france24--2020-08-19--'Chariots of Fire' star Ben Cross dies aged 72

British actor Ben Cross , best known for his starring role in the 1981 Oscar-winning sports drama `` Chariots of Fire , '' died Tuesday aged 72 .
Cross , who portrayed Jewish sprinter Harold Abrahams 's battle to overcome anti-Semitism and triumph at the 1924 Olympics , was also known to younger fans as Spock 's father in the 2009 reboot of `` Star Trek . ''
`` Ben passed away suddenly today following a short illness , '' Cross 's agent in Los Angeles told AFP .
He was reportedly living in Vienna at the time of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actor born in London , made his big-screen debut alongside Sean Connery and Michael Caine in Richard Attenborough 's 1977 World War II epic `` A Bridge Too Far . ''
After a successful turn in the London West End debut of the musical `` Chicago , '' he was cast in `` Chariots '' along with Ian Holm and John Gielgud .
`` Chariots '' would go on to win four Academy Awards including best picture -- and best original score for its iconic theme -- although Cross himself was not nominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film and TV to the end of his life , playing Sarek in JJ Abrams ' `` Star Trek . ''
Cross had just finished shooting the thriller `` The Devil 's Light , '' and will be seen in Netflix 's romantic drama `` Last Letter From Your Lover '' later this year .
He is survived by two children , Theo and Lauren , who wrote on Facebook that she was `` utterly heartbroken . ''
`` He had been sick for a while but there was a rapid decline over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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British actor Ben Cross, best known for his starring role in the 1981 Oscar-winning sports drama "Chariots of Fire," died Tuesday aged 72.
Cross, who portrayed Jewish sprinter Harold Abrahams's battle to overcome anti-Semitism and triumph at the 1924 Olympics, was also known to younger fans as Spock's father in the 2009 reboot of "Star Trek."
"Ben passed away suddenly today following a short illness," Cross's agent in Los Angeles told AFP. He was reportedly living in Vienna at the time of his death.
Cross, a veteran stage actor born in London, made his big-screen debut alongside Sean Connery and Michael Caine in Richard Attenborough's 1977 World War II epic "A Bridge Too Far."
After a successful turn in the London West End debut of the musical "Chicago," he was cast in "Chariots" along with Ian Holm and John Gielgud.
"Chariots" would go on to win four Academy Awards including best picture -- and best original score for its iconic theme -- although Cross himself was not nominated.
He continued working across theater, film and TV to the end of his life, playing Sarek in JJ Abrams' "Star Trek."
Cross had just finished shooting the thriller "The Devil's Light," and will be seen in Netflix's romantic drama "Last Letter From Your Lover" later this year.
He is survived by two children, Theo and Lauren, who wrote on Facebook that she was "utterly heartbroken."
"He had been sick for a while but there was a rapid decline over the past week," she added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-19--Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigns after military mutiny

FILE PHOTO : Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita poses for a picture during the G5 Sahel summit in Nouakchott , Mauritania June 30 , 2020 .
Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned on Tuesday and dissolved parliament hours after mutinying soldiers detained him at gunpoint , plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis .
Looking tired and wearing a surgical mask , Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state television hours after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials .
`` If today , certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to end through their intervention , do I really have a choice ? ''
he said from a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako where he had been detained earlier in the day .
`` I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power , '' he said .
It was not immediately clear who was leading the revolt , who would govern in Keita 's absence or what the mutineers wanted .
Images posted earlier on social media said to be taken at the Kati garrison showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the videos .
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Bamako since June calling for Keita to resign over what they say are his failures to address worsening security and corruption .
France and other international powers as well as the African Union denounced the mutiny , fearful that the fall of Keita could further destabilise the former French colony and West Africa 's entire Sahel region .
The soldiers took up arms in the garrison town of Kati and detained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coup after several months of anti-government demonstrations calling for the president 's resignation .
Witnesses later said soldiers had surrounded Keita 's private residence .
Boubou Doucoure , who works as Cisse 's director of communications , confirmed the pair had been detained and had been driven in armoured vehicles to the army base in the town of Kati , about 15 kilometres ( 9 miles ) away .
Mali 's state broadcaster ORTM went off-line briefly before coming back on air in the early evening with pre-recorded programming .
The soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bamako , making it clear that they were in control of the capital city .
Protesters gathered in central Bamako in a show of support for the mutinous soldiers .
The M5-RFP opposition coalition , which has been one of the forces behind mass protests calling for Keita to resign , denied that a coup was in progress .
A spokesman said the president 's detention was “ not a military coup but a popular insurrection ” .
“ IBK ( Keita ) did not want to listen to his people .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with killings , ” Nouhoum Togo , a spokesman for M5-RFP , told Reuters , referring to Keita by his initials .
Keita , who was democratically elected , has broad support from former colonial power France and other Western allies .
But the M5-RFP opposition along with the June 5 Movement – so named after the date of its first protest – have been marshaling deep-seated anger over a dire economy , perceived government corruption and Mali 's continuing battle against the unrest sown by regional jihadist groups .
Earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of internal security , who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press , described the chaotic scenes .
“ Officials are being arrested – it 's total confusion . ''
In the capital Bamako , government workers fled their offices as armed men began detaining officials , including the country 's Finance Minister Abdoulaye Daffe .
Prime Minister Cisse had earlier in the day called for dialogue with the soldiers .
`` The government is calling for calm and makes itself available ... to engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all misunderstandings , '' he said in a statement .
The prime minister also admitted that the soldiers may have `` legitimate frustrations '' .
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the events on Wednesday .
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Malians to protect their democratic institutions and called for the `` immediate and unconditional release '' of Mali 's president .
The EU also condemned the `` attempted coup '' in Mali .
`` The European Union condemns the attempted coup d'état under way in Mali and rejects all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomatic chief , Josep Borrell , said in a statement .
The African Union also denounced the arrests of the Malian leadership .
`` I forcefully condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , Prime Minister and other members of the Malian government , and call for their immediate release , '' the chairman of the AU Commission , Moussa Faki Mahamat , said in a tweet in French .
French President Emmanuel Macron has been in touch with regional leaders and has called for mediation , the Élysée presidential palace said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was opposed to any change of government in Mali , where French troops and UN peacekeepers have been working to stabilise the country amid an Islamic insurgency that took hold after a 2012 coup .
“ The US is opposed to all unconstitutional changes of government whether in the streets or by security forces , ” tweeted J. Peter Pham , the State Department 's special envoy for the Sahel region .
The West African regional bloc ECOWAS , which has been mediating Mali 's current political crisis , urged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The unrest erupted Tuesday at the very same military barracks where the country 's 2012 coup originated .
The overthrow unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns .
After a request from Mali , a French-led military operation dubbed Operation Serval launched in January 2013 ousted the jihadists .
But they eventually regrouped and have expanded their reach during Keita 's presidency .
Keita has faced growing criticism of how his government has handled the relentless Islamic insurgency engulfing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a model of democracy in the region .
The military faced a wave of particularly deadly attacks in the north last year , prompting the government to close its most vulnerable outposts as part of a reorganisation aimed at stemming military losses .

