france24--2020-09-14--Lukashenko to meet Putin for talks on 'integration'

Lukashenko arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi , where Putin has a residence , making his first foreign trip since the election Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday flew to Russia for one-to-one talks with his counterpart Vladimir Putin as Moscow has offered security aid while urging closer integration with its neighbour .
The talks are the first meeting between the long-serving leaders and close allies since Lukashenko 's disputed win in August 9 polls prompted mass protests against his rule , with tens of thousands taking part in the latest demonstration in Minsk on Sunday .
Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sochi , where Putin has a residence , making his first foreign trip since the election .
He smiled as he stepped down from his plane in a short-sleeved shirt into the bright sunshine , not wearing a facemask .
A reporter for Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid , Dmitry Smirnov , wrote that Lukashenko who `` has n't particularly accepted the threat of coronavirus '' nevertheless had to undergo anti-virus measures before the meeting .
The leaders were expected to hold a televised press conference after their talks .
While Lukashenko 's harsh crackdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions , Russia has remained a firm ally .
Putin congratulated Lukashenko on election victory and the leaders have exchanged frequent calls as Russia has stepped up political and military contacts in recent weeks .
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who claims she was the true winner in polls , condemned Putin for negotiating with `` illegitimate Lukashenko . ''
`` I really regret you decided to hold dialogue with a usurper and not with the Belarusian people , '' Tikhanovskaya , who has taken shelter in Lithuania , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian strongman in power for 26 years has weakened , Russia is likely to seek concessions .
Putin has long called for full unification with Belarus , while Lukashenko has previously ruled this out .
The Kremlin said the talks would cover the `` prospects for moving forward integration processes . ''
It added that the leaders would discuss the countries ' strategic partnership as well as trade and energy ties .
The talks could cover issues including restructuring Belarus 's debt to Russia , political analyst Georgy Bovt wrote in a comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The talks do not promise to be simple , '' he said .
Russia dwarfs Belarus , with a population of around 9.5 million , and provides it with cheap fuel , while Belarus is strategically important to Russia as a buffer zone , bordered to the West by EU and NATO members .
The two countries have already formed a close relationship as a `` union state '' with strong military and economic links and an open border until the coronavirus outbreak .
Lukashenko said ahead of the talks that he planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on issues that are very sensitive and delicate for the two states '' .
While opposition protests have focused on domestic issues , not foreign policy , protesters are waving the country 's historic flag of independence and slogans at a mass demonstration on Sunday including calls not to let Lukashenko `` sell the country . ''
The latest mass protest , called the March of Heroes , saw police detain more than 500 demonstrators in Minsk as well as more than two hundred in other cities , according to the Belarusian interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the days after the August 9 election when police detained nearly 7,000 people and three people died on the streets or in custody and detainees gave accounts of beatings and torture .
The United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Monday that the huge number of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees `` should be documented and investigated , with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice . ''
Speaking to reporters last week , US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun asked how Moscow could `` back such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens . ''

Moscow (AFP) –
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday flew to Russia for one-to-one talks with his counterpart Vladimir Putin as Moscow has offered security aid while urging closer integration with its neighbour.
The talks are the first meeting between the long-serving leaders and close allies since Lukashenko's disputed win in August 9 polls prompted mass protests against his rule, with tens of thousands taking part in the latest demonstration in Minsk on Sunday.
Lukashenko arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where Putin has a residence, making his first foreign trip since the election.
He smiled as he stepped down from his plane in a short-sleeved shirt into the bright sunshine, not wearing a facemask.
A reporter for Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid, Dmitry Smirnov, wrote that Lukashenko who "hasn't particularly accepted the threat of coronavirus" nevertheless had to undergo anti-virus measures before the meeting.
The leaders were expected to hold a televised press conference after their talks.
While Lukashenko's harsh crackdown on demonstrators has prompted international condemnation and sanctions, Russia has remained a firm ally.
Putin congratulated Lukashenko on election victory and the leaders have exchanged frequent calls as Russia has stepped up political and military contacts in recent weeks.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claims she was the true winner in polls, condemned Putin for negotiating with "illegitimate Lukashenko."
"I really regret you decided to hold dialogue with a usurper and not with the Belarusian people," Tikhanovskaya, who has taken shelter in Lithuania, said in a statement.
As the position of the Belarusian strongman in power for 26 years has weakened, Russia is likely to seek concessions.
Putin has long called for full unification with Belarus, while Lukashenko has previously ruled this out.
The Kremlin said the talks would cover the "prospects for moving forward integration processes."
It added that the leaders would discuss the countries' strategic partnership as well as trade and energy ties.
- Not simple -
The talks could cover issues including restructuring Belarus's debt to Russia, political analyst Georgy Bovt wrote in a comment for Business FM radio station.
"The talks do not promise to be simple," he said.
Russia dwarfs Belarus, with a population of around 9.5 million, and provides it with cheap fuel, while Belarus is strategically important to Russia as a buffer zone, bordered to the West by EU and NATO members.
The two countries have already formed a close relationship as a "union state" with strong military and economic links and an open border until the coronavirus outbreak.
Lukashenko said ahead of the talks that he planned to "dot all the i's on issues that are very sensitive and delicate for the two states".
While opposition protests have focused on domestic issues, not foreign policy, protesters are waving the country's historic flag of independence and slogans at a mass demonstration on Sunday including calls not to let Lukashenko "sell the country."
The latest mass protest, called the March of Heroes, saw police detain more than 500 demonstrators in Minsk as well as more than two hundred in other cities, according to the Belarusian interior ministry.
The most brutal crackdown came in the days after the August 9 election when police detained nearly 7,000 people and three people died on the streets or in custody and detainees gave accounts of beatings and torture.
The United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Monday that the huge number of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees "should be documented and investigated, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice."
Speaking to reporters last week, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun asked how Moscow could "back such a regime and such violence against peaceful citizens."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Israelis brace for new coronavirus lockdown

A priest , wearing a protective mask amid the Covid-19 pandemic , walks along the walls of Jerusalem 's Old City on September 12 , 2020 Israelis reacted with anger and dismay Monday at an imminent nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing one of the world 's highest novel coronavirus infection rates .
`` It 's unfair ! ''
lamented Eti Avishai , a 64-year-old seamstress , hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a three-week lockdown will start on Friday .
`` They did n't stop the big gatherings in synagogues , the weddings and the other events , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and grandchildren during the holidays ? ''
she added .
The shutdown will be implemented hours before the start of the Jewish New Year and the High Holidays , which also include the Day of Atonement and Sukkot .
While Israelis largely accepted the strict lockdown imposed at the onset of the pandemic in March , this time many are frustrated at the way the health crisis has been handled since businesses and schools reopened in May .
`` Instead of enforcing the rules in a strict way and systematically punishing those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hundreds of people , they are punishing us all collectively , '' said Barak Yeivin , 56 , director of the Jerusalem Conservatory of Music and Dance .
While weddings and other events were allowed over the summer , there have been widespread reports of Israelis surpassing the limits on numbers and breaking other health regulations .
Yeivin said the second lockdown amounted to a `` real disaster '' for educational institutions like his conservatory since September marks the start of the academic year .
According to an AFP tally over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind Bahrain for the world 's highest coronavirus infection rate .
Israel has registered 156,823 cases with 1,126 deaths out of a population of nine million .
Officials pressed ahead with the start of the school year earlier this month in all but a few places with particularly high infection rates .
Last week the government imposed a curfew in 40 high-risk towns and neighbourhoods , the vast majority Arab or ultra-Orthodox communities .
The measures failed to curb the spread of coronavirus and Netanyahu on Sunday warned health officials had `` waved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on hospitals .
Rumours are already spreading of food shortages seen in the spring , although manager Haya Amgar said her supermarket is well-stocked .
`` We do n't lack anything , there are eggs , toilet paper ( and ) coronavirus products '' such as masks , she said .
`` I 'm ready . ''
`` There are more people this morning .
It 's difficult to say if it 's because of the holidays or the lockdown , '' she told AFP .
Those who support the new government measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the many public holidays .
But there are widespread concerns over the damage the lockdown could have on mental health .
`` I see a lot of people asking for products to sleep and against anxiety , '' said Yoram Poplinger , 61 , working in a central Jerusalem pharmacy .
Judith Touati , a 34-year-old social worker , said the shutdown would be especially hard for the elderly .
`` I understand the risk for old people sat at the table with a lot of people , but is it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said .
Rivka Vaknin , 70 , said she was `` so depressed '' at the thought of being alone during the holidays .
`` They could have done it before .
Why now during the holiday season ? ''

