france24--2020-08-28--Robot eases loneliness of Mexican virus patients

Doctors say a robot at a hospital in Mexico 's capital is offering a lifeline to coronavirus patients A robot at a hospital in the Mexican capital is providing a lifeline for coronavirus patients separated from their relatives and reducing the risk of infection for medical workers .
`` Hi , I 'm LaLuchy Robotina !
What 's your name ? ''
the 1.4-meter-tall ( 4.6 feet ) robot asks patients as it goes from room to room .
It moves around on wheels and has a camera and display screen enabling relatives and doctors to chat with patients or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus ward .
`` It allows us to have a physical presence ... but with zero exposure to aerosols within the Covid-19 area , '' said Lucia Ledesma , a neuropsychologist at the November 20 National Medical Center .
The hospital robot , part of a global trend aimed at reducing the risk of infection during the pandemic , was even designated as a `` co-therapist '' for coronavirus patients in July .
Since then , it has carried out around 160 missions with infected patients , their relatives and the mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sounds to reduce the stress caused by isolation .
The robot `` helps us with the mental health of the patient , '' said Sandra Munoz , who coordinates the hospital 's strategy against the virus , which has killed more than 60,000 people in Mexico .
The bot has computer vision enabling it to recognize people and sensors to help it to move around .
It is a lifeline for patients like Rosa Maria Velazquez , one of more than half a million Mexicans who have been infected with the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enter , they see us and we see them , and that cheers us all up , '' the 55-year-old said from her hospital bed .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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A robot at a hospital in the Mexican capital is providing a lifeline for coronavirus patients separated from their relatives and reducing the risk of infection for medical workers.
"Hi, I'm LaLuchy Robotina! What's your name?" the 1.4-meter-tall (4.6 feet) robot asks patients as it goes from room to room.
It moves around on wheels and has a camera and display screen enabling relatives and doctors to chat with patients or staff in full protective gear in the coronavirus ward.
"It allows us to have a physical presence... but with zero exposure to aerosols within the Covid-19 area," said Lucia Ledesma, a neuropsychologist at the November 20 National Medical Center.
The hospital robot, part of a global trend aimed at reducing the risk of infection during the pandemic, was even designated as a "co-therapist" for coronavirus patients in July.
Since then, it has carried out around 160 missions with infected patients, their relatives and the mental health team.
It can even make soothing sounds to reduce the stress caused by isolation.
The robot "helps us with the mental health of the patient," said Sandra Munoz, who coordinates the hospital's strategy against the virus, which has killed more than 60,000 people in Mexico.
The bot has computer vision enabling it to recognize people and sensors to help it to move around.
It is a lifeline for patients like Rosa Maria Velazquez, one of more than half a million Mexicans who have been infected with the virus.
"As (families) cannot enter, they see us and we see them, and that cheers us all up," the 55-year-old said from her hospital bed.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-28--Depay inspires Lyon to win over Dijon in season opener

Memphis Depay had a hand in all four goals as Lyon beat Dijon in their opening game of the new Ligue 1 season Memphis Depay scored a hat-trick including two penalties as Champions League semi-finalists Lyon began the new French season with a 4-1 victory over Dijon on Friday .
Dutch forward Depay bagged his first Ligue 1 goals since December , having missed the coronavirus-shortened second half of last season after rupturing knee ligaments .
Lyon , who finished a poor seventh last term , were without midfielder Houssem Aouar for their opening game of the new campaign after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day , and the home side fell behind to a first Dijon goal for Aurelien Scheidler .
Depay , the Lyon captain , equalised from the penalty spot after Ahmad Ngouyamsa barged Maxwel Cornet over as Rudi Garcia 's side turned the game in their favour with three goals in the space of six minutes just before half-time at the Groupama Stadium .
The former Manchester United winger spun past his defender on the corner of the box and fizzed in a dangerous low cross that caused Dijon 's Wesley Lautoa to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lyon the lead .
Seconds after the subsequent restart Depay struck again , Karl Toko Ekambi 's deflected ball finding its way to the Dutchman who displayed great poise and skill to volley beyond Alfred Gomis from six yards .
Senegal goalkeeper Gomis produced a magnificent save to deny Depay his hat-trick on the hour as Lyon continued to attack freely .
England youth international Jonathan Panzo , who won the Under-17 World Cup alongside Phil Foden in 2017 , came on for his Dijon debut in the second half two days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monaco .
The Chelsea academy graduate promptly conceded another penalty after a VAR review as he was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Leo Dubois .
Depay again converted by blasting home via the underside of the crossbar to seal his hat-trick as Lyon made a convincing beginning to their first season without European football since 1996-97 .
Nine games are scheduled across the top flight in France this weekend , with Marseille due to visit Brest on Sunday despite another three reported coronavirus cases at the club .
Marseille 's planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after five players tested positive for Covid-19 .
Title holders Paris Saint-Germain 's scheduled game at Lens on Saturday has been pushed back to September 10 following their run to the final of the Champions League in Lisbon .

Lyon (AFP) –
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Memphis Depay scored a hat-trick including two penalties as Champions League semi-finalists Lyon began the new French season with a 4-1 victory over Dijon on Friday.
Dutch forward Depay bagged his first Ligue 1 goals since December, having missed the coronavirus-shortened second half of last season after rupturing knee ligaments.
Lyon, who finished a poor seventh last term, were without midfielder Houssem Aouar for their opening game of the new campaign after he tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the day, and the home side fell behind to a first Dijon goal for Aurelien Scheidler.
Depay, the Lyon captain, equalised from the penalty spot after Ahmad Ngouyamsa barged Maxwel Cornet over as Rudi Garcia's side turned the game in their favour with three goals in the space of six minutes just before half-time at the Groupama Stadium.
The former Manchester United winger spun past his defender on the corner of the box and fizzed in a dangerous low cross that caused Dijon's Wesley Lautoa to poke into his own net and give Lyon the lead.
Seconds after the subsequent restart Depay struck again, Karl Toko Ekambi's deflected ball finding its way to the Dutchman who displayed great poise and skill to volley beyond Alfred Gomis from six yards.
Senegal goalkeeper Gomis produced a magnificent save to deny Depay his hat-trick on the hour as Lyon continued to attack freely.
England youth international Jonathan Panzo, who won the Under-17 World Cup alongside Phil Foden in 2017, came on for his Dijon debut in the second half two days after his arrival on a three-year deal from Monaco.
The Chelsea academy graduate promptly conceded another penalty after a VAR review as he was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Leo Dubois.
Depay again converted by blasting home via the underside of the crossbar to seal his hat-trick as Lyon made a convincing beginning to their first season without European football since 1996-97.
Nine games are scheduled across the top flight in France this weekend, with Marseille due to visit Brest on Sunday despite another three reported coronavirus cases at the club.
Marseille's planned opener against Saint-Etienne last Friday was postponed after five players tested positive for Covid-19.
Title holders Paris Saint-Germain's scheduled game at Lens on Saturday has been pushed back to September 10 following their run to the final of the Champions League in Lisbon.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-28--Bolivia president demands Morales face justice over accusations

Exiled former Bolivian president Evo Morales is accused of having sex with minors Bolivia 's interim President Jeanine Anez said on Friday that ex leader Evo Morales , who lives in exile in Argentina , must respond to accusations that he had sexual relations with two minors .
Over the last week , the 60-year-old Morales has faced two separate accusations that he had sex with underaged girls , including that he fathered a child with one .
`` Evo Morales has to explain the 'horror ' of sexual abuse against minors .
Explanations to the courts and to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
Last week , the justice ministry filed a complaint against Morales , who led the country from 2006-19 , for `` statutory rape and human trafficking . ''
And on Monday it sent a report to the La Paz ombudsman for children and adolescents asking it to investigate `` a possible new case of rape '' following an anonymous complaint .
Authorities claimed to be in possession of a birth certificate showing that Morales was the father of a child born to a girl who `` fell pregnant when she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Morales 's Movement for Socialism ( MAS ) party claims the accusations are aimed at having `` a politico-electoral impact '' on October 's presidential election .
Morales is not standing but the candidate for MAS , Luis Arce , has consistently led opinion polls since he was nominated in January .
Bolivia 's Foreign Minister Karen Longaric called on Argentina to `` get rid of '' Morales , whom they claim their South American neighbor is `` protecting at all costs . ''
Morales moved to Argentina in December , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Mexico after resigning .
He had controversially won re-election last October even though he was constitutionally barred from standing for a fourth term .
But three weeks of protests followed the vote and after an Organization of American States audit found evidence of electoral fraud , Morales lost the support of the armed forces and left the country .
Bolivia has previously complained to Argentina , led by center-left President Alberto Fernandez , that Morales is violating the terms of his refugee status by indulging in political activity .
He tweets incessantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whom he calls `` putschists . ''
It 's not the first time the government has levied accusations against Morales .
They also accused him of `` sedition and terrorism '' over the civil unrest that broke out following his resignation .
Morales was Bolivia 's first ever indigenous president .

