france24--2020-10-20--US charges six members of Russian military intelligence over cyberattacks

US charges six members of Russian military intelligence over cyberattacks Six members of Russian military intelligence agency the GRU have @ @ @ @ @ States with carrying out global cyberattacks , including an attempt to disrupt the 2017 French @ @ @ @ @ announced on Monday .

US charges six members of Russian military intelligence over cyberattacks
01:45
Six members of Russian military intelligence agency the GRU have been charged in the United States with carrying out global cyberattacks, including an attempt to disrupt the 2017 French elections, the Justice Department announced on Monday.


france24--2020-10-20--Danish sub killer arrested after failed prison escape

Unconfirmed media reports said convicted killer Peter Madsen had threatening police with detonating a bomb while attempting to break out of jail The Danish man sentenced to life in jail for the murder of journalist Kim Wall aboard his homemade submarine was arrested on Tuesday after a failed prison escape bid led to a standoff with police .
`` Peter Madsen tried to escape , '' a Copenhagen police official told AFP .
Police confirmed on Twitter that Madsen had been `` arrested and removed from the scene '' after being surrounded by police officers , with unconfirmed reports he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Danish tabloid BT reported Madsen had taken a hostage and threatened prison staff with a pistol-like object to force his way out of the facility .
It quoted witnesses who said he managed to drive away in a white van before police stopped him .
Photos from the scene showed Madsen sitting on the grass by a leafy wall next to a road a few hundreds metres ( yards ) from the prison , with two police officers lying prone on the ground pointing their weapons at him .
Madsen , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 2018 of murdering the 30-year-old journalist Kim Wall as she interviewed him on board his submarine in August 2017 .
In a documentary that aired in September , he confessed for the first time to the killing , after having insisted during the trial that her death was an accident .
`` There is only one who is guilty , and that is me , '' Madsen said in the documentary .
In a case that made headlines around the world , Madsen had however admitted to the court that he chopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts into the sea .

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The Danish man sentenced to life in jail for the murder of journalist Kim Wall aboard his homemade submarine was arrested on Tuesday after a failed prison escape bid led to a standoff with police.
"Peter Madsen tried to escape," a Copenhagen police official told AFP.
Police confirmed on Twitter that Madsen had been "arrested and removed from the scene" after being surrounded by police officers, with unconfirmed reports he had threatened them with an explosive device.
Danish tabloid BT reported Madsen had taken a hostage and threatened prison staff with a pistol-like object to force his way out of the facility.
It quoted witnesses who said he managed to drive away in a white van before police stopped him.
Photos from the scene showed Madsen sitting on the grass by a leafy wall next to a road a few hundreds metres (yards) from the prison, with two police officers lying prone on the ground pointing their weapons at him.
Madsen, a 49-year-old submarine enthusiast, was convicted in April 2018 of murdering the 30-year-old journalist Kim Wall as she interviewed him on board his submarine in August 2017.
In a documentary that aired in September, he confessed for the first time to the killing, after having insisted during the trial that her death was an accident.
"There is only one who is guilty, and that is me," Madsen said in the documentary.
In a case that made headlines around the world, Madsen had however admitted to the court that he chopped up her corpse and threw her body parts into the sea.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Coronavirus pandemic: French health workers raise alarm about difficult working conditions

Doctors , nurses ... Several hundred health workers took to the streets of Paris last week to protest against conditions @ @ @ @ @ the number of new coronavirus cases surges across the country .

Coronavirus pandemic: French health workers raise alarm about difficult working conditions
01:38
Video by: Solange MOUGIN
Doctors, nurses... Several hundred health workers took to the streets of Paris last week to protest against conditions in French hospitals, as the number of new coronavirus cases surges across the country.


france24--2020-10-20--'Touch-and-go': NASA probe aims for daring 'high five' with asteroid

'Touch-and-go ' : NASA probe aims for daring 'high five ' with asteroid The mission will see the OSIRIS-REx land @ @ @ @ @ inside what is thought to be a well-preserved crater on the asteroid Bennu .
For @ @ @ @ @ the spacecraft will collect 60 grams of surface dirt and then immediately launch from the @ @ @ @ @ back to Earth .

'Touch-and-go': NASA probe aims for daring 'high five' with asteroid
01:48
Video by: Alexander AUCOTT
The mission will see the OSIRIS-REx land on a 52-foot diameter site inside what is thought to be a well-preserved crater on the asteroid Bennu. For up to 10 seconds, the spacecraft will collect 60 grams of surface dirt and then immediately launch from the asteroid on a three-year journey back to Earth.


france24--2020-10-20--Curfew declared in Nigeria's Lagos as protests worsen

Protests that began 12 days ago over abuses by the Nigerian police 's loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) have spiralled dramatically .
Authorities declared a 24-hour curfew in Nigeria 's economic hub Lagos Tuesday as violence flared in widespread protests that have rocked cities across the country .
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced only `` essential service providers and first responders '' would be allowed on the street from 4pm ( 1500GMT ) .
`` I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful # EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wrote on Twitter .
`` Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state . ''
`` We will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state . ''
Protests that began 12 days ago over abuses by the police 's loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) have spiralled dramatically .
Some 18 people have died in the demonstrations as clashes have been reported between protesters and assailants dressed in civilian clothes .
Lagos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been paralysed as crowds have blocked key roads and access to the international airport .
Witnesses told AFP that a police station was set ablaze in the Orile Iganmu district of the city on Tuesday .
in the capital Abuja , crowds were violently dispersed by security forces Tuesday and thick black smoke could be seen over the city , an AFP photographer said .
Tensions were high after news of three deaths in the city during unrest on Monday .
`` The command has launched an investigation into the matter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said police spokesman Mariam Yusuf .
`` However , about three persons were reported dead and some cars damaged . ''
The government has announced the scrapping of SARS and a raft of reforms to the police in a bid to placate the protesters .
But many of the young demonstrators are sceptical of the official promises and their demands have grown to include more sweeping changes in Africa 's most populous nation .
Officials have called for protesters to suspend the demonstrations to give the government time to make good @ @ @ @

Lagos (AFP) –
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Authorities declared a 24-hour curfew in Nigeria's economic hub Lagos Tuesday as violence flared in widespread protests that have rocked cities across the country.
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced only "essential service providers and first responders" would be allowed on the street from 4pm (1500GMT).
"I have watched with shock how what began as a peaceful #EndSARS protest has degenerated into a monster that is threatening the well-being of our society," he wrote on Twitter.
"Lives and limbs have been lost as criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem on our state."
"We will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state."
Protests that began 12 days ago over abuses by the police's loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have spiralled dramatically.
Some 18 people have died in the demonstrations as clashes have been reported between protesters and assailants dressed in civilian clothes.
Lagos, a city of 20 million, has been paralysed as crowds have blocked key roads and access to the international airport.
Witnesses told AFP that a police station was set ablaze in the Orile Iganmu district of the city on Tuesday.
in the capital Abuja, crowds were violently dispersed by security forces Tuesday and thick black smoke could be seen over the city, an AFP photographer said.
Tensions were high after news of three deaths in the city during unrest on Monday.
"The command has launched an investigation into the matter and normalcy has been restored to the area," said police spokesman Mariam Yusuf.
"However, about three persons were reported dead and some cars damaged."
The government has announced the scrapping of SARS and a raft of reforms to the police in a bid to placate the protesters.
But many of the young demonstrators are sceptical of the official promises and their demands have grown to include more sweeping changes in Africa's most populous nation.
Officials have called for protesters to suspend the demonstrations to give the government time to make good on its pledges.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--France closes Paris mosque in clampdown over teacher's beheading

French authorities said Tuesday they would close a Paris mosque in a clampdown on radical Islam that has yielded over @ @ @ @ @ beheading of a teacher who had shown his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed .

France closes Paris mosque in clampdown over teacher's beheading
00:36
French authorities said Tuesday they would close a Paris mosque in a clampdown on radical Islam that has yielded over a dozen arrests following the beheading of a teacher who had shown his pupils cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.


france24--2020-10-20--Nigeria's Lagos imposes 24-hour curfew after anti-police protests turn violent

Nigeria 's Lagos state government on Tuesday imposed a 24-hour curfew , saying anti-police protests have `` degenerated '' into @ @

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france24--2020-10-20--Coronavirus pandemic: Belgium says Covid-19 situation serious as cases spike

Coronavirus pandemic : Belgium says Covid-19 situation serious as cases spike The health situation in Belgium is worse than in @ @ @ @ @ of the Covid-19 pandemic , with cases of infection reaching new highs and the number @ @ @ @ @ each week , officials said on Monday .
FRANCE 24 's Dave Keating tells us @ @

Coronavirus pandemic: Belgium says Covid-19 situation serious as cases spike
02:12
The health situation in Belgium is worse than in March during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with cases of infection reaching new highs and the number of people in hospital doubling each week, officials said on Monday. FRANCE 24's Dave Keating tells us more.


france24--2020-10-20--US elections 2020: Trump holding five rallies in three days

US elections 2020 : Trump holding five rallies in three days Trailing Joe Biden in the polls two weeks ahead @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump appears to be trying to make up ground by flinging accusations without evidence @ @ @ @ @ a `` criminal '' and attacking his son , Hunter Biden .
FRANCE 24 's @ @ @ @ @ .

