france24--2020-09-19--The UN marks 75th anniversary facing world split by Covid-19

The United Nations will mark its 75th anniversary Monday , celebrating the mantra that `` multilateralism is not an option but a necessity , '' even as the coronavirus underscores the fragility of international cooperation .
The anniversary will kick off the global body 's annual General Assembly , when normally the leaders and representatives of nearly 200 countries gather en masse to sound off about the world 's problems and offer myriad solutions .
But this year , a part of Manhattan will not be sealed off for the `` UNGA '' ; there will be no endless limousine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomats , journalists and translators in the halls of the UN .
Instead , with Covid-19 still limiting global movement , just one representative from each of the 193 UN members will be allowed , and only someone already in the United States .
Everyone else will have to appear by videoconference , including some 160-170 heads of state and government planning addresses .
Appearing by video on Tuesday will be Russia 's Vladimir Putin and China 's Xi Jinping , who in the past have let their top diplomats speak for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday , Venezuela 's president Nicolas Maduro , who much of the world sees as illegitimate , will address the assembly by video .
Missing as speakers are the leaders of Syria and North Korea .
`` Diplomacy , to be effective , requires personal contacts , and I am very sorry that we are not going to have the opportunity to bring together leaders of countries , '' said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres .
Even so , he said , there would be `` many virtual meetings '' on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teleconference on subjects such as climate change , biodiversity and the conflicts in Libya and Lebanon .
The event kicks off with a joint declaration full of good intentions and a call to combat unilateralism .
But that belies the reality of what has happened since Covid-19 erupted early this year , with borders closed , cooperation limited and countries forced to go it alone .
Bertrand Badie , professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies , said the great powers missed a chance with the coronavirus to strengthen global cooperation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China and the World Health Organization moved slowly on the initial outbreak , and the US declared it would act alone and pulled out of the WHO .
The superpowers ' behavior has `` caused the failure , even the collapse , of the UN Security Council , '' which was set up to lead on such world-shaking challenges as a pandemic , Badie said .
The powers have clung to a `` very conservative vision of security , that humanity is only threatened by rivalries between countries , '' Badie told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad sign for the future . ''
The declaration admits that , over seven and a half decades , the UN `` has had its moments of disappointment . ''
`` Our world is not yet the world our founders envisaged 75 years ago , '' it says , citing growing inequality and the persistence of poverty , hunger , armed conflicts , terrorism and climate change .
However , the declaration also notes the United Nations has helped bring about decolonization , promote freedom , set standards for development and eradicate disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mitigate dozens of conflicts , saved hundreds of thousands of lives through humanitarian action and provided millions of children with the education that every child deserves , '' the declaration says .
In the wake of coronavirus , it says , `` we have a historic opportunity to build back better and greener . ''
Yet the coronavirus has placed a spotlight on the paralyzing rivalry of the superpowers , especially between the United States and China , rapidly eroding Washington 's global leadership .
`` Everyone has been too focused on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at the global picture , '' said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group .
`` I am frankly deeply pessimistic about the chances for real UN reform or innovations in global governance .
I can not see China and the US agreeing on big reforms now , '' Gowan said .
Badie said the organization was immobilized by a power rivalry that dates back to the UN 's creation .
To embark on reforms , he said , it is necessary for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , France and China -- to change their Cold War mentality .
The five , though , `` will always refuse , because that would lead to an overhaul of the 'international community ' and the loss of the privileges of the nuclear oligarchy , '' Badie said .

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
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The United Nations will mark its 75th anniversary Monday, celebrating the mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity," even as the coronavirus underscores the fragility of international cooperation.
The anniversary will kick off the global body's annual General Assembly, when normally the leaders and representatives of nearly 200 countries gather en masse to sound off about the world's problems and offer myriad solutions.
But this year, a part of Manhattan will not be sealed off for the "UNGA"; there will be no endless limousine convoys, and no busy beehive of diplomats, journalists and translators in the halls of the UN.
Instead, with Covid-19 still limiting global movement, just one representative from each of the 193 UN members will be allowed, and only someone already in the United States.
Everyone else will have to appear by videoconference, including some 160-170 heads of state and government planning addresses.
Appearing by video on Tuesday will be Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, who in the past have let their top diplomats speak for them; and US leader Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro, who much of the world sees as illegitimate, will address the assembly by video. Missing as speakers are the leaders of Syria and North Korea.
"Diplomacy, to be effective, requires personal contacts, and I am very sorry that we are not going to have the opportunity to bring together leaders of countries," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Even so, he said, there would be "many virtual meetings" on the sidelines of the assembly, convening by teleconference on subjects such as climate change, biodiversity and the conflicts in Libya and Lebanon.
- Missed opportunity -
The event kicks off with a joint declaration full of good intentions and a call to combat unilateralism.
But that belies the reality of what has happened since Covid-19 erupted early this year, with borders closed, cooperation limited and countries forced to go it alone.
Bertrand Badie, professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, said the great powers missed a chance with the coronavirus to strengthen global cooperation.
Instead, cooperation broke apart amid allegations that China and the World Health Organization moved slowly on the initial outbreak, and the US declared it would act alone and pulled out of the WHO.
The superpowers' behavior has "caused the failure, even the collapse, of the UN Security Council," which was set up to lead on such world-shaking challenges as a pandemic, Badie said.
The powers have clung to a "very conservative vision of security, that humanity is only threatened by rivalries between countries," Badie told AFP, calling it "a very bad sign for the future."
- 'Moments of disappointment' -
The declaration admits that, over seven and a half decades, the UN "has had its moments of disappointment."
"Our world is not yet the world our founders envisaged 75 years ago," it says, citing growing inequality and the persistence of poverty, hunger, armed conflicts, terrorism and climate change.
However, the declaration also notes the United Nations has helped bring about decolonization, promote freedom, set standards for development and eradicate disease.
"The United Nations has helped mitigate dozens of conflicts, saved hundreds of thousands of lives through humanitarian action and provided millions of children with the education that every child deserves," the declaration says.
In the wake of coronavirus, it says, "we have a historic opportunity to build back better and greener."
- Paralysis -
Yet the coronavirus has placed a spotlight on the paralyzing rivalry of the superpowers, especially between the United States and China, rapidly eroding Washington's global leadership.
"Everyone has been too focused on the domestic impact of the pandemic to really look at the global picture," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.
"I am frankly deeply pessimistic about the chances for real UN reform or innovations in global governance. I cannot see China and the US agreeing on big reforms now," Gowan said.
Badie said the organization was immobilized by a power rivalry that dates back to the UN's creation.
To embark on reforms, he said, it is necessary for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China -- to change their Cold War mentality.
The five, though, "will always refuse, because that would lead to an overhaul of the 'international community' and the loss of the privileges of the nuclear oligarchy," Badie said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Pandemic deepens struggle of Mexico's indigenous villages

Televisions are an unattainable luxury in the homes of San Miguel Amoltepec Viejo in the mountains of southern Mexico In the poverty-stricken mountains of southern Mexico , children can only dream of internet or television that would allow them to join millions of others following distance learning during the pandemic .
The coronavirus outbreak and its impact on education are just the latest chapters in a long history of marginalization of indigenous communities in the region .
Children across Mexico , which has one of the world 's highest Covid-19 tolls , with more than 72,000 dead , began a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning via television aimed at curbing the spread of the disease .
But in the homes of San Miguel Amoltepec Viejo , a windswept village in one of the country 's poorest regions , there are no such modern-day luxuries .
`` There are no computers , there 's no internet , there 's no television signal and the electricity goes out when it rains , '' said teacher Jaime Arriaga .
When he could teach face-to-face classes , Arriaga stayed all week in the remote area and avoided the more than two-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the region 's main city , Tlapa .
Today , the 33-year-old visits every fortnight to bring educational material and meet with parents in the community 3,000 meters ( nearly 10,000 feet ) above sea level in Guerrero state .
`` We have no other way , '' he said .
Arriaga watched from the doorway as 25-year-old Natalia Vazquez helped her daughter Viridiana do her schoolwork in their modest home while piglets grunted outside .
She whispered in the five-year-old 's ear how to say hello in her native language , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Arriaga 's classroom in San Miguel , where 22 children used to study , now serves as a warehouse or improvised dining room .
Instead , Celso Santiago 's three children study in their house with wooden walls and an earthen floor , where chickens roam next to an open fire .
The 29-year-old farmer said he would try to make sure his children did not fall behind , but he worried it would be difficult .
`` We have jobs and I ca n't be taking care of the children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could n't learn much from what the teacher taught before , now we 're going to be worse off with this pandemic . ''
Illiteracy among adults makes home schooling an even bigger challenge , Santiago said .
`` We 're in an area that 's highly marginalized and falling behind in education because many parents do n't even know how to read or write , '' he said .
More than two-thirds of indigenous Mexicans live in poverty .
In the municipality of Cochoapa el Grande , home to San Miguel Amoltepec @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is indigenous and on average they finish only a quarter of basic education .
Some 200 people live in the village , where many houses lie empty , their owners having left to look for work in northern Mexico or across the border in the United States .
Although its lack of medical centers makes it highly vulnerable , the area has so far avoided a major outbreak of the coronavirus , helped by its remote location and sparse population .
Across Mexico , 8,563 indigenous people have been infected with the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported last week .
While the city of Tlapa has recorded 293 confirmed cases and 44 deaths , Cochoapa el Grande has registered only two cases and no deaths , according to official figures .
`` Perhaps this area is still untouched and there are no infections , '' said Martiniano Pastrana , the area 's educational supervisor .
But he still insists on warning the residents that the virus is real , something that he knows only too well because his father-in-law and brother-in-law fell ill. Santiago believes that the villagers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow themselves and not food that is `` canned and chemical '' like in the cities .
`` There 's no coronavirus here , '' he said .