Jerusalem (AFP) –
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Israelis reacted with anger and dismay Monday at an imminent nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing one of the world's highest novel coronavirus infection rates.
"It's unfair!" lamented Eti Avishai, a 64-year-old seamstress, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a three-week lockdown will start on Friday.
"They didn't stop the big gatherings in synagogues, the weddings and the other events, and now I can't be with my children and grandchildren during the holidays?" she added.
The shutdown will be implemented hours before the start of the Jewish New Year and the High Holidays, which also include the Day of Atonement and Sukkot.
While Israelis largely accepted the strict lockdown imposed at the onset of the pandemic in March, this time many are frustrated at the way the health crisis has been handled since businesses and schools reopened in May.
"Instead of enforcing the rules in a strict way and systematically punishing those not wearing masks or who organised gatherings of hundreds of people, they are punishing us all collectively," said Barak Yeivin, 56, director of the Jerusalem Conservatory of Music and Dance.
While weddings and other events were allowed over the summer, there have been widespread reports of Israelis surpassing the limits on numbers and breaking other health regulations.
Yeivin said the second lockdown amounted to a "real disaster" for educational institutions like his conservatory since September marks the start of the academic year.
- Mental health hit -
According to an AFP tally over the past two weeks, Israel is second behind Bahrain for the world's highest coronavirus infection rate.
Israel has registered 156,823 cases with 1,126 deaths out of a population of nine million.
Officials pressed ahead with the start of the school year earlier this month in all but a few places with particularly high infection rates.
Last week the government imposed a curfew in 40 high-risk towns and neighbourhoods, the vast majority Arab or ultra-Orthodox communities.
The measures failed to curb the spread of coronavirus and Netanyahu on Sunday warned health officials had "waved the red flag" over the pressure on hospitals.
Rumours are already spreading of food shortages seen in the spring, although manager Haya Amgar said her supermarket is well-stocked.
"We don't lack anything, there are eggs, toilet paper (and) coronavirus products" such as masks, she said. "I'm ready."
"There are more people this morning. It's difficult to say if it's because of the holidays or the lockdown," she told AFP.
Those who support the new government measures argue the economic impact will be limited because of the many public holidays.
But there are widespread concerns over the damage the lockdown could have on mental health.
"I see a lot of people asking for products to sleep and against anxiety," said Yoram Poplinger, 61, working in a central Jerusalem pharmacy.
Judith Touati, a 34-year-old social worker, said the shutdown would be especially hard for the elderly.
"I understand the risk for old people sat at the table with a lot of people, but is it better to let them die alone?" she said.
Rivka Vaknin, 70, said she was "so depressed" at the thought of being alone during the holidays.
"They could have done it before. Why now during the holiday season?"
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Two more labs confirm Navalny Novichok poisoning: Germany

Navalny fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin Germany said Monday that two more European laboratories have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent , ramping up the pressure on Moscow to shed light on the case .
Hitting back at doubts raised by Russia about the German investigation , Chancellor Angela Merkel 's spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany had asked France and Sweden `` for an independent review of the German evidence on the basis of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is receiving treatment in Berlin .
`` The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence ( of Novichok poisoning ) , '' Seibert said in statement .
He said Germany was still waiting for the outcome of a separate evaluation by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog .
On the basis of the findings by the three European laboratories , however , Seibert said Germany was `` renewing its call for Russia to make a declaration on the events '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close contact with our European partners about further steps , '' he added .
Asa Scott , head of division for CBRN defence and security at the Swedish Defence Research Agency , confirmed to AFP its lab in Umea in northern Sweden had also found Novichok in the sample and said it probably came from Russia .
`` I ca n't say whether this sample is from Russia or if it is they who have used it , but what we do know from Russian defectors is that they developed it between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` So I find it unlikely that any other nation that is party to the Chemical Weapons Convention would have it . ''
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin .
Navalny has now emerged from a medically induced coma and is responding to speech , Charite hospital has said .
Germany said two weeks ago there was `` unequivocal evidence '' that he was poisoned with Novichok but Russia has angrily dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no trace of poison .
Western politicians have insisted the incident appears likely to have been state-ordered and urged Moscow to prove its lack of involvement .
Meanwhile the Kremlin has denounced attempts to blame the Russian state as `` absurd '' .
The case has prompted international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions , but the country has not opened a criminal probe .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia took offence `` when other countries dictate to us what legal procedures we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia `` de facto '' is probing the incident , but can not open a criminal case `` on the basis of tests by the German side , especially when carried out in German military labs . ''
Russian authorities want to question Navalny at his Berlin hospital , with Siberian transport police , who have been retracing Navalny 's movements , saying Friday that Russia would be preparing a request for its officers and an `` expert '' to shadow German investigators .
Navalny had been in Siberia to promote a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held on Sunday , meaning backing the strongest candidate to defeat the ruling United Russia party .
Two of his allies won local parliament seats in the Siberian city of Tomsk where he fell ill , according to early results released Monday .
The polls came a year ahead of parliamentary elections and were seen as a test for the Kremlin , as the ruling party faces sinking popularity and simmering public anger over economic woes .
Meanwhile the Navalny case has heightened tensions between Russia and the West , and sharpened calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stream 2 gas pipeline project .
Critics say the multi-billion-euro infrastructure undertaking beneath the Baltic Sea that is set to double Russian natural gas shipments to Germany , Europe 's largest economy , would increase dependency on Vladimir Putin 's government .
Merkel said last week she would not rule out possible consequences for the pipeline if Moscow 's response to the Navalny poisoning fails to satisfy Berlin .

Berlin (AFP) –
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Germany said Monday that two more European laboratories have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, ramping up the pressure on Moscow to shed light on the case.
Hitting back at doubts raised by Russia about the German investigation, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany had asked France and Sweden "for an independent review of the German evidence on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny," who is receiving treatment in Berlin.
"The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning)," Seibert said in statement.
He said Germany was still waiting for the outcome of a separate evaluation by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog.
On the basis of the findings by the three European laboratories, however, Seibert said Germany was "renewing its call for Russia to make a declaration on the events" of the case.
"We are in close contact with our European partners about further steps," he added.
Asa Scott, head of division for CBRN defence and security at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, confirmed to AFP its lab in Umea in northern Sweden had also found Novichok in the sample and said it probably came from Russia.
"I can't say whether this sample is from Russia or if it is they who have used it, but what we do know from Russian defectors is that they developed it between the 1970s and 1990s," Scott said.
"So I find it unlikely that any other nation that is party to the Chemical Weapons Convention would have it."
- 'Absurd' -
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin.
Navalny has now emerged from a medically induced coma and is responding to speech, Charite hospital has said.
Germany said two weeks ago there was "unequivocal evidence" that he was poisoned with Novichok but Russia has angrily dismissed the findings, saying its doctors found no trace of poison.
Western politicians have insisted the incident appears likely to have been state-ordered and urged Moscow to prove its lack of involvement. Meanwhile the Kremlin has denounced attempts to blame the Russian state as "absurd".
The case has prompted international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions, but the country has not opened a criminal probe.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia took offence "when other countries dictate to us what legal procedures we should start and when".
He insisted Russia "de facto" is probing the incident, but cannot open a criminal case "on the basis of tests by the German side, especially when carried out in German military labs."
Russian authorities want to question Navalny at his Berlin hospital, with Siberian transport police, who have been retracing Navalny's movements, saying Friday that Russia would be preparing a request for its officers and an "expert" to shadow German investigators.
- Allies declare victory -
Navalny had been in Siberia to promote a "smart voting" campaign ahead of elections held on Sunday, meaning backing the strongest candidate to defeat the ruling United Russia party.
Two of his allies won local parliament seats in the Siberian city of Tomsk where he fell ill, according to early results released Monday.
The polls came a year ahead of parliamentary elections and were seen as a test for the Kremlin, as the ruling party faces sinking popularity and simmering public anger over economic woes.
Meanwhile the Navalny case has heightened tensions between Russia and the West, and sharpened calls for Germany to abandon the nearly-completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
Critics say the multi-billion-euro infrastructure undertaking beneath the Baltic Sea that is set to double Russian natural gas shipments to Germany, Europe's largest economy, would increase dependency on Vladimir Putin's government.
Merkel said last week she would not rule out possible consequences for the pipeline if Moscow's response to the Navalny poisoning fails to satisfy Berlin.
burs-dlc/hmn/wdb
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Springboks' Pollard to miss Rugby Championship after ACL injury

Handre Pollard has scored 457 points in 48 Tests since his Springboks debut in 2014 World Cup winner Handre Pollard will miss this year 's re-scheduled Rugby Championship after his side Montpellier on Monday ruled him out for `` many months '' with a knee ligament tear .
South Africa 's Pollard , 26 , who lifted the Webb Ellis trophy last November , suffered the serious knee injury in last weekend 's Top 14 defeat at Montpellier .
`` Following last Friday night 's match against Racing 92 at La Paris Defense Arena , the club confirm Handre Pollard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an anterior cruciate ligament , '' the French outfit said .
`` We wish him a prompt recovery , '' they added .
The Springboks are set to start the defence of the Rugby Championship , moved from this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic , by facing Argentina on November 7 with the tournament ending on December 12 .
The Lions ' Elton Jantjies and the Stormers ' Damian Willemse were Pollard 's back-ups at last year 's World Cup in Japan .
Lock RG Snyman will be sidelined for this autumn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his Munster debut in August .

