france24--2020-09-18--US military strengthens deployment in Syria

A convoy of US armored vehicles patrols the northeast Syrian town of Qahtaniyah at the border with Turkey , in October 2019 The US Army announced Friday it was stepping up its military deployment -- both troops and equipment -- in northeastern Syria despite a push to limit its presence there , a move that follows tensions with Russia in the region .
US Central Command ( Centcom ) `` has deployed Sentinel radar , increased the frequency of US fighter patrols over US forces , and deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to augment US forces '' in the area , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Kurdish allies , spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement .
The number of armored vehicles sent as reinforcement did not exceed half a dozen , and `` less than 100 people '' were sent to maneuver them , a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said .
Without mentioning Russia , Urban said the moves were meant `` to help ensure the safety and security of Coalition forces , '' and that the US `` does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria , but will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US official , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said however that the actions `` are a clear signal to Russia to adhere to mutual de-confliction processes and for Russia and other parties to avoid unprofessional , unsafe and provocative actions in northeast Syria . ''
US Bradley Fighting Vehicles were pulled out of the region last October by President Donald Trump , who tried in early 2019 to recall all US troops from Syria , before agreeing to leave a few hundred to protect oil wells .
Several incidents in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Russian forces now deployed along the Turkish border under an agreement with Ankara .
At the end of August , seven American soldiers were injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle .
Videos posted on Twitter , apparently filmed by witnesses and the Russians themselves , showed Russian armor and helicopters attempting to block American vehicles and then force them out of the area .
The tanks were flown in from a base in Kuwait , anti-jihadist coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto said in another statement .
US and Russian troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been rare .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US Army announced Friday it was stepping up its military deployment -- both troops and equipment -- in northeastern Syria despite a push to limit its presence there, a move that follows tensions with Russia in the region.
US Central Command (Centcom) "has deployed Sentinel radar, increased the frequency of US fighter patrols over US forces, and deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to augment US forces" in the area, which is controlled by the US and its Kurdish allies, spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement.
The number of armored vehicles sent as reinforcement did not exceed half a dozen, and "less than 100 people" were sent to maneuver them, a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
Without mentioning Russia, Urban said the moves were meant "to help ensure the safety and security of Coalition forces," and that the US "does not seek conflict with any other nation in Syria, but will defend Coalition forces if necessary."
The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said however that the actions "are a clear signal to Russia to adhere to mutual de-confliction processes and for Russia and other parties to avoid unprofessional, unsafe and provocative actions in northeast Syria."
US Bradley Fighting Vehicles were pulled out of the region last October by President Donald Trump, who tried in early 2019 to recall all US troops from Syria, before agreeing to leave a few hundred to protect oil wells.
Several incidents in recent weeks have pitted the US military against Russian forces now deployed along the Turkish border under an agreement with Ankara.
At the end of August, seven American soldiers were injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle.
Videos posted on Twitter, apparently filmed by witnesses and the Russians themselves, showed Russian armor and helicopters attempting to block American vehicles and then force them out of the area.
The tanks were flown in from a base in Kuwait, anti-jihadist coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto said in another statement.
US and Russian troops frequently interact in Syria, but confrontations have been rare.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Maduro has to leave, Pompeo says on South America trip

On a South American trip , US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has highlighted the economic devastation of Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro 's rule US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a South American tour Friday to tell Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro he `` has to leave , '' drawing a furious accusation of `` war-mongering '' from the leftist leader .
Touring a refugee center in the town of Boa Vista , Brazil , on the border with Venezuela , Pompeo emphasized the plight of the nearly five million Venezuelans who have fled the country 's economic meltdown under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to today are desperate to return home , '' he said of the refugees being processed at the center -- among the estimated 260,000 Venezuelans who have fled to Brazil .
`` They want what all human beings want -- dignity , they want a democratic , peaceful , sovereign Venezuela to call home , one where they and their children can find jobs . ''
He called Maduro `` a leader who 's destroyed his own country , a man-made disaster of massive proportions , '' as well as `` a drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US Justice Department filed against Maduro and his inner circle earlier this year .
`` We know that the Maduro regime has decimated the people of Venezuela , and that Maduro himself is an indicted narcotics trafficker .
That means he has to leave , '' Pompeo said earlier in Guyana during a joint press conference with President Irfaan Ali .
Maduro responded with an angry salvo of his own .
`` Mike Pompeo is on a war-mongering tour against Venezuela , but it has backfired on him ... and he has failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments of the continent to organize themselves in a war against Venezuela , '' he said on state TV .
Venezuela , home to the world 's biggest oil reserves , has seen its economy shrink by more than half under Maduro , the political heir to late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez after his death in 2013 .
But Maduro has so far survived attempts to oust him , including when National Assembly speaker Juan Guaido declared himself acting president in January 2019 , claiming Maduro had stolen the 2018 election .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center for refugees and a US-funded soup kitchen run by a local Catholic church for hungry and homeless Venezuelans living on the streets of Boa Vista .
He announced another $ 348 million to help Venezuelan refugees and the countries hosting them , bringing total US contribution to more than $ 1.2 billion .
He later met with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro 's foreign minister , Ernesto Araujo .
The two reiterated their support for Guaido , who is recognized as president by around 50 countries , led by the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just mean supporting a courageous young leader , it means supporting the Venezuelan constitution and its legitimate authorities , '' said Araujo at a joint news conference .
The US Justice Department has put a $ 15-million bounty on Maduro 's head , accusing him of overseeing massive drug trafficking into the United States .
However , Maduro has steadfastly refused to back down and retains the support of the armed forces , as well as key allies in Russia and Iran .
Iran has clashed with the United States over its attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own refining capacity has collapsed so badly it now needs to import gasoline .
Last month , the United States confirmed it had seized the cargo of four Venezuela-bound tankers sent by Iran .
Responding to reports that three more tankers of Iranian fuel are now en route , Pompeo did not say whether the United States would attempt to seize them .
`` But , as I think the world has seen , we 've stopped previous shipments from coming to Venezuela , '' he said .
`` We do our best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many of them the capacity to create wealth for Nicolas Maduro and his thugs . ''
After his Brazil stop , Pompeo was due to travel to Colombia , whose conservative government is also closely aligned with Washington on the Venezuela crisis .
He began his three-day South American trip on Thursday in Suriname , and will conclude it this weekend with a stop at an Evangelical mega-church in Dallas , Texas .

Boa Vista (Brazil) (AFP) –
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a South American tour Friday to tell Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro he "has to leave," drawing a furious accusation of "war-mongering" from the leftist leader.
Touring a refugee center in the town of Boa Vista, Brazil, on the border with Venezuela, Pompeo emphasized the plight of the nearly five million Venezuelans who have fled the country's economic meltdown under Maduro.
"Those people I talked to today are desperate to return home," he said of the refugees being processed at the center -- among the estimated 260,000 Venezuelans who have fled to Brazil.
"They want what all human beings want -- dignity, they want a democratic, peaceful, sovereign Venezuela to call home, one where they and their children can find jobs."
He called Maduro "a leader who's destroyed his own country, a man-made disaster of massive proportions," as well as "a drug trafficker" -- referring to charges the US Justice Department filed against Maduro and his inner circle earlier this year.
"We know that the Maduro regime has decimated the people of Venezuela, and that Maduro himself is an indicted narcotics trafficker. That means he has to leave," Pompeo said earlier in Guyana during a joint press conference with President Irfaan Ali.
Maduro responded with an angry salvo of his own.
"Mike Pompeo is on a war-mongering tour against Venezuela, but it has backfired on him... and he has failed in all his attempts to get the governments of the continent to organize themselves in a war against Venezuela," he said on state TV.
Venezuela, home to the world's biggest oil reserves, has seen its economy shrink by more than half under Maduro, the political heir to late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez after his death in 2013.
But Maduro has so far survived attempts to oust him, including when National Assembly speaker Juan Guaido declared himself acting president in January 2019, claiming Maduro had stolen the 2018 election.
In Brazil, Pompeo also toured a processing center for refugees and a US-funded soup kitchen run by a local Catholic church for hungry and homeless Venezuelans living on the streets of Boa Vista.
He announced another $348 million to help Venezuelan refugees and the countries hosting them, bringing total US contribution to more than $1.2 billion.
He later met with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's foreign minister, Ernesto Araujo.
The two reiterated their support for Guaido, who is recognized as president by around 50 countries, led by the United States.
Backing Guaido as president "doesn't just mean supporting a courageous young leader, it means supporting the Venezuelan constitution and its legitimate authorities," said Araujo at a joint news conference.
- Iran oil tankers -
The US Justice Department has put a $15-million bounty on Maduro's head, accusing him of overseeing massive drug trafficking into the United States.
However, Maduro has steadfastly refused to back down and retains the support of the armed forces, as well as key allies in Russia and Iran.
Iran has clashed with the United States over its attempts to ship gasoline to Venezuela, whose own refining capacity has collapsed so badly it now needs to import gasoline.
Last month, the United States confirmed it had seized the cargo of four Venezuela-bound tankers sent by Iran.
Responding to reports that three more tankers of Iranian fuel are now en route, Pompeo did not say whether the United States would attempt to seize them.
"But, as I think the world has seen, we've stopped previous shipments from coming to Venezuela," he said.
"We do our best to track each of them and deny as many of them the capacity to create wealth for Nicolas Maduro and his thugs."
After his Brazil stop, Pompeo was due to travel to Colombia, whose conservative government is also closely aligned with Washington on the Venezuela crisis.
He began his three-day South American trip on Thursday in Suriname, and will conclude it this weekend with a stop at an Evangelical mega-church in Dallas, Texas.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Storms Alpha and Beta named for Greek alphabet, second time ever

