france24--2020-10-21--Baxter fears for pro rugby union future ahead of Premiership final

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter may be just 80 minutes away from seeing his side complete a Premiership and European double but the Chiefs boss says the greater issue for rugby union is remaining afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Baxter 's men face Wasps in Saturday 's Premiership final at Twickenham , a week after their thrilling European Champions Cup final win over Racing 92 .
The behind closed doors match will take place after Wasps were given a clean bill of health following 11 earlier positive tests , including players and backroom staff for Covid-19 .
Spectators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union matches .
Premiership clubs can rely on television revenue to help weather the storm but , longer-term , they need fans back at their grounds .
`` As everyone is going to be aware the biggest challenge for rugby at the moment is not who wins trophies , it 's going to be staying around as a professional viable sport over the next 12 months , '' Baxter told a conference call on Wednesday .
Exeter chairman Tony Rowe , a successful businessman , has been a key figure in the Chiefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kings of Europe along with Baxter .
`` I know we are okay here and now , '' said Baxter of Exeter 's financial position .
`` We can ride a certain amount of losses because of the success of the club and the value of the club and the things that are going on here .
But it ca n't go on forever .
`` It feels like our responses at the moment are lockdowns and hoping and waiting that something comes along like a vaccine . ''
Baxter , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also concerned by the plight of lower league clubs .
`` We 're actually killing a level of sport that we do n't need to because we 're not willing to move on in certain ways , '' he said .
`` We have n't got the Championship going , which is criminal really .
We 're not even helping them put anything in place to get their game up and running . ''
Meanwhile Baxter was glad Wasps could take their place in the final .
`` It was great to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach ) Lee ( Blackett ) this morning saying their testing had gone well .
And now we can confirm and get on with things .
`` Wasps will deem themselves very unlucky .
I think they are one of the teams that have hardly picked up anything at all right the way through , and then right at the business-end of the season they 've had one little outbreak .
`` I have every confidence that they are doing everything correctly , and I have got every confidence that this has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on the pitch in the final , both from Exeter and from Wasps , will be Covid-free and there wo n't be any danger to anybody . ''
Had Wasps been sidelined by Covid-19 , their place in the final would have been taken by losing semi-finalists Bristol , who finished third in the regular season table .
Baxter said while it would have been a `` bit odd '' to play European Challenge Cup champions Bristol in the Premiership final , rugby union 's worsening financial situation meant scrapping the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option .
`` The only thing that is producing revenue at the moment is games on TV , '' said Baxter .
`` Rugby clubs ca n't afford to not stage games and not to have television revenue .
They just ca n't . ''

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Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter may be just 80 minutes away from seeing his side complete a Premiership and European double but the Chiefs boss says the greater issue for rugby union is remaining afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Baxter's men face Wasps in Saturday's Premiership final at Twickenham, a week after their thrilling European Champions Cup final win over Racing 92.
The behind closed doors match will take place after Wasps were given a clean bill of health following 11 earlier positive tests, including players and backroom staff for Covid-19.
Spectators are currently barred from professional English rugby union matches.
Premiership clubs can rely on television revenue to help weather the storm but, longer-term, they need fans back at their grounds.
"As everyone is going to be aware the biggest challenge for rugby at the moment is not who wins trophies, it's going to be staying around as a professional viable sport over the next 12 months," Baxter told a conference call on Wednesday.
- 'Killing a level' -
Exeter chairman Tony Rowe, a successful businessman, has been a key figure in the Chiefs' decade-long rise from the second-tier Championship to kings of Europe along with Baxter.
"I know we are okay here and now," said Baxter of Exeter's financial position.
"We can ride a certain amount of losses because of the success of the club and the value of the club and the things that are going on here. But it can't go on forever.
"It feels like our responses at the moment are lockdowns and hoping and waiting that something comes along like a vaccine."
Baxter, having played second-tier Championship rugby for Exeter, is also concerned by the plight of lower league clubs.
"We're actually killing a level of sport that we don't need to because we're not willing to move on in certain ways," he said.
"We haven't got the Championship going, which is criminal really. We're not even helping them put anything in place to get their game up and running."
Meanwhile Baxter was glad Wasps could take their place in the final.
"It was great to have a message from (Wasps head coach) Lee (Blackett) this morning saying their testing had gone well. And now we can confirm and get on with things.
"Wasps will deem themselves very unlucky. I think they are one of the teams that have hardly picked up anything at all right the way through, and then right at the business-end of the season they've had one little outbreak.
"I have every confidence that they are doing everything correctly, and I have got every confidence that this has been dealt with and everyone who will now be on the pitch in the final, both from Exeter and from Wasps, will be Covid-free and there won't be any danger to anybody."
Had Wasps been sidelined by Covid-19, their place in the final would have been taken by losing semi-finalists Bristol, who finished third in the regular season table.
Baxter said while it would have been a "bit odd" to play European Challenge Cup champions Bristol in the Premiership final, rugby union's worsening financial situation meant scrapping the final in Wasps' absence was not an option.
"The only thing that is producing revenue at the moment is games on TV," said Baxter. "Rugby clubs can't afford to not stage games and not to have television revenue. They just can't."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Wales skipper Jones to equal Test record against France

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is set to equal the Test appearance world record after being named on Thursday to lead his side at France this weekend .
The 35-year-old lock will make his 148th international appearance ( including nine for the British and Irish Lions ) in Paris on Saturday to draw level with New Zealand 's World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw .
`` It is a fabulous achievement , '' said Wales coach Wayne Pivac of Jones ' landmark after announcing his team on Thursday .
`` He epitomises what a great rugby player is all about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and off the field and a gentleman of the game .
On the field he leads by example and you ca n't ask more of your captain and we are very privileged here in Wales to have him . ''
Wales ' first game for seven months sees a Test recall for centre Jonathan Davies , who last played an international match in November after suffering a knee injury at the 2019 Rugby World Cup .
Meanwhile Pivac has selected uncapped Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit and Ospreys hooker Sam Parry among the replacements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warm-up for both sides ' delayed Six Nations finales , with Wales welcoming Scotland to Llanelli next weekend and France facing Ireland in fixtures postponed by several months due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Pivac 's team includes plenty of experienced internationals , with winger George North set to win his 96th cap .
In the pack , Ryan Elias takes over Ken Owens following his fellow hooker 's shoulder injury , with Cory Hill partnering Jones in the second-row and Aaron Wainwright starting at blindside flanker in a back-row featuring Justin Tipuric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fifth in the Six Nations table , with one win from four games .

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Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is set to equal the Test appearance world record after being named on Thursday to lead his side at France this weekend.
The 35-year-old lock will make his 148th international appearance (including nine for the British and Irish Lions) in Paris on Saturday to draw level with New Zealand's World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw.
"It is a fabulous achievement," said Wales coach Wayne Pivac of Jones' landmark after announcing his team on Thursday. "He epitomises what a great rugby player is all about.
"He is a true professional on and off the field and a gentleman of the game. On the field he leads by example and you can't ask more of your captain and we are very privileged here in Wales to have him."
Wales' first game for seven months sees a Test recall for centre Jonathan Davies, who last played an international match in November after suffering a knee injury at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Meanwhile Pivac has selected uncapped Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit and Ospreys hooker Sam Parry among the replacements.
This match will serve as a warm-up for both sides' delayed Six Nations finales, with Wales welcoming Scotland to Llanelli next weekend and France facing Ireland in fixtures postponed by several months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pivac's team includes plenty of experienced internationals, with winger George North set to win his 96th cap.
In the pack, Ryan Elias takes over Ken Owens following his fellow hooker's shoulder injury, with Cory Hill partnering Jones in the second-row and Aaron Wainwright starting at blindside flanker in a back-row featuring Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Wales are currently fifth in the Six Nations table, with one win from four games.
Wales (15-1)
Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Wainwright; Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Cory Hill; Samson Lee, Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre
Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, James Davies, Gareth Davies, Rhys Patchell, Louis Rees-Zammit
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Benitez escapes relegation in China after only three wins

Rafael Benitez , who took Liverpool to Champions League glory , avoided relegation from the Chinese Super League despite winning just three times in 16 games this season Rafael Benitez 's Dalian Pro avoided relegation from the Chinese Super League on Thursday , despite winning just three times in 16 games this season .
The Champions League-winning coach breathed a sigh of relief after Dalian overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 3-2 on aggregate .
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss saw his side win 2-0 on the evening , just their third victory in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult situation , in this difficult year , we achieved something that was important for the young players and for the Wanda ( Dalian owners ) project , to stay in the Chinese Super League , '' said the 60-year-old Spaniard .
The CSL revamped its format because of the pandemic , playing the delayed campaign in two secure `` bubbles '' over two phases .
In the first phase , Dalian won twice in 14 matches in their group , putting them into a relegation dogfight .
Benitez , who took Liverpool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has often said that he has the youngest team in the CSL .
He was also missing former Napoli star Marek Hamsik for the must-win match , but did have former Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon .
`` This competition was very difficult because a knockout competition is very difficult for young players , '' he said .
`` So to achieve what we have achieved is great news for them for the future because they will have more experience now . ''
Shijiazhuang can still save themselves from the drop with victory @ @ @ @ @