San Miguel Amoltepec Viejo (Mexico) (AFP) –
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In the poverty-stricken mountains of southern Mexico, children can only dream of internet or television that would allow them to join millions of others following distance learning during the pandemic.
The coronavirus outbreak and its impact on education are just the latest chapters in a long history of marginalization of indigenous communities in the region.
Children across Mexico, which has one of the world's highest Covid-19 tolls, with more than 72,000 dead, began a new school year last month with remote learning via television aimed at curbing the spread of the disease.
But in the homes of San Miguel Amoltepec Viejo, a windswept village in one of the country's poorest regions, there are no such modern-day luxuries.
"There are no computers, there's no internet, there's no television signal and the electricity goes out when it rains," said teacher Jaime Arriaga.
When he could teach face-to-face classes, Arriaga stayed all week in the remote area and avoided the more than two-hour drive along a winding, sometimes-unpaved road from the region's main city, Tlapa.
Today, the 33-year-old visits every fortnight to bring educational material and meet with parents in the community 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) above sea level in Guerrero state.
"We have no other way," he said.
Arriaga watched from the doorway as 25-year-old Natalia Vazquez helped her daughter Viridiana do her schoolwork in their modest home while piglets grunted outside.
She whispered in the five-year-old's ear how to say hello in her native language, a variant of the Mixtec indigenous language.
- 'Worse off' -
Arriaga's classroom in San Miguel, where 22 children used to study, now serves as a warehouse or improvised dining room.
Instead, Celso Santiago's three children study in their house with wooden walls and an earthen floor, where chickens roam next to an open fire.
The 29-year-old farmer said he would try to make sure his children did not fall behind, but he worried it would be difficult.
"We have jobs and I can't be taking care of the children," he said.
"If they couldn't learn much from what the teacher taught before, now we're going to be worse off with this pandemic."
Illiteracy among adults makes home schooling an even bigger challenge, Santiago said.
"We're in an area that's highly marginalized and falling behind in education because many parents don't even know how to read or write," he said.
- 'No coronavirus here' -
More than two-thirds of indigenous Mexicans live in poverty.
In the municipality of Cochoapa el Grande, home to San Miguel Amoltepec Viejo, 82 percent of the population is indigenous and on average they finish only a quarter of basic education.
Some 200 people live in the village, where many houses lie empty, their owners having left to look for work in northern Mexico or across the border in the United States.
Although its lack of medical centers makes it highly vulnerable, the area has so far avoided a major outbreak of the coronavirus, helped by its remote location and sparse population.
Across Mexico, 8,563 indigenous people have been infected with the coronavirus and 1,249 have died, the government reported last week.
While the city of Tlapa has recorded 293 confirmed cases and 44 deaths, Cochoapa el Grande has registered only two cases and no deaths, according to official figures.
"Perhaps this area is still untouched and there are no infections," said Martiniano Pastrana, the area's educational supervisor.
But he still insists on warning the residents that the virus is real, something that he knows only too well because his father-in-law and brother-in-law fell ill.
Santiago believes that the villagers have stronger immunity because they eat what they grow themselves and not food that is "canned and chemical" like in the cities.
"There's no coronavirus here," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Senior US diplomat wraps up Taiwan visit as China flexes muscle

US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach ( C ) attends the funeral of former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui A top US diplomat attended the funeral for former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui Saturday which featured a eulogy by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama before wrapping up a visit overshadowed by Chinese military exercises .
Keith Krach , undersecretary of state for economic growth , energy and the environment , was the highest-ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan since 1979 when Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing .
The trip , the second high-ranking US visit in as many months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which baulks at any recognition of Taiwan and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalising the democratic island .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of `` military blustering '' as Beijing conducted military exercises on Friday near the Taiwan Strait during Krach 's visit .
Chinese fighters and bombers crossed the so-called median line dividing the Strait and entered Taiwan 's southwest air defence identification zone ( ADIZ ) for a second straight day on Saturday , Taiwan 's defence ministry said as it scrambled fighters in response .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our sovereignty and seriously damaged the status quo of peace and stability in the strait and the region , '' it said .
Krach attended the memorial service for Lee , sitting next to former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori , before he is due to leave Taiwan later Saturday after a three-day visit .
Krach did not make any remarks at the service while in a pre-recorded video the Dalai Lama praised Lee 's commitment to democracy .
`` I admire his commitment to democracy and freedom ... as his close friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buddhist I always pray , '' he said .
Like Lee , the Dalai Lama is also branded a `` splittist '' by Beijing which accuses him of seeking Tibet 's independence from China .
Lee , who died in July aged 97 , was a towering figure in Taiwan 's history , helping the once authoritarian island transition to a vibrant democracy and later angering China by pushing for it to be recognised as a sovereign country .
China considers self-ruled Taiwan part of its territory , to be absorbed into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing has ramped up diplomatic , economic and military pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen , who rejects its view that the island is part of `` one China '' .
Washington 's increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump has become yet another flashpoint with China as the countries clash over a range of issues of trade and security issues , as well as the coronavirus pandemic .
On Friday , Krach held closed-door meetings with Taiwan 's premier and other top officials before joining President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I 'm sure the productive discussions we had today will bring Taiwan & the US even closer together & open the door to further collaboration , '' Tsai tweeted .
Trump has embraced Taiwan more closely as a way to hit back at Beijing , especially as he seeks re-election in November .
He has also approved some major arms sales , something his recent predecessors were more reluctant to do .

Taipei (AFP) –
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A top US diplomat attended the funeral for former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui Saturday which featured a eulogy by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama before wrapping up a visit overshadowed by Chinese military exercises.
Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, was the highest-ranking State Department official to visit Taiwan since 1979 when Washington switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
The trip, the second high-ranking US visit in as many months, sparked an immediate rebuke from China, which baulks at any recognition of Taiwan and has mounted a decades-long policy of marginalising the democratic island.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of "military blustering" as Beijing conducted military exercises on Friday near the Taiwan Strait during Krach's visit.
Chinese fighters and bombers crossed the so-called median line dividing the Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest air defence identification zone (ADIZ) for a second straight day on Saturday, Taiwan's defence ministry said as it scrambled fighters in response.
China's "provocative actions have violated our sovereignty and seriously damaged the status quo of peace and stability in the strait and the region," it said.
Krach attended the memorial service for Lee, sitting next to former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori, before he is due to leave Taiwan later Saturday after a three-day visit.
Krach did not make any remarks at the service while in a pre-recorded video the Dalai Lama praised Lee's commitment to democracy.
"I admire his commitment to democracy and freedom ... as his close friend I always remember him and as a Buddhist I always pray," he said.
Like Lee, the Dalai Lama is also branded a "splittist" by Beijing which accuses him of seeking Tibet's independence from China.
Lee, who died in July aged 97, was a towering figure in Taiwan's history, helping the once authoritarian island transition to a vibrant democracy and later angering China by pushing for it to be recognised as a sovereign country.
China considers self-ruled Taiwan part of its territory, to be absorbed into the mainland -- by force if necessary.
Beijing has ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects its view that the island is part of "one China".
Washington's increased outreach to Taiwan under President Donald Trump has become yet another flashpoint with China as the countries clash over a range of issues of trade and security issues, as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, Krach held closed-door meetings with Taiwan's premier and other top officials before joining President Tsai for dinner at her official residence.
"I'm sure the productive discussions we had today will bring Taiwan & the US even closer together & open the door to further collaboration," Tsai tweeted.
Trump has embraced Taiwan more closely as a way to hit back at Beijing, especially as he seeks re-election in November.
He has also approved some major arms sales, something his recent predecessors were more reluctant to do.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-20--Who will succeed Ginsburg on the US Supreme Court?

