france24--2020-10-22--Quibi streaming service to shut down

Quibi streaming service to shut down

Short-form streaming service Quibi has announced it is pulling the plug on the platform aimed at smartphone users Quibi on Wednesday announced it is pulling the plug on the `` quick bites '' television service aimed at smartphone users hungry for entertainment on the go .
The brainchild of Hollywood powerhouse Jeffrey Katzenberg , Quibi launched in April with short-form video entertainment tailored for smartphone users on the go just as the pandemic compelled people to stay close to home .
`` Quibi was founded to create the next generation of storytelling , '' Katzenberg said in a release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quibi launched and our standalone business model is no longer viable . ''
Katzenberg has reportedly tried to sell the startup 's catalog of programs to companies including NBCUniversal and Facebook without success .
Quibi has more than 100 original series spanning a range of genres with episodes specifically designed for viewing on smartphones , and lasting no more than 10 minutes each , according to the startup .
`` We have assembled a world-class creative and engineering team that has created an original platform fueled by groundbreaking technology and IP , enabling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whole new way , '' Katzenberg said .
Quibi planned to wind down operations and sell off its assets , according to the release .
The fledgling platform scored 10 Emmy nominations this year , including for cop spoof revival `` Reno 911 ! ''
and dystopian thriller `` Most Dangerous Game . ''
The multi-billion-dollar streaming platform launched in April , betting it could transform entertainment with short , Hollywood-quality clips to watch `` on the go '' -- even as much of the world was trapped at home .
Industry legends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ del Toro to Jennifer Lopez and Reese Witherspoon were among the stars who lined up to make movies and shows for the youth-focused , smartphone-only service .
Designed to ride a wave of mobile video viewing , content was delivered in `` quick bites , '' made in both horizontal and vertical formats , automatically flipping between the two as viewers rotate their phones .
But Quibi 's plans were set long before the coronavirus pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders for billions of people around the globe .
Big Hollywood names committed to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeffrey Katzenberg , a towering figure in Tinseltown who ran Disney Studios for a decade and co-founded DreamWorks .
Quibi had also hoped to keep users coming back with daily news , sports and entertainment shows .
Subscriptions had cost $ 5 monthly with ads , or $ 8 without .
Quibi also had to compete for younger viewers ' time with millions of free -- often user-generated -- videos hosted by YouTube , TikTok , Facebook and Instagram .

San Francisco (AFP) –
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Quibi on Wednesday announced it is pulling the plug on the "quick bites" television service aimed at smartphone users hungry for entertainment on the go.
The brainchild of Hollywood powerhouse Jeffrey Katzenberg, Quibi launched in April with short-form video entertainment tailored for smartphone users on the go just as the pandemic compelled people to stay close to home.
"Quibi was founded to create the next generation of storytelling," Katzenberg said in a release.
"The world has changed dramatically since Quibi launched and our standalone business model is no longer viable."
Katzenberg has reportedly tried to sell the startup's catalog of programs to companies including NBCUniversal and Facebook without success.
Quibi has more than 100 original series spanning a range of genres with episodes specifically designed for viewing on smartphones, and lasting no more than 10 minutes each, according to the startup.
"We have assembled a world-class creative and engineering team that has created an original platform fueled by groundbreaking technology and IP, enabling consumers to view premium content in a whole new way," Katzenberg said.
Quibi planned to wind down operations and sell off its assets, according to the release.
The fledgling platform scored 10 Emmy nominations this year, including for cop spoof revival "Reno 911!" and dystopian thriller "Most Dangerous Game."
Quibi won Creative Arts Emmy Awards for its series #FreeRayshawn.
The multi-billion-dollar streaming platform launched in April, betting it could transform entertainment with short, Hollywood-quality clips to watch "on the go" -- even as much of the world was trapped at home.
Industry legends and stars from Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro to Jennifer Lopez and Reese Witherspoon were among the stars who lined up to make movies and shows for the youth-focused, smartphone-only service.
Designed to ride a wave of mobile video viewing, content was delivered in "quick bites," made in both horizontal and vertical formats, automatically flipping between the two as viewers rotate their phones.
But Quibi's plans were set long before the coronavirus pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders for billions of people around the globe.
Big Hollywood names committed to work with Quibi thanks to its founder, Jeffrey Katzenberg, a towering figure in Tinseltown who ran Disney Studios for a decade and co-founded DreamWorks.
Quibi had also hoped to keep users coming back with daily news, sports and entertainment shows.
Subscriptions had cost $5 monthly with ads, or $8 without.
Quibi also had to compete for younger viewers' time with millions of free -- often user-generated -- videos hosted by YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--Lose the battles, win the war? Mir eyes world MotoGP crown

On top of the world : Suzuki 's Joan Mir rides during the Grand Prix of Aragon Despite not having won a race since 2017 , Spain 's Joan Mir is edging closer to the MotoGP world title as the championship enters its 2020 end-game this weekend .
The 23-year-old Mir has a wafer-thin advantage of just six points over France 's Fabio Quartararo ahead of the Teruel Grand Prix on Sunday .
However , the Suzuki rider has proved the master of consistency in this truncated season with three second places and two thirds from the 10 races held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events , failing to make the podium and finished in 12th place in the standings .
The previous season , he went winless in Moto2 leaving his last victorious season as his world championship campaign in Moto3 in 2017 .
Last weekend , Mir was third in the MotoGP of Aragon with Suzuki teammate Alex Rins winning the race .
`` It was really positive because we took important points for the championship , '' Mir told motogp.com after seeing Rins become the eighth different winner in 2020 .
The two Suzukis were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mir is the first Suzuki rider since Kenny Roberts Jr in 2000 to lead the world championship .
`` I will not change the way to approach the races , this is for sure .
I will continue working race by race , trying to get as many points as possible , trying to get the victory every GP , '' he said ahead of this weekend 's race at the same Motorland of Aragon circuit .
`` Then in the last race we will look at the championship and see where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , just 15 points cover Mir , Yamaha 's Quartararo , who has three race wins from the Spanish , Andalucian and Catalunya events , and Maverick Vinales as well as Ducati 's Andrea Dovizioso .
Vinales , at Emilio Romagna , and Dovizioso , in Austria , have both also won races in 2020 .
The premier class has never had a world champion who has n't won a race and it has only been achieved twice before in other classes .
The variety of winners in 2020 has been partly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world champion Marc Marquez .
Marquez broke his arm in the season-opener at Jerez and has not raced since .
So far this season , there have been eight different winners in 10 races -- the joint second-highest during a single season .
The record is nine , set in 2016 .
Also missing this weekend is seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi as the Yamaha veteran recovers from Covid-19 at home in Italy .
The 41-year-old also sat out last weekend 's MotoGP of Aragon .
Rossi came under fire on Wednesday from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who said he was saddened to see the Italian 's level of performance this year .
`` For me , when I was competing against Valentino , he was a winner , a killer , '' Stoner told autosport.com .
`` He did everything possible to win races .
Now , however , a top five or a podium is like a victory for him and this is sad for me . ''
Rossi 's best result this season was a third-place finish in July 's Andalusian Grand Prix .

Alcañiz (Spain) (AFP) –
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Despite not having won a race since 2017, Spain's Joan Mir is edging closer to the MotoGP world title as the championship enters its 2020 end-game this weekend.
The 23-year-old Mir has a wafer-thin advantage of just six points over France's Fabio Quartararo ahead of the Teruel Grand Prix on Sunday.
However, the Suzuki rider has proved the master of consistency in this truncated season with three second places and two thirds from the 10 races held.
In 2019, Mir raced 17 events, failing to make the podium and finished in 12th place in the standings.
The previous season, he went winless in Moto2 leaving his last victorious season as his world championship campaign in Moto3 in 2017.
Last weekend, Mir was third in the MotoGP of Aragon with Suzuki teammate Alex Rins winning the race.
"It was really positive because we took important points for the championship," Mir told motogp.com after seeing Rins become the eighth different winner in 2020.
The two Suzukis were split by the Honda of Alex Marquez.
Mir is the first Suzuki rider since Kenny Roberts Jr in 2000 to lead the world championship.
"I will not change the way to approach the races, this is for sure. I will continue working race by race, trying to get as many points as possible, trying to get the victory every GP," he said ahead of this weekend's race at the same Motorland of Aragon circuit.
"Then in the last race we will look at the championship and see where we are."
With four races left, just 15 points cover Mir, Yamaha's Quartararo, who has three race wins from the Spanish, Andalucian and Catalunya events, and Maverick Vinales as well as Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso.
Vinales, at Emilio Romagna, and Dovizioso, in Austria, have both also won races in 2020.
The premier class has never had a world champion who hasn't won a race and it has only been achieved twice before in other classes.
The variety of winners in 2020 has been partly caused by the absence of six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez.
Marquez broke his arm in the season-opener at Jerez and has not raced since.
So far this season, there have been eight different winners in 10 races -- the joint second-highest during a single season. The record is nine, set in 2016.
Also missing this weekend is seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi as the Yamaha veteran recovers from Covid-19 at home in Italy.
The 41-year-old also sat out last weekend's MotoGP of Aragon.
Rossi came under fire on Wednesday from 2007 and 2011 world champion Casey Stoner who said he was saddened to see the Italian's level of performance this year.
"For me, when I was competing against Valentino, he was a winner, a killer," Stoner told autosport.com.
"He did everything possible to win races. Now, however, a top five or a podium is like a victory for him and this is sad for me."
Rossi's best result this season was a third-place finish in July's Andalusian Grand Prix.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--NASA asteroid surface sampling likely successful

