france24--2020-12-17--Six former players join lawsuit against rugby authorities

Six more former professional rugby players have joined the lawsuit against the sport 's authorities over brain injuries , Rylands the legal firm leading the case announced on Thursday .
Four of them have requested anonymity although the Press Association news agency understands a former England and Wales international are included .
They join ex-England hooker Steve Thompson , who said he has no recollection of winning the 2003 World Cup , along with another former England player Michael Lipman and 33-time Wales back-rower Alix Popham , who revealed they were suing last week .
A pre-action letter of claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Rugby Football Union ( RFU ) and Welsh Rugby Union ( WRU ) on behalf of nine players being represented by Rylands Law .
The planned action is over the sport 's governing bodies `` failure to protect ( the claimants ) from the risks caused by concussions '' .
The players have also created 15 `` commandments '' which they feel World Rugby should adopt to make the game safer .
Rylands said they are talking to over 130 former players , whose ages range from their 20s to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms of neurological problems and last week Richard Boardman of Rylands said he wanted World Rugby to make immediate changes to address the issue , which is also a growing concern in football .
Former Wales Under-20 centre Adam Hughes , who is now 30 and has joined the suit , has been diagnosed with having brain injuries and post-concussion symptoms since his career was ended in 2018 .
The remaining eight have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury , early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ) .
CTE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma .
Rylands Law alleges the risks of concussions and sub-concussive injuries were `` known and foreseeable '' and lists 24 failures on the part of World Rugby , RFU and WRU .
The governing bodies have a maximum of three months from the date of acknowledgement of the letter of claim to respond .
The document focuses on `` broad allegations '' rather than `` an exhaustive list of the evidence '' .
Boardman said some of the test cases will disabuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue .
`` Last week 's announcement about the condition of some of rugby 's sporting greats has sent shockwaves around the sport .
Yet , for many , it was inevitable , '' Boardman said .
`` I think what will surprise people when they see the test cases is the age of the players , but also the positions in which they played .
`` You do n't have to be a bruising forward in the middle of the scrum to suffer concussive injuries . ''

London (AFP) –
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Six more former professional rugby players have joined the lawsuit against the sport's authorities over brain injuries, Rylands the legal firm leading the case announced on Thursday.
Four of them have requested anonymity although the Press Association news agency understands a former England and Wales international are included.
They join ex-England hooker Steve Thompson, who said he has no recollection of winning the 2003 World Cup, along with another former England player Michael Lipman and 33-time Wales back-rower Alix Popham, who revealed they were suing last week.
A pre-action letter of claim was delivered on Thursday to World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) on behalf of nine players being represented by Rylands Law.
The planned action is over the sport's governing bodies "failure to protect (the claimants) from the risks caused by concussions".
The players have also created 15 "commandments" which they feel World Rugby should adopt to make the game safer.
Rylands said they are talking to over 130 former players, whose ages range from their 20s to their 50s.
Many of them are showing symptoms of neurological problems and last week Richard Boardman of Rylands said he wanted World Rugby to make immediate changes to address the issue, which is also a growing concern in football.
Former Wales Under-20 centre Adam Hughes, who is now 30 and has joined the suit, has been diagnosed with having brain injuries and post-concussion symptoms since his career was ended in 2018.
The remaining eight have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma.
Rylands Law alleges the risks of concussions and sub-concussive injuries were "known and foreseeable" and lists 24 failures on the part of World Rugby, RFU and WRU.
The governing bodies have a maximum of three months from the date of acknowledgement of the letter of claim to respond.
The document focuses on "broad allegations" rather than "an exhaustive list of the evidence".
Boardman said some of the test cases will disabuse those who believe it is a scrum-oriented issue.
"Last week's announcement about the condition of some of rugby's sporting greats has sent shockwaves around the sport. Yet, for many, it was inevitable," Boardman said.
"I think what will surprise people when they see the test cases is the age of the players, but also the positions in which they played.
"You don't have to be a bruising forward in the middle of the scrum to suffer concussive injuries."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Italy PM flies in as Libya frees 18 Sicilian fishermen

The fishermen of the town of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily have for generations relied on these Mediterranean waters for their livelihoods A group of Sicilian fishermen held in Libya since September have been released , Italy 's prime minister and foreign minister said Thursday after visiting Benghazi to welcome them personally .
`` Our fishermen are free , '' Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio posted on Facebook , alongside a picture of the 18 men detained for more than three months for allegedly fishing in Libyan territorial waters .
`` In a few hours they will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' He added : `` The government continues to firmly support the stabilisation process in Libya .
This is what Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and I reiterated to Haftar today during our talks in Benghazi . ''
The fishermen were accused of fishing inside Libya 's protected fishing area and entering a military zone by forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar , who controls Benghazi and is waging war against the UN-recognised government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in the west .
Conte also tweeted a picture of the eight Italians , six Tunisians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been freed , with the comment `` Have a good trip home '' .
The fishermen of the town of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily have for generations relied on these Mediterranean waters for their livelihoods but see their futures increasingly threatened .
As fish stocks have dwindled and trawler capabilities improved , their boats have sailed further from port in recent decades in search of the elusive , lucrative catch -- but into waters over which Libya has claimed sovereignty .

Rome (AFP) –
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A group of Sicilian fishermen held in Libya since September have been released, Italy's prime minister and foreign minister said Thursday after visiting Benghazi to welcome them personally.
"Our fishermen are free," Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio posted on Facebook, alongside a picture of the 18 men detained for more than three months for allegedly fishing in Libyan territorial waters.
"In a few hours they will be able to hug their families and loved ones."
He added: "The government continues to firmly support the stabilisation process in Libya. This is what Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and I reiterated to Haftar today during our talks in Benghazi."
The fishermen were accused of fishing inside Libya's protected fishing area and entering a military zone by forces of strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls Benghazi and is waging war against the UN-recognised government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in the west.
Conte also tweeted a picture of the eight Italians, six Tunisians, two Indonesians and two Senegalese who have been freed, with the comment "Have a good trip home".
The fishermen of the town of Mazara del Vallo in Sicily have for generations relied on these Mediterranean waters for their livelihoods but see their futures increasingly threatened.
As fish stocks have dwindled and trawler capabilities improved, their boats have sailed further from port in recent decades in search of the elusive, lucrative catch -- but into waters over which Libya has claimed sovereignty.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Hopes lie crushed as Tunisians mark a decade since revolution

Ten years since the intoxicating early days of Tunisia 's revolution , dreams for a better future lie crushed , @ @ @ @ @ where it began , the mood on Thursday was one of anger rather than hope @ @ @ @ @ Bouzid that Mohamed Bouazizi , a fruit and vegetable salesman angered by police harassment , @ @ @ @ @ 17 , 2010 .

Hopes lie crushed as Tunisians mark a decade since revolution
02:08
Ten years since the intoxicating early days of Tunisia's revolution, dreams for a better future lie crushed, and in the rural town where it began, the mood on Thursday was one of anger rather than hope. It was in Sidi Bouzid that Mohamed Bouazizi, a fruit and vegetable salesman angered by police harassment, set himself alight on December 17, 2010.


france24--2020-12-17--Pumas winger Cordero signs new Bordeaux-Begles deal

Bordeaux-Begles ' Santiago Cordero celebrates his try in the European Champions Cup win at Northampton Saints Argentina winger Santiago Cordero @ @ @ @ @ extension with Bordeaux-Begles , the French side said on Thursday .
Cordero , 27 , @ @ @ @ @ his 38 Test appearances in November 's first win over New Zealand , originally joined @ @ @ @ @ Exeter Chiefs in 2019 .
`` Hello dear supporters , I 'm very happy to @ @ @ @ @ at Bordeaux-Begles , '' Cordero said in a video posted by the club .
`` @ @ @ @ @ to everyone , '' he added .
The former Jaguares three-quarters has scored 12 tries @ @ @ @ @ at Stade Chaban Delmas , includin the winner in last Friday 's European Champions Cup @ @ @ @ @

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Argentina winger Santiago Cordero has signed a two-year contract extension with Bordeaux-Begles, the French side said on Thursday.
Cordero, 27, who made the last of his 38 Test appearances in November's first win over New Zealand, originally joined the Top 14 outfit from Exeter Chiefs in 2019.
"Hello dear supporters, I'm very happy to announce that I'm staying at Bordeaux-Begles," Cordero said in a video posted by the club.
"Take care and Merry Christmas to everyone," he added.
The former Jaguares three-quarters has scored 12 tries in 21 appearances since arriving at Stade Chaban Delmas, includin the winner in last Friday's European Champions Cup victory at Northampton Saints.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--US to unseal charges against Lockerbie bombing suspect: media