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Rafael Benitez's Dalian Pro avoided relegation from the Chinese Super League on Thursday, despite winning just three times in 16 games this season.
The Champions League-winning coach breathed a sigh of relief after Dalian overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 3-2 on aggregate.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss saw his side win 2-0 on the evening, just their third victory in the coronavirus-disrupted campaign.
"In this difficult situation, in this difficult year, we achieved something that was important for the young players and for the Wanda (Dalian owners) project, to stay in the Chinese Super League," said the 60-year-old Spaniard.
The CSL revamped its format because of the pandemic, playing the delayed campaign in two secure "bubbles" over two phases.
In the first phase, Dalian won twice in 14 matches in their group, putting them into a relegation dogfight.
Benitez, who took Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005, has often said that he has the youngest team in the CSL.
He was also missing former Napoli star Marek Hamsik for the must-win match, but did have former Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon.
"This competition was very difficult because a knockout competition is very difficult for young players," he said.
"So to achieve what we have achieved is great news for them for the future because they will have more experience now."
Shijiazhuang can still save themselves from the drop with victory in the next round.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Greek court orders jail for neo-Nazi leaders

Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos was defiant after the ruling A Greek court on Thursday ordered neo-Nazi Golden Dawn chief Nikos Michaloliakos and his former top aides to begin immediately serving prison sentences , capping one of the most significant trials in the country 's political history .
Following the ruling , warrants are to be issued for the immediate arrest of Michaloliakos and several former party lawmakers , the court said .
Michaloliakos and other former members of his inner circle were sentenced two weeks ago to more than 13 years in prison for running a criminal organisation after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longterm Hitler admirer and Holocaust denier , was defiant after the court ordered his imprisonment .
- 'We will be vindicated ' - '' I 'm proud to be taken to jail for my ideas ... we will be vindicated by history and by the Greek people , '' he told reporters outside his home in an affluent northern Athens suburb .
`` I thank the hundreds of thousands of Greeks who stood by GD all these years , '' said the 62-year-old mathematician and former protege of Greek dictator Georgios Papadopoulos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dawn leader Christos Pappas and the party 's former spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris , who recently formed a new nationalist party .
But the ruling can not be immediately enforced in the case of former Golden Dawn lawmaker Ioannis Lagos , who was elected to the European parliament in 2019 and has immunity .
Greek judicial authorities must formally request that Lagos ' immunity be lifted by the European parliament before he can be imprisoned .
The court had issued guilty verdicts to Michaloliakos and over 50 other defendants , including his wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was delayed by a number of legal disputes , including last week when Lagos tried to have the court 's three judges recused for bias .
The head judge Maria Lepenioti on Monday also publicly questioned the state prosecutor 's demand that most of the convicted be provisionally released pending appeals trials , which could take years to adjudicate .
The court has accepted that Golden Dawn was a criminal organisation run by Michaloliakos using a military-style hierarchy modelled on Hitler 's Nazi party .
The probe was sparked by the 2013 murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was ambushed by Golden Dawn members and fatally stabbed .
Fyssas ' murderer , former truck driver Yiorgos Roupakias , has been handed a life sentence .
In a lengthy investigation , pre-trial magistrates outlined how the group formed black-clad militia to intimidate and beat up opponents with knuckle dusters , crowbars and knives .
A search of party members ' homes in 2013 uncovered firearms and other weapons , as well as Nazi memorabilia .
For Michaloliakos , the sentence caps a stunning downfall for a man whose party was the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year the trial began .
The party won 18 seats in parliament in 2012 after tapping into anti-austerity and anti-migrant anger during Greece 's decade-long debt crisis .
It failed to win a single seat in last year 's parliamentary election .
Michaloliakos and other former Golden Dawn lawmakers had already spent several months in prison after Fyssas ' murder in 2013 .
Time served in pre-trial detention will be deducted from the overall sentence .
Under Greek law , they must serve at least two-fifths of their sentence before requesting an @ @ @

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A Greek court on Thursday ordered neo-Nazi Golden Dawn chief Nikos Michaloliakos and his former top aides to begin immediately serving prison sentences, capping one of the most significant trials in the country's political history.
Following the ruling, warrants are to be issued for the immediate arrest of Michaloliakos and several former party lawmakers, the court said.
Michaloliakos and other former members of his inner circle were sentenced two weeks ago to more than 13 years in prison for running a criminal organisation after a five-year trial.
Michaloliakos, a longterm Hitler admirer and Holocaust denier, was defiant after the court ordered his imprisonment.
- 'We will be vindicated' -
"I'm proud to be taken to jail for my ideas... we will be vindicated by history and by the Greek people," he told reporters outside his home in an affluent northern Athens suburb.
"I thank the hundreds of thousands of Greeks who stood by GD all these years," said the 62-year-old mathematician and former protege of Greek dictator Georgios Papadopoulos.
Those going to jail include deputy Golden Dawn leader Christos Pappas and the party's former spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris, who recently formed a new nationalist party.
But the ruling cannot be immediately enforced in the case of former Golden Dawn lawmaker Ioannis Lagos, who was elected to the European parliament in 2019 and has immunity.
Greek judicial authorities must formally request that Lagos' immunity be lifted by the European parliament before he can be imprisoned.
The court had issued guilty verdicts to Michaloliakos and over 50 other defendants, including his wife, on October 7.
But the conclusion was delayed by a number of legal disputes, including last week when Lagos tried to have the court's three judges recused for bias.
The head judge Maria Lepenioti on Monday also publicly questioned the state prosecutor's demand that most of the convicted be provisionally released pending appeals trials, which could take years to adjudicate.
- Modelled on Nazi party -
The court has accepted that Golden Dawn was a criminal organisation run by Michaloliakos using a military-style hierarchy modelled on Hitler's Nazi party.
The probe was sparked by the 2013 murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, who was ambushed by Golden Dawn members and fatally stabbed.
Fyssas' murderer, former truck driver Yiorgos Roupakias, has been handed a life sentence.
In a lengthy investigation, pre-trial magistrates outlined how the group formed black-clad militia to intimidate and beat up opponents with knuckle dusters, crowbars and knives.
A search of party members' homes in 2013 uncovered firearms and other weapons, as well as Nazi memorabilia.
For Michaloliakos, the sentence caps a stunning downfall for a man whose party was the country's third most popular in 2015, the year the trial began.
The party won 18 seats in parliament in 2012 after tapping into anti-austerity and anti-migrant anger during Greece's decade-long debt crisis.
It failed to win a single seat in last year's parliamentary election.
Michaloliakos and other former Golden Dawn lawmakers had already spent several months in prison after Fyssas' murder in 2013.
Time served in pre-trial detention will be deducted from the overall sentence.
Under Greek law, they must serve at least two-fifths of their sentence before requesting an early release.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Werder cancel training after player tests positive for coronavirus

Werder Bremen 's preparations to host Hoffenheim on Sunday have been disrupted after an unnamed player tested positive for the coronavirus Werder Bremen announced on Thursday they had cancelled training after an unnamed squad member tested positive for coronavirus , disrupting preparations for this weekend 's league game against Hoffenheim .
The player concerned , who has been place in home quarantine , is `` doing well and has no symptoms , '' Werder said in a statement .
Werder 's first-team squad and Florian Kohfeldt 's coaching staff are in individual voluntary isolation before the club 's next round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are concerns whether Werder will be able to host Hoffenheim on Sunday ( 1700 GMT ) behind closed doors in the Bundesliga .
The local health authority in Bremen has also said two of the Werder squad - an unnamed staff member and player - must also go into a 14-day quarantine despite both returning negative tests .
Werder are the latest German top-flight side to reveal positive tests for Covid-19 after Bayern Munich 's Germany winger Serge Gnabry was sidelined by the virus Tuesday .
Germany reported a jump in Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past 24 hours -- a large increase from the previous record of 7,830 last Friday .

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Werder Bremen announced on Thursday they had cancelled training after an unnamed squad member tested positive for coronavirus, disrupting preparations for this weekend's league game against Hoffenheim.
The player concerned, who has been place in home quarantine, is "doing well and has no symptoms," Werder said in a statement.
Werder's first-team squad and Florian Kohfeldt's coaching staff are in individual voluntary isolation before the club's next round of testing for Covid-19 on Friday.
There are concerns whether Werder will be able to host Hoffenheim on Sunday (1700 GMT) behind closed doors in the Bundesliga.
The local health authority in Bremen has also said two of the Werder squad - an unnamed staff member and player - must also go into a 14-day quarantine despite both returning negative tests.
Werder are the latest German top-flight side to reveal positive tests for Covid-19 after Bayern Munich's Germany winger Serge Gnabry was sidelined by the virus Tuesday.
Germany reported a jump in Covid-19 figures on Thursday with 11,287 new cases in the past 24 hours -- a large increase from the previous record of 7,830 last Friday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Japan's Nakagami signs new Honda-LCR deal 'for 2021 and beyond'

Honda-LCR 's Takaaki Nakagami is yet to record a podium finish since his MotoGP debut in 2018 Japanese motorcyclist Takaaki Nakagami has agreed a contract extension with Honda-LCR `` for 2021 and beyond '' , the team announced on Thursday ahead of this weekend 's Teruel Grand Prix in Spain .
Nakagami , 28 , who sits seventh in the riders standings after 10 of this season 's 14 races , will be joined by Alex Marquez next term with the Spaniard replacing the departing Briton Cal Crutchlow .
`` I 'm very happy to be able to continue racing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond .
I 'm grateful to Honda for their generous support , allowing me to bring out my full potential this season , '' Nakagai said in a Honda statement .
`` I will be doing my best to gain solid results for the remaining races , and build on that momentum next year .
I 'm aiming higher with Honda .
I look forward to your continued support , '' he added .
This weekend 's race in Aragon takes place on Sunday with Spain 's Joan Mir holding a six-point advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the overall standings .