US elections 2020: Trump holding five rallies in three days
01:52
Trailing Joe Biden in the polls two weeks ahead of the election, President Donald Trump appears to be trying to make up ground by flinging accusations without evidence that his Democratic opponent is a "criminal" and attacking his son, Hunter Biden. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.


france24--2020-10-20--Kyrgyz powerbroker detained as new leader tightens grip

Power is currently in the hands of prime minister and acting president Sadyr Japarov ( left ) after Sooronbay Jeenbekov ( right ) stepped down following a disputed vote Kyrgyzstan authorities Tuesday detained on corruption charges a powerbroker to former president Sooronbay Jeenbekov , as a new acting leader seeks to consolidate power with an anti-graft drive .
Ex-deputy customs chief Rayimbek Matraimov was regarded as a key financial backer for political parties and presidents , including Jeenbekov .
Jeenbekov stepped down last week in the wake of protests that followed a disputed parliamentary election on October 4 , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as prime minister and acting president .
The national security committee said that Matraimov and other officials were part of `` a corruption scheme established to extract shadow income during customs administration '' .
The scheme had begun in 2016 , when Matraimov was still in his post and had resulted in `` especially large scale damage '' to the state budget , it said in a statement .
Japarov had pledged to bring Matraimov to justice over claims first aired in a media report that he was at the centre of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the impoverished republic .
He said last week that Matraimov was connected to `` 90 percent of state officials '' .
`` What to do ?
Allow only 10 percent to keep working ? ''
he asked .
Matraimov was seen as the main backer of the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party that dominated the parliamentary vote along with a party called Birimdik that included Jeenbekov 's brother among its ranks .
Last year he was the target of protests led by civic groups who called on authorities to investigate the allegations in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precise nature of Jeenbekov 's relationship with Matraimov was unknown , with some observers speculating that they had fallen out towards the end of Jeenbekov 's time in office .
But Jeenbekov notably failed to push forward a criminal investigation targeting contraband and money laundering that was opened following the protests .
The publishers of the report , the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project , described Matraimov as a gatekeeper for an `` underground Central Asian cargo empire '' .
Bolot Temirov , an investigative journalist who was beaten up by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact-checking outlet published a separate report on Matraimov 's wealth , told AFP that it was too early to celebrate the former official 's demise .
`` The new authorities need to make a good show of themselves as quickly as possible , '' said Temirov .
`` Matraimov 's arrest is a win-win option for them .
But the threat remains the same .
( Matraimov ) has money and influence . ''
The Matraimov and Jeenbekov-affiliated parties were accused of massive vote-buying and the results were annulled after protests morphed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties .
Japarov , 51 , who claimed power less than two weeks after he was sprung from jail by supporters , styled himself as a reformist in a speech on Friday one day after Jeenbekov 's resignation .
The populist politician said that the fight against corruption would `` cease to be a tool for eliminating political opponents '' , pledging that organised crime `` will stop dictating its terms '' .
Japarov has angrily denied suggestions he has his own ties to organised crime , amid media allegations during his overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With a re-run of parliamentary elections expected in December and presidential polls by mid-January , Japarov still must work to tighten his grip on the ex-Soviet state .
There has as yet been no indication that key ally Russia recognises his new functions .
Prior to his release he was serving jail time for hostage taking -- a conviction related to an incident that took place during a 2013 rally in support of the nationalisation of a key foreign-operated gold mine .

Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) –
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Kyrgyzstan authorities Tuesday detained on corruption charges a powerbroker to former president Sooronbay Jeenbekov, as a new acting leader seeks to consolidate power with an anti-graft drive.
Ex-deputy customs chief Rayimbek Matraimov was regarded as a key financial backer for political parties and presidents, including Jeenbekov.
Jeenbekov stepped down last week in the wake of protests that followed a disputed parliamentary election on October 4, leaving power in the hands of Sadyr Japarov as prime minister and acting president.
The national security committee said that Matraimov and other officials were part of "a corruption scheme established to extract shadow income during customs administration".
The scheme had begun in 2016, when Matraimov was still in his post and had resulted in "especially large scale damage" to the state budget, it said in a statement.
Japarov had pledged to bring Matraimov to justice over claims first aired in a media report that he was at the centre of a scheme that funnelled $700 million out of the impoverished republic.
He said last week that Matraimov was connected to "90 percent of state officials".
"What to do? Allow only 10 percent to keep working?" he asked.
Matraimov was seen as the main backer of the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party that dominated the parliamentary vote along with a party called Birimdik that included Jeenbekov's brother among its ranks.
Last year he was the target of protests led by civic groups who called on authorities to investigate the allegations in a report made by anti-graft activists.
The precise nature of Jeenbekov's relationship with Matraimov was unknown, with some observers speculating that they had fallen out towards the end of Jeenbekov's time in office.
- Make a 'good show' -
But Jeenbekov notably failed to push forward a criminal investigation targeting contraband and money laundering that was opened following the protests.
The publishers of the report, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, described Matraimov as a gatekeeper for an "underground Central Asian cargo empire".
Bolot Temirov, an investigative journalist who was beaten up by a group of men not long after his fact-checking outlet published a separate report on Matraimov's wealth, told AFP that it was too early to celebrate the former official's demise.
"The new authorities need to make a good show of themselves as quickly as possible," said Temirov.
"Matraimov's arrest is a win-win option for them. But the threat remains the same. (Matraimov) has money and influence."
The Matraimov and Jeenbekov-affiliated parties were accused of massive vote-buying and the results were annulled after protests morphed into clashes between police and supporters of opposition parties.
Japarov, 51, who claimed power less than two weeks after he was sprung from jail by supporters, styled himself as a reformist in a speech on Friday one day after Jeenbekov's resignation.
The populist politician said that the fight against corruption would "cease to be a tool for eliminating political opponents", pledging that organised crime "will stop dictating its terms".
Japarov has angrily denied suggestions he has his own ties to organised crime, amid media allegations during his overnight rise to power during the post-elections crisis.
With a re-run of parliamentary elections expected in December and presidential polls by mid-January, Japarov still must work to tighten his grip on the ex-Soviet state.
There has as yet been no indication that key ally Russia recognises his new functions.
Prior to his release he was serving jail time for hostage taking -- a conviction related to an incident that took place during a 2013 rally in support of the nationalisation of a key foreign-operated gold mine.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Liverpool must stay in trophy hunt for injured Van Dijk, says Henderson

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk leaves the pitch with an injury during the Premier League against Everton Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says the loss of Virgil van Dijk is a `` big blow '' but he wants the Premier League champions to use his absence as an added incentive to stay in the trophy hunt .
Defensive talisman Van Dijk requires surgery after suffering knee ligament damage during Saturday ’ s Merseyside derby with Everton .
Manager Jurgen Klopp is reluctant to put a timescale on the Dutchman 's return but admits he faces a lengthy absence after being clattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2-2 draw .
Henderson is confident Liverpool can cope in Van Dijk 's absence , even though he has been a pivotal player since he joined the club in 2018 .
`` It 's a tough one .
It 's a big blow for us , '' Henderson told the club website .
`` For him personally , obviously .
But for us as a team , a massive blow .
`` I 'm just gutted for him .
It 's a difficult moment , but that 's when you need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skipper said it was up to the team to `` win as many games as we can for him '' .
`` That 's down to us as players to make sure that when he is back and he is fit that we 're still fighting to be successful and fighting for trophies , '' said Henderson .
`` You 've got to use times like this to be stronger and to be even more together than we already are .
And use it as a positive in some way . ''
Liverpool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wednesday 's Champions League group match away at Dutch side Ajax .

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Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson says the loss of Virgil van Dijk is a "big blow" but he wants the Premier League champions to use his absence as an added incentive to stay in the trophy hunt.
Defensive talisman Van Dijk requires surgery after suffering knee ligament damage during Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.
Manager Jurgen Klopp is reluctant to put a timescale on the Dutchman's return but admits he faces a lengthy absence after being clattered by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 2-2 draw.
Henderson is confident Liverpool can cope in Van Dijk's absence, even though he has been a pivotal player since he joined the club in 2018.
"It's a tough one. It's a big blow for us," Henderson told the club website. "For him personally, obviously. But for us as a team, a massive blow.
"I'm just gutted for him. It's a difficult moment, but that's when you need to be there for each other."
The skipper said it was up to the team to "win as many games as we can for him".
"That's down to us as players to make sure that when he is back and he is fit that we're still fighting to be successful and fighting for trophies," said Henderson.
"You've got to use times like this to be stronger and to be even more together than we already are. And use it as a positive in some way."
Liverpool face their first challenge without Van Dijk in Wednesday's Champions League group match away at Dutch side Ajax.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Coronavirus pandemic: Belgium may need to return to full lockdown

Coronavirus pandemic : Belgium may need to return to full lockdown The health situation in Belgium is worse than in @ @ @ @ @ of the Covid-19 pandemic , with cases of infection reaching new highs and the number @ @ @ @ @ each week , officials said on Monday .

