france24--2020-12-13--Johnson and von der Leyen to decide fate of Brexit deal

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have not yet found a breakthrough in a post-Brexit trade deal Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will hold another crisis call on Sunday to decide whether or not to abandon post-Brexit trade talks .
Sunday is just the latest in a string of supposedly hard deadlines for the negotiations but , with Britain due to leave the EU single market in 19 days , tensions are rising .
On Saturday , Britain took the dramatic step of announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waters from January 1 to exclude European crews from the fisheries they have shared , in some cases for centuries .
Brussels ' tone has been less bellicose , and von der Leyen has made it clear that the EU will respect UK sovereignty after Britain 's post-Brexit transition period , but neither side is yet ready to compromise on its core principles .
Without a trade deal cross-Channel trade will revert to WTO rules , with tariffs driving up prices and generating paperwork for importers , and the failed negotiation may poison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come .
On Wednesday , after what von der Leyen described as a `` lively and interesting '' working supper with Johnson in Brussels failed to find a breakthrough , the EU chief said they had agreed to `` come to a decision by the end of the weekend '' .
Much of the text of a possible trade deal is said to be ready , but Britain has rejected Brussels ' insistence on a mechanism to allow it to retaliate if UK and EU law diverge in a way that puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The defence of the single market is a red line for the European Union .
What we have proposed to the United Kingdom respects British sovereignty .
It could be the basis for an agreement , '' a senior EU source said , echoing an earlier von der Leyen statement .
In London , a spokesman for the Johnson government stressed that Britain was ready to leave the union and handle its own affairs after 47 years of close economic integration and that `` as things stand , the offer on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The prime minister will leave no stone unturned in this process , but he is absolutely clear : any agreement must be fair and respect the fundamental position that the UK will be a sovereign nation in three weeks ' time , '' the source said .
Earlier , Downing Street had said the government had a playbook that `` maps out every single foreseeable scenario '' for potential problems after December 31 , and `` no one needs to worry about our food , medicine or vital supply chains '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very likely '' the talks will fail , and EU officials have expressed similar pessimism , but British negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier carried on talking late into Saturday night ahead of Sunday 's deadline .
As talks continued in Brussels , some hardline Conservative MPs sought assurances from Johnson that the navy would be deployed to protect British waters .
But one leading Conservative , Tom Tugendhat , chairman of parliament 's foreign affairs committee , tweeted in French that the whole process posed `` a real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between France and Britain .
And Tobias Ellwood , a former army captain who heads the UK parliament 's defence select committee , said confrontations in the Channel would only be welcomed by Britain 's enemies .
`` We 're facing the prospect of our overstretched Royal Navy squaring up to a close NATO ally over fishing rights , '' he told BBC radio .
`` We need to be building alliances not breaking them apart . ''
WTO terms would mean tariffs and quotas , driving up prices for businesses and consumers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time in decades .
That has already raised the prospect of traffic clogging roads leading to seaports in southeast England , as bureaucracy lengthens waiting times for imports and exports .
Transport companies have also warned that EU member Ireland could see import volumes shrink in the event of new customs procedures for goods routed through Britain .
`` As an industry we 're looking to plan ahead but there 's so many unknowns it becomes difficult , '' said Road Haulage Association director Martin Reid .
But the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` global spike '' in demand for consumer goods and the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on shipping .

Brussels (AFP) –
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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will hold another crisis call on Sunday to decide whether or not to abandon post-Brexit trade talks.
Sunday is just the latest in a string of supposedly hard deadlines for the negotiations but, with Britain due to leave the EU single market in 19 days, tensions are rising.
On Saturday, Britain took the dramatic step of announcing that armed naval vessels will patrol its waters from January 1 to exclude European crews from the fisheries they have shared, in some cases for centuries.
Brussels' tone has been less bellicose, and von der Leyen has made it clear that the EU will respect UK sovereignty after Britain's post-Brexit transition period, but neither side is yet ready to compromise on its core principles.
Without a trade deal cross-Channel trade will revert to WTO rules, with tariffs driving up prices and generating paperwork for importers, and the failed negotiation may poison relations between London and Brussels for years to come.
On Wednesday, after what von der Leyen described as a "lively and interesting" working supper with Johnson in Brussels failed to find a breakthrough, the EU chief said they had agreed to "come to a decision by the end of the weekend".
Much of the text of a possible trade deal is said to be ready, but Britain has rejected Brussels' insistence on a mechanism to allow it to retaliate if UK and EU law diverge in a way that puts continental firms at a competitive disadvantage.
"The defence of the single market is a red line for the European Union. What we have proposed to the United Kingdom respects British sovereignty. It could be the basis for an agreement," a senior EU source said, echoing an earlier von der Leyen statement.
In London, a spokesman for the Johnson government stressed that Britain was ready to leave the union and handle its own affairs after 47 years of close economic integration and that "as things stand, the offer on the table from the EU remains unacceptable.
"The prime minister will leave no stone unturned in this process, but he is absolutely clear: any agreement must be fair and respect the fundamental position that the UK will be a sovereign nation in three weeks' time," the source said.
- Poisoned ties -
Earlier, Downing Street had said the government had a playbook that "maps out every single foreseeable scenario" for potential problems after December 31, and "no one needs to worry about our food, medicine or vital supply chains".
Johnson has said it is "very, very likely" the talks will fail, and EU officials have expressed similar pessimism, but British negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier carried on talking late into Saturday night ahead of Sunday's deadline.
As talks continued in Brussels, some hardline Conservative MPs sought assurances from Johnson that the navy would be deployed to protect British waters.
But one leading Conservative, Tom Tugendhat, chairman of parliament's foreign affairs committee, tweeted in French that the whole process posed "a real and present risk of poisoning relations" between France and Britain.
And Tobias Ellwood, a former army captain who heads the UK parliament's defence select committee, said confrontations in the Channel would only be welcomed by Britain's enemies.
"We're facing the prospect of our overstretched Royal Navy squaring up to a close NATO ally over fishing rights," he told BBC radio.
"We need to be building alliances not breaking them apart."
- Border bureaucracy -
WTO terms would mean tariffs and quotas, driving up prices for businesses and consumers, and the re-introduction of border checks for the first time in decades.
That has already raised the prospect of traffic clogging roads leading to seaports in southeast England, as bureaucracy lengthens waiting times for imports and exports.
Transport companies have also warned that EU member Ireland could see import volumes shrink in the event of new customs procedures for goods routed through Britain.
"As an industry we're looking to plan ahead but there's so many unknowns it becomes difficult," said Road Haulage Association director Martin Reid.
But the British government said they were mainly caused by a "global spike" in demand for consumer goods and the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on shipping.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Breaking norms, Jared Kushner scores late-term wins for Israel