A couple walk up the broken dock to check their boat during Hurricane Sally in downtown Pensacola , Florida on September 16 , 2020 , before the NHC ran out of names Meteorologists were forced to break out the Greek alphabet Friday to name Atlantic storms for only the second time ever after the 2020 hurricane season blew through their usual list , ending on Tropical Storm Wilfred .
Tropical Storm Beta was packing maximum sustained winds of 40 miles ( 65 kilometers ) per hour in the Gulf of Mexico , some 280 miles off the mouth of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It is expected to reach hurricane intensity over the weekend , according to the Miami-based center .
At the same time , subtropical storm Alpha was forming on the other side of the Atlantic , some 120 miles off the coast of Portugal .
With maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour , it is not expected to intensify , the NHC said .
The storms were named after letters of the Greek alphabet , after Tropical Storm Wilfred formed earlier Friday , exhausting the list of names predetermined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for tropical storms .
The list consists of 21 male and female names that alternate in alphabetical order and change every year .
The WMO chooses names that are easily recognizable in a region where several languages are spoken , so no names starting with X , Y or Z are chosen .
In the unusual event that the list is used up , the WMO identifies storms by letters of the Greek alphabet : alpha , beta , gamma , delta ... as has been the case this year , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Get out the Greek alphabet for the rest of 2020 , '' the NHC said in an update on Wilfred .
Meteorologist MJ Ventrice of The Weather Company tweeted that `` this is the second time in history we 'll be using the Greek Alphabet . ''
The first time , he added was in 2005 , when Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma devastated Louisiana and Florida , respectively .
Those names , as well as Maria , Irma and Harvey , have been retired permanently from the WMO lists due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teddy has reached Category 4 , the second-highest level .
Teddy is swirling around the central Atlantic and could pass near Bermuda , just a week after Hurricane Paulette .

Miami (AFP) –
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Meteorologists were forced to break out the Greek alphabet Friday to name Atlantic storms for only the second time ever after the 2020 hurricane season blew through their usual list, ending on Tropical Storm Wilfred.
Tropical Storm Beta was packing maximum sustained winds of 40 miles (65 kilometers) per hour in the Gulf of Mexico, some 280 miles off the mouth of the Rio Grande, the National Hurricane Center said.
It is expected to reach hurricane intensity over the weekend, according to the Miami-based center.
At the same time, subtropical storm Alpha was forming on the other side of the Atlantic, some 120 miles off the coast of Portugal. With maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour, it is not expected to intensify, the NHC said.
The storms were named after letters of the Greek alphabet, after Tropical Storm Wilfred formed earlier Friday, exhausting the list of names predetermined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for tropical storms.
The list consists of 21 male and female names that alternate in alphabetical order and change every year. The WMO chooses names that are easily recognizable in a region where several languages are spoken, so no names starting with X, Y or Z are chosen.
In the unusual event that the list is used up, the WMO identifies storms by letters of the Greek alphabet: alpha, beta, gamma, delta... as has been the case this year, which has seen an unusually active hurricane season.
"Get out the Greek alphabet for the rest of 2020," the NHC said in an update on Wilfred.
Meteorologist MJ Ventrice of The Weather Company tweeted that "this is the second time in history we'll be using the Greek Alphabet."
The first time, he added was in 2005, when Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma devastated Louisiana and Florida, respectively.
Those names, as well as Maria, Irma and Harvey, have been retired permanently from the WMO lists due to the devastation they caused.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Teddy has reached Category 4, the second-highest level. Teddy is swirling around the central Atlantic and could pass near Bermuda, just a week after Hurricane Paulette.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Stars, Lightning square off in unprecedented Stanley Cup final

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars will meet in an unprecedented Stanley Cup final , each pursuing a second NHL title in a season upended by the coronavirus pandemic .
`` It might be one of the hardest Cups to ever win , '' Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said after the Lightning clinched the Eastern Conference crown with a victory over the New York Islanders in the league 's quarantine hub at Edmonton .
`` Whoever raises this Cup , they 'll have earned this one , I 'll tell you that . ''
The Lightning will take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in the best-of-seven series on Saturday , less than 48 hours after polishing off the Islanders .
Dallas enjoyed a bit more time off in the bubble after clinching victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final on Monday .
Denis Gurianov scored a power play goal in overtime for Dallas , which reached the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2000 -- a year after they claimed the championship .
The Lightning are seeking to add a second title to the one they captured in 2004 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago in the championship series in 2015 .
But no NHL team has played a Stanley Cup final at a neutral site with no fans in attendance -- and never before have two teams from the US `` Sun Belt '' faced off for the ultimate prize .
For the Lightning , their run to the title series is a vindication after they were swept in the Eastern Conference first round last season after earning the Presidents Trophy for best regular-season record .
`` We put that behind us , '' Lightning defenseman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken a wild ride through the playoffs , trailing Calgary 2-1 in their first round series and trailing 3-0 in the sixth game against the Flames before rallying to advance .
They trailed the Colorado Rockies with less than four minutes to play in game seven , but rallied again .
The Stars defeated the Calgary Flames in six games , the Colorado Avalanche in seven games , and the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Western Conference Final .
`` We have a really hungry team .
From young guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff , our whole organization really wants to put everything out there for this last series , '' veteran Stars forward Andrew Cogliano said .
`` There have been hiccups , times when it has n't been perfect , but it seems like we 've always found a way to rise to the occasion and make things happen at the right time , through each series . ''
The Stars will be leaning on defenseman Miro Heiskanen , who leads the team with 22 points in 21 games .
Captain Jamie Benn has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals and 10 assists and linemate Alexander Radulov has delivered two game-winning goals in overtime .
Rookie Denis Gurianov and veteran Joe Pavelski lead the team with nine goals each .
Tampa Bay 's 2019 MVP Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 26 points in 19 games .
Center Brayden Point has 25 points in 17 games , including nine goals , which shares the team lead with Hedman .
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is 14-5 in the post-season , with a .931 save percentage .
Goalie Anton Khudobin , backup to Ben Bishop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a star with Bishop sidelined in the playoffs , stopping 95 % of the Golden Knights ' shots in three straight wins .
`` He 's a competitor , '' Stars captain Benn said .
`` He comes to play every night . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars will meet in an unprecedented Stanley Cup final, each pursuing a second NHL title in a season upended by the coronavirus pandemic.
"It might be one of the hardest Cups to ever win," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said after the Lightning clinched the Eastern Conference crown with a victory over the New York Islanders in the league's quarantine hub at Edmonton.
"Whoever raises this Cup, they'll have earned this one, I'll tell you that."
The Lightning will take the ice against the Stars for game one in the best-of-seven series on Saturday, less than 48 hours after polishing off the Islanders.
Dallas enjoyed a bit more time off in the bubble after clinching victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference final on Monday.
Denis Gurianov scored a power play goal in overtime for Dallas, which reached the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 2000 -- a year after they claimed the championship.
The Lightning are seeking to add a second title to the one they captured in 2004. They fell in six games to Chicago in the championship series in 2015.
But no NHL team has played a Stanley Cup final at a neutral site with no fans in attendance -- and never before have two teams from the US "Sun Belt" faced off for the ultimate prize.
For the Lightning, their run to the title series is a vindication after they were swept in the Eastern Conference first round last season after earning the Presidents Trophy for best regular-season record.
"We put that behind us," Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said.
The Stars have taken a wild ride through the playoffs, trailing Calgary 2-1 in their first round series and trailing 3-0 in the sixth game against the Flames before rallying to advance.
They trailed the Colorado Rockies with less than four minutes to play in game seven, but rallied again.
The Stars defeated the Calgary Flames in six games, the Colorado Avalanche in seven games, and the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Western Conference Final.
"We have a really hungry team. From young guys to old guys, to our coaching staff, our whole organization really wants to put everything out there for this last series," veteran Stars forward Andrew Cogliano said. "There have been hiccups, times when it hasn't been perfect, but it seems like we've always found a way to rise to the occasion and make things happen at the right time, through each series."
The Stars will be leaning on defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who leads the team with 22 points in 21 games.
Captain Jamie Benn has been outstanding in the playoffs with eight goals and 10 assists and linemate Alexander Radulov has delivered two game-winning goals in overtime.
Rookie Denis Gurianov and veteran Joe Pavelski lead the team with nine goals each.
Tampa Bay's 2019 MVP Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with 26 points in 19 games. Center Brayden Point has 25 points in 17 games, including nine goals, which shares the team lead with Hedman.
Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is 14-5 in the post-season, with a .931 save percentage.
Goalie Anton Khudobin, backup to Ben Bishop during the regular season, has emerged as a star with Bishop sidelined in the playoffs, stopping 95% of the Golden Knights' shots in three straight wins.
"He's a competitor," Stars captain Benn said. "He comes to play every night."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--'Win-win' says Klopp as Thiago adds new dimension to Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp hailed Thiago Alcantara as one of the few players in the world that can improve Liverpool after the Spaniard joined from Bayern Munich on Friday .
Widely regarded as one of the world 's best midfielders , Thiago won seven Bundesliga titles in seven years at Bayern and was instrumental as they lifted the Champions League last month in his last game for the club .
However , with just one year left on his contract , it only cost Liverpool £20 million ( $ 26 million ) plus £5 million in add-ons to secure his signature .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ signing for two years , in which time they have won the Champions League and a first English league title for 30 years .
`` He is an absolutely exceptional player and you are right it is difficult to improve a team like us in the moment in a normal way , '' said Klopp .
`` If we take 3-400 million maybe we could find some players but even then it is not easy .
In this specific case it is a player who brings a different dimension in our game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which in general are pretty rare but they suit us pretty well .
It says nothing about the other players it is only different and that is what I was really interested in . ''
Thiago said in an emotional open letter to Bayern fans on Friday that it was the lure of a new challenge that convinced him to leave after trophy hauls in Germany and at Barcelona , where he started his career .
`` He was pretty excited about the opportunity as well so there was not a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That helps as well , that somebody really wants to be a part of the specific project is nice .
All the things we agree together .
That 's a win-win situation and I 'm really happy that we could do it . ''
Thiago is not the only high-profile player to have swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League during the transfer window as most of Chelsea 's £200 million spending spree went on bringing Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to England from RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen respectively .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday in an early clash between two titles contenders as Klopp said he rated Werner , who was linked with a move to Anfield , and Havertz as the two outstanding young talents in Germany not already at Bayern or Borussia Dortmund .
`` It 's a really good league .
Yes with one very dominant team , but the rest is really tactically good , lots of talents .
The Premier League is the league with the most money , the most competitive league and they are interested in these type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think Havertz and Werner especially from these young boys were the outstanding players .
All the other young and outstanding players play at Borussia Dortmund .
It is a good league for England to scout and as long as they can afford the transfer fees we will see these kind of transfers for sure . ''

