france24--2020-09-03--Australia's Finch says Labuschagne may have to wait for T20 turn

Australia 's Marnus Labuschagne may have to wait to make his Twenty20 international debut despite a dazzling start to the tour of England , according to captain Aaron Finch .
Labuschagne , a breakout star of last year 's drawn Ashes campaign in England , scored 100 off 51 balls when opening in a T20 trial game on Tuesday .
But with Finch and David Warner established as an opening pair and star batsman Steve Smith a powerful presence in the top order , the 26-year-old may be unable to force his way into Australia 's side to play England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T20 series between the two top-ranked teams in the format takes place in Southampton on Friday .
`` We 're pretty settled with how we structure our T20 side at the moment , '' Finch told a conference call on Thursday .
`` He ( Labuschagne ) played nicely the other day , but I think he might have to wait a little bit longer in T20 cricket . ''
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey struck 107 in the same innings as Labuschagne , while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell hit 108 in a 50-over warm-up match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ England , the world champions in 50-over cricket , in three one-day internationals later this month .
`` It 's been a really good hit out the last few days , '' said Finch .
`` Obviously with Maxwell getting a hundred , Marnus , Alex Carey all getting hundreds in two different formats is really pleasing . ''
Finch knows the Southampton ground well -- he hit a then T20 world record 156 against England at Hampshire 's headquarters in 2013 .
`` Your defensive bowling becomes really important because it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace than some other wickets around the country , '' explained Finch .
`` So it gives you the opportunity to hit through the line and take the game on a little bit earlier on in your innings than what you generally would . ''
England beat Australia in the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup last year but Finch said his side did not carry scars from that experience .
Asked if this series might serve as a preview for the semi-finals or final of next year 's T20 World Cup in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope so .
They ( England ) have played great cricket in shorter formats for a few years now .
`` They 're a team that make you make decisions really quickly , whether to attack or counter-attack or defend , especially when they 've got the bat in hand . ''
Finch said neither team would make a pre-match gesture in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as happened when England and the West Indies took a knee during their Test series earlier this season .
`` I 've spoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we 're not going to do a specific gesture like has happened in the past , '' he said .
`` We were really proud to play a game where it 's celebrated all over the world and anyone can play it –- it does n't matter what race , what religion , what nationality -- cricket is the game for everyone and I 'm really proud about that .
`` The education around this is more important than a protest . ''

London (AFP) –
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Australia's Marnus Labuschagne may have to wait to make his Twenty20 international debut despite a dazzling start to the tour of England, according to captain Aaron Finch.
Labuschagne, a breakout star of last year's drawn Ashes campaign in England, scored 100 off 51 balls when opening in a T20 trial game on Tuesday.
But with Finch and David Warner established as an opening pair and star batsman Steve Smith a powerful presence in the top order, the 26-year-old may be unable to force his way into Australia's side to play England.
The first game in a three-match T20 series between the two top-ranked teams in the format takes place in Southampton on Friday.
"We're pretty settled with how we structure our T20 side at the moment," Finch told a conference call on Thursday.
"He (Labuschagne) played nicely the other day, but I think he might have to wait a little bit longer in T20 cricket."
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey struck 107 in the same innings as Labuschagne, while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell hit 108 in a 50-over warm-up match.
Top-ranked T20 side Australia also face England, the world champions in 50-over cricket, in three one-day internationals later this month.
"It's been a really good hit out the last few days," said Finch. "Obviously with Maxwell getting a hundred, Marnus, Alex Carey all getting hundreds in two different formats is really pleasing."
Finch knows the Southampton ground well -- he hit a then T20 world record 156 against England at Hampshire's headquarters in 2013.
- 'No scars' -
"Your defensive bowling becomes really important because it's a wicket that has a touch more pace than some other wickets around the country," explained Finch.
"So it gives you the opportunity to hit through the line and take the game on a little bit earlier on in your innings than what you generally would."
England beat Australia in the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup last year but Finch said his side did not carry scars from that experience.
Asked if this series might serve as a preview for the semi-finals or final of next year's T20 World Cup in India, Finch added: "I hope so. They (England) have played great cricket in shorter formats for a few years now.
"They're a team that make you make decisions really quickly, whether to attack or counter-attack or defend, especially when they've got the bat in hand."
Finch said neither team would make a pre-match gesture in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as happened when England and the West Indies took a knee during their Test series earlier this season.
"I've spoke to Eoin (Morgan, England captain) and we're not going to do a specific gesture like has happened in the past," he said.
"We were really proud to play a game where it's celebrated all over the world and anyone can play it –- it doesn't matter what race, what religion, what nationality -- cricket is the game for everyone and I'm really proud about that.
"The education around this is more important than a protest."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Aston Villa sign Forest defender Matty Cash

Cash agreed a five-year contract with Villa , who narrowly escaped relegation from the Premier League last season .
Sheffield United and West Ham also reportedly made bids for the right-back .
`` We are delighted to welcome Matty to Villa and believe we have secured one of England 's brightest young prospects , '' said Villa manager Dean Smith .
`` He has an excellent playing record for a young player and we believe he will settle in easily and continue his rapid development into a top full-back . ''
The 23-year-old made 141 appearances in six years with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to step up to the Premier League .
`` My agent rang me and said that Villa were interested , and immediately it was the place I wanted to come to , '' Cash said .
`` I said 'do n't even worry about anywhere else , I want to come here and play ' .
`` It 's been a crazy journey from the age of 17 , getting released at Wycombe Wanderers to kicking on .
`` Signing for Villa is a huge moment , and I want to thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process . ''

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Aston Villa have signed Nottingham Forest defender Matty Cash in a deal worth a reported £16 million ($21 million).
Cash agreed a five-year contract with Villa, who narrowly escaped relegation from the Premier League last season.
Sheffield United and West Ham also reportedly made bids for the right-back.
"We are delighted to welcome Matty to Villa and believe we have secured one of England's brightest young prospects," said Villa manager Dean Smith.
"He has an excellent playing record for a young player and we believe he will settle in easily and continue his rapid development into a top full-back."
The 23-year-old made 141 appearances in six years with second-tier Forest and believes the time is right to step up to the Premier League.
"My agent rang me and said that Villa were interested, and immediately it was the place I wanted to come to," Cash said.
"I said 'don't even worry about anywhere else, I want to come here and play'.
"It's been a crazy journey from the age of 17, getting released at Wycombe Wanderers to kicking on.
"Signing for Villa is a huge moment, and I want to thank everyone who's supported me through this process."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Deadly jihadist attack targets Cameroon village hosting displaced people

File photo ( March 2019 ) : Members of the Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Force patrol on the outskirts of Mosogo in the far north of the country , where Boko Haram jihadists have been active since 2013 .
A suicide bomber on Tuesday killed seven civilians in a village housing displaced people in Cameroon ’ s restive northern tip bordering Nigeria , where deadly attacks have been on the rise .
The police officer said Tuesday ’ s bombing followed a Boko Haram raid on a village , adding : “ The people fled and a young man strapped with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Cameroonian government uses the term Boko Haram to refer loosely to the Nigerian jihadist group of the same name , as well as the breakaway Islamic State West Africa Province ( ISWAP ) group .
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it “ firmly condemns this attack which killed seven civilians and wounded 14 others in Kouyape village .
“ The suicide bomb attack took place near Kolofata , close to the border with Nigeria , where some 18,000 internally displaced people have sought safety over the past seven years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cameroon ’ s far north , an impoverished strip of land between Chad and Nigeria , has been a regular target of raids and assaults by Boko Haram since 2013 .
The jihadist group launched its insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 before spilling over into neighbouring Cameroon , Niger and Chad .
It has killed more than 30,000 people , forcing three million to flee their homes , according to the UN .
“ We are horrified by these senseless attacks on people who have been torn from their villages , fleeing violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region , only to be stripped of safety again after they just found refuge elsewhere , ” said Olivier Guillaume Beer , UNHCR Representative in Cameroon .
“ The killing of innocent civilians has to stop , ” he said .
“ We call on armed groups to respect the rights and lives of civilian populations.
” The attack came a month after 18 people died and 15 were injured by an armed group on the Nguetchewe IDP site .
Two young suicide bombers were involved in the attacks , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90 attacks in Cameroon since January .
On August 25 , ISWAP attacked a Cameroonian island near the Nigerian border killing 14 people , according to Nigerian authorities .
Security experts say ISWAP is extending its grip and influence around Lake Chad , a vast , marshy area also shared by Niger and Chad .