Jared Kushner stands next to his father-in-law , US President Donald Trump , as they announce Bahrain 's recognition of Israel in September 2020 The United Arab Emirates is getting top-of-the-line fighter jets .
Morocco is winning recognition for decades-old territorial claims .
And Sudan is coming off the US terrorism blacklist .
The Arab nations are suddenly achieving long-sought goals after agreeing to normalize ties with Israel , in a last-minute triumph for the unorthodox diplomacy of outgoing President Donald Trump 's son-in-law , Jared Kushner .
Widely mocked for more than three years as a boyish lightweight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , troubled property deals and his father 's stint in prison , Kushner is scoring historic breakthroughs lauded by Trump 's base with four Arab nations since September joining the so-called Abraham Accords with Israel .
`` President Trump took a contrarian approach , '' Kushner told reporters Thursday as he announced the latest deal , with Morocco , saying that the Arab-Israeli conflict `` has been held back for so long by old thinking and by stalled process . ''
Veterans of Middle East diplomacy agree that Kushner moved nimbly after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willingness to recognize Israel .
`` He had the authority ; he was smart enough to develop personalized relations .
I think he clearly deserves some credit for taking advantage of what the landscape showed was possible , '' said Dennis Ross , who served as Bill Clinton 's Middle East envoy .
Kushner , a family friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , broke decades of US norms on Middle East peacemaking by barely making a pretense of being evenhanded with the Palestinians .
Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel 's capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan unveiled in January 2020 , gave the US blessing if Netanyahu wanted to annex much of the West Bank .
Speaking to CNN at the time , Kushner warned the Palestinians , who were offered a limited state , not to `` screw up another opportunity like they 've screwed up every other opportunity that they 've ever had in their existence . ''
Soft-spoken , thin and always sporting neatly coiffed hair and crisp suits , Kushner contrasts in style , if not goals , from his father-in-law .
Trump gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in charge of everything from the Middle East to painkiller addiction , but in the Arab world , such familial arrangements showed he spoke for the president .
`` In the Middle East , what negotiators or mediators need is unmistakable authority , '' Ross said .
Kushner , who turns 40 days before Trump leaves office , worked quietly and largely bypassed the State Department , whose top Middle East diplomat , asked at a late 2019 congressional hearing about his contribution to the Trump plan , replied , `` Um , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner with the king and swapped messages on WhatsApp with Saudi Arabia 's powerful crown prince despite widespread concerns about his human rights record .
In Bahrain , another of the four Arab nations to move to recognize Israel , Kushner last year gathered Gulf executives for dinners and cocktails at a luxury hotel as they waxed about economic opportunities for the Palestinians , whose leadership boycotted the event .
Kushner had initially seen Gulf Arab promises of money as a way to pressure the Palestinians -- unsuccessfully -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But in mid-2020 , UAE strongman Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan -- described by former president Barack Obama in his new memoir as the Gulf 's savviest leader -- reached out to turn the dynamic on its head .
Netanyahu would drop his plan for annexation .
The UAE , in turn , would become the first Arab nation in more than 25 years to recognize Israel -- and win the right to buy stealth-capable US F-35s .
`` It was an initiative that was really driven by the Emiratis but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick to pick up on it and has used that template these last several months , '' said David Makovsky , who studies Arab-Israeli relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy .
The new concept was `` to put bilateral things that have traditionally had some importance to the United States and make those part of the deal . ''
Makovsky said there were key factors besides Trump and Kushner .
Gulf Arabs feared US retrenchment as well as the growing influence of Iran and were aware of Israel 's technological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quos have raised alarm in some quarters , with Democrats opposing the F-35 sale and even some prominent Republicans upset over recognition of Morocco 's claim to Western Sahara .
But Israel , which alone in the region had F-35s , did not object to the sale as it saw the dawn of a new era .
Makovsky believed that at least the Gulf Arabs ' recognition of Israel stood on firm ground .
`` If I could build on it , '' he said of Kushner 's diplomacy , `` I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it with a twist and see if there is also something on the Palestinian issue . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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The United Arab Emirates is getting top-of-the-line fighter jets. Morocco is winning recognition for decades-old territorial claims. And Sudan is coming off the US terrorism blacklist.
The Arab nations are suddenly achieving long-sought goals after agreeing to normalize ties with Israel, in a last-minute triumph for the unorthodox diplomacy of outgoing President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Widely mocked for more than three years as a boyish lightweight, who was best known for his famous wife, troubled property deals and his father's stint in prison, Kushner is scoring historic breakthroughs lauded by Trump's base with four Arab nations since September joining the so-called Abraham Accords with Israel.
"President Trump took a contrarian approach," Kushner told reporters Thursday as he announced the latest deal, with Morocco, saying that the Arab-Israeli conflict "has been held back for so long by old thinking and by stalled process."
Veterans of Middle East diplomacy agree that Kushner moved nimbly after the United Arab Emirates first signalled its willingness to recognize Israel.
"He had the authority; he was smart enough to develop personalized relations. I think he clearly deserves some credit for taking advantage of what the landscape showed was possible," said Dennis Ross, who served as Bill Clinton's Middle East envoy.
Kushner, a family friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, broke decades of US norms on Middle East peacemaking by barely making a pretense of being evenhanded with the Palestinians.
Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and, in a long-delayed Middle East plan unveiled in January 2020, gave the US blessing if Netanyahu wanted to annex much of the West Bank.
Speaking to CNN at the time, Kushner warned the Palestinians, who were offered a limited state, not to "screw up another opportunity like they've screwed up every other opportunity that they've ever had in their existence."
- Personal bonds -
Soft-spoken, thin and always sporting neatly coiffed hair and crisp suits, Kushner contrasts in style, if not goals, from his father-in-law.
Trump gave comedians fodder for jokes by putting Kushner in charge of everything from the Middle East to painkiller addiction, but in the Arab world, such familial arrangements showed he spoke for the president.
"In the Middle East, what negotiators or mediators need is unmistakable authority," Ross said.
Kushner, who turns 40 days before Trump leaves office, worked quietly and largely bypassed the State Department, whose top Middle East diplomat, asked at a late 2019 congressional hearing about his contribution to the Trump plan, replied, "Um, none."
Kushner traveled to Morocco for a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner with the king and swapped messages on WhatsApp with Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince despite widespread concerns about his human rights record.
In Bahrain, another of the four Arab nations to move to recognize Israel, Kushner last year gathered Gulf executives for dinners and cocktails at a luxury hotel as they waxed about economic opportunities for the Palestinians, whose leadership boycotted the event.
-- UAE starts new dynamic -
Kushner had initially seen Gulf Arab promises of money as a way to pressure the Palestinians -- unsuccessfully -- to accept peace on Israel's terms.
But in mid-2020, UAE strongman Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan -- described by former president Barack Obama in his new memoir as the Gulf's savviest leader -- reached out to turn the dynamic on its head.
Netanyahu would drop his plan for annexation. The UAE, in turn, would become the first Arab nation in more than 25 years to recognize Israel -- and win the right to buy stealth-capable US F-35s.
"It was an initiative that was really driven by the Emiratis but the administration, to its credit, was quick to pick up on it and has used that template these last several months," said David Makovsky, who studies Arab-Israeli relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
The new concept was "to put bilateral things that have traditionally had some importance to the United States and make those part of the deal."
Makovsky said there were key factors besides Trump and Kushner. Gulf Arabs feared US retrenchment as well as the growing influence of Iran and were aware of Israel's technological superiority.
Trump's unstated quid pro quos have raised alarm in some quarters, with Democrats opposing the F-35 sale and even some prominent Republicans upset over recognition of Morocco's claim to Western Sahara.
But Israel, which alone in the region had F-35s, did not object to the sale as it saw the dawn of a new era.
Makovsky believed that at least the Gulf Arabs' recognition of Israel stood on firm ground.
"If I could build on it," he said of Kushner's diplomacy, "I would hope that a new administration would do it with a twist and see if there is also something on the Palestinian issue."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Ukraine seeks World Heritage status for Chernobyl zone

Authorities say giving the zone special status would be a big boost at a site which currently boasts this lone souvenir stall A soft snow fell as a clutch of visitors equipped with a Geiger counter wandered through the ghostly Ukrainian town of Pripyat , frozen in time since the world 's worst nuclear accident in 1986 .
More than three decades after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster forced thousands to evacuate , there is an influx of visitors to the area that has spurred officials to seek official status from UNESCO .
`` The Chernobyl zone is already a world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP during a tour on a recent frosty day .
`` But today this area has no official status , '' the 38-year-old said of the exclusion zone where flourishing wildlife is taking over deserted Soviet-era tower blocks , shops and official buildings .
That could be set to change under the government initiative to have the area included on the UNESCO heritage list alongside landmarks like India 's Taj Mahal or Stonehenge in England .
Officials hope recognition from the UN 's culture agency will boost the site as a tourist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserve ageing buildings nearby .
The explosion in the fourth reactor at the nuclear power plant in April 1986 left swathes of Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus badly contaminated and led to the creation of the exclusion zone roughly the size of Luxembourg .
Ukrainian authorities say it may not be safe for humans to live in the exclusion zone for another 24,000 years .
Meanwhile , it has become a haven for wildlife with elk and deer roaming nearby forests .
Dozens of villages and towns populated by hundreds of thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 100 elderly people live in the area despite the radiation threat .
In Pripyat , a ghost town kilometres away from the Chernobyl plant , rooms in eerie residential blocks are piled up with belongings of former residents .
- 'The time has come ' - Polivko said he hoped the upgraded status would encourage officials to act more `` responsibly '' to preserve the crumbling Soviet-era infrastructure surrounding the plant .
`` All these objects here require some repair , '' he said .
It was a sentiment echoed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described the recent influx of tourists from home and abroad as evidence of Chernobyl 's importance `` not only to Ukrainians , but of all mankind . ''
A record number of 124,000 tourists visited last year , including 100,000 foreigners following the release of the hugely popular Chernobyl television series in 2019 .
Tkachenko said obtaining UNESCO status could promote the exclusion zone as `` a place of memory '' that would warn against a repeat nuclear disaster .
`` The area may and should be open to visitors , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destination for explorers , '' Tkachenko told AFP .
The government is set to propose specific objects in the zone as a heritage site before March but a final decision could come as late as 2023 .
After the explosion in 1986 , the three other reactors at Chernobyl continued to generate electricity until the station finally closed in 2000 .
Ukraine will mark the 20th anniversary of the closure on December 15 .
Tkachenko said the effort to secure UNESCO status was a new priority after work on a giant protective dome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
With the site now safe for one hundred years , he said he hoped world heritage status would boost visitor numbers to one million a year .
`` Before , everyone was busy with the cover , '' Tkachenko said of the timing of the heritage initiative .
`` The time has come to do this . ''

Chernobyl (Ukraine) (AFP) –
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A soft snow fell as a clutch of visitors equipped with a Geiger counter wandered through the ghostly Ukrainian town of Pripyat, frozen in time since the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986.
More than three decades after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster forced thousands to evacuate, there is an influx of visitors to the area that has spurred officials to seek official status from UNESCO.
"The Chernobyl zone is already a world famous landmark," guide Maksym Polivko told AFP during a tour on a recent frosty day.
"But today this area has no official status," the 38-year-old said of the exclusion zone where flourishing wildlife is taking over deserted Soviet-era tower blocks, shops and official buildings.
That could be set to change under the government initiative to have the area included on the UNESCO heritage list alongside landmarks like India's Taj Mahal or Stonehenge in England.
Officials hope recognition from the UN's culture agency will boost the site as a tourist attraction and in turn bolster efforts to preserve ageing buildings nearby.
The explosion in the fourth reactor at the nuclear power plant in April 1986 left swathes of Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus badly contaminated and led to the creation of the exclusion zone roughly the size of Luxembourg.
Ukrainian authorities say it may not be safe for humans to live in the exclusion zone for another 24,000 years. Meanwhile, it has become a haven for wildlife with elk and deer roaming nearby forests.
Dozens of villages and towns populated by hundreds of thousands of people were abandoned after the disaster, yet more than 100 elderly people live in the area despite the radiation threat.
In Pripyat, a ghost town kilometres away from the Chernobyl plant, rooms in eerie residential blocks are piled up with belongings of former residents.
- 'The time has come' -
Polivko said he hoped the upgraded status would encourage officials to act more "responsibly" to preserve the crumbling Soviet-era infrastructure surrounding the plant.
"All these objects here require some repair," he said.
It was a sentiment echoed by Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, who described the recent influx of tourists from home and abroad as evidence of Chernobyl's importance "not only to Ukrainians, but of all mankind."
A record number of 124,000 tourists visited last year, including 100,000 foreigners following the release of the hugely popular Chernobyl television series in 2019.
Tkachenko said obtaining UNESCO status could promote the exclusion zone as "a place of memory" that would warn against a repeat nuclear disaster.
"The area may and should be open to visitors, but it should be more than just an adventure destination for explorers," Tkachenko told AFP.
The government is set to propose specific objects in the zone as a heritage site before March but a final decision could come as late as 2023.
After the explosion in 1986, the three other reactors at Chernobyl continued to generate electricity until the station finally closed in 2000. Ukraine will mark the 20th anniversary of the closure on December 15.
Tkachenko said the effort to secure UNESCO status was a new priority after work on a giant protective dome over the fourth reactor was completed in 2016.
With the site now safe for one hundred years, he said he hoped world heritage status would boost visitor numbers to one million a year.
"Before, everyone was busy with the cover," Tkachenko said of the timing of the heritage initiative.
"The time has come to do this."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Black Jesus born in burnt Amazon at Brazil church manger