La Paz (AFP) –
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Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez said on Friday that ex leader Evo Morales, who lives in exile in Argentina, must respond to accusations that he had sexual relations with two minors.
Over the last week, the 60-year-old Morales has faced two separate accusations that he had sex with underaged girls, including that he fathered a child with one.
"Evo Morales has to explain the 'horror' of sexual abuse against minors. Explanations to the courts and to the country," the conservative Anez wrote on Twitter.
Last week, the justice ministry filed a complaint against Morales, who led the country from 2006-19, for "statutory rape and human trafficking."
And on Monday it sent a report to the La Paz ombudsman for children and adolescents asking it to investigate "a possible new case of rape" following an anonymous complaint.
Authorities claimed to be in possession of a birth certificate showing that Morales was the father of a child born to a girl who "fell pregnant when she was 15 years and five months old."
Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) party claims the accusations are aimed at having "a politico-electoral impact" on October's presidential election.
Morales is not standing but the candidate for MAS, Luis Arce, has consistently led opinion polls since he was nominated in January.
Bolivia's Foreign Minister Karen Longaric called on Argentina to "get rid of" Morales, whom they claim their South American neighbor is "protecting at all costs."
Morales moved to Argentina in December, a month after he fled his homeland for Mexico after resigning.
He had controversially won re-election last October even though he was constitutionally barred from standing for a fourth term.
But three weeks of protests followed the vote and after an Organization of American States audit found evidence of electoral fraud, Morales lost the support of the armed forces and left the country.
Bolivia has previously complained to Argentina, led by center-left President Alberto Fernandez, that Morales is violating the terms of his refugee status by indulging in political activity.
He tweets incessantly a range of accusations against the government, whom he calls "putschists."
It's not the first time the government has levied accusations against Morales.
They also accused him of "sedition and terrorism" over the civil unrest that broke out following his resignation.
Morales was Bolivia's first ever indigenous president.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-28--Thieves make off with 9 million euros in armed France cash heist

A photograph taken on March 27 , 2020 shows the Banque de France ensign in Paris .
Thieves made off with nine million euros in cash in the southeastern French city of Lyon on Friday in an armed attack on an armoured security vehicle , prosecutors said .
The theft is believed to be the biggest such cash heist in France since notorious robber Toni Musulin in 2009 made off with 11.6 million euros ( $ 13.8 million ) , most of which was subsequently recovered .
The vehicle was attacked at around ( 9:00 am local time ( 0700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it came out of a branch of the Bank of France in Lyon .
No one was injured in the attack on the vehicle belonging to the Loomis security company `` but the losses amount to nine million euros ( about $ 10.7 million ) '' , prosecutors said in a statement to AFP .
`` The perpetrators managed to immediately flee after committing the act . ''
Local reports said two vans blocked the armoured vehicle , one in front and one behind .
The robbers threatened the driver , took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later found burnt .
`` It was an audacious attack , right in the city centre , '' Loomis chief executive Michel Tresch told AFP .
`` The most important thing is that the cash escorts are safe and sound , '' he added .
The three employees are extremely shocked , Loomis trade unionist Kader Bengueche said , adding they would see a psychologist on Monday .
According to two colleagues of the attacked security team -- two men and a woman -- there have been repeated problems with the security vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ code is supposed to be changed for each run , the attacked vehicle had a `` permanent code '' which saved time for the robbers , added the colleagues who asked not to be named .
`` There is clearly a fault on the part of the company , '' one told AFP , stressing that the driver of the attacked vehicle was a former shooting instructor trained in `` defensive driving '' .
An enquiry was swiftly opened by police and regional specialists .
Cash handling Swedish company Loomis has been attacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2017 , 35 million euros ( $ 41 million ) worth of goods -- cash , diamonds and gold ingots -- were stolen from one of its vehicles in Switzerland .
And in December 2016 , thieves stole 70 kilos of gold dust worth 2.5 million euros ( $ 2.9 million ) from the same company near Lyon .
In March this year another notorious French robber , Redoine Faid , was sentenced on appeal to 28 years in prison for an explosives attack on a Loomis van in the northern town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive Tresch told AFP that compared to the 2000s , there are now fewer physical attacks .
`` It is a lot easier to carry out attacks ( on the internet ) via hackers , as opposed to attacking an armoured vehicle , '' Tresch said .
`` It 's not the same exposure . ''
In March this year another notorious French robber , Redoine Faid , was sentenced on appeal to 28 years in prison for an explosives attack on a Loomis van in the northern town of Calais in @ @

Thieves made off with nine million euros in cash in the southeastern French city of Lyon on Friday in an armed attack on an armoured security vehicle, prosecutors said.
A photograph taken on March 27, 2020 shows the Banque de France ensign in Paris.
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The theft is believed to be the biggest such cash heist in France since notorious robber Toni Musulin in 2009 made off with 11.6 million euros ($13.8 million), most of which was subsequently recovered.
The vehicle was attacked at around (9:00 am local time (0700 GMT) by several armed individuals as it came out of a branch of the Bank of France in Lyon.
No one was injured in the attack on the vehicle belonging to the Loomis security company "but the losses amount to nine million euros (about $10.7 million)", prosecutors said in a statement to AFP.
"The perpetrators managed to immediately flee after committing the act."
9 million euros were stolen in an armed robbery on an armored van in #Lyon , #France today. The armed robbers set the van on fire and fled in two vehicles. no injuries were reported.pic.twitter.com/g0XLeK2ShY — Shark NewsWires (@SharkNewsWires) August 28, 2020
Local reports said two vans blocked the armoured vehicle, one in front and one behind.
The robbers threatened the driver, took the money, and fled in two vehicles later found burnt.
'Audacious attack'
"It was an audacious attack, right in the city centre," Loomis chief executive Michel Tresch told AFP.
"The most important thing is that the cash escorts are safe and sound," he added.
The three employees are extremely shocked, Loomis trade unionist Kader Bengueche said, adding they would see a psychologist on Monday.
According to two colleagues of the attacked security team -- two men and a woman -- there have been repeated problems with the security vehicles' locking system.
While the security code is supposed to be changed for each run, the attacked vehicle had a "permanent code" which saved time for the robbers, added the colleagues who asked not to be named.
"There is clearly a fault on the part of the company," one told AFP, stressing that the driver of the attacked vehicle was a former shooting instructor trained in "defensive driving".
An enquiry was swiftly opened by police and regional specialists.
Cash handling Swedish company Loomis has been attacked several times over the years.
In May 2017, 35 million euros ($41 million) worth of goods -- cash, diamonds and gold ingots -- were stolen from one of its vehicles in Switzerland.
And in December 2016, thieves stole 70 kilos of gold dust worth 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million) from the same company near Lyon.
In March this year another notorious French robber, Redoine Faid, was sentenced on appeal to 28 years in prison for an explosives attack on a Loomis van in the northern town of Calais in 2011.
But Loomis chief executive Tresch told AFP that compared to the 2000s, there are now fewer physical attacks.
"It is a lot easier to carry out attacks (on the internet) via hackers, as opposed to attacking an armoured vehicle," Tresch said.
"It's not the same exposure."
In March this year another notorious French robber, Redoine Faid, was sentenced on appeal to 28 years in prison for an explosives attack on a Loomis van in the northern town of Calais in 2011.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-08-28--Brazil court removes Rio governor over corruption

Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel is alleged to have taken $ 50 million in kickbacks related to funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic Brazil 's High Court of Justice removed Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel from office Friday , as police raided his official residence in a probe into accusations he stole emergency funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
The raids also targeted the far-right governor 's wife and inner circle .
Among those arrested was Pastor Everaldo , an evangelical preacher and leader of Witzel 's Christian Social Party ( PSC ) .
Helicopters circled over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palace , starting at dawn as federal police executed a sweeping series of search and seizure orders and arrest warrants .
The court ruling suspends Witzel , 52 , from office for at least 180 days as authorities investigate claims he took a reported 274.2 million reals ( $ 50 million ) in kickbacks .
Prosecutors say Witzel , an erstwhile ally of President Jair Bolsonaro , set up a slush fund for bribes as soon as he took office in January 2019 .
The investigation is mainly focused on allegations his administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators and medicine to fight the new coronavirus .
`` This criminal organization acted and continues acting to embezzle and launder funds in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic , sacrificing the health and even lives of millions of people , '' Justice Benedito Goncalves wrote in his ruling .
The full 15-judge court is due to take up the case next Wednesday .
Witzel vowed to fight the decision `` by any means necessary . ''
`` I 'm being politically massacred because there are powerful interests who do n't want me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a televised address from his official residence , where he will be allowed to remain pending the outcome of the case .
`` The president has made extremely serious but frivolous accusations against me , because he thinks I 'm going to be a presidential candidate '' in Brazil 's 2022 elections , he said .
Rio is second only to Sao Paulo in infections and deaths from the virus in Brazil , which is in turn the country hit second-hardest in the world , after the United States , with nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Allegations of massive corruption in Rio have swirled since the start of the pandemic .
Of the seven field hospitals the state contracted to respond to the health crisis , only two actually opened .
Witzel , a former judge , was already facing impeachment in the state legislature over the accusations .
Witzel helped Bolsonaro win the election in 2018 but has since clashed with him repeatedly , including over the governor 's insistence on imposing coronavirus lockdown measures against the president 's wishes .
Bolsonaro laughed when asked about Witzel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential palace in Brasilia .
`` There 's a lot going on in Rio today !
Who 's the governor now , anyway ? ''
joked the far-right leader .
`` Corruption seems to have sunk deep roots in Rio , '' said Vice President Hamilton Mourao .
Including Witzel , five of Rio de Janeiro 's past six governors have now been jailed or implicated in crimes .
The most notorious case was that of Sergio Cabral ( 2007-2014 ) , who was jailed in 2016 and sentenced to a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various corruption cases , including one over the renovation of Rio 's iconic Maracana stadium for the 2014 World Cup .
Witzel will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Governor Claudio Castro , who is also a target in the corruption investigation .

