france24--2020-09-10--Protests against police brutality leave several dead, hundreds injured in Bogota

People look at a police hut of the Immediate Attention Commands ( CAI ) destroyed during a protest in the late night and early morning , against the death of a lawyer under police custody , in Bogota , on September 10 , 2020 .
Nine people have died in Colombian capital Bogota and satellite city Soacha following violent overnight protests against police brutality , as city authorities called on residents to stay indoors on Thursday evening .
The demonstrators were protesting the death this week of law student and father-of-two , Javier Ordonez , 46 , in police custody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s friend showed Ordonez being repeatedly shocked with a stun gun by police .
Some 175 civilians and 147 police officers have been injured in the protests , according to authorities in Bogota , while dozens of stations and public vehicles were damaged or set alight , the national government said .
Bogota ’ s mayor Claudia Lopez said people should return to their homes by evening , to ease tensions .
“ Although there is no curfew in Bogota , we ask that by no later than seven o ’ clock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home , ” Lopez said in a Facebook Live broadcast .
Seven people aged between 17 and 27 years old were confirmed killed during the protests in Bogota , and another two in Soacha .
The circumstances surrounding their deaths are being investigated , authorities said .
Over 60 people suffered gun-related injuries , the mayor ’ s office said .
Lopez compared the unrest to the worst days of Colombia ’ s armed conflict .
The video of Ordonez shows him pinned to the ground by police officers and subjected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ please , no more.
” Police say Ordonez was found drinking alcohol in the street with friends , in violation of coronavirus distancing rules .
He was taken to a police station in western Bogota where his family allege he suffered further abuse .
He died later in hospital .
The two officers involved have been suspended pending an investigation , the government has said .
“ He was murdered by the police officers , ” his former sister-in-law , Eliana Marcela Garzon , told Reuters .
“ We don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country already full of conflict , we want justice.
” Police reform is needed , Garzon said , especially for the future of children like her now-fatherless nephews .
“ I don ’ t want them to grow up feeling like there isn ’ t justice in this country , ” she said .
“ I want them to grow up knowing laws are followed.
” Duque has said abuse of authority should not be tolerated , but the government called for Colombians not to “ stigmatize ” police officers and appealed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here is a mass act of vandalism and violence , ” defense minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo told journalists earlier on Thursday .
Bogota ’ s police will be reinforced with 1,600 more officers , more than half of whom will come from other regions , and 300 soldiers , the defense ministry said .
An effort by labor unions earlier this week to revive mass protests seen last year against Duque ’ s economic and social policies garnered a tepid response amid ongoing coronavirus restrictions .
But Ordonez ’ s death could fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were roundly criticized last year after a teenage protester was fatally injured by a riot squad projectile .

Demonstrators took to the streets for a second night in Colombia’s capital Bogota on Thursday to press ahead with protests against police brutality that have erupted in violence and taken nine lives so far.
People look at a police hut of the Immediate Attention Commands (CAI) destroyed during a protest in the late night and early morning, against the death of a lawyer under police custody, in Bogota, Colombia, on September 10, 2020.
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The demonstrators were protesting the death this week of law student Javier Ordonez, 46. A widely-shared video filmed by Ordonez’s friend showed the father of two being repeatedly shocked with a stun gun by police. He died later in a hospital.
Some 300 protesters gathered once again Thursday afternoon outside the police station in Villa Luz, where Ordonez was taken before his death and which was heavily damaged on Wednesday.
“How many are you going to kill today,” screamed barista Alejandra Pulido, 25. “The authorities that should protect us are killing us!”
“Pigs, pigs, pigs!” chanted the crowd, as police officers with riot shields stood in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary.
A number threw stones at the assembled police while others spray painted graffiti on their riot shields.
03:21
Since the protests started Wednesday in Bogota and satellite city Soacha, at least nine people have been killed while hundreds of civilians and police officers have been injured.
Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez said people should return to their homes by evening, to ease tensions.
“Although there is no curfew in Bogota, we ask that by no later than seven o’clock, all those who can, please stay at home,” Lopez said in a Facebook Live broadcast.
Yet as seven o’clock approached demonstrators threw rocks and bottles at police, attacking the windows of the station with an uprooted road sign and setting the front of the post briefly alight.
Police responded with tear gas and flash-bang grenades, sending protesters running.
Over 60 people suffered gun-related injuries, the mayor’s office said. Lopez compared the unrest to the worst days of Colombia’s armed conflict.
For those wondering what's happening in Colombia/why #ColombiaLivesMatter is trending: Protests erupted today in Bogotá after a viral video showed two police officers beating and tasering a 44-year-old taxi driver to death on Tuesday. Here are some images circulating from tonight pic.twitter.com/QInojYajX1 — Miguel Salazar (@miguelxsalazar) September 10, 2020
The video of Ordonez shows him pinned to the ground by police officers and subjected to successive electric shocks early on Wednesday as he begs, “please, no more.”
Police say Ordonez was found drinking alcohol in the street with friends, in violation of coronavirus distancing rules. He was taken to a police station in western Bogota.
Two officers suspected of involvement in the alleged abuse of Ordonez have been suspended pending an investigation, the government has said.
Ordonez’s family called for justice and peaceful protest.
“He was murdered by the police officers,” his sister-in-law, Eliana Marcela Garzon, told Reuters. “We don’t want (deaths) in a country already full of conflict, we want justice.”
Police reform is needed, Garzon said, especially for the future of children like her now-fatherless nephews.
“I don’t want them to grow up feeling like there isn’t justice in this country,” she said. “I want them to grow up knowing laws are followed.”
President Ivan Duque has said abuse of authority should not be tolerated, but the government called for Colombians not to “stigmatize” police officers and appealed for calm.
Bogota’s police will be reinforced with 1,600 more officers, more than half of whom will come from other regions, and 300 soldiers, the defense ministry said.
An effort by labor unions earlier this week to revive last year’s mass protests against Duque’s economic and social policies garnered a tepid response amid ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
But Ordonez’s death could fuel renewed outrage against the police, who were widely criticized last year after a teenage protester was fatally injured by a riot squad projectile.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-10--Brady playing catch-up ahead of NFL Bucs debut