The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , seen on September 20 , 2017 , leaves a vacancy on the Supreme Court bench The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers US President Donald Trump an opportunity to replace the progressive Supreme Court justice with a staunch defender of conservative values -- even if Democrats are girding for the political equivalent of trench warfare to oppose such a nominee .
Her successor , who would be Trump 's third nomination to the high court , is expected to lastingly anchor the country 's highest judicial body firmly on the political right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican majority in the Senate to confirm his eventual choice .
Trump said Saturday he would nominate Ginsburg 's successor `` very soon , '' adding : `` Most likely it would be a woman . ''
Ginsburg , so popular on the left that she has become a cultural icon , had fought cancer for years , and Trump has had ample time to weigh possible nominees for the 87-year-old 's spot .
On September 9 , he published a list of potential candidates , a move designed to reassure his political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those opposed to abortion rights .
The list is not definitive .
Indeed , the two men he has named to the high court -- Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 -- did not appear on an original list of candidates Trump released in 2016 .
Here are some names considered among the favorites : The 48-year-old Barrett , who is currently a federal appeals court judge based in Chicago , would be the only conservative woman on the Supreme Court .
The two other female justices , Elena Kagan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed by former president Barack Obama .
Barrett grew up in a New Orleans suburb and attended Catholic girls ' school before graduating magna cum laude from Rhodes College in Tennessee and then earning her law degree at Notre Dame University , where she was editor of the law review and graduated at the top of her class .
She was a law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia , a conservative pillar of the Supreme Court until his death in February 2016 .
In law journals , she has professed opinions heavily influenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional religious values .
A Cuban-American from Miami , Lagoa was the first Hispanic woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida , a swing state that could prove crucial to the outcome of the November 3 presidential election .
Last week , the 52-year-old judge was part of the federal appeals court panel that ruled that ex-felons in Florida can not vote until they have paid any fees or fines owed to the state , a decision critics say unconstitutionally disenfranchises people unable to pay .
A federal appeals court judge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention by arguing , among other things , that the First Amendment to the US Constitution would not authorize citizens to film police officers .
Hardiman grew up the son of a taxi driver in Massachusetts and became the first member of his family to go to college .
He then financed his law studies at Georgetown University in Washington by driving a cab .
A former Republican activist seen as solidly conservative , he has served alongside Trump 's sister , Judge Maryanne Trump Barry , who reportedly has recommended him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hardiman has backed prosecutors seeking the death penalty .
He has also supported intrusive searches of detainees newly arrived in prison , even those there briefly and seen as posing no security risk .
Larsen , who sits on the federal appeals court in Cincinnati , Ohio , has developed a reputation as a solid conservative , opposed to the extension of gay rights and having taken a tough stance on treatment of prisoners .
She also clerked for Justice Scalia and taught law at the University of Michigan before her nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A 53-year-old judge originally appointed by George W. Bush , Kethledge grew up in Michigan and now serves on the federal appeals court for the Sixth Circuit , which includes the Great Lakes state .
A fervent defender of free enterprise and individual rights -- notably to private property and arms -- Kethledge is considered a judicial originalist , meaning he believes the US Constitution must be strictly interpreted as it was understood by its 18th-century authors .
Republican senators Ted Cruz , Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley are also on Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominate one of them the choice would be seen as more political than choosing a sitting judge .

Washington (AFP) –
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The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers US President Donald Trump an opportunity to replace the progressive Supreme Court justice with a staunch defender of conservative values -- even if Democrats are girding for the political equivalent of trench warfare to oppose such a nominee.
Her successor, who would be Trump's third nomination to the high court, is expected to lastingly anchor the country's highest judicial body firmly on the political right. The president is counting on the Republican majority in the Senate to confirm his eventual choice.
Trump said Saturday he would nominate Ginsburg's successor "very soon," adding: "Most likely it would be a woman."
Ginsburg, so popular on the left that she has become a cultural icon, had fought cancer for years, and Trump has had ample time to weigh possible nominees for the 87-year-old's spot.
On September 9, he published a list of potential candidates, a move designed to reassure his political allies and mobilize conservative voters, notably those opposed to abortion rights.
The list is not definitive. Indeed, the two men he has named to the high court -- Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 -- did not appear on an original list of candidates Trump released in 2016.
Here are some names considered among the favorites:
- Amy Coney Barrett, a defender of religious rights -
The 48-year-old Barrett, who is currently a federal appeals court judge based in Chicago, would be the only conservative woman on the Supreme Court. The two other female justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, are both progressives appointed by former president Barack Obama.
Barrett grew up in a New Orleans suburb and attended Catholic girls' school before graduating magna cum laude from Rhodes College in Tennessee and then earning her law degree at Notre Dame University, where she was editor of the law review and graduated at the top of her class.
She was a law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative pillar of the Supreme Court until his death in February 2016.
In law journals, she has professed opinions heavily influenced, according to her critics, by traditional religious values.
- Barbara Lagoa, a Latina judge -
A Cuban-American from Miami, Lagoa was the first Hispanic woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida, a swing state that could prove crucial to the outcome of the November 3 presidential election.
Last week, the 52-year-old judge was part of the federal appeals court panel that ruled that ex-felons in Florida cannot vote until they have paid any fees or fines owed to the state, a decision critics say unconstitutionally disenfranchises people unable to pay.
- Thomas Hardiman, a fierce pro-gun advocate -
A federal appeals court judge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Hardiman has drawn attention by arguing, among other things, that the First Amendment to the US Constitution would not authorize citizens to film police officers.
Hardiman grew up the son of a taxi driver in Massachusetts and became the first member of his family to go to college. He then financed his law studies at Georgetown University in Washington by driving a cab.
A former Republican activist seen as solidly conservative, he has served alongside Trump's sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who reportedly has recommended him to her brother.
In several capital cases, Hardiman has backed prosecutors seeking the death penalty. He has also supported intrusive searches of detainees newly arrived in prison, even those there briefly and seen as posing no security risk.
- Joan Larsen, a conservative pillar -
Larsen, who sits on the federal appeals court in Cincinnati, Ohio, has developed a reputation as a solid conservative, opposed to the extension of gay rights and having taken a tough stance on treatment of prisoners.
She also clerked for Justice Scalia and taught law at the University of Michigan before her nomination to that state's supreme court.
- Raymond Kethledge, a strict constitutionalist -
A 53-year-old judge originally appointed by George W. Bush, Kethledge grew up in Michigan and now serves on the federal appeals court for the Sixth Circuit, which includes the Great Lakes state.
A fervent defender of free enterprise and individual rights -- notably to private property and arms -- Kethledge is considered a judicial originalist, meaning he believes the US Constitution must be strictly interpreted as it was understood by its 18th-century authors.
- A senator? -
Republican senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley are also on Trump's list of candidates. Were he to nominate one of them the choice would be seen as more political than choosing a sitting judge.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Wolff keeps chance at historic US Open win in perspective

Matthew Wolff has the chance for a historic US Open victory , but the 21-year-old American copes with his nerves by keeping his golf success in perspective .
Wolff fired a five-under par 65 on Saturday to grab a two-stroke lead at Winged Foot , making him the youngest 54-hole US Open leader since 1975 .
He could become first player to win his US Open debut since amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913 , with Sunday marking the 107th anniversary of that historic feat .
And after his share of fourth in his major debut at last month 's PGA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolff 's early success is well earned .
`` It 's really early in my career , but I feel like I have the game to win , '' Wolff said .
`` I feel like I 'm ready to win out here and win a major .
`` I 've already won a PGA Tour event and I knew my game was in a really good spot .
I 've been feeling really good , really confident . ''
Wolff , a winner at Minneapolis last year in his third PGA Tour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stomach cancer his agent has been battling .
Suddenly his issues on the golf course do n't seem so nerve wracking .
`` It 's just golf , even though it is the US Open , '' Wolff said .
`` My agent , John , is struggling right now with his health , and I 've been thinking about him a lot out there .
`` He 's undergoing stomach cancer right now , and he got diagnosed like three weeks ago .
`` He does n't want anyone to feel bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things in perspective .
And I 'm going to go out there , try to make him proud and go have a good time ... he loves watching me play golf , but it 's just an awful time .
`` It is important .
It 's the US Open .
But it 's just golf . ''
Wolff , whose swing has an unusual left leg kick from his youthful days as a baseball pitcher , made five front-nine birdies to shoot 30 at the turn .
`` That 's just awesome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McIlroy said .
`` Everyone knows how talented Matt is and he played great at Harding Park in the last major .
He 's explosive like that .
He can get on runs . ''
Wolff can also miss fairways .
He hit only two of 14 Saturday and has managed only 12 so far in the event , the fewest by a 54-hole leader since 1983 .
`` Even though I missed the fairway , there were a lot of times I was in that graduated rough that 's a little shorter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though I only hit two fairways , my driver was just barely off .
My putting was by far the best it has felt in the last two or three months .
I feel like I 'm really hitting the ball well . ''
That does n't mean there wo n't be nerves , even without spectators , banned as a safety move due to the coronavirus pandemic that delayed the event from June .
`` I 'm probably going to be a little antsy .
It 's the US Open , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I 'm going to try to keep my nerves as calm as they can be .
`` I feel very confident with every single part of my game .
I 'm not going to think about it too much and just go out there and do the same things I 've done the last three days .
`` I know if I keep calm and not let my emotions get the best of me , I should have a really good chance . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Matthew Wolff has the chance for a historic US Open victory, but the 21-year-old American copes with his nerves by keeping his golf success in perspective.
Wolff fired a five-under par 65 on Saturday to grab a two-stroke lead at Winged Foot, making him the youngest 54-hole US Open leader since 1975.
He could become first player to win his US Open debut since amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913, with Sunday marking the 107th anniversary of that historic feat.
And after his share of fourth in his major debut at last month's PGA Championship, there are few doubters that Wolff's early success is well earned.
"It's really early in my career, but I feel like I have the game to win," Wolff said. "I feel like I'm ready to win out here and win a major.
"I've already won a PGA Tour event and I knew my game was in a really good spot. I've been feeling really good, really confident."
Wolff, a winner at Minneapolis last year in his third PGA Tour start, has been thinking about the stomach cancer his agent has been battling. Suddenly his issues on the golf course don't seem so nerve wracking.
"It's just golf, even though it is the US Open," Wolff said. "My agent, John, is struggling right now with his health, and I've been thinking about him a lot out there.
"He's undergoing stomach cancer right now, and he got diagnosed like three weeks ago.
"He doesn't want anyone to feel bad for him, but it just puts things in perspective. And I'm going to go out there, try to make him proud and go have a good time... he loves watching me play golf, but it's just an awful time.
"It is important. It's the US Open. But it's just golf."
Wolff, whose swing has an unusual left leg kick from his youthful days as a baseball pitcher, made five front-nine birdies to shoot 30 at the turn.
"That's just awesome golf," four-time major winner Rory McIlroy said. "Everyone knows how talented Matt is and he played great at Harding Park in the last major. He's explosive like that. He can get on runs."
Wolff can also miss fairways. He hit only two of 14 Saturday and has managed only 12 so far in the event, the fewest by a 54-hole leader since 1983.
"Even though I missed the fairway, there were a lot of times I was in that graduated rough that's a little shorter," Wolff said.
"Even though I only hit two fairways, my driver was just barely off. My putting was by far the best it has felt in the last two or three months. I feel like I'm really hitting the ball well."
- Keeping calm is key -
That doesn't mean there won't be nerves, even without spectators, banned as a safety move due to the coronavirus pandemic that delayed the event from June.
"I'm probably going to be a little antsy. It's the US Open, and I have a lead," Wolff said. "I'm going to try to keep my nerves as calm as they can be.
"I feel very confident with every single part of my game. I'm not going to think about it too much and just go out there and do the same things I've done the last three days.
"I know if I keep calm and not let my emotions get the best of me, I should have a really good chance."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--'I know how to fix it:' Nadal stunned in Rome before French Open title defence