Montpellier (France) (AFP) –
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World Cup winner Handre Pollard will miss this year's re-scheduled Rugby Championship after his side Montpellier on Monday ruled him out for "many months" with a knee ligament tear.
South Africa's Pollard, 26, who lifted the Webb Ellis trophy last November, suffered the serious knee injury in last weekend's Top 14 defeat at Montpellier.
"Following last Friday night's match against Racing 92 at La Paris Defense Arena, the club confirm Handre Pollard's absence for many months after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament," the French outfit said.
"We wish him a prompt recovery," they added.
The Springboks are set to start the defence of the Rugby Championship, moved from this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, by facing Argentina on November 7 with the tournament ending on December 12.
The Lions' Elton Jantjies and the Stormers' Damian Willemse were Pollard's back-ups at last year's World Cup in Japan.
Lock RG Snyman will be sidelined for this autumn after also sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage on his Munster debut in August.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Israeli tech start-ups take on the Emirates

After an August deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates , Israeli business leaders headed to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to strike deals The moment a deal normalising ties between the United Arab Emirates and Israel was announced , the head of a Tel Aviv technology organisation received dozens of LinkedIn invitations from Emiratis .
A month on from the August diplomatic breakthrough , Eugene Kandel , CEO of Start-Up Nation Central , was already in Dubai selling Israeli technology .
Kandel 's organisation works to `` build bridges '' between Israeli technology companies and governments , businesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties `` can provide a lot of opportunities for many Israelis , '' Kandel told AFP .
Rather than wait for the signing ceremony at the White House on Tuesday between the two countries , as well as cementing an Israeli-Bahraini deal , Israeli business leaders rushed to Abu Dhabi and Dubai with catalogues of their wares .
The first business delegation visited the UAE last week , following an official Israeli government visit , and another group of industry leaders is due in the Emirates on Monday .
Among them is Kandel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
Since the landmark Israel-UAE deal was announced on August 13 , the average number of Emirati users on the Start-Up Nation Central platform has increased by 122 percent .
The amount of time they have spent looking at Israeli start-ups on the website has jumped by 600 percent , according to the organisation , which did not provide user numbers .
Investment in Israel 's start-up sector grew by 33 percent to $ 4.6 billion in the first half of this year , according to an internal study .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , and so do not fully show the impact of coronavirus on the industry .
The pandemic could lead to a `` sharp decline '' in start-up investments over the next few months , especially foreign ones , Kandel warned .
In the past , Israeli start-ups tended to grow locally before being acquired by foreign firms .
But that has been changing over the past five years , Kandel said .
`` We believe that there is a lot of potential to continue this trend , and so that money from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other money , '' which was lost due to the pandemic , Kandel told AFP .
Israel and the UAE are keen to exchange agricultural technology -- both countries seek food security in the midst of the desert -- as well as financial technology and cybersecurity .
In recent years the Israeli company NSO , whose Pegasus spyware can remotely extract data from mobile phones , has signed contracts with Bahrain and the emirate of Abu Dhabi , according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz .
Investors could also be drawn to Israeli missiles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the country is a global leader in military technology .
Israel 's prominence in these fields is in part due to its compulsory military service , which includes elite technology units that serve as start-up incubators .
The country 's Jewish ultra-Orthodox and Arab sectors , however , which constitute around 10 and 20 percent of the population respectively , are largely exempt from the conscription and under-represented in the technology sector .
The Technion , one of Israel 's leading universities , is committed to increasing the amount of tech graduates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 15 years the number of Arab students in the Technion has grown by 200 percent , the institution says .
With doors now opening to the Gulf , Kandel said Israel must now tap into that unrealised potential .
`` Arab-Israelis ... could be the cultural bridge , '' he said .
`` They know how to work with ( Israel 's ) Jewish majority , but also how to ... work within the Arab world . ''
As well as working as developers , he saw potential for Arab-Israelis to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marketing and sales .
`` You need somebody who speaks the language so you have a much wider net , '' he said .
`` It 's like tapping another 20 percent of the population . ''
Israeli entrepreneur Erel Margalit , who heads investment firm JVP Margalit , is planning to send a delegation to the UAE in coming weeks .
`` We want to invest in young , dynamic , smart Arab entrepreneurs , '' said Margalit , whose company specialises in cybersecurity , artificial intelligence and financial technology .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a country of tech innovators , rather than just customers .
His goal is to open a start-up incubator in Dubai .
`` It 's our goal , it 's our dream , '' Margalit said .
`` It would serve as a gateway to the whole region . ''

Tel Aviv (AFP) –
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The moment a deal normalising ties between the United Arab Emirates and Israel was announced, the head of a Tel Aviv technology organisation received dozens of LinkedIn invitations from Emiratis.
A month on from the August diplomatic breakthrough, Eugene Kandel, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, was already in Dubai selling Israeli technology.
Kandel's organisation works to "build bridges" between Israeli technology companies and governments, businesses and organisations.
The launching of public business ties "can provide a lot of opportunities for many Israelis," Kandel told AFP.
Rather than wait for the signing ceremony at the White House on Tuesday between the two countries, as well as cementing an Israeli-Bahraini deal, Israeli business leaders rushed to Abu Dhabi and Dubai with catalogues of their wares.
The first business delegation visited the UAE last week, following an official Israeli government visit, and another group of industry leaders is due in the Emirates on Monday.
Among them is Kandel, a former economic advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Since the landmark Israel-UAE deal was announced on August 13, the average number of Emirati users on the Start-Up Nation Central platform has increased by 122 percent.
The amount of time they have spent looking at Israeli start-ups on the website has jumped by 600 percent, according to the organisation, which did not provide user numbers.
Investment in Israel's start-up sector grew by 33 percent to $4.6 billion in the first half of this year, according to an internal study.
But the figures include contracts negotiated in 2019, and so do not fully show the impact of coronavirus on the industry.
The pandemic could lead to a "sharp decline" in start-up investments over the next few months, especially foreign ones, Kandel warned.
In the past, Israeli start-ups tended to grow locally before being acquired by foreign firms.
But that has been changing over the past five years, Kandel said.
"We believe that there is a lot of potential to continue this trend, and so that money from the Emirates could replace some of the other money," which was lost due to the pandemic, Kandel told AFP.
Israel and the UAE are keen to exchange agricultural technology -- both countries seek food security in the midst of the desert -- as well as financial technology and cybersecurity.
In recent years the Israeli company NSO, whose Pegasus spyware can remotely extract data from mobile phones, has signed contracts with Bahrain and the emirate of Abu Dhabi, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Investors could also be drawn to Israeli missiles, drones, anti-drone and anti-missile systems, as the country is a global leader in military technology.
- Cultural bridge -
Israel's prominence in these fields is in part due to its compulsory military service, which includes elite technology units that serve as start-up incubators.
The country's Jewish ultra-Orthodox and Arab sectors, however, which constitute around 10 and 20 percent of the population respectively, are largely exempt from the conscription and under-represented in the technology sector.
The Technion, one of Israel's leading universities, is committed to increasing the amount of tech graduates among Israel's minority groups.
Over the past 15 years the number of Arab students in the Technion has grown by 200 percent, the institution says.
With doors now opening to the Gulf, Kandel said Israel must now tap into that unrealised potential.
"Arab-Israelis... could be the cultural bridge," he said.
"They know how to work with (Israel's) Jewish majority, but also how to... work within the Arab world."
As well as working as developers, he saw potential for Arab-Israelis to play a role in business development, marketing and sales.
"You need somebody who speaks the language so you have a much wider net," he said. "It's like tapping another 20 percent of the population."
Israeli entrepreneur Erel Margalit, who heads investment firm JVP Margalit, is planning to send a delegation to the UAE in coming weeks.
"We want to invest in young, dynamic, smart Arab entrepreneurs," said Margalit, whose company specialises in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and financial technology.
The entrepreneur told AFP he sees the Emirates as a country of tech innovators, rather than just customers.
His goal is to open a start-up incubator in Dubai.
"It's our goal, it's our dream," Margalit said. "It would serve as a gateway to the whole region."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Manila cemeteries to close for day of the dead as virus rages

Filipinos usually pour into graveyards on November 1 , blending expressions of faith and grief with a party-like atmosphere and impromptu family reunions Cemeteries in the Philippine capital will be closed on All Saints ' Day for the first time , officials said Monday , preventing millions in the Catholic-majority country from visiting their dead loved ones as the coronavirus rages .
Filipinos usually pour into graveyards on November 1 , blending expressions of faith and grief with a party-like atmosphere and impromptu family reunions .
But as the number of virus infections continues to rise , mayors across Metro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the annual rite to prevent further spread of the contagion .
`` The reason behind this , of course , is to avoid mass gatherings .
We are in a different situation because we are in a pandemic , '' Jojo Garcia , general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority , told reporters .
The authority 's spokeswoman Celine Pialago told AFP it would be the first time cemeteries had been closed on All Saints ' Day .
Cemeteries in the Philippines range from quiet fields of white crosses to dense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People in the sprawling capital of 12 million are being encouraged to pay their respects to dead loved ones in the weeks before and after November 1 to avoid crowding .
The All Saints ' Day ritual stretches back to ancient Rome and honours saints .
For the Philippines , it is a day to pray for and remember the deceased by visiting their tombs , lighting candles and offering flowers .
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said the department was considering recommending the closure of cemeteries across the country .
Despite six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions and mandatory face masks , the Philippines is struggling to contain the coronavirus outbreak .
As of Monday it had more than 265,000 confirmed cases , including over 4,600 deaths .

