france24--2020-09-02--US states told be ready to distribute Covid-19 vaccine by Nov 1

Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , is asking US states to remove barriers to distributing a coronavirus vaccine The Trump administration has urged US states to get ready to distribute a potential Covid-19 vaccine by November 1 -- two days before the presidential election .
Dallas-based wholesaler McKesson Corp. has a deal with the federal government and will be requesting permits to set up distribution centers when a vaccine becomes available .
`` The normal time required to obtain these permits presents a significant barrier to the success of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , told states in an August 27 letter .
`` CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities . ''
Redfield asked states to consider waiving requirements that would `` prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by Nov. 1 , 2020 . ''
The CDC provided states with documents giving details of a vaccine rollout plan , adding that they would either be approved as licensed vaccines or under emergency use authorization .
Recipients would probably require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few weeks after the first , according to the documents .
`` Vaccine and ancillary supplies will be procured and distributed by the federal government at no cost to enrolled Covid-19 vaccination providers , '' say the documents , which also went to New York City , Chicago , Houston , Philadelphia and San Antonio .
Priority will be given to essential workers , national security officials , seniors and members of vulnerable racial and ethnic groups , according to The New York Times .
Three Western drug makers are progressing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of thousands of participants .
The three are AstraZeneca , which is partnering with Oxford University in England ; Moderna , collaborating with the US National Institutes of Health ; and the Pfizer/BioNTech alliance .
By the nature of the trials , it is difficult to predict when reliable results will emerge .
Half of the participants in such trials receive an experimental vaccine , while the other half are given a placebo .
Under normal procedures , test administrators must wait -- probably for months -- to see whether there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of the two groups .
The US Food and Drug Administration however has raised the possibility that a vaccine might be given emergency approval before the end of trials .
A request for such extraordinary approval would have to come from the vaccine developer , FDA chief Stephen Hahn told the Financial Times in an interview published Sunday .
The FDA has faced mounting criticism from the medical community that it is bowing to political pressure from President Donald Trump , who has been pushing hard for a vaccine , saying one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In March , the FDA gave emergency authorization for the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 after Trump repeatedly praised its use ; the authorization had to be withdrawn in June after serious side effects emerged .
More recently , Hahn delivered a far too optimistic appraisal , during a news conference with Trump , of the effectiveness of convalescent plasma against the virus .
He said it could save 35 out of 100 patients ; the more likely number , experts said , is five in 100 .
`` This means mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FIFTY-NINE DAYS .
Is any # COVID19 # vaccine likely to have completed Phase 3 safety and efficacy clinical trials , and gone through full scientific and @ US_FDA review in 59 days ? ''
award-winning epidemiology writer Laurie Garrett asked on Twitter .
`` To my knowledge , none of the US # COVID19 # vaccines have finished even enrolling test subjects for Phase 3 trials .
Rushing this to completion within 59 days is DANGEROUS . ''
Hahn , however , has insisted he is not acting under pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a `` science , medicine , data decision . ''
Top government scientist Anthony Fauci has said on several occasions that a vaccine should be ready between the end of 2020 and the first half of 2021 .
`` I believe that by the time we get to the end of this calendar year that we will feel comfortable that we do have a safe and effective vaccine , '' Fauci told NBC .
The US has registered more than six million Covid-19 cases -- almost a quarter of the global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University .

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The Trump administration has urged US states to get ready to distribute a potential Covid-19 vaccine by November 1 -- two days before the presidential election.
Dallas-based wholesaler McKesson Corp. has a deal with the federal government and will be requesting permits to set up distribution centers when a vaccine becomes available.
"The normal time required to obtain these permits presents a significant barrier to the success of this urgent public health program," Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told states in an August 27 letter.
"CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities."
Redfield asked states to consider waiving requirements that would "prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by Nov. 1, 2020."
The CDC provided states with documents giving details of a vaccine rollout plan, adding that they would either be approved as licensed vaccines or under emergency use authorization.
Recipients would probably require a second "booster" dose, a few weeks after the first, according to the documents.
"Vaccine and ancillary supplies will be procured and distributed by the federal government at no cost to enrolled Covid-19 vaccination providers," say the documents, which also went to New York City, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and San Antonio.
- Serious side effects -
Priority will be given to essential workers, national security officials, seniors and members of vulnerable racial and ethnic groups, according to The New York Times.
Three Western drug makers are progressing with their Phase 3 clinical trials, involving tens of thousands of participants.
The three are AstraZeneca, which is partnering with Oxford University in England; Moderna, collaborating with the US National Institutes of Health; and the Pfizer/BioNTech alliance.
By the nature of the trials, it is difficult to predict when reliable results will emerge.
Half of the participants in such trials receive an experimental vaccine, while the other half are given a placebo.
Under normal procedures, test administrators must wait -- probably for months -- to see whether there is a statistically significant difference in the infection rate of the two groups.
The US Food and Drug Administration however has raised the possibility that a vaccine might be given emergency approval before the end of trials.
A request for such extraordinary approval would have to come from the vaccine developer, FDA chief Stephen Hahn told the Financial Times in an interview published Sunday.
The FDA has faced mounting criticism from the medical community that it is bowing to political pressure from President Donald Trump, who has been pushing hard for a vaccine, saying one might be ready before the election.
In March, the FDA gave emergency authorization for the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19 after Trump repeatedly praised its use; the authorization had to be withdrawn in June after serious side effects emerged.
- 'Safe and effective' -
More recently, Hahn delivered a far too optimistic appraisal, during a news conference with Trump, of the effectiveness of convalescent plasma against the virus.
He said it could save 35 out of 100 patients; the more likely number, experts said, is five in 100.
"This means mass vaccination nationwide could start in 59 days. FIFTY-NINE DAYS. Is any #COVID19 #vaccine likely to have completed Phase 3 safety and efficacy clinical trials, and gone through full scientific and @US_FDA review in 59 days?" award-winning epidemiology writer Laurie Garrett asked on Twitter.
"To my knowledge, none of the US #COVID19 #vaccines have finished even enrolling test subjects for Phase 3 trials. Rushing this to completion within 59 days is DANGEROUS."
Hahn, however, has insisted he is not acting under pressure from Trump, arguing that any vaccine approval would be a "science, medicine, data decision."
Top government scientist Anthony Fauci has said on several occasions that a vaccine should be ready between the end of 2020 and the first half of 2021.
"I believe that by the time we get to the end of this calendar year that we will feel comfortable that we do have a safe and effective vaccine," Fauci told NBC.
The US has registered more than six million Covid-19 cases -- almost a quarter of the global total -- and 185,000 deaths, according to Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-02--Maduro invites UN, EU observers to Venezuela election

President Nicolas Maduro has invited UN and EU observers to monintor the country 's December elections , which opposition parties plan to boycott The Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday it had invited the leaders of the United Nations and European Union to send observers to monitor parliamentary elections in December .
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Twitter that a letter had been sent to UN chief Antonio Guterres and EU top diplomat Josep Borrell , outlining `` the broad electoral guarantees agreed for the upcoming parliamentary elections , '' and inviting them to send observers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pardoned more than 100 lawmakers and associates of opposition leader Juan Guaido `` in the interests of promoting national reconciliation '' ahead of the polls .
Guaido dismissed the move as a ploy to try to legitimize the upcoming elections , which the main opposition has said it will boycott .
Last month , Borrell called for the elections to be postponed saying that `` the conditions for a transparent , inclusive , free and fair electoral process '' did not exist .
Neither were there sufficient guarantees `` for the European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observation mission , '' he said .
However , Borrell indicated on Tuesday that the release of prisoners `` is good news and a sine qua non condition to continue advancing in the organization of free , inclusive and transparent elections . ''
The UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet also welcomed the move in a statement on Tuesday .
In January 2019 , National Assembly speaker Guaido challenged Maduro 's authority by declaring himself acting president , claiming Maduro had stolen his 2018 re-election in a rigged vote .
Guaido quickly received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the United States , which has dismissed Maduro 's prisoner release as a `` token '' measure and said he continued to hold hundreds of political prisoners , undermining the conditions required to hold a free and fair election .