Coronavirus pandemic: Belgium may need to return to full lockdown
01:48
The health situation in Belgium is worse than in March during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with cases of infection reaching new highs and the number of people in hospital doubling each week, officials said on Monday.


france24--2020-10-20--French police target Islamist networks after teacher's beheading

French police have conducted a series of raids targeting Islamist networks , three days after the beheading of a history @ @ @ @ @ pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed .
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin vowed there would @ @ @ @ @ 's respite for enemies of the Republic '' , after tens of thousands took part @ @ @ @ @ to honour teacher Samuel Paty and defend freedom of expression .

French police target Islamist networks after teacher's beheading
01:41
French police have conducted a series of raids targeting Islamist networks, three days after the beheading of a history teacher who had shown his pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin vowed there would be "not a minute's respite for enemies of the Republic", after tens of thousands took part in rallies countrywide on Sunday to honour teacher Samuel Paty and defend freedom of expression.


france24--2020-10-20--Doping charges against Bahrain's 400m world champion Naser dismissed

Naser ran the third-fastest 400m in history last year The doping charges brought against Bahrain 's 400 metre world champion @ @ @ @ @ dismissed , the Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Tuesday .
The 22-year-old Naser was provisionally @ @ @ @ @ with failing to meet 'whereabouts ' criteria .
The AIU charged the Nigerian-born runner with @ @ @ @ @ which included three missed tests between March 2019 and January this year .
But the @ @ @ @ @ not confirm a missed test from April 2019 , therefore meaning Naser had not missed @ @ @ @ @ which is required to prove an anti-doping violation .
The AIU added that it has @ @ @ @ @ the Court of Arbitration for Sport .
Naser stunned athletics in Doha last year when @ @ @ @ @ 400m time in history to win the world title .
Her time of 48.14 seconds @ @ @ @ @ East German Marita Koch in 1985 and former Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983 .
@ @ @ @ @ anti-doping watchdog for track and field , set up in 2017 .

London (AFP) –
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The doping charges brought against Bahrain's 400 metre world champion Salwa Eid Naser have been dismissed, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Naser was provisionally suspended in June and charged with failing to meet 'whereabouts' criteria.
The AIU charged the Nigerian-born runner with four alleged 'whereabouts' failures which included three missed tests between March 2019 and January this year.
But the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal did not confirm a missed test from April 2019, therefore meaning Naser had not missed three tests within 12 months which is required to prove an anti-doping violation.
The AIU added that it has the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Naser stunned athletics in Doha last year when she powered to the third-fastest 400m time in history to win the world title.
Her time of 48.14 seconds has only been bettered by East German Marita Koch in 1985 and former Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.
The AIU is the independent anti-doping watchdog for track and field, set up in 2017.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Scientists raise alarm over signs of vaccine 'hesitancy'

Companies and governments are racing to develop vaccines in a bid to arrest the pandemic Scientists called for urgent action to improve public trust in immunisation as research suggested sizeable minorities in some nations may be reluctant to be vaccinated against Covid-19 .
With few effective treatments and no cure for the coronavirus , companies and governments are racing to develop vaccines in a bid to arrest the pandemic .
But there is increasing concern that `` vaccine hesitancy '' is also on the rise , with misinformation and mistrust colouring people 's acceptance of scientific advances .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , researchers in Spain , the United States and Britain surveyed 13,400 in 19 countries hit hard by Covid-19 and found that while 72 percent said they would be immunised , 14 percent would refuse and another 14 percent would hesitate .
When extrapolated across whole populations this could amount to tens of millions of people who may avoid vaccination , the authors said .
`` These findings should be a call to action for the international health community , '' said co-author Heidi Larson , who runs the Vaccine Confidence Project at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If we do not start building vaccine literacy and restoring public trust in science today , we can not hope to contain this pandemic . ''
Researchers found that people who had least faith in their governments were less likely to accept a vaccine -- and even those who had been ill with the virus were not more likely to respond positively .
While in China 87 percent of respondents said they would take `` a proven , safe and effective vaccine '' , the highest of all the countries surveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US and was as low as 55 percent in Russia .
`` We found that the problem of vaccine hesitancy is strongly related with a lack of trust in government , '' said study coordinator Jeffrey Lazarus , of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health .
When asked if they would accept an approved , safe vaccine recommended `` by your employer '' only 32 percent of respondents completely agreed .
Acceptance rates again varied widely by country , with China again having the most clearly positive responses ( 84 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia with the least ( 27 percent ) .
The study , released at the Union World Conference on Lung Health , found greater acceptance of vaccines among people earning more than $ 32 a day .
They also found older people were more likely to accept a vaccine than those under 22 .
In a new initiative launched Tuesday and supported by the US and Vaccine Alliance Gavi , scientists involved in vaccine development will appear in a series of videos on social media to help raise public confidence in their work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , USA , South Africa , India and Brazil will be posting under the hashtag # TeamHalo -- a reference to the circle of global scientific endeavour -- on TikTok , Twitter and Instagram .
`` I 'm used to spending time pipetting samples and analysing data , '' said Anna Blakney , a participating bioengineer who is part of the vaccine development team at Imperial College in London .
`` TikTok is a new frontier for me but I 'm enthusiastic about demystifying our work and making it accessible to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study in the journal Royal Society Open Science found up to a third of people in some countries may believe coronavirus misinformation and in turn be less open to immunisation .
And recent research from Cornell University found that US President Donald Trump was the world 's biggest driver of Covid-19 misinformation , because of his promotion of what the researchers termed `` miracle cures '' .
Meanwhile , the speed of development has caused concerns in some countries , with Russia 's announcement in August that it would begin roll-out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials criticised as premature .

Paris (AFP) –
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Scientists called for urgent action to improve public trust in immunisation as research suggested sizeable minorities in some nations may be reluctant to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
With few effective treatments and no cure for the coronavirus, companies and governments are racing to develop vaccines in a bid to arrest the pandemic.
But there is increasing concern that "vaccine hesitancy" is also on the rise, with misinformation and mistrust colouring people's acceptance of scientific advances.
In a new study published Tuesday in Nature Medicine, researchers in Spain, the United States and Britain surveyed 13,400 in 19 countries hit hard by Covid-19 and found that while 72 percent said they would be immunised, 14 percent would refuse and another 14 percent would hesitate.
When extrapolated across whole populations this could amount to tens of millions of people who may avoid vaccination, the authors said.
"These findings should be a call to action for the international health community," said co-author Heidi Larson, who runs the Vaccine Confidence Project at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
"If we do not start building vaccine literacy and restoring public trust in science today, we cannot hope to contain this pandemic."
Researchers found that people who had least faith in their governments were less likely to accept a vaccine -- and even those who had been ill with the virus were not more likely to respond positively.
While in China 87 percent of respondents said they would take "a proven, safe and effective vaccine", the highest of all the countries surveyed, the proportion dipped to 75 percent in the US and was as low as 55 percent in Russia.
"We found that the problem of vaccine hesitancy is strongly related with a lack of trust in government," said study coordinator Jeffrey Lazarus, of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
When asked if they would accept an approved, safe vaccine recommended "by your employer" only 32 percent of respondents completely agreed.
Acceptance rates again varied widely by country, with China again having the most clearly positive responses (84 percent either completely or somewhat agreed) and Russia with the least (27 percent).
The study, released at the Union World Conference on Lung Health, found greater acceptance of vaccines among people earning more than $32 a day.
They also found older people were more likely to accept a vaccine than those under 22.
- Trust building -
In a new initiative launched Tuesday and supported by the US and Vaccine Alliance Gavi, scientists involved in vaccine development will appear in a series of videos on social media to help raise public confidence in their work.
The researchers and clinicians in the UK, USA, South Africa, India and Brazil will be posting under the hashtag #TeamHalo -- a reference to the circle of global scientific endeavour -- on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram.
"I'm used to spending time pipetting samples and analysing data," said Anna Blakney, a participating bioengineer who is part of the vaccine development team at Imperial College in London.
"TikTok is a new frontier for me but I'm enthusiastic about demystifying our work and making it accessible to the world."
Earlier this month a study in the journal Royal Society Open Science found up to a third of people in some countries may believe coronavirus misinformation and in turn be less open to immunisation.
And recent research from Cornell University found that US President Donald Trump was the world's biggest driver of Covid-19 misinformation, because of his promotion of what the researchers termed "miracle cures".
Meanwhile, the speed of development has caused concerns in some countries, with Russia's announcement in August that it would begin roll-out of the Sputnik V vaccine before crucial phase 3 trials criticised as premature.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Air pollution costs Europe cities $190bn a year: analysis

Air pollution increases the likelihood of developing conditions that are known risk factors for Covid-19 , the report said Air pollution costs inhabitants of European cities more than 160 billion euros ( $ 190 billion ) each year due to long- and short-term health impacts , a group of environmental and social watchdogs said in research published Wednesday .
In a sweeping analysis of air quality , health and transport data in more than 400 cities , the CE Delft alliance said that pollution from fossil fuels in 2018 cost the average citizen 1,250 euros -- about 4 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the likelihood of developing conditions that are known risk factors for Covid-19 , they said .
`` Our findings provide additional evidence that reducing air pollution in European cities should be among the top priorities in any attempt to improve the welfare of city populations in Europe , '' the analysis said .
`` The present Covid-19 pandemic has only underscored this . ''
The study looked at more than a dozen health factors linked to air pollution in cities in order to quantify the `` social cost '' of exhaust fumes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the cost for 130 million citizens in cities studied at 166 billion euros in 2018 , the last year for which full data was available .
London had the highest social cost from pollution in absolute terms , totalling 11.38 billion euros lost welfare .
Bucharest ( 6.35 billion euros lost ) and Berlin ( 5.24 billion euros lost ) came second and third , respectively .
Most of the costs related to the heightened risk of premature death experienced by urban dwellers .
The authors said that while air pollution in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including agriculture , household heating and industry , there was a clear link between increased car use and heightened social cost .
`` This confirms that reduced commuting and car ownership has a positive impact on air quality , thus reducing the social costs of poor city air quality , '' they said .
In July , the Air Quality Life Index released annual data showing that air pollution cuts life expectancy for every man , woman and child on Earth by nearly two years .
Nearly a quarter of the global population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are among the most polluted -- Bangladesh , India , Nepal and Pakistan .
AQLI found that these populations would see their lifespan cut by five years on average , after being exposed to pollution levels 44 percent higher than 20 years ago .

