france24--2020-08-20--Peru, Argentine economies post huge falls

Peru 's year-on-year GDP fell by 30 percent in the second quarter of 2020 as it was badly affected by coronavirus containment measures , the government said on Thursday .
Meanwhile , Argentina 's state statistics institute said its economy contracted by almost 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year .
In Peru , mandatory confinement was in place throughout the whole of the second quarter and was only lifted in the majority of the country on July 1 .
The worst-hit areas were mining , down 20.9 percent , processing ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state statistics and information institute said .
In the first quarter , GDP had fallen by 3.5 percent , although that was due to a 16 percent fall in March when the health emergency began .
On Saturday , the statistics institute said GDP was down 17 percent in the first six months of 2020 , putting the Peruvian economy into recession .
Peru 's economy had been robustly growing until the coronavirus pandemic struck , paralyzing the economy for more than 100 days and reducing it to 44 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GDP to fall by 12.5 percent in 2020 compared to growth of two percent in 2019 and four percent the year before .
Peru is one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic in Latin America , with 26,800 deaths and more than 550,000 cases .
In Argentina , the year-on-year fall in GDP for June was 12.3 percent , although that was an improvement on April ( -26 percent ) and May ( -20.5 ) .
The statistics institute said an easing of lockdown restrictions were responsible for the improvement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its GDP contracted by 2.5 percent last year .
The International Monetary Fund expects the economy to shrink by almost 10 percent in 2020 .

Lima (AFP) –
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Peru's year-on-year GDP fell by 30 percent in the second quarter of 2020 as it was badly affected by coronavirus containment measures, the government said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Argentina's state statistics institute said its economy contracted by almost 13 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year.
In Peru, mandatory confinement was in place throughout the whole of the second quarter and was only lifted in the majority of the country on July 1.
The worst-hit areas were mining, down 20.9 percent, processing (-44.5) and services (-28.3), the state statistics and information institute said.
In the first quarter, GDP had fallen by 3.5 percent, although that was due to a 16 percent fall in March when the health emergency began.
On Saturday, the statistics institute said GDP was down 17 percent in the first six months of 2020, putting the Peruvian economy into recession.
Peru's economy had been robustly growing until the coronavirus pandemic struck, paralyzing the economy for more than 100 days and reducing it to 44 percent of its capacity.
The Central Bank expects GDP to fall by 12.5 percent in 2020 compared to growth of two percent in 2019 and four percent the year before.
Peru is one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic in Latin America, with 26,800 deaths and more than 550,000 cases.
In Argentina, the year-on-year fall in GDP for June was 12.3 percent, although that was an improvement on April (-26 percent) and May (-20.5).
The statistics institute said an easing of lockdown restrictions were responsible for the improvement.
Argentina has been in recession since 2018 and its GDP contracted by 2.5 percent last year.
The International Monetary Fund expects the economy to shrink by almost 10 percent in 2020.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-20--More evacuations as massive fires rapidly expand in California

Flames surround Lake Berryessa during the LNU Lightning Complex fire in Napa , California on August 19 , 2020 A series of massive fires in northern and central California forced more evacuations as they quickly spread Thursday , sending plumes of smoke over the San Francisco area and dangerously affecting air quality .
The blazes , most of which were touched off by a rash of lightning strikes earlier in the week , are being fed by a grueling heat wave afflicting the state .
Evacuation orders were expanded in several counties overnight as the flames devoured homes , forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California 's oldest state park .
Authorities said the fires had consumed nearly 350,000 acres in the central and northern part of the state , including in the wine regions of Sonoma and Napa , which are still recovering from deadly , devastating fires in recent years .
`` 2020 has thrown a lot at us .
A pandemic .
Lightning strikes .
Record heatwaves .
Fires .
But if there ’ s one thing I know about CA it ’ s that we are resilient , '' Governor Gavin Newsom , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free up funds to battle the flames , said in a tweet Thursday .
One of the largest groupings of fires -- known as the LNU Lightning complex , which encompasses Napa and Sonoma Counties -- grew to 131,000 acres by Thursday and was zero percent contained .
Cal Fire officials said the many blazes of the LNU Lightning Complex had begun to merge together to create a massive inferno .
`` This is a very large fire .
It 's one of many in the state of California and honestly our resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fire unit chief Shana Jones said .
`` So please be patient . ''
The group of wildfires has already destroyed 105 homes and structures and is threatening more than 30,000 other buildings , fire officials said .
Two people taking part in the firefighting efforts have died .
One was a helicopter pilot who was killed in a crash in Fresno County , southeast of San Francisco , as he was attempting to drop water .
The second was an employee of the utility company Pacific Gas and Electric ( PG & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrical lines in Solano County and was found unresponsive in his vehicle Wednesday , Cal Fire said .
Meanwhile southeast of San Francisco , another grouping of fires dubbed the SCU Lightning Complex prompted evacuation orders in some communities near San Jose , but the fires were for the most part raging in unpopulated areas .
In Santa Cruz County near the coast , a series of fires called the CZU Lightning Complex caused extensive damage to California 's oldest state park , Big Basin Redwoods State Park , known for its majestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old .
`` The fire damaged the park 's headquarters , historic core and campgrounds , '' park officials said .
More than two dozen other parks and beaches in the region were shut down because of the wildfires .
Authorities have said the fires were caused by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes that hit the northern part of the state as it endures a heat wave with historic high temperatures , including a record of 130 degrees Fahrenheit ( 54.4 degrees Celsius ) in Death Valley .
Experts believe climate change has contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are becoming more common year-round rather than just during fire season -- usually between August and November .
The latest fires have prompted air quality alerts in the affected regions , with the air over the Bay Area expected to be extremely poor in the coming days .
`` As many of these fires will burn for days -- even weeks -- air quality will be extremely poor for an extended period , '' Daniel Swain , a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles ( UCLA ) , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state 's history -- the Camp Fire -- took place in northern California in November 2018 and killed 86 people .
PG & E was found responsible for the blaze that destroyed the town of Paradise and caused billions of dollars in property damage .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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A series of massive fires in northern and central California forced more evacuations as they quickly spread Thursday, sending plumes of smoke over the San Francisco area and dangerously affecting air quality.
The blazes, most of which were touched off by a rash of lightning strikes earlier in the week, are being fed by a grueling heat wave afflicting the state.
Evacuation orders were expanded in several counties overnight as the flames devoured homes, forced the shutdown of roads and heavily damaged California's oldest state park.
Authorities said the fires had consumed nearly 350,000 acres in the central and northern part of the state, including in the wine regions of Sonoma and Napa, which are still recovering from deadly, devastating fires in recent years.
"2020 has thrown a lot at us. A pandemic. Lightning strikes. Record heatwaves. Fires. But if there’s one thing I know about CA it’s that we are resilient," Governor Gavin Newsom, who has declared a state of emergency to free up funds to battle the flames, said in a tweet Thursday.
One of the largest groupings of fires -- known as the LNU Lightning complex, which encompasses Napa and Sonoma Counties -- grew to 131,000 acres by Thursday and was zero percent contained.
Cal Fire officials said the many blazes of the LNU Lightning Complex had begun to merge together to create a massive inferno.
"This is a very large fire. It's one of many in the state of California and honestly our resources are stretched very far," Cal Fire unit chief Shana Jones said. "So please be patient."
The group of wildfires has already destroyed 105 homes and structures and is threatening more than 30,000 other buildings, fire officials said.
- State's oldest park -
Two people taking part in the firefighting efforts have died. One was a helicopter pilot who was killed in a crash in Fresno County, southeast of San Francisco, as he was attempting to drop water.
The second was an employee of the utility company Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) who was clearing poles and electrical lines in Solano County and was found unresponsive in his vehicle Wednesday, Cal Fire said.
Meanwhile southeast of San Francisco, another grouping of fires dubbed the SCU Lightning Complex prompted evacuation orders in some communities near San Jose, but the fires were for the most part raging in unpopulated areas.
In Santa Cruz County near the coast, a series of fires called the CZU Lightning Complex caused extensive damage to California's oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, known for its majestic redwoods that are up to 2,000 years old.
"The fire damaged the park's headquarters, historic core and campgrounds," park officials said.
More than two dozen other parks and beaches in the region were shut down because of the wildfires.
Authorities have said the fires were caused by nearly 11,000 lightning strikes that hit the northern part of the state as it endures a heat wave with historic high temperatures, including a record of 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54.4 degrees Celsius) in Death Valley.
Experts believe climate change has contributed to the frequency of the fires, which are becoming more common year-round rather than just during fire season -- usually between August and November.
The latest fires have prompted air quality alerts in the affected regions, with the air over the Bay Area expected to be extremely poor in the coming days.
"As many of these fires will burn for days--even weeks--air quality will be extremely poor for an extended period," Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), said in a tweet.
The deadliest fire in the state's history -- the Camp Fire -- took place in northern California in November 2018 and killed 86 people.
PG&E was found responsible for the blaze that destroyed the town of Paradise and caused billions of dollars in property damage.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-20--A transitional ‘civilian or military’ president will take power in Mali, junta tells FRANCE 24

Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff and military junta spokesperson Ismael Wague speaks during a press conference in Kati on August 19 , 2020 , a day after the military arrested Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and he officially resigned .
The junta that deposed Mali 's president , Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , in a coup this week will install a transitional president who may be `` either a civilian or a soldier '' , the junta 's spokesman told FRANCE 24 on Thursday .
The Malian junta ’ s spokesman , Colonel-Major Ismael Wague , told FRANCE 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday are “ in contact with civil society , opposition parties , the majority , everyone , to try to put a transition in place ” .
A council headed by a transitional president will be “ either a civilian or a soldier ” , Wague said , vowing that the transition would be `` as short as possible '' .
At an emergency summit of the ECOWAS regional bloc earlier on Thursday , West African leaders said they would dispatch envoys to the country to help secure `` the immediate return of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keita to be restored to office .
The bloc suspended Mali in response to the coup .
`` We have decided to immediately send a high-level delegation in order to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order , '' Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou said at the end of the video summit Thursday .
Issoufou said that ECOWAS would `` convey to the leaders of the military junta that the times of taking power by force are over in this region '' .
The coup is Mali 's second in eight years .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurrection in the north of the country that gave rise to a jihadist insurgency .
The overthrow unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamist extremists to seize control of northern towns .
After a request from Mali , a French-led military operation dubbed Operation Serval launched in January 2013 and ousted the jihadists .
But they eventually regrouped and have expanded their reach during Keita 's presidency .
Islamist extremist groups now also threaten neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso .
Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials , plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis .
`` Mali is in a critical situation , with serious risks that a collapse of the state and institutions leads to reversals in the fight against terrorism and organised crime , with every consequence for all our community , '' Issoufou warned after the summit on Thursday .
Keita 's overthrow followed months of popular protests in which ECOWAS had tried to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting up a unity government , including opposition representatives , but also stood firmly by the 75-year-old Keita .
The offer was bluntly rejected by the opposition .
France , the EU , the US , the African Union and the UN Security Council have all condemned the putsch and demanded the release of detained leaders .
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the coup on Wednesday , arguing that “ the fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable ” .
`` To leave is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight .
It is not acceptable , '' the French president wrote on Twitter , calling for power to be `` returned to civilians '' .
Macron also demanded a return to `` constitutional order '' and for the Malian president and the prime minister to be freed .

The junta that deposed Mali's president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, in a coup this week will install a transitional president who may be "either a civilian or a soldier", the junta's spokesman told FRANCE 24 on Thursday.
Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff and military junta spokesperson Ismael Wague speaks during a press conference in Kati on August 19, 2020, a day after the military arrested Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and he officially resigned.
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The Malian junta’s spokesman, Colonel-Major Ismael Wague, told FRANCE 24 that the soldiers who seized power on Tuesday are “in contact with civil society, opposition parties, the majority, everyone, to try to put a transition in place”.
A council headed by a transitional president will be “either a civilian or a soldier”, Wague said, vowing that the transition would be "as short as possible".
At an emergency summit of the ECOWAS regional bloc earlier on Thursday, West African leaders said they would dispatch envoys to the country to help secure "the immediate return of constitutional order" and called for president Keita to be restored to office. The bloc suspended Mali in response to the coup.
"We have decided to immediately send a high-level delegation in order to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order," Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou said at the end of the video summit Thursday.
Issoufou said that ECOWAS would "convey to the leaders of the military junta that the times of taking power by force are over in this region".
The coup is Mali's second in eight years.
A putsch in 2012 was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country that gave rise to a jihadist insurgency. The overthrow unleashed years of chaos in Mali when the ensuing power vacuum allowed Islamist extremists to seize control of northern towns.
After a request from Mali, a French-led military operation dubbed Operation Serval launched in January 2013 and ousted the jihadists. But they eventually regrouped and have expanded their reach during Keita's presidency. Islamist extremist groups now also threaten neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.
Counter-terrorism and democracy 'inseparable'
Keita resigned in a brief address broadcast on state TV on Wednesday, hours after troops seized him along with Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other top officials, plunging a country already facing a jihadist insurgency and mass protests deeper into crisis.
"Mali is in a critical situation, with serious risks that a collapse of the state and institutions leads to reversals in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, with every consequence for all our community," Issoufou warned after the summit on Thursday.
Keita's overthrow followed months of popular protests in which ECOWAS had tried to play a mediating role.
The bloc proposed setting up a unity government, including opposition representatives, but also stood firmly by the 75-year-old Keita. The offer was bluntly rejected by the opposition.
France, the EU, the US, the African Union and the UN Security Council have all condemned the putsch and demanded the release of detained leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the coup on Wednesday, arguing that “the fight against terrorist groups and the defence of democracy and the rule of law are inseparable”.
"To leave is to provoke instability and to weaken our fight. It is not acceptable," the French president wrote on Twitter, calling for power to be "returned to civilians". Macron also demanded a return to "constitutional order" and for the Malian president and the prime minister to be freed.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-08-20--'You have to take risks,' says Zarco after MotoGP near-miss

MotoGP rider Johann Zarco insisted Thursday that `` you ca n't do this sport if you do n't want to take risks '' after being widely condemned for his role in a terrifying 300kmh near-miss at the Austrian Grand Prix .
The 30-year-old Frenchman collided with Italy 's Franco Morbidelli at the Red Bull Ring last Sunday .
Both men came off , leaving their bikes to cartwheel at speeds of up to 300 km/h back across the track .
Morbidelli 's machine flew just centimetres past the head of Valentino Rossi leaving the Italian nine-time world champion badly shaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed '' him .
`` Zarco is almost a murderer , '' he said .
Zarco wo n't take part in Friday 's opening practice for this weekend 's Styrian Grand Prix at the same circuit after undergoing surgery on his injured right wrist in midweek .
His fitness for Saturday qualifying and for Sunday 's race will be assessed on Friday .
Despite his lack of action -- and a meeting with the race stewards -- Zarco remained defiant Thursday .
`` For me it was clear , you have to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the track and I think that on the track nothing will change , '' the Ducati rider said , insisting the stewards could not force him to change his approach .
`` If they want to punish me , they ca n't do anything either .
You ca n't think like that on a motorcycle .
`` If somebody thinks I 'm dangerous , it 's not possible to be dangerous on these bikes , you ca n't do this sport if you do n't want to take risks . ''
Zarco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the high-speed drama which also saw his free-wheeling machine also just miss Rossi and come close to taking out Maverick Vinales on the second factory Yamaha machine .
`` I explained how I experienced the accident and what I did before passing Morbidelli and after , '' he added .
`` We have the telemetry to prove what I 'm saying .
`` They ( stewards ) asked me questions and then they will wait to see what Franco says .
In my opinion , there should be no sanctions because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope they understood it . ''
Morbidelli , who rides for the Yamaha satellite team , said Thursday he expected Zarco to be punished .
`` I do n't think they are going to not penalise him , '' said the Italian .
`` Clearly Johann took a funny line , a line that nobody has been going on , not even once in the weekend . ''
Later Thursday , race stewards kept Zarco and Morbidelli waiting a little longer to learn their fate when they said their disciplinary decision will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over-shadowed the second successive win at the Austrian GP by Ducati 's Andrea Dovizioso .
Ducati have won all the races at Spielberg since MotoGP returned to Austria in 2016 .
Victory came just a day after it was announced the veteran Dovizioso would leave the team at the end of the season .
World championship leader Fabio Quartararo was down in eighth place last Sunday and his lead in the title race is just 11 points over the Italian .

Spielberg bei Knittelfeld (Austria) (AFP) –
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MotoGP rider Johann Zarco insisted Thursday that "you can't do this sport if you don't want to take risks" after being widely condemned for his role in a terrifying 300kmh near-miss at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old Frenchman collided with Italy's Franco Morbidelli at the Red Bull Ring last Sunday.
Both men came off, leaving their bikes to cartwheel at speeds of up to 300 km/h back across the track.
Morbidelli's machine flew just centimetres past the head of Valentino Rossi leaving the Italian nine-time world champion badly shaken and claiming the stray Yamaha "almost killed" him.
Morbidelli went further.
"Zarco is almost a murderer," he said.
Zarco won't take part in Friday's opening practice for this weekend's Styrian Grand Prix at the same circuit after undergoing surgery on his injured right wrist in midweek.
His fitness for Saturday qualifying and for Sunday's race will be assessed on Friday.
Despite his lack of action -- and a meeting with the race stewards -- Zarco remained defiant Thursday.
"For me it was clear, you have to know that you never try to push someone off the track and I think that on the track nothing will change," the Ducati rider said, insisting the stewards could not force him to change his approach.
"If they want to punish me, they can't do anything either. You can't think like that on a motorcycle.
"If somebody thinks I'm dangerous, it's not possible to be dangerous on these bikes, you can't do this sport if you don't want to take risks."
Zarco said he was convinced he was innocent in the high-speed drama which also saw his free-wheeling machine also just miss Rossi and come close to taking out Maverick Vinales on the second factory Yamaha machine.
"I explained how I experienced the accident and what I did before passing Morbidelli and after," he added.
"We have the telemetry to prove what I'm saying.
"They (stewards) asked me questions and then they will wait to see what Franco says. In my opinion, there should be no sanctions because I did not do anything crazy and I hope they understood it."
Morbidelli, who rides for the Yamaha satellite team, said Thursday he expected Zarco to be punished.
"I don't think they are going to not penalise him," said the Italian.
"Clearly Johann took a funny line, a line that nobody has been going on, not even once in the weekend."
Later Thursday, race stewards kept Zarco and Morbidelli waiting a little longer to learn their fate when they said their disciplinary decision will be published Friday.
Last weekend's controversy over-shadowed the second successive win at the Austrian GP by Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso.
Ducati have won all the races at Spielberg since MotoGP returned to Austria in 2016.
Victory came just a day after it was announced the veteran Dovizioso would leave the team at the end of the season.
World championship leader Fabio Quartararo was down in eighth place last Sunday and his lead in the title race is just 11 points over the Italian.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Man Utd captain Maguire arrested over Mykonos 'assault'