London (AFP) –
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Jurgen Klopp hailed Thiago Alcantara as one of the few players in the world that can improve Liverpool after the Spaniard joined from Bayern Munich on Friday.
Widely regarded as one of the world's best midfielders, Thiago won seven Bundesliga titles in seven years at Bayern and was instrumental as they lifted the Champions League last month in his last game for the club.
However, with just one year left on his contract, it only cost Liverpool £20 million ($26 million) plus £5 million in add-ons to secure his signature.
The 29-year-old becomes Liverpool's first major signing for two years, in which time they have won the Champions League and a first English league title for 30 years.
"He is an absolutely exceptional player and you are right it is difficult to improve a team like us in the moment in a normal way," said Klopp.
"If we take 3-400 million maybe we could find some players but even then it is not easy. In this specific case it is a player who brings a different dimension in our game, that's true.
"Some skills which in general are pretty rare but they suit us pretty well. It says nothing about the other players it is only different and that is what I was really interested in."
Thiago said in an emotional open letter to Bayern fans on Friday that it was the lure of a new challenge that convinced him to leave after trophy hauls in Germany and at Barcelona, where he started his career.
"He was pretty excited about the opportunity as well so there was not a lot of convincing needed," added Klopp.
"That helps as well, that somebody really wants to be a part of the specific project is nice. All the things we agree together. That's a win-win situation and I'm really happy that we could do it."
Thiago is not the only high-profile player to have swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League during the transfer window as most of Chelsea's £200 million spending spree went on bringing Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to England from RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.
Both are expected to feature against Liverpool on Sunday in an early clash between two titles contenders as Klopp said he rated Werner, who was linked with a move to Anfield, and Havertz as the two outstanding young talents in Germany not already at Bayern or Borussia Dortmund.
"It's a really good league. Yes with one very dominant team, but the rest is really tactically good, lots of talents. The Premier League is the league with the most money, the most competitive league and they are interested in these type of players," added Klopp.
"I think Havertz and Werner especially from these young boys were the outstanding players. All the other young and outstanding players play at Borussia Dortmund. It is a good league for England to scout and as long as they can afford the transfer fees we will see these kind of transfers for sure."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Man arrested scaling tallest building in Paris

A man was arrested Friday after climbing up the facade of the Tour Montparnasse , the tallest building in Paris @ @ @ @ @ .
The unnamed climber , who used no harnesses or other aids , was detained @ @ @ @ @ top of the 210-metre ( 690 feet ) office block , the source said .
@ @ @ @ @ the early evening and was arrested at 8:00 pm ( 1800 GMT ) after a @ @ @ @ @ rope and accompanied him to the roof of the tower .
It was n't the @ @ @ @ @ taken on the Tour Montparnasse .
In 2015 the French `` Spiderman '' Alain Robert @ @ @ @ @ a Nepalese flag in hand , in tribute to the victims of a devastating earthquake @ @ @ @ @ Tour Montparnasse is not as high as the famous Eiffel Tower but remains the only @ @ @ @ @ centre .

Paris (AFP) –
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A man was arrested Friday after climbing up the facade of the Tour Montparnasse, the tallest building in Paris. a police source said.
The unnamed climber, who used no harnesses or other aids, was detained after he got to the top of the 210-metre (690 feet) office block, the source said.
He began the ascent in the early evening and was arrested at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) after a rescue worker descended on a rope and accompanied him to the roof of the tower.
It wasn't the first time a climber had taken on the Tour Montparnasse. In 2015 the French "Spiderman" Alain Robert completed the daring feat with a Nepalese flag in hand, in tribute to the victims of a devastating earthquake in the country.
The Tour Montparnasse is not as high as the famous Eiffel Tower but remains the only skyscraper in the Paris city centre.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Gnabry hits hat-trick as Bayern run riot in historic Bundesliga opener

Serge Gnabry netted a hat-trick as European champions Bayern Munich thrashed Schalke in the opening game of the new Bundesliga season on Friday Serge Gnabry hit a hat-trick as holders Bayern Munich romped to an historic 8-0 rout of Schalke on Friday in the opening game of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season behind closed doors .
The jaw-dropping result is the highest win in an opening game of a new Bundesliga season - five weeks to the day after their 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League .
Germany winger Leroy Sane marked his Bayern debut by creating two goals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own in the goalfest at the Allianz Arena .
Leon Goretzka , Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowksi also netted as the all-conquering European champions extended their winning-streak to 22 matches dating back to February .
England junior international Jamal Musiala , 17 , became the youngest Bayern goal-scorer in the Bundesliga when he came on late .
Bayern had to brush off setbacks in the days leading up to the season opener .
On Thursday , the Mayor of Munich scuppered plans to allow 7,500 fans into the Allianz Arena , due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Bavarian capital , hours after Bayern confirmed the sale of Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool .
Before kick-off , David Alaba , who is stalling over signing a contract extension with a year left to go , dropped out with a leg injury .
However , Bayern picked up where they left off 26 days after winning the Champions League final in Lisbon .
Cash-strapped Schalke continued their miserable finish to last season and David Wagner 's side have now gone 17 games without a win .
Gnabry opened the scoring with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ piece of finishing which gave Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann no chance .
Burly central midfielder Goretzka grabbed the second against his former club when he hit the bottom corner from the edge of the box on 19 minutes .
Lewandowski , the Bundesliga 's top scorer last season with 34 goals , opened his account for 2020/21 with half an hour gone .
He netted a penalty after being brought down in the area by Schalke defender Ozan Kabak , who has been linked to a move to Liverpool .
Incredibly , Lewandowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 10 games against Schalke , dating back to April 2016 , including a hat-trick in last August 's 3-0 win over the Royal Blues in Gelsenkirchen .
It was 3-0 at half-time , but Gnabry grabbed his second two minutes after the break when he fired into an empty net after a sprint by Sane pulled Faehrmann out of position .
The pair combined again when Sane chested the ball down after getting in behind the defence and rolled the ball off to the waiting Gnabry to claim his hat-trick just before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sixth on 69 minutes after Lewandowski had again cut Schalke 's defence to shreds .
The records were sent tumbling as Sane marked his debut with the seventh on 71 minutes when he sprinted onto Joshua Kimmich 's superb pass and fired home with Lewandowski unmarked outside him .
Musiala , who only turned 17 in February , became the club 's youngest scorer in the Bundesliga when he darted in from the left wing to add the eighth on 81 minutes .

Munich (Germany) (AFP) –
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Serge Gnabry hit a hat-trick as holders Bayern Munich romped to an historic 8-0 rout of Schalke on Friday in the opening game of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season behind closed doors.
The jaw-dropping result is the highest win in an opening game of a new Bundesliga season - five weeks to the day after their 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League.
Germany winger Leroy Sane marked his Bayern debut by creating two goals for Gnabry, then added one of his own in the goalfest at the Allianz Arena.
Leon Goretzka, Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowksi also netted as the all-conquering European champions extended their winning-streak to 22 matches dating back to February.
England junior international Jamal Musiala, 17, became the youngest Bayern goal-scorer in the Bundesliga when he came on late.
Bayern had to brush off setbacks in the days leading up to the season opener.
On Thursday, the Mayor of Munich scuppered plans to allow 7,500 fans into the Allianz Arena, due to rising new cases of the coronavirus in the Bavarian capital, hours after Bayern confirmed the sale of Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool.
Before kick-off, David Alaba, who is stalling over signing a contract extension with a year left to go, dropped out with a leg injury.
However, Bayern picked up where they left off 26 days after winning the Champions League final in Lisbon.
Cash-strapped Schalke continued their miserable finish to last season and David Wagner's side have now gone 17 games without a win.
Gnabry opened the scoring with just four minutes gone with a great piece of finishing which gave Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann no chance.
Burly central midfielder Goretzka grabbed the second against his former club when he hit the bottom corner from the edge of the box on 19 minutes.
- Lewandowski underway -
Lewandowski, the Bundesliga's top scorer last season with 34 goals, opened his account for 2020/21 with half an hour gone.
He netted a penalty after being brought down in the area by Schalke defender Ozan Kabak, who has been linked to a move to Liverpool.
Incredibly, Lewandowski has now scored in each of his last 10 games against Schalke, dating back to April 2016, including a hat-trick in last August's 3-0 win over the Royal Blues in Gelsenkirchen.
It was 3-0 at half-time, but Gnabry grabbed his second two minutes after the break when he fired into an empty net after a sprint by Sane pulled Faehrmann out of position.
The pair combined again when Sane chested the ball down after getting in behind the defence and rolled the ball off to the waiting Gnabry to claim his hat-trick just before the hour mark.
Mueller added the sixth on 69 minutes after Lewandowski had again cut Schalke's defence to shreds.
The records were sent tumbling as Sane marked his debut with the seventh on 71 minutes when he sprinted onto Joshua Kimmich's superb pass and fired home with Lewandowski unmarked outside him.
Musiala, who only turned 17 in February, became the club's youngest scorer in the Bundesliga when he darted in from the left wing to add the eighth on 81 minutes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Mickelson's US Open wedge advice gives DeChambeau momentum