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Japanese motorcyclist Takaaki Nakagami has agreed a contract extension with Honda-LCR "for 2021 and beyond", the team announced on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Teruel Grand Prix in Spain.
Nakagami, 28, who sits seventh in the riders standings after 10 of this season's 14 races, will be joined by Alex Marquez next term with the Spaniard replacing the departing Briton Cal Crutchlow.
"I'm very happy to be able to continue racing for LCR Honda IDEMITSU in 2021 and beyond. I'm grateful to Honda for their generous support, allowing me to bring out my full potential this season," Nakagai said in a Honda statement.
"I will be doing my best to gain solid results for the remaining races, and build on that momentum next year. I'm aiming higher with Honda. I look forward to your continued support," he added.
This weekend's race in Aragon takes place on Sunday with Spain's Joan Mir holding a six-point advantage over France's Fabio Quartararo on top of the overall standings.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Saad Hariri named new Lebanon PM, promises reform cabinet

Lebanon 's new prime minister designate Saad Hariri now has the task of persuading the country 's myriad of factions to approve a new government committed to the reforms demanded by Western creditors Three-time Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri was named to the post for a fourth time Thursday and immediately promised a government of technocrats committed to a French-backed reform plan .
Hariri said he would `` form a cabinet of non politically aligned experts with the mission of economic , financial and administrative reforms contained in the French initiative roadmap '' .
`` I will work on forming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and this is the only and last chance facing our country , '' he added .
President Michel Aoun named Hariri to form a new cabinet to lift the country out of crisis after most parliamentary blocs backed his nomination .
Hariri , who has previously led three governments in Lebanon , stepped down almost a year ago under pressure from unprecedented protests against the political class .
`` The president summoned ... Saad al-Deen al-Hariri to task him with forming a government , '' a spokesman for the presidency said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 lawmakers , while 53 abstained .
Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades and still reeling from a devastating port blast that killed more than 200 people and ravaged large parts of Beirut in August .
Aoun warned Wednesday that the new prime minister , the third in a year , would have to spearhead reforms and battle corruption .
A relatively unknown diplomat , Mustapha Adib , had been nominated in late August following the resignation of his predecessor Hassan Diab 's government in the aftermath of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to form a cabinet of experts , in line with conditions set by French President Emmanuel Macron to help rescue the corruption-ridden country from its worst ever economic crisis .
He faced resistance from some of the main parties however and threw in the towel nearly a month later , leaving Lebanon rudderless to face soaring poverty and the aftermath of its worst peacetime disaster .

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Three-time Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri was named to the post for a fourth time Thursday and immediately promised a government of technocrats committed to a French-backed reform plan.
Hariri said he would "form a cabinet of non politically aligned experts with the mission of economic, financial and administrative reforms contained in the French initiative roadmap".
"I will work on forming a government quickly because time is running out and this is the only and last chance facing our country," he added.
President Michel Aoun named Hariri to form a new cabinet to lift the country out of crisis after most parliamentary blocs backed his nomination.
Hariri, who has previously led three governments in Lebanon, stepped down almost a year ago under pressure from unprecedented protests against the political class.
"The president summoned... Saad al-Deen al-Hariri to task him with forming a government," a spokesman for the presidency said.
Hariri was backed by a majority of 65 lawmakers, while 53 abstained.
Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades and still reeling from a devastating port blast that killed more than 200 people and ravaged large parts of Beirut in August.
Aoun warned Wednesday that the new prime minister, the third in a year, would have to spearhead reforms and battle corruption.
A relatively unknown diplomat, Mustapha Adib, had been nominated in late August following the resignation of his predecessor Hassan Diab's government in the aftermath of the deadly port blast.
Adib had vowed to form a cabinet of experts, in line with conditions set by French President Emmanuel Macron to help rescue the corruption-ridden country from its worst ever economic crisis.
He faced resistance from some of the main parties however and threw in the towel nearly a month later, leaving Lebanon rudderless to face soaring poverty and the aftermath of its worst peacetime disaster.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Frenchman Pinot out of Vuelta a Espana

Frenchman Pinot out of Vuelta a Espana

Thibaut Pinot has pulled out of the Vuelta French climb specialist Thibaut Pinot has pulled out of the Vuelta a @ @ @ @ @ back he picked up during the Tour de France , his Groupama-FDJ team said on @ @ @ @ @ the charismatic and emotional 30-year-old is often a Tour contender due to his ability to @ @ @ @ @ the very tough mountainous stages .
But Pinot 's 2020 season was thrown into turmoil @ @ @ @ @ the Tour in August when he slipped in a deluge and a fellow rider crashed @ @ @ @ @ 's Promenade des Anglais .
`` After a respite from the back pain that had @ @ @ @ @ in Nice , it has again greatly hampered him during the first and second stages @ @ @ @ @ his team said .
The Vuelta began on Tuesday and after two hilly stages Pinot @ @ @ @ @ 25 minutes behind overall race leader Primoz Roglic .
Pinot will now rest his back @ @ @ @ @ season .

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French climb specialist Thibaut Pinot has pulled out of the Vuelta a Espana after inflaming a sore back he picked up during the Tour de France, his Groupama-FDJ team said on Thursday
Hugely popular in France the charismatic and emotional 30-year-old is often a Tour contender due to his ability to produce a huge performance on the very tough mountainous stages.
But Pinot's 2020 season was thrown into turmoil on the opening stage of the Tour in August when he slipped in a deluge and a fellow rider crashed into his back on Nice's Promenade des Anglais.
"After a respite from the back pain that had handicapped Thibaut following his fall in Nice, it has again greatly hampered him during the first and second stages of the Vuelta," his team said.
The Vuelta began on Tuesday and after two hilly stages Pinot trailed in 63rd place over 25 minutes behind overall race leader Primoz Roglic.
Pinot will now rest his back in preparation for the 2021 season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Israel delegation visited Sudan in push to normalise ties

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said he hopes Khartoum will soon normalise ties with Israel An Israeli delegation has visited Sudan to discuss normalising relations following the Jewish state 's US-brokered deals with UAE and Bahrain , local sources in Jerusalem said Thursday .
The one-day return trip on Wednesday has heightened speculation Israel could soon strike a peace deal with the Arab-led African country with which it is technically at war .
US President Donald Trump , fighting for re-election on November 2 , has pushed for further deals between Israel and majority Muslim states traditionally hostile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tel Aviv for the Sudanese capital on Wednesday , according to the specialised air traffic website Flightradar24 .
Israeli sources requesting anonymity told AFP Thursday that an Israeli delegation indeed went to Sudan to discuss a normalisation of relations , confirming Israeli media reports .
The same day , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped Sudan would `` quickly '' recognise Israel .
That call came after Trump had pledged Monday to take Sudan soon off the US state sponsors of terrorism blacklist , a legacy of the era of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-selling daily , Yediot Aharonot , reported Sudan 's post-Bashir transitional joint civilian and military government had internally agreed to normalise ties .
`` According to reports that have been received in Jerusalem , the leadership in Khartoum has made a decision in principle to that effect , '' the newspaper said .
It reported that `` an agreement has been reached between the president of the Sovereign Council , General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan , and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok , who had been opposed up until now to normalising relations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible announcement by Trump `` in the coming days '' from Washington , with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Burhan to join by video conference .
Netanyahu and Burhan in February held a landmark meeting in Uganda .
Israeli intelligence minister Eli Cohen was also quoted in local media as saying Israel was `` very close to normalising ties with Sudan , '' in comments his foreign affairs advisor Arye Shalicar confirmed to AFP .
Sudan experienced a historic shift last year as Bashir was ousted in April in the face of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now turning the page on decades as an international pariah .
It has launched a series of reforms , put Bashir on trial and is cooperating with the International Criminal Court to try him over his regime 's scorched-earth campaign in the Darfur region .
Sudan is one of four nations branded by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism , along with Iran , North Korea and Syria , severely impeding access to loans , debt relief and foreign investment .
Sudan was designated in 1993 during the rule of Bashir , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laden as he imposed a brand of political Islamism on the country .
Trump said he was ready to remove Sudan from the blacklist after Khartoum agreed to a $ 335 million compensation package for victims and relatives of past attacks .
Pompeo had discussed the issue of normalising ties with Israel in August on the first visit in 15 years by a top US diplomat to Khartoum .
But Hamdok at the time demurred on the controversial step , saying the transitional government did not have authority to normalise with Israel .