Rafael Nadal fell to his first defeat in 10 matches to Diego Schwartzman Rafael Nadal warned he knew how to fix his errors before his French Open title defence after crashing in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Saturday , the final warm-up before Roland Garros .
The nine-time Rome winner slumped 6-2 , 7-5 on a humid night in the Italian capital to Argentine Diego Schwartzman , a player the second seed had beaten in all nine of their previous clashes .
It was Nadal 's last chance to tune-up before his bid for a 13th French Open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match Roger Federer in just over a week .
`` It 's a completely special and unpredictable year , '' said the 34-year-old .
`` I 'll probably go back home and then let 's see what 's going on .
I did my job here .
`` I fought until the end .
But losing that many serves , you ca n't expect to win a match .
`` Something that I have to fix .
I know how to do it .
`` I 'm going to keep working and keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give me a chance to be ready .
`` I did a couple of things well and other things bad .
And that 's it .
At least I played three matches . ''
The two-time defending champion was making his comeback after a long coronavirus-enforced break having skipped the US Open .
Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta , a US Open semi-finalist , 6-1 , 6-1 in his first match this week followed by Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-1 , 6-3 .
But Schwartzman pulled out a stunning performance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After such a long time without competing , I played good two matches , and now today I played a bad one against a good opponent , '' said Nadal .
`` It was not my night , at all , '' he said .
`` Then we have to think internally why , how I can fix it . ''
Schwartzman , with just three career titles to Nadal 's 85 , said he had come close a few times to beating the Spaniard .
`` I think four or five times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe if I play my best tennis I 'm going to have chances , '' said the world number 15 .
`` Also , he was coming back this tournament after seven months , more or less , eight months .
`` And I was thinking , OK , tennis , sometimes it 's really crazy and I was not playing good , but today maybe I have the chance . ''

Rome (AFP) –
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Rafael Nadal warned he knew how to fix his errors before his French Open title defence after crashing in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Saturday, the final warm-up before Roland Garros.
The nine-time Rome winner slumped 6-2, 7-5 on a humid night in the Italian capital to Argentine Diego Schwartzman, a player the second seed had beaten in all nine of their previous clashes.
It was Nadal's last chance to tune-up before his bid for a 13th French Open, and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam to match Roger Federer in just over a week.
"It's a completely special and unpredictable year," said the 34-year-old.
"I'll probably go back home and then let's see what's going on. I did my job here.
"I fought until the end. But losing that many serves, you can't expect to win a match.
"Something that I have to fix. I know how to do it.
"I'm going to keep working and keep practising with the right attitude and try to give me a chance to be ready.
"I did a couple of things well and other things bad. And that's it. At least I played three matches."
The two-time defending champion was making his comeback after a long coronavirus-enforced break having skipped the US Open.
Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, a US Open semi-finalist, 6-1, 6-1 in his first match this week followed by Serb Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3.
But Schwartzman pulled out a stunning performance to leave Nadal with no answer.
"After such a long time without competing, I played good two matches, and now today I played a bad one against a good opponent," said Nadal.
"It was not my night, at all," he said.
"Then we have to think internally why, how I can fix it."
Schwartzman, with just three career titles to Nadal's 85, said he had come close a few times to beating the Spaniard.
"I think four or five times I was close enough to feel like maybe if I play my best tennis I'm going to have chances," said the world number 15.
"Also, he was coming back this tournament after seven months, more or less, eight months.
"And I was thinking, OK, tennis, sometimes it's really crazy and I was not playing good, but today maybe I have the chance."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Wolff pounces into US Open lead with DeChambeau on his heels

Matthew Wolff , a 21-year-old American making only his second major start , fired a five-under par 65 to seize a two-stroke lead after Saturday 's third round of the US Open .
The 2019 US college champion for Oklahoma State , who shared fourth at last month 's PGA Championship , solved wicked Winged Foot to stand on five-under 205 after 54 holes .
Wolff found only two of 14 fairways but blasted from the deep grass onto 12 greens in regulation and made six birdies against a lone bogey .
`` Every time I was in the rough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage of it , '' Wolff said .
`` I minimized the mistakes .
It was a good day all around .
`` I got really fortunate with the lies in the rough .
I just stuck with my game .
It was a grind out there . ''
American Bryson DeChambeau was second on 207 after shooting 70 .
He opened with back-to-back bogeys and closed with a bogey after birdies at 16 and 17 .
`` I felt like I was trying to hope it into the fairway all day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a US Open , '' said DeChambeau .
`` I was able to show resilience , coming back to shoot par after two bogeys . ''
South Africa 's Louis Oosthuizen , the 2010 British Open champion , fired a 68 to stand third on 209 .
`` Any under-par round at a US Open you 'll take , '' Oosthuizen said .
`` ( Wind ) definitely died down for us .
Definitely lucky on the draw today . ''
World number 36 Wolff , who won his first PGA Tour title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start , needed only 10 putts over his first nine holes , shooting a astonishing 30 on the front nine on the famed Mamaroneck , New York , layout .
Through three rounds , he has hit only 12 fairways , the fewest of any US Open leader since 1983 .
`` I tried to shoot as low as possible with hitting as few fairways as possible , '' Wolff joked .
`` That will get me ready for tomorrow .
`` I 'm just going to go out there , do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Wolff matched Winged Foot 's lowest US Open round ever , Justin Thomas 's opening 65 , after starting the day four adrift of leader Patrick Reed , who stumbled to a 77 with eight bogeys and a double bogey to stand on 213 after leading Wolff by three early .
Wolff made a 14-foot birdie putt at the opening hole , a 15-footer to birdie the par-4 fourth , a five-footer for birdie at six and a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-3 seventh .
He closed the front nine with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ninth then grinded out six pars in a row before his first bogey at the 16th , missing an eight-footer for par .
At 18 , Wolff bounced off the top off deep rough into a shorter cut , blasted to 10 feet from the cup and sank his birdie putt .
`` I feel really good with my putting , '' Wolff said .
`` I just told myself it was just another putt . ''
Oosthuizen had four birdies and two bogeys , each answered by a birdie on the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs a repeat performance to capture his first major in a decade .
`` I need to play pretty similar to what I did today , '' he said .
`` A lot can happen even in the last two , three holes , so try and get yourself in a position with three , four , five holes to go and see what you can do .
`` Just need to go out and play some good golf tomorrow . ''
Japan 's Hideki Matsuyama , who made four birdies and three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scrambled to a 70 to share fourth alongside Americans Xander Schauffele and Harris English on level par 210 .
Matsuyama , chasing his first major crown , opened with a birdie , followed with back-to-back bogeys , then reeled off three birdies in a row before a three-putt bogey at the par-3 seventh .
A double bogey at 17 after finding deep rough and a bunker dropped him from the sub-par pack .
`` Hopefully tomorrow I can make the same number of birdies without the bogeys , '' Matsuyama said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but at the same time I hit some bad ones .
Tomorrow I just pray that I have more makes . ''
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was seventh on 211 after a 68 , six back but liking his chances of a first major win since the 2014 PGA .
`` I 've got a good chance , '' McIlroy said .
`` ( Six ) is not a lot on this golf course .
I feel like I 'm right in it . ''

