france24--2020-09-22--Assange says he 'hears voices' in prison: psychiatrist

Julian Assange said he hallucinated music and voices while in prison , according to his psychiatrist WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange complained of hearing imaginary voices and music while detained in a high-security British prison , a psychiatrist who has interviewed him told his extradition hearing on Tuesday .
Michael Kopelman , a psychiatrist who has interviewed Assange around 20 times , said the former hacker would be a `` very high '' suicide risk if he were extradited to the United States for leaking military secrets .
He cited as evidence Assange 's `` severe depression '' and `` psychotic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while in solitary confinement in his cell at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in southwest London .
Kopelman told the Old Bailey court in central London that Assange said he hallucinated music and voices saying `` you are dust , you are dead , we are coming to get you '' .
Assange 's suicidal impulses `` arise out of clinical factors ... but it is the imminence of extradition that will trigger the attempt , '' he added , warning `` he will deteriorate substantially '' if extradited .
Assange 's partner Stella @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would take his own life , leaving their two young sons without a father .
James Lewis , representing the US government , quizzed Kopelman over the veracity of some of Assange 's claims , suggesting he may have made them up .
Assange faces 18 charges under the US Espionage Act relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq .
Washington claims he helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before exposing confidential sources around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been held at Belmarsh for the last 16 months -- could be jailed for up to 175 years .
US authorities recently laid out new evidence , alleging that Assange and others at the whistleblowing site recruited hackers .
The extradition hearing is the latest in a series of legal battles faced by Assange since the leaks a decade ago .
In 2010 , he faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden , which he denied .
He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempt to extradite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ecuador 's embassy in London .
For seven years he lived in a small apartment in the embassy , but after a change of government in Ecuador , Quito lost patience with its guest and turned him over to British police in April 2019 .

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange complained of hearing imaginary voices and music while detained in a high-security British prison, a psychiatrist who has interviewed him told his extradition hearing on Tuesday.
Michael Kopelman, a psychiatrist who has interviewed Assange around 20 times, said the former hacker would be a "very high" suicide risk if he were extradited to the United States for leaking military secrets.
He cited as evidence Assange's "severe depression" and "psychotic symptoms", which included auditory hallucinations while in solitary confinement in his cell at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in southwest London.
Kopelman told the Old Bailey court in central London that Assange said he hallucinated music and voices saying "you are dust, you are dead, we are coming to get you".
Assange's suicidal impulses "arise out of clinical factors... but it is the imminence of extradition that will trigger the attempt," he added, warning "he will deteriorate substantially" if extradited.
Assange's partner Stella Moris has previously said she feared he would take his own life, leaving their two young sons without a father.
James Lewis, representing the US government, quizzed Kopelman over the veracity of some of Assange's claims, suggesting he may have made them up.
Assange faces 18 charges under the US Espionage Act relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Washington claims he helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before exposing confidential sources around the world.
If convicted, Assange -- who has been held at Belmarsh for the last 16 months -- could be jailed for up to 175 years.
US authorities recently laid out new evidence, alleging that Assange and others at the whistleblowing site recruited hackers.
The extradition hearing is the latest in a series of legal battles faced by Assange since the leaks a decade ago.
In 2010, he faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, which he denied.
He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempt to extradite him to Sweden by claiming political asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London.
For seven years he lived in a small apartment in the embassy, but after a change of government in Ecuador, Quito lost patience with its guest and turned him over to British police in April 2019.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--'Pen guns' the latest threat in Afghan capital

A stash of pen guns found by Afghan authorities on display in the capital Police in Kabul have seized a stash of `` pen guns '' they say criminals and insurgents are using in a wave of targeted assassinations that has gripped the Afghan capital in recent months .
The cylindrical , single-bullet firearms look much like regular ink pens and are easy to carry undetected .
`` It is like a click pen , the shooter puts the bullet in the cartridge , aims and clicks the thrust button to fire the bullet , '' an official at Kabul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP on condition of anonymity .
Police last weekend unveiled a cache of 48 pen guns discovered in a larger haul of weapons including `` sticky bombs '' that can be slapped under vehicles and detonated remotely or on a timer .
`` The terrorists wanted to use these weapons in complex-target killings in the capital , '' interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian interior ministry spokesman said .
Rising unemployment and poverty have worsened Kabul 's already abysmal security situation , with kidnappings , robberies and drive-by shootings commonplace .
The violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assassinations targeting peace activists , academics and government employees .
`` More than 40 people have been killed in targeted assassinations in the past six months in Kabul alone , '' the CID official said .
He said some of those hits were carried out using unknown weapons that authorities believe were pen guns .
Officials have blamed such killings on Taliban-linked groups .
The Taliban , who under a deal with the US in February are not supposed to be attacking urban areas , have denied involvement .
The insurgents have nonetheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural areas , even as Afghan government and Taliban negotiators are meeting in Doha to to to find a way to end 19 years of war .

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Police in Kabul have seized a stash of "pen guns" they say criminals and insurgents are using in a wave of targeted assassinations that has gripped the Afghan capital in recent months.
The cylindrical, single-bullet firearms look much like regular ink pens and are easy to carry undetected.
"It is like a click pen, the shooter puts the bullet in the cartridge, aims and clicks the thrust button to fire the bullet," an official at Kabul's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Police last weekend unveiled a cache of 48 pen guns discovered in a larger haul of weapons including "sticky bombs" that can be slapped under vehicles and detonated remotely or on a timer.
"The terrorists wanted to use these weapons in complex-target killings in the capital," interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian interior ministry spokesman said.
Rising unemployment and poverty have worsened Kabul's already abysmal security situation, with kidnappings, robberies and drive-by shootings commonplace.
The violence has been compounded by a string of assassinations targeting peace activists, academics and government employees.
"More than 40 people have been killed in targeted assassinations in the past six months in Kabul alone," the CID official said.
He said some of those hits were carried out using unknown weapons that authorities believe were pen guns.
Officials have blamed such killings on Taliban-linked groups.
The Taliban, who under a deal with the US in February are not supposed to be attacking urban areas, have denied involvement.
The insurgents have nonetheless stepped up attacks on security forces in rural areas, even as Afghan government and Taliban negotiators are meeting in Doha to to to find a way to end 19 years of war.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Luis Suarez suspected of cheating on Italian exam

Luis Suarez has been told he is not part of Ronald Koeman 's plans at Barcelona Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is suspected of cheating to pass his Italian language test with the help of his teachers , the Perugia prosecutor 's department in charge of the investigation said on Tuesday .
The Italian exam was a first step required in order to receive a passport ahead of a possible transfer to Juventus , a move which has seen been abandoned .
`` The investigation showed that the subjects discussed during the exam were agreed beforehand with the candidate and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the test , '' the prosecutor 's department said in a statement .
Local prosecutor Raffaele Cantone , a former head of Italy 's National Anti-Corruption Authority , had been carrying out an investigation since February into University for Foreigners officials over various irregularities .
Suspicions over Suarez were aroused by an overheard conversation .
`` But what do you think , that we 're going to fail him ?
Today I have the last lesson ( with Suarez ) and I have to prepare it because he barely speaks a word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the people targeted by the investigation , is claimed to have said according to prosecution documents cited by Italian media .
Asked by a colleague what level Suarez `` should pass '' in Italian , Spina reportedly replied : `` He should not , he must , he will pass , because with a salary of 10 million ( euros ) per season , you ca n't make him fail '' his exam , `` even if he does n't know how to conjugate verbs and speak in the infinitive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week a proposed deal for Suarez was unlikely to go ahead because of delays in the Uruguayan 's bid to get an Italian passport .
The Italian champions can not recruit Suarez otherwise because they have already reached their quota for non-EU players .

