france24--2020-09-04--Pandemic Olympics: Japan starts virus countermeasure talks

The Tokyo 2020 Games were postponed earlier this year as the scale of the coronavirus pandemic became clear Japanese officials and Tokyo 2020 organisers began talks Friday on the mammoth task of how to hold the postponed Olympics safely while the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage .
The Games were postponed earlier this year in a historic decision as the scale of the coronavirus crisis became clear .
But with less than a year until the new opening date on July 23 , 2021 , many questions remain -- from how border controls will affect the movement of athletes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to pack into venues to watch events .
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said the committee `` hopes to show results this year ... and we will make efforts so that athletes in Japan and overseas will feel that next year 's Olympics is safe and secure because of our coronavirus measures . ''
Muto said Friday 's discussions focused on `` what kind of measures will be needed when athletes enter Japan from overseas , '' but gave no further detail and declined to confirm reports the government may waive quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit their movements inside Japan .
From October , virus measures at venues and the athletes ' village will be discussed , he said , with virus measures for stakeholders and spectators on the agenda from late October and into November .
Muto repeated that organisers hoped to avoid a Games without spectators -- an option that has been mooted given Japan is still limiting audiences at sports events and its borders remain largely closed to foreign visitors .
Japan 's Yomiuri daily reported Thursday that the government was considering a process in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including before travel , on arrival and before entering the Olympic village .
They would be exempt from quarantine , to allow them to train , but would be restricted to travel between venues and hotels , the paper reported .
With little sign of the coronavirus disappearing soon , and a vaccine possibly months or even years away , some experts have questioned whether holding the Games is feasible at all .
Japanese Olympic Committee secretary general Tsuyoshi Fukui told the panel that athletes were counting on them to successfully hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to host the 2020 Games no matter what , '' he said .
`` Athletes are strongly hoping for it .
We want to head to the Games by making every possible effort . ''

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Japanese officials and Tokyo 2020 organisers began talks Friday on the mammoth task of how to hold the postponed Olympics safely while the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage.
The Games were postponed earlier this year in a historic decision as the scale of the coronavirus crisis became clear.
But with less than a year until the new opening date on July 23, 2021, many questions remain -- from how border controls will affect the movement of athletes and officials, to whether audiences will be able to pack into venues to watch events.
Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said the committee "hopes to show results this year... and we will make efforts so that athletes in Japan and overseas will feel that next year's Olympics is safe and secure because of our coronavirus measures."
Muto said Friday's discussions focused on "what kind of measures will be needed when athletes enter Japan from overseas," but gave no further detail and declined to confirm reports the government may waive quarantine requirements for athletes if they agree to limit their movements inside Japan.
From October, virus measures at venues and the athletes' village will be discussed, he said, with virus measures for stakeholders and spectators on the agenda from late October and into November.
Muto repeated that organisers hoped to avoid a Games without spectators -- an option that has been mooted given Japan is still limiting audiences at sports events and its borders remain largely closed to foreign visitors.
Japan's Yomiuri daily reported Thursday that the government was considering a process in which athletes would be tested multiple times, including before travel, on arrival and before entering the Olympic village.
They would be exempt from quarantine, to allow them to train, but would be restricted to travel between venues and hotels, the paper reported.
With little sign of the coronavirus disappearing soon, and a vaccine possibly months or even years away, some experts have questioned whether holding the Games is feasible at all.
Japanese Olympic Committee secretary general Tsuyoshi Fukui told the panel that athletes were counting on them to successfully hold the event.
"We want you to host the 2020 Games no matter what," he said.
"Athletes are strongly hoping for it. We want to head to the Games by making every possible effort."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Loew fumes at 'insane' fixture jam for Germany stars

Germany head coach Joachim Loew is unhappy about their congested fixture schedule , caused by the coronavirus pandemic Germany head coach Joachim Loew has spoken out against the `` insane '' fixture list his stars face this season on top of his German team playing eight internationals in a dense schedule until the end of November .
Germany will twice play three games in six days in October , then November .
`` I do n't agree with that , it upsets me , '' said Loew after Thursday 's 1-1 draw against Spain in Stuttgart in the Nations League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations League matches , with two days break between each game this October and November .
`` We have to be careful .
I have always said that the health of the players is paramount .
`` If you do n't pay attention , we 'll have big problems in March , April and May , '' Loew warned with the postponed Euro 2020 finals in June , a knock-on effect after last season was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic .
Loew acknowledged that the German Football Association needs the television revenue from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Czech Republic on November 11 .
`` I also represent the interests of the association .
And the association is happy about the income . ''
Loew rested many of his Bayern Munich players for Thursday 's draw with Spain and Sunday 's Nations League away match against Switzerland .
However , Bayern stars like Serge Gnabry , Joshua Kimmich , Leon Goretzka and Manuel Neuer face a punishing schedule this season for club and country .
They face the prospect of playing 57 competitive matches for Bayern alone in 2020/21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Champions League , European football 's governing body UEFA has not raised the maximum number of substitutions allowed from three to five for internationals .
`` If not now , then when ?
, '' asked Loew .
`` One would have thought that five changes would make sense .
`` Just now it would have needed that .
`` Some players are running on empty and that 's when injuries happen . ''
`` I regret that I could n't make five substitutions , then I could have given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Germany midfielder Julian Draxler does not expect UEFA to react by helping their cause in an unprecedented season .
`` As players , we have little influence there , '' said the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder , who only had two training sessions with Germany before 90 minutes against Spain .
`` I also think it makes sense to have the five changes because we come from different ( fitness ) levels .
`` It 's also risky to play 90 minutes when you 've only trained twice . ''
Loew said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing the Swiss on Sunday and insisted his focus is on next year 's postponed Euro 2020 finals , not the Nations League .
`` Some players are really flat - we ca n't do much more training for the next two days , '' added Loew .
`` And I have to be honest , the results in the Nations League are not that important to me .
`` We can only win something , '' he added referring to the Euro finals , `` if the team is mentally and physically @ @ @

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Germany head coach Joachim Loew has spoken out against the "insane" fixture list his stars face this season on top of his German team playing eight internationals in a dense schedule until the end of November.
Germany will twice play three games in six days in October, then November.
"I don't agree with that, it upsets me," said Loew after Thursday's 1-1 draw against Spain in Stuttgart in the Nations League.
"The fixture list is insanely full," Loew added.
Germany play a friendly and two Nations League matches, with two days break between each game this October and November.
"We have to be careful. I have always said that the health of the players is paramount.
"If you don't pay attention, we'll have big problems in March, April and May," Loew warned with the postponed Euro 2020 finals in June, a knock-on effect after last season was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Loew acknowledged that the German Football Association needs the television revenue from home friendlies against Turkey on October 7 and the Czech Republic on November 11.
"I also represent the interests of the association. And the association is happy about the income."
Loew rested many of his Bayern Munich players for Thursday's draw with Spain and Sunday's Nations League away match against Switzerland.
However, Bayern stars like Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Manuel Neuer face a punishing schedule this season for club and country.
They face the prospect of playing 57 competitive matches for Bayern alone in 2020/21.
- Substitutes -
Loew is also annoyed that unlike in the Champions League, European football's governing body UEFA has not raised the maximum number of substitutions allowed from three to five for internationals.
"If not now, then when?," asked Loew.
"One would have thought that five changes would make sense.
"Just now it would have needed that.
"Some players are running on empty and that's when injuries happen."
Spain head coach Luis Enrique agreed.
"I regret that I couldn't make five substitutions, then I could have given the players more rest," he said.
Germany midfielder Julian Draxler does not expect UEFA to react by helping their cause in an unprecedented season.
"As players, we have little influence there," said the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who only had two training sessions with Germany before 90 minutes against Spain.
"I also think it makes sense to have the five changes because we come from different (fitness) levels.
"It's also risky to play 90 minutes when you've only trained twice."
Loew said he will give his players some rest before facing the Swiss on Sunday and insisted his focus is on next year's postponed Euro 2020 finals, not the Nations League.
"Some players are really flat - we can't do much more training for the next two days," added Loew.
"And I have to be honest, the results in the Nations League are not that important to me.
"We can only win something," he added referring to the Euro finals, "if the team is mentally and physically fit."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--'Act responsibly' over environment, Vettel tells F1