NASA on Wednesday released its first images of a sampling operation carried out on the asteroid Bennu , which appeared to show successful recovery of rock and dust , or as one official put it , `` the kind of mess we were hoping for . ''
The US agency 's robotic spacecraft Osiris-Rex briefly touched down on Bennu 's boulder-strewn surface on Tuesday in a precision operation 200 million miles ( 330 million kilometers ) from Earth following a four-year journey .
Osiris-Rex is set to come home in September 2023 , hopefully with the largest sample returned from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will help unravel the origins of our solar system .
In the meantime , images taken on the probe 's approach provide a play-by-play of the mission 's most action-filled sequence , including when the spacecraft 's sampling arm breaks a large but apparently crumbly rock on contact .
That , mission head Dante Lauretta said , was a good thing , since it likely produced the kind of fragments more easily collected by the arm .
Next , a nitrogen blast created a cloud of dust and rock -- again , good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , from analysis of the images that we 've gotten down so far , is that the sampling event went really well , as good as we could have imagined it would , '' Lauretta said .
`` Particles are flying all over the place .
We really did kind of make a mess on the surface of this asteroid , but it 's a good mess , it 's the kind of mess we were hoping for , '' he said .
The odds that the probe collected usable material have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the analysis of these images , '' Lauretta added .
A final verdict will be made in the next few days : First on the basis of sample images taken inside Osiris-Rex , then when the sample 's mass is measured on Saturday , with a final report expected Monday .
The goal is at least 60 grams ( two ounces ) .
Overall , the mission has already checked multiple boxes : the probe was not damaged on contact , the collection mechanism was triggered and Osiris-Rex was able to back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Osiris-Rex mission outperformed in every way , '' NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said .

Washington (AFP) –
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NASA on Wednesday released its first images of a sampling operation carried out on the asteroid Bennu, which appeared to show successful recovery of rock and dust, or as one official put it, "the kind of mess we were hoping for."
The US agency's robotic spacecraft Osiris-Rex briefly touched down on Bennu's boulder-strewn surface on Tuesday in a precision operation 200 million miles (330 million kilometers) from Earth following a four-year journey.
Osiris-Rex is set to come home in September 2023, hopefully with the largest sample returned from space since the Apollo era, which will help unravel the origins of our solar system.
In the meantime, images taken on the probe's approach provide a play-by-play of the mission's most action-filled sequence, including when the spacecraft's sampling arm breaks a large but apparently crumbly rock on contact.
That, mission head Dante Lauretta said, was a good thing, since it likely produced the kind of fragments more easily collected by the arm.
Next, a nitrogen blast created a cloud of dust and rock -- again, good news for collection.
"Bottom line is, from analysis of the images that we've gotten down so far, is that the sampling event went really well, as good as we could have imagined it would," Lauretta said.
"Particles are flying all over the place. We really did kind of make a mess on the surface of this asteroid, but it's a good mess, it's the kind of mess we were hoping for," he said.
The odds that the probe collected usable material have gone "way, way up based on the analysis of these images," Lauretta added.
A final verdict will be made in the next few days: First on the basis of sample images taken inside Osiris-Rex, then when the sample's mass is measured on Saturday, with a final report expected Monday. The goal is at least 60 grams (two ounces).
Overall, the mission has already checked multiple boxes: the probe was not damaged on contact, the collection mechanism was triggered and Osiris-Rex was able to back away from Bennu's surface safely.
"The Osiris-Rex mission outperformed in every way," NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-22--US intelligence says Iran, Russia have tried to meddle in 2020 election

File photo : Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe arrives to a closed-door briefing on election security at the Senate @ @ @ @ @ Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on September 23 , 2020 in Washington , DC @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that Russia and Iran have both tried to interfere @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have confirmed that some voter registration information has been obtained by Iran @ @ @ @ @ Russia , ” Ratcliffe said during a hastily arranged news conference .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ emails designed to intimidate voters , incite social unrest and damage president Trump .
”

US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday that Russia and Iran have both tried to interfere with the 2020 presidential election.
File photo: Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe arrives to a closed-door briefing on election security at the Senate Intelligence Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on September 23, 2020 in Washington, DC.
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Ratcliffe made the announcements at a hastily arranged news conference that also included FBI Director Chris Wray.
The announcement two weeks before the election showed the level of alarm among top U.S. officials that foreign actors were seeking to undermine Americans’ confidence in the integrity of the vote and spread misinformation in an attempt to sway its outcome.
“We have confirmed that some voter registration information has been obtained by Iran, and separately, by Russia,” Ratcliffe said during the news conference.
Most of that voter registration is public. But Ratcliffe said that government officials “have already seen Iran sending spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest and damage President Trump.”
Ratcliffe was referring to emails sent Wednesday and designed to look like they came from the pro-Trump Proud Boys group, according to government sources.
U.S. intelligence agencies previously warned that Iran might interfere to hurt Trump and that Russia was trying to help him in the election.
Outside experts said that if Ratcliffe was correct, Iran would be trying to make Trump look bad by calling attention to support and threats by the sometimes violent group.
A spokesman for Iran’s mission to the United Nations denied Iran had sought to meddle in the U.S. election.
“Iran has no interest in interfering in the U.S. election and no preference for the outcome,” spokesman Alireza Miryousefi said in a statement.
U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who received a classified briefing on Wednesday afternoon on election security, said he disagreed with Ratcliffe that Iran was specifically trying to hurt Trump.
“It was clear to me that the intent of Iran in this case and Russia in many more cases is to basically undermine confidence in our elections. This action I do not believe was aimed ... at discrediting President Trump,” Schumer told MSNBC in an interview.
"From the briefing, I had the strong impression it was much rather to undermine confidence in elections and not aimed at any particular figure," Sen. Schumer says, discussing DNI Ratcliffe's remarks that Iran's election interference scheme was designed to "damage" Pres. Trump. pic.twitter.com/ylTcLD161N — MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 22, 2020
White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump has directed government agencies “to proactively monitor and thwart any attempts to interfere in U.S. elections, and because of the great work of our law enforcement agencies we have stopped an attempt by America’s adversaries to undermine our elections.”
The emails are under investigation, and one intelligence source said it was still unclear who was behind them.
Another government source said that U.S. officials are investigating whether people in Iran had hacked into a Proud Boys network or website to distribute threatening materials. This source said U.S. officials suspect the Iranian government was involved but that the evidence remains inconclusive.
Some of those emails also contained a video, debunked by experts, that purported to show how fake ballots could be submitted. Ratcliffe said that claim was false.
The second government source said U.S. authorities have evidence that Russia and Iran had tried to hack into voter roll data in unidentified states. But the source added that because much of that voter data is available commercially, the hacking may have been aimed at avoiding payment.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-22--Pioneering men's and women's Vic Open falls victim to pandemic

Celine Boutier of France and David Law of Scotland hold their trophies after winning respectively the LPGA Tour and European Tour Vic Open titles in 2019 Australia 's innovative Vic Open , the only event on the world 's professional golf tours where men and women tee off in alternate groups on the same course , fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic Thursday .
Jointly sanctioned by the men 's European Tour and the US-based elite women 's LPGA Tour , it was due to be played in February at a course south of Melbourne .
But difficulties around providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of certainty on quarantine and border issues proved too complicated .
Its cancellation follows Australia 's three biggest tournaments -- the men 's and women 's Australian Open and the PGA Championship -- all being called off last week for similar reasons .
`` We 're very proud of how far the Vic Open came since the mixed concept was put together , and we 're more than aware of how popular this event has become , '' said Golf Australia chief James Sutherland .
`` We 've tried to make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made . ''
The tournament is unique in having male and female fields sharing the same 72 holes over the four tournament days playing for equal prize money .
It has been running as a dual event since 2012 and took on added significance in 2019 when the European Tour and the LPGA Tour jointly sanctioned it for the first time , increasing the tournament 's cash purse .
One of Australia 's most exciting young talents , Min Woo Lee , won the men 's event this year with South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title .