Tom Brady takes a leap into the unknown on Sunday as the NFL icon launches the final phase of his two-decade career with a long-awaited debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New Orleans Saints .
The 43-year-old stunned the NFL in March after quitting the New England Patriots , leaving the team after a 20-year association that yielded a slew of accolades including six Super Bowl wins .
Brady 's choice of new team also raised eyebrows , with the veteran quarterback joining a Tampa Bay franchise that has not reached the playoffs since 2007 and has all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brady is determined to end his career with a flourish under head coach Bruce Arians , who has strengthened his quarterback 's receiving options by tempting former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski out of his single-season retirement .
Yet the impact of COVID-19 , which forced the cancellation of the entire pre-season schedule , means that Brady will have to hit the ground running when the Buccaneers face a powerful Saints squad in New Orleans on Sunday .
`` The reality hit me today that we 're actually getting ready to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a conference call on Thursday .
`` We 've got live contact , live football , real results .
And it 's something I have n't done in nine months .
We 're going to have to get up to speed quickly .
`` First quarter is going to be new for everybody , just getting our feet wet .
Hopefully , I can recall some of the things I 've done over a period of time and go out there and try to play a solid football game against a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has settled well in Florida , which he chose ahead of overtures from the Los Angeles Chargers , the quarterback admits he wo n't have a clear idea of Tampa Bay 's capabilities until Sunday arrives .
`` We realize there 's going to be a learning curve associated with how to get up to speed , and how to be our best , '' Brady said .
`` We 're going to figure out what we 're good at and what we 're not good at .
I wish we knew those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality is we do n't .
It 's a big test . ''
Unquestionably , Brady will benefit from having the larger-than-life Gronkowski as one of his passing options .
One of the 31-year-old 's last acts as a Patriots player was plucking a 29-yard pass from Brady under intense pressure to help set up New England 's Super Bowl win over the Los Angeles Rams last year .
Gronkowski says Brady has looked as motivated as ever in practice .
`` From my eyes , just looking at him , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` He looks ready to go .
He looks ready to play every single day , and he 's motivated every day .
`` It 's nice to see .
The way he just goes out there and works , it gets everyone better .
It just elevates everyone 's game when he 's out there . ''
It may well be that this season marks the beginning of the end for the NFL quarterback fraternity 's elder statesman .
Brady 's Saints counterpart on Sunday , Drew Brees , who turns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is on `` borrowed time . ''
Sunday 's clash marks the first time in NFL history that both starting quarterbacks will be over the age of 40 .
`` I 've always used the term 'prolong your prime , ' '' Brees said this week .
`` At the end of the day , that 's what we 're trying to do .
Father Time is going to get us at some point .
But we 're trying to beat him out right now . ''
Brady 's duel with Brees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Sunday fixtures , which also sees the Rams inaugurate their new $ 5 billion home , SoFi Stadium , believed to be the most expensive venue of its kind in the world .
COVID-19 restrictions mean , however , that like the majority of NFL stadiums this season , no fans will be allowed .
The Rams , aiming to bounce back after their failure to reach the playoffs last season , host the Dallas Cowboys , who themselves are rebuilding under new coach Mike McCarthy .
Meanwhile in New England , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at life in the post-Brady era , with Cam Newton expected to start as quarterback against Miami following his release from the Carolina Panthers .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Tom Brady takes a leap into the unknown on Sunday as the NFL icon launches the final phase of his two-decade career with a long-awaited debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the New Orleans Saints.
The 43-year-old stunned the NFL in March after quitting the New England Patriots, leaving the team after a 20-year association that yielded a slew of accolades including six Super Bowl wins.
Brady's choice of new team also raised eyebrows, with the veteran quarterback joining a Tampa Bay franchise that has not reached the playoffs since 2007 and has all too often served as an NFL punchline.
Brady is determined to end his career with a flourish under head coach Bruce Arians, who has strengthened his quarterback's receiving options by tempting former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski out of his single-season retirement.
Yet the impact of COVID-19, which forced the cancellation of the entire pre-season schedule, means that Brady will have to hit the ground running when the Buccaneers face a powerful Saints squad in New Orleans on Sunday.
"The reality hit me today that we're actually getting ready to play a game," Brady told reporters on a conference call on Thursday.
"We've got live contact, live football, real results. And it's something I haven't done in nine months. We're going to have to get up to speed quickly.
"First quarter is going to be new for everybody, just getting our feet wet. Hopefully, I can recall some of the things I've done over a period of time and go out there and try to play a solid football game against a great team."
- Learning curve -
While Brady says he has settled well in Florida, which he chose ahead of overtures from the Los Angeles Chargers, the quarterback admits he won't have a clear idea of Tampa Bay's capabilities until Sunday arrives.
"We realize there's going to be a learning curve associated with how to get up to speed, and how to be our best," Brady said.
"We're going to figure out what we're good at and what we're not good at. I wish we knew those things right now. But I think the reality is we don't. It's a big test."
Unquestionably, Brady will benefit from having the larger-than-life Gronkowski as one of his passing options.
One of the 31-year-old's last acts as a Patriots player was plucking a 29-yard pass from Brady under intense pressure to help set up New England's Super Bowl win over the Los Angeles Rams last year.
Gronkowski says Brady has looked as motivated as ever in practice.
"From my eyes, just looking at him, he looks refreshed," Gronkowski told reporters. "He looks ready to go. He looks ready to play every single day, and he's motivated every day.
"It's nice to see. The way he just goes out there and works, it gets everyone better. It just elevates everyone's game when he's out there."
- Beating Father Time -
It may well be that this season marks the beginning of the end for the NFL quarterback fraternity's elder statesman.
Brady's Saints counterpart on Sunday, Drew Brees, who turns 42 in January, admitted this week he is on "borrowed time."
Sunday's clash marks the first time in NFL history that both starting quarterbacks will be over the age of 40.
"I've always used the term 'prolong your prime,'" Brees said this week. "At the end of the day, that's what we're trying to do. Father Time is going to get us at some point. But we're trying to beat him out right now."
Brady's duel with Brees is the pick of the opening weekend's Sunday fixtures, which also sees the Rams inaugurate their new $5 billion home, SoFi Stadium, believed to be the most expensive venue of its kind in the world.
COVID-19 restrictions mean, however, that like the majority of NFL stadiums this season, no fans will be allowed.
The Rams, aiming to bounce back after their failure to reach the playoffs last season, host the Dallas Cowboys, who themselves are rebuilding under new coach Mike McCarthy.
Meanwhile in New England, the Patriots will get their first look at life in the post-Brady era, with Cam Newton expected to start as quarterback against Miami following his release from the Carolina Panthers.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Hamstrung by Covid-19, PSG loses its Ligue 1 kickoff to Lens

Lens ' midfielder Gael Kakuta ( L ) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain 's midfielder Marco Verratti during the French L1 football match between Racing Club de Lens ( RCS ) and Paris-Saint-Germain ( PSG ) at the Felix Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens , northern France , on September 10 , 2020 .
Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their season in the worst possible fashion on Thursday as their virus-depleted team fell to a 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Lens .
PSG came into their first match of the new domestic season with seven of their star players missing after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kylian Mbappe .
They started the match with their third-choice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and it was the 20-year-old who handed Lens the win with an awful blunder 11 minutes after the break .
Under no pressure and trying to play out from the back , Bulka slid a weak pass towards Marci Verratti that was snapped up by Ignatius Ganago , who slammed home what turned out to be the winner from close range .
The strike was the Cameroon international ’ s first goal for his new club after signing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,800 fans at Stade Bollaert-Delelis wild with joy .
Covid-19 has ripped the heart out of Tuchel ’ s side , with Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes also testing positive .
PSG confirmed three more cases with L ’ Equipe identifying them as Argentine striker Mauro Icardi , Brazilian defender Marquinhos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas .
Apart from Mbappe all of them contracted the virus after holidaying in Ibiza after losing the Champions League final to Bayern Munich in Lisbon last month .
Mbappe tested positive on France duty at the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s second most expensive player to sit out Tuesday ’ s World Cup final rematch with Croatia .
Thomas Tuchel ’ s thin squad now face a rush of fixtures as they try to catch up with a league awaiting its third round of matches at the weekend .
PSG take on arch-rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday before another home match with Metz—which was their original opening fixture—on Wednesday and a trip to Nice the following Sunday .

Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their season in the worst possible fashion on Thursday as their virus-depleted team fell to a 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Lens.
Lens' midfielder Gael Kakuta (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder Marco Verratti during the French L1 football match between Racing Club de Lens (RCS) and Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Felix Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens, northern France, on September 10, 2020.
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PSG came into their first match of the new domestic season with seven of their star players missing after testing positive for coronavirus, including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
They started the match with their third-choice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and it was the 20-year-old who handed Lens the win with an awful blunder 11 minutes after the break.
Under no pressure and trying to play out from the back, Bulka slid a weak pass towards Marci Verratti that was snapped up by Ignatius Ganago, who slammed home what turned out to be the winner from close range.
The strike was the Cameroon international’s first goal for his new club after signing from Nice in July and sent the rowdy 3,800 fans at Stade Bollaert-Delelis wild with joy.
Covid-19 has ripped the heart out of Tuchel’s side, with Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes also testing positive.
PSG confirmed three more cases with L’Equipe identifying them as Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, Brazilian defender Marquinhos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Apart from Mbappe all of them contracted the virus after holidaying in Ibiza after losing the Champions League final to Bayern Munich in Lisbon last month.
Mbappe tested positive on France duty at the start of the week, forcing the world’s second most expensive player to sit out Tuesday’s World Cup final rematch with Croatia.
Thomas Tuchel’s thin squad now face a rush of fixtures as they try to catch up with a league awaiting its third round of matches at the weekend.
PSG take on arch-rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday before another home match with Metz—which was their original opening fixture—on Wednesday and a trip to Nice the following Sunday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-10--UN seeks 'quantum leap' in funding for virus fight

Jonathan , 30 , sits on his bed behind a plastic protection as doctors make a round of visits in Ate , on the eastern outskirts of Lima The UN on Thursday called for an immediate `` quantum leap '' in funding to fight the new coronavirus as the death toll crossed 900,000 six months after the pandemic broke out .
Alarming figures cropped up , with France registering a record of almost 10,000 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours ahead of a key meeting to decide a toughening of coronavirus measures .
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next three months to fund the ACT-Accelerator programme , a global collaboration to hunt for a vaccine and treatments led by the UN 's World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
`` Either we stand together or we will be doomed , '' Guterres said , calling the virus the `` number one global security threat '' .
`` We need a quantum leap in funding to increase the chances of a global solution to get the world moving , working and prospering again , '' he said .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been critical but $ 35 billion more was needed to shift from start-up to scale-up -- beginning with $ 15 billion in the next three months .
He said typical aid budgets would not cover the costs , urging donors to `` go deep '' into money set aside for combating coronavirus .
As the infections burgeoned , countries began to scale up restrictions .
Portugal tightened curbs ahead of the start of the school year , limiting gatherings to 10 people rather than 20 previously -- a cap already in force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sales of alcohol will be barred from 8 pm as will drinking in public spaces .
Britain said it was reinstating mainland Portugal and adding Hungary to its coronavirus quarantine list , while Spain 's Balearic Islands region said it will impose restrictions on over 20,000 people in tourism hotspot Palma de Mallorca due to a surge in infections .
People living in four working class neighbourhoods of Palma will not be allowed out from 10 pm Friday except to go to work or school or seek medical care .
Gyms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the capacity at bars , cafes and restaurants will be capped at 50 percent .
Gatherings will be limited to a maximum of five people .
A new study by US health authorities meanwhile provided more data showing that Covid-19 spread far more easily at bars and restaurants than going shopping , working from an office or using public transport .
The new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) showed the participants who tested positive and those who tested negative reported similar mask-wearing behaviour and similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , except bars and restaurants .
The virus has killed more than 904,500 people and infected at least 27.9 million since the outbreak emerged in China last December .
According to the WHO 's latest overview , 35 candidate vaccines for the virus are being tested on humans , of which nine have reached Phase III trials where they are tested on tens of thousands of people .
A further 145 candidate vaccines are in earlier testing phases .
Typically only about 10 percent of candidate vaccines succeed .
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , diagnostics and treatments were being developed but said much more needed to be done .
`` We need to rapidly scale up our clinical trials , manufacturing , licensing and regulation capacity so that these products can get to people and start saving lives , '' he said .
`` Fully financing the ACT-Accelerator would shorten the pandemic and pay back this investment rapidly as the global economy recovers . ''
The pandemic has continued to wreak economic mayhem .
Europe 's top economy Germany said it would see a massive drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the impact of the coronavirus and wo n't return to pre-pandemic federal intake until 2023 .
It will take in 275 billion euros ( $ 327 billion ) in federal tax revenues in 2020 , down from 329 billion euros last year , Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said .
Airline giant IAG , the owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia , said it was cutting more flights because of coronavirus restrictions and quarantine rules .
Singapore Airlines , the city-state 's official carrier , said it was cutting about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its workforce .