The Lockerbie bombing which killed a total of 270 people , including 190 Americans and 11 people on the ground The United States plans to unseal charges soon against a Libyan man suspected of assembling the bomb that blew up a US airliner over Lockerbie , Scotland , in 1988 , US newspapers have reported .
But in Britain , the father of one of the victims of the disaster called the development `` unwelcome '' and cast doubt on the involvement of the suspect , Abu Agila Mohammad Masud .
`` I ca n't see the connection between these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Jim Swire , whose daughter Flora was killed in the bombing 32 years ago , told AFP on Thursday .
Masud is currently being held by the Libyan authorities , according to The Wall Street Journal , and US authorities are seeking his extradition to stand trial in the United States .
The New York Times said Masud 's exact whereabouts are unknown but that he was imprisoned in Libya at one point for unrelated crimes .
The Journal said Masud , alleged to have been a top bomb-maker for the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of assembling the device that blew up Pan Am Flight 103 .
The newspapers said US prosecutors are expected to unseal charges soon against Masud .
The case against Masud is reportedly based largely on a confession he gave to Libyan authorities in 2012 as well as travel and immigration records .
Monday is the 32nd anniversary of the bombing which killed a total of 270 people , including 190 Americans and 11 people on the ground .
In a statement , the FBI said that while it `` can not comment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public and most importantly , the families of the Pan Am 103 victims , that we have worked tenaciously for 32 years to investigate this horrific terrorist attack . ''
`` Domestic and foreign partners alike have been focused on identifying who was responsible for the bombing , '' the FBI said .
`` Just as in any investigation , the FBI is persistent in our investigations with a dedicated focus on the victims of crime and terrorism . ''
Five judges at Scotland 's highest court of criminal appeal are currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the only man convicted of the bombing .
In 1991 , the American and Scottish courts announced the indictment of two Libyan intelligence agents , Abdelbaset Mohmet Al-Megrahi and Amine Khalifa Fhimah , for their role in the attack .
The attorney general who announced the charges at the time was Bill Barr .
Reappointed to the Justice Department by Donald Trump in 2019 , Barr resigned Monday and is scheduled to step down next Wednesday .
The two Libyan defendants were tried in 2000 by a special Scottish court established on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following year , Fhimah was acquitted but Megrahi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison before his sentence was commuted to a minimum of 27 years in prison .
In 2009 , Megrahi was released on health grounds and he died in 2012 in Libya .
A first appeal against his conviction was rejected , while a second was abandoned .
Swire , who is convinced of Megrahi 's innocence and is backing his family 's appeal , said he was concerned the US charges could interfere with the Scottish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about it is it 's happening , whether by chance or not , 32 years after the disaster , at a time and that the lordships in Scotland are charged with examining the evidence and the third appeal against Meghrahi 's conviction , '' he said .
`` ( It ) makes it all the harder for their lordships to be objective about what they 're doing . ''
Swire has said he does not believe Libya was involved in the bombing but that he and the other families of the victims wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perpetrators might be .
`` If they really have some valid evidence against this man ( Masud ) , no one would be happier than me to see the issue tried in a court where the evidence provided to that court was objective and on an level playing field , '' he said .
He added he was motivated ultimately by the memory of his daughter .
`` I think she would have wanted the truth to be known about whose hand it was that had murdered her , '' he said .

Washington (AFP) –
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The United States plans to unseal charges soon against a Libyan man suspected of assembling the bomb that blew up a US airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, US newspapers have reported.
But in Britain, the father of one of the victims of the disaster called the development "unwelcome" and cast doubt on the involvement of the suspect, Abu Agila Mohammad Masud.
"I can't see the connection between these new allegations and the Lockerbie story," Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the bombing 32 years ago, told AFP on Thursday.
Masud is currently being held by the Libyan authorities, according to The Wall Street Journal, and US authorities are seeking his extradition to stand trial in the United States.
The New York Times said Masud's exact whereabouts are unknown but that he was imprisoned in Libya at one point for unrelated crimes.
The Journal said Masud, alleged to have been a top bomb-maker for the late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, is suspected of assembling the device that blew up Pan Am Flight 103.
The newspapers said US prosecutors are expected to unseal charges soon against Masud.
- 'Horrific attack' -
The case against Masud is reportedly based largely on a confession he gave to Libyan authorities in 2012 as well as travel and immigration records.
Monday is the 32nd anniversary of the bombing which killed a total of 270 people, including 190 Americans and 11 people on the ground.
In a statement, the FBI said that while it "cannot comment on any upcoming announcement, we can assure the public and most importantly, the families of the Pan Am 103 victims, that we have worked tenaciously for 32 years to investigate this horrific terrorist attack."
"Domestic and foreign partners alike have been focused on identifying who was responsible for the bombing," the FBI said.
"Just as in any investigation, the FBI is persistent in our investigations with a dedicated focus on the victims of crime and terrorism."
- Scottish appeal -
Five judges at Scotland's highest court of criminal appeal are currently considering a posthumous appeal by the family of the only man convicted of the bombing.
In 1991, the American and Scottish courts announced the indictment of two Libyan intelligence agents, Abdelbaset Mohmet Al-Megrahi and Amine Khalifa Fhimah, for their role in the attack.
The attorney general who announced the charges at the time was Bill Barr. Reappointed to the Justice Department by Donald Trump in 2019, Barr resigned Monday and is scheduled to step down next Wednesday.
The two Libyan defendants were tried in 2000 by a special Scottish court established on neutral ground in the Netherlands.
The following year, Fhimah was acquitted but Megrahi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison before his sentence was commuted to a minimum of 27 years in prison.
In 2009, Megrahi was released on health grounds and he died in 2012 in Libya. A first appeal against his conviction was rejected, while a second was abandoned.
Swire, who is convinced of Megrahi's innocence and is backing his family's appeal, said he was concerned the US charges could interfere with the Scottish case.
"What really worries me about it is it's happening, whether by chance or not, 32 years after the disaster, at a time and that the lordships in Scotland are charged with examining the evidence and the third appeal against Meghrahi's conviction," he said.
"(It) makes it all the harder for their lordships to be objective about what they're doing."
Swire has said he does not believe Libya was involved in the bombing but that he and the other families of the victims wish to see justice done, whoever the perpetrators might be.
"If they really have some valid evidence against this man (Masud), no one would be happier than me to see the issue tried in a court where the evidence provided to that court was objective and on an level playing field," he said.
He added he was motivated ultimately by the memory of his daughter. "I think she would have wanted the truth to be known about whose hand it was that had murdered her," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Tokyo hospitals overwhelmed as virus cases hit new record

Japan has so far avoided imposing strict lockdown measures and has seen a smaller outbreak than many other countries Tokyo 's hospitals are struggling to provide routine care because of a sharp spike in coronavirus cases , officials warned Thursday as new infections in the Japanese capital hit another record high .
The city , which is preparing to host the virus-postponed Olympics next summer , raised its alert level for pressure on medical services to the top of a four-tier Covid-19 warning system for the first time .
`` We need to have a sense of crisis more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a calendar .
It can strike at any time , '' Governor Yuriko Koike said .
Japan has so far avoided imposing strict lockdown measures and has seen a smaller outbreak than many other countries , with only around 187,000 infections and 2,700 deaths recorded overall .
But with cases on the rise , this week Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga urged citizens to reconsider holiday travel , and suspended a controversial domestic tourism campaign .
Tokyo logged 822 new cases on Thursday -- breaking its record for the second day running and marking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks .
Koike warned that the city could soon see 1,000 new cases a day if infections continue at the current pace .
`` Let 's overcome this severe condition at any cost , '' she said , calling on residents to continue avoiding non-essential outings .
Since late November , businesses serving alcohol have been asked to shut early and Tokyo residents have been encouraged to work from home , although the recommendations do not carry any enforcement mechanism .
Tokyo has two Covid-19 alert systems .
The other is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was raised to the maximum level last month .
The Olympics are set to open on July 23 , 2021 , and Koike told AFP this week that she sees `` no circumstances '' under which the massive international event will be cancelled .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Tokyo's hospitals are struggling to provide routine care because of a sharp spike in coronavirus cases, officials warned Thursday as new infections in the Japanese capital hit another record high.
The city, which is preparing to host the virus-postponed Olympics next summer, raised its alert level for pressure on medical services to the top of a four-tier Covid-19 warning system for the first time.
"We need to have a sense of crisis more than ever... the virus does not have a calendar. It can strike at any time," Governor Yuriko Koike said.
Japan has so far avoided imposing strict lockdown measures and has seen a smaller outbreak than many other countries, with only around 187,000 infections and 2,700 deaths recorded overall.
But with cases on the rise, this week Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga urged citizens to reconsider holiday travel, and suspended a controversial domestic tourism campaign.
Tokyo logged 822 new cases on Thursday -- breaking its record for the second day running and marking a jump from around 600 per day in recent weeks.
Koike warned that the city could soon see 1,000 new cases a day if infections continue at the current pace.
"Let's overcome this severe condition at any cost," she said, calling on residents to continue avoiding non-essential outings.
Since late November, businesses serving alcohol have been asked to shut early and Tokyo residents have been encouraged to work from home, although the recommendations do not carry any enforcement mechanism.
Tokyo has two Covid-19 alert systems. The other is for the level of contagion, which was raised to the maximum level last month.
The Olympics are set to open on July 23, 2021, and Koike told AFP this week that she sees "no circumstances" under which the massive international event will be cancelled.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Paceman Amir accuses Pakistan cricket of 'mental torture' and quits internationals