Melbourne (AFP) –
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Australia's innovative Vic Open, the only event on the world's professional golf tours where men and women tee off in alternate groups on the same course, fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic Thursday.
Jointly sanctioned by the men's European Tour and the US-based elite women's LPGA Tour, it was due to be played in February at a course south of Melbourne.
But difficulties around providing a safe environment for players and a lack of certainty on quarantine and border issues proved too complicated.
Its cancellation follows Australia's three biggest tournaments -- the men's and women's Australian Open and the PGA Championship -- all being called off last week for similar reasons.
"We're very proud of how far the Vic Open came since the mixed concept was put together, and we're more than aware of how popular this event has become," said Golf Australia chief James Sutherland.
"We've tried to make it happen, but the call had to be made."
The tournament is unique in having male and female fields sharing the same 72 holes over the four tournament days playing for equal prize money.
It has been running as a dual event since 2012 and took on added significance in 2019 when the European Tour and the LPGA Tour jointly sanctioned it for the first time, increasing the tournament's cash purse.
One of Australia's most exciting young talents, Min Woo Lee, won the men's event this year with South Korea's Park Hee-young claiming the women's title.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Barack Obama slams Trump’s record in first campaign stop for Biden

With less than two weeks until Election Day , Obama addressed a drive-in rally of about 300 cars in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
The former president delivered a sweeping condemnation of Trump while urging Black men , progressives and other voters not to sit out the Nov. 3 election .
Former President Barack Obama blasted President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic , his response to racial unrest and his fundamental unfitness for the job in his first in-person campaign pitch Wednesday for Joe Biden , his former vice president .
With less than two weeks until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemnation of Trump while urging Black men , progressives and other voters not to sit out the Nov. 3 election .
“ This election requires every single one of us to do our part .
What we do these next 13 days will matter for decades to come , ” Obama said at a drive-in rally of about 300 cars .
He later warned : “ The fact that we don ’ t get 100 % of what we want right away is not a good reason not to vote.
” Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Pennsylvania , the swing state that Biden himself has visited the most this campaign season .
Trump has prioritized the state as well , and his aides acknowledge that his path to victory would narrow considerably without the state ’ s 20 electoral votes .
The president on Wednesday was in Erie , one of a handful of Pennsylvania counties that Obama won twice before it flipped to Trump .
Specifically targeting voters who might be disillusioned , Obama offered a defense of the nation ’ s decency and personal validation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kamala Harris , can live up to it .
“ America is a good and decent place , but we ’ ve just seen so much nonsense and noise that sometimes it ’ s hard to remember , ” he said .
“ I ’ m asking you to remember what this country can be .
...
I ’ m asking you to believe in Joe ’ s ability and Kamala ’ s ability to lead this country out of these dark times and help us build it back better.
” > @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the winning issue US presidential candidates think it is During his speech and at an earlier roundtable with Black men , Biden talked up the Democrats ’ plans to confront the coronavirus while dealing with the country ’ s social and economic tensions , including disparities deeply rooted in racism .
“ I am so confident in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris surrounding themselves with people who are serious , who know what they ’ re doing , who are representative of all people — not just some people — and us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this hole , ” Obama said .
Four years ago , Obama delivered Hillary Clinton ’ s closing argument in Philadelphia — at a rally for thousands the night before Election Day on Independence Mall .
Now , with the coronavirus pandemic upending campaigning , far fewer voters saw the former president in person .
But he used the spotlight he had to remind voters of 2016 , when Trump upset Clinton narrowly in Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin to forge an Electoral College majority despite losing the popular vote nationally .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Obama warned .
“ I don ’ t care about the polls .
There were a whole bunch of polls last time .
Didn ’ t work out because a whole bunch of folks stayed at home and got lazy and complacent .
Not this time .
Not this election.
” The roundtable was a personalized version of the same message , with the nation ’ s first Black president urging Black men especially not to give into apathy .
The host city , Philadelphia , is among the Democratic bastions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years ago fell off from Obama ’ s 2012 reelection in large enough numbers to tip the election in Trump ’ s favor .
Obama , 59 , said he understood young voters ’ skepticism and disinterest , recalling his own attitude decades ago .
“ I ’ ll confess , when I was 20 years old , I wasn ’ t all that woke , ” he said at the roundtable , adding that young Black men are “ not involved because they ’ re young and they ’ re distracted.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ away power .
“ The answer for young people when I talk to them is not that voting makes everything perfect , ” Obama said .
“ It ’ s that it makes things better ” because politicians respond to and reflect the citizens who cast votes .
“ One of the biggest tricks that ’ s perpetrated on the American people is this idea that the government is separate from you , ” Obama said .
“ The government ’ s us .
Of , by and for the people .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , but the way it ’ s designed , it works based on who ’ s at the table.
” Despite the smaller scale , Democrats say that as one of the men who knows Biden best , both as his former partner in the White House and personally , Obama remains one of the party ’ s greatest assets in the final stretch of the campaign .
Obama has already been helpful to the Biden campaign , adapting to the shift to virtual events by focusing much of his work on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s appeared on Twitch , the video game streaming platform , pushed a voter registration message on Snapchat and recorded a video for the Shade Room , a Black-owned Instagram page and media company with 21 million followers .
Obama has appeared on two podcasts run by some of his former aides and has lent his name to texts and emails encouraging supporters to register to vote and donate money to the campaign .
Obama has also been a big money draw for the campaign — he appeared at two virtual fundraisers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to that .
A grassroots virtual fundraiser Obama headlined with Biden in June brought in $ 7.6 million .
Obama has also been active for down-ballot Democrats , raising money for House Democrats and appearing in ads for some of the party ’ s top candidates , like Sara Gideon , running for the Senate in Maine , and for vulnerable incumbents , like Michigan Sen. Gary Peters .
And he filmed a series of digital videos for the Democratic National Committee emphasizing the need for voters to make plans for casting @ @ @

Former President Barack Obama blasted President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, his response to racial unrest and his fundamental unfitness for the job in his first in-person campaign pitch Wednesday for Joe Biden, his former vice president.
Former US President Barack Obama gestures as he campaigns on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee and his former Vice President Joe Biden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 21, 2020.
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With less than two weeks until Election Day, Obama delivered a sweeping condemnation of Trump while urging Black men, progressives and other voters not to sit out the Nov. 3 election.
“This election requires every single one of us to do our part. What we do these next 13 days will matter for decades to come,” Obama said at a drive-in rally of about 300 cars. He later warned: “The fact that we don’t get 100% of what we want right away is not a good reason not to vote.”
Obama’s visit to Philadelphia underscores the significance of Pennsylvania, the swing state that Biden himself has visited the most this campaign season. Trump has prioritized the state as well, and his aides acknowledge that his path to victory would narrow considerably without the state’s 20 electoral votes. The president on Wednesday was in Erie, one of a handful of Pennsylvania counties that Obama won twice before it flipped to Trump.
Specifically targeting voters who might be disillusioned, Obama offered a defense of the nation’s decency and personal validation that Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, can live up to it.
“America is a good and decent place, but we’ve just seen so much nonsense and noise that sometimes it’s hard to remember,” he said. “I’m asking you to remember what this country can be. ... I’m asking you to believe in Joe’s ability and Kamala’s ability to lead this country out of these dark times and help us build it back better.”
00:24
During his speech and at an earlier roundtable with Black men, Biden talked up the Democrats’ plans to confront the coronavirus while dealing with the country’s social and economic tensions, including disparities deeply rooted in racism.
“I am so confident in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris surrounding themselves with people who are serious, who know what they’re doing, who are representative of all people — not just some people — and us being able to then dig ourselves out of this hole,” Obama said.
Four years ago, Obama delivered Hillary Clinton’s closing argument in Philadelphia — at a rally for thousands the night before Election Day on Independence Mall. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic upending campaigning, far fewer voters saw the former president in person. But he used the spotlight he had to remind voters of 2016, when Trump upset Clinton narrowly in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin to forge an Electoral College majority despite losing the popular vote nationally.
“We can’t be complacent,” Obama warned. “I don’t care about the polls. There were a whole bunch of polls last time. Didn’t work out because a whole bunch of folks stayed at home and got lazy and complacent. Not this time. Not this election.”
The roundtable was a personalized version of the same message, with the nation’s first Black president urging Black men especially not to give into apathy. The host city, Philadelphia, is among the Democratic bastions in key battleground states where Black turnout four years ago fell off from Obama’s 2012 reelection in large enough numbers to tip the election in Trump’s favor.
Obama, 59, said he understood young voters’ skepticism and disinterest, recalling his own attitude decades ago. “I’ll confess, when I was 20 years old, I wasn’t all that woke,” he said at the roundtable, adding that young Black men are “not involved because they’re young and they’re distracted.”
But he said not voting gives away power.
“The answer for young people when I talk to them is not that voting makes everything perfect,” Obama said. “It’s that it makes things better” because politicians respond to and reflect the citizens who cast votes.
“One of the biggest tricks that’s perpetrated on the American people is this idea that the government is separate from you,” Obama said. “The government’s us. Of, by and for the people. It wasn’t always for all of us, but the way it’s designed, it works based on who’s at the table.”
>> In Pennsylvania, fracking might not be the winning issue US presidential candidates think it is
Despite the smaller scale, Democrats say that as one of the men who knows Biden best, both as his former partner in the White House and personally, Obama remains one of the party’s greatest assets in the final stretch of the campaign.
Obama has already been helpful to the Biden campaign, adapting to the shift to virtual events by focusing much of his work on getting younger Americans to vote. He’s appeared on Twitch, the video game streaming platform, pushed a voter registration message on Snapchat and recorded a video for the Shade Room, a Black-owned Instagram page and media company with 21 million followers.
Obama has appeared on two podcasts run by some of his former aides and has lent his name to texts and emails encouraging supporters to register to vote and donate money to the campaign. Obama has also been a big money draw for the campaign — he appeared at two virtual fundraisers with Harris this month and a handful prior to that. A grassroots virtual fundraiser Obama headlined with Biden in June brought in $7.6 million.
Obama has also been active for down-ballot Democrats, raising money for House Democrats and appearing in ads for some of the party’s top candidates, like Sara Gideon, running for the Senate in Maine, and for vulnerable incumbents, like Michigan Sen. Gary Peters. And he filmed a series of digital videos for the Democratic National Committee emphasizing the need for voters to make plans for casting their ballot.
(AP)
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france24--2020-10-21--Protests escalate in Nigeria after deadly crackdown by security forces