Geneva (AFP) –
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The UN on Thursday called for an immediate "quantum leap" in funding to fight the new coronavirus as the death toll crossed 900,000 six months after the pandemic broke out.
Alarming figures cropped up, with France registering a record of almost 10,000 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours ahead of a key meeting to decide a toughening of coronavirus measures.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to find $15 billion over the next three months to fund the ACT-Accelerator programme, a global collaboration to hunt for a vaccine and treatments led by the UN's World Health Organization (WHO).
"Either we stand together or we will be doomed," Guterres said, calling the virus the "number one global security threat".
"We need a quantum leap in funding to increase the chances of a global solution to get the world moving, working and prospering again," he said.
He said the near $3 billion contributed so far had been critical but $35 billion more was needed to shift from start-up to scale-up -- beginning with $15 billion in the next three months.
- Tightened restrictions -
He said typical aid budgets would not cover the costs, urging donors to "go deep" into money set aside for combating coronavirus.
As the infections burgeoned, countries began to scale up restrictions.
Portugal tightened curbs ahead of the start of the school year, limiting gatherings to 10 people rather than 20 previously -- a cap already in force in the capital Lisbon since late June.
Sales of alcohol will be barred from 8 pm as will drinking in public spaces.
Britain said it was reinstating mainland Portugal and adding Hungary to its coronavirus quarantine list, while Spain's Balearic Islands region said it will impose restrictions on over 20,000 people in tourism hotspot Palma de Mallorca due to a surge in infections.
People living in four working class neighbourhoods of Palma will not be allowed out from 10 pm Friday except to go to work or school or seek medical care.
Gyms and parks in the areas must close, while the capacity at bars, cafes and restaurants will be capped at 50 percent. Gatherings will be limited to a maximum of five people.
A new study by US health authorities meanwhile provided more data showing that Covid-19 spread far more easily at bars and restaurants than going shopping, working from an office or using public transport.
The new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed the participants who tested positive and those who tested negative reported similar mask-wearing behaviour and similar levels of exposure in all the settings, except bars and restaurants.
- 'Start saving lives' -
The virus has killed more than 904,500 people and infected at least 27.9 million since the outbreak emerged in China last December.
According to the WHO's latest overview, 35 candidate vaccines for the virus are being tested on humans, of which nine have reached Phase III trials where they are tested on tens of thousands of people.
A further 145 candidate vaccines are in earlier testing phases. Typically only about 10 percent of candidate vaccines succeed.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the speed at which vaccines, diagnostics and treatments were being developed but said much more needed to be done.
"We need to rapidly scale up our clinical trials, manufacturing, licensing and regulation capacity so that these products can get to people and start saving lives," he said.
"Fully financing the ACT-Accelerator would shorten the pandemic and pay back this investment rapidly as the global economy recovers."
The pandemic has continued to wreak economic mayhem.
Europe's top economy Germany said it would see a massive drop in tax revenue this year and next due to the impact of the coronavirus and won't return to pre-pandemic federal intake until 2023.
It will take in 275 billion euros ($327 billion) in federal tax revenues in 2020, down from 329 billion euros last year, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said.
Airline giant IAG, the owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, said it was cutting more flights because of coronavirus restrictions and quarantine rules.
Singapore Airlines, the city-state's official carrier, said it was cutting about 4,300 jobs -- around 20 percent of its workforce.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Virus-depleted PSG flop at new boys Lens on Ligue 1 opener

Ignatius Ganago 's winning goal was his first for his new club Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their season in the worst possible fashion on Thursday as their virus-depleted team fell to a 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Lens .
PSG came into their first match of the new domestic season with seven of their star players missing after testing positive for coronavirus , including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe .
They started the match with their third-choice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and it was the 20-year-old who handed Lens the win with an awful blunder 11 minutes after the break .
Under no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back , Bulka slid a weak pass towards Marci Verratti that was snapped up by Ignatius Ganago , who slammed home what turned out to be the winner from close range .
The strike was the Cameroon international 's first goal for his new club after signing from Nice in July and sent the rowdy 3,800 fans at Stade Bollaert-Delelis wild with joy .
Covid-19 has ripped the heart out of Tuchel 's side , with Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes also testing positive .
PSG confirmed three more cases with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Icardi , Brazilian defender Marquinhos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas .
Apart from Mbappe all of them contracted the virus after holidaying in Ibiza after losing the Champions League final to Bayern Munich in Lisbon last month .
Mbappe tested positive on France duty at the start of the week , forcing the world 's second most expensive player to sit out Tuesday 's World Cup final rematch with Croatia .
Thomas Tuchel 's thin squad now face a rush of fixtures as they try to catch up with a league awaiting its third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PSG take on arch-rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday before another home match with Metz -- which was their original opening fixture -- on Wednesday and a trip to Nice the following Sunday .

Lens (France) (AFP) –
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Paris Saint-Germain kicked off their season in the worst possible fashion on Thursday as their virus-depleted team fell to a 1-0 defeat at newly-promoted Lens.
PSG came into their first match of the new domestic season with seven of their star players missing after testing positive for coronavirus, including Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
They started the match with their third-choice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka and it was the 20-year-old who handed Lens the win with an awful blunder 11 minutes after the break.
Under no pressure and trying to play out from the back, Bulka slid a weak pass towards Marci Verratti that was snapped up by Ignatius Ganago, who slammed home what turned out to be the winner from close range.
The strike was the Cameroon international's first goal for his new club after signing from Nice in July and sent the rowdy 3,800 fans at Stade Bollaert-Delelis wild with joy.
Covid-19 has ripped the heart out of Tuchel's side, with Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes also testing positive.
PSG confirmed three more cases with L'Equipe identifying them as Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, Brazilian defender Marquinhos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Apart from Mbappe all of them contracted the virus after holidaying in Ibiza after losing the Champions League final to Bayern Munich in Lisbon last month.
Mbappe tested positive on France duty at the start of the week, forcing the world's second most expensive player to sit out Tuesday's World Cup final rematch with Croatia.
Thomas Tuchel's thin squad now face a rush of fixtures as they try to catch up with a league awaiting its third round of matches at the weekend.
PSG take on arch-rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday before another home match with Metz -- which was their original opening fixture -- on Wednesday and a trip to Nice the following Sunday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--'Happy days' - Pavic, Soares lift US Open men's doubles trophy

Mate Pavic of Croatia and Brazilian veteran Bruno Soares won the US Open men 's doubles final in straight sets on Thursday .
The unseeded pair defeated eighth seeds Croatian Nikola Mektic and the Netherlands ' Wesley Koolhof 7-5 , 6-3 , in 1 hr 31 min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium .
It marked a third Grand Slam men 's doubles title for the 38-year-old Soares and a second at Flushing Meadows after his victory with Britain 's Jamie Murray in 2016 .
`` It means a lot , '' said Soares .
`` I 'm extremely happy .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'm really glad for the work that everyone put into this event to give us the opportunity to get back on the court .
`` It 's a very positive way to come back for us - happy days .
Hopefully we get back to normal soon but very grateful for everything , '' he added .
For the 27-year-old Pavic , it is a second Grand Slam men 's doubles title after victory at the Australian Open in 2018 .
`` We had tough matches , '' said Pavic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving for the match after the opening set of the second round , '' he added , referring to their hard-fought 6-7 , 7-6 ( 7/5 ) , 6-4 victory over Americans Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow .
`` So we got through tough moments throughout the week .
Very happy to be here lifting the title , '' he added .
Soares and Pavic have also enjoyed success in mixed doubles in recent years .
Soares won the US Open mixed doubles in 2012 and 2014 .
He also triumphed at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted the mixed at Flushing Meadows in 2016 and at the Australian Open in 2018 .
The mixed doubles event was canceled at this year 's US Open due to the coronavirus pandemic .