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) –
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Brazil's High Court of Justice removed Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel from office Friday, as police raided his official residence in a probe into accusations he stole emergency funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The raids also targeted the far-right governor's wife and inner circle. Among those arrested was Pastor Everaldo, an evangelical preacher and leader of Witzel's Christian Social Party (PSC).
Helicopters circled over the stately governor's residence, Laranjeiras Palace, starting at dawn as federal police executed a sweeping series of search and seizure orders and arrest warrants.
The court ruling suspends Witzel, 52, from office for at least 180 days as authorities investigate claims he took a reported 274.2 million reals ($50 million) in kickbacks.
Prosecutors say Witzel, an erstwhile ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, set up a slush fund for bribes as soon as he took office in January 2019.
The investigation is mainly focused on allegations his administration stole emergency funds for field hospitals, ventilators and medicine to fight the new coronavirus.
"This criminal organization acted and continues acting to embezzle and launder funds in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, sacrificing the health and even lives of millions of people," Justice Benedito Goncalves wrote in his ruling.
The full 15-judge court is due to take up the case next Wednesday.
Witzel vowed to fight the decision "by any means necessary."
"I'm being politically massacred because there are powerful interests who don't want me governing this state," he said in a televised address from his official residence, where he will be allowed to remain pending the outcome of the case.
"The president has made extremely serious but frivolous accusations against me, because he thinks I'm going to be a presidential candidate" in Brazil's 2022 elections, he said.
- From palace to jail -
Rio is second only to Sao Paulo in infections and deaths from the virus in Brazil, which is in turn the country hit second-hardest in the world, after the United States, with nearly 3.8 million cases and 120,000 people dead.
Allegations of massive corruption in Rio have swirled since the start of the pandemic.
Of the seven field hospitals the state contracted to respond to the health crisis, only two actually opened.
Witzel, a former judge, was already facing impeachment in the state legislature over the accusations.
Witzel helped Bolsonaro win the election in 2018 but has since clashed with him repeatedly, including over the governor's insistence on imposing coronavirus lockdown measures against the president's wishes.
Bolsonaro laughed when asked about Witzel's legal woes by a supporter outside the presidential palace in Brasilia.
"There's a lot going on in Rio today! Who's the governor now, anyway?" joked the far-right leader.
"Corruption seems to have sunk deep roots in Rio," said Vice President Hamilton Mourao.
Including Witzel, five of Rio de Janeiro's past six governors have now been jailed or implicated in crimes.
The most notorious case was that of Sergio Cabral (2007-2014), who was jailed in 2016 and sentenced to a total of nearly 300 years in prison for various corruption cases, including one over the renovation of Rio's iconic Maracana stadium for the 2014 World Cup.
Witzel will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Governor Claudio Castro, who is also a target in the corruption investigation.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-28--Pakistan fight back to hold England to 131-6 in 1st T20

Scoop six - England 's Tom Banton on his way to 71 in the 1st T20 against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Friday Pakistan fought back to restrict England to 131-6 before rain stopped play in the first Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Friday .
England had threatened a huge total while Tom Banton was making 71 , the 21-year-old batsman 's maiden fifty at this level .
But his exit left England 109-3 and sparked a collapse that saw four wickets lost for 14 runs in 19 balls before rain ended the innings after 16.1 overs , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this three-match series still to be determined .
`` I struggled to begin with , they bowled quite nicely and then I just backed myself when the spinners came on , '' he added .
Pakistan struck five balls after captain Babar Azam won the toss when left-arm spinner Imad Wasim caught and bowled Jonny Bairstow .
But Banton , opening in place of the injured Jason Roy , took charge with two slog-swept sixes off consecutive balls from leg-spinner Shadab Khan .
Dawid Malan helped Banton add 71 for the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 23 .
Banton , however , completed a 33-ball fifty featuring three fours and three sixes before scooping paceman Haris Rauf for an audacious six over fine leg only to then slice Imad to extra-cover .
England captain Eoin Morgan was then lbw to Iftikhar Ahmed before Moeen Ali was well caught by Mohammad Rizwan off Shadab .
Wicketkeeper Rizwan , who impressed during Pakistan 's recent 1-0 Test series defeat by England , then stumped Lewis Gregory off Imad , who took 2-31 from his maximum four overs .

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Pakistan fought back to restrict England to 131-6 before rain stopped play in the first Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Friday.
England had threatened a huge total while Tom Banton was making 71, the 21-year-old batsman's maiden fifty at this level.
But his exit left England 109-3 and sparked a collapse that saw four wickets lost for 14 runs in 19 balls before rain ended the innings after 16.1 overs, with Pakistan's revised target in the first of this three-match series still to be determined.
"It was good fun," Banton told Sky Sports.
"I struggled to begin with, they bowled quite nicely and then I just backed myself when the spinners came on," he added.
Pakistan struck five balls after captain Babar Azam won the toss when left-arm spinner Imad Wasim caught and bowled Jonny Bairstow.
But Banton, opening in place of the injured Jason Roy, took charge with two slog-swept sixes off consecutive balls from leg-spinner Shadab Khan.
Dawid Malan helped Banton add 71 for the second wicket, only to run himself out for 23.
Banton, however, completed a 33-ball fifty featuring three fours and three sixes before scooping paceman Haris Rauf for an audacious six over fine leg only to then slice Imad to extra-cover.
England captain Eoin Morgan was then lbw to Iftikhar Ahmed before Moeen Ali was well caught by Mohammad Rizwan off Shadab.
Wicketkeeper Rizwan, who impressed during Pakistan's recent 1-0 Test series defeat by England, then stumped Lewis Gregory off Imad, who took 2-31 from his maximum four overs.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Hamilton tops practice as Ferrari slump continues

Lewis Hamilton topped the times for Mercedes ahead of Renault 's Esteban Ocon as Sebastian Vettel slumped to 20th and last for Ferrari in Saturday morning ’ s third and final practice for Sunday ’ s Belgian Grand Prix .
The championship leader and defending six-time champion clocked a fastest lap in one minute and 43.255 seconds to outpace Ocon by two-tenths as the session produced an unexpected result .
Hamilton ’ s ‘ black arrows ’ team-mate Valtteri Bottas was down in fifth place , separated from the Briton by Ocon , Lando Norris of McLaren in third and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verstappen , who was fastest on Friday in his Red Bull , was sixth ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the second Renault and the two Racing Points of Lance Stroll , in eighth , and Sergio Perez , tenth , split by Carlos Sainz .
Most remarkably , last year 's race winner Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari team-mate Vettel , the 2018 winner , wound up in 17th and 20th places – an outcome that created the prospect of both Ferraris , struggling with basic performance as well as tyre problems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later on Saturday .
On a dismal and overcast morning , with sporadic showers following heavy overnight rain , the air temperature was only 14 degrees Celsius and the track just 19 as final practice began with only the two Haas cars venturing out in the opening 20 minutes .
The cool conditions meant it was very difficult for the teams and their drivers to warm up their tyres and this , in turn , encouraged them to delay their laps until they had the chance of a clear run .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albon , Hamilton and Bottas successively took over from Kevin Magnussen on top of the times , all improving their laps in a bid to beat the threatened rain .
After his fastest time on Friday , Verstappen resumed by separating the two Mercedes and taking second for Red Bull as the Ardennes ’ famously capricious microclimate produced heavy rain and sunshine simultaneously at different parts of the sprawling track .
All this resulted in a mini traffic jam before the final flurry of laps as the drivers jostled for positions before lapping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nightmare – at the start of the lap , it ’ s impossible , ” said Leclerc .
Williams ’ George Russell was more succinct .
`` Oh my God , '' he said .
`` What a joke . ''

Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP) –
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Lewis Hamilton topped the times for Mercedes ahead of Renault's Esteban Ocon as Sebastian Vettel slumped to 20th and last for Ferrari in Saturday morning’s third and final practice for Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The championship leader and defending six-time champion clocked a fastest lap in one minute and 43.255 seconds to outpace Ocon by two-tenths as the session produced an unexpected result.
Hamilton’s ‘black arrows’ team-mate Valtteri Bottas was down in fifth place, separated from the Briton by Ocon, Lando Norris of McLaren in third and Alex Albon of Red Bull.
Max Verstappen, who was fastest on Friday in his Red Bull, was sixth ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the second Renault and the two Racing Points of Lance Stroll, in eighth, and Sergio Perez, tenth, split by Carlos Sainz.
Most remarkably, last year's race winner Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari team-mate Vettel, the 2018 winner, wound up in 17th and 20th places – an outcome that created the prospect of both Ferraris, struggling with basic performance as well as tyre problems, failing to progress from Q1 in qualifying later on Saturday.
On a dismal and overcast morning, with sporadic showers following heavy overnight rain, the air temperature was only 14 degrees Celsius and the track just 19 as final practice began with only the two Haas cars venturing out in the opening 20 minutes.
The cool conditions meant it was very difficult for the teams and their drivers to warm up their tyres and this, in turn, encouraged them to delay their laps until they had the chance of a clear run.
When the rest joined the fray, Norris, Albon, Hamilton and Bottas successively took over from Kevin Magnussen on top of the times, all improving their laps in a bid to beat the threatened rain.
After his fastest time on Friday, Verstappen resumed by separating the two Mercedes and taking second for Red Bull as the Ardennes’ famously capricious microclimate produced heavy rain and sunshine simultaneously at different parts of the sprawling track.
All this resulted in a mini traffic jam before the final flurry of laps as the drivers jostled for positions before lapping in earnest.
"The traffic is a nightmare – at the start of the lap, it’s impossible,” said Leclerc.
Williams’ George Russell was more succinct. "Oh my God," he said. "What a joke."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Australia's Stoinis glad of no more apple attacks in England