Paris (AFP) –
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Air pollution costs inhabitants of European cities more than 160 billion euros ($190 billion) each year due to long- and short-term health impacts, a group of environmental and social watchdogs said in research published Wednesday.
In a sweeping analysis of air quality, health and transport data in more than 400 cities, the CE Delft alliance said that pollution from fossil fuels in 2018 cost the average citizen 1,250 euros -- about 4 percent of their annual income.
Air pollution increases the likelihood of developing conditions that are known risk factors for Covid-19, they said.
"Our findings provide additional evidence that reducing air pollution in European cities should be among the top priorities in any attempt to improve the welfare of city populations in Europe," the analysis said.
"The present Covid-19 pandemic has only underscored this."
The study looked at more than a dozen health factors linked to air pollution in cities in order to quantify the "social cost" of exhaust fumes and factory smoke on populations.
The authors put the cost for 130 million citizens in cities studied at 166 billion euros in 2018, the last year for which full data was available.
London had the highest social cost from pollution in absolute terms, totalling 11.38 billion euros lost welfare.
Bucharest (6.35 billion euros lost) and Berlin (5.24 billion euros lost) came second and third, respectively.
Most of the costs related to the heightened risk of premature death experienced by urban dwellers.
The authors said that while air pollution in cities came from a number of sources including agriculture, household heating and industry, there was a clear link between increased car use and heightened social cost.
"This confirms that reduced commuting and car ownership has a positive impact on air quality, thus reducing the social costs of poor city air quality," they said.
In July, the Air Quality Life Index released annual data showing that air pollution cuts life expectancy for every man, woman and child on Earth by nearly two years.
Nearly a quarter of the global population lives in just four south Asian countries that are among the most polluted -- Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
AQLI found that these populations would see their lifespan cut by five years on average, after being exposed to pollution levels 44 percent higher than 20 years ago.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Mexico's 'Weeping Woman' returns with pandemic-era twist

The legend of 'The Weeping Woman ' searching for her drowned children has spread throughout Latin America A disconsolate mother dressed in white wanders through Mexico City 's floating gardens looking for her children killed by the coronavirus , in a pandemic-era adaptation of a legend rooted in Aztec mythology .
The traditional play `` La Llorona '' ( The Weeping Woman ) returns to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Xochimilco ahead of the Day of the Dead with a poignant tribute to the victims of Covid-19 .
The ghost with flowing black hair , who according to legend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , has spread throughout Latin America .
`` It 's dedicated to the memory of all the people who left without saying goodbye to their loved ones and for all the families who have suffered this loss , '' Nayeli Cortes , who has played the role of the weeping mother for 11 years , told AFP .
Measures such as face masks made of transparent plastic or cloth and a smaller audience enabled the 27-year-old performance and its flamboyant costumes to survive the pandemic .
The coronavirus has killed 86,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's highest tolls , and as in other countries kept people apart from their families .
`` Not being able to hug , hold hands or kiss ( relatives ) is very frustrating and that 's why right now it 's dedicated to them , '' said stage director Maria Luisa Castillo .
`` We know that they are here with us and it is the homage that we can give them , and also to tell them , 'Here we are .
We remember you .
You will never be forgotten .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ legend of the wandering ghost was first documented around 1550 .
It is associated with supposed dire omens prior to the Spanish conquest that predicted the end of the Tenochtitlan empire 500 years ago .
The audience watched the show from the gondolas that ply the canals of Xochimilco , which usually attracts about a million tourists a year but was shut for almost six months due to the pandemic .
Hugo Cruz , a 46-year-old driver , said that it was important to keep the legend alive for future generations .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditions ) in our children then it 's going to be lost , '' he said .
`` I think that we 're the only country that worships death in this way . ''
The Day of the Dead , celebrated in Mexico on the first two days of November , is believed to be when the gateway separating the living and the deceased opens .
This year the festival known for its bright colors and elaborate costumes will be a more subdued , scaled down affair due to the pandemic .

Xochimilco (Mexico) (AFP) –
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A disconsolate mother dressed in white wanders through Mexico City's floating gardens looking for her children killed by the coronavirus, in a pandemic-era adaptation of a legend rooted in Aztec mythology.
The traditional play "La Llorona" (The Weeping Woman) returns to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Xochimilco ahead of the Day of the Dead with a poignant tribute to the victims of Covid-19.
The ghost with flowing black hair, who according to legend reappears every year searching for her downed children, has spread throughout Latin America.
"It's dedicated to the memory of all the people who left without saying goodbye to their loved ones and for all the families who have suffered this loss," Nayeli Cortes, who has played the role of the weeping mother for 11 years, told AFP.
Measures such as face masks made of transparent plastic or cloth and a smaller audience enabled the 27-year-old performance and its flamboyant costumes to survive the pandemic.
The coronavirus has killed 86,000 people in Mexico, one of the world's highest tolls, and as in other countries kept people apart from their families.
"Not being able to hug, hold hands or kiss (relatives) is very frustrating and that's why right now it's dedicated to them," said stage director Maria Luisa Castillo.
"We know that they are here with us and it is the homage that we can give them, and also to tell them, 'Here we are. We remember you. You will never be forgotten.'"
According to experts, the legend of the wandering ghost was first documented around 1550.
It is associated with supposed dire omens prior to the Spanish conquest that predicted the end of the Tenochtitlan empire 500 years ago.
The audience watched the show from the gondolas that ply the canals of Xochimilco, which usually attracts about a million tourists a year but was shut for almost six months due to the pandemic.
Hugo Cruz, a 46-year-old driver, said that it was important to keep the legend alive for future generations.
"If we don't instill (the traditions) in our children then it's going to be lost," he said.
"I think that we're the only country that worships death in this way."
The Day of the Dead, celebrated in Mexico on the first two days of November, is believed to be when the gateway separating the living and the deceased opens.
This year the festival known for its bright colors and elaborate costumes will be a more subdued, scaled down affair due to the pandemic.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Nigeria police 'kill' protesters in Lagos after curfew imposed

A demonstrator sits on a barricade blocking a road near the Lagos State House , despite a round-the-clock curfew imposed by the authorities on the Nigerian state of Lagos in response to protests against alleged police brutality , Nigeria October 20 , 2020 .
Several protesters were killed by Nigerian security forces in Lagos on Tuesday , Amnesty International said , after witnesses reported armed men opened fire on demonstrators defying a curfew order .
`` People were killed at the ( Lekki ) tollgate by security forces , '' Amnesty 's Nigeria spokesman Isa Sanusi told AFP , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city .
He said the rights group was `` working on verifying how many '' .
Witnesses told AFP that shots were fired at the crowd of over 1,000 peaceful demonstrators to disperse them several hours after the authorities declared an open-ended lockdown in Lagos in the face of spiralling protests .
`` We were all sitting down , peacefully , and they shut down the lights and the billboards , everyone started screaming , '' a protester called Toye told AFP , asking that her full name not be used .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't know who it was .
They were shooting , and everyone was running for his life . ''
Another protester , Innocent , said he was helping to ferry the wounded to nearby hospitals .
`` Currently I have two people that I rush in my car , a woman and a guy , who are in very critical conditions , '' he said .
`` I rushed two people already to hospital .
One was shot at the back , and one was shot at the stomach . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from someone 's wound and pleading for help were broadcast in a live video by DJ Switch , a popular disc jockey , to 150,000 Instagram viewers .
Earlier defiant protesters at the scene had sung the national anthem and pledged to remain out on the streets despite the stay-at-home order .
Anger over abuses by the police 's loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) erupted into widespread protests some two weeks ago that drew thousands onto the streets .
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered the round-the-clock shutdown in the sprawling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests had `` degenerated into a monster '' as violence flared in a string of cities .
`` Criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem , '' he wrote on Twitter , insisting that only essential workers should stay out on the streets .
`` We will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state . ''
As the tone hardened from the authorities , Nigeria 's police chief ordered anti-riot units deployed around the country .
`` The force will henceforth exercise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any further attempt on lives and property of citizens , '' a statement said .
Up until Tuesday some 18 people had died in the demonstrations as clashes were reported between protesters and assailants wearing civilian clothes .
Rights groups and demonstrators have accused `` thugs and sponsored hoodlums '' of attacking the peaceful rallies and seeking to discredit the protest movement .
Witnesses told AFP that a police station was set ablaze in the Orile Iganmu district of Lagos on Tuesday morning .
They said police opened fire on protesters , wounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces violently dispersed crowds during the day on Tuesday and thick black smoke could be seen over the city .
Violence spread as well to the largest northern city of Kano as hundreds of people went on a rampage , burning vehicles and looting businesses according to an AFP reporter at the scene .
`` The mob came near the school and began assaulting parents who had come to pick up their children , '' 35-year old auto mechanic Sadiq Mohammed told AFP .
Police said 12 suspects were also arrested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks on two police facilities .
The government announced the scrapping of the SARS unit and a raft of reforms over a week ago , but the bid to placate the protesters has failed .
Officials have called for the demonstrations to be suspended to give the authorities time to make good on their pledges .
Nigeria -- where the median age is 18 -- is a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances .
Around half of the population of 200 million is estimated to live in extreme poverty and unemployment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest oil producer is currently facing a recession as the fall in crude prices sparked by the coronavirus pandemic has battered government finances .
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that estimated economic losses in the past 12 days were at 700 billion naira ( $ 1.8 billion dollars , 1.5 billion euros ) .
On Tuesday , the Senate called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on the protests `` as a matter of urgency '' .