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The Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday it had invited the leaders of the United Nations and European Union to send observers to monitor parliamentary elections in December.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Twitter that a letter had been sent to UN chief Antonio Guterres and EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, outlining "the broad electoral guarantees agreed for the upcoming parliamentary elections," and inviting them to send observers.
The move came a day after Maduro pardoned more than 100 lawmakers and associates of opposition leader Juan Guaido "in the interests of promoting national reconciliation" ahead of the polls.
Guaido dismissed the move as a ploy to try to legitimize the upcoming elections, which the main opposition has said it will boycott.
Last month, Borrell called for the elections to be postponed saying that "the conditions for a transparent, inclusive, free and fair electoral process" did not exist.
Neither were there sufficient guarantees "for the European Union to be able to deploy an electoral observation mission," he said.
However, Borrell indicated on Tuesday that the release of prisoners "is good news and a sine qua non condition to continue advancing in the organization of free, inclusive and transparent elections."
The UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet also welcomed the move in a statement on Tuesday.
In January 2019, National Assembly speaker Guaido challenged Maduro's authority by declaring himself acting president, claiming Maduro had stolen his 2018 re-election in a rigged vote.
Guaido quickly received the backing of more than 50 countries including the United States, which has dismissed Maduro's prisoner release as a "token" measure and said he continued to hold hundreds of political prisoners, undermining the conditions required to hold a free and fair election.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-02--Rahm excited for chance at $15 mn, Player of Year prizes

Second-ranked Jon Rahm is excited about his chances at this week 's US PGA Tour Championship , where a $ 15 million playoff crown and Player of the Year award are up for grabs .
The season-ending showdown for the FedEx Cup features 30 players at East Lake in Atlanta with the world 's top-ranked golfers owning an edge on the field at Friday 's start .
`` Excited to be here .
This is the highest I 've entered , '' Rahm said .
`` I 'm excited for that , excited about my game . ''
World number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rahm in an epic playoff fight at the BMW Championship last Sunday , tees off at 10-under when play begins Thursday , an edge earned thanks to his US PGA Tour season points crown .
Spain 's Rahm will open on 8-under , third-ranked American Justin Thomas starts at 7-under , American Webb Simpson begins on 6-under and PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa tees off at 5-under with others as far back as 10 strokes adrift to start .
`` You still need to play really well even if you start with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's a nice little cushion , but ...
If I made up three strokes in one round , it 's not that many .
`` ( Chasers ) have the pressure of the FedEx Cup on your shoulders four days in a row .
If you 're behind , it almost helps because you already know where the leader is at . ''
East Lake also is the sort of course where strokes can find their way onto the scorecard quickly .
`` The course is a challenge .
Every part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Rahm said .
`` It 's not one of those where you can somehow have a weak spot and win it .
`` If you do n't happen to hit it that good , that 's how much better your putting and chipping needs to be .
`` It 's a winner take all situation .
The objective is pretty clear . ''
All includes a $ 15 million playoff prize for the winner after Monday 's final round .
`` The money is great , but we 're all here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked what he would do with $ 15 million .
`` Hopefully , if I manage it properly , my kids and possibly my grandkids and even my great grandkids might have their way paid through college . ''
The PGA Player of the Year crown is likely at stake this week as well with Thomas , Johnson , Rahm , Simpson and Morikawa all owning two titles this season .
`` I think it comes to who , if any one of us , wins this week , who gets that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I hope it 's me . ''
Rahm won the Memorial in July , a month after the tour returned from three months off due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
There have still been no events with spectators .
`` After quarantine and taking so long off , it just took a while to get everything working the right way , '' Rahm said .
`` Even though I won Memorial , I still had some weeks where I was a little off . ''
Rahm and Johnson will be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first Cup title .
`` I do think we bring out the best in each other , '' Rahm said .
`` I would n't be surprised if we both play really good this week . ''
Rahm doubts last week 's long playoff putt to win will give him any sort of edge on Johnson , who won the week before at Boston .
`` He probably moved on as soon as that playoff was over , '' Rahm said .
`` I 'm expecting him to come in with fireworks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been amazed how well the tour has avoided a COVID-19 outbreak while traveling across the United States .
`` It 's a testament to all the players and caddies out there that have been as careful as possible , '' he said .
`` We see other sports struggling with it .
`` I would like to hang out with friends and go to restaurants and have a good time and a weekend off but I ca n't .
You ca n't risk it because I know I can test positive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't want to do that . ''
`` It 's clear if you do what you 're supposed to do , sports can go on , and I think we 're a perfect example . ''

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Second-ranked Jon Rahm is excited about his chances at this week's US PGA Tour Championship, where a $15 million playoff crown and Player of the Year award are up for grabs.
The season-ending showdown for the FedEx Cup features 30 players at East Lake in Atlanta with the world's top-ranked golfers owning an edge on the field at Friday's start.
"Excited to be here. This is the highest I've entered," Rahm said. "I'm excited for that, excited about my game."
World number one Dustin Johnson, who lost to Rahm in an epic playoff fight at the BMW Championship last Sunday, tees off at 10-under when play begins Thursday, an edge earned thanks to his US PGA Tour season points crown.
Spain's Rahm will open on 8-under, third-ranked American Justin Thomas starts at 7-under, American Webb Simpson begins on 6-under and PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa tees off at 5-under with others as far back as 10 strokes adrift to start.
"You still need to play really well even if you start with the lead," Rahm said. "It's a nice little cushion, but... If I made up three strokes in one round, it's not that many.
"(Chasers) have the pressure of the FedEx Cup on your shoulders four days in a row. If you're behind, it almost helps because you already know where the leader is at."
East Lake also is the sort of course where strokes can find their way onto the scorecard quickly.
"The course is a challenge. Every part of your game needs to be solid," Rahm said. "It's not one of those where you can somehow have a weak spot and win it.
"If you don't happen to hit it that good, that's how much better your putting and chipping needs to be.
"It's a winner take all situation. The objective is pretty clear."
All includes a $15 million playoff prize for the winner after Monday's final round.
"The money is great, but we're all here to be the best," Rahm said when asked what he would do with $15 million.
"Hopefully, if I manage it properly, my kids and possibly my grandkids and even my great grandkids might have their way paid through college."
The PGA Player of the Year crown is likely at stake this week as well with Thomas, Johnson, Rahm, Simpson and Morikawa all owning two titles this season.
"I think it comes to who, if any one of us, wins this week, who gets that elusive third win," Rahm said. "I hope it's me."
Rahm won the Memorial in July, a month after the tour returned from three months off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There have still been no events with spectators.
"After quarantine and taking so long off, it just took a while to get everything working the right way," Rahm said. "Even though I won Memorial, I still had some weeks where I was a little off."
Rahm and Johnson will be in the last pair Friday, each chasing his first Cup title.
"I do think we bring out the best in each other," Rahm said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we both play really good this week."
Rahm doubts last week's long playoff putt to win will give him any sort of edge on Johnson, who won the week before at Boston.
"He probably moved on as soon as that playoff was over," Rahm said. "I'm expecting him to come in with fireworks and come on strong."
- Setting virus example -
Rahm has been amazed how well the tour has avoided a COVID-19 outbreak while traveling across the United States.
"It's a testament to all the players and caddies out there that have been as careful as possible," he said. "We see other sports struggling with it.
"I would like to hang out with friends and go to restaurants and have a good time and a weekend off but I can't. You can't risk it because I know I can test positive and indirectly put somebody else in danger. I don't want to do that."
"It's clear if you do what you're supposed to do, sports can go on, and I think we're a perfect example."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-02--US slaps sanctions on war crimes court prosecutor

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions on the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court , Fatou Bensouda US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday slapped sanctions on the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court -- a move that The Hague-based tribunal called a `` serious '' attack against the rule of law .
The economic sanctions against Fatou Bensouda and another senior ICC official , Phakiso Mochochoko , after earlier visa bans on Bensouda and others failed to head off the court 's war crimes probe into US military personnel in Afghanistan .
`` Today we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICC continues to target Americans , sadly , '' Pompeo said .
`` These coercive acts , directed at an international judicial institution and its civil servants , are unprecedented and constitute serious attacks against the court , the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice , and the rule of law more generally , '' it said in a statement .
The sanctions freeze the US assets of the two officials , and bar any US individuals from doing business with them .
President Donald Trump had authorized sanctions on the ICC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US troops .
Pompeo at the time referred to the ICC as a `` kangaroo court '' and warned that if US soldiers were targeted , those of US allies in Afghanistan risked the same treatment .
Despite the new sanctions , the ICC appeared to give no ground on the issue , saying it `` continues to stand firmly by its personnel and its mission of fighting impunity for the world 's most serious crimes . ''
And the head of the ICC 's Assembly of States Parties , O-Gon Kwon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discuss how to support the tribunal in the face of the US measures .
The US measures `` only serve to weaken our common endeavor to fight impunity for mass atrocities , '' Kwon said .
The sanctions were announced just two months before US elections , in which Trump is running for re-election in part on his record of standing up to international institutions that do n't bow to US demands .
But Washington 's move also added to the broader pressure on the ICC to shore up its legitimacy , 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war crimes , crimes against humanity and genocide .
The United States -- like Russia , China , Israel , Syria and a number of other countries -- is not a member of the ICC , and its opposition to the court is longstanding .
In 2002 , the US Congress even passed the so-called `` Hague Invasion Act '' allowing the US president to authorize military force to free any US personnel held by the ICC , in theory making an invasion of Dutch shores a possibility .
But the investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US military and civilian officials has turned Washington 's low-level opposition into a concerted campaign against the institution .
The United States argues that it has its own procedures in place to investigate accusations against troops .
Trump , however , used his executive powers last year to clear three military members over war crimes , including in Afghanistan .
Also underpinning Washington 's enmity is the ICC 's investigation into alleged war crimes by US ally Israel against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza .
Last year the Trump administration revoked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court has continued with the probe , leading to the president 's June decision to permit economic sanctions against the court .
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said his country was disappointed over the US move .
Balkees Jarrah , senior counsel at Human Rights Watch , said the sanctions move `` marks a shameful new low for US commitments to justice for victims of the worst crimes . ''