Ferrari 's Sebastian Vettel says Formula One needs to 'act responsibly ' over the environment Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said Friday that Formula One must `` act responsibly '' over the environment if the sport wants to remain relevant .
`` I think this sport has some big challenges ahead , '' the Ferrari driver told a video news conference ahead of this weekend 's Italian Grand Prix .
`` Obviously , the whole situation with the pandemic around the world does n't help , but nevertheless , there are some big questions to be answered for the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still around in years to come .
`` With where the world is going , there are big things that we need to tackle .
We need to address ( them ) and Formula One is , maybe , not at the forefront of this .
`` We can do better than what we 're currently doing .
`` Looking after the world , the environment , I think there 's some interesting aspects that we are trying to fulfil or achieve , but I think F1 has to do more and be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Otherwise ... it could get difficult in the future . ''
The 33-year-old German , who won successive world titles from 2010 to 2013 , said F1 should be `` setting examples rather than reacting to pressure from the outside '' when it came to cleaning up its environmental performance .
`` As a global sport , we should act responsibly , '' he said .
`` When it comes to the environment , obviously we are driving around the weekend in cars , we 're burning fuel which is probably a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or total carbon footprint , if you want to talk in CO2 terms .
But still I think we need to be setting the right example , not just in our carbon footprint , but also on other things .
`` Every little bit makes a difference .
The amount of plastic bottles we consume during the weekend , I think there are solutions to that .
`` How we power some panels in the paddock , there are solutions to that .
`` We should be at the forefront in pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheap way in order to make things work and easy .
`` F1 is obviously the pinnacle of motorsports when it comes to development of the cars , but I think it does n't just stop there .
`` When you talk about the cars , I think there 's more that can be done in order to have greater relevance for the future . ''
Vettel added that he remained 'very open ' with Ferrari despite knowing he is in his last season with the team and is , this weekend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last time .
`` I do n't feel pushed out , '' he said .
`` We 're very open , also vocal , and when something is not right – and that 's for Charles ( Leclerc ) and myself -– if I get asked , I would answer .
And if I do n't get asked , I might say it , nevertheless .
`` I 'm open , I 'm here to do my job until the end of the year .
`` I enjoy racing and I want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the car at the end of the year knowing that I 've done everything I can to put all the things together , that mattered , to get the best result . ''
He admitted , too , that this weekend will be very tough for the team as they compete with a car that is down on power and overall performance compared to the leading teams .
`` We 're here to fight and we 're here to fight for the tifosi as well and we are doing the utmost we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expectations are always a big word , especially here in Monza , so it will be very difficult this year . ''

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Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel said Friday that Formula One must "act responsibly" over the environment if the sport wants to remain relevant.
"I think this sport has some big challenges ahead," the Ferrari driver told a video news conference ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
"Obviously, the whole situation with the pandemic around the world doesn't help, but nevertheless, there are some big questions to be answered for the future to make sure that this sport is still around in years to come.
"With where the world is going, there are big things that we need to tackle. We need to address (them) and Formula One is, maybe, not at the forefront of this.
"We can do better than what we're currently doing.
"Looking after the world, the environment, I think there's some interesting aspects that we are trying to fulfil or achieve, but I think F1 has to do more and be a bit more open and tolerant.
"Otherwise... it could get difficult in the future."
- Environmental concern -
The 33-year-old German, who won successive world titles from 2010 to 2013, said F1 should be "setting examples rather than reacting to pressure from the outside" when it came to cleaning up its environmental performance.
"As a global sport, we should act responsibly," he said.
"When it comes to the environment, obviously we are driving around the weekend in cars, we're burning fuel which is probably a very small amount of the total energy, or total carbon footprint, if you want to talk in CO2 terms. But still I think we need to be setting the right example, not just in our carbon footprint, but also on other things.
"Every little bit makes a difference. The amount of plastic bottles we consume during the weekend, I think there are solutions to that.
"How we power some panels in the paddock, there are solutions to that.
"We should be at the forefront in pushing developments rather than using a convenient and cheap way in order to make things work and easy.
"F1 is obviously the pinnacle of motorsports when it comes to development of the cars, but I think it doesn't just stop there.
"When you talk about the cars, I think there's more that can be done in order to have greater relevance for the future."
- 'Very open' with Ferrari -
Vettel added that he remained 'very open' with Ferrari despite knowing he is in his last season with the team and is, this weekend, racing for them at Monza for the last time.
"I don't feel pushed out," he said. "We're very open, also vocal, and when something is not right – and that's for Charles (Leclerc) and myself -– if I get asked, I would answer. And if I don't get asked, I might say it, nevertheless.
"I'm open, I'm here to do my job until the end of the year.
"I enjoy racing and I want to make sure I can get out of the car at the end of the year knowing that I've done everything I can to put all the things together, that mattered, to get the best result."
He admitted, too, that this weekend will be very tough for the team as they compete with a car that is down on power and overall performance compared to the leading teams.
"We're here to fight and we're here to fight for the tifosi as well and we are doing the utmost we can," he said.
"But expectations are always a big word, especially here in Monza, so it will be very difficult this year."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Sanchez wanted Man Utd exit after first training session

Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez has revealed he asked his agent if he could leave Manchester United after just one training session at the Premier League club .
Sanchez moved from Arsenal to United , then managed by Jose Mourinho , in 2018 .
But the Chile international endured a torrid spell at Old Trafford , scoring only five goals in 45 appearances .
Sanchez was loaned to Inter Milan for the 2019/20 season , a move he made permanent last month .
The 31-year-old has explained his side of the story in a video on Instagram , admitting he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switch to United .
`` I ended up signing without much information about what was happening in the move , '' Sanchez said .
`` The first days that I was with my colleagues , sometimes there are things that you do not realise until you arrive .
`` The first training I had I realised many things .
I came home and I told my representative : 'Ca n't the contract be terminated to return to Arsenal ? '
`` They start laughing and I told them that something did not sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract ) had already been signed . ''
Sanchez , who had scored 80 goals in 166 appearances for Arsenal , arrived at Old Trafford in the January transfer window with big expectations on his shoulders after becoming United 's top-earner .
He believes he was the scapegoat for United 's struggles under Mourinho .
`` I 'm telling you my experience , the journalists at times would speak without knowing the facts and it hurt -- they had no idea what was going on inside the club , '' said Sanchez .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this , and that , but sometimes a player depends on the environment , the family that is created around him , and I think that in that moment we were n't really a family .
`` And that translated onto the pitch , and since there needed to be someone to blame , they blamed me . ''
Sanchez recalled one moment at United when he was left out of the matchday squad by Mourinho for a game against West Ham in September 2018 .
`` In a game with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` That had never happened to me as a player .
It bothered me and I said it could n't be possible .
`` To go from being one of the best in the Premier League to not playing in five months .
I came to my house and I was very sad .
The next day I trained in a double shift , because I love what I do . ''

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Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez has revealed he asked his agent if he could leave Manchester United after just one training session at the Premier League club.
Sanchez moved from Arsenal to United, then managed by Jose Mourinho, in 2018.
But the Chile international endured a torrid spell at Old Trafford, scoring only five goals in 45 appearances.
Sanchez was loaned to Inter Milan for the 2019/20 season, a move he made permanent last month.
The 31-year-old has explained his side of the story in a video on Instagram, admitting he immediately had a bad feeling about his switch to United.
"I ended up signing without much information about what was happening in the move," Sanchez said.
"The first days that I was with my colleagues, sometimes there are things that you do not realise until you arrive.
"The first training I had I realised many things. I came home and I told my representative: 'Can't the contract be terminated to return to Arsenal?'
"They start laughing and I told them that something did not sit right with me. It (the contract) had already been signed."
Sanchez, who had scored 80 goals in 166 appearances for Arsenal, arrived at Old Trafford in the January transfer window with big expectations on his shoulders after becoming United's top-earner.
He believes he was the scapegoat for United's struggles under Mourinho.
"I'm telling you my experience, the journalists at times would speak without knowing the facts and it hurt -- they had no idea what was going on inside the club," said Sanchez.
"They said it was my fault, and this, and that, but sometimes a player depends on the environment, the family that is created around him, and I think that in that moment we weren't really a family.
"And that translated onto the pitch, and since there needed to be someone to blame, they blamed me."
Sanchez recalled one moment at United when he was left out of the matchday squad by Mourinho for a game against West Ham in September 2018.
"In a game with West Ham I wasn't picked," he said. "That had never happened to me as a player. It bothered me and I said it couldn't be possible.
"To go from being one of the best in the Premier League to not playing in five months. I came to my house and I was very sad. The next day I trained in a double shift, because I love what I do."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Bottas tops Monza practice, Verstappen crashes

Valtteri Bottas topped the times ahead of championship leader and team-mate Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes dominated Friday 's crash-hit opening Italian Grand Prix practice at Monza .
The Finn , determined to revive his fortunes and his title bid , clocked a best lap in one minute and 20.703 seconds to outpace the six-time champion by 0.245 seconds , a healthy margin on one of the fastest circuits on the Formula One calendar .
Alex Albon was third fastest , nearly eight-tenths off the leading pace , ahead of Alpha Tauri ’ s Daniil Kvyat and his Red Bull team-mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second Alpha Tauri .
Sergio Perez was seventh for Racing Point ahead of Lando Norris in the leading McLaren , Daniel Ricciardo of Renault and Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz in the second McLaren .
As expected , it was a disappointing morning for Ferrari and their fans as the ‘ scarlet scuderia ’ and their customer teams failed to make any impact .
On a bright and warm morning in the old royal park , the two Mercedes were in dominant form in a session that began in sedate fashion , more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first lap time for Red Bull .
The Thai driver ’ s time was swiftly erased , however , because he had broken track limits and former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen took over on top for Alfa Romeo before Verstappen joined the fray .
Within minutes , he was second behind Albon at the top of the times until Hamilton went fastest only to be replaced by Bottas shortly before Verstappen crashed on the exit of the Variante Ascari .
The Dutchman lost control as he pushed too hard , his car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the barriers .
He kept it running , however , and managed to return to the pits albeit without a front wing .
This resulted in a brief red flag stoppage after which there were no further incidents or positional changes as Bottas set the pace ahead of Hamilton for the fourth opening practice session in a row .