A protester waves a Nigerian national flag behind barricades mounted on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against police brutality and the killing of protesters by the military , at Magboro , Ogun State , on October 21 , 2020 .
Buildings were torched in Nigeria ’ s biggest city Lagos on Wednesday as authorities shut down the economic hub , after the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces caused international outrage .
At least 12 people were killed by the Nigerian army and police in two locations in Lagos on Tuesday in a deadly crackdown on demonstrations , Amnesty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite a curfew imposed to end spiralling protests over police brutality and deep-rooted social grievances .
“ Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses , video footage and hospital reports confirm that between 6:45pm ( 1745 GMT ) and 9:00pm ( 2000 GMT ) on Tuesday 20 October , the Nigerian military opened fire on thousands of people , ” Amnesty said in a statement .
The Lagos governor at first insisted no fatalities had been recorded but later said the authorities were investigating the death of one person resulting from “ blunt force trauma to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 25 people were wounded .
Demonstrator Paul Sunday who was at the scene told AFP that the men who shot at the crowd were wearing masks and had army uniforms .
“ They attacked us from back and front , ” he said .
“ They came around 7pm when everywhere is dark.
” Pictures and videos showing scenes of chaos in the aftermath of the shooting were widely shared on social media .
The shooting drew international condemnation , with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet saying reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force , resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition , by Nigerian armed forces , ” she said .
“ Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as , if confirmed , they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated , planned and coordinated.
” Human Rights Watch corroborated reports that the Nigerian army had opened fire on the crowd in “ a shooting spree ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ military from the streets , ” said Anietie Ewang , a Nigeria researcher with the rights group .
The Nigerian army did not respond to AFP ’ s requests for comment but on Twitter it called reports of soldiers firing on protesters “ fake news ” .
The west African ECOWAS bloc appealed to the Nigerian government , its youth and civil society “ to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order.
” Nana Akufo-Addo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbouring Ghana , said in a statement that he had spoken with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari , who had “ begun the processes that will lead to reform ” .
The centre of Lagos , a sprawling city that is home to 20 million people , was largely deserted and shops were closed on Wednesday under a curfew .
An AFP journalist said several buildings were burnt around the area of the shooting and remnants of the violence—broken glass , torn banners—could be seen .
A few people were drifting around , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , only graffiti denouncing police violence and bad governance remaining .
In another district a bus station was set ablaze and there were sporadic clashes between bottle-throwing youths and police , who occasionally fired into the air .
A TV station linked to one of the ruling party ’ s most powerful politicians was also torched .
Concerned by the escalating violence reported on Wednesday in a string of cities including Lagos , the International Committee for the Red Cross called for restraint .
“ It is of paramount importance that first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so they can reach injured people safely , ” said Eloi Fillion , head of the ICRC delegation in Nigeria .
In a television broadcast , Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered all “ state activities ” to be halted across the city for three days .
He said he had asked for a probe into “ the rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian army that were deployed ” at the scene during the shooting on Tuesday .
“ Soldiers clearly had one intention – to kill without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria .
At least 56 people have died across the country since the protests began on October 8 , with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone , according to Amnesty .
President Buhari was yet to directly address Tuesday ’ s incident but in a statement on the protests the presidency said he had appealed for “ understanding and calm across the nation ” .
A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria said on Wednesday that they were “ deeply shocked by the killing of peaceful protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for justice over police brutality has again revealed the brutal nature of the Nigerian state , ” it said in a statement .
According to the group , “ not less than 40 Nigerians have lost their lives as a result of violent attempts to crack down or disrupt the ongoing protests against police brutality.
” Nigeria , where the median age is 18 , is a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Wednesday he was “ deeply concerned ” by violence in Nigeria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account , ” he said in a statement .
Since Tuesday , Rihanna , Beyonce , Nicki Minaj , Ugandan pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo added their names to a list of celebrities who have supported the protesters .

The African Union on Thursday strongly condemned deadly violence in Nigeria's biggest city Lagos and called on all parties to "privilege dialogue".
A protester waves a Nigerian national flag behind barricades mounted on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway to protest against police brutality and the killing of protesters by the military, at Magboro, Ogun State, on October 21, 2020.
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African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat "strongly condemns the violence that erupted on 20 October 2020 during protests in Lagos, Nigeria that has resulted in multiple deaths and injuries", his office said in a statement.
"The Chairperson appeals to all political and social actors to reject the use of violence and respect human rights and the rule of law," the statement said.
Mahamat’s comments came as protests escalated in Lagos, following the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces earlier this week.
At least 12 people were killed by the Nigerian army and police in two locations in Lagos on Tuesday in a deadly crackdown on demonstrations, Amnesty International said.
Peaceful protesters had gathered despite a curfew imposed to end spiralling protests over police brutality and deep-rooted social grievances.
“Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses, video footage and hospital reports confirm that between 6:45pm (1745 GMT) and 9:00pm (2000 GMT) on Tuesday 20 October, the Nigerian military opened fire on thousands of people,” Amnesty said in a statement.
The Lagos governor at first insisted no fatalities had been recorded but later said the authorities were investigating the death of one person resulting from “blunt force trauma to the head”.
He said at least 25 people were wounded.
Masks and army uniforms
Demonstrator Paul Sunday who was at the scene told AFP that the men who shot at the crowd were wearing masks and had army uniforms.
“They attacked us from back and front,” he said. “They came around 7pm when everywhere is dark.”
Pictures and videos showing scenes of chaos in the aftermath of the shooting were widely shared on social media.
The shooting drew international condemnation, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet saying reports suggested it could have been premeditated.
“There is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian armed forces,” she said.
“Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as, if confirmed, they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated, planned and coordinated.”
Human Rights Watch corroborated reports that the Nigerian army had opened fire on the crowd in “a shooting spree”.
“The authorities should immediately withdraw the military from the streets,” said Anietie Ewang, a Nigeria researcher with the rights group.
#Nigeria:After soldiers opened fire at a crowd of protesters in Lagos last night, the authorities should immediately withdraw the military from the streets & identify/prosecute officers responsible for or complicit in any excessive use of force against protesters. #EndSARS @hrw pic.twitter.com/R2UDQ4Ytyk — Anietie Ewang (@aniewang) October 21, 2020
The Nigerian army did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment but on Twitter it called reports of soldiers firing on protesters “fake news”.
The west African ECOWAS bloc appealed to the Nigerian government, its youth and civil society “to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order”.
Nana Akufo-Addo, chairman of ECOWAS and president of neighbouring Ghana, said in a statement that he had spoken with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who had “begun the processes that will lead to reform”.
‘Inferno’
The centre of Lagos, a sprawling city that is home to 20 million people, was largely deserted and shops were closed on Wednesday under a curfew.
An AFP journalist said several buildings were burnt around the area of the shooting and remnants of the violence—broken glass, torn banners—could be seen.
A few people were drifting around, but protest hotspot Lekki Toll Gate had emptied out, only graffiti denouncing police violence and bad governance remaining.
A dozen soldiers and heavily armed police officers patrolled nearby.
In another district a bus station was set ablaze and there were sporadic clashes between bottle-throwing youths and police, who occasionally fired into the air.
A TV station linked to one of the ruling party’s most powerful politicians was also torched.
In a television broadcast, Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered all “state activities” to be halted across the city for three days.
He said he had asked for a probe into “the rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian army that were deployed” at the scene during the shooting on Tuesday.
“Soldiers clearly had one intention – to kill without consequences,” said Osai Ojigho, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
‘Indefinite curfew’
At least 56 people have died across the country since the protests began on October 8, with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone, according to Amnesty.
President Buhari was yet to directly address Tuesday’s incident but in a statement on the protests the presidency said he had appealed for “understanding and calm across the nation”.
A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria said on Wednesday that they were “deeply shocked by the killing of peaceful protesters”.
“The attempt to fight for justice over police brutality has again revealed the brutal nature of the Nigerian state,” it said in a statement.
According to the group, “not less than 40 Nigerians have lost their lives as a result of violent attempts to crack down or disrupt the ongoing protests against police brutality.”
Nigeria, where the median age is 18, is a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Wednesday he was “deeply concerned” by violence in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account,” he said in a statement.
Since Tuesday, Rihanna, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Ugandan pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo added their names to a list of celebrities who have supported the protesters.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-10-21--Vaccine trials 'can't detect' virus risk reduction: expert

The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has identified 42 candidate vaccines in clinical trials , ten of which are in the most advanced `` phase 3 '' stage None of the trials of Covid-19 candidate vaccines can detect a reduction in serious outcomes such as hospitalisation or death , a leading public health expert said Thursday .
Writing in the BMJ medical journal , associate editor Peter Doshi warned that not even phase 3 trials under way in the race for a vaccine can prove their product will prevent people contracting Covid-19 .
In a sobering essay , Doshi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end the pandemic would be disappointed , with some vaccines likely to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection by only 30 percent .
`` None of the trials currently under way are designed to detect a reduction in any serious outcome such as hospital admissions , use of intensive care , or deaths , '' he wrote .
`` Nor are the vaccines being studied to determine whether they can interrupt transmission of the virus . ''
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has identified 42 candidate vaccines in clinical trials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced `` phase 3 '' stage .
This is where a vaccine 's effectiveness is tested on a large scale , generally tens of thousands of people across several continents .
But Doshi , assistant professor of pharmaceutical health services research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy , said that even the most advanced trials are evaluating mild rather than severe disease .
This may be down to the numbers of people involved in trials , he said , pointing out that the majority of confirmed Covid-19 infections involve mild or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current trials are designed to find out whether there is a benefit among the elderly , a key at-risk constituency .
Without enrolling frail and elderly volunteers in trials in sufficient numbers , Doshi said `` there can be little basis for assuming any benefit against hospitalisation or mortality .
He added that children , immunocompromised people and pregnant women had largely been excluded from trials , making it unlikely that the experiments will address key gaps in our understanding of how Covid-19 develops differently among individuals .
Several trials have already been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries plan to prioritise vulnerable people once a vaccine is available , but Doshi said that those hoping for a miracle end to the pandemic would have to wait .
He said that several pharmaceutical firms had designed their studies `` to detect a relative risk reduction of at least 30 percent in participants developing laboratory confirmed Covid-19 '' .
Recent studies have also confirmed that it is possible for someone to be reinfected with Covid-19 , a development that may impact how governments ' form their vaccination plans .