Jerusalem (AFP) –
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An Israeli delegation has visited Sudan to discuss normalising relations following the Jewish state's US-brokered deals with UAE and Bahrain, local sources in Jerusalem said Thursday.
The one-day return trip on Wednesday has heightened speculation Israel could soon strike a peace deal with the Arab-led African country with which it is technically at war.
US President Donald Trump, fighting for re-election on November 2, has pushed for further deals between Israel and majority Muslim states traditionally hostile to it.
A chartered plane left Tel Aviv for the Sudanese capital on Wednesday, according to the specialised air traffic website Flightradar24.
Israeli sources requesting anonymity told AFP Thursday that an Israeli delegation indeed went to Sudan to discuss a normalisation of relations, confirming Israeli media reports.
The same day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped Sudan would "quickly" recognise Israel.
That call came after Trump had pledged Monday to take Sudan soon off the US state sponsors of terrorism blacklist, a legacy of the era of fallen dictator Omar al-Bashir.
Israel's top-selling daily, Yediot Aharonot, reported Sudan's post-Bashir transitional joint civilian and military government had internally agreed to normalise ties.
"According to reports that have been received in Jerusalem, the leadership in Khartoum has made a decision in principle to that effect," the newspaper said.
It reported that "an agreement has been reached between the president of the Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who had been opposed up until now to normalising relations with Israel."
The newspaper mentioned a possible announcement by Trump "in the coming days" from Washington, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Burhan to join by video conference.
Netanyahu and Burhan in February held a landmark meeting in Uganda.
- 'Very close' -
Israeli intelligence minister Eli Cohen was also quoted in local media as saying Israel was "very close to normalising ties with Sudan," in comments his foreign affairs advisor Arye Shalicar confirmed to AFP.
Sudan experienced a historic shift last year as Bashir was ousted in April in the face of youth-led street protests, and it is now turning the page on decades as an international pariah.
It has launched a series of reforms, put Bashir on trial and is cooperating with the International Criminal Court to try him over his regime's scorched-earth campaign in the Darfur region.
Sudan is one of four nations branded by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism, along with Iran, North Korea and Syria, severely impeding access to loans, debt relief and foreign investment.
Sudan was designated in 1993 during the rule of Bashir, who had welcomed Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden as he imposed a brand of political Islamism on the country.
Trump said he was ready to remove Sudan from the blacklist after Khartoum agreed to a $335 million compensation package for victims and relatives of past attacks.
Pompeo had discussed the issue of normalising ties with Israel in August on the first visit in 15 years by a top US diplomat to Khartoum.
But Hamdok at the time demurred on the controversial step, saying the transitional government did not have authority to normalise with Israel.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Dublin 'eerie' as Ireland plunges into second lockdown

Dublin was muted on Thursday , as Ireland return to a lockdown to fight a coronavirus second wave A `` cloud of sadness '' descended on the streets of central Dublin Thursday as Ireland became the first EU nation to return to a full coronavirus lockdown .
Schools remain open but otherwise for six weeks , all Irish citizens have been told to stay home , with a strict five-kilometre ( three-mile ) travel limit for exercise .
Restaurants , bars and pubs will be shuttered and visits between different households banned .
`` It is kind of eerie and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP during a starkly muted rush hour .
`` It 's just that kind of cloud of sadness again that the city is abandoned . ''
Non-essential retail businesses will also be closed in restrictions largely mirroring Ireland 's original lockdown in March .
Dublin 's Grafton Street -- the capital 's main shopping district and pedestrian thoroughfare -- was devoid of its usual morning bustle on the first day of the new curbs .
Usually jammed trams ferried only a handful of masked passengers , as public transport has been reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential workers to commute .
Ireland has suffered 1,868 deaths from Covid-19 and cases are rising in line with an upsurge across Europe , setting the stage for a winter of harsh restrictions .
`` I 'm struggling with this particular lockdown , '' said bank worker Jo Finn , who lives alone and fears the weeks of confinement .
`` I just want to get back to normal -- I miss my friends , my family and my normal life . ''
Unlike Ireland 's previous lockdown the government has pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elite and professional sports as well as construction work will also be allowed to continue during the month-and-a-half hiatus .
`` The virus is at a point now where it is spreading in an awful lot of different ways , '' Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told state broadcaster RTE .
He said the shutdown is a `` pre-emptive strike '' on the spread of coronavirus in the nation of five million .
`` We 've lived through it before , '' he added .
`` It worked , we flattened the curve ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flattening the curve for a second time . ''
The daily death toll in Ireland has mostly remained in the single digits after peaking at 77 in April .

Dublin (AFP) –
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A "cloud of sadness" descended on the streets of central Dublin Thursday as Ireland became the first EU nation to return to a full coronavirus lockdown.
Schools remain open but otherwise for six weeks, all Irish citizens have been told to stay home, with a strict five-kilometre (three-mile) travel limit for exercise.
Restaurants, bars and pubs will be shuttered and visits between different households banned.
"It is kind of eerie and poignant," 57-year-old Dubliner Sunniva O'Flynn told AFP during a starkly muted rush hour.
"It's just that kind of cloud of sadness again that the city is abandoned."
Non-essential retail businesses will also be closed in restrictions largely mirroring Ireland's original lockdown in March.
Dublin's Grafton Street -- the capital's main shopping district and pedestrian thoroughfare -- was devoid of its usual morning bustle on the first day of the new curbs.
Usually jammed trams ferried only a handful of masked passengers, as public transport has been reduced to 25 percent capacity to allow only essential workers to commute.
Ireland has suffered 1,868 deaths from Covid-19 and cases are rising in line with an upsurge across Europe, setting the stage for a winter of harsh restrictions.
"I'm struggling with this particular lockdown," said bank worker Jo Finn, who lives alone and fears the weeks of confinement.
"I just want to get back to normal -- I miss my friends, my family and my normal life."
Unlike Ireland's previous lockdown the government has pledged to keep schools and childcare facilities open.
Elite and professional sports as well as construction work will also be allowed to continue during the month-and-a-half hiatus.
"The virus is at a point now where it is spreading in an awful lot of different ways," Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told state broadcaster RTE.
He said the shutdown is a "pre-emptive strike" on the spread of coronavirus in the nation of five million.
"We've lived through it before," he added.
"It worked, we flattened the curve ... and today is day one of us flattening the curve for a second time."
The daily death toll in Ireland has mostly remained in the single digits after peaking at 77 in April.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Two French women charged over 'racist' stabbing of veiled Muslim women

The incident took place in the Champs de Mars , a popular park by the Eiffel tower Two women accused of stabbing two other women wearing Muslim headscarves near the Eiffel Tower in Paris and trying to rip off their veils have been charged with assault and racist slurs , legal sources told AFP on Thursday .
The case comes amid heightened racial tensions following the jihadist killing last week of a French teacher who had shown his pupils cartoons of the prophet Mohammed .
The women accused over the assault were drunk when they came across a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de Mars park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower .
The Muslim family complained about the other women 's dog , saying they felt threatened by it .
In the ensuing row one of the women with the dog pulled a knife and stabbed two of the veiled women , aged 19 and 40 .
The 40-year-old woman sustained six stab wounds and is being treated in hospital for a perforated lung .
The younger victim was stabbed three times and was also treated in hospital but has since been discharged .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` dirty Arabs '' and told them : `` This is not your home . ''
The incident caused a furore on social media with some people accusing the French media of remaining silent about an attack they saw as clearly anti-Muslim .
The main suspect has been placed in preventive custody while her friend has been released on bail , sources close to the investigation said .
The pair were charged late Wednesday with assault aggravated by the use of a weapon , drunkenness , racial insults and the fact that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer Arie Alimi has called for the women to face stiffer charges , accusing them of attempted murder linked to the victims ' race or religion .
He said one of the women specifically took issue with the headscarves worn by several women in the Muslim family , referring to it as `` that thing you have on your head '' .
He also accused the suspects of trying to rip off their victims ' veils and of aiming blows at the head .
Their lawyer Bernard Solitude warned against `` blowing this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was important to `` stick to the facts : a row which degenerated after insults were made '' .
Alimi accused the French authorities -- which have closed a mosque on the outskirts of Paris and moved to shut down several Muslim groups in the aftermath of the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty by an 18-year-old Chechen radical -- of a `` witch hunt '' .
He argued it had the effect of helping jihadists `` reach their goal , which is the stigmatising of Muslims leading to more individuals becoming radicalised @ @

Paris (AFP) –
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Two women accused of stabbing two other women wearing Muslim headscarves near the Eiffel Tower in Paris and trying to rip off their veils have been charged with assault and racist slurs, legal sources told AFP on Thursday.
The case comes amid heightened racial tensions following the jihadist killing last week of a French teacher who had shown his pupils cartoons of the prophet Mohammed.
The women accused over the assault were drunk when they came across a group of Muslim women and children in the Champ de Mars park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.
The Muslim family complained about the other women's dog, saying they felt threatened by it.
In the ensuing row one of the women with the dog pulled a knife and stabbed two of the veiled women, aged 19 and 40.
The 40-year-old woman sustained six stab wounds and is being treated in hospital for a perforated lung.
The younger victim was stabbed three times and was also treated in hospital but has since been discharged.
Both victims claimed their attackers called them "dirty Arabs" and told them: "This is not your home."
- 'Witch hunt' -
The incident caused a furore on social media with some people accusing the French media of remaining silent about an attack they saw as clearly anti-Muslim.
The main suspect has been placed in preventive custody while her friend has been released on bail, sources close to the investigation said.
The pair were charged late Wednesday with assault aggravated by the use of a weapon, drunkenness, racial insults and the fact that they acted together.
But the victims' lawyer Arie Alimi has called for the women to face stiffer charges, accusing them of attempted murder linked to the victims' race or religion.
He said one of the women specifically took issue with the headscarves worn by several women in the Muslim family, referring to it as "that thing you have on your head".
He also accused the suspects of trying to rip off their victims' veils and of aiming blows at the head.
The two suspects deny making racial insults.
Their lawyer Bernard Solitude warned against "blowing this story out of proportion" and said it was important to "stick to the facts: a row which degenerated after insults were made".
Alimi accused the French authorities -- which have closed a mosque on the outskirts of Paris and moved to shut down several Muslim groups in the aftermath of the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty by an 18-year-old Chechen radical -- of a "witch hunt".
He argued it had the effect of helping jihadists "reach their goal, which is the stigmatising of Muslims leading to more individuals becoming radicalised".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Flick challenges Coman to bring Champions League form to Bundesliga

Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has challenged Kingsley Coman to replicate his Champions League form in the Bundesliga after the France winger netted twice and assisted another goal in Wednesday 's 4-0 rout of Atletico Madrid .
Coman , 24 , scored either side of efforts from Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso as holders Bayern opened the defence of their title by inflicting the joint-heaviest defeat of Diego Simeone 's nine-year spell as Atletico coach .
`` We said to him : 'This is the benchmark ' , and that is how he will be measured in the next games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post-match press conference .
Bayern have won their last 12 Champions League matches , extending the tournament record .
Coman picked up where he left off in last season 's final 59 days previously in Lisbon , where he headed the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain .
He has only managed 19 goals in 110 Bundesliga matches spread out over six seasons , but has needed just 29 games to conjure up 10 goals and 11 assists in Europe .
`` It is important that he not only creates but also scores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is also part of playing in the Bundesliga -- you have to expect the same from a player of his quality in the other competitions .
`` That 's what we will be looking at closely in the next few weeks . ''
Bayern face a run of four away games after Saturday 's home Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt .
The Bavarians have bounced back from a shock 4-1 defeat at Hoffenheim earlier this month with five straight victories in all competitions .
Flick was impressed by his team 's aggressiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical presence , wanting to win every duel -- that was good for us today and was missing a little bit in the last few games , '' he said .

Berlin (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has challenged Kingsley Coman to replicate his Champions League form in the Bundesliga after the France winger netted twice and assisted another goal in Wednesday's 4-0 rout of Atletico Madrid.
Coman, 24, scored either side of efforts from Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso as holders Bayern opened the defence of their title by inflicting the joint-heaviest defeat of Diego Simeone's nine-year spell as Atletico coach.
"We said to him: 'This is the benchmark', and that is how he will be measured in the next games," Flick said of Coman in the post-match press conference.
Bayern have won their last 12 Champions League matches, extending the tournament record.
Coman picked up where he left off in last season's final 59 days previously in Lisbon, where he headed the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain.
He has only managed 19 goals in 110 Bundesliga matches spread out over six seasons, but has needed just 29 games to conjure up 10 goals and 11 assists in Europe.
"It is important that he not only creates but also scores goals," Flick said.
"This is also part of playing in the Bundesliga -- you have to expect the same from a player of his quality in the other competitions.
"That's what we will be looking at closely in the next few weeks."
Bayern face a run of four away games after Saturday's home Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Bavarians have bounced back from a shock 4-1 defeat at Hoffenheim earlier this month with five straight victories in all competitions.
Flick was impressed by his team's aggressiveness and desire to win.
"Our physical presence, wanting to win every duel -- that was good for us today and was missing a little bit in the last few games," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Ireland in second lockdown as Germany faces record virus surge

Ireland 's five million people have been ordered to stay at home for six weeks , with non-essential businesses told to shut up shop , among other rules Businesses closed across Ireland on Thursday for a second national coronavirus lockdown , as record infection surges in Germany and Italy helped to spread gloom across the continent .
Most European governments have been reluctant to reimpose national stay-at-home orders , after previous restrictions led to deep recessions and widespread bitterness .
But Ireland 's five million people have been ordered to stay at home for six weeks , with non-essential businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other rules .
`` It 's devastating to see us locked down again ... during our busiest line-up for the Christmas period , '' Dublin antique jeweller John Farrington told AFP this week .
Germany and Italy are both facing record surges , registering their highest one-day tallies since the pandemic began .
While German health experts said it was still possible to combat the outbreak by observing recently-toughened rules on distancing and gatherings , Italy ordered curfews in regions that cover the capital Rome and business hub Milan .
As Europe suffers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged at the end of last year -- continues to make strides back to normality , announcing it would allow 10,000 fans to watch the final of its Super League football competition .
`` It 'd be that kind of ceiling because it 's a big game for sure , '' Chinese Football Association secretary-general Liu Yi told AFP .
The virus has killed more than 1.1 million people and prompted a catastrophic economic downturn -- the International Monetary Fund predicting a 4.4 percent drop in global output for 2020 .
Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already banned large gatherings and made face masks compulsory in certain areas .
`` The overall situation has become very serious , '' said Lothar Wieler , head of the Robert Koch Institute disease control centre , adding that it was still possible to bring the virus under control through `` systematic compliance with restrictive measures '' .
In a symbol of Germany 's woes , Health Minister Jens Spahn -- widely praised for his calm stewardship during the pandemic -- tested positive and went into home isolation .
In Belgium , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus infections per person , Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes is being treated in intensive care after testing positive .
`` She is conscious and she can communicate , '' her spokeswoman said .
As stories of individual suffering emerge from the latest upsurge of cases in Europe , the grim statistics are also stacking up -- Spain becoming the sixth country to have registered more than one million infections .
And in Britain local lockdowns were coming into force even as a bitter political row over the measures remained unresolved .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the weekend , prompting opposition leader Keir Starmer -- who wants a national `` circuit break '' lockdown -- to warn of `` months of agony '' ahead .
The scramble to develop a vaccine , involving dozens of clinical trials across the world , also failed to lift the gloom , with the first death reported of a volunteer .
It was not clear if the volunteer , taking part in trials in Brazil of a vaccine developed by Oxford University , had received the vaccine or a placebo .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no concerns about the safety of the trial and Brazilian regulators had recommended that it should continue .
However , a leading public health expert sought to dampen expectations of a silver bullet emerging from any of the clinical trials .
Peter Doshi of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy said none of the trials would prove whether a product could prevent people contracting Covid-19 and none were evaluating the drugs for their efficacy in vulnerable groups such as older people .
`` Nor are the vaccines being studied to determine whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Dublin (AFP) –
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Businesses closed across Ireland on Thursday for a second national coronavirus lockdown, as record infection surges in Germany and Italy helped to spread gloom across the continent.
Most European governments have been reluctant to reimpose national stay-at-home orders, after previous restrictions led to deep recessions and widespread bitterness.
But Ireland's five million people have been ordered to stay at home for six weeks, with non-essential businesses told to shut up shop, among other rules.
"It's devastating to see us locked down again... during our busiest line-up for the Christmas period," Dublin antique jeweller John Farrington told AFP this week.
Germany and Italy are both facing record surges, registering their highest one-day tallies since the pandemic began.
While German health experts said it was still possible to combat the outbreak by observing recently-toughened rules on distancing and gatherings, Italy ordered curfews in regions that cover the capital Rome and business hub Milan.
As Europe suffers, China -- where the virus first emerged at the end of last year -- continues to make strides back to normality, announcing it would allow 10,000 fans to watch the final of its Super League football competition.
"It'd be that kind of ceiling because it's a big game for sure," Chinese Football Association secretary-general Liu Yi told AFP.
The virus has killed more than 1.1 million people and prompted a catastrophic economic downturn -- the International Monetary Fund predicting a 4.4 percent drop in global output for 2020.
- 'Months of agony' -
Germany, along with most European countries, has already banned large gatherings and made face masks compulsory in certain areas.
"The overall situation has become very serious," said Lothar Wieler, head of the Robert Koch Institute disease control centre, adding that it was still possible to bring the virus under control through "systematic compliance with restrictive measures".
In a symbol of Germany's woes, Health Minister Jens Spahn -- widely praised for his calm stewardship during the pandemic -- tested positive and went into home isolation.
In Belgium, which has one of the worst records of virus infections per person, Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes is being treated in intensive care after testing positive.
"She is conscious and she can communicate," her spokeswoman said.
As stories of individual suffering emerge from the latest upsurge of cases in Europe, the grim statistics are also stacking up -- Spain becoming the sixth country to have registered more than one million infections.
And in Britain local lockdowns were coming into force even as a bitter political row over the measures remained unresolved.
More than seven million people will face severe restrictions by the weekend, prompting opposition leader Keir Starmer -- who wants a national "circuit break" lockdown -- to warn of "months of agony" ahead.
- Vaccine trial warning -
The scramble to develop a vaccine, involving dozens of clinical trials across the world, also failed to lift the gloom, with the first death reported of a volunteer.
It was not clear if the volunteer, taking part in trials in Brazil of a vaccine developed by Oxford University, had received the vaccine or a placebo.
The university said in a statement there were no concerns about the safety of the trial and Brazilian regulators had recommended that it should continue.
However, a leading public health expert sought to dampen expectations of a silver bullet emerging from any of the clinical trials.
Peter Doshi of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy said none of the trials would prove whether a product could prevent people contracting Covid-19 and none were evaluating the drugs for their efficacy in vulnerable groups such as older people.
"Nor are the vaccines being studied to determine whether they can interrupt transmission of the virus."
burs-jxb/lc
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Former PM Hariri to head new government in crisis-hit Lebanon

