france24--2020-09-07--England striker Wilson signs for Newcastle

Callum Wilson has left relegated Bournemouth to stay in the Premier League with Newcastle Callum Wilson on Monday completed his move to Premier League club Newcastle from relegated Bournemouth for a reported fee of £20 million ( $ 26 million ) .
The 28-year-old England forward has signed a four-year deal with Steve Bruce 's side .
`` Newcastle United are delighted to announce the signing of striker Callum Wilson from AFC Bournemouth , '' the club said in a statement .
`` The 28-year-old joins the Magpies for an undisclosed fee and has signed a contract that will keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer 2024 . ''
Manager Bruce said he was delighted to sign the player from Bournemouth , who were relegated last season .
`` He has done fantastically well at Bournemouth and was deservedly playing centre forward for England less than two years ago . ''
he said .
`` The club has worked ever so hard to get Callum here and we have beaten off competition from a number of clubs . ''
Wilson , who was also wanted by Aston Villa , is relishing the opportunity to follow in the footsteps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ names .
He said : `` From the minute I knew that Newcastle were interested , it was definitely something that appealed to me .
`` It 's a massive club with great history .
Along the years , they 've had great strikers so if I can emulate half of what they 've done , I 'd like to attempt that . ''

London (AFP) –
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Callum Wilson on Monday completed his move to Premier League club Newcastle from relegated Bournemouth for a reported fee of £20 million ($26 million).
The 28-year-old England forward has signed a four-year deal with Steve Bruce's side.
"Newcastle United are delighted to announce the signing of striker Callum Wilson from AFC Bournemouth," the club said in a statement.
"The 28-year-old joins the Magpies for an undisclosed fee and has signed a contract that will keep him at St James' Park until summer 2024."
Manager Bruce said he was delighted to sign the player from Bournemouth, who were relegated last season.
"He has done fantastically well at Bournemouth and was deservedly playing centre forward for England less than two years ago." he said.
"The club has worked ever so hard to get Callum here and we have beaten off competition from a number of clubs."
Wilson, who was also wanted by Aston Villa, is relishing the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of the cub's biggest names.
He said: "From the minute I knew that Newcastle were interested, it was definitely something that appealed to me.
"It's a massive club with great history. Along the years, they've had great strikers so if I can emulate half of what they've done, I'd like to attempt that."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--China witholds US press cards as media row deepens

In March Beijing expelled more than a dozen US journalists from the New York Times , the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal China has refused to renew the press cards of several journalists working for US companies , a foreign media association said Monday , as Beijing kicks back against the treatment of its reporters in America .
The two superpowers have restricted reporter visas -- with China expelling journalists -- as tensions over everything from trade and tech , to Hong Kong and the coronavirus , sweep in the media .
China 's foreign ministry was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees in the country , the Foreign Correspondents ' Club of China ( FCCC ) said in a statement on Monday .
At least five journalists at four media groups -- including the Wall Street Journal , CNN and Bloomberg -- had been denied new press cards , the FCCC said .
More are expected to receive similar treatment in coming weeks .
Foreign journalists are usually not allowed to work in China without valid press cards , which are also a requirement for gaining a residence permit .
Reporters are instead receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using their expired press cards .
But the letters `` could be revoked at any time , thus putting them at constant threat of expulsion , '' the Club said in a statement .
The moves come after the US Homeland Security Department in May shortened the visa for Chinese journalists in the US -- many of whom work for Chinese state-run media -- to 90 days .
China 's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday denied that any unusual restrictions had been placed on the journalists .
The press cards `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding their `` reporting and life in China will not be affected . ''
But he criticised the treatment of Chinese journalists in the US , accusing Donald Trump 's administration of taking them `` hostage to pressure China . ''
Journalists have been a focus of souring relations between the two powers since the start of the year , with Trump 's administration accusing Beijing 's overseas press corps of being propagandists for the Communist Party .
Zhao warned China would take further action if the US did not extend visas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to AFP 's request for comment .
In February , China kicked out three journalists from The Wall Street Journal after the newspaper ran an opinion piece on the coronavirus crisis with a headline that Beijing deemed racist .
Weeks later , Washington curbed the number of Chinese nationals from state-run news outlets in the United States .
Beijing responded in March by expelling more than a dozen American journalists from the New York Times , the Washington Post and the Wall Street @ @

Beijing (AFP) –
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China has refused to renew the press cards of several journalists working for US companies, a foreign media association said Monday, as Beijing kicks back against the treatment of its reporters in America.
The two superpowers have restricted reporter visas -- with China expelling journalists -- as tensions over everything from trade and tech, to Hong Kong and the coronavirus, sweep in the media.
China's foreign ministry was no longer renewing press credentials for US media employees in the country, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said in a statement on Monday.
At least five journalists at four media groups -- including the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Bloomberg -- had been denied new press cards, the FCCC said.
More are expected to receive similar treatment in coming weeks.
Foreign journalists are usually not allowed to work in China without valid press cards, which are also a requirement for gaining a residence permit.
Reporters are instead receiving letters that temporarily allow them to work using their expired press cards.
But the letters "could be revoked at any time, thus putting them at constant threat of expulsion," the Club said in a statement.
The moves come after the US Homeland Security Department in May shortened the visa for Chinese journalists in the US -- many of whom work for Chinese state-run media -- to 90 days.
China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday denied that any unusual restrictions had been placed on the journalists.
The press cards "are currently being processed" he insisted, adding their "reporting and life in China will not be affected."
But he criticised the treatment of Chinese journalists in the US, accusing Donald Trump's administration of taking them "hostage to pressure China."
Journalists have been a focus of souring relations between the two powers since the start of the year, with Trump's administration accusing Beijing's overseas press corps of being propagandists for the Communist Party.
Zhao warned China would take further action if the US did not extend visas for Chinese journalists as soon as possible.
The US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.
In February, China kicked out three journalists from The Wall Street Journal after the newspaper ran an opinion piece on the coronavirus crisis with a headline that Beijing deemed racist.
Weeks later, Washington curbed the number of Chinese nationals from state-run news outlets in the United States.
Beijing responded in March by expelling more than a dozen American journalists from the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Nearly 300 Rohingya reach Indonesia 'after seven months at sea'

Nearly 300 Rohingya migrants came ashore on Indonesia 's Sumatra island in what is believed to be the one of the biggest landings of the persecuted Myanmar minority since 2015 Nearly 300 Rohingya migrants reached Indonesia on Monday claiming to have been at sea for seven months , the United Nations refugee agency said , in one of the biggest such landings by the persecuted Myanmar minority in years .
The migrants -- including more than a dozen children -- were spotted on a wooden boat by locals who helped them land near Lhokseumawe city on Sumatra 's northern coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as 30 may have died during the perilous high-seas voyage , the UN said , adding that the group left from Cox 's Bazar in Bangladesh in February .
Around one million Muslim Rohingya live in cramped and squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh -- next to their native Myanmar -- where human traffickers run lucrative operations promising to find them sanctuary abroad .
Muslim-majority Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia are favoured destinations for the minority group after many fled following a military crackdown in Myanmar three years ago .
`` Having survived some seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unknown number are in need of medical attention , '' said UNHCR , citing survivor accounts .
`` Over 30 are estimated to have died en route . ''
Chris Lewa , director of the Arakan Project -- an NGO that focuses on the Rohingya crisis -- said the migrants may have been held at sea while traffickers extorted money from their families .
`` These people were actually kept hostage , '' she said .
`` They ( the traffickers ) said they would n't disembark until we 're paid .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't really know the full story yet . ''
At least one member of the group -- which included 102 men , 181 women and 14 children -- was ill and had to be rushed to a local hospital for treatment , said the area 's military chief Roni Mahendra .
Images from Lhokseumawe showed migrants sitting on the ground in a makeshift building with their meagre possessions .
`` We 're concerned about their condition , '' said Lhokseumawe resident Aisyah .
`` They need help in the name of humanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Amnesty International called on Indonesia to give the migrants safe haven .
`` Rohingya refugees are still willing to risk everything in search of safety , '' said Amnesty Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid .
`` Their testimonies , once again , show how perilous these boat journeys can be . ''
The long-persecuted Rohingya are widely regarded as illegal immigrants in Myanmar , refused citizenship and unable to travel freely .
Military operations in 2017 forced some 750,000 Rohingya to flee from conflict-torn Rakhine state to Bangladesh in violence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UN 's top court .
The landing on Monday comes after about 100 Rohingya , mostly women and children , arrived in the same area in June .
They described a harrowing four-month journey that saw them beaten by traffickers and forced to drink their own urine to stay alive .
Both groups that came ashore in June -- and the latest arrivals -- may have been part of an estimated 800 Rohingya who reportedly left Bangladesh earlier this year , said the Arakan Project 's Lewa .
`` The big question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come ashore or if any are still at sea . ''
She described the Monday landing as the biggest since 2015 .
`` Their hazardous ordeal has been prolonged by the collective unwillingness of states to act for more than six months , '' UNHCR said .
`` UNHCR and others have repeatedly warned of dire consequences if refugees at sea are not permitted to land in a safe and expedient manner .
`` Ultimately , inaction over the past six months has been fatal . ''