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Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is suspected of cheating to pass his Italian language test with the help of his teachers, the Perugia prosecutor's department in charge of the investigation said on Tuesday.
The Italian exam was a first step required in order to receive a passport ahead of a possible transfer to Juventus, a move which has seen been abandoned.
"The investigation showed that the subjects discussed during the exam were agreed beforehand with the candidate and that the grade was awarded to him even before the test," the prosecutor's department said in a statement.
Local prosecutor Raffaele Cantone, a former head of Italy's National Anti-Corruption Authority, had been carrying out an investigation since February into University for Foreigners officials over various irregularities. Suspicions over Suarez were aroused by an overheard conversation.
"But what do you think, that we're going to fail him? Today I have the last lesson (with Suarez) and I have to prepare it because he barely speaks a word" of Italian, Stefania Spina, one of the people targeted by the investigation, is claimed to have said according to prosecution documents cited by Italian media.
Asked by a colleague what level Suarez "should pass" in Italian, Spina reportedly replied: "He should not, he must, he will pass, because with a salary of 10 million (euros) per season, you can't make him fail" his exam, "even if he doesn't know how to conjugate verbs and speak in the infinitive."
Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said last week a proposed deal for Suarez was unlikely to go ahead because of delays in the Uruguayan's bid to get an Italian passport.
The Italian champions cannot recruit Suarez otherwise because they have already reached their quota for non-EU players.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--'Despicable': Directors defend 'Cuties' against Republican onslaught

A group of international film makers on Tuesday defended the director of `` Cuties '' against attacks by Republicans who have pulled the French film into the US election fray .
Statements by Republican lawmakers and an online campaign have tapped into concern over child sexual molestation , making the film political leverage in the battle to re-elect Republican President Donald Trump .
Film maker Maimouna Doucoure was the subject of `` unfounded , caricatural and despicable attacks '' in the US where `` Cuties '' is available on Netflix , the film directors said in a statement received by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has led to death threats against the director , is being carried out by some Republican senators and ultra-conservative networks who use and manipulate this film for political purposes and as part of the US presidential campaign , '' the film makers said .
Signatories include `` Gremlins '' maker Joe Dante , `` Tin Drum '' director Volker Schloendorff , Cristian Mungiu , who won the Cannes festival 's top prize with `` 4 Months , 3 Weeks and 2 Days '' , as well as Frenchman Bertrand Tavernier and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The controversy thus organised against this film has a name , which unfortunately punctuates the history of cinema : censorship ! ''
they said .
The film , called `` Mignonnes '' in French , portrays a young , rebellious French Senegalese girl who joins a pre-teen hip-hop dance group that is pushed into performing suggestive dances .
The film earned director Doucoure an award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival .
In Washington Post op-ed , Doucoure said her film was about the objectification of women and children , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sexy .
She had hoped `` to start a debate about the sexualization of children in society today '' , she said .

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A group of international film makers on Tuesday defended the director of "Cuties" against attacks by Republicans who have pulled the French film into the US election fray.
Statements by Republican lawmakers and an online campaign have tapped into concern over child sexual molestation, making the film political leverage in the battle to re-elect Republican President Donald Trump.
Film maker Maimouna Doucoure was the subject of "unfounded, caricatural and despicable attacks" in the US where "Cuties" is available on Netflix, the film directors said in a statement received by AFP.
"This incredibly violent campaign, which has led to death threats against the director, is being carried out by some Republican senators and ultra-conservative networks who use and manipulate this film for political purposes and as part of the US presidential campaign," the film makers said.
Signatories include "Gremlins" maker Joe Dante, "Tin Drum" director Volker Schloendorff, Cristian Mungiu, who won the Cannes festival's top prize with "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days", as well as Frenchman Bertrand Tavernier and Belgians Lucas Belvaux and Luc Dardenne.
"The controversy thus organised against this film has a name, which unfortunately punctuates the history of cinema: censorship!" they said.
The film, called "Mignonnes" in French, portrays a young, rebellious French Senegalese girl who joins a pre-teen hip-hop dance group that is pushed into performing suggestive dances.
The film earned director Doucoure an award at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
In Washington Post op-ed, Doucoure said her film was about the objectification of women and children, and the pressure pre-teen girls feel to be pretty and sexy.
She had hoped "to start a debate about the sexualization of children in society today", she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Pandemic fails to halt drug flows, record cocaine hauls: EU agency

During lockdowns imposed to control the spread of Covid-19 , organised crime groups `` quickly adapted their modi operandi '' to keep up the cultivation , smuggling and sale of drugs , the agency said .
Record seizures of cocaine indicate that the drug is more available than ever in Europe , and there is little sign that the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted smugglers and dealers , the EU narcotics agency said Tuesday .
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction 's annual report also noted large seizures of heroin as well as a scaling up of synthetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , organised crime groups had `` quickly adapted their modi operandi '' to keep up the cultivation , smuggling and sale of drugs .
`` There are fears that innovative drug distribution models developed during lockdown , along with the economic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable communities , will add to the challenges already posed by an abundant supply of drugs , '' the agency said .
Increased seizures of large quantities of cocaine , cannabis resin and heroin -- transported by sea -- raised concerns that organised crime was infiltrating legitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ports .
Cocaine purity has increased and cocaine seizures were at an all-time high of 181 tonnes in 2018 , the year for which data is examined in the 2020 report , some 40 tonnes more than in 2017 .
`` Indicators point to high availability of cocaine on the European market and signs of growth in countries where it was previously uncommon , '' the report said .
The volume of heroin seized in the EU nearly doubled from 2017 to 2018 , the report added .
While street dealing had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , it said consumers and dealers had been turning to online `` darknet '' markets , social media and home delivery .
Smuggling by plane declined , but trafficking by ship `` continued at pre-pandemic levels , '' it said .
Seizures and intelligence data did not suggest `` any immediate major disruption '' to drug trafficking activities using methods such as concealing drugs in shipping containers .
Synthetic drug production and cannabis cultivation in Europe also `` did not appear to be seriously affected '' .
The report warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a long-term impact on the future challenges arising in the drugs area '' .
During the pandemic there were signs of `` declining interest in substances like MDMA ( commonly known as ecstasy ) and cocaine that are commonly used in social settings '' .
But there were also reports of a greater use of more novel substances such as the psychoactive drug benzodiazepines , `` possibly driven in part by shortages of more established drugs '' .
`` We must be concerned that ... as the economic repercussions of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities may become more vulnerable to drug problems , '' agency director Alexis Goosdeel said .

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Record seizures of cocaine indicate that the drug is more available than ever in Europe, and there is little sign that the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted smugglers and dealers, the EU narcotics agency said Tuesday.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction's annual report also noted large seizures of heroin as well as a scaling up of synthetic drug production.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, organised crime groups had "quickly adapted their modi operandi" to keep up the cultivation, smuggling and sale of drugs.
"There are fears that innovative drug distribution models developed during lockdown, along with the economic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable communities, will add to the challenges already posed by an abundant supply of drugs," the agency said.
Increased seizures of large quantities of cocaine, cannabis resin and heroin -- transported by sea -- raised concerns that organised crime was infiltrating legitimate supply chains, shipping routes and large ports.
Cocaine purity has increased and cocaine seizures were at an all-time high of 181 tonnes in 2018, the year for which data is examined in the 2020 report, some 40 tonnes more than in 2017.
"Indicators point to high availability of cocaine on the European market and signs of growth in countries where it was previously uncommon," the report said.
- Synthetics on the rise -
The volume of heroin seized in the EU nearly doubled from 2017 to 2018, the report added.
While street dealing had been affected by restrictions during the height of the pandemic, it said consumers and dealers had been turning to online "darknet" markets, social media and home delivery.
Smuggling by plane declined, but trafficking by ship "continued at pre-pandemic levels," it said.
Seizures and intelligence data did not suggest "any immediate major disruption" to drug trafficking activities using methods such as concealing drugs in shipping containers.
Synthetic drug production and cannabis cultivation in Europe also "did not appear to be seriously affected".
The report warned that "the events of 2020 are likely to have a long-term impact on the future challenges arising in the drugs area".
During the pandemic there were signs of "declining interest in substances like MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) and cocaine that are commonly used in social settings".
But there were also reports of a greater use of more novel substances such as the psychoactive drug benzodiazepines, "possibly driven in part by shortages of more established drugs".
"We must be concerned that... as the economic repercussions of the crisis take effect, some in our communities may become more vulnerable to drug problems," agency director Alexis Goosdeel said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Nintendo's Switch faces French claim of 'planned obsolescence'

A French consumer advocacy group said Tuesday that it had filed a `` planned obsolescence '' claim against Nintendo 's Switch console , saying the Japanese giant knew some controllers were failing too quickly .
The UFC-Que Choisir group based its complaint on a 2015 law that established the framework for France 's green economy goals .
Companies or executives found guilty of knowingly marketing products with reduced lifespans can face prison terms or fines of up to five percent of their annual sales .
Que Choisir had already denounced Switch controllers last November , saying more than 5,000 clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with toggles stuck in one direction even when users were not touching them .
The group 's claim followed a class-action suit filed in the US last year alleging the same defect , which reportedly was sent to arbitration last March .
In January , the director of Nintendo France offered to repair any defective controllers at no cost , even if no longer covered by warranty .
But Que Choisir claimed Tuesday that the underlying problem had not been fixed , `` and complaints have continued to flow in to us .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the past three years , the Japanese firm must now commit itself to fixing the problem , instead of simply correcting it , '' it said .
It identified two potential causes for `` Joy-Con drift '' -- premature failure of circuit boards in the controllers , or insufficient seals that let in too much sweat or grime into the controller .
`` 65 percent of affected consumers say this problem occurred less than a year after purchase , '' Que Choisir said , adding it happened `` even to people playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' It is not the first time technology giants have been targeted in France over planned obsolescence claims .
In February , Apple was ordered by the country 's consumer watchdog to pay a fine of 25 million euros ( $ 29 million ) for not telling iPhone users that software updates were slowing down older models .
The complaint was filed by the Halt Planned Obsolescence ( HOP ) association , which hailed the filing against Nintendo , calling for a `` conviction that sets an example . ''