Lebanon 's President Michel Aoun on Thursday asked Saad Hariri , a former prime minister , to form a new government to tackle the worst crisis since the country 's 1975-1990 civil war .
Hariri , a Sunni Muslim , won the backing of a majority of parliamentarians in consultations with Aoun .
He pledged to quickly form a new government of specialists that would enact reforms aimed at stopping the country ’ s economic collapse .
Hariri faces major challenges to navigate Lebanon 's power-sharing politics and agree a cabinet , which must then address a mounting list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash , rising poverty and crippling state debts .
A new government will also have to contend with a Covid-19 surge and the fallout of the huge August explosion at Beirut port that killed nearly 200 people and caused billions of dollars of damage .
Hariri 's last coalition government was toppled almost exactly a year ago as protests gripped the country , furious at Lebanon 's ruling elite .
Thursday 's nomination follows weeks of political wrangling that has delayed a deal on a new government .
Hariri was backed by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , Druze politician Walid The Shiite group Hezbollah said it was not nominating anyone , but added it would seek to facilitate the process .
`` We will contribute to maintain the positive climate , '' Mohammed Raad , head of its parliamentary bloc , told reporters at the presidential palace .
The FPM led by Aoun 's son-in-law , which has the largest Christian bloc , said it would not nominate Hariri .
The second main Christian party and a staunch Hezbollah opponent , the Lebanese Forces , also declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not lead a planned cabinet of specialists .
`` Has this political class that took people hostage learned that they can not continue in this way ? ''
MP Georges Adwan said .
`` It is now facing a test . ''
Former colonial power France has tried rallying Lebanon 's sectarian leaders to pull the nation from crisis , but has been frustrated by the apparent lack of urgency or progress .
Hariri has presented himself as the `` natural candidate '' to build a cabinet that can revive the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to trigger foreign aid .
He has also said that Lebanon must agree an IMF reform programme to escape the crisis .
Thursday 's consultations were postponed from last week amid political rifts .
Aoun is required to choose the candidate with the most support from lawmakers .
Iran-backed Hezbollah and its political allies - including the party founded by Aoun and Shi'ite Amal - have a majority in parliament .

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun on Thursday asked Saad Hariri, a former prime minister, to form a new government to tackle the worst crisis since the country's 1975-1990 civil war.
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Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, won the backing of a majority of parliamentarians in consultations with Aoun.
He pledged to quickly form a new government of specialists that would enact reforms aimed at stopping the country’s economic collapse.
Hariri faces major challenges to navigate Lebanon's power-sharing politics and agree a cabinet, which must then address a mounting list of woes: a banking crisis, currency crash, rising poverty and crippling state debts.
A new government will also have to contend with a Covid-19 surge and the fallout of the huge August explosion at Beirut port that killed nearly 200 people and caused billions of dollars of damage.
Hariri's last coalition government was toppled almost exactly a year ago as protests gripped the country, furious at Lebanon's ruling elite.
A ‘natural candidate’
Thursday's nomination follows weeks of political wrangling that has delayed a deal on a new government.
Hariri was backed by his own Future lawmakers, the Shiite Amal party, Druze politician Walid
Jumblatt's party and other small blocs.
The Shiite group Hezbollah said it was not nominating anyone, but added it would seek to facilitate the process.
"We will contribute to maintain the positive climate," Mohammed Raad, head of its parliamentary bloc, told reporters at the presidential palace.
The FPM led by Aoun's son-in-law, which has the largest Christian bloc, said it would not nominate Hariri.
The second main Christian party and a staunch Hezbollah opponent, the Lebanese Forces, also declined to name Hariri, saying a veteran politician should not lead a planned cabinet of specialists.
"Has this political class that took people hostage learned that they cannot continue in this way?" MP Georges Adwan said. "It is now facing a test."
Former colonial power France has tried rallying Lebanon's sectarian leaders to pull the nation from crisis, but has been frustrated by the apparent lack of urgency or progress.
Hariri has presented himself as the "natural candidate" to build a cabinet that can revive the French roadmap, which set out reforms needed to trigger foreign aid. He has also said that Lebanon must agree an IMF reform programme to escape the crisis.
Thursday's consultations were postponed from last week amid political rifts. Aoun is required to choose the candidate with the most support from lawmakers. Iran-backed Hezbollah and its political allies - including the party founded by Aoun and Shi'ite Amal - have a majority in parliament.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-22--'CIA'-like street food vendors first on scene to feed Thai protesters

Protesters have quickly noticed that they are often second on the scene at proteste venues , behind food vendors setting up their carts and readying themselves for a busy night With an intelligence network so good they have been compared to the CIA , Thai street vendors are often first on the scene at `` guerilla '' democracy protests in Bangkok , where they hawk sour pork and fishballs to a democracy-hungry crowd .
After a government crackdown last week , protest groups have begun keeping the venues for their demonstrations demanding the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha secret until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to outsmart authorities .
But protesters have quickly noticed that they are often second on the scene , behind food vendors setting up their carts and readying themselves for a busy night of brisk sales .
Meatball seller Rattapol Sukpa says he stays ahead of the curve by monitoring Facebook for hints of the latest locations , and is in constant contact with other vendors who tip each other off .
`` My earnings were good before , but selling at the protest sites , you 'd sell out faster than usual , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up near Victory Monument .
Business has been booming since the protest movement kicked off in July , with the vendors now a regular feature on the sidelines .
A post calling on people to come and rally at a new protest venue on Tuesday carried a picture of a food cart with the caption `` Let 's send the CIA there first '' .
The bonanza has also given Rattapol a better work-life balance , he said , enabling him to sell out his entire cart by 8 pm instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are calling for serious changes to Thailand 's status quo -- an overhaul of Prayut 's administration , a rewrite to the military-scripted constitution and reforms to the kingdom 's unassailable monarchy .
But their gatherings also bring a food festival vibe .
Sour pork and rice sausage balls , a delicacy of Thailand 's northeast provinces , hang like beaded necklaces from a street vendor 's push cart , ready to be fried up and served with cabbage in plastic bags .
Also on the menu are hotdogs , soups , cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some vendors have their cooking stations attached to their motorbikes , making it easier to high-tail to the rally zones .
Selling food to captive crowds often numbering in the tens of thousands is increasingly lucrative , said Anucha Noipan , a fried chicken vendor who used to make $ 97 a day .
`` But since I 've started selling at the protest sites , I have doubled my income to about 6,000 baht ( $ 192 ) a day , '' the 21-year-old said .
New to the scene after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Anucha says he agrees with the movement 's demands and would n't sell his crispy fried chicken at rival rallies fronted by royalist supporters .
`` I do not think I have the same point of view on politics with the Yellow Shirts , '' he said , referring to a term used for the pro-monarchy bloc .
Tensions ratcheted last week , with police deploying water cannons against protesters in Bangkok 's central shopping district , drawing widespread condemnation from Thai society as images of the attack pinged across social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a frying pan , Nattapol Sai-ngarm said he is conscious of the risks of doing business in such a dicey environment .
But the economy 's freefall in the face of a coronavirus pandemic has left him without a choice .
`` I used to be scared '' of a police crackdown , he told AFP .
`` But I 've been coming every day so I 've gotten used to it . ''

Bangkok (AFP) –
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With an intelligence network so good they have been compared to the CIA, Thai street vendors are often first on the scene at "guerilla" democracy protests in Bangkok, where they hawk sour pork and fishballs to a democracy-hungry crowd.
After a government crackdown last week, protest groups have begun keeping the venues for their demonstrations demanding the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha secret until the last minute, in a bid to outsmart authorities.
But protesters have quickly noticed that they are often second on the scene, behind food vendors setting up their carts and readying themselves for a busy night of brisk sales.
Meatball seller Rattapol Sukpa says he stays ahead of the curve by monitoring Facebook for hints of the latest locations, and is in constant contact with other vendors who tip each other off.
"My earnings were good before, but selling at the protest sites, you'd sell out faster than usual," the 19-year-old told AFP as he set up near Victory Monument.
Business has been booming since the protest movement kicked off in July, with the vendors now a regular feature on the sidelines.
A post calling on people to come and rally at a new protest venue on Tuesday carried a picture of a food cart with the caption "Let's send the CIA there first".
The bonanza has also given Rattapol a better work-life balance, he said, enabling him to sell out his entire cart by 8 pm instead of the usual midnight closing time.
Protesters are calling for serious changes to Thailand's status quo -- an overhaul of Prayut's administration, a rewrite to the military-scripted constitution and reforms to the kingdom's unassailable monarchy.
But their gatherings also bring a food festival vibe.
Sour pork and rice sausage balls, a delicacy of Thailand's northeast provinces, hang like beaded necklaces from a street vendor's push cart, ready to be fried up and served with cabbage in plastic bags.
Also on the menu are hotdogs, soups, cold drinks, pickled fruits and satay sticks.
- Cooking for democracy -
Some vendors have their cooking stations attached to their motorbikes, making it easier to high-tail to the rally zones.
Selling food to captive crowds often numbering in the tens of thousands is increasingly lucrative, said Anucha Noipan, a fried chicken vendor who used to make $97 a day.
"But since I've started selling at the protest sites, I have doubled my income to about 6,000 baht ($192) a day," the 21-year-old said.
New to the scene after leaving a job as a rubber farmer, Anucha says he agrees with the movement's demands and wouldn't sell his crispy fried chicken at rival rallies fronted by royalist supporters.
"I do not think I have the same point of view on politics with the Yellow Shirts," he said, referring to a term used for the pro-monarchy bloc.
Tensions ratcheted last week, with police deploying water cannons against protesters in Bangkok's central shopping district, drawing widespread condemnation from Thai society as images of the attack pinged across social media.
As his chicken thighs sizzle in a frying pan, Nattapol Sai-ngarm said he is conscious of the risks of doing business in such a dicey environment.
But the economy's freefall in the face of a coronavirus pandemic has left him without a choice.
"I used to be scared" of a police crackdown, he told AFP. "But I've been coming every day so I've gotten used to it."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Democratic opposition in Belarus awarded 2020 Sakharov Prize

Opposition protesters attend a rally to reject the presidential election results in Minsk , Belarus , on October 12 , 2020 .
The European Parliament has awarded this year 's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the democratic opposition in Belarus , which has faced a fierce crackdown by security forces loyal to longtime President Alexander Lukashenko .
`` It is an honour to announce that the women and men of the democratic opposition in # Belarus are the 2020 # SakharovPrize laureates , '' David Sassoli , the head of the European Parliament , tweeted on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that brute force can never defeat : the truth .
Do not give up on your fight .
We are by your side , '' Sassoli added .
It is an honour to announce that the women and men of the democratic opposition in # Belarus are the 2020 # SakharovPrize laureates .
They have on their side something that brute force can never defeat : the truth .
Do not give up on your fight .
We are by your side .
pic.twitter.com/o6Xm4WYVKi — David Sassoli ( @ EP_President ) October 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people when announcing the award , including opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Nobel prize winning author Svetlana Alexievich .
Belarusians have been protesting for several weeks against the disputed re-election of President Lukashenko , who claimed an overwhelming victory in an August 9 poll .
A brutal crackdown on initial protests against the result has only fuelled popular anger .
The annual Sakharov Prize honours individuals and groups of people who fight for the defence of human rights and freedom of thought .

