france24--2020-09-11--Bottas tops first practice at Mugello, Ferrari's Leclerc third

Leclerc drives the retro-liveried Ferrari into third in the first practice timesheets Valtteri Bottas maintained his recent habit of being fastest on Friday when he clocked the quickest lap in opening practice for this weekend 's inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix .
The Finn , in his Mercedes , clocked a best lap in one minute and 17.819 seconds at the sweeping Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit to outpace nearest rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.048 seconds .
The track is being used for the first time as a Grand Prix venue to mark the celebrations for Ferrari ’ s 1000th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Italian team 's fortunes as Charles Leclerc was third fastest for the ‘ scarlet scuderia ’ , running in retro burgundy livery , three-tenths off the pace .
It was the first time in three events that Ferrari had a car in the top ten after Friday morning practice — a welcome fillip for the team as they sought to bounce back from their pointless flops at Spa Francorchamps and Monza .
Series leader and six-time champion Lewis Hamilton was fourth in the second Mercedes , half a second behind Bottas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tauri , Esteban Ocon of Renault , Daniil Kvyat in the second Alpha Tauri , Alex Albon of Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo in the second Renault .
On a beautiful morning under blue skies in central Italy , opening free practice began with Bottas setting the early pace before Monza victor Gasly took over followed by Verstappen .
The first half hour of the 90 minutes saw slow progress as the teams gathered data and the drivers became accustomed to the nuances of the fast , flowing and spectacular circuit .
Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lap in 1:18.981 before the times tumbled , Ocon , Hamilton , Leclerc and then Bottas , cutting the fastest to 1:17.879 , the Finn maintaining his habit of being fastest on Friday .
After four weeks , he was seeking his fifth 'fastest on Friday ' tag .
In pursuit , Ferrari found it was hot going on their own circuit as their tyre temperatures rose dramatically through the fast corners .
`` Might as well box , the tyres are way too hot , '' said Vettel before coming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 degrees and the track was 43 degrees , sufficiently warm to ensure tyre wear was an issue .

Mugello (Italy) (AFP) –
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Valtteri Bottas maintained his recent habit of being fastest on Friday when he clocked the quickest lap in opening practice for this weekend's inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix.
The Finn, in his Mercedes, clocked a best lap in one minute and 17.819 seconds at the sweeping Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit to outpace nearest rival Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.048 seconds.
The track is being used for the first time as a Grand Prix venue to mark the celebrations for Ferrari’s 1000th F1 race entry and sparked an improvement in the Italian team's fortunes as Charles Leclerc was third fastest for the ‘scarlet scuderia’, running in retro burgundy livery, three-tenths off the pace.
It was the first time in three events that Ferrari had a car in the top ten after Friday morning practice — a welcome fillip for the team as they sought to bounce back from their pointless flops at Spa Francorchamps and Monza.
Series leader and six-time champion Lewis Hamilton was fourth in the second Mercedes, half a second behind Bottas, ahead of Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri, Esteban Ocon of Renault, Daniil Kvyat in the second Alpha Tauri, Alex Albon of Red Bull and Daniel Ricciardo in the second Renault.
On a beautiful morning under blue skies in central Italy, opening free practice began with Bottas setting the early pace before Monza victor Gasly took over followed by Verstappen.
The first half hour of the 90 minutes saw slow progress as the teams gathered data and the drivers became accustomed to the nuances of the fast, flowing and spectacular circuit.
Following a lull, Norris went top with a lap in 1:18.981 before the times tumbled, Ocon, Hamilton, Leclerc and then Bottas, cutting the fastest to 1:17.879, the Finn maintaining his habit of being fastest on Friday.
After four weeks, he was seeking his fifth 'fastest on Friday' tag.
In pursuit, Ferrari found it was hot going on their own circuit as their tyre temperatures rose dramatically through the fast corners.
"Might as well box, the tyres are way too hot," said Vettel before coming in. The air temperature was rising at 29 degrees and the track was 43 degrees, sufficiently warm to ensure tyre wear was an issue.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--'Living hell': Ethiopians detained in Saudi call for help

Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians have left from the Horn of Africa for Saudi Arabia in past years in rickety boats , seeking to reach the kingdom via war-torn Yemen , but many have perished as their boats have capsized Using a smuggled-in mobile phone , a detained Ethiopian migrant pleaded for help as he described harrowing conditions in a Saudi detention centre -- overcrowded and disease-ridden cells , food scarcity and rising suicides .
Campaigners have called on Saudi Arabia to investigate allegations of the abusive and unsanitary conditions confronting migrants after some began talking to activists and international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's a living hell , '' a 23-year-old Ethiopian migrant told AFP from a detention centre in southern Jizan province along the Yemen border .
Images published recently by Human Rights Watch showed shirtless and scrawny men huddled together in windowless cells .
Although the exact numbers of detainees is unknown , the pictures triggered global shock , shining a rare spotlight on tightly guarded Saudi detention centres that have long remained out of public view .
Last week , Saudi officials launched a crackdown to seize the cellphones in a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopian diplomats warned detainees to stop speaking out , three migrants locked up in two facilities in the kingdom told AFP .
Held for more than five months , the impoverished migrants who originally escaped Ethiopia for a better life in Saudi Arabia are scraping by with barely enough food and water , the three said .
Clogged toilets are overflowing , and many migrants have developed skin infections and other diseases .
`` There 's no medical care in prison and they do n't go out , '' Ethiopian activist Lema Zelalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ababa .
`` People have been staying in that prison for more than five months , they did n't see any sunlight for five months . ''
He is in contact with the detainees and corroborated claims by the migrants to AFP that many people have taken their own lives .
Saudi Arabia 's media ministry , the country 's Human Rights Commission ( HRC ) as well as the Ethiopian embassy in Riyadh have not responded to AFP 's requests for comment .
The New York-based Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by migrants -- two in Jizan and another close to the western city of Jeddah .
The International Organization of Migration ( IOM ) voiced concern over the facilities ' `` dire conditions '' .
`` IOM has been following up closely on the extremely difficult conditions facing Ethiopian migrants in centres in Saudi Arabia , '' the UN agency told AFP , adding it was in contact with the Saudi HRC , which is conducting an `` internal inquiry on the conditions '' .
Using people smugglers and rickety boats , hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perilous journeys over the past decade from the Horn of Africa to the oil-rich kingdom in search of jobs as domestic helpers , construction workers and animal herders .
Their journey takes them through war-torn Yemen , where Huthi rebels in April forcibly expelled thousands of Ethiopians , accusing them of being `` coronavirus carriers '' , according to migrants and HRW .
The rebels `` killed dozens '' as the migrants were pushed towards the Saudi border , HRW said .
`` Saudi border guards then fired on the fleeing migrants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As many headed to a mountainous border region , hundreds were eventually allowed to enter the kingdom and placed in detention .
Separately , the IOM says Saudi Arabia has deported roughly 10,000 Ethiopians per month since 2017 as it cracked down on undocumented migrants .
The pace slowed earlier this year when Addis Ababa requested a moratorium amid concern the migrants were returning with coronavirus .
`` Hundreds if not thousands of Ethiopian migrants are now languishing in squalid detention centres in Saudi Arabia , '' said Human Rights Watch researcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arbitrary and abusive '' .
Earlier this month , Ethiopia 's foreign ministry acknowledged it was `` not doing enough '' to assist the migrants , while praising Riyadh 's `` outstanding support '' to its citizens .
Addis Ababa appears careful not to antagonise Saudi Arabia , a key investor and source of foreign remittances in Ethiopia .
`` We migrated from our country to change our lives , '' said the 23-year-old migrant , who survived the carnage at the border in April .
`` We asked the Saudi prison guards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they say 'your government does not want you ' . ''
His 21-year-old-wife is locked up in another detention facility near Jeddah along with their one-year-old infant son .
Contacted by AFP , she said pregnant Ethiopian migrants had given birth in unsanitary conditions at her facility as she voiced fears of being cut off from her husband if her phone is impounded .
Activist Birhane confirmed phones were being confiscated , saying the move was `` to silence the migrants . ''