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday slapped sanctions on the top prosecutor of the International Criminal Court -- a move that The Hague-based tribunal called a "serious" attack against the rule of law.
The economic sanctions against Fatou Bensouda and another senior ICC official, Phakiso Mochochoko, after earlier visa bans on Bensouda and others failed to head off the court's war crimes probe into US military personnel in Afghanistan.
"Today we take the next step, because the ICC continues to target Americans, sadly," Pompeo said.
The ICC quickly fired back.
"These coercive acts, directed at an international judicial institution and its civil servants, are unprecedented and constitute serious attacks against the court, the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, and the rule of law more generally," it said in a statement.
The sanctions freeze the US assets of the two officials, and bar any US individuals from doing business with them.
- 'Kangaroo court' -
President Donald Trump had authorized sanctions on the ICC on June 11 over its investigation of US troops.
Pompeo at the time referred to the ICC as a "kangaroo court" and warned that if US soldiers were targeted, those of US allies in Afghanistan risked the same treatment.
Despite the new sanctions, the ICC appeared to give no ground on the issue, saying it "continues to stand firmly by its personnel and its mission of fighting impunity for the world's most serious crimes."
And the head of the ICC's Assembly of States Parties, O-Gon Kwon, said the oversight body would meet to discuss how to support the tribunal in the face of the US measures.
The US measures "only serve to weaken our common endeavor to fight impunity for mass atrocities," Kwon said.
- Challenge to court's legitimacy -
The sanctions were announced just two months before US elections, in which Trump is running for re-election in part on his record of standing up to international institutions that don't bow to US demands.
But Washington's move also added to the broader pressure on the ICC to shore up its legitimacy, 18 years after it was founded to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
The United States -- like Russia, China, Israel, Syria and a number of other countries -- is not a member of the ICC, and its opposition to the court is longstanding.
In 2002, the US Congress even passed the so-called "Hague Invasion Act" allowing the US president to authorize military force to free any US personnel held by the ICC, in theory making an invasion of Dutch shores a possibility.
- 'New low' -
But the investigation into alleged wartime atrocities in Afghanistan possibly involving US military and civilian officials has turned Washington's low-level opposition into a concerted campaign against the institution.
The United States argues that it has its own procedures in place to investigate accusations against troops.
Trump, however, used his executive powers last year to clear three military members over war crimes, including in Afghanistan.
Also underpinning Washington's enmity is the ICC's investigation into alleged war crimes by US ally Israel against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Last year the Trump administration revoked Bensouda's US visa, but the court has continued with the probe, leading to the president's June decision to permit economic sanctions against the court.
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said his country was disappointed over the US move.
Balkees Jarrah, senior counsel at Human Rights Watch, said the sanctions move "marks a shameful new low for US commitments to justice for victims of the worst crimes."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-02--Chapman gets three-game ban, one each for Yankees-Rays managers

New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman was issued a three-game ban by Major League Baseball on Wednesday while managers Aaron Boone and Kevin Cash were each given one-game suspensions .
The punishments , including fines for each of undisclosed amounts , were handed down after a benches-clearing confrontation at the conclusion of the Yankees ' 5-3 victory over Cash 's Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night .
Cuban-born Chapman was disciplined for intentionally throwing a pitch near the head of Tampa Bay 's Mike Brosseau in the top of the ninth inning .
He has been punished before for intentional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the teams to empty the benches and confront each other after the contest .
Yankees manager Boone was fined and banned as a result of Chapman 's actions .
Cash was banned after being ejected from the game and post-game comments that included noting his teams have pitchers who can throw the ball hard and fast as well .
Boone and Cash were set to miss Wednesday 's game between the clubs at Yankee Stadium .
Unless appealed , Chapman 's ban would start Wednesday as well .
The Rays own the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the Yankees are second to Tampa Bay in the AL East division at 20-14 .

New York (AFP) –
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New York Yankees pitcher Aroldis Chapman was issued a three-game ban by Major League Baseball on Wednesday while managers Aaron Boone and Kevin Cash were each given one-game suspensions.
The punishments, including fines for each of undisclosed amounts, were handed down after a benches-clearing confrontation at the conclusion of the Yankees' 5-3 victory over Cash's Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
Cuban-born Chapman was disciplined for intentionally throwing a pitch near the head of Tampa Bay's Mike Brosseau in the top of the ninth inning. He has been punished before for intentional throwing at the head.
That prompted the teams to empty the benches and confront each other after the contest.
Yankees manager Boone was fined and banned as a result of Chapman's actions.
Cash was banned after being ejected from the game and post-game comments that included noting his teams have pitchers who can throw the ball hard and fast as well.
Boone and Cash were set to miss Wednesday's game between the clubs at Yankee Stadium. Unless appealed, Chapman's ban would start Wednesday as well.
The Rays own the best record in the American League at 25-12 while the Yankees are second to Tampa Bay in the AL East division at 20-14.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--China threatens to retaliate after US tightens leash on Beijing diplomats

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the measures imposed on Chinese diplomats were reciprocity for restrictions long placed on Washington 's envoys China will deliver `` a proper and necessary '' response to new curbs by the State Department on its envoys to the United States , the foreign ministry said Thursday .
America 's top diplomat Mike Pompeo introduced the restrictions on Wednesday , including mandating Chinese diplomats to seek approval to visit universities or meet with local officials .
He said the measures were a counterpoint to long-established controls imposed on US diplomats in China .
American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet with officials , conduct outreach or even visit universities .
A US Embassy spokesman in Beijing said permission is `` routinely denied '' , or cancelled at the last minute .
Unapproved travel to Tibet is also off-limits .
The two countries are locked in a rancourous power struggle over trade , security and tech , while relations have been further poisoned by the coronavirus and rights issues from Hong Kong to the Uighur minority in Xinjiang .
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing on Thursday warned of `` a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramped-up restrictions on its envoys .
The curbs on Chinese diplomats are `` a serious violation of the international law and the basic norms of international relations '' , Hua Chunying told reporters .
Pompeo 's latest measures mean China 's diplomats in the US will also have to seek approval for any cultural event outside embassy or consulate properties involving more than 50 people .
Additionally , embassy social media accounts will have to be identified as accounts of the Chinese government .
The US Embassy spokesman told AFP the US was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's severe constraints '' .
Still , the moves will likely dial up diplomatic hostilities between the nations .
In July the US ordered the Chinese consulate in Houston to close , prompting Beijing to shutter the American mission in Chengdu .

Beijing (AFP) –
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China will deliver "a proper and necessary" response to new curbs by the State Department on its envoys to the United States, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
America's top diplomat Mike Pompeo introduced the restrictions on Wednesday, including mandating Chinese diplomats to seek approval to visit universities or meet with local officials.
He said the measures were a counterpoint to long-established controls imposed on US diplomats in China.
American envoys have to ask permission from authorities to meet with officials, conduct outreach or even visit universities.
A US Embassy spokesman in Beijing said permission is "routinely denied", or cancelled at the last minute.
Unapproved travel to Tibet is also off-limits.
The two countries are locked in a rancourous power struggle over trade, security and tech, while relations have been further poisoned by the coronavirus and rights issues from Hong Kong to the Uighur minority in Xinjiang.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing on Thursday warned of "a proper and necessary response" to the ramped-up restrictions on its envoys.
The curbs on Chinese diplomats are "a serious violation of the international law and the basic norms of international relations", Hua Chunying told reporters.
Pompeo's latest measures mean China's diplomats in the US will also have to seek approval for any cultural event outside embassy or consulate properties involving more than 50 people.
Additionally, embassy social media accounts will have to be identified as accounts of the Chinese government.
The US Embassy spokesman told AFP the US was not mirroring "every aspect of China's severe constraints".
Still, the moves will likely dial up diplomatic hostilities between the nations.
In July the US ordered the Chinese consulate in Houston to close, prompting Beijing to shutter the American mission in Chengdu.
burs-apj/rox/fox
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Williams family announce departure from Formula One

Claire Williams is stepping down from her role at the Williams Formula One team The Williams family will cut links @ @ @ @ @ Frank Williams after the Italian Grand Prix this weekend , the Formula One outfit announced @ @ @ @ @ daughter Claire Williams , who has acted as the de facto boss of the British @ @ @ @ @ she would be departing her role as deputy team principal following the team 's sale @ @ @ @ @ .
Williams , winners of 16 drivers ' and constructors ' world championships , were @ @ @ @ @ Capital .
Claire Williams said : `` With the future of the team now secured @ @ @ @ @ appropriate time for us to step away from the sport .
`` We believe now @ @ @ @ @ hand over the reins and give the new owners the opportunity to take the team @ @ @ @ @

London (AFP) –
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The Williams family will cut links with the team founded by Frank Williams after the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, the Formula One outfit announced on Thursday.
Frank's daughter Claire Williams, who has acted as the de facto boss of the British team since 2013, revealed she would be departing her role as deputy team principal following the team's sale to a US investment firm.
Williams, winners of 16 drivers' and constructors' world championships, were sold last month to Dorilton Capital.
Claire Williams said: "With the future of the team now secured, this feels like the appropriate time for us to step away from the sport.
"We believe now is the right time to hand over the reins and give the new owners the opportunity to take the team into the future."
Frank Williams, 78, founded the team in 1977.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Man City's parent company adds French club Troyes to global portfolio