Several protesters were killed by Nigerian security forces in Lagos on Tuesday, Amnesty International said, after witnesses reported armed men opened fire on demonstrators defying a curfew order.
A demonstrator sits on a barricade blocking a road near the State House in Lagos, Nigeria, on October 20, 2020, despite a round-the-clock curfew imposed by the authorities on the Nigerian state of Lagos in response to protests against alleged police brutality.
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"People were killed at the (Lekki) tollgate by security forces," Amnesty's Nigeria spokesman Isa Sanusi told AFP, in reference to a key protest site in the city.
He said the rights group was "working on verifying how many".
Witnesses told AFP that shots were fired at the crowd of over 1,000 peaceful demonstrators to disperse them several hours after the authorities declared an open-ended lockdown in Lagos in the face of spiralling protests.
00:37
"We were all sitting down, peacefully, and they shut down the lights and the billboards, everyone started screaming," a protester called Toye told AFP, asking that her full name not be used.
"They came to us, but I don't know who it was. They were shooting, and everyone was running for his life."
Another protester, Innocent, said he was helping to ferry the wounded to nearby hospitals.
"Currently I have two people that I rush in my car, a woman and a guy, who are in very critical conditions," he said.
"I rushed two people already to hospital. One was shot at the back, and one was shot at the stomach."
Amnesty International has received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos. #EndSARS #Lekki #Nigeria — Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 20, 2020
Scenes of people removing a bullet from someone's wound and pleading for help were broadcast in a live video by DJ Switch, a popular disc jockey, to 150,000 Instagram viewers.
Earlier defiant protesters at the scene had sung the national anthem and pledged to remain out on the streets despite the stay-at-home order.
Anger over abuses by the police's loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) erupted into widespread protests some two weeks ago that drew thousands onto the streets.
Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered the round-the-clock shutdown in the sprawling economic hub on Tuesday, claiming the protests had "degenerated into a monster" as violence flared in a string of cities.
"Criminals and miscreants are now hiding under the umbrella of these protests to unleash mayhem," he wrote on Twitter, insisting that only essential workers should stay out on the streets.
"We will not watch and allow anarchy in our dear state."
As the tone hardened from the authorities, Nigeria's police chief ordered anti-riot units deployed around the country.
"The force will henceforth exercise the full powers of the law to prevent any further attempt on lives and property of citizens," a statement said.
'Sponsored hoodlums'
Up until Tuesday some 18 people had died in the demonstrations as clashes were reported between protesters and assailants wearing civilian clothes.
Rights groups and demonstrators have accused "thugs and sponsored hoodlums" of attacking the peaceful rallies and seeking to discredit the protest movement.
Witnesses told AFP that a police station was set ablaze in the Orile Iganmu district of Lagos on Tuesday morning. They said police opened fire on protesters, wounding several.
In the capital Abuja, security forces violently dispersed crowds during the day on Tuesday and thick black smoke could be seen over the city.
Violence spread as well to the largest northern city of Kano as hundreds of people went on a rampage, burning vehicles and looting businesses according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
"The mob came near the school and began assaulting parents who had come to pick up their children," 35-year old auto mechanic Sadiq Mohammed told AFP.
Police said 12 suspects were also arrested in southern Benin city in connection with separate attacks on two police facilities.
Tinderbox
The government announced the scrapping of the SARS unit and a raft of reforms over a week ago, but the bid to placate the protesters has failed.
Officials have called for the demonstrations to be suspended to give the authorities time to make good on their pledges.
Nigeria -- where the median age is 18 -- is a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances.
Around half of the population of 200 million is estimated to live in extreme poverty and unemployment is widespread among the youth.
Africa's biggest oil producer is currently facing a recession as the fall in crude prices sparked by the coronavirus pandemic has battered government finances.
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that estimated economic losses in the past 12 days were at 700 billion naira ($1.8 billion dollars, 1.5 billion euros).
On Tuesday, the Senate called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation on the protests "as a matter of urgency".
(AFP)
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france24--2020-10-20--New tool predicts risk of Covid hospitalisation, death

More than three-quarters of Covid-19 deaths in Britain during the first wave were in the top five percent of those predicted by a new tool to be at high risk The five percent of people in Britain predicted by a new tool to be at highest risk from Covid-19 accounted for three-quarters of deaths during the first wave of the pandemic , researchers reported Wednesday .
As countries worldwide grapple with a second wave of disease , the risk-assessment method -- which also predicts the chances of hospitalisation -- could help identify the small percentage of the population most in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they reported in BMJ , a medical journal .
`` The tool provides nuanced information on people 's risk of serious illness due to Covid-19 and is designed for use by clinicians with patients to reach a shared understanding of risk , '' the authors said in a statement .
To develop the new application , called QCOVID , researchers from across Britain compiled data from six million patients , including age , height-weight ratio , ethnicity , and pre-existing conditions -- such as high-blood pressure and diabetes -- known to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They then tested the approach on 2.2 million patients -- most of whom did not have Covid-19 -- to see how well it predicted hospitalisation and deaths during two periods , late January to the end of April , and May 1 to June 30 .
More than three-quarters of those who died from the virus were in the top five percent of those predicted to be at maximum risk .
While the tool effectively profiled those facing the worst odds , it did not identify which factors caused fatal outcomes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified risk relative to other members of society but not the absolute risk of severe illness or death , which can change depending on infection rates and precautionary measures such as social distancing , mask-wearing and hand washing .
Experts not involved in the research said it held real potential .
`` This provides support for the concept of targeted shielding , '' said Mark Woolhouse , a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh , describing the study as `` a very striking result . ''
`` If ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent -- such as regular testing of their closest contacts -- it could make a substantial difference to the public health burden of Covid-19 . ''
But the model is only as good as the follow-up policies put in place , cautioned David Strain , a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter .
`` Without a clear implementation plan this tool does not yet have a purpose , '' he told the Science Media Centre in London .
Strain also pointed out that the conditions in which the virus spreads continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derived from hospitalisations and deaths during the first wave , '' he noted .
`` Behaviour -- and thus risk of transmission -- has changed significantly during this time , some for the better ( such as the widespread acceptance of masks ) and some for the worse . ''
The model , for example , does not input information about self-isolation , whether someone is working in a high-risk job , or is in a neighbourhood with a high rate in infection .
Aware of this problem , the authors said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be updated as new data arrives .
Since January , there have been about 750,000 cases of Covid-19 in Britain , and nearly 44,000 deaths .
Worldwide , the virus has infected more than 40 million people , and killed more than 1.1 million .

Paris (AFP) –
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The five percent of people in Britain predicted by a new tool to be at highest risk from Covid-19 accounted for three-quarters of deaths during the first wave of the pandemic, researchers reported Wednesday.
As countries worldwide grapple with a second wave of disease, the risk-assessment method -- which also predicts the chances of hospitalisation -- could help identify the small percentage of the population most in need of being shielded from the virus, they reported in BMJ, a medical journal.
"The tool provides nuanced information on people's risk of serious illness due to Covid-19 and is designed for use by clinicians with patients to reach a shared understanding of risk," the authors said in a statement.
To develop the new application, called QCOVID, researchers from across Britain compiled data from six million patients, including age, height-weight ratio, ethnicity, and pre-existing conditions -- such as high-blood pressure and diabetes -- known to increase the risk of serious outcomes after infection.
They then tested the approach on 2.2 million patients -- most of whom did not have Covid-19 -- to see how well it predicted hospitalisation and deaths during two periods, late January to the end of April, and May 1 to June 30.
More than three-quarters of those who died from the virus were in the top five percent of those predicted to be at maximum risk.
While the tool effectively profiled those facing the worst odds, it did not identify which factors caused fatal outcomes, the researchers cautioned.
- A 'striking tool' -
It also only identified risk relative to other members of society but not the absolute risk of severe illness or death, which can change depending on infection rates and precautionary measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing and hand washing.
Experts not involved in the research said it held real potential.
"This provides support for the concept of targeted shielding," said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, describing the study as "a very striking result."
"If ways could be found to protect this five percent -- such as regular testing of their closest contacts -- it could make a substantial difference to the public health burden of Covid-19."
But the model is only as good as the follow-up policies put in place, cautioned David Strain, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter.
"Without a clear implementation plan this tool does not yet have a purpose," he told the Science Media Centre in London.
Strain also pointed out that the conditions in which the virus spreads continue to evolve.
"These data are derived from hospitalisations and deaths during the first wave," he noted.
"Behaviour -- and thus risk of transmission -- has changed significantly during this time, some for the better (such as the widespread acceptance of masks) and some for the worse."
The model, for example, does not input information about self-isolation, whether someone is working in a high-risk job, or is in a neighbourhood with a high rate in infection.
Aware of this problem, the authors said they designed the tool so that it can be updated as new data arrives.
Since January, there have been about 750,000 cases of Covid-19 in Britain, and nearly 44,000 deaths.
Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 40 million people, and killed more than 1.1 million.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Fans relish return to live sport at World Series