Paris (AFP) –
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None of the trials of Covid-19 candidate vaccines can detect a reduction in serious outcomes such as hospitalisation or death, a leading public health expert said Thursday.
Writing in the BMJ medical journal, associate editor Peter Doshi warned that not even phase 3 trials under way in the race for a vaccine can prove their product will prevent people contracting Covid-19.
In a sobering essay, Doshi said those hoping for a breakthrough to end the pandemic would be disappointed, with some vaccines likely to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection by only 30 percent.
"None of the trials currently under way are designed to detect a reduction in any serious outcome such as hospital admissions, use of intensive care, or deaths," he wrote.
"Nor are the vaccines being studied to determine whether they can interrupt transmission of the virus."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 42 candidate vaccines in clinical trials, ten of which are in the most advanced "phase 3" stage.
This is where a vaccine's effectiveness is tested on a large scale, generally tens of thousands of people across several continents.
But Doshi, assistant professor of pharmaceutical health services research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, said that even the most advanced trials are evaluating mild rather than severe disease.
This may be down to the numbers of people involved in trials, he said, pointing out that the majority of confirmed Covid-19 infections involve mild or no symptoms.
And few if any current trials are designed to find out whether there is a benefit among the elderly, a key at-risk constituency.
Without enrolling frail and elderly volunteers in trials in sufficient numbers, Doshi said "there can be little basis for assuming any benefit against hospitalisation or mortality.
He added that children, immunocompromised people and pregnant women had largely been excluded from trials, making it unlikely that the experiments will address key gaps in our understanding of how Covid-19 develops differently among individuals.
- 30% risk reduction -
Several trials have already been halted after participants became ill.
Many countries plan to prioritise vulnerable people once a vaccine is available, but Doshi said that those hoping for a miracle end to the pandemic would have to wait.
He said that several pharmaceutical firms had designed their studies "to detect a relative risk reduction of at least 30 percent in participants developing laboratory confirmed Covid-19".
Recent studies have also confirmed that it is possible for someone to be reinfected with Covid-19, a development that may impact how governments' form their vaccination plans.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Bayern begin Champions League title defence in style, Real Madrid stunned

Bayern Munich began their defence of the Champions League title in ominous fashion by crushing Atletico Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday , while Liverpool and Manchester City also won but Real Madrid suffered a shock defeat .
Madrid , the record 13-time European champions , went down to a 3-2 home loss against Shakhtar Donetsk , showing how far Zinedine Zidane 's side are just now from the standards being set by Bayern .
Two months after scoring the winner in the final against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon , Kingsley Coman put Bayern ahead against Atletico in Group A and later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the victory at an empty Allianz Arena .
In between Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso were also on target for the German champions , with the latter 's strike a stunner from long-range .
`` The winning goal in last season 's final is a good motivator , but it 's in the past now and we have fresh goals this season , '' Coman told Sky Sports .
It was Bayern 's 12th consecutive Champions League win while the result for Atletico equalled their worst defeat under Diego Simeone .
Bayern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow , who battled back to draw 2-2 at Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday .
Eder put Lokomotiv ahead in Austria , only for Dominik Szoboszlai to crash in a brilliant equaliser .
A deflected Zlatko Junuzovic goal put the hosts in front , but Vitali Lisakovich headed in to earn the Russian side a point .
Real were 3-0 down at half-time against Shakhtar at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium and fell short with a second-half fightback to get their European campaign off to a disastrous start .
A depleted Shakhtar were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff due to coronavirus infections and had seven starters aged 21 or under .
Strikes from Tete and Manor Solomon , either side of a Raphael Varane own-goal , gave the Ukrainian champions a three-goal half-time lead .
Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior pulled goals back and Fede Valverde thought he had grabbed an injury-time equaliser but his deflected shot was ruled out for an offside .
Missing the injured Sergio Ramos , Real have now won just one of their last seven Champions League home games .
This was also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepare to go to Barcelona for the Clasico on Saturday .
`` We lacked a bit of everything , but above all our confidence , which is the most important thing , '' said Zidane .
Real are already up against it in Group B , even if rivals Inter Milan and Borussia Moenchengladbach cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw at San Siro .
Romelu Lukaku scored twice for Inter , opening the scoring early in the second half and then turning in a late equaliser .
In between Ramy Bensebaini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hofmann scored what he thought was a late winner .
Liverpool shook off the absence of Virgil van Dijk to edge Ajax 1-0 behind closed doors in Amsterdam in Group D. Van Dijk is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury but Jurgen Klopp 's side kept a clean sheet and took all three points after Nicolas Tagliafico turned a wayward Sadio Mane shot into his own net on 35 minutes .
`` It was not sunshine football but we wanted three points and we got it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champions will hope to build on this result when they host Midtjylland next week .
The Danes were outclassed at home by Atalanta on Wednesday , losing 4-0 with Duvan Zapata , Alejandro `` Papu '' Gomez and Luis Muriel scoring in the first half and debutant Aleksei Miranchuk adding a late fourth .
Pep Guardiola 's City made it three wins for English clubs this midweek as they came from behind at home to beat Porto 3-1 .
Luis Diaz gave Porto the lead with a superb individual goal but Sergio Aguero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ilkay Gundogan 's free-kick put them ahead on 65 minutes .
Substitute Ferran Torres then scored a superb goal to make sure of the win .
Also in Group C , Egyptian substitute Ahmed Hassan headed in a stoppage-time winner as Olympiakos downed Marseille 1-0 .

Paris (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich began their defence of the Champions League title in ominous fashion by crushing Atletico Madrid 4-0 on Wednesday, while Liverpool and Manchester City also won but Real Madrid suffered a shock defeat.
Madrid, the record 13-time European champions, went down to a 3-2 home loss against Shakhtar Donetsk, showing how far Zinedine Zidane's side are just now from the standards being set by Bayern.
Two months after scoring the winner in the final against Paris Saint-Germain in Lisbon, Kingsley Coman put Bayern ahead against Atletico in Group A and later scored a stunning individual effort to wrap up the victory at an empty Allianz Arena.
In between Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso were also on target for the German champions, with the latter's strike a stunner from long-range.
"The winning goal in last season's final is a good motivator, but it's in the past now and we have fresh goals this season," Coman told Sky Sports.
It was Bayern's 12th consecutive Champions League win while the result for Atletico equalled their worst defeat under Diego Simeone.
Bayern next go to Russia to play Lokomotiv Moscow, who battled back to draw 2-2 at Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.
Eder put Lokomotiv ahead in Austria, only for Dominik Szoboszlai to crash in a brilliant equaliser.
A deflected Zlatko Junuzovic goal put the hosts in front, but Vitali Lisakovich headed in to earn the Russian side a point.
- Disastrous night for Real -
Real were 3-0 down at half-time against Shakhtar at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium and fell short with a second-half fightback to get their European campaign off to a disastrous start.
A depleted Shakhtar were without 10 first-team players and nine members of staff due to coronavirus infections and had seven starters aged 21 or under.
Strikes from Tete and Manor Solomon, either side of a Raphael Varane own-goal, gave the Ukrainian champions a three-goal half-time lead.
Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior pulled goals back and Fede Valverde thought he had grabbed an injury-time equaliser but his deflected shot was ruled out for an offside.
Missing the injured Sergio Ramos, Real have now won just one of their last seven Champions League home games. This was also a second defeat in five days as they prepare to go to Barcelona for the Clasico on Saturday.
"We lacked a bit of everything, but above all our confidence, which is the most important thing," said Zidane.
- Lukaku double -
Real are already up against it in Group B, even if rivals Inter Milan and Borussia Moenchengladbach cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw at San Siro.
Romelu Lukaku scored twice for Inter, opening the scoring early in the second half and then turning in a late equaliser.
In between Ramy Bensebaini netted a penalty for Gladbach and Jonas Hofmann scored what he thought was a late winner.
- Liverpool win without Van Dijk -
Liverpool shook off the absence of Virgil van Dijk to edge Ajax 1-0 behind closed doors in Amsterdam in Group D.
Van Dijk is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury but Jurgen Klopp's side kept a clean sheet and took all three points after Nicolas Tagliafico turned a wayward Sadio Mane shot into his own net on 35 minutes.
"It was not sunshine football but we wanted three points and we got it," said Klopp.
The 2019 European champions will hope to build on this result when they host Midtjylland next week.
The Danes were outclassed at home by Atalanta on Wednesday, losing 4-0 with Duvan Zapata, Alejandro "Papu" Gomez and Luis Muriel scoring in the first half and debutant Aleksei Miranchuk adding a late fourth.
Pep Guardiola's City made it three wins for English clubs this midweek as they came from behind at home to beat Porto 3-1.
Luis Diaz gave Porto the lead with a superb individual goal but Sergio Aguero's penalty soon brought City level and Ilkay Gundogan's free-kick put them ahead on 65 minutes.
Substitute Ferran Torres then scored a superb goal to make sure of the win.
Also in Group C, Egyptian substitute Ahmed Hassan headed in a stoppage-time winner as Olympiakos downed Marseille 1-0.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Last-gasp Lukaku rescues Inter Milan draw against 'Gladbach