New York (AFP) –
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Matthew Wolff, a 21-year-old American making only his second major start, fired a five-under par 65 to seize a two-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the US Open.
The 2019 US college champion for Oklahoma State, who shared fourth at last month's PGA Championship, solved wicked Winged Foot to stand on five-under 205 after 54 holes.
Wolff found only two of 14 fairways but blasted from the deep grass onto 12 greens in regulation and made six birdies against a lone bogey.
"Every time I was in the rough and had a good lie I took advantage of it," Wolff said. "I minimized the mistakes. It was a good day all around.
"I got really fortunate with the lies in the rough. I just stuck with my game. It was a grind out there."
American Bryson DeChambeau was second on 207 after shooting 70. He opened with back-to-back bogeys and closed with a bogey after birdies at 16 and 17.
"I felt like I was trying to hope it into the fairway all day. That's not what you want at a US Open," said DeChambeau. "I was able to show resilience, coming back to shoot par after two bogeys."
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, fired a 68 to stand third on 209.
"Any under-par round at a US Open you'll take," Oosthuizen said. "(Wind) definitely died down for us. Definitely lucky on the draw today."
World number 36 Wolff, who won his first PGA Tour title at Minneapolis in only his third tour start, needed only 10 putts over his first nine holes, shooting a astonishing 30 on the front nine on the famed Mamaroneck, New York, layout.
Through three rounds, he has hit only 12 fairways, the fewest of any US Open leader since 1983.
"I tried to shoot as low as possible with hitting as few fairways as possible," Wolff joked. "That will get me ready for tomorrow.
"I'm just going to go out there, do the same thing and whatever happens happens."
Wolff matched Winged Foot's lowest US Open round ever, Justin Thomas's opening 65, after starting the day four adrift of leader Patrick Reed, who stumbled to a 77 with eight bogeys and a double bogey to stand on 213 after leading Wolff by three early.
Wolff made a 14-foot birdie putt at the opening hole, a 15-footer to birdie the par-4 fourth, a five-footer for birdie at six and a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-3 seventh.
He closed the front nine with a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 ninth then grinded out six pars in a row before his first bogey at the 16th, missing an eight-footer for par.
At 18, Wolff bounced off the top off deep rough into a shorter cut, blasted to 10 feet from the cup and sank his birdie putt.
"I feel really good with my putting," Wolff said. "I just told myself it was just another putt."
Oosthuizen had four birdies and two bogeys, each answered by a birdie on the following hole. The South African said he needs a repeat performance to capture his first major in a decade.
"I need to play pretty similar to what I did today," he said. "A lot can happen even in the last two, three holes, so try and get yourself in a position with three, four, five holes to go and see what you can do.
"Just need to go out and play some good golf tomorrow."
- McIlroy, Matsuyama lurk -
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who made four birdies and three bogeys in his first seven holes, scrambled to a 70 to share fourth alongside Americans Xander Schauffele and Harris English on level par 210.
Matsuyama, chasing his first major crown, opened with a birdie, followed with back-to-back bogeys, then reeled off three birdies in a row before a three-putt bogey at the par-3 seventh. A double bogey at 17 after finding deep rough and a bunker dropped him from the sub-par pack.
"Hopefully tomorrow I can make the same number of birdies without the bogeys," Matsuyama said. "I hit some good putts today, but at the same time I hit some bad ones. Tomorrow I just pray that I have more makes."
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was seventh on 211 after a 68, six back but liking his chances of a first major win since the 2014 PGA.
"I've got a good chance," McIlroy said. "(Six) is not a lot on this golf course. I feel like I'm right in it."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Nadal crashes out, Djokovic battles into Italian Open semi-finals

Rafael Nadal fell to his first defeat to Diego Schwartzman in 10 meetings Clay court king Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Italian Open on Saturday , falling to a straight sets defeat to Argentine Diego Schwartzman in a tournament the Spaniard had won nine times .
Eight-seeded Schwartzman meted out a punishing 6-2 , 7-5 loss in Nadal 's final warm-up before his bid for a 13th French Open , and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam in just over a week .
Top men 's seed Novak Djokovic also stumbled on the Roman clay but recovered to win through 6-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dominik Koepfer .
`` It was not my night at all , '' said Nadal , who had won all nine previous meetings against 28-year-old Schwartzman , but could not match his rival 's stunning game on the red clay of the Foro Italico .
`` He played a great match , not me , when this happens you have to lose , '' continued the 34-year-old .
`` It 's not a moment for excuses .
I 've spent a long time without competing , I played two good matches . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ comeback after a six-month coronavirus-enforced break having skipped the US Open ahead of Roland Garros with its first round on September 27 .
`` Losing as many serves , you ca n't expect to win a match , it 's something that I have to fix , I know how to do it , '' he warned .
`` It 's a special and unpredictable year , I 'll probably go back home and let 's see . ''
Schwartzman next plays Canadian 12th seed Denis Shapovalov for a place in the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tennis , '' said the Argentine .
Djokovic , meanwhile , let his frustrations spill over in a two-hour battle with his 97th-ranked German rival .
Two weeks after his US Open default for accidently hitting a line judge with a ball , the Serb struggled to contain his emotions , throwing his racket after a lost service game , with shouts of anger resounding in the silence of the empty Central Court .
`` Well , let me tell you that it 's not the first nor the last racquet that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done it before , '' he warned .
`` I 'll probably do it again .
I do n't want to do it , but when it comes , it happens .
`` That 's how I guess I release sometimes my anger . ''
Djokovic was broken four times before advancing to his 11th semi-final in Rome , where he reached the final nine times and won four titles .
The 33-year-old next plays Norway 's Casper Ruud who also needed to fight to get past Italian fourth seed Matteo Berrettini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
`` Clay is definitely Casper 's preferred surface , '' said Djokovic of his first meeting with the 34th-ranked Norwegian .
`` This is where he feels most comfortable .
It 's semi-finals and it is anybody ’ s game .
I 'll do some homework and be ready for that one . ''
Ruud -- son of former player Christian Ruud -- becomes the first Norwegian to reach the last four of a Masters tournament .
Ruud , 21 , was relishing `` a great opportunity for me to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Berrettini 's elimination ended home hopes in the tournament which will be open to 1,000 spectators from Sunday 's semi-finals .
In the women 's competition , Simona Halep remained on track for a first Rome titles , advancing to the semi-finals after Kazakh rival Yulia Putintseva retired while trailing 6-2 , 2-0 .
Halep has twice finished runner-up in Rome in 2017 and 2018 , and `` really wants to win '' the tournament .
`` It 's one of the biggest goals now , '' said Halep who is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning in Dubai in February and in Prague after the lockdown .
She will play Spaniard Garbine Muguruza , the ninth seed , for a place in the semi-finals after the Spaniard ousted US Open finalist Victoria Arazenka .
Defending champion Karolina Pliskova , the second seed , will play fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova , last year 's French Open runner-up .

Rome (AFP) –
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Clay court king Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Italian Open on Saturday, falling to a straight sets defeat to Argentine Diego Schwartzman in a tournament the Spaniard had won nine times.
Eight-seeded Schwartzman meted out a punishing 6-2, 7-5 loss in Nadal's final warm-up before his bid for a 13th French Open, and record-equalling 20th Grand Slam in just over a week.
Top men's seed Novak Djokovic also stumbled on the Roman clay but recovered to win through 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 against German qualifier Dominik Koepfer.
"It was not my night at all," said Nadal, who had won all nine previous meetings against 28-year-old Schwartzman, but could not match his rival's stunning game on the red clay of the Foro Italico.
"He played a great match, not me, when this happens you have to lose," continued the 34-year-old.
"It's not a moment for excuses. I've spent a long time without competing, I played two good matches."
The two-time defending champion was making his comeback after a six-month coronavirus-enforced break having skipped the US Open ahead of Roland Garros with its first round on September 27.
"Losing as many serves, you can't expect to win a match, it's something that I have to fix, I know how to do it," he warned.
"It's a special and unpredictable year, I'll probably go back home and let's see."
Schwartzman next plays Canadian 12th seed Denis Shapovalov for a place in the final.
"Today I played my best tennis," said the Argentine.
Djokovic, meanwhile, let his frustrations spill over in a two-hour battle with his 97th-ranked German rival.
Two weeks after his US Open default for accidently hitting a line judge with a ball, the Serb struggled to contain his emotions, throwing his racket after a lost service game, with shouts of anger resounding in the silence of the empty Central Court.
"Well, let me tell you that it's not the first nor the last racquet that I'll break in my career. I have done it before," he warned.
"I'll probably do it again. I don't want to do it, but when it comes, it happens.
"That's how I guess I release sometimes my anger."
Djokovic was broken four times before advancing to his 11th semi-final in Rome, where he reached the final nine times and won four titles.
The 33-year-old next plays Norway's Casper Ruud who also needed to fight to get past Italian fourth seed Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
"Clay is definitely Casper's preferred surface," said Djokovic of his first meeting with the 34th-ranked Norwegian.
"This is where he feels most comfortable. It's semi-finals and it is anybody’s game. I'll do some homework and be ready for that one."
Ruud -- son of former player Christian Ruud -- becomes the first Norwegian to reach the last four of a Masters tournament.
Ruud, 21, was relishing "a great opportunity for me to play against one of the big three".
Berrettini's elimination ended home hopes in the tournament which will be open to 1,000 spectators from Sunday's semi-finals.
In the women's competition, Simona Halep remained on track for a first Rome titles, advancing to the semi-finals after Kazakh rival Yulia Putintseva retired while trailing 6-2, 2-0.
Halep has twice finished runner-up in Rome in 2017 and 2018, and "really wants to win" the tournament.
"It's one of the biggest goals now," said Halep who is on a run of 12 consecutive victories after winning in Dubai in February and in Prague after the lockdown.
She will play Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, the ninth seed, for a place in the semi-finals after the Spaniard ousted US Open finalist Victoria Arazenka.
Defending champion Karolina Pliskova, the second seed, will play fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova, last year's French Open runner-up.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Returning Nadal crashes to Italian Open quarter-final defeat

Rafael Nadal fell to his first defeat to Diego Schwartzman in 10 meetings .
Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal crashed out @ @ @ @ @ Saturday 's quarter-finals to Argentine Diego Schwartzman .
Eight-seeded Schwartzman won 6-2 , 7-5 in @ @ @ @ @ the French Open in just over a week .
Champion Nadal was making his comeback @ @ @ @ @ having skipped the US Open ahead of Roland Garros with its first round on September @ @ @ @ @ out a stunning performance for his first win over Nadal in ten meetings and next @ @ @ @ @ Shapovalov for a place in the final .