A woman takes a selfie with a nativity scene calling for the end of racism and protection of the Amazon in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , on December 08 , 2020 Instead of a manger in Bethlehem , Jesus will arrive this Christmas in a badly burned clearing in the Amazon rainforest , a black baby born to a black virgin with indigenous cherubs looking on .
The symbolically charged nativity scene is already turning heads in Rio de Janeiro 's Gloria square , where the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart has a history of using its annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was a lot to choose from in 2020 , but the church picked two topics that have become particularly pertinent in Brazil since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office last year : racism and rampant deforestation in the Amazon .
`` This nativity scene is meant to show that people who torch mother nature , people who attack their brothers and sisters because their skin is a different color , do n't have God in their hearts , '' said church spokesman Mauricio Rodrigues dos Santos , 63 .
The church has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past decade , taking advantage of its prime location near Gloria square , a busy metro stop in front of the Rio archdiocese headquarters .
Two years ago , the church depicted a bare-breasted Mary nursing her baby , after a series of incidents in which authorities stopped mothers from breast-feeding in public .
The year before , vandals trashed the church 's nativity scene , which depicted the fight against corruption .
Last year , priest Wanderson Guedes , who is also the artist behind the installations , decided against doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving threats .
However , the church -- which constructs the scenes itself using volunteer labor and members ' donations -- decided to press ahead this year , and add an anti-racism message , as well .
They are salient subjects in Bolsonaro 's Brazil .
The far-right leader has presided over a surge of destruction and fires in the world 's biggest rainforest .
He has also been charged with hate speech for making derogatory comments about black Brazilians .
Despite the tense political climate , Dos Santos said the church community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nativity scene .
`` If ( vandals ) break something , so be it .
We have a whole year to rebuild , '' he told AFP .
`` They ca n't break the idea .
They ca n't break the spirit .
That will remain . ''

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Instead of a manger in Bethlehem, Jesus will arrive this Christmas in a badly burned clearing in the Amazon rainforest, a black baby born to a black virgin with indigenous cherubs looking on.
The symbolically charged nativity scene is already turning heads in Rio de Janeiro's Gloria square, where the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart has a history of using its annual Christmas display to address contemporary issues.
There was a lot to choose from in 2020, but the church picked two topics that have become particularly pertinent in Brazil since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office last year: racism and rampant deforestation in the Amazon.
"This nativity scene is meant to show that people who torch mother nature, people who attack their brothers and sisters because their skin is a different color, don't have God in their hearts," said church spokesman Mauricio Rodrigues dos Santos, 63.
The church has been making mangers with a message for the past decade, taking advantage of its prime location near Gloria square, a busy metro stop in front of the Rio archdiocese headquarters.
Two years ago, the church depicted a bare-breasted Mary nursing her baby, after a series of incidents in which authorities stopped mothers from breast-feeding in public.
The year before, vandals trashed the church's nativity scene, which depicted the fight against corruption.
Last year, priest Wanderson Guedes, who is also the artist behind the installations, decided against doing a nativity scene on Amazon deforestation after receiving threats.
However, the church -- which constructs the scenes itself using volunteer labor and members' donations -- decided to press ahead this year, and add an anti-racism message, as well.
They are salient subjects in Bolsonaro's Brazil.
The far-right leader has presided over a surge of destruction and fires in the world's biggest rainforest.
He has also been charged with hate speech for making derogatory comments about black Brazilians.
Despite the tense political climate, Dos Santos said the church community was not fearful for this year's nativity scene.
"If (vandals) break something, so be it. We have a whole year to rebuild," he told AFP.
"They can't break the idea. They can't break the spirit. That will remain."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Moroccan schools to teach Jewish history and culture

Morocco 's King Mohammed VI is seen at Essaouira 's 'House of Memory ' in January 2020 in a photo provided by the Moroccan Royal Palace Jewish history and culture in Morocco will soon be part of the school curriculum -- a `` first '' in the region and in the North African country , where Islam is the state religion .
The decision `` has the impact of a tsunami , '' said Serge Berdugo , secretary-general of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco .
It `` is a first in the Arab world , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although the kingdom had no official relationship with Israel , thousands of Jews of Moroccan origin visited the land of their ancestors , to celebrate religious holidays or make pilgrimages , including from Israel .
But Morocco this week became the fourth Arab nation since August to announce a US-brokered deal to normalise relations with Israel , following the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain and Sudan .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said liaison offices would be reopened in Tel Aviv and Rabat , which Morocco closed in 2000 at the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic relations would be established `` as rapidly as possible '' .
Morocco confirmed the deal , saying King Mohammed VI had told outgoing US President Donald Trump his country had agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel `` with minimal delay '' .
The decision to add Jewish history and culture to lessons was discreetly launched before the diplomatic deal was announced .
Part of an ongoing revamp of Morocco 's school curriculum since 2014 , the lessons will be included from next term for children in their final year of primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry said .
The move aims to `` highlight Morocco 's diverse identity '' , according to Fouad Chafiqi , head of academic programmes at the ministry .
Morocco 's Jewish community has been present since antiquity and grew over the centuries , particularly with the arrival of Jews expelled from Spain by the Catholic kings after 1492 .
At the end of the 1940s , Jewish Moroccans numbered about 250,000 -- some 10 percent of the population .
Many left after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still the largest in North Africa .
Jewish presence in Moroccan culture now appears in the primary-level social education curriculum , in a section dedicated to Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah , known as Mohammed III .
The 18th-century Alawite ruler chose the port of Mogador and its fortress , built by Portuguese colonists , to establish the coastal city of Essaouira .
Under his leadership , the diplomatic and commercial centre became the only city in the Islamic world counting a majority Jewish population , and at one point had 37 synagogues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence in Morocco before the 18th century , the only reliable historical records date back to that time , '' Chafiqi said .
Two US-based Jewish associations -- the American Sephardi Federation ( ASF ) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations ( COP ) -- said they `` worked closely with the Kingdom of Morocco and the Moroccan Jewish community '' on the `` groundbreaking '' academic reform .
`` Ensuring Moroccan students learn about the totality of their proud history of tolerance , including Morocco 's philo-Semitism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders of the two organisations said in a statement published on Twitter last month .
Also in November , Education Minister Said Amzazi and the heads of two Moroccan associations signed a partnership agreement `` for the promotion of values of tolerance , diversity and coexistence in schools and universities '' .
The accord was symbolically inked at Essaouira 's `` House of Memory '' , which celebrates the historic coexistence of the city 's Jewish and Muslim communities .
Among those present was Andre Azoulay , a member of the local Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King Mohammed VI .
The king , Morocco 's `` Commander of the Faithful '' , has pushed for a tolerant Islam that ensures freedom of worship for Jews and foreign Christians .
In September 2018 , at a UN roundtable , he emphasised the role of education in the fight against racism and anti-Semitism .
Morocco `` has never erased its Jewish memory , '' said Zhor Rehihil , curator of Casablanca 's Moroccan Jewish Museum -- the only one of its kind in the region .
History teacher Mohammed Hatimi said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme would help nurture `` future citizens conscious of their diverse heritage '' .
The move will also be part of a revision of the secondary school curriculum set for next year , according to Chafiqi from the education ministry .

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Jewish history and culture in Morocco will soon be part of the school curriculum -- a "first" in the region and in the North African country, where Islam is the state religion.
The decision "has the impact of a tsunami," said Serge Berdugo, secretary-general of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco.
It "is a first in the Arab world," he told AFP from Casablanca.
For years, although the kingdom had no official relationship with Israel, thousands of Jews of Moroccan origin visited the land of their ancestors, to celebrate religious holidays or make pilgrimages, including from Israel.
But Morocco this week became the fourth Arab nation since August to announce a US-brokered deal to normalise relations with Israel, following the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said liaison offices would be reopened in Tel Aviv and Rabat, which Morocco closed in 2000 at the start of the second Palestinian uprising, and full diplomatic relations would be established "as rapidly as possible".
Morocco confirmed the deal, saying King Mohammed VI had told outgoing US President Donald Trump his country had agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel "with minimal delay".
- 'Inoculation against extremism' -
The decision to add Jewish history and culture to lessons was discreetly launched before the diplomatic deal was announced.
Part of an ongoing revamp of Morocco's school curriculum since 2014, the lessons will be included from next term for children in their final year of primary school, aged 11, the education ministry said.
The move aims to "highlight Morocco's diverse identity", according to Fouad Chafiqi, head of academic programmes at the ministry.
Morocco's Jewish community has been present since antiquity and grew over the centuries, particularly with the arrival of Jews expelled from Spain by the Catholic kings after 1492.
At the end of the 1940s, Jewish Moroccans numbered about 250,000 -- some 10 percent of the population.
Many left after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, and the community now numbers around 3,000, still the largest in North Africa.
Jewish presence in Moroccan culture now appears in the primary-level social education curriculum, in a section dedicated to Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, known as Mohammed III.
The 18th-century Alawite ruler chose the port of Mogador and its fortress, built by Portuguese colonists, to establish the coastal city of Essaouira.
Under his leadership, the diplomatic and commercial centre became the only city in the Islamic world counting a majority Jewish population, and at one point had 37 synagogues.
"While there was a Jewish presence in Morocco before the 18th century, the only reliable historical records date back to that time," Chafiqi said.
- Tolerance, diversity -
Two US-based Jewish associations -- the American Sephardi Federation (ASF) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (COP) -- said they "worked closely with the Kingdom of Morocco and the Moroccan Jewish community" on the "groundbreaking" academic reform.
"Ensuring Moroccan students learn about the totality of their proud history of tolerance, including Morocco's philo-Semitism, is an inoculation against extremism," leaders of the two organisations said in a statement published on Twitter last month.
Also in November, Education Minister Said Amzazi and the heads of two Moroccan associations signed a partnership agreement "for the promotion of values of tolerance, diversity and coexistence in schools and universities".
The accord was symbolically inked at Essaouira's "House of Memory", which celebrates the historic coexistence of the city's Jewish and Muslim communities.
Among those present was Andre Azoulay, a member of the local Jewish community who is also an adviser to King Mohammed VI.
The king, Morocco's "Commander of the Faithful", has pushed for a tolerant Islam that ensures freedom of worship for Jews and foreign Christians.
In September 2018, at a UN roundtable, he emphasised the role of education in the fight against racism and anti-Semitism.
Morocco "has never erased its Jewish memory," said Zhor Rehihil, curator of Casablanca's Moroccan Jewish Museum -- the only one of its kind in the region.
History teacher Mohammed Hatimi said introducing Jewish identity into Morocco's education programme would help nurture "future citizens conscious of their diverse heritage".
The move will also be part of a revision of the secondary school curriculum set for next year, according to Chafiqi from the education ministry.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Thousands of Trump supporters again rally in Washington