Lhokseumawe (Indonesia) (AFP) –
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Nearly 300 Rohingya migrants reached Indonesia on Monday claiming to have been at sea for seven months, the United Nations refugee agency said, in one of the biggest such landings by the persecuted Myanmar minority in years.
The migrants -- including more than a dozen children -- were spotted on a wooden boat by locals who helped them land near Lhokseumawe city on Sumatra's northern coast, officials said.
But as many as 30 may have died during the perilous high-seas voyage, the UN said, adding that the group left from Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh in February.
Around one million Muslim Rohingya live in cramped and squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh -- next to their native Myanmar -- where human traffickers run lucrative operations promising to find them sanctuary abroad.
Muslim-majority Indonesia and neighbouring Malaysia are favoured destinations for the minority group after many fled following a military crackdown in Myanmar three years ago.
"Having survived some seven months at sea in desperate conditions, an unknown number are in need of medical attention," said UNHCR, citing survivor accounts.
"Over 30 are estimated to have died en route."
- 'Kept hostage' -
Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project -- an NGO that focuses on the Rohingya crisis -- said the migrants may have been held at sea while traffickers extorted money from their families.
"These people were actually kept hostage," she said.
"They (the traffickers) said they wouldn't disembark until we're paid."
But she added: "We don't really know the full story yet."
At least one member of the group -- which included 102 men, 181 women and 14 children -- was ill and had to be rushed to a local hospital for treatment, said the area's military chief Roni Mahendra.
Images from Lhokseumawe showed migrants sitting on the ground in a makeshift building with their meagre possessions.
Locals had donated food and clothing.
"We're concerned about their condition," said Lhokseumawe resident Aisyah.
"They need help in the name of humanity... They're human beings like us."
Amnesty International called on Indonesia to give the migrants safe haven.
"Rohingya refugees are still willing to risk everything in search of safety," said Amnesty Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid.
"Their testimonies, once again, show how perilous these boat journeys can be."
The long-persecuted Rohingya are widely regarded as illegal immigrants in Myanmar, refused citizenship and unable to travel freely.
Military operations in 2017 forced some 750,000 Rohingya to flee from conflict-torn Rakhine state to Bangladesh in violence that now sees Myanmar facing genocide charges at the UN's top court.
- 'Hazardous ordeal' -
The landing on Monday comes after about 100 Rohingya, mostly women and children, arrived in the same area in June.
They described a harrowing four-month journey that saw them beaten by traffickers and forced to drink their own urine to stay alive.
Both groups that came ashore in June -- and the latest arrivals -- may have been part of an estimated 800 Rohingya who reportedly left Bangladesh earlier this year, said the Arakan Project's Lewa.
"The big question is whether all of them have now come ashore or if any are still at sea."
She described the Monday landing as the biggest since 2015.
"Their hazardous ordeal has been prolonged by the collective unwillingness of states to act for more than six months," UNHCR said.
"UNHCR and others have repeatedly warned of dire consequences if refugees at sea are not permitted to land in a safe and expedient manner.
"Ultimately, inaction over the past six months has been fatal."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--The Cosa click-bait: Gia Coppola on her YouTube culture satire

Gia Coppola 's `` Mainstream '' is a satire on YouTubers and the often toxic culture of social media influencers Her grandfather Francis Ford Coppola made `` The Godfather '' , so it 's hardly surprisingly that family plays an outsized role in Gia Coppola 's life and her blossoming career as a director .
As the niece of Sofia Coppola -- who directed `` Virgin Suicides '' and `` Lost in Translation '' -- Gia Coppola spent a chunk of her childhood on her aunt 's sets .
And it clearly rubbed off .
Screenings for `` Mainstream '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often toxic culture of social media influencers , booked out at the Venice film festival before you could say click to subscribe .
And for once the festival 's hottest ticket did not disappoint , with a mesmerising performance by British actor Andrew Garfield as a charismatic drifter who becomes an online sensation .
Made from the gut , and using YouTubers ' own graphic tricks and emojis -- the female lead vomits broken hearts when her boyfriend cheats on her -- Coppola said she felt compelled to recount what she was witnessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mine was representing influencers and I just could n't get it .
She said there are so mainstream but mainstream does n't get it yet , '' Coppola told AFP .
`` These people have millions of followers and a huge impact .
I was a curious about the power these people can hold .
`` All of these questions about how we are victim to validation through likes and what constitutes popularity were floating in my head '' as she wrote the script , she added .
`` Do we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be selfish and bullying ? ''
she asked .
`` There was a lot of feeling alien in the current cultural climate , and where do you fit on social media , '' the 33-year-old said .
Garfield is no relation to Coppola but it sometimes feels like everyone else involved in the movie is somehow related in one way or another to Hollywood royalty .
Maya Hawke , the eldest child of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke , is the film 's heart , a struggling Generation Z bartender trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she chances on Garfield , the star of Netflix 's `` Stranger Things '' gets a helping hand from an online svengali played by Jason Schwartzman ( Coppola 's cousin , and son of `` The Goldfather '' and `` Rocky '' stalwart Talia Shire , nee Coppola ) .
`` It 's fun to work with your family , especially Jason , '' Coppola told AFP , who roped in a bunch of the Kilmer clan for her well-observed 2013 debut film , `` Palo Alto '' .
`` We are making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little family out of it , '' added the director , whose friend Autumn Durald was behind the camera for both movies .
Like `` Palo Alto '' , set in the California town that gave the world some of Silicon Valley 's biggest names , `` Mainstream '' could be taken a parable of what happens when a good girl meets a bad boy .
`` It is an old story for women , but it 's true .
When you love someone and you want to be loved , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your instincts to put your energy into someone .
When that person is dangerous , that gets scary , '' she said .
Coppola insisted this was not drawn from her own life .
`` I really do n't have experience of dangerous charismatic men , but I like those sort of characters on film .
`` 'Palo Alto ' felt like a coming of age story of your teens and this to me feels a coming of age story of your 20s , '' she added .
`` I am not making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is where I was at in my life .
I can only work with things that I 'm connected to . ''

Venice (AFP) –
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Her grandfather Francis Ford Coppola made "The Godfather", so it's hardly surprisingly that family plays an outsized role in Gia Coppola's life and her blossoming career as a director.
As the niece of Sofia Coppola -- who directed "Virgin Suicides" and "Lost in Translation" -- Gia Coppola spent a chunk of her childhood on her aunt's sets.
And it clearly rubbed off.
Screenings for "Mainstream", her satire on YouTubers and the often toxic culture of social media influencers, booked out at the Venice film festival before you could say click to subscribe.
And for once the festival's hottest ticket did not disappoint, with a mesmerising performance by British actor Andrew Garfield as a charismatic drifter who becomes an online sensation.
- 'Victim to validation' -
Made from the gut, and using YouTubers' own graphic tricks and emojis -- the female lead vomits broken hearts when her boyfriend cheats on her -- Coppola said she felt compelled to recount what she was witnessing around her.
"A friend of mine was representing influencers and I just couldn't get it. She said there are so mainstream but mainstream doesn't get it yet," Coppola told AFP.
"These people have millions of followers and a huge impact. I was a curious about the power these people can hold.
"All of these questions about how we are victim to validation through likes and what constitutes popularity were floating in my head" as she wrote the script, she added.
"Do we want to come together or are we just going to be selfish and bullying?" she asked.
"There was a lot of feeling alien in the current cultural climate, and where do you fit on social media," the 33-year-old said.
- 'Fun to work with family' -
Garfield is no relation to Coppola but it sometimes feels like everyone else involved in the movie is somehow related in one way or another to Hollywood royalty.
Maya Hawke, the eldest child of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, is the film's heart, a struggling Generation Z bartender trying to break through as a YouTuber.
After she chances on Garfield, the star of Netflix's "Stranger Things" gets a helping hand from an online svengali played by Jason Schwartzman (Coppola's cousin, and son of "The Goldfather" and "Rocky" stalwart Talia Shire, nee Coppola).
Coppola's mother, Jacqui de la Fontaine, did the costume design.
"It's fun to work with your family, especially Jason," Coppola told AFP, who roped in a bunch of the Kilmer clan for her well-observed 2013 debut film, "Palo Alto".
"We are making small films and we want to make a little family out of it," added the director, whose friend Autumn Durald was behind the camera for both movies.
Like "Palo Alto", set in the California town that gave the world some of Silicon Valley's biggest names, "Mainstream" could be taken a parable of what happens when a good girl meets a bad boy.
"It is an old story for women, but it's true. When you love someone and you want to be loved, and you let go of your morals and your instincts to put your energy into someone. When that person is dangerous, that gets scary," she said.
Coppola insisted this was not drawn from her own life. "I really don't have experience of dangerous charismatic men, but I like those sort of characters on film.
"'Palo Alto' felt like a coming of age story of your teens and this to me feels a coming of age story of your 20s," she added.
"I am not making movies for movies' sake. It is where I was at in my life. I can only work with things that I'm connected to."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Fear and loathing in Hollywood at streamers' stranglehold