Harry Maguire ( R ) played in Manchester United 's 2-1 loss to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been arrested on the Greek tourist island of Mykonos for an alleged assault and attacking police , state agency ANA reported Friday .
United said in a brief statement they were `` aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night . ''
`` Contact has been made with Harry , and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities .
`` At this time we will be making no further comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to police sources , Maguire , his brother and a friend were involved in a fight around midnight with other British tourists outside a bar , ANA said .
Residents called the police , one of whom was attacked by one of the suspects when they responded to the incident , the agency said .
The police asked the suspects to follow them to the police station with the van but when they arrived , they attempted to flee .
They are expected to appear before a prosecutor later in the day , @ @ @

Athens (AFP) –
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Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been arrested on the Greek tourist island of Mykonos for an alleged assault and attacking police, state agency ANA reported Friday.
United said in a brief statement they were "aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night."
"Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully co-operating with the Greek authorities.
"At this time we will be making no further comment," the club added.
According to police sources, Maguire, his brother and a friend were involved in a fight around midnight with other British tourists outside a bar, ANA said.
Residents called the police, one of whom was attacked by one of the suspects when they responded to the incident, the agency said.
The police asked the suspects to follow them to the police station with the van but when they arrived, they attempted to flee.
They are expected to appear before a prosecutor later in the day, ANA said.
burs-mr-jph/mw
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Israel bombs Gaza as rocket fire intensifies

An Israeli firefighter extinguishes a fire close to the Gaza Strip caused by an incendiary balloon Israeli warplanes bombed the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Friday , as Palestiniansfired rockets and launched fire bombs into southern Israel , the army said .
Parts of southern Israel were partially cordoned off by the security forces .
Israeli planes launched raids against Gaza shortly after midnight Thursday and then again later on Friday morning .
Israel said the bombs were in response to seven rockets launched from Gaza , six of which were intercepted by its air defences .
Witnesses in Gaza said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sderot , just across the border .
The rocket that was not intercepted damaged the roof of a house in Sderot , but did not cause any casualties , an AFP photographer said .
Israel has bombed Gaza almost every night since August 6 in retaliation for the launch of balloons fitted with fire bombs , or , less frequently , rocket fire , across the border .
The number of rockets fired from Gaza was the largest number in a day , since the latest round of exchanges began two weeks ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight a battle with the enemy if the escalation continues , if the bombardments and the blockade continue , '' Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said in a statement .
`` If the Israeli occupation continues its aggression ... it must pay the price , '' he added .
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz this week accused Hamas of `` playing with fire '' and warned that Israel would respond to any attack `` on its sovereignty '' .
Israel has also tightened its 13-year blockade of Gaza 's two million inhabitants .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea and closed its goods crossing with the territory , prompting the closure of Gaza 's sole power plant for want of fuel .
The reprisals came after an Egyptian delegation shuttled between the two sides , trying to broker a return to an informal truce .
Egypt has acted to calm repeated flare-ups in recent years to prevent any repetition of the three wars Israel and Hamas have fought since 2008 .
The latest ceasefire , which has already been renewed several times , is bolstered by millions of dollars in financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truce provided for permits for Gazans to work in Israel and financing for Gaza development projects , both measures that would provide some economic relief in an impoverished territory where unemployment exceeds 50 percent .
According to a source close to Hamas , the movement wants the extension of an industrial zone in the east of Gaza , and the construction of a new power line .
Hamas also wants the number of work permits issued to Gazans to be doubled to 10,000 once anti-coronavirus restrictions are lifted , the source said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the root of the latest flare-up .

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) –
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Israeli warplanes bombed the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Friday, as Palestiniansfired rockets and launched fire bombs into southern Israel, the army said.
Parts of southern Israel were partially cordoned off by the security forces.
Israeli planes launched raids against Gaza shortly after midnight Thursday and then again later on Friday morning.
Israel said the bombs were in response to seven rockets launched from Gaza, six of which were intercepted by its air defences.
Witnesses in Gaza said rockets were launched towards the town of Sderot, just across the border.
The rocket that was not intercepted damaged the roof of a house in Sderot, but did not cause any casualties, an AFP photographer said.
Israel has bombed Gaza almost every night since August 6 in retaliation for the launch of balloons fitted with fire bombs, or, less frequently, rocket fire, across the border.
The number of rockets fired from Gaza was the largest number in a day, since the latest round of exchanges began two weeks ago.
Hamas "will not hesitate to fight a battle with the enemy if the escalation continues, if the bombardments and the blockade continue," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said in a statement.
"If the Israeli occupation continues its aggression... it must pay the price," he added.
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz this week accused Hamas of "playing with fire" and warned that Israel would respond to any attack "on its sovereignty".
- Blockade tightened -
Israel has also tightened its 13-year blockade of Gaza's two million inhabitants.
It has banned Gaza fishermen from going to sea and closed its goods crossing with the territory, prompting the closure of Gaza's sole power plant for want of fuel.
The reprisals came after an Egyptian delegation shuttled between the two sides, trying to broker a return to an informal truce.
Egypt has acted to calm repeated flare-ups in recent years to prevent any repetition of the three wars Israel and Hamas have fought since 2008.
The latest ceasefire, which has already been renewed several times, is bolstered by millions of dollars in financial aid from Qatar to Gaza.
The truce provided for permits for Gazans to work in Israel and financing for Gaza development projects, both measures that would provide some economic relief in an impoverished territory where unemployment exceeds 50 percent.
According to a source close to Hamas, the movement wants the extension of an industrial zone in the east of Gaza, and the construction of a new power line.
Hamas also wants the number of work permits issued to Gazans to be doubled to 10,000 once anti-coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the source said.
Sources told AFP the twin issues were at the root of the latest flare-up.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Should Mali's leaders be reinstated?

Should Mali's leaders be reinstated?

The international community is calling on the military junta that deposed Mali ’ s president and prime minister this week @ @ @ @ @ However , Douglas Yates , professor of political science , AGS , says the international @ @ @ @ @ for free and fair elections .

Should Mali's leaders be reinstated?
04:00
The international community is calling on the military junta that deposed Mali’s president and prime minister this week to reinstate the leaders. However, Douglas Yates, professor of political science, AGS, says the international community should instead be calling for free and fair elections.


france24--2020-08-21--UN team gains access to Mali's Keita, other detainees after coup

The United Nations said Friday it had gained access to Mali 's ousted president while rebel soldiers announced the release of two other leaders held in a dramatic coup this week .
The gesture coincided with mounting international pressure on the junta and preparations for celebratory rallies in the capital Bamako following the latest putsch in the troubled West African country .
`` Last night , a team from MINUSMA # HumanRights went to # Kati in the framework of its mandate to protect human rights and was able to gain access to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other detainees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rebel soldiers seized Keita and other leaders after staging a mutiny on Tuesday at Kati , a military base about 15 kilometres ( nine miles ) from Bamako .
A member of the junta , speaking on condition of anonymity , said it had authorised a UN human rights mission to visit all 19 prisoners in Kati , including Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse .
The source added that the junta had released former economy minister Abdoulaye Daffe and Sabane Mahalmoudou , Keita 's private secretary .
`` Two prisoners have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kati .
This is the proof that we respect human rights , '' the junta member said .
The reported release came shortly before mass rallies , staged by a protest coalition that had been demanding Keita 's resignation , to `` celebrate the victory of the Malian people .
The rebel soldiers named their organisation the National Committee for the Salvation of the People , under the leadership of a 37-year-old colonel named Assimi Goita , and vowed to create a transitional council and stage elections `` within a reasonable time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African leaders in condemning the fragile Sahel state 's latest putsch and demanded the detained leaders be freed .
Keita and Cisse are being held in a villa in Kati and are without a television , radio or phone , while the others are in a training centre , where they are sleeping on mattresses and watching television , according to witnesses to the visit .
The 75-year-old ousted president `` looked tired but relaxed , '' they said , describing his conditions as `` acceptable . ''
The coup -- the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body blow to a country struggling with a jihadist insurgency , moribund economy and deep public resentment over its government .
A putsch in 2012 was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country which developed into a jihadist insurgency that now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso .
Thousands of UN and French troops , along with soldiers from five Sahel countries , have been deployed to try to stem the bloodshed .
The junta 's spokesman , Ismael Wague , said on Thursday that `` a transitional council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be either military or civilian '' would be appointed .
The transition `` will be the shortest possible , '' he told France 24 television .
Those detained , according to various sources , include Defence Minister Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele , Security Minister M'Bemba Moussa Keita , the president of the National Assembly , Moussa Timbine , as well as the heads of the army and air force .
Leaders of the 15-nation West African regional group ECOWAS on Thursday demanded Keita be restored as president and bluntly warned the junta that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and security '' of the detainees .
The leaders also announced they would dispatch a high-level delegation `` to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order '' .
Other African leaders on Friday added to condemnation of the coup and reiterated demands for the detainees ' release .
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta urged a `` speedy , peaceful and democratic '' resolution of the crisis while DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi described the coup as `` dangerous for democracy in Africa '' and African countries should take a firm line , the African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a landslide in 2013 , putting himself forward as a unifying figure in a fractured country , and was re-elected in 2018 for another five-year term .
But he failed to make headway against a jihadist revolt that has left swathes of the country in the hand of armed Islamists and ignited ethnic violence in the country 's volatile centre .
Thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands have fled their their homes .
Anger swelled after the disputed outcome of legislative elections in April , leading to the creation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 Movement .