Protesters gather in Washington in support of President Donald Trump on December 12 , 2020 ; they insisted , without evidence , that he had lost the presidential election in November only through massive fraud Thousands of red-hatted protesters filled Washington streets Saturday to support Donald Trump 's baseless claims of election fraud , undeterred by the US Supreme Court 's rejection of what may have been his last chance to overturn the results .
Thousands gathered around Freedom Plaza , a few blocks from the White House , in a festive atmosphere earlier in the day , while scuffles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police , some in riot gear , used their bodies and bicycles to keep the groups apart .
There was also at least one clash between police and counter-protesters .
Six people were arrested , following five arrests Friday night related to a brawl , local media reported .
Some pro-Trump demonstrators showed up in tactical gear , chanting `` USA '' and `` four more years '' for the outgoing president .
It was a sizable crowd , but noticeably smaller than a similar rally a month ago when 10,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
`` We 're not gon na give up , '' said Luke Wilson , a sixty-something protester who had come all the way from the western state of Idaho .
`` I believe there is a big injustice being done to the American people , '' added Dell Quick , a regular at Trump 's political rallies .
He brandished a flag defending gun rights .
Protesters offered no shortage of explanations for the results of the November 3 election won by Democrat Joe Biden , even though it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them Republican -- and by judges in several key states .
Every state has now certified Biden 's victory , giving the Democrat 306 votes in the Electoral College to Trump 's 232 , with 270 required for election .
Electors are to formally cast their votes Monday .
But protesters insisted , as Trump has repeatedly done , that there was widespread fraud in the election .
Some pointed to `` foreign interference , '' others to software that allegedly erased millions of votes for the president -- but not those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots .
Quick told AFP that `` there 's no way possible '' Biden was elected .
Susan Bowman , a 62-year-old from Hampton , Virginia , said `` this is not a banana republic .
We need to fix the election . ''
Those who addressed the crowd included Michael Flynn , Trump 's former national security adviser who lied about his Russian contacts and was recently pardoned by the president .
Dozens of court cases alleging fraud or contesting the result have been decided -- virtually all in Biden 's favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lack of evidence .
But that was not enough for 47-year-old Darlene Denton , who wore a `` Trump 2024 '' badge on her sweatshirt .
`` Nobody wants to hear evidence , nobody wants to hear cases , everything just gets thrown out , '' said Denton , who had come from Tennessee to support a president she said had given `` a voice to the people . ''
Trump , in stark defiance of the clear result and of US tradition , has refused to concede to Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington ( D.C. ) for Stop the Steal , '' he tweeted early Saturday .
`` Did n't know about this , but I 'll be seeing them ! ''
Not long afterward , his helicopter lifted off from the White House grounds and passed over the crowd -- many singing the US national anthem -- as Trump headed to New York to attend the annual Army-Navy football game .
Among the protesters , members of the far-right militia group the Proud Boys were clearly visible -- in their signature black-and-yellow outfits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they often drew cheers from others in the crowd .
Some blocks away , supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement held their own , much smaller , rally , chanting `` Nazis out ! ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Thousands of red-hatted protesters filled Washington streets Saturday to support Donald Trump's baseless claims of election fraud, undeterred by the US Supreme Court's rejection of what may have been his last chance to overturn the results.
Thousands gathered around Freedom Plaza, a few blocks from the White House, in a festive atmosphere earlier in the day, while scuffles broke out later between protesters and counter-demonstrators.
Police, some in riot gear, used their bodies and bicycles to keep the groups apart. There was also at least one clash between police and counter-protesters.
Six people were arrested, following five arrests Friday night related to a brawl, local media reported.
Some pro-Trump demonstrators showed up in tactical gear, chanting "USA" and "four more years" for the outgoing president.
It was a sizable crowd, but noticeably smaller than a similar rally a month ago when 10,000 people converged near the White House to support Trump.
"We're not gonna give up," said Luke Wilson, a sixty-something protester who had come all the way from the western state of Idaho.
"I believe there is a big injustice being done to the American people," added Dell Quick, a regular at Trump's political rallies. He brandished a flag defending gun rights.
Protesters offered no shortage of explanations for the results of the November 3 election won by Democrat Joe Biden, even though it has been affirmed by state election officials -- several of them Republican -- and by judges in several key states.
Every state has now certified Biden's victory, giving the Democrat 306 votes in the Electoral College to Trump's 232, with 270 required for election. Electors are to formally cast their votes Monday.
But protesters insisted, as Trump has repeatedly done, that there was widespread fraud in the election.
Some pointed to "foreign interference," others to software that allegedly erased millions of votes for the president -- but not those for other Republican candidates on the same ballots.
Quick told AFP that "there's no way possible" Biden was elected.
Susan Bowman, a 62-year-old from Hampton, Virginia, said "this is not a banana republic. We need to fix the election."
Those who addressed the crowd included Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser who lied about his Russian contacts and was recently pardoned by the president.
- 'Stolen' election -
Dozens of court cases alleging fraud or contesting the result have been decided -- virtually all in Biden's favor, with some judges offering stinging criticism of the lack of evidence.
But that was not enough for 47-year-old Darlene Denton, who wore a "Trump 2024" badge on her sweatshirt.
"Nobody wants to hear evidence, nobody wants to hear cases, everything just gets thrown out," said Denton, who had come from Tennessee to support a president she said had given "a voice to the people."
Trump, in stark defiance of the clear result and of US tradition, has refused to concede to Biden.
"Wow! Thousands of people forming in Washington (D.C.) for Stop the Steal," he tweeted early Saturday. "Didn't know about this, but I'll be seeing them!"
Not long afterward, his helicopter lifted off from the White House grounds and passed over the crowd -- many singing the US national anthem -- as Trump headed to New York to attend the annual Army-Navy football game.
Among the protesters, members of the far-right militia group the Proud Boys were clearly visible -- in their signature black-and-yellow outfits, some wearing bulletproof vests -- and they often drew cheers from others in the crowd.
Some blocks away, supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement held their own, much smaller, rally, chanting "Nazis out!"
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Southee, Boult put following-on West Indies in strife at 73-2

New Zealand players celebrate the dismissal of West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite on the day three of the second cricket Test match between New Zealand and the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington New Zealand sensed another comprehensive victory over the West Indies Sunday as a Tim Southee and Trent Boult onslaught left the tourists in dire straits at lunch on day three of the second Test in Wellington .
Southee took the last two wickets as the West Indies were 131 all out in their first innings to finish with a five-wicket haul and New Zealand enforced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo to leave the West Indies at 73 for two at the end of the morning session .
The tourists require a further 256 runs to avoid a second successive innings defeat after New Zealand 's first innings 460 .
John Campbell , not out 26 , was working to repair the innings with Shamarh Brooks who has scored 19 .
The West Indies , who lost the first Test by an innings and 134 runs , resumed the morning at 124 for eight and New Zealand required only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southee , to polish them off .
Joshua da Silva was caught behind for three , Shannon Gabriel was bowled for two and Southee finished with five for 32 to go with the five for 34 by Kyle Jamieson who was not required to bowl early Sunday .
It is only the third time two New Zealand bowlers have taken five wickets apiece in an innings .
Brathwaite and Campbell , tasked with restoring some pride for the West Indies in the second innings , negotiated their way to 37 before Boult struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , turned a full delivery to leg gully where a diving Will Young held a difficult chance .
Darren Bravo edged his first delivery to the boundary but two balls later he ducked into a short ball and was caught in the gully .
Over the past 21 years , the West Indies have played four times at the Basin Reserve , losing three times by an innings and once by 10 wickets .