Riyadh (AFP) –
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Using a smuggled-in mobile phone, a detained Ethiopian migrant pleaded for help as he described harrowing conditions in a Saudi detention centre -- overcrowded and disease-ridden cells, food scarcity and rising suicides.
Campaigners have called on Saudi Arabia to investigate allegations of the abusive and unsanitary conditions confronting migrants after some began talking to activists and international media using contraband cell phones.
"It's a living hell," a 23-year-old Ethiopian migrant told AFP from a detention centre in southern Jizan province along the Yemen border.
Images published recently by Human Rights Watch showed shirtless and scrawny men huddled together in windowless cells.
Although the exact numbers of detainees is unknown, the pictures triggered global shock, shining a rare spotlight on tightly guarded Saudi detention centres that have long remained out of public view.
Last week, Saudi officials launched a crackdown to seize the cellphones in a bid to prevent further leaks. And visiting Ethiopian diplomats warned detainees to stop speaking out, three migrants locked up in two facilities in the kingdom told AFP.
Held for more than five months, the impoverished migrants who originally escaped Ethiopia for a better life in Saudi Arabia are scraping by with barely enough food and water, the three said.
Clogged toilets are overflowing, and many migrants have developed skin infections and other diseases.
"There's no medical care in prison and they don't go out," Ethiopian activist Lema Zelalem Birhane told AFP, speaking from Addis Ababa.
"People have been staying in that prison for more than five months, they didn't see any sunlight for five months."
He is in contact with the detainees and corroborated claims by the migrants to AFP that many people have taken their own lives.
Saudi Arabia's media ministry, the country's Human Rights Commission (HRC) as well as the Ethiopian embassy in Riyadh have not responded to AFP's requests for comment.
- 'Dire conditions' -
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) identified three main detention facilities frequently cited by migrants -- two in Jizan and another close to the western city of Jeddah.
The International Organization of Migration (IOM) voiced concern over the facilities' "dire conditions".
"IOM has been following up closely on the extremely difficult conditions facing Ethiopian migrants in centres in Saudi Arabia," the UN agency told AFP, adding it was in contact with the Saudi HRC, which is conducting an "internal inquiry on the conditions".
Using people smugglers and rickety boats, hundreds of thousands of poor Ethiopians have undertaken perilous journeys over the past decade from the Horn of Africa to the oil-rich kingdom in search of jobs as domestic helpers, construction workers and animal herders.
Their journey takes them through war-torn Yemen, where Huthi rebels in April forcibly expelled thousands of Ethiopians, accusing them of being "coronavirus carriers", according to migrants and HRW.
The rebels "killed dozens" as the migrants were pushed towards the Saudi border, HRW said. "Saudi border guards then fired on the fleeing migrants, killing dozens more," it added.
As many headed to a mountainous border region, hundreds were eventually allowed to enter the kingdom and placed in detention.
- 'Silence the migrants' -
Separately, the IOM says Saudi Arabia has deported roughly 10,000 Ethiopians per month since 2017 as it cracked down on undocumented migrants.
The pace slowed earlier this year when Addis Ababa requested a moratorium amid concern the migrants were returning with coronavirus.
"Hundreds if not thousands of Ethiopian migrants are now languishing in squalid detention centres in Saudi Arabia," said Human Rights Watch researcher Nadia Hardman, calling their incarceration "arbitrary and abusive".
Earlier this month, Ethiopia's foreign ministry acknowledged it was "not doing enough" to assist the migrants, while praising Riyadh's "outstanding support" to its citizens.
Addis Ababa appears careful not to antagonise Saudi Arabia, a key investor and source of foreign remittances in Ethiopia.
"We migrated from our country to change our lives," said the 23-year-old migrant, who survived the carnage at the border in April.
"We asked the Saudi prison guards to send us back to our country, but they say 'your government does not want you'."
His 21-year-old-wife is locked up in another detention facility near Jeddah along with their one-year-old infant son.
Contacted by AFP, she said pregnant Ethiopian migrants had given birth in unsanitary conditions at her facility as she voiced fears of being cut off from her husband if her phone is impounded.
Activist Birhane confirmed phones were being confiscated, saying the move was "to silence the migrants."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Huge blast rocks Jordan military arms depot