Bamako (AFP) –
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The United Nations said Friday it had gained access to Mali's ousted president while rebel soldiers announced the release of two other leaders held in a dramatic coup this week.
The gesture coincided with mounting international pressure on the junta and preparations for celebratory rallies in the capital Bamako following the latest putsch in the troubled West African country.
"Last night, a team from MINUSMA #HumanRights went to #Kati in the framework of its mandate to protect human rights and was able to gain access to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other detainees," the UN peacekeeping mission said.
Rebel soldiers seized Keita and other leaders after staging a mutiny on Tuesday at Kati, a military base about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Bamako.
A member of the junta, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it had authorised a UN human rights mission to visit all 19 prisoners in Kati, including Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.
The source added that the junta had released former economy minister Abdoulaye Daffe and Sabane Mahalmoudou, Keita's private secretary.
"Two prisoners have been released. There are still 17 in Kati. This is the proof that we respect human rights," the junta member said.
The reported release came shortly before mass rallies, staged by a protest coalition that had been demanding Keita's resignation, to "celebrate the victory of the Malian people.
The rebel soldiers named their organisation the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, under the leadership of a 37-year-old colonel named Assimi Goita, and vowed to create a transitional council and stage elections "within a reasonable time".
The international community has joined African leaders in condemning the fragile Sahel state's latest putsch and demanded the detained leaders be freed.
Keita and Cisse are being held in a villa in Kati and are without a television, radio or phone, while the others are in a training centre, where they are sleeping on mattresses and watching television, according to witnesses to the visit.
The 75-year-old ousted president "looked tired but relaxed," they said, describing his conditions as "acceptable."
- 'Transition' pledge -
The coup -- the second in just eight years -- deals a body blow to a country struggling with a jihadist insurgency, moribund economy and deep public resentment over its government.
A putsch in 2012 was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country which developed into a jihadist insurgency that now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.
Thousands of UN and French troops, along with soldiers from five Sahel countries, have been deployed to try to stem the bloodshed.
The junta's spokesman, Ismael Wague, said on Thursday that "a transitional council, with a transitional president who is going to be either military or civilian" would be appointed.
The transition "will be the shortest possible," he told France 24 television.
Those detained, according to various sources, include Defence Minister Ibrahima Dahirou Dembele, Security Minister M'Bemba Moussa Keita, the president of the National Assembly, Moussa Timbine, as well as the heads of the army and air force.
.
- 'Dangerous for democracy' -
Leaders of the 15-nation West African regional group ECOWAS on Thursday demanded Keita be restored as president and bluntly warned the junta that they bore "responsibility for the safety and security" of the detainees.
The leaders also announced they would dispatch a high-level delegation "to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order".
Other African leaders on Friday added to condemnation of the coup and reiterated demands for the detainees' release.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta urged a "speedy, peaceful and democratic" resolution of the crisis while DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi described the coup as "dangerous for democracy in Africa" and African countries should take a firm line, the African Union said.
Keita won election in a landslide in 2013, putting himself forward as a unifying figure in a fractured country, and was re-elected in 2018 for another five-year term.
But he failed to make headway against a jihadist revolt that has left swathes of the country in the hand of armed Islamists and ignited ethnic violence in the country's volatile centre.
Thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands have fled their their homes.
Anger swelled after the disputed outcome of legislative elections in April, leading to the creation of the anti-Keita protest coalition, the June 5 Movement.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--O'Connor makes history as Reds hammer hapless Force

Australia 's James O'Connor is the first Super Rugby player to score 100 points for three different clubs Queensland Reds fly-half James O'Connor became the first Super Rugby player to score 100 points for three different clubs Friday in helping his team thrash a shellshocked Western Force 57-5 in an eight-try rampage .
The Wallabies star brought up the milestone with a first-half penalty to match the feat he achieved during stints with Force and the Melbourne Rebels .
O'Connor dazzled on the Gold Coast , scoring a try , setting up three others with deft passes and booting 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perth club and soared to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder .
They moved three points clear of the ACT Brumbies , although the Canberra team has two games in hand , with the resurgent NSW Waratahs next up for them on Saturday .
All three of those sides remain in contention for the finals series , along with the Melbourne Rebels .
But the Force are out of the running with two games to play after their sixth defeat in a row .
`` I thought we were a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just sticking to simple things , '' said Reds skipper Liam Wright , adding that they had been working on their off-load game .
`` We 've got a lot of X-factor in the team and the guys are running those support lines well . ''
Force skipper Ian Prior admitted it was `` a tough day at the office '' .
`` The Reds played really well and we did n't do ourselves any favours in certain areas , but you ca n't question the effort , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to string it together for 80 minutes . ''
Handling errors marred the early action but it did n't take long for the Reds to get on the board with a lovely inside ball from O'Connor setting flying winger Filipo Daugunu free to dot down and open the scoring .
The pair combined once more on the half-hour mark for try number two with O'Connor offloading to Daugunu in the corner after some slick handling in the build up .
The Force hardly saw any ball in the first-half and O'Connor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a penalty in front of the posts to take his team to the break with a 15-0 lead .
Against the odds , Andrew Ready flopped down for five points from a driving maul to get the Force back in the game soon after the restart before O'Connor was again involved in passing to a charging Fraser McReight for their third try .
Scrum-half Tate McDermott then showcased two pieces of magic .
He showed great awareness to step inside a maul and dart to the line for a try then went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking a quick tap penalty .
O'Connor got in on the try-scoring act with their sixth before Bryce Hegarty and Tuaina Taii Tualima culminated a dominant win against a ragged Force defence .

Gold Coast (Australia) (AFP) –
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Queensland Reds fly-half James O'Connor became the first Super Rugby player to score 100 points for three different clubs Friday in helping his team thrash a shellshocked Western Force 57-5 in an eight-try rampage.
The Wallabies star brought up the milestone with a first-half penalty to match the feat he achieved during stints with Force and the Melbourne Rebels.
O'Connor dazzled on the Gold Coast, scoring a try, setting up three others with deft passes and booting 17 points as the impressive Reds embarrassed the Perth club and soared to the top of the Super Rugby AU ladder.
They moved three points clear of the ACT Brumbies, although the Canberra team has two games in hand, with the resurgent NSW Waratahs next up for them on Saturday.
All three of those sides remain in contention for the finals series, along with the Melbourne Rebels. But the Force are out of the running with two games to play after their sixth defeat in a row.
"I thought we were a lot more clinical in taking our opportunities and just sticking to simple things," said Reds skipper Liam Wright, adding that they had been working on their off-load game.
"We've got a lot of X-factor in the team and the guys are running those support lines well."
Force skipper Ian Prior admitted it was "a tough day at the office".
"The Reds played really well and we didn't do ourselves any favours in certain areas, but you can't question the effort," he said. "We're playing well in patches but we need to string it together for 80 minutes."
Handling errors marred the early action but it didn't take long for the Reds to get on the board with a lovely inside ball from O'Connor setting flying winger Filipo Daugunu free to dot down and open the scoring.
The pair combined once more on the half-hour mark for try number two with O'Connor offloading to Daugunu in the corner after some slick handling in the build up.
The Force hardly saw any ball in the first-half and O'Connor brought up his century for the Reds with a penalty in front of the posts to take his team to the break with a 15-0 lead.
Against the odds, Andrew Ready flopped down for five points from a driving maul to get the Force back in the game soon after the restart before O'Connor was again involved in passing to a charging Fraser McReight for their third try.
Scrum-half Tate McDermott then showcased two pieces of magic.
He showed great awareness to step inside a maul and dart to the line for a try then went on a brilliant 40-metre solo run after taking a quick tap penalty.
O'Connor got in on the try-scoring act with their sixth before Bryce Hegarty and Tuaina Taii Tualima culminated a dominant win against a ragged Force defence.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Californian blazes result of climate change, governor says

Blazes around the greater San Francisco bay area have destroyed hundreds of homes and are threatening thousands more .
California @ @ @ @ @ has declared a state of emergency , and said the fires , caused by a @ @ @ @ @ and lightning , were the result of climate change .

Californian blazes result of climate change, governor says
01:34
Blazes around the greater San Francisco bay area have destroyed hundreds of homes and are threatening thousands more. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and said the fires, caused by a perfect storm of extreme heat and lightning, were the result of climate change.