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A French consumer advocacy group said Tuesday that it had filed a "planned obsolescence" claim against Nintendo's Switch console, saying the Japanese giant knew some controllers were failing too quickly.
The UFC-Que Choisir group based its complaint on a 2015 law that established the framework for France's green economy goals.
Companies or executives found guilty of knowingly marketing products with reduced lifespans can face prison terms or fines of up to five percent of their annual sales.
Que Choisir had already denounced Switch controllers last November, saying more than 5,000 clients had reported "Joy-Con drift," with toggles stuck in one direction even when users were not touching them.
The group's claim followed a class-action suit filed in the US last year alleging the same defect, which reportedly was sent to arbitration last March.
In January, the director of Nintendo France offered to repair any defective controllers at no cost, even if no longer covered by warranty.
But Que Choisir claimed Tuesday that the underlying problem had not been fixed, "and complaints have continued to flow in to us."
"With the problem now known for the past three years, the Japanese firm must now commit itself to fixing the problem, instead of simply correcting it," it said.
It identified two potential causes for "Joy-Con drift" -- premature failure of circuit boards in the controllers, or insufficient seals that let in too much sweat or grime into the controller.
"65 percent of affected consumers say this problem occurred less than a year after purchase," Que Choisir said, adding it happened "even to people playing fewer than five hours a week."
It is not the first time technology giants have been targeted in France over planned obsolescence claims.
In February, Apple was ordered by the country's consumer watchdog to pay a fine of 25 million euros ($29 million) for not telling iPhone users that software updates were slowing down older models.
The complaint was filed by the Halt Planned Obsolescence (HOP) association, which hailed the filing against Nintendo, calling for a "conviction that sets an example."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Guardiola says Man City squad is stretched to its limit

Pep Guardiola said his squad is stretched to the limit as Manchester City prepare to launch their League Cup defence after Monday 's opening Premier League win against Wolves .
City claimed an impressive 3-1 victory at Molineux on Monday as Kevin De Bruyne , Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus struck in their Premier League opener .
They remain without Joao Cancelo , Bernardo Silva , Oleksandr Zinchenko , Sergio Aguero , Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia while Ilkay Gundogan is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus .
City , who have won the League Cup for the past three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trophy against Bournemouth on Thursday and Guardiola knows they can not afford to lose more players .
`` All we want is the seven players that are out to come back , '' he said .
`` Now we have a competition that we can not spend the energy that we spent today , before Leicester ( on Sunday ) , so we 're going to play mostly academy players and try to keep the energy for the Premier League .
`` With this lack of preparation and seven players out and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the players from Monday as safe as possible .
`` We will see how many are available , how they recover .
We have just three days .
We won the Carabao ( League ) Cup three times in a row and we would like to continue but we do n't have the players in this period to play every three days . ''

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Pep Guardiola said his squad is stretched to the limit as Manchester City prepare to launch their League Cup defence after Monday's opening Premier League win against Wolves.
City claimed an impressive 3-1 victory at Molineux on Monday as Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus struck in their Premier League opener.
They remain without Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Sergio Aguero, Aymeric Laporte and Eric Garcia while Ilkay Gundogan is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus.
City, who have won the League Cup for the past three seasons, start the defence of their trophy against Bournemouth on Thursday and Guardiola knows they cannot afford to lose more players.
"All we want is the seven players that are out to come back," he said.
"Now we have a competition that we cannot spend the energy that we spent today, before Leicester (on Sunday), so we're going to play mostly academy players and try to keep the energy for the Premier League.
"With this lack of preparation and seven players out and not coming back soon, we have to keep the players from Monday as safe as possible.
"We will see how many are available, how they recover. We have just three days. We won the Carabao (League) Cup three times in a row and we would like to continue but we don't have the players in this period to play every three days."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--United Nations General Assembly: World leaders to virtually take stage at annual meeting

United Nations General Assembly : World leaders to virtually take stage at annual meeting The UN ’ s first virtual @ @ @ @ @ set to start Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet 's biggest powers @ @ @ @ @ the # coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering @ @ @ @ @ 24 James André explains .
# UN # planet # peace

United Nations General Assembly: World leaders to virtually take stage at annual meeting
04:01
The UN’s first virtual meeting of world leaders was set to start Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet's biggest powers, kept at home by the #coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. FRANCE's 24 James André explains. #UN #planet #peace


france24--2020-09-22--Plans to allow fans back into stadiums 'paused' due to virus spike

Plans to allow the phased return of fans to sporting venues in England from October 1 will be put on hold due to the sharp rise in coronavirus cases , ministers said on Tuesday .
A number of pilot test events , in which capacities have been capped at 1,000 , have taken place and it was hoped venues would be allowed to welcome more spectators from the start of next month .
But Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said a `` mass reopening '' would not be appropriate at the current time , dealing a devastating blow to sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
`` We were looking at a staged programme of more people returning -- it was n't going to be the case that we were going to have stadiums thronged with fans , '' Gove told the BBC .
`` We 're looking at how we can , for the moment , pause that programme , but what we do want to do is to make sure that , as and when circumstances allow , get more people back . ''
Professional sport , including the Premier League and Test cricket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it returned following the coronavirus shutdown earlier this year .
Sports chiefs have warned of crippling losses due to the loss of income from gate receipts and hospitality .
The leaders of more than 100 sports bodies have reportedly written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask for emergency funding , warning of `` a lost generation of activity '' .
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters earlier this month warned it was `` critical '' to get fans back into stadiums soon , with clubs facing enormous losses .
Plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixtures next week now look set to be scrapped .
`` It 's clearly very disappointing , '' RFL ( Rugby Football League ) chief executive Ralph Rimmer told the BBC .
`` We spoke with the secretary of state last week who was very supportive in developing a road map back to full crowds and the pilot schemes were the first step in that .
`` The push on the 1,000 crowds would be disappointing if that was to be pushed backwards . ''
Julian Knight , who chairs the House of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport committee , expressed his concern at the announcement from Gove .
`` If we do n't find a route map with smart solutions to allow sports and live events to gradually reopen , we risk decimation of our sporting and cultural infrastructure , '' he wrote on Twitter .

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Plans to allow the phased return of fans to sporting venues in England from October 1 will be put on hold due to the sharp rise in coronavirus cases, ministers said on Tuesday.
A number of pilot test events, in which capacities have been capped at 1,000, have taken place and it was hoped venues would be allowed to welcome more spectators from the start of next month.
But Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said a "mass reopening" would not be appropriate at the current time, dealing a devastating blow to sports bodies struggling with the financial fallout of Covid-19.
"We were looking at a staged programme of more people returning -- it wasn't going to be the case that we were going to have stadiums thronged with fans," Gove told the BBC.
"We're looking at how we can, for the moment, pause that programme, but what we do want to do is to make sure that, as and when circumstances allow, get more people back."
Professional sport, including the Premier League and Test cricket, has largely been played behind closed doors since it returned following the coronavirus shutdown earlier this year.
Sports chiefs have warned of crippling losses due to the loss of income from gate receipts and hospitality.
The leaders of more than 100 sports bodies have reportedly written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask for emergency funding, warning of "a lost generation of activity".
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters earlier this month warned it was "critical" to get fans back into stadiums soon, with clubs facing enormous losses.
Plans to host 1,000-capacity crowds at four Super League fixtures next week now look set to be scrapped.
"It's clearly very disappointing," RFL (Rugby Football League) chief executive Ralph Rimmer told the BBC. "We spoke with the secretary of state last week who was very supportive in developing a road map back to full crowds and the pilot schemes were the first step in that.
"The push on the 1,000 crowds would be disappointing if that was to be pushed backwards."
Julian Knight, who chairs the House of Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, expressed his concern at the announcement from Gove.
"If we don't find a route map with smart solutions to allow sports and live events to gradually reopen, we risk decimation of our sporting and cultural infrastructure," he wrote on Twitter.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--European Court of Justice backs French law regulating Airbnb

The Airbnb logo is seen on a mini pyramid under the glass Pyramid of the Louvre museum in Paris , France , on March 12 , 2019 .
Europe 's top court on Tuesday upheld France 's law requiring municipal authorisation for short-term property rentals by platforms like Airbnb , a decision that may open the way for several European cities to take action .
`` Combatting the long-term rental housing shortage constitutes an overriding reason relating to the public interest justifying such legislation , '' the European Court of Justice said , throwing out a challenge .
An alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for tougher rules to Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms , accusing them of driving up property prices by turning residences into de facto hotels .
Paris fined two landlords who rented out studio apartments without authorisation from the city , leading them to appeal against the decision all the way to the top EU court , which found against them on Tuesday and ruled that France 's rule `` is consistent with EU law . ''
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo responded to the ruling on Twitter .
`` This victory , awaited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point for the supervision of seasonal rentals and constitutes a step forward for the right to housing for all , '' she tweeted on Tuesday morning .