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Valtteri Bottas topped the times ahead of championship leader and team-mate Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes dominated Friday's crash-hit opening Italian Grand Prix practice at Monza.
The Finn, determined to revive his fortunes and his title bid, clocked a best lap in one minute and 20.703 seconds to outpace the six-time champion by 0.245 seconds, a healthy margin on one of the fastest circuits on the Formula One calendar.
Alex Albon was third fastest, nearly eight-tenths off the leading pace, ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Daniil Kvyat and his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen with Pierre Gasly sixth in the second Alpha Tauri.
Sergio Perez was seventh for Racing Point ahead of Lando Norris in the leading McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo of Renault and Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz in the second McLaren.
As expected, it was a disappointing morning for Ferrari and their fans as the ‘scarlet scuderia’ and their customer teams failed to make any impact.
On a bright and warm morning in the old royal park, the two Mercedes were in dominant form in a session that began in sedate fashion, more than 20 minutes passing before Alex Albon set the first lap time for Red Bull.
The Thai driver’s time was swiftly erased, however, because he had broken track limits and former Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen took over on top for Alfa Romeo before Verstappen joined the fray.
Within minutes, he was second behind Albon at the top of the times until Hamilton went fastest only to be replaced by Bottas shortly before Verstappen crashed on the exit of the Variante Ascari.
The Dutchman lost control as he pushed too hard, his car spinning away into the gravel and hitting the barriers. He kept it running, however, and managed to return to the pits albeit without a front wing.
This resulted in a brief red flag stoppage after which there were no further incidents or positional changes as Bottas set the pace ahead of Hamilton for the fourth opening practice session in a row.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Russia vaccine passes early trial test: report

Russia surprised last month when it said it would move forward quickly with its vaccine Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with `` no serious adverse events '' , according to research published in The Lancet Friday , but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness .
Russia announced last month that its vaccine , named `` Sputnik V '' after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957 , had already received approval .
This raised concerns among Western scientists over a lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving too quickly on a vaccine could be dangerous .
Russia denounced criticism as an attempt to undermine Moscow 's research .
In the Lancet study , Russian researchers reported on two small trials , each involving 38 healthy adults aged between 18 and 60 , who were given a two-part immunisation .
Each participant was given a dose of the first part of the vaccine and then given a booster with the second part 21 days later .
They were monitored over 42 days and all developed antibodies within the first three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that the vaccine was `` safe , well tolerated , and does not cause serious adverse events in healthy adult volunteers '' .
The trials were open label and not randomised , meaning there was no placebo and the participants knew they were receiving the vaccine and were not randomly assigned to different treatment groups .
Researchers underlined that larger and longer trials -- including a placebo comparison -- would be needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing Covid-19 infection .
`` Showing safety will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for vaccine acceptance but also for trust in vaccination broadly , '' Naor Bar-Zeev of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wrote in a commentary in the Lancet .
The report said the 76 participants of these trials would be monitored up to 180 days , adding that a more rigorous phase 3 clinical trial was planned with the involvement of 40,000 volunteers `` from different age and risk groups '' .

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Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with "no serious adverse events", according to research published in The Lancet Friday, but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness.
Russia announced last month that its vaccine, named "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957, had already received approval.
This raised concerns among Western scientists over a lack of safety data, with some warning that moving too quickly on a vaccine could be dangerous.
Russia denounced criticism as an attempt to undermine Moscow's research.
In the Lancet study, Russian researchers reported on two small trials, each involving 38 healthy adults aged between 18 and 60, who were given a two-part immunisation.
Each participant was given a dose of the first part of the vaccine and then given a booster with the second part 21 days later.
They were monitored over 42 days and all developed antibodies within the first three weeks.
The report said the data showed that the vaccine was "safe, well tolerated, and does not cause serious adverse events in healthy adult volunteers".
The trials were open label and not randomised, meaning there was no placebo and the participants knew they were receiving the vaccine and were not randomly assigned to different treatment groups.
Researchers underlined that larger and longer trials -- including a placebo comparison -- would be needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing Covid-19 infection.
"Showing safety will be crucial with Covid-19 vaccines, not only for vaccine acceptance but also for trust in vaccination broadly," Naor Bar-Zeev of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wrote in a commentary in the Lancet.
The report said the 76 participants of these trials would be monitored up to 180 days, adding that a more rigorous phase 3 clinical trial was planned with the involvement of 40,000 volunteers "from different age and risk groups".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Turkey must drop 'threats' for talks to begin: Greek PM

Kyriakos Mitsotakis , seen with Yang Jiechi , director of China 's Central Foreign Affairs Commission , says Turkey is undermining international law and endangering regional security Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday told Turkey to stop making `` threats '' against his country if talks on reducing tension in the eastern Mediterranean over maritime borders and gas exploration are to begin .
`` Let threats go away so that the contacts can begin , '' Mitsotakis said as he met a visiting senior member of the Chinese Communist party .
Tensions are running high over Turkey 's drilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Cyprus say violate their sovereignty .
Turkey on August 10 deployed the Oruc Reis research vessel and an escorting flotilla of warships to the disputed waters between Cyprus and the Greek islands of Kastellorizo and Crete , and has since prolonged the mission three times .
Greece responded by staging naval exercises with several EU allies and the United Arab Emirates , not far from smaller ones Turkey conducted between Cyprus and Crete last week .
Mitsotakis on Friday said that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias would later on Friday brief UN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey 's `` lawless activity '' .
Greece denied late Thursday that it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey to de-escalate tensions over maritime borders and gas exploration rights .
`` Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks ' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality , '' Greece 's foreign ministry said .
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg had earlier said the two NATO allies had `` agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean '' .
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas on Friday said Stoltenberg 's initiative `` is very far from being termed an agreement to restart dialogue . ''
The Greek foreign ministry stressed that `` de-escalation will only take place with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish vessels from the Greek continental shelf '' .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly lashed out at Greece , and also France , recently calling their respective leaders `` greedy and incompetent '' for challenging Turkish energy exploration in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to fight , we will not hesitate to make sacrifices , '' Erdogan told newly-commissioned officers in Ankara on Sunday .
`` The question is : when they stand against us in the Mediterranean , are they ready to make the same sacrifices ?
`` To our enemies , we say : Bring it on ! ''
France 's support for Greece is brewing a serious crisis for the NATO military alliance .
The European Union has been watching the escalating row with growing concern , repeatedly urging Turkey to stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Ankara if it refused to solve the dispute through dialogue .
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell has said that unless Turkey can be engaged in talks , the bloc could develop a list of sanctions at an European Council on September 24 and 25 .
Mitsotakis said Turkey was `` undermining '' international law and `` endangering '' regional security by seeking to `` alter '' geography .

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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday told Turkey to stop making "threats" against his country if talks on reducing tension in the eastern Mediterranean over maritime borders and gas exploration are to begin.
"Let threats go away so that the contacts can begin," Mitsotakis said as he met a visiting senior member of the Chinese Communist party.
Tensions are running high over Turkey's drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean which Greece and Cyprus say violate their sovereignty.
Turkey on August 10 deployed the Oruc Reis research vessel and an escorting flotilla of warships to the disputed waters between Cyprus and the Greek islands of Kastellorizo and Crete, and has since prolonged the mission three times.
Greece responded by staging naval exercises with several EU allies and the United Arab Emirates, not far from smaller ones Turkey conducted between Cyprus and Crete last week.
Mitsotakis on Friday said that Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias would later on Friday brief UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Turkey's "lawless activity".
Greece denied late Thursday that it had agreed to hold NATO-brokered talks with Turkey to de-escalate tensions over maritime borders and gas exploration rights.
"Published information claiming Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold so-called 'technical talks' on de-escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean do not correspond to reality," Greece's foreign ministry said.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg had earlier said the two NATO allies had "agreed to enter into technical talks at NATO to establish mechanisms for military de-confliction to reduce the risk of incidents and accidents in the Eastern Mediterranean".
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas on Friday said Stoltenberg's initiative "is very far from being termed an agreement to restart dialogue."
The Greek foreign ministry stressed that "de-escalation will only take place with the immediate withdrawal of all Turkish vessels from the Greek continental shelf".
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly lashed out at Greece, and also France, recently calling their respective leaders "greedy and incompetent" for challenging Turkish energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.
"When the time comes to fight, we will not hesitate to make sacrifices," Erdogan told newly-commissioned officers in Ankara on Sunday.
"The question is: when they stand against us in the Mediterranean, are they ready to make the same sacrifices?
- 'Bring it on' -
"To our enemies, we say: Bring it on!"
France's support for Greece is brewing a serious crisis for the NATO military alliance.
The European Union has been watching the escalating row with growing concern, repeatedly urging Turkey to stop the exploration activities and threatening to slap sanctions on Ankara if it refused to solve the dispute through dialogue.
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell has said that unless Turkey can be engaged in talks, the bloc could develop a list of sanctions at an European Council on September 24 and 25.
Mitsotakis said Turkey was "undermining" international law and "endangering" regional security by seeking to "alter" geography.
burs-jph/cdw
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Pakistan's only Asian elephant prepared for new home