Mohammad Amir was Pakistan 's top wicket taker in the 2019 Cricket World Cup Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir on Thursday announced retirement from international cricket in protest over the `` shabby '' treatment he said he received from management .
The 28-year-old , who had already retired from Tests , was not selected in a large 35-member squad for the New Zealand series last month and was also overlooked for the home series against Zimbabwe .
`` I do n't want to play international cricket anymore , '' Amir , who has previously been banned for match fixing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always available for white ball cricket but I have had shabby treatment from the team management who have mentally tortured me , and that 's unacceptable . ''
`` PCB chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Amir this afternoon who confirmed that he has no desires or intensions of playing international cricket and , as such , he should not be considered for future international matches , '' a PCB release said .
`` This is a personal decision of Amir , which the PCB respects . ''
Amir angered head coach Misbah-ul-Haq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abrupt decision to retire from Test cricket in July last year .
Younis accused Amir of `` ditching Pakistan '' while continuing to play league cricket to earn money .
`` I know my body better than anyone and that decision was primarily taken to save my body , '' Amir protested .
Amir rose to international fame in 2010 as a young left-arm paceman .
Legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram described him as `` the most talented fast bowler '' .
But Amir 's career hit a roadblock when he was banned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was caught , along then Test captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif , by a sting operation into the orchestration deliberate no-balls in return for money in a Lord 's Test against England in 2010 .
Of the three , only Amir returned to international cricket in 2016 .
A year later he helped Pakistan win the Champions Trophy with three wickets in the final against arch rivals India .
He was Pakistan 's best bowler with 17 wickets in last year 's World Cup .
Amir took 119 wickets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-day internationals is 81 and 59 in 50 Twenty20 internationals .

Karachi (AFP) –
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Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir on Thursday announced retirement from international cricket in protest over the "shabby" treatment he said he received from management.
The 28-year-old, who had already retired from Tests, was not selected in a large 35-member squad for the New Zealand series last month and was also overlooked for the home series against Zimbabwe.
"I don't want to play international cricket anymore," Amir, who has previously been banned for match fixing, told AFP.
"I was always available for white ball cricket but I have had shabby treatment from the team management who have mentally tortured me, and that's unacceptable."
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Amir's decision.
"PCB chief executive Wasim Khan spoke with Amir this afternoon who confirmed that he has no desires or intensions of playing international cricket and, as such, he should not be considered for future international matches," a PCB release said.
"This is a personal decision of Amir, which the PCB respects."
Amir angered head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis with his abrupt decision to retire from Test cricket in July last year.
Younis accused Amir of "ditching Pakistan" while continuing to play league cricket to earn money.
"I know my body better than anyone and that decision was primarily taken to save my body," Amir protested.
Amir rose to international fame in 2010 as a young left-arm paceman.
Legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram described him as "the most talented fast bowler".
But Amir's career hit a roadblock when he was banned for five years in a spot-fixing case.
He was caught, along then Test captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, by a sting operation into the orchestration deliberate no-balls in return for money in a Lord's Test against England in 2010.
Of the three, only Amir returned to international cricket in 2016. A year later he helped Pakistan win the Champions Trophy with three wickets in the final against arch rivals India.
He was Pakistan's best bowler with 17 wickets in last year's World Cup.
Amir took 119 wickets in 36 Tests while his tally in 61 one-day internationals is 81 and 59 in 50 Twenty20 internationals.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Russia awaits landmark CAS ruling on doping ban

Sport 's highest court will announce on Thursday its decision on whether to overturn Russia 's four-year ban from international sport over alleged state-sponsored doping that would exclude it from next year 's Tokyo Olympics .
The much-anticipated ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport due at 1500GMT is the latest twist in a long running saga stretching back to 2016 .
The landmark CAS verdict to be announced on the Lausanne-based body 's website follows a four-day arbitration hearing between the World Anti-Doping Agency ( WADA ) and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency ( RUSADA ) at a secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of three CAS judges took place following WADA 's decision last year to declare RUSADA non-compliant after the Russian body was accused of manipulating drug testing data .
The ensuing ban meant Russia would miss the re-arranged Tokyo Olympics next year as well as football 's 2022 World Cup in Qatar , the 2022 Winter Olympics in China and the 2024 Paris Games .
Russia considers its ban to be legally indefensible .
Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the decision at the time as a `` politically motivated '' ruling that `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister Dmitry Medvedev described the suspension as `` chronic anti-Russian hysteria '' .
The Russian saga erupted in 2016 when Grigory Rodchenkov , the former head of Moscow 's anti-doping laboratory , blew the whistle over state-backed doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics hosted in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi .
Barely two weeks before the 2016 Rio Olympics in July that year , WADA called for Russia to be banned from those Games .
The IOC , however , stopped short of an outright ban and said individual federations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compete .
In 2017 , the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games , but allowed clean Russian athletes to take part as neutral competitors .
In September 2018 , WADA controversially lifted its ban on RUSADA , despite not having been granted access to its doping-tainted Moscow laboratory .
Russia finally handed over lab data to WADA in January 2019 .
In yet another twist , in September last year WADA gave Russia three weeks to explain `` inconsistencies '' in the data .
Sport 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the four-year ban over the manipulated data last December .
Athletics ' global governing body meanwhile has given the Russian federation until March next year to produce a comprehensive plan to fight doping and be reinstated to the sport or face expulsion .
While Thursday 's CAS verdict is of paramount importance to Russia , WADA also has plenty on the line .
The organisation , founded in 1999 , has been criticised by US lawmakers over its handling of the Russian scandal and failure to implement governance reforms .
The US as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual $ 2.7 million financing .
Thursday 's announcement is also being awaited with interest by the International Olympic Committee and sports federations who are expecting clear directives from CAS , eight months before the Tokyo Olympics .
The decision will also be greeted with interest at FIFA 's Zurich headquarters .
WADA 's sanctions cover major international events like world championships and Olympics , allowing Russia to compete in continental championships .
That is why FIFA 's 34th ranked team can take part in next year 's delayed European Championships and 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finals themselves in Qatar in their national colours if the ban on the 2018 World Cup hosts is upheld .

Lausanne (AFP) –
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Sport's highest court will announce on Thursday its decision on whether to overturn Russia's four-year ban from international sport over alleged state-sponsored doping that would exclude it from next year's Tokyo Olympics.
The much-anticipated ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport due at 1500GMT is the latest twist in a long running saga stretching back to 2016.
The landmark CAS verdict to be announced on the Lausanne-based body's website follows a four-day arbitration hearing between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) at a secret location last month.
The showdown in front of three CAS judges took place following WADA's decision last year to declare RUSADA non-compliant after the Russian body was accused of manipulating drug testing data.
The ensuing ban meant Russia would miss the re-arranged Tokyo Olympics next year as well as football's 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2022 Winter Olympics in China and the 2024 Paris Games.
Russia considers its ban to be legally indefensible. Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the decision at the time as a "politically motivated" ruling that "contradicted" the Olympic Charter.
Former prime minister Dmitry Medvedev described the suspension as "chronic anti-Russian hysteria".
The Russian saga erupted in 2016 when Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory, blew the whistle over state-backed doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics hosted in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Barely two weeks before the 2016 Rio Olympics in July that year, WADA called for Russia to be banned from those Games.
The IOC, however, stopped short of an outright ban and said individual federations would decide whether to allow Russian athletes to compete.
In 2017, the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, but allowed clean Russian athletes to take part as neutral competitors.
A total of 168 Russians eventually competed.
- Doping-tainted -
In September 2018, WADA controversially lifted its ban on RUSADA, despite not having been granted access to its doping-tainted Moscow laboratory.
Russia finally handed over lab data to WADA in January 2019.
In yet another twist, in September last year WADA gave Russia three weeks to explain "inconsistencies" in the data.
Sport's global doping policeman then hit Russia with the four-year ban over the manipulated data last December.
Athletics' global governing body meanwhile has given the Russian federation until March next year to produce a comprehensive plan to fight doping and be reinstated to the sport or face expulsion.
While Thursday's CAS verdict is of paramount importance to Russia, WADA also has plenty on the line.
The organisation, founded in 1999, has been criticised by US lawmakers over its handling of the Russian scandal and failure to implement governance reforms.
The US as a result has threatened to pull its annual $2.7 million financing.
Thursday's announcement is also being awaited with interest by the International Olympic Committee and sports federations who are expecting clear directives from CAS, eight months before the Tokyo Olympics.
The decision will also be greeted with interest at FIFA's Zurich headquarters.
WADA's sanctions cover major international events like world championships and Olympics, allowing Russia to compete in continental championships.
That is why FIFA's 34th ranked team can take part in next year's delayed European Championships and 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but not the finals themselves in Qatar in their national colours if the ban on the 2018 World Cup hosts is upheld.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Cavani charged by FA over social media post