With many cinemas still closed and studios wary of releasing movies with social distancing in force , streaming giants have virtually had the film-going public to themselves Hollywood stars and top directors are getting increasingly anxious about the hold streaming giants Netflix and Amazon are exerting over cinema .
Several expressed unease at the dominance streamers established during the pandemic at the Venice film festival -- the first major industry gathering since the coronavirus struck .
With many cinemas still closed and studios wary of releasing movies with social distancing in force , the two big US giants have virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett , who is chairing the jury at Venice , said cinema needed support and warned it could be tricky `` moving from a monoculture of streaming over the last six months to how we open cinemas .
`` I think it will be a very important conversation to have .
It 's a global issue , '' said the actress , who admitted spending lockdown watching animated movies by the Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki with her family .
Legendary Spanish director Pedro Almodovar , who has argued for the regulation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim future where towns and cities could lose their cultural hearts , with cinemas and theatres going dark .
`` The platforms have had an essential role in this period , but it 's nevertheless also negative and reason for concern , '' he told reporters .
He pleaded for a return to shared experience , saying cinemas and theatres were the antidote to the `` forced reclusion and imprisonment '' .
`` The Greeks talk of catharsis , so you find yourself crying or rejoicing with other people you do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives as humans , '' Almodovar said .
`` If a film of mine is shown in a cinema I can hear the audience breathe , it gives me the pulse of to what extent my film excites people .
`` If I put my film on a platform like Netflix , I lose that contact with the spectator , '' Almodovar said .
Even those who have embraced the streamers , like Venice 's departing director Alberto Barbera -- who premiered three Netflix films including `` Marriage Story '' last year -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tired of seeing films in streaming , '' he told AFP .
`` Watching them online helped us get through the lockdown , but we can not lose the experiences of seeing them on a big screen , '' he said .
But `` one of the consequences of confinement is that the streamers now have enormous sway , '' Barbera added .
Rising American director Gia Coppola , whose sharp new satire on online culture , `` Mainstream '' , is showing at Venice , told AFP that lockdowns may have only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always seemed like they were going to become the new studios , and take over , '' said the maker of `` Palo Alto '' , the grand-daughter of Francis Ford Coppola and niece of Sofia Coppola .
`` But it is cool that they also support some really talented independent film-makers '' , with Netflix backing `` Roma '' -- which won the top prize in Venice in 2018 for the Mexican Alfonso Cuaron .
The world 's biggest festival has had an often tetchy relationship with Netflix , barring it from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in French cinemas first .
Fremaux insisted that streaming was merely `` a new form of television '' .
`` We will see in 120 years if we will be celebrating the 125th anniversary of the platforms , '' he said , pointing out that cinema had resisted many challenges for more than a century .
`` We have to stop declaring the end of cinema every time there is a change , '' Fremaux said .
And cult French director Quentin Dupieux of `` Rubber '' fame , whose black comedy `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a typically wacky take .
`` I had no desire to watch Netflix ( during the lockdown ) because funnier things were happening outside , '' he told AFP .
And returning to the cinema held no fears for him .
`` As soon as the lights when down I forgot absolutely that there were infected people next to me and that they were eating popcorn and spitting it at me ... ''

Venice (AFP) –
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Hollywood stars and top directors are getting increasingly anxious about the hold streaming giants Netflix and Amazon are exerting over cinema.
Several expressed unease at the dominance streamers established during the pandemic at the Venice film festival -- the first major industry gathering since the coronavirus struck.
With many cinemas still closed and studios wary of releasing movies with social distancing in force, the two big US giants have virtually had the film-going public to themselves.
Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, who is chairing the jury at Venice, said cinema needed support and warned it could be tricky "moving from a monoculture of streaming over the last six months to how we open cinemas.
"I think it will be a very important conversation to have. It's a global issue," said the actress, who admitted spending lockdown watching animated movies by the Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki with her family.
Legendary Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, who has argued for the regulation of all-powerful tech firms, painted a grim future where towns and cities could lose their cultural hearts, with cinemas and theatres going dark.
"The platforms have had an essential role in this period, but it's nevertheless also negative and reason for concern," he told reporters.
- 'Tired of streaming' -
He pleaded for a return to shared experience, saying cinemas and theatres were the antidote to the "forced reclusion and imprisonment".
"The Greeks talk of catharsis, so you find yourself crying or rejoicing with other people you don't know, and it's essential in our lives as humans," Almodovar said.
"If a film of mine is shown in a cinema I can hear the audience breathe, it gives me the pulse of to what extent my film excites people.
"If I put my film on a platform like Netflix, I lose that contact with the spectator," Almodovar said.
Even those who have embraced the streamers, like Venice's departing director Alberto Barbera -- who premiered three Netflix films including "Marriage Story" last year -- now have reservations.
"We are tired of seeing films in streaming," he told AFP.
"Watching them online helped us get through the lockdown, but we cannot lose the experiences of seeing them on a big screen," he said.
But "one of the consequences of confinement is that the streamers now have enormous sway," Barbera added.
Rising American director Gia Coppola, whose sharp new satire on online culture, "Mainstream", is showing at Venice, told AFP that lockdowns may have only hastened the inevitable.
- 'New form of TV' -
"Those platforms always seemed like they were going to become the new studios, and take over," said the maker of "Palo Alto", the grand-daughter of Francis Ford Coppola and niece of Sofia Coppola.
"But it is cool that they also support some really talented independent film-makers", with Netflix backing "Roma" -- which won the top prize in Venice in 2018 for the Mexican Alfonso Cuaron.
Cannes film festival chief Thierry Fremaux took the long view.
The world's biggest festival has had an often tetchy relationship with Netflix, barring it from its competition unless it showed its films in French cinemas first.
Fremaux insisted that streaming was merely "a new form of television".
"We will see in 120 years if we will be celebrating the 125th anniversary of the platforms," he said, pointing out that cinema had resisted many challenges for more than a century.
"We have to stop declaring the end of cinema every time there is a change," Fremaux said.
And cult French director Quentin Dupieux of "Rubber" fame, whose black comedy "Mandibules" is bowing at Venice, had a typically wacky take.
"I had no desire to watch Netflix (during the lockdown) because funnier things were happening outside," he told AFP.
And returning to the cinema held no fears for him.
"As soon as the lights when down I forgot absolutely that there were infected people next to me and that they were eating popcorn and spitting it at me..."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--'The worst of days' says Binotto as Ferrari lick their wounds

Humiliated on home soil , Ferrari departed the Italian Grand Prix licking their wounds but looking ahead to next weekend 's party to celebrate a team and Formula One landmark .
Team chief Mattia Binotto described Ferrari 's double-retirement in Sunday 's Italian Grand Prix -- Sebastian Vettel withdrew and Charles Leclerc crashed -- as `` the worst of days . ''
`` It 's the worst possible conclusion to a difficult weekend , '' said Binotto .
`` Not finishing the race it 's even worse and not performing , especially with Seb , which was a reliability issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's time to look forward . ''
The team must quickly switch their attention to next weekend 's Tuscany Grand Prix at Mugello , an event intended to celebrate the `` scarlet scuderia 's '' 1,000th Formula One race and light up the coronavirus-affected season with some joy .
In a wildly-eventful spectacle at Monza , punctuated by dramas and crowned with a first victory for Pierre Gasly , Ferrari suffered another pointless outing .
Vettel , who is leaving the team after this season , dropped out with brake problems after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from pole at Monza in 2019 , crashed at high speed at the Parabolica .
`` It is very difficult for the whole team at the moment , for sure , but we have to try as hard as we can to have a worthy ending to the season , '' said four-time world champion Vettel .
`` We have to be focused on that .
We have to deal with what we have .
Life is like this ... . ''
At the moment , professionally , there are not many good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positives .
`` We can not expect much for next weekend , '' said the German .
`` You need to be realistic , but hopefully we can have a smooth weekend without trouble . ''
With only days to recover and decamp to Mugello , 300 kilometres ( 186 miles ) to the south , for their celebration event , Sunday 's outcome was a tough pill to swallow for Ferrari and their fans .
`` I think all these problems for us are lessons learned and we must make sure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Binotto said .
`` Hopefully , the next one can be a bit better , but at the end I think the performance of the current car is certainly not what we would like .
`` I think it 's more important for us to make sure that we are looking ahead and progressing with the car development ... . ''
Ferrari also finished outside the points in the previous race in Belgium and the second successive double flop dropped them to sixth in the constructors ' championship .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we saw that in qualifying , but failing to finish with either of our cars really hurts , '' added Binotto .
`` It 's a very hard season , but it 's by facing up to difficulties like these that you get stronger .
We must look ahead and there are useful lessons for all of us to take away from this to build for the future . ''

Monza (Italy) (AFP) –
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Humiliated on home soil, Ferrari departed the Italian Grand Prix licking their wounds but looking ahead to next weekend's party to celebrate a team and Formula One landmark.
Team chief Mattia Binotto described Ferrari's double-retirement in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix -- Sebastian Vettel withdrew and Charles Leclerc crashed -- as "the worst of days."
"It's the worst possible conclusion to a difficult weekend," said Binotto. "Not finishing the race it's even worse and not performing, especially with Seb, which was a reliability issue on the car, so I think it's time to look forward."
The team must quickly switch their attention to next weekend's Tuscany Grand Prix at Mugello, an event intended to celebrate the "scarlet scuderia's" 1,000th Formula One race and light up the coronavirus-affected season with some joy.
In a wildly-eventful spectacle at Monza, punctuated by dramas and crowned with a first victory for Pierre Gasly, Ferrari suffered another pointless outing.
- 'Not many good things' -
Vettel, who is leaving the team after this season, dropped out with brake problems after six laps. Leclerc, who won from pole at Monza in 2019, crashed at high speed at the Parabolica.
"It is very difficult for the whole team at the moment, for sure, but we have to try as hard as we can to have a worthy ending to the season," said four-time world champion Vettel.
"We have to be focused on that. We have to deal with what we have. Life is like this....
"At the moment, professionally, there are not many good things, but there are always some positives.
"We cannot expect much for next weekend," said the German. "You need to be realistic, but hopefully we can have a smooth weekend without trouble."
With only days to recover and decamp to Mugello, 300 kilometres (186 miles) to the south, for their celebration event, Sunday's outcome was a tough pill to swallow for Ferrari and their fans.
"I think all these problems for us are lessons learned and we must make sure in the future that we are doing better," Binotto said.
"Hopefully, the next one can be a bit better, but at the end I think the performance of the current car is certainly not what we would like.
"I think it's more important for us to make sure that we are looking ahead and progressing with the car development...."
Ferrari also finished outside the points in the previous race in Belgium and the second successive double flop dropped them to sixth in the constructors' championship.
"We knew it would be a struggle and we saw that in qualifying, but failing to finish with either of our cars really hurts," added Binotto.
"It's a very hard season, but it's by facing up to difficulties like these that you get stronger. We must look ahead and there are useful lessons for all of us to take away from this to build for the future."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--UK warned over Brexit deal commitments