A suicide bomber on Tuesday killed seven civilians in a village housing displaced people in Cameroon’s restive northern tip bordering Nigeria, where deadly attacks have been on the rise.
File photo (March 2019): Members of the Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Force patrol on the outskirts of Mosogo in the far north of the country, where Boko Haram jihadists have been active since 2013.
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The police officer said Tuesday’s bombing followed a Boko Haram raid on a village, adding: “The people fled and a young man strapped with explosives chased them and blew himself up.”
The Cameroonian government uses the term Boko Haram to refer loosely to the Nigerian jihadist group of the same name, as well as the breakaway Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it “firmly condemns this attack which killed seven civilians and wounded 14 others in Kouyape village.
“The suicide bomb attack took place near Kolofata, close to the border with Nigeria, where some 18,000 internally displaced people have sought safety over the past seven years,” the refugee agency said.
Cameroon’s far north, an impoverished strip of land between Chad and Nigeria, has been a regular target of raids and assaults by Boko Haram since 2013.
The jihadist group launched its insurgency in Nigeria in 2009 before spilling over into neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
It has killed more than 30,000 people, forcing three million to flee their homes, according to the UN.
“We are horrified by these senseless attacks on people who have been torn from their villages, fleeing violence perpetrated by armed gangs which rage in the region, only to be stripped of safety again after they just found refuge elsewhere,” said Olivier Guillaume Beer, UNHCR Representative in Cameroon.
“The killing of innocent civilians has to stop,” he said. “We call on armed groups to respect the rights and lives of civilian populations.”
The attack came a month after 18 people died and 15 were injured by an armed group on the Nguetchewe IDP site. Two young suicide bombers were involved in the attacks, according to officials.
Boko Haram has staged nearly 90 attacks in Cameroon since January.
On August 25, ISWAP attacked a Cameroonian island near the Nigerian border killing 14 people, according to Nigerian authorities.
Security experts say ISWAP is extending its grip and influence around Lake Chad, a vast, marshy area also shared by Niger and Chad.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-04--Russia promoting distrust in US vote-by-mail plans

US senators say Russian President Vladimir Putin 's government needs to face sanctions for ongoing interference in the 2020 US election Russia is actively trying to undermine voters ' faith in the US electoral system and especially in voting by mail ahead of the November 3 election , according to a Department of Homeland Security analysis Thursday .
The internal DHS analysis , first reported by ABC News and then other US media , says that at least since March 2020 , `` Russian malign influence actors have been amplifying allegations of election integrity issues in new voting processes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through media and social networks , the Russians have encouraged Americans to fear voting fraud , large counting errors and ballot mishandling by the postal service .
This argument is one that President Donald Trump hammers away at as he trails in the polls .
Russian media and proxy websites are also promoting the idea that voting by mail -- being pushed mainly to limit the risk of Covid-19 spreading via in-person voting -- is being pressed by officials and policy makers to benefit specific candidates .
The online meddling activity took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the year , but ramped up as the coronavirus began to spread and officials began promoting widespread voting by mail .
`` We assess that Russia is likely to continue amplifying criticisms of vote-by-mail and shifting voting processes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic to undermine public trust in the electoral process , '' the unclassified report said .
As in 2016 , the Russians are often amplifying sentiments already present in US politics .
Trump and many Republicans claim that vote-by-mail is likely to lead to widespread fraud and questionable vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and false narratives around vote by mail that President Trump and his enablers , including Attorney General Barr , have been aggressively promoting , '' said House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff said in a statement .
Separately , Democratic senators pressed the US Treasury Thursday to place sanctions `` immediately '' on Russian organizations and individuals for interfering in the election , saying intelligence shows Moscow is seeking to damage Trump rival Joe Biden 's candidacy .
`` It is long past time for the administration to send a direct message to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US will respond immediately and forcefully to continuing election interference , '' said the letter to Mnuchin .
`` There is virtually no national security threat more serious than that posed by those who would undermine confidence in , and the effective operation of , our democratic elections , '' they wrote .
An August 7 statement from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center said Russia is actively working against Biden 's candidacy , favoring Trump as it did in 2016 .
`` Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees as an anti-Russia 'establishment , ' '' the statement said .
Since then , however , Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has refused to provide any more briefings to Congress on election meddling , saying he would simply send written summaries .

Washington (AFP) –
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Russia is actively trying to undermine voters' faith in the US electoral system and especially in voting by mail ahead of the November 3 election, according to a Department of Homeland Security analysis Thursday.
The internal DHS analysis, first reported by ABC News and then other US media, says that at least since March 2020, "Russian malign influence actors have been amplifying allegations of election integrity issues in new voting processes and vote-by-mail programs."
It says that through media and social networks, the Russians have encouraged Americans to fear voting fraud, large counting errors and ballot mishandling by the postal service.
This argument is one that President Donald Trump hammers away at as he trails in the polls.
Russian media and proxy websites are also promoting the idea that voting by mail -- being pushed mainly to limit the risk of Covid-19 spreading via in-person voting -- is being pressed by officials and policy makers to benefit specific candidates.
The online meddling activity took place during the party caucuses and primaries at the beginning of the year, but ramped up as the coronavirus began to spread and officials began promoting widespread voting by mail.
"We assess that Russia is likely to continue amplifying criticisms of vote-by-mail and shifting voting processes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic to undermine public trust in the electoral process," the unclassified report said.
As in 2016, the Russians are often amplifying sentiments already present in US politics.
Trump and many Republicans claim that vote-by-mail is likely to lead to widespread fraud and questionable vote counts.
"Russia is echoing destructive and false narratives around vote by mail that President Trump and his enablers, including Attorney General Barr, have been aggressively promoting," said House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff said in a statement.
Separately, Democratic senators pressed the US Treasury Thursday to place sanctions "immediately" on Russian organizations and individuals for interfering in the election, saying intelligence shows Moscow is seeking to damage Trump rival Joe Biden's candidacy.
"It is long past time for the administration to send a direct message to President (Vladimir) Putin: the US will respond immediately and forcefully to continuing election interference," said the letter to Mnuchin.
"There is virtually no national security threat more serious than that posed by those who would undermine confidence in, and the effective operation of, our democratic elections," they wrote.
An August 7 statement from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center said Russia is actively working against Biden's candidacy, favoring Trump as it did in 2016.
"Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former vice president Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia 'establishment,'" the statement said.
Since then, however, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has refused to provide any more briefings to Congress on election meddling, saying he would simply send written summaries.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Three more PSG footballers test positive for Covid-19 after Ibiza holiday

Three more Paris Saint-Germain players tested positive for the coronavirus , taking the number so far to six and throwing the club ’ s start to the new season into chaos .
PSG announced the positive tests late on Thursday , without giving the names of the players and only saying that they are “ subject to the appropriate health protocol ” .
But sports daily L ’ Equipe named them as defender Marquinhos , goalkeeper Keylor Navas and striker Mauro Icardi .
The other three cases , confirmed by the club on Wednesday , reportedly are forward Neymar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paredes .
All six were part of a recent holiday trip to Ibiza in Spain , which was authorized , following the club ’ s defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on Aug. 23 .
Some players posted photos on their social network accounts , posing together with their arms around each other or with their partners .
In order to make that trip possible , PSG ’ s opening league game of the new campaign away to Lens — initially scheduled for Aug. 29 — was pushed back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lens fans .
Some observers questioned the wisdom of letting players go off on holiday during a pandemic and whether the club lacks authority over its stars .
French champion PSG is also meant to face bitter rival Marseille at home three days after the Lens game , but both could yet be postponed because of health and safety protocol .
Players put in isolation are forbidden from training with the squad or playing for 14 days after a positive test , unless they produce two negative tests within 48 hours .
Should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the club faces a backlog of matches with the Champions League starting on Oct. 20 .
The first game of the French soccer season was postponed last month because of an outbreak of Covid-19 cases at Marseille after the southern club confirmed four positive cases among its first-team players and staff .
Several other French clubs have been hit by the virus , including Montpellier , Rennes and Lyon .

Three more Paris Saint-Germain players tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the number so far to six and throwing the club’s start to the new season into chaos.
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PSG announced the positive tests late on Thursday, without giving the names of the players and only saying that they are “subject to the appropriate health protocol”.
But sports daily L’Equipe named them as defender Marquinhos, goalkeeper Keylor Navas and striker Mauro Icardi. The other three cases, confirmed by the club on Wednesday, reportedly are forward Neymar, winger Angel Di Maria and midfielder Leandro Paredes.
All six were part of a recent holiday trip to Ibiza in Spain, which was authorized, following the club’s defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on Aug. 23. Some players posted photos on their social network accounts, posing together with their arms around each other or with their partners.
In order to make that trip possible, PSG’s opening league game of the new campaign away to Lens — initially scheduled for Aug. 29 — was pushed back to Sept. 10, drawing strong criticism from Lens fans.
Some observers questioned the wisdom of letting players go off on holiday during a pandemic and whether the club lacks authority over its stars.
French champion PSG is also meant to face bitter rival Marseille at home three days after the Lens game, but both could yet be postponed because of health and safety protocol. Players put in isolation are forbidden from training with the squad or playing for 14 days after a positive test, unless they produce two negative tests within 48 hours.
Should PSG’s games be postponed, the club faces a backlog of matches with the Champions League starting on Oct. 20.
The first game of the French soccer season was postponed last month because of an outbreak of Covid-19 cases at Marseille after the southern club confirmed four positive cases among its first-team players and staff.
Several other French clubs have been hit by the virus, including Montpellier, Rennes and Lyon.
(AP)
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france24--2020-09-03--Fourteenth seed Dimitrov tumbles out of US Open

Fourteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov tumbled out of the US Open at the second-round stage on Thursday .
The Bulgarian , @ @ @ @ @ high as number three in the world in his career , fell to 66th-ranked Hungarian @ @ @ @ @ .
Fucsovics downed Dimitrov , a semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows last year , 6-7 ( @ @ @ @ @ 7/4 ) , 3-6 , 6-4 , 6-1 in 4hr 50min .
Dimitrov became the @ @ @ @ @ exit the tournament after Chile 's Cristian Garin , seeded 13th , lost in five @ @ @ @

New York (AFP) –
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Fourteenth seed Grigor Dimitrov tumbled out of the US Open at the second-round stage on Thursday.
The Bulgarian, who has been ranked as high as number three in the world in his career, fell to 66th-ranked Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in five sets.
Fucsovics downed Dimitrov, a semi-finalist at Flushing Meadows last year, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in 4hr 50min.
Dimitrov became the second-highest men's seed to exit the tournament after Chile's Cristian Garin, seeded 13th, lost in five sets on Wednesday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Brazil tops 4 million cases amid signs pandemic slowing

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ( C ) speaks alongside Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes ( L ) , deputies and senators during a statement on financial aid for vulnerable Brazilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic , at Planalto Palace , in Brasilia Brazil topped four million Covid-19 cases on Thursday as health ministry officials said infections were beginning to slow in the world 's second worst-hit country .
Since the first case came to light on February 26 , the South American colossus has registered more than 4.04 million infections and over 124,600 deaths , second only to the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the previous 24 hours , and 834 fatalities .
The health ministry said the number of infections were slightly reducing in recent days , amid hopes that the pandemic had peaked following months when the daily average of deaths was over 1,000 .
Since the end of August , Brazil has averaged around 870 Covid-19 fatalities with 40,000 new infections a day .
`` This is the beginning of what we hope is in fact an improving trend , '' said Mauricio Sanchez , an epidemiologist at Brasilia University .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timid '' and said the slowdown in cases should be maintained for two or three weeks to be able to draw any firm conclusions .
However , in such a vast , continent-sized country , the national curve could be skewed by what was in effect `` 27 different epidemics , '' he said , referring to Brazil 's states .
Brazil has recorded a death rate of 589 per million inhabitants but there is a huge difference between the figures in the north ( 746 ) and the south ( 309 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Sao Paulo , said the numbers suggest that Brazil could be on the verge of improvement .
`` In the last two months , we have seen a curve that mixes regions that are increasing , with others that are decreasing , '' said Lotufo , pointing to spikes in the south and center-west , while cases were falling in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro , as well as in the north .
The experts warned the situation could suddenly worsen again if local and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business groups to reopen the economy too soon and if social distancing measures were abandoned .
Last Sunday , the beaches of Rio de Janeiro were crowded with people without masks .
Many Brazilian cities are currently studying how and when to reopen schools .
Bars , restaurants , gyms and churches have already reopened , albeit with strict social distancing rules .
Sanchez and Lotufo agree that Brazil could have avoided a large number of deaths if it had quickly implemented effective isolation measures and facilitated early access of the poorest to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people can not stay at home working in their home office , '' said Sanchez , who fears that the current signs of improvement will lead local governments and the general public to slacken off and that progress made in recent weeks will be lost .
Brazil 's containment strategy has been hampered by the lack of a coordinated approach as President Jair Bolsonaro has often argued against measures taken by state governors .
Even though he contracted the virus himself , Bolsonaro has continued to encourage his supporters to gather on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some despite not wearing a face mask .
He has often repeated his belief that Brazil 's economic collapse would be worse than the effects of the virus .
He has twice changed his health minister after disagreements over how to tackle the pandemic and Bolsonaro 's promotion of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment -- despite scientists warning there is no proof it could be effective .
Brazil has suffered a record contraction of its economy , and the loss of nine million jobs .

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Brazil topped four million Covid-19 cases on Thursday as health ministry officials said infections were beginning to slow in the world's second worst-hit country.
Since the first case came to light on February 26, the South American colossus has registered more than 4.04 million infections and over 124,600 deaths, second only to the United States.
There were almost 44,000 new cases over the previous 24 hours, and 834 fatalities.
The health ministry said the number of infections were slightly reducing in recent days, amid hopes that the pandemic had peaked following months when the daily average of deaths was over 1,000.
Since the end of August, Brazil has averaged around 870 Covid-19 fatalities with 40,000 new infections a day.
But independent medical specialists urged caution.
"This is the beginning of what we hope is in fact an improving trend," said Mauricio Sanchez, an epidemiologist at Brasilia University.
However, he warned the trend was "very timid" and said the slowdown in cases should be maintained for two or three weeks to be able to draw any firm conclusions.
However, in such a vast, continent-sized country, the national curve could be skewed by what was in effect "27 different epidemics," he said, referring to Brazil's states.
Brazil has recorded a death rate of 589 per million inhabitants but there is a huge difference between the figures in the north (746) and the south (309.)
Paulo Lotufo, professor of epidemiology at the University of Sao Paulo, said the numbers suggest that Brazil could be on the verge of improvement.
"In the last two months, we have seen a curve that mixes regions that are increasing, with others that are decreasing," said Lotufo, pointing to spikes in the south and center-west, while cases were falling in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as well as in the north.
The experts warned the situation could suddenly worsen again if local and regional governments gave in to pressure from business groups to reopen the economy too soon and if social distancing measures were abandoned.
Last Sunday, the beaches of Rio de Janeiro were crowded with people without masks.
- Fears of lost progress -
Many Brazilian cities are currently studying how and when to reopen schools. Bars, restaurants, gyms and churches have already reopened, albeit with strict social distancing rules.
Sanchez and Lotufo agree that Brazil could have avoided a large number of deaths if it had quickly implemented effective isolation measures and facilitated early access of the poorest to government subsidies.
"The most vulnerable people cannot stay at home working in their home office," said Sanchez, who fears that the current signs of improvement will lead local governments and the general public to slacken off and that progress made in recent weeks will be lost.
Brazil's containment strategy has been hampered by the lack of a coordinated approach as President Jair Bolsonaro has often argued against measures taken by state governors.
Even though he contracted the virus himself, Bolsonaro has continued to encourage his supporters to gather on his official engagements, even shaking hands with some despite not wearing a face mask.
He has often repeated his belief that Brazil's economic collapse would be worse than the effects of the virus.
He has twice changed his health minister after disagreements over how to tackle the pandemic and Bolsonaro's promotion of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment -- despite scientists warning there is no proof it could be effective.
Brazil has suffered a record contraction of its economy, and the loss of nine million jobs.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--France calls on US to drop ICC sanctions, a ‘serious attack’ on the court

France led criticism of US sanctions on the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Thursday , saying Washington had launched a “ serious attack ” on the global body .
The ICC , a special multilateral court set up to try genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity cases , has become the latest issue to split Europe and United States under President Donald Trump .
Since its creation , the US has never recognised the court ’ s authority , but the Trump adminstration took the unprecedented step of sanctioning its chief prosecutor , Fatou Bensouda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICC official .
“ The measures announced on September 2 amount to a serious attack on the court and signatory states of the Treaty of Rome and , beyond this , a challenge to multilateralism and the independence of the judiciary , ” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday .
A total of 120 states signed up to the Treaty of Rome in 1998 which laid the basis for the creation of the ICC four years later .
The US was not among them , unlike its Western partners , putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Russia , China and Israel which refused the ICC ’ s authority .
Reacting to the US sanctions on Thursday , the European Union said it would defend the court against attempts to undermine it .
“ The International Criminal Court is facing persistent external challenges and the European Union stands firm against all attempts to undermine the international system of criminal justice by hindering the work of its core institutions , ” Peter Stano , spokesman for EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell , told reporters .
Human Rights Watch said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ an egregious disregard for victims of the world ’ s worst crimes ” .
At the heart of the dispute are efforts by prosecutor Bensouda to pursue an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan , which could implicate US soldiers .
Afghanistan is a signatory to the ICC which has the power to investigate the most serious human rights abuses when member countries are unable or unwilling to bring perpetrators to justice themselves .
Trump had authorised sanctions on the ICC on June 11 .
US Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ kangaroo court ” at the time , announced that the sanctions in the form of asset freezes would be enacted .
The court , which has been criticised for concentrating its efforts on African countries in the past , has opened investigations into alleged atrocities in 12 countries , including Myanmar and Afghanistan more recently .
It has also angered Israel by mooting an investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories .
In a statement on Wednesday , the ICC slammed the US sanctions as “ coercive acts ” which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international criminal justice , and the rule of law more generally.
” In 2002 , the US Congress passed the so-called “ Hague Invasion Act ” allowing the US president to authorise military force to free any US personnel held by the ICC , in theory making an invasion of the Dutch city that is home to the ICC a possibility .
Trump ’ s “ America First ” nationalism and opposition to multilateral institutions have led to tensions with the European Union on a host of issues from trade to the Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role of the NATO defence alliance .