Romelu Lukaku scored twice , including a last-gasp equaliser , to rescue a 2-2 draw for Inter Milan in their Champions League opener against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday .
Lukaku put Inter ahead after 49 minutes in the San Siro only for the Bundesliga club to hit back with a 63rd-minute Ramy Bensebaini penalty and a Jonas Hofmann strike six minutes from time .
But Lukaku had the last word sending the ball in from close range in the final minute .
Earlier , in the same Group B , Shakhtar Donetsk went top after shocking Real Madrid 3-2 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side had been looking to bounce back from a 2-1 derby defeat to AC Milan at the weekend , but were struggling with five players missing through coronavirus .
Full-back Achraf Hakimi was ruled out hours before the game , joining four other Inter players unavailable due to positive tests -- Milan Skriniar , Roberto Gagliardini , Andrei Radu and Ashley Young .
Hakimi joined former three-time Champions League winners Inter from Real Madrid in the summer and had impressed in his opening matches .
Matteo Darmian took the place of the Moroccan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez , who was favoured to start over Lautaro Martinez .
Alessandro Bastoni returned to the group after recovering from the coronavirus , and came off the bench in the second half .
Borussia coach Marco Rose opted for Breel Embolo , Hofmann and Marcus Thuram to support Alassane Plea .
Inter had the best of the first half with Lukaku missing a chance to break through just before the break , connecting with a Sanchez cross , only to send the ball across the face of goal .
Lautaro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Argentine striker nodding wide , before Lukaku broke through amid a scramble in front of goal .
But Moenchengladbach pulled level from the spot after 63 minutes when an Arturo Vidal foul on Thuram was confirmed after a VAR review .
Bensebaini stepped up to leave Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal with no chance .
Lautaro rattled the post , but it was the Bundesliga side that grabbed the second when Hofmann connected with a Florian Neuhaus cross .
The former two-time UEFA Cup winners thought they had done enough but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his sixth goal in five games this season .

Milan (AFP) –
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Romelu Lukaku scored twice, including a last-gasp equaliser, to rescue a 2-2 draw for Inter Milan in their Champions League opener against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Wednesday.
Lukaku put Inter ahead after 49 minutes in the San Siro only for the Bundesliga club to hit back with a 63rd-minute Ramy Bensebaini penalty and a Jonas Hofmann strike six minutes from time.
But Lukaku had the last word sending the ball in from close range in the final minute.
Earlier, in the same Group B, Shakhtar Donetsk went top after shocking Real Madrid 3-2 in Spain.
Antonio Conte's depleted Inter side had been looking to bounce back from a 2-1 derby defeat to AC Milan at the weekend, but were struggling with five players missing through coronavirus.
Full-back Achraf Hakimi was ruled out hours before the game, joining four other Inter players unavailable due to positive tests -- Milan Skriniar, Roberto Gagliardini, Andrei Radu and Ashley Young.
Hakimi joined former three-time Champions League winners Inter from Real Madrid in the summer and had impressed in his opening matches.
Matteo Darmian took the place of the Moroccan international with Dane Christian Eriksen starting behind Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, who was favoured to start over Lautaro Martinez.
Alessandro Bastoni returned to the group after recovering from the coronavirus, and came off the bench in the second half.
Borussia coach Marco Rose opted for Breel Embolo, Hofmann and Marcus Thuram to support Alassane Plea.
Inter had the best of the first half with Lukaku missing a chance to break through just before the break, connecting with a Sanchez cross, only to send the ball across the face of goal.
Lautaro replaced Sanchez for the second half with the Argentine striker nodding wide, before Lukaku broke through amid a scramble in front of goal.
But Moenchengladbach pulled level from the spot after 63 minutes when an Arturo Vidal foul on Thuram was confirmed after a VAR review.
Bensebaini stepped up to leave Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal with no chance.
Lautaro rattled the post, but it was the Bundesliga side that grabbed the second when Hofmann connected with a Florian Neuhaus cross.
The former two-time UEFA Cup winners thought they had done enough but Lukaku came through with the last-gasp equaliser for his sixth goal in five games this season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Unrest in Lagos after deadly Nigeria protest shooting

At least 56 people have died across Nigeria since protests began on October 8 , with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone , according to Amnesty International Buildings were torched in Nigeria 's biggest city Lagos on Wednesday as authorities shut down the economic hub , after the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces caused international outrage .
At least 12 people were killed by the Nigerian army and police in two locations in Lagos on Tuesday in a deadly crackdown on demonstrations , Amnesty International said .
Peaceful protesters had gathered despite a curfew imposed to end spiralling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grievances .
`` Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses , video footage and hospital reports confirm that between 6:45pm ( 1745 GMT ) and 9:00pm ( 2000 GMT ) on Tuesday 20 October , the Nigerian military opened fire on thousands of people , '' Amnesty said in a statement .
The Lagos governor at first insisted no fatalities had been recorded but later said the authorities were investigating the death of one person resulting from `` blunt force trauma to the head '' .
He said at least 25 people were wounded .
Demonstrator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP that the men who shot at the crowd were wearing masks and had army uniforms .
`` They attacked us from back and front , '' he said .
`` They came around 7pm when everywhere is dark . ''
Pictures and videos showing scenes of chaos in the aftermath of the shooting were widely shared on social media .
The shooting drew international condemnation , with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet saying reports suggested it could have been premeditated .
`` There is little doubt that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of force , resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition , by Nigerian armed forces , '' she said .
`` Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as , if confirmed , they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated , planned and coordinated . ''
Human Rights Watch corroborated reports that the Nigerian army had opened fire on the crowd in `` a shooting spree '' .
`` The authorities should immediately withdraw the military from the streets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researcher with the rights group .
The Nigerian army did not respond to AFP 's requests for comment but on Twitter it called reports of soldiers firing on protesters `` fake news '' .
The west African ECOWAS bloc appealed to the Nigerian government , its youth and civil society `` to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order . ''
Nana Akufo-Addo , chairman of ECOWAS and president of neighbouring Ghana , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari , who had `` begun the processes that will lead to reform '' .
The centre of Lagos , a sprawling city that is home to 20 million people , was largely deserted and shops were closed on Wednesday under a curfew .
An AFP journalist said several buildings were burnt around the area of the shooting and remnants of the violence -- broken glass , torn banners -- could be seen .
A few people were drifting around , but protest hotspot Lekki Toll Gate had emptied out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad governance remaining .
In another district a bus station was set ablaze and there were sporadic clashes between bottle-throwing youths and police , who occasionally fired into the air .
A TV station linked to one of the ruling party 's most powerful politicians was also torched .
Concerned by the escalating violence reported on Wednesday in a string of cities including Lagos , the International Committee for the Red Cross called for restraint .
`` It is of paramount importance that first responders and ambulances are respected by all , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Eloi Fillion , head of the ICRC delegation in Nigeria .
In a television broadcast , Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered all `` state activities '' to be halted across the city for three days .
He said he had asked for a probe into `` the rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian army that were deployed '' at the scene during the shooting on Tuesday .
`` Soldiers clearly had one intention - to kill without consequences , '' said Osai Ojigho , Country Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 people have died across the country since the protests began on October 8 , with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone , according to Amnesty .
President Buhari was yet to directly address Tuesday 's incident but in a statement on the protests the presidency said he had appealed for `` understanding and calm across the nation '' .
A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria said on Wednesday that they were `` deeply shocked by the killing of peaceful protesters '' .
`` The attempt to fight for justice over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature of the Nigerian state , '' it said in a statement .
According to the group , `` not less than 40 Nigerians have lost their lives as a result of violent attempts to crack down or disrupt the ongoing protests against police brutality . ''
Nigeria , where the median age is 18 , is a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Wednesday he was `` deeply concerned '' by violence in Nigeria .
`` The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security forces and hold those responsible to account , '' he said in a statement .
Since Tuesday , Rihanna , Beyonce , Nicki Minaj , Ugandan pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo added their names to a list of celebrities who have supported the protesters .