UK warned over Brexit deal commitments

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has brushed off fears about 'no-deal ' chaos if Brexit talks fail Britain on Monday faced warnings it risked its international reputation if it reneged on its agreement to leave the European Union , as Brexit trade talks reached a crucial final stage .
The Financial Times reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was planning new legislation that would override parts of the Withdrawal Agreement treaty that Britain and the EU agreed in October last year .
It cited three people close to the plans as saying a bill to be put before parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland customs and state aid .
In response , Downing Street said only it was still `` working hard to resolve outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol '' but was considering `` fall-back options '' .
Under the protocol , Northern Ireland , which will have Britain 's only land border with the EU , will follow some of the bloc 's rules to ensure the frontier remains open .
Eliminating border checks with the Republic of Ireland was a key part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement , which ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the province .
The EU 's chief negotiator , Michel Barnier , promised to quiz his UK opposite number , David Frost , about the plans but added : `` Everything that has been signed must be respected . ''
Ireland 's foreign minister Simon Coveney said : `` This would be a very unwise way to proceed . ''
Legal experts warned the new bill risked the collapse of the latest round of Brexit talks , which resume in London on Tuesday , and undermining Britain 's international standing .
David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that reneging on the treaty was `` the least sensible thing '' that Britain could do as it seeks to negotiate new international trade agreements .
`` Why would any other counter-party now trust UK to abide with commitments ? ''
he wrote on Twitter .
The report came after Johnson said the October 15 European Council meeting was the ultimate deadline for any deal to be in place by January 1 next year .
`` If we ca n't agree by then , then I do not see that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we should both accept that and move on , '' he said .
His comments and the FT report did little to raise hopes of a breakthrough this week , while the prospect of a `` no-deal '' forced the pound down against the dollar and the euro .
Brexit trade talks have been deadlocked over key issues such as the extent of EU access to UK fishing waters , state aid and fair competition rules .
Each side accuses the other of intransigence , and Johnson , despite pledging to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve agreement , did little to indicate Britain would give ground .
`` We can not and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get ( a deal ) , '' he said .
Brussels has already indicated that mid-October was the latest a deal could be struck , given the need for translation and ratification by the European Parliament .
But if the deadline passes , Johnson said Britain would have an `` Australia-style '' deal with the EU or one similar to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The British government had said it wanted a `` zero tariff , zero quota '' regime .
Australia trades with the EU under World Trade Organization rules and tariffs .
`` As we have said right from the start , that would be a good outcome for the UK , '' said Johnson .
Johnson 's hardball tactics will likely compound suspicions from British pro-EU `` remainers '' that his Conservative government envisaged a `` no-deal '' scenario all along .
`` Brexiteers '' had promised that securing a deal would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 years of ties with Europe would be lengthy and even impossible .
Britain formally left the 27-member bloc on January 31 -- nearly four years after a divisive referendum that crippled the country politically and saw two prime ministers resign .
Johnson promised Britain 's borders and ports will be ready for when the so-called transition period comes to an end on December 31 .
Britain remains bound by EU rules while it tries to thrash out new terms of its relationship .

London (AFP) –
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Britain on Monday faced warnings it risked its international reputation if it reneged on its agreement to leave the European Union, as Brexit trade talks reached a crucial final stage.
The Financial Times reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was planning new legislation that would override parts of the Withdrawal Agreement treaty that Britain and the EU agreed in October last year.
It cited three people close to the plans as saying a bill to be put before parliament this week would undermine agreements relating to Northern Ireland customs and state aid.
In response, Downing Street said only it was still "working hard to resolve outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol" but was considering "fall-back options".
Under the protocol, Northern Ireland, which will have Britain's only land border with the EU, will follow some of the bloc's rules to ensure the frontier remains open.
Eliminating border checks with the Republic of Ireland was a key part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of violence over British rule in the province.
The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, promised to quiz his UK opposite number, David Frost, about the plans but added: "Everything that has been signed must be respected."
Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney said: "This would be a very unwise way to proceed."
Legal experts warned the new bill risked the collapse of the latest round of Brexit talks, which resume in London on Tuesday, and undermining Britain's international standing.
David Allen Green, a specialist on trade, said that reneging on the treaty was "the least sensible thing" that Britain could do as it seeks to negotiate new international trade agreements.
"Why would any other counter-party now trust UK to abide with commitments?" he wrote on Twitter.
- No compromise? -
The report came after Johnson said the October 15 European Council meeting was the ultimate deadline for any deal to be in place by January 1 next year.
"If we can't agree by then, then I do not see that there will be a free-trade agreement between us, and we should both accept that and move on," he said.
His comments and the FT report did little to raise hopes of a breakthrough this week, while the prospect of a "no-deal" forced the pound down against the dollar and the euro.
Brexit trade talks have been deadlocked over key issues such as the extent of EU access to UK fishing waters, state aid and fair competition rules.
Each side accuses the other of intransigence, and Johnson, despite pledging to "work hard" this month to achieve agreement, did little to indicate Britain would give ground.
"We cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get (a deal)," he said.
Brussels has already indicated that mid-October was the latest a deal could be struck, given the need for translation and ratification by the European Parliament.
But if the deadline passes, Johnson said Britain would have an "Australia-style" deal with the EU or one similar to that agreed with Canada and other countries.
The British government had said it wanted a "zero tariff, zero quota" regime. Australia trades with the EU under World Trade Organization rules and tariffs.
"As we have said right from the start, that would be a good outcome for the UK," said Johnson.
- No-deal -
Johnson's hardball tactics will likely compound suspicions from British pro-EU "remainers" that his Conservative government envisaged a "no-deal" scenario all along.
"Brexiteers" had promised that securing a deal would be straightforward and rejected criticism that unravelling nearly 50 years of ties with Europe would be lengthy and even impossible.
Britain formally left the 27-member bloc on January 31 -- nearly four years after a divisive referendum that crippled the country politically and saw two prime ministers resign.
Johnson promised Britain's borders and ports will be ready for when the so-called transition period comes to an end on December 31.
Britain remains bound by EU rules while it tries to thrash out new terms of its relationship.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Senior Belarusian opposition figure reportedly detained

Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova sits on the Coordination Council that is calling for a peaceful transfer of power amid weeks of post-election protests Unidentified men in black on Monday morning grabbed Maria Kolesnikova , a leading Belarusian opposition figure , and pushed her into a minibus , her campaign team reported , citing witnesses .
Kolesnikova was one of the campaign partners of opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who claimed victory against long-ruling President Alexander Lukashenko in disputed polls on August 9 .
She sits on the Coordination Council that is calling for a peaceful transfer of power amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seized Kolesnikova in central Minsk and drove her away in a minibus marked `` Communications , '' witnesses told the headquarters of the campaign team she heads , which also reported that her phone was switched off .
There was no immediate comment from Minsk police .
A witness named as Anastasia told the Tut.by news website that she saw men in masks push Kolesnikova into a minibus and take her cell phone at around 10:00 am ( 0700 GMT ) on Monday .
Belarusian authorities have already detained several members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a probe into an alleged attempt to seize power .
Kolesnikova , 38 , is the only one of the trio of women who fronted Tikhanovskaya 's campaign to remain in Belarus , as the growing opposition movement holds huge demonstrations despite an intimidating show of force from Lukashenko , who insists on his legitimacy and has called on Russia for help .
Tikhanovskaya has taken shelter in neighbouring Lithuania and her other campaign partner , Veronika Tsepkalo , is now in Ukraine .
Kolesnikova , a trained flautist and music teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign of another opposition politician , ex-banker Viktor Babaryko , who attempted to stand for president against Lukashenko but was jailed and barred from running .
When Tikhanovskaya , an English teacher and translator with no political experience was unexpectedly allowed to run for president , Kolesnikova and Tsepkalo backed her and spoke with her at rallies .
The women came up with signature gestures : for Tikhanovskaya a raised fist , for Kolesnikova a heart formed with her fingers and for Tsepkalo a victory sign .
Kolesnikova and other members of Babaryko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of a new opposition party called Together .

Minsk (AFP) –
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Unidentified men in black on Monday morning grabbed Maria Kolesnikova, a leading Belarusian opposition figure, and pushed her into a minibus, her campaign team reported, citing witnesses.
Kolesnikova was one of the campaign partners of opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claimed victory against long-ruling President Alexander Lukashenko in disputed polls on August 9.
She sits on the Coordination Council that is calling for a peaceful transfer of power amid weeks of post-election demonstrations.
Unidentified men seized Kolesnikova in central Minsk and drove her away in a minibus marked "Communications," witnesses told the headquarters of the campaign team she heads, which also reported that her phone was switched off.
There was no immediate comment from Minsk police.
A witness named as Anastasia told the Tut.by news website that she saw men in masks push Kolesnikova into a minibus and take her cell phone at around 10:00 am (0700 GMT) on Monday.
Belarusian authorities have already detained several members of the Coordination Council and questioned others including Kolesnikova in a probe into an alleged attempt to seize power.
Kolesnikova, 38, is the only one of the trio of women who fronted Tikhanovskaya's campaign to remain in Belarus, as the growing opposition movement holds huge demonstrations despite an intimidating show of force from Lukashenko, who insists on his legitimacy and has called on Russia for help.
Tikhanovskaya has taken shelter in neighbouring Lithuania and her other campaign partner, Veronika Tsepkalo, is now in Ukraine.
Kolesnikova, a trained flautist and music teacher, got into politics through running the campaign of another opposition politician, ex-banker Viktor Babaryko, who attempted to stand for president against Lukashenko but was jailed and barred from running.
When Tikhanovskaya, an English teacher and translator with no political experience was unexpectedly allowed to run for president, Kolesnikova and Tsepkalo backed her and spoke with her at rallies.
The women came up with signature gestures: for Tikhanovskaya a raised fist, for Kolesnikova a heart formed with her fingers and for Tsepkalo a victory sign.
Kolesnikova and other members of Babaryko's campaign team last month announced the creation of a new opposition party called Together.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Man City's Mahrez and Laporte test positive for coronavirus

Manchester City players Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have tested positive for coronavirus , the Premier League club announced on @ @ @ @ @ a statement that both players were self-isolating in accordance with Premier League and government rules @ @ @ @ @ symptoms of the virus , '' the statement said .
`` Everyone at the Club @ @ @ @ @ speedy recovery ahead of their return to training and the new season . ''
Manchester @ @ @ @ @ match is against Wolves on September 21 .