Europe's top court on Tuesday upheld France's law requiring municipal authorisation for short-term property rentals by platforms like Airbnb, a decision that may open the way for several European cities to take action.
The Airbnb logo is seen on a mini pyramid under the glass Pyramid of the Louvre museum in Paris, France, on March 12, 2019.
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"Combatting the long-term rental housing shortage constitutes an overriding reason relating to the public interest justifying such legislation," the European Court of Justice said, throwing out a challenge.
An alliance of 22 European cities has been pushing for tougher rules to Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms, accusing them of driving up property prices by turning residences into de facto hotels.
>> Read more: Paris mayor's race takes a run at Airbnb-style rentals
Paris fined two landlords who rented out studio apartments without authorisation from the city, leading them to appeal against the decision all the way to the top EU court, which found against them on Tuesday and ruled that France's rule "is consistent with EU law."
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo responded to the ruling on Twitter. "This victory, awaited by many cities, marks a turning point for the supervision of seasonal rentals and constitutes a step forward for the right to housing for all," she tweeted on Tuesday morning.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-09-22--Rescuers race to save pilot whales stranded on Tasmania

Rescuers raced to save nearly 200 whales stuck in a remote Australian harbour on Tuesday , hoping to minimise the @ @ @ @ @ stranding which had already killed 90 .
Officials said at least 25 of the mammals @ @ @ @ @ .

Rescuers race to save pilot whales stranded on Tasmania
01:29
Rescuers raced to save nearly 200 whales stuck in a remote Australian harbour on Tuesday, hoping to minimise the death toll of a mass stranding which had already killed 90. Officials said at least 25 of the mammals had been freed so far.


france24--2020-09-22--French rugby president Laporte questioned by financial investigators

French rugby federation ( FFR ) president Bernard Laporte was questioned on Tuesday over his links with billionaire Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad , sources in the investigation said .
Altrad and the chief organiser of the 2023 Rugby World Cup being held in France , Claude Atcher , were also questioned , along with two other people .
Laporte , a former sports minister , is being investigated as part of a preliminary corruption probe opened in 2017 by the French Financial Prosecution Office ( PNF ) following a report by sports ministry inspectors .
Laporte , who is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressuring the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against Montpellier .
Laporte is standing for re-election as FFR chief with the result expected on October 3 .
He is accused of favouritism after it emerged a company he owns had signed an image rights contract with the Altrad Group , who now sponsor the France national team , in early 2017 .
He eventually pulled out of the 150,000-euro ( $ 184,000 ) deal but the case was investigated by the French sports ministry before being passed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims a fine for Altrad 's side was reduced from 70,000 euros to 20,000 euros after Laporte intervened .
Laporte has coached France , Stade Francais and Toulon and led the southern club to three straight European Cups .

Paris (AFP) –
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French rugby federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte was questioned on Tuesday over his links with billionaire Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad, sources in the investigation said.
Altrad and the chief organiser of the 2023 Rugby World Cup being held in France, Claude Atcher, were also questioned, along with two other people.
Laporte, a former sports minister, is being investigated as part of a preliminary corruption probe opened in 2017 by the French Financial Prosecution Office (PNF) following a report by sports ministry inspectors.
Laporte, who is also World Rugby vice-chairman, is suspected of pressuring the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against Montpellier.
Laporte is standing for re-election as FFR chief with the result expected on October 3.
He is accused of favouritism after it emerged a company he owns had signed an image rights contract with the Altrad Group, who now sponsor the France national team, in early 2017.
He eventually pulled out of the 150,000-euro ($184,000) deal but the case was investigated by the French sports ministry before being passed to the public prosecutor.
There are also claims a fine for Altrad's side was reduced from 70,000 euros to 20,000 euros after Laporte intervened.
Laporte has coached France, Stade Francais and Toulon and led the southern club to three straight European Cups.
gd-mca-riw-cl/iwd/gj
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Rescuers find another 200 stranded whales in Australia

Hundreds of whales are stranded on a sandbar in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania , in one of the biggest beachings the state has ever seen Rescuers trying to refloat a pod of stranded whales in a remote Australian harbour say they have found another 200 , taking to 470 the total number that have become stuck .
The long-finned pilot whales are trapped in two separate locations in Macquarie Harbour , on the rugged and sparsely populated west coast of Tasmania , a spokeswoman for the state 's environment department told AFP .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were undetected up until this point were found '' at a spot seven to 10 kilometres ( four to six miles ) further in the harbour , she said .
Parks and Wildlife Service manager Nic Deka said the second pod was discovered early Wednesday morning by an aerial surveillance crew who believed most had already died .
`` We already have staff on the way to make an assessment , but certainly from the air did n't appear to be in a condition that would warrant rescue , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Most of them appear to be dead but we will wait for advice from the ground crew before we make a final call on what we do . ''
About 270 whales were found Monday , sparking a major effort to free the giant mammals that were mostly stranded on a sandbar only accessible by boat .
At least 90 of those whales have already died , though scientists were hopeful the survivors would hold out for the several days it was expected to complete the rescue mission .
Rescuers spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free about 25 creatures , using boats fitted with special slings to guide them back to the open ocean .
Wednesday 's discovery of another 200 whales makes the mass stranding the largest recorded in Tasmania 's history .
Officials have now expanded their search area to see if more whales are stuck nearby .
The rescue crew of 60 conservationists , skilled volunteers and local fish farm workers are concentrating their efforts on the roughly 200 whales on a sandbar , where the creatures are partially submerged in water .
`` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased -- that 's inevitable -- but there are still a significant number that are alive so we 'll continue to work with those , '' Deka said .
Several of the whales rescued Tuesday re-stranded overnight in line with predictions by whale behaviour experts , but Deka remained upbeat about the rescue mission .
`` The good news is the majority of whales that were rescued are still out in deep water and swimming , '' he said .
`` They have n't stranded .
So we 've been more successful than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strandings remain unknown , but scientists have suggested the highly sociable pilot whales may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Rescuers trying to refloat a pod of stranded whales in a remote Australian harbour say they have found another 200, taking to 470 the total number that have become stuck.
The long-finned pilot whales are trapped in two separate locations in Macquarie Harbour, on the rugged and sparsely populated west coast of Tasmania, a spokeswoman for the state's environment department told AFP.
"It has been confirmed that approximately 200 whales that were undetected up until this point were found" at a spot seven to 10 kilometres (four to six miles) further in the harbour, she said.
Parks and Wildlife Service manager Nic Deka said the second pod was discovered early Wednesday morning by an aerial surveillance crew who believed most had already died.
"We already have staff on the way to make an assessment, but certainly from the air didn't appear to be in a condition that would warrant rescue," he told reporters in the nearby town of Strahan.
"Most of them appear to be dead but we will wait for advice from the ground crew before we make a final call on what we do."
About 270 whales were found Monday, sparking a major effort to free the giant mammals that were mostly stranded on a sandbar only accessible by boat.
At least 90 of those whales have already died, though scientists were hopeful the survivors would hold out for the several days it was expected to complete the rescue mission.
Rescuers spent Tuesday wading in the cold shallows to free about 25 creatures, using boats fitted with special slings to guide them back to the open ocean.
Wednesday's discovery of another 200 whales makes the mass stranding the largest recorded in Tasmania's history.
Officials have now expanded their search area to see if more whales are stuck nearby.
The rescue crew of 60 conservationists, skilled volunteers and local fish farm workers are concentrating their efforts on the roughly 200 whales on a sandbar, where the creatures are partially submerged in water.
"What we do know is the mortality has increased -- that's inevitable -- but there are still a significant number that are alive so we'll continue to work with those," Deka said.
Several of the whales rescued Tuesday re-stranded overnight in line with predictions by whale behaviour experts, but Deka remained upbeat about the rescue mission.
"The good news is the majority of whales that were rescued are still out in deep water and swimming," he said.
"They haven't stranded. So we've been more successful than not."
The causes of mass strandings remain unknown, but scientists have suggested the highly sociable pilot whales may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-23--Freed Taliban have returned to battlefield: top Afghan negotiator

Abdullah Abdullah ( L ) , Chairman of Afghanistan 's High Council for National Reconciliation , said the level of Taliban attacks in the country is still unacceptably high for peace talks A number of Taliban prisoners who were released by the Afghan government as a condition for peace talks have taken up arms again , the government 's lead negotiator Abdullah Abdullah said Tuesday .
Abdullah , the chairman of Afghanistan 's High Council for National Reconciliation , said discussions with the Taliban in Qatar so far have been positive .
However , he said some -- though not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners released by the government as a condition for talks had resumed the fight against Kabul .
`` I do know that some have returned to the battlefield , which is a violation of the agreement that they had made , '' Abdullah said during an online conference with the US Council on Foreign Relations .
Abdullah said talks between the two sides had begun in Doha on a positive note , as the delegations build some familiarity with each other .
Yet the level of violence inside Afghanistan has not fallen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which launched the peace process with its own deal with the Taliban , and Pakistan , which maintains ties to the insurgents , to pressure them to agree to a ceasefire .
`` Unfortunately , so far , the level of violence is very high and to a level that is not acceptable for the people , '' Abdullah said .
`` I repeat my call to the Taliban themselves and also to all partners who have any leverage over the Taliban to press on that point . ''
Abdullah said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days for the first time since 2008 .
The persistent violence , and the Taliban 's failure to completely cut relations with the Islamic State and Al Qaeda jihadist groups , was singled out as a barrier to success by US officials testifying in Congress Tuesday .
US chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said a drawdown of US troops , under the US-Taliban agreement , would halt at around 4,500 remaining in Afghanistan in November while Washington assesses whether the insurgents were living up to their pledges .
`` Further withdrawals will be determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery by the Taliban on their commitments , '' Khalilzad told a hearing of the House oversight committee .
The US has slashed troop numbers in Afghanistan by more than half from above 12,000 .
Under President Donald Trump 's promise to end US involvement in wars abroad , Washington has pledged to withdraw all forces by May 2021 , if the Taliban and the government can achieve a solid peace agreement .
`` By any measure , the current levels of violence are too high .
We know that the reductions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short ceasefires were respected by the Taliban in the past .