Manila (AFP) –
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Cemeteries in the Philippine capital will be closed on All Saints' Day for the first time, officials said Monday, preventing millions in the Catholic-majority country from visiting their dead loved ones as the coronavirus rages.
Filipinos usually pour into graveyards on November 1, blending expressions of faith and grief with a party-like atmosphere and impromptu family reunions.
But as the number of virus infections continues to rise, mayors across Metro Manila have agreed to shutter the cemeteries for the annual rite to prevent further spread of the contagion.
"The reason behind this, of course, is to avoid mass gatherings. We are in a different situation because we are in a pandemic," Jojo Garcia, general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority, told reporters.
The authority's spokeswoman Celine Pialago told AFP it would be the first time cemeteries had been closed on All Saints' Day.
Cemeteries in the Philippines range from quiet fields of white crosses to dense "apartment" tombs stacked metres high.
People in the sprawling capital of 12 million are being encouraged to pay their respects to dead loved ones in the weeks before and after November 1 to avoid crowding.
The All Saints' Day ritual stretches back to ancient Rome and honours saints. For the Philippines, it is a day to pray for and remember the deceased by visiting their tombs, lighting candles and offering flowers.
Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said the department was considering recommending the closure of cemeteries across the country.
Despite six months of tough measures, including travel restrictions and mandatory face masks, the Philippines is struggling to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
As of Monday it had more than 265,000 confirmed cases, including over 4,600 deaths.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Italy's Berlusconi leaves hospital after virus scare

Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi left hospital Monday 11 days after being admitted with coronavirus , describing it as `` perhaps the most difficult ordeal of my life '' .
The 83-year-old media tycoon , who tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a holiday at his luxury villa in Sardinia , was admitted to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan on September 3 with a lung infection .
`` The first three days were extremely difficult , '' he told journalists as he left the hospital .
Two of his children -- daughter Barbara , 36 , and son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , as did his companion Marta Fascina .
`` It was tough .
Thank heavens , thanks to the doctors , I got over what was perhaps the most difficult ordeal of my life .
`` Once again , I seem to have got away with it ! ''
he said , after walking slowly but without assistance to address the cameras .
A former crooner turned property and media magnate , Berlusconi was Italian prime minister for his centre-right Forza Italia on three occasions between 1994 and 2011 .
Despite his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns -- including open heart surgery in 2016 -- the man known as `` the immortal '' for his longevity in politics led the Italian right for more than two decades .
The flamboyant billionaire had insisted this month that he would continue his political activities despite the positive virus test .
Regional elections are to be held in Italy this weekend as well as a referendum on reducing the number of deputies in parliament .

Milan (AFP) –
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Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi left hospital Monday 11 days after being admitted with coronavirus, describing it as "perhaps the most difficult ordeal of my life".
The 83-year-old media tycoon, who tested positive for Covid-19 after returning from a holiday at his luxury villa in Sardinia, was admitted to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan on September 3 with a lung infection.
"The first three days were extremely difficult," he told journalists as he left the hospital.
Two of his children -- daughter Barbara, 36, and son Luigi, 31 -- also contracted the virus, as did his companion Marta Fascina.
"It was tough. Thank heavens, thanks to the doctors, I got over what was perhaps the most difficult ordeal of my life.
"Once again, I seem to have got away with it!" he said, after walking slowly but without assistance to address the cameras.
A former crooner turned property and media magnate, Berlusconi was Italian prime minister for his centre-right Forza Italia on three occasions between 1994 and 2011.
Despite his regular brushes with the law and health concerns -- including open heart surgery in 2016 -- the man known as "the immortal" for his longevity in politics led the Italian right for more than two decades.
The flamboyant billionaire had insisted this month that he would continue his political activities despite the positive virus test.
Regional elections are to be held in Italy this weekend as well as a referendum on reducing the number of deputies in parliament.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Oregon equestrian center becomes refuge for animals fleeing US fires

The Mount Hood Center in Oregon threw open its doors to animals displaced by raging forest fires An equestrian center in Oregon that opened its doors to horses displaced by raging forest fires soon found its stalls home to almost an entire farmyard -- including pigs , ducks , donkeys and even an ox .
Last week , staff at the Mount Hood Center in Boring , east of Portland , offered refuge to owners and their horses fleeing the West Coast blazes that have torched an area roughly the size of the state of New Jersey and killed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few hours each one of their 80 stalls had been filled , with desperate owners bringing in their horses , often from places just a few dozen miles ( kilometers ) away from the fires .
`` People were desperate , they had nowhere to go -- they were losing their homes , losing their barns , and certainly did n't want to lose their animals , '' said Aaron Shelley , director of operations at the center .
But it was n't just horses that came in two by two -- the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ponies , ducks and pigs .
`` There were a lot of animals that were panicked and they were kicking and they were yelling .
It sounded like this was a war zone in here with all the screaming and yelling , '' Shelley said .
The horses in particular -- used to being out in the open air -- had to be kept calm by the staff .
`` My staff did an amazing job , '' Shelley said .
`` Walking the aisles , talking to the horses comforting them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from some locals who provided food for the animals , while pictures posted online by the center showed trucks arriving laden with donated hay and staff distributing it to the animals .
`` We have all these empty stalls .
It just was the natural thing to do '' , said Brandi Hatch , the center 's director .
`` It 's wonderful to see how people came together and helped us . ''
Sarah Anderson , who works in the center , brought her four horses in on Wednesday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I came back with my motorhome , and decided to camp here , '' the 34-year-old said .
Her home in Eagle Creek had not been destroyed , but she did not know when she would be able to return .
Even though the horses are safe now from the fires , the dense smoke that fills the air is still a danger .
`` With animals of this size , the danger is inhalation of fumes and the quality of the air , '' said Anderson .
`` We do n't make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them at a walk so that they do n't get their heart rate up and do n't make them breathe more than they need to . ''
By Sunday , many had found more permanent shelters and had moved on , and there were only about 20 horses left in the center .
But with the fires still burning in the state , the staff are still on alert .
`` You ca n't predict who 's going to be affected next , '' said Shelley .
`` We 're just keeping our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're available for anybody who needs us . ''

Boring (United States) (AFP) –
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An equestrian center in Oregon that opened its doors to horses displaced by raging forest fires soon found its stalls home to almost an entire farmyard -- including pigs, ducks, donkeys and even an ox.
Last week, staff at the Mount Hood Center in Boring, east of Portland, offered refuge to owners and their horses fleeing the West Coast blazes that have torched an area roughly the size of the state of New Jersey and killed at least 35 people.
In just a few hours each one of their 80 stalls had been filled, with desperate owners bringing in their horses, often from places just a few dozen miles (kilometers) away from the fires.
"People were desperate, they had nowhere to go -- they were losing their homes, losing their barns, and certainly didn't want to lose their animals," said Aaron Shelley, director of operations at the center.
But it wasn't just horses that came in two by two -- the staff also welcomed an ox, donkeys, ponies, ducks and pigs.
"There were a lot of animals that were panicked and they were kicking and they were yelling. It sounded like this was a war zone in here with all the screaming and yelling," Shelley said.
The horses in particular -- used to being out in the open air -- had to be kept calm by the staff.
"My staff did an amazing job," Shelley said. "Walking the aisles, talking to the horses comforting them with nice words."
- Donated food and hay -
Help also came from some locals who provided food for the animals, while pictures posted online by the center showed trucks arriving laden with donated hay and staff distributing it to the animals.
"We have all these empty stalls. It just was the natural thing to do", said Brandi Hatch, the center's director.
"It's wonderful to see how people came together and helped us."
Sarah Anderson, who works in the center, brought her four horses in on Wednesday.
"I brought the animals first, then I came back with my motorhome, and decided to camp here," the 34-year-old said.
Her home in Eagle Creek had not been destroyed, but she did not know when she would be able to return.
Even though the horses are safe now from the fires, the dense smoke that fills the air is still a danger.
"With animals of this size, the danger is inhalation of fumes and the quality of the air," said Anderson.
"We don't make them exercise a lot, we walk them at a walk so that they don't get their heart rate up and don't make them breathe more than they need to."
By Sunday, many had found more permanent shelters and had moved on, and there were only about 20 horses left in the center.
But with the fires still burning in the state, the staff are still on alert.
"You can't predict who's going to be affected next," said Shelley. "We're just keeping our doors open, to make sure we're available for anybody who needs us."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Kohli 'leading by example' as Bangalore seek IPL turn-around