Bryson DeChambeau took some advice from infamous Winged Foot flop Phil Mickelson about irons and wedges that just might help DeChambeau succeed at the US Open where Mickelson failed .
DeChambeau fired a two-under par 68 on Friday , closing with an eagle at the par-five ninth after pitching to six feet , to stand on three-under 137 after 36 holes at Winged Foot .
Mickelson , a record six-time US Open runner-up in the only major he has never won , squandered a golden chance in 2006 at Winged Foot with a double bogey on the 72nd hole .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner passed along some advice to DeChambeau , who is chasing his first major title .
`` Phil gave me some great advice , '' DeChambeau said .
`` He said when he almost won back in 2006 , he had the best short game week of his life , so that 's just a testament to showing that you have to have a great wedge game out here .
`` I feel like my irons are great , the wedges are better , and short game needs to be worked on just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it has been good so far , and that 's what I 'm going to hopefully do this weekend . ''
Ninth-ranked DeChambeau shared fourth at last month 's PGA Championship , his best major finish , and won July 's Rocket Mortgage Classic for his sixth career US PGA victory .
DeChambeau worked until darkness Thursday on his wedges , finding them going longer than expected on day one .
`` We did n't practice them as well as I should have leading up to this tournament , but we made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beautifully for me today , '' DeChambeau said .
`` If my iron play is great , I feel like I can play from anywhere .
I know my driver is going to be going far -- sometimes straight , sometimes a little crooked .
But if I can hit my irons really well , then I feel like I 'll be good for the rest of the day . ''
It was a major reason why DeChambeau was able to follow bogeys with birdies on the next hole four times in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took him two holes to birdie after a bogey .
`` It 's important .
It keeps your momentum going , '' he said .
`` You need momentum to keep playing well in a US Open and that 's what I was able to do . ''
DeChambeau feels his length off the tee gives him an edge that brings more birdie opportunities than any other player -- if he can keep the ball straight enough to find the fairways .
`` I feel like there 's so many holes out here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some people ca n't , '' DeChambeau said .
`` That does n't mean that I 'm going to win or anything .
You 've still got to execute .
`` If I 'm hitting the driver far but all over the place , you ca n't make birdies from the rough .
It 's very difficult .
So I still have to work on hitting it straight while hitting it far . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Bryson DeChambeau took some advice from infamous Winged Foot flop Phil Mickelson about irons and wedges that just might help DeChambeau succeed at the US Open where Mickelson failed.
DeChambeau fired a two-under par 68 on Friday, closing with an eagle at the par-five ninth after pitching to six feet, to stand on three-under 137 after 36 holes at Winged Foot.
Mickelson, a record six-time US Open runner-up in the only major he has never won, squandered a golden chance in 2006 at Winged Foot with a double bogey on the 72nd hole.
But the 50-year-old left-hander and five-time major winner passed along some advice to DeChambeau, who is chasing his first major title.
"Phil gave me some great advice," DeChambeau said. "He said when he almost won back in 2006, he had the best short game week of his life, so that's just a testament to showing that you have to have a great wedge game out here.
"I feel like my irons are great, the wedges are better, and short game needs to be worked on just a little bit. But I would say it has been good so far, and that's what I'm going to hopefully do this weekend."
Ninth-ranked DeChambeau shared fourth at last month's PGA Championship, his best major finish, and won July's Rocket Mortgage Classic for his sixth career US PGA victory.
DeChambeau worked until darkness Thursday on his wedges, finding them going longer than expected on day one.
"We didn't practice them as well as I should have leading up to this tournament, but we made that adjustment, and it worked out beautifully for me today," DeChambeau said.
"If my iron play is great, I feel like I can play from anywhere. I know my driver is going to be going far -- sometimes straight, sometimes a little crooked. But if I can hit my irons really well, then I feel like I'll be good for the rest of the day."
It was a major reason why DeChambeau was able to follow bogeys with birdies on the next hole four times in his round. The fifth time, it took him two holes to birdie after a bogey.
"It's important. It keeps your momentum going," he said. "You need momentum to keep playing well in a US Open and that's what I was able to do."
DeChambeau feels his length off the tee gives him an edge that brings more birdie opportunities than any other player -- if he can keep the ball straight enough to find the fairways.
"I feel like there's so many holes out here that I can take advantage of that some people can't," DeChambeau said. "That doesn't mean that I'm going to win or anything. You've still got to execute.
"If I'm hitting the driver far but all over the place, you can't make birdies from the rough. It's very difficult. So I still have to work on hitting it straight while hitting it far."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Djokovic, Nadal into last eight as Italian Open prepares for fans

World number one Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal welcomed the decision to allow a limited number of fans to watch the Italian Open as the top men 's seeds advanced to the quarter-finals on Friday .
Italy 's government have said that 1,000 spectators can be present at the Foro Italico from Sunday 's semi-finals , with matches so far being played in empty courts .
`` If it 's safe enough , fantastic , '' said Nadal after sweeping past Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-1 , 6-3 in his third round match .
Djokovic battled past fellow Serb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6-3 , to remain on a collision course for a final showdown with Nadal for a second conscutive year .
`` A thousand people is better than no people , for sure , because we all miss the fans , '' said Djokovic .
Men 's fourth seed Matteo Berrettini , the only Italian remaining in the tournament , regretted he could not benefit from spectators for his quarter-final against Norway 's Casper Rudd on Saturday .
Nadal proved too strong for 25th-ranked Lajovic , who had valiantly but vainly launched a fightback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Spaniard .
But Krajinovic made long-time friend Djokovic work hard to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th time , just one fewer than Nadal .
Djokovic double faulted on the first of his three set points in the first-set tiebreak but a quick break in the second put him through in a tournament he has won four times .
`` Never easy , I think , emotionally to play against someone that is one of my best friends for many years , '' said Djokovic .
The top seed is warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days time , having made the switch from the American hard court tour where he won the Cincinnati tournament played in Flushing Meadows before the US Open from which he was disqualified .
He next plays German qualifier Dominik Koepfer who ended the run of Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 , 6-0 .
World number two Nadal takes on Argentine eighth seed Diego Schwartzman , who dropped a set before recovering to see off Poland 's Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 , 6-2 , 6-4 .
Nadal , 34 , won his first Rome title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a third consecutive crown on clay in the Italian capital and 10th in total .
The 12-time French Open champion is returning to competition , having not played since winning in Acapulco in February .
Top women 's seed Simona Halep and defending champion Karolina Pliskova also eased into the quarter-finals , along with two-time Rome winner Elina Svitolina .
Halep rallied from 0-3 down in the first set to see off Ukraine 's Dayana Yastremska in a 7-5 , 6-4 victory in one hour and 28 minutes .
The two-time Rome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came back from 6-4 , 5-2 down to dispatch fellow Kazakh Elena Rybakina , the 10th seed , 4-6 , 7-6 ( 7/3 ) , 6-2 .
`` I expect a tough battle but I feel fit , '' said former French Open champion Halep , a runner-up in Rome in 2017 and 2018 to Svitolina , who got past two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 ( 8/6 ) , 6-4 .
Halep said she was looking forward to the `` good energy '' generated by the crowd .
`` It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the stands . ''
Ninth seed Garbine Muguruza advanced to her sixth quarter-final this year with a straight-sets win over last year 's Rome finalist Johanna Konta .
The former French Open winner will next face US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka .

Rome (AFP) –
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World number one Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal welcomed the decision to allow a limited number of fans to watch the Italian Open as the top men's seeds advanced to the quarter-finals on Friday.
Italy's government have said that 1,000 spectators can be present at the Foro Italico from Sunday's semi-finals, with matches so far being played in empty courts.
"If it's safe enough, fantastic," said Nadal after sweeping past Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3 in his third round match.
Djokovic battled past fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, to remain on a collision course for a final showdown with Nadal for a second conscutive year.
"A thousand people is better than no people, for sure, because we all miss the fans," said Djokovic.
Men's fourth seed Matteo Berrettini, the only Italian remaining in the tournament, regretted he could not benefit from spectators for his quarter-final against Norway's Casper Rudd on Saturday.
"A thousand people isn't insignificant, it's a thousand motivations," said Berrettini.
Nadal proved too strong for 25th-ranked Lajovic, who had valiantly but vainly launched a fightback after trailing 4-0 in the second set to the Spaniard.
But Krajinovic made long-time friend Djokovic work hard to reach the quarter-finals for the 14th time, just one fewer than Nadal.
Djokovic double faulted on the first of his three set points in the first-set tiebreak but a quick break in the second put him through in a tournament he has won four times.
"Never easy, I think, emotionally to play against someone that is one of my best friends for many years," said Djokovic.
The top seed is warming up for the French Open in 10 days time, having made the switch from the American hard court tour where he won the Cincinnati tournament played in Flushing Meadows before the US Open from which he was disqualified.
He next plays German qualifier Dominik Koepfer who ended the run of Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-0.
World number two Nadal takes on Argentine eighth seed Diego Schwartzman, who dropped a set before recovering to see off Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Nadal, 34, won his first Rome title back in 2005, and is bidding for a third consecutive crown on clay in the Italian capital and 10th in total.
The 12-time French Open champion is returning to competition, having not played since winning in Acapulco in February.
- Halep, Pliskova advance -
Top women's seed Simona Halep and defending champion Karolina Pliskova also eased into the quarter-finals, along with two-time Rome winner Elina Svitolina.
Halep rallied from 0-3 down in the first set to see off Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in a 7-5, 6-4 victory in one hour and 28 minutes.
The two-time Rome finalist next meets Yulia Putintseva, who came back from 6-4, 5-2 down to dispatch fellow Kazakh Elena Rybakina, the 10th seed, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.
"I expect a tough battle but I feel fit," said former French Open champion Halep, a runner-up in Rome in 2017 and 2018 to Svitolina, who got past two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.
Halep said she was looking forward to the "good energy" generated by the crowd.
"It will interesting and nice to have some people in the stands."
Ninth seed Garbine Muguruza advanced to her sixth quarter-final this year with a straight-sets win over last year's Rome finalist Johanna Konta.
The former French Open winner will next face US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-18--Thai protesters gear up to weekend show of force