Washington (AFP) –
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A number of Taliban prisoners who were released by the Afghan government as a condition for peace talks have taken up arms again, the government's lead negotiator Abdullah Abdullah said Tuesday.
Abdullah, the chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, said discussions with the Taliban in Qatar so far have been positive.
However, he said some -- though not the majority -- of the 5,000 Taliban prisoners released by the government as a condition for talks had resumed the fight against Kabul.
"I do know that some have returned to the battlefield, which is a violation of the agreement that they had made," Abdullah said during an online conference with the US Council on Foreign Relations.
Abdullah said talks between the two sides had begun in Doha on a positive note, as the delegations build some familiarity with each other.
Yet the level of violence inside Afghanistan has not fallen, and he called on the United States, which launched the peace process with its own deal with the Taliban, and Pakistan, which maintains ties to the insurgents, to pressure them to agree to a ceasefire.
"Unfortunately, so far, the level of violence is very high and to a level that is not acceptable for the people," Abdullah said.
"I repeat my call to the Taliban themselves and also to all partners who have any leverage over the Taliban to press on that point."
Abdullah said he planned to visit Pakistan in the coming days for the first time since 2008.
The persistent violence, and the Taliban's failure to completely cut relations with the Islamic State and Al Qaeda jihadist groups, was singled out as a barrier to success by US officials testifying in Congress Tuesday.
US chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said a drawdown of US troops, under the US-Taliban agreement, would halt at around 4,500 remaining in Afghanistan in November while Washington assesses whether the insurgents were living up to their pledges.
"Further withdrawals will be determined based on conditions on the ground and delivery by the Taliban on their commitments," Khalilzad told a hearing of the House oversight committee.
The US has slashed troop numbers in Afghanistan by more than half from above 12,000.
Under President Donald Trump's promise to end US involvement in wars abroad, Washington has pledged to withdraw all forces by May 2021, if the Taliban and the government can achieve a solid peace agreement.
"By any measure, the current levels of violence are too high. We know that the reductions are possible," Khalilzad said, noting short ceasefires were respected by the Taliban in the past.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--US coronavirus deaths surpass 200,000, with cases once again rising

A volunteer places American flags on the National Mall in Washington , DC , to memorialize the 200,000 lives lost in the United States due to the Covid-19 pandemic , September 22 , 2020 .
The US death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday , by far the highest in the world , hitting the once-unimaginable threshold six weeks before an election that is certain to be a referendum in part on President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the crisis .
“ It is completely unfathomable that we ’ ve reached this point , ” said Jennifer Nuzzo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researcher , eight months after the scourge first reached the world ’ s richest nation , with its state-of-the-art laboratories , top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medical supplies .
The number of dead is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days .
It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville , Alabama .
And it is still climbing .
Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average , and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the US toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in .
A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021 .
“ The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering , in some respects stunning , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious-disease expert , said on CNN .
The bleak milestone was reported by Johns Hopkins , based on figures supplied by state health authorities .
But the real toll is thought to be much higher , in part because many Covid-19 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially early on , before widespread testing .
Trump said it was “ a shame ” the US reached that number but argued the toll could have been much worse .
“ I think if we didn ’ t do it properly and do it right , you ’ d have 2.5 million deaths , ” Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a campaign rally in Pittsburgh .
He added that the United States is now “ doing well ” and “ the stock market is up.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at fault for the pandemic .
In a prerecorded speech at a virtual meeting of the UN General Assembly , he demanded that Beijing be held accountable for having “ unleashed this plague onto the world ” .
China ’ s ambassador rejected the accusations as baseless .
On Twitter , Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said , “ It didn ’ t have to be this bad.
” “ It ’ s a staggering number that ’ s hard to wrap your head around , ” he said .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic — and we can ’ t forget that.
” For five months , America has led the world by far in sheer numbers of confirmed infections — nearly 6.9 million as of Tuesday — and deaths .
The US has less than 5 % of the globe ’ s population but more than 20 % of the reported deaths .
Brazil is No .
2 with about 137,000 deaths , followed by India with approximately 89,000 and Mexico with around 74,000 .
Only five countries — Peru , Bolivia , Chile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Covid-19 deaths per capita .
“ All the world ’ s leaders took the same test , and some have succeeded and some have failed , ” said Dr. Cedric Dark , an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine in hard-hit Houston .
“ In the case of our country , we failed miserably.
” Black and Hispanic people and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths , underscoring the economic and health care disparities in the US .
Worldwide , the virus has infected more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast on 1 million deaths , with nearly 967,000 lives lost , by Johns Hopkins ’ count , though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting .
For the US , it wasn ’ t supposed to go this way .
When the year began , the US had recently garnered recognition for its readiness for a pandemic .
Health officials seemed confident as they converged on Seattle in January to deal with the country ’ s first known case of the coronavirus , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned from visiting his family in Wuhan , China .
On Feb. 26 , Trump held up pages from the Global Health Security Index , a measure of readiness for health crises , and declared , “ The United States is rated No .
1 most prepared.
” It was true .
The US outranked the 194 other countries in the index .
Besides its labs , experts and strategic stockpiles , the US could boast of its disease trackers and plans for rapidly communicating lifesaving information during a crisis .
The US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respected around the world for sending help to fight infectious diseases .
But monitoring at airports was loose .
Travel bans came too late .
Only later did health officials realize the virus could spread before symptoms show up , rendering screening imperfect .
The virus also swept into nursing homes and exploited poor infection controls , claiming more than 78,000 lives .
At the same time , gaps in leadership led to shortages of testing supplies .
Internal warnings to ramp up production of masks were ignored , leaving states to compete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat early on , advanced unfounded notions about the behavior of the virus , promoted unproven or dangerous treatments , complained that too much testing was making the US look bad , and disdained masks , turning face coverings into a political issue .
> > Trump intentionally downplayed Covid-19 despite knowing dangers , says new book On April 10 , the president predicted the US wouldn ’ t see 100,000 deaths .
That milestone was reached May 27 .
Nowhere was the lack of leadership seen as more crucial than in testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of contagion .
“ We have from the very beginning lacked a national testing strategy , ” Nuzzo said .
“ For reasons I can ’ t truly fathom , we ’ ve refused to develop one.
” Sandy Brown of Grand Blanc , Michigan , called the death toll “ gut-wrenching.
” Her husband of 35 years and their 20-year-old son — Freddie Lee Brown Jr. and Freddie Lee Brown III — died of Covid-19 just days apart in March , when there were fewer than 4,000 recorded deaths in the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me is ... if things had been done properly , we could have put a lid on this , ” said Brown , who has no other children .
“ Now it ’ s just unbelievable .
It ’ s devastating.
” The real number of dead from the crisis could be significantly higher : As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the US from all causes during the first seven months of 2020 , according to CDC figures .
The death toll from Covid-19 during the same period was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Researchers suspect some coronavirus deaths were overlooked , while other deaths may have been caused indirectly by the crisis , by creating such turmoil that people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease were unable or unwilling to get treatment .
Dark , the emergency physician at Baylor , said that before the crisis , “ people used to look to the United States with a degree of reverence .
For democracy .
For our moral leadership in the world .
Supporting science and using technology to travel to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ what ’ s really been exposed is how anti-science we ’ ve become .
”