A huge blast at a military munitions depot in the city of Zarqa , 25 kilometres ( 15 miles ) east of Amman , sparked a large fire , but there were no reports of casualties A huge explosion rocked a Jordanian military munitions depot early Friday sparking a large fire , but the army said there were no casualties at the base located in an uninhabited area .
The military said the blast was accidental and likely caused by a chemical reaction inside a shell amid a blistering heatwave in the desert country .
`` An explosion occurred in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a warehouse containing unusable mortar bombs belonging to the armed forces , '' government spokesman Amjad al-Adaileh said in a statement .
The blast happened in the city of Zarqa , 25 kilometres ( 15 miles ) east of the capital Amman , where several Jordanian bases and depots are located .
Images which swiftly spread on social media showed a huge ball of flames rising into the night sky , followed by several more explosions .
The army , which closed off the area , acknowledged that there had been an explosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is being dismantled near the city of Zarqa '' .
Preliminary findings indicated that `` the explosion was due to high temperatures provoking a chemical reaction in a shell '' , the military said in a statement .
Jordan has over the past week seen temperatures soar above 48 degrees Celsius ( 118 degrees Fahrenheit ) in some regions .
The area around the explosion has been `` completely combed to ensure that there is no further danger , and the situation is under control , '' General Imad al-Khamaysseh told state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a population of about 1.5 million , has witnessed several explosions in past years , mainly caused by old munitions and fires in warehouses .
It is also home to many factories and a free trade zone .
The explosion came only days after the Hashemite kingdom announced it was reinstating military service for unemployed men between the ages of 25 and 29 .
Jordan abolished compulsory military service in 1991 , three years before signing a peace accord with neighbouring Israel .
The country and its 10 million people , ruled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard by restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
Unemployment rose to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2020 , according to official figures , up from 19 percent for the same period last year .

Amman (AFP) –
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A huge explosion rocked a Jordanian military munitions depot early Friday sparking a large fire, but the army said there were no casualties at the base located in an uninhabited area.
The military said the blast was accidental and likely caused by a chemical reaction inside a shell amid a blistering heatwave in the desert country.
"An explosion occurred in the early hours of Friday ... in a warehouse containing unusable mortar bombs belonging to the armed forces," government spokesman Amjad al-Adaileh said in a statement.
The blast happened in the city of Zarqa, 25 kilometres (15 miles) east of the capital Amman, where several Jordanian bases and depots are located.
Images which swiftly spread on social media showed a huge ball of flames rising into the night sky, followed by several more explosions.
The army, which closed off the area, acknowledged that there had been an explosion "in one of the ammunition depots which is being dismantled near the city of Zarqa".
Preliminary findings indicated that "the explosion was due to high temperatures provoking a chemical reaction in a shell", the military said in a statement.
Jordan has over the past week seen temperatures soar above 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions.
The area around the explosion has been "completely combed to ensure that there is no further danger, and the situation is under control," General Imad al-Khamaysseh told state television.
Zarqa governorate, which has a population of about 1.5 million, has witnessed several explosions in past years, mainly caused by old munitions and fires in warehouses. It is also home to many factories and a free trade zone.
The explosion came only days after the Hashemite kingdom announced it was reinstating military service for unemployed men between the ages of 25 and 29.
Jordan abolished compulsory military service in 1991, three years before signing a peace accord with neighbouring Israel.
The country and its 10 million people, ruled by King Abdullah II, have been hit hard by restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Unemployment rose to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2020, according to official figures, up from 19 percent for the same period last year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Firefighters put out Beirut blaze but anger smoulders