South African veteran AB de Villiers said captain Virat Kohli is `` leading from the front '' as Royal Challengers Bangalore look to shed their wooden-spooners tag in the Indian Premier League .
De Villiers said India skipper Kohli was inspiring much hard work in the build-up to the IPL 's start in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday .
`` I think everyone has bought into this hard-working environment and a lot of credit should to go Virat for that , '' De Villiers said in an interview posted on his team 's YouTube channel on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the standards and it is pretty easy to follow when you have a captain leading from the front . ''
Bangalore , who finished last of the eight teams in two of the past three seasons , begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai next Monday .
Kohli , who took over as captain of the Bangalore team in 2013 , has said he has `` never felt so calm '' entering an IPL season .
`` It 's a tricky one because we say that ( we 'll improve ) every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , 'it 's different ' , that 's all I can tell you , '' said de Villiers .
`` I wo n't say we have got the best team .
There is a different feel in the team that I ca n't explain , but it is very exciting .
`` Looking at the combinations there is back-up everywhere .
And we have options for Virat to play the best XI . ''
The Twenty20 tournament is being held in UAE because of the surge in coronavirus cases in India , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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South African veteran AB de Villiers said captain Virat Kohli is "leading from the front" as Royal Challengers Bangalore look to shed their wooden-spooners tag in the Indian Premier League.
De Villiers said India skipper Kohli was inspiring much hard work in the build-up to the IPL's start in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
"I think everyone has bought into this hard-working environment and a lot of credit should to go Virat for that," De Villiers said in an interview posted on his team's YouTube channel on Monday.
"He leads by example, he sets the standards and it is pretty easy to follow when you have a captain leading from the front."
Bangalore, who finished last of the eight teams in two of the past three seasons, begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai next Monday.
Kohli, who took over as captain of the Bangalore team in 2013, has said he has "never felt so calm" entering an IPL season.
"It's a tricky one because we say that (we'll improve) every season. (But) I promise you, 'it's different', that's all I can tell you," said de Villiers.
"I won't say we have got the best team. There is a different feel in the team that I can't explain, but it is very exciting.
"Looking at the combinations there is back-up everywhere. And we have options for Virat to play the best XI."
The Twenty20 tournament is being held in UAE because of the surge in coronavirus cases in India, which is the second worst-hit nation behind the United States.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Lampard laughs off Klopp's Chelsea spending jibe

Frank Lampard ( left ) says he is amused by Jurgen Klopp 's criticism of Chelsea 's spending Chelsea coach Frank Lampard says he is amused rather than annoyed by Jurgen Klopp 's criticism of his summer spending , pointing out that Liverpool splashed the cash on the road to Premier League glory .
Lampard has invested around £200 million ( $ 257 million ) on Timo Werner , Kai Havertz , Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell , with Thiago Silva arriving on a free transfer and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy reportedly set to join from Rennes .
By contrast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsimikas to his league-winning squad so far .
Lampard , whose side begin their campaign away at Brighton on Monday , said any owner needed huge resources to compete in the Premier League .
`` I was less annoyed with it , I found it more , slightly amusing , I would say , '' he said , referring to Klopp 's comments .
`` Because I think when you talk about the owners of clubs I do n't think it matters what line of business they come from , we 're talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Premier League . ''
Lampard , who last season warned Liverpool not to get `` too arrogant '' after they won the title , said the champions ' owners , Fenway Sports Group , had spent a lot of money since Klopp had been in charge .
`` Liverpool 's story , it 's a fantastic story of a club over four-and-a-half , five years that Jurgen Klopp 's been there that have managed to get recruitment right to a really high level , '' said the Chelsea boss .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than maybe Leicester ( champions in 2016 ) , which is an incredible story , most clubs that win the Premier League in the modern day have recruited well and recruited at a high level money-wise .
`` And you can go through the Liverpool players : Van Dijk , Alisson , Fabinho , Keita , Mane , Salah , incredible players , that came at a very high price . ''
Lampard , who guided Chelsea to fourth place and the FA Cup final in his first season in charge , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , given that when he replaced Maurizio Sarri the club was under a transfer ban .
`` So Liverpool have done it , and they 've done it over a period of time , '' said Lampard .
`` What we 've done is come off the back of a ban , probably tried to address the situation ourselves to help improve us .
`` So I think it 's par for the course , and I think we all know that there 's no point in doing the maths too much because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent at a high level , we know they have an incredible coach , we know they have incredible players . ''
Lampard said he hoped he could do as Klopp had done and repay the faith of owner Roman Abramovich by delivering results .
`` The really smart thing Liverpool have done I think is believe in their coach , believe in their system for a number of years , '' he said .
`` So it 's a great story , but it 's story that has seen money spent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent money on players , and now the hard work has to be done . ''

London (AFP) –
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Chelsea coach Frank Lampard says he is amused rather than annoyed by Jurgen Klopp's criticism of his summer spending, pointing out that Liverpool splashed the cash on the road to Premier League glory.
Lampard has invested around £200 million ($257 million) on Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell, with Thiago Silva arriving on a free transfer and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy reportedly set to join from Rennes.
By contrast, Klopp has added only Greece left-back Kostas Tsimikas to his league-winning squad so far.
Lampard, whose side begin their campaign away at Brighton on Monday, said any owner needed huge resources to compete in the Premier League.
"I was less annoyed with it, I found it more, slightly amusing, I would say," he said, referring to Klopp's comments.
"Because I think when you talk about the owners of clubs I don't think it matters what line of business they come from, we're talking about some very wealthy owners of clubs in the Premier League."
- Chelsea ban -
Lampard, who last season warned Liverpool not to get "too arrogant" after they won the title, said the champions' owners, Fenway Sports Group, had spent a lot of money since Klopp had been in charge.
"Liverpool's story, it's a fantastic story of a club over four-and-a-half, five years that Jurgen Klopp's been there that have managed to get recruitment right to a really high level," said the Chelsea boss.
"And the reality is probably, other than maybe Leicester (champions in 2016), which is an incredible story, most clubs that win the Premier League in the modern day have recruited well and recruited at a high level money-wise.
"And you can go through the Liverpool players: Van Dijk, Alisson, Fabinho, Keita, Mane, Salah, incredible players, that came at a very high price."
Lampard, who guided Chelsea to fourth place and the FA Cup final in his first season in charge, said his spending should be put into context, given that when he replaced Maurizio Sarri the club was under a transfer ban.
"So Liverpool have done it, and they've done it over a period of time," said Lampard.
"What we've done is come off the back of a ban, probably tried to address the situation ourselves to help improve us.
"So I think it's par for the course, and I think we all know that there's no point in doing the maths too much because I think we know that Liverpool have spent at a high level, we know they have an incredible coach, we know they have incredible players."
Lampard said he hoped he could do as Klopp had done and repay the faith of owner Roman Abramovich by delivering results.
"The really smart thing Liverpool have done I think is believe in their coach, believe in their system for a number of years," he said.
"So it's a great story, but it's story that has seen money spent on players. And this summer we've spent money on players, and now the hard work has to be done."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Analysis: Europe's growing fears of no-deal Brexit

The British House of Commons was on Monday debating a controversial internal markets bill that could see it walk back @ @ @ @ @ treaty .
As FRANCE 24 ’ s international affairs editor Armen Georgian explains , Brussels @ @ @ @ @ headed for a no-deal Brexit .

Analysis: Europe's growing fears of no-deal Brexit
04:03
The British House of Commons was on Monday debating a controversial internal markets bill that could see it walk back parts of the EU withdrawal treaty. As FRANCE 24’s international affairs editor Armen Georgian explains, Brussels is increasingly concerned Britain is headed for a no-deal Brexit.


france24--2020-09-14--French, Swedish labs confirm Navalny poisoned with Novichok

The German government announced that labs in France and Sweden have confirmed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok .
The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent .
Chancellor Angela Merkel 's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Germany had asked France and Sweden `` for an independent review of the German evidence ( of Novichok poisoning ) on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny , '' who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence ( of Novichok poisoning ) , '' Seibert said .
He said Germany was still waiting for the outcome of a separate evaluation by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog .
On the basis of the findings by the three European laboratories , however , Seibert said Germany was `` renewing its call for Russia to make a declaration on the events '' of the Navalny case .
`` We are in close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps , '' he added .
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin .
Germany said two weeks ago there was `` unequivocal evidence '' that he was poisoned with Novichok but Russia has angrily dismissed the findings , saying its doctors found no trace of poison .
Navalny has now emerged from a medically induced coma and is reacting to speech , Berlin 's Charite hospital has said .
The Kremlin has denounced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poisoning as `` absurd '' and said it wants to know what happened .
Western politicians have said the incident appears likely to have been state-ordered and urged Moscow to prove its lack of involvement .
Navalny 's associates believe the use of Novichok shows only the Russian state could be responsible .
The case has prompted international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions , but the country has not opened a criminal investigation .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia rejected `` when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedures we should start and when '' .
He insisted Russia `` de facto '' is probing the incident , but can not open a criminal case `` on the basis of tests by the German side , especially when carried out in German military labs . ''
Russian authorities want to question Navalny at his Berlin hospital , with Siberian transport police , who have been retracing Navalny 's movements , saying Friday that Russia would be preparing a request for its officers and an `` expert '' to shadow German investigators @