After a coronavirus-disrupted season that featured cardboard cutouts and piped in music at Major League Baseball parks , a limited number of lucky fans are relishing a chance to watch World Series games at Globe Life Field .
`` It 's once in a lifetime , '' Robert Yanez , a Dodgers fan who lives about a three hours drive away in Texas , said of the chance to see his team play in the World Series .
Major League Baseball allowed 11,500 fans into Globe Life Park , home of the Texas Rangers , for National League Championship Series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for World Series games .
They 're scattered around a brand new retractable roof ballpark that can accommodate more than 40,000 .
Tickets for the series were put on sale in pods of four for social distancing purposes .
Secondary ticket sale sites meanwhile offered tickets in pairs , with the most expensive available costing $ 2,500 each on one website on Tuesday .
Hand sanitizing stations are ubiquitous , along with signs urging fans to practice social distancing , wear their masks properly and keep their hands clean .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wafts through the concourses a delight for hardcore fans who were denied live baseball all summer .
Rangers fan Martha Weeks of Texas said she 'd been going through baseball withdrawal `` big time '' as spectators were banned for the pandemic-shortened season .
It meant she had to wait to get a glimpse inside her team 's new contemporary-looking home that features soaring glass windows and masses of metal and overlooks their old brick-faced ballpark across the street .
`` This is my first time here since they finished it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good . ''
She found the protocols in place to curb the spread of the virus `` understandable . ''
`` Everybody 's been in shut-down for several months and we know the drill , '' she said .
`` It would be nice to see it full of fans but it is what it is .
Next year . ''
Tuesday 's game one presented Weeks with a quandary when it came to a rooting interest .
`` I kind of want the Rays because they 're American League , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw `` is a Texas boy , so going to have to kind of root for him tonight . ''
Dodgers fans were much in evidence , and not just those from Texas .
`` I told my boss yesterday , I flew out this morning and I 'm flying back home tomorrow , '' Chris Bergman of Los Angeles said .
He 's not worried the neutral venue and sparse number of spectators will dull the atmosphere .
`` I think there 's enough Dodgers fans we 'll get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` It 's pretty crazy , '' Yanez said of attending a baseball game amid an ongoing pandemic .
`` You never thought that you 'd see something like this ever in a lifetime , but for as chaotic as it 's been I would say they have it very well organized .
`` The seats were well apart , there really was n't any kind of inconvenience factor .
Everything was well organized , well put together . ''
Yanez , who said that in a normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight to 10 Rangers games , said he and his family are taking the virus precautions seriously .
`` Like every time we get up and go get something to drink you have to touch the rails when you 're getting up so you get the hand sanitizer on your way in and your way out as much as you can .
`` We do understand that just the simple fact that you get so many people together in one area the chances of the virus being here are likely .
`` But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent it . ''

Arlington (United States) (AFP) –
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After a coronavirus-disrupted season that featured cardboard cutouts and piped in music at Major League Baseball parks, a limited number of lucky fans are relishing a chance to watch World Series games at Globe Life Field.
"It's once in a lifetime," Robert Yanez, a Dodgers fan who lives about a three hours drive away in Texas, said of the chance to see his team play in the World Series.
Major League Baseball allowed 11,500 fans into Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers, for National League Championship Series games between the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves and for World Series games.
They're scattered around a brand new retractable roof ballpark that can accommodate more than 40,000.
Tickets for the series were put on sale in pods of four for social distancing purposes. Secondary ticket sale sites meanwhile offered tickets in pairs, with the most expensive available costing $2,500 each on one website on Tuesday.
Hand sanitizing stations are ubiquitous, along with signs urging fans to practice social distancing, wear their masks properly and keep their hands clean.
But the smell of grilling hotdogs and popcorn also wafts through the concourses a delight for hardcore fans who were denied live baseball all summer.
Rangers fan Martha Weeks of Texas said she'd been going through baseball withdrawal "big time" as spectators were banned for the pandemic-shortened season.
It meant she had to wait to get a glimpse inside her team's new contemporary-looking home that features soaring glass windows and masses of metal and overlooks their old brick-faced ballpark across the street.
"This is my first time here since they finished it," she said. "So far so good."
She found the protocols in place to curb the spread of the virus "understandable."
"Everybody's been in shut-down for several months and we know the drill," she said. "It would be nice to see it full of fans but it is what it is. Next year."
Tuesday's game one presented Weeks with a quandary when it came to a rooting interest.
"I kind of want the Rays because they're American League," she said. But she noted that Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw "is a Texas boy, so going to have to kind of root for him tonight."
- 'Pretty crazy' -
Dodgers fans were much in evidence, and not just those from Texas.
"I told my boss yesterday, I flew out this morning and I'm flying back home tomorrow," Chris Bergman of Los Angeles said.
He's not worried the neutral venue and sparse number of spectators will dull the atmosphere.
"I think there's enough Dodgers fans we'll get it just as loud as 50,000 people," he said.
"It's pretty crazy," Yanez said of attending a baseball game amid an ongoing pandemic.
"You never thought that you'd see something like this ever in a lifetime, but for as chaotic as it's been I would say they have it very well organized.
"The seats were well apart, there really wasn't any kind of inconvenience factor. Everything was well organized, well put together."
Yanez, who said that in a normal year he would bring his son to eight to 10 Rangers games, said he and his family are taking the virus precautions seriously.
"Like every time we get up and go get something to drink you have to touch the rails when you're getting up so you get the hand sanitizer on your way in and your way out as much as you can.
"We do understand that just the simple fact that you get so many people together in one area the chances of the virus being here are likely.
"But you just do what you can to prevent it."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Woods back on happy hunting ground in quest for 83rd win

Tiger Woods launches his latest bid for a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory on Thursday when he emerges from a five-week layoff to defend his title at the relocated Zozo Championship in California .
A year ago , Woods bagged the 82nd tour title of his career with victory at the same tournament in Japan , finally tying Sam Snead 's all-time mark to cap a 2019 which also included a 15th major title at the Masters .
But in the 12 months since that milestone 82nd victory , Woods ' hopes of moving clear of Snead have stalled , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drastically limiting his tournament appearances .
The 44-year-old former world number one has not played since missing the cut at the US Open in New York just over a month ago , his challenge unravelling with a seven-over-par second-round 77 .
Yet the opportunity of defending his title at this week 's Zozo Championship at Sherwood Country Club , just outside Los Angeles , was too good to pass up .
The picturesque course nestled at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains used to stage the limited-field World Challenge event hosted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that spell , Woods won the event five times and finished outside the top two on just two occasions .
While this week 's event will feature a full 78-player field , clearly Woods will feel at home on the 7,098-yard layout which was once used as a filming location for television shows such as `` M.A.S.H '' and `` The Dukes of Hazzard '' .
Woods will tee off on Thursday alongside Matthew Wolff and Xander Schauffele .
Although world number one Dustin Johnson withdrew on Monday as he continues his recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the better of a star-studded field if he is to bag title No.83 .
World number two Jon Rahm will make his debut in the tournament while two-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy returns after a third place finish last year .
While big-hitting US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is skipping the event as he plots an assault on next month 's rescheduled Masters at Augusta , 2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa is in the field .
Japan 's Hideki Matsuyama -- last year 's runner-up at Chiba -- will also take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fowler , Tommy Fleetwood , Phil Mickelson , Patrick Reed , Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth .
For the Los Angeles-raised Morikawa , this week 's event sees him return to a venue where he once watched Woods play as a spectator .
The 23-year-old said Tuesday he had once waited in vain for Woods in the hope of securing his autograph .
`` It 's good to be back in LA , good to be back in Southern California where I grew up , '' Morikawa said .
`` Every time we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California it always means a little more to me .
`` I came out here when I was really young to watch Tiger ’ s event , but I could n't tell you anything about that day other than I remember waiting underneath one of the balconies for signatures , never got one . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Tiger Woods launches his latest bid for a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory on Thursday when he emerges from a five-week layoff to defend his title at the relocated Zozo Championship in California.
A year ago, Woods bagged the 82nd tour title of his career with victory at the same tournament in Japan, finally tying Sam Snead's all-time mark to cap a 2019 which also included a 15th major title at the Masters.
But in the 12 months since that milestone 82nd victory, Woods' hopes of moving clear of Snead have stalled, with the coronavirus pandemic and niggling injuries drastically limiting his tournament appearances.
The 44-year-old former world number one has not played since missing the cut at the US Open in New York just over a month ago, his challenge unravelling with a seven-over-par second-round 77.
Yet the opportunity of defending his title at this week's Zozo Championship at Sherwood Country Club, just outside Los Angeles, was too good to pass up.
The picturesque course nestled at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains used to stage the limited-field World Challenge event hosted by Woods from 2000 to 2013. During that spell, Woods won the event five times and finished outside the top two on just two occasions.
While this week's event will feature a full 78-player field, clearly Woods will feel at home on the 7,098-yard layout which was once used as a filming location for television shows such as "M.A.S.H" and "The Dukes of Hazzard".
Woods will tee off on Thursday alongside Matthew Wolff and Xander Schauffele.
- Star-studded field -
Although world number one Dustin Johnson withdrew on Monday as he continues his recovery from Covid-19, Woods will need to get the better of a star-studded field if he is to bag title No.83.
World number two Jon Rahm will make his debut in the tournament while two-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy returns after a third place finish last year.
While big-hitting US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is skipping the event as he plots an assault on next month's rescheduled Masters at Augusta, 2020 PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa is in the field.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama -- last year's runner-up at Chiba -- will also take part along with Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Tommy Fleetwood, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth.
For the Los Angeles-raised Morikawa, this week's event sees him return to a venue where he once watched Woods play as a spectator.
The 23-year-old said Tuesday he had once waited in vain for Woods in the hope of securing his autograph.
"It's good to be back in LA, good to be back in Southern California where I grew up," Morikawa said.
"Every time we're able to play a tournament in California it always means a little more to me.
"I came out here when I was really young to watch Tiger’s event, but I couldn't tell you anything about that day other than I remember waiting underneath one of the balconies for signatures, never got one."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--$1.7 bln pledged in aid to save Sahel from 'breaking point'