Leaders of a military coup in Mali that detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and forced his resignation said Wednesday they would enact a political transition and stage elections within a "reasonable amount of time".
Ismael Wague, spokesman and Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff (centre), with other members of Mali's military junta.
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The mutinous soldiers who staged Tuesday’s coup identified themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People in an address on state broadcaster ORTM.
The committee would implement a transition to civil political rule with elections held in a “reasonable amount of time" without specifying a timeline, said Ismael Wague, spokesman and Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff, in a state TV broadcast.
“With you, standing as one, we can restore this country to its former greatness,” said Wague, who also announced that Mali's borders were closed and imposed a nighttime curfew from 9pm to 5am.
Coup leaders also called on the population to resume their normal activities and to refrain from "vandalism".
Colonel Assimi Goita declared himself the committee leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People" that has seized power.
"Mali is in a situation of socio-political crisis. There is no more room for mistakes," Goita said. He added that he had met earlier in the day with with senior officials at defence ministry headquarters.
"It was my duty to meet the various secretaries-general so that we could assure them of our support in relation to the continuity of State services," he said.
'No blood spilled'
Looking tired and wearing a surgical mask, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state TV hours after troops seized him on Tuesday along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials, plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.
"If today certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?" he asked, speaking from a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako where he had been detained earlier in the day.
"I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power," he said.
00:36
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Bamako since June calling for Keita to resign over what they say are his failures to address worsening security and corruption.
'Popular insurrection'
Soldiers took up arms in the garrison town of Kati on Tuesday and detained senior military officers. An officer at Mali's ministry of internal security, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the chaotic scenes as the coup unfolded. “Officials are being arrested – it's total confusion."
Government workers fled their offices in Bamako as armed men began detaining officials, including the country's Finance Minister Abdoulaye Daffe.
01:13
Witnesses later said soldiers had also surrounded Keita's private residence. Mali's state broadcaster ORTM went off-line briefly before coming back on air in the early evening with pre-recorded programming.
The soldiers later moved freely through the streets of Bamako, making it clear that they were in control.
Thousands gathered in central Bamako in a show of support for the mutinous soldiers.
00:47
The M5-RFP opposition coalition, which has been one of the forces behind mass protests calling for Keita to resign, on Tuesday denied that a coup was in progress. A spokesman said the president's detention was “not a military coup but a popular insurrection”.
“IBK (Keita) did not want to listen to his people. We even proposed an alternative but he responded with killings,” Nouhoum Togo, a spokesman for M5-RFP, told Reuters, referring to Keita by his initials.
Keita, who was democratically elected, has broad support from former colonial power France and other Western allies.
But the M5-RFP opposition along with the June 5 Movement – so named after the date of its first protest – have been marshalling deep-seated anger over a dire economy, perceived government corruption and Mali's continuing battle against the unrest sown by regional jihadist groups.
06:49
Prime Minister Cisse had earlier in the day called for dialogue with the soldiers. "The government is calling for calm and makes itself available ... to engage in fraternal dialogue in order to remove all misunderstandings," he said in a statement.
The prime minister also admitted that the soldiers may have "legitimate frustrations".
Concerns for regional stability
France and other international powers as well as the African Union have denounced the mutiny, fearful that the fall of Keita could further destabilise the former French colony and West Africa's entire Sahel region.
The African Union has suspended Mali's membership in response to the military’s seizure of power and the detention of the president, the bloc announced in a tweet on Wednesday. The suspension will last until constitutional order is restored, it said, demanding the "immediate" release of the deposed president and other senior officials.
The influential West African regional bloc ECOWAS said it was sending a high-level delegation to “ensure the immediate return to constitutional order”.
A statement from the Élysée Palace released shortly after the soldiers seized power said President Emmanuel Macron was in touch with regional leaders and called for mediation.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced Keita's overthrow in a statement on Wednesday. "The United States strongly condemns the August 18 mutiny in Mali as we would condemn any forcible seizure of power," he said. "The freedom and safety of detained government officials and their families must be ensured."
The EU condemned the events in Mali as "unconstitutional". "The European Union condemns the attempted coup d'état under way in Mali and rejects all unconstitutional change," the bloc's diplomatic chief, Josep Borrell, said in a statement Tuesday.
Neighbouring Algeria has also rejected the coup. "Algeria reiterates its firm rejection of any anti-constitutional change of government," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. It said Algeria was following with "concern" developments in Mali, with which it shares an almost 1,400-kilometre (850-mile) border.
In a statement shortly after the coup Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Malians to protect their democratic institutions and called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Mali's president.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on the events later on Wednesday.
03:14
Echoes of the 2012 coup
The unrest erupted Tuesday at the very same military barracks where the country's 2012 coup originated. The overthrow unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns.
After a request from Mali, a French-led military operation dubbed Operation Serval launched in January 2013 and ousted the jihadists. But they eventually regrouped and have expanded their reach during Keita's presidency.
Keita has faced growing criticism of how his government has handled the relentless Islamic insurgency engulfing the country, which was once praised as a model of democracy in the region.
The military faced a wave of particularly deadly attacks in the north last year, prompting the government to close its most vulnerable outposts as part of a reorganisation aimed at stemming military losses.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-19--'Test-&-trace' crucial but won't beat coronavirus alone: study

By itself , the test-and-trace approach can reduce the virus ' reproduction rate , or R number , by 26 percent , according to a new study Testing for COVID-19 and tracing the prior contacts of those found to be infected are crucial measures for slowing the disease 's spread , but inadequate unless combined with other measures , researchers said Wednesday .
By itself , the test-and-trace approach can reduce the virus ' reproduction rate , or R number , by 26 percent , they reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases , using mathematical models to examine data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures the number of people in a population , on average , infected by each person carrying the virus .
Anything above `` 1 '' means the disease is continuing to expand ; below that threshold , it will eventually peter out .
Some countries that brought the spread of COVID-19 under control but are now struggling to prevent a resurgence have R numbers well above 1 .
In France , for example , it hovered at about 1.33 during the first week of August , according to national health authorities .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said lead author Nicholas Grassly , a professor at Imperial College 's School of Public Health .
`` Our results show that test and trace can help reduce the R number but needs to be carried out effectively and quickly to do so , '' he said in a statement .
Concretely , that means immediate testing with the onset of symptoms and results within 24 hours ; the quarantine of contacts , also within 24 hours ; and the identification of 80 percent of cases and contacts .
Very few countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany -- have come close to staying within these guidelines , and most are still falling well short .
In France , for example , it generally take days to get an appointment for a so-called PCR nasal test , and on average 3.5 days for a result , according to official figures .
In the United States and the UK , delays can be even longer .
Even if nations do adhere to these guidelines , it will still not be enough to bring the infection rate down sufficiently by itself , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trace alone wo n't be enough to control transmission in most communities , and other measures alongside will be needed to bring the R number below 1 , '' said Grassly .
Weekly screening of high-risk groups such as health and social-care workers -- regardless of whether they have symptoms or not -- can reduce transmission by an additional 23 percent , his team found .
Experts are still unsure as to what percentage of a population must be immune -- a threshold known as `` herd immunity '' -- to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Estimates range from below 50 to 70 percent .
It is possible that some of the hardest hit regions -- New York City , northern Italy -- may be close to these levels , but at a national scale the numbers are still far lower , probably barely in double digits .
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said Tuesday that the planet was `` nowhere close to the levels of immunity required to stop this disease '' .
People should `` not live in hope of herd immunity being our salvation .
Right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he added .
A vaccine , of course , would also provide immunity , but is unlikely to be available until next year .
Currently , only people who have fought off COVID-19 and survived have some degree of immunity , though it remains unclear how robust it is and how long it lasts .
It is also unclear the extent to which people with mild or asymptomatic cases have immunity at all .
The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 775,000 people and infected almost 22 million since the outbreak emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tally from official sources compiled by AFP .

Paris (AFP) –
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Testing for COVID-19 and tracing the prior contacts of those found to be infected are crucial measures for slowing the disease's spread, but inadequate unless combined with other measures, researchers said Wednesday.
By itself, the test-and-trace approach can reduce the virus' reproduction rate, or R number, by 26 percent, they reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, using mathematical models to examine data from previously published studies.
The reproduction rate measures the number of people in a population, on average, infected by each person carrying the virus.
Anything above "1" means the disease is continuing to expand; below that threshold, it will eventually peter out.
Some countries that brought the spread of COVID-19 under control but are now struggling to prevent a resurgence have R numbers well above 1.
In France, for example, it hovered at about 1.33 during the first week of August, according to national health authorities.
But the new finding comes with a caveat, said lead author Nicholas Grassly, a professor at Imperial College's School of Public Health.
"Our results show that test and trace can help reduce the R number but needs to be carried out effectively and quickly to do so," he said in a statement.
Concretely, that means immediate testing with the onset of symptoms and results within 24 hours; the quarantine of contacts, also within 24 hours; and the identification of 80 percent of cases and contacts.
Very few countries -- notably South Korea, Taiwan and Germany -- have come close to staying within these guidelines, and most are still falling well short.
In France, for example, it generally take days to get an appointment for a so-called PCR nasal test, and on average 3.5 days for a result, according to official figures.
- Herd immunity not close -
In the United States and the UK, delays can be even longer.
Even if nations do adhere to these guidelines, it will still not be enough to bring the infection rate down sufficiently by itself, the new study concludes.
"Test and trace alone won't be enough to control transmission in most communities, and other measures alongside will be needed to bring the R number below 1," said Grassly.
Weekly screening of high-risk groups such as health and social-care workers -- regardless of whether they have symptoms or not -- can reduce transmission by an additional 23 percent, his team found.
Experts are still unsure as to what percentage of a population must be immune -- a threshold known as "herd immunity" -- to prevent the virus from continuing to spread.
Estimates range from below 50 to 70 percent.
It is possible that some of the hardest hit regions -- New York City, northern Italy -- may be close to these levels, but at a national scale the numbers are still far lower, probably barely in double digits.
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said Tuesday that the planet was "nowhere close to the levels of immunity required to stop this disease".
People should "not live in hope of herd immunity being our salvation. Right now, that is not a solution," he added.
A vaccine, of course, would also provide immunity, but is unlikely to be available until next year.
Currently, only people who have fought off COVID-19 and survived have some degree of immunity, though it remains unclear how robust it is and how long it lasts.
It is also unclear the extent to which people with mild or asymptomatic cases have immunity at all.
The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 775,000 people and infected almost 22 million since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--US postal chief backs down on controversial changes amid outcry