Rome (AFP) –
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Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Italian Open in Saturday's quarter-finals to Argentine Diego Schwartzman.
Eight-seeded Schwartzman won 6-2, 7-5 in the final warm-up tournament for the French Open in just over a week.
Champion Nadal was making his comeback after a six-month coronavirus-enforced break having skipped the US Open ahead of Roland Garros with its first round on September 27.
But Schwartzman pulled out a stunning performance for his first win over Nadal in ten meetings and next plays Canadian 12th seed Denis Shapovalov for a place in the final.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Tigers manager Gardenhire announces retirement

Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire announced his retirement on Saturday , bringing a sudden end to his three-season tenure with the Tigers and ending a 16-year Major League Baseball managerial career .
The 62-year-old compiled 1,200 wins as a big-league manager , 46th in MLB history .
`` First off , I 'd like to congratulate Gardy for having one of the best managerial careers in baseball history , '' Tigers general manager Al Avila said .
`` His leadership and hard work over three seasons with our ballclub has helped move us towards our goal of bringing winning baseball back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our young players will be felt for years to come . ''
Gardenhire said before Saturday 's game against the Cleveland Indians that he came to the decision suddenly .
`` The way I 've been feeling since I had that bout of food poisoning in Minnesota and the stomach problems and the stress involved with this job , I told Al I 'll step down right now , '' said Gardenhire , who was treated for prostate cancer in 2017 .
`` This is tough .
It 's a tough day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , to be honest , when I walked in today .
But I know the way I 've been feeling .
I do n't want to feel like I 'm running out on everybody , but I know I have to take care of my health . ''
Calling it a `` bittersweet day , '' Gardenhire thanked players and coaches he 's worked with for the past 16 seasons .
`` I 'd also like to thank the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins for giving me the privilege of leading their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from managing , I 'll be watching this group of Tigers closely in the next few years .
`` There 's a lot of talent on this team , and a lot coming through the farm system .
Tigers fans are going to enjoy the exciting times on the horizon . ''
The Tigers hired Gardenhire on October 20 , 2017 , and he had a record of 132-241 with the team .
Gardenhire has managed 2,480 games in his career , which is the 35th-highest total in MLB history .
Before joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Twins , leading the club to six post-season appearances .
The Tigers said Lloyd McClendon will manage the team for the remainder of the season .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire announced his retirement on Saturday, bringing a sudden end to his three-season tenure with the Tigers and ending a 16-year Major League Baseball managerial career.
The 62-year-old compiled 1,200 wins as a big-league manager, 46th in MLB history.
"First off, I'd like to congratulate Gardy for having one of the best managerial careers in baseball history," Tigers general manager Al Avila said.
"His leadership and hard work over three seasons with our ballclub has helped move us towards our goal of bringing winning baseball back to Detroit.
"His positive impact on our young players will be felt for years to come."
Gardenhire said before Saturday's game against the Cleveland Indians that he came to the decision suddenly.
"The way I've been feeling since I had that bout of food poisoning in Minnesota and the stomach problems and the stress involved with this job, I told Al I'll step down right now," said Gardenhire, who was treated for prostate cancer in 2017.
"This is tough. It's a tough day for me. I didn't expect it, to be honest, when I walked in today. But I know the way I've been feeling. I don't want to feel like I'm running out on everybody, but I know I have to take care of my health."
Calling it a "bittersweet day," Gardenhire thanked players and coaches he's worked with for the past 16 seasons.
"I'd also like to thank the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins for giving me the privilege of leading their clubhouses. While I'm stepping away from managing, I'll be watching this group of Tigers closely in the next few years.
"There's a lot of talent on this team, and a lot coming through the farm system. Tigers fans are going to enjoy the exciting times on the horizon."
The Tigers hired Gardenhire on October 20, 2017, and he had a record of 132-241 with the team.
Gardenhire has managed 2,480 games in his career, which is the 35th-highest total in MLB history.
Before joining Detroit he spent 13 seasons as manager of the Twins, leading the club to six post-season appearances.
The Tigers said Lloyd McClendon will manage the team for the remainder of the season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Thai protesters set to defy authorities, rally at Government House

Thai protesters calling for the royal family to stay out of the kingdom 's politics rally next to Bangkok 's Grand Palace on September 19 , 2020 Thai student activists are set to defy authorities and march to the seat of government Sunday morning , after staging the biggest protest in years in which demonstrators demanded reforms to the unassailable monarchy .
The kingdom has seen near-daily protests for the past two months led by student activists calling for the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha , a former army chief who masterminded the 2014 coup .
Demonstrators spent Saturday rallying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located next to the Grand Palace , where organisers took a stronger line on monarchical reform , calling for the royal family to stay out of the kingdom 's politics .
`` The will of the people is stronger than the rain , '' protest organiser Parit Chiwarak , also known as Penguin , said Saturday night as demonstrators braved near-constant rainfall under a sea of umbrellas .
The movement is pushing frank questioning of the royal family 's role in the kingdom into the public , what was once a taboo topic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
Authorities said Saturday 's demonstration drew 18,000 , while organisers claimed a far higher turnout .
AFP reporters on the ground estimated a crowd size of 30,000 -- making it the largest gathering the kingdom has seen since the 2014 coup .
Organisers expect about 10,000 protesters to march with them to the nearby Government House on Sunday morning -- a move authorities have warned against .
Human rights lawyer Anon Numpa , who has emerged as one of the leading figures in the movement , also plans to place a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanam Luang field at dawn .
Commemorating the end of royal absolutism in 1932 , the original plaque was embedded in the ground of Bangkok 's Royal Plaza for decades before it mysteriously vanished in 2017 -- with no explanation ever given by authorities .
Activists say the missing plaque is emblematic of a wider whitewashing of Thai political history .
`` We will declare together that this country belongs to the people , '' Anon said in a fiery speech in the early hours of Sunday .
The leaderless youth-organised movement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is calling for Prayut 's government to be dissolved , a rewrite to a 2017 military-scripted constitution , and for authorities to stop `` harassing '' political opponents .
Some factions within the movement -- including the organisers of the weekend demonstrations -- have also called for frank discussion of the monarchy .
Their demands include greater accounting of the palace 's finances , the abolition of royal defamation laws and a call for the king to remain outside of politics .
`` We need to reform every institution in Thailand -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Warren , a 50-year-old Bangkok businessman who participated in Saturday 's rally but declined to give his full name .
The ultra-wealthy King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits at the apex of Thai power , bolstered by a powerful military and conservative establishment .
In the weeks since the pro-democracy movement has gathered pace , arch-royalist groups have sprung up , staging smaller counter-demonstrations demanding protesters `` not to touch the monarchy '' .
Prayut has said Thailand would be `` engulfed in flames '' if the students push too hard , though he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend 's protesters .
The recent wave of pro-democracy demonstrations have so far been peaceful .
But authorities have arrested more than two dozen activists so far , charging them with sedition before releasing them on bail .