The US death toll from the coronavirus topped 200,000 Tuesday, by far the highest in the world, hitting the once-unimaginable threshold six weeks before an election that is certain to be a referendum in part on President Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis.
A volunteer places American flags on the National Mall in Washington, DC, to memorialize the 200,000 lives lost in the United States due to the Covid-19 pandemic, September 22, 2020.
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“It is completely unfathomable that we’ve reached this point,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Johns Hopkins University public health researcher, eight months after the scourge first reached the world’s richest nation, with its state-of-the-art laboratories, top-flight scientists and stockpiles of medical supplies.
The number of dead is equivalent to a 9/11 attack every day for 67 days. It is roughly equal to the population of Salt Lake City or Huntsville, Alabama.
And it is still climbing. Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the US toll will double to 400,000 by the end of the year as schools and colleges reopen and cold weather sets in. A vaccine is unlikely to become widely available until 2021.
UPDATED: Our US #COVID19 projections have declined to 378,000, down from 415,000. If mask use increases to 95%, nearly 115,000 lives could be saved.
View our US COVID-19 estimation updates: https://t.co/8e5fxXGgwM pic.twitter.com/SDowv5g91S — Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (@IHME_UW) September 19, 2020
“The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, said on CNN.
The bleak milestone was reported by Johns Hopkins, based on figures supplied by state health authorities. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many Covid-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.
Trump said it was “a shame” the US reached that number but argued the toll could have been much worse.
“I think if we didn’t do it properly and do it right, you’d have 2.5 million deaths,” Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a campaign rally in Pittsburgh. He added that the United States is now “doing well” and “the stock market is up.”
He also gave his often-repeated broadside that China was at fault for the pandemic. In a prerecorded speech at a virtual meeting of the UN General Assembly, he demanded that Beijing be held accountable for having “unleashed this plague onto the world”. China’s ambassador rejected the accusations as baseless.
On Twitter, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said, “It didn’t have to be this bad.”
“It’s a staggering number that’s hard to wrap your head around,” he said. “There’s a devastating human toll to this pandemic — and we can’t forget that.”
It didn’t have to be this bad. pic.twitter.com/R2WqNeauiu — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 22, 2020
For five months, America has led the world by far in sheer numbers of confirmed infections — nearly 6.9 million as of Tuesday — and deaths. The US has less than 5% of the globe’s population but more than 20% of the reported deaths.
Brazil is No. 2 with about 137,000 deaths, followed by India with approximately 89,000 and Mexico with around 74,000. Only five countries — Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and Brazil — rank higher in Covid-19 deaths per capita.
“All the world’s leaders took the same test, and some have succeeded and some have failed,” said Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency physician at Baylor College of Medicine in hard-hit Houston. “In the case of our country, we failed miserably.”
Black and Hispanic people and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths, underscoring the economic and health care disparities in the US.
Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 31 million people and is closing in fast on 1 million deaths, with nearly 967,000 lives lost, by Johns Hopkins’ count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting.
04:02
For the US, it wasn’t supposed to go this way.
When the year began, the US had recently garnered recognition for its readiness for a pandemic. Health officials seemed confident as they converged on Seattle in January to deal with the country’s first known case of the coronavirus, in a 35-year-old Washington state resident who had returned from visiting his family in Wuhan, China.
On Feb. 26, Trump held up pages from the Global Health Security Index, a measure of readiness for health crises, and declared, “The United States is rated No. 1 most prepared.”
It was true. The US outranked the 194 other countries in the index. Besides its labs, experts and strategic stockpiles, the US could boast of its disease trackers and plans for rapidly communicating lifesaving information during a crisis. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was respected around the world for sending help to fight infectious diseases.
But monitoring at airports was loose. Travel bans came too late. Only later did health officials realize the virus could spread before symptoms show up, rendering screening imperfect. The virus also swept into nursing homes and exploited poor infection controls, claiming more than 78,000 lives.
At the same time, gaps in leadership led to shortages of testing supplies. Internal warnings to ramp up production of masks were ignored, leaving states to compete for protective gear.
Trump downplayed the threat early on, advanced unfounded notions about the behavior of the virus, promoted unproven or dangerous treatments, complained that too much testing was making the US look bad, and disdained masks, turning face coverings into a political issue.
>> Trump intentionally downplayed Covid-19 despite knowing dangers, says new book
00:22
On April 10, the president predicted the US wouldn’t see 100,000 deaths. That milestone was reached May 27.
Nowhere was the lack of leadership seen as more crucial than in testing, a key to breaking the chain of contagion.
“We have from the very beginning lacked a national testing strategy,” Nuzzo said. “For reasons I can’t truly fathom, we’ve refused to develop one.”
Sandy Brown of Grand Blanc, Michigan, called the death toll “gut-wrenching.” Her husband of 35 years and their 20-year-old son — Freddie Lee Brown Jr. and Freddie Lee Brown III — died of Covid-19 just days apart in March, when there were fewer than 4,000 recorded deaths in the US
“The thing that really gets to me is ... if things had been done properly, we could have put a lid on this,” said Brown, who has no other children. “Now it’s just unbelievable. It’s devastating.”
The real number of dead from the crisis could be significantly higher: As many as 215,000 more people than usual died in the US from all causes during the first seven months of 2020, according to CDC figures. The death toll from Covid-19 during the same period was put at about 150,000 by Johns Hopkins.
Researchers suspect some coronavirus deaths were overlooked, while other deaths may have been caused indirectly by the crisis, by creating such turmoil that people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease were unable or unwilling to get treatment.
Dark, the emergency physician at Baylor, said that before the crisis, “people used to look to the United States with a degree of reverence. For democracy. For our moral leadership in the world. Supporting science and using technology to travel to the moon.”
“Instead,” he said, “what’s really been exposed is how anti-science we’ve become.”
(AP)
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france24--2020-09-22--Pentagon vows to help Israel keep military superiority

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz ( right ) visits the Pentagon as US Defense Secretary Mark Esper ( left ) pledges to preserve Israel 's Middle East military superiority US Defense Secretary Mark Esper pledged Tuesday to help maintain Israel 's military superiority in the Middle East , amid its concerns over a possible US sale of F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates .
`` A cornerstone of our defense relationship is preserving Israel 's qualitative military edge in the region , '' Esper said as he welcomed Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to the Pentagon .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Department of Defense is committed to that imperative .
We will continue to support the longstanding US policy to maintain Israel 's security , '' said Esper .
The question of whether the United States will sell the advanced fighters to the UAE cast a cloud over the White House ceremony last week for the diplomatic normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE and Israel and Bahrain .
President Donald Trump said at the time that he would have `` no problem '' selling F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Israel has long opposed the sale of F-35s to any US allies in the region including Jordan and Egypt , both of whom already recognize Israel .
Such a sale would erode Israel 's military advantage over its neighbors .
Since the 1960s the US has approached the issue on the principle that Israel should maintain a `` qualitative military edge '' ( QME ) , and the concept has been formalized in legislation from Congress .
But the UAE , which sits astride the strategic Strain of Hormuz across from Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States as a major threat , has sought for several years the advanced fighters .
At the Pentagon , Gantz stressed the importance of the US-Israel partnership in the `` unstable '' Middle East region , and said the relationship goes beyond `` QME '' .
`` As I always said , we have no other United States , nor do you have any other Israel , '' he said .
`` We will continue those relations into the future .
And we see those relations as a privilege , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessity , '' Gantz said .

Washington (AFP) –
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US Defense Secretary Mark Esper pledged Tuesday to help maintain Israel's military superiority in the Middle East, amid its concerns over a possible US sale of F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates.
"A cornerstone of our defense relationship is preserving Israel's qualitative military edge in the region," Esper said as he welcomed Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to the Pentagon.
"The United States is committed to that, and the Department of Defense is committed to that imperative. We will continue to support the longstanding US policy to maintain Israel's security," said Esper.
The question of whether the United States will sell the advanced fighters to the UAE cast a cloud over the White House ceremony last week for the diplomatic normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE and Israel and Bahrain.
President Donald Trump said at the time that he would have "no problem" selling F-35 warplanes to the United Arab Emirates, despite objections from the Jewish state.
Israel has long opposed the sale of F-35s to any US allies in the region including Jordan and Egypt, both of whom already recognize Israel.
Such a sale would erode Israel's military advantage over its neighbors.
Since the 1960s the US has approached the issue on the principle that Israel should maintain a "qualitative military edge" (QME), and the concept has been formalized in legislation from Congress.
But the UAE, which sits astride the strategic Strain of Hormuz across from Iran, which is seen by Israel and the United States as a major threat, has sought for several years the advanced fighters.
At the Pentagon, Gantz stressed the importance of the US-Israel partnership in the "unstable" Middle East region, and said the relationship goes beyond "QME".
"As I always said, we have no other United States, nor do you have any other Israel," he said.
"We will continue those relations into the future. And we see those relations as a privilege, but also as a necessity, a continued necessity," Gantz said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Saudi to gradually resume 'umrah' pilgrimage from October 4