Following a high court ruling , Austria-based animal welfare and rescue group Four Paws International were enlisted to help move Kaavan A team of international vets using tranquiliser darts , flatbreads and the soothing lyrics of Frank Sinatra conducted a medical examination Friday on Pakistan 's only Asian elephant , ahead of his planned move to Cambodia .
The plight of Kaavan , an overweight , 35-year-old bull elephant has drawn international condemnation and highlighted the woeful state of Islamabad 's zoo , where conditions are so bad a judge in May ordered all the animals to be moved .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal welfare and rescue group Four Paws International were enlisted to help move Kaavan -- whose case was boosted by the singer and activist Cher -- as well as two brown bears and three wolves .
A transport crate must be built and the elephant habituated to it before he can be flown to a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary in a `` jumbo '' jet -- probably a giant Antonov An-225 airlift cargo craft .
But first , experts must know how Kaavan has fared since his last examination in 2016 , so on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close .
Armed with a tub filled with bananas and flatbreads , Four Paws veterinarian Amir Khalil coaxed the elephant into his emptied-out concrete bathing pond while head vet Frank Goeritz used a tranquiliser pistol to fire three large darts into the animal 's shoulder .
Unaccustomed to close human contact , the elephant grew a little agitated , prompting Khalil to sing Sinatra 's classic melody `` My Way '' , which appeared to calm the pachyderm as he chomped on chapatis .
Once the tranquilisers kicked in , Khalil and Goeritz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , took blood samples and inserted a microchip in his left ear .
`` He is in good general condition ... but he is totally obese , he weighs way too much and his feet are terrible , '' said Goeritz , pointing to the elephant 's cracked and malformed toenails that will need medical attention .
Goeritz said Kaavan has been eating up to 200 kilogrammes of sugar cane each day and deprived of intellectual stimuli , resulting in `` stereotypic '' behaviour where he swooshes his head and trunk from side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` He is bored .
He needs definitely physical and mental challenges , '' said Goeritz , who has previously worked with elephants across Africa .
Outrage over Kaavan , gifted by Sri Lanka in 1985 , went global a few years ago after California vet Samar Khan saw him chained in his enclosure during a visit to Islamabad .
She launched an online petition that eventually caught the attention of American pop icon Cher .
`` I was horrified to find he had been chained for 28 years , '' Khan told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who arrived also from Sri Lanka in 1990 , died of gangrene in 2012 .
It is hoped Kavaan might eventually be able to re-partner once he is moved to Cambodia .
Tireless efforts by a team of local animal advocates resulted in May 's court ruling , under which Kaavan was supposed to be moved within 30 days , though the deadline has been extended .
Only a few animals remain but attempts by local zoo staff -- many of whom have never been given animal care training -- to move some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lions and an ostrich died during or soon after they were relocated .
Zookeepers tried to scare one lion out of its pen by setting piles of hay on fire .

Islamabad (AFP) –
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A team of international vets using tranquiliser darts, flatbreads and the soothing lyrics of Frank Sinatra conducted a medical examination Friday on Pakistan's only Asian elephant, ahead of his planned move to Cambodia.
The plight of Kaavan, an overweight, 35-year-old bull elephant has drawn international condemnation and highlighted the woeful state of Islamabad's zoo, where conditions are so bad a judge in May ordered all the animals to be moved.
Following the high court ruling, Austria-based animal welfare and rescue group Four Paws International were enlisted to help move Kaavan -- whose case was boosted by the singer and activist Cher -- as well as two brown bears and three wolves.
A transport crate must be built and the elephant habituated to it before he can be flown to a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary in a "jumbo" jet -- probably a giant Antonov An-225 airlift cargo craft.
But first, experts must know how Kaavan has fared since his last examination in 2016, so on Friday they sedated him to get up close.
Armed with a tub filled with bananas and flatbreads, Four Paws veterinarian Amir Khalil coaxed the elephant into his emptied-out concrete bathing pond while head vet Frank Goeritz used a tranquiliser pistol to fire three large darts into the animal's shoulder.
Unaccustomed to close human contact, the elephant grew a little agitated, prompting Khalil to sing Sinatra's classic melody "My Way", which appeared to calm the pachyderm as he chomped on chapatis.
Once the tranquilisers kicked in, Khalil and Goeritz measured Kaavan's hefty frame and girth, took blood samples and inserted a microchip in his left ear.
"He is in good general condition... but he is totally obese, he weighs way too much and his feet are terrible," said Goeritz, pointing to the elephant's cracked and malformed toenails that will need medical attention.
- 'Bored' elephant -
Goeritz said Kaavan has been eating up to 200 kilogrammes of sugar cane each day and deprived of intellectual stimuli, resulting in "stereotypic" behaviour where he swooshes his head and trunk from side to side for hours on end.
"He is bored. He needs definitely physical and mental challenges," said Goeritz, who has previously worked with elephants across Africa.
Outrage over Kaavan, gifted by Sri Lanka in 1985, went global a few years ago after California vet Samar Khan saw him chained in his enclosure during a visit to Islamabad.
She launched an online petition that eventually caught the attention of American pop icon Cher.
"I was horrified to find he had been chained for 28 years," Khan told AFP.
Kaavan's mate Saheli, who arrived also from Sri Lanka in 1990, died of gangrene in 2012. It is hoped Kavaan might eventually be able to re-partner once he is moved to Cambodia.
Tireless efforts by a team of local animal advocates resulted in May's court ruling, under which Kaavan was supposed to be moved within 30 days, though the deadline has been extended.
Only a few animals remain but attempts by local zoo staff -- many of whom have never been given animal care training -- to move some of them have been disastrous.
Two lions and an ostrich died during or soon after they were relocated. Zookeepers tried to scare one lion out of its pen by setting piles of hay on fire.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Claire Williams reveals family F1 team's new owners 'wanted me' to stay

Claire Williams revealed on Friday that she twice turned down offers to stay in her job before deciding to leave the family 's Formula One team this weekend .
Williams , who will leave her position as deputy team principal after the Italian Grand Prix , said she felt she did not have the energy needed to carry on if not working for her family .
`` I ’ ve given it my all , '' she said .
`` And I ’ ve done that because I wanted to protect my family ’ s legacy in this sport .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m my dad 's daughter and I felt almost it was my duty to do it , so to speak .
`` Now that it ’ s not ours , I don ’ t feel I could put the same amount of energy into it . ''
In an interview with Sky Sport F1 , following Thursday ’ s announcement that the Williams family would sever all ties with the team after this weekend ’ s race at Monza and after the take-over by American investment company Dorilton Capital , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to transfer her commitment to the new owners .
`` Anyone can hope to understand that for me , working for somebody else would be potentially enormously difficult , '' she explained .
`` I 've run this team as my team for seven years and you put blood , sweat and tears into something like I have , for the time that I have , the sacrifices , doing what I 've done , this is a hard , hard business.
” Williams and her father team founder Frank Williams will end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after 43 years when they walk away .
She said it had been `` incredibly tough '' running the team in recent years , adding it had `` taken an awful lot out of me '' .
`` If I 'm honest , Dorilton needs somebody that has more energy than I 've currently got , somebody that is going to put in more than I can currently give it to take it forward .
`` They 're going to put as much as they can into it and they 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really drive it forward and I do n't think that I 'm that person .
`` I 've always been very honest about my capabilities in this sport and I always thought I would know when the time would be for me to hang up my boots , so to speak , and that does feel like now .
`` Dorilton wanted me , they asked me to continue .
They asked before the sale was done , they asked after the sale was done , but I think a clean break is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she now felt free to pursue other areas of her life .
`` It 's a bit like ripping a plaster off -- you can imagine how hard this decision has been .
I wanted to achieve so much more in this sport .
Unfortunately , it has n't happened for me .
`` But I can go out of it knowing that I 've done a few good things in this job .
I have n't got everything right , by all means , but I can go out , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up high and I can see what else is out in the big wide world .
`` And most importantly for me , I can concentrate on being a wife and a mum for a bit . ''

Monza (Italy) (AFP) –
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Claire Williams revealed on Friday that she twice turned down offers to stay in her job before deciding to leave the family's Formula One team this weekend.
Williams, who will leave her position as deputy team principal after the Italian Grand Prix, said she felt she did not have the energy needed to carry on if not working for her family.
"I’ve given it my all," she said. "And I’ve done that because I wanted to protect my family’s legacy in this sport.
"I’ve done it because I’m my dad's daughter and I felt almost it was my duty to do it, so to speak.
"Now that it’s not ours, I don’t feel I could put the same amount of energy into it."
In an interview with Sky Sport F1, following Thursday’s announcement that the Williams family would sever all ties with the team after this weekend’s race at Monza and after the take-over by American investment company Dorilton Capital, she said it would have been very difficult to transfer her commitment to the new owners.
"Anyone can hope to understand that for me, working for somebody else would be potentially enormously difficult," she explained.
"I've run this team as my team for seven years and you put blood, sweat and tears into something like I have, for the time that I have, the sacrifices, doing what I've done, this is a hard, hard business.”
Williams and her father team founder Frank Williams will end their family association with the F1 team after 43 years when they walk away.
She said it had been "incredibly tough" running the team in recent years, adding it had "taken an awful lot out of me".
"If I'm honest, Dorilton needs somebody that has more energy than I've currently got, somebody that is going to put in more than I can currently give it to take it forward.
"They're going to put as much as they can into it and they're going to want somebody that can take that and really drive it forward and I don't think that I'm that person.
"I've always been very honest about my capabilities in this sport and I always thought I would know when the time would be for me to hang up my boots, so to speak, and that does feel like now.
"Dorilton wanted me, they asked me to continue. They asked before the sale was done, they asked after the sale was done, but I think a clean break is probably best all around."
She said she now felt free to pursue other areas of her life.
"It's a bit like ripping a plaster off -- you can imagine how hard this decision has been. I wanted to achieve so much more in this sport. Unfortunately, it hasn't happened for me.
"But I can go out of it knowing that I've done a few good things in this job. I haven't got everything right, by all means, but I can go out, I think, hopefully with my head held up high and I can see what else is out in the big wide world.
"And most importantly for me, I can concentrate on being a wife and a mum for a bit."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Italy's former PM Berlusconi in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus

Italy 's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been diagnosed with the early stages of double pneumonia after testing positive for coronavirus , Italian media reported on Friday .
Double , or bilateral , pneumonia affects both lungs and can make breathing difficult .
The condition has been seen in many cases of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 .
Berlusconi , 83 , was taken to Milan 's San Raffaele hospital on Thursday evening , two days after his Forza Italia party announced he had coronavirus .
His entourage has stressed that the four-time prime minister is not in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , Berlusconi was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure , '' Forza Italia said in a brief statement , adding that his condition was `` not a cause for concern '' .
Berlusconi underwent major heart surgery four years ago and halted all public appearances after the coronavirus pandemic hit Italy in February , spending the initial two-month lockdown in a villa owned by one of his daughters in the south of France .
He took a coronavirus test after spending part of August at his villa on the Mediterranean island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp increase in Covid-19 cases during the bustling summer tourism season .
Italian newspapers have speculated that Berlusconi might have been infected by two of his younger children — Barbara and Luigi — who were with him in Sardinia and were also seen partying on other holiday islands last month .
Both have since tested positive for coronavirus .
Berlusconi 's latest partner , Marta Fascina , has also caught the virus , a party official said .
When his party announced his illness on Wednesday , it said he did not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video link to a meeting of supporters on Thursday afternoon and acknowledged he had had a fever , but that it had passed .
`` I no longer have fever , nor pain , I want to reassure everyone that I am quite well , '' he said .
Italy , hit by one of Europe 's worst outbreaks of Covid-19 with over 270,000 confirmed cases and 35,500 deaths , contained the contagion after a peak in fatalities and infections in March and April .
But the number of new cases rose in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and night clubs .

Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been diagnosed with the early stages of double pneumonia after testing positive for coronavirus, Italian media reported on Friday.
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Double, or bilateral, pneumonia affects both lungs and can make breathing difficult. The condition has been seen in many cases of patients hospitalised with Covid-19.
Berlusconi, 83, was taken to Milan's San Raffaele hospital on Thursday evening, two days after his Forza Italia party announced he had coronavirus.
His entourage has stressed that the four-time prime minister is not in intensive care.
"After the appearance of some symptoms, Berlusconi was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure," Forza Italia said in a brief statement, adding that his condition was "not a cause for concern".
Berlusconi underwent major heart surgery four years ago and halted all public appearances after the coronavirus pandemic hit Italy in February, spending the initial two-month lockdown in a villa owned by one of his daughters in the south of France.
He took a coronavirus test after spending part of August at his villa on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, which has seen a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases during the bustling summer tourism season.
Italian newspapers have speculated that Berlusconi might have been infected by two of his younger children — Barbara and Luigi — who were with him in Sardinia and were also seen partying on other holiday islands last month. Both have since tested positive for coronavirus.
Berlusconi's latest partner, Marta Fascina, has also caught the virus, a party official said.
When his party announced his illness on Wednesday, it said he did not have any symptoms. Berlusconi subsequently spoke via video link to a meeting of supporters on Thursday afternoon and acknowledged he had had a fever, but that it had passed.
"I no longer have fever, nor pain, I want to reassure everyone that I am quite well," he said.
Italy, hit by one of Europe's worst outbreaks of Covid-19 with over 270,000 confirmed cases and 35,500 deaths, contained the contagion after a peak in fatalities and infections in March and April.
But the number of new cases rose in August, with experts blaming seaside gatherings and night clubs.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-04--'Pulse' sparks hunt for survivors one month after Beirut blast

Rescuers scour the debris of a Beirut building brought down a month ago by a mega-blast after the heart beat of a possible survivor was detected Rescuers resumed a search Friday for possible survivors under rubble in Beirut , buoyed by faint hopes of a miracle a month after a monster blast ripped through the city 's port .
The cataclysmic August 4 explosion killed a total of 191 people , making it Lebanon 's deadliest peacetime disaster .
One month on , seven people are still listed as missing .
Hopes emerged on Thursday that one of them could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensor device detected a heart beat under the debris of a flattened building .
Crews of rescue workers from Chile and Lebanon used their hands on Friday to lift chunks of rubble from the site between the hard-hit districts of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhail .
They resumed their efforts after pausing briefly overnight , an AFP photographer at the scene said .
`` We have excavated rubble but we have n't reached a conclusion yet , '' said George Abou Moussa of Lebanon 's civil defence .
The pulse they detected on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous recording , said Nicholas Saade , who coordinates between the Chilean and Lebanese rescuers .
`` After removing the big chunks we scanned again for heartbeats or respiration , it showed low beat/respiration '' levels of seven per minute , he told AFP .
`` The reading before was about 16 to 18 , '' he added .
The area excavated by rescuers was among the hardest hit by the blast that was so powerful it was heard in Cyprus , some 240 kilometres ( 150 miles ) away .
The explosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new misery for Lebanese already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and the country 's worst economic crisis in decades .
A sniffer dog deployed by Chilean rescuers on Wednesday night had responded to a scent from the site of a collapsed building in Gemmayzeh , Beirut governor Marwan Abboud said .
After detecting a pulse on Thursday , Lebanese emergency workers teamed up with the Chileans determine whether there were any survivors .
News of the search drew crowds of people hopeful that another life could be saved .
Using their hands and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` direction of the signal '' , trying to find a tunnel or entry point that would give them access to a `` survivor or corpse '' , Saade said , without elaborating on how long the process could take .
Lebanon , already mired in an economic crisis before the port blast , is not equipped for disaster management .
The country lacks the tools and expertise to handle advanced search and rescue operations which are now being supported by experts from Chile , France and the Unites States .
The Chileans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find humans , as well as specialist sensor devices that can detect heart beats and breathing .
They have been praised as heroes by many Lebanese on social media who have compared their expertise with the lacklustre performance of what they see as an absent state .
Lebanese authorities came under more fire from an anxious public after Thursday 's search and rescue operation was paused for two hours .
In a statement on Friday , the Lebanese army said search and rescue efforts had been halted because chunks of the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rescuers resumed work at 2230 GMT after military engineers with the help of two cranes `` managed to secure the building for work to resume '' , the statement said .
The stoppage sparked an outcry on social media .
`` There is a heart beating in Mar Mikhail , and there are heartless officials who decided to stop the rescue operation , '' activist Zahia Awad said on Twitter .
As well as killing more than 190 people , the August 4 explosion injured at least 6,500 and left 300,000 homeless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his government in the wake of the blast , said 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had blown up .
The fertiliser had been stored in a portside warehouse for years , without precautionary measures .
But experts believe the quantity that ignited was substantially less than declared by authorities .
Western powers including France and the United States have joined calls by Lebanese citizens at home and abroad for an international investigation .
Lebanese authorities , however , have rejected foreign involvement in the probe , favouring instead a local investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France has launched its own probe .
All 25 suspects identified by Lebanese investigators are now in custody , a judicial source told AFP .
They include Beirut port chief Hassan Koraytem and customs chief Badri Daher , as well as three Syrian welders .