france24--2020-08-21--PSG versus Bayern Munich -- in the lucrative China market

PSG 's Chinese supporters will be out in numbers for the final against Bayern , that will be broadcast on state television and streamed online Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain clash in the Champions League final on Sunday in Lisbon but on the other side of the globe they are also engaged in another high-stakes competition .
China , the world 's most populous country and second-biggest economy , is a battleground for major European football clubs as they chase the disposable incomes of its growing middle class .
The final kicks off at an unsociable 3:00 am Monday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewing parties for their fans in over 30 Chinese cities .
PSG 's Chinese supporters -- many wearing the name of Brazilian star Neymar on their backs and hoping to see the club win the Champions League for the first time -- will also be out in numbers for a match that will be broadcast on state television and streamed online .
Bayern believe they have over 110 million Chinese `` followers '' .
Such figures are hard to nail down and followers is a loose term , but on the Twitter-like Weibo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.9 million , although that is only one measure to go by .
Bayern have been champions of Europe five times , most recently in 2013 , but say that reaching the final once more has had a tangible impact on their profile in China .
`` We can already feel and see it , '' said Rouven Kasper , head of Bayern 's office in Shanghai since it opened in 2016 .
More than that , Kasper said the stylish way they surged into the final -- demolishing Lionel Messi 's Barcelona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buzz .
`` They 're playing incredibly attractive football , '' he said of the German champions .
`` They 're very sharp , very pressing , also very , very aggressive , but attractive , shooting , many goals . ''
Kasper said that `` we also have the players which for the Chinese market are very attractive '' .
Bayern 's German international forward Thomas Mueller is especially popular in China , said Kasper , and with 6.1 million on Weibo has more followers than the club .
Mueller 's winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` also the DNA of Bayern Munich '' , said Kasper .
Kasper believes that German football 's early return during the coronavirus pandemic -- it was the first major European league to restart , in May -- put Bundesliga clubs in the shop window .
`` For sure it was an advantage that we had the whole stage just for us , '' he said .
- 'PSG the club of new generation ' - PSG 's Qatari owners made China a priority `` from day one '' when they took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Sebastien Wasels , Asia-Pacific managing director .
They launched their Weibo account in 2013 and have a presence across five social media channels in China .
`` China has always been extremely important to us and that 's one of the reasons why we toured with the first team in China for the past two years .
Last year all of our Asia tour was in China , '' said Wasels .
`` I do n't recall any club that spent that much time in China for their summer tour .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been founded in 1970 -- Bayern go back to 1900 -- are trying `` to go in a different direction to try to target a different audience than the traditional football audience '' , said Wasels .
They have teamed up with a well-known Chinese eSports team , LGD Gaming , in the hope of turning gamers into PSG fans .
`` We are really trying to be the club of the new generation ... it is in our interest to make sure that those young fans who do not have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wasels .
The signings of Neymar and French prodigy Kylian Mbappe in 2017 had helped double the club 's fanbase in the country , he said .
He declined to give numbers of fans or followers -- citing their inaccuracy -- but believes that PSG are `` probably the fastest-growing football club in China '' .
Champions League glory , at last , would give PSG another rocket-boost .
`` We doubled it ( fan numbers ) in three years by the acquisition of two top , top players and tours in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something similar , '' he said .

Shanghai (AFP) –
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Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain clash in the Champions League final on Sunday in Lisbon but on the other side of the globe they are also engaged in another high-stakes competition.
China, the world's most populous country and second-biggest economy, is a battleground for major European football clubs as they chase the disposable incomes of its growing middle class.
The final kicks off at an unsociable 3:00 am Monday in China but Bayern say there will be viewing parties for their fans in over 30 Chinese cities.
PSG's Chinese supporters -- many wearing the name of Brazilian star Neymar on their backs and hoping to see the club win the Champions League for the first time -- will also be out in numbers for a match that will be broadcast on state television and streamed online.
Bayern believe they have over 110 million Chinese "followers".
Such figures are hard to nail down and followers is a loose term, but on the Twitter-like Weibo they have 4.2 million. PSG have 1.9 million, although that is only one measure to go by.
Bayern have been champions of Europe five times, most recently in 2013, but say that reaching the final once more has had a tangible impact on their profile in China.
"We can already feel and see it," said Rouven Kasper, head of Bayern's office in Shanghai since it opened in 2016.
More than that, Kasper said the stylish way they surged into the final -- demolishing Lionel Messi's Barcelona 8-2 on the way -- generated extra buzz.
"They're playing incredibly attractive football," he said of the German champions.
"They're very sharp, very pressing, also very, very aggressive, but attractive, shooting, many goals."
Kasper said that "we also have the players which for the Chinese market are very attractive".
Bayern's German international forward Thomas Mueller is especially popular in China, said Kasper, and with 6.1 million on Weibo has more followers than the club.
Mueller's winning mentality but with a humble nature is "also the DNA of Bayern Munich", said Kasper.
Kasper believes that German football's early return during the coronavirus pandemic -- it was the first major European league to restart, in May -- put Bundesliga clubs in the shop window.
"For sure it was an advantage that we had the whole stage just for us," he said.
- 'PSG the club of new generation' -
PSG's Qatari owners made China a priority "from day one" when they took over the French club nearly a decade ago, said Sebastien Wasels, Asia-Pacific managing director.
They launched their Weibo account in 2013 and have a presence across five social media channels in China.
"China has always been extremely important to us and that's one of the reasons why we toured with the first team in China for the past two years. Last year all of our Asia tour was in China," said Wasels.
"I don't recall any club that spent that much time in China for their summer tour."
PSG, a relatively young club having been founded in 1970 -- Bayern go back to 1900 -- are trying "to go in a different direction to try to target a different audience than the traditional football audience", said Wasels.
They have teamed up with a well-known Chinese eSports team, LGD Gaming, in the hope of turning gamers into PSG fans.
"We are really trying to be the club of the new generation... it is in our interest to make sure that those young fans who do not have a club yet become PSG fans," said Wasels.
The signings of Neymar and French prodigy Kylian Mbappe in 2017 had helped double the club's fanbase in the country, he said.
He declined to give numbers of fans or followers -- citing their inaccuracy -- but believes that PSG are "probably the fastest-growing football club in China".
Champions League glory, at last, would give PSG another rocket-boost.
"We doubled it (fan numbers) in three years by the acquisition of two top, top players and tours in China, so maybe we can expect something similar," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Ducati's Miller tops opening Styrian MotoGP practice session

Jack Miller came third in last weekend 's Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring Australia 's Jack Miller @ @ @ @ @ Friday 's first Styrian MotoGP free practice session , as Ducati continued their strong form @ @ @ @ @ at the same Spielberg circuit .
Ducati-Pramac rider Miller was 0.004sec quicker than Italy 's @ @ @ @ @ of the Austrian Grand Prix for the Ducati factory team .
Portugal 's Miguel Oliveira @ @ @ @ @ outfit , KTM-Red Bull-Tech 3 , was third on the stable 's home track , @ @ @ @ @ could only manage 10th place .
Frenchman Johann Zarco , penalised Friday for his role @ @ @ @ @ Morbidelli last week , did not take part in the session after undergoing surgery on @ @ @ @ @ the collision .
Zarco was sanctioned for `` irresponsible riding '' and will start his @ @ @ @ @ as punishment .
Injured defending champion Marc Marquez will miss his fourth race in a @ @ @ @ @ .
Francesco Bagnaia is also still sidelined .

Spielberg (Austria) (AFP) –
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Australia's Jack Miller posted the fastest time in Friday's first Styrian MotoGP free practice session, as Ducati continued their strong form after last weekend's victory at the same Spielberg circuit.
Ducati-Pramac rider Miller was 0.004sec quicker than Italy's Andrea Dovizioso, the winner of the Austrian Grand Prix for the Ducati factory team.
Portugal's Miguel Oliveira of the KTM team satellite outfit, KTM-Red Bull-Tech 3, was third on the stable's home track, while championship leader Fabio Quartararo could only manage 10th place.
Frenchman Johann Zarco, penalised Friday for his role in a crash with Franco Morbidelli last week, did not take part in the session after undergoing surgery on the wrist he injured in the collision.
Zarco was sanctioned for "irresponsible riding" and will start his next race from the pitlane as punishment.
Injured defending champion Marc Marquez will miss his fourth race in a row after breaking an arm. Francesco Bagnaia is also still sidelined.
Styrian MotoGP first free practice times:
1. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 1.23:859, 2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) at 0.004sec, 3. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM-Tech3) 0.039, 4. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 0.091, 5. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.102, 6. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.339, 7. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM) 0.392, 8. Iker Lecuona (ESP/KTM-Tech3) 0.442, 9. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 0.465, 10. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha-SRT) 0.522
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Gloves off as riot police meet Parisian youth in community program

Gloves off as riot police meet Parisian youth in community program In France , former riot police officers are holding @ @ @ @ @ suburbs in a bid to build bridges and restore confidence in law enforcement agents .
@ @ @ @ @ grapples with growing recognition of police violence , particularly against minority populations .

Gloves off as riot police meet Parisian youth in community program
01:43
In France, former riot police officers are holding workshops with youth in Paris suburbs in a bid to build bridges and restore confidence in law enforcement agents. The program comes as France grapples with growing recognition of police violence, particularly against minority populations.


france24--2020-08-21--UN meets deposed Malian leaders

UN meets deposed Malian leaders

The United Nations mission in Mali has met with the detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday .
FRANCE 24 correspondent Mohamed Salaha in Bamako says the UN confirmed the @ @ @ @ @ and were being kept in acceptable conditions .