New York (AFP) –
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Mate Pavic of Croatia and Brazilian veteran Bruno Soares won the US Open men's doubles final in straight sets on Thursday.
The unseeded pair defeated eighth seeds Croatian Nikola Mektic and the Netherlands' Wesley Koolhof 7-5, 6-3, in 1 hr 31 min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It marked a third Grand Slam men's doubles title for the 38-year-old Soares and a second at Flushing Meadows after his victory with Britain's Jamie Murray in 2016.
"It means a lot," said Soares. "I'm extremely happy. It's been a tough year for everyone.
"I'm really glad for the work that everyone put into this event to give us the opportunity to get back on the court.
"It's a very positive way to come back for us - happy days. Hopefully we get back to normal soon but very grateful for everything," he added.
For the 27-year-old Pavic, it is a second Grand Slam men's doubles title after victory at the Australian Open in 2018.
"We had tough matches," said Pavic.
"We were a break down serving for the match after the opening set of the second round," he added, referring to their hard-fought 6-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory over Americans Jack Sock and Jackson Withrow.
"So we got through tough moments throughout the week. Very happy to be here lifting the title," he added.
Soares and Pavic have also enjoyed success in mixed doubles in recent years.
Soares won the US Open mixed doubles in 2012 and 2014. He also triumphed at the Australian Open mixed in 2016.
Pavic lifted the mixed at Flushing Meadows in 2016 and at the Australian Open in 2018.
The mixed doubles event was canceled at this year's US Open due to the coronavirus pandemic.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--NFL player among fraudsters accused of stealing $70 mn in pandemic aid

The Department of Justice said scam artists have tried to steal more than $ 175 million from the Paycheck Protection Program Scammers have stolen $ 70 million from a program supporting US businesses hurt by the coronavirus downturn , leading to charges against dozens of people including an NFL player , the Justice Department said on Thursday .
Brian C. Rabbitt , an acting assistant attorney general for the criminal division , told reporters that 57 people had been charged with attempting -- successfully in many cases -- to get hold of more than $ 175 million from the Paycheck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of that amount was actually taken , however , and the government has recovered about $ 30 million .
In the latest fraud , the Justice Department later Thursday announced the arrest of Josh Bellamy , a player for the New York Jets professional football team , for allegedly being part of a group of 12 people involved in that scheme to file numerous fraudulent loan applications in what Rabbit said was the single largest PPP scam involving the attempted theft of $ 24 million .
`` The amount of fraud that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've prosecuted to date is significant , '' Rabbitt said .
`` Given what we 've seen so far , we believe that there is an additional set of fraudulent activity out there that we intend to continue pursuing . ''
The PPP was part of the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act rescue package Congress passed in March to blunt the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic .
Business shutdowns to stop the spread of the virus have led to tens of millions of layoffs since , although the PPP and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehiring , keeping businesses afloat and helping sectors of the economy recover more quickly .
Rabbitt said the scams took place across the United States and fell into two categories : those perpetrated by individuals or small groups who create fraudulent businesses , and those done by organized criminal rings .
Other indictments announced on Thursday included seven people in Georgia and South Carolina who were charged with attempting to launder about $ 750,000 in fraudulently obtained money , more than half of which was from the PPP , as well as two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to steal $ 7 million from the program .
The PPP finished in early August after making more than 5.2 million loans totaling upwards of $ 525 billion , according to the Small Business Administration .
Controversy arose after the program 's rollout amid claims that large businesses had inappropriately applied for funds , while prosecutors have announced several fraud indictments .
A Taiwanese national charged in August with spending nearly $ 3 million obtained from the program on a Rolex watch , Mercedes and other luxury items after claiming numerous celebrities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also jailed that month was a Texas man who allegedly made off with $ 1.6 million and spent it on strip clubs , real estate , a pickup truck and a Lamborghini Urus sports car .

Washington (AFP) –
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Scammers have stolen $70 million from a program supporting US businesses hurt by the coronavirus downturn, leading to charges against dozens of people including an NFL player, the Justice Department said on Thursday.
Brian C. Rabbitt, an acting assistant attorney general for the criminal division, told reporters that 57 people had been charged with attempting -- successfully in many cases -- to get hold of more than $175 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Only some of that amount was actually taken, however, and the government has recovered about $30 million.
In the latest fraud, the Justice Department later Thursday announced the arrest of Josh Bellamy, a player for the New York Jets professional football team, for allegedly being part of a group of 12 people involved in that scheme to file numerous fraudulent loan applications in what Rabbit said was the single largest PPP scam involving the attempted theft of $24 million.
"The amount of fraud that we've uncovered to date and that we've prosecuted to date is significant," Rabbitt said.
"Given what we've seen so far, we believe that there is an additional set of fraudulent activity out there that we intend to continue pursuing."
The PPP was part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act rescue package Congress passed in March to blunt the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Business shutdowns to stop the spread of the virus have led to tens of millions of layoffs since, although the PPP and other provisions have been credited with spurring some rehiring, keeping businesses afloat and helping sectors of the economy recover more quickly.
Rabbitt said the scams took place across the United States and fell into two categories: those perpetrated by individuals or small groups who create fraudulent businesses, and those done by organized criminal rings.
Other indictments announced on Thursday included seven people in Georgia and South Carolina who were charged with attempting to launder about $750,000 in fraudulently obtained money, more than half of which was from the PPP, as well as two New York brothers arrested for allegedly trying to steal $7 million from the program.
The PPP finished in early August after making more than 5.2 million loans totaling upwards of $525 billion, according to the Small Business Administration.
Controversy arose after the program's rollout amid claims that large businesses had inappropriately applied for funds, while prosecutors have announced several fraud indictments.
A Taiwanese national charged in August with spending nearly $3 million obtained from the program on a Rolex watch, Mercedes and other luxury items after claiming numerous celebrities, professional athletes and television figures as employees.
Also jailed that month was a Texas man who allegedly made off with $1.6 million and spent it on strip clubs, real estate, a pickup truck and a Lamborghini Urus sports car.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Mediterranean leaders ready for EU sanctions on 'confrontational' Turkey

Leaders of seven European countries on the Mediterranean said on Thursday they were ready to back EU sanctions against Turkey if Ankara shunned dialogue on escalating tensions in the sea .
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the leaders of six other EU states , including Turkey 's regional rival Greece , for a summit in Corsica in the hope of finding common ground ahead of the next EU summit this month .
Showing again his anger against Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , Macron said before the summit that the NATO ally was no longer a partner in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` deserved something '' different to the way the government currently behaved .
France has strongly backed Greece and Cyprus in a growing standoff with Turkey over hydrocarbon resources and naval influence in the eastern Mediterranean , which has sparked fears of more severe conflict .
After talks with the leaders of Italy , Malta , Portugal , Spain , Greece and Cyprus in the resort of Porticcio outside the local capital Ajaccio , Macron adopted a slightly milder tone , saying the leaders wanted to reengage in a dialogue with Turkey `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final statement of the leaders made clear that sanctions were on the table if Turkey failed to end its `` confrontational actions '' .
`` We regret that Turkey has not responded to the repeated calls by the European Union to end its unilateral and illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea , '' the communique said .
`` We maintain that in absence of progress in engaging Turkey into a dialogue and unless it ends its unilateral activities , the EU is ready to develop a list of further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , adding these could be discussed at the European Council on 24-25 September .
The crisis has added to a growing list of tensions between Turkey and Europe , notably over Ankara 's military intervention in Libya , its policy in Syria and a crackdown on opponents of Erdogan at home .
`` We Europeans need to be clear and firm with the government of president Erdogan , which today is behaving in an unacceptable manner , '' Macron told reporters before the summit began .
He said that at the moment Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region '' of the eastern Mediterranean due to its behaviour .
Macron added that Turkey had `` intensified provocations in a way that is not worthy of a great state .
The Turkish people are a great people and deserve something else '' .
But in a strongly worded reply , the Turkish foreign ministry described Macron 's comments as `` arrogant '' and a sign `` of his own weakness and despair . ''
Erdogan 's top press aide , Fahrettin Altun , took a swipe at Macron in a tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Napoleon '' on a Mediterranean campaign .
The EuroMed 7 is an informal group of EU Mediterranean states , sometimes dubbed `` Club Med , '' that held its first summit in 2016 .
Turkey is not a member .
Turkey has sought to join the EU for over half a century , though analysts say the growing rift between Erdogan and the bloc 's leaders has made the prospect increasingly unlikely .
Turkey last month deployed an exploration vessel backed by military frigates in waters between Greece and Cyprus , prompting Athens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning .
Another cause of tension between France , as well as its EU allies , and Turkey has been Libya , where Ankara has engaged militarily in support of the UN-recognised government in Tripoli .
> > Focus : Tensions escalate between Greece and Turkey in eastern Mediterranean '' If Turkey refuses to listen to reason before then , I do n't see any choice for my European colleagues except significant sanctions , '' Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis , who held talks with Macron before the summit , wrote in French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mitsotakis on Thursday urged the European Union to make the `` migration crisis '' a priority after the fire at the Moria migrant camp left thousands of asylum-seekers homeless .
`` Europe must move from words of solidarity to a policy of acts of solidarity .
We have to put the migration crisis at the heart of our discussions and be much more concrete , '' he said .
Greek media said the possible sale by France of Rafale fighter jets could be on the table , in a sign of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The issue was not mentioned at the press statement .