United States Postal Service ( USPS ) employee Brandis Neal stops to tie her shoe laces while delivering mail in Houston , Texas , U.S. , August 18 , 2020 .
U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday suspended all mail service changes until after the November election , bowing to an outcry by Democrats that the moves appeared to be an attempt to boost President Donald Trump 's re-election chances .
The reversal follows complaints that the cuts could slow the handling of mail-in ballots , which could account for as many as half of all votes cast in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic raises fears of crowds .
Critics have accused the Republican president , trailing Democratic challenger Joe Biden in opinion polls , of trying to hobble the Postal Service to suppress mail-in voting .
Trump has repeatedly and without evidence said that an increase in mail-in ballots would lead to a surge in fraud , although Americans have long voted by mail .
Planned changes to the mail service that threatened to slow mail delivery - and in some cases , already have - include reductions in overtime , restrictions on extra mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and delivery policies , enacted in an attempt to cut costs .
`` I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded , '' DeJoy said in a statement , adding that the changes were to `` avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail . ''
Reuters reported news of the suspension first on Tuesday .
The White House distanced itself from the controversy .
`` No , I was not involved , '' Trump said when asked if he had any involvement in the decision not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
He spoke to reporters in Yuma , Arizona , where he was visiting a border barrier .
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Trump never directed postal operational changes that would slow mail deliveries .
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeJoy 's announcement inadequate and said she would push ahead with legislation later this week to aid the Postal Service .
`` This pause only halts a limited number of the postmaster 's changes , does not reverse damage already done , and alone is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disenfranchised by the president '' in the election , Pelosi said in a statement .
`` The House will be moving ahead with our vote this Saturday , '' she said .
The legislation is expected to contain provisions to prevent the post office from reducing service levels below what they were in January .
DeJoy , a major political donor and ally of Trump , assumed the job in June .
His recent operational changes had brought widespread criticism .
Mark Dimondstein , president of the American Postal Workers Union , praised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies '' but added that the Postal Service was still `` in immediate need of $ 25 billion in Covid-related financial relief . ''
The coronavirus pandemic has placed increased pressure on the already ailing Postal Service as it gears up to handle increased volume from the anticipated surge in mail-in ballots in November .
Trump said last week he was against Democratic efforts to include funds for the Postal Service and election infrastructure in coronavirus relief legislation because he wanted to limit mail-in voting during the pandemic .
The president kept up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , speculating that delayed results could mean that the election would need to be held a second time .
`` It will end up being a rigged election or they will never come out with an outcome , '' Trump told reporters on Tuesday .
`` They 'll have to do it again , and nobody wants that . ''
One in four ballots in 2016 was cast by mail and Trump himself votes that way .
Multiple Democrats and union officials welcomed the news but said they were holding out for proof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that he had demanded that DeJoy provide a written document specifying the changes he is rescinding , along with `` an explicit confirmation that all election mail will continue to be treated as First Class priority . ''
In a complaint filed in federal court , Washington and 13 other U.S. states accused DeJoy of ignoring congressionally mandated procedures by imposing `` transformative '' changes at the Postal Service .
`` Voting by mail is safe and promotes no partisan advantage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states are entitled to a declaration that the 'transformative ' changes are unlawful . ''
Several congressional Republicans this week had dismissed Democrats ' concerns as a political attack on Trump .
The reversal followed a lengthy call by the postal board of governors on Monday night , two people briefed on the matter said .
They said the board told DeJoy to focus only on election integrity between now and Election Day , not operational changes .
DeJoy is scheduled to testify on Friday before a Republican-led Senate committee , and before @ @ @ @ @ @ @

US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday suspended all mail service changes until after the November election, bowing to an outcry by Democrats that the moves appeared to be an attempt to boost President Donald Trump's re-election chances.
United States Postal Service (USPS) employee Brandis Neal stops to tie her shoelaces while delivering mail in Houston, Texas on August 18, 2020.
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The reversal follows complaints that the cuts could slow the handling of mail-in ballots, which could account for as many as half of all votes cast in the November 3 election as the coronavirus pandemic raises fears of crowds.
Critics have accused the Republican president, trailing Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden in opinion polls, of trying to hobble the Postal Service to suppress mail-in voting.
Trump has repeatedly and without evidence said that an increase in mail-in ballots would lead to a surge in fraud, although Americans have long voted by mail.
Planned changes to the mail service that threatened to slow mail delivery – and in some cases, already have – include reductions in overtime, restrictions on extra mail transportation trips, and new mail sorting and delivery policies, enacted in an attempt to cut costs.
"I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded," DeJoy said in a statement, adding that the suspension was to "avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail".
Pelosi: Suspension 'alone is not enough'
Reuters reported news of the suspension first on Tuesday. The White House distanced itself from the controversy the same day.
"No, I was not involved," Trump said when asked if he had any involvement in the decision not to go forward with the changes at this time. He spoke to reporters in Yuma, Arizona, where he was visiting a border barrier.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Trump never directed postal operational changes that would slow mail deliveries.
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called DeJoy's announcement inadequate and said she would push ahead with legislation later this week to aid the Postal Service.
"This pause only halts a limited number of the postmaster's changes, does not reverse damage already done, and alone is not enough to ensure voters will not be disenfranchised by the president" in the election, Pelosi said in a statement.
"The House will be moving ahead with our vote this Saturday," she said. The legislation is expected to contain provisions to prevent the post office from reducing service levels below what they were in January.
DeJoy, a major political donor and ally of Trump, assumed the job in June. His recent operational changes had brought widespread criticism.
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, praised "the postmaster's reversal of these policies" but added that the Postal Service was still "in immediate need of $25 billion in Covid-related financial relief".
The coronavirus pandemic has placed increased pressure on the already ailing Postal Service as it gears up to handle increased volume from the anticipated surge in mail-in ballots in November.
Trump said last week he was against Democratic efforts to include funds for the Postal Service and election infrastructure in coronavirus relief legislation because he wanted to limit mail-in voting during the pandemic.
The president kept up his attack on mail-in voting on Tuesday, speculating that delayed results could mean that the election would need to be held a second time.
"It will end up being a rigged election or they will never come out with an outcome," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "They'll have to do it again, and nobody wants that."
One in four ballots in 2016 was cast by mail and Trump himself votes that way.
States go to court
Multiple Democrats and union officials welcomed the news but said they were holding out for proof that DeJoy would take the actions he promised.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that he had demanded that DeJoy provide a written document specifying the changes he is rescinding, along with "an explicit confirmation that all election mail will continue to be treated as First Class priority".
In a complaint filed in federal court, Washington and 13 other US states accused DeJoy of ignoring congressionally mandated procedures by imposing "transformative" changes at the Postal Service.
"Voting by mail is safe and promotes no partisan advantage," the complaint said. "The states are entitled to a declaration that the 'transformative' changes are unlawful."
Several congressional Republicans this week had dismissed Democrats' concerns as a political attack on Trump.
The reversal followed a lengthy call by the postal board of governors on Monday night, two people briefed on the matter said. They said the board told DeJoy to focus only on election integrity between now and Election Day, not operational changes.
DeJoy is scheduled to testify on Friday before a Republican-led Senate committee, and before a Democratic-led House committee on Monday.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-18--US Open presses on despite rash of withdrawals

American Serena Williams seeks to win her 24th career Grand Slam title at the upcoming 2020 US Open to match Margaret Court 's all-time record .
US Open organizers said Tuesday that the number of players willing to compete in the Grand Slam had exceeded their expectations despite several high-profile withdrawals over coronavirus fears .
Defending champion Rafael Nadal , top-ranked woman Ashleigh Barty and world number two Simona Halep are among a list of stars opting to skip the event because of concerns about COVID-19 .
But Serena Williams , Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are all still due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flushing Meadows in New York on August 31 .
`` As far as our field , in context of the times and how different the world is , I could n't be happier .
It 's exceeded our expectations , '' United States Tennis Association chief executive Mike Dowse said .
`` At the end of the day it 's our fans we are here to serve .
They 're going to see some unbelievable world class tennis . ''
Halep , the current Wimbledon champion , dropped out on Monday , joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada and Ukraine 's fifth-ranked Elina Svitolina .
Number seven in the rankings Kiki Bertens and eighth-ranked Swiss Belinda Bencic will also be absent .
The depleted field provides Williams with a golden opportunity as she seeks a 24th career Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court 's all-time record .
New York was one of the hardest-hit US cities when COVID-19 first spiked in March and April , and a temporary hospital was even raised on the indoor courts at the US Tennis Center .
The virus has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York , even as cases have risen elsewhere in the country .
Approximately 90 percent of US Open participants have arrived in New York and are residing in two hotels as part of the competition 's `` bubble , '' with a few choosing to stay in private residences , Stacey Allaster , US Open Tournament Director , said on the conference call .
Allaster confirmed that if a player tests positive once the tournament starts then they will be automatically withdrawn under New York state guidelines .
Roger Federer was already ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on September 13 , as he recovers from knee surgery .

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US Open organizers said Tuesday that the number of players willing to compete in the Grand Slam had exceeded their expectations despite several high-profile withdrawals over coronavirus fears.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal, top-ranked woman Ashleigh Barty and world number two Simona Halep are among a list of stars opting to skip the event because of concerns about COVID-19.
But Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are all still due to play when the tournament begins at Flushing Meadows in New York on August 31.
"As far as our field, in context of the times and how different the world is, I couldn't be happier. It's exceeded our expectations," United States Tennis Association chief executive Mike Dowse said.
"At the end of the day it's our fans we are here to serve. They're going to see some unbelievable world class tennis."
Halep, the current Wimbledon champion, dropped out on Monday, joining high-profile absentees that include reigning US Open champion Bianca Andreescu of Canada and Ukraine's fifth-ranked Elina Svitolina.
Number seven in the rankings Kiki Bertens and eighth-ranked Swiss Belinda Bencic will also be absent.
The depleted field provides Williams with a golden opportunity as she seeks a 24th career Grand Slam title to match Margaret Court's all-time record.
New York was one of the hardest-hit US cities when COVID-19 first spiked in March and April, and a temporary hospital was even raised on the indoor courts at the US Tennis Center.
The virus has largely been brought under control in New York, even as cases have risen elsewhere in the country.
Approximately 90 percent of US Open participants have arrived in New York and are residing in two hotels as part of the competition's "bubble," with a few choosing to stay in private residences, Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director, said on the conference call.
Allaster confirmed that if a player tests positive once the tournament starts then they will be automatically withdrawn under New York state guidelines.
Roger Federer was already ruled out of the tournament, which ends on September 13, as he recovers from knee surgery.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--Former NHL star Hawerchuk dies of cancer at 57