Bangkok (AFP) –
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Thai student activists are set to defy authorities and march to the seat of government Sunday morning, after staging the biggest protest in years in which demonstrators demanded reforms to the unassailable monarchy.
The kingdom has seen near-daily protests for the past two months led by student activists calling for the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha, a former army chief who masterminded the 2014 coup.
Demonstrators spent Saturday rallying in Bangkok's historic Sanam Luang field located next to the Grand Palace, where organisers took a stronger line on monarchical reform, calling for the royal family to stay out of the kingdom's politics.
"The will of the people is stronger than the rain," protest organiser Parit Chiwarak, also known as Penguin, said Saturday night as demonstrators braved near-constant rainfall under a sea of umbrellas.
The movement is pushing frank questioning of the royal family's role in the kingdom into the public, what was once a taboo topic due to Thailand's draconian royal defamation laws.
Authorities said Saturday's demonstration drew 18,000, while organisers claimed a far higher turnout.
AFP reporters on the ground estimated a crowd size of 30,000 -- making it the largest gathering the kingdom has seen since the 2014 coup.
Organisers expect about 10,000 protesters to march with them to the nearby Government House on Sunday morning -- a move authorities have warned against.
Human rights lawyer Anon Numpa, who has emerged as one of the leading figures in the movement, also plans to place a replica of a small bronze plaque at Sanam Luang field at dawn.
Commemorating the end of royal absolutism in 1932, the original plaque was embedded in the ground of Bangkok's Royal Plaza for decades before it mysteriously vanished in 2017 -- with no explanation ever given by authorities.
Activists say the missing plaque is emblematic of a wider whitewashing of Thai political history.
"We will declare together that this country belongs to the people," Anon said in a fiery speech in the early hours of Sunday.
- Reform for 'every institution' -
The leaderless youth-organised movement, inspired by Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, is calling for Prayut's government to be dissolved, a rewrite to a 2017 military-scripted constitution, and for authorities to stop "harassing" political opponents.
Some factions within the movement -- including the organisers of the weekend demonstrations -- have also called for frank discussion of the monarchy.
Their demands include greater accounting of the palace's finances, the abolition of royal defamation laws and a call for the king to remain outside of politics.
"We need to reform every institution in Thailand -- monarchy, army, education," said Warren, a 50-year-old Bangkok businessman who participated in Saturday's rally but declined to give his full name.
The ultra-wealthy King Maha Vajiralongkorn sits at the apex of Thai power, bolstered by a powerful military and conservative establishment.
In the weeks since the pro-democracy movement has gathered pace, arch-royalist groups have sprung up, staging smaller counter-demonstrations demanding protesters "not to touch the monarchy".
Prayut has said Thailand would be "engulfed in flames" if the students push too hard, though he vowed "softer measures" against the weekend's protesters.
The recent wave of pro-democracy demonstrations have so far been peaceful.
But authorities have arrested more than two dozen activists so far, charging them with sedition before releasing them on bail.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--'We got this': American left galvanized by death of RBG

A bobblehead of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is left outside of the US Supreme Court in Washington , DC , on September 19 , 2020 to honor her death The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg sounded a warning for American progressives , thousands of whom -- wracked with ever-deepening concern for the future -- gathered Saturday outside the Supreme Court to honor the late justice .
Under an autumnal sun , a constant stream of families and young people gathered in Washington -- just 45 days from the US presidential election -- to pay homage to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` RBG . ''
`` Ruth , I did n't know you , but you affected my life in many ways , '' says one of many letters placed at the foot of the court building , among flowers , rainbow flags and Ginsburg bobblehead figurines .
Among the anonymous mourners , Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris wended her way discreetly to the front of the crowd .
`` RBG was one of my pioneers , an icon , a fighter .
She was a woman in every way , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September chill with a black hooded sweatshirt .
Harris 's running mate and President Donald Trump 's opponent , Joe Biden , has failed to drum up great enthusiasm among progressive voters , due to his centrist views and advanced age -- 77 .
But Ginsburg 's death , in an America already on edge , could well galvanize them to his side .
Wearing a rainbow headband , J. Ford Huffman , a gay man in his 70s , urged Democratic voters to `` use the mourning period to energize ourselves '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
The challenge will be to prevent the doyenne of the Supreme Court from being replaced with her ideological opposite , since Trump has pre-selected very conservative candidates .
Ginsburg made her name as a lawyer in the 1970s by winning several major court battles that brought down a series of laws that discriminated against women .
Nominated to the country 's highest court in 1993 , she spent her 27-year tenure there defending the rights of the LGBT community and immigrants , establishing herself unequivocally as a champion of the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us how to fight , '' Gina Eppolito wrote in chalk on the pavement outside the imposing white marble building in the US capital , a city known for its progressivism .
The mother of two 11-year-olds , Eppolito said it was a `` very big concern '' of hers that rights acquired during her generation -- particularly the right to abortion -- might not be passed on to her children .
With Ginsburg 's death at age 87 , the US Supreme Court could fall into the conservative camp for a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely vulnerable position , '' Eppolito said .
Pam Crescenzo , 60 , could n't hold back her tears as she spoke : `` If the courts continue to tilt to the right , it 's really going to be a difficult time to be a woman in America . ''
`` Her body was not even cold last night that Mitch McConnell was already saying how they were going to push through Trump 's nominee for the next Supreme Court justice , '' she said , referring to the Republican Senate majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her wife , said it was thanks to RBG that they had been able to get married .
To her right , a group of people read out a Hebrew prayer .
Ginsburg was born to a Jewish family in New York and died on the eve of Rosh Hashanah , one of the most holy days in Judaism .
In a sign of the deep divisions in the United States , a man wearing a black suit came to the court -- to praise Trump .
He was roundly booed away by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people there also wanted to thank Ginsburg and to promise they would take up her fight .
`` We have a lot of work to do and a lot of fighting to do in the next 45 days , '' said Kiley Boland , 25 , who clutched a book on Constitutional law under one arm .
`` It 's on us now .
She can rest ; we got this . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg sounded a warning for American progressives, thousands of whom -- wracked with ever-deepening concern for the future -- gathered Saturday outside the Supreme Court to honor the late justice.
Under an autumnal sun, a constant stream of families and young people gathered in Washington -- just 45 days from the US presidential election -- to pay homage to the progressive icon, affectionately referred to as "RBG."
"Ruth, I didn't know you, but you affected my life in many ways," says one of many letters placed at the foot of the court building, among flowers, rainbow flags and Ginsburg bobblehead figurines.
Among the anonymous mourners, Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris wended her way discreetly to the front of the crowd.
"RBG was one of my pioneers, an icon, a fighter. She was a woman in every way," she told AFP, shielding herself from the September chill with a black hooded sweatshirt.
Harris's running mate and President Donald Trump's opponent, Joe Biden, has failed to drum up great enthusiasm among progressive voters, due to his centrist views and advanced age -- 77.
But Ginsburg's death, in an America already on edge, could well galvanize them to his side.
Wearing a rainbow headband, J. Ford Huffman, a gay man in his 70s, urged Democratic voters to "use the mourning period to energize ourselves" and make sure everyone votes on November 3.
The challenge will be to prevent the doyenne of the Supreme Court from being replaced with her ideological opposite, since Trump has pre-selected very conservative candidates.
Ginsburg made her name as a lawyer in the 1970s by winning several major court battles that brought down a series of laws that discriminated against women.
Nominated to the country's highest court in 1993, she spent her 27-year tenure there defending the rights of the LGBT community and immigrants, establishing herself unequivocally as a champion of the American left.
- 'Vulnerable' -
"Thank you for teaching us how to fight," Gina Eppolito wrote in chalk on the pavement outside the imposing white marble building in the US capital, a city known for its progressivism.
The mother of two 11-year-olds, Eppolito said it was a "very big concern" of hers that rights acquired during her generation -- particularly the right to abortion -- might not be passed on to her children.
With Ginsburg's death at age 87, the US Supreme Court could fall into the conservative camp for a long time.
"We are in an extremely vulnerable position," Eppolito said.
Pam Crescenzo, 60, couldn't hold back her tears as she spoke: "If the courts continue to tilt to the right, it's really going to be a difficult time to be a woman in America."
"Her body was not even cold last night that Mitch McConnell was already saying how they were going to push through Trump's nominee for the next Supreme Court justice," she said, referring to the Republican Senate majority leader.
Crescenzo, who came with her wife, said it was thanks to RBG that they had been able to get married.
To her right, a group of people read out a Hebrew prayer. Ginsburg was born to a Jewish family in New York and died on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, one of the most holy days in Judaism.
In a sign of the deep divisions in the United States, a man wearing a black suit came to the court -- to praise Trump. He was roundly booed away by the crowd.
Many of the young people there also wanted to thank Ginsburg and to promise they would take up her fight.
"We have a lot of work to do and a lot of fighting to do in the next 45 days," said Kiley Boland, 25, who clutched a book on Constitutional law under one arm.
"It's on us now. She can rest; we got this."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Aspas double sinks Valencia

Aspas double sinks Valencia

Iago Aspas scored twice , including a brilliant free-kick , as Valencia slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat by Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday .
After a turbulent summer in which the club has sold several key players , Valencia were beaten by a side that only just survived relegation last season .
Maxi Gomez pulled Valencia level early in the second half only for Aspas to curl a superb free-kick into the top corner as Celta made it four points from their opening two matches .
`` We had to hold on a bit at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the break as well that would have made it more comfortable for us , '' said Aspas .
Valencia have not won away from home in the league since December .
`` Away from home we have to be stronger , '' said Jose Luis Gaya .
`` They got through us too easily .
We have to put it right because those errors have cost us . ''
Two of Valencia 's rivals for the top four had both won earlier on Saturday as Getafe edged to a 1-0 win at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind to beat Eibar 2-1 .
Villarreal 's Gerard Moreno cancelled out Kike 's opener for Eibar before Paco Alcacer sealed victory for Unai Emery 's team eight minutes later .