Leaders of seven European countries on the Mediterranean said on Thursday they were ready to back EU sanctions against Turkey if Ankara shunned dialogue on escalating tensions in the sea.
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French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the leaders of six other EU states, including Turkey's regional rival Greece, for a summit in Corsica in the hope of finding common ground ahead of the next EU summit this month.
Showing again his anger against Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Macron said before the summit that the NATO ally was no longer a partner in the eastern Mediterranean, and that its people "deserved something" different to the way the government currently behaved.
France has strongly backed Greece and Cyprus in a growing standoff with Turkey over hydrocarbon resources and naval influence in the eastern Mediterranean, which has sparked fears of more severe conflict.
After talks with the leaders of Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Greece and Cyprus in the resort of Porticcio outside the local capital Ajaccio, Macron adopted a slightly milder tone, saying the leaders wanted to reengage in a dialogue with Turkey "in good faith".
But the final statement of the leaders made clear that sanctions were on the table if Turkey failed to end its "confrontational actions".
"We regret that Turkey has not responded to the repeated calls by the European Union to end its unilateral and illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea," the communique said.
"We maintain that in absence of progress in engaging Turkey into a dialogue and unless it ends its unilateral activities, the EU is ready to develop a list of further restrictive measures," the leaders said, adding these could be discussed at the European Council on 24-25 September.
'No longer a partner'
The crisis has added to a growing list of tensions between Turkey and Europe, notably over Ankara's military intervention in Libya, its policy in Syria and a crackdown on opponents of Erdogan at home.
"We Europeans need to be clear and firm with the government of president Erdogan, which today is behaving in an unacceptable manner," Macron told reporters before the summit began.
He said that at the moment Turkey was "no longer a partner in the region" of the eastern Mediterranean due to its behaviour.
Pax Mediterranea ! — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 10, 2020
Macron added that Turkey had "intensified provocations in a way that is not worthy of a great state. The Turkish people are a great people and deserve something else".
But in a strongly worded reply, the Turkish foreign ministry described Macron's comments as "arrogant" and a sign "of his own weakness and despair."
Erdogan's top press aide, Fahrettin Altun, took a swipe at Macron in a tweet, describing him as a "wannabe Napoleon" on a Mediterranean campaign.
'Refuses to listen'
The EuroMed 7 is an informal group of EU Mediterranean states, sometimes dubbed "Club Med," that held its first summit in 2016. Turkey is not a member.
Turkey has sought to join the EU for over half a century, though analysts say the growing rift between Erdogan and the bloc's leaders has made the prospect increasingly unlikely.
01:54
Turkey last month deployed an exploration vessel backed by military frigates in waters between Greece and Cyprus, prompting Athens to respond with naval exercises as a warning.
Another cause of tension between France, as well as its EU allies, and Turkey has been Libya, where Ankara has engaged militarily in support of the UN-recognised government in Tripoli.
>> Focus: Tensions escalate between Greece and Turkey in eastern Mediterranean
"If Turkey refuses to listen to reason before then, I don't see any choice for my European colleagues except significant sanctions," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who held talks with Macron before the summit, wrote in French daily Le Monde.
After the summit, Mitsotakis on Thursday urged the European Union to make the "migration crisis" a priority after the fire at the Moria migrant camp left thousands of asylum-seekers homeless.
"Europe must move from words of solidarity to a policy of acts of solidarity. We have to put the migration crisis at the heart of our discussions and be much more concrete," he said.
Greek media said the possible sale by France of Rafale fighter jets could be on the table, in a sign of the increasingly strong alliance between Paris and Athens. The issue was not mentioned at the press statement.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-11--Ancelotti targets European spot for Everton

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has set his players the minimum target of qualifying for Europe this season after they finished a lowly 12th in the Premier League in his first season in charge .
The Italian , a three-time Champions League winner , enjoyed a bright start to his reign after his appointment in December but their form fell away and they finished in their lowest position since 2004 .
That was a disappointment for Ancelotti , who harboured hopes of sneaking into the European places despite taking over a team in a relegation battle .
`` I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight for the first positions of the Premier League to be able to reach Europe next season , '' he said .
`` The goal is quite clear .
We have this desire , this ambition .
I think we can . ''
Ancelotti has strengthened his midfield with the signings of Napoli 's Brazil international Allan , Watford 's Abdoulaye Doucoure and high-profile Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez .
He still needs more cover at centre-back as Yerry Mina has been hampered by niggling injuries , while there are question marks over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean .
But Ancelotti is satisfied with the club 's transfer activity so far , with all three new signings set to be given their debuts at Tottenham on Sunday .
`` I think that we are happy to have these players , '' he said .
`` The club did a fantastic job because these players -- James , Doucoure and Allan -- were the priority for us .
`` We were able to sign them and so we 're really happy , I think the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are working to have a good season .
We would like to be competitive in all the competitions and I think with these players the squad has improved and I think we are going to compete .
`` The market is going to be closed on October 5 .
If there is some opportunity I think we can look for this ( more signings ) , but honestly I am satisfied with the squad in this moment . ''

London (AFP) –
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Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has set his players the minimum target of qualifying for Europe this season after they finished a lowly 12th in the Premier League in his first season in charge.
The Italian, a three-time Champions League winner, enjoyed a bright start to his reign after his appointment in December but their form fell away and they finished in their lowest position since 2004.
That was a disappointment for Ancelotti, who harboured hopes of sneaking into the European places despite taking over a team in a relegation battle.
"I think that the goal we want to achieve is to fight for the first positions of the Premier League to be able to reach Europe next season," he said.
"The goal is quite clear. We have this desire, this ambition. I think we can."
Ancelotti has strengthened his midfield with the signings of Napoli's Brazil international Allan, Watford's Abdoulaye Doucoure and high-profile Colombia playmaker James Rodriguez.
He still needs more cover at centre-back as Yerry Mina has been hampered by niggling injuries, while there are question marks over whether he has enough firepower with Richarlison, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean.
But Ancelotti is satisfied with the club's transfer activity so far, with all three new signings set to be given their debuts at Tottenham on Sunday.
"I think that we are happy to have these players," he said. "The club did a fantastic job because these players -- James, Doucoure and Allan -- were the priority for us.
"We were able to sign them and so we're really happy, I think the club did a fantastic job.
"Now we are working to have a good season. We would like to be competitive in all the competitions and I think with these players the squad has improved and I think we are going to compete.
"The market is going to be closed on October 5. If there is some opportunity I think we can look for this (more signings), but honestly I am satisfied with the squad in this moment."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--For weakened PSG, Marseille present a dangerous early test

Marco Verratti , fighting for the ball with Lens ' Gael Kakuta , was one of the few PSG stars to play in the defeat to the Ligue 1 new boys Suddenly Paris Saint-Germain 's home debut at Parc des Princes on Sunday to face old enemy Marseille is looking as likely to turn into a car crash as a triumphal parade .
Less than three weeks after playing their first Champions League final , Paris Saint-Germain returned to Ligue 1 with a thud on Thursday as a team severely depleted by coronavirus lost at promoted Lens .
Both games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is where the similarities end .
PSG went toe-to-toe with Bayern in Lisbon .
In Lens , the French champions enjoyed almost three quarters of possession but managed only one shot on target while the home team threatened on almost every attack .
PSG only fielded four of the same starters in the two games .
Against Lens , coach Thomas Tuchel gave league debuts to 18-year-olds Arnaud Kalimuendo and Kays Ruiz .
`` We were playing together for the first time .
It takes time , otherwise football would be simple and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marco Verratti .
Neymar , Kylian Mbappe , Mauro Icardi and Angel di Maria , who between them scored two thirds of PSG 's league goals last season , were all absent after testing positive for Covid-19 .
So was key central defender Marquinhos .
Tuchel complained that the absence of the attacking `` Fantastic Four '' meant Ruiz and veteran Ander Herrera had to play attacking roles that do not suit them .
`` It was necessary for them to create things and that 's not their strength , '' Tuchel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' whether any of the absent stars will be able to play on Sunday but added that they have been missing training .
`` If they 're there , OK , but they 'll be in a physical condition where I ca n't expect them to be decisive .
`` I 'm not worried , but realistic , '' Tuchel said .
`` If we have to play with the same team against Marseille , we 'll do it . ''
The only expected change is number two goalkeeper Sergio Rico , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who presented Lens with their goal on Thursday by attempting to pass to Verratti .
Verratti , returning from a calf injury that forced him to watch most of the Champions League final rounds from the bench , played the whole match against Lens .
`` Normally , the maximum for him should have been to play 60 or 70 minutes , '' Tuchel said .
`` We took a risk '' .
The French league season kicked off on August 21 , two days before the Champions League final .
Even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PSG and European semi-finalists Lyon absent , games postponed because of the coronavirus and an international break , PSG are already six points behind leaders Nice after Patrick Vieira 's side won their first two games .
PSG finished 12 points ahead of Marseille with a game in hand when last season was brought to an early halt by the pandemic and have won the league three straight years .
PSG face a frenzied scheduled , hosting Metz next Wednesday before travelling to pacesetters Nice the following Sunday .
Other than turning Icardi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing Rico , normally free-spending PSG have been quiet this summer , though Tuchel said he hoped veteran full-back Alessandro Florenzi would arrive from Roma over the weekend .