Manchester United 's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani has been charged by the FA over a now-deleted social media post considered in some contexts as offensive and for which he apologised Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for a now-deleted social media post containing a Spanish phrase that is offensive in some contexts and for which the Manchester United star apologised .
The 33-year-old Uruguayan striker 's Instagram post thanked a friend for his congratulations after scoring twice as United came from 2-0 down to beat Southampton 3-2 last month and included the Spanish word `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He later deleted the post and apologised when it was pointed out the meaning that could be attached to it .
Both United and the player said at the time that the word was clearly used in an affectionate manner and has different connotations in South America .
`` Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3 , in relation to a social media post on Thursday 29 November 2020 , '' read the FA statement .
`` It is alleged that , contrary to FA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Manchester United FC player 's Instagram page was insulting and/or abusive and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute .
`` It is further alleged that the comment constitutes an 'Aggravated Breach ' , which is defined in FA Rule E3.2 , as it included a reference , whether express or implied , to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin . ''
The striker -- who has been out of action for the past two matches due to a muscle injury though he has now returned to training -- has until January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charge .
United said they and Cavani would consult over their response to the charge .
The striker could potentially be suspended for more than three matches under rules relating to offences of discrimination brought in by the FA this season .
`` Edinson and the club were clear that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind the message , which he deleted and apologised for , as soon as he was informed that it could have been misconstrued , '' read a club statement .
`` The player and the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the FA accordingly . ''

London (AFP) –
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Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for a now-deleted social media post containing a Spanish phrase that is offensive in some contexts and for which the Manchester United star apologised.
The 33-year-old Uruguayan striker's Instagram post thanked a friend for his congratulations after scoring twice as United came from 2-0 down to beat Southampton 3-2 last month and included the Spanish word "negrito" (small black person).
He later deleted the post and apologised when it was pointed out the meaning that could be attached to it.
Both United and the player said at the time that the word was clearly used in an affectionate manner and has different connotations in South America.
"Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3, in relation to a social media post on Thursday 29 November 2020," read the FA statement.
"It is alleged that, contrary to FA Rule E3.1, a comment posted on the Manchester United FC player's Instagram page was insulting and/or abusive and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
"It is further alleged that the comment constitutes an 'Aggravated Breach', which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin."
The striker -- who has been out of action for the past two matches due to a muscle injury though he has now returned to training -- has until January 4 2021 to provide a response to the charge.
United said they and Cavani would consult over their response to the charge.
The striker could potentially be suspended for more than three matches under rules relating to offences of discrimination brought in by the FA this season.
"Edinson and the club were clear that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind the message, which he deleted and apologised for, as soon as he was informed that it could have been misconstrued," read a club statement.
"The player and the club will now consider the charge and respond to the FA accordingly."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-17--Verdict due over foiled Paris train attack

Ayoub El Khazzani , pictured left , has said he was sorry for the plot A French court was set Thursday to give its verdict against a Moroccan man charged with planning a terror attack on a Paris-bound international train , only to be thwarted passengers including off-duty US soldiers .
The prosecution has asked for a life sentence for Ayoub El Khazzani , now 31 , over the August 21 , 2015 foiled plot on the the Amsterdam-Paris high-speed Thalys train .
The events inspired a 2018 film `` The 15:17 to Paris '' directed by Hollywood legend Clint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trial been mooted as a possible witness but in the end was not asked to appear .
The verdict against Khazzani will come one day after a Paris court convicted 13 accomplices of the attackers who carried out massacres at the Charlie Hebdo weekly and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January 2015 .
Unlike Khazzani , who was immediately apprehended , all the gunmen in the Charlie Hebdo assault were killed in the aftermath of the massacres , leaving only their accomplices to go on trial .
Khazzani was tackled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed from a toilet on the train .
`` I am sorry to the bottom of my heart , '' Khazzani told the court in a tearful final statement .
`` What I did tears me apart , it freezes the blood . ''
He argued that despite being armed to the teeth with an AK-47 automatic rifle and 300 rounds of ammunition he renounced the plot at the last minute as he could not kill people .
However the prosecution says it was only faulty munitions and the intervention of other passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There were about 150 passengers in the carriage with Khazzani some Jail sentences of up to 30 years have also been demanded by prosecutors for three suspected accomplices .
The passengers who intervened included three Americans who were holidaying in Europe , two of them -- Spencer Stone and Aleksander Skarlatos -- off duty American servicemen .
`` I do n't feel like a hero because we were just doing what we had to do to survive , '' Skarlatos said after giving evidence in court during the trial .

Paris (AFP) –
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A French court was set Thursday to give its verdict against a Moroccan man charged with planning a terror attack on a Paris-bound international train, only to be thwarted passengers including off-duty US soldiers.
The prosecution has asked for a life sentence for Ayoub El Khazzani, now 31, over the August 21, 2015 foiled plot on the the Amsterdam-Paris high-speed Thalys train.
The events inspired a 2018 film "The 15:17 to Paris" directed by Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood who had at the start of the trial been mooted as a possible witness but in the end was not asked to appear.
The verdict against Khazzani will come one day after a Paris court convicted 13 accomplices of the attackers who carried out massacres at the Charlie Hebdo weekly and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January 2015.
Unlike Khazzani, who was immediately apprehended, all the gunmen in the Charlie Hebdo assault were killed in the aftermath of the massacres, leaving only their accomplices to go on trial.
Khazzani was tackled by passengers shortly after emerging bare-chested and heavily armed from a toilet on the train.
"I am sorry to the bottom of my heart," Khazzani told the court in a tearful final statement. "What I did tears me apart, it freezes the blood."
He argued that despite being armed to the teeth with an AK-47 automatic rifle and 300 rounds of ammunition he renounced the plot at the last minute as he could not kill people.
However the prosecution says it was only faulty munitions and the intervention of other passengers that stopped a massacre taking place.
There were about 150 passengers in the carriage with Khazzani some
Jail sentences of up to 30 years have also been demanded by prosecutors for three suspected accomplices.
The passengers who intervened included three Americans who were holidaying in Europe, two of them -- Spencer Stone and Aleksander Skarlatos -- off duty American servicemen.
"I don't feel like a hero because we were just doing what we had to do to survive," Skarlatos said after giving evidence in court during the trial.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-18--US school shutdowns raise concerns for children's future

Nine months into the coronavirus pandemic , children are still attending classes online -- and the stress is building Exhaustion , stress and worsening inequality : nine months into the coronavirus pandemic and most American children have not returned to classrooms , disrupting the lives of families and teachers and fueling concerns about the long-term impact on youngsters ' development .
Victoria Mendez -- a cleaner of Mexican origin who lives in New York City -- had hoped to see her 14-year-old son 's school reopen after Christmas , but , with infections soaring , she no longer believes it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very stressful .
He no longer studies , '' says the 53-year-old , who is raising two children on her own .
When Mendez leaves for work -- just three days a week after she lost her full-time job because of the pandemic -- she worries whether her youngest son is in fact going online for his remote lessons .
Noelle Cullimore 's son , who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , lost the extra educational and psychological support he used to receive before the pandemic .
He has returned to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mother says has helped , but she still fears that his spell without in-person teaching will leave `` a huge gap in his education . ''
Even families whose children do n't suffer any particular difficulties worry about the effects of their prolonged absence from classrooms .
The reopening of her nine-year-old daughter 's school ca n't come soon enough for Amy , a well-off New Yorker .
She believes that although her daughter took easily to wearing masks and attending birthday parties on Zoom children have `` lost the routine of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tense than parents .
Maggie Mock , a teacher from Phoenix , Arizona , has only taught virtually since March for fear of catching the virus and infecting her family .
Despite her 11 years of experience and dedication to her profession , the 35-year-old , a mother herself , considered resigning `` multiple times . ''
Mock says she has been left weary by having to master new digital tools and by authorities reversing their decision to reopen schools , a move that meant she was temporarily given new students , doubling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I was not sleeping , '' she said , Now feeling a little happier about the situation , Mock is particularly worried about her students .
She has 24 of them but rarely sees more than 18 online at any one time .
`` Where are they ? ''
she wonders , after trying in vain to contact their parents .
Mock says children can evade attention more easily when classes are virtual .
`` I have never had a student refuse to do something when they are in front of me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the option .
But with remote learning , they get by , they just do n't have the pressure . ''
The ones who check out are the ones whose parents are n't following their child 's online education closely , Mock laments .
Parental disengagement is often a symptom of socio-economic disparities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic , including access to health care and the internet , experts stress .
A McKinsey & Company study published this month estimated that after just a few months of an all-virtual education Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to five months behind at mathematics , compared to between one and two months for whites .
Increasing disparities , coupled with European countries reopening schools despite a resurgent pandemic , is fueling debate about reopening schools .
Since September there has been a trend towards face-to-face teaching , according to the website Burbio , which is tracking school reopenings .
Its analysis of America 's 13,000 school districts , all of which are free to choose whether to reopen , found that 48 percent of children were doing virtual schooling this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning of September .
New York has been leading the way among major cities .
It reopened elementary schools for part-time , in-person learning last week , despite the virus surging , and promises to have the city 's youngest children back in classes full-time soon .
But in a decentralized country like the United States , where school districts have unequal resources , there is no one solution suitable for all schoolchildren , says Megan Collins , joint head of a health-in- schools program at Johns Hopkins Universities .
`` It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID transmission rates and availability of testing , '' that help inform whether children should be back in classrooms , she said .
Nicholas Wagner , a child psychologist at Boston University , says priority for returning to school full-time should be given to those who lose the most from learning online -- younger children and the underprivileged .
`` Almost the way the vaccine is being distributed -- people who are the most at risk get it almost immediately , '' he said .