Wellington (AFP) –
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New Zealand sensed another comprehensive victory over the West Indies Sunday as a Tim Southee and Trent Boult onslaught left the tourists in dire straits at lunch on day three of the second Test in Wellington.
Southee took the last two wickets as the West Indies were 131 all out in their first innings to finish with a five-wicket haul and New Zealand enforced the follow on.
Boult then dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo to leave the West Indies at 73 for two at the end of the morning session.
The tourists require a further 256 runs to avoid a second successive innings defeat after New Zealand's first innings 460.
John Campbell, not out 26, was working to repair the innings with Shamarh Brooks who has scored 19.
The West Indies, who lost the first Test by an innings and 134 runs, resumed the morning at 124 for eight and New Zealand required only 26 deliveries, 10 of them from Southee, to polish them off.
Joshua da Silva was caught behind for three, Shannon Gabriel was bowled for two and Southee finished with five for 32 to go with the five for 34 by Kyle Jamieson who was not required to bowl early Sunday.
It is only the third time two New Zealand bowlers have taken five wickets apiece in an innings.
Brathwaite and Campbell, tasked with restoring some pride for the West Indies in the second innings, negotiated their way to 37 before Boult struck twice in one over.
Brathwaite on 24, turned a full delivery to leg gully where a diving Will Young held a difficult chance.
Darren Bravo edged his first delivery to the boundary but two balls later he ducked into a short ball and was caught in the gully.
Over the past 21 years, the West Indies have played four times at the Basin Reserve, losing three times by an innings and once by 10 wickets.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--'1,000% involved': Pogba insists he is committed to Man Utd

Paul Pogba insists he is committed to Manchester United despite comments from his agent this week Paul Pogba claimed he remains fully committed to Manchester United despite his agent stating he is `` unhappy '' at Old Trafford and looking for a move in January .
Pogba was recalled to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's starting line-up for Saturday 's uninspired 0-0 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League .
The French World Cup winner had started on the bench as United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage with defeat to RB Leipzig on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pogba 's outspoken agent Mino Raiola told Italian newspaper Tuttosport his client had to `` change teams . ''
The 27-year-old rejoined United for a then world record £89 million ( $ 118 million ) in 2016 , but has failed to make the desired impact as the Red Devils have not challenged to win either the Premier League or the Champions League .
`` I 've always fought and will always fight for @ manchesterunited , my teammates and the fans , '' Pogba posted on Instagram .
`` Bla bla is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , today is what matters and I am 1000 % involved !
Always strong together.. all has been clear between the club and myself and that will never change .
`` When you do n't know what 's going on inside do n't talk # SpeakTheTruthOrRemainSilent # united # talktothehand . ''
Pogba 's contract is due to expire in the summer of 2022 and Raiola hinted it may be in everyone 's interests for United to sell in January before the midfielder 's transfer value plummets .
`` Paul 's unhappy at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself any more as he would like to and as we expect of him , '' Raiola told Tuttosport .
`` He has to change teams , he needs a change of scene .
His contract is up in a year-and-a-half , in the summer of 2022 , but I think the best solution for all sides is a transfer in the next window . ''

London (AFP) –
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Paul Pogba claimed he remains fully committed to Manchester United despite his agent stating he is "unhappy" at Old Trafford and looking for a move in January.
Pogba was recalled to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting line-up for Saturday's uninspired 0-0 draw with Manchester City in the Premier League.
The French World Cup winner had started on the bench as United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage with defeat to RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
Just a day before the game, Pogba's outspoken agent Mino Raiola told Italian newspaper Tuttosport his client had to "change teams."
The 27-year-old rejoined United for a then world record £89 million ($118 million) in 2016, but has failed to make the desired impact as the Red Devils have not challenged to win either the Premier League or the Champions League.
"I've always fought and will always fight for @manchesterunited , my teammates and the fans," Pogba posted on Instagram.
"Bla bla is not important. The future is far, today is what matters and I am 1000% involved! Always strong together.. all has been clear between the club and myself and that will never change.
"When you don't know what's going on inside don't talk #SpeakTheTruthOrRemainSilent #united #talktothehand."
Pogba's contract is due to expire in the summer of 2022 and Raiola hinted it may be in everyone's interests for United to sell in January before the midfielder's transfer value plummets.
"Paul's unhappy at Manchester United, he can't express himself any more as he would like to and as we expect of him," Raiola told Tuttosport.
"He has to change teams, he needs a change of scene. His contract is up in a year-and-a-half, in the summer of 2022, but I think the best solution for all sides is a transfer in the next window."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Real Madrid take derby honours as Atletico lose marathon unbeaten record

Real Madrid reignited their La Liga title push on Saturday beating leaders Atletico 2-0 as their city rivals suffered a first league defeat of the season .
Real , who salvaged their Champions League campaign in midweek by making the last 16 , moved to third in the table , three points behind Atletico .
It was a disappointing night for Diego Simeone 's side who had boasted a 26-match unbeaten run in the league , stretching back to February .
That was a run which consisted of 17 wins and nine draws .
Real had been the last team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We confirmed the improvement we showed in many areas against Sevilla and Borussia , and gave another good display , '' said Real coach Zinedine Zidane , reflecting on his side 's wins in the past week which have helped turn around the season .
`` There are criticisms that hurt , but they also make you stronger . ''
`` We competed very well from minute one until the end , we must be satisfied with work well done . ''
His team were in front after 15 minutes when Casemiro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That was reward for Real 's early pressure which had seen Karim Benzema denied by a fine save from Jan Oblak moments earlier .
Atletico , who also made the Champions League knockout round in midweek , struggled to make any impression and star striker Luis Suarez was an anonymous figure up front .
Real went 2-0 up after 63 minutes with Kroos again the provider .
His pass eventually fell for Dani Carvajal who unleashed a 30-metre drive which hit the post but was diverted into the net by the helpless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an own-goal for his troubles .
It was only the fourth goal conceded by the usually water-tight Atletico defence in 11 league games this season .
It was a night of frustration with Simeone 's men managing just one shot on target .
`` We did n't have the courage to attack , now we have to work and improve . ''
`` They were better .
They were forceful , precise , and when they had their chance , they put them away , '' said the Argentine .
`` We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That hurts , yes it hurts . ''
Portuguese star Joao Felix showed his displeasure at being replaced by Saul on the hour .
Suarez allowed himself an ironic smile when he too was benched in favour of Geoffrey Kondogbia in the 73rd minute .
`` Joao Felix , if he plays , he wants to contribute more , he wants to finish the 90 minutes , '' said Simeone .
`` But I ca n't explain his behaviour . ''
In stark contrast , Zidane could be especially pleased for Casemiro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carvajal had recovered from a right leg injury .
It was a night to remember also for captain Sergio Ramos who was playing in a Madrid derby for the 43rd time , Atletico , meanwhile , could lose top spot on Sunday when second-placed Real Sociedad welcome Eibar .
Barcelona are also in action on Sunday against Levante and will be under intense scrutiny .
Barca are in such disarray that they need a victory merely to steady the ship after a morale-sapping 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but as group runners-up Lionel Messi and his teammates risk drawing one of Europe 's big names .
After the tumultuous summer which almost saw Messi depart , Barca and new coach Ronald Koeman never seem to have recovered .
They sit an unaccustomed ninth in the table with just 14 points from 10 games .
They are 12 points behind leaders Atletico .
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said a win against modest Levante , who have just three points fewer than the Catalans , was essential .
`` In La Liga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be but we can claw back some points and that is the aim in the next few weeks .
`` We 're playing at home and we ca n't afford to drop a single point now . ''

Madrid (AFP) –
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Real Madrid reignited their La Liga title push on Saturday beating leaders Atletico 2-0 as their city rivals suffered a first league defeat of the season.
Real, who salvaged their Champions League campaign in midweek by making the last 16, moved to third in the table, three points behind Atletico.
It was a disappointing night for Diego Simeone's side who had boasted a 26-match unbeaten run in the league, stretching back to February.
That was a run which consisted of 17 wins and nine draws. Real had been the last team to beat Atletico in the league.
"We confirmed the improvement we showed in many areas against Sevilla and Borussia, and gave another good display," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane, reflecting on his side's wins in the past week which have helped turn around the season.
"There are criticisms that hurt, but they also make you stronger."
"We competed very well from minute one until the end, we must be satisfied with work well done."
His team were in front after 15 minutes when Casemiro headed home a corner from Toni Kroos.
That was reward for Real's early pressure which had seen Karim Benzema denied by a fine save from Jan Oblak moments earlier.
Atletico, who also made the Champions League knockout round in midweek, struggled to make any impression and star striker Luis Suarez was an anonymous figure up front.
Real went 2-0 up after 63 minutes with Kroos again the provider.
His pass eventually fell for Dani Carvajal who unleashed a 30-metre drive which hit the post but was diverted into the net by the helpless Oblak.
The 'keeper was credited with an own-goal for his troubles.
It was only the fourth goal conceded by the usually water-tight Atletico defence in 11 league games this season.
- 'That hurts' -
It was a night of frustration with Simeone's men managing just one shot on target.
"We didn't have the courage to attack, now we have to work and improve."
"They were better. They were forceful, precise, and when they had their chance, they put them away," said the Argentine.
"We can have a bad game, we can. That hurts, yes it hurts."
Egos too were hurting.
Portuguese star Joao Felix showed his displeasure at being replaced by Saul on the hour.
Suarez allowed himself an ironic smile when he too was benched in favour of Geoffrey Kondogbia in the 73rd minute.
"Joao Felix, if he plays, he wants to contribute more, he wants to finish the 90 minutes," said Simeone.
"But I can't explain his behaviour."
In stark contrast, Zidane could be especially pleased for Casemiro who had returned from Covid-19 quarantine while Carvajal had recovered from a right leg injury.
It was a night to remember also for captain Sergio Ramos who was playing in a Madrid derby for the 43rd time,
Atletico, meanwhile, could lose top spot on Sunday when second-placed Real Sociedad welcome Eibar.
Barcelona are also in action on Sunday against Levante and will be under intense scrutiny.
Barca are in such disarray that they need a victory merely to steady the ship after a morale-sapping 3-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League.
The Catalans still qualified for the last 16, but as group runners-up Lionel Messi and his teammates risk drawing one of Europe's big names.
After the tumultuous summer which almost saw Messi depart, Barca and new coach Ronald Koeman never seem to have recovered.
They sit an unaccustomed ninth in the table with just 14 points from 10 games. They are 12 points behind leaders Atletico.
Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said a win against modest Levante, who have just three points fewer than the Catalans, was essential.
"In La Liga we are not where we want to be but we can claw back some points and that is the aim in the next few weeks.
"We're playing at home and we can't afford to drop a single point now."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Joshua knocks out Pulev to set up potential Fury fight

Knockout : Anthony Joshua ( right ) knocked out Bulgaria 's Kubrat Pulev ( left ) to retain his three world heavyweight titles on Saturday Anthony Joshua set up a potential all-British world heavyweight unification bout against Tyson Fury with a dominant ninth round knockout of Bulgaria 's Kubrat Pulev at London 's Wembley Arena on Saturday .
In front of 1,000 fans with attendance limited due to coronavirus restrictions , Joshua ensured there was no repeat of a shock defeat in his first clash with Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 as the 39-year-old Pulev was swotted aside .
Pulev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014 , but was outclassed by Joshua , who could have had victory wrapped up within three rounds .
Twice Pulev was given a count by the referee in round three after he was left flailing on the ropes by an explosive burst of punches from Joshua .
The IBF , WBA and WBO world champion then surprisingly took his foot off the accelerator to allow Pulev to hang in the fight .
But in round nine three uppercuts in quick succession put Pulev back on the canvas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back up in time as Joshua took his career record to 24-1 .
Attention will now turn to the much-anticipated clash with Fury in 2021 .
An agreement in principle for Joshua and WBC champion Fury to finally go head-to-head has been in place since earlier this year .
This week , Joshua 's promoter Eddie Hearn said he was `` as close to 100 per cent '' as he could be that the much-anticipated bout would happen next year .