Paris (AFP) –
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Suddenly Paris Saint-Germain's home debut at Parc des Princes on Sunday to face old enemy Marseille is looking as likely to turn into a car crash as a triumphal parade.
Less than three weeks after playing their first Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain returned to Ligue 1 with a thud on Thursday as a team severely depleted by coronavirus lost at promoted Lens.
Both games ended in 1-0 defeats, but that is where the similarities end.
PSG went toe-to-toe with Bayern in Lisbon. In Lens, the French champions enjoyed almost three quarters of possession but managed only one shot on target while the home team threatened on almost every attack.
PSG only fielded four of the same starters in the two games. Against Lens, coach Thomas Tuchel gave league debuts to 18-year-olds Arnaud Kalimuendo and Kays Ruiz.
"We were playing together for the first time. It takes time, otherwise football would be simple and easy," said Italian international midfielder Marco Verratti.
Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi and Angel di Maria, who between them scored two thirds of PSG's league goals last season, were all absent after testing positive for Covid-19. So was key central defender Marquinhos.
Tuchel complained that the absence of the attacking "Fantastic Four" meant Ruiz and veteran Ander Herrera had to play attacking roles that do not suit them.
"It was necessary for them to create things and that's not their strength," Tuchel said.
- 'Realistic' -
He could not say "exactly" whether any of the absent stars will be able to play on Sunday but added that they have been missing training.
"If they're there, OK, but they'll be in a physical condition where I can't expect them to be decisive.
"I'm not worried, but realistic," Tuchel said. "If we have to play with the same team against Marseille, we'll do it."
The only expected change is number two goalkeeper Sergio Rico, in place of 20-year-old Pole Marcin Bulka, who presented Lens with their goal on Thursday by attempting to pass to Verratti.
Verratti, returning from a calf injury that forced him to watch most of the Champions League final rounds from the bench, played the whole match against Lens.
"Normally, the maximum for him should have been to play 60 or 70 minutes," Tuchel said. "We took a risk".
The French league season kicked off on August 21, two days before the Champions League final. Even though it has made a slow start with PSG and European semi-finalists Lyon absent, games postponed because of the coronavirus and an international break, PSG are already six points behind leaders Nice after Patrick Vieira's side won their first two games.
PSG finished 12 points ahead of Marseille with a game in hand when last season was brought to an early halt by the pandemic and have won the league three straight years.
PSG face a frenzied scheduled, hosting Metz next Wednesday before travelling to pacesetters Nice the following Sunday.
Other than turning Icardi's loan into a permanent move and signing Rico, normally free-spending PSG have been quiet this summer, though Tuchel said he hoped veteran full-back Alessandro Florenzi would arrive from Roma over the weekend.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Uproar after 'victim blaming' in Pakistan gang rape case

Protests have broken out after a police chief 's comments appeared to blame a woman who was gang raped because she was driving without a male companion A Pakistani police chief faced a growing backlash Friday after he seemed to blame the victim in a gang rape case because she was driving at night without a male companion .
The controversy started after a woman said she was assaulted and raped by multiple men in front of her two children when her car ran out of fuel near the eastern city of Lahore late on Wednesday .
Speaking to media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chided the victim for driving at night without a man , adding that no one in Pakistani society would `` allow their sisters and daughters to travel alone so late '' .
Sheikh went on to say the woman -- a resident of France -- probably `` mistook that Pakistani society is just as safe '' as her home country .
Human rights minister Shireen Mazari said his remarks were unacceptable .
`` Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape , '' she added .
Protests were held in cities across Pakistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked demands for his resignation .
`` We do n't want him in office , '' protester Shaheena Khan said at a rally in Islamabad .
`` We want security from the police and the government .
It is their job '' .
Lawyer and woman 's rights activist Khadija Siddiqi told AFP that Sheikh 's comments were part of an unfortunate and `` very rampant '' culture of victim blaming in Pakistan .
Much of conservative Pakistan lives under a patriarchal code of `` honour '' that systematises the oppression of women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , choosing their own husband or working outside the home .
`` We are angry , we demand his removal and we demand his apology , '' said Nighat Dad , a women 's rights activist and one of the organisers of an annual women 's rights march in Lahore .
Activists have denounced pervasive , sometimes deadly violence by men -- usually male relatives -- against women who break those taboos .
Around a thousand Pakistani women are murdered in honour killings each year -- in which the victim , normally a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for bringing shame on the family .

Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) –
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A Pakistani police chief faced a growing backlash Friday after he seemed to blame the victim in a gang rape case because she was driving at night without a male companion.
The controversy started after a woman said she was assaulted and raped by multiple men in front of her two children when her car ran out of fuel near the eastern city of Lahore late on Wednesday.
Speaking to media, Lahore police chief Umar Sheikh repeatedly chided the victim for driving at night without a man, adding that no one in Pakistani society would "allow their sisters and daughters to travel alone so late".
Sheikh went on to say the woman -- a resident of France -- probably "mistook that Pakistani society is just as safe" as her home country.
Human rights minister Shireen Mazari said his remarks were unacceptable.
"Nothing can ever rationalise the crime of rape," she added.
Protests were held in cities across Pakistan on Friday, and Sheikh's comments sparked demands for his resignation.
"We don't want him in office," protester Shaheena Khan said at a rally in Islamabad.
"We want security from the police and the government. It is their job".
Lawyer and woman's rights activist Khadija Siddiqi told AFP that Sheikh's comments were part of an unfortunate and "very rampant" culture of victim blaming in Pakistan.
Much of conservative Pakistan lives under a patriarchal code of "honour" that systematises the oppression of women by preventing them from, for example, choosing their own husband or working outside the home.
"We are angry, we demand his removal and we demand his apology," said Nighat Dad, a women's rights activist and one of the organisers of an annual women's rights march in Lahore.
Activists have denounced pervasive, sometimes deadly violence by men -- usually male relatives -- against women who break those taboos.
Around a thousand Pakistani women are murdered in honour killings each year -- in which the victim, normally a woman, is killed by a relative for bringing shame on the family.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Afghan govt negotiators leave for peace talks with Taliban

Negotiations set to begin on Saturday had originally been slated to start in March but were repeatedly pushed back Afghan government negotiators left for Doha on Friday to hold landmark peace talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the country 's long running conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people .
Negotiations set to begin on Saturday had originally been slated to start in March but were repeatedly pushed back amid disputes over a prisoner exchange that included the release of hundreds of battle-hardened Taliban fighters .
`` After continuous efforts of the government of the Islamic Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban , the peace negotiating team of the IRA left Kabul for Doha , '' Nader Naderi , a member of the negotiating team , said on Twitter minutes before their plane took off President Donald Trump has made his key foreign policy priority to end the war in Afghanistan and bring troops back home as he faces uncertain prospects in the November 3 election .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be attending the opening session of what he said was a `` historic '' opportunity to end America 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of how difficult these conversations will be among the Afghans but it 's theirs for the taking , '' he told reporter onboard his flight to Doha .
`` We are going to Doha to tell the Taliban that you can not succeed by force , '' Abdul Hafiz Mansour , a member of Kabul 's delegation , told reporters at the capital 's airport .
`` The time is ready for reconciliation now , we can resolve our problems by talking to each other . ''
Negotiations have raised hope among Afghans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might come to a halt .
`` We are desperate for peace .
The killing of Afghans should be stopped , '' said Kabul shopkeeper Abdullah , who lost a relative in a bomb attack that targeted Vice President Amrullah Saleh this week .
`` I 'm not very optimistic about the future , but peace talks is a good first step to at least reduce the violence . ''
Afghan school teacher Aminullah , who lives in restive Kunduz province , insisted that gains made in the past two decades should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we want peace , we also want the achievements of the past years kept , '' he said .
`` I do n't want my school closed , but peace is the priority now . ''

Kabul (AFP) –
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Afghan government negotiators left for Doha on Friday to hold landmark peace talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the country's long running conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.
Negotiations set to begin on Saturday had originally been slated to start in March but were repeatedly pushed back amid disputes over a prisoner exchange that included the release of hundreds of battle-hardened Taliban fighters.
"After continuous efforts of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to start direct talks with the Taliban, the peace negotiating team of the IRA left Kabul for Doha," Nader Naderi, a member of the negotiating team, said on Twitter minutes before their plane took off
President Donald Trump has made his key foreign policy priority to end the war in Afghanistan and bring troops back home as he faces uncertain prospects in the November 3 election.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be attending the opening session of what he said was a "historic" opportunity to end America's longest war.
"I'm mindful of how difficult these conversations will be among the Afghans but it's theirs for the taking," he told reporter onboard his flight to Doha.
"We are going to Doha to tell the Taliban that you cannot succeed by force," Abdul Hafiz Mansour, a member of Kabul's delegation, told reporters at the capital's airport.
"The time is ready for reconciliation now, we can resolve our problems by talking to each other."
Negotiations have raised hope among Afghans across the country that the grinding conflict might come to a halt.
"We are desperate for peace. The killing of Afghans should be stopped," said Kabul shopkeeper Abdullah, who lost a relative in a bomb attack that targeted Vice President Amrullah Saleh this week.
"I'm not very optimistic about the future, but peace talks is a good first step to at least reduce the violence."
Afghan school teacher Aminullah, who lives in restive Kunduz province, insisted that gains made in the past two decades should not be lost.
"As much as we want peace, we also want the achievements of the past years kept," he said.
"I don't want my school closed, but peace is the priority now."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Vettel has no regrets after six years with Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel said he has no regrets over his six years at Ferrari despite failing to achieve his objective and end the team 's long wait for a first drivers ’ title since 2007 .
And the four-time world champion made clear he felt revitalised by the prospect of joining Aston Martin next year – but looked back with pleasure on his years at Maranello .
`` I do n't regret the years that I 've spent with Ferrari , '' said Vettel at Mugello ahead of this weekend ’ s Tuscan Grand Prix , which Ferrari are hosting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' They are a big part of my life .
In the very beginning , Ferrari has a special place , the way I grew up looking at Michael [ Schumacher ] and him racing at Ferrari .
`` For sure , I wanted to do better than I did , but I 've certainly tried everything .
We had good times , also bad times , but it 's probably part of it and now probably for both sides , it 's time to move on . ''
Ferrari told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not renewing his contract , leaving him stunned and , at times , close to leaving F1 as he reflected on his prospects .
In the end , he said on Thursday , he wanted to continue racing and was very happy to join the Silverstone-based Racing Point team when it is renamed Aston Martin .
`` Naturally , I joined Ferrari not just to join Ferrari and not just win races , but win championships and win it in the right way , '' said Vettel .
`` Obviously , in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed .
`` We did n't win the championship .
I think we had good moments and highlight moments that I would n't want to miss .
I 've got to know people that really helped me .
I 've got to make friends , potentially for life .
So I would n't want to miss that . ''
Ferrari 's last drivers ' champion was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 .
Vettel won all of his four titles with Red Bull in consecutive seasons from 2010-2013 .
Looking ahead to his switch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll , Vettel said he was impressed .
`` The team has huge potential , '' he explained .
`` I think there 's some really good people on board , clever people , and I 'm looking forward to helping -- and to show that those qualities are there and demonstrate that as well with the results .
`` It 's always great if you have great results straightaway , but everything is sort of a bit of the first time so I 'm looking forward to help make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there is ahead of me . ''
Vettel was 13th fastest after Friday ’ s opening practice as he learned his way round the sweeping circuit while team-mate Charles Leclerc , more familiar with the track , was third quickest behind Mercedes ' Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen of Red Bull .