Lagos (AFP) –
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Buildings were torched in Nigeria's biggest city Lagos on Wednesday as authorities shut down the economic hub, after the shooting of peaceful protesters by security forces caused international outrage.
At least 12 people were killed by the Nigerian army and police in two locations in Lagos on Tuesday in a deadly crackdown on demonstrations, Amnesty International said.
Peaceful protesters had gathered despite a curfew imposed to end spiralling protests over police brutality and deep-rooted social grievances.
"Evidence gathered from eyewitnesses, video footage and hospital reports confirm that between 6:45pm (1745 GMT) and 9:00pm (2000 GMT) on Tuesday 20 October, the Nigerian military opened fire on thousands of people," Amnesty said in a statement.
The Lagos governor at first insisted no fatalities had been recorded but later said the authorities were investigating the death of one person resulting from "blunt force trauma to the head".
He said at least 25 people were wounded.
Demonstrator Paul Sunday who was at the scene told AFP that the men who shot at the crowd were wearing masks and had army uniforms.
"They attacked us from back and front," he said. "They came around 7pm when everywhere is dark."
Pictures and videos showing scenes of chaos in the aftermath of the shooting were widely shared on social media.
The shooting drew international condemnation, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet saying reports suggested it could have been premeditated.
"There is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian armed forces," she said.
"Reports that CCTV cameras and lighting were deliberately disabled prior to the shooting are even more disturbing as, if confirmed, they suggest this deplorable attack on peaceful protestors was premeditated, planned and coordinated."
Human Rights Watch corroborated reports that the Nigerian army had opened fire on the crowd in "a shooting spree".
"The authorities should immediately withdraw the military from the streets," said Anietie Ewang, a Nigeria researcher with the rights group.
The Nigerian army did not respond to AFP's requests for comment but on Twitter it called reports of soldiers firing on protesters "fake news".
The west African ECOWAS bloc appealed to the Nigerian government, its youth and civil society "to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order."
Nana Akufo-Addo, chairman of ECOWAS and president of neighbouring Ghana, said in a statement that he had spoken with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who had "begun the processes that will lead to reform".
- 'Inferno' -
The centre of Lagos, a sprawling city that is home to 20 million people, was largely deserted and shops were closed on Wednesday under a curfew.
An AFP journalist said several buildings were burnt around the area of the shooting and remnants of the violence -- broken glass, torn banners -- could be seen.
A few people were drifting around, but protest hotspot Lekki Toll Gate had emptied out, only graffiti denouncing police violence and bad governance remaining.
A dozen soldiers and heavily armed police officers patrolled nearby.
In another district a bus station was set ablaze and there were sporadic clashes between bottle-throwing youths and police, who occasionally fired into the air.
A TV station linked to one of the ruling party's most powerful politicians was also torched.
Concerned by the escalating violence reported on Wednesday in a string of cities including Lagos, the International Committee for the Red Cross called for restraint.
"It is of paramount importance that first responders and ambulances are respected by all, so they can reach injured people safely," said Eloi Fillion, head of the ICRC delegation in Nigeria.
In a television broadcast, Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered all "state activities" to be halted across the city for three days.
He said he had asked for a probe into "the rules of engagement employed by the men of the Nigerian army that were deployed" at the scene during the shooting on Tuesday.
"Soldiers clearly had one intention - to kill without consequences," said Osai Ojigho, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
- 'Indefinite curfew' -
At least 56 people have died across the country since the protests began on October 8, with about 38 killed on Tuesday alone, according to Amnesty.
President Buhari was yet to directly address Tuesday's incident but in a statement on the protests the presidency said he had appealed for "understanding and calm across the nation".
A coalition of civil society organisations in Nigeria said on Wednesday that they were "deeply shocked by the killing of peaceful protesters".
"The attempt to fight for justice over police brutality has again revealed the brutal nature of the Nigerian state," it said in a statement.
According to the group, "not less than 40 Nigerians have lost their lives as a result of violent attempts to crack down or disrupt the ongoing protests against police brutality."
Nigeria, where the median age is 18, is a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Wednesday he was "deeply concerned" by violence in Nigeria.
"The Nigerian government must urgently investigate reports of brutality at the hands of the security forces and hold those responsible to account," he said in a statement.
Since Tuesday, Rihanna, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Ugandan pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine and Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo added their names to a list of celebrities who have supported the protesters.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Academy holds first virtual ceremony to honor young filmmakers

US director Spike Lee , a former Student Academy Award winner , was among the presenters in a virtual ceremony The Oscar-awarding Academy hosted its first ever virtual award ceremony Wednesday , with Spike Lee among those presenting honors to pandemic-era student filmmakers .
The Student Academy Awards are a key program of the Hollywood film industry 's top body , which has already delayed next year 's Oscars as speculation builds that the glitzy main ceremony may also take place remotely .
`` I 'm hopeful , as we all are , that this will also be the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin , signaling desire that the industry can soon return to normal .
`` Just as inflection points like the Cold War and 9/11 shaped the perspective of past generations of filmmakers from Stanley Kramer to Kathryn Bigelow , 2020 -- a year like no other -- will no doubt forever influence what your generation sees through the camera lens . ''
Students honored at the online ceremony described how lockdowns around the world had affected their finishing touches to movies shot as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did change the sound of what my film would have been , '' said Pilar Garcia-Fernandezsesma , who won the top animation prize for her film `` Ciervo '' after moving back in with her parents .
`` I ended up putting flute in my film , when I probably would n't have done , because I had access to my middle school flute lying around in my bedroom . ''
Allison Waite , honored for her documentary about a Black teen shot dead in a Los Angeles convenience store , said despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being silent at this moment was not productive . ''
`` With things happening in the US , with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , there 's so much discussion to be had , '' she said .
Past student winners include Lee , `` Back To The Future '' filmmaker Robert Zemeckis and upcoming 007 director Cary Fukunaga .
A record 13 of the 18 winners were women in this year 's version of the awards , which were first held in 1972 .
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered movie theaters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Oscars are due to take place April 25 , eight weeks later than previously scheduled .
Last month 's Emmys took place largely online .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The Oscar-awarding Academy hosted its first ever virtual award ceremony Wednesday, with Spike Lee among those presenting honors to pandemic-era student filmmakers.
The Student Academy Awards are a key program of the Hollywood film industry's top body, which has already delayed next year's Oscars as speculation builds that the glitzy main ceremony may also take place remotely.
"I'm hopeful, as we all are, that this will also be the last virtual Student Academy Awards," said Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin, signaling desire that the industry can soon return to normal.
"Just as inflection points like the Cold War and 9/11 shaped the perspective of past generations of filmmakers from Stanley Kramer to Kathryn Bigelow, 2020 -- a year like no other -- will no doubt forever influence what your generation sees through the camera lens."
Students honored at the online ceremony described how lockdowns around the world had affected their finishing touches to movies shot as part of their academic programs.
"I did change the sound of what my film would have been," said Pilar Garcia-Fernandezsesma, who won the top animation prize for her film "Ciervo" after moving back in with her parents.
"I ended up putting flute in my film, when I probably wouldn't have done, because I had access to my middle school flute lying around in my bedroom."
Allison Waite, honored for her documentary about a Black teen shot dead in a Los Angeles convenience store, said despite the challenges of the pandemic, "being silent at this moment was not productive."
"With things happening in the US, with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, there's so much discussion to be had," she said.
Past student winners include Lee, "Back To The Future" filmmaker Robert Zemeckis and upcoming 007 director Cary Fukunaga.
A record 13 of the 18 winners were women in this year's version of the awards, which were first held in 1972.
The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered movie theaters and wreaked havoc on Hollywood's release calendar.
The Oscars are due to take place April 25, eight weeks later than previously scheduled. Last month's Emmys took place largely online.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Man City recover from slow start to see off Porto

Manchester City 's latest quest for Champions League glory got off to a winning start as Pep Guardiola 's men came from behind to beat Porto 3-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday .
Luis Diaz 's solo effort punished a sloppy City start for the Portuguese champions , who felt hard done by when Sergio Aguero equalised thanks to a contentious penalty award .
However , the Premier League side 's quality shone through after half-time when Ilkay Gundogan 's free-kick and substitute Ferran Torres ' fine finish moved City to the top of Group C. Guardiola admitted on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line-up and formation that led to City 's latest Champions League calamity in last season 's quarter-finals against Lyon little over two months ago .
The Catalan is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad and potentially his last chance to land the prize City most desired when they brought him to Manchester five years ago .
However , in the early weeks of the season , City have look a faded force from the prime of Guardiola 's reign in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the English giants were again far from their free-flowing best and Porto took advantage early on .
Former Benfica captain Ruben Dias was at fault for giving the ball away for the opener against his old rivals .
But Diaz still had a huge amount to do as he eased past timid challenges from Rodrigo and Joao Cancelo before unleashing a powerful effort into the far corner .
The visitors ' lead only lasted seven minutes and City levelled with a good deal of fortune .
Gundogan inadvertantly caught Porto 'keeper Agustin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball goalwards and after the German 's shot came off the post , Raheem Sterling was barged over in the box by Pepe .
After a lengthy VAR review , Gundogan 's challenge was not deemed a foul to overturn the initial decision to award a penalty and Aguero smashed home his first goal of the season .
Porto still had the better chances to retake the lead before half-time as Matheus Uribe fired over with the goal gaping from a misplaced clearance by Ederson .
Kyle Walker then saved Dias from scoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marega 's cut-back towards his own net .
City regained control after the break , but it was n't until a moment of magic from Gundogan 25 minutes from time that they went in front .
The midfielder won a free-kick on the edge of the area and then curled the ball over the wall to the relief of Guardiola on the sidelines .
Gundogan was starting for the first time since testing positive for coronavirus and he was replaced seconds after scoring as Guardiola added a fresh injection of pace in Phil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to seal the points as Foden 's pass fed the Spaniard , who skipped inside Pepe before curling high into the far corner .
Marchesin kept the score down late on with great saves from Riyad Mahrez and Rodrigo , while tempers flared between Guardiola and Porto boss Sergio Conceiçao after Pepe and Sterling clashed off the ball .
However , City suffered a late injury blow when captain Fernandinho , who had only been on the field nine minutes , was forced off with what looked like a muscle problem .