Cricket behind closed doors may have its drawbacks , but it should at least spare Australia 's Marcus Stoinis from being pelted with fruit again if he makes a return to international action in England next month .
The 31-year-old batting all-rounder has not featured for his country since their World Cup semi-final loss to eventual champions and tournament hosts England last year -- a match in which he was out for a duck .
But he is now back in the squad for next month 's Twenty20 and one-day international series against England .
Unlike the World Cup semi-final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 's fixtures will not have any fans in the stands because of the coronavirus outbreak .
And while star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner were the main targets for English crowd taunts last year following their roles in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa , Stoinis was not immune .
`` We always love playing here ( England ) regardless , '' Stoinis told reporters Saturday .
`` The banter is usually pretty good .
I did have an apple thrown at me last year but apart from that it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different experience .
It will be up to the team to create some energy and run around . ''
Stoinis was dropped after averaging a meagre 14.50 with the bat during the World Cup , with a side strain limiting his effectiveness as a medium-pace bowler .
But after more than a year of international exile , Stoinis has forced his way back into the squad after becoming the leading run-scorer in this season 's Australia 's domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League , with 705 runs at 54.23 for the Melbourne Stars .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like you 're results on the board and you do n't get rewarded , '' said Stoinis , a veteran of 41 ODIs and 19 T20s .
`` But in the same breath there 's probably five , six , seven players who feel the same way .
So you do n't get too carried away with it , you just keep doing your thing .
`` It 's a nice reward to be back . ''
Stoinis boosted his hopes of a recall with an unbeaten 21 off 17 balls in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The postponement of the T20 World Cup , due to start in Australia in October , could also work in his favour .
The 2021 edition will take place in India .
But with the pandemic playing havoc with the cricket calendar , Stoinis said : `` The schedule is so up in the air . ''
England and Australia will play three T20 matches and three ODIs .
The first T20 game takes place in Southampton on September 4 .

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Cricket behind closed doors may have its drawbacks, but it should at least spare Australia's Marcus Stoinis from being pelted with fruit again if he makes a return to international action in England next month.
The 31-year-old batting all-rounder has not featured for his country since their World Cup semi-final loss to eventual champions and tournament hosts England last year -- a match in which he was out for a duck.
But he is now back in the squad for next month's Twenty20 and one-day international series against England.
Unlike the World Cup semi-final, played at a raucous Edgbaston, September's fixtures will not have any fans in the stands because of the coronavirus outbreak.
And while star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner were the main targets for English crowd taunts last year following their roles in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Stoinis was not immune.
"We always love playing here (England) regardless," Stoinis told reporters Saturday.
"The banter is usually pretty good. I did have an apple thrown at me last year but apart from that it's pretty good. It will be a different experience. It will be up to the team to create some energy and run around."
Stoinis was dropped after averaging a meagre 14.50 with the bat during the World Cup, with a side strain limiting his effectiveness as a medium-pace bowler.
But after more than a year of international exile, Stoinis has forced his way back into the squad after becoming the leading run-scorer in this season's Australia's domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League, with 705 runs at 54.23 for the Melbourne Stars.
"It can be frustrating when you feel like you're results on the board and you don't get rewarded," said Stoinis, a veteran of 41 ODIs and 19 T20s.
"But in the same breath there's probably five, six, seven players who feel the same way. So you don't get too carried away with it, you just keep doing your thing.
"It's a nice reward to be back."
Stoinis boosted his hopes of a recall with an unbeaten 21 off 17 balls in Australia's first intra-squad match on Friday.
The postponement of the T20 World Cup, due to start in Australia in October, could also work in his favour. The 2021 edition will take place in India.
But with the pandemic playing havoc with the cricket calendar, Stoinis said: "The schedule is so up in the air."
England and Australia will play three T20 matches and three ODIs. The first T20 game takes place in Southampton on September 4.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Pakistan's Babar rejoins Somerset for T20 Blast

Somerset return - Pakistan batsman Babar Azam , pictured in Test action against England , will rejoin the county for the T20 Blast Pakistan star Babar Azam will rejoin Somerset for this year 's domestic Twenty20 Blast , the English county announced Saturday .
Babar , the world 's top-ranked Twenty20 batsman , was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 edition .
Babar , currently captaining Pakistan in their T20 series in England after featuring in all three Tests earlier in the tour , had agreed to return to southwest club Somerset before the coronavirus pandemic upended cricket schedules around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen several counties cancel deals with overseas players , Babar will be back at Somerset 's Taunton base on Wednesday .
The 25-year-old is set to be available for Somerset 's final seven group matches plus the knockout stages should they qualify .
`` For obvious reasons , this year has been very different from what we were all expecting , and I fully appreciate the challenges the game has faced globally as well as here in England , '' Babar said in a Somerset statement .
`` We have all had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we could find a way to make this happen .
I hope that I can help to contribute to success on the field for Somerset again . ''
In his first season with Somerset , Babar compiled 578 runs at an impressive average of 52.54 and an astounding strike-rate of 149.35 .
`` He is a great player , is so easy on the eye and fitted brilliantly into our environment last year , '' said Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry .
`` We consider Babar to be one of our @ @ @

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Pakistan star Babar Azam will rejoin Somerset for this year's domestic Twenty20 Blast, the English county announced Saturday.
Babar, the world's top-ranked Twenty20 batsman, was the leading run-scorer in the 2019 edition.
Babar, currently captaining Pakistan in their T20 series in England after featuring in all three Tests earlier in the tour, had agreed to return to southwest club Somerset before the coronavirus pandemic upended cricket schedules around the world.
But while Covid-19 has seen several counties cancel deals with overseas players, Babar will be back at Somerset's Taunton base on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old is set to be available for Somerset's final seven group matches plus the knockout stages should they qualify.
"For obvious reasons, this year has been very different from what we were all expecting, and I fully appreciate the challenges the game has faced globally as well as here in England," Babar said in a Somerset statement.
"We have all had to adapt and I'm just really pleased that we could find a way to make this happen. I hope that I can help to contribute to success on the field for Somerset again."
In his first season with Somerset, Babar compiled 578 runs at an impressive average of 52.54 and an astounding strike-rate of 149.35.
"He is a great player, is so easy on the eye and fitted brilliantly into our environment last year," said Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry. "We consider Babar to be one of our own."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Leeds sign Rodrigo from Valencia for club-record fee

Leeds announced on Saturday they had signed Spain international Rodrigo from Valencia for a club-record fee .
The forward has penned a four-year deal at Elland Road , reportedly costing the Premier League newcomers around £30 million ( $ 40 million ) .
The 29-year-old said he was excited to join the club and was looking forward to working with Marcelo Bielsa , whom he described as one of the best coaches in football .
`` It 's a new step in my career and I want to help the team to achieve the goals of the season , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Leeds have been working for two weeks on this deal with Valencia -- we knew Valencia have some problems now as we did n't achieve the Champions League .
`` Since the first time Victor ( Orta , director of football ) talked to me I knew I wanted this new challenge with Leeds . ''
Rodrigo , who can operate as a winger or striker , spent time at Celta Vigo and Real Madrid as a young player before moving to Benfica .
He joined Valencia in 2014 , initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 220 appearances .
He previously spent the 2010/11 season on loan at Bolton , then in the Premier League .
Rodrigo was born in Brazil but is a Spain international and has 22 caps and eight goals .
He scored 10 goals for club and country in 38 games last season , including the winner in Valencia 's 1-0 Champions League win at Chelsea in September .
Valencia said on Tuesday they had reached preliminary agreement with Leeds for the transfer but the formalities had to be completed .
Leeds finished 10 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , securing their return to the top flight for the first time since 2004 .