The European Parliament has awarded this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the democratic opposition in Belarus, which has faced a fierce crackdown by security forces loyal to longtime President Alexander Lukashenko.
Opposition protesters attend a rally to reject the presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus, on October 12, 2020.
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"It is an honour to announce that the women and men of the democratic opposition in #Belarus are the 2020 #SakharovPrize laureates," David Sassoli, the head of the European Parliament, tweeted on Thursday.
"They have on their side something that brute force can never defeat: the truth. Do not give up on your fight. We are by your side," Sassoli added.
It is an honour to announce that the women and men of the democratic opposition in #Belarus are the 2020 #SakharovPrize laureates.
They have on their side something that brute force can never defeat: the truth.
Do not give up on your fight. We are by your side. pic.twitter.com/o6Xm4WYVKi — David Sassoli (@EP_President) October 22, 2020
The European Parliament named 10 people when announcing the award, including opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Nobel prize winning author Svetlana Alexievich.
Belarusians have been protesting for several weeks against the disputed re-election of President Lukashenko, who claimed an overwhelming victory in an August 9 poll.
A brutal crackdown on initial protests against the result has only fuelled popular anger.
The annual Sakharov Prize honours individuals and groups of people who fight for the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.
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france24--2020-10-23--Colombia's Munoz grabs PGA Zozo lead as Tiger soars to 76

Colombia 's Sebastian Munoz endured a roller-coaster round on his way to an eight-under par 64 Thursday to lead the PGA Zozo Championship while defending champion Tiger Woods struggled to a woeful 76 .
The 27-year-old South American star , had two eagles , eight birdies , five pars , two bogeys and a double bogey on his trip to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round at Sherwood Country Club .
`` I 've become better with managing crazy ups and downs , '' Munoz said .
`` I just get out of the way .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do ?
Should I be more calm ?
Should I attack more ?
`` I just stopped trying to play anything and just keep playing golf .
It 's just one of those days .
It happens . ''
Woods , a 15-time major winner who defends the Masters title next month , won last year in Japan before the event was moved to suburban Los Angeles due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
He suffered his worst-ever score at Sherwood by two shots from 45 rounds on a course that once hosted his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak with the media after his round , shared 75th of 77 players in the no-cut event where he hoped to win an unprecedented 83rd career US PGA title .
Instead , Woods matched his worst PGA showing on par-5 holes in any round , going 3-over with a birdie , two bogeys and a double bogey despite at 87-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th .
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy snapped a club in frustration on his way to a disappointing 73 -- seven birdies , four bogeys and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a course that surrendered low scores and birdies in binges to many players .
England 's Tyrrell Hatton and American Justin Thomas shared second on 65 .
Thomas followed back-to-back birdies at five and six with bogeys on the next two holes , then fired a 29 on the back side with five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th .
`` I drove the ball well , '' Thomas said .
`` I really struggled reading the greens .
I knew the course had some birdies out there .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started hitting it close and rolling the ball a little better . ''
A fourth-place pack on 66 included South African Dylan Frittelli and Americans Brian Harman , Lanto Griffin , Harris English and Kevin Kisner .
Munoz , whose lone PGA victory came last year at Jackson , Mississippi , enjoyed the round of the day despite an opening bogey .
He followed with birdies on four of the next five holes before his first eagle , holing out with a 9-iron from 168 yards at the par-4 seventh .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could and I started four yards left , started cutting nicely towards the pin , '' Munoz said .
`` Once you see the guys throw the touchdown sign , it 's good . ''
After a bogey at the eighth , Munoz birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine before a double bogey at 14 when his tee shot landed beside a shrub .
Munoz answered with another eagle at the par-5 16th , holing out from in the fairway from 51 yards , before a final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw it up there and find the hole , '' he said .
`` It was pretty sweet . ''
It marked the third time in Munoz 's career he made two eagles in the same round .
`` It 's awesome .
It 's beautiful , '' Munoz said of the course .
`` All par-5s are reachable .
Fun par-3s .
It 's a great place .
Anything can happen . ''
American Gary Woodland , last year 's US Open winner , withdrew with a back injury .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Colombia's Sebastian Munoz endured a roller-coaster round on his way to an eight-under par 64 Thursday to lead the PGA Zozo Championship while defending champion Tiger Woods struggled to a woeful 76.
The 27-year-old South American star, had two eagles, eight birdies, five pars, two bogeys and a double bogey on his trip to the top of the leaderboard after the opening round at Sherwood Country Club.
"I've become better with managing crazy ups and downs," Munoz said. "I just get out of the way. At first I was like what should I do? Should I be more calm? Should I attack more?
"I just stopped trying to play anything and just keep playing golf. It's just one of those days. It happens."
Woods, a 15-time major winner who defends the Masters title next month, won last year in Japan before the event was moved to suburban Los Angeles due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He suffered his worst-ever score at Sherwood by two shots from 45 rounds on a course that once hosted his charity event.
Woods, who declined to speak with the media after his round, shared 75th of 77 players in the no-cut event where he hoped to win an unprecedented 83rd career US PGA title.
Instead, Woods matched his worst PGA showing on par-5 holes in any round, going 3-over with a birdie, two bogeys and a double bogey despite at 87-foot birdie putt at the par-4 14th.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy snapped a club in frustration on his way to a disappointing 73 -- seven birdies, four bogeys and two double bogeys including at 18 -- over a course that surrendered low scores and birdies in binges to many players.
England's Tyrrell Hatton and American Justin Thomas shared second on 65.
Thomas followed back-to-back birdies at five and six with bogeys on the next two holes, then fired a 29 on the back side with five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th.
"I drove the ball well," Thomas said. "I really struggled reading the greens. I knew the course had some birdies out there. It was one of those nines. Then I started hitting it close and rolling the ball a little better."
A fourth-place pack on 66 included South African Dylan Frittelli and Americans Brian Harman, Lanto Griffin, Harris English and Kevin Kisner.
- 'It was pretty sweet' -
Munoz, whose lone PGA victory came last year at Jackson, Mississippi, enjoyed the round of the day despite an opening bogey.
He followed with birdies on four of the next five holes before his first eagle, holing out with a 9-iron from 168 yards at the par-4 seventh.
"I just focused on making the best swing I could and I started four yards left, started cutting nicely towards the pin," Munoz said. "Once you see the guys throw the touchdown sign, it's good."
After a bogey at the eighth, Munoz birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine before a double bogey at 14 when his tee shot landed beside a shrub.
Munoz answered with another eagle at the par-5 16th, holing out from in the fairway from 51 yards, before a final birdie at 17.
"I just throw it up there and find the hole," he said. "It was pretty sweet."
It marked the third time in Munoz's career he made two eagles in the same round.
"It's awesome. It's beautiful," Munoz said of the course. "All par-5s are reachable. Fun par-3s. It's a great place. Anything can happen."
American Gary Woodland, last year's US Open winner, withdrew with a back injury.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--US slaps new sanctions on Iran groups for election interference