Going into the conference , the UN said that as of October 7 , 2020 , it was $ 850 million short of the $ 1.4 billion needed for its 2020 humanitarian response plans International donors agreed Tuesday to give $ 1.7 billion in humanitarian aid to the central Sahel , after the United Nations said the northern African region plagued by violence and climate change was at `` breaking point '' .
Conditions in the section of the semi-arid sub-Saharan belt spanning Burkina Faso , Mali and Niger are worsening dramatically according to the UN , with a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtual ministerial conference , donor countries announced scaled-up aid to the region `` to help stem what could otherwise become one of the world 's biggest humanitarian crises '' , the UN said in a statement .
Going into the conference , the UN said that as of October 7 , it was $ 850 million short of the $ 1.4 billion needed for its humanitarian response plans this year .
The conference was also seeking a further $ 1.56 billion to protect the lives of the region 's most vulnerable people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 2.4 billion .
Denmark -- in partnership with Germany , the European Union and the UN -- hosted the conference in a bid to instil a more acute sense of urgency .
`` The central Sahel region is at a breaking point , '' UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the conference in a video message .
`` The Sahel is a microcosm of cascading global risks converging in one region .
It is a warning sign for us all requiring urgent attention and resolution .
`` We must act -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had sharply deteriorated , violence was on the rise and internal displacement had increased 20-fold in less than two years .
The number of families facing hunger has tripled , while climate change threatens livelihoods , with the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbating the problems , he added .
`` We need to reverse this downward spiral with a renewed push for peace and reconciliation , '' Guterres said .
Twenty-two countries announced donations : 14 EU nations plus others including Japan , Canada and South Korea , along with the EU itself and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Switzerland offered $ 464.1 million , followed by the United States with $ 274.8 million , Denmark with $ 183 million , the EU with $ 122 million and Germany with $ 118.2 million .
`` Violence has forced more than 1.5 million people in the central Sahel region from their homes -- a twentyfold increase in two years .
Gender-based violence has spiked , millions of children are out of school , and basic health and social services are lacking , '' the UN statement said .
`` Once released , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people for the remainder of 2020 and through 2021 with nutrition and food , health services , water and sanitation , shelter , education and protection , and provide support to survivors of gender-based violence . ''
An estimated 7.4 million people are struggling with crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity during the current lean season , said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA ) -- treble the number of acutely food insecure people than one year ago .
Compared to the average of the last five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 514 percent in Burkina Faso , 130 percent in Mali and 144 percent in Niger .
OCHA said that in Mali alone , the number of people who needed humanitarian assistance between January and August 2020 rose from 4.3 million to 6.8 million , meaning one in three people needed emergency aid .

Geneva (AFP) –
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International donors agreed Tuesday to give $1.7 billion in humanitarian aid to the central Sahel, after the United Nations said the northern African region plagued by violence and climate change was at "breaking point".
Conditions in the section of the semi-arid sub-Saharan belt spanning Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are worsening dramatically according to the UN, with a record 13.4 million people needing assistance.
Following a virtual ministerial conference, donor countries announced scaled-up aid to the region "to help stem what could otherwise become one of the world's biggest humanitarian crises", the UN said in a statement.
Going into the conference, the UN said that as of October 7, it was $850 million short of the $1.4 billion needed for its humanitarian response plans this year.
The conference was also seeking a further $1.56 billion to protect the lives of the region's most vulnerable people next year, taking its total ask to $2.4 billion.
Denmark -- in partnership with Germany, the European Union and the UN -- hosted the conference in a bid to instil a more acute sense of urgency.
"The central Sahel region is at a breaking point," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the conference in a video message.
"The Sahel is a microcosm of cascading global risks converging in one region. It is a warning sign for us all requiring urgent attention and resolution.
"We must act -- and act now."
Guterres said security had sharply deteriorated, violence was on the rise and internal displacement had increased 20-fold in less than two years.
The number of families facing hunger has tripled, while climate change threatens livelihoods, with the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbating the problems, he added.
"We need to reverse this downward spiral with a renewed push for peace and reconciliation," Guterres said.
- Swiss, US dig deep -
Twenty-two countries announced donations: 14 EU nations plus others including Japan, Canada and South Korea, along with the EU itself and the largely UK-backed Education Cannot Wait fund.
Switzerland offered $464.1 million, followed by the United States with $274.8 million, Denmark with $183 million, the EU with $122 million and Germany with $118.2 million.
"Violence has forced more than 1.5 million people in the central Sahel region from their homes -- a twentyfold increase in two years. Gender-based violence has spiked, millions of children are out of school, and basic health and social services are lacking," the UN statement said.
"Once released, the funds will help some 10 million people for the remainder of 2020 and through 2021 with nutrition and food, health services, water and sanitation, shelter, education and protection, and provide support to survivors of gender-based violence."
An estimated 7.4 million people are struggling with crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity during the current lean season, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) -- treble the number of acutely food insecure people than one year ago.
Compared to the average of the last five years, acute food insecurity has increased by 514 percent in Burkina Faso, 130 percent in Mali and 144 percent in Niger.
OCHA said that in Mali alone, the number of people who needed humanitarian assistance between January and August 2020 rose from 4.3 million to 6.8 million, meaning one in three people needed emergency aid.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-20--Manchester United beat PSG in Champions League opener

Marcus Rashford produced another late strike to sink Paris Saint-Germain as Manchester United beat last season 's runners-up 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in their Champions League group-stage opener on Tuesday .
The England striker , whose last-gasp penalty gave United a stunning victory over PSG here in the last 16 in 2019 , smashed home low in the 87th minute as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side claimed a well-deserved three points .
`` They were both opportunities to win the game .
As a striker when it 's late on , that 's your mindset , you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do your best to make it happen , '' Rashford told BT Sport after repeating his heroics of two seasons ago .
United had taken a first-half lead behind closed doors in Paris courtesy of a retaken Bruno Fernandes penalty after United 's captain for the night had initially missed .
But it looked as though PSG would escape with a draw despite a poor performance after France striker Anthony Martial headed a Neymar corner into his own net 10 minutes after the restart in this Group H encounter .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was handed the United manager 's job on a permanent basis on the back of that victory here in March 2019 and has now seen his side bounce back in style from an embarrassing 6-1 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur just before the recent international break .
He had again left Paul Pogba on the bench at kick-off , just like in Saturday 's 4-1 Premier League win at Newcastle United , and the Norwegian 's decision to start with three central defenders also paid off .
Axel Tuanzebe , whose last start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the back line with Harry Maguire missing , while there was a debut as a left wing-back for Alex Telles following the Brazilian 's arrival from Porto .
PSG , meanwhile , looked out of sorts , perhaps struggling more than their visitors to adapt to the bizarre experience of playing such a game without fans .
In different times the Parc des Princes would have been buzzing with anticipation ahead of the first game of another Champions League campaign , under the lights .
Instead it was empty , the 9:00 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coinciding with the start of the nighttime curfew recently introduced in the French capital as part of attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
PSG were hoping to get off to a winning start to their latest bid to win this competition , two months after Thomas Tuchel 's side lost to Bayern Munich in the final .
The French champions were also seeking revenge against United for that defeat in the last 16 in 2019 .
However the visitors went ahead in the 23rd minute from a spot-kick awarded after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spin away from Abdou Diallo .
Having missed a penalty in the weekend win at Newcastle , Fernandes -- wearing the captain 's armband in the absence of Maguire -- this time saw his kick stopped by Keylor Navas .
However , the Costa Rican was off his line when he made the save so referee Mateu Lahoz ordered a retake .
Fernandes kept his nerve to score second time around .
PSG had come close to taking an early lead when an Angel Di Maria curler was tipped around the post by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off colour and missed Marquinhos and Marco Verratti .
Tuchel therefore changed things around at half-time , sending on Everton loanee Moise Kean and changing formation .
The alterations had the desired effect .
After a fantastic De Gea save from Kylian Mbappe and a Layvin Kurzawa cross that landed on the crossbar , Paris equalised in the 55th minute as Neymar 's corner from the left was headed into his own net by Martial .
Pogba was then sent on by Solskjaer , and the action swung from end to end .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ best chances , twice being denied by Navas before eventually finding the net .
The result sets United up nicely for next week 's home clash with RB Leipzig , who also won on Tuesday , beating Istanbul Basaksehir 2-0 in Germany .