Manchester City 's parent company has invested in French Ligue 2 side Troyes , taking the total number of clubs in its global stable to 10 .
The City Football Group will become the new majority shareholder in Troyes after buying the stake from previous owner Daniel Masoni .
Along with Manchester City and Troyes , CFG also owns New York City , Melbourne City , Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan , Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay , Girona in Spain , Sichuan Jiuniu in China , Mumbai City in India and Lommel SK in Belgium .
Troyes were fourth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the 2019/20 campaign was abandoned due to the coronavirus .
Ferran Soriano , chief executive of CFG , said : `` We have had an interest in French football for some time and have long admired ESTAC ( Troyes ) , so we are delighted to have completed the acquisition of our 10th club and have a permanent presence in France .
`` This is a milestone for City Football Group and demonstrates how our model continues to adapt and grow in a relatively short space of time .
`` At City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play beautiful football , identify and develop grassroots talent and have a permanent presence in the world 's football centres . ''

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Manchester City's parent company has invested in French Ligue 2 side Troyes, taking the total number of clubs in its global stable to 10.
The City Football Group will become the new majority shareholder in Troyes after buying the stake from previous owner Daniel Masoni.
Along with Manchester City and Troyes, CFG also owns New York City, Melbourne City, Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, Montevideo City Torque in Uruguay, Girona in Spain, Sichuan Jiuniu in China, Mumbai City in India and Lommel SK in Belgium.
Troyes were fourth in the French second tier last season before the 2019/20 campaign was abandoned due to the coronavirus.
Ferran Soriano, chief executive of CFG, said: "We have had an interest in French football for some time and have long admired ESTAC (Troyes), so we are delighted to have completed the acquisition of our 10th club and have a permanent presence in France.
"This is a milestone for City Football Group and demonstrates how our model continues to adapt and grow in a relatively short space of time.
"At City Football Group, our objective remains to play beautiful football, identify and develop grassroots talent and have a permanent presence in the world's football centres."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Pakistan backlash grows over Charlie Hebdo cartoons

Backlash against French magazine Charlie Hebdo has grown in Pakistan over the magazine republishing cartoons of Prophet Mohammed Anti-France demonstrators rallied Thursday in Pakistan and the foreign minister lodged a diplomatic complaint as the backlash grew against a French magazine republishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed .
Satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo , the target of a massacre by Islamist gunmen in 2015 , reprinted the controversial caricatures this week to mark the start of the trial of the alleged accomplices in the attack .
Dozens of men gathered in the northern city of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir , yelling slogans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dogs '' and `` Charlie Hebdo , stop '' .
`` The government of Pakistan should immediately end its diplomatic relations with France as a protest , '' Sunni cleric Mohammad Zaman said at the rally .
The protest ended peacefully after the men stomped on a French flag , dowsed it in petrol and then set it ablaze .
In a video message , Pakistan 's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he strongly condemned Charlie Hebdo 's action and that he had lodged a protest with the French ambassador in Islamabad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sentiments of millions of Muslims , '' he said .
`` I hope that this despicable act will not be repeated and those responsible for it will be taken to a court of law . ''
Far-right Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan said it was organising a protest after Friday prayers in the eastern city of Lahore .
Other protests were expected in the cities of Rawalpindi and Karachi .
TLP has organised huge protests over alleged blasphemy in the past .
It paralysed much of Pakistan in 2018 with violent protests against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of blasphemy .
Images of the Prophet are proscribed in Islam .
Insulting religion under Pakistan 's strict blasphemy laws can carry the death penalty .
Twelve people , including some of France 's most celebrated cartoonists , were killed on January 7 , 2015 , when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris .

Muzaffarabad (Pakistan) (AFP) –
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Anti-France demonstrators rallied Thursday in Pakistan and the foreign minister lodged a diplomatic complaint as the backlash grew against a French magazine republishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
Satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, the target of a massacre by Islamist gunmen in 2015, reprinted the controversial caricatures this week to mark the start of the trial of the alleged accomplices in the attack.
Dozens of men gathered in the northern city of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, yelling slogans that included "Stop barking, French dogs" and "Charlie Hebdo, stop".
"The government of Pakistan should immediately end its diplomatic relations with France as a protest," Sunni cleric Mohammad Zaman said at the rally.
The protest ended peacefully after the men stomped on a French flag, dowsed it in petrol and then set it ablaze.
In a video message, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said he strongly condemned Charlie Hebdo's action and that he had lodged a protest with the French ambassador in Islamabad.
"The published caricatures have hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims," he said.
"I hope that this despicable act will not be repeated and those responsible for it will be taken to a court of law."
Far-right Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan said it was organising a protest after Friday prayers in the eastern city of Lahore. Other protests were expected in the cities of Rawalpindi and Karachi.
TLP has organised huge protests over alleged blasphemy in the past. It paralysed much of Pakistan in 2018 with violent protests against the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.
Images of the Prophet are proscribed in Islam. Insulting religion under Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws can carry the death penalty.
Twelve people, including some of France's most celebrated cartoonists, were killed on January 7, 2015, when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Nordics welfare model limits corona economic damage

Sweden refused to lock down the country , and kept schools , restaurants and most businesses open throughout the coronavirus pandemic While the coronavirus crisis has pushed Europe 's economies into record second quarter slumps , Nordic countries have fared better than most , with their well-oiled welfare states helping to limit the damage .
Without the government 's help , Markus Larsson insists , `` we would have had to lay off maybe 20 more people . ''
At the head of a chain of bakeries in Linkoping , southern Sweden , the small-business owner has the state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Larsson benefitted from state-sponsored reductions for his business 's rent and social benefits charges , and was able to reduce his staff 's working hours while the government topped up their salaries .
Those measures made it possible for him to limit lay-offs to around 20 , out of a staff of 100 .
Sweden has made headlines around the world for its softer approach to the new coronavirus , refusing to lockdown and keeping schools , restaurants and most businesses open throughout the pandemic .
It now has the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at 573 per million .
In mid-March , the government was quick to announce economic aid worth up to 28 billion euros ( $ 33 billion ) to help businesses .
In Sweden -- as in neighbouring Denmark , Finland , Norway and Iceland -- `` policy response to combat the economic impact of the pandemic has been prompt , large , and well-designed , '' Robert Bergqvist , analyst at SEB bank , told AFP .
Denmark , Finland , Norway and Iceland all adopted stricter confinement measures than Sweden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses largely stayed open there as well .
In Finland , `` we were able to get the virus under control relatively quickly with a relatively modest lockdown .
We never had to close down the whole economy , or all the stores or factories , '' said Danske Bank economist Jukka Appelqvist .
Like elsewhere , the Nordic countries introduced state aid , compensated employees whose hours were reduced , and agreed to postpone tax payments , but the effects seem to have paid off more in the Nordics than elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sweden and Denmark all registered `` historic '' contractions in the second quarter , their economies shrinking year-on-year by between 6.3 and 8.2 percent .
By comparison , the eurozone -- of which only Finland is a member -- saw overall gross domestic product reduced by 15 percent , according to Eurostat , weighed down by particularly sharp falls in France , Italy and Spain .
The Nordics enjoy longstanding and robust welfare states , solid public finances , strong online cultures facilitating working from home , and a large public sector , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to economists .
With safety nets firmly in place before the crisis and relative job security , households remained confident and continued to spend .
`` People in the Nordic countries never got the feeling that they might end up in a catastrophic financial situation , '' says Kjersti Haugland , chief economist at DNB Markets .
`` Fear never got the better of them . ''
Norwegians , for example , took advantage of the time freed up by furloughs and semi-confinement to renovate their homes and stay in shape @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sales of construction materials and bicycles , hiking and sporting gear soared .
Meanwhile one of Europe 's sectors hardest hit by the crisis , tourism , is only of modest importance in the Nordics .
The only exception is Iceland , a `` very small economy ( with ) volatile quarterly numbers , '' says Swedbank economist Andreas Wallstrom .
Its economy shrank by 9.3 percent in the second quarter .
`` Few countries are as dependent on tourism as Iceland is , '' noted Erna Bjorg Sverrisdottir , chief economist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourism , which accounted for eight percent of Iceland 's economy in 2019 , is expected to leave its mark : Statistics Iceland predicted the country 's GDP would shrink by 8.4 percent this year .
That is a much deeper contraction than in the rest of the region , where economists questioned by AFP have forecast declines ranging from -3.5 percent to -5 percent -- less than half of the drop expected in the eurozone .