A woman casts her ballot on the first day of in-person early voting for the November 3rd US election in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , on October 20 , 2020 The United States on Thursday slapped new sanctions on five Iranian entities for what it called `` brazen attempts '' to interfere with the US election .
Stepping up pressure after US intelligence pointed the finger at both Iran and Russia , the Treasury Department accused the Iranian groups of seeking to spread disinformation and division ahead of the November 3 vote .
The Treasury imposed the fresh sanctions against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the IRGC-Qods Force , the Bayan Rasaneh Gostar Institute , the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and International Union of Virtual Media .
The groups have worked to `` sow discord among the voting populace by spreading disinformation online and executing malign influence operations aimed at misleading US voters , '' the Treasury said .
Bayan Gostar , which the Treasury called an IRGC-Qods Force `` front company '' for propaganda , took the lead in the activities , it said .
Ahead of the election , `` Bayan Gostar personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploiting social issues within the United States , including the Covid-19 pandemic , and denigrating US political figures , '' it said .
`` As recently as summer 2020 , Bayan Gostar was prepared to execute a series of influence operations directed at the US populace ahead of the presidential election . ''
The two media groups were part of that operation , it said .
The Treasury gave no specific details on what the Iranians had done , but US social media companies have blocked accounts and postings they determined were part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election and social issues .
The sanctions , which forbid Americans and US entities from doing business with the Iranian groups , likely have little real impact , as the IRGC and IRGC-Qods Force are already subject to other sweeping sanctions .
The announcement came one day after the US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe fingered Iran as behind recent emails addressed to US voters threatening them to support President Donald Trump and his Republican Party .
The emails appeared to have been sent by a right-wing US militia group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran was behind them .
Trump stirred controversy in his first debate with his Democratic opponent , Joe Biden , by equivocating on whether he condemns the Proud Boys .
Iran summoned the ambassador of Switzerland , who represents US interests in Tehran in the absence of diplomatic relations , to deny the `` fabricated and clumsy '' allegations .
US authorities `` have put forward a baseless claim on the verge of the country 's election so that they would advance their undemocratic and predefined scenario through shifting the blame , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
The accusations against Iran came after longstanding US concerns about the role of Russia .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged favoring Trump in the 2016 election and an investigation by former FBI chief Robert Mueller found evidence that Trump associates cooperated with Moscow , although he said he did not have enough to bring conspiracy charges .
Trump has repeatedly voiced anger at the `` Russia hoax , '' describing it as a way to discredit his election victory .
While Trump has spoken fondly of Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enemy of Iran 's clerical regime , imposing overwhelming sanctions and withdrawing from a denuclearization accord negotiated by former president Barack Obama .
The Treasury Department separately Thursday imposed sanctions against Iran 's ambassador to Iraq , where the United States has been working to fight Tehran 's influence .
The Treasury alleged Iraj Masjedi was a `` close adviser '' to Qasem Soleimani , Iran 's most powerful general , who was killed in January by a US strike .

Washington (AFP) –
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The United States on Thursday slapped new sanctions on five Iranian entities for what it called "brazen attempts" to interfere with the US election.
Stepping up pressure after US intelligence pointed the finger at both Iran and Russia, the Treasury Department accused the Iranian groups of seeking to spread disinformation and division ahead of the November 3 vote.
The Treasury imposed the fresh sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the IRGC-Qods Force, the Bayan Rasaneh Gostar Institute, the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and International Union of Virtual Media.
The groups have worked to "sow discord among the voting populace by spreading disinformation online and executing malign influence operations aimed at misleading US voters," the Treasury said.
Bayan Gostar, which the Treasury called an IRGC-Qods Force "front company" for propaganda, took the lead in the activities, it said.
Ahead of the election, "Bayan Gostar personnel have planned to influence the election by exploiting social issues within the United States, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and denigrating US political figures," it said.
"As recently as summer 2020, Bayan Gostar was prepared to execute a series of influence operations directed at the US populace ahead of the presidential election."
The two media groups were part of that operation, it said.
The Treasury gave no specific details on what the Iranians had done, but US social media companies have blocked accounts and postings they determined were part of Iranian government-backed influence efforts related to the election and social issues.
The sanctions, which forbid Americans and US entities from doing business with the Iranian groups, likely have little real impact, as the IRGC and IRGC-Qods Force are already subject to other sweeping sanctions.
The announcement came one day after the US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe fingered Iran as behind recent emails addressed to US voters threatening them to support President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.
The emails appeared to have been sent by a right-wing US militia group, the Proud Boys, but Ratcliffe said Iran was behind them.
Trump stirred controversy in his first debate with his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, by equivocating on whether he condemns the Proud Boys.
- 'Fabricated and clumsy' -
Iran summoned the ambassador of Switzerland, who represents US interests in Tehran in the absence of diplomatic relations, to deny the "fabricated and clumsy" allegations.
US authorities "have put forward a baseless claim on the verge of the country's election so that they would advance their undemocratic and predefined scenario through shifting the blame," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.
The accusations against Iran came after longstanding US concerns about the role of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged favoring Trump in the 2016 election and an investigation by former FBI chief Robert Mueller found evidence that Trump associates cooperated with Moscow, although he said he did not have enough to bring conspiracy charges.
Trump has repeatedly voiced anger at the "Russia hoax," describing it as a way to discredit his election victory.
While Trump has spoken fondly of Putin, his administration has been a sworn enemy of Iran's clerical regime, imposing overwhelming sanctions and withdrawing from a denuclearization accord negotiated by former president Barack Obama.
The Treasury Department separately Thursday imposed sanctions against Iran's ambassador to Iraq, where the United States has been working to fight Tehran's influence.
The Treasury alleged Iraj Masjedi was a "close adviser" to Qasem Soleimani, Iran's most powerful general, who was killed in January by a US strike.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-23--Placebo group: What happens after a Covid vaccine is authorized?

Pfizer and Moderna are hoping to request emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine by the end of November If a coronavirus vaccine is authorized in the United States before the end of the year , will trial participants who received a placebo rush out to get vaccinated ?
While the question has n't received much attention among the general public , it 's one that worries health experts and pharmaceutical manufacturers .
Currently tens of thousands of people in the United States and other countries are participating as volunteers in what are known as phase three clinical trials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the remainder are given a placebo , though they do not know which one was administered to them .
The aim is to observe over the course of months how many people in each group naturally contract the virus and fall ill from Covid-19 .
If the number of vaccinated participants contracting Covid-19 is at least 50 percent lower than in the placebo group , US drug authority FDA can grant it emergency use authorization .
But for a permanent authorization , the FDA requires a longer period of study -- generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm the safety of the vaccine since certain rare side-effects may not be detected during the two-month period currently scheduled for emergency use approval .
The problem is that , generally , for ethical reasons , once a medicine or vaccine is authorized , participants who received a placebo in a clinical trial are informed of it .
They could then understandably ask for the real vaccine or seek it out themselves , but that would decrease the placebo group .
Doing so would prevent a long-term comparison between the placebo group and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk is even greater for dozens of trials not yet at the large-scale stage : Who would take the risk of receiving a placebo if a vaccine is available publicly ?
The issue was discussed Thursday at an FDA advisory committee meeting on vaccines , but no real solution was reached .
Doran Fink of the FDA 's vaccines division noted that trials could continue among populations for which no vaccine has yet been authorized or for those without available doses .
But the dilemma is real for the majority .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it is no longer ethically permissible and therefore no longer feasible to continue placebo controlled follow-up in an ongoing trial or to initiate a placebo controlled trial , '' Fink said Thursday .
`` I do n't have any specific remedies to offer .
At this time , we have asked the vaccine manufacturers and the other government agencies who are involved in conducting these trials to think carefully about how they would ensure clinical trial retention . ''
One of the two companies hoping to request emergency use authorization by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Moderna ( the other is Pfizer ) , has asked for instructions from authorities .
`` Those participants are beginning to ask when they will know if they receive study vaccine , or placebo , '' said Moderna 's Jacqueline Miller , who spoke at the same meeting .
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have written a letter to the FDA saying that they have `` an ethical responsibility '' to inform members of the placebo group and called on the agency to be open to other methods to evaluate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has only one instruction : Continue the trials for as long as it remains feasible .

Washington (AFP) –
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If a coronavirus vaccine is authorized in the United States before the end of the year, will trial participants who received a placebo rush out to get vaccinated?
While the question hasn't received much attention among the general public, it's one that worries health experts and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Currently tens of thousands of people in the United States and other countries are participating as volunteers in what are known as phase three clinical trials.
Typically half receive the experimental vaccine, while the remainder are given a placebo, though they do not know which one was administered to them.
The aim is to observe over the course of months how many people in each group naturally contract the virus and fall ill from Covid-19.
If the number of vaccinated participants contracting Covid-19 is at least 50 percent lower than in the placebo group, US drug authority FDA can grant it emergency use authorization.
But for a permanent authorization, the FDA requires a longer period of study -- generally six months.
The aim is to confirm the safety of the vaccine since certain rare side-effects may not be detected during the two-month period currently scheduled for emergency use approval.
The problem is that, generally, for ethical reasons, once a medicine or vaccine is authorized, participants who received a placebo in a clinical trial are informed of it.
They could then understandably ask for the real vaccine or seek it out themselves, but that would decrease the placebo group.
Doing so would prevent a long-term comparison between the placebo group and those who were initially vaccinated.
The risk is even greater for dozens of trials not yet at the large-scale stage: Who would take the risk of receiving a placebo if a vaccine is available publicly?
The issue was discussed Thursday at an FDA advisory committee meeting on vaccines, but no real solution was reached.
- 'Ethical responsibility' -
Doran Fink of the FDA's vaccines division noted that trials could continue among populations for which no vaccine has yet been authorized or for those without available doses.
But the dilemma is real for the majority.
"We do acknowledge that situations will likely arise where it is no longer ethically permissible and therefore no longer feasible to continue placebo controlled follow-up in an ongoing trial or to initiate a placebo controlled trial," Fink said Thursday.
"I don't have any specific remedies to offer. At this time, we have asked the vaccine manufacturers and the other government agencies who are involved in conducting these trials to think carefully about how they would ensure clinical trial retention."
One of the two companies hoping to request emergency use authorization by the end of November in the United States, Moderna (the other is Pfizer), has asked for instructions from authorities.
"Those participants are beginning to ask when they will know if they receive study vaccine, or placebo," said Moderna's Jacqueline Miller, who spoke at the same meeting.
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have written a letter to the FDA saying that they have "an ethical responsibility" to inform members of the placebo group and called on the agency to be open to other methods to evaluate the vaccines.
For now, the FDA has only one instruction: Continue the trials for as long as it remains feasible.
© 2020 AFP