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Leeds announced on Saturday they had signed Spain international Rodrigo from Valencia for a club-record fee.
The forward has penned a four-year deal at Elland Road, reportedly costing the Premier League newcomers around £30 million ($40 million).
The 29-year-old said he was excited to join the club and was looking forward to working with Marcelo Bielsa, whom he described as one of the best coaches in football.
"It's a new step in my career and I want to help the team to achieve the goals of the season," he told the club's Twitter account.
"Leeds have been working for two weeks on this deal with Valencia -- we knew Valencia have some problems now as we didn't achieve the Champions League.
"Since the first time Victor (Orta, director of football) talked to me I knew I wanted this new challenge with Leeds."
Rodrigo, who can operate as a winger or striker, spent time at Celta Vigo and Real Madrid as a young player before moving to Benfica.
He joined Valencia in 2014, initially on loan, scoring 59 goals in 220 appearances.
He previously spent the 2010/11 season on loan at Bolton, then in the Premier League.
Rodrigo was born in Brazil but is a Spain international and has 22 caps and eight goals.
He scored 10 goals for club and country in 38 games last season, including the winner in Valencia's 1-0 Champions League win at Chelsea in September.
Valencia said on Tuesday they had reached preliminary agreement with Leeds for the transfer but the formalities had to be completed.
Leeds finished 10 points at the top of the Championship last season, securing their return to the top flight for the first time since 2004.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Gdansk deal and birth of Poland's Solidarity

Striking workers at the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk , Poland , on August 20 , 1980 Forty years ago , on August 31 , 1980 , strikers at Poland 's Gdansk shipyard and the communist regime signed an historic deal enabling the creation of Solidarnosc ( Solidarity ) , the Soviet bloc 's first independent trade union .
Unthinkable weeks earlier , the Gdansk agreement followed two months of social unrest across the central European country , which was sparked in July by an increase in meat prices .
Protests intensified on August 14 , as 17,000 workers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to demand , among other things , reinstatement of an employee , Anna Walentynowicz , who had been fired .
Their demands for trade union freedom spread .
Lech Walesa , a 35-year-old electrician at the yard who had been fired four years earlier for activism , scaled the huge site 's outer wall and took the lead of the strikers , emerging as a charismatic speaker .
The management gave in very quickly on several points , but the strikers wanted more , and in particular the creation of free unions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dimension with the arrival on site of dissident intellectuals , who adopt an advisory role to the strikers .
The workers had in their minds the bloody repression of the strikes of December 1970 -- the uprising at the Gdansk shipyards had led to the fall of the leader of the Communist Party , Wladyslaw Gomulka .
They were also well aware of the intervention by the Soviet leaders of the communist bloc in 1956 in Hungary and in 1968 in Czechoslovakia .
But they were spurred on by the legendary words `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier by Polish pope , John Paul II , during a visit to Warsaw , capital of the deeply Catholic country .
On August 17 , the Interfactory Strike Committee ( MKS ) led by Walesa said 191 workplaces were on strike .
By the end of the protests they would total 700 .
Day and night the families and supporters pressed themselves against the closed gates of the shipyard bearing food , drinks , flowers and offering moral support .
Holy images lined the outer walls of the industrial site .
Across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the strike .
`` There was something behind our struggle , something like the will of God , in particular concerning my own role , '' Walesa , a staunch Catholic , would later say .
On August 22 , deputy prime minister Mieczyslaw Jagielski headed a government delegation to Gdansk to negotiate .
The talks were broadcast to the shipyard by loudspeakers .
On August 31 , an AFP bulletin wrote of `` an agreement between the authorities and the strike committee in Gdansk , Walesa announced '' .
On television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike .
He burst into the national anthem , with the deputy prime minister singing along with him .
`` We have not got everything we wanted .
But we have got what was possible in the current situation .
And we will get the rest later , '' Walesa said .
The accord authorised an independent union -- a first in the entire Soviet bloc -- provided for the right to strike , a limit on censorship , salary increases , the broadcast of a Sunday mass on radio-television and the freeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now there was an understanding , in Poland as in all the other socialist countries , that the working class , being itself in power , had no reason to go on strike , nor to set up unions independent of the party it represents , '' AFP wrote at the time .
Signing of the agreement took place `` in the shipyard 's big conference room , decorated with a crucifix and a bust of Lenin , under the rattle of flashes and the roaring of television cameras from several countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document with a pen bearing the effigy of the pope .
The final negotiations were followed `` by workers clumped together around the shipyard 's loudspeakers , sitting on a pile of bricks , perched on makeshift benches , '' AFP wrote .
Some 18 months later , General Wojciech Jaruzelski decreed martial law to ban the union , which had managed to unite 10 million members .
Tens of thousands of union activists were arrested , including Walesa , who was detained for 11 months .
The union continued its activities underground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communist bloc crumbled .
In October 1983 Walesa received the Nobel Peace Prize , before being elected president of Poland in 1990 at the country 's first democratic election .

Warsaw (AFP) –
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Forty years ago, on August 31, 1980, strikers at Poland's Gdansk shipyard and the communist regime signed an historic deal enabling the creation of Solidarnosc (Solidarity), the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union.
Unthinkable weeks earlier, the Gdansk agreement followed two months of social unrest across the central European country, which was sparked in July by an increase in meat prices.
Protests intensified on August 14, as 17,000 workers at the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk went on strike to demand, among other things, reinstatement of an employee, Anna Walentynowicz, who had been fired. Their demands for trade union freedom spread.
- Lech Walesa: charismatic orator -
Lech Walesa, a 35-year-old electrician at the yard who had been fired four years earlier for activism, scaled the huge site's outer wall and took the lead of the strikers, emerging as a charismatic speaker.
The management gave in very quickly on several points, but the strikers wanted more, and in particular the creation of free unions.
The strike quickly took on a political dimension with the arrival on site of dissident intellectuals, who adopt an advisory role to the strikers.
The workers had in their minds the bloody repression of the strikes of December 1970 -- the uprising at the Gdansk shipyards had led to the fall of the leader of the Communist Party, Wladyslaw Gomulka.
They were also well aware of the intervention by the Soviet leaders of the communist bloc in 1956 in Hungary and in 1968 in Czechoslovakia.
But they were spurred on by the legendary words "be not afraid" spoken a year earlier by Polish pope, John Paul II, during a visit to Warsaw, capital of the deeply Catholic country.
On August 17, the Interfactory Strike Committee (MKS) led by Walesa said 191 workplaces were on strike. By the end of the protests they would total 700.
Day and night the families and supporters pressed themselves against the closed gates of the shipyard bearing food, drinks, flowers and offering moral support.
Holy images lined the outer walls of the industrial site. Across the country masses were held in support of the strike.
"There was something behind our struggle, something like the will of God, in particular concerning my own role," Walesa, a staunch Catholic, would later say.
On August 22, deputy prime minister Mieczyslaw Jagielski headed a government delegation to Gdansk to negotiate. The talks were broadcast to the shipyard by loudspeakers.
- Accord on independent trades union -
On August 31, an AFP bulletin wrote of "an agreement between the authorities and the strike committee in Gdansk, Walesa announced".
On television Walesa then declared the end of the strike. He burst into the national anthem, with the deputy prime minister singing along with him.
"We have not got everything we wanted. But we have got what was possible in the current situation. And we will get the rest later," Walesa said.
The accord authorised an independent union -- a first in the entire Soviet bloc -- provided for the right to strike, a limit on censorship, salary increases, the broadcast of a Sunday mass on radio-television and the freeing of political prisoners.
"Up to now there was an understanding, in Poland as in all the other socialist countries, that the working class, being itself in power, had no reason to go on strike, nor to set up unions independent of the party it represents," AFP wrote at the time.
Signing of the agreement took place "in the shipyard's big conference room, decorated with a crucifix and a bust of Lenin, under the rattle of flashes and the roaring of television cameras from several countries," AFP reported. Walesa signed the document with a pen bearing the effigy of the pope.
The final negotiations were followed "by workers clumped together around the shipyard's loudspeakers, sitting on a pile of bricks, perched on makeshift benches," AFP wrote.
Some 18 months later, General Wojciech Jaruzelski decreed martial law to ban the union, which had managed to unite 10 million members.
Tens of thousands of union activists were arrested, including Walesa, who was detained for 11 months.
The union continued its activities underground before being legalised in 1989 as the communist bloc crumbled.
In October 1983 Walesa received the Nobel Peace Prize, before being elected president of Poland in 1990 at the country's first democratic election.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--McLaren's Norris abandons Belgian 'political' helmet design

McLaren driver Lando Norris on Saturday abandoned wearing a new helmet design after discovering that it may have political significance .
The Briton , who has Belgian grandparents , had introduced a new-look helmet for the Belgian Grand Prix , which included a black lion on a yellow background , the flag of the Flemish region .
But when he was informed that the image is used by a Belgian right-wing political party , he decided to stop using it .
`` I wasn ’ t aware of the connotations around the use of this particular motif when I designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As soon as I was , it was clear that it was inappropriate to continue using it . ''
He added that he had wished to `` pay tribute to my Belgian roots and my family , in particular my grandparents whose picture I put on the back '' .
`` The helmet was never intended to be a political statement , for me personally it was simply a cool design that paid tribute to part of my heritage , '' he said .
`` I never want to cause division or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helmet would have offended many people in Belgium .
With that in mind , I ’ ve decided to go back to my standard helmet . ''
Norris explained that he regarded the Belgian race as his second ‘ home ’ event .
`` I ’ m 50 per cent Belgian , '' he said .
`` And 50 per cent from the UK .
We used to come here for Christmas and Easter and everyone on my mum ’ s side lives out here .
`` The only reason I would say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a home race is just because that ’ s where I ’ ve grown up . ''

Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP) –
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McLaren driver Lando Norris on Saturday abandoned wearing a new helmet design after discovering that it may have political significance.
The Briton, who has Belgian grandparents, had introduced a new-look helmet for the Belgian Grand Prix, which included a black lion on a yellow background, the flag of the Flemish region.
But when he was informed that the image is used by a Belgian right-wing political party, he decided to stop using it.
"I wasn’t aware of the connotations around the use of this particular motif when I designed the helmet," he said. "As soon as I was, it was clear that it was inappropriate to continue using it."
He added that he had wished to "pay tribute to my Belgian roots and my family, in particular my grandparents whose picture I put on the back".
"The helmet was never intended to be a political statement, for me personally it was simply a cool design that paid tribute to part of my heritage," he said.
"I never want to cause division or offence and I understand that using the helmet would have offended many people in Belgium. With that in mind, I’ve decided to go back to my standard helmet."
Norris explained that he regarded the Belgian race as his second ‘home’ event.
"I’m 50 per cent Belgian," he said. "And 50 per cent from the UK. We used to come here for Christmas and Easter and everyone on my mum’s side lives out here.
"The only reason I would say Silverstone or the GB race is more of a home race is just because that’s where I’ve grown up."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Britain's Lizzie Deignan wins women's Tour de France event

Britain 's Lizzie Deignan won the women 's cycling race La Course on Saturday , edging a desperate rush for @ @ @ @ @ ahead of defending champion Marianne Vos .
The one-off single stage event preceded the start @ @ @ @ @ which gets under way later Saturday .
The 96km course around Nice embarked with 138 @ @ @ @ @ on a 5.5km climb in the rolling hills outside Nice .
Deignan , who lives @ @ @ @ @ part of the escape that rushed down a steep , technical descent led by current @ @ @ @ @ .
Once the breakaway pack of six were on the flat coastal run into Nice @ @ @ @ @ until Vos attacked and opened a gap large enough to believe in victory .
But @ @ @ @ @ late dash to finish just centimetres ahead .

Nice (France) (AFP) –
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Britain's Lizzie Deignan won the women's cycling race La Course on Saturday, edging a desperate rush for the line by a whisker ahead of defending champion Marianne Vos.
The one-off single stage event preceded the start of the Tour de France which gets under way later Saturday.
The 96km course around Nice embarked with 138 riders but was blown apart on a 5.5km climb in the rolling hills outside Nice.
Deignan, who lives in nearby Monaco, was part of the escape that rushed down a steep, technical descent led by current world champion Annemiek Van Vlueten.
Once the breakaway pack of six were on the flat coastal run into Nice it was a cat-and-mouse affair until Vos attacked and opened a gap large enough to believe in victory.
But Deignan put in an irresistable late dash to finish just centimetres ahead.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Huge Indonesia mine resumes operations after lockdown protest

More than 1,000 employees had staged a demonstration at the main entrance to the mine Operations have resumed at the world 's biggest gold mine in Indonesia , the company that runs it said Saturday , after workers blocked access to the site in protest at being stopped from visiting their families over virus concerns .
The miners at the Grasberg complex in the country 's easternmost Papua region reached an agreement with the US-based operator Freeport , which said it would resume bus services for workers to return home .
This week more than 1,000 employees demonstrated at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cancel bus services to the city of Timika in response to fears about the spread of coronavirus infections .
Many workers had been unable to leave the site -- a high-altitude open pit that is also a major copper mine -- for six months .
Freeport spokesman Riza Pratama told AFP Saturday that the roadblock had been removed after a long negotiation period .
Several buses departed from the mine late Friday , carrying some workers who had been granted a leave of absence , said local company spokesman Kerry Yarangga .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stringent health protocols including Covid-19 testing , Yarangga said .
In May , Freeport said it would reduce the number of staff at the mine , which employed about 25,000 people , after infections rose in the area .

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Operations have resumed at the world's biggest gold mine in Indonesia, the company that runs it said Saturday, after workers blocked access to the site in protest at being stopped from visiting their families over virus concerns.
The miners at the Grasberg complex in the country's easternmost Papua region reached an agreement with the US-based operator Freeport, which said it would resume bus services for workers to return home.
This week more than 1,000 employees demonstrated at the mine's main entrance over the decision to cancel bus services to the city of Timika in response to fears about the spread of coronavirus infections.
Many workers had been unable to leave the site -- a high-altitude open pit that is also a major copper mine -- for six months.
Freeport spokesman Riza Pratama told AFP Saturday that the roadblock had been removed after a long negotiation period.
Several buses departed from the mine late Friday, carrying some workers who had been granted a leave of absence, said local company spokesman Kerry Yarangga.
These bus services will be run with stringent health protocols including Covid-19 testing, Yarangga said.
In May, Freeport said it would reduce the number of staff at the mine, which employed about 25,000 people, after infections rose in the area.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--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 .
Many Malians see Mahmoud Dicko , a conservative imam and an important player in mass opposition protests earlier this year , as a possible future leader .
But Dicko himself insists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know what I do best : lead people in prayer .
That is my vocation and , insh'allah , I will remain an imam .
I have no ambition to be president of Mali , '' he told FRANCE 24 reporters who went to meet him .
Dicko said there was no reason not to trust Mali 's soldiers but that trust does n't mean giving them carte blanche to do whatever they wish .
FRANCE 24 's Nadia Massih filed this report .
Click on the video player above to watch @ @ @ @ @

ON THE GROUND
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.
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Many Malians see Mahmoud Dicko, a conservative imam and an important player in mass opposition protests earlier this year, as a possible future leader. But Dicko himself insists he is not a president-in-waiting.
"I know what I do best: lead people in prayer. That is my vocation and, insh'allah, I will remain an imam. I have no ambition to be president of Mali," he told FRANCE 24 reporters who went to meet him.
Dicko said there was no reason not to trust Mali's soldiers but that trust doesn't mean giving them carte blanche to do whatever they wish.
FRANCE 24's Nadia Massih filed this report. Click on the video player above to watch the report in full.
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france24--2020-08-29--Anderson record may be 'Jimmy's alone' says Sangakkara

Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara believes England 's James Anderson may have set a record that will be `` Jimmy 's alone '' after he became the first paceman to take 600 Test wickets .
Anderson , 38 , made history when he had Pakistan captain Azhar Ali caught at slip by England skipper Joe Root in the drawn third Test at Southampton on Tuesday .
MCC president Sangakkara , in an email to club members published Saturday , said Anderson 's feat was a `` joyful moment for the ages '' and `` an exceptional achievement '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skill and determination , '' added the 42-year-old Sangakkara , a former Sri Lanka captain .
`` His achievement is tremendous , not just for the fact that it is 600 wickets , but also for what that entails in terms of effort , commitment and reinvention . ''
The only bowlers ahead of Anderson in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers are three retired spinners -- Sri Lanka 's Muttiah Muralitharan ( 800 ) , Australia 's Shane Warne ( 708 ) and India 's Anil Kumble ( 619 ) .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taken more than 500 Test wickets , only Anderson 's longstanding England new-ball colleague Stuart Broad ( 514 wickets ) , is still an active cricketer , with Australia 's Glenn McGrath ( 563 ) and West Indies ' Courtney Walsh ( 519 ) having long since hung up their boots .
`` He has set a record for current and future pace bowlers to chase , but it may just be one record that will be Jimmy 's and Jimmy 's alone , '' said Sangakkara , a former wicketkeeper-batsman who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lanka 's captain when they lost the 2011 World Cup final to India in Mumbai .
`` It was my great privilege to play against him and I now share with you the enjoyment of watching him from beyond the boundary rope for as long as he may continue . ''
Sangakkara is the first overseas president in the 233-year-old history of Marylebone Cricket Club ( MCC ) , the owners of London 's Lord 's cricket ground .
By tradition , MCC presidents serve for just one year .
But with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'the home of cricket ' in 2020 because of Covid-19 -- Saturday will see the ground 's first match of the season when Middlesex play Kent in an English domestic Twenty20 -- Sangakkara 's time in office has been extended by 12 months .
`` I would like to thank you ( the MCC membership ) for your support in granting an extension to my term as president , '' Sangakkara wrote in acknowledgement .