Thailand has seen near-daily gatherings from youth-led groups since mid-July demanding the resignation of Prayut , the former army chief behind the 2014 coup , and a complete overhaul of his administration A youth-led pro-democracy movement is set to make a massive stand in Bangkok Saturday , with an expected turnout of tens of thousands calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy .
Thailand has seen near-daily gatherings from youth-led groups since mid-July demanding the resignation of Prayut , the former army chief behind the 2014 coup , and a complete overhaul of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms to the kingdom 's ultra-wealthy and powerful monarchy -- a once-taboo topic in Thailand due to its draconian royal defamation laws .
But the weekend 's demonstration is organised by students of Bangkok 's Thammasat University -- a group that has been among the most vocal about the royal family 's role in the kingdom .
`` We are fighting for more democracy , '' said prominent student activist Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul on the eve of the protest .
`` The plan is not to destroy the monarchy but to modernise it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The demonstration will kick off at Thammasat University Saturday afternoon , before moving to the historic Sanam Luang field in front of the royal palace , where protesters plan to spend the night .
On Sunday , demonstrators are expected to march to the nearby Government House -- a move authorities have warned against .
The show of force is expected to be the largest since the 2014 coup ; student activists are hoping for a turnout of more than 50,000 supporters .
Police say some 10,000 officers will be deployed around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reckoned with ?
- A cycle of violent protests and coups has long plagued Thailand , with the arch-royalist military stepping in to stage more than a dozen putsches since the end of royal absolutism in 1932 .
The latest wave of student-led demonstrations has largely been peaceful .
But unprecedented calls from some protesters for frank discussions about the monarchy have sent shockwaves through the kingdom .
King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits at the apex of Thai power , buttressed by the kingdom 's military and billionaire clans , and commands a fortune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 billion .
The student demands include greater accounting of the palace 's finances , the abolition of royal defamation laws and a call for the king to remain outside of politics .
They also want a rewrite of the 2017 military-scripted constitution , which they say tilted last year 's election in Prayut 's favour , and for the government to stop `` harassing '' political opponents .
So far , authorities have arrested more than two dozen protesters and activists , charging them with sedition before releasing them on bail .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the pro-democracy movement , analysts say , which has gained momentum online thanks to the students ' savvy use of social media .
`` A critical mass would send a clear message that the protesters are a force to be reckoned with , '' said Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University .
Prayut has warned Thailand could be `` engulfed in flames '' if the movement goes too far .
But he vowed Thursday authorities would use `` soft measures '' on the protesters `` because they are children '' .
The top-trending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Sept 19 , we take back the power of the people '' .
Around the world Thais are expected to gather in solidarity , with weekend protests planned in a dozen countries , including Germany , Australia and the United States .

Bangkok (AFP) –
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A youth-led pro-democracy movement is set to make a massive stand in Bangkok Saturday, with an expected turnout of tens of thousands calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy.
Thailand has seen near-daily gatherings from youth-led groups since mid-July demanding the resignation of Prayut, the former army chief behind the 2014 coup, and a complete overhaul of his administration.
Some are also demanding reforms to the kingdom's ultra-wealthy and powerful monarchy -- a once-taboo topic in Thailand due to its draconian royal defamation laws.
The burgeoning movement, partly inspired by Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, remains largely leaderless.
But the weekend's demonstration is organised by students of Bangkok's Thammasat University -- a group that has been among the most vocal about the royal family's role in the kingdom.
"We are fighting for more democracy," said prominent student activist Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul on the eve of the protest.
"The plan is not to destroy the monarchy but to modernise it, to adapt it to our society."
The demonstration will kick off at Thammasat University Saturday afternoon, before moving to the historic Sanam Luang field in front of the royal palace, where protesters plan to spend the night.
On Sunday, demonstrators are expected to march to the nearby Government House -- a move authorities have warned against.
The show of force is expected to be the largest since the 2014 coup; student activists are hoping for a turnout of more than 50,000 supporters.
Police say some 10,000 officers will be deployed around the area.
- Force to be reckoned with? -
A cycle of violent protests and coups has long plagued Thailand, with the arch-royalist military stepping in to stage more than a dozen putsches since the end of royal absolutism in 1932.
The latest wave of student-led demonstrations has largely been peaceful.
But unprecedented calls from some protesters for frank discussions about the monarchy have sent shockwaves through the kingdom.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits at the apex of Thai power, buttressed by the kingdom's military and billionaire clans, and commands a fortune estimated to be worth up to $60 billion.
The student demands include greater accounting of the palace's finances, the abolition of royal defamation laws and a call for the king to remain outside of politics.
They also want a rewrite of the 2017 military-scripted constitution, which they say tilted last year's election in Prayut's favour, and for the government to stop "harassing" political opponents.
So far, authorities have arrested more than two dozen protesters and activists, charging them with sedition before releasing them on bail.
Saturday's demonstration will prove a test for the pro-democracy movement, analysts say, which has gained momentum online thanks to the students' savvy use of social media.
"A critical mass would send a clear message that the protesters are a force to be reckoned with," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University.
Prayut has warned Thailand could be "engulfed in flames" if the movement goes too far.
But he vowed Thursday authorities would use "soft measures" on the protesters "because they are children".
The top-trending hashtag on Thai Twitter Friday night was "Sept 19, we take back the power of the people".
Around the world Thais are expected to gather in solidarity, with weekend protests planned in a dozen countries, including Germany, Australia and the United States.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Lebanon army surveys 85,000 building units post-Beirut blast

A building near Beirut port with broken windows and wrecked furniture after the August 4 explosion that ravaged the Lebanese capital Lebanon 's army said Saturday it has carried out a survey of more than 85,000 dwellings , businesses and other building units damaged by the massive Beirut port blast last month .
The August 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut port killed more than 190 people , wounded thousands and ravaged large parts of the capital .
`` A total of 85,744 affected units have been surveyed , '' the army said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19,115 businesses , 1,137 heritage units , 962 restaurants , 82 teaching institutions and 12 hospitals , among other unis .
It recorded almost 550,000 square metres ( half a square kilometre ) of glass ravaged , and well as 140,000 square metres of glass facades broken .
More than 108,000 doors had been damaged , the survey showed .
The army said it was still looking for nine people -- three Lebanese , five Syrians and an Egyptian -- still missing after the blast .
The survey `` is considered to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for further surveys by donor countries '' , it said in a statement .
The army said the donors , non-governmental organisations or volunteers could request access to the results .
On August 9 , international donors pledged over 250 million euros ( around $ 300 million ) in emergency aid , in a video conference jointly organised by France and the United Nations .
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed in early September during a second visit to Lebanon since the blast to host a second conference in Paris in the second @ @ @ @

Beirut (AFP) –
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Lebanon's army said Saturday it has carried out a survey of more than 85,000 dwellings, businesses and other building units damaged by the massive Beirut port blast last month.
The August 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut port killed more than 190 people, wounded thousands and ravaged large parts of the capital.
"A total of 85,744 affected units have been surveyed," the army said.
It had surveyed 60,818 housing units, 19,115 businesses, 1,137 heritage units, 962 restaurants, 82 teaching institutions and 12 hospitals, among other unis.
It recorded almost 550,000 square metres (half a square kilometre) of glass ravaged, and well as 140,000 square metres of glass facades broken.
More than 108,000 doors had been damaged, the survey showed.
The army said it was still looking for nine people -- three Lebanese, five Syrians and an Egyptian -- still missing after the blast.
The survey "is considered to be sufficient, and there is therefore no need for further surveys by donor countries", it said in a statement.
The army said the donors, non-governmental organisations or volunteers could request access to the results.
On August 9, international donors pledged over 250 million euros (around $300 million) in emergency aid, in a video conference jointly organised by France and the United Nations.
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed in early September during a second visit to Lebanon since the blast to host a second conference in Paris in the second half of October.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Most homeless Lesbos migrants head to new camp after fire

Most of the asylum seekers who were left homeless after fires ripped through their camp on Lesbos island have moved to a new temporary site , Greece 's migration ministry said on Saturday .
Forced to sleep rough for days after the blazes wrecked their Moria camp last week , roughly 9,000 of the 12,700 homeless have now settled at the hastily built site of white tents .
Some have resisted entering the new camp fearing they may get stuck there , but a police operation combined with threats to discard the asylum requests of those who refuse has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The destruction of Moria , a notoriously overcrowded and dirty camp , strengthened calls from locals and humanitarian organisations for the migrants to be moved off the island .
Six Afghans have been arrested over the blazes , the first of which happened on September 8 shortly after 35 people were found to have contracted coronavirus .
The UN refugee agency has warned Greece that the new camp can only be temporary , saying on Friday that `` what may be deemed adequate in terms of shelter and services during emergency situations is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All those entering the camp are given a virus test and 214 cases have so far been detected , according to the migration ministry .
Access to all migrant camps has been restricted since March because of the pandemic -- a move criticised by aid groups that point out that measures began to be lifted elsewhere in Greece in May .