Mugello (Italy) (AFP) –
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Sebastian Vettel said he has no regrets over his six years at Ferrari despite failing to achieve his objective and end the team's long wait for a first drivers’ title since 2007.
And the four-time world champion made clear he felt revitalised by the prospect of joining Aston Martin next year – but looked back with pleasure on his years at Maranello.
"I don't regret the years that I've spent with Ferrari," said Vettel at Mugello ahead of this weekend’s Tuscan Grand Prix, which Ferrari are hosting to celebrate their 1000th Formula One race entry,
"They are a big part of my life. In the very beginning, Ferrari has a special place, the way I grew up looking at Michael [Schumacher] and him racing at Ferrari.
"For sure, I wanted to do better than I did, but I've certainly tried everything. We had good times, also bad times, but it's probably part of it and now probably for both sides, it's time to move on."
Ferrari told the German driver in May that they were not renewing his contract, leaving him stunned and, at times, close to leaving F1 as he reflected on his prospects.
In the end, he said on Thursday, he wanted to continue racing and was very happy to join the Silverstone-based Racing Point team when it is renamed Aston Martin.
"Naturally, I joined Ferrari not just to join Ferrari and not just win races, but win championships and win it in the right way," said Vettel.
"Obviously, in that regard, you can say we have failed.
"We didn't win the championship. I think we had good moments and highlight moments that I wouldn't want to miss. I've got to know people that really helped me. I've got to make friends, potentially for life. So I wouldn't want to miss that."
Ferrari's last drivers' champion was Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Vettel won all of his four titles with Red Bull in consecutive seasons from 2010-2013.
Looking ahead to his switch to Aston Martin, under the leadership of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, Vettel said he was impressed.
"The team has huge potential," he explained.
"I think there's some really good people on board, clever people, and I'm looking forward to helping -- and to show that those qualities are there and demonstrate that as well with the results.
"It's always great if you have great results straightaway, but everything is sort of a bit of the first time so I'm looking forward to help make that growth possible and enjoy the work that there is ahead of me."
Vettel was 13th fastest after Friday’s opening practice as he learned his way round the sweeping circuit while team-mate Charles Leclerc, more familiar with the track, was third quickest behind Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--UK denies burning Brexit bridges in EU talks

Britain 's government on Friday vowed to press on with troubled EU talks , despite rejecting an ultimatum to withdraw Brexit legislation that has sparked a rebellion from outraged Conservatives in its own ranks .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson trumpeted a win by announcing a free-trade agreement with Japan -- its first such pact since Brexit took effect in January .
But the far greater prize of an FTA with the European Union remains elusive .
Britain and the EU both committed to meet again in Brussels , even after this week 's trade talks were clouded by fury over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divorce treaty with new domestic legislation .
`` It is clear that anyone has to stick to what he already agreed to .
Treaties have to be obeyed , '' German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin .
The EU , warning that the contentious UK bill has `` seriously damaged trust '' between the two sides , said it would take Britain to court unless the legislation is withdrawn by the end of September .
The bill would give British ministers unilateral powers to regulate trade among England , Scotland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the force of EU law expires after a post-Brexit transition period at the end of this year .
But under its Brexit treaty , Britain is meant to liaise with Brussels on arrangements for Northern Ireland , which will have the UK 's only land border with the EU , and where 30 years of bloodshed ended with a historic peace deal in 1998 .
`` This protocol on the island of Ireland exists and one side can not make it not exist .
This is a unilateral , provocative act that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Thomas Byrne said on BBC radio .
Britain rejected the EU ultimatum , but said it remained committed to its obligations under the withdrawal treaty and to a protocol governing Northern Ireland 's post-Brexit trade .
`` It 's not about if we implement the ( EU ) Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Irish Protocol , it 's how we implement it , '' business minister Nadim Zahawi said .
The new bill was an `` insurance policy '' if Britain and the EU can not find agreement by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` we ca n't allow any adverse impacts on the communities in Northern Ireland '' .
Despite the war of words this week , neither side wants to take the blame for abandoning negotiations that have been deadlocked over highly symbolic issues such as state aid for industry and fishing rights .
`` We 're in the final stretch of these negotiations , and for our part they will be carried through to the end , '' EU internal markets commissioner Thierry Breton told France 's BFM television .
`` We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair ' diplomacy , that is quite clear , '' he said .
While the government tries to portray the bill as tidying up loose ends , several MPs and Conservative grandees are aghast at the prospect of Britain intentionally violating the treaty , and are warning of trouble when it comes before parliament next week .
Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown said Johnson 's stance was `` a huge act of self-harm '' .
`` We knew that there was a debate over fishing and over state aid , but then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international treaty is being condemned by so many people , '' he said .
Even ardent Brexiteers fretted about the bill 's capacity to undermine Britain 's reputation as a guarantor of the global rule of law , given its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council .
And while boasting of its newly minted trade deal with Japan , the government was warned that the ructions over Northern Ireland could deprive it of another glittering prize -- a similar pact with the United States .
`` How can they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How do you trust that ? ''
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in Washington .

London (AFP) –
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Britain's government on Friday vowed to press on with troubled EU talks, despite rejecting an ultimatum to withdraw Brexit legislation that has sparked a rebellion from outraged Conservatives in its own ranks.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson trumpeted a win by announcing a free-trade agreement with Japan -- its first such pact since Brexit took effect in January.
But the far greater prize of an FTA with the European Union remains elusive.
Britain and the EU both committed to meet again in Brussels, even after this week's trade talks were clouded by fury over London's pledge to wilfully break its divorce treaty with new domestic legislation.
"It is clear that anyone has to stick to what he already agreed to. Treaties have to be obeyed," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin.
The EU, warning that the contentious UK bill has "seriously damaged trust" between the two sides, said it would take Britain to court unless the legislation is withdrawn by the end of September.
The bill would give British ministers unilateral powers to regulate trade among England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, once the force of EU law expires after a post-Brexit transition period at the end of this year.
But under its Brexit treaty, Britain is meant to liaise with Brussels on arrangements for Northern Ireland, which will have the UK's only land border with the EU, and where 30 years of bloodshed ended with a historic peace deal in 1998.
"This protocol on the island of Ireland exists and one side cannot make it not exist. This is a unilateral, provocative act that is uniquely unprecedented," Ireland's Europe Minister Thomas Byrne said on BBC radio.
- 'Self-harm' -
Britain rejected the EU ultimatum, but said it remained committed to its obligations under the withdrawal treaty and to a protocol governing Northern Ireland's post-Brexit trade.
"It's not about if we implement the (EU) Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Irish Protocol, it's how we implement it," business minister Nadim Zahawi said.
The new bill was an "insurance policy" if Britain and the EU cannot find agreement by the end of the transition period, he said, as "we can't allow any adverse impacts on the communities in Northern Ireland".
Despite the war of words this week, neither side wants to take the blame for abandoning negotiations that have been deadlocked over highly symbolic issues such as state aid for industry and fishing rights.
"We're in the final stretch of these negotiations, and for our part they will be carried through to the end," EU internal markets commissioner Thierry Breton told France's BFM television.
"We are not going to carry out any 'empty chair' diplomacy, that is quite clear," he said.
While the government tries to portray the bill as tidying up loose ends, several MPs and Conservative grandees are aghast at the prospect of Britain intentionally violating the treaty, and are warning of trouble when it comes before parliament next week.
Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown said Johnson's stance was "a huge act of self-harm".
"We knew that there was a debate over fishing and over state aid, but then to explode the argument to breaking an international treaty is being condemned by so many people," he said.
Even ardent Brexiteers fretted about the bill's capacity to undermine Britain's reputation as a guarantor of the global rule of law, given its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
And while boasting of its newly minted trade deal with Japan, the government was warned that the ructions over Northern Ireland could deprive it of another glittering prize -- a similar pact with the United States.
"How can they walk away from an international agreement? How do you trust that?" House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in Washington.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Disney's beleaguered 'Mulan' wins positive review from China ministry