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to urgently shed light on the "attempted murder" of opposition figure Alexei Navalny after French tests confirmed the use of the Novichok nerve agent, the Elysée said.
The German government announced that labs in France and Sweden have confirmed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
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Macron told Putin in telephone talks that it is "imperative that all light be shed, without delay, on the circumstances of this attempted murder and who is responsible", the French presidency said in a statement.
He also informed Putin that France's own analysis had confirmed Germany's conclusion that Navalny was poisoned by Novichok "in contravention of international norms on using chemical weapons".
Putin, for his part, told Macron that it was "inappropriate" to make groundless accusations against Russia over the suspected poisoning of Navalny, the Kremlin said.
The Russian leader said his country wanted Germany to hand over medical test results taken from Navalny, according to a Kremlin readout of the call.
'Independent review'
The German government said Monday that laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed its own findings that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement that Germany had asked France and Sweden "for an independent review of the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning) on the basis of new samples from Mr Navalny", who is receiving treatment in Berlin.
"The results of this review at specialised laboratories in France and Sweden are now available and confirm the German evidence (of Novichok poisoning)," Seibert said.
He said Germany was still waiting for the outcome of a separate evaluation by the OPCW global chemical weapons watchdog.
On the basis of the findings by the three European laboratories, however, Seibert said Germany was "renewing its call for Russia to make a declaration on the events" of the Navalny case.
"We are in close contact with our European partners about further steps," he added.
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month and was hospitalised there before being flown to Berlin.
Germany said two weeks ago there was "unequivocal evidence" that he was poisoned with Novichok but Russia has angrily dismissed the findings, saying its doctors found no trace of poison.
'Absurd'
Navalny has now emerged from a medically induced coma and is reacting to speech, Berlin's Charité hospital has said.
The Kremlin has denounced attempts to blame the Russian state for the poisoning as "absurd" and said it wants to know what happened.
Western politicians have said the incident appears likely to have been state-ordered and urged Moscow to prove its lack of involvement.
Navalny's associates believe the use of Novichok shows only the Russian state could be responsible.
The case has prompted international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions, but the country has not opened a criminal investigation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia rejected "when other countries dictate to us what legal procedures we should start and when".
He insisted Russia "de facto" is probing the incident, but cannot open a criminal case "on the basis of tests by the German side, especially when carried out in German military labs".
Russian authorities want to question Navalny at his Berlin hospital, with Siberian transport police, who have been retracing Navalny's movements, saying Friday that Russia would be preparing a request for its officers and an "expert" to shadow German investigators.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-15--US puts block on Chinese products from Uighur 'forced labor'

Watchtowers on a high-security facility near an alleged `` re-education '' camp for Muslim ethnic minorities outside Hotan in China 's Xinjiang region The US announced Monday it would block a range of Chinese products made by `` forced labor '' in the Xinjiang region , including from a `` vocational '' center that it branded a `` concentration camp '' for Uighur minorities .
`` The Chinese government is engaged in systematic abuses against the Uighur people '' and other minorities , said Mark Morgan , acting commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection agency .
`` Forced labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
The items include cotton , garments , hair products and electronics from five specific manufacturers in Xinjiang as well as adjacent Anhui .
It also included all products tied to the Lop County No .
4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center in Xinjiang , which Homeland Security Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said was a center of forced labor .
`` This is not a vocational center , it is a concentration camp , a place where religious and ethnic minorities are subject to abuse and forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no freedom , '' Cuccinelli told reporters .
The actions announced consisted of `` withhold release orders '' or WROs , which empower the CBP to seize products from the blacklisted companies and organizations .
The US government is increasingly using such orders to pressure Beijing over its detention of more than one million members of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang for ostensible reeducation .
In July , the customs agency placed WRO blocks on hair products , used for wigs and extensions , from several companies operating in Xinjiang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for garments made and sold by the Hero Vast Group .
`` The Chinese government needs to close its concentration camps , '' said Cuccinelli .
The move came as rights groups and members of US Congress press the administration of President Donald Trump to take more resolute action over alleged Chinese repression of Muslims in the country 's vast west .
In July the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a major paramilitary group , Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps , accusing it of abuses against Uighurs and other mostly Muslim groups .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Chen Quanguo , the Chinese Communist Party chief for the Xinjiang region and architect of Beijing 's hardline policies against restive minorities .
`` The Trump Administration has led the world in calling attention to the Chinese Communist Party 's egregious human rights abuses in Xinjiang , and we 've taken action to back up our rhetoric , '' said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement .
CBP officials said they are currently studying a measure to place a block on all cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for a ban on all cotton-made goods linked to Xinjiang , which supplies the lion 's share of China 's cotton .

Washington (AFP) –
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The US announced Monday it would block a range of Chinese products made by "forced labor" in the Xinjiang region, including from a "vocational" center that it branded a "concentration camp" for Uighur minorities.
"The Chinese government is engaged in systematic abuses against the Uighur people" and other minorities, said Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection agency.
"Forced labor is an atrocious human rights abuse," he said.
The items include cotton, garments, hair products and electronics from five specific manufacturers in Xinjiang as well as adjacent Anhui.
It also included all products tied to the Lop County No. 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center in Xinjiang, which Homeland Security Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said was a center of forced labor.
"This is not a vocational center, it is a concentration camp, a place where religious and ethnic minorities are subject to abuse and forced to work in heinous conditions with no recourse and no freedom," Cuccinelli told reporters.
"This is modern day slavery."
The actions announced consisted of "withhold release orders" or WROs, which empower the CBP to seize products from the blacklisted companies and organizations.
The US government is increasingly using such orders to pressure Beijing over its detention of more than one million members of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang for ostensible reeducation.
- Calling attention to abuses -
In July, the customs agency placed WRO blocks on hair products, used for wigs and extensions, from several companies operating in Xinjiang, and in August did the same for garments made and sold by the Hero Vast Group.
"The Chinese government needs to close its concentration camps," said Cuccinelli.
The move came as rights groups and members of US Congress press the administration of President Donald Trump to take more resolute action over alleged Chinese repression of Muslims in the country's vast west.
In July the US Treasury imposed sanctions on a major paramilitary group, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, accusing it of abuses against Uighurs and other mostly Muslim groups.
It also hit several officials with sanctions, including Chen Quanguo, the Chinese Communist Party chief for the Xinjiang region and architect of Beijing's hardline policies against restive minorities.
"The Trump Administration has led the world in calling attention to the Chinese Communist Party's egregious human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and we've taken action to back up our rhetoric," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement.
CBP officials said they are currently studying a measure to place a block on all cotton and tomatoes from Xinjiang.
In August the Investor Alliance for Human Rights called for a ban on all cotton-made goods linked to Xinjiang, which supplies the lion's share of China's cotton.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Haiti capital Port au Prince brought to a standstill by protesting police

An on-duty Haitian National Police ( PNH ) officer asks protesters to move away during a protest organised by the Fantom 509 group in the streets of Port-au-Prince , Haiti September 14 , 2020 .
Hundreds of protesting Haitian police officers and their supporters , many of them armed and wearing masks , sparked panic in the capital Port-au-Prince on Monday , setting cars on fire as they voiced their anger at the ruling party .
The cops have demanded higher salaries and the release of a colleague -- a member of the narcotics squad has been held since early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and destruction of public property .
`` What we 're asking for is a better life , '' said one member of the national police force , wearing a mask and sunglasses so he could not be identified .
The protesters fired their service weapons into the air , and rode around town on motorcycles , demanding that authorities release their colleague in a matter of hours .
Several vehicles were set on fire , and an office was partially set ablaze .
A similar protest took place on Friday , and protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The situation is becoming more and more alarming , '' Renan Hedouville , who runs Haiti 's office of citizen protection , told AFP .
`` We risk losing Haiti 's national police like we lost the armed forces , '' he said .
Against a backdrop of spiralling gang violence in Haiti in recent months , protesters are angry at the interim director of the national police .
They accuse the director , Normil Rameau , of not doing enough to protect officers .
`` Cops are dying and taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said one officer taking part in the demonstration .
Haiti 's national police has 16,000 among its ranks , and is tasked with ensuring the safety of the impoverished country 's 11 million people .
It was created in 1994 following the dismantling of the armed forces , implicated in several coups .

Hundreds of protesting Haitian police officers and their supporters, many of them armed and wearing masks, sparked panic in the capital Port-au-Prince on Monday, setting cars on fire as they voiced their anger at the ruling party.
An on-duty Haitian National Police (PNH) officer asks protesters to move away during a protest organised by the Fantom 509 group in the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti September 14, 2020.
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The cops have demanded higher salaries and the release of a colleague -- a member of the narcotics squad has been held since early May on suspicion of murder, arson and destruction of public property.
"What we're asking for is a better life," said one member of the national police force, wearing a mask and sunglasses so he could not be identified.
The protesters fired their service weapons into the air, and rode around town on motorcycles, demanding that authorities release their colleague in a matter of hours.
Several vehicles were set on fire, and an office was partially set ablaze. A similar protest took place on Friday, and protesters won the release of five imprisoned colleagues.
"The situation is becoming more and more alarming," Renan Hedouville, who runs Haiti's office of citizen protection, told AFP.
"We risk losing Haiti's national police like we lost the armed forces," he said.
Against a backdrop of spiralling gang violence in Haiti in recent months, protesters are angry at the interim director of the national police.
They accuse the director, Normil Rameau, of not doing enough to protect officers.
"Cops are dying and taking bullets, and he says nothing," said one officer taking part in the demonstration.
Haiti's national police has 16,000 among its ranks, and is tasked with ensuring the safety of the impoverished country's 11 million people. It was created in 1994 following the dismantling of the armed forces, implicated in several coups.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-14--US judge calls Pennsylvania virus restrictions 'unconstitutional'