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara believes England's James Anderson may have set a record that will be "Jimmy's alone" after he became the first paceman to take 600 Test wickets.
Anderson, 38, made history when he had Pakistan captain Azhar Ali caught at slip by England skipper Joe Root in the drawn third Test at Southampton on Tuesday.
MCC president Sangakkara, in an email to club members published Saturday, said Anderson's feat was a "joyful moment for the ages" and "an exceptional achievement".
"Jimmy is a fast bowler of immense skill and determination," added the 42-year-old Sangakkara, a former Sri Lanka captain.
"His achievement is tremendous, not just for the fact that it is 600 wickets, but also for what that entails in terms of effort, commitment and reinvention."
The only bowlers ahead of Anderson in the all-time list of Test wicket-takers are three retired spinners -- Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia's Shane Warne (708) and India's Anil Kumble (619).
And of the three other fast bowlers to have taken more than 500 Test wickets, only Anderson's longstanding England new-ball colleague Stuart Broad (514 wickets), is still an active cricketer, with Australia's Glenn McGrath (563) and West Indies' Courtney Walsh (519) having long since hung up their boots.
"He has set a record for current and future pace bowlers to chase, but it may just be one record that will be Jimmy's and Jimmy's alone," said Sangakkara, a former wicketkeeper-batsman who appeared in 134 Tests and was Sri Lanka's captain when they lost the 2011 World Cup final to India in Mumbai.
"It was my great privilege to play against him and I now share with you the enjoyment of watching him from beyond the boundary rope for as long as he may continue."
Sangakkara is the first overseas president in the 233-year-old history of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of London's Lord's cricket ground.
By tradition, MCC presidents serve for just one year.
But with no internationals being played at Lord's, 'the home of cricket' in 2020 because of Covid-19 -- Saturday will see the ground's first match of the season when Middlesex play Kent in an English domestic Twenty20 -- Sangakkara's time in office has been extended by 12 months.
"I would like to thank you (the MCC membership) for your support in granting an extension to my term as president," Sangakkara wrote in acknowledgement.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Hope and expectation as Tour de France starts in virus shadow

The Tour de France rolls out from the French Riviera on Saturday , two months later than planned and under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic which could still shatter hopes of the world 's greatest bike race making it to the Paris finish line in three weeks ' time .
Originally slated for June , stage one of the three-week epic over the peaks and plains of France embarks from Nice 's with its iconic Promenade des Anglais for a 154km loop likely to end in the kind of mass bunch sprint which is tailor-made for a global TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , coronavirus still has the race in its grip .
On Thursday , French Prime Minister Jean Castex put Nice on a Covid-19 `` red zone '' list with tightened health protocols .
And race director Christian Prudhomme told AFP Saturday that the rule of expelling teams from the Tour with two riders testing positive had been tightened to two positives from the whole entourage , including the likes of mechanics , cooks and drivers along with riders .
In a worrying appetiser , Belgian team Lotto have already sent home four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one `` suspicious '' result .
Saturday 's start and finish line on the Promenade des Anglais will allow just 100 spectators .
Throughout the Tour , a virus testing cell will travel with the teams .
The pandemic means a very different looking Tour this year for riders and fans .
That means a cataclysmic change for organisers , with some climbs in previous years attracting hundreds of thousands of people along the roadsides .
`` Yes , the public will have access to the Tour de France , '' Prudhomme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in place to monitor numbers .
Health and safety protocols for riders and teams involve them being kept in a bubble and tested several times , with the smallest possible interaction between respective bubbles .
Dave Brailsford , the head of Team Ineos which has gobbled up seven of the last eight Tour de France titles , admitted there remains uncertainty over the race getting to the Champs-Elysees on September 20 .
`` If there comes a point when it becomes too much of a risk for riders and teams , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take that on board , '' he said .
Brailsford has , incidentally , dropped two former Tour winners , Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas .
David Lappartient , the president of the International Cycling Union ( UCI ) , warned teams to be vigilant .
`` There is no such thing as zero risk , '' he said .
`` It is not impossible that some teams do not get to the end .
`` But with respect for the rules , we should not come to that . ''
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only of the challenge ahead .
Lotto-Soudal 's diminutive Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan , who stands at 5ft 5in ( 1.65m ) , is a red hot favourite to win the opener after three stage wins in 2019 .
`` I 'm ready to take up the challenge , '' said the 26-year-old .
`` Stage 1 is not too hard for me , it 'll be cool and maybe rainy , which suits me . ''
Sunday 's stage will certainly see the overall leader 's yellow jersey change hands again with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top of two mountains summiting at over 1500m .
After the second of those , the Col de Turini , a white-knuckle 30km downhill stretch towards the finish line is not for the faint hearted .
Former French soldier Julian Alaphilippe , who led the race for 14 days in 2019 , has vowed to try his luck again .
`` It was unforgettable , '' he said .
`` So if I feel good Sunday I 'll go for it , for the win and the yellow jersey , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his key rival , Slovenian former ski jumper Primoz Roglic , may even be tempted to exert themselves early .
`` I 'll have to be careful of him , '' the 23-year-old Bernal said Friday .
`` He was the strongest in the warm-ups , '' he said of his 30-year-old rival who has an impressive last 500m acceleration on the climbs .
There will be five summit finishes and 29 classified mountain climbs over the three weeks .
With the two-month delay , the French plains will likely be whipped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coast such as stage 10 between the Atlantic islands of Oleron and Re .
Suspense will be cranked up throughout , however , as the penultimate day features a potential shake-up with an individual time trial on the fan-favourite Planches des Belles Filles climb .

Nice (France) (AFP) –
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The Tour de France rolls out from the French Riviera on Saturday, two months later than planned and under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic which could still shatter hopes of the world's greatest bike race making it to the Paris finish line in three weeks' time.
Originally slated for June, stage one of the three-week epic over the peaks and plains of France embarks from Nice's with its iconic Promenade des Anglais for a 154km loop likely to end in the kind of mass bunch sprint which is tailor-made for a global TV audience tuning in from 190 countries.
However, coronavirus still has the race in its grip.
On Thursday, French Prime Minister Jean Castex put Nice on a Covid-19 "red zone" list with tightened health protocols.
And race director Christian Prudhomme told AFP Saturday that the rule of expelling teams from the Tour with two riders testing positive had been tightened to two positives from the whole entourage, including the likes of mechanics, cooks and drivers along with riders.
In a worrying appetiser, Belgian team Lotto have already sent home four of its staff after one positive test and one "suspicious" result.
Saturday's start and finish line on the Promenade des Anglais will allow just 100 spectators.
- Crowd limits -
Throughout the Tour, a virus testing cell will travel with the teams.
The pandemic means a very different looking Tour this year for riders and fans.
Current French government law limits public gatherings to 5,000.
That means a cataclysmic change for organisers, with some climbs in previous years attracting hundreds of thousands of people along the roadsides.
"Yes, the public will have access to the Tour de France," Prudhomme insisted, explaining that screening areas would be in place to monitor numbers.
Health and safety protocols for riders and teams involve them being kept in a bubble and tested several times, with the smallest possible interaction between respective bubbles.
Dave Brailsford, the head of Team Ineos which has gobbled up seven of the last eight Tour de France titles, admitted there remains uncertainty over the race getting to the Champs-Elysees on September 20.
"If there comes a point when it becomes too much of a risk for riders and teams, to society in general, then people need to take that on board," he said.
Brailsford has, incidentally, dropped two former Tour winners, Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas.
David Lappartient, the president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), warned teams to be vigilant.
"There is no such thing as zero risk," he said.
"It is not impossible that some teams do not get to the end.
"But with respect for the rules, we should not come to that."
On Saturday the riders will attempt to think only of the challenge ahead.
Lotto-Soudal's diminutive Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan, who stands at 5ft 5in (1.65m), is a red hot favourite to win the opener after three stage wins in 2019.
"I'm ready to take up the challenge," said the 26-year-old.
"Stage 1 is not too hard for me, it'll be cool and maybe rainy, which suits me."
Sunday's stage will certainly see the overall leader's yellow jersey change hands again with a 187km run from the seafront over the top of two mountains summiting at over 1500m.
- 'Unforgettable' -
After the second of those, the Col de Turini, a white-knuckle 30km downhill stretch towards the finish line is not for the faint hearted.
Former French soldier Julian Alaphilippe, who led the race for 14 days in 2019, has vowed to try his luck again.
"It was unforgettable," he said.
"So if I feel good Sunday I'll go for it, for the win and the yellow jersey," he said.
Defending champion Egan Bernal and his key rival, Slovenian former ski jumper Primoz Roglic, may even be tempted to exert themselves early.
"I'll have to be careful of him," the 23-year-old Bernal said Friday.
"He was the strongest in the warm-ups," he said of his 30-year-old rival who has an impressive last 500m acceleration on the climbs.
There will be five summit finishes and 29 classified mountain climbs over the three weeks.
With the two-month delay, the French plains will likely be whipped by autumn winds, especially on runs along the coast such as stage 10 between the Atlantic islands of Oleron and Re.
Suspense will be cranked up throughout, however, as the penultimate day features a potential shake-up with an individual time trial on the fan-favourite Planches des Belles Filles climb.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-29--Victims' families decry 'two systems of justice' at Washington anti-racism march