France led criticism of US sanctions on the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Thursday, saying Washington had launched a “serious attack” on the global body.
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The ICC, a special multilateral court set up to try genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity cases, has become the latest issue to split Europe and United States under President Donald Trump.
Since its creation, the US has never recognised the court’s authority, but the Trump adminstration took the unprecedented step of sanctioning its chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, on Wednesday along with another senior ICC official.
“The measures announced on September 2 amount to a serious attack on the court and signatory states of the Treaty of Rome and, beyond this, a challenge to multilateralism and the independence of the judiciary,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday.
A total of 120 states signed up to the Treaty of Rome in 1998 which laid the basis for the creation of the ICC four years later.
The US was not among them, unlike its Western partners, putting it alongside a handful of states such as Russia, China and Israel which refused the ICC’s authority.
Reacting to the US sanctions on Thursday, the European Union said it would defend the court against attempts to undermine it.
“The International Criminal Court is facing persistent external challenges and the European Union stands firm against all attempts to undermine the international system of criminal justice by hindering the work of its core institutions,” Peter Stano, spokesman for EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell, told reporters.
Human Rights Watch said that the Trump administration’s action showed “an egregious disregard for victims of the world’s worst crimes”.
Afghanistan probe
At the heart of the dispute are efforts by prosecutor Bensouda to pursue an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan, which could implicate US soldiers.
Afghanistan is a signatory to the ICC which has the power to investigate the most serious human rights abuses when member countries are unable or unwilling to bring perpetrators to justice themselves.
Trump had authorised sanctions on the ICC on June 11.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who called the institution a “kangaroo court” at the time, announced that the sanctions in the form of asset freezes would be enacted.
The court, which has been criticised for concentrating its efforts on African countries in the past, has opened investigations into alleged atrocities in 12 countries, including Myanmar and Afghanistan more recently.
It has also angered Israel by mooting an investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ICC slammed the US sanctions as “coercive acts” which it said were an attack on “international criminal justice, and the rule of law more generally.”
In 2002, the US Congress passed the so-called “Hague Invasion Act” allowing the US president to authorise military force to free any US personnel held by the ICC, in theory making an invasion of the Dutch city that is home to the ICC a possibility.
Trump’s “America First” nationalism and opposition to multilateral institutions have led to tensions with the European Union on a host of issues from trade to the Iran nuclear programme, climate change, and the role of the NATO defence alliance.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-03--Oil industry placing risky bet on plastics: report

Concerns over plastic use has led some governments to restrict single-use plastics and impose recycling targets Big oil producers are pinning their future growth on the world 's insatiable appetite for plastic , researchers said Friday , in a `` bet '' on society 's failure to tackle disposable consumption that risks stranding billions of dollars in petrochemical investments .
The industry has faced increasingly urgent questions in recent months about whether `` peak '' oil demand has been reached , with the coronavirus pandemic leading to a dramatic drop in transport fuel consumption , while cleaner energy makes ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see plastics as the biggest driver of future demand , according to a new report by financial think tank Carbon Tracker and sustainability and development group Systemiq .
Plastic production has increased around four percent every year since 2000 , the report said , adding that most firms in the industry appear to expect that rate of growth to continue , driven mainly by emerging economies .
Plastics currently make up less than nine percent of oil demand , but the report said they are the largest component of oil demand growth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ invest at least $ 400 billion ( 337.8 billion euros ) in the next five years to expand supply for so-called virgin plastics by a quarter , but warned that this risked huge losses for investors .
`` The plastics industry , in its assumption of a doubling of demand for plastics in the next 10 , 20 years or so , is making a bet that society will fail to find any solutions to reduce , substitute or recycle plastic , '' said report author Kingsmill Bond , energy strategist at Carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an `` unreasonable assumption to imagine that you could carry on doing for the next 50 years what you 've done for the last 70 years , which is polluted with impunity '' .
Some 350 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually -- about half in Asia , 19 percent in North America and 16 percent in Europe .
The International Energy Agency forecast in 2018 that the growth in demand for petrochemical products -- including plastics , fertilisers , detergents and other items -- would see them account for over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil demand to 2030 , and nearly half to 2050 .
But surging plastic use has caused a pollution crisis , with least 8 million tonnes thought to end up in oceans every year .
This has spurred governments to mandate greater recycling , impose tighter restrictions on waste disposal and in some cases introduce bans on single-use items .
The Carbon Tracker report forecast that mounting pressure to cut plastic use could slash growth in demand for virgin plastic from four percent a year to below one percent , with demand peaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plastic value chain -- from extraction of the oil , to when it is burned , buried or recycled -- releases roughly twice as much carbon dioxide as producing a tonne of oil .
`` These guys think that they are going to be completely unaffected by the world 's attempt to cut down carbon usage , '' said Bond .
Overall , the report said that plastics impose `` a massive untaxed externality upon society '' of at least $ 1,000 per tonne -- or $ 350bn a year -- from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs , and ocean pollution .
The European Union in July proposed a tax on non-recycled plastics of 800 euros per tonne .
But recycling has also come under the spotlight in recent years after China restricted imports of plastic in 2018 , sending a surge of discarded waste -- mainly from richer nations -- towards countries in South and Southeast Asia .
In a report last week , Interpol warned that criminal networks are profiting from this `` overwhelming '' level of plastic waste by burning and dumping rubbish that was supposed @ @ @ @

London (AFP) –
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Big oil producers are pinning their future growth on the world's insatiable appetite for plastic, researchers said Friday, in a "bet" on society's failure to tackle disposable consumption that risks stranding billions of dollars in petrochemical investments.
The industry has faced increasingly urgent questions in recent months about whether "peak" oil demand has been reached, with the coronavirus pandemic leading to a dramatic drop in transport fuel consumption, while cleaner energy makes ever greater headway.
But oil producers now see plastics as the biggest driver of future demand, according to a new report by financial think tank Carbon Tracker and sustainability and development group Systemiq.
Plastic production has increased around four percent every year since 2000, the report said, adding that most firms in the industry appear to expect that rate of growth to continue, driven mainly by emerging economies.
Plastics currently make up less than nine percent of oil demand, but the report said they are the largest component of oil demand growth.
It said the industry now plans to invest at least $400 billion (337.8 billion euros) in the next five years to expand supply for so-called virgin plastics by a quarter, but warned that this risked huge losses for investors.
"The plastics industry, in its assumption of a doubling of demand for plastics in the next 10, 20 years or so, is making a bet that society will fail to find any solutions to reduce, substitute or recycle plastic," said report author Kingsmill Bond, energy strategist at Carbon Tracker.
He told AFP that it was an "unreasonable assumption to imagine that you could carry on doing for the next 50 years what you've done for the last 70 years, which is polluted with impunity".
Some 350 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually -- about half in Asia, 19 percent in North America and 16 percent in Europe.
The International Energy Agency forecast in 2018 that the growth in demand for petrochemical products -- including plastics, fertilisers, detergents and other items -- would see them account for over a third of the predicted increase in oil demand to 2030, and nearly half to 2050.
But surging plastic use has caused a pollution crisis, with least 8 million tonnes thought to end up in oceans every year.
This has spurred governments to mandate greater recycling, impose tighter restrictions on waste disposal and in some cases introduce bans on single-use items.
- Pollution fears -
The Carbon Tracker report forecast that mounting pressure to cut plastic use could slash growth in demand for virgin plastic from four percent a year to below one percent, with demand peaking in 2027.
It also found that the plastic value chain -- from extraction of the oil, to when it is burned, buried or recycled -- releases roughly twice as much carbon dioxide as producing a tonne of oil.
"These guys think that they are going to be completely unaffected by the world's attempt to cut down carbon usage," said Bond.
Overall, the report said that plastics impose "a massive untaxed externality upon society" of at least $1,000 per tonne -- or $350bn a year -- from carbon dioxide, health costs, collection costs, and ocean pollution.
The European Union in July proposed a tax on non-recycled plastics of 800 euros per tonne.
But recycling has also come under the spotlight in recent years after China restricted imports of plastic in 2018, sending a surge of discarded waste -- mainly from richer nations -- towards countries in South and Southeast Asia.
In a report last week, Interpol warned that criminal networks are profiting from this "overwhelming" level of plastic waste by burning and dumping rubbish that was supposed to be recycled.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--World 'falling behind' on goal to cut chronic disease deaths