London (AFP) –
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Manchester City players Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have tested positive for coronavirus, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
City said in a statement that both players were self-isolating in accordance with Premier League and government rules.
"Neither is displaying symptoms of the virus," the statement said.
"Everyone at the Club wishes Riyad and Aymeric a speedy recovery ahead of their return to training and the new season."
Manchester City's first Premier League match is against Wolves on September 21.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--China shows off Covid-19 vaccines for first time

China has put its homegrown coronavirus vaccines on proud display for the first time China has put its homegrown coronavirus vaccines on display for the first time , as the country where the contagion was discovered looks to shape the narrative surrounding the pandemic .
High hopes hang on the small vials of liquid on show at a Beijing trade fair this week -- vaccine candidates produced by Chinese companies Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm .
Neither has hit the market yet but the makers hope they will be approved after all-important phase 3 trials as early as year-end .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already `` completed the construction of a vaccine factory '' able to produce 300 million doses a year .
On Monday , people at the trade fair crowded around booths showing the potential game-changing vaccines .
China , which is facing a storm of foreign criticism over its early handling of the pandemic , has been trying to repurpose the story of Covid-19 .
State media and officials are now emphasising the revival of Wuhan , the central Chinese city where the deadly pathogen surfaced , as a success story in the fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touting progress on domestic vaccines as a sign of Chinese leadership and resilience in the face of an unprecedented health threat that has pummelled the global economy .
In May , President Xi Jinping pledged to make any potential vaccine developed by China a `` global public good '' .
The potential vaccines on display are among nearly 10 worldwide to enter phase 3 trials , typically the last step ahead of regulatory approval , as countries race to stub out the virus and reboot battered economies .
Sinopharm said it anticipates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one and three years -- although the final result will only be known after the trials .
China 's nationalistic tabloid Global Times reported last month that `` the price of the vaccines will not be high '' .
Every two doses should cost below 1,000 yuan ( $ 146 ) , the report said , citing Sinopharm 's chairman , who told media he has already been injected with one of the candidate vaccines .
China 's official Xinhua news agency reported Monday that another vaccine candidate , developed by Chinese military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
As of last month , at least 5.7 billion doses of the vaccines under development around the world had been pre-ordered .
But the World Health Organization has warned that widespread immunisation against Covid-19 may not be on the cards until the middle of next year .

Beijing (AFP) –
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China has put its homegrown coronavirus vaccines on display for the first time, as the country where the contagion was discovered looks to shape the narrative surrounding the pandemic.
High hopes hang on the small vials of liquid on show at a Beijing trade fair this week -- vaccine candidates produced by Chinese companies Sinovac Biotech and Sinopharm.
Neither has hit the market yet but the makers hope they will be approved after all-important phase 3 trials as early as year-end.
A Sinovac representative told AFP his firm has already "completed the construction of a vaccine factory" able to produce 300 million doses a year.
On Monday, people at the trade fair crowded around booths showing the potential game-changing vaccines.
China, which is facing a storm of foreign criticism over its early handling of the pandemic, has been trying to repurpose the story of Covid-19.
State media and officials are now emphasising the revival of Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the deadly pathogen surfaced, as a success story in the fight against the virus.
They are also touting progress on domestic vaccines as a sign of Chinese leadership and resilience in the face of an unprecedented health threat that has pummelled the global economy.
In May, President Xi Jinping pledged to make any potential vaccine developed by China a "global public good".
The potential vaccines on display are among nearly 10 worldwide to enter phase 3 trials, typically the last step ahead of regulatory approval, as countries race to stub out the virus and reboot battered economies.
Sinopharm said it anticipates the antibodies from its jab to last between one and three years -- although the final result will only be known after the trials.
China's nationalistic tabloid Global Times reported last month that "the price of the vaccines will not be high".
Every two doses should cost below 1,000 yuan ($146), the report said, citing Sinopharm's chairman, who told media he has already been injected with one of the candidate vaccines.
China's official Xinhua news agency reported Monday that another vaccine candidate, developed by Chinese military scientists, can deal with mutations in the coronavirus.
As of last month, at least 5.7 billion doses of the vaccines under development around the world had been pre-ordered.
But the World Health Organization has warned that widespread immunisation against Covid-19 may not be on the cards until the middle of next year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--US fund leads takeover of struggliung Lige 2 Caen

Caen , in green shirts , have been struggling in the second tier of French football US investment fund Oaktree Capital and French TV and video producer Pierre-Antoine Capton said on Monday they had taken over struggling Ligue 2 club Caen .
A press release by the new owners said the takeover `` marks a turning point in the history of Stade Malherbe Caen and forges strong sporting ambitions for the 2020/2021 season '' .
The statement said Oaktree , a Los Angeles-based fund which specialises in distressed debt , and Capton , founder of the Paris-based audiovisual production company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Caen without specifying how they had divided the ownership .
French media reported that Oaktree would own 80 percent of the club .
Capton , who is from Normandy where Caen are based , was a member of previous ownership the `` Club of 10 '' , a group of 12 local business people .
He becomes chairman of the board .
The club was relegated from Ligue 1 in 2019 and finished 13th in Ligue 2 in the curtailed 2019/20 season .
It has been struggling financially and faces a hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the DNCG , in mid-September .
Caen , which gave France and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante his Ligue 1 debut , had already announced the hiring of Olivier Pickeu , who built Angers into a Ligue 1 club in 14 years as sports director , as club president .
Caen becomes the 11th French football league club under foreign ownership after Paris Saint-Germain , Marseille , Bordeaux , Lille , Monaco and Nice in Ligue 1 and in Ligue 2 , Auxerre , Sochaux , Toulouse and Troyes , bought by Manchester City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bordeaux and Toulouse , which changed hands in July , are also American-owned .

Rennes (France) (AFP) –
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US investment fund Oaktree Capital and French TV and video producer Pierre-Antoine Capton said on Monday they had taken over struggling Ligue 2 club Caen.
A press release by the new owners said the takeover "marks a turning point in the history of Stade Malherbe Caen and forges strong sporting ambitions for the 2020/2021 season".
The statement said Oaktree, a Los Angeles-based fund which specialises in distressed debt, and Capton, founder of the Paris-based audiovisual production company Third Eye, had acquired 100 percent of Caen without specifying how they had divided the ownership. French media reported that Oaktree would own 80 percent of the club.
Capton, who is from Normandy where Caen are based, was a member of previous ownership the "Club of 10", a group of 12 local business people. He becomes chairman of the board.
The club was relegated from Ligue 1 in 2019 and finished 13th in Ligue 2 in the curtailed 2019/20 season. It has been struggling financially and faces a hearing before French football's financial watchdog, the DNCG, in mid-September.
Caen, which gave France and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante his Ligue 1 debut, had already announced the hiring of Olivier Pickeu, who built Angers into a Ligue 1 club in 14 years as sports director, as club president.
Caen becomes the 11th French football league club under foreign ownership after Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, Monaco and Nice in Ligue 1 and in Ligue 2, Auxerre, Sochaux, Toulouse and Troyes, bought by Manchester City's parent company last week.
Marseille, Bordeaux and Toulouse, which changed hands in July, are also American-owned.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Chinese lawyers struggle to access Hong Kong 'speedboat fugitives'

Police patrol after protesters rallied in Hong Kong to protest against the government 's decision to postpone the legislative council elections Lawyers representing some of the Hong Kongers captured by the Chinese coastguard as they allegedly tried to flee the financial hub by speedboat told AFP Monday that they have been denied access to their clients .
Mainland authorities announced a group of 12 Hong Kongers were intercepted some 70 kilometres ( 43 miles ) southeast of the city on August 23 trying to escape by boat , and were handed over to police in neighbouring Shenzhen .
They have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judicial system .
Neither mainland nor Hong Kong authorities have publicly confirmed who has been arrested .
But Hong Kong media outlets -- including a pro-Beijing newspaper -- have identified some of those on board , while relatives of those detained have also come forward .
Some of those identified as being on the speedboat were facing prosecution for involvement in pro-democracy protests last year .
One man -- Andy Li -- was recently arrested under a new security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong .
Another is a dual national with Hong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , two mainland-based lawyers told AFP they had tried and failed to visit their clients after being instructed by family members .
`` They said I ca n't prove that the instructions I have came from family members even though I have provided my client 's birth certificate issued in Hong Kong , '' said Ren Quanniu , a lawyer who travelled nearly 1,500 km ( over 900 miles ) from central China to Shenzhen .
Ren said he also visited the police officer in charge of the case , who refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for his client Wong Wai-yin to be handed back to Hong Kong jurisdiction .
He said he then filed a complaint with prosecutors in Shenzhen .
Lu Siwei , another lawyer , said he had a similar experience when he tried to visit his client in detention last week .
Ren and Lu both said Shenzhen police were treating the case as an `` illegal border crossing '' , an offence that carries up to a year in jail .
However , Lu said police informed him some of the detained may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` organising others to cross the border illegally '' , which carries sentences up to life in jail .
Ren said other lawyers he knew were representing the arrestees were also being denied access .
The prospect of Hong Kongers getting entangled in authoritarian China 's judicial system was the spark that lit seven months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year .
The movement began in response to plan to allow extraditions to the mainland and soon morphed into calls for democracy and greater police accountability .
Since then authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy movement , prosecuting thousands of protesters as well as leading activists .
In June , Beijing blanketed semi-autonomous Hong Kong in a new security law which toppled the legal firewall between the two .
Under the law , China has claimed jurisdiction for serious national security crimes and empowered its security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time .