Stockholm (AFP) –
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While the coronavirus crisis has pushed Europe's economies into record second quarter slumps, Nordic countries have fared better than most, with their well-oiled welfare states helping to limit the damage.
Without the government's help, Markus Larsson insists, "we would have had to lay off maybe 20 more people."
At the head of a chain of bakeries in Linkoping, southern Sweden, the small-business owner has the state to thank for helping keep his business afloat.
Larsson benefitted from state-sponsored reductions for his business's rent and social benefits charges, and was able to reduce his staff's working hours while the government topped up their salaries.
Those measures made it possible for him to limit lay-offs to around 20, out of a staff of 100.
Sweden has made headlines around the world for its softer approach to the new coronavirus, refusing to lockdown and keeping schools, restaurants and most businesses open throughout the pandemic.
It now has the world's eighth-highest death toll relative to its population, at 573 per million.
In mid-March, the government was quick to announce economic aid worth up to 28 billion euros ($33 billion) to help businesses.
In Sweden -- as in neighbouring Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland -- "policy response to combat the economic impact of the pandemic has been prompt, large, and well-designed," Robert Bergqvist, analyst at SEB bank, told AFP.
Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland all adopted stricter confinement measures than Sweden, including shutting schools, but shops and businesses largely stayed open there as well.
In Finland, "we were able to get the virus under control relatively quickly with a relatively modest lockdown. We never had to close down the whole economy, or all the stores or factories," said Danske Bank economist Jukka Appelqvist.
Like elsewhere, the Nordic countries introduced state aid, compensated employees whose hours were reduced, and agreed to postpone tax payments, but the effects seem to have paid off more in the Nordics than elsewhere.
- Consumer confidence -
The economies of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark all registered "historic" contractions in the second quarter, their economies shrinking year-on-year by between 6.3 and 8.2 percent.
By comparison, the eurozone -- of which only Finland is a member -- saw overall gross domestic product reduced by 15 percent, according to Eurostat, weighed down by particularly sharp falls in France, Italy and Spain.
Why the big difference?
The Nordics enjoy longstanding and robust welfare states, solid public finances, strong online cultures facilitating working from home, and a large public sector, all of which helped limit the damage, according to economists.
With safety nets firmly in place before the crisis and relative job security, households remained confident and continued to spend.
"People in the Nordic countries never got the feeling that they might end up in a catastrophic financial situation," says Kjersti Haugland, chief economist at DNB Markets. "Fear never got the better of them."
Norwegians, for example, took advantage of the time freed up by furloughs and semi-confinement to renovate their homes and stay in shape: at the peak of the pandemic, sales of construction materials and bicycles, hiking and sporting gear soared.
- Little tourism impact -
Meanwhile one of Europe's sectors hardest hit by the crisis, tourism, is only of modest importance in the Nordics.
The only exception is Iceland, a "very small economy (with) volatile quarterly numbers," says Swedbank economist Andreas Wallstrom.
Its economy shrank by 9.3 percent in the second quarter.
"Few countries are as dependent on tourism as Iceland is," noted Erna Bjorg Sverrisdottir, chief economist at Arion Banki.
The slump in tourism, which accounted for eight percent of Iceland's economy in 2019, is expected to leave its mark: Statistics Iceland predicted the country's GDP would shrink by 8.4 percent this year.
That is a much deeper contraction than in the rest of the region, where economists questioned by AFP have forecast declines ranging from -3.5 percent to -5 percent -- less than half of the drop expected in the eurozone.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--WRC returns with Tanak looking for home win in Estonia

Ott Tanak is favourite going into his home rally in Estonia as the WRC comes out of lockdown Almost six months after the Rally of Mexico , the World Rally Championship emerges from behind the coronavirus mask on Friday with the start of the first ever Rally of Estonia .
Just three rounds of the championship had been staged before the virus prompted a shutdown of the season , at which point six-time champion Sebastien Ogier was leading the standings .
World champion Ott Tanak crashed out in the season opener at Monte Carlo but second places in Sweden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frenchman .
Tanak now has just four races in this shortened , rearranged season to try and reclaim his crown .
This weekend 's rally in his home patch of Estonia will be followed by races in Turkey ( September 18-20 ) , Sardinia ( October 8-11 ) and Belgium ( November 19-22 ) , further alterations to the calendar notwithstanding .
Hyundai driver Tanak dominated last month 's non-WRC Louna-Eesti Rally in southern Estonia which was used as a warm-up by numerous top drivers including the leading five in the championship .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home knowledge in this weekend 's race to stay with the Toyotas of Ogier , Elfyn Evans and 19-year-old Finn Kalle Rovanpera as well as Hyundai teammate Thierry Neuville , all of whom are above him in the standings .
`` The target is very easy , '' Tanak told the official WRC website .
`` We do n't know how long the season will be but , for sure , we have to take the maximum from every event now .
`` It ( Estonia ) will be a short sprint so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any more . ''
Any fears that Tanak may have been feeling the pressure from being the local hero at his country 's first ever WRC rally appear to be ill-founded .
`` I 'm completely OK , '' he told rally website Dirtfish .
`` No media .
No stress .
No nothing . ''
Ogier heads into the race as the man in charge after finishing second and fourth in Monte Carlo and Sweden before winning in Mexico .
He leads teammate Evans , who walked away from a shocking crash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points and knows that the pressure is on the Hyundais of Neuville and Tanak .
`` He ( Ogier ) do n't have to win .
He needs points , he needs to be safe , '' Toyota team boss Tommi Makinen told the WRC .
`` Sure he goes fast and he had a pretty good test and he is the clever guy .
He knows what he needs to do . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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Almost six months after the Rally of Mexico, the World Rally Championship emerges from behind the coronavirus mask on Friday with the start of the first ever Rally of Estonia.
Just three rounds of the championship had been staged before the virus prompted a shutdown of the season, at which point six-time champion Sebastien Ogier was leading the standings.
World champion Ott Tanak crashed out in the season opener at Monte Carlo but second places in Sweden and Mexico left him 24 points behind the Frenchman.
Tanak now has just four races in this shortened, rearranged season to try and reclaim his crown.
This weekend's rally in his home patch of Estonia will be followed by races in Turkey (September 18-20), Sardinia (October 8-11) and Belgium (November 19-22), further alterations to the calendar notwithstanding.
Hyundai driver Tanak dominated last month's non-WRC Louna-Eesti Rally in southern Estonia which was used as a warm-up by numerous top drivers including the leading five in the championship.
He knows he has to capitalise on home knowledge in this weekend's race to stay with the Toyotas of Ogier, Elfyn Evans and 19-year-old Finn Kalle Rovanpera as well as Hyundai teammate Thierry Neuville, all of whom are above him in the standings.
"The target is very easy," Tanak told the official WRC website.
"We don't know how long the season will be but, for sure, we have to take the maximum from every event now.
"It (Estonia) will be a short sprint so there is no way to hold back any more."
Any fears that Tanak may have been feeling the pressure from being the local hero at his country's first ever WRC rally appear to be ill-founded.
"I'm completely OK," he told rally website Dirtfish. "No media. No stress. No nothing."
Ogier heads into the race as the man in charge after finishing second and fourth in Monte Carlo and Sweden before winning in Mexico.
He leads teammate Evans, who walked away from a shocking crash in the Louna-Eesti Rally, by eight points and knows that the pressure is on the Hyundais of Neuville and Tanak.
"He (Ogier) don't have to win. He needs points, he needs to be safe," Toyota team boss Tommi Makinen told the WRC.
"Sure he goes fast and he had a pretty good test and he is the clever guy. He knows what he needs to do."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Bulgaria ruling party defiant as protests turn violent

Health officials said almost 200 people had to receive medical attention over the course of the day , including 120 police officers .
Bulgaria 's ruling party insisted Thursday Prime Minister Boyko Borisov 's government would not resign after two months of protests against his perceived tolerance of corruption erupted into the most violent day yet .
Several thousand demonstrators gathered outside parliament on Wednesday as it began its autumn session and the rally took a violent turn .
Over the course of the day there were scores of injuries and arrests in scenes unprecedented in Bulgaria in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear gas to disperse the crowds while some protesters threw powerful smoke bombs .
Police say 126 people were arrested , among them more than 60 football `` ultras '' who had previous criminal records .
`` We will not resign after these excesses , '' MP Toma Bikov from Borisov 's centre-right GERB party told parliament on Thursday .
`` This would mean that every future government could be brought down by representatives of the criminal contingent , '' Bikov said .
The wave of protests was sparked in early July by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government protection of shadowy oligarchs .
The demonstrators want Borisov and chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev to resign .
They accuse Geshev of failing to punish real criminals and instead using his powers to attack the government 's political opponents .
On Wednesday powerful smoke bombs , firecrackers and other devices were thrown at police cordons encircling parliament prompting anti-riot forces to disperse the rally by force .
Health officials said almost 200 people had to receive medical attention over the course of the day , including 120 police officers .
Several journalists were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP photographer .
After dispersing Wednesday night 's rally , police moved early Thursday to lift two protest blockades of key downtown crossroads in Sofia , saying that dangerous objects , including a Molotov cocktail , were found hidden in the tent camps .
Some protest organisers have expressed dismay at Wednesday 's violence and called for calm .
Borisov , who has been in power almost without interruption for more than a decade , has so far refused to resign before his third term expires in March next year .
In an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premier has already sacked several key ministers and has put forward a proposal for a new constitution , but protesters have dismissed these moves .
The proposal has little chance of success as Borisov lacks the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to push it through and analysts see it as an attempt to win time and cling to office .
Thirteen years after joining the EU , Bulgaria remains its poorest and most graft-ridden member , according to Transparency International 's corruption perceptions index .