Commuters walk to a train station at rush hour in Bangkok on August 20 , 2020 Only six high-income countries are doing enough to tackle deaths from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease , a global report said Friday , warning the coronavirus pandemic exposes the urgent need to combat underlying conditions .
In its stocktake of global efforts to stop people dying prematurely from largely preventable and treatable non-communicable diseases , the report by groups including the World Health Organization said many countries were falling short .
Among high-income countries , only Denmark , Luxembourg , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea are on track to meet the goal of reducing mortality for both women and men by one third by 2030 , said the study , which was published in the medical journal The Lancet .
Non-communicable diseases ( NCDs ) currently kill over 40 million people a year worldwide , making up seven out of ten deaths globally , the report said .
It added that 17 million of these deaths are of people younger than 70 years old and classed as premature .
While the risk of dying from some chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and stomach cancer -- had declined steadily over the past decade , it said mortality from diabetes , lung cancer , colon cancer , and liver cancer are declining too slowly or worsening in many countries .
The research , from Imperial College London , the WHO and the civil society group NCD Alliance , is the second assessment of global efforts to reduce premature deaths from these diseases by a third by 2030 -- a United Nations ' sustainable development goal agreed in 2015 .
`` No country can reach that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Majid Ezzati , Professor of Global Environmental Health at Imperial College London , who led the study .
`` What is needed is a package of measures , a strong health system , which addresses prevention , early detection and treatment , tailored to the national situation . ''
The report said a total of 17 countries are on track to reach the target for women , while 15 countries are on track for men .
Researchers noted that the relationship between non-communicable diseases and severe illness with Covid-19 highlights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implement policies to prevent avoidable deaths from chronic diseases '' .
Bente Mikkelsen , the WHO 's director of non-communicable diseases , said these illnesses were `` intensifying the impact '' of the coronavirus and called for Covid-19 recovery plans to include measures to tackle them .
`` We can not allow NCDs to become a generational catastrophe , where human potential is wasted , and inequality is exacerbated , '' Mikkelsen said .
The report recommends measures , including stronger restrictions on tobacco and alcohol , as well as cancer screening programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , diabetes and asthma , as well as treatments to prevent cardiovascular disease in patients at risk .

London (AFP) –
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Only six high-income countries are doing enough to tackle deaths from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, a global report said Friday, warning the coronavirus pandemic exposes the urgent need to combat underlying conditions.
In its stocktake of global efforts to stop people dying prematurely from largely preventable and treatable non-communicable diseases, the report by groups including the World Health Organization said many countries were falling short.
Among high-income countries, only Denmark, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore and South Korea are on track to meet the goal of reducing mortality for both women and men by one third by 2030, said the study, which was published in the medical journal The Lancet.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) currently kill over 40 million people a year worldwide, making up seven out of ten deaths globally, the report said.
It added that 17 million of these deaths are of people younger than 70 years old and classed as premature.
While the risk of dying from some chronic diseases -- like stroke, heart disease, and stomach cancer -- had declined steadily over the past decade, it said mortality from diabetes, lung cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer are declining too slowly or worsening in many countries.
The research, from Imperial College London, the WHO and the civil society group NCD Alliance, is the second assessment of global efforts to reduce premature deaths from these diseases by a third by 2030 -- a United Nations' sustainable development goal agreed in 2015.
"No country can reach that target by simply addressing a single disease," said Majid Ezzati, Professor of Global Environmental Health at Imperial College London, who led the study.
"What is needed is a package of measures, a strong health system, which addresses prevention, early detection and treatment, tailored to the national situation."
- 'Generational catastrophe' -
The report said a total of 17 countries are on track to reach the target for women, while 15 countries are on track for men.
Researchers noted that the relationship between non-communicable diseases and severe illness with Covid-19 highlights the "urgent need for governments to implement policies to prevent avoidable deaths from chronic diseases".
Bente Mikkelsen, the WHO's director of non-communicable diseases, said these illnesses were "intensifying the impact" of the coronavirus and called for Covid-19 recovery plans to include measures to tackle them.
"We cannot allow NCDs to become a generational catastrophe, where human potential is wasted, and inequality is exacerbated," Mikkelsen said.
The report recommends measures, including stronger restrictions on tobacco and alcohol, as well as cancer screening programs and better access to drugs for hypertension, diabetes and asthma, as well as treatments to prevent cardiovascular disease in patients at risk.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--NATO says Greece and Turkey agree to de-escalation talks, but Athens denies a deal

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg , pictured in August 2020 , said that Greece and Turkey had agreed to enter `` technical talks '' NATO ’ s chief said Thursday that alliance members Greece and Turkey have agreed to start “ technical talks ” to reduce the risks of military “ incidents and accidents ” in the eastern Mediterranean , where the two are locked in a tense standoff over offshore energy rights .
But Athens quickly denied any such agreement , saying neighboring Turkey must first withdraw its ships from the area where it is carrying out gas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other hand , said it backs NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ’ s initiative for military and technical talks and called on Greece to do the same .
Relations between the historic regional rivals have hit their worst point in 46 years — when their militaries briefly fought in Cyprus — after Ankara sent a research vessel , escorted by warships , in July into waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus .
Turkey says it has every right to prospect there .
Greece placed its armed forces on alert and sent its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ islands of Crete and Cyprus and Turkey ’ s southern coast , while simulated dogfights between Greek and Turkish fighter pilots have multiplied over the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean .
Stoltenberg announced the possible diplomatic opening on NATO ’ s website Thursday , the same day Turkey announced that Russia plans live-fire naval exercises this month in the eastern Mediterranean .
“ Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders , the two Allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Eastern Mediterranean , ” Stoltenberg said .
He added that “ Greece and Turkey are valued Allies , and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security.
” A Greek official told The Associated Press that talk of “ alleged technical talks ” at NATO “ does not correspond with reality.
” “ De-escalation would only be achieved with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish ships from the Greek continental shelf , ” he said .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the record .
A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said Turkey was ready for a dialogue to resolve disputes .
“ We would like to take this opportunity to remind that our country is ready for a dialogue with Greece , without preconditions , in order to find permanent solutions that are just and fair to all issues between us within the framework of international law , ” the statement read .
Germany has already launched a diplomatic effort for Ankara and Athens to engage in talks .
Both insist they want to talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is rare for members of NATO to require “ de-confliction mechanisms ” to avoid collisions or exchanges of fire .
While often at loggerheads , the alliance has often urged Russia to continue to use military dialogue to avoid “ incidents and accidents ” , mostly between war planes or ships .
Still , it ’ s not the first time that Turkey has appeared close to a confrontation with one of its allies .
On June 10 , the French frigate Courbet was illuminated by the targeting radar of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cargo vessel .
The French navy , acting on NATO intelligence , suspected the cargo ship was violating the arms embargo on Libya .
Turkish officials said a NATO probe into the incident was “ inconclusive ” .
NATO has not made its findings public .
Earlier , Turkey announced the Russian naval exercises in a navigational notice that said they would take place Sept. 8-22 and Sept. 17-25 in areas where the Turkish energy exploration is being carried out .
Greek and Turkish armed forces held their own exercises in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate comment from Moscow on the exercises , which Turkey announced after the United States said it was partially lifting a 33-year-old arms embargo against ethnically divided Cyprus .
It ’ s unclear why NATO-member Turkey announced such drills on Russia ’ s behalf , but the two countries have in recent years significantly strengthened their military , political and economic ties .
They are coordinating closely on their military presence in Syria , while Turkey has purchased Russia ’ s advanced S-400 missiles and has broken ground on a Russian-built nuclear power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintains a sizable naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean and regularly conducts naval maneuvers there .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Thursday .
Germany currently holds the European Union ’ s rotating presidency and has been trying to informally mediate the offshore prospecting dispute .
The European Union has threatened sanctions against Turkey to force it to end its exploration activities in the area .
A statement from Erdogan ’ s office said the Turkish leader wants an arrangement in which resources in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complained that Greece , Cyprus and the countries backing them were the ones escalating tensions .
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Thursday took aim at France , which joined Greece and Cyprus for military exercises in the region , accusing it of bullying .
Greece is reportedly considering a major arms purchase from France that would include around 20 Rafale fighter jets and two frigates .
Greece and Turkey , who are divided on a slew of issues , including territorial disputes in the Aegean , have come to the brink of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 1974 , Turkey invaded and occupied a third of Cyprus following a coup by supporters of union with Greece .
The result , the breakaway Turkish-Cypriot north of the island of Cyprus , is only recognized by Turkey .