New York (AFP) –
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Exhaustion, stress and worsening inequality: nine months into the coronavirus pandemic and most American children have not returned to classrooms, disrupting the lives of families and teachers and fueling concerns about the long-term impact on youngsters' development.
Victoria Mendez -- a cleaner of Mexican origin who lives in New York City -- had hoped to see her 14-year-old son's school reopen after Christmas, but, with infections soaring, she no longer believes it will happen.
"The situation is very stressful. He no longer studies," says the 53-year-old, who is raising two children on her own.
When Mendez leaves for work -- just three days a week after she lost her full-time job because of the pandemic -- she worries whether her youngest son is in fact going online for his remote lessons.
Noelle Cullimore's son, who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, lost the extra educational and psychological support he used to receive before the pandemic.
He has returned to school two days a week recently, which his mother says has helped, but she still fears that his spell without in-person teaching will leave "a huge gap in his education."
Even families whose children don't suffer any particular difficulties worry about the effects of their prolonged absence from classrooms.
The reopening of her nine-year-old daughter's school can't come soon enough for Amy, a well-off New Yorker.
She believes that although her daughter took easily to wearing masks and attending birthday parties on Zoom children have "lost the routine of life."
Teachers seem even more tense than parents. Maggie Mock, a teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, has only taught virtually since March for fear of catching the virus and infecting her family.
Despite her 11 years of experience and dedication to her profession, the 35-year-old, a mother herself, considered resigning "multiple times."
- No sleep -
Mock says she has been left weary by having to master new digital tools and by authorities reversing their decision to reopen schools, a move that meant she was temporarily given new students, doubling her workload.
"It was exhausting. I was not sleeping," she said,
Now feeling a little happier about the situation, Mock is particularly worried about her students. She has 24 of them but rarely sees more than 18 online at any one time.
"Where are they?" she wonders, after trying in vain to contact their parents.
Mock says children can evade attention more easily when classes are virtual.
"I have never had a student refuse to do something when they are in front of me -- they just don’t have the option. But with remote learning, they get by, they just don't have the pressure."
The ones who check out are the ones whose parents aren't following their child's online education closely, Mock laments.
Parental disengagement is often a symptom of socio-economic disparities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, including access to health care and the internet, experts stress.
A McKinsey & Company study published this month estimated that after just a few months of an all-virtual education Black and Latino students were on average three to five months behind at mathematics, compared to between one and two months for whites.
- Vaccine -
Increasing disparities, coupled with European countries reopening schools despite a resurgent pandemic, is fueling debate about reopening schools.
Since September there has been a trend towards face-to-face teaching, according to the website Burbio, which is tracking school reopenings.
Its analysis of America's 13,000 school districts, all of which are free to choose whether to reopen, found that 48 percent of children were doing virtual schooling this week, down from 62 percent at the beginning of September.
New York has been leading the way among major cities. It reopened elementary schools for part-time, in-person learning last week, despite the virus surging, and promises to have the city's youngest children back in classes full-time soon.
But in a decentralized country like the United States, where school districts have unequal resources, there is no one solution suitable for all schoolchildren, says Megan Collins, joint head of a health-in- schools program at Johns Hopkins Universities.
"It's the nuances with resources and geography and COVID transmission rates and availability of testing," that help inform whether children should be back in classrooms, she said.
Nicholas Wagner, a child psychologist at Boston University, says priority for returning to school full-time should be given to those who lose the most from learning online -- younger children and the underprivileged.
"Almost the way the vaccine is being distributed -- people who are the most at risk get it almost immediately," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-18--France detains Epstein ex-associate Brunel over sex crime claims

An apartment building owned by Jeffrey Epstein in an upmarket Paris district Prominent French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel , a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein , has been detained in France on accusations of sex crimes , prosecutors said on Thursday .
Brunel was detained on Wednesday on accusations of rape , sexual assault of minors , human trafficking and being part of a criminal conspiracy , Paris prosecutors told AFP .
The news was welcomed by a lawyer for the alleged victims and a model who claimed she was raped by Brunel .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport as he was about to take a plane to Senegal , a source close to the case added .
Epstein , who was arrested in New York in July on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex , was found hanged in his New York jail cell on August 10 , 2019 while awaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean .
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation of their own .
That probe has focused on Brunel , who was accused in American court documents of rape and of procuring young girls for his friend .
`` The victims have long awaited the arrest of Jean-Luc Brunel .
They welcome his detention with relief and with confidence in the legal process , '' said lawyer Anne-Claire Lejeune , who represents several victims .
Thysia Huisman , a former Dutch model who says she was drugged and raped by Brunel at the age of 18 , hailed the arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have tears of joy .
Finally after all this time , justice is being done , '' she said .
Huisman said she was the first plaintiff to report Brunel to the authorities in 2019 , and 11 other victims then came forwards .
But these accusations risked never making it to court due to the statute of limitations .
`` I hope the police has a new case with more recent victims .
I am really happy with this news , '' she said .
Brunel 's detention ends over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whereabouts .
Now in his 70s , Brunel began his career as a model scout who in 1978 was involved in setting up the prestigious Karin Models agency .
He then moved to the United States where he co-founded the Miami-based agency MC2 .
Brunel 's lawyer in October 2019 said he vehemently rejected allegations made in the press but denied his client was on the run , insisting he was available for questioning .
French police last year raided the offices of Karin Models and searched Epstein 's luxury Paris home not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In US court documents , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , a key plaintiff against Epstein , accused the American tycoon of using her as a `` sex slave '' and said she had been forced to have sex with well-known politicians and businessmen , including Brunel .
She also alleged that Brunel would bring girls as young as 12 to the United States and pass them on to his friends , including Epstein .
These claims prompted a rare statement by Brunel in 2015 that itself broke years of silence in which he vehemently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , in Epstein 's crimes .
Long before the Epstein scandal broke , Brunel was accused of rape by several models in a 1988 documentary by CBS .
Meanwhile in a another case , Paris prosecutors in September opened an investigation into Gerald Marie , former European head of Elite Models , over a complaint by a former BBC journalist and claims of rape by three ex-models .

Paris (AFP) –
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Prominent French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, has been detained in France on accusations of sex crimes, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Brunel was detained on Wednesday on accusations of rape, sexual assault of minors, human trafficking and being part of a criminal conspiracy, Paris prosecutors told AFP.
The news was welcomed by a lawyer for the alleged victims and a model who claimed she was raped by Brunel.
He was held at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to take a plane to Senegal, a source close to the case added.
Epstein, who was arrested in New York in July on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex, was found hanged in his New York jail cell on August 10, 2019 while awaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean.
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused in France prompted French prosecutors to open an investigation of their own.
- 'Tears of joy' -
That probe has focused on Brunel, who was accused in American court documents of rape and of procuring young girls for his friend.
"The victims have long awaited the arrest of Jean-Luc Brunel. They welcome his detention with relief and with confidence in the legal process," said lawyer Anne-Claire Lejeune, who represents several victims.
Thysia Huisman, a former Dutch model who says she was drugged and raped by Brunel at the age of 18, hailed the arrest as "great news".
"I have tears of joy. Finally after all this time, justice is being done," she said.
Huisman said she was the first plaintiff to report Brunel to the authorities in 2019, and 11 other victims then came forwards. But these accusations risked never making it to court due to the statute of limitations.
"I hope the police has a new case with more recent victims. I am really happy with this news," she said.
- Longstanding claims -
Brunel's detention ends over a year of uncertainty and mystery over his whereabouts.
Now in his 70s, Brunel began his career as a model scout who in 1978 was involved in setting up the prestigious Karin Models agency.
He then moved to the United States where he co-founded the Miami-based agency MC2.
Brunel's lawyer in October 2019 said he vehemently rejected allegations made in the press but denied his client was on the run, insisting he was available for questioning.
French police last year raided the offices of Karin Models and searched Epstein's luxury Paris home not far from the Arc de Triomphe.
In US court documents, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a key plaintiff against Epstein, accused the American tycoon of using her as a "sex slave" and said she had been forced to have sex with well-known politicians and businessmen, including Brunel.
She also alleged that Brunel would bring girls as young as 12 to the United States and pass them on to his friends, including Epstein.
These claims prompted a rare statement by Brunel in 2015 that itself broke years of silence in which he vehemently denied involvement, "directly or indirectly", in Epstein's crimes.
Long before the Epstein scandal broke, Brunel was accused of rape by several models in a 1988 documentary by CBS.
Meanwhile in a another case, Paris prosecutors in September opened an investigation into Gerald Marie, former European head of Elite Models, over a complaint by a former BBC journalist and claims of rape by three ex-models.
sm-edy-gd-sjw/txw
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-18--Turkey's jailed rights leader Kavala faces new trial

Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala 's trial is seen by rights groups as a bellwether on the state of freedom of expression under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey 's jailed civil society leader Osman Kavala appears Friday before an Istanbul court on charges that rights groups say are part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's effort to stifle dissent .
The 63-year-old social crusader 's trial date comes as the constitutional court mulls whether his detention -- ongoing without a conviction for more than three years -- is lawful .
US academic Henri Barkey is also being tried in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the 2016 failed coup attempt against Erdogan .
Rights groups view Kavala 's case as a bellwether on the state of freedom of expression under Erdogan -- a strong-willed leader who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003 .
Erdogan branded Kavala the `` red Soros of Turkey '' a few days after he was first detained upon landing in Istanbul 's old Ataturk airport in October 2017 .
The Parisian-born businessman was a founding member of philanthropist George Soros 's Open Society Foundation in Turkey and headed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts .
Kavala has remained in prison despite being acquitted in February in connection with 2013 protests about the planned demolition of an Istanbul park that morphed into the first serious challenge to Erdogan 's rule .
He was re-arrested before he could leave the courtroom however , on fresh charges of espionage and attempting to overthrow the constitutional order in the failed 2016 coup .
The European Court of Human Rights first called for Kavala 's `` immediate release '' in December 2019 .
His court appearance Friday , the first full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , comes during a wave of speculation about a possible easing of political and legal pressure on Erdogan 's longstanding foes .
Erdogan was forced to part ways last month with his powerful son-in-law -- once viewed as the president 's second in command -- and appoint a more market-friendly team to tackle Turkey 's growing economic problems .
He promised to launch judicial reforms at the same time to win back foreign investors who have become discouraged about the current state of Turkey 's rule of law .
The sudden change in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erdogan ally Bulent Arinc to say in a televised interview that he was `` shocked by the fact that ( Kavala ) is still under arrest '' .
But Erdogan distanced himself from the comments a few days later and Arinc was forced to resign from the president 's advisory body as a result .
Kavala 's supporters are also pinning their hopes on a constitutional court hearing of his appeal for an immediate release .
It is unclear when a ruling will be announced .
`` I would not be surprised if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said human rights lawyer Kerem Altiparmak .
`` The government 's strategy is based on saying : ' I did n't release him , someone else did ' . ''
Kavala would be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of trying to overthrow the constitutional order .
The espionage charge carries an additional 20 years in jail .
His case is being heard alongside that of Turkish-born US academic Barkey -- a former member of the State Department Policy Planning Staff who lives in the United States and is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barkey stem from a conference he organised about Iran in a hotel on an island off Istanbul at the time of the 2016 coup attempt .
The charge sheet alleges Barkey used the conference as cover to coordinate the coup with Kavala .
The indictment also includes data from cell phone receivers placing him and Kavala in the same neighbourhoods of Istanbul at the same time .
Human rights defenders point out that such data is irrelevant and had already been ruled inadmissible by the constitutional court .
`` His case is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of law in Turkey , '' Truth Justice Memory Centre director Murat Celikkan told AFP .

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Turkey's jailed civil society leader Osman Kavala appears Friday before an Istanbul court on charges that rights groups say are part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's effort to stifle dissent.
The 63-year-old social crusader's trial date comes as the constitutional court mulls whether his detention -- ongoing without a conviction for more than three years -- is lawful.
US academic Henri Barkey is also being tried in absentia alongside Kavala in a case linked to the 2016 failed coup attempt against Erdogan.
Rights groups view Kavala's case as a bellwether on the state of freedom of expression under Erdogan -- a strong-willed leader who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003.
Erdogan branded Kavala the "red Soros of Turkey" a few days after he was first detained upon landing in Istanbul's old Ataturk airport in October 2017.
The Parisian-born businessman was a founding member of philanthropist George Soros's Open Society Foundation in Turkey and headed a group that promoted cross-cultural ties via the arts.
Kavala has remained in prison despite being acquitted in February in connection with 2013 protests about the planned demolition of an Istanbul park that morphed into the first serious challenge to Erdogan's rule.
He was re-arrested before he could leave the courtroom however, on fresh charges of espionage and attempting to overthrow the constitutional order in the failed 2016 coup.
The European Court of Human Rights first called for Kavala's "immediate release" in December 2019.
- Speculation about release -
His court appearance Friday, the first full day of hearings on the latest charges, comes during a wave of speculation about a possible easing of political and legal pressure on Erdogan's longstanding foes.
Erdogan was forced to part ways last month with his powerful son-in-law -- once viewed as the president's second in command -- and appoint a more market-friendly team to tackle Turkey's growing economic problems.
He promised to launch judicial reforms at the same time to win back foreign investors who have become discouraged about the current state of Turkey's rule of law.
The sudden change in tone prompted former deputy prime minister and Erdogan ally Bulent Arinc to say in a televised interview that he was "shocked by the fact that (Kavala) is still under arrest".
But Erdogan distanced himself from the comments a few days later and Arinc was forced to resign from the president's advisory body as a result.
Kavala's supporters are also pinning their hopes on a constitutional court hearing of his appeal for an immediate release. It is unclear when a ruling will be announced.
"I would not be surprised if the constitutional court decides to release Kavala," said human rights lawyer Kerem Altiparmak.
"The government's strategy is based on saying: 'I didn't release him, someone else did'."
- US academic -
Kavala would be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of trying to overthrow the constitutional order. The espionage charge carries an additional 20 years in jail.
His case is being heard alongside that of Turkish-born US academic Barkey -- a former member of the State Department Policy Planning Staff who lives in the United States and is being tried in absentia.
The accusations against Barkey stem from a conference he organised about Iran in a hotel on an island off Istanbul at the time of the 2016 coup attempt.
The charge sheet alleges Barkey used the conference as cover to coordinate the coup with Kavala.
The indictment also includes data from cell phone receivers placing him and Kavala in the same neighbourhoods of Istanbul at the same time.
Human rights defenders point out that such data is irrelevant and had already been ruled inadmissible by the constitutional court.
"His case is a good example of the lack of rule of law in Turkey," Truth Justice Memory Centre director Murat Celikkan told AFP.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-18--Biden picks Native American congresswoman as US interior secretary, in Cabinet first

President-elect Joe Biden selected New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as his nominee for interior secretary on Thursday , a historic pick that would make her the first Native American to lead the powerful federal agency that has wielded influence over the nation ’ s tribes for generations .
Tribal leaders and activists around the country , along with many Democratic figures , cheered Haaland ’ s selection after urging Biden for weeks to choose her to lead the Department of Interior .
They stood behind her candidacy even when concerns that Democrats might risk their majority in the House if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to threaten her nomination .
With Haaland ’ s nomination , Indigenous people will for the first time in their lifetimes see a Native American at the table where the highest decisions are made — and so will everyone else , said OJ Semans , a Rosebud Sioux vote activist who was in Georgia on Thursday helping get out the Native vote for two Senate runoffs .
“ It ’ s made people aware that Indians still exist , ” he said .
Haaland , 60 , is a member of the Laguna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , a 35th-generation resident of New Mexico .
The role of interior secretary would put her in charge of an agency that has tremendous sway not only over the nearly 600 federally recognized tribes , but also over much of the nation ’ s vast public lands , waterways , wildlife , national parks and mineral wealth .
Haaland tweeted after the news was made public that “ growing up in my mother ’ s Pueblo household made me fierce .
“ I ’ ll be fierce for all of us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected land , ” she pledged .
The pick breaks a 245-year record of non-Native officials , mostly male , serving as the top federal official over American Indian affairs .
The federal government often worked to dispossess Native Americans of their land and , until recently , to assimilate them into white culture .
“ You ’ ve got to understand — you ’ re taking Interior full circle , ” said Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva , chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and a champion of Haaland for the job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the disenfranchisement of the Native people of this country , of displacement , of cultural genocide.
” With Haaland ’ s nomination , “ that in itself is a huge message , ” Grijalva said .
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez called it “ truly a historic and unprecedented day for all Indigenous people.
” “ I am SO ELATED , ” the head of progressive Democrats ’ Sunrise Movement , Varshini Prakash , tweeted .
“ This will be the first time an Indigenous person - and a badass climate champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential cabinet position .
Congratulations to @ JoeBiden for making history.
” Get-out-the-vote activists believe their efforts , and the Native vote , helped flip Arizona in particular for Biden and secure the presidency .
“ There ’ s a feeling something is changing , ” said Ashley Nicole McCray , a member of the Absentee Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and of an indigenous environmental coalition .
“ Finally , we ’ ve come to this point where Indigenous sentiment is no longer being silenced.
” But Biden ’ s pick could further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrow majority Democrats maintain in the House .
Biden has already selected several lawmakers from the chamber , including Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond and Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge , to serve in his administration .
Some on Biden ’ s transition team had expressed concerns about dipping further into the already thinned Democratic House majority for another senior administration posting .
But Biden decided that the barrier-breaking aspect of her nomination and her experience as vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources made her the right pick for the moment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ posts in his Cabinet , adding North Carolina environmental official Michael Regan as his nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency .
Biden introduced former South Bend , Indiana , mayor Pete Buttigieg earlier this week as his transportation secretary and announced Thursday that former Michigan Gov .
Jennifer Granholm was his nominee for energy secretary .
In a statement Thursday night , Biden said he had assembled a “ brilliant , tested , trailblazing team ” that “ will be ready on day one to confront the existential threat of climate change.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have no time to waste to confront the climate crisis , protect our air and drinking water , and deliver justice to communities that have long shouldered the burdens of environmental harms , ” the president-elect said .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made it clear Wednesday that Biden had her blessing to choose Haaland , saying she would make an “ excellent choice ” as interior secretary .
South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn , the No .
3 Democrat in the House and a close Biden ally , also supported Haaland for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first two Native American women in the House .
She told The Associated Press before her nomination that see the difference her position in Congress made for ordinary Native Americans who came to her with business before the federal government .
“ They felt comfortable just launching into the issues they wanted , ” Haaland told the AP in an interview before her appointment .
They would say , for example , “ Oh , we don ’ t have to explain tribal sovereignty to you , ” meaning tribes ’ constitutionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously worked as head of New Mexico ’ s Democratic Party , as tribal administrator and as an administrator for an organization providing services for adults with developmental disabilities .
Born to a Marine veteran father and a Navy veteran mother , Haaland describes herself as a single mother who sometimes had to rely on food stamps .
She says she is still paying off student loans after college and law school for herself and college for her daughter .
New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall , who is retiring after 22 years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for interior secretary , congratulated Haaland on her selection , calling it “ momentous and well-earned.
’ ’ Previously , the highest-ranking administration official known to have Native American heritage was Charles Curtis , who served as Herbert Hoover ’ s vice president and whose mother was one-quarter Kaw tribe .