Hong Kong (AFP) –
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Lawyers representing some of the Hong Kongers captured by the Chinese coastguard as they allegedly tried to flee the financial hub by speedboat told AFP Monday that they have been denied access to their clients.
Mainland authorities announced a group of 12 Hong Kongers were intercepted some 70 kilometres (43 miles) southeast of the city on August 23 trying to escape by boat, and were handed over to police in neighbouring Shenzhen.
They have since disappeared into authoritarian China's opaque judicial system.
Neither mainland nor Hong Kong authorities have publicly confirmed who has been arrested.
But Hong Kong media outlets -- including a pro-Beijing newspaper -- have identified some of those on board, while relatives of those detained have also come forward.
Some of those identified as being on the speedboat were facing prosecution for involvement in pro-democracy protests last year.
One man -- Andy Li -- was recently arrested under a new security law Beijing imposed on Hong Kong.
Another is a dual national with Hong Kong and Portuguese citizenship.
On Monday, two mainland-based lawyers told AFP they had tried and failed to visit their clients after being instructed by family members.
"They said I can't prove that the instructions I have came from family members even though I have provided my client's birth certificate issued in Hong Kong," said Ren Quanniu, a lawyer who travelled nearly 1,500 km (over 900 miles) from central China to Shenzhen.
Ren said he also visited the police officer in charge of the case, who refused to receive legal documents -- including a written request for his client Wong Wai-yin to be handed back to Hong Kong jurisdiction.
He said he then filed a complaint with prosecutors in Shenzhen.
Lu Siwei, another lawyer, said he had a similar experience when he tried to visit his client in detention last week.
Ren and Lu both said Shenzhen police were treating the case as an "illegal border crossing", an offence that carries up to a year in jail.
However, Lu said police informed him some of the detained may also face the more serious charges of "organising others to cross the border illegally", which carries sentences up to life in jail.
Ren said other lawyers he knew were representing the arrestees were also being denied access.
The prospect of Hong Kongers getting entangled in authoritarian China's judicial system was the spark that lit seven months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests last year.
The movement began in response to plan to allow extraditions to the mainland and soon morphed into calls for democracy and greater police accountability.
Since then authorities have cracked down on the city's democracy movement, prosecuting thousands of protesters as well as leading activists.
In June, Beijing blanketed semi-autonomous Hong Kong in a new security law which toppled the legal firewall between the two.
Under the law, China has claimed jurisdiction for serious national security crimes and empowered its security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-08--Ecuador ratifies sentence against ex-president Correa, blocking vice presidential bid

FILE PHOTO : Ecuador 's former president Rafael Correa speaks during an interview with Reuters in Brussels , Belgium , October 8 , 2019 .
An Ecuadorian court on Monday upheld an eight-year prison sentence against former President Rafael Correa for breaking campaign finance laws , blocking him from participating as a vice presidential candidate in the 2021 election .
Correa , who was in power for a decade until 2017 and currently lives in Belgium , announced last month his candidacy for the vice presidency as part of a coalition to challenge President Lenin Moreno , a Correa protege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had filed the appeal , the last one allowed by Ecuadorian law , before the National Court of Justice to annul the ruling that sentenced him to prison and took away his citizenship rights .
The three-judge panel denied the request by Correa , 15 other officials from his government and businessmen linked to the case .
`` The sentence was ratified in all its parts , requiring compliance with the penalties imposed in the appeal hearing , which are eight years in prison ... and comprehensive reparations to the state for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor 's office wrote via Twitter .
Correa , 57 , denies the accusations of financing campaigns with bribes between 2012 and 2016 and has called the case an example of political persecution by Moreno , who was elected in 2017 .
`` In record time they draw a final sentence to disqualify me as a candidate , '' Correa wrote on Twitter .
`` Remember : the only thing they condemn us to is to win . ''
The former president also has a pending arrest warrant for the alleged kidnapping of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the polls on Feb. 7 , 2021 , to elect a president and vice president and 137 assembly members .

An Ecuadorian court on Monday upheld an eight-year prison sentence against former President Rafael Correa for breaking campaign finance laws, blocking him from participating as a vice presidential candidate in the 2021 election.
Ecuador's former president Rafael Correa speaks during an interview with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium, on October 8, 2019.
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Correa, who was in power for a decade until 2017 and currently lives in Belgium, announced last month his candidacy for the vice presidency as part of a coalition to challenge President Lenin Moreno, a Correa protege who later fell out with him.
He had filed the appeal, the last one allowed by Ecuadorian law, before the National Court of Justice to annul the ruling that sentenced him to prison and took away his citizenship rights.
The three-judge panel denied the request by Correa, 15 other officials from his government and businessmen linked to the case.
"The sentence was ratified in all its parts, requiring compliance with the penalties imposed in the appeal hearing, which are eight years in prison ... and comprehensive reparations to the state for $14.7 million," the Ecuadorean prosecutor's office wrote via Twitter.
Correa, 57, denies the accusations of financing campaigns with bribes between 2012 and 2016 and has called the case an example of political persecution by Moreno, who was elected in 2017.
"In record time they draw a final sentence to disqualify me as a candidate," Correa wrote on Twitter. "Remember: the only thing they condemn us to is to win."
The former president also has a pending arrest warrant for the alleged kidnapping of a political opponent.
Ecuadoreans will go to the polls on Feb. 7, 2021, to elect a president and vice president and 137 assembly members.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-08--All the Young Dudes: Thiem says 'surreal' to be among US Open oldest

Dominic Thiem , 27 , said it felt strange to be one of the oldest players left in the US Open after he stormed his way into the quarter-finals Monday .
The second seed bulldozed 20-year-old rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 7-6 ( 7/4 ) , 6-1 , 6-1 in just 2hr 7min on Arthur Ashe court .
The Austrian won 74 percent of first serve points compared to just 60 percent for Auger-Aliassime .
The Canadian hit 51 unforced errors , with Thiem , the world number three , recording just 24 .
Thiem is the highest-ranked player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified for accidentally hitting a line judge after smashing a ball in frustration during his last-16 match on Sunday .
The 33-year-old 's departure blew the tournament wide open and means it will produce a first-time Grand Slam winner in the men 's competition this year .
With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal absent , Thiem -- who is still searching for his Grand Slam title -- now finds himself in the unusual position of being considered a veteran .
`` I 'm probably one of the oldest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit surreal to me , '' said Thiem , who only turned 27 last week .
In fact , he is the second oldest in the last eight behind Pablo Carreno Busta , who is 29 .
Thiem will play 21-year-old Australian Alex de Minaur , for a spot in the semi-finals .
Also in the quarters are 21-year-old Denis Shapovalov , 22-year-old Andrey Rublev and 23-year-old Borna Coric and Alex Zverev , also 23 .
Tenth seed Rublev advanced on Monday after a four-set win over Italian sixth seed Matteo Berrettini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 6-3 .
The final spot in the round of eight will be taken by either 24-year-old Daniil Medvedev or 22-year-old Frances Tiafoe .
`` It does n't matter if the 'Big Three ' are here or not .
Everybody wants their hands on the trophy , '' said Thiem .

New York (AFP) –
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Dominic Thiem, 27, said it felt strange to be one of the oldest players left in the US Open after he stormed his way into the quarter-finals Monday.
The second seed bulldozed 20-year-old rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-1 in just 2hr 7min on Arthur Ashe court.
The Austrian won 74 percent of first serve points compared to just 60 percent for Auger-Aliassime.
The Canadian hit 51 unforced errors, with Thiem, the world number three, recording just 24.
Thiem is the highest-ranked player left in the tournament after world number one Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified for accidentally hitting a line judge after smashing a ball in frustration during his last-16 match on Sunday.
The 33-year-old's departure blew the tournament wide open and means it will produce a first-time Grand Slam winner in the men's competition this year.
With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal absent, Thiem -- who is still searching for his Grand Slam title -- now finds himself in the unusual position of being considered a veteran.
"I'm probably one of the oldest players in the field, which is a bit surreal to me," said Thiem, who only turned 27 last week.
In fact, he is the second oldest in the last eight behind Pablo Carreno Busta, who is 29.
Thiem will play 21-year-old Australian Alex de Minaur, for a spot in the semi-finals.
De Minaur breezed past unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2, in 2hr 17 min Monday.
Also in the quarters are 21-year-old Denis Shapovalov, 22-year-old Andrey Rublev and 23-year-old Borna Coric and Alex Zverev, also 23.
Tenth seed Rublev advanced on Monday after a four-set win over Italian sixth seed Matteo Berrettini, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
The final spot in the round of eight will be taken by either 24-year-old Daniil Medvedev or 22-year-old Frances Tiafoe.
"It doesn't matter if the 'Big Three' are here or not. Everybody wants their hands on the trophy," said Thiem.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-08--Two Australian journalists rushed out of China over arrest fears