UN meets deposed Malian leaders
00:55
The United Nations mission in Mali has met with the detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, ousted in a coup on Tuesday. FRANCE 24 correspondent Mohamed Salaha in Bamako says the UN confirmed the men had not been mistreated and were being kept in acceptable conditions.


france24--2020-08-21--Turkey's Erdogan converts another former church into mosque

The Holy Saviour in Chora was a medieval Byzantine church decorated with 14th-century frescoes of the Last Judgement Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday ordered another ancient Orthodox church that became a mosque and then a popular Istanbul museum to be turned back into a place of Muslim worship .
The decision to transform the Kariye Museum into a mosque came just a month after a similarly controversial conversion for the UNESCO World Heritage-recognised Hagia Sophia .
Both changes reflect Erdogan 's efforts to galvanise his more conservative and nationalist supporters at a time when Turkey is suffering a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by the coronavirus .
But they have added to Turkey 's tensions with Greece and its Orthodox Church .
The Greek foreign ministry called the decision `` yet another provocation against religious persons everywhere '' by the Turkish government .
The 1,000-year-old building 's history closely mirrors that of the Hagia Sophia -- its bigger neighbour on the historic western bank of the Golden Horn estuary on the European side of Istanbul .
The Holy Saviour in Chora was a medieval Byzantine church decorated with 14th-century frescoes of the Last Judgement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was originally converted into the Kariye Mosque half a century after the 1453 conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks .
It became the Kariye Museum after World War II as Turkey pushed ahead with the creation of a more secular new republic out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire .
A group of American art historians then helped restore the original church 's mosaics and opened them up for public display in 1958 .
But Erdogan is placing an ever greater political emphasis on the battles that resulted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey 's top administrative court approved the museum 's conversion into a mosque in November .
`` It 's a place steeped in history which holds a lot of symbolism for a lot of different people , '' said 48-year-old French tourist Frederic Sicard outside the building .
`` For me , ( these conversions ) are a little difficult to understand and to follow .
But we would visit if it were a mosque .
We might just have to arrange visits around prayer times . ''
The sandy-coloured structure visible today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a monastery in the fourth century when Constantinople was the new capital of the Roman Empire .
It features a minaret in one corner and small cascading domes similar to those of other grand mosques whose calls to prayer echo over Istanbul .
But inside it is filled with magnificent frescoes and mosaics that represent some of the finest examples of Byzantine art in the Christian world .
Turkey 's tumultuous efforts to reconcile these two histories form the underpinnings of the country 's contemporary politics and social life .
Opposition HDP party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shame for our country '' .
`` One of the symbols of our country 's deep , multicultural identity and multi-religious history has been sacrified , '' he said in a tweet .
Yet some locals fully supported the change .
`` There are dozens , hundreds of churches , synagogues in Istanbul and only a few of them have been opened to prayer as mosques , '' said Yucel Sahin as he strolled by the building after the morning rain .
`` There is a lot of tolerance in our culture @ @

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday ordered another ancient Orthodox church that became a mosque and then a popular Istanbul museum to be turned back into a place of Muslim worship.
The decision to transform the Kariye Museum into a mosque came just a month after a similarly controversial conversion for the UNESCO World Heritage-recognised Hagia Sophia.
Both changes reflect Erdogan's efforts to galvanise his more conservative and nationalist supporters at a time when Turkey is suffering a new spell of inflation and economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.
But they have added to Turkey's tensions with Greece and its Orthodox Church.
The Greek foreign ministry called the decision "yet another provocation against religious persons everywhere" by the Turkish government.
- 'Steeped in history' -
The 1,000-year-old building's history closely mirrors that of the Hagia Sophia -- its bigger neighbour on the historic western bank of the Golden Horn estuary on the European side of Istanbul.
The Holy Saviour in Chora was a medieval Byzantine church decorated with 14th-century frescoes of the Last Judgement that remain treasured in the Christian world.
It was originally converted into the Kariye Mosque half a century after the 1453 conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks.
It became the Kariye Museum after World War II as Turkey pushed ahead with the creation of a more secular new republic out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire.
A group of American art historians then helped restore the original church's mosaics and opened them up for public display in 1958.
But Erdogan is placing an ever greater political emphasis on the battles that resulted in the defeat of Byzantium by the Ottomans.
Turkey's top administrative court approved the museum's conversion into a mosque in November.
"It's a place steeped in history which holds a lot of symbolism for a lot of different people," said 48-year-old French tourist Frederic Sicard outside the building.
"For me, (these conversions) are a little difficult to understand and to follow. But we would visit if it were a mosque. We might just have to arrange visits around prayer times."
- 'Tolerance' -
The sandy-coloured structure visible today replaced one created as a part of a monastery in the fourth century when Constantinople was the new capital of the Roman Empire.
It features a minaret in one corner and small cascading domes similar to those of other grand mosques whose calls to prayer echo over Istanbul.
But inside it is filled with magnificent frescoes and mosaics that represent some of the finest examples of Byzantine art in the Christian world.
Turkey's tumultuous efforts to reconcile these two histories form the underpinnings of the country's contemporary politics and social life.
Opposition HDP party lawmaker Garo Paylan called the transformation "a shame for our country".
"One of the symbols of our country's deep, multicultural identity and multi-religious history has been sacrified," he said in a tweet.
Yet some locals fully supported the change.
"There are dozens, hundreds of churches, synagogues in Istanbul and only a few of them have been opened to prayer as mosques," said Yucel Sahin as he strolled by the building after the morning rain.
"There is a lot of tolerance in our culture."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Despite virus, Shiite pilgrims gather for mourning month

The holy month of Muharram is expected to see one of the largest religious gatherings in the Muslim world since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic , which already forced Saudi Arabia to hold the smallest hajj in modern history Shiite pilgrims poured into the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala on Friday for the rites of the holy month of Muharram , ignoring calls to stay home as COVID-19 spreads .
The pilgrimage is expected to be one of the largest religious gatherings in the Muslim world since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic , which already forced Saudi Arabia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history .
Now begins Muharram , the first month of the Islamic year , which will later include commemorations for the Prophet Mohammed 's grandson Hussein , killed in 680 AD at the Battle of Karbala , the seminal event in Islam 's confessional divide .
Usually , millions of Shiites from around the world flock to Iraq to commemorate the birth of their faith , praying , eating and reflecting together .
But this year , authorities in Iraq , Iran and beyond have repeatedly urged their citizens to forgo real-life pilgrimages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Shiite-majority Iran is the hardest-hit Middle Eastern country with more than 20,000 coronavirus deaths .
Iraq is second with more than 6,200 .
Still , by Thursday night , thousands of pilgrims were already en route to the gates of the golden mausoleums in the holy city of Karbala , some masked and gloved but others proceeding shoulder-to-shoulder as they always had .
Enormous tents have been erected as usual to host pilgrims in Baghdad and Basra as well as Karbala , but with a new twist , an attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stickers of footprints or large crosses suggest how far worshippers should stay from one another .
`` It 's dramaticallydifferent from other years , '' said Salim Mahdi , a tent manager in Basra near the Iraq-Iran border .
`` People are disinfecting themselves as soon as they enter the tent , then positioning themselves far away from one another and disinfecting themselves again . ''
In neighbouring Iran , reformist newspaper Arman called it `` the most astonishing muharram of the century . ''
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musical performances and banquets , and any ceremonies indoors .
Some worshippers adapted quickly : Ali Moadab , who writes funerary chants traditionally recited during muharram , told AFP he would perform the hymns live on Instagram .
At home , he said , `` I will read to my family books telling the story of Imam Hussein . ''
In Lebanon , powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah announced that no large tents would be installed this year and families were urged to celebrate at home .
Muslims in the Bahraini capital Manama watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mosques was severely restricted .
`` We are used to being there in person , and before muharram starts we usually help with the placing of the black cloths .
This year , it is heart-breaking , '' said Ali , a 22-year-old shopkeeper in Manama who was watching prayers online .
Without the throngs of people worshipping or marching outside , the only indications muharram had begun were the ubiquitous black flags .
In Karbala , there were markedly smaller crowds under the grim banners of the Imam Hussein mausoleum -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were locals , as entry to the province had been banned for non-residents .
Iraqis from other provinces managed to sneak into the city , using unmarked roads to circumvent checkpoints .
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani , the top cleric for many of the world 's Shiites , had called for all ceremonies to be broadcast live and for the faithful to pray at home or to wear masks and keep their distance if praying in public .
Other religious figures appear to have thrown caution to the wind , directing their followers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the first 10 days of `` muharram . ''
On August 30 , they are expected to gather for Ashura , the apogee of mourning , when some worshippers flagellate themselves or make small cuts to their heads in displays of grief over Hussein 's death .

Karbala (Iraq) (AFP) –
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Shiite pilgrims poured into the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala on Friday for the rites of the holy month of Muharram, ignoring calls to stay home as COVID-19 spreads.
The pilgrimage is expected to be one of the largest religious gatherings in the Muslim world since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which already forced Saudi Arabia to hold the smallest hajj in modern history.
Now begins Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year, which will later include commemorations for the Prophet Mohammed's grandson Hussein, killed in 680 AD at the Battle of Karbala, the seminal event in Islam's confessional divide.
Usually, millions of Shiites from around the world flock to Iraq to commemorate the birth of their faith, praying, eating and reflecting together.
But this year, authorities in Iraq, Iran and beyond have repeatedly urged their citizens to forgo real-life pilgrimages due to the high risk of contracting the coronavirus.
Shiite-majority Iran is the hardest-hit Middle Eastern country with more than 20,000 coronavirus deaths. Iraq is second with more than 6,200.
Still, by Thursday night, thousands of pilgrims were already en route to the gates of the golden mausoleums in the holy city of Karbala, some masked and gloved but others proceeding shoulder-to-shoulder as they always had.
- 'Dramatically different' -
Enormous tents have been erected as usual to host pilgrims in Baghdad and Basra as well as Karbala, but with a new twist, an attempt at social distancing.
On the ground, stickers of footprints or large crosses suggest how far worshippers should stay from one another.
"It's dramaticallydifferent from other years," said Salim Mahdi, a tent manager in Basra near the Iraq-Iran border.
"People are disinfecting themselves as soon as they enter the tent, then positioning themselves far away from one another and disinfecting themselves again."
In neighbouring Iran, reformist newspaper Arman called it "the most astonishing muharram of the century."
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the health ministry banned the usual marches, musical performances and banquets, and any ceremonies indoors.
Some worshippers adapted quickly: Ali Moadab, who writes funerary chants traditionally recited during muharram, told AFP he would perform the hymns live on Instagram.
At home, he said, "I will read to my family books telling the story of Imam Hussein."
In Lebanon, powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah announced that no large tents would be installed this year and families were urged to celebrate at home.
Muslims in the Bahraini capital Manama watched televised and online commemorations, as access to mosques was severely restricted.
"We are used to being there in person, and before muharram starts we usually help with the placing of the black cloths. This year, it is heart-breaking," said Ali, a 22-year-old shopkeeper in Manama who was watching prayers online.
- Big flags, small crowds -
Without the throngs of people worshipping or marching outside, the only indications muharram had begun were the ubiquitous black flags.
In Karbala, there were markedly smaller crowds under the grim banners of the Imam Hussein mausoleum -- and for the first time nearly all were locals, as entry to the province had been banned for non-residents.
Iraqis from other provinces managed to sneak into the city, using unmarked roads to circumvent checkpoints.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the top cleric for many of the world's Shiites, had called for all ceremonies to be broadcast live and for the faithful to pray at home or to wear masks and keep their distance if praying in public.
Other religious figures appear to have thrown caution to the wind, directing their followers to gather in large numbers as usual throughout the first 10 days of "muharram."
On August 30, they are expected to gather for Ashura, the apogee of mourning, when some worshippers flagellate themselves or make small cuts to their heads in displays of grief over Hussein's death.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Hong Kong offers free virus test to all residents