London (AFP) –
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Anthony Joshua set up a potential all-British world heavyweight unification bout against Tyson Fury with a dominant ninth round knockout of Bulgaria's Kubrat Pulev at London's Wembley Arena on Saturday.
In front of 1,000 fans with attendance limited due to coronavirus restrictions, Joshua ensured there was no repeat of a shock defeat in his first clash with Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 as the 39-year-old Pulev was swotted aside.
Pulev had lost just once previously in his career to Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, but was outclassed by Joshua, who could have had victory wrapped up within three rounds.
Twice Pulev was given a count by the referee in round three after he was left flailing on the ropes by an explosive burst of punches from Joshua.
The IBF, WBA and WBO world champion then surprisingly took his foot off the accelerator to allow Pulev to hang in the fight.
But in round nine three uppercuts in quick succession put Pulev back on the canvas and this time he did not get back up in time as Joshua took his career record to 24-1.
Attention will now turn to the much-anticipated clash with Fury in 2021.
An agreement in principle for Joshua and WBC champion Fury to finally go head-to-head has been in place since earlier this year.
This week, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said he was "as close to 100 per cent" as he could be that the much-anticipated bout would happen next year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Shibuno clings to US Women's Open lead by one over Olson

Japan 's Hinako Shibuno struggled to a three-over par 74 on Saturday but clung to a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the US Women 's Open Japan 's Hinako Shibuno , the 2019 Women 's British Open champion , clung to a one-stroke lead over American Amy Olson after Saturday 's third round of the 75th US Women 's Open .
The 22-year-old nicknamed `` Smiling Cinderella , '' trying to win her US Women 's Open debut , fired a three-over par 74 to stand on four-under 209 after 54 holes at Champions Golf Club in Houston , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three strokes when the day began , managed only one birdie against four bogeys , starting and finishing her round with bogeys .
`` It was a little shock that I dropped a couple of shots but I will do my best tomorrow and try to play my way , '' Shibuno said through a translator .
Olson , seeking her first LPGA title , shot 71 to grab second with the only others under par being Thailand 's Moriya Jutanugarn and South Korean Kim2 Ji-yeong , both on 212 .
`` Definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's not easy .
It was really a grind out there .
I 'm pleased with how I played . ''
Moriya , whose only LPGA title came at the 2018 Los Angeles Open , fired a 72 while Kim2 matched the week 's best round with a bogey-free 67 , leaping into contention after making the cut on the number .
`` So far I 'm happy .
I 'm playing pretty solid , '' Moriya said .
`` You ca n't really be aggressive and you just have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was rescheduled from June due to the Covid-19 pandemic , which also kept spectators from attending .
Shibuno opened with a three-putt bogey but birdied the par-5 fifth after blasting out of a bunker to three feet , stretching her lead to four strokes .
At the seventh , a mud-ball approach rolled off the back of the green .
Shibuno pitched to five feet but missed the par putt .
Shibuno , who won four times last year on the Japan LPGA Tour , found a bunker at the 14th , blasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bogey , and another on 18 , missing an eight-footer for par .
Olson , who aced the par-3 16th on Thursday , made bogeys at the third and sixth and another to start the back nine after a birdie at the par-5 ninth .
But the 28-year-old responded with birdies at the par-5 13th and par-4 17th and just missed a 15-footer to settle for par at 18 .
`` Got off to a rough start out there but I played really well closing out and anything can happen out there tomorrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's all about staying patient and not getting caught up in what anyone else is doing . ''
Moriya , 26 , birdied the par-5 fifth but then made a bogey at six before making a charge with birdies at the par-3 eighth and par-5 13th to reach 4-under , two behind Shibuno .
She stumbled with a bogey at 14 and suffered a plugged lie in a greenside bunker at the par-4 17th on her way to a double bogey and a round of 72 .
`` I got one bad break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's pretty solid , '' Moriya said .
Back-nine starter Kim2 birdied the 10th and the par-3 16th and fourth holes , then chipped in for birdie at the ninth to share third .
`` In the first half of the round I was n't keeping up , but later as the day went on I did look and was surprised to see how far I 've come up on the scoreboard , '' she said .
`` I really did n't expect to be performing so well and I 'm just glad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Lydia Ko was in a pack in fifth on level par 213 that included a US trio -- 19-year-old Yealimi Noh , amateur Kaitlyn Papp and Megan Khang .
Swedish amateur Linn Grant , three back at the turn , found the water on her approach at the 10th and her chip rolled back into the water on the way to a quadruple-bogey eight on the way to a 78 that dropped her out of the hunt .
The only amateur to win the US Women 's Open was France 's Catherine @ @ @ @

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Japan's Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 Women's British Open champion, clung to a one-stroke lead over American Amy Olson after Saturday's third round of the 75th US Women's Open.
The 22-year-old nicknamed "Smiling Cinderella," trying to win her US Women's Open debut, fired a three-over par 74 to stand on four-under 209 after 54 holes at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.
Shibuno, who led by three strokes when the day began, managed only one birdie against four bogeys, starting and finishing her round with bogeys.
"It was a little shock that I dropped a couple of shots but I will do my best tomorrow and try to play my way," Shibuno said through a translator.
Olson, seeking her first LPGA title, shot 71 to grab second with the only others under par being Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn and South Korean Kim2 Ji-yeong, both on 212.
"Definitely pleased," Olson said. "It's not easy. It was really a grind out there. I'm pleased with how I played."
Moriya, whose only LPGA title came at the 2018 Los Angeles Open, fired a 72 while Kim2 matched the week's best round with a bogey-free 67, leaping into contention after making the cut on the number.
"So far I'm happy. I'm playing pretty solid," Moriya said. "You can't really be aggressive and you just have to be patient out there."
The event was rescheduled from June due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also kept spectators from attending.
Shibuno opened with a three-putt bogey but birdied the par-5 fifth after blasting out of a bunker to three feet, stretching her lead to four strokes.
At the seventh, a mud-ball approach rolled off the back of the green. Shibuno pitched to five feet but missed the par putt.
Shibuno, who won four times last year on the Japan LPGA Tour, found a bunker at the 14th, blasted out to 30 feet and two-putted for bogey, and another on 18, missing an eight-footer for par.
Olson, who aced the par-3 16th on Thursday, made bogeys at the third and sixth and another to start the back nine after a birdie at the par-5 ninth.
But the 28-year-old responded with birdies at the par-5 13th and par-4 17th and just missed a 15-footer to settle for par at 18.
"Got off to a rough start out there but I played really well closing out and anything can happen out there tomorrow," Olson said.
"It's all about staying patient and not getting caught up in what anyone else is doing."
Moriya, 26, birdied the par-5 fifth but then made a bogey at six before making a charge with birdies at the par-3 eighth and par-5 13th to reach 4-under, two behind Shibuno.
She stumbled with a bogey at 14 and suffered a plugged lie in a greenside bunker at the par-4 17th on her way to a double bogey and a round of 72.
"I got one bad break and just one bad hole and everything's pretty solid," Moriya said.
Back-nine starter Kim2 birdied the 10th and the par-3 16th and fourth holes, then chipped in for birdie at the ninth to share third.
"In the first half of the round I wasn't keeping up, but later as the day went on I did look and was surprised to see how far I've come up on the scoreboard," she said.
"I really didn't expect to be performing so well and I'm just glad to be here."
- Ko in fifth-place pack -
New Zealand's Lydia Ko was in a pack in fifth on level par 213 that included a US trio -- 19-year-old Yealimi Noh, amateur Kaitlyn Papp and Megan Khang.
Swedish amateur Linn Grant, three back at the turn, found the water on her approach at the 10th and her chip rolled back into the water on the way to a quadruple-bogey eight on the way to a 78 that dropped her out of the hunt.
The only amateur to win the US Women's Open was France's Catherine Lacoste in 1967.
South Korea's Chella Choi aced the par-3 12th from 180 yards.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Error-prone Lazio fall at home to Verona