Dale Hawerchuk , who `` was skating before he could walk '' and went on to play 16 seasons in the National Hockey League before being inducted into the Hall of Fame , died Tuesday .
He was 57 .
Hawerchuk died after a battle with stomach cancer , which he was initially diagnosed with last year .
`` After an incredibly brave and difficult battle with cancer , our dad has passed away .
My family is so proud of him and the way he fought .
# HawerchukStrong , '' son Eric Hawerchuk wrote on social media .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remove his stomach , as well as a tumor and cancerous cells .
He achieved almost immediate success at every level of hockey he played .
Hawerchuk 's father liked to say his son `` was skating before he could walk . ''
At the famed Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament in the mid-1970s , Hawerchuk scored all eight goals during an 8–1 victory in the finals , smashing the long-standing record set by the iconic Guy Lafleur .
He was the No .
1 overall pick in the 1981 NHL entry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the NHL 's 1982 Calder Trophy as the top rookie , two years after winning the rookie-of-the year trophy in the Quebec Major Junior League with the Cornwall Royals .
Hawerchuk played 1,188 games with the Jets , Buffalo Sabres , St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers , and recorded 518 goals and 1,409 points .
The five-time all-star reached 100 points six times and scored at least 40 goals in seven seasons .
`` Dale Hawerchuk put Winnipeg and the Jets on the map the day he arrived in our city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our community and remarkable Hall of Fame career will keep it there for many generations to come , '' said a statement from the Winnipeg Jets .
`` Dale had a relationship with our fans unlike any player in the history of our franchise .
Whether at home or on the world stage , ‘ Ducky ’ was embraced by so many , so often because of his humility and the grace by which he always carried himself . ''
Former Winnipeg Jet and Anaheim Duck superstar Teemu Selanne said he spoke with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older Hawerchuk never played on the same Jets team .
Their careers first crossed paths when Selanne attended a Jets training camp as a young draft pick .
`` So sad , what a incredible human being .
I ’ m thankful that Ducky was my friend and I had a chance to talk with him yesterday and say goodbye .
This world is not same place without him ... .
RIP DALE , '' Selanne wrote on social media .
Hawerchuk also won two international Canada Cup tournaments representing Canada .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under two minutes to play in the final game of the 1987 tournament that led to Mario Lemieux ’ s famous goal against the Soviet Union .
`` The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Dale Hawerchuk , an instant and enduring star who captured the hearts of two hockey-loving cities , represented his country with class and distinction , and is one of the most decorated players in our game ’ s history , '' said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman .

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Dale Hawerchuk, who "was skating before he could walk" and went on to play 16 seasons in the National Hockey League before being inducted into the Hall of Fame, died Tuesday. He was 57.
Hawerchuk died after a battle with stomach cancer, which he was initially diagnosed with last year.
"After an incredibly brave and difficult battle with cancer, our dad has passed away. My family is so proud of him and the way he fought. #HawerchukStrong," son Eric Hawerchuk wrote on social media.
Hawerchuk underwent a gastrectomy in January to remove his stomach, as well as a tumor and cancerous cells.
He achieved almost immediate success at every level of hockey he played. Hawerchuk's father liked to say his son "was skating before he could walk."
At the famed Quebec International Pee Wee Hockey Tournament in the mid-1970s, Hawerchuk scored all eight goals during an 8–1 victory in the finals, smashing the long-standing record set by the iconic Guy Lafleur.
He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 NHL entry draft by the Winnipeg Jets. He won the NHL's 1982 Calder Trophy as the top rookie, two years after winning the rookie-of-the year trophy in the Quebec Major Junior League with the Cornwall Royals.
- 'Ducky' -
Hawerchuk played 1,188 games with the Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers, and recorded 518 goals and 1,409 points.
The five-time all-star reached 100 points six times and scored at least 40 goals in seven seasons.
"Dale Hawerchuk put Winnipeg and the Jets on the map the day he arrived in our city in 1981, and his love for our community and remarkable Hall of Fame career will keep it there for many generations to come," said a statement from the Winnipeg Jets.
"Dale had a relationship with our fans unlike any player in the history of our franchise. Whether at home or on the world stage, ‘Ducky’ was embraced by so many, so often because of his humility and the grace by which he always carried himself."
Former Winnipeg Jet and Anaheim Duck superstar Teemu Selanne said he spoke with Hawerchuk on Monday.
Selanne and the older Hawerchuk never played on the same Jets team. Their careers first crossed paths when Selanne attended a Jets training camp as a young draft pick.
"So sad, what a incredible human being. I’m thankful that Ducky was my friend and I had a chance to talk with him yesterday and say goodbye. This world is not same place without him .... RIP DALE," Selanne wrote on social media.
Hawerchuk also won two international Canada Cup tournaments representing Canada. It was his defensive zone face-off win with under two minutes to play in the final game of the 1987 tournament that led to Mario Lemieux’s famous goal against the Soviet Union.
"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Dale Hawerchuk, an instant and enduring star who captured the hearts of two hockey-loving cities, represented his country with class and distinction, and is one of the most decorated players in our game’s history," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--Mbappe hoping for all-French Champions League final after PSG go through

Kylian Mbappe admits he would prefer Lyon , rather than Bayern Munich , to be Paris Saint-Germain 's opponents in Sunday 's Champions League final .
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe admits he hopes Lyon will beat Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday and set up an all-French final in Europe 's elite club competition this weekend .
`` I 'd prefer Lyon for sure , because they are a French team , '' Mbappe said when asked if he had a preferred opponent in the final after PSG 's 3-0 semi-final victory over RB Leipzig in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a very tough game .
If it 's Bayern , fine , but if it were Lyon it would certainly make it a very special occasion . ''
PSG are the first French side through to the final of the Champions League since Monaco in 2004 after goals by Marquinhos , Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat saw off Leipzig in a one-sided encounter at the Estadio da Luz .
They would perhaps not be favourites in a final against Bayern , but they certainly would be against Lyon .
PSG won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seventh in a season that was curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The teams met as recently as the end of July in the French League Cup final , with PSG winning on penalties after a 0-0 draw .
Mbappe missed that game because of an ankle injury , suffered in the French Cup final against Saint-Etienne a week earlier .
However , he returned to play a key role off the bench in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Atalanta last week and started against Leipzig .
`` The truth is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saint-Etienne I thought that was it , that I would n't come back '' for the Champions League 'Final Eight ' , he said .
`` I cried all night , but the next morning I woke up and said to myself that I would do everything I could , get treatment all day and come home and get more treatment .
`` I knew the team would need me at some point , maybe not for my physical presence on the field but also being around the team and showing them I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see that I was suffering .
It was a difficult time but it was a real pleasure to come back against Atalanta and help the team qualify today . ''
Mbappe , 21 , admitted he is still not back to peak fitness .
`` I feel good , better and better all the time , but I still have to wear a heavy strapping around it .
`` There is no more pain .
I still need to take certain precautions but I am ready to help the team , give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want is to win , that 's why I came here . ''

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Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe admits he hopes Lyon will beat Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday and set up an all-French final in Europe's elite club competition this weekend.
"I'd prefer Lyon for sure, because they are a French team," Mbappe said when asked if he had a preferred opponent in the final after PSG's 3-0 semi-final victory over RB Leipzig in Lisbon on Tuesday.
"It will be a very tough game. If it's Bayern, fine, but if it were Lyon it would certainly make it a very special occasion."
PSG are the first French side through to the final of the Champions League since Monaco in 2004 after goals by Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat saw off Leipzig in a one-sided encounter at the Estadio da Luz.
They would perhaps not be favourites in a final against Bayern, but they certainly would be against Lyon.
PSG won the Ligue 1 title while Lyon came seventh in a season that was curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The teams met as recently as the end of July in the French League Cup final, with PSG winning on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Mbappe missed that game because of an ankle injury, suffered in the French Cup final against Saint-Etienne a week earlier.
- Emotional injury -
However, he returned to play a key role off the bench in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Atalanta last week and started against Leipzig.
"The truth is that the night I got my injury against Saint-Etienne I thought that was it, that I wouldn't come back" for the Champions League 'Final Eight', he said.
"I cried all night, but the next morning I woke up and said to myself that I would do everything I could, get treatment all day and come home and get more treatment.
"I knew the team would need me at some point, maybe not for my physical presence on the field but also being around the team and showing them I was ok.
"I never wanted them to see that I was suffering. It was a difficult time but it was a real pleasure to come back against Atalanta and help the team qualify today."
Mbappe, 21, admitted he is still not back to peak fitness.
"I feel good, better and better all the time, but I still have to wear a heavy strapping around it.
"There is no more pain. I still need to take certain precautions but I am ready to help the team, give everything on the pitch. All I want is to win, that's why I came here."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--US welcomes guilty verdict in Lebanon ex-PM's murder

Salim Ayyash , who was convicted for his part in the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri , is pictured ( bottom right ) with the three Hezbollah suspects who were acquitted in the same case The United States welcomed the conviction Tuesday of a member of the Hezbollah Shiite movement over the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri .
Salim Ayyash , 56 , was found guilty in his absence by the UN-backed tribunal in the Netherlands after a years-long trial for his involvement in a suicide bombing in Beirut that killed the Sunni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ayyash 's conviction helps confirm what the world is increasingly recognizing , '' said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , `` that ( Hezbollah ) and its members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organization dedicated to advancing Iran 's malign sectarian agenda . ''
The three other alleged Hezbollah members who were accused were acquitted .
The judges also said there was no evidence to directly link Syria -- the former military overlord in Lebanon -- or Hezbollah 's leadership to the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ruling underscores the importance of rendering justice and ending impunity , which is imperative to ensuring Lebanon 's security , stability , and sovereignty , '' Pompeo added .