NATO’s chief said Thursday that alliance members Greece and Turkey have agreed to start “technical talks” to reduce the risks of military “incidents and accidents” in the eastern Mediterranean, where the two are locked in a tense standoff over offshore energy rights.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, pictured in August 2020, said that Greece and Turkey had agreed to enter "technical talks"
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But Athens quickly denied any such agreement, saying neighboring Turkey must first withdraw its ships from the area where it is carrying out gas and oil prospecting. Ankara, on the other hand, said it backs NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s initiative for military and technical talks and called on Greece to do the same.
Relations between the historic regional rivals have hit their worst point in 46 years — when their militaries briefly fought in Cyprus — after Ankara sent a research vessel, escorted by warships, in July into waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus. Turkey says it has every right to prospect there.
Greece placed its armed forces on alert and sent its own warships to the area, between the islands of Crete and Cyprus and Turkey’s southern coast, while simulated dogfights between Greek and Turkish fighter pilots have multiplied over the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.
Stoltenberg announced the possible diplomatic opening on NATO’s website Thursday, the same day Turkey announced that Russia plans live-fire naval exercises this month in the eastern Mediterranean.
“Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders, the two Allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction, to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Stoltenberg said.
He added that “Greece and Turkey are valued Allies, and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security.”
A Greek official told The Associated Press that talk of “alleged technical talks” at NATO “does not correspond with reality.”
“De-escalation would only be achieved with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish ships from the Greek continental shelf,” he said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to comment on the record.
A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said Turkey was ready for a dialogue to resolve disputes.
“We would like to take this opportunity to remind that our country is ready for a dialogue with Greece, without preconditions, in order to find permanent solutions that are just and fair to all issues between us within the framework of international law,” the statement read.
Germany has already launched a diplomatic effort for Ankara and Athens to engage in talks. Both insist they want to talk, but each on its own terms.
It is rare for members of NATO to require “de-confliction mechanisms” to avoid collisions or exchanges of fire. While often at loggerheads, the alliance has often urged Russia to continue to use military dialogue to avoid “incidents and accidents”, mostly between war planes or ships.
Still, it’s not the first time that Turkey has appeared close to a confrontation with one of its allies.
>> Troubled waters: Greek-Turkish escalations in the Mediterranean
On June 10, the French frigate Courbet was illuminated by the targeting radar of a Turkish warship that was escorting a Tanzanian-flagged cargo vessel. The French navy, acting on NATO intelligence, suspected the cargo ship was violating the arms embargo on Libya.
Turkish officials said a NATO probe into the incident was “inconclusive”. NATO has not made its findings public.
Earlier, Turkey announced the Russian naval exercises in a navigational notice that said they would take place Sept. 8-22 and Sept. 17-25 in areas where the Turkish energy exploration is being carried out. Greek and Turkish armed forces held their own exercises in the same area last month.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the exercises, which Turkey announced after the United States said it was partially lifting a 33-year-old arms embargo against ethnically divided Cyprus.
It’s unclear why NATO-member Turkey announced such drills on Russia’s behalf, but the two countries have in recent years significantly strengthened their military, political and economic ties. They are coordinating closely on their military presence in Syria, while Turkey has purchased Russia’s advanced S-400 missiles and has broken ground on a Russian-built nuclear power plant on its southern coast.
Russia maintains a sizable naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean and regularly conducts naval maneuvers there.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Thursday. Germany currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency and has been trying to informally mediate the offshore prospecting dispute.
The European Union has threatened sanctions against Turkey to force it to end its exploration activities in the area.
A statement from Erdogan’s office said the Turkish leader wants an arrangement in which resources in the Mediterranean are shared “fairly” and complained that Greece, Cyprus and the countries backing them were the ones escalating tensions.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Thursday took aim at France, which joined Greece and Cyprus for military exercises in the region, accusing it of bullying.
Greece is reportedly considering a major arms purchase from France that would include around 20 Rafale fighter jets and two frigates.
Greece and Turkey, who are divided on a slew of issues, including territorial disputes in the Aegean, have come to the brink of war three times since the 1970s. In 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied a third of Cyprus following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. The result, the breakaway Turkish-Cypriot north of the island of Cyprus, is only recognized by Turkey.
(AP)
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france24--2020-09-03--Spain deny Germany, Bale features for Wales as Nations League kicks off

Jose Luis Gaya ( L ) grabbed a late equaliser for Spain against Germany in their Nations League opener on Thursday Jose Luis Gaya 's late goal gave Spain a 1-1 draw away in Germany on Thursday as the start of the UEFA Nations League marked the return of international football in Europe following a hiatus of 10 months due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Valencia defender Gaya was on hand to score from close range in the sixth minute of added time in Stuttgart after Rodrigo Moreno had nodded down a Ferran Torres cross , in a dramatic ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encounter .
Earlier , new Chelsea striker Timo Werner had given Germany the lead just after half-time in an entertaining contest between two of the last three World Cup winners .
It was Luis Enrique 's first game of his second spell as Spain coach , despite being re-appointed in November 2019 just after their last game in Euro 2020 qualifying .
`` This team is full of faith and hunger .
We did n't deserve to lose and we kept fighting to the end , '' said Spain captain Sergio Ramos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two teams will hope to feature prominently in the European Championship , which was postponed by a year because of the pandemic and will now go ahead -- all going to plan -- in June and July next year .
In the meantime , this second edition of the Nations League will be crammed into the next three months , with the four group winners in League A advancing to the finals later in 2021 .
For now , all games are being played behind closed doors , just like the recent Champions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tournaments in Lisbon and in Germany .
The stands in Stuttgart were therefore empty as Barcelona winger Ansu Fati came on for the second half to make his Spain debut .
Fati , who was born in Guinea-Bissau , does not turn 18 until October .
At 17 years and 308 days , he is the second-youngest player ever to represent Spain , behind Angel Zubieta , who was a few weeks younger when he played against Czechoslovakia in 1936 .
Elsewhere on Thursday in the same group , Manchester City 's Oleksandr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine a 2-1 win over Switzerland in Lviv .
Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United had put Ukraine ahead with a backheel effort , before Haris Seferovic equalised .
In League B , Artem Dzyuba netted a brace as Russia beat Serbia 3-1 in Moscow , while in the same Group 3 , Hungary were surprise 1-0 winners away in Turkey .
In Group 4 , out-of-favour Real Madrid star Gareth Bale started for Wales but was taken off at half-time in their 1-0 victory over Finland in Helsinki .
Kieffer Moore scored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Gareth Bale has had no football at all , '' Wales coach Ryan Giggs told Sky Sports .
`` It was a real juggling act , picking the team .
Gareth has had the least football out of everyone and I thought , ahead of Sunday , it would be best to take him off . ''
On Sunday Wales host Bulgaria , who were held to a 1-1 draw by the Republic of Ireland in Sofia .
Bozhidar Kraev put Bulgaria ahead only for recent Celtic loan signing Shane Duffy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their first game under new manager Stephen Kenny .
The Nations League action continues every night until Tuesday , with Friday highlights including Italy hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina in Florence .
The Netherlands , who lost to Cristiano Ronaldo 's Portugal in the inaugural Nations League final last year , entertain Poland in Amsterdam in their first game since coach Ronald Koeman quit to take the Barcelona job .
As well as the four-team finals , the Nations League features promotion and relegation and offers the two best group winners who do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup a second chance to make it to Qatar via play-offs .

Paris (AFP) –
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Jose Luis Gaya's late goal gave Spain a 1-1 draw away in Germany on Thursday as the start of the UEFA Nations League marked the return of international football in Europe following a hiatus of 10 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Valencia defender Gaya was on hand to score from close range in the sixth minute of added time in Stuttgart after Rodrigo Moreno had nodded down a Ferran Torres cross, in a dramatic ending to the League A, Group Four encounter.
Earlier, new Chelsea striker Timo Werner had given Germany the lead just after half-time in an entertaining contest between two of the last three World Cup winners.
It was Luis Enrique's first game of his second spell as Spain coach, despite being re-appointed in November 2019 just after their last game in Euro 2020 qualifying.
"This team is full of faith and hunger. We didn't deserve to lose and we kept fighting to the end," said Spain captain Sergio Ramos, who earned his 171st cap.
These two teams will hope to feature prominently in the European Championship, which was postponed by a year because of the pandemic and will now go ahead -- all going to plan -- in June and July next year.
In the meantime, this second edition of the Nations League will be crammed into the next three months, with the four group winners in League A advancing to the finals later in 2021.
- Fati debut -
For now, all games are being played behind closed doors, just like the recent Champions League and Europa League 'Final Eight' tournaments in Lisbon and in Germany.
The stands in Stuttgart were therefore empty as Barcelona winger Ansu Fati came on for the second half to make his Spain debut.
Fati, who was born in Guinea-Bissau, does not turn 18 until October. At 17 years and 308 days, he is the second-youngest player ever to represent Spain, behind Angel Zubieta, who was a few weeks younger when he played against Czechoslovakia in 1936.
- Ireland grab late draw -
Elsewhere on Thursday in the same group, Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko scored a fine goal to give Ukraine a 2-1 win over Switzerland in Lviv.
Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United had put Ukraine ahead with a backheel effort, before Haris Seferovic equalised.
In League B, Artem Dzyuba netted a brace as Russia beat Serbia 3-1 in Moscow, while in the same Group 3, Hungary were surprise 1-0 winners away in Turkey.
In Group 4, out-of-favour Real Madrid star Gareth Bale started for Wales but was taken off at half-time in their 1-0 victory over Finland in Helsinki. Kieffer Moore scored the winner 10 minutes from time.
"Gareth Bale has had no football at all," Wales coach Ryan Giggs told Sky Sports.
"It was a real juggling act, picking the team. Gareth has had the least football out of everyone and I thought, ahead of Sunday, it would be best to take him off."
On Sunday Wales host Bulgaria, who were held to a 1-1 draw by the Republic of Ireland in Sofia.
Bozhidar Kraev put Bulgaria ahead only for recent Celtic loan signing Shane Duffy to head in a stoppage-time equaliser for Ireland in their first game under new manager Stephen Kenny.
The Nations League action continues every night until Tuesday, with Friday highlights including Italy hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina in Florence.
The Netherlands, who lost to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the inaugural Nations League final last year, entertain Poland in Amsterdam in their first game since coach Ronald Koeman quit to take the Barcelona job.
As well as the four-team finals, the Nations League features promotion and relegation and offers the two best group winners who do not qualify automatically for the 2022 World Cup a second chance to make it to Qatar via play-offs.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--MLB's Athletics return to play Friday after virus layoff