Lesbos Island (Greece) (AFP) –
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Most of the asylum seekers who were left homeless after fires ripped through their camp on Lesbos island have moved to a new temporary site, Greece's migration ministry said on Saturday.
Forced to sleep rough for days after the blazes wrecked their Moria camp last week, roughly 9,000 of the 12,700 homeless have now settled at the hastily built site of white tents.
Some have resisted entering the new camp fearing they may get stuck there, but a police operation combined with threats to discard the asylum requests of those who refuse has helped to push thousands into the facility.
The destruction of Moria, a notoriously overcrowded and dirty camp, strengthened calls from locals and humanitarian organisations for the migrants to be moved off the island.
Six Afghans have been arrested over the blazes, the first of which happened on September 8 shortly after 35 people were found to have contracted coronavirus.
The UN refugee agency has warned Greece that the new camp can only be temporary, saying on Friday that "what may be deemed adequate in terms of shelter and services during emergency situations is not appropriate for the longer-term".
All those entering the camp are given a virus test and 214 cases have so far been detected, according to the migration ministry.
Access to all migrant camps has been restricted since March because of the pandemic -- a move criticised by aid groups that point out that measures began to be lifted elsewhere in Greece in May.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Toyota on pole for 88th Le Mans 24 Hour held without fans

Toyota are on pole for the Le Mans 24 Hours race which gets underway at 1230 GMT Saturday in front of empty stands with Covid-19 keeping away the motorsport classic 's normal crowd of 250,000 diehard fans .
Toyota are hot favourites to claim a third successive Le Mans , with the Japanese manufacturer 's number seven car at the front of the grid .
Kamui Kobayashi , Mike Conway and Jose-Maria Lopez are out to make up for last year 's near-miss when , with the race at their mercy , a puncture an hour from the finish gifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharing the front row for this 88th edition of Le Mans , held over from its traditional June date , is the Rebellion of American Gustavo Menezes , Norman Nato of France and Ayrton Senna 's nephew Bruno .
On the second row is Toyota 's winning car from 2018 and 2019 driven by Sebastien Buemi , Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley , who replaces Fernando Alonso .
Two-time Formula One champion Alonso is skipping a chance to land the Le Mans hat-trick as he focusses on his F1 return next season .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Enzo of Tom Dillmann , Bruno Spengler and Oliver Webb completing the five-car line-up for the elite LMP1 race .
This quintet are joined on the grid by 24 cars in the LMP2 category , 22 in LM GTE AM and eight in LM FTE PRO .
With 59 cars setting off , some with amateurs at the wheel , traffic problems , especially if the forecast rain and even hail arrives , could complicate matters .
`` It was a mess in the night time practice session on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year is the lack of opportunities for drivers to compete ( due to coronavirus ) , '' the Swiss former F1 driver said .
`` Professional drivers know how to cope with traffic ... but the amateurs do n't know where to go , they race in the middle , it 's very dangerous .
`` And what 's more this year we 'll have 11 hours of driving at night . ''
Saturday 's 1230GMT start time has been moved forward from 1400 to account for the shorter days in September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out with the famous La Sarthe circuit 's cavernous grandstands eerily empty .
Organisers ACO had initially hoped to allow in a portion of the quarter of a million petrolheads who make the annual sleep-deprived pilgrimage .
But maintaining social distancing protocol around the entire 13 kilometre track was proving too much of a problem , resulting in the total crowd ban for the event uprooted by the pandemic from its usual June slot for the first time since 1968 .

Le Mans (France) (AFP) –
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Toyota are on pole for the Le Mans 24 Hours race which gets underway at 1230 GMT Saturday in front of empty stands with Covid-19 keeping away the motorsport classic's normal crowd of 250,000 diehard fans.
Toyota are hot favourites to claim a third successive Le Mans, with the Japanese manufacturer's number seven car at the front of the grid.
Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Jose-Maria Lopez are out to make up for last year's near-miss when, with the race at their mercy, a puncture an hour from the finish gifted victory to Toyota's second car.
Sharing the front row for this 88th edition of Le Mans, held over from its traditional June date, is the Rebellion of American Gustavo Menezes, Norman Nato of France and Ayrton Senna's nephew Bruno.
On the second row is Toyota's winning car from 2018 and 2019 driven by Sebastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima and Brendon Hartley, who replaces Fernando Alonso.
Two-time Formula One champion Alonso is skipping a chance to land the Le Mans hat-trick as he focusses on his F1 return next season.
The second Rebellion shares the second row with the Enzo of Tom Dillmann, Bruno Spengler and Oliver Webb completing the five-car line-up for the elite LMP1 race.
This quintet are joined on the grid by 24 cars in the LMP2 category, 22 in LM GTE AM and eight in LM FTE PRO.
With 59 cars setting off, some with amateurs at the wheel, traffic problems, especially if the forecast rain and even hail arrives, could complicate matters.
"It was a mess in the night time practice session on Thursday," complained Buemi.
"The problem this year is the lack of opportunities for drivers to compete (due to coronavirus)," the Swiss former F1 driver said.
"Professional drivers know how to cope with traffic...but the amateurs don't know where to go, they race in the middle, it's very dangerous.
"And what's more this year we'll have 11 hours of driving at night."
Saturday's 1230GMT start time has been moved forward from 1400 to account for the shorter days in September.
This Le Mans will be played out with the famous La Sarthe circuit's cavernous grandstands eerily empty.
Organisers ACO had initially hoped to allow in a portion of the quarter of a million petrolheads who make the annual sleep-deprived pilgrimage.
But maintaining social distancing protocol around the entire 13 kilometre track was proving too much of a problem, resulting in the total crowd ban for the event uprooted by the pandemic from its usual June slot for the first time since 1968.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Bagnaia fastest in Emilia-Romagna MotoGP third practice

Maverick Vinales was second fastest in Saturday 's third practice session ahead of the Emilia Romagna MotoGP Francesco Bagnaia set @ @ @ @ @ 's third practice session for the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP , ahead of the Yamahas of Maverick @ @ @ @ @ The Italian who rides for Ducati 's satellite team Pramac , clocked an impressive 1 @ @ @ @ @ second quicker than the best time in Friday 's two sessions set by South African @ @ @ @ @ Six-time champion Marc Marquez remains sidelined as he recovers from a broken arm he suffered @ @ @ @ @ Best times in the third practice session for the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP at Misano

Misano Adriatico (Italy) (AFP) –
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Francesco Bagnaia set the fastest time in Saturday's third practice session for the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP, ahead of the Yamahas of Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo.
The Italian who rides for Ducati's satellite team Pramac, clocked an impressive 1 min 31.127sec, half a second quicker than the best time in Friday's two sessions set by South African Brad Binder of KTM.
Six-time champion Marc Marquez remains sidelined as he recovers from a broken arm he suffered in the opening race.
Best times in the third practice session for the Emilia-Romagna MotoGP at Misano
1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati-Pramac) 1min 31.127sec, 2. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) at 0.058sec, 3. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.232, 4. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.302, 5. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.499, 6. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.553, 7. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 0.574, 8. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 0.626, 9. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 0.633, 10. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Avintia) 0.699, 11. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 0.733, 12. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia-Gresini) 0.763, 13. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.767
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Villa sign Lyon forward Traore

Villa sign Lyon forward Traore

Aston Villa signed Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore from Lyon for a reported £17 million ( $ 21 million ) @ @ @ @ @ to the Premier League after starting his career with Chelsea , where he spent three @ @ @ @ @ assistant manager John Terry .
The 25-year-old 's signing is another boost to Villa 's @ @ @ @ @ of Ollie Watkins from Brentford for a club record £28 million earlier this month .
@ @ @ @ @ Bertrand has chosen to come to Villa , '' manager Dean Smith told his club @ @ @ @ @ 's a player with immense talent who will really enhance our attacking options . ''
@ @ @ @ @ on the final day of last season , have also recently signed Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano @ @ @ @ @ Matty Cash .
Smith 's side kick off their Premier League campaign at home to @ @ @ @ @

London (AFP) –
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Aston Villa signed Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore from Lyon for a reported £17 million ($21 million) on Saturday.
Traore returns to the Premier League after starting his career with Chelsea, where he spent three years with Villa's current assistant manager John Terry.
The 25-year-old's signing is another boost to Villa's attacking options after the arrival of Ollie Watkins from Brentford for a club record £28 million earlier this month.
"We're delighted that Bertrand has chosen to come to Villa," manager Dean Smith told his club's website.
"He's a player with immense talent who will really enhance our attacking options."
Villa, who escaped relegation on the final day of last season, have also recently signed Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash.
Smith's side kick off their Premier League campaign at home to Sheffield United on Monday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Chelsea loan Zappacosta to Genoa

Chelsea loan Zappacosta to Genoa

Italian defender Davide Zappacosta has joined Genoa on loan from Chelsea Italy international Zappacosta has moved back to Serie A @ @ @ @ @ last season was interrupted by a knee ligament injury .
He recovered from surgery in @ @ @ @ @ in the Italian top-flight before the end of the season .
The 28-year-old right-back , @ @ @ @ @ , has been a fringe figure with the Premier League club , making 34 starts @ @ @ @ @ appearances .
Zappacosta , who has won 13 Italy caps , joins a Genoa side @ @ @ @ @ A last season .

London (AFP) –
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Chelsea defender Davide Zappacosta joined Italian side Genoa on a season-long loan on Saturday.
Italy international Zappacosta has moved back to Serie A after his loan to Roma last season was interrupted by a knee ligament injury.
He recovered from surgery in time to make six appearances in the Italian top-flight before the end of the season.
The 28-year-old right-back, who joined Chelsea in 2017, has been a fringe figure with the Premier League club, making 34 starts and a further 18 substitute appearances.
Zappacosta, who has won 13 Italy caps, joins a Genoa side that finished 17th in Serie A last season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Beirut blast: International community mobilises to rescue Lebanon's heritage

The Sursock museum in Beirut is one of many important historical buildings damaged by the August 4 , 2020 explosion @ @ @ @ @ been reduced to ashes during the August 4 explosion , the Lebanese capital Beirut has @ @ @ @ @ cultural heritage .
Restoration work will soon begin on many of the historic buildings that @ @ @ @ @ blast .
FRANCE 24 's Linda Tamim finds out more about the work being done @ @ @ @ @ , the international alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas , and its @ @ @ @ @ on the player above to watch the full report .