Lebanese firefighters use a ladder to hose down the warehouses and silos of Beirut port after Thursday 's blaze Lebanese firefighters on Friday put out a blaze at Beirut port that brought back the trauma of last month 's deadly dockside explosion and destroyed badly needed food aid .
Fire crews used cranes to hose down the last smouldering embers of the fire that swept through already damaged warehouses on Thursday , AFP correspondents reported .
But popular anger at the authorities ' failure to provide public safety , even in the heart of the capital , was rekindled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on Thursday afternoon as workers were carrying out repair work on some of the warehouses still standing after last month 's explosion .
Sparks from a power saw being used in the repairs were the likely cause of the blaze , according to the government 's preliminary findings .
The International Committee of the Red Cross said one of the warehouses contained precious food aid for tens of thousands of needy families in Lebanon and in neighbouring Syria .
It said it had been working on moving the supplies out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blast but the operation had still been ongoing when the fire hit .
`` Due to the rubble present and the danger involved , it is not possible to confirm the level of loss incurred at this time , '' an ICRC statement said .
`` The explosion and the fire will no doubt have an impact on the ICRC 's humanitarian aid whether in Lebanon or Syria . ''
On Friday , earthmovers were again at work clearing rubble from the port through which the vast majority of Lebanon 's food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The fire is very weak .
There 's just one area we 're still dealing with .
It 's nothing , '' said George Abou Moussa , operations director of Lebanon 's civil defence agency .
The sight of a vast pall of smoke billowing over the port district on Thursday , barely a month after the colossal blast killed more than 190 people and ravaged tens of thousands of homes , sent terrified residents running onto the streets .
`` What happened yesterday was a repetition of August 4 , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital 's heavily damaged Mar Mikhael neighbourhood .
`` People were terrified .
They were running into each other in their hurry to escape . ''
The August 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser , which had been left unsupervised in a port warehouse for years , reignited anti-government protests which had died down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic .
The blast heaped new misery on Lebanese already battling the country 's worst economic crisis in decades , which has seen poverty rates double to more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nashabe asked how fire could erupt in an area that should have been a protected crime scene .
`` Where is the judiciary ?
Where is the state ?
Where is responsibility ? ''
he asked .
The government resigned after last month 's explosion , but President Michael Aoun remains in office alongside his new prime minister designate Moustapha Adib .
Aoun said Thursday 's fire could have been an `` intentional act of sabotage , the result of a technical error , ignorance , or negligence '' .
Adib called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law .
But the company responsible for managing the warehouse used by the ICRC , BCC Logistics , denied any responsibility and called for a full investigation .
Lebanon has launched a probe into last month 's blast , one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever , and arrested 25 suspects so far .
Among them are top port and customs officials , as well as Syrian workers who allegedly carried out welding hours before the explosion .
Lebanon has rejected an international investigation , but its probe is being aided @ @ @ @

Beirut (AFP) –
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Lebanese firefighters on Friday put out a blaze at Beirut port that brought back the trauma of last month's deadly dockside explosion and destroyed badly needed food aid.
Fire crews used cranes to hose down the last smouldering embers of the fire that swept through already damaged warehouses on Thursday, AFP correspondents reported.
But popular anger at the authorities' failure to provide public safety, even in the heart of the capital, was rekindled by the new blaze.
The fire broke out on Thursday afternoon as workers were carrying out repair work on some of the warehouses still standing after last month's explosion.
Sparks from a power saw being used in the repairs were the likely cause of the blaze, according to the government's preliminary findings.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said one of the warehouses contained precious food aid for tens of thousands of needy families in Lebanon and in neighbouring Syria.
It said it had been working on moving the supplies out of the damaged warehouse ever since the August 4 blast but the operation had still been ongoing when the fire hit.
"Due to the rubble present and the danger involved, it is not possible to confirm the level of loss incurred at this time," an ICRC statement said.
"The explosion and the fire will no doubt have an impact on the ICRC's humanitarian aid whether in Lebanon or Syria."
On Friday, earthmovers were again at work clearing rubble from the port through which the vast majority of Lebanon's food and other imports used to pass.
"The fire is very weak. There's just one area we're still dealing with. It's nothing," said George Abou Moussa, operations director of Lebanon's civil defence agency.
- 'People were terrified' -
The sight of a vast pall of smoke billowing over the port district on Thursday, barely a month after the colossal blast killed more than 190 people and ravaged tens of thousands of homes, sent terrified residents running onto the streets.
"What happened yesterday was a repetition of August 4," said Antoine Assaad, who lives in the capital's heavily damaged Mar Mikhael neighbourhood.
"People were terrified. They were running into each other in their hurry to escape."
The August 4 explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which had been left unsupervised in a port warehouse for years, reignited anti-government protests which had died down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
The blast heaped new misery on Lebanese already battling the country's worst economic crisis in decades, which has seen poverty rates double to more than half the population.
Criminology researcher Omar Nashabe asked how fire could erupt in an area that should have been a protected crime scene.
"Where is the judiciary? Where is the state? Where is responsibility?" he asked.
The government resigned after last month's explosion, but President Michael Aoun remains in office alongside his new prime minister designate Moustapha Adib.
Aoun said Thursday's fire could have been an "intentional act of sabotage, the result of a technical error, ignorance, or negligence".
Adib called for those responsible to face the full force of the law.
But the company responsible for managing the warehouse used by the ICRC, BCC Logistics, denied any responsibility and called for a full investigation.
Lebanon has launched a probe into last month's blast, one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions ever, and arrested 25 suspects so far.
Among them are top port and customs officials, as well as Syrian workers who allegedly carried out welding hours before the explosion.
Lebanon has rejected an international investigation, but its probe is being aided by foreign experts.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Vinales sets early pace in San Marino practice