A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Monday that orders by the state 's Democratic governor to shut down businesses and limit gatherings to tackle Covid-19 were `` unconstitutional . ''
The lockdown measures , announced at the start of the coronavirus in March , were challenged in court by several Republican lawmakers and small business owners , including the proprietor of a hair salon and of a racehorse stable , who said the restrictions put their enterprises at risk .
Judge William Stickman ruled in their favor , and said that even if the governor acted with `` good intention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he did not have the right to infringe on citizens ' fundamental freedoms .
`` There is no question that this country has faced , and will face , emergencies of every sort , '' the judge wrote .
`` But the solution to a national crisis can never be permitted to supersede the commitment to individual liberty that stands as the foundation of the American experiment . ''
He slammed what he called `` arbitrary '' distinctions over which businesses were deemed essential or non-essential and said no objective definition had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain lines that may not be crossed , even in an emergency .
Actions of the defendants crossed those lines .
It is the duty of the Court to declare those actions unconstitutional , '' said the judge , appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019 .
Governor Tom Wolf has since lifted a large number of the restrictions after the virus , which killed 7,800 people in the state , appeared to be coming under control .
But some restrictions remain , including the limitation on bars and restaurants having more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since the outbreak of the pandemic , US courts have been swamped with lawsuits challenging restrictions , with mixed results : in May a judge overruled an extension of the lockdown orders in Wisconsin while a Michigan court ruled in its favor .
The virus has killed 194,000 people in the country .
Wolf 's office was not immediately available to comment on the ruling .
Pennsylvania , which narrowly backed Trump in the 2016 election , is seen by Democrats as one of the states they need to regain in November 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous protests against lockdown orders .

New York (AFP) –
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A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Monday that orders by the state's Democratic governor to shut down businesses and limit gatherings to tackle Covid-19 were "unconstitutional."
The lockdown measures, announced at the start of the coronavirus in March, were challenged in court by several Republican lawmakers and small business owners, including the proprietor of a hair salon and of a racehorse stable, who said the restrictions put their enterprises at risk.
Judge William Stickman ruled in their favor, and said that even if the governor acted with "good intention of addressing a public health emergency," he did not have the right to infringe on citizens' fundamental freedoms.
"There is no question that this country has faced, and will face, emergencies of every sort," the judge wrote. "But the solution to a national crisis can never be permitted to supersede the commitment to individual liberty that stands as the foundation of the American experiment."
He slammed what he called "arbitrary" distinctions over which businesses were deemed essential or non-essential and said no objective definition had been provided.
"The Constitution sets certain lines that may not be crossed, even in an emergency. Actions of the defendants crossed those lines. It is the duty of the Court to declare those actions unconstitutional," said the judge, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019.
Governor Tom Wolf has since lifted a large number of the restrictions after the virus, which killed 7,800 people in the state, appeared to be coming under control.
But some restrictions remain, including the limitation on bars and restaurants having more than 25 clients indoors or 250 outside.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, US courts have been swamped with lawsuits challenging restrictions, with mixed results: in May a judge overruled an extension of the lockdown orders in Wisconsin while a Michigan court ruled in its favor.
The virus has killed 194,000 people in the country.
Wolf's office was not immediately available to comment on the ruling.
Pennsylvania, which narrowly backed Trump in the 2016 election, is seen by Democrats as one of the states they need to regain in November's elections.
In spring, there were numerous protests against lockdown orders.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--US government receives Oracle bid for TikTok

President Donald Trump 's administration has sought the sale of TikTok from ByteDance , citing concerns about US data security US officials were to consider a bid by tech giant Oracle to become an American partner to the Chinese-owned TikTok video app after it was designated a national security risk .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed the offer Monday concerning TikTok 's US operations after its parent company ByteDance rejected a proposal from Microsoft .
TikTok said in a statement that `` we 've submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department which we believe would resolve the Administration 's security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to be used by 100 million people in the US .
But key details about the deal were murky and it remained unclear whether the venture would pass muster with Washington regulators .
`` We did get a proposal over the weekend that includes Oracle as the trusted technology partner , '' Mnuchin said on CNBC , adding that the bid would be handled by a government panel that reviews foreign transactions for national security concerns .
`` We need to make sure that the code is , one , secure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are secure , and we 'll be having discussions with Oracle over the next few days with our technical teams , '' Mnuchin said .
Oracle confirmed its submission , saying the company `` is part of the proposal by ByteDance to the Treasury Department over the weekend in which Oracle will serve as the trusted technology provider . ''
President Donald Trump effectively ordered the sale of the Chinese company 's US operations by September 20 , after which the app would shut down .
Chinese state media outlets CGTN and China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not sell TikTok to Oracle , while The Wall Street Journal said the transaction is being structured as a partnership and probably wo n't be an outright sale .
All three outlets cited unnamed sources .
Carl Tobias , a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law , said Oracle 's description of itself under the venture was ambiguous and may not assuage national security concerns .
`` It is unclear what Oracle means by saying it will serve as 'TikTok 's trusted technology provider . '
This idea is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's executive orders was concern over the threat to national security from Tiktok , '' Tobias said .
`` Unless much more is done to clarify exactly what the contours of the deal are and how they will work in practice , many observers and I wonder whether the deal will be sufficient to prevent the app 's ban in the US . ''
TikTok 's brand of short , quirky videos made on users ' cellphones has grown popular in the United States and beyond .
But Trump 's claims that TikTok @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the location of federal employees , build dossiers for the purpose of blackmail and conduct corporate espionage has sparked a diplomatic storm between Washington and Beijing .
TikTok has rejected the charges and sued over the crackdown , contending that the US order was a misuse of its International Emergency Economic Powers Act because the platform is not `` an unusual and extraordinary threat . ''
Last month , China 's commerce ministry published new rules potentially making it more difficult for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American entity by adding `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technologies that are restricted for export .
ByteDance had vowed to `` strictly abide '' by the new export rules .
Downloaded 175 million times in the United States , TikTok is used by as many as a billion people worldwide .
It has repeatedly denied sharing data with Beijing .
Microsoft had indicated at the beginning of August that it was interested in acquiring TikTok 's US operations , but announced Sunday that bid had been rejected .
`` We believe Microsoft would only buy TikTok with its core algorithm , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to budge , '' Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in a note .
`` Given the need now to get a green light from Beijing after its export rules were changed a few weeks ago , TikTok 's days in the US likely are numbered with a shutdown now the next step . ''
S & P warned Monday that the transaction for TikTok could result in a downgrade of Oracle 's credit rating , depending on whether the company needs to take on significant debt for the transaction .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partner rather than a full owner could lower the price , '' S & P said .
`` And if Oracle has co-bidders , that could further reduce the financial impact . ''
Shares of Oracle were halted shortly after the open due to the pending news on the company but resumed trading later in the day .
Oracle shares ended up 4.3 percent at $ 59.46 .

Washington (AFP) –
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US officials were to consider a bid by tech giant Oracle to become an American partner to the Chinese-owned TikTok video app after it was designated a national security risk.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed the offer Monday concerning TikTok's US operations after its parent company ByteDance rejected a proposal from Microsoft.
TikTok said in a statement that "we've submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department which we believe would resolve the Administration's security concerns" and allow the company to continue to be used by 100 million people in the US.
But key details about the deal were murky and it remained unclear whether the venture would pass muster with Washington regulators.
"We did get a proposal over the weekend that includes Oracle as the trusted technology partner," Mnuchin said on CNBC, adding that the bid would be handled by a government panel that reviews foreign transactions for national security concerns.
"We need to make sure that the code is, one, secure, Americans' data are secure, phones are secure, and we'll be having discussions with Oracle over the next few days with our technical teams," Mnuchin said.
Oracle confirmed its submission, saying the company "is part of the proposal by ByteDance to the Treasury Department over the weekend in which Oracle will serve as the trusted technology provider."
President Donald Trump effectively ordered the sale of the Chinese company's US operations by September 20, after which the app would shut down.
Chinese state media outlets CGTN and China News Service on Monday reported that ByteDance would not sell TikTok to Oracle, while The Wall Street Journal said the transaction is being structured as a partnership and probably won't be an outright sale. All three outlets cited unnamed sources.
- Ban still a threat -
Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, said Oracle's description of itself under the venture was ambiguous and may not assuage national security concerns.
"It is unclear what Oracle means by saying it will serve as 'TikTok's trusted technology provider.' This idea is critical because one major reason for Trump's executive orders was concern over the threat to national security from Tiktok," Tobias said.
"Unless much more is done to clarify exactly what the contours of the deal are and how they will work in practice, many observers and I wonder whether the deal will be sufficient to prevent the app's ban in the US."
TikTok's brand of short, quirky videos made on users' cellphones has grown popular in the United States and beyond.
But Trump's claims that TikTok could be used by China to track the location of federal employees, build dossiers for the purpose of blackmail and conduct corporate espionage has sparked a diplomatic storm between Washington and Beijing.
TikTok has rejected the charges and sued over the crackdown, contending that the US order was a misuse of its International Emergency Economic Powers Act because the platform is not "an unusual and extraordinary threat."
Last month, China's commerce ministry published new rules potentially making it more difficult for ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American entity by adding "civilian use" to a list of technologies that are restricted for export.
ByteDance had vowed to "strictly abide" by the new export rules.
- Microsoft bid nixed -
Downloaded 175 million times in the United States, TikTok is used by as many as a billion people worldwide. It has repeatedly denied sharing data with Beijing.
Microsoft had indicated at the beginning of August that it was interested in acquiring TikTok's US operations, but announced Sunday that bid had been rejected.
"We believe Microsoft would only buy TikTok with its core algorithm, which the Chinese government and ByteDance was not willing to budge," Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in a note.
"Given the need now to get a green light from Beijing after its export rules were changed a few weeks ago, TikTok's days in the US likely are numbered with a shutdown now the next step."
S&P warned Monday that the transaction for TikTok could result in a downgrade of Oracle's credit rating, depending on whether the company needs to take on significant debt for the transaction.
"A deal in which Oracle is a technology partner rather than a full owner could lower the price," S&P said. "And if Oracle has co-bidders, that could further reduce the financial impact."
Shares of Oracle were halted shortly after the open due to the pending news on the company but resumed trading later in the day. Oracle shares ended up 4.3 percent at $59.46.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--Facebook lets friends watch shows together while apart