On The Ground
Ever since it's been reduced to ashes during the August 4 explosion, the Lebanese capital Beirut has been trying to preserve its cultural heritage.
The Sursock museum in Beirut is one of many important historical buildings damaged by the August 4, 2020 explosion.
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Restoration work will soon begin on many of the historic buildings that were destroyed in the deadly blast.
FRANCE 24's Linda Tamim finds out more about the work being done on the ground by ALIPH, the international alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas, and its partners in Beirut.
Click on the player above to watch the full report.
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france24--2020-09-19--Tens of thousands attend Bangladesh Islamist leader's funeral

Followers of Shah Ahmad Shafi , chief of the radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh , gather around a vehicle transporting his mortal remains Tens of thousands of people gathered to mourn the controversial leader of Bangladesh 's largest Islamist group as his funeral was held on Saturday in a rural southeastern town , police said .
Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi , who had led the hardline Hefazat-e-Islam group since it was formed in 2010 , died of age-related complications on Friday in the capital Dhaka .
He was believed to be over 100 years old .
His death came just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of students at his highly influential madrasa , or Islamic school , forced him to resign after three decades as its chair .
Shafi made his mark in national politics when he marched tens of thousands of his followers into central Dhaka in May 2013 , demanding harsh blasphemy laws and the execution of atheist bloggers .
That rally ended bloodily when police evicted his followers from the capital 's main commercial centre .
Around 50 people were killed in clashes with security forces -- most of them shot dead -- in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country had ever seen .
Around half a dozen bloggers and secular activists were later hacked to death by Islamist extremists .
On Saturday , after Shafi 's body was brought back to his school in Hathazari outside the port city of Chittagong , vast crowds of his followers rushed to the town to pay their respects .
Local TV stations aired live footage of people , mostly men in religious dress , packing roads and spaces in and around the school .
`` Some 150,000 people have already gathered here on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on the roads to his funeral prayers , '' regional police chief Anwar Hossain told AFP .
Shafi 's supporters said the turnout was far higher .
As supreme leader of Hefazat-e-Islam , Shafi oversaw its growth into the South Asian country 's biggest Islamic fundamentalist group with millions of supporters .
Bangladesh is 90 percent Muslim and Shafi drew on support from seminaries at the tens of thousands of Islamic schools in the conservative nation of 168 million people .
His followers saw him as a key defender of the faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the `` Tamarind Cleric '' , who wanted to roll back the secular character of modern Bangladesh .
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised Shafi 's contribution to the expansion of Islamic education in the country in a statement .
Shafi 's unceremonious resignation as head of the madrasa -- which is considered the heart of conservative Islam in Bangladesh -- took place on Thursday night after a two-day long demonstration at the school .
Up to 3,000 madrasa students took part in the revolt , a police spokesman told AFP , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three madrasa teachers , allegedly orchestrated by Shafi 's powerful son Anas Madani .
The students also forced Madani 's sacking from the school .
In recent years , relations have improved between Hefazat-e-Islam and the secular government , which agreed to the group 's demands for recognition of madrasa degrees and allowing students from all madrasas to compete for government jobs .

Dhaka (AFP) –
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Tens of thousands of people gathered to mourn the controversial leader of Bangladesh's largest Islamist group as his funeral was held on Saturday in a rural southeastern town, police said.
Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, who had led the hardline Hefazat-e-Islam group since it was formed in 2010, died of age-related complications on Friday in the capital Dhaka. He was believed to be over 100 years old.
His death came just a day after an unprecedented revolt involving thousands of students at his highly influential madrasa, or Islamic school, forced him to resign after three decades as its chair.
Shafi made his mark in national politics when he marched tens of thousands of his followers into central Dhaka in May 2013, demanding harsh blasphemy laws and the execution of atheist bloggers.
That rally ended bloodily when police evicted his followers from the capital's main commercial centre. Around 50 people were killed in clashes with security forces -- most of them shot dead -- in some of the worst political violence the country had ever seen.
Around half a dozen bloggers and secular activists were later hacked to death by Islamist extremists.
On Saturday, after Shafi's body was brought back to his school in Hathazari outside the port city of Chittagong, vast crowds of his followers rushed to the town to pay their respects.
Local TV stations aired live footage of people, mostly men in religious dress, packing roads and spaces in and around the school.
"Some 150,000 people have already gathered here on the madrasa ground, in the buildings and out on the roads to his funeral prayers," regional police chief Anwar Hossain told AFP. Shafi's supporters said the turnout was far higher.
- Madrasa revolt -
As supreme leader of Hefazat-e-Islam, Shafi oversaw its growth into the South Asian country's biggest Islamic fundamentalist group with millions of supporters.
Bangladesh is 90 percent Muslim and Shafi drew on support from seminaries at the tens of thousands of Islamic schools in the conservative nation of 168 million people.
His followers saw him as a key defender of the faith, but to his critics he was known as the "Tamarind Cleric", who wanted to roll back the secular character of modern Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina praised Shafi's contribution to the expansion of Islamic education in the country in a statement.
Shafi's unceremonious resignation as head of the madrasa -- which is considered the heart of conservative Islam in Bangladesh -- took place on Thursday night after a two-day long demonstration at the school.
Up to 3,000 madrasa students took part in the revolt, a police spokesman told AFP, which was triggered by the sacking of three madrasa teachers, allegedly orchestrated by Shafi's powerful son Anas Madani.
The students also forced Madani's sacking from the school.
In recent years, relations have improved between Hefazat-e-Islam and the secular government, which agreed to the group's demands for recognition of madrasa degrees and allowing students from all madrasas to compete for government jobs.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Thousands rally in Thailand in protest for democratic reforms

Pro-democracy protesters attend a mass rally to call for the ouster of prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha 's government and reforms in the monarchy , in Bangkok , Thailand , September 19 , 2020 .
Thousands of protesters in Thailand 's capital demonstrated against the government of former coup leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Saturday , with many also demanding reforms to the powerful monarchy .
`` Down with feudalism , long live the people , '' was one of the chants .
Protests have been building since mid-July to call for the removal of the government , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also broken a long-standing taboo by criticising the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn .
Police said at least 5,000 people had gathered at the campus of Thammasat University , long seen as a hotbed of opposition to the military and royalist establishment , and scene of a massacre of protesters in 1976 .
Under light rain , protesters spilled onto Sanam Luang , a public space opposite the Grand Palace where state ceremonies are traditionally held .
“ Today the people will demand back their power , ” Arnon Nampa , a human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading figure in the protest movement , said on Twitter .
September 19 is the anniversary of the coup against the populist then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 .
Among the protesters were many of his red shirt followers , veterans of clashes a decade ago with pro-establishment yellow shirts .
“ I ’ m here to fight for the future of my children and grandchildren .
I hope that by the time I die , they will become free , ” said 68-year-old Tasawan Suebthai , a redshirt with amulets round her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far the protests have been peaceful .
The biggest to date drew more than 10,000 people last month , but organisers expect more this time .
Thai politics has for years been marked by challenges to the royalist and military establishment by politicians backed by poor urban and rural voters , and more recently by the student protesters .
The military , which proclaims itself the defender of the country 's core institutions , in particular the monarchy , has stepped in to overthrow civilian governments numerous times , most recently in 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prayuth has said the government would allow protests as a form of free speech but that demands for reform of the monarchy were not acceptable .
`` We are fighting to put the monarchy in the right place , not to abolish it , '' one protest leader , Panupong `` Mike '' Jadnok , told the crowd .
A 20-year-old student , who gave her name only as Waan for fear of reprisals , said it was time to reform the monarchy .
`` It ’ s a problem that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so long .
This must end right here.
” Protesters demand the scrapping of a lese majeste law against criticism of the monarchy .
They also seek to reduce the king 's constitutional powers and his control over the palace fortune and units of the army .
On Thursday , Prayuth warned the protesters against raising the risks of spreading the novel coronavirus and urged them to put the health crisis before politics .
Protesters jeered when a police officer told a group of them that they could only stay for an hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
Police said they were deploying 10,000 officers on Saturday .