The two journalists had sheltered in Australian diplomatic offices for several days before being allowed to leave China Two Australian journalists were rushed out of China overnight after Chinese police sought to question them , their employers said Tuesday .
The withdrawal of Australian Broadcasting Corporation 's Bill Birtles and Australian Financial Review correspondent Michael Smith came shortly after China detained a high-profile Australian journalist working for its state-run CGTN TV network .
The ABC said Birtles , who was based in Beijing , and Smith , who worked from Shanghai , had sheltered in Australian diplomatic offices for several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
The pair flew out of Shanghai accompanied by Australian diplomats on Monday and arrived in Sydney early Tuesday .
The incident comes amid worsening diplomatic relations between the two governments and followed the detention last month of Cheng Lei , an Australian working as a business news anchor for CGTN .
Chinese authorities have given no reason for Chen 's detention .
The ABC said Australia 's foreign ministry warned Birtles last week that he should leave China but on the day before his scheduled departure Thursday seven police officers visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was banned from leaving .
The police said they wanted to question Birtles over a `` national security case '' , prompting him to take refuge at the embassy .
Birtles was questioned by Chinese police later in the week in the presence of Australian diplomats and the travel ban was lifted , ABC said .
The AFR said Smith was also visited by police the same night in Shanghai and that both men were questioned in relation to the case against Cheng .
`` This incident targeting two journalists , who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is both regrettable and disturbing and is not in the interests of a co-operative relationship between Australia and China , '' the Financial Review 's editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury and editor Paul Bailey said in a statement .
Australia earlier this year warned its citizens they faced the risk of arbitrary detention in China .
Ties began to sour between Australia and China -- its biggest trading partner -- more than two years ago when Australian authorities began to move against what was seen as China 's growing political interference and influence-peddling in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia 's leading role in international calls earlier this year for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic , which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan .
Since then , China has taken steps to curb key Australian imports and encouraged Chinese students and tourists to avoid the country .
Cheng is the second high-profile Australian citizen to be detained in Beijing after writer Yang Hengjun was arrested in January 2019 on suspicion of espionage .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Two Australian journalists were rushed out of China overnight after Chinese police sought to question them, their employers said Tuesday.
The withdrawal of Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Bill Birtles and Australian Financial Review correspondent Michael Smith came shortly after China detained a high-profile Australian journalist working for its state-run CGTN TV network.
The ABC said Birtles, who was based in Beijing, and Smith, who worked from Shanghai, had sheltered in Australian diplomatic offices for several days before being allowed to leave the country.
The pair flew out of Shanghai accompanied by Australian diplomats on Monday and arrived in Sydney early Tuesday.
The incident comes amid worsening diplomatic relations between the two governments and followed the detention last month of Cheng Lei, an Australian working as a business news anchor for CGTN.
Chinese authorities have given no reason for Chen's detention.
The ABC said Australia's foreign ministry warned Birtles last week that he should leave China but on the day before his scheduled departure Thursday seven police officers visited his home at midnight and said he was banned from leaving.
The police said they wanted to question Birtles over a "national security case", prompting him to take refuge at the embassy.
Birtles was questioned by Chinese police later in the week in the presence of Australian diplomats and the travel ban was lifted, ABC said.
The AFR said Smith was also visited by police the same night in Shanghai and that both men were questioned in relation to the case against Cheng.
"This incident targeting two journalists, who were going about their normal reporting duties, is both regrettable and disturbing and is not in the interests of a co-operative relationship between Australia and China," the Financial Review's editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury and editor Paul Bailey said in a statement.
Australia earlier this year warned its citizens they faced the risk of arbitrary detention in China.
Ties began to sour between Australia and China -- its biggest trading partner -- more than two years ago when Australian authorities began to move against what was seen as China's growing political interference and influence-peddling in the country.
Beijing was particularly infuriated by Australia's leading role in international calls earlier this year for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
Since then, China has taken steps to curb key Australian imports and encouraged Chinese students and tourists to avoid the country.
Cheng is the second high-profile Australian citizen to be detained in Beijing after writer Yang Hengjun was arrested in January 2019 on suspicion of espionage.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Wildfires burn through record area in California, as heat wave lingers

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in Alpine , California , U.S. , September 6 , 2020 , in this picture obtained from social media .
Picture taken September 6 , 2020 .
Three large wildfires continued to burn in California as a record-breaking heat wave lingered across large swaths of the western United States on Monday .
The Creek Fire , which has engulfed the Fresno area in central California and caused the emergency evacuation over the weekend of more than 200 people vacationing at a popular reservoir , was still 0 % contained as of Monday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing under `` extreme weather conditions , '' had devoured nearly 79,000 acres ( 32,000 hectares ) of land , while a cause remained under investigation , the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ( CalFire ) said in a statement .
Officials in Madera County issued evacuation orders and urged the county 's 157,000 residents to leave if they felt unsafe .
A hiker who had just embarked on a multi-day trip when the Creek Fire broke out and had to find a way out of the blaze shared the harrowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're safe and we 're out , but wow , we hiked our way out of the # CreekFire yesterday , '' Asha Karim posted on Twitter .
San Francisco-based power provider PG & E Corp warned customers on Monday in 21 counties , mostly in the Sierra Foothills , that their power might be shut off as a safety measure because of the extreme high and dry winds .
A fire in San Bernardino County , southeast of Los Angeles , that officials said was caused by a pyrotechnic device used during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the night and was 7 % contained as of Monday morning .
East of San Diego in Southern California , nearly 400 firefighters battled the Valley Fire , which burned more than 10,000 acres ( 4,050 hectares ) in Cleveland National Forest .
Video shared on social media showed firefighters dousing the flames , the air thick with ash and fire embers .
The blaze was at only 1 % containment as officials issued more evacuation orders on Monday afternoon and announced the deployment of military aircraft to help fight the rapidly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Fresno , Madera , Mariposa , San Bernardino and San Diego counties due to the wildfires , which also prompted the U.S. Forest Service to temporarily close some national forests including the Sierra National Forest , the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest .
The California Independent Systems Operator , which runs most of the state ’ s power grid , again urged consumers to cut back on energy consumption and said it was monitoring wildfires throughout the state threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be above normal statewide for the third consecutive day , driving up electricity demand , primarily from air conditioning use , '' it said in a statement .

Three large wildfires continued to burn in California as a record-breaking heat wave lingered across large swaths of the western United States on Monday.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in Alpine, California, on September 6, 2020, in this picture obtained from social media.
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The Creek Fire, which has engulfed the Fresno area in central California and caused the emergency evacuation over the weekend of more than 200 people vacationing at a popular reservoir, was still 0% contained as of Monday afternoon, fire officials said.
The blaze, growing under "extreme weather conditions," had devoured nearly 79,000 acres (32,000 hectares) of land, while a cause remained under investigation, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) said in a statement.
Officials in Madera County issued evacuation orders and urged the county's 157,000 residents to leave if they felt unsafe.
A hiker who had just embarked on a multi-day trip when the Creek Fire broke out and had to find a way out of the blaze shared the harrowing experience on social media."We're safe and we're out, but wow, we hiked our way out of the #CreekFire yesterday," Asha Karim posted on Twitter.
We're safe and we're out, but wow, we hiked our way out of the #CreekFire yesterday. pic.twitter.com/cA4jt0sO44 — Asha Karim (@ashasquasha) September 7, 2020
San Francisco-based power provider PG&E Corp warned customers on Monday in 21 counties, mostly in the Sierra Foothills, that their power might be shut off as a safety measure because of the extreme high and dry winds.
A fire in San Bernardino County, southeast of Los Angeles, that officials said was caused by a pyrotechnic device used during a gender reveal party, kept burning through the night and was 7% contained as of Monday morning.
East of San Diego in Southern California, nearly 400 firefighters battled the Valley Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres (4,050 hectares)in Cleveland National Forest. Video shared on social media showed firefighters dousing the flames, the air thick with ash and fire embers.
The blaze was at only 1% containment as officials issued more evacuation orders on Monday afternoon and announced the deployment of military aircraft to help fight the rapidly spreading flames.
Late on Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Bernardino and San Diego counties due to the wildfires, which also prompted the U.S. Forest Service to temporarily close some national forests including the Sierra National Forest, the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest.
The California Independent Systems Operator, which runs most of the state’s power grid, again urged consumers to cut back on energy consumption and said it was monitoring wildfires throughout the state threatening power lines.
"Temperatures are expected to be above normal statewide for the third consecutive day, driving up electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use," it said in a statement.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-07--Serena fights way into US Open quarters as Thiem sails through