There are more than 150 million video calls a day on Facebook Messenger , according to the company Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in virtual watch parties as a way to get together with friends , and Facebook is getting in on the action .
The world 's largest social network on Monday launched Watch Together , a free feature it is rolling out globally on its Messenger communication platform .
`` Connecting through video has understandably become more important for our Messenger community in the past few months , '' Facebook product manager Nora Micheva said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created Watch Together to make spending quality time with friends and loved ones feel as close to an in-person experience as possible . ''
There are more than 150 million video calls a day on Messenger , and more than 200 million videos sent each day using the service , according to Micheva .
Watch Together is designed to let people enjoy videos simultaneously while chatting with friends on screen in a video call .
`` Whether it 's watching a trending video , a movie , a sports highlight , a makeup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the feature allows you to watch your friends ' reactions at the same time , '' Micheva said .
For the launch , Facebook has partnered with celebrity fitness trainer Melissa Alcantara to create a series of workout videos .
Watch Together can be activated from a Messenger video call capable of handling up to eight people , or in virtual `` rooms '' that as many as 50 online friends can visit at the same time .
Facebook this year launched the virtual `` rooms '' feature , where friends can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of an effort to help users locked down during the pandemic .
The social network has also made it possible for artists , teachers , creators and others to host paid events online as real-world gatherings have been thwarted by virus prevention measures .

San Francisco (AFP) –
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Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a sharp increase in virtual watch parties as a way to get together with friends, and Facebook is getting in on the action.
The world's largest social network on Monday launched Watch Together, a free feature it is rolling out globally on its Messenger communication platform.
"Connecting through video has understandably become more important for our Messenger community in the past few months," Facebook product manager Nora Micheva said in a blog post.
"We created Watch Together to make spending quality time with friends and loved ones feel as close to an in-person experience as possible."
There are more than 150 million video calls a day on Messenger, and more than 200 million videos sent each day using the service, according to Micheva.
Watch Together is designed to let people enjoy videos simultaneously while chatting with friends on screen in a video call.
"Whether it's watching a trending video, a movie, a sports highlight, a makeup tutorial, or a Facebook Watch original, the feature allows you to watch your friends' reactions at the same time," Micheva said.
For the launch, Facebook has partnered with celebrity fitness trainer Melissa Alcantara to create a series of workout videos.
Watch Together can be activated from a Messenger video call capable of handling up to eight people, or in virtual "rooms" that as many as 50 online friends can visit at the same time.
Facebook this year launched the virtual "rooms" feature, where friends can pop in for visits via online video as part of an effort to help users locked down during the pandemic.
The social network has also made it possible for artists, teachers, creators and others to host paid events online as real-world gatherings have been thwarted by virus prevention measures.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-14--'I acted like a fool': Neymar regrets Marseille red card

Neymar was sent off for slapping Avaro Gonzalez after what he insists was racist abuse from the Marseille defender Neymar said he `` acted like a fool '' following his red card against Marseille but called on football officials to do more to combat discrimination after accusing Spanish defender Alvaro Gonzalez of racism .
The Brazil forward was one of five players sent off after a mass brawl at the end of PSG 's 1-0 loss in Ligue 1 on Sunday , and later claimed Gonzalez had called him a `` monkey '' in a series of furious tweets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most expensive player , saying the club `` strongly supports '' him , but Neymar conceded he would accept his punishment which is expected to be revealed by the French league 's disciplinary commission on Wednesday .
`` Yesterday I revolted .
I was punished with red because I wanted to hit someone who offended me , '' Neymar said in a lengthy Instagram post Monday .
`` I thought I could not leave without doing something because I realised that those in charge would not do anything , did not notice or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed for slapping Gonzalez on the back of the head , with team-mates Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes also sent off , as well as Marseille 's Dario Benedetto and Jordan Amavi .
`` In our sport , aggressions , insults , swearing are part of the game , of the dispute .
You ca n't be affectionate .
I understand this guy partly , all is part of the game , but racism and intolerance are unacceptable , '' Neymar continued .
`` Should I have ignored it ?
I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cool head , I say yes , but in due course , my companions and I asked the referees for help and we were ignored .
`` I accept my punishment because I should have followed the path of clean football .
I hope , on the other hand , that the offender will also be punished .
`` Racism exists .
It exists , but we have to stop it .
No more .
Enough ! ''
`` The guy was a fool .
I also acted like a fool for letting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
PSG have lost their opening two games of the season for the first time since 1984/85 , and face another spell without Neymar whose first two seasons in France were marred by injuries .
They host Metz on Metz on Wednesday in what was originally scheduled to be their Ligue 1 season opener .
Meanwhile , Marseille issued a statement of their own defending Gonzalez .
He denied racism and accused Neymar of being a bad loser .
`` Alvaro Gonzalez is not racist .
He has shown us that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club , as his team-mates have already testified , '' the statement read .
The league 's disciplinary commission , which will decide the punishments , could investigate Neymar 's accusations against Gonzalez , who Marseille claim was spat on by Angel Di Maria .
Marseille pledged to `` fully cooperate '' with any investigation and said the club would remain at the disposal of the commission .
Spitting directed at another player can lead to a ban of up to six matches .
Kurzawa meanwhile could be suspended for up to seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punch at opposition full-back Amavi .

Paris (AFP) –
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Neymar said he "acted like a fool" following his red card against Marseille but called on football officials to do more to combat discrimination after accusing Spanish defender Alvaro Gonzalez of racism.
The Brazil forward was one of five players sent off after a mass brawl at the end of PSG's 1-0 loss in Ligue 1 on Sunday, and later claimed Gonzalez had called him a "monkey" in a series of furious tweets.
PSG have stood by the world's most expensive player, saying the club "strongly supports" him, but Neymar conceded he would accept his punishment which is expected to be revealed by the French league's disciplinary commission on Wednesday.
"Yesterday I revolted. I was punished with red because I wanted to hit someone who offended me," Neymar said in a lengthy Instagram post Monday.
"I thought I could not leave without doing something because I realised that those in charge would not do anything, did not notice or ignored the fact."
Neymar was dismissed for slapping Gonzalez on the back of the head, with team-mates Layvin Kurzawa and Leandro Paredes also sent off, as well as Marseille's Dario Benedetto and Jordan Amavi.
"In our sport, aggressions, insults, swearing are part of the game, of the dispute. You can't be affectionate. I understand this guy partly, all is part of the game, but racism and intolerance are unacceptable," Neymar continued.
"Should I have ignored it? I don't know yet... Today, with a cool head, I say yes, but in due course, my companions and I asked the referees for help and we were ignored.
"I accept my punishment because I should have followed the path of clean football. I hope, on the other hand, that the offender will also be punished.
"Racism exists. It exists, but we have to stop it. No more. Enough!"
"The guy was a fool. I also acted like a fool for letting me get involved in that," he added.
- Marseille defend Gonzalez -
PSG have lost their opening two games of the season for the first time since 1984/85, and face another spell without Neymar whose first two seasons in France were marred by injuries.
They host Metz on Metz on Wednesday in what was originally scheduled to be their Ligue 1 season opener.
Meanwhile, Marseille issued a statement of their own defending Gonzalez. He denied racism and accused Neymar of being a bad loser.
"Alvaro Gonzalez is not racist. He has shown us that by his daily behaviour since joining the club, as his team-mates have already testified," the statement read.
The league's disciplinary commission, which will decide the punishments, could investigate Neymar's accusations against Gonzalez, who Marseille claim was spat on by Angel Di Maria.
Marseille pledged to "fully cooperate" with any investigation and said the club would remain at the disposal of the commission.
Any racist behaviour carries a maximum suspension of 10 matches.
Spitting directed at another player can lead to a ban of up to six matches.
Kurzawa meanwhile could be suspended for up to seven matches for violent conduct after aiming a punch at opposition full-back Amavi.
© 2020 AFP