Yolanda King , granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. , thrusts her fist as she speaks during the Commitment March : Get Your Knee Off Our Necks '' protest against racism and police brutality , on August 28 , 2020 , in Washington , DC .
Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial , where the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and Black people 57 years ago , his son issued a sobering reminder about the persistence of police brutality and racist violence targeting Black Americans .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955 , and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers , ” said Martin Luther King III , speaking to thousands who gathered Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom .
“ Sixty-five years later ( after Till ’ s murder ) , we still struggle for justice — demilitarizing the police , dismantling mass incarceration , and declaring as determinately as we can that Black lives matter , ” King said .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight a scourge of police and vigilante violence that gave way to what many feel is an overdue reckoning on racial injustice .
Some stood in sweltering temperatures in lines that stretched for several blocks , as organizers took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols .
Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program , although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size .
They gathered following another shooting by a white police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin , last Sunday — sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead .
As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft , naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for “ law and order.
” The Rev .
Al Sharpton , whose civil rights organization , the National Action Network , planned Friday ’ s commemoration , had a message for naysayers .
“ Some say to me , ‘ Rev .
Al , y ’ all ought to denounce those that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ” Sharpton said .
“ All of the families ( of victims of police and vigilante violence ) have denounced looting .
What we haven ’ t heard is you denounce shooting.
” Sharpton asked , “ We will speak against the looting , but when will you speak against wrong police shooting ?
” Sharpton and King stood with relatives of an ever-expanding roll call of victims : Blake , George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Rayshard Brooks , Ahmaud Arbery , Trayvon Martin , and Eric Garner , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed by men who pursued them with guns and whose arrests were delayed until residents protested .
“ There are two systems of justice in the United States , ” said Jacob Blake Sr. , the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralyzed from the waist down .
“ There ’ s a white system and a black system -- the black system ain ’ t doing so well.
” Philonise Floyd , the brother of George Floyd , stared out at the massive march audience and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see it .
Friday ’ s march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began .
Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late Rep. John Lewis who , until his death last month , was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom .
That march went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in U.S. history , and one of the largest gatherings with over 200,000 people in attendance .
Organizers said they intended to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decry racial violence , and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election .
A handful of satellite marches were held in South Carolina , Florida , Nevada , Utah and Colorado .
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris , in a video , said the original conveners would be disappointed that Black Americans are still marching for justice and equality under the law .
“ I have to believe that if they were with us today , they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our streets , and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights , ” she said .
Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted his support for the march .
Although President Donald Trump did not comment on the march Friday , the Republican National Committee marked the event ’ s anniversary by highlighting the president ’ s record as a “ champion for the Black community.
” “ While there is more work to be done , Donald Trump is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paris Dennard , an RNC senior communications advisor , said in a statement .
Activist Frank Nitty , who said he walked 750 miles for 24 days from Milwaukee , Wisconsin , to Washington for Friday ’ s march , spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice .
“ Are y ’ all tired ?
Because I ’ m tired , ” Nitty said .
“ They think this is a negotiation , but I came here to demand change .
My grandson ain ’ t gon na march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marched for.
” Navy veteran Alonzo Jones-Goss , 28 , who traveled from Boston to participate in the march , said the nation has seen far too many tragic events that claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color , and “ that needs to come to an end.
” Following the rally , participants marched to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park , next to the National Mall , and then dispersed .
Some participants headed toward Black Lives Matter Plaza , right outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Pennsylvania Avenue during protests in June .
Chants of “ Black lives matter ” and “ No justice , no peace ” echoed through downtown Salt Lake City Friday morning , as about 200 people marched from the state Capitol to Washington Square Park for Utah ’ s March on Washington .
“ If people still can ’ t see why we ’ re out here and why we ’ re marching and why people are loud and angry then they ’ re blind , ” said Joshua Chamberlain , a realtor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s racism happening every day and -- especially by police brutality -- people are dying from it.
” In Colorado , several dozen people rallied at a prominent statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in Denver ’ s City Park .
Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet cited the names of George Floyd , Elijah McClain and victims of police brutality .
“ You know and I know what happened to them would never happen to me , ” said Bennet , who is white .
Sharpton instructed those in other states to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and demand their support for federal policing reforms and reinvigorated voter protections , in Lewis ’ memory .
In June , the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act , which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers , among other reforms .
A Republican-authored police reform bill , introduced in June by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott , who is Black , failed a procedural vote in the Senate because Democrats felt the measure didn ’ t go far enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Lewis ’ death , Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 .
The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations .
Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate .

Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. famously laid out a vision for harmony between white and Black people 57 years ago, his son issued a sobering reminder about the persistence of police brutality and racist violence targeting Black Americans.
Yolanda King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., thrusts her fist as she speaks during the Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" protest against racism and police brutality, on August 28, 2020, in Washington, DC.
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“We must never forget the American nightmare of racist violence exemplified when Emmett Till was murdered on this day in 1955, and the criminal justice system failed to convict his killers,” said Martin Luther King III, speaking to thousands who gathered Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
“Sixty-five years later (after Till’s murder), we still struggle for justice — demilitarizing the police, dismantling mass incarceration, and declaring as determinately as we can that Black lives matter,” King said.
03:25
Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, many felt compelled to join civil rights advocates in Washington to highlight a scourge of police and vigilante violence that gave way to what many feel is an overdue reckoning on racial injustice. Some stood in sweltering temperatures in lines that stretched for several blocks, as organizers took temperatures as part of coronavirus protocols. Organizers reminded attendees to practice social distancing and wear masks throughout the program, although distancing was hardly maintained as the gathering grew in size.
They gathered following another shooting by a white police officer of a Black man — this time, 29-year-old Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last Sunday — sparking demonstrations and violence that left two dead. As peaceful protests turned to arson and theft, naysayers of the Black Lives Matter movement issued calls for “law and order.”
Today thousands gathered for the 2020 Commitment March on Washington. Our message was loud and clear, GET YOUR KNEE OFF OUR NECKS! #NANMOW2020 #MarchOnWashington2020
Photo Credit: Aaron Morrison pic.twitter.com/K3yCPYwoSX — Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 29, 2020
The Rev. Al Sharpton, whose civil rights organization, the National Action Network, planned Friday’s commemoration, had a message for naysayers.
“Some say to me, ‘Rev. Al, y’all ought to denounce those that get violent, those that are looting,’” Sharpton said. “All of the families (of victims of police and vigilante violence) have denounced looting. What we haven’t heard is you denounce shooting.”
Sharpton asked, “We will speak against the looting, but when will you speak against wrong police shooting?”
Sharpton and King stood with relatives of an ever-expanding roll call of victims: Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner, among others.
Arbery and Martin both were killed by men who pursued them with guns and whose arrests were delayed until residents protested.
“There are two systems of justice in the United States,” said Jacob Blake Sr., the father of the man whose shooting by police in Kenosha left him paralyzed from the waist down. “There’s a white system and a black system -- the black system ain’t doing so well.”
“No justice, no peace!” he proclaimed.
Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, stared out at the massive march audience and said he wished his brother was there to see it.
02:37
Friday’s march shaped up to be the largest political gathering in Washington since the pandemic began. Many attendees wore T-shirts of the late Rep. John Lewis who, until his death last month, was the last living speaker at the original March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. That march went on to become one of the most famous political rallies in U.S. history, and one of the largest gatherings with over 200,000 people in attendance.
Organizers said they intended to show the urgency for federal policing reforms, to decry racial violence, and to demand voting rights protections ahead of the November general election. A handful of satellite marches were held in South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a video, said the original conveners would be disappointed that Black Americans are still marching for justice and equality under the law.
“I have to believe that if they were with us today, they would share in our anger and frustration as we continue to see Black men and women slain in our streets, and left behind in our economy and justice system that has too often denied Black folks our dignity and rights,” she said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted his support for the march.
America is at an inflection point.
The calls for racial justice that sparked the March on Washington 57 years ago are ringing out again today.
As we honor the legacy of that day — let's meet this moment with the urgency and action that our heroes marched for half a century ago. pic.twitter.com/Bs0SccjnxN — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 28, 2020
Although President Donald Trump did not comment on the march Friday, the Republican National Committee marked the event’s anniversary by highlighting the president’s record as a “champion for the Black community.”
“While there is more work to be done, Donald Trump is the leader to make it happen,” Paris Dennard, an RNC senior communications advisor, said in a statement.
Activist Frank Nitty, who said he walked 750 miles for 24 days from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Washington for Friday’s march, spoke to the audience about persistence in the fight for justice.
“Are y’all tired? Because I’m tired,” Nitty said. “They think this is a negotiation, but I came here to demand change. My grandson ain’t gonna march for the same things that my granddaddy marched for.”
Navy veteran Alonzo Jones-Goss, 28, who traveled from Boston to participate in the march, said the nation has seen far too many tragic events that claimed the lives of Black Americans and other people of color, and “that needs to come to an end.”
We are marching with the largest and most active, multigenerational, multiracial movement for civil and human rights since the 1960’s. This is a moment in history we must not let pass us by. In the face of injustice, controversy, and inequality, we stand up and demand better. — Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) August 28, 2020
Following the rally, participants marched to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, and then dispersed. Some participants headed toward Black Lives Matter Plaza, right outside of the White House, which was renamed from Pennsylvania Avenue during protests in June.
Chants of “Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace” echoed through downtown Salt Lake City Friday morning, as about 200 people marched from the state Capitol to Washington Square Park for Utah’s March on Washington.
“If people still can’t see why we’re out here and why we’re marching and why people are loud and angry then they’re blind,” said Joshua Chamberlain, a realtor from Holladay, Utah. “There’s racism happening every day and -- especially by police brutality -- people are dying from it.”
In Colorado, several dozen people rallied at a prominent statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in Denver’s City Park. Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet cited the names of George Floyd, Elijah McClain and victims of police brutality.
“You know and I know what happened to them would never happen to me,” said Bennet, who is white.
Sharpton instructed those in other states to march on their U.S. senators’ offices and demand their support for federal policing reforms and reinvigorated voter protections, in Lewis’ memory.
In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. A Republican-authored police reform bill, introduced in June by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who is Black, failed a procedural vote in the Senate because Democrats felt the measure didn’t go far enough to address officer accountability.
In July, following Lewis’ death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations.
Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate.
(AP)
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