Madrid (AFP) –
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Iago Aspas scored twice, including a brilliant free-kick, as Valencia slipped to a surprise 2-1 defeat by Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday.
After a turbulent summer in which the club has sold several key players, Valencia were beaten by a side that only just survived relegation last season.
Maxi Gomez pulled Valencia level early in the second half only for Aspas to curl a superb free-kick into the top corner as Celta made it four points from their opening two matches.
"We had to hold on a bit at the end but we could have scored a couple on the break as well that would have made it more comfortable for us," said Aspas.
Valencia have not won away from home in the league since December.
"Away from home we have to be stronger," said Jose Luis Gaya. "They got through us too easily. We have to put it right because those errors have cost us."
Two of Valencia's rivals for the top four had both won earlier on Saturday as Getafe edged to a 1-0 win at home to Osasuna while Villarreal came from behind to beat Eibar 2-1.
Villarreal's Gerard Moreno cancelled out Kike's opener for Eibar before Paco Alcacer sealed victory for Unai Emery's team eight minutes later.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--McIlroy likes his US Open chances after strong 68

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy likes his chances of capturing his first major title since 2014 after firing a two-under 68 Saturday to jump into contention at the US Open .
The 31-year-old Northern Ireland star stood on one-over 211 after 54 holes at wicked Winged Foot , where dense rough and lightning-fast greens kept the world 's best golfers scrambling .
`` I 'm feeling pretty good that I 've got a good chance going into tomorrow , '' McIlroy said .
`` Conditions are going to be pretty similar to today , which is fine .
If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 68 , I wo n't be too far away . ''
Fourth-ranked McIlroy , who has not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship , battled through the tricky opening holes , found birdies where he could and scrambled late to gain ground on the leaders .
`` It was really good , '' he said .
`` Key for me was to just try to play the first five holes well .
To get through those in even par , I knew in that middle section you could make a couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Knocked a couple in when I could .
A really good round of golf . ''
McIlroy sank a 10-foot birdie putt at seven and blasted out of a greenside bunker to three feet to birdie the par-5 ninth .
He suffered his lone bogey at the par-3 10th , going from rough to bunker to green , but birdied the par-5 12th from seven feet and made par-saving putts from 12 feet at 11 and 11 feet at the 15th .
`` You 're going to have stretches in US Opens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but if you can back it up with stretches of golf like I showed there , that 's what you have to do , '' McIlroy said .
`` It 's not going to be all plain sailing in this tournament . ''
Winged Foot lived up to its reputation a day after McIlroy struggled to a 76 .
`` The wind is not quite as strong as it was , '' McIlroy said .
`` It played a touch less difficult .
Not easier , but it was a little less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first major since the birth of daughter Poppy , said the lack of spectators as a coronavirus safety precaution removes potential distraction for leaders as well as inspiring cheers for chasers .
`` It 's one variable that you just do n't have to deal with , '' McIlroy said .
`` Maybe not a loss of an advantage to me , but just makes it a touch easier for the guys at the top .
It just makes it a little different and maybe a touch easier if you 're in those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees plenty of trouble ahead for US Open leaders .
`` It does n't take much around here , '' he said .
`` Someone gets off to a decent start , maybe 1- or 2-under through five , and then the leader goes the other way , 1- or 2-over through five , and all of a sudden you 're right in the thick of things .

New York (AFP) –
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Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy likes his chances of capturing his first major title since 2014 after firing a two-under 68 Saturday to jump into contention at the US Open.
The 31-year-old Northern Ireland star stood on one-over 211 after 54 holes at wicked Winged Foot, where dense rough and lightning-fast greens kept the world's best golfers scrambling.
"I'm feeling pretty good that I've got a good chance going into tomorrow," McIlroy said. "Conditions are going to be pretty similar to today, which is fine. If I go out there tomorrow and shoot another 68, I won't be too far away."
Fourth-ranked McIlroy, who has not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship, battled through the tricky opening holes, found birdies where he could and scrambled late to gain ground on the leaders.
"It was really good," he said. "Key for me was to just try to play the first five holes well. To get through those in even par, I knew in that middle section you could make a couple birdies and then hang on coming in. Knocked a couple in when I could. A really good round of golf."
McIlroy sank a 10-foot birdie putt at seven and blasted out of a greenside bunker to three feet to birdie the par-5 ninth.
He suffered his lone bogey at the par-3 10th, going from rough to bunker to green, but birdied the par-5 12th from seven feet and made par-saving putts from 12 feet at 11 and 11 feet at the 15th.
"You're going to have stretches in US Opens where you're going to make mistakes, but if you can back it up with stretches of golf like I showed there, that's what you have to do," McIlroy said. "It's not going to be all plain sailing in this tournament."
Winged Foot lived up to its reputation a day after McIlroy struggled to a 76.
"The wind is not quite as strong as it was," McIlroy said. "It played a touch less difficult. Not easier, but it was a little less difficult."
McIlroy, playing his first major since the birth of daughter Poppy, said the lack of spectators as a coronavirus safety precaution removes potential distraction for leaders as well as inspiring cheers for chasers.
"It's one variable that you just don't have to deal with," McIlroy said. "Maybe not a loss of an advantage to me, but just makes it a touch easier for the guys at the top. It just makes it a little different and maybe a touch easier if you're in those final few groups."
McIlroy still sees plenty of trouble ahead for US Open leaders.
"It doesn't take much around here," he said. "Someone gets off to a decent start, maybe 1- or 2-under through five, and then the leader goes the other way, 1- or 2-over through five, and all of a sudden you're right in the thick of things.
"I feel like I've got a pretty good shot."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-19--Arsenal strike late to beat wasteful West Ham

Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to score the winner as Arsenal overcame an underwhelming performance to beat West Ham 2-1 .
The Gunners move level with Everton and Crystal Palace on maximum points at the top of the table after two games , but were far from the standards they have set under Mikel Arteta as the visitors enjoyed the majority of the chances after Michail Antonio cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette 's opener for the hosts .
Antonio saw a second-half header come back off the bar , but Arsenal were ruthless with their chance to win the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in behind the West Ham defence to square for Nketiah , who had the simple task of rolling into an empty net .
After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield and starting their season with a flourish by winning 3-0 at Fulham on the opening weekend , Arsenal were expected to swot aside a West Ham team that were easily beaten by Newcastle a week ago .
But David Moyes 's men deserved something to show for their performance and felt hard done by with some decisions that went against them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the season for VAR reviews , the inconsistent application of what constitutes handball reared its head on Saturday .
After Manchester United 's Victor Lindelof was penalised for handling inside the box during his side 's 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace , West Ham were not awarded a penalty for what seemed a much more obvious handball from Gabriel Magalhaes early on .
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang committed his future to Arsenal earlier this week by signing a new three-year contract and the Gunners ' prolific goalscorer was the creator for the opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onside from Bukayo Saka 's pass before crossing for Lacazette to power a header home .
That was the only clear opening the hosts created before half-time and West Ham levelled just before the break when Antonio outmuscled Rob Holding to turn home Ryan Fredericks 's inviting cross .
Antonio was a constant menace to the Arsenal defence and came close twice more in the second period .
Gabriel just did enough to take the sting out of his first effort for Bernd Leno to save on the line before Antonio powered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Ham were made to rue those missed chances as Arsenal were clinical with their only clear sight of goal in the second-half .
Ceballos and Nketiah were involved in a spat during the warm-up at Craven Cottage last weekend , but showed they were back on the same wavelength as the Spanish midfielder unselfishly squared for the England under-21 international .

London (AFP) –
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Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to score the winner as Arsenal overcame an underwhelming performance to beat West Ham 2-1.
The Gunners move level with Everton and Crystal Palace on maximum points at the top of the table after two games, but were far from the standards they have set under Mikel Arteta as the visitors enjoyed the majority of the chances after Michail Antonio cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette's opener for the hosts.
Antonio saw a second-half header come back off the bar, but Arsenal were ruthless with their chance to win the game as Dani Ceballos timed his run perfectly in behind the West Ham defence to square for Nketiah, who had the simple task of rolling into an empty net.
After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield and starting their season with a flourish by winning 3-0 at Fulham on the opening weekend, Arsenal were expected to swot aside a West Ham team that were easily beaten by Newcastle a week ago.
But David Moyes's men deserved something to show for their performance and felt hard done by with some decisions that went against them.
After a relatively trouble free first weekend of the season for VAR reviews, the inconsistent application of what constitutes handball reared its head on Saturday.
After Manchester United's Victor Lindelof was penalised for handling inside the box during his side's 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, West Ham were not awarded a penalty for what seemed a much more obvious handball from Gabriel Magalhaes early on.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang committed his future to Arsenal earlier this week by signing a new three-year contract and the Gunners' prolific goalscorer was the creator for the opening goal as he just managed to stay onside from Bukayo Saka's pass before crossing for Lacazette to power a header home.
That was the only clear opening the hosts created before half-time and West Ham levelled just before the break when Antonio outmuscled Rob Holding to turn home Ryan Fredericks's inviting cross.
Antonio was a constant menace to the Arsenal defence and came close twice more in the second period.
Gabriel just did enough to take the sting out of his first effort for Bernd Leno to save on the line before Antonio powered a header back off the crossbar.
And West Ham were made to rue those missed chances as Arsenal were clinical with their only clear sight of goal in the second-half.
Ceballos and Nketiah were involved in a spat during the warm-up at Craven Cottage last weekend, but showed they were back on the same wavelength as the Spanish midfielder unselfishly squared for the England under-21 international.
© 2020 AFP