The Oakland Athletics were cleared Thursday to resume practice activity and will resume the Major League Baseball season at home Friday against the San Diego Padres after four postponed games .
The A 's missed a game Sunday at Houston and games Tuesday through Thursday at Seattle after a positive COVID-19 test within the club 's traveling party last Friday .
All subsequent tests by the traveling party , including those taken on Wednesday , have returned negative , allowing the A 's to resume workouts at Oakland Coliseum and games as scheduled against the Padres on Friday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be played as part of a double-header at Oakland on Tuesday .
The Seattle contests will be played as doubleheaders on September 14 in Seattle and September 26 in Oakland .
At 22-12 , the A 's lead the American League West division by two games over Houston with Seattle 8 1/2 back .
The Athletics avoided a coronavirus outbreak such as those that caused major layoffs and postponements for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the season .
The Major League campaign was due to open in March before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July and forced the season to be shrunk from 162 games per club to 60 games per team , ending on September 27 with an expanded playoffs set to conclude with the World Series in late October as originally planned .

New York (AFP) –
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The Oakland Athletics were cleared Thursday to resume practice activity and will resume the Major League Baseball season at home Friday against the San Diego Padres after four postponed games.
The A's missed a game Sunday at Houston and games Tuesday through Thursday at Seattle after a positive COVID-19 test within the club's traveling party last Friday.
All subsequent tests by the traveling party, including those taken on Wednesday, have returned negative, allowing the A's to resume workouts at Oakland Coliseum and games as scheduled against the Padres on Friday.
The missed A's game against Houston will be played as part of a double-header at Oakland on Tuesday. The Seattle contests will be played as doubleheaders on September 14 in Seattle and September 26 in Oakland.
At 22-12, the A's lead the American League West division by two games over Houston with Seattle 8 1/2 back.
The Athletics avoided a coronavirus outbreak such as those that caused major layoffs and postponements for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the season.
The Major League campaign was due to open in March before the COVID-19 outbreak delayed the start to July and forced the season to be shrunk from 162 games per club to 60 games per team, ending on September 27 with an expanded playoffs set to conclude with the World Series in late October as originally planned.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Birthday boy Thiem moves into US Open third round

Second seed Dominic Thiem eased into the third round of the US Open on Thursday with a straight-sets win on his birthday .
The Austrian celebrated turning 27 by defeating India 's Sumit Nagal 6-3 , 6-3 , 6-2 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium .
`` I was trying to play my fastest tennis to keep him on the backhand , to not let him dictate with the forehand .
I did that very well today , '' said Thiem .
The world number three will play 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in round three .
`` He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last decade , one of the very few players , active players , who won a Grand Slam tournament here in New York , '' said Thiem .
`` Even though for sure he 's not on the top of his game , beginning of this year , maybe also last year , he 's always dangerous for a big and deep run in these big tournaments .
`` It 's not a guy I want to face in the third round , '' he added .
Thiem said it was difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US National Tennis Center because of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` In negative moments the fans ' energy can get you up again .
Now you play a great point and it 's complete silence .
That is tough .
`` Hopefully this is the only or one of very few slams where we have the situation like that , '' Thiem added .
Cilic , seeded 31st , took four sets to overcome Slovakian Norbert Gombos 6-3 , 1-6 , 7-6 , 7-5 .
Nagal had become the first Indian man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Grand Slam .

New York (AFP) –
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Second seed Dominic Thiem eased into the third round of the US Open on Thursday with a straight-sets win on his birthday.
The Austrian celebrated turning 27 by defeating India's Sumit Nagal 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I was trying to play my fastest tennis to keep him on the backhand, to not let him dictate with the forehand. I did that very well today," said Thiem.
The world number three will play 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in round three.
"He's one of the big champions of the last decade, one of the very few players, active players, who won a Grand Slam tournament here in New York," said Thiem.
"Even though for sure he's not on the top of his game, beginning of this year, maybe also last year, he's always dangerous for a big and deep run in these big tournaments.
"It's not a guy I want to face in the third round," he added.
Thiem said it was difficult playing in front of empty stands at the US National Tennis Center because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"In negative moments the fans' energy can get you up again. Now you play a great point and it's complete silence. That is tough.
"Hopefully this is the only or one of very few slams where we have the situation like that," Thiem added.
Cilic, seeded 31st, took four sets to overcome Slovakian Norbert Gombos 6-3, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5.
Nagal had become the first Indian man since 2013 to reach the second round of a Grand Slam.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Greece, Turkey agree de-escalation talks says NATO, Athens denies deal

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg , pictured in August 2020 , said that Greece and Turkey had agreed to enter `` technical talks '' NATO said Thursday that Greece and Turkey had agreed to talks to ease their dispute over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights , but Athens swiftly denied any deal on negotiations .
Alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said he had won the two neighbours ' agreement to enter `` technical talks '' designed to avert accident between their navies that could trigger a broader conflict .
A Greek frigate collided with a Turkish once in August and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games in the energy-rich but disputed region last week .
`` Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders , the two allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the eastern Mediterranean , '' Stoltenberg said in a statement .
`` Greece and Turkey are valued allies , and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security . ''
But later Thursday Greece denied it had agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks ' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality , '' Greece 's foreign ministry said .
`` De-escalation will only take place with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish vessels from the Greek continental shelf , '' the ministry added .
Ankara said it backed the idea of talks at NATO .
`` This initiative is supported by our country , '' the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement .
`` We expect Greece @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative . ''
The Turkish statement stressed that the talks would only focus on avoiding accidents and not resolving the sides ' differences over maritime borders and energy exploration rights .
But observers still hope the talks will create an opening for further dialogue in a conflict that threatens to impede Europe 's future access to a wealth of natural gas reserves .
NATO 's announcement came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the sides to reduce tensions and open diplomatic channels to ease the crisis .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission near a Greek island at the epicentre of the longstanding rivals ' latest dispute .
Erdogan on Tuesday vowed not to be intimidated by Greece 's support from European military powers such as France .
The European Union has been watching the row with growing unease .
Germany had been spearheading efforts to get the sides to temper the rhetoric and settle their differences through talks .
The Turkish presidency said Erdogan held video conference talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday in which he condemned `` the support given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by some countries '' .
The EU threatened to put sanctions on Turkey if it refuses to solve the dispute through dialogue .

Brussels (AFP) –
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NATO said Thursday that Greece and Turkey had agreed to talks to ease their dispute over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights, but Athens swiftly denied any deal on negotiations.
Alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said he had won the two neighbours' agreement to enter "technical talks" designed to avert accident between their navies that could trigger a broader conflict.
A Greek frigate collided with a Turkish once in August and the two NATO members staged rival war games in the energy-rich but disputed region last week.
"Following my discussions with Greek and Turkish leaders, the two allies have agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the eastern Mediterranean," Stoltenberg said in a statement.
"Greece and Turkey are valued allies, and NATO is an important platform for consultations on all issues that affect our shared security."
But later Thursday Greece denied it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey.
"Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality," Greece's foreign ministry said.
"De-escalation will only take place with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish vessels from the Greek continental shelf," the ministry added.
- Turkey ready for talks -
Ankara said it backed the idea of talks at NATO.
"This initiative is supported by our country," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. "We expect Greece to support the NATO secretary general's initiative."
The Turkish statement stressed that the talks would only focus on avoiding accidents and not resolving the sides' differences over maritime borders and energy exploration rights.
But observers still hope the talks will create an opening for further dialogue in a conflict that threatens to impede Europe's future access to a wealth of natural gas reserves.
NATO's announcement came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the sides to reduce tensions and open diplomatic channels to ease the crisis.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week extended a gas exploration mission near a Greek island at the epicentre of the longstanding rivals' latest dispute.
Erdogan on Tuesday vowed not to be intimidated by Greece's support from European military powers such as France.
The European Union has been watching the row with growing unease.
Germany had been spearheading efforts to get the sides to temper the rhetoric and settle their differences through talks.
The Turkish presidency said Erdogan held video conference talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday in which he condemned "the support given to Greece’s selfish and unfair stance by some countries".
The EU threatened to put sanctions on Turkey if it refuses to solve the dispute through dialogue.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Trump tells Americans to try to vote twice