The kingdom suspended the umrah in March and later scaled back the annual hajj in a blow to millions of pilgrims around the world .
Saudi Arabia will gradually resume the year-round umrah pilgrimage for Muslims from October 4 , the interior ministry said Tuesday , seven months after it was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The kingdom had suspended the umrah in March and later scaled back the annual hajj in a blow to millions of pilgrims around the world amid fears that the coronavirus could spread to Islam 's holiest sites .
In the first stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kingdom will be allowed to perform the umrah per day from October 4 '' , the ministry said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency .
Visitors from outside the kingdom will be permitted from November 1 , when umrah 's capacity will be raised to 20,000 pilgrims per day , the ministry added .
The umrah , which refers to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year , usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume at full `` natural capacity '' once the threat of the pandemic is eliminated .
The decision to resume umrah was in response to the `` aspirations of Muslims home and abroad '' to perform the ritual and visit the holy sites , the ministry added .
The decision comes after the kingdom organised the smallest hajj in modern history in late July , with only up to 10,000 Muslims allowed to take part in total -- a far cry from the 2.5 million who participated last year .
Health authorities said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holy sites during the hajj , one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime .
Hajj pilgrims circled the sacred Kaaba -- a cubic structure inside Mecca 's Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the world pray -- along socially distant paths .
The pilgrims were also subjected to regular temperature checks and required to go into mandatory quarantine after the ritual .
King Salman , the kingdom 's 84-year-old ruler , said holding the hajj in the shadow of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
The hajj and umrah pilgrimages are a massive logistical challenge , with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites , making them vulnerable to contagion .
The kingdom has sought to contain a spike in infections , which have now risen to more than 330,000 cases -- the highest in the Gulf -- and over 4,500 deaths .
But Saudi Arabia has also reported a high rate of recoveries , which surpassed 312,000 on Tuesday .
Last week , Saudi Arabia partially lifted its suspension on international flights , six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic .
Saudi Arabia 's custodianship of Mecca and Medina -- Islam 's two holiest sites -- is seen as the kingdom 's most powerful source of political legitimacy .
But a series of deadly disasters over the years , including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers , has prompted criticism of the Sunni kingdom 's management of the hajj .
The holy sites are also a key revenue earner for Saudi Arabia .
The pilgrimages typically cost thousands of dollars for worshippers , who often save for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lists for a chance to attend .
De facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman 's Vision 2030 reform plan seeks to decouple the economy of the kingdom -- the world 's top crude exporter -- from oil dependency towards other sources of revenue , including religious tourism .
The government hopes to welcome 30 million pilgrims to the kingdom annually by 2030 .

Riyadh (AFP) –
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Saudi Arabia will gradually resume the year-round umrah pilgrimage for Muslims from October 4, the interior ministry said Tuesday, seven months after it was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The kingdom had suspended the umrah in March and later scaled back the annual hajj in a blow to millions of pilgrims around the world amid fears that the coronavirus could spread to Islam's holiest sites.
In the first stage, "6,000 citizens and residents within the kingdom will be allowed to perform the umrah per day from October 4", the ministry said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Visitors from outside the kingdom will be permitted from November 1, when umrah's capacity will be raised to 20,000 pilgrims per day, the ministry added.
The umrah, which refers to the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year, usually attracts millions of Muslims from across the globe each year.
The ministry said umrah would be allowed to resume at full "natural capacity" once the threat of the pandemic is eliminated.
The decision to resume umrah was in response to the "aspirations of Muslims home and abroad" to perform the ritual and visit the holy sites, the ministry added.
The decision comes after the kingdom organised the smallest hajj in modern history in late July, with only up to 10,000 Muslims allowed to take part in total -- a far cry from the 2.5 million who participated last year.
Health authorities said no coronavirus cases were reported at the holy sites during the hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.
Hajj pilgrims circled the sacred Kaaba -- a cubic structure inside Mecca's Grand Mosque towards which Muslims around the world pray -- along socially distant paths.
The pilgrims were also subjected to regular temperature checks and required to go into mandatory quarantine after the ritual.
- 'Double efforts' -
King Salman, the kingdom's 84-year-old ruler, said holding the hajj in the shadow of the pandemic required "double efforts" by Saudi authorities.
The hajj and umrah pilgrimages are a massive logistical challenge, with colossal crowds cramming into relatively small holy sites, making them vulnerable to contagion.
The kingdom has sought to contain a spike in infections, which have now risen to more than 330,000 cases -- the highest in the Gulf -- and over 4,500 deaths.
But Saudi Arabia has also reported a high rate of recoveries, which surpassed 312,000 on Tuesday.
Last week, Saudi Arabia partially lifted its suspension on international flights, six months after travel curbs were imposed due to the pandemic.
Saudi Arabia's custodianship of Mecca and Medina -- Islam's two holiest sites -- is seen as the kingdom's most powerful source of political legitimacy.
But a series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the Sunni kingdom's management of the hajj.
The holy sites are also a key revenue earner for Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrimages typically cost thousands of dollars for worshippers, who often save for years as well as endure long waiting lists for a chance to attend.
De facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform plan seeks to decouple the economy of the kingdom -- the world's top crude exporter -- from oil dependency towards other sources of revenue, including religious tourism.
The government hopes to welcome 30 million pilgrims to the kingdom annually by 2030.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Austria's Kurz warns against EU asylum-seeker distribution

Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members , which were rejected by many eastern and central European countries .
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warned Tuesday against any attempt to force EU countries to take in asylum-seekers as the European Commission prepared to unveil a new strategy for handling migration to the bloc .
Speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview , Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members , which were rejected by many eastern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the distribution in Europe ( of asylum seekers ) has failed and many states reject this .
It wo n't work like this , '' the 34-year-old conservative leader said .
On Wednesday , Brussels will launch its latest proposal for EU asylum policy .
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wants the 27 member states to share the burden of handling asylum claims from migrants who arrive mostly on the bloc 's southern shores in Greece , Italy and Spain .
She has again raised the idea of mandatory sharing , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bloc , but rather forcing all states to contribute to the system -- by helping with efforts to return failed asylum seekers , for example .
European migration policy was again in the headlines earlier this month following a devastating fire at an overcrowded camp for migrants and asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos which left thousands homeless .
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the new proposals would include plans to strengthen border security and return failed asylum seekers , which Kurz and allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including `` a new strong solidarity mechanism . ''
Kurz said he welcomed that the European Commission was addressing the topic of asylum and migration .
`` We can only solve this topic all together ...
Better protection of the ( EU 's ) outer borders , a joined fight against smugglers , but also joined aid where it is needed ( in countries where refugees come from ) , that is the path that is needed , '' he said .
Austria and other smaller countries -- some of them , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their anti-immigration stance and on rule-of-law issues -- have spoken out in the past against any mandatory asylum-seeker distribution .
Kurz , pushing to make his mark in European politics , has also sought allies on other topics , such as when he worked with the Netherlands , Sweden and Denmark -- as the so-called `` Frugal Four '' -- to oppose direct EU aid to coronavirus-hit countries as proposed by Germany and France .
`` The European Union is more than just Germany and France ... As a small or medium-sized state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for alliances , and in an EU with 27 member states one can only assert ideas if there are others that support them , '' he told AFP in an office in the chancellery .
Kurz became the world 's youngest chancellor when his conservative People 's Party ( OeVP ) formed a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party ( FPOe ) in 2017 .
The coalition fell apart in 2019 after a corruption scandal engulfed the far-right FPOe leader , leading to fresh elections in which Kurz 's party again gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new coalition with the Greens and has governed the Alpine country of nearly nine million people since January .
Kurz said fighting the coronavirus pandemic was `` a very big challenge '' .
`` I am still relatively young , but I have been part of the Austrian government for many years and I thought I had already been through a lot politically ...
The corona crisis now exceeds all previous experiences of course , '' he said .
The country has so far been spared the brunt of the crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to date , but infections have surged again in recent weeks .
This has led to the government to extend mandatory mask wearing and re-instate some of the other restrictions imposed earlier this year to stem the spread of the virus .

Vienna (AFP) –
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Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warned Tuesday against any attempt to force EU countries to take in asylum-seekers as the European Commission prepared to unveil a new strategy for handling migration to the bloc.
Speaking to AFP in an exclusive interview, Kurz alluded to previous efforts by the European Commission to introduce mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU members, which were rejected by many eastern and central European countries.
"We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed and many states reject this. It won't work like this," the 34-year-old conservative leader said.
On Wednesday, Brussels will launch its latest proposal for EU asylum policy.
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson wants the 27 member states to share the burden of handling asylum claims from migrants who arrive mostly on the bloc's southern shores in Greece, Italy and Spain.
She has again raised the idea of mandatory sharing, though this might not mean resettling refugees around the bloc, but rather forcing all states to contribute to the system -- by helping with efforts to return failed asylum seekers, for example.
European migration policy was again in the headlines earlier this month following a devastating fire at an overcrowded camp for migrants and asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos which left thousands homeless.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the new proposals would include plans to strengthen border security and return failed asylum seekers, which Kurz and allies are in favour of, while also including "a new strong solidarity mechanism."
- Seeking alliances -
Kurz said he welcomed that the European Commission was addressing the topic of asylum and migration.
"We can only solve this topic all together... Better protection of the (EU's) outer borders, a joined fight against smugglers, but also joined aid where it is needed (in countries where refugees come from), that is the path that is needed," he said.
Austria and other smaller countries -- some of them, such as Hungary, criticised by Brussels over their anti-immigration stance and on rule-of-law issues -- have spoken out in the past against any mandatory asylum-seeker distribution.
Kurz, pushing to make his mark in European politics, has also sought allies on other topics, such as when he worked with the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark -- as the so-called "Frugal Four" -- to oppose direct EU aid to coronavirus-hit countries as proposed by Germany and France.
"The European Union is more than just Germany and France... As a small or medium-sized state of course one has to always look for alliances, and in an EU with 27 member states one can only assert ideas if there are others that support them," he told AFP in an office in the chancellery.
- Coronavirus 'challenge' -
Kurz became the world's youngest chancellor when his conservative People's Party (OeVP) formed a coalition government with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) in 2017.
The coalition fell apart in 2019 after a corruption scandal engulfed the far-right FPOe leader, leading to fresh elections in which Kurz's party again gathered the most votes.
Kurz then formed a new coalition with the Greens and has governed the Alpine country of nearly nine million people since January.
Kurz said fighting the coronavirus pandemic was "a very big challenge".
"I am still relatively young, but I have been part of the Austrian government for many years and I thought I had already been through a lot politically... The corona crisis now exceeds all previous experiences of course," he said.
The country has so far been spared the brunt of the crisis, reporting almost 40,000 cases with 771 deaths to date, but infections have surged again in recent weeks.
This has led to the government to extend mandatory mask wearing and re-instate some of the other restrictions imposed earlier this year to stem the spread of the virus.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Canadian woman charged over ricin letter sent to Trump