Marcus Rashford produced another late strike to sink Paris Saint-Germain as Manchester United beat last season's runners-up 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in their Champions League group-stage opener on Tuesday.
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring the team's second goal against Paris Saint Germain at Parc des Princes, Paris, France, on October 20.
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The England striker, whose last-gasp penalty gave United a stunning victory over PSG here in the last 16 in 2019, smashed home low in the 87th minute as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side claimed a well-deserved three points.
"They were both opportunities to win the game. As a striker when it's late on, that's your mindset, you might only get one chance and you have to do your best to make it happen," Rashford told BT Sport after repeating his heroics of two seasons ago.
United had taken a first-half lead behind closed doors in Paris courtesy of a retaken Bruno Fernandes penalty after United's captain for the night had initially missed.
But it looked as though PSG would escape with a draw despite a poor performance after France striker Anthony Martial headed a Neymar corner into his own net 10 minutes after the restart in this Group H encounter.
It is another fine result for Solskjaer, who was handed the United manager's job on a permanent basis on the back of that victory here in March 2019 and has now seen his side bounce back in style from an embarrassing 6-1 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur just before the recent international break.
He had again left Paul Pogba on the bench at kick-off, just like in Saturday's 4-1 Premier League win at Newcastle United, and the Norwegian's decision to start with three central defenders also paid off.
Axel Tuanzebe, whose last start had come 10 months ago, came into the back line with Harry Maguire missing, while there was a debut as a left wing-back for Alex Telles following the Brazilian's arrival from Porto.
PSG, meanwhile, looked out of sorts, perhaps struggling more than their visitors to adapt to the bizarre experience of playing such a game without fans.
In different times the Parc des Princes would have been buzzing with anticipation ahead of the first game of another Champions League campaign, under the lights.
Instead it was empty, the 9:00 pm local time start of this match coinciding with the start of the nighttime curfew recently introduced in the French capital as part of attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
PSG off colour
PSG were hoping to get off to a winning start to their latest bid to win this competition, two months after Thomas Tuchel's side lost to Bayern Munich in the final.
The French champions were also seeking revenge against United for that defeat in the last 16 in 2019.
However the visitors went ahead in the 23rd minute from a spot-kick awarded after Martial was fouled as he tried to spin away from Abdou Diallo.
Having missed a penalty in the weekend win at Newcastle, Fernandes -- wearing the captain's armband in the absence of Maguire -- this time saw his kick stopped by Keylor Navas.
However, the Costa Rican was off his line when he made the save so referee Mateu Lahoz ordered a retake. Fernandes kept his nerve to score second time around.
PSG had come close to taking an early lead when an Angel Di Maria curler was tipped around the post by David de Gea, but they looked off colour and missed Marquinhos and Marco Verratti.
Tuchel therefore changed things around at half-time, sending on Everton loanee Moise Kean and changing formation.
The alterations had the desired effect. After a fantastic De Gea save from Kylian Mbappe and a Layvin Kurzawa cross that landed on the crossbar, Paris equalised in the 55th minute as Neymar's corner from the left was headed into his own net by Martial.
Pogba was then sent on by Solskjaer, and the action swung from end to end. Yet it was Rashford who had the best chances, twice being denied by Navas before eventually finding the net.
The result sets United up nicely for next week's home clash with RB Leipzig, who also won on Tuesday, beating Istanbul Basaksehir 2-0 in Germany.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-10-20--Mixed results for arthritis drug repurposed as Covid-19 treatment

The arthritis drug tocilizumab has been used by doctors since the start of the pandemic with the hope of tamping down an abnormal immune response known as `` cytokine storm '' A trio of new studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Tuesday examining the efficacy of an arthritis drug against Covid-19 showed inconsistent results .
Tocilizumab has been used by doctors since the start of the pandemic with the hope of tamping down an abnormal immune response known as a `` cytokine storm '' that causes severe organ damage in some hospitalized Covid-19 patients .
Unlike steroids , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tocilizumab blocks a particular signaling protein from triggering inflammation .
Of the three new studies , the largest was led by the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women 's Hospital in the United States on more than 4,000 critically ill Covid-19 patients .
The risk of death at 30 days was 28 and 38 percent among tocilizumab-treated and non-tocilizumab-treated patients , respectively .
But the American study was `` observational , '' meaning it did n't compare the drug , which was administered intravenously , with a standard treatment .
There were also key differences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received tocilizumab -- which the authors tried to control for using statistical methods -- but the risk of confounding factors remains .
The two other studies , called out in France and Italy , were randomized controlled trials , considered the gold standard for clinical research , in which patients are allocated a treatment by chance .
The Italian trial looked at around 120 patients and did n't find any difference in outcomes between those on tocilizumab .
The French trial looked at about 130 patients who were n't critically ill .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreased in those on the drug by two weeks , but after 28 days mortality outcomes were similar .
Writing in a related editorial , Doctor Jonathan Parr , an infectious disease specialist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said : `` Newly released randomized trials suggest a potential role for tocilizumab in COVID-19 but do not show clear evidence of efficacy .
`` I plan to wait out the torrent of positive observational studies and reconsider tocilizumab 's use in Covid-19 if , and only if , more compelling data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US National Institutes of Health currently does not recommend tocilizumab for use against Covid-19 outside of clinical trials , and Tuesday 's results will unlikely change that .
Tocilizumab belongs to a class of drug called `` monoclonal antibodies '' which have received significant attention after US President Donald Trump received a dose of the lab-made molecules for his Covid-19 .
However unlike the experimental drug devised by Regeneron which Trump received , tocilizumab is an already licensed drug for immune conditions .
Regeneron 's treatment , and a similar therapy developed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus to stop it from invading human cells .
Tocilizumab instead blocks a receptor of Interleukin ( IL ) -6 , a protein called a `` cytokine '' that signals the body to mount an inflammatory response against pathogens .

Washington (AFP) –
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A trio of new studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Tuesday examining the efficacy of an arthritis drug against Covid-19 showed inconsistent results.
Tocilizumab has been used by doctors since the start of the pandemic with the hope of tamping down an abnormal immune response known as a "cytokine storm" that causes severe organ damage in some hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
Unlike steroids, which suppress the immune system more broadly, tocilizumab blocks a particular signaling protein from triggering inflammation.
Of the three new studies, the largest was led by the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in the United States on more than 4,000 critically ill Covid-19 patients.
The risk of death at 30 days was 28 and 38 percent among tocilizumab-treated and non-tocilizumab-treated patients, respectively.
But the American study was "observational," meaning it didn't compare the drug, which was administered intravenously, with a standard treatment.
There were also key differences in the patient demographics among those who received tocilizumab -- which the authors tried to control for using statistical methods -- but the risk of confounding factors remains.
The two other studies, called out in France and Italy, were randomized controlled trials, considered the gold standard for clinical research, in which patients are allocated a treatment by chance.
The Italian trial looked at around 120 patients and didn't find any difference in outcomes between those on tocilizumab.
The French trial looked at about 130 patients who weren't critically ill. The risk of death or progression to ventilators decreased in those on the drug by two weeks, but after 28 days mortality outcomes were similar.
Writing in a related editorial, Doctor Jonathan Parr, an infectious disease specialist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said: "Newly released randomized trials suggest a potential role for tocilizumab in COVID-19 but do not show clear evidence of efficacy.
"I plan to wait out the torrent of positive observational studies and reconsider tocilizumab's use in Covid-19 if, and only if, more compelling data from randomized trials emerges."
The US National Institutes of Health currently does not recommend tocilizumab for use against Covid-19 outside of clinical trials, and Tuesday's results will unlikely change that.
Tocilizumab belongs to a class of drug called "monoclonal antibodies" which have received significant attention after US President Donald Trump received a dose of the lab-made molecules for his Covid-19.
However unlike the experimental drug devised by Regeneron which Trump received, tocilizumab is an already licensed drug for immune conditions.
Regeneron's treatment, and a similar therapy developed by Eli Lilly, target a surface protein of the coronavirus to stop it from invading human cells.
Tocilizumab instead blocks a receptor of Interleukin (IL)-6, a protein called a "cytokine" that signals the body to mount an inflammatory response against pathogens.
© 2020 AFP