Lazio fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Hellas Verona on Saturday , just days after the high of qualifying for the Champions League last-16 for the first time in two decades .
Both Verona 's goals came thanks to Lazio errors with Manuel Lazzari turning the ball into his own net just before the break in the Stadio Olimpico .
Felipe Caicedo pulled Lazio level after 56 minutes , with an impressive pivot having picked up the ball with his back to the goal .
However , a poor back-pass from Lazio defender Ștefan Radu allowed Adrien Tameze to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simone Inzaghi 's side suffered their third defeat at home this season , missing the chance to close in on the European places .
Lazio are eighth , nine points behind leaders AC Milan who host Parma on Sunday , with Verona moving up to sixth position .
The match was preceded by a minute 's silence in memory of 1982 World Cup winner Paolo Rossi , who died on Wednesday , aged 64 .
Rossi 's photo was projected on a large screen with the words `` Heroes never die '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ballon d'Or winner 's funeral took place earlier Saturday in the north-eastern city of Vicenza .
In Turin , Andrea Belotti struck his 100th goal but Torino dropped to second last in the table after a 3-2 defeat to Udinese .
Torino matched their worst run of eight consecutive league defeats at home in Serie A , last suffered in 1959 .
`` Despite defeats in previous matches 'Toro ' had always had good performances .
I ca n't say the same today , '' said coach Marco Giampaolo , who took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AC Milan after just seven games last season .
Torino sparked to life after an hour managing to fight back from two-goals down against their mid-table rivals .
Ignacio Pussetto had put the visitors ahead on 24 minutes , after Udinese 's Brazilian midfielder Walace dispossessed Soualiho Meite , with play waved on despite protests of a foul from the home side .
Gerard Deulofeu sent the ball through for Argentine Pussetto to break through for a solo run to beat an outrushing Salvatore Sirigu in the Torino goal .
Rodrigo De Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the edge of the box nine minutes after the break , before Belotti reignited Torino hopes .
The 26-year-old picked up a Federico Bonazzoli cross on 66 minutes to finish off and repaid the favour with a back-heel allowing the Italian striker to get his first Serie A goal for Torino .
Belotti has accounted for eight of his struggling side 's 19 goals this season as they have garnered six points from 11 games .
However Udinese restored their advantage two minutes later with substitute Ilija Nestorovski finishing off a Roberto Pereyra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of rock bottom Crotone who got their first win of the season , 4-1 over 16th-placed Spezia , with Brazilian forward Messias scoring twice .
`` It was a bad game , especially the first half , but Giampaolo is not at risk , '' insisted Torino president Urbano Cairo , adding that the players would be heading into a training retreat from Sunday .

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Lazio fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Hellas Verona on Saturday, just days after the high of qualifying for the Champions League last-16 for the first time in two decades.
Both Verona's goals came thanks to Lazio errors with Manuel Lazzari turning the ball into his own net just before the break in the Stadio Olimpico.
Felipe Caicedo pulled Lazio level after 56 minutes, with an impressive pivot having picked up the ball with his back to the goal.
However, a poor back-pass from Lazio defender Ștefan Radu allowed Adrien Tameze to grab the winner on 67 minutes.
Simone Inzaghi's side suffered their third defeat at home this season, missing the chance to close in on the European places.
Lazio are eighth, nine points behind leaders AC Milan who host Parma on Sunday, with Verona moving up to sixth position.
The match was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of 1982 World Cup winner Paolo Rossi, who died on Wednesday, aged 64.
Rossi's photo was projected on a large screen with the words "Heroes never die" and "Ciao Paolo".
The former Ballon d'Or winner's funeral took place earlier Saturday in the north-eastern city of Vicenza.
- Torino in freefall -
In Turin, Andrea Belotti struck his 100th goal but Torino dropped to second last in the table after a 3-2 defeat to Udinese.
Torino matched their worst run of eight consecutive league defeats at home in Serie A, last suffered in 1959.
"Despite defeats in previous matches 'Toro' had always had good performances. I can't say the same today," said coach Marco Giampaolo, who took over in August, having been sacked by AC Milan after just seven games last season.
Torino sparked to life after an hour managing to fight back from two-goals down against their mid-table rivals.
Ignacio Pussetto had put the visitors ahead on 24 minutes, after Udinese's Brazilian midfielder Walace dispossessed Soualiho Meite, with play waved on despite protests of a foul from the home side.
Gerard Deulofeu sent the ball through for Argentine Pussetto to break through for a solo run to beat an outrushing Salvatore Sirigu in the Torino goal.
Rodrigo De Paul added a second for the visitors from the edge of the box nine minutes after the break, before Belotti reignited Torino hopes.
The 26-year-old picked up a Federico Bonazzoli cross on 66 minutes to finish off and repaid the favour with a back-heel allowing the Italian striker to get his first Serie A goal for Torino.
Belotti has accounted for eight of his struggling side's 19 goals this season as they have garnered six points from 11 games.
However Udinese restored their advantage two minutes later with substitute Ilija Nestorovski finishing off a Roberto Pereyra cross.
Torino are just one point ahead of rock bottom Crotone who got their first win of the season, 4-1 over 16th-placed Spezia, with Brazilian forward Messias scoring twice.
"It was a bad game, especially the first half, but Giampaolo is not at risk," insisted Torino president Urbano Cairo, adding that the players would be heading into a training retreat from Sunday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Real Madrid take derby honours as Atletico lose marathon unbeaten record

Real Madrid reignited their La Liga title push on Saturday beating leaders Atletico 2-0 as their city rivals suffered a first league defeat of the season .
Real , who salvaged their Champions League campaign in midweek by making the last 16 , moved to third in the table , three points behind Atletico .
It was a disappointing night for Diego Simeone 's side who had boasted a 26-match unbeaten run in the league , stretching back to February .
That was a run which consisted of 17 wins and nine draws .
Real had been the last team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zinedine Zidane 's team were in front after 15 minutes when Casemiro headed home a corner from Toni Kroos .
That was reward for Real 's early pressure which had seen Karim Benzema denied by a fine save from Jan Oblak moments earlier .
Atletico , who also made the Champions League knockout round in midweek , struggled to make any impression and star striker Luis Suarez was an anonymous figure up front .
Real went 2-0 up after 63 minutes with Kroos again the provider .
His pass eventually fell for Dani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit the post but was diverted into the net by the helpless Oblak .
The 'keeper was credited with an own-goal for his troubles .
It was only the fourth goal conceded by the usually water-tight Atletico defence in 11 league games this season .
It was a night of frustration with Simeone 's men managing just one shot on target .
Portuguese star Joao Felix showed his displeasure at being replaced by Saul on the hour .
Suarez allowed himself an ironic smile when he too was benched in favour of Geoffrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stark contrast , Zidane could be especially pleased for Casemiro who had returned from Covid-19 quarantine while Carvajal had recovered from a right leg injury .
It was a night to remember also for captain Sergio Ramos who was playing in a Madrid derby for the 43rd time , Atletico , meanwhile , could lose top spot on Sunday when second-placed Real Sociedad welcome Eibar .

Madrid (AFP) –
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Real Madrid reignited their La Liga title push on Saturday beating leaders Atletico 2-0 as their city rivals suffered a first league defeat of the season.
Real, who salvaged their Champions League campaign in midweek by making the last 16, moved to third in the table, three points behind Atletico.
It was a disappointing night for Diego Simeone's side who had boasted a 26-match unbeaten run in the league, stretching back to February.
That was a run which consisted of 17 wins and nine draws. Real had been the last team to beat Atletico in the league.
Zinedine Zidane's team were in front after 15 minutes when Casemiro headed home a corner from Toni Kroos.
That was reward for Real's early pressure which had seen Karim Benzema denied by a fine save from Jan Oblak moments earlier.
Atletico, who also made the Champions League knockout round in midweek, struggled to make any impression and star striker Luis Suarez was an anonymous figure up front.
Real went 2-0 up after 63 minutes with Kroos again the provider.
His pass eventually fell for Dani Carvajal who unleashed a 30-metre drive which hit the post but was diverted into the net by the helpless Oblak.
The 'keeper was credited with an own-goal for his troubles.
It was only the fourth goal conceded by the usually water-tight Atletico defence in 11 league games this season.
It was a night of frustration with Simeone's men managing just one shot on target.
Egos too were bruised.
Portuguese star Joao Felix showed his displeasure at being replaced by Saul on the hour.
Suarez allowed himself an ironic smile when he too was benched in favour of Geoffrey Kondogbia in the 73rd minute.
In stark contrast, Zidane could be especially pleased for Casemiro who had returned from Covid-19 quarantine while Carvajal had recovered from a right leg injury.
It was a night to remember also for captain Sergio Ramos who was playing in a Madrid derby for the 43rd time,
Atletico, meanwhile, could lose top spot on Sunday when second-placed Real Sociedad welcome Eibar.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Birdie runs lift English and Kuchar to Shootout lead

Americans Harris English , left , and Matt Kuchar fired an 11-under 61 in Saturday 's alternate stroke round to seize a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the QBE Shootout in Naples , Florida Americans Harris English and Matt Kuchar fired an 11-under par 61 in Saturday 's modified alternate shot session to seize a five-stroke lead after two rounds at the 32nd QBE Shootout .
The US duo opened with five straight birdies , parred the next six holes and then birdied six in a row from the par-3 12th through the par-5 17th before a closing par @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holes at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples , Florida .
`` Had the driver going today , '' English said .
`` He had a lot of wedge shots and he 's one of the best on tour at that and I got hot with the putter .
`` It felt pretty easy for that alternate shot format . ''
Americans Kevin Na and Sean O'Hair , who fired a 56 to lead after Friday 's scramble , were second on 124 .
South Africa 's Louis Oosthuizen and two-time Masters champion Bubba @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share third on 126 with Canada 's Mackenzie Hughes and American Lanto Griffin .
Defending champions Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia and Kevin Tway of the United States were another stroke back in fifth alongside Americans Tony Finau and Cameron Champ .
The three-day event , played among 12 pairs with no spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic , concludes with a Sunday four-ball round .
Kuchar was pleased at the pair 's sizzling start , which allowed them to overtake O'Hair and Na quickly and seize the lead , then withstand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ binge .
`` You take birdies where they come , '' Kuchar said .
`` It 's about keeping the pedal down and we did a good job of that today . ''
They had a chance to birdie the last but English lipped out from seven feet , leaving Kuchar the final tap-in .
Na and O'Hair opened with four pars and a bogey at the par-3 fifth , answered with birdies at six and seven and added birdies at 11 , 13 and 15 to hang onto second ahead of the @ @ @ @