Openly challenging the monarchy of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, thousands of protesters marched in Bangkok on Sunday to present demands that include a call for reforms to curb his powers.
Pro-democracy protesters flash the three-fingers salute during a mass rally to call for the ouster of prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's government and reforms in the monarchy, in Bangkok, Thailand, September 19, 2020.
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Protesters have grown ever bolder during two months of demonstrations against Thailand's palace and military-dominated establishment, breaking a longstanding taboo on criticising the monarchy - which is illegal under lese majeste laws.
The Royal Palace was not immediately available for comment. The king, who spends much of his time in Europe, is not in Thailand now.
The marchers were blocked by hundreds of unarmed police manning crowd control barriers.
Protest leaders declared victory after handing police a letter detailing their demands. Phakphong Phongphetra, head of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said on a video broadcast from the scene that the letter would be handed to police headquarters to decide how to proceed.
"Our greatest victory in the two days is showing that ordinary people like us can send a letter to royals," Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak, told the crowd before it dispersed.
At the biggest demonstration in years, tens of thousands of protesters on Saturday cheered calls for reform of the monarchy as well as for the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, and a new constitution and elections.
Symbolic plaque
Shortly after sunrise on Sunday, protesters cemented a plaque near the Grand Palace in Bangkok in the area known as Sanam Luang, or Royal Field.
02:51
It reads, "At this place the people have expressed their will: that this country belongs to the people and is not the property of the monarch as they have deceived us."
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said police would not use violence against protesters and it was up to the police to determine and prosecute any illegal speech.
Bangkok authorities would need to determine whether the plaque is illegal and if it is it would need to be removed, Bangkok's deputy police chief Piya Tawichai told reporters.
Far from all Thais support the new plaque, which resembles one that had commemorated the end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and which was removed from outside a royal palace in 2017, after Vajiralongkorn took the throne.
"Who voted or elected them to deface public property like this?" wrote Somchai Chaihat on Twitter of the new plaque. "Trash it."
Thai authorities have said criticising the monarchy is unacceptable in a country where the king is constitutionally "enthroned in a position of revered worship".
Protests that began on university campuses have drawn increasing numbers of older people. That includes red shirt followers of ousted populist prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who had clashed for years with pro-establishment yellow shirts before Prayuth seized power in 2014.
"The new generation is achieving what their parents and grandparents didn't dare. I'm very proud of that," said Somporn Outsa, 50, a red shirt veteran. "We still respect the monarchy, but it should be under the constitution."
Protesters say the constitution gives the king too much power and that it was engineered to allow Prayuth to keep power after elections last year. He says that vote was fair.
The next protest is scheduled for Thursday. Protest leaders called on Thais to take Oct. 14 off work to show their support for change.
“Radical change is hard in Thailand, but the movement has at least kept the momentum going," said Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-19--Iran Guards vow Soleimani revenge will target only 'those involved'

US President Donald Trump threatened Tehran over reports it planned to avenge the killing of top general Qasem Soleimani , vowing that any attack by Iran would be met with a response `` 1,000 times greater in magnitude '' .
Iran 's Revolutionary Guards chief said Saturday that Tehran will avenge the US killing of its top commander General Qasem Soleimani by targeting only those involved , in an `` honourable '' retaliation .
Soleimani , who headed the Guards elite Qods Force , was killed in an American air strike near Baghdad airport in January .
A US media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran plans in retaliation to assassinate the American ambassador to South Africa , Lana Marks , before the presidential election in November .
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran this week with a `` thousand times stronger '' response in case of any attack on his country , following the report .
South Africa 's state security agency said Friday it had found no evidence of such a plot against Marks .
Guards ' chief Major General Hossein Salami retorted to the US president .
`` Mr. Trump , our revenge for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , serious and real , but we are honourable and take revenge with fairness and justice , '' he said , quoted by the Guard 's official website Sepahnews .
`` You think we would strike at a woman ambassador to South Africa for the blood of our martyr brother ?
We will target those who were directly or indirectly involved in the martyrdom of this great man , '' he said .
`` You should know , that we will target whoever was involved ... and this is a serious message .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ air strike , alongside a top Iraqi commander .
Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis .
Days later , Iran launched a volley of missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and other coalition troops , but Trump refrained from any further military response .
Relations between Washington and Tehran have been tense ever since the Islamic revolution of 1979 .
They have deteriorated sharply since Trump unilaterally pulled out of a landmark international nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions .

Tehran (AFP) –
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Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief said Saturday that Tehran will avenge the US killing of its top commander General Qasem Soleimani by targeting only those involved, in an "honourable" retaliation.
Soleimani, who headed the Guards elite Qods Force, was killed in an American air strike near Baghdad airport in January.
A US media report, quoting unnamed officials, said Iran plans in retaliation to assassinate the American ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks, before the presidential election in November.
US President Donald Trump threatened Iran this week with a "thousand times stronger" response in case of any attack on his country, following the report.
South Africa's state security agency said Friday it had found no evidence of such a plot against Marks.
Guards' chief Major General Hossein Salami retorted to the US president.
"Mr. Trump, our revenge for the martyrdom of our great commander is certain, serious and real, but we are honourable and take revenge with fairness and justice," he said, quoted by the Guard's official website Sepahnews.
"You think we would strike at a woman ambassador to South Africa for the blood of our martyr brother? We will target those who were directly or indirectly involved in the martyrdom of this great man," he said.
"You should know, that we will target whoever was involved ... and this is a serious message."
Soleimani was killed in an drone air strike, alongside a top Iraqi commander. Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.
Days later, Iran launched a volley of missiles at Iraqi bases housing US and other coalition troops, but Trump refrained from any further military response.
Relations between Washington and Tehran have been tense ever since the Islamic revolution of 1979.
They have deteriorated sharply since Trump unilaterally pulled out of a landmark international nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Former guard of deposed CAR President Bozizé arrested in France

Anti-Balaka militia members rest in the outskirts of Bambari , on July 31 , 2014 .
France has arrested and indicted a former guard of deposed Central African Republic president François Bozizé for `` complicity in crimes against humanity '' , anti-terrorist prosecutors said on Saturday .
Éric Danboy Bagale , 41 , was arrested in eastern France on Tuesday and placed under judicial investigation in Paris late on Friday , prosecuting authority PNAT told AFP .
As the former head of the presidential guard and then as head of the anti-Balaka militia in CAR , Bagale was also indicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for `` criminal association for the preparation of a war crime '' for acts committed between 2007 and 2014 , PNAT said in a statement .
Bozizé , who returned from exile in Uganda in mid-December , was chosen to be his party 's candidate at a congress in Bangui on July 25 .
`` I solemnly accept the task you have assigned me , '' he told supporters , announcing he would run in CAR 's presidential election in December .
The former president took power after a 2003 coup , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michel Djotodia , head of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebellion in the predominantly Christian country .
Since then , the poor landlocked country has spiralled into bloodshed , marked by vicious intercommunal violence .
Bozizé is still under sanctions by the United Nations for his role in the 2013 crisis , during which he is accused of supporting the Christian anti-Balaka militias .

France has arrested and indicted a former guard of deposed Central African Republic president François Bozizé for "complicity in crimes against humanity", anti-terrorist prosecutors said on Saturday.
Anti-Balaka militia members rest in the outskirts of Bambari, on July 31, 2014.
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Éric Danboy Bagale, 41, was arrested in eastern France on Tuesday and placed under judicial investigation in Paris late on Friday, prosecuting authority PNAT told AFP.
As the former head of the presidential guard and then as head of the anti-Balaka militia in CAR, Bagale was also indicted for "acts of torture" and for "criminal association for the preparation of a war crime" for acts committed between 2007 and 2014, PNAT said in a statement.
Bozizé, who returned from exile in Uganda in mid-December, was chosen to be his party's candidate at a congress in Bangui on July 25.
"I solemnly accept the task you have assigned me," he told supporters, announcing he would run in CAR's presidential election in December.
The former president took power after a 2003 coup, before being overthrown himself 10 years later by Michel Djotodia, head of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebellion in the predominantly Christian country.
Since then, the poor landlocked country has spiralled into bloodshed, marked by vicious intercommunal violence.
Bozizé is still under sanctions by the United Nations for his role in the 2013 crisis, during which he is accused of supporting the Christian anti-Balaka militias.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-09-19--Mali holds state funeral for former dictator Moussa Traoré

The former dictator and president of Mali , Moussa Traoré , who led the country for 22 years , was buried on September 18 , 2020 in Bamako .
Mali held a state funeral for ex-dictator Moussa Traore on Friday , attended by the head of the ruling military junta and other former leaders of the Sahel state , according to AFP journalists .
Traoré , who ruled Mali for 22 years before being deposed in a 1991 coup , died at age 83 in the capital Bamako on September 15 .
The former autocrat was buried at a Bamako @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funeral band played at the arrival of his coffin , which was draped in the Malian flag .
Soldiers dressed in full regalia stood at attention , according to AFP journalists , while two planes performed a flypast overhead .
As a young lieutenant in 1968 , Traoré was the main instigator of a coup that overthrew Modibo Keita , the country 's first president after independence from France in 1960 .
Traoré became president the following year and ruled with an iron fist , before he himself was ousted in a military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the ex-dictator was increasingly seen as an elder statesman in the notoriously unstable country , with politicians soliciting his advice .
In attendance on Friday was the head of Mali 's ruling military junta Colonel Assimi Goita , part of a group of young officers who launched a coup ousting president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18 .
Former President Amadou Toumani Touré - who deposed Traore in the 1991 coup - was also among the mourners , alongside other ex-leaders .
Russian diplomats attended the ceremony on Friday , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Union diplomats were present .

Mali held a state funeral for ex-dictator Moussa Traore on Friday, attended by the head of the ruling military junta and other former leaders of the Sahel state, according to AFP journalists.
The former dictator and president of Mali, Moussa Traoré, who led the country for 22 years, was buried on September 18, 2020 in Bamako.
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Traoré, who ruled Mali for 22 years before being deposed in a 1991 coup, died at age 83 in the capital Bamako on September 15.
The former autocrat was buried at a Bamako military camp on Friday, where a funeral band played at the arrival of his coffin, which was draped in the Malian flag.
Soldiers dressed in full regalia stood at attention, according to AFP journalists, while two planes performed a flypast overhead.
As a young lieutenant in 1968, Traoré was the main instigator of a coup that overthrew Modibo Keita, the country's first president after independence from France in 1960.
Traoré became president the following year and ruled with an iron fist, before he himself was ousted in a military coup in 1991.
In recent years, the ex-dictator was increasingly seen as an elder statesman in the notoriously unstable country, with politicians soliciting his advice.
In attendance on Friday was the head of Mali's ruling military junta Colonel Assimi Goita, part of a group of young officers who launched a coup ousting president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18.
Former President Amadou Toumani Touré - who deposed Traore in the 1991 coup - was also among the mourners, alongside other ex-leaders.
Russian diplomats attended the ceremony on Friday, according to AFP journalists, but no French or European Union diplomats were present.
(AFP)
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