US President Donald Trump is mounting a major campaign to question the reliability of mail-in voting in the coming election US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed his call for supporters to try to vote twice on November 3 , a potentially illegal act that he claimed is the only way to be sure that a ballot is counted .
Trump said Americans should first try to vote by mail , if that option is offered in their state , then also go to the polling station on election day to check that their ballot has been counted -- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` YOU ARE NOW ASSURED THAT YOUR PRECIOUS VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED , '' he said in a Twitter thread .
Facebook and Twitter , which are under growing pressure not to allow misinformation ahead of the election , put warning labels on the president 's posts about the matter .
`` We placed a public interest notice on two Tweets in this thread for violating our Civic Integrity Policy , specifically for encouraging people to potentially vote twice , '' Twitter said .
However , White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just wanted voters to verify that their first vote had been registered .
He `` does not condone unlawful voting , '' she said .
Whatever Trump meant , the tweets were his latest assault on the credibility of mail-in voting , which is being rapidly expanded across the country in response to fears of Covid-19 contagion in crowded polling stations .
Despite Trump 's relentless challenges , the mail-in practice is already widespread and largely trouble-free in the United States .
He himself uses the absentee mail-in option to vote in Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Trump says that increased mail-in voting will allow mass ballot tampering and rigging of the result , elections experts say there is no evidence of significant danger .
However , polls show Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to vote by mail , leading Trump 's opponents to fear that he is trying to suppress Biden 's vote -- or set the stage for disputing the results .
Trump first aired the idea of casting a precautionary second vote on Wednesday during a trip to North Carolina .
`` If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , and then go -- make sure it counted .
And if it does n't tabulate , you vote , '' he said .
`` So , send it in early , and then go and vote . ''
The recommendation prompted the election board in the state , which Democrat Joe Biden hopes to snatch from Trump , to issue a statement pointing out : `` It is illegal to vote twice in an election . ''
`` Soliciting someone to do so also is a violation of North Carolina law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karen Brinson Bell , added .
Polls currently show Biden on course to defeat Trump .
But experts warn that the country faces a confusing and potentially tense aftermath of the voting on November 3 , due to the unusual circumstances .
Given the larger than ordinary number of mailed-in ballots , few expect there will be a clear-cut result that evening , with mailed ballots possibly taking days if not weeks to finish counting .
Under one scenario , Trump could be shown to have won on the basis of ballots cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , once counted days later , would then put Biden over the top .
Trump has repeatedly refused to declare he will accept the results of the election .

Washington (AFP) –
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US President Donald Trump on Thursday renewed his call for supporters to try to vote twice on November 3, a potentially illegal act that he claimed is the only way to be sure that a ballot is counted.
Trump said Americans should first try to vote by mail, if that option is offered in their state, then also go to the polling station on election day to check that their ballot has been counted -- and, if not, vote again.
"YOU ARE NOW ASSURED THAT YOUR PRECIOUS VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED," he said in a Twitter thread.
Intentionally voting twice is illegal.
Facebook and Twitter, which are under growing pressure not to allow misinformation ahead of the election, put warning labels on the president's posts about the matter.
"We placed a public interest notice on two Tweets in this thread for violating our Civic Integrity Policy, specifically for encouraging people to potentially vote twice," Twitter said.
However, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Trump had been taken out of context and just wanted voters to verify that their first vote had been registered.
He "does not condone unlawful voting," she said.
Whatever Trump meant, the tweets were his latest assault on the credibility of mail-in voting, which is being rapidly expanded across the country in response to fears of Covid-19 contagion in crowded polling stations.
Despite Trump's relentless challenges, the mail-in practice is already widespread and largely trouble-free in the United States.
He himself uses the absentee mail-in option to vote in Florida while living in the White House.
While Trump says that increased mail-in voting will allow mass ballot tampering and rigging of the result, elections experts say there is no evidence of significant danger.
However, polls show Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to vote by mail, leading Trump's opponents to fear that he is trying to suppress Biden's vote -- or set the stage for disputing the results.
- Election day worries -
Trump first aired the idea of casting a precautionary second vote on Wednesday during a trip to North Carolina.
"If you get the unsolicited ballots, send it in, and then go -- make sure it counted. And if it doesn't tabulate, you vote," he said. "So, send it in early, and then go and vote."
The recommendation prompted the election board in the state, which Democrat Joe Biden hopes to snatch from Trump, to issue a statement pointing out: "It is illegal to vote twice in an election."
"Soliciting someone to do so also is a violation of North Carolina law," the board's director, Karen Brinson Bell, added.
Polls currently show Biden on course to defeat Trump.
But experts warn that the country faces a confusing and potentially tense aftermath of the voting on November 3, due to the unusual circumstances.
Given the larger than ordinary number of mailed-in ballots, few expect there will be a clear-cut result that evening, with mailed ballots possibly taking days if not weeks to finish counting.
Under one scenario, Trump could be shown to have won on the basis of ballots cast during the day, but mail-in ballots, once counted days later, would then put Biden over the top.
Trump has repeatedly refused to declare he will accept the results of the election.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Venezuela opposition figure calls for high election turnout

Henrique Capriles was a presidential candidate in 2012 and 2013 and is now pushing for opposition voters to take part in elections Former Venezuela presidential candidate and high-profile figure Henrique Capriles broke opposition ranks on Thursday and called for a high turnout in December 's elections .
Opposition leader Juan Guaido has led a group of 30 opposition parties calling for a boycott of the election due to a lack of transparency and fears President Nicolas Maduro wo n't allow it to be free or fair .
But Capriles , a presidential candidate in 2012 and 2013 , said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options . ''
`` I call on the country to mobilize and fight ... we 're not going to gift the National Assembly to Maduro , '' said Capriles on his social media channels .
The National Assembly is the only government branch in opposition hands and Maduro is determined to regain control of it in December .
But Guaido called for a boycott after the Supreme Court , which is loyal to Maduro , appointed the officials to run the electoral body overseeing the poll .
That 's a job that should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Supreme Court has previously shown itself to be loyal to Maduro , trying to bar some opposition lawmakers from being sworn in once Maduro 's socialist party lost control of the legislature in 2015 .
After the assembly swore them in anyway , the Supreme Court ruled it was in contempt and has annulled every decision it has taken since .
But rather than boycott elections that have been dismissed by top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell as lacking `` the conditions for a transparent , inclusive , free and fair electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open the way '' and `` fight for the conditions '' to stage a credible poll .
`` We 're not going to leave the people without options , '' said Capriles , who hit out at Guaido over his failure to dislodge Maduro in more than a year and a half since making the bold move to declare himself acting president .
While Guaido won backing from more than 50 countries , Maduro retains the support of the powerful armed forces and has not budged .
`` What 's the plan ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at being president over the internet ?
We have to save Venezuela , comrades , save it ! ''
Capriles , who founded First Justice -- one of the main opposition parties -- and his deputy Stalin Gonzalez have been accused of holding talks with Maduro 's government before backing the election .
Capriles , who has been barred by the regime from holding public office since 2017 , said he was prepared to speak to whomever could help bring about a `` credible solution '' to Venezuela 's political crisis .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 opposition lawmakers and associates of Guaido , while also inviting the United Nations and EU to act as observers for the elections .
Guaido dimissed both moves as a ploy to try to legitimize the elections .

Caracas (AFP) –
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Former Venezuela presidential candidate and high-profile figure Henrique Capriles broke opposition ranks on Thursday and called for a high turnout in December's elections.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido has led a group of 30 opposition parties calling for a boycott of the election due to a lack of transparency and fears President Nicolas Maduro won't allow it to be free or fair.
But Capriles, a presidential candidate in 2012 and 2013, said he would not leave Venezuelan voters "without options."
"I call on the country to mobilize and fight ... we're not going to gift the National Assembly to Maduro," said Capriles on his social media channels.
The National Assembly is the only government branch in opposition hands and Maduro is determined to regain control of it in December.
But Guaido called for a boycott after the Supreme Court, which is loyal to Maduro, appointed the officials to run the electoral body overseeing the poll.
That's a job that should be done by the National Assembly.
The Supreme Court has previously shown itself to be loyal to Maduro, trying to bar some opposition lawmakers from being sworn in once Maduro's socialist party lost control of the legislature in 2015.
After the assembly swore them in anyway, the Supreme Court ruled it was in contempt and has annulled every decision it has taken since.
But rather than boycott elections that have been dismissed by top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell as lacking "the conditions for a transparent, inclusive, free and fair electoral process," Capriles wants to "open the way" and "fight for the conditions" to stage a credible poll.
"We're not going to leave the people without options," said Capriles, who hit out at Guaido over his failure to dislodge Maduro in more than a year and a half since making the bold move to declare himself acting president.
While Guaido won backing from more than 50 countries, Maduro retains the support of the powerful armed forces and has not budged.
"What's the plan?" said Capriles. "To play at being president over the internet? We have to save Venezuela, comrades, save it!"
Capriles, who founded First Justice -- one of the main opposition parties -- and his deputy Stalin Gonzalez have been accused of holding talks with Maduro's government before backing the election.
Capriles, who has been barred by the regime from holding public office since 2017, said he was prepared to speak to whomever could help bring about a "credible solution" to Venezuela's political crisis.
Earlier this week, Maduro pardoned more than 100 opposition lawmakers and associates of Guaido, while also inviting the United Nations and EU to act as observers for the elections.
Guaido dimissed both moves as a ploy to try to legitimize the elections.
© 2020 AFP