Serena Williams battled into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday as second seed Dominic Thiem sailed through to the last eight of the men 's draw at Flushing Meadows .
Williams , chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title , had to summon up every last ounce of strength to depose 15th seed Maria Sakkari in three , hard-fought sets .
The 38-year-old American needed almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek counterpart 6-3 , 6-7 ( 6/8 ) , 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York .
`` She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a really intense match , '' said Williams , who had been dumped out of a US Open tuneup tournament by the same opponent last month .
`` I felt like she almost played better today .
I was a little fatigued last time and had some cramps .
Just felt like I was able to compete longer , '' Williams added .
There was little separating the players throughout the energy-sapping contest , with Williams notching 107 total points to Sakkari 's 99 .
Williams won 72 percent of points off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent .
Sakkari also outdid Williams on aces , by 13 to 12 .
Williams rallied from two games down in the deciding set , pumping herself up with loud screams that echoed around the spectator-free arena as she broke Sakkari twice to clinch the last-eight spot .
`` I 'm super passionate .
This is my job .
This is what I wake up to do .
This is what I train to do 365 days of the year , '' Williams said afterwards .
The American will play Tsvetana Pironkova for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bulgarian ousted France 's Alize Cornet in another draining three-setter .
Pironkova , playing her first tournament in three years after a lengthy break in which she gave birth to her son , prevailed 6-4 , 6-7 ( 5/7 ) , 6-3 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium .
`` It 's absolutely unreal , I really ca n't believe it , '' said Pironkova , whose last tournament appearance before this year 's US Open was the 2017 Wimbledon championships when she exited in the second round .
In the men 's draw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight with a three-set obliteration of Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime .
Thiem dismantled the 20-year-old 15th seed 7-6 ( 7/4 ) , 6-1 , 6-1 in just 2hr 7min .
`` I played a great match today , the best one from my whole America trip , '' said Thiem .
Auger-Aliassime , ranked 21st in the world , can be proud of a breakout performance at the tournament , reaching the last 16 of a Slam for the first time .
Thiem will play Australia 's 21st seed Alex de Minaur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Australian breezed past unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil 7-6 ( 8/6 ) , 6-3 , 6-2 , in 2hr 17 min .
The competition was blown wide open on Sunday after world number one Novak Djokovic was thrown out for accidentally hitting a line judge after smashing a ball in frustration during his last-16 match .
His departure means the US Open will this year produce a first-time Grand Slam winner in the men 's competition .
Also vying for a maiden Slam is third seed Russian Daniil Medvedev who takes on American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women 's draw , second seed Sofia Kenin looks to join Williams in the last eight by ousting 16th-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens .
Williams is seeking to equal Margaret Court 's record for the most women 's Grand Slam singles titles .
A tournament victory at the weekend would also see her break away from Chris Evert , on six titles , as the most decorated US Open champion of the women 's game in the modern era .

New York (AFP) –
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Serena Williams battled into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday as second seed Dominic Thiem sailed through to the last eight of the men's draw at Flushing Meadows.
Williams, chasing a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title, had to summon up every last ounce of strength to depose 15th seed Maria Sakkari in three, hard-fought sets.
The 38-year-old American needed almost two and a half hours to dislodge her 25-year-old Greek counterpart 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
"She's such a good competitor. It was a really intense match," said Williams, who had been dumped out of a US Open tuneup tournament by the same opponent last month.
"I felt like she almost played better today. I was a little fatigued last time and had some cramps. Just felt like I was able to compete longer," Williams added.
There was little separating the players throughout the energy-sapping contest, with Williams notching 107 total points to Sakkari's 99.
Williams won 72 percent of points off her first serve while Sakkari won 73 percent. Sakkari also outdid Williams on aces, by 13 to 12.
Williams rallied from two games down in the deciding set, pumping herself up with loud screams that echoed around the spectator-free arena as she broke Sakkari twice to clinch the last-eight spot.
"I'm super passionate. This is my job. This is what I wake up to do. This is what I train to do 365 days of the year," Williams said afterwards.
The American will play Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in the semi-finals after the Bulgarian ousted France's Alize Cornet in another draining three-setter.
- 'Absolutely unreal' -
Pironkova, playing her first tournament in three years after a lengthy break in which she gave birth to her son, prevailed 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
"It's absolutely unreal, I really can't believe it," said Pironkova, whose last tournament appearance before this year's US Open was the 2017 Wimbledon championships when she exited in the second round.
In the men's draw, Thiem raced into the round of eight with a three-set obliteration of Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Thiem dismantled the 20-year-old 15th seed 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-1 in just 2hr 7min.
"I played a great match today, the best one from my whole America trip," said Thiem.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked 21st in the world, can be proud of a breakout performance at the tournament, reaching the last 16 of a Slam for the first time.
Thiem will play Australia's 21st seed Alex de Minaur for a spot in the semi-finals after the Australian breezed past unseeded Canadian Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2, in 2hr 17 min.
The competition was blown wide open on Sunday after world number one Novak Djokovic was thrown out for accidentally hitting a line judge after smashing a ball in frustration during his last-16 match.
His departure means the US Open will this year produce a first-time Grand Slam winner in the men's competition.
Also vying for a maiden Slam is third seed Russian Daniil Medvedev who takes on American Frances Tiafoe later Monday.
In the women's draw, second seed Sofia Kenin looks to join Williams in the last eight by ousting 16th-seeded Belgian Elise Mertens.
Williams is seeking to equal Margaret Court's record for the most women's Grand Slam singles titles.
A tournament victory at the weekend would also see her break away from Chris Evert, on six titles, as the most decorated US Open champion of the women's game in the modern era.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-07--Cameroon announces elections in December, despite unrest in Anglophone regions

Cameroon 's veteran leader Paul Biya on Monday announced the country first regional elections in December , including in two western regions in the grip of a revolt by the anglophone minority .
The indirect elections on December 6 in the country 's 10 regions will put in place councils provided for in a 1996 constitution in a move towards decentralisation but not yet implemented .
These councils will also be elected in the two western regions where a nearly three-year-old insurgency has claimed over 3,000 lives .
The two restive anglophone regions are home to a large minority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakers are the overwhelming majority -- a situation that is the legacy of the decolonisation of western Africa by France and Britain more than six decades ago .
Years of resentment at perceived discrimination against anglophones led to the declaration on October 1 , 2017 , of the self-described Republic of Ambazonia in the two regions , triggering a crackdown by the authorities .
Biya , 87 , has been in power for nearly four decades and has promised these two regions a special status in a bid to quell the unrest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will have limited powers on local issues .
Twenty of them will be representatives of traditional chieftains .
John Fru Ndi , leader of a key opposition party , has said he will boycott the election unless there is a ceasefire first in the English-speaking regions .

Cameroon's veteran leader Paul Biya on Monday announced the country's first regional elections in December, including in two western regions in the grip of a revolt by the anglophone minority.
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The indirect elections on December 6 in the country's 10 regions will put in place councils provided for in a 1996 constitution in a move towards decentralisation but not yet implemented.
These councils will also be elected in the two western regions where a nearly three-year-old insurgency has claimed over 3,000 lives.
The two restive anglophone regions are home to a large minority of English speakers in a country where French speakers are the overwhelming majority -- a situation that is the legacy of the decolonisation of western Africa by France and Britain more than six decades ago.
Years of resentment at perceived discrimination against anglophones led to the declaration on October 1, 2017, of the self-described Republic of Ambazonia in the two regions, triggering a crackdown by the authorities.
Biya, 87, has been in power for nearly four decades and has promised these two regions a special status in a bid to quell the unrest.
The regions will elect 90 councillors, who will have limited powers on local issues. Twenty of them will be representatives of traditional chieftains.
John Fru Ndi, leader of a key opposition party, has said he will boycott the election unless there is a ceasefire first in the English-speaking regions.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-07--Johnson wins Tour Championship and $15mn FedEx Cup playoff crown

World number one Dustin Johnson capped a two-under-par 68 with a birdie at the last to seal a three-stroke victory in the US PGA Tour Championship and earn the $ 15 million FedEx Cup playoff title on Sunday .
Johnson finished with a 21-under-par total at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta -- three shots clear of Americans Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas .
`` I hit the fairways when I needed to coming down the stretch , '' said Johnson , who started the day with a five-shot lead .
He rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a three-footer at the sixth .
But bogeys at the seventh and eighth -- where he was in a fairway bunker -- opened the door just a crack for Thomas and Schauffele .
Neither could do enough , never getting the deficit below two strokes as Johnson parred nine straight , a run that included a 21-foot par-saving putt at the 13th .
He was in the fairway at the par-five 18th , but his approach hit the bank in front of the green and bounced back into the greenside bunker .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the putt for a closing birdie .
The 36-year-old claimed his 23rd US PGA Tour title and his third since the tour resumed in June after a three-month coronavirus shutdown .
He 's the first overall points leader since 2009 to win the season-ending showdown for the $ 15 million ( 12.6 million euro ) playoff prize .
Johnson had a head start coming into Eastlake .
He began the week on 10-under thanks to his season points edge .
Spain 's second-ranked Jon Rahm was next on 8-under with third-ranked Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots adrift in the staggered start system .
Rahm , who edged Johnson in a playoff at the BMW Championship a week earlier , finished alone in third on 17-under after closing with his second straight 66 .

Washington (AFP) –
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World number one Dustin Johnson capped a two-under-par 68 with a birdie at the last to seal a three-stroke victory in the US PGA Tour Championship and earn the $15 million FedEx Cup playoff title on Sunday.
Johnson finished with a 21-under-par total at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta -- three shots clear of Americans Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas.
"I hit the fairways when I needed to coming down the stretch," said Johnson, who started the day with a five-shot lead.
He rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt at the third, a 10-footer at the fifth and a three-footer at the sixth.
But bogeys at the seventh and eighth -- where he was in a fairway bunker -- opened the door just a crack for Thomas and Schauffele.
Neither could do enough, never getting the deficit below two strokes as Johnson parred nine straight, a run that included a 21-foot par-saving putt at the 13th.
He was in the fairway at the par-five 18th, but his approach hit the bank in front of the green and bounced back into the greenside bunker. He blasted out to five feet and made the putt for a closing birdie.
The 36-year-old claimed his 23rd US PGA Tour title and his third since the tour resumed in June after a three-month coronavirus shutdown.
He's the first overall points leader since 2009 to win the season-ending showdown for the $15 million (12.6 million euro) playoff prize.
Johnson had a head start coming into Eastlake. He began the week on 10-under thanks to his season points edge.
Spain's second-ranked Jon Rahm was next on 8-under with third-ranked Thomas on 7-under and others up to 10 shots adrift in the staggered start system.
Rahm, who edged Johnson in a playoff at the BMW Championship a week earlier, finished alone in third on 17-under after closing with his second straight 66.
© 2020 AFP