Sofia (AFP) –
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Bulgaria's ruling party insisted Thursday Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's government would not resign after two months of protests against his perceived tolerance of corruption erupted into the most violent day yet.
Several thousand demonstrators gathered outside parliament on Wednesday as it began its autumn session and the rally took a violent turn.
Over the course of the day there were scores of injuries and arrests in scenes unprecedented in Bulgaria in recent years, with police using stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the crowds while some protesters threw powerful smoke bombs.
Police say 126 people were arrested, among them more than 60 football "ultras" who had previous criminal records.
"We will not resign after these excesses," MP Toma Bikov from Borisov's centre-right GERB party told parliament on Thursday.
"This would mean that every future government could be brought down by representatives of the criminal contingent," Bikov said.
The wave of protests was sparked in early July by several incidents revealing high-level corruption and perceived government protection of shadowy oligarchs.
The demonstrators want Borisov and chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev to resign.
They accuse Geshev of failing to punish real criminals and instead using his powers to attack the government's political opponents.
- Almost 200 hurt -
On Wednesday powerful smoke bombs, firecrackers and other devices were thrown at police cordons encircling parliament prompting anti-riot forces to disperse the rally by force.
Health officials said almost 200 people had to receive medical attention over the course of the day, including 120 police officers.
Several journalists were also injured by police, including an AFP photographer.
After dispersing Wednesday night's rally, police moved early Thursday to lift two protest blockades of key downtown crossroads in Sofia, saying that dangerous objects, including a Molotov cocktail, were found hidden in the tent camps.
Some protest organisers have expressed dismay at Wednesday's violence and called for calm.
Borisov, who has been in power almost without interruption for more than a decade, has so far refused to resign before his third term expires in March next year.
In an attempt to appease protesters, the veteran premier has already sacked several key ministers and has put forward a proposal for a new constitution, but protesters have dismissed these moves.
The proposal has little chance of success as Borisov lacks the two-thirds majority in parliament needed to push it through and analysts see it as an attempt to win time and cling to office.
Thirteen years after joining the EU, Bulgaria remains its poorest and most graft-ridden member, according to Transparency International's corruption perceptions index.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--British Museum acquires 'lost' drawings of Japan's Hokusai

The Hokusai drawings are available to view online and will feature in a future , free exhibition The British Museum said Thursday it had acquired 103 `` lost '' drawings from the 19th century of Japanese artist Hokusai , whose internationally renowned work includes the iconic `` The Great Wave '' .
The black-and-white drawings were composed in 1829 , when Hokusai was 70 , as illustrations for an unpublished book .
They resurfaced in Paris in 2019 after they were last publicly recorded at an auction in 1948 .
The British Museum , which boasts one of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they were especially significant coming from a period when the artist was thought to be creatively quiet following a series of personal crises .
Their subjects range from the religious and historical to the mythological , and include previously unknown features of Hokusai 's oeuvre such as a musing on the origins of human culture in ancient China , the London museum said in a statement .
`` These works are a major new re-discovery , expanding considerably our knowledge of the artist 's activities at a key period in his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Clark said .
`` All 103 pieces are treated with the customary fantasy , invention and brush skill found in Hokusai 's late works and it is wonderful that they can finally be enjoyed by the many lovers of his art worldwide , '' he said .
The drawings are available to view online and will feature in a future , free exhibition , the museum said .
Globally , Hokusai is best known for his series `` Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji '' , which includes the woodblock print of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

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The British Museum said Thursday it had acquired 103 "lost" drawings from the 19th century of Japanese artist Hokusai, whose internationally renowned work includes the iconic "The Great Wave".
The black-and-white drawings were composed in 1829, when Hokusai was 70, as illustrations for an unpublished book. They resurfaced in Paris in 2019 after they were last publicly recorded at an auction in 1948.
The British Museum, which boasts one of the world's largest Hokusai collections outside Japan, said they were especially significant coming from a period when the artist was thought to be creatively quiet following a series of personal crises.
Their subjects range from the religious and historical to the mythological, and include previously unknown features of Hokusai's oeuvre such as a musing on the origins of human culture in ancient China, the London museum said in a statement.
"These works are a major new re-discovery, expanding considerably our knowledge of the artist's activities at a key period in his life and work," honorary research fellow Tim Clark said.
"All 103 pieces are treated with the customary fantasy, invention and brush skill found in Hokusai's late works and it is wonderful that they can finally be enjoyed by the many lovers of his art worldwide," he said.
The drawings are available to view online and will feature in a future, free exhibition, the museum said.
Globally, Hokusai is best known for his series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji", which includes the woodblock print of a giant wave threatening three boats off Japan.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Waqar backs young generation to uphold Pakistan fast bowling tradition

Waqar Younis is confident that the future of Pakistan 's `` trademark '' fast bowling is in safe hands after overseeing the latest generation of quicks during their recent tour of England .
Teenage paceman Naseem Shah and 20-year-old left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi both impressed as Pakistan lost the three-match Test series 1-0 but drew the Twenty20 campaign 1-1 .
`` Fast bowling is the trademark of Pakistan cricket , '' said the 48-year-old Waqar , an outstanding fast bowler , in a Pakistan Cricket Board website column published on Thursday .
`` There have been so many great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident that the future will be bright again , '' added Waqar , who formed a celebrated partnership with left-arm quick Wasim Akram and is now Pakistan 's bowling coach .
`` We have seen already that Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi are wonderful bowlers .
Muhammad Musa , who was part of the squad in England , is another , and there are a couple in the under-19s also .
Of course , Mohammad Abbas is very seasoned and experienced . ''
Abbas , like Waqar and Wasim before him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coach would like to see the emerging quicks do the same .
`` I know from personal experience how much you can learn from playing in England , getting used to different weather and ground conditions , the pitches , and life off the field also , '' Waqar said .
`` Both Mohammad Amir ( Essex ) and Mohammad Abbas ( Leicestershire ) have been really successful for English counties and it has benefited their careers so much as well . ''
One consequence of the coronavirus is that players have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ball .
But Waqar said the Dukes ball used in England stayed harder for longer than other brands and `` made the saliva issue less of a problem '' .
Waqar , however , called on the International Cricket Council to designate just one brand of ball for all Test cricket .
`` It does n't matter which brand but the ICC should make that decision , '' he said .
`` It 's hard for bowlers to adjust to using different types of ball when they play around the world .
@

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Waqar Younis is confident that the future of Pakistan's "trademark" fast bowling is in safe hands after overseeing the latest generation of quicks during their recent tour of England.
Teenage paceman Naseem Shah and 20-year-old left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi both impressed as Pakistan lost the three-match Test series 1-0 but drew the Twenty20 campaign 1-1.
"Fast bowling is the trademark of Pakistan cricket," said the 48-year-old Waqar, an outstanding fast bowler, in a Pakistan Cricket Board website column published on Thursday.
"There have been so many great ones over the years and I am confident that the future will be bright again," added Waqar, who formed a celebrated partnership with left-arm quick Wasim Akram and is now Pakistan's bowling coach.
"We have seen already that Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi are wonderful bowlers. Muhammad Musa, who was part of the squad in England, is another, and there are a couple in the under-19s also. Of course, Mohammad Abbas is very seasoned and experienced."
Abbas, like Waqar and Wasim before him, has played in English county cricket and the coach would like to see the emerging quicks do the same.
"I know from personal experience how much you can learn from playing in England, getting used to different weather and ground conditions, the pitches, and life off the field also," Waqar said.
"Both Mohammad Amir (Essex) and Mohammad Abbas (Leicestershire) have been really successful for English counties and it has benefited their careers so much as well."
One consequence of the coronavirus is that players have been banned from using saliva to shine the ball.
But Waqar said the Dukes ball used in England stayed harder for longer than other brands and "made the saliva issue less of a problem".
Waqar, however, called on the International Cricket Council to designate just one brand of ball for all Test cricket.
"It doesn't matter which brand but the ICC should make that decision," he said. "It's hard for bowlers to adjust to using different types of ball when they play around the world."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Navalny case poisons ties between Germany, Russia