A Canadian woman accused of sending a ricin poison-laced letter to Donald Trump was formally charged on Tuesday with threatening the President of the United States .
Pascale Ferrier , a 53-year-old from Quebec , made a brief appearance in a federal court in Buffalo , New York after her arrest at a border crossing over the weekend .
Through a French-English interpreter she requested representation from a court-appointed lawyer .
US Magistrate Judge Kenneth Schroeder entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf , which grants her more rights at this stage in the proceedings .
According to the indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envelope to the White House containing ricin , an extremely toxic plant protein derived from castor bean plant seeds .
`` I found a new name for you : 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown ' I hope you like it , '' read a note in the letter , according to an FBI special agent bomb technician who filed an affadavit as part of the criminal complaint .
`` You ruin USA and lead them to disaster , '' the note continued .
`` Give up and remove your application for this election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' for you to make a decision .
This gift is in this letter . ''
`` If it does n't work , I 'll find better recipe for another poison , or I might use my gun when I 'll be able to come .
Enjoy !
FREE REBEL SPIRIT . ''
The affadavit said investigators found six additional letters sent to Texas in mid-September to people staffing detention centers where Ferrier was held in 2019 after her arrest for weapons possession .
She used similar language in all the letters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to court documents .
On Tuesday Ferrier spoke only in monosyllables and requested a special hearing set for September 28 .
US prosecutors will need to prove her identity before continuing the proceedings .
Deemed a flight risk , Ferrier will be held until then without bail .

New York (AFP) –
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A Canadian woman accused of sending a ricin poison-laced letter to Donald Trump was formally charged on Tuesday with threatening the President of the United States.
Pascale Ferrier, a 53-year-old from Quebec, made a brief appearance in a federal court in Buffalo, New York after her arrest at a border crossing over the weekend.
Through a French-English interpreter she requested representation from a court-appointed lawyer.
US Magistrate Judge Kenneth Schroeder entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf, which grants her more rights at this stage in the proceedings.
According to the indictment made public Tuesday, Ferrier sent an envelope to the White House containing ricin, an extremely toxic plant protein derived from castor bean plant seeds.
"I found a new name for you: 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown' I hope you like it," read a note in the letter, according to an FBI special agent bomb technician who filed an affadavit as part of the criminal complaint.
"You ruin USA and lead them to disaster," the note continued. "Give up and remove your application for this election. So I made a "Special Gift" for you to make a decision. This gift is in this letter."
"If it doesn't work, I'll find better recipe for another poison, or I might use my gun when I'll be able to come. Enjoy! FREE REBEL SPIRIT."
The affadavit said investigators found six additional letters sent to Texas in mid-September to people staffing detention centers where Ferrier was held in 2019 after her arrest for weapons possession.
She used similar language in all the letters and on social media accounts attributed to her, according to court documents.
On Tuesday Ferrier spoke only in monosyllables and requested a special hearing set for September 28.
US prosecutors will need to prove her identity before continuing the proceedings.
Deemed a flight risk, Ferrier will be held until then without bail.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Le Sommer breaks France scoring record

Le Sommer breaks France scoring record

Le Sommer ( right ) in Skopje where her double put her on top of the France women 's scoring charts Eugenie Le Sommer scored twice in three minutes in a Euro qualifier away to North Macedonia on Tuesday to first equal and then break France 's women 's international scoring record .
The 31-year-old Lyon player struck after 15 minutes from a free kick to match Marinette Pinchon who scored 81 goals for France between 1994 and 2006 .
Le Sommer , the France captain , then converted a penalty to take sole possession of the record .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sommer who had been stuck on 80 since October 2019 .
When she scored the second she was engulfed by joyous team-mates .
`` She ( Pinchon ) was a super player and I know what it represents to beat this record , '' said Le Sommer .
France went on to win 7-0 behind closed doors in Skopje .
Le Sommer , who was winning her 172nd cap , remains a long way behind the top scorer in women 's international football , Christine Sinclair who has 186 goals in 296 appearances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well ahead of the French men 's record holder , Thierry Henry , who scored 51 goals in 123 appearances .

Paris (AFP) –
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Eugenie Le Sommer scored twice in three minutes in a Euro qualifier away to North Macedonia on Tuesday to first equal and then break France's women's international scoring record.
The 31-year-old Lyon player struck after 15 minutes from a free kick to match Marinette Pinchon who scored 81 goals for France between 1994 and 2006.
Le Sommer, the France captain, then converted a penalty to take sole possession of the record.
It had been a long wait for Le Sommer who had been stuck on 80 since October 2019. When she scored the second she was engulfed by joyous team-mates.
"She (Pinchon) was a super player and I know what it represents to beat this record," said Le Sommer.
France went on to win 7-0 behind closed doors in Skopje.
Le Sommer, who was winning her 172nd cap, remains a long way behind the top scorer in women's international football, Christine Sinclair who has 186 goals in 296 appearances for Canada.
She is, however, well ahead of the French men's record holder, Thierry Henry, who scored 51 goals in 123 appearances.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-22--Baseball aiming to have fans at World Series: Manfred

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to have fans in the stadium for this year 's World Series and National League Championship Series playoff games , a report said Tuesday .
In an interview with USA Today , Manfred said the league is keen to allow spectators at the World Series and the NLCS , which will take place in Arlington , Texas next month .
This year 's abbreviated 60-game regular season has taken place in empty stadiums due to the ongoing coronavirus threat .
However , Manfred told USA Today that the league was planning to allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the NLCS starting on October 12 .
`` We are pressing ahead to have fans in Texas , '' Manfred was quoted as saying .
`` One of the most important things to our game is the presence of fans .
Starting down the path of having fans in stadiums , and in a safe and risk-free environment , is very , very important to our game . ''
Under a revised playoff format , this year 's championship series rounds will be taking place at neutral venues , with Texas hosting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American League deciders .
The winners of both of those rounds will advance to the World Series , which will also take place at Arlington starting on October 20 .
Playing the Word Series at a neutral venue marks a break with long tradition of a home-and-away format .
Local authorities in Texas have adopted more relaxed guidelines concerning fans at sporting events , giving the green light to let limited numbers of fans into stadia , despite the state being a COVID-19 hotspot .
California state officials meanwhile have ruled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectators will be allowed into postseason baseball games set for San Diego and Los Angeles .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to have fans in the stadium for this year's World Series and National League Championship Series playoff games, a report said Tuesday.
In an interview with USA Today, Manfred said the league is keen to allow spectators at the World Series and the NLCS, which will take place in Arlington, Texas next month.
This year's abbreviated 60-game regular season has taken place in empty stadiums due to the ongoing coronavirus threat.
However, Manfred told USA Today that the league was planning to allow fans into Arlington's Globe Life Field for the NLCS starting on October 12.
"We are pressing ahead to have fans in Texas," Manfred was quoted as saying.
"One of the most important things to our game is the presence of fans. Starting down the path of having fans in stadiums, and in a safe and risk-free environment, is very, very important to our game."
Under a revised playoff format, this year's championship series rounds will be taking place at neutral venues, with Texas hosting the National League games and California staging the American League deciders.
The winners of both of those rounds will advance to the World Series, which will also take place at Arlington starting on October 20.
Playing the Word Series at a neutral venue marks a break with long tradition of a home-and-away format.
Local authorities in Texas have adopted more relaxed guidelines concerning fans at sporting events, giving the green light to let limited numbers of fans into stadia, despite the state being a COVID-19 hotspot.
California state officials meanwhile have ruled out fans at sporting events, meaning no spectators will be allowed into postseason baseball games set for San Diego and Los Angeles.
© 2020 AFP