President-elect Joe Biden selected New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as his nominee for interior secretary on Thursday, a historic pick that would make her the first Native American to lead the powerful federal agency that has wielded influence over the nation’s tribes for generations.
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Tribal leaders and activists around the country, along with many Democratic figures, cheered Haaland’s selection after urging Biden for weeks to choose her to lead the Department of Interior. They stood behind her candidacy even when concerns that Democrats might risk their majority in the House if Haaland yielded her seat in Congress appeared to threaten her nomination.
With Haaland’s nomination, Indigenous people will for the first time in their lifetimes see a Native American at the table where the highest decisions are made — and so will everyone else, said OJ Semans, a Rosebud Sioux vote activist who was in Georgia on Thursday helping get out the Native vote for two Senate runoffs. “It’s made people aware that Indians still exist,” he said.
Haaland, 60, is a member of the Laguna Pueblo and, as she likes to say, a 35th-generation resident of New Mexico. The role of interior secretary would put her in charge of an agency that has tremendous sway not only over the nearly 600 federally recognized tribes, but also over much of the nation’s vast public lands, waterways, wildlife, national parks and mineral wealth.
Haaland tweeted after the news was made public that “growing up in my mother’s Pueblo household made me fierce.
“I’ll be fierce for all of us, our planet, and all of our protected land,” she pledged.
The pick breaks a 245-year record of non-Native officials, mostly male, serving as the top federal official over American Indian affairs. The federal government often worked to dispossess Native Americans of their land and, until recently, to assimilate them into white culture.
“You’ve got to understand — you’re taking Interior full circle,” said Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and a champion of Haaland for the job. “For years, its legacy was the disenfranchisement of the Native people of this country, of displacement, of cultural genocide.”
With Haaland’s nomination, “that in itself is a huge message,” Grijalva said.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez called it “truly a historic and unprecedented day for all Indigenous people.”
“I am SO ELATED,” the head of progressive Democrats’ Sunrise Movement, Varshini Prakash, tweeted. “This will be the first time an Indigenous person - and a badass climate champion woman at that - will hold any presidential cabinet position. Congratulations to @JoeBiden for making history.”
Get-out-the-vote activists believe their efforts, and the Native vote, helped flip Arizona in particular for Biden and secure the presidency.
“There’s a feeling something is changing,” said Ashley Nicole McCray, a member of the Absentee Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma and of an indigenous environmental coalition. “Finally, we’ve come to this point where Indigenous sentiment is no longer being silenced.”
But Biden’s pick could further deplete, at least temporarily, the narrow majority Democrats maintain in the House. Biden has already selected several lawmakers from the chamber, including Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond and Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, to serve in his administration.
Some on Biden’s transition team had expressed concerns about dipping further into the already thinned Democratic House majority for another senior administration posting. But Biden decided that the barrier-breaking aspect of her nomination and her experience as vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources made her the right pick for the moment.
The president-elect has been methodically filling the posts in his Cabinet, adding North Carolina environmental official Michael Regan as his nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Biden introduced former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg earlier this week as his transportation secretary and announced Thursday that former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm was his nominee for energy secretary.
In a statement Thursday night, Biden said he had assembled a “brilliant, tested, trailblazing team” that “will be ready on day one to confront the existential threat of climate change.”
“They share my belief that we have no time to waste to confront the climate crisis, protect our air and drinking water, and deliver justice to communities that have long shouldered the burdens of environmental harms,” the president-elect said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made it clear Wednesday that Biden had her blessing to choose Haaland, saying she would make an “excellent choice” as interior secretary. South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the No. 3 Democrat in the House and a close Biden ally, also supported Haaland for the job.
Haaland is one of the first two Native American women in the House. She told The Associated Press before her nomination that see the difference her position in Congress made for ordinary Native Americans who came to her with business before the federal government.
“They felt comfortable just launching into the issues they wanted,” Haaland told the AP in an interview before her appointment. They would say, for example, “Oh, we don’t have to explain tribal sovereignty to you,” meaning tribes’ constitutionally guaranteed status as independent nations.
Haaland previously worked as head of New Mexico’s Democratic Party, as tribal administrator and as an administrator for an organization providing services for adults with developmental disabilities.
Born to a Marine veteran father and a Navy veteran mother, Haaland describes herself as a single mother who sometimes had to rely on food stamps. She says she is still paying off student loans after college and law school for herself and college for her daughter.
New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall, who is retiring after 22 years in Congress and was initially considered the front-runner for interior secretary, congratulated Haaland on her selection, calling it “momentous and well-earned.’’
Previously, the highest-ranking administration official known to have Native American heritage was Charles Curtis, who served as Herbert Hoover’s vice president and whose mother was one-quarter Kaw tribe.
(AP)
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france24--2020-12-18--Underdog Smith hoping size matters against Alvarez

Saul 'Canelo ' Alvarez knocks out light heavyweight Sergey Kovalev in the 11th round during their fight in Las Vegas last November Britain 's Callum Smith will be out to prove that size does matter on Saturday when he defends his World Boxing Association super-middleweight crown against pound-for-pound king Saul `` Canelo '' Alvarez in Texas .
The unbeaten Smith ( 27-0 , 19 knockouts ) will take sizeable height and reach advantages into the ring at the Alamodome in San Antonio against the naturally smaller Alvarez ( 53-1-2 , 36 KOs ) .
Alvarez , who has not fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ score an 11th round knockout of Sergey Kovalev in November 2019 , starts as favourite for Saturday 's bout where he will once again move up in class .
The 30-year-old Mexican superstar faced off against Smith this week where the striking height difference between the two men -- Smith is 6ft 3in , Alvarez 5ft 8in -- was plain to see .
Throw in the fact that Smith is a more natural 168-pound fighter , while Alvarez 's preferred habitat is the 160-pound middleweight division , and the raw stats appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I knew he was short but it was just nice to see him physically up close for the first time , '' Smith said of his face-to-face with Alvarez .
`` I 've always said the best version of me can beat anyone in the world , and as long as the best version of me steps through those ropes , I can use my strengths to take away his strengths . ''
Smith said that while Alvarez has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to move up in weight classes before , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to offset his physical disadvantages against a bigger opponent .
`` His ability has always made up for his lack in size and he 's gone through the weights before , '' Smith said .
`` But there 's only so much size your ability can make up for and there comes a point where you ca n't physically fight to your strengths because the other lad is just too big .
And I 'm not just a big lump with no ability .
`` I 'm 100 % that if the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'll win this fight . ''
For his part , Alvarez is unfazed by the size difference .
`` Yes , Smith does have that advantage obviously , but I 'm a boxer with experience so it does n't really worry me , '' Alvarez said .
`` I 've fought against taller people , shorter people , so it does n't really concern me . ''
Smith is expected to fight from long-range , using his eight-inch reach advantage to pick off Alvarez without allowing the hard-hitting Mexican star to attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Smith is able to keep Alvarez at bay as energy levels drop in the later rounds .
`` A fighter as good as Canelo Alvarez obviously is n't going to let me just jab and move and stand off me , '' Smith said .
`` The fight 's not going to be that easy . ''
The fight also offers Smith the opportunity to avenge the defeat suffered by elder brother Liam against Alvarez in 2016 .
Callum was at his brother 's side to watch that stoppage via body-shot knockout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be nice to get some revenge but this fight will be huge regardless , '' Smith said .
`` It was tough to take at the time , it was Liam 's first loss .
I think Liam knew he lost to a very good fighter .
`` My brother had success on the night , but Canelo was huge for the weight . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Britain's Callum Smith will be out to prove that size does matter on Saturday when he defends his World Boxing Association super-middleweight crown against pound-for-pound king Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in Texas.
The unbeaten Smith (27-0, 19 knockouts) will take sizeable height and reach advantages into the ring at the Alamodome in San Antonio against the naturally smaller Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs).
Alvarez, who has not fought since he jumped up to light-heavyweight to score an 11th round knockout of Sergey Kovalev in November 2019, starts as favourite for Saturday's bout where he will once again move up in class.
The 30-year-old Mexican superstar faced off against Smith this week where the striking height difference between the two men -- Smith is 6ft 3in, Alvarez 5ft 8in -- was plain to see.
Throw in the fact that Smith is a more natural 168-pound fighter, while Alvarez's preferred habitat is the 160-pound middleweight division, and the raw stats appear to tilt in the Liverpudlian's favour.
"I knew he was short but it was just nice to see him physically up close for the first time," Smith said of his face-to-face with Alvarez.
"I've always said the best version of me can beat anyone in the world, and as long as the best version of me steps through those ropes, I can use my strengths to take away his strengths."
Smith said that while Alvarez has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to move up in weight classes before, the Mexican's skills may not be enough to offset his physical disadvantages against a bigger opponent.
- Alvarez unfazed -
"His ability has always made up for his lack in size and he's gone through the weights before," Smith said.
"But there's only so much size your ability can make up for and there comes a point where you can't physically fight to your strengths because the other lad is just too big. And I'm not just a big lump with no ability.
"I'm 100% that if the best version of me is in the ring I'll win this fight."
For his part, Alvarez is unfazed by the size difference.
"Yes, Smith does have that advantage obviously, but I'm a boxer with experience so it doesn't really worry me," Alvarez said.
"I've fought against taller people, shorter people, so it doesn't really concern me."
Smith is expected to fight from long-range, using his eight-inch reach advantage to pick off Alvarez without allowing the hard-hitting Mexican star to attack his body. The question will be whether Smith is able to keep Alvarez at bay as energy levels drop in the later rounds.
"A fighter as good as Canelo Alvarez obviously isn't going to let me just jab and move and stand off me," Smith said.
"The fight's not going to be that easy."
The fight also offers Smith the opportunity to avenge the defeat suffered by elder brother Liam against Alvarez in 2016. Callum was at his brother's side to watch that stoppage via body-shot knockout in Arlington, Texas.
"It would be nice to get some revenge but this fight will be huge regardless," Smith said. "It was tough to take at the time, it was Liam's first loss. I think Liam knew he lost to a very good fighter.
"My brother had success on the night, but Canelo was huge for the weight."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-18--Google hit with third antitrust lawsuit, by new state coalition