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The United States welcomed the conviction Tuesday of a member of the Hezbollah Shiite movement over the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri.
Salim Ayyash, 56, was found guilty in his absence by the UN-backed tribunal in the Netherlands after a years-long trial for his involvement in a suicide bombing in Beirut that killed the Sunni billionaire and 21 other people.
"Ayyash's conviction helps confirm what the world is increasingly recognizing," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, "that (Hezbollah) and its members are not defenders of Lebanon as they claim to be but constitute a terrorist organization dedicated to advancing Iran's malign sectarian agenda."
The three other alleged Hezbollah members who were accused were acquitted. The judges also said there was no evidence to directly link Syria -- the former military overlord in Lebanon -- or Hezbollah's leadership to the attack.
"Although Ayyash remains at large, the ruling underscores the importance of rendering justice and ending impunity, which is imperative to ensuring Lebanon's security, stability, and sovereignty," Pompeo added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--Tuchel hails 'incredible' PSG after reaching landmark final

Thomas Tuchel is on the brink of European glory after reaching the Champions League final Thomas Tuchel heaped praised on his Paris Saint-Germain side after they cruised into their first ever Champions League final , putting the French side on the brink of coveted European glory .
`` Incredible , that 's why we 're here to play in the final and to win , '' Tuchel told French broadcaster RMC .
`` We showed our quality , our hunger , determination .
A good mix which showed we deserved the win .
`` The team showed once again the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to suffer .
They made the most of it . ''
PSG 's easy 3-0 win over RB Leipzig at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon showed all the composure on a big European occasion that they have lacked in recent seasons .
Tuchel 's outfit have set up a meeting with either on-fire Bayern Munich or fellow French side Lyon in Sunday 's final , which could see the Qatari-owned club finally realise their owners ' ambitions .
`` I felt the pressure before the game , it was n't easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure of key matches I 'm never relaxed , '' said Tuchel .
`` We know well that Bayern are the favourites , it will be difficult against Lyon , but we 'll see .
It 's obviously the biggest challenge of my career . ''

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Thomas Tuchel heaped praised on his Paris Saint-Germain side after they cruised into their first ever Champions League final, putting the French side on the brink of coveted European glory.
"Incredible, that's why we're here to play in the final and to win," Tuchel told French broadcaster RMC.
"We showed our quality, our hunger, determination. A good mix which showed we deserved the win.
"The team showed once again the hunger two win, to play together, to suffer. They made the most of it."
PSG's easy 3-0 win over RB Leipzig at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon showed all the composure on a big European occasion that they have lacked in recent seasons.
Tuchel's outfit have set up a meeting with either on-fire Bayern Munich or fellow French side Lyon in Sunday's final, which could see the Qatari-owned club finally realise their owners' ambitions.
"I felt the pressure before the game, it wasn't easy, I have players who love the pressure of key matches I'm never relaxed," said Tuchel.
"We know well that Bayern are the favourites, it will be difficult against Lyon, but we'll see. It's obviously the biggest challenge of my career."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--'PSG simply better' - Nagelsmann rues Leipzig defeat

RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann was left ruing his side 's mistakes and missed chances after bowing out of the Champions League with a 3-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday .
`` In the end the opponent was simply better than us , we have to accept that , '' Nagelsmann said in Lisbon .
Leipzig , founded in 2009 , reached the last four for the first time in the Red Bull-backed club 's brief history in his first season in charge .
`` We were in the semi-finals , we can be proud of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up Marquinhos ' early header to give PSG an early led , then the Brazil attacker split the defence to create Parisian 's second goal for Angel Di Maria before half-time .
`` We wo n't be the first team not to stop Neymar and we wo n't be the last , '' Nagelsmann sais .
Left-back Juan Bernat scored the French champions third against the run of play to put PSG into Sunday 's final against Bayern Munich or Lyon , who meet on Thursday .
`` Paris played a very , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or two mistakes too many .
In the first ten to 12 minutes we did well and had good situations , '' Nagelsmann said .
`` It was an unfortunate mistake for the opening goal from a set piece and it was hard to come back after the second goal , because Paris have a lot of quality .
`` We had a good start at the start of the second half , but then conceded the third goal from nothing , during a period of good pressure from us . ''
Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season 's finalists Tottenham and an experienced Atletico Madrid side in the knock-out stages , Nagelsmann failed to hide his disappointment at the missed chance to reach the final .
`` The feelings of frustration will take a few days to get over , '' he admitted .
`` The attitude of my players was great .
We showed character on the pitch , but you have to accept when the opponent is stronger . ''

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RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann was left ruing his side's mistakes and missed chances after bowing out of the Champions League with a 3-0 semi-final defeat to Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday.
"In the end the opponent was simply better than us, we have to accept that," Nagelsmann said in Lisbon.
Leipzig, founded in 2009, reached the last four for the first time in the Red Bull-backed club's brief history in his first season in charge.
"We were in the semi-finals, we can be proud of that," Nagelsmann added.
Neymar set up Marquinhos' early header to give PSG an early led, then the Brazil attacker split the defence to create Parisian's second goal for Angel Di Maria before half-time.
"We won't be the first team not to stop Neymar and we won't be the last," Nagelsmann sais.
Left-back Juan Bernat scored the French champions third against the run of play to put PSG into Sunday's final against Bayern Munich or Lyon, who meet on Thursday.
"Paris played a very, very good game. We made one or two mistakes too many. In the first ten to 12 minutes we did well and had good situations," Nagelsmann said.
"It was an unfortunate mistake for the opening goal from a set piece and it was hard to come back after the second goal, because Paris have a lot of quality.
"We had a good start at the start of the second half, but then conceded the third goal from nothing, during a period of good pressure from us."
Having won their group, then knocked out last season's finalists Tottenham and an experienced Atletico Madrid side in the knock-out stages, Nagelsmann failed to hide his disappointment at the missed chance to reach the final.
"The feelings of frustration will take a few days to get over," he admitted.
"The attitude of my players was great. We showed character on the pitch, but you have to accept when the opponent is stronger."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--Magic hold on to upend mighty Bucks in playoff opener

Nikola Vucevic tallied 35 points as the Orlando Magic upset the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks 122-110 in the opening game of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series on Tuesday .
The Magic got off to a quick start to seize a double digit lead then blunted a second-half rally by the Bucks , who boast the league 's top player Giannis Antetokounmpo .
Orlando came into the series as big underdogs against the NBA 's best all-around team .
Vucevic , of Montenegro , also had 14 rebounds and four assists .
Terrence Ross finished with 18 points and six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points and 11 assists for Orlando , who shot 49 percent from the field and made 16 baskets from beyond the arc .
Reigning league MVP Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points , 17 rebounds and seven assists .
Milwaukee closed the gap to 62-52 at the half , then began the third quarter on a 16-7 run to cut Orlando 's advantage to one .
The Bucks got within six points , 99-93 , on a Brook Lopez basket with 8:13 to play , but Orlando answered with Ross ' driving dunk and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to double digits .
Orlando 's Evan Fournier was held scoreless until hitting three clutch three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to help clinch the victory .

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Nikola Vucevic tallied 35 points as the Orlando Magic upset the top seeded Milwaukee Bucks 122-110 in the opening game of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series on Tuesday.
The Magic got off to a quick start to seize a double digit lead then blunted a second-half rally by the Bucks, who boast the league's top player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Orlando came into the series as big underdogs against the NBA's best all-around team.
Vucevic, of Montenegro, also had 14 rebounds and four assists. Terrence Ross finished with 18 points and six rebounds, while DJ Augustin added 11 points and 11 assists for Orlando, who shot 49 percent from the field and made 16 baskets from beyond the arc.
Reigning league MVP Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists.
Milwaukee closed the gap to 62-52 at the half, then began the third quarter on a 16-7 run to cut Orlando's advantage to one.
The Bucks got within six points, 99-93, on a Brook Lopez basket with 8:13 to play, but Orlando answered with Ross' driving dunk and Augustin' three-pointer to push its advantage back to double digits.
Orlando's Evan Fournier was held scoreless until hitting three clutch three-pointers late in the fourth quarter to help clinch the victory.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--'Reassuring' study on risk of virus transmission on planes

Virologists at a university hospital in Frankfurt , Germany studied the risk posed by airplane travelers infected with COVID-19 in a report published in the US medical journal JAMA Network Open Wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus was not widespread in March , when a group of German tourists took a long flight home from Israel -- but researchers were surprised to find only two passengers outside the group had been infected .
In a short study published Tuesday in the US medical journal JAMA Network Open , virologists at a university hospital in Frankfurt , Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flight -- none of whom had worn masks at the time -- to examine the actual risk posed by the presence of travelers infected with COVID-19 .
On March 9 , 102 passengers boarded the Tel Aviv-Frankfurt flight that lasted four hours and 40 minutes , including a group of 24 tourists .
German authorities were alerted that the group had come into contact with an infected hotel manager in Israel , and decided to test the 24 tourists upon their arrival in Frankfurt .
Seven of them tested positive , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to five weeks later , researchers contacted the 78 other passengers from the flight , 90 percent of whom responded .
The researchers asked them whom they had come into contact with and what symptoms they had , and tested several of them .
They found two passengers were most likely infected during the flight : the two people sitting across the aisle from the original seven cases .
For respiratory viruses , experts traditionally consider the contagion zone in an airplane to extend two rows of seats in front of the infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shockingly , a person seated in the row ( seat 44K ) directly ahead of two of the infected tourists ( seats 45J and 45H ) was not infected .
`` This person from row 44 told us that he had a long conversation , and was speaking a long time with both of row 45 , '' Sandra Ciesek , the head of the Institute of Medical Virology in Frankfurt , told AFP , noting that made it all the more surprising he was not infected .
The two passengers seated directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract COVID-19 .
`` We were surprised to only find two likely transmissions , '' said Sebastian Hoehl , from the same Frankfurt institute .
All of the other passengers were not tested , so researchers could not exclude that some of them might have been infected .
The study stresses that , in any case , viral transmission on an airplane is indeed possible if passengers do not wear masks .
But , Hoehl noted , `` as the rate was lower than what we expected , and as none of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reassuring that we could not detect more '' cases .
The researchers also said that multiple studies on repatriation flights from Wuhan , China at the start of the pandemic found that no transmissions occurred on board while passengers were masked .