The retelling of the legendary female Chinese warrior tale `` Mulan '' drew a backlash even before its official release Pilloried internationally and given a lukewarm debut by Chinese cinemagoers , Disney on Friday discovered its $ 200 million live-action epic `` Mulan '' has at least one ardent fan -- China 's firebrand foreign ministry .
The retelling of the legendary female Chinese warrior tale drew a backlash even before its official release when star Liu Yifei voiced her support for Hong Kong 's police as they cracked down on democracy protests last year .
This week it faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- where rights abuses against the region 's Muslim population have been widely documented -- and for thanking authorities from the northwestern region in the end credits .
But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Friday dismissed the controversy , saying it was `` very normal '' to thank the Xinjiang government for their help and shrugging off criticism by `` some so-called human rights organisations . ''
He went onto applaud Chinese-American star Liu as `` the contemporary Mulan '' and `` a true child of China '' .
Mulan opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41 million yuan ( $ 5.99 million ) worth of tickets by the afternoon , according to ticketing platform Maoyan .
But the movie , which many have seen online , has already attracted a torrent of poor reviews and a 4.7 out of 10 rating on popular user review site Douban .
Some disliked its deviation from the original tale and new storyline , while others blasted the action scenes .
`` In my mind , Mulan was originally ladylike and not a martial artist as a child , '' one user @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The storyline is very poor and Mulan 's hero complex was highlighted without logic .
The martial arts sequences were also weak . ''
Others questioned why there were not more Chinese staff working on the film .
Amid the furore , the hashtag `` Mulan '' appeared to have been disabled on China 's Twitter-like platform Weibo , with the tag turning up no search results on Friday .
AFP understands that some state media have also been told to avoid covering the movie .
At cinemas in Beijing , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcry .
`` Mulan is a household name .
Different people may have different ways of understanding this story , '' said Hu Xia , 46 , who saw the movie with her son .
`` This time , I think they were successful . ''
Another moviegoer , 30-year-old Alvin Ye , praised the movie for its portrayal of an extraordinary woman .
Nationalistic tabloid Global Times offered another defence against overseas critics , in typically unvarnished language , describing attacks on the film as `` depravity '' .

Beijing (AFP) –
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Pilloried internationally and given a lukewarm debut by Chinese cinemagoers, Disney on Friday discovered its $200 million live-action epic "Mulan" has at least one ardent fan -- China's firebrand foreign ministry.
The retelling of the legendary female Chinese warrior tale drew a backlash even before its official release when star Liu Yifei voiced her support for Hong Kong's police as they cracked down on democracy protests last year.
This week it faced boycott calls globally for filming in Xinjiang -- where rights abuses against the region's Muslim population have been widely documented -- and for thanking authorities from the northwestern region in the end credits.
But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Friday dismissed the controversy, saying it was "very normal" to thank the Xinjiang government for their help and shrugging off criticism by "some so-called human rights organisations."
He went onto applaud Chinese-American star Liu as "the contemporary Mulan" and "a true child of China".
Mulan opened in China on Friday and sold around 41 million yuan ($5.99 million) worth of tickets by the afternoon, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.
But the movie, which many have seen online, has already attracted a torrent of poor reviews and a 4.7 out of 10 rating on popular user review site Douban.
Some disliked its deviation from the original tale and new storyline, while others blasted the action scenes.
"In my mind, Mulan was originally ladylike and not a martial artist as a child," one user wrote.
Another reviewer added: "The storyline is very poor and Mulan's hero complex was highlighted without logic. The martial arts sequences were also weak."
Others questioned why there were not more Chinese staff working on the film.
Amid the furore, the hashtag "Mulan" appeared to have been disabled on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo, with the tag turning up no search results on Friday.
AFP understands that some state media have also been told to avoid covering the movie.
At cinemas in Beijing, however, several moviegoers were oblivious to the international outcry.
"Mulan is a household name. Different people may have different ways of understanding this story," said Hu Xia, 46, who saw the movie with her son. "This time, I think they were successful."
Another moviegoer, 30-year-old Alvin Ye, praised the movie for its portrayal of an extraordinary woman.
Nationalistic tabloid Global Times offered another defence against overseas critics, in typically unvarnished language, describing attacks on the film as "depravity".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--In Israel, new Covid wave hits Arabs with full force

Israeli police guard a checkpoint by the East Jerusalem Arab neighbourhood of Issawiya as part of a lockdown of some 40 cities across the country amid a spike in virus infections Israel this week imposed new restrictions on parts of the country to confront a resurgence of Covid-19 infections , with the Arab-Israeli community especially hard hit in a second wave .
When the virus emerged in March , only five percent of recorded cases were among Arab-Israelis , the descendents of Palestinians who stayed on their land after Israel 's creation in 1948 .
Arab-Israelis represent about 20 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the government , they account for 30 percent of the country 's coronavirus caseload .
`` I do n't want to scare you , but dozens of Arab citizens will die in the coming weeks if we do n't control the epidemic , '' said Ronni Gamzu , who heads Israel 's battle against Covid-19 .
Each day around 750 new Covid cases are detected among Arab-Israelis , said the professor .
`` We will register hundreds of victims if Arab citizens do not act responsibly , '' he said this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Arab-populated town near the northern city of Haifa .
In an attempt to stop the spread of the virus , the authorities imposed a night-time curfew for a week from Tuesday in 40 localities , where gatherings are limited .
Twenty-nine of these localities are Arab , while most of the others are populated by ultra-Orthodox Jews .
In both cases , the communities are made up of large families living in small homes , which explains the higher infection rate , said Doctor Zahi Said , a health ministry spokesman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continuation of gatherings such as weddings , he said .
`` The profusion of weddings , long awaited since they have been postponed many times , has become the main cause '' of the spike in cases , the spokesman added .
`` Who is going to put on their mask or keep their distance while dancing ? ''
But for the authorities in the northern Arab town of Umm al-Fahm , the spread of the virus is largely because the closure of halls saw people organise weddings in other uncontrolled places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the entrance , nor is there any limitation on the number of guests , '' said Abdelmoneim Fuad , spokesman for the town 's council .
Rather than being cancelled , many celebrations were held in places where health protocols were still not in force , or a few days before the new measures took effect .
As a result , 50 weddings happened last weekend in the town of 56,000 people , said Fuad .
Across Israel , 144,673 cases have been registered , with 1,053 people dying from the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the country also posted a single-day record of 4,038 new cases on Thursday , prompting the government to aim to decide on new containment measures on Sunday .
The finance ministry has put a damper on the plans , estimating it could cost the economy $ 1 billion a week and leave hundreds of thousands jobless .
In addition , the government has been targeted by a protest movement that denounces its management of the Covid-19 pandemic .
For the health ministry 's Doctor Zahi , the lifting of restrictions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on track , came too soon and prompted people to be less vigilant .
But for the United List of Arab-Israeli parties , the problem is mainly a lack of awareness in Arab localities .
`` We hold the government responsible for the health situation , '' they wrote , criticising its `` slowness '' to set up screening centres in their community compared with the rest of the country .

Haifa (Israel) (AFP) –
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Israel this week imposed new restrictions on parts of the country to confront a resurgence of Covid-19 infections, with the Arab-Israeli community especially hard hit in a second wave.
When the virus emerged in March, only five percent of recorded cases were among Arab-Israelis, the descendents of Palestinians who stayed on their land after Israel's creation in 1948.
Arab-Israelis represent about 20 percent of Israel's population but, according to the government, they account for 30 percent of the country's coronavirus caseload.
"I don't want to scare you, but dozens of Arab citizens will die in the coming weeks if we don't control the epidemic," said Ronni Gamzu, who heads Israel's battle against Covid-19.
Each day around 750 new Covid cases are detected among Arab-Israelis, said the professor.
"We will register hundreds of victims if Arab citizens do not act responsibly," he said this week during a trip to Daliyat al-Carmel, an Arab-populated town near the northern city of Haifa.
In an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, the authorities imposed a night-time curfew for a week from Tuesday in 40 localities, where gatherings are limited.
Twenty-nine of these localities are Arab, while most of the others are populated by ultra-Orthodox Jews.
In both cases, the communities are made up of large families living in small homes, which explains the higher infection rate, said Doctor Zahi Said, a health ministry spokesman.
- Weddings behind spike -
Another factor behind the second wave is the continuation of gatherings such as weddings, he said.
"The profusion of weddings, long awaited since they have been postponed many times, has become the main cause" of the spike in cases, the spokesman added.
"Who is going to put on their mask or keep their distance while dancing?"
But for the authorities in the northern Arab town of Umm al-Fahm, the spread of the virus is largely because the closure of halls saw people organise weddings in other uncontrolled places.
"There are no temperature controls at the entrance, nor is there any limitation on the number of guests," said Abdelmoneim Fuad, spokesman for the town's council.
Rather than being cancelled, many celebrations were held in places where health protocols were still not in force, or a few days before the new measures took effect.
As a result, 50 weddings happened last weekend in the town of 56,000 people, said Fuad.
- Awareness -
Across Israel, 144,673 cases have been registered, with 1,053 people dying from the virus, according to figures released on Thursday.
But the country also posted a single-day record of 4,038 new cases on Thursday, prompting the government to aim to decide on new containment measures on Sunday.
The finance ministry has put a damper on the plans, estimating it could cost the economy $1 billion a week and leave hundreds of thousands jobless.
In addition, the government has been targeted by a protest movement that denounces its management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the health ministry's Doctor Zahi, the lifting of restrictions in spring, aimed at putting the economy back on track, came too soon and prompted people to be less vigilant.
But for the United List of Arab-Israeli parties, the problem is mainly a lack of awareness in Arab localities.
"We hold the government responsible for the health situation," they wrote, criticising its "slowness" to set up screening centres in their community compared with the rest of the country.
© 2020 AFP