Initially a poster child of the pandemic , Hong Kong has seen a third wave of virus cases Hong Kong will offer a free coronavirus test to all 7.5 million residents next month , the city 's leader said Friday , but it was unclear how many would take part in the scheme run by companies based in mainland China .
Initially a poster child of the pandemic , Hong Kong has seen a third wave of virus cases -- blamed on exemptions from quarantine rules for air and ship crews , and some business travellers .
Carrie Lam , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that voluntary mass-testing would start on September 1 and go on for two weeks .
`` There is still quite a number of silent transmitters in the community , '' she said .
`` So the more that we could test ... the earlier we could find the remaining outstanding cases , '' she added , appealing to residents to take part .
Health minister Sophia Chan had previously told a radio show she hoped five million people would participate .
But Lam on Friday said the government has set `` no targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted by Hong Kong subsidiaries of three mainland firms , including Chinese genomics firm BGI Group .
Many Hong Kongers remain deeply suspicious of Beijing as it stamps down on political freedoms , including imposing a sweeping new security law on the city last month .
Hong Kong opposition figures have expressed fears that virus testing by mainland officials could help Beijing harvest Hong Kongers ' DNA .
The city 's government had dismissed those suggestions as unfounded rumours .
More than 3,300 new COVID-19 infections have been detected in Hong Kong since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the total since the disease first hit the city in late January .
The death toll has risen to 75 from just seven at the beginning of July .
The number of daily cases is now dwindling after distancing measures were reimposed , but there are still several infections each day with no clear source .

Hong Kong (AFP) –
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Hong Kong will offer a free coronavirus test to all 7.5 million residents next month, the city's leader said Friday, but it was unclear how many would take part in the scheme run by companies based in mainland China.
Initially a poster child of the pandemic, Hong Kong has seen a third wave of virus cases -- blamed on exemptions from quarantine rules for air and ship crews, and some business travellers.
Carrie Lam, the finance hub's leader, announced that voluntary mass-testing would start on September 1 and go on for two weeks.
"There is still quite a number of silent transmitters in the community," she said.
"So the more that we could test... the earlier we could find the remaining outstanding cases," she added, appealing to residents to take part.
Health minister Sophia Chan had previously told a radio show she hoped five million people would participate.
But Lam on Friday said the government has set "no targets" for the scheme that will be conducted by Hong Kong subsidiaries of three mainland firms, including Chinese genomics firm BGI Group.
Many Hong Kongers remain deeply suspicious of Beijing as it stamps down on political freedoms, including imposing a sweeping new security law on the city last month.
Biometric surveillance, including DNA, forms a core part of the authoritarian mainland's vast surveillance state.
Hong Kong opposition figures have expressed fears that virus testing by mainland officials could help Beijing harvest Hong Kongers' DNA.
The city's government had dismissed those suggestions as unfounded rumours.
More than 3,300 new COVID-19 infections have been detected in Hong Kong since July -- more than 70 percent of the total since the disease first hit the city in late January.
The death toll has risen to 75 from just seven at the beginning of July.
The number of daily cases is now dwindling after distancing measures were reimposed, but there are still several infections each day with no clear source.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-21--Libya’s UN-backed government declares immediate ceasefire

Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj , Libya 's internationally recognized prime minister , visits Tripoli 's port after an attack on February 19 , 2020 .
Libya ’ s UN-supported government Friday announced a ceasefire across the country and called for demilitarising the contested strategic city of Sirte , which is controlled by rival forces .
Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj `` issued instructions to all military forces to immediately cease fire and all combat operations in all Libyan territories '' , the Tripoli-based administration said in a statement .
In a separate statement , Aguila Saleh , speaker of the rival east-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ceasefire .
Both administrations called for an end to an oil blockade imposed by rival forces since earlier this year .
The Tripoli-based government also called for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in March .
Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi , who was later killed .
The country has since split between rival east- and west-based administrations , each backed by armed groups and foreign governments .
Eastern forces of military commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But his campaign collapsed in June when Tripoli-allied militias , with Turkish support , gained the upper hand , driving his forces from the outskirts of Tripoli and other western towns .
The UN Support Mission in Libya welcomed both statements , and called for the expulsion of all foreign forces and mercenaries in Libya .

Libya's warring rival governments announced in separate statements Friday that they would cease all hostilities and organise nationwide elections soon, an understanding swiftly welcomed by the United Nations.
Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj, Libya's internationally recognized prime minister, visits Tripoli's port after an attack on February 19, 2020.
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The statements were signed by Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-recognised unity government based in the capital Tripoli, and Aguila Saleh, speaker of the eastern-based parliament backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
The two have been at war virtually since the formation of Sarraj's government in December 2015.
The UN's top official to Libya, Stephanie Williams, called for "all parties to rise to this historic occasion and shoulder their full responsiblities before the Libyan people."
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the ceasefire declarations.
"I welcome statements by Libya's presidential council and the House of Representatives calling for a ceasefire and halting military operations in all Libyan territory," Sisi said in a tweet.
Sisi, whose government has been a major supporter of the eastern-based administration dominated by Haftar, said the twin announcements were an "important step" on the path to restoring stability.
Libya has been in chaos since a Western-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
Haftar launched an offensive in April 2019 to seize Tripoli from the Government of National Accord (GNA).
But the move prompted intervention by Turkey and its regional ally Qatar in support of the GNA.
After 14 months of fierce fighting, Turkish-backed pro-GNA forces expelled Haftar's troops from much of western Libya and pushed them eastwards to Sirte, a gateway to Libya's rich oil fields and export terminals.
As well as Egypt, Haftar has had the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Russia, prompting repeated calls from the United Nations for outside powers to stop meddling.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, on a surprise visit to Tripoli on Monday, warned that Libya faces a "deceptive calm" since fighting stalled around Sirte.
The central Mediterranean coastal city -- a symbolic site as the hometown of Kadhafi -- is the gateway to Libya's eastern oil fields and export terminals, and to the key Al-Jufra airbase to the south.
Western powers, fearing that a GNA attack on Sirte would raise the prospect of direct clashes between regional heavyweights Turkey and Egypt, have called for renewed peace efforts.
Egypt, which has threatened direct military intervention, has also sought to join forces with some of the neighbouring country's powerful tribes, to give it a local partner aside from the volatile strongman Haftar.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-21--Challenger voices defiance as Belarus cracks down

Belarus opposition supporters have staged a wave of protests against the election results Belarus opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya voiced defiance on Friday after President Alexander Lukashenko 's government opened a criminal probe into attempts by the opposition to `` seize power '' .
In her first public comments since fleeing to Lithuania , Tikhanovskaya said Belarusians would `` never accept the current leadership again '' after a crackdown on mass protests following a disputed August 9 election .
`` They can never forgive and forget all the violence that our citizens have suffered , '' she said .
Tikhanovskaya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her candidacy when her blogger husband was arrested ahead of the vote , also told reporters she loved her homeland and planned to return `` when I feel safe there '' .
`` It should be clear to the president that there is a need for change .
I hope that good sense prevails and the people will be heard and there will be new elections , '' she said , declining to comment on whether she would be a candidate in any fresh vote .
A nervous-looking Tikhanovskaya also refused to answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what compelled her to leave Belarus in the aftermath of the election .
`` As for threats , you know I do n't think I would like to discuss this question now , '' she said in English .
`` Every person in our country feels fear and is scared now , but it 's our mission to step over all our fears and move further , '' she added .
Supporters and the Lithuanian government have said she had little choice but to leave after coming under intense pressure from the authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission in Minsk .
Tikhanovskaya 's campaign has inspired unprecedented mass protests in the former Soviet republic against Lukashenko 's 26-year rule .
The strongman claimed a sixth term with 80 percent of the vote in the poll .
The EU has rejected Lukashenko 's re-election and is planning sanctions against those it holds responsible for violence against protesters .
Asked about Russian support for Lukashenko , Tikhanovskaya said : `` I call on all countries of the world to respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus . ''
`` We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsehoods any more , '' she said , calling for striking workers to liaise with the coordination council she has appointed to organise pro-democracy protests .
`` The creation of the coordination council is aimed at negotiating a peaceful handover of power . ''
Belarus on Thursday opened a criminal probe into the opposition council , saying it was an unconstitutional attempt to topple Lukashenko .
A member of the Coordination Council , lawyer Maxim Znak , arrived Friday at the Minsk offices of the country ’ s Investigative Committee , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clapped and chanted `` One for all , all for one ! ''
The EU on Friday demanded that Belarus halt the investigation , accusing the government of `` intimidation '' .
`` The Coordination Council , which consists of representatives of different parts of Belarusian society , reached out to the authorities for a dialogue and the authorities answered with the opening of a criminal case , '' EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said in a statement .
`` In doing so , the Belarusian state authorities have once again reverted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
`` We expect the Belarusian authorities to stop the criminal case and instead to engage in a dialogue in view of moving towards a peaceful way out of the current crisis . ''
The United Nations also on Friday said it was `` seriously concerned '' about more than 100 people still being detained in Belarus in connection with the protests , even though several thousand more have been released .
`` We call on the authorities in Belarus to immediately release all those who have been unlawfully or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office .