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Wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus was not widespread in March, when a group of German tourists took a long flight home from Israel -- but researchers were surprised to find only two passengers outside the group had been infected.
In a short study published Tuesday in the US medical journal JAMA Network Open, virologists at a university hospital in Frankfurt, Germany meticulously contacted all of the passengers from the flight -- none of whom had worn masks at the time -- to examine the actual risk posed by the presence of travelers infected with COVID-19.
On March 9, 102 passengers boarded the Tel Aviv-Frankfurt flight that lasted four hours and 40 minutes, including a group of 24 tourists.
German authorities were alerted that the group had come into contact with an infected hotel manager in Israel, and decided to test the 24 tourists upon their arrival in Frankfurt.
Seven of them tested positive, as did another seven later on.
Four to five weeks later, researchers contacted the 78 other passengers from the flight, 90 percent of whom responded. The researchers asked them whom they had come into contact with and what symptoms they had, and tested several of them.
They found two passengers were most likely infected during the flight: the two people sitting across the aisle from the original seven cases.
For respiratory viruses, experts traditionally consider the contagion zone in an airplane to extend two rows of seats in front of the infected person and two rows behind.
But shockingly, a person seated in the row (seat 44K) directly ahead of two of the infected tourists (seats 45J and 45H) was not infected.
"This person from row 44 told us that he had a long conversation, and was speaking a long time with both of row 45," Sandra Ciesek, the head of the Institute of Medical Virology in Frankfurt, told AFP, noting that made it all the more surprising he was not infected.
The two passengers seated directly behind another infected tourist also did not contract COVID-19.
"We were surprised to only find two likely transmissions," said Sebastian Hoehl, from the same Frankfurt institute.
All of the other passengers were not tested, so researchers could not exclude that some of them might have been infected. The study stresses that, in any case, viral transmission on an airplane is indeed possible if passengers do not wear masks.
But, Hoehl noted, "as the rate was lower than what we expected, and as none of the passengers wore masks, I think it is reassuring that we could not detect more" cases.
The researchers also said that multiple studies on repatriation flights from Wuhan, China at the start of the pandemic found that no transmissions occurred on board while passengers were masked.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--Neymar helps lead PSG past Leipzig and into first ever Champions League final

Angel Di Maria celebrates with Neymar after scoring PSG 's second goal in their 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in Tuesday 's Champions League semi-final in Lisbon Paris Saint-Germain are through to the final of the Champions League for the first time after goals by Marquinhos , Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat saw them ease to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in a one-sided semi-final in Lisbon on Tuesday .
It was 2-0 at half-time , with the first two goals set up by Neymar , the Brazilian again outstanding at the Estadio da Luz , just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter-final against Atalanta .
Bernat 's goal came in the 55th minute and snuffed out any hopes Leipzig had of a comeback .
They could not handle the world 's most expensive player , or the many other outstanding performers in the PSG side , who no longer appear overcome by the sense of occasion that surrounds a Champions League knockout tie .
After seeming to invent ever more absurd ways to lose in Europe in recent years -- the 6-1 loss against Barcelona in 2017 and last year 's defeat by Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- despite all the investment by the club 's Qatari owners , here they lived up to their billing .
`` We wanted to make history and we did it , '' Di Maria told French broadcaster RMC Sport .
`` If we continue the way we played today , that could help us in the final . ''
Bayern Munich and Lyon meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday for the right to face PSG in Sunday 's final .
Thomas Tuchel 's team are the competition 's first French finalists since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qatar Sports Investments bought a moribund mid-table Ligue 1 team and began turning them into the untouchable force in France , they are now one game away from winning the trophy that really matters to them .
`` It is a dream but I hope the dream does n't end here tonight , '' said PSG 's Qatari president , Nasser Al-Khelaifi .
There is little doubt that the context in Lisbon is helping .
PSG have only needed to perform for 90 minutes instead of over two legs in the latter stages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .
They also need not feel the pressure of having to perform in front of their expectant support -- glimpse the other way inside Benfica 's cavernous stadium and you really could forget there was a football match being played .
Then again , in many ways it was not much of a match .
A first ever European semi-final was a step too far for Julian Nagelsmann 's young team , which featured seven outfield players aged between 21 and 24 in the starting line-up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of star striker Timo Werner , sold to Chelsea before the 'Final Eight ' began .
`` They were better than us and we have to accept that , '' said Nagelsmann .
PSG had seen Neymar hit the post before they went ahead in the 13th minute .
Neymar won a free-kick just outside the box to the left .
Di Maria 's wicked delivery was headed home by Marquinhos .
The Brazilian defender , reinvented as a holding midfielder by Tuchel , does not score many but he had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equaliser .
Di Maria was making his comeback after suspension .
Kylian Mbappe was also fit enough to start for the first time after his recent ankle injury .
Mauro Icardi made way as that duo joined Neymar in a three-man attack .
At the other end , Sergio Rico was rarely troubled standing in for injured goalkeeper Keylor Navas .
Neymar nearly scored with an audacious attempt from a free-kick , almost catching out Peter Gulacsi when he hit the post from way out on the right flank as everyone expected a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champions their second just before the break .
His poor pass out fell to Leandro Paredes , and he returned it into the box and on to Di Maria via an outrageous Neymar flick .
Di Maria controlled and slotted home .
It was game over within 10 minutes of the second half starting .
Leipzig thought Nordi Mukiele was fouled in the right-back position but the Dutch referee decided he had merely slipped .
As play continued , Di Maria crossed for Bernat to head in .
Tuchel , perched on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pumped his fist in celebration .
PSG are now hoping to become just the second French winner of the trophy , 27 years after Marseille won the inaugural Champions League .

Lisbon (AFP) –
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Paris Saint-Germain are through to the final of the Champions League for the first time after goals by Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat saw them ease to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in a one-sided semi-final in Lisbon on Tuesday.
It was 2-0 at half-time, with the first two goals set up by Neymar, the Brazilian again outstanding at the Estadio da Luz, just as he had been in last week's quarter-final against Atalanta.
Bernat's goal came in the 55th minute and snuffed out any hopes Leipzig had of a comeback. They could not handle the world's most expensive player, or the many other outstanding performers in the PSG side, who no longer appear overcome by the sense of occasion that surrounds a Champions League knockout tie.
After seeming to invent ever more absurd ways to lose in Europe in recent years -- the 6-1 loss against Barcelona in 2017 and last year's defeat by Manchester United in the last 16 stand out -- despite all the investment by the club's Qatari owners, here they lived up to their billing.
"We wanted to make history and we did it," Di Maria told French broadcaster RMC Sport. "If we continue the way we played today, that could help us in the final."
Bayern Munich and Lyon meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday for the right to face PSG in Sunday's final. Thomas Tuchel's team are the competition's first French finalists since Monaco in 2004.
Nine years after Qatar Sports Investments bought a moribund mid-table Ligue 1 team and began turning them into the untouchable force in France, they are now one game away from winning the trophy that really matters to them.
"It is a dream but I hope the dream doesn't end here tonight," said PSG's Qatari president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
There is little doubt that the context in Lisbon is helping. PSG have only needed to perform for 90 minutes instead of over two legs in the latter stages of this season's tournament, so badly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
They also need not feel the pressure of having to perform in front of their expectant support -- glimpse the other way inside Benfica's cavernous stadium and you really could forget there was a football match being played.
- No contest -
Then again, in many ways it was not much of a match.
A first ever European semi-final was a step too far for Julian Nagelsmann's young team, which featured seven outfield players aged between 21 and 24 in the starting line-up and this time could not compensate for the loss of star striker Timo Werner, sold to Chelsea before the 'Final Eight' began.
"They were better than us and we have to accept that," said Nagelsmann.
PSG had seen Neymar hit the post before they went ahead in the 13th minute.
Neymar won a free-kick just outside the box to the left. Di Maria's wicked delivery was headed home by Marquinhos.
The Brazilian defender, reinvented as a holding midfielder by Tuchel, does not score many but he had already saved PSG against Atalanta with his last-minute equaliser.
Di Maria was making his comeback after suspension. Kylian Mbappe was also fit enough to start for the first time after his recent ankle injury.
Mauro Icardi made way as that duo joined Neymar in a three-man attack. At the other end, Sergio Rico was rarely troubled standing in for injured goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Neymar nearly scored with an audacious attempt from a free-kick, almost catching out Peter Gulacsi when he hit the post from way out on the right flank as everyone expected a cross.
But Gulacsi gifted the French champions their second just before the break. His poor pass out fell to Leandro Paredes, and he returned it into the box and on to Di Maria via an outrageous Neymar flick. Di Maria controlled and slotted home.
It was game over within 10 minutes of the second half starting.
Leipzig thought Nordi Mukiele was fouled in the right-back position but the Dutch referee decided he had merely slipped. As play continued, Di Maria crossed for Bernat to head in. Tuchel, perched on a cool box in his technical area, pumped his fist in celebration.
PSG are now hoping to become just the second French winner of the trophy, 27 years after Marseille won the inaugural Champions League.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--Di Maria 'won't sleep' after reaching Champions League final