An antitrust suit against Google filed by 38 US states and territories is the third such complained filed against the internet giant in the past three months Dozens of US states on Thursday hit Google with its third antitrust suit in as many months , accusing the internet giant of abusing its internet search dominance to eliminate competition .
The suit by antitrust enforcers from 38 US states and territories is in line with , but goes beyond a case filed by the US Justice Department against Google and its parent firm Alphabet earlier this year .
`` Google ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search monopolies and excluded rivals , depriving consumers of the benefits of competitive choices , forestalling innovation , and undermining new entry or expansion , ” said Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser .
Nebraska attorney general Doug Peterson called the antitrust assault on Google `` historic , '' saying the combined suits represented the biggest alliance since a case against Microsoft decades ago .
The suit came a day after a group of states led by Texas filed a separate antitrust suit , and asks to be consolidated with the federal case against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case would end up harming consumers if successful .
Google economic policy director Adam Cohen said in a post that the lawsuit `` seeks to redesign search in ways that would deprive Americans of helpful information and hurt businesses ' ability to connect directly with customers . ''
Changes sought by the lawsuit would make search results worse for people searching on Google and businesses wanting to be found , according to the internet giant .
Matt Schruers , president of the Computer and Communications Industry Association , a technology trade group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to force Google to redesign its search engine without regard to consumer interests .
`` Search design has been benefiting from constant redesign and updates , and regulators in the US and abroad have concluded this has improved consumers ' experience , '' he said .
The new suit charges that Google made deals to shut out competitors and endeavored to lock out rivals while getting its search and advertising systems into smart speakers , cars , smartphones and more .
`` We are in a new time , a new era , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the field of enforcement in competition remain very engaged in the tech industry going forward , '' Peterson said .
With Google 's services made available free of charge and economic harm to users tricky to prove , antitrust litigation might not be the most effective way to go at the internet giant , some attorneys general taking part in the new suit conceded in a video call .
`` Policymakers , Congress in particular , should be thinking of some regulation beyond antitrust , '' Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Texas filed a suit against Google on Wednesday alleging anticompetitive practices , and branding it an `` internet Goliath '' that had eliminated competition in online advertising and was harming consumers .
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton contended that Google rigged advertising auctions , taking advantage of its position serving up ads as well as online search results .
Amazon , Tripadvisor , Yelp and other internet firms involved in recommending products or services have long complained that Google favors its own offerings in general search results .
Three antitrust suits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Weiser .
The new lawsuit highlights efforts to suppress next generation platforms for search such as virtual assistants , and whether Google used illegal tactics against rival search services such as review engines or Microsoft 's Bing engine.. All three suits could end up being consolidated in a single federal court case , with ensuing litigation likely to take years to play out .
While Google ad revenue has continued to grow , its share of the booming US online ad market is ebbing under pressure from competitors such as Facebook , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The market tracker expected Google this year to command just shy of 30 percent of the US ad market set to total about $ 42.4 billion .
Google software not only crawls the internet and indexes what it finds , it determines which results to provide for queries and what ads are displayed .
The California-based internet giant also handles auctions for ads competing to be displayed .
Google 's long-running business model coupling a free search engine and free services like email and YouTube with paid advertising is being put to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed by the US Justice Department .
The US government filed its blockbuster lawsuit in October accusing Google of maintaining an `` illegal monopoly '' in online search and advertising .
The country 's biggest antitrust case in decades , it opens the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan .

San Francisco (AFP) –
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Dozens of US states on Thursday hit Google with its third antitrust suit in as many months, accusing the internet giant of abusing its internet search dominance to eliminate competition.
The suit by antitrust enforcers from 38 US states and territories is in line with, but goes beyond a case filed by the US Justice Department against Google and its parent firm Alphabet earlier this year.
"Google’s anticompetitive actions have protected its general search monopolies and excluded rivals, depriving consumers of the benefits of competitive choices, forestalling innovation, and undermining new entry or expansion,” said Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser.
Nebraska attorney general Doug Peterson called the antitrust assault on Google "historic," saying the combined suits represented the biggest alliance since a case against Microsoft decades ago.
The suit came a day after a group of states led by Texas filed a separate antitrust suit, and asks to be consolidated with the federal case against Google.
The internet giant said the case would end up harming consumers if successful.
Google economic policy director Adam Cohen said in a post that the lawsuit "seeks to redesign search in ways that would deprive Americans of helpful information and hurt businesses' ability to connect directly with customers."
Changes sought by the lawsuit would make search results worse for people searching on Google and businesses wanting to be found, according to the internet giant.
Matt Schruers, president of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a technology trade group, said the suit was a misguided effort to force Google to redesign its search engine without regard to consumer interests.
"Search design has been benefiting from constant redesign and updates, and regulators in the US and abroad have concluded this has improved consumers' experience," he said.
- Cars and speakers -
The new suit charges that Google made deals to shut out competitors and endeavored to lock out rivals while getting its search and advertising systems into smart speakers, cars, smartphones and more.
"We are in a new time, a new era, and it is very critical that we in the field of enforcement in competition remain very engaged in the tech industry going forward," Peterson said.
With Google's services made available free of charge and economic harm to users tricky to prove, antitrust litigation might not be the most effective way to go at the internet giant, some attorneys general taking part in the new suit conceded in a video call.
"Policymakers, Congress in particular, should be thinking of some regulation beyond antitrust," Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said on the call.
- Converging cases -
Several US states led by Texas filed a suit against Google on Wednesday alleging anticompetitive practices, and branding it an "internet Goliath" that had eliminated competition in online advertising and was harming consumers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton contended that Google rigged advertising auctions, taking advantage of its position serving up ads as well as online search results.
Amazon, Tripadvisor, Yelp and other internet firms involved in recommending products or services have long complained that Google favors its own offerings in general search results.
Three antitrust suits engage Google on different fronts, according to Weiser.
The new lawsuit highlights efforts to suppress next generation platforms for search such as virtual assistants, and whether Google used illegal tactics against rival search services such as review engines or Microsoft's Bing engine..
All three suits could end up being consolidated in a single federal court case, with ensuing litigation likely to take years to play out.
While Google ad revenue has continued to grow, its share of the booming US online ad market is ebbing under pressure from competitors such as Facebook, Amazon and others, according to eMarketer.
The market tracker expected Google this year to command just shy of 30 percent of the US ad market set to total about $42.4 billion.
Google software not only crawls the internet and indexes what it finds, it determines which results to provide for queries and what ads are displayed.
The California-based internet giant also handles auctions for ads competing to be displayed.
Google's long-running business model coupling a free search engine and free services like email and YouTube with paid advertising is being put to the test in a landmark antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Justice Department.
The US government filed its blockbuster lawsuit in October accusing Google of maintaining an "illegal monopoly" in online search and advertising.
The country's biggest antitrust case in decades, it opens the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan.
© 2020 AFP