Navalny was initially treated in a local Russian hospital , where doctors said they were unable to find any toxic substances in his blood , before he was flown to Berlin for specialised treatment German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced mounting pressure Thursday to toughen her ambivalent stance toward Russia following her announcement that Berlin has `` unequivocal '' proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a deadly nerve agent .
The Navalny case is only the latest in what Berlin has seen as a series of bitter provocations by Russian President Vladimir Putin that have damaged ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But German politicians and media said a line had been crossed with the use on Navalny of military-grade Novichok , a poison first developed by the Soviet Union towards the end of the Cold War .
Merkel was confronted with insistent calls in particular to abandon the controversial German-Russian energy project Nord Stream 2 , a multi-billion-euro gas pipeline nearing completion that has drawn the ire of US and European partners alike .
`` Diplomatic rituals are no longer enough , '' the head of the German parliament 's foreign affairs committee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poisoning of Navalny we need a strong European answer which Putin understands : The EU should jointly decide to stop Nord Stream 2 , '' said Roettgen , a candidate to be the next leader of Merkel 's Christian Democratic Union party .
The top-selling Bild daily issued a full-throated appeal to abandon the pipeline , saying that pursuing it was `` tantamount to us financing Putin 's next Novichok attack '' .
Bild slammed Merkel for comments last week that Nord Stream 2 should be judged independently from Moscow 's actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pipeline as an important strategic weapon against Europe and as a vital source of funding for his war against his own people , '' it said .
Navalny fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month , with aides saying they suspect he drank a cup of spiked tea at the airport .
He was initially treated in a local Russian hospital , where doctors said they were unable to find any toxic substances in his blood , before he was flown to Berlin for specialised treatment on August 22 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a daylight murder of a former Chechen rebel commander in a Berlin park , which German prosecutors believe was ordered by Russia .
Merkel had also revealed in May that Russia had targeted her in hacking attacks , saying she had concrete proof of the `` outrageous '' spying attempts .
Moscow has denied involvement in the string of allegations , with the Kremlin saying Thursday `` there is no reason to accuse the Russian state '' over Navalny 's poisoning .
Russia has long been a divisive issue in German politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US President Donald Trump had revived sentiment that Berlin could n't afford to alienate Moscow .
Wolfgang Ischinger , the head of the Munich Security Conference , often a forum for airing Russian-Western tensions , warned against cutting ties too abruptly .
`` We ca n't put up a wall between us and Russia , '' he told public broadcaster ARD .
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas of the Social Democrats , junior partners in Merkel 's government and typically strong advocates of maintaining close ties with Russia , said Berlin would now consult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` appropriate reaction '' to the Navalny case .
In a speech earlier this week in Paris , Maas acknowledged that while `` constructive ties '' remained essential , `` dark clouds '' now hung over relations between the EU and Russia .
ARD commentator Michael Strempel noted that Merkel 's statement Wednesday that `` Navalny was meant to be silenced and I condemn this in the strongest possible terms '' marked an unprecedented hardening of her tone .
`` I have never seen the chancellor so determined on foreign policy , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever experienced her this critical and demanding of Russia . ''
Now Merkel 's credibility is on the line , he said , calling for new economic and political sanctions against Moscow .
The EU has had sanctions targeting whole sectors of the Russian economy in place since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea .
The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said the time had come to go further .
`` A European response is vital , but if the usual suspects refuse to play ball then Germany will have to react bilaterally , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after all . ''

Berlin (AFP) –
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced mounting pressure Thursday to toughen her ambivalent stance toward Russia following her announcement that Berlin has "unequivocal" proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a deadly nerve agent.
The Navalny case is only the latest in what Berlin has seen as a series of bitter provocations by Russian President Vladimir Putin that have damaged ties and called future cooperation into question.
But German politicians and media said a line had been crossed with the use on Navalny of military-grade Novichok, a poison first developed by the Soviet Union towards the end of the Cold War.
Merkel was confronted with insistent calls in particular to abandon the controversial German-Russian energy project Nord Stream 2, a multi-billion-euro gas pipeline nearing completion that has drawn the ire of US and European partners alike.
"Diplomatic rituals are no longer enough," the head of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, Norbert Roettgen, tweeted.
"After the poisoning of Navalny we need a strong European answer which Putin understands: The EU should jointly decide to stop Nord Stream 2," said Roettgen, a candidate to be the next leader of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party.
The top-selling Bild daily issued a full-throated appeal to abandon the pipeline, saying that pursuing it was "tantamount to us financing Putin's next Novichok attack".
- 'Strategic weapon' -
Bild slammed Merkel for comments last week that Nord Stream 2 should be judged independently from Moscow's actions.
"Vladimir Putin views the gas pipeline as an important strategic weapon against Europe and as a vital source of funding for his war against his own people," it said.
Navalny fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month, with aides saying they suspect he drank a cup of spiked tea at the airport.
He was initially treated in a local Russian hospital, where doctors said they were unable to find any toxic substances in his blood, before he was flown to Berlin for specialised treatment on August 22.
Navalny's poisoning comes a year after a daylight murder of a former Chechen rebel commander in a Berlin park, which German prosecutors believe was ordered by Russia.
Merkel had also revealed in May that Russia had targeted her in hacking attacks, saying she had concrete proof of the "outrageous" spying attempts.
Moscow has denied involvement in the string of allegations, with the Kremlin saying Thursday "there is no reason to accuse the Russian state" over Navalny's poisoning.
Russia has long been a divisive issue in German politics, and a deterioration in transatlantic ties under US President Donald Trump had revived sentiment that Berlin couldn't afford to alienate Moscow.
Wolfgang Ischinger, the head of the Munich Security Conference, often a forum for airing Russian-Western tensions, warned against cutting ties too abruptly.
"We can't put up a wall between us and Russia," he told public broadcaster ARD.
- 'Dark clouds' -
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas of the Social Democrats, junior partners in Merkel's government and typically strong advocates of maintaining close ties with Russia, said Berlin would now consult with EU and NATO allies about an "appropriate reaction" to the Navalny case.
In a speech earlier this week in Paris, Maas acknowledged that while "constructive ties" remained essential, "dark clouds" now hung over relations between the EU and Russia.
ARD commentator Michael Strempel noted that Merkel's statement Wednesday that "Navalny was meant to be silenced and I condemn this in the strongest possible terms" marked an unprecedented hardening of her tone.
"I have never seen the chancellor so determined on foreign policy," Strempel said. "Nor have I ever experienced her this critical and demanding of Russia."
Now Merkel's credibility is on the line, he said, calling for new economic and political sanctions against Moscow.
The EU has had sanctions targeting whole sectors of the Russian economy in place since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said the time had come to go further.
"A European response is vital, but if the usual suspects refuse to play ball then Germany will have to react bilaterally, too. We are talking about attempted murder after all."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--France unveils €100 billion economy rescue plan

Facing resurgent virus infections , France 's government is unveiling details Thursday of a 100 billion euro ( $ 118 billion ) recovery plan aimed at creating jobs , saving struggling businesses and pulling the country out of its worst economic slump since World War II .
`` This recovery plan aims to keep our economy from collapsing and unemployment exploding , '' Prime Minister Jean Castex said on RTL radio .
He said the government aimed to create at least 160,000 jobs next year thanks to the plan and restore France ’ s economic growth levels of 2019 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s next presidential elections .
Called “ France Reboot , ” the stimulus package earmarks 35 billion euros to make the economy more competitive , 30 billion for more environmentally friendly energy policies and 25 billion for supporting jobs , officials said .
The stimulus equates to 4 % of gross domestic product , meaning France is ploughing more public cash into its economy than any other big European country as a percentage of GDP , an official said ahead of its formal launch .
France 's recession , marked by a 13.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the country 's Covid-19 lockdown and is set to generate an 11 % drop in 2020 as a whole , has also been one of Europe 's deepest .
French President Emmanuel Macron 's government is banking on the plan to return the eurozone 's second biggest economy to pre-crisis levels of activity by 2022 after what is expected to be its worst post-war recession .
That timeline would restore Macron 's record on the economy in case he decides to run for re-election in 2022 after the coronavirus crisis wiped out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then on growth and jobs .
The recovery plan aims to put Macron 's pro-business push back on track , with already flagged cuts in business taxes worth 10 billion euros annually and fresh public funds to give a boost to France 's industrial , construction and transport sectors .
Officials said the transport sector would get 11 billion euros with 4.7 billion targeting the rail network in particular , while energy-efficient building renovations would be spurred with 4 billion euros for public buildings and 2 billion for homes .
The hydrogen industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block in the transition away from fossil fuels , would get 2 billion .
France reported more than 7,000 virus cases Thursday , the highest daily rate in Europe and well above the several hundred cases a day in May and June , when France was emerging from strict lockdown and testing less .
The number of people in intensive care with the virus is slowly edging up , though is far from the crisis levels of March and April .
Despite the rise , France 's schools reopened their doors this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging people to return to work .