Angel Di Maria said Tuesday he will find it difficult to sleep after scoring in Paris Saint-Germain 's 3-0 victory over RB Leipzig to reach the Champions League final .
Di Maria claimed his side 's second goal , which came between headed strikes from Marquinhos and Juan Bernat , in a fixture played in a near-empty Estadio da Luz in Lisbon due to the coronavirus pandemic .
PSG will face either Bayern Munich or Lyon in their first ever appearance at a Champions League final .
`` It 's going to be hard to sleep tonight with the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told broadcasters RMC Sport .
`` We 're very happy .
The team worked well , we succeeded in taking PSG to the final .
Now we 're in the final which is important for us and if we continue like today then it will help us for the final , '' he added .
The semi-finals included two sides each from Ligue 1 and Germany 's Bundesliga and Di Maria said it underlined the standard of both competitions .
`` We have proven French and German leagues are high quality , same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep doing what we have been , '' he said .
Di Maria won the competition with Real Madrid in the Portuguese capital in 2014 and compared his current side with the Spanish giants .
`` It was incredible .
We also have a good level not just individuals but the whole squad it 's not always spectacular but the squad is quality because whoever players the level never drops , '' he said .
`` We 're just one step from making history for the club , getting to a final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still , '' he added .

Lisbon (AFP) –
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Angel Di Maria said Tuesday he will find it difficult to sleep after scoring in Paris Saint-Germain's 3-0 victory over RB Leipzig to reach the Champions League final.
Di Maria claimed his side's second goal, which came between headed strikes from Marquinhos and Juan Bernat, in a fixture played in a near-empty Estadio da Luz in Lisbon due to the coronavirus pandemic.
PSG will face either Bayern Munich or Lyon in their first ever appearance at a Champions League final.
"It's going to be hard to sleep tonight with the final on my mind," Di Maria told broadcasters RMC Sport.
"We're very happy. The team worked well, we succeeded in taking PSG to the final. Now we're in the final which is important for us and if we continue like today then it will help us for the final," he added.
The semi-finals included two sides each from Ligue 1 and Germany's Bundesliga and Di Maria said it underlined the standard of both competitions.
"We have proven French and German leagues are high quality, same level as other leagues and we have to keep doing what we have been," he said.
Di Maria won the competition with Real Madrid in the Portuguese capital in 2014 and compared his current side with the Spanish giants.
"It was incredible. We also have a good level not just individuals but the whole squad it's not always spectacular but the squad is quality because whoever players the level never drops," he said.
"We're just one step from making history for the club, getting to a final is historic but we can go further still," he added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-18--PSG through to their first-ever Champions League final after beating Leipzig 3-0

Paris St Germain 's Marquinhos celebrates scoring their first goal with Neymar in Champions League semi final at Estadio da Luz , Lisbon , Portugal - August 18 , 2020 .
Paris Saint-Germain are through to the final of the Champions League for the first time after goals by Marquinhos , Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat saw them ease to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in a one-sided semi-final in Lisbon on Tuesday .
It was 2-0 at half-time , with the first two goals set up by Neymar , the Brazilian again outstanding at the Estadio da @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in last week 's quarter-final against Atalanta .
Bernat 's goal came in the 55th minute and snuffed out any hopes Leipzig had of a comeback .
They could not handle the world 's most expensive player , or the many other outstanding performers in the PSG side , who no longer appear overcome by the sense of occasion that surrounds a Champions League knockout tie .
After seeming to invent ever more absurd ways to lose in Europe in recent years -- the 6-1 loss against Barcelona in 2017 and last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 16 stand out -- despite all the investment by the club 's Qatari owners , here they lived up their billing .
Bayern Munich and Lyon meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday for the right to face PSG in Sunday 's final .
Thomas Tuchel 's team are the first French finalists in Europe 's elite club competition since Monaco in 2004 .
Nine years after Qatar Sports Investments bought a moribund mid-table Ligue 1 team and began turning them into the untouchable force in France , they are now one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really matters to them .
There is little doubt that the context in Lisbon is helping .
PSG have only needed to perform for 90 minutes instead of over two legs in the latter stages of this season 's competition , so badly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic .
They also need not feel the pressure of having to perform in front of their expectant support -- glimpse the other way inside Benfica 's cavernous stadium and you really could forget there was a football match being played .
Then again , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a match .
A first ever European semi-final was a step too far for Julian Nagelsmann 's young team , which featured seven outfield players aged between 21 and 24 in the starting line-up and this time could not compensate for the loss of star striker Timo Werner , sold to Chelsea before the 'Final Eight ' began .
PSG had seen Neymar hit the post before they went ahead in the 13th minute .
Neymar won a free-kick just outside the box to the left .
Di Maria swung in the dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazilian defender , reinvented as a holding midfielder by Tuchel , does not score many but he had already saved PSG against Atalanta with his last-minute equaliser .
Di Maria was making his comeback after suspension kept him out of the quarter-final .
Kylian Mbappe was also fit enough to start for the first time after his recent ankle injury .
Mauro Icardi made way as that duo joined Neymar in a three-man attack .
At the other end , Sergio Rico was rarely troubled as he stood in for injured goalkeeper Keylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an audacious attempt from a free-kick , almost catching out Peter Gulacsi when he hit the post from way out on the right flank as everyone expected a cross .
But Gulacsi gifted the French champions their second just before the break .
His poor pass out fell to Leandro Paredes , and he returned it into the box and on to Di Maria via an outrageous Neymar flick .
Di Maria controlled and slotted home .
It was game over within 10 minutes of the second half starting .
Leipzig thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position but the Dutch referee decided he had merely slipped .
As play continued , Di Maria crossed for Bernat to head in .
Tuchel , perched on a cool box in his technical area , pumped his fist in celebration .
PSG are now hoping to become just the second French winner of the trophy , 27 years after Marseille won the inaugural Champions League .

Paris Saint-Germain are through to the final of the Champions League for the first time after goals by Marquinhos, Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat saw them ease to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig in a one-sided semi-final in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos celebrates scoring the team's first goal with Neymar in the Champions League semi-final at Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal on August 18, 2020.
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It was 2-0 at half-time, with the first two goals set up by Neymar, the Brazilian again outstanding at the Estadio da Luz, just as he had been in last week's quarter-final against Atalanta.
Bernat's goal came in the 55th minute and snuffed out any hopes Leipzig had of a comeback. They could not handle the world's most expensive player, or the many other outstanding performers in the PSG side, who no longer appear overcome by the sense of occasion that surrounds a Champions League knockout tie.
After seeming to invent ever more absurd ways to lose in Europe in recent years -- the 6-1 loss against Barcelona in 2017 and last year's defeat by Manchester United in the last 16 stand out -- despite all the investment by the club's Qatari owners, here they lived up to their billing.
00:40
Bayern Munich and Lyon meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday for the right to face PSG in Sunday's final. Thomas Tuchel's team are the first French finalists in Europe's elite club competition since Monaco in 2004.
Nine years after Qatar Sports Investments bought a moribund mid-table Ligue 1 team and began turning them into the untouchable force in France, they are now one game away from winning the trophy that really matters to them.
There is little doubt that the context in Lisbon is helping. PSG have only needed to perform for 90 minutes instead of over two legs in the latter stages of this season's competition, so badly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
They also need not feel the pressure of having to perform in front of their expectant support -- glimpse the other way inside Benfica's cavernous stadium and you really could forget there was a football match being played.
No contest
Then again, in many ways it was not much of a match.
A first ever European semi-final was a step too far for Julian Nagelsmann's young team, which featured seven outfield players aged between 21 and 24 in the starting line-up and this time could not compensate for the loss of star striker Timo Werner, sold to Chelsea before the 'Final Eight' began.
PSG had seen Neymar hit the post before they went ahead in the 13th minute.
Neymar won a free-kick just outside the box to the left. Di Maria swung in the dead ball and Marquinhos headed home.
The Brazilian defender, reinvented as a holding midfielder by Tuchel, does not score many but he had already saved PSG against Atalanta with his last-minute equaliser.
Di Maria was making his comeback after suspension kept him out of the quarter-final. Kylian Mbappe was also fit enough to start for the first time after his recent ankle injury.
Mauro Icardi made way as that duo joined Neymar in a three-man attack. At the other end, Sergio Rico was rarely troubled as he stood in for injured goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Neymar nearly made it 2-0 with an audacious attempt from a free-kick, almost catching out Peter Gulacsi when he hit the post from way out on the right flank as everyone expected a cross.
But Gulacsi gifted the French champions their second just before the break. His poor pass out fell to Leandro Paredes, and he returned it into the box and on to Di Maria via an outrageous Neymar flick. Di Maria controlled and slotted home.
It was game over within 10 minutes of the second half starting.
Leipzig thought Nordi Mukiele was fouled in the right-back position but the Dutch referee decided he had merely slipped. As play continued, Di Maria crossed for Bernat to head in. Tuchel, perched on a cool box in his technical area, pumped his fist in celebration.
PSG are now hoping to become just the second French winner of the trophy, 27 years after Marseille won the inaugural Champions League.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-19--'Smiling Cinderella' Shibuno set for 'very difficult' title defence