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Manchester City's latest quest for Champions League glory got off to a winning start as Pep Guardiola's men came from behind to beat Porto 3-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday.
Luis Diaz's solo effort punished a sloppy City start for the Portuguese champions, who felt hard done by when Sergio Aguero equalised thanks to a contentious penalty award.
However, the Premier League side's quality shone through after half-time when Ilkay Gundogan's free-kick and substitute Ferran Torres' fine finish moved City to the top of Group C.
Guardiola admitted on Tuesday to still feeling guilty over the experimental line-up and formation that led to City's latest Champions League calamity in last season's quarter-finals against Lyon little over two months ago.
The Catalan is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad and potentially his last chance to land the prize City most desired when they brought him to Manchester five years ago.
However, in the early weeks of the season, City have look a faded force from the prime of Guardiola's reign in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019.
Without the injured Kevin De Bruyne, the English giants were again far from their free-flowing best and Porto took advantage early on.
Former Benfica captain Ruben Dias was at fault for giving the ball away for the opener against his old rivals.
But Diaz still had a huge amount to do as he eased past timid challenges from Rodrigo and Joao Cancelo before unleashing a powerful effort into the far corner.
The visitors' lead only lasted seven minutes and City levelled with a good deal of fortune.
Gundogan inadvertantly caught Porto 'keeper Agustin Marchesin as he tried to direct the ball goalwards and after the German's shot came off the post, Raheem Sterling was barged over in the box by Pepe.
After a lengthy VAR review, Gundogan's challenge was not deemed a foul to overturn the initial decision to award a penalty and Aguero smashed home his first goal of the season.
Porto still had the better chances to retake the lead before half-time as Matheus Uribe fired over with the goal gaping from a misplaced clearance by Ederson.
Kyle Walker then saved Dias from scoring an own goal as he turned Moussa Marega's cut-back towards his own net.
City regained control after the break, but it wasn't until a moment of magic from Gundogan 25 minutes from time that they went in front.
The midfielder won a free-kick on the edge of the area and then curled the ball over the wall to the relief of Guardiola on the sidelines.
Gundogan was starting for the first time since testing positive for coronavirus and he was replaced seconds after scoring as Guardiola added a fresh injection of pace in Phil Foden and Torres.
The 20-year-olds combined to seal the points as Foden's pass fed the Spaniard, who skipped inside Pepe before curling high into the far corner.
Marchesin kept the score down late on with great saves from Riyad Mahrez and Rodrigo, while tempers flared between Guardiola and Porto boss Sergio Conceiçao after Pepe and Sterling clashed off the ball.
However, City suffered a late injury blow when captain Fernandinho, who had only been on the field nine minutes, was forced off with what looked like a muscle problem.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-21--Liverpool edge past Ajax to show they can cope without Van Dijk

Liverpool proved they can cope without Virgil van Dijk as Nicolas Tagliafico 's own goal sealed a 1-0 win at Ajax in the opening game of their Champions League campaign on Wednesday .
Jurgen Klopp 's side are likely to be without Van Dijk for the rest of the season after the influential Dutch centre-back suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage against Everton last weekend .
Critics have claimed Liverpool will struggle without Van Dijk , but Brazilian midfielder Fabinho filled in impressively alongside Joe Gomez at the heart of the defence .
While Liverpool were n't at their best and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more so than when Tagliafico diverted Sadio Mane 's scuffed effort into his own net in the first half , it was an encouraging Group D opener for Klopp .
There was enough spirit about the 2019 Champions League winners to suggest they will use the Van Dijk blow to fuel their Premier League title defence and European challenge .
Van Dijk will need knee surgery after being pole-axed by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford 's ugly foul and his injury came at a time when Liverpool looked vulnerable after losing 7-2 at Aston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that backdrop , keeping a clean-sheet for just the third time this season was a big lift for Liverpool , who won for the first time in three games despite also being without defender Joel Matip and midfielder Thiago Alcantara after the brutal Merseyside derby .
Liverpool were playing Ajax in Amsterdam for the first time since losing to the great Johan Cruyff 's side in the 1966 European Cup .
As the only fit centre-back , Gomez was under the spotlight and the 23-year-old provided an early scare when he got in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a backpass .
Ajax could n't take advantage on that occasion , but Liverpool found it hard to establish any momentum .
Their makeshift defence was easily carved open when Quincy Promes advanced down the left and found Dusan Tadic , who set up Ryan Gravenberch for a fierce strike that flashed just wide .
There was another major scare moments later as David Neres ' pass found the unmarked Promes six yards from goal , but he shot straight at Adrian to let Liverpool off the hook .
Making the most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in bizarre fashion in the 35th minute .
Mane eluded Perr Schuurs as he broke into the Ajax area but when the Senegal forward went to shoot , he stubbed his foot into the turf , sending a miscued effort towards Tagliafico , who lost his balance and prodded the ball into his own net under no pressure .
Klopp has been fostering a siege mentality among his players since the Everton game and their backs to the wall spirit was on full display when Fabinho raced back to clear Tadic 's lob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kick .
Van Dijk could n't have done it better himself , but while Fabinho was impressing , Ajax still carried a threat .
Taking aim from the edge of the area , Davy Klaassen smashed a fierce strike off the far post in the first minute of the second half .
Ajax went close again when Noussair Mazraoui took a Neres cutback and forced Adrian into a fine save .
Klopp responded to their lethargy by taking off Roberto Firmino , Mohamed Salah and Mane , with the latter needing ice on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bench .
Takumi Minamino , one of Klopp 's substitutes , nearly had an instant impact when his shot was almost spilled into the net by Andre Onana .
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp almost snatched a late equaliser after a mistake from Adrian , but Liverpool held their nerve to provide a morale-boosting start to life without Van Dijk .

Amsterdam (AFP) –
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Liverpool proved they can cope without Virgil van Dijk as Nicolas Tagliafico's own goal sealed a 1-0 win at Ajax in the opening game of their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp's side are likely to be without Van Dijk for the rest of the season after the influential Dutch centre-back suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage against Everton last weekend.
Critics have claimed Liverpool will struggle without Van Dijk, but Brazilian midfielder Fabinho filled in impressively alongside Joe Gomez at the heart of the defence.
While Liverpool weren't at their best and rode their luck at times, never more so than when Tagliafico diverted Sadio Mane's scuffed effort into his own net in the first half, it was an encouraging Group D opener for Klopp.
There was enough spirit about the 2019 Champions League winners to suggest they will use the Van Dijk blow to fuel their Premier League title defence and European challenge.
Van Dijk will need knee surgery after being pole-axed by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford's ugly foul and his injury came at a time when Liverpool looked vulnerable after losing 7-2 at Aston Villa before the international break.
Against that backdrop, keeping a clean-sheet for just the third time this season was a big lift for Liverpool, who won for the first time in three games despite also being without defender Joel Matip and midfielder Thiago Alcantara after the brutal Merseyside derby.
Liverpool were playing Ajax in Amsterdam for the first time since losing to the great Johan Cruyff's side in the 1966 European Cup.
As the only fit centre-back, Gomez was under the spotlight and the 23-year-old provided an early scare when he got in a muddle with Liverpool keeper Adrian over a backpass.
Ajax couldn't take advantage on that occasion, but Liverpool found it hard to establish any momentum.
- Backs to the wall -
Their makeshift defence was easily carved open when Quincy Promes advanced down the left and found Dusan Tadic, who set up Ryan Gravenberch for a fierce strike that flashed just wide.
There was another major scare moments later as David Neres' pass found the unmarked Promes six yards from goal, but he shot straight at Adrian to let Liverpool off the hook.
Making the most of that escape, Liverpool took the lead in bizarre fashion in the 35th minute.
Mane eluded Perr Schuurs as he broke into the Ajax area but when the Senegal forward went to shoot, he stubbed his foot into the turf, sending a miscued effort towards Tagliafico, who lost his balance and prodded the ball into his own net under no pressure.
Klopp has been fostering a siege mentality among his players since the Everton game and their backs to the wall spirit was on full display when Fabinho raced back to clear Tadic's lob off the line with a superb overhead kick.
Van Dijk couldn't have done it better himself, but while Fabinho was impressing, Ajax still carried a threat.
Taking aim from the edge of the area, Davy Klaassen smashed a fierce strike off the far post in the first minute of the second half.
Ajax went close again when Noussair Mazraoui took a Neres cutback and forced Adrian into a fine save.
Klopp responded to their lethargy by taking off Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane, with the latter needing ice on his right leg as he sat on the bench.
Takumi Minamino, one of Klopp's substitutes, nearly had an instant impact when his shot was almost spilled into the net by Andre Onana.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp almost snatched a late equaliser after a mistake from Adrian, but Liverpool held their nerve to provide a morale-boosting start to life without Van Dijk.
© 2020 AFP