Beirut (AFP) –
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Rescuers resumed a search Friday for possible survivors under rubble in Beirut, buoyed by faint hopes of a miracle a month after a monster blast ripped through the city's port.
The cataclysmic August 4 explosion killed a total of 191 people, making it Lebanon's deadliest peacetime disaster. One month on, seven people are still listed as missing.
Hopes emerged on Thursday that one of them could still be found alive after a specialist sensor device detected a heart beat under the debris of a flattened building.
Crews of rescue workers from Chile and Lebanon used their hands on Friday to lift chunks of rubble from the site between the hard-hit districts of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhail.
They resumed their efforts after pausing briefly overnight, an AFP photographer at the scene said.
"We have excavated rubble but we haven't reached a conclusion yet," said George Abou Moussa of Lebanon's civil defence.
The pulse they detected on Friday had already slowed significantly compared to a previous recording, said Nicholas Saade, who coordinates between the Chilean and Lebanese rescuers.
"After removing the big chunks we scanned again for heartbeats or respiration, it showed low beat/respiration" levels of seven per minute, he told AFP.
"The reading before was about 16 to 18," he added.
- Chilean 'heroes' -
The area excavated by rescuers was among the hardest hit by the blast that was so powerful it was heard in Cyprus, some 240 kilometres (150 miles) away.
The explosion ravaged swathes of Beirut and piled on new misery for Lebanese already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
A sniffer dog deployed by Chilean rescuers on Wednesday night had responded to a scent from the site of a collapsed building in Gemmayzeh, Beirut governor Marwan Abboud said.
After detecting a pulse on Thursday, Lebanese emergency workers teamed up with the Chileans determine whether there were any survivors.
News of the search drew crowds of people hopeful that another life could be saved.
Using their hands and shovels, they moved Friday in the "direction of the signal", trying to find a tunnel or entry point that would give them access to a "survivor or corpse", Saade said, without elaborating on how long the process could take.
Lebanon, already mired in an economic crisis before the port blast, is not equipped for disaster management.
The country lacks the tools and expertise to handle advanced search and rescue operations which are now being supported by experts from Chile, France and the Unites States.
The Chileans arrived recently with a sniffer dog trained to find humans, as well as specialist sensor devices that can detect heart beats and breathing.
They have been praised as heroes by many Lebanese on social media who have compared their expertise with the lacklustre performance of what they see as an absent state.
- Outcry over 'heartless officials' -
Lebanese authorities came under more fire from an anxious public after Thursday's search and rescue operation was paused for two hours.
In a statement on Friday, the Lebanese army said search and rescue efforts had been halted because chunks of the building's wall could fall on emergency workers.
Rescuers resumed work at 2230 GMT after military engineers with the help of two cranes "managed to secure the building for work to resume", the statement said.
The stoppage sparked an outcry on social media.
"There is a heart beating in Mar Mikhail, and there are heartless officials who decided to stop the rescue operation," activist Zahia Awad said on Twitter.
As well as killing more than 190 people, the August 4 explosion injured at least 6,500 and left 300,000 homeless.
Hassan Diab, who quit along with his government in the wake of the blast, said 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate had blown up. The fertiliser had been stored in a portside warehouse for years, without precautionary measures.
But experts believe the quantity that ignited was substantially less than declared by authorities.
Western powers including France and the United States have joined calls by Lebanese citizens at home and abroad for an international investigation.
Lebanese authorities, however, have rejected foreign involvement in the probe, favouring instead a local investigation, albeit supported by the US FBI.
France has launched its own probe.
All 25 suspects identified by Lebanese investigators are now in custody, a judicial source told AFP.
They include Beirut port chief Hassan Koraytem and customs chief Badri Daher, as well as three Syrian welders.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Week in Review: Charlie Hebdo terror trial, Macron in Beirut and sexism in the French language

French President Emmanuel Macron returned to Lebanon and pushed for urgent reform a month after the devastating Beirut blast that compounded the misery of a nation in economic crisis .
Also this week , FRANCE 24 covered the start of the long-awaited Charlie Hebdo terror attacks trial , the unspoken legacy of slavery in France and challenges to centuries of male dominance in the French language .
As it happened : Macron pushes for new government on return to Beirut French President Emmanuel Macron pressed Lebanese leaders to form a new government and enact urgent reforms as he returned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devastating August 4 blast .
The French leader planted a cedar tree to mark the stricken nation 's 100th anniversary and toured neighbourhoods ravaged by last month 's deadly port explosion .
France to relive Charlie Hebdo attacks as landmark terror trial opens in Paris The trial of the deadly January 2015 terrorist attacks on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo , police officers and a kosher supermarket opened in a Paris court Wednesday after five years of investigations and a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
Charlie Hebdo defiantly marked the occasion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohammed .
Behind sketch of black MP in shackles , a French failure to confront slave legacy A row over a right-wing magazine depicting a black lawmaker as a slave in shackles has cast a stark light on the toxic – and largely unspoken – legacy of slavery in France , a country more accustomed to discussing its abolitionist past than the lucrative slave trade it took part in .
Iranian women go online to break silence over sexual abuse Dozens of Iranian women have taken to social media to share their stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of silence and shedding light on a legal system that is weighted against the victims .
France ’ s students go back to school amid concerns over Covid-19 With school bags on their backs and masks on their faces , France ’ s students headed back to class this week at the start of a school year in the shadow of the coronavirus .
No country for grieving men as artist Ai Weiwei turns a lens on Wuhan outbreak '' Coronation '' , Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei ’ s latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how ordinary citizens in Wuhan coped during the height of the coronavirus pandemic under the gaze of the all-monitoring state determined to relay a narrative of efficiency , not human loss or sorrow .
Can France ’ s Greens unite the left and avert a Macron-Le Pen rematch ?
President Emmanuel Macron ’ s drift to the centre-right of France ’ s political spectrum has opened up a sea of opportunity for the country ’ s fractured and rudderless left – a space the Greens , long a byword for factionalism and division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Deauville 's annual toast to US film swaps Hollywood flash for Cannes cameos The coastal Normandy town of Deauville prepared to kick off its annual ode to American cinema despite the coronavirus pandemic .
This year 's red carpet may be conspicuously short on Hollywood stars but the fête promises to be an inclusive one , with some feature-length imports from the cancelled Cannes Film Festival joining the party .
A meeting with Imam Mahmoud Dicko , who led the movement to oust Mali 's president Talks to resolve a political crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military commanders toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in an August 18 coup .
West African leaders want power ceded to a civilian government within a year but the ruling junta proposes waiting until 2023 .
FRANCE 24 met with de facto opposition leader and Imam Mahmoud Dicko , who led the movement to oust Keita .
The names of 122 women murdered by men over the past year in France were plastered onto a Paris wall on Sunday night as part of a memorial to mark the first year of a poster campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ femicide crisis in the spotlight .
Parisians are having to wait hours for a Covid-19 test as demand increases amid soaring new infection rates across the capital .
As the trial of the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks opened in Paris , FRANCE 24 spoke to Maryse Wolinski , widow of cartoonist Georges Wolinski , who was killed with 11 others in the attack on the magazine 's offices in Paris .
She has written a book in which she addresses Chérif Kouachi , the elder of the two brothers who carried out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premier : ' I do n't think PM Kadhimi will be able to succeed' As French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up an official visit to Baghdad , former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi spoke to FRANCE 24 about the challenges facing the country 's new government and its increasingly complex relations with neighbouring Iran , saying Tehran 's interventions `` weaken the whole region '' .
French is a tricky language .
On top of the complicated grammar , there ’ s the masculine and feminine .
It makes you wonder : Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Beirut blast : The hopes and fears of Lebanon 's youth Lebanon is on its knees following the deadly explosion that hit the port of Beirut on August 4 and destroyed part of the city against a backdrop of government negligence , corruption and popular revolt .
Our reporters followed the daily life of a group of young friends who opened up about their fears , hopes and dreams with the sincerity of those who have nothing left to lose .
Cinema sails back into Venice as 77th Mostra goes ahead despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first major international film festival since the outbreak of Covid-19 .
Culture editor Eve Jackson gives us the lowdown from Venice as the curtain rises on the Mostra , with strict health and safety measures in place .
We also take a musical journey to Marseille , where the MUCEM museum has an exhibition exploring music and oral traditions from the Middle East .
Bordeaux is best known as France 's wine HQ .
But over the past decade , this wonderful old metropolis that 's 10 times smaller than Paris has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to huge investment in culture and transport – that includes an impressive wine museum .
Eve Jackson travels to this UNESCO-listed city to discover its buzzing arts scene with a visit to the Cité du Vin and a tour of the regenerated banks of the Garonne river .
Picking up the pieces : The psychological aftermath of the Beirut blast In the Karantina neighbourhood of Beirut , which was devastated by the colossal August 4 blast that killed almost 200 people and injured thousands more , psychologists are meeting residents who have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overcome their trauma .
The French government has unveiled the next phase of its coronavirus stimulus plan .
The €100bn will be used to boost economic activity , protect businesses , and create jobs .
A third of the funds are earmarked for green investment — with the environment a key pillar of the administration 's vision .
The 51 Percent returns for its eighth season and kicks off by asking : What will it take to demolish the boys ’ club culture that still exists in so many workplaces ?
We speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in leadership and career development , on what it will take to level the playing field .
The search for missing soldiers 70 years on from the Korean War Seven decades after the end of the Korean War , Seoul embarked on a painstaking task to search for and identify the bodies of fallen soldiers still missing since the war .
Our reporters witnessed this unprecedented programme in action that developed along the border between the two Koreas , thanks to an agreement forged with Pyongyang two years ago .