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Americans Harris English and Matt Kuchar fired an 11-under par 61 in Saturday's modified alternate shot session to seize a five-stroke lead after two rounds at the 32nd QBE Shootout.
The US duo opened with five straight birdies, parred the next six holes and then birdied six in a row from the par-3 12th through the par-5 17th before a closing par to stand on 25-under 119 after 36 holes at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida.
"Had the driver going today," English said. "He had a lot of wedge shots and he's one of the best on tour at that and I got hot with the putter.
"It felt pretty easy for that alternate shot format."
Americans Kevin Na and Sean O'Hair, who fired a 56 to lead after Friday's scramble, were second on 124.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson of the United States shot 66 to share third on 126 with Canada's Mackenzie Hughes and American Lanto Griffin.
Defending champions Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia and Kevin Tway of the United States were another stroke back in fifth alongside Americans Tony Finau and Cameron Champ.
The three-day event, played among 12 pairs with no spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic, concludes with a Sunday four-ball round.
Kuchar was pleased at the pair's sizzling start, which allowed them to overtake O'Hair and Na quickly and seize the lead, then withstand the run of pars before the back-nine birdie binge.
"You take birdies where they come," Kuchar said. "It's about keeping the pedal down and we did a good job of that today."
They had a chance to birdie the last but English lipped out from seven feet, leaving Kuchar the final tap-in.
Na and O'Hair opened with four pars and a bogey at the par-3 fifth, answered with birdies at six and seven and added birdies at 11, 13 and 15 to hang onto second ahead of the charging international duos.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-12--Everton end Chelsea's long unbeaten run

Everton end Chelsea's long unbeaten run

Spot on : Gylfi Sigurdsson ( left ) opened the scoring for Everton against Chelsea Chelsea spurned the chance to go top of the Premier League as Gylfi Sigurdsson 's penalty earned Everton a vital 1-0 win in front of 2,000 fans at Goodison Park .
A first defeat in 18 games , excluding penalty shootouts , leaves Frank Lampard 's men still two points adrift of Tottenham and Liverpool at the top of the table .
They can extend that advantage to five points when they are in action on Sunday .
Victory lifts Everton up to seventh and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four .
Reece James and Mason Mount hit the post for the visitors , but they were made to pay for one rash moment from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as he bundled over Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Sigurdsson coolly slotted home the resultant spot-kick .
A £220 million ( $ 291 million ) spending spree had seemingly transformed Chelsea into title contenders , but the Blues badly missed the creativity of the injured Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic to break Everton down once the Toffees went in front .
Carlo Ancelotti 's men had slid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the season and the need for Everton 's own big spending to finally pay off with European football was laid bare when the club announced losses of nearly £140 million for the 2019/20 season on Friday .
However , it is Calvert-Lewin , signed for just £1.5 million from Sheffield United four years ago , who is keeping Everton 's European ambitions afloat .
The Premier League 's top scorer failed to add to his 14 goals this season , but was too quick for both Thiago Silva and Mendy to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senegalese 'keeper .
Richarlison had to be convinced to allow Sigurdsson to take the penalty and the Icelandic international made no mistake .
Chelsea were nearly level almost immediately as James 's shot from outside of the box was turned onto the inside of the post by Jordan Pickford .
Kurt Zouma then fired too close to the England number one , whilst Olivier Giroud was crowded out when the goal was gaping after Pickford crashed into his own defender Yerry Mina from a long ball forward .
Everton had one just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blistering start had taken them top of the table in October .
However , the limited number of home fans , returning to Goodison for the first time since March , were given a huge win to cheer as the hosts held out with relative comfort after the break .
The closest Chelsea came to an equaliser was a Mount free-kick that came back off the post after wrong-footing Pickford 10 minutes from time .

Liverpool (AFP) –
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Chelsea spurned the chance to go top of the Premier League as Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty earned Everton a vital 1-0 win in front of 2,000 fans at Goodison Park.
A first defeat in 18 games, excluding penalty shootouts, leaves Frank Lampard's men still two points adrift of Tottenham and Liverpool at the top of the table.
They can extend that advantage to five points when they are in action on Sunday.
Victory lifts Everton up to seventh and within just one point of the top four.
Reece James and Mason Mount hit the post for the visitors, but they were made to pay for one rash moment from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as he bundled over Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Sigurdsson coolly slotted home the resultant spot-kick.
A £220 million ($291 million) spending spree had seemingly transformed Chelsea into title contenders, but the Blues badly missed the creativity of the injured Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic to break Everton down once the Toffees went in front.
Carlo Ancelotti's men had slid down the table after a blistering start to the season and the need for Everton's own big spending to finally pay off with European football was laid bare when the club announced losses of nearly £140 million for the 2019/20 season on Friday.
However, it is Calvert-Lewin, signed for just £1.5 million from Sheffield United four years ago, who is keeping Everton's European ambitions afloat.
The Premier League's top scorer failed to add to his 14 goals this season, but was too quick for both Thiago Silva and Mendy to a loose ball and was wiped out by the Senegalese 'keeper.
Richarlison had to be convinced to allow Sigurdsson to take the penalty and the Icelandic international made no mistake.
Chelsea were nearly level almost immediately as James's shot from outside of the box was turned onto the inside of the post by Jordan Pickford.
Kurt Zouma then fired too close to the England number one, whilst Olivier Giroud was crowded out when the goal was gaping after Pickford crashed into his own defender Yerry Mina from a long ball forward.
Everton had one just one of their previous seven games after a blistering start had taken them top of the table in October.
However, the limited number of home fans, returning to Goodison for the first time since March, were given a huge win to cheer as the hosts held out with relative comfort after the break.
The closest Chelsea came to an equaliser was a Mount free-kick that came back off the post after wrong-footing Pickford 10 minutes from time.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-13--Joshua has great expectations for potential Fury showdown

Anthony Joshua insists a blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury will `` bring out the best in me '' after his British rival claimed he would beat the world heavyweight champion in three rounds .
Joshua earned a ninth-round stoppage win against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday to retain his WBA , WBO , IBF and IBO belts at Wembley Arena .
After a successful return to the ring in his first fight for 12 months , Joshua immediately found himself thrown into the debate about a mooted all-British showdown with WBC champion Fury .
Amid reports the hotly-anticipated fight is set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media to say : `` I want the fight , I want the fight next and I will knock him out inside three rounds . ''
Joshua has no intention of backing down from the Fury clash , although hurdles in the way of the super-fight include his WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk and another possible meeting between Fury and Deontay Wilder .
`` That 's good to hear .
At least I can get him in the ring .
That 's what we want right ?
so he 's on the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked about Fury 's social media taunts .
`` I said he 's talented and he will bring out the best in me .
So that 's brilliant .
`` I 've been to his fights , I 've watched him , so when I fight him it will be good to change those odds and put them in my favour . ''
Joshua has a 24-1 career record as he continued to prove his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in June last year was an aberration .
The 31-year-old looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fans against Pulev , who took a standing count in round three and was knocked down twice more in round nine .
`` I started this game in 2013 , I have been chasing all the belts , I 've been dealing with mandatories , so of course I want a challenge , '' Joshua said .
`` For me I stuck to what I know best - boxing , looking at where I am going to put my shots and putting them together .
`` When they are successful , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is less talk , more action . ''
Now attention is turning to the Fury fight and his promoter Eddie Hearn said work would start on completing a deal on Sunday .
`` Sometimes there are words backwards and forwards form both camps - I do n't think that 's going to do any good , '' Hearn told the BBC .
`` We just all want to make the fight .
Now is the time .
We will start the ball rolling .
I do n't think it 's that difficult .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have always said is agreed now in terms of numbers and money splits .
There are only some minor details .
So there 's no reason we ca n't be up and running . ''

London (AFP) –
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Anthony Joshua insists a blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury will "bring out the best in me" after his British rival claimed he would beat the world heavyweight champion in three rounds.
Joshua earned a ninth-round stoppage win against Kubrat Pulev on Saturday to retain his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts at Wembley Arena.
After a successful return to the ring in his first fight for 12 months, Joshua immediately found himself thrown into the debate about a mooted all-British showdown with WBC champion Fury.
Amid reports the hotly-anticipated fight is set for 2021, Fury took to social media to say: "I want the fight, I want the fight next and I will knock him out inside three rounds."
Joshua has no intention of backing down from the Fury clash, although hurdles in the way of the super-fight include his WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk and another possible meeting between Fury and Deontay Wilder.
"That's good to hear. At least I can get him in the ring. That's what we want right? so he's on the right track," Joshua told the BBC when asked about Fury's social media taunts.
"I said he's talented and he will bring out the best in me. So that's brilliant.
"I've been to his fights, I've watched him, so when I fight him it will be good to change those odds and put them in my favour."
Joshua has a 24-1 career record as he continued to prove his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in June last year was an aberration.
The 31-year-old looked in good form in front of 1,000 fans against Pulev, who took a standing count in round three and was knocked down twice more in round nine.
"I started this game in 2013, I have been chasing all the belts, I've been dealing with mandatories, so of course I want a challenge," Joshua said.
"For me I stuck to what I know best - boxing, looking at where I am going to put my shots and putting them together.
"When they are successful, they are successful, but like I said it is less talk, more action."
Now attention is turning to the Fury fight and his promoter Eddie Hearn said work would start on completing a deal on Sunday.
"Sometimes there are words backwards and forwards form both camps - I don't think that's going to do any good," Hearn told the BBC.
"We just all want to make the fight. Now is the time. We will start the ball rolling. I don't think it's that difficult.
"The crux of the deal I have always said is agreed now in terms of numbers and money splits. There are only some minor details. So there's no reason we can't be up and running."
© 2020 AFP