Vilnius (AFP) –
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Belarus opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya voiced defiance on Friday after President Alexander Lukashenko's government opened a criminal probe into attempts by the opposition to "seize power".
In her first public comments since fleeing to Lithuania, Tikhanovskaya said Belarusians would "never accept the current leadership again" after a crackdown on mass protests following a disputed August 9 election.
"They can never forgive and forget all the violence that our citizens have suffered," she said.
Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who only put forward her candidacy when her blogger husband was arrested ahead of the vote, also told reporters she loved her homeland and planned to return "when I feel safe there".
"It should be clear to the president that there is a need for change. I hope that good sense prevails and the people will be heard and there will be new elections," she said, declining to comment on whether she would be a candidate in any fresh vote.
A nervous-looking Tikhanovskaya also refused to answer questions about her own safety or about what compelled her to leave Belarus in the aftermath of the election.
"As for threats, you know I don't think I would like to discuss this question now," she said in English.
- 'Fear and falsehoods' -
"Every person in our country feels fear and is scared now, but it's our mission to step over all our fears and move further," she added.
Supporters and the Lithuanian government have said she had little choice but to leave after coming under intense pressure from the authorities during a meeting at the Central Election Commission in Minsk.
Tikhanovskaya's campaign has inspired unprecedented mass protests in the former Soviet republic against Lukashenko's 26-year rule.
The strongman claimed a sixth term with 80 percent of the vote in the poll.
The EU has rejected Lukashenko's re-election and is planning sanctions against those it holds responsible for violence against protesters.
Asked about Russian support for Lukashenko, Tikhanovskaya said: "I call on all countries of the world to respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus."
"We don't want to live in fear and falsehoods any more," she said, calling for striking workers to liaise with the coordination council she has appointed to organise pro-democracy protests.
"The creation of the coordination council is aimed at negotiating a peaceful handover of power."
- Belarus engaging in 'intimidation' -
Belarus on Thursday opened a criminal probe into the opposition council, saying it was an unconstitutional attempt to topple Lukashenko.
A member of the Coordination Council, lawyer Maxim Znak, arrived Friday at the Minsk offices of the country’s Investigative Committee, where he had been summoned for questioning.
Supporters clapped and chanted "One for all, all for one!"
The EU on Friday demanded that Belarus halt the investigation, accusing the government of "intimidation".
"The Coordination Council, which consists of representatives of different parts of Belarusian society, reached out to the authorities for a dialogue and the authorities answered with the opening of a criminal case," EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said in a statement.
"In doing so, the Belarusian state authorities have once again reverted to intimidation based on political grounds," she said.
"We expect the Belarusian authorities to stop the criminal case and instead to engage in a dialogue in view of moving towards a peaceful way out of the current crisis."
The United Nations also on Friday said it was "seriously concerned" about more than 100 people still being detained in Belarus in connection with the protests, even though several thousand more have been released.
"We call on the authorities in Belarus to immediately release all those who have been unlawfully or arbitrarily detained," said Elizabeth Throssel, a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-22--Chile slaps record fine on Norwegian salmon producer

The Chilean salmon industry is the second largest in the world Chile 's environmental protection service said Friday it had slapped a record $ 6.6 million fine on a Norwegian salmon producer for the 2018 escape of 690,000 antibiotic-fed fish .
The fine , handed to salmon farming company Mowi , formerly known as Marina Harvest , was the largest ever for an environmental offense in the South American country .
The charge of 5.3 billion pesos ( $ 6.6 million ) was in response to the `` irreparable environmental damage produced by the mass escape of salmon '' from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Lagos region , around 1,000 kilometers ( 620 miles ) south of the capital Santiago .
The service also handed the company an additional 2.7 million peso fine `` for not having adequate facilities to dispose of dead fish . ''
The salmon , which were given antibiotics that are unsuitable for human consumption , escaped after their cages were damaged by a storm .
The escape poses an environmental risk because the fish are an invasive and predatory species which are likely to cause a reduction in the number of endemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marine habitat , the service said .
It added that the salmon also present a risk to the wild fauna and salmon from other farms due to the possibility of transmitting pathogens and disease .
Mowi , which has two weeks to appeal , has yet to comment publically on the fine .
The Chilean salmon industry , the second largest in the world , uses 1,400 times more antibiotics per ton than farms in Norway , the biggest producer on the planet , according to environmental organization Oceana .

Santiago (AFP) –
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Chile's environmental protection service said Friday it had slapped a record $6.6 million fine on a Norwegian salmon producer for the 2018 escape of 690,000 antibiotic-fed fish.
The fine, handed to salmon farming company Mowi, formerly known as Marina Harvest, was the largest ever for an environmental offense in the South American country.
The charge of 5.3 billion pesos ($6.6 million) was in response to the "irreparable environmental damage produced by the mass escape of salmon" from the Punta Redonda farm in Chile's Los Lagos region, around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) south of the capital Santiago.
The service also handed the company an additional 2.7 million peso fine "for not having adequate facilities to dispose of dead fish."
The salmon, which were given antibiotics that are unsuitable for human consumption, escaped after their cages were damaged by a storm.
The escape poses an environmental risk because the fish are an invasive and predatory species which are likely to cause a reduction in the number of endemic species in the region and alter the marine habitat, the service said.
It added that the salmon also present a risk to the wild fauna and salmon from other farms due to the possibility of transmitting pathogens and disease.
Mowi, which has two weeks to appeal, has yet to comment publically on the fine.
The Chilean salmon industry, the second largest in the world, uses 1,400 times more antibiotics per ton than farms in Norway, the biggest producer on the planet, according to environmental organization Oceana.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-22--Washington zoo welcomes new baby panda

Washington zoo welcomes new baby panda

This image released by the Smithsonian 's National Zoo in Washington , DC shows giant panda Mei Xiang after giving birth to a cub on August 21 , 2020 Washington zoo officials heralded the arrival of `` a precious giant panda cub '' Friday , following the much-watched birth of panda Mei Xiang 's latest baby , four years after her last pregnancy .
The new mother was exhibiting typical panda mom behaviors like `` nursing her cub and cuddling it close , '' the Smithsonian 's National Zoo said on Twitter .
`` We 're overjoyed to share that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is caring for her newborn attentively , '' it added .
Fans of the panda were able to follow her labor live thanks to a `` panda cam '' accessible on the zoo 's website 24 hours a day -- although high interest caused the feature to crash at some points .
Mei Xiang , who is 22 years old , was artificially inseminated on March 22 with the frozen semen of Tian Tian , another resident giant panda who will turn 23 later this month , according to the zoo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2000 , Mei Xiang has given birth to three surviving cubs : males Tai Shan in 2005 and Bei Bei in 2015 , and a female , Bao Bao , in 2013 .
The three were returned to China on their fourth birthdays under a partnership contract in which China owns the pandas .
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian themselves will be returned to China next December .
Under the US-China agreement , the National Zoo pays $ 500,000 per year towards panda conservation efforts in China .
Fewer than 2,000 giant pandas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , while some 600 more live in zoos and breeding centers around the world , according to the Washington zoo .
Genetically similar to the bear , pandas feed exclusively on bamboo .
They weigh in at approximately 220 pounds ( 100 kilograms ) and measure up to six feet ( 1.8 meters ) long .

Washington (AFP) –
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Washington zoo officials heralded the arrival of "a precious giant panda cub" Friday, following the much-watched birth of panda Mei Xiang's latest baby, four years after her last pregnancy.
The new mother was exhibiting typical panda mom behaviors like "nursing her cub and cuddling it close," the Smithsonian's National Zoo said on Twitter.
"We're overjoyed to share that Mei Xiang gave birth at 6:35 pm and is caring for her newborn attentively," it added.
Fans of the panda were able to follow her labor live thanks to a "panda cam" accessible on the zoo's website 24 hours a day -- although high interest caused the feature to crash at some points.
Mei Xiang, who is 22 years old, was artificially inseminated on March 22 with the frozen semen of Tian Tian, another resident giant panda who will turn 23 later this month, according to the zoo.
Since the two pandas' arrival in 2000, Mei Xiang has given birth to three surviving cubs: males Tai Shan in 2005 and Bei Bei in 2015, and a female, Bao Bao, in 2013.
The three were returned to China on their fourth birthdays under a partnership contract in which China owns the pandas.
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian themselves will be returned to China next December.
Under the US-China agreement, the National Zoo pays $500,000 per year towards panda conservation efforts in China.
Fewer than 2,000 giant pandas still live in their natural habitat in China, while some 600 more live in zoos and breeding centers around the world, according to the Washington zoo.
Genetically similar to the bear, pandas feed exclusively on bamboo. They weigh in at approximately 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and measure up to six feet (1.8 meters) long.
© 2020 AFP