WEEK IN REVIEW
French President Emmanuel Macron returned to Lebanon and pushed for urgent reform a month after the devastating Beirut blast that compounded the misery of a nation in economic crisis. Also this week, FRANCE 24 covered the start of the long-awaited Charlie Hebdo terror attacks trial, the unspoken legacy of slavery in France and challenges to centuries of male dominance in the French language.
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ARTICLES
As it happened: Macron pushes for new government on return to Beirut
French President Emmanuel Macron pressed Lebanese leaders to form a new government and enact urgent reforms as he returned to Beirut for his second visit since the devastating August 4 blast. The French leader planted a cedar tree to mark the stricken nation's 100th anniversary and toured neighbourhoods ravaged by last month's deadly port explosion.
French President Emmanuel Macron plants a cedar tree, Lebanon's emblem, in Jaj, near Beirut, on September 1, 2020. © Gonzalo Fuentes, REUTERS
France to relive Charlie Hebdo attacks as landmark terror trial opens in Paris
The trial of the deadly January 2015 terrorist attacks on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police officers and a kosher supermarket opened in a Paris court Wednesday after five years of investigations and a delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Charlie Hebdo defiantly marked the occasion by republishing controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
Behind sketch of black MP in shackles, a French failure to confront slave legacy
A row over a right-wing magazine depicting a black lawmaker as a slave in shackles has cast a stark light on the toxic – and largely unspoken – legacy of slavery in France, a country more accustomed to discussing its abolitionist past than the lucrative slave trade it took part in.
A memorial to the victims of slavery in the gardens of Bordeaux town hall, in southwest France. © Georges GOBET, AFP
Iranian women go online to break silence over sexual abuse
Dozens of Iranian women have taken to social media to share their stories of sexual harassment and rape, breaking years of silence and shedding light on a legal system that is weighted against the victims.
France’s students go back to school amid concerns over Covid-19
With school bags on their backs and masks on their faces, France’s students headed back to class this week at the start of a school year in the shadow of the coronavirus.
No country for grieving men as artist Ai Weiwei turns a lens on Wuhan outbreak
"Coronation", Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s latest documentary directed remotely from Europe, probes how ordinary citizens in Wuhan coped during the height of the coronavirus pandemic under the gaze of the all-monitoring state determined to relay a narrative of efficiency, not human loss or sorrow.
An ICU team at work in a Wuhan hospital in Ai Weiwei's documentary, "Coronation". © Ai Weiwei Films
Can France’s Greens unite the left and avert a Macron-Le Pen rematch?
President Emmanuel Macron’s drift to the centre-right of France’s political spectrum has opened up a sea of opportunity for the country’s fractured and rudderless left – a space the Greens, long a byword for factionalism and division, are hoping to span and unite.
Deauville's annual toast to US film swaps Hollywood flash for Cannes cameos
The coastal Normandy town of Deauville prepared to kick off its annual ode to American cinema despite the coronavirus pandemic. This year's red carpet may be conspicuously short on Hollywood stars but the fête promises to be an inclusive one, with some feature-length imports from the cancelled Cannes Film Festival joining the party.
VIDEO REPORTS
A meeting with Imam Mahmoud Dicko, who led the movement to oust Mali's president
Talks to resolve a political crisis in Mali remain at a standstill after military commanders toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in an August 18 coup. West African leaders want power ceded to a civilian government within a year but the ruling junta proposes waiting until 2023. FRANCE 24 met with de facto opposition leader and Imam Mahmoud Dicko, who led the movement to oust Keita.
Malian imam Mahmoud Dicko has emerged as the most influential figure in the opposition to ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. © FRANCE 24
A memorial for 122 murdered women: French anti-femicide poster campaign marks anniversary
The names of 122 women murdered by men over the past year in France were plastered onto a Paris wall on Sunday night as part of a memorial to mark the first year of a poster campaign that has put the country’s femicide crisis in the spotlight.
According to government figures, 146 women were killed by their partner or ex-partner in 2019 in France. © AFP/FRANCE 24
Parisians queue for hours for Covid-19 tests amid rising infections
Parisians are having to wait hours for a Covid-19 test as demand increases amid soaring new infection rates across the capital.
Parisians queue at Hotel de Ville for Covid-19 tests © Screen grab, France 24
THE INTERVIEW
Charlie Hebdo terror trial: Widow of cartoonist Wolinski speaks to FRANCE 24
As the trial of the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks opened in Paris, FRANCE 24 spoke to Maryse Wolinski, widow of cartoonist Georges Wolinski, who was killed with 11 others in the attack on the magazine's offices in Paris. She has written a book in which she addresses Chérif Kouachi, the elder of the two brothers who carried out the massacre.
A painting by French street artist Christian Guemy, known as C215, in tribute to the Charlie Hebdo journalists and cartoonists who were killed by jihadist gunmen in January 2015. © Thomas Coex, AFP
Ayad Allawi, former Iraqi premier: 'I don't think PM Kadhimi will be able to succeed'
As French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up an official visit to Baghdad, former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi spoke to FRANCE 24 about the challenges facing the country's new government and its increasingly complex relations with neighbouring Iran, saying Tehran's interventions "weaken the whole region".
FRENCH CONNECTIONS
Is French a sexist language?
French is a tricky language. On top of the complicated grammar, there’s the masculine and feminine. It makes you wonder: Is the French language inherently sexist?
FRENCH CONNECTIONS © France 24
REPORTERS
After the Beirut blast: The hopes and fears of Lebanon's youth
Lebanon is on its knees following the deadly explosion that hit the port of Beirut on August 4 and destroyed part of the city against a backdrop of government negligence, corruption and popular revolt. Our reporters followed the daily life of a group of young friends who opened up about their fears, hopes and dreams with the sincerity of those who have nothing left to lose.
ENCORE!
Cinema sails back into Venice as 77th Mostra goes ahead despite Covid-19
It's being touted as the first major international film festival since the outbreak of Covid-19. Culture editor Eve Jackson gives us the lowdown from Venice as the curtain rises on the Mostra, with strict health and safety measures in place. We also take a musical journey to Marseille, where the MUCEM museum has an exhibition exploring music and oral traditions from the Middle East.
Led by Cate Blanchett, jury members pose at the start of the 77th Venice Film Festival. © Yara Nardi, Reuters
Bordeaux reborn: A cultural guide
Bordeaux is best known as France's wine HQ. But over the past decade, this wonderful old metropolis that's 10 times smaller than Paris has been enjoying a new lease of life thanks to huge investment in culture and transport – that includes an impressive wine museum. Eve Jackson travels to this UNESCO-listed city to discover its buzzing arts scene with a visit to the Cité du Vin and a tour of the regenerated banks of the Garonne river.
FOCUS
Picking up the pieces: The psychological aftermath of the Beirut blast
In the Karantina neighbourhood of Beirut, which was devastated by the colossal August 4 blast that killed almost 200 people and injured thousands more, psychologists are meeting residents who have lost everything in a bid to help them overcome their trauma.
A resident of Beirut in the ravaged neighbourhood of Karantina. © FRANCE 24
BUSINESS DAILY
France unveils €100bn stimulus, a third earmarked for green investment
The French government has unveiled the next phase of its coronavirus stimulus plan. The €100bn will be used to boost economic activity, protect businesses, and create jobs. A third of the funds are earmarked for green investment — with the environment a key pillar of the administration's vision.
THE 51 PERCENT
Dismantling the boys' club
The 51 Percent returns for its eighth season and kicks off by asking: What will it take to demolish the boys’ club culture that still exists in so many workplaces? We speak to professor Herminia Ibarra, a specialist in leadership and career development, on what it will take to level the playing field.
REVISITED
The search for missing soldiers 70 years on from the Korean War
Seven decades after the end of the Korean War, Seoul embarked on a painstaking task to search for and identify the bodies of fallen soldiers still missing since the war. Our reporters witnessed this unprecedented programme in action that developed along the border between the two Koreas, thanks to an agreement forged with Pyongyang two years ago.
One of the last remnants of the Cold War, the Korean conflict may seem remote. But for millions of Koreans on both sides of the border, it is still very much alive. © FRANCE 24
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france24--2020-09-04--Suspect in killing of Portland protester shot dead by police

Portland has seen more than three months of sometimes violent protests against police brutality and racism A far-left activist suspected of killing a right-wing protester in Portland was shot dead by police in Washington state as they tried to arrest him , local law officials said .
The man , identified in US media reports as Michael Forest Reinoehl , was killed as he ran from four officers on Thursday evening , a spokesman for the Thurston county sheriff 's office , southwest of Seattle , told AFP on Friday .
A regional task force was watching the apartment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the building and approached a vehicle `` as officers attempted to apprehend him '' , Lieutenant Ray Brady said .
The man appeared to be armed and officers fired several shots into the vehicle before the man fled , Brady added .
Several more shots were then fired .
The presence of a weapon has not been confirmed , Brady said .
The US Marshals Service confirmed officers fired at Reinoehl , who was pronounced dead at the scene , according to the Washington Post .
The Oregon city of Portland has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests against police brutality and racism that were sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .
Police suspect Reinoehl of killing a right-wing activist named Aaron Danielson in Portland last weekend , when scuffles broke out between rival groups of protesters .
Video showed some firing paintball guns and spraying mace .
The killing has become highly politicized in the runup to presidential elections in November .
`` Why are n't the Portland Police ARRESTING the cold blooded killer of Aaron 'Jay ' Danielson , '' President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job , and do it fast .
Everybody knows who this thug is .
No wonder Portland is going to hell ! ''
Investigators were still at the scene gathering evidence Friday morning , Brady said , and an investigation into the killing is underway that could take months to carry out .
Reinoehl had previously commented on the shooting of Danielson , telling Vice News `` I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine , a man of color .
But I was n't going to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no choice but to do what I did , '' he added , though the footage did not show the 48-year-old specifically admitting to the killing of Danielson .