Facing resurgent virus infections, France's government unveiled details Thursday of a €100 billion ($118 billion) recovery plan aimed at creating jobs, saving struggling businesses and pulling the country out of its worst economic slump since World War II.
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"The ambition and size of this plan are historic," Prime Minister Jean Castex told reporters after a cabinet meeting backed a stimulus package that promised 160,000 new jobs next year as part of a recovery plan worth €100 billion.
Called “France Reboot”, the plan includes injecting money to bring back manufacturing of medical supplies to French factories, to develop hydrogen energy, to train young people for 21st century jobs and to hire more staff at unemployment offices.
"It’s a massive list of measures in this plan, the money is going to many different places,” explained Stephen Carroll, FRANCE 24’s business editor. “But the French government has broken it down to under three main headings. One, is for jobs, including social programmes and health care – that’s around €35 billion euros. Another, is to support business and investment in business – that’s another €35 billion. And the last €30 billion is going towards investing in green transition, investing in new technologies and also in renovating processes.”
02:18
The stimulus equates to 4 percent of gross domestic product, meaning France is ploughing more public cash into its economy than any other big European country as a percentage of GDP.
The country’s recession, marked by a 13.8 percent second quarter GDP contraction that coincided with the country's Covid-19 lockdown and is set to generate an 11 percent drop in 2020 as a whole, has also been one of Europe's deepest.
France’s stimulus plan differed from other European countries because its focus is on creating business and to “keep people in employment, to keep them earning and sustain consumer spending, the most important driver of the economy”, explained Carroll.
‘Ambitious but perfectly within our reach’
Castex said the government would not raise the country’s already high taxes to pay for the rest, but will issue new treasury bonds instead.
After France financed a mass temporary unemployment scheme to keep people from losing their jobs amid the coronavirus lockdown, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire promised to “continue to do the maximum” for workers and businesses.
The plan, said Castex, was “ambitious but perfectly within our reach”.
The budget boost is four times the amount France spent over a decade ago to deal with the global financial crisis, and comes on top of hundreds of billions already spent in an early pandemic response.
"The time for a relaunch has come," tweeted President Emmanuel Macron.
Le temps est aujourd’hui venu de la relance. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 28, 2020
The recovery plan aims to put Macron's pro-business push back on track, with already flagged cuts in business taxes worth €10 billion annually and fresh public funds to give a boost to France's industrial, construction and transport sectors.
'A bygone era'
Much of the new plan targets the corporate sector, including with €35 billion worth of help, much of it in the shape of tax cuts.
But Philippe Martinez, head of the leftist CGT union, faulted the government for failing to extract promises from companies that they would save jobs in return.
"They gave money to Air France and Renault and for what? Job cuts. Is that what public money is for?" he said.
Campaigners said the €30 billion earmarked for a green transition was too little, and called on the government to demand environmental commitments from companies in return for state help.
"The government is presenting a recovery plan from a bygone era, much less green than it would seem," said Jean-Francois Juilliard, head of Greenpeace France.
"There's nothing about cutting road or air traffic, nothing on any reduction of meat, egg or dairy production which would be needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions," he said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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france24--2020-09-03--International flights to Beijing resume after five months

Chinese aviation authorities have imposed intense Covid-19 safety rules for international flights to Beijing The first international flight in more than five months landed in China 's capital Thursday with passengers greeted by airport staff in full hazmat suits as a ban on foreign arrivals in Beijing eased .
Chinese aviation authorities are allowing arrivals in Beijing under intense Covid-19 safety rules from Thailand , Cambodia , Pakistan , Greece , Denmark , Austria , Sweden and Canada -- countries deemed low-risk for cross-border infections .
Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed an Air China plane taxiing at the Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cambodian capital Phnom Penh .
Passengers disembarked wearing masks and dragging luggage -- some appeared to be in full protective suits -- before going past customs officials and police wearing visors and protective gear .
Travellers arriving in China need to show a negative coronavirus test before boarding , and are subject to centralised quarantine on arrival for 14 days , along with two more tests , officials said this week .
The number of passengers on direct international flights to Beijing is capped at 500 per day during a trial period , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing-bound international flights have been diverted to other Chinese cities , where passengers are screened for the coronavirus and quarantine .
Eleven cases were reported Thursday in China , where the coronavirus first emerged late last year .
Health officials said they were all imported .
China remains wary of the risk of an influx of cases from other countries now that its local outbreaks have been largely brought under control .
Most foreigners are still forbidden entry into the country .

Beijing (AFP) –
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The first international flight in more than five months landed in China's capital Thursday with passengers greeted by airport staff in full hazmat suits as a ban on foreign arrivals in Beijing eased.
Chinese aviation authorities are allowing arrivals in Beijing under intense Covid-19 safety rules from Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Greece, Denmark, Austria, Sweden and Canada -- countries deemed low-risk for cross-border infections.
Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed an Air China plane taxiing at the Beijing Capital International Airport after landing from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
Passengers disembarked wearing masks and dragging luggage -- some appeared to be in full protective suits -- before going past customs officials and police wearing visors and protective gear.
Travellers arriving in China need to show a negative coronavirus test before boarding, and are subject to centralised quarantine on arrival for 14 days, along with two more tests, officials said this week.
The number of passengers on direct international flights to Beijing is capped at 500 per day during a trial period, CCTV said.
Since late March, Beijing-bound international flights have been diverted to other Chinese cities, where passengers are screened for the coronavirus and quarantine.
Eleven cases were reported Thursday in China, where the coronavirus first emerged late last year. Health officials said they were all imported.
China remains wary of the risk of an influx of cases from other countries now that its local outbreaks have been largely brought under control.
Most foreigners are still forbidden entry into the country.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-03--Investigators seek to boost Kabuga case in Rwanda visit: prosecutor

The date of arrest and a red cross are written on the face of Felicien Kabuga , one of the last key suspects in the 1994 Rwandan genocide , on a wanted poster at the Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit office in Kigali The lead prosecutor in the trial of alleged genocide financier Felicien Kabuga said Thursday his team is on a fact-finding mission in Rwanda to seek fresh evidence to bolster their case in an international court .
Serge Brammertz , the chief prosecutor for the international tribunal handling the 1994 genocide trials , is leading an on-the-ground investigation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon his arrest as Africa 's most wanted man .
Kabuga , who is 84 according to officials , but claims to be 87 , was arrested in May at his home outside Paris after 25 years on the run .
He is accused of financing the genocide that saw Hutu extremists massacre some 800,000 Tutsis and also moderate Hutus .
A French court ruled in June that Kabuga should stand trial at the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals ( MICT ) based in Arusha , Tanzania , but his lawyers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lead prosecutor of the MICT , which took over when a prior international tribunal for Rwanda ended in 2015 -- says his team in Rwanda is leaving no stone unturned as they seek a guilty verdict .
`` We are working hard to update the file in order to obtain a conviction at the end of the trial , '' the prosecutor told AFP in Kigali on Thursday .
The evidence used to obtain an arrest warrant for Kabuga -- who was indicted by a previous tribunal in 1997 on seven counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old '' and needed updating , Brammertz said .
His recently-expanded team is seeking access to key Rwandan files on Kabuga 's case and firsthand sources during their month-long research mission to bolster the dossier against him , Brammertz added .
`` We must therefore go back to the witnesses of the time , see who is still available , '' he said .
`` We 're obviously taking advantage of this to look for new evidence , '' he added , saying no aspect of the indictment against Kabuga had been ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kigali on August 25 .
The Cour de Cassation , France 's supreme court for criminal cases , is expected to rule on September 30 whether Kabuga should be transferred to Tanzania to stand trial .
His lawyers say a UN court in Africa would be biased against their client , who they also say is in poor health , and want him tried in France .
Brammertz said he was confident the court would approve his trial at the MICT .
Kabuga , once one of Rwanda 's richest men , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on seven counts , including genocide .
He denies all the charges .
He is alleged to have funnelled money to militia groups as chairman of the national defence fund .
Kabuga is also accused of setting up the Interahamwe militia that carried out massacres and the Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines , which incited people to murder .
The US State Department hailed the arrest as `` a milestone for international justice , and a message to all fugitives indicted for genocide that they will be brought to justice . ''

Kigali (AFP) –
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The lead prosecutor in the trial of alleged genocide financier Felicien Kabuga said Thursday his team is on a fact-finding mission in Rwanda to seek fresh evidence to bolster their case in an international court.
Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor for the international tribunal handling the 1994 genocide trials, is leading an on-the-ground investigation to update the case against Kabuga, described upon his arrest as Africa's most wanted man.
Kabuga, who is 84 according to officials, but claims to be 87, was arrested in May at his home outside Paris after 25 years on the run.
He is accused of financing the genocide that saw Hutu extremists massacre some 800,000 Tutsis and also moderate Hutus.
A French court ruled in June that Kabuga should stand trial at the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) based in Arusha, Tanzania, but his lawyers have appealed.
Brammertz -- a Belgian magistrate and lead prosecutor of the MICT, which took over when a prior international tribunal for Rwanda ended in 2015 -- says his team in Rwanda is leaving no stone unturned as they seek a guilty verdict.
"We are working hard to update the file in order to obtain a conviction at the end of the trial," the prosecutor told AFP in Kigali on Thursday.
The evidence used to obtain an arrest warrant for Kabuga -- who was indicted by a previous tribunal in 1997 on seven counts, including genocide -- was "very old" and needed updating, Brammertz said.
- Hunt for witnesses -
His recently-expanded team is seeking access to key Rwandan files on Kabuga's case and firsthand sources during their month-long research mission to bolster the dossier against him, Brammertz added.
"We must therefore go back to the witnesses of the time, see who is still available," he said.
"We're obviously taking advantage of this to look for new evidence," he added, saying no aspect of the indictment against Kabuga had been ruled out as yet.
The team arrived in Kigali on August 25.
The Cour de Cassation, France's supreme court for criminal cases, is expected to rule on September 30 whether Kabuga should be transferred to Tanzania to stand trial.
His lawyers say a UN court in Africa would be biased against their client, who they also say is in poor health, and want him tried in France.
Brammertz said he was confident the court would approve his trial at the MICT.
Kabuga, once one of Rwanda's richest men, was indicted by the tribunal in 1997 on seven counts, including genocide. He denies all the charges.
He is alleged to have funnelled money to militia groups as chairman of the national defence fund.
Kabuga is also accused of setting up the Interahamwe militia that carried out massacres and the Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines, which incited people to murder.
The US State Department hailed the arrest as "a milestone for international justice, and a message to all fugitives indicted for genocide that they will be brought to justice."
© 2020 AFP