Japan 's Hinako Shibuno known as the Smiling Cinderella must conquer a links course to defend her British Open title a very different challenge to the Woburn course she won on last year A year ago , Hinako Shibuno was a little known golfer who wowed the crowds at Woburn on her way to a shock victory in the Women 's British Open .
The player dubbed the 'Smiling Cinderella ' , who is now one of Japan 's sporting superstars , lines up at Royal Troon in Scotland on Thursday as the defending champion -- but with not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown due to coronavirus , the Women 's British Open is the first major of the 2020 LPGA season and 21-year-old Shibuno is looking forward to a new challenge .
`` My win last year was life changing , '' she admitted through an interpreter .
`` I became a celebrity in Japan and could n't believe the number of people when I arrived home at the airport .
Woburn is an inland parkland course so the Troon links presents a completely different test .
`` I have watched the Open Championship on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on the tee shots and miss the fairway bunkers , '' said Shibuno .
`` It 's going to be very difficult because I know there will be wind and rain and I will have to play smart .
`` But I want to enjoy being the defending champion and show other parts of my game .
`` I have high expectations of myself but I want to play with a smile on my face . ''
Ariya Jutanugarn was also a British Open winner at Woburn in 2016 and the long-hitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favourites to lift the crown this year .
After a six month break due to the virus , the 24-year-old returned to action with a top 40 finish at last week 's Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club at North Berwick .
Winner of the 2018 Scottish Open at Gullane , she has learned to love links courses .
`` I am raring to go , '' she said .
`` There are no crowds here this week but it still feels like a major .
`` At first I did n't like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago helped change my mind .
`` Sometimes by this stage of the season you are wanting a break , but this time I am just so happy to be back to golf .
`` It 's been really tough for everyone and I am so grateful to be playing tournaments again . ''
Heading the British challenge are the 2018 champion from Royal Lytham and St Annes , Georgia Hall , and her Solheim Cup team mate Charley Hull .
Hull has won on the Rose Ladies ' Series this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star Justin Rose .
She won back-to-back tournaments in Ohio on the LPGA Tour 's return earlier this month and just missed out on a play-off for the Scottish Open last week .
As a result , she has now risen to No.2 in the world behind South Korea 's Ko Jin-young .
`` It 's been great , '' she said .
`` I am so glad to be here and the course is beautiful .
`` Despite the restrictions , the bubble protocol has been fantastic here in Scotland .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there is easy access to everything we need . ''
Englisgh golfing legend Laura Davies is playing in her 40th British Open and she has the honour of teeing off first when the action gets underway on Thursday morning .

Troon (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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A year ago, Hinako Shibuno was a little known golfer who wowed the crowds at Woburn on her way to a shock victory in the Women's British Open.
The player dubbed the 'Smiling Cinderella', who is now one of Japan's sporting superstars, lines up at Royal Troon in Scotland on Thursday as the defending champion -- but with not a spectator in sight.
After a golfing lockdown due to coronavirus, the Women's British Open is the first major of the 2020 LPGA season and 21-year-old Shibuno is looking forward to a new challenge.
"My win last year was life changing," she admitted through an interpreter.
"I became a celebrity in Japan and couldn't believe the number of people when I arrived home at the airport.
"It was weird."
Woburn is an inland parkland course so the Troon links presents a completely different test.
"I have watched the Open Championship on TV and I know I need to focus on the tee shots and miss the fairway bunkers," said Shibuno.
"It's going to be very difficult because I know there will be wind and rain and I will have to play smart.
"But I want to enjoy being the defending champion and show other parts of my game.
"I have high expectations of myself but I want to play with a smile on my face."
- 'Tough for everyone' -
Ariya Jutanugarn was also a British Open winner at Woburn in 2016 and the long-hitting Thai golfer starts as one of the favourites to lift the crown this year.
After a six month break due to the virus, the 24-year-old returned to action with a top 40 finish at last week's Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club at North Berwick.
Winner of the 2018 Scottish Open at Gullane, she has learned to love links courses.
"I am raring to go," she said.
"There are no crowds here this week but it still feels like a major.
"At first I didn't like links courses but the Scottish win two years ago helped change my mind.
"Sometimes by this stage of the season you are wanting a break, but this time I am just so happy to be back to golf.
"It's been really tough for everyone and I am so grateful to be playing tournaments again."
Heading the British challenge are the 2018 champion from Royal Lytham and St Annes, Georgia Hall, and her Solheim Cup team mate Charley Hull.
Hull has won on the Rose Ladies' Series this year - tournaments sponsored by English male golfing star Justin Rose.
American Danielle Kang is the in-form player.
She won back-to-back tournaments in Ohio on the LPGA Tour's return earlier this month and just missed out on a play-off for the Scottish Open last week.
As a result, she has now risen to No.2 in the world behind South Korea's Ko Jin-young.
"It's been great," she said.
"I am so glad to be here and the course is beautiful.
"Despite the restrictions, the bubble protocol has been fantastic here in Scotland.
"It is so different for everyone, but there is easy access to everything we need."
Englisgh golfing legend Laura Davies is playing in her 40th British Open and she has the honour of teeing off first when the action gets underway on Thursday morning.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-19--UN says half its Yemen aid programmes hit by lack of funds

The United Nations said Wednesday it has been forced to close or severely cut back half of its major programmes in Yemen to tackle the world 's worst humanitarian crisis .
`` We have a moral obligation to warn the world that millions of Yemenis will suffer and could die because we do n't have the funding we need to keep going , '' said the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen , Lisa Grande .
Grande said UN programmes in Yemen had had a `` real impact '' , preventing large-scale famine , rolling back the worst cholera epidemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of displaced people , and she appealed to donors to provide the funds to keep them going .
Five years of war between pro-Iran rebels and a Saudi-led coalition which intervened to shore up the beleaguered government have left nearly 80 percent of Yemenis -- more than 24 million people -- dependent on some form of humanitarian aid .
A Yemen aid conference held in Riyadh on June 2 saw donors pledge only $ 1.35 billion of the $ 2.41 billion needed to cover essential humanitarian activities until the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 billion .
Saudi Arabia , a key player in the conflict , emerged as the biggest donor , pledging an aid package worth $ 500 million .
The UN said the impact of underfunding had been dramatic , against what it has termed the world 's worst humanitarian crisis .
In April , food rations for more than eight million people in northern Yemen were halved and humanitarian agencies were forced to stop reproductive health services in 140 facilities .
Health services were cut or reduced in a further 275 specialised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other infectious diseases .
Allowances to nearly 10,000 frontline health workers were stopped and the supplies needed to treat trauma patients , who will almost certainly die without immediate treatment , were halted .
If funding is not urgently received within weeks , medicines and essential supplies for 189 hospitals and 2,500 clinics , representing half of the health facilities in Yemen , will halt just as the world does battle with the coronavirus pandemic .
International medical charity Doctors Without Borders ( MSF ) has warned that Yemen faces a `` catastrophe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says COVID-19 has likely already spread throughout most of Yemen , even though less than 2,000 cases , including 537 deaths , have been recorded .

Sanaa (AFP) –
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The United Nations said Wednesday it has been forced to close or severely cut back half of its major programmes in Yemen to tackle the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
"We have a moral obligation to warn the world that millions of Yemenis will suffer and could die because we don't have the funding we need to keep going," said the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lisa Grande.
Grande said UN programmes in Yemen had had a "real impact", preventing large-scale famine, rolling back the worst cholera epidemic in modern history and providing help to millions of displaced people, and she appealed to donors to provide the funds to keep them going.
Five years of war between pro-Iran rebels and a Saudi-led coalition which intervened to shore up the beleaguered government have left nearly 80 percent of Yemenis -- more than 24 million people -- dependent on some form of humanitarian aid.
A Yemen aid conference held in Riyadh on June 2 saw donors pledge only $1.35 billion of the $2.41 billion needed to cover essential humanitarian activities until the end of the year, leaving a gap of more than $1 billion.
Saudi Arabia, a key player in the conflict, emerged as the biggest donor, pledging an aid package worth $500 million.
The UN said the impact of underfunding had been dramatic, against what it has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
In April, food rations for more than eight million people in northern Yemen were halved and humanitarian agencies were forced to stop reproductive health services in 140 facilities.
Health services were cut or reduced in a further 275 specialised centres for treating people with cholera and other infectious diseases.
Allowances to nearly 10,000 frontline health workers were stopped and the supplies needed to treat trauma patients, who will almost certainly die without immediate treatment, were halted.
If funding is not urgently received within weeks, medicines and essential supplies for 189 hospitals and 2,500 clinics, representing half of the health facilities in Yemen, will halt just as the world does battle with the coronavirus pandemic.
International medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned that Yemen faces a "catastrophe" from the disease.
The UN says COVID-19 has likely already spread throughout most of Yemen, even though less than 2,000 cases, including 537 deaths, have been recorded.
© 2020 AFP