Washington (AFP) –
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A far-left activist suspected of killing a right-wing protester in Portland was shot dead by police in Washington state as they tried to arrest him, local law officials said.
The man, identified in US media reports as Michael Forest Reinoehl, was killed as he ran from four officers on Thursday evening, a spokesman for the Thurston county sheriff's office, southwest of Seattle, told AFP on Friday.
A regional task force was watching the apartment of a "homicide suspect", who left the building and approached a vehicle "as officers attempted to apprehend him", Lieutenant Ray Brady said.
The man appeared to be armed and officers fired several shots into the vehicle before the man fled, Brady added. Several more shots were then fired.
The presence of a weapon has not been confirmed, Brady said.
The US Marshals Service confirmed officers fired at Reinoehl, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Washington Post.
The Oregon city of Portland has seen more than three months of rolling protests against police brutality and racism that were sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
Police suspect Reinoehl of killing a right-wing activist named Aaron Danielson in Portland last weekend, when scuffles broke out between rival groups of protesters. Video showed some firing paintball guns and spraying mace.
The killing has become highly politicized in the runup to presidential elections in November.
"Why aren't the Portland Police ARRESTING the cold blooded killer of Aaron 'Jay' Danielson," President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday.
"Do your job, and do it fast. Everybody knows who this thug is. No wonder Portland is going to hell!"
Investigators were still at the scene gathering evidence Friday morning, Brady said, and an investigation into the killing is underway that could take months to carry out.
Reinoehl had previously commented on the shooting of Danielson, telling Vice News "I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine, a man of color. But I wasn't going to do that."
"I felt I had no choice but to do what I did," he added, though the footage did not show the 48-year-old specifically admitting to the killing of Danielson.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Frenchman to livestream death in right-to-die case

Cocq has used his plight to draw attention to the situation of terminally-ill patients in France who are unable to be allowed to die in line with their wishes A Frenchman who is suffering from an incurable condition said Friday he plans to livestream his death on social media as he refuses to take food , drink or medicine after President Emmanuel Macron turned down his request for euthanasia .
Alain Cocq , who suffers from a rare condition where the walls of the arteries stick together , said he believed he had less than a week to live and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning .
He had written to Macron asking to be given a substance that would allow him to die in peace but the president wrote back to him explaining this was not allowed under French law .
Cocq , 57 , has used his plight to draw attention to the situation of terminally-ill patients in France who are unable to be allowed to die in line with their wishes .
`` Because I am not above the law , I am not able to comply with your request , '' Macron said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patient published on his Facebook page .
`` I can not ask anyone to go beyond our current legal framework ...
Your wish is to request active assistance in dying which is not currently permitted in our country , '' said Macron .
In order to show France the `` agony '' caused by the law in its current state , Cocq told AFP he would broadcast the end of his life on his Facebook page which he believed would come in `` four to five days '' .
He said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` go down in the long term '' as a step forwards in changing the law .
He would halt all feeding , drinking and treatment from Friday night .
Macron said in his latter that `` with emotion , I respect your action . ''
And the president added a handwritten postscript , saying : `` With all my personal support and profound respect . ''
An Elysee official told AFP that Macron wanted to hail Cocq 's commitment to the rights of the handicapped .
Right-to-die cases have long been an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the case of Vincent Lambert who was left in a vegetative state after a traffic accident in 2008 and died in July last year after doctors removed life support following a long legal battle .
The case divided the country as well as Lambert 's own family , with his parents using every legal avenue to keep him alive but his wife and nephew insisting he must be allowed to die .
A French court in January acquitted the doctor who switched off the life support systems in a verdict that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfectly respected his legal obligations . ''

Dijon (France) (AFP) –
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A Frenchman who is suffering from an incurable condition said Friday he plans to livestream his death on social media as he refuses to take food, drink or medicine after President Emmanuel Macron turned down his request for euthanasia.
Alain Cocq, who suffers from a rare condition where the walls of the arteries stick together, said he believed he had less than a week to live and would livestream his death on Facebook from Saturday morning.
He had written to Macron asking to be given a substance that would allow him to die in peace but the president wrote back to him explaining this was not allowed under French law.
Cocq, 57, has used his plight to draw attention to the situation of terminally-ill patients in France who are unable to be allowed to die in line with their wishes.
"Because I am not above the law, I am not able to comply with your request," Macron said in a letter to Cocq, which the patient published on his Facebook page.
"I cannot ask anyone to go beyond our current legal framework... Your wish is to request active assistance in dying which is not currently permitted in our country," said Macron.
- 'With profound respect' -
In order to show France the "agony" caused by the law in its current state, Cocq told AFP he would broadcast the end of his life on his Facebook page which he believed would come in "four to five days".
He said he hoped his struggle would be remembered and "go down in the long term" as a step forwards in changing the law. He would halt all feeding, drinking and treatment from Friday night.
Macron said in his latter that "with emotion, I respect your action." And the president added a handwritten postscript, saying: "With all my personal support and profound respect."
An Elysee official told AFP that Macron wanted to hail Cocq's commitment to the rights of the handicapped.
Right-to-die cases have long been an emotive issue in France.
Most polarising was the case of Vincent Lambert who was left in a vegetative state after a traffic accident in 2008 and died in July last year after doctors removed life support following a long legal battle.
The case divided the country as well as Lambert's own family, with his parents using every legal avenue to keep him alive but his wife and nephew insisting he must be allowed to die.
A French court in January acquitted the doctor who switched off the life support systems in a verdict that was a formality after prosectors said he "perfectly respected his legal obligations."
lv-leb-ggy-sjw/wdb
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-04--Aussie Rules players banned for virus breach after strip club brawl

A host of Melbourne-based teams have relocated to Queensland state Two Australian Rules players were slapped with 10-game bans and sent home in disgrace Friday after a drunken brawl outside a strip club , which broke strict coronavirus regulations .
Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones , who play for reigning champions Richmond , left their bio-secure 'bubble ' and ventured out into Surfer 's Paradise , a bar-heavy area of Gold Coast , where they got into a fight at 3:30 am Friday .
Coleman-Jones suffered facial injuries and was treated in hospital .
Stack was detained by police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian Football League said they had been sent home to Melbourne and banned for 10 games , with Richmond hit with a Aus $ 100,000 fine ( US $ 72,000 ) .
A host of AFL teams from Melbourne , which is under a coronavirus lockdown , have relocated to bio-secure hubs in Queensland state to ensure the season continues .
Players are prohibited from attending bars , restaurants or other confined public spaces .
AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the protocols were the competition 's license to continue playing , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a privilege to be able to continue our competition , and with that privilege comes responsibility , '' he said .
`` The actions of the players are not only irresponsible but disrespectful to the competition and everyone associated with it . ''
`` There is simply no excuse for this breach , '' he added .
The breaches included Stack , 20 , and Coleman-Jones , 21 , travelling in an Uber car , visiting a non-approved venue and getting involved in a police-related incident .
Richmond chief Brendon Gale said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` They have let down themselves , teammates , our members and supporters , our partners and the entire AFL industry , '' he said .
`` Yes , young people can make mistakes , but we expect better . ''
It is not the first scandal involving Richmond since the season resumed in June after a lengthy coronavirus-enforced shutdown .
Last month the club apologised after footage on social media showed a player grabbing the genitals of a teammate during a post-match song in their dressing room , while another was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Social media erupted at the time , with some calling it `` blatant sexual harassment '' while others saw it as simply `` locker room antics '' .
`` We all accept that this has been a difficult year , but it is no excuse for some of the mistakes we have made , '' said Gale .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Two Australian Rules players were slapped with 10-game bans and sent home in disgrace Friday after a drunken brawl outside a strip club, which broke strict coronavirus regulations.
Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones, who play for reigning champions Richmond, left their bio-secure 'bubble' and ventured out into Surfer's Paradise, a bar-heavy area of Gold Coast, where they got into a fight at 3:30 am Friday.
Coleman-Jones suffered facial injuries and was treated in hospital. Stack was detained by police, but no charges were laid.
The Australian Football League said they had been sent home to Melbourne and banned for 10 games, with Richmond hit with a Aus$100,000 fine (US$72,000).
A host of AFL teams from Melbourne, which is under a coronavirus lockdown, have relocated to bio-secure hubs in Queensland state to ensure the season continues.
Players are prohibited from attending bars, restaurants or other confined public spaces.
AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the protocols were the competition's license to continue playing, and any breach was serious.
"It is a privilege to be able to continue our competition, and with that privilege comes responsibility," he said.
"The actions of the players are not only irresponsible but disrespectful to the competition and everyone associated with it."
"There is simply no excuse for this breach," he added.
The breaches included Stack, 20, and Coleman-Jones, 21, travelling in an Uber car, visiting a non-approved venue and getting involved in a police-related incident.
Richmond chief Brendon Gale said he was incredibly disappointed in the pair.
"They have let down themselves, teammates, our members and supporters, our partners and the entire AFL industry," he said.
"Yes, young people can make mistakes, but we expect better."
It is not the first scandal involving Richmond since the season resumed in June after a lengthy coronavirus-enforced shutdown.
Last month the club apologised after footage on social media showed a player grabbing the genitals of a teammate during a post-match song in their dressing room, while another was seen prodding the man's anus.
Social media erupted at the time, with some calling it "blatant sexual harassment" while others saw it as simply "locker room antics".
"We all accept that this has been a difficult year, but it is no excuse for some of the mistakes we have made," said Gale.
© 2020 AFP