighth , then bounced back by starting the back nine with back-to-back birdies .
`` I was really happy with how I was hitting it , '' Stephenson said .
`` Kind of died off in the middle between ending on nine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was like , 'All right , this is my special day . ''
On the par-4 14th , she found the rough off the tee but then blasted a pitching wedge from 137 yards and the ball rolled into the cup for an eagle , although she did n't learn that until later .
`` I made a really good swing and I was just super happy with it being short of the pin .
Then I think it just keep trickled right in , '' Stephenson said .
She sandwiched birdies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 17 for the lead .
Lee birdied the par-5 third and par-4 fourth , added another at the par-3 seventh and then began her back nine with three consecutive birdies before her closing pair to match Stephenson .

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American Lauren Stephenson fired an eight-under par 63, the lowest round of her LPGA career, to share the lead with South Korea's Lee Mi-hyang after Thursday's opening round of the ShopRite Classic.
Stephenson, a 23-year-old former US college standout at Alabama, made an eagle, eight birdies and two bogeys at Seaview in Galloway, New Jersey.
"I feel amazing," Stephenson said. "It was a beautiful day out, the weather was amazing and the golf was really good on top of that.
"I got some good lucky shots out there, but I also played some good golf. It was really nice to see hard work paying off."
She was matched in the late afternoon by 53rd-ranked Lee, who closed a bogey-free round with back-to-back birdies to match Stephenson for the lead.
"It was really good start for me the first round," Lee said. "Just want to keep doing my best. I didn't get any bad shots and bad putts, so everything was good. That's why I shot 8-under par."
Lee, a 27-year-old from Seoul, seeks her third career LPGA title after the 2014 Mizuno Classic in Japan and the 2017 Scottish Open.
"I have experience tied for the lead the first round before, but anyway just I have three more rounds left," Lee said. "I have to just concentrate on my golf and then just keep going.
"I don't want to change anything and I don't want to think about any more bigger than just right now."
Japan's Nasa Hataoka and American Ryann O'Toole shared third on 64 with American Jennifer Song another stroke adrift.
Stephenson shared eighth in last year's Vic Open in Australia in her rookie season LPGA debut for her only top-10 tour effort so far.
She birdied four of the first five holes Thursday, took a bogey at the eighth, then bounced back by starting the back nine with back-to-back birdies.
"I was really happy with how I was hitting it," Stephenson said. "Kind of died off in the middle between ending on nine, and so when I turned to 10 I was like, 'All right, this is my special day."
On the par-4 14th, she found the rough off the tee but then blasted a pitching wedge from 137 yards and the ball rolled into the cup for an eagle, although she didn't learn that until later.
"I made a really good swing and I was just super happy with it being short of the pin. Then I think it just keep trickled right in," Stephenson said.
She sandwiched birdies at 16 and 18 around a bogey at 17 for the lead.
Lee birdied the par-5 third and par-4 fourth, added another at the par-3 seventh and then began her back nine with three consecutive birdies before her closing pair to match Stephenson.
© 2020 AFP