Yamaha duo Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo dominated Friday 's first practice for the San Marino MotoGP to suggest the @ @ @ @ @ set-up issues that hindered their performance in the last two races .
Quartararo holds a @ @ @ @ @ the riders standings going into this sixth leg of the coronavirus-disrupted season .
The Frenchman @ @ @ @ @ two races , finished the session over half a second down on Vinales who posted @ @ @ @ @ to better his pole-claiming lap at the circuit in 2019 .
Aprilia 's Aleix Espargaro @ @ @ @ @ at Misano ahead of Johann Zarco on the Ducati-Avintia bike .
Next season the rider @ @ @ @ @ rash move at the heart of a terrifying 300kmh pile-up in last month 's Austrian @ @ @ @ @ Ducati 's factory team to take the place of the departing Andrea Dovizioso .
Six-time @ @ @ @ @ as he recovers from a broken arm suffered in the opening race .

Misano Adriatico (Italy) (AFP) –
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Yamaha duo Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo dominated Friday's first practice for the San Marino MotoGP to suggest the Japanese team had resolved the set-up issues that hindered their performance in the last two races.
Quartararo holds a slender three point lead in the riders standings going into this sixth leg of the coronavirus-disrupted season.
The Frenchman, who won the first two races, finished the session over half a second down on Vinales who posted a time of 1min 32.198sec to better his pole-claiming lap at the circuit in 2019.
Aprilia's Aleix Espargaro came third on the timesheets at Misano ahead of Johann Zarco on the Ducati-Avintia bike.
Next season the rider, widely condemned for a rash move at the heart of a terrifying 300kmh pile-up in last month's Austrian Grand Prix, moves to Ducati's factory team to take the place of the departing Andrea Dovizioso.
Six-time champion Marc Marquez remains sidelined as he recovers from a broken arm suffered in the opening race.
San Marino MotoGP first free practice times
1. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 1.32:198, 2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) at 0.550sec, 3. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 0.791, 4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Avintia) 0.993, 5. Bradley Smith (GBR/Aprilia) 1.046, 6. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 1.299, 7. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 1.304, 8. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda-LCR) 1.340, 9. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 1.371, 10. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 1.456
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Britain signs first post-Brexit trade deal with Japan as talks with EU sour

Britain 's International Trade Secretary Liz Truss participates in a video conference call with Japan 's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi , as they formally begin negotiations on a free trade agreement , at the Department for International Trade in London on June 9 , 2020 .
The U.K. secured its first major post-Brexit trade deal on Friday after signing an agreement with Japan just as discussions with the European Union appeared to be on the verge of collapse .
The deal , which has so far only been agreed upon in principle and for which details are thin , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion pounds ( $ 19 billion ) and expands upon a recently signed deal between the EU and Japan , the U.K. said .
“ The agreement we have negotiated — in record time and in challenging circumstances — goes far beyond the existing EU deal , as it secures new wins for British businesses in our great manufacturing , food and drink , and tech industries , ” said Britain ’ s international trade secretary , Liz Truss .
The government said U.K. businesses would benefit from tariff-free trade on 99 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would give British businesses a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region .
Skeptics say no amount of such trade deals can mitigate for the losses Britain would suffer in the event of a ‘ no-deal ’ outcome with the EU , given that trade with the 27-nation bloc accounts for around half the country ’ s total .
While the U.K. left the EU this year , it is still trying to agree on new trade relations when current deals expire at the end of the year .
Concerns over a post-Brexit deal have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations between the U.K. and the EU soured .
The announcement from the British government that new legislation breaches parts of the withdrawal agreement , which allowed for the country ’ s smooth departure from the bloc , has prompted a furious reaction from the EU and raised the prospect of an imminent collapse in the talks .
Even before the standoff , the trade discussions had made little progress , with the two sides seemingly wide apart on several issues , notably on business regulations , the extent to which the U.K. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU fishing fleet ’ s access to British waters .
The EU has been particularly insistent on ensuring that British-based businesses don ’ t have an unfair advantage as a result of laxer social , environmental or subsidy rules in the U.K. British businesses are worried about a collapse in the talks that could see tariffs and other impediments slapped on trade with the EU at the start of next year .
Though the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31 , it is in a transition period that effectively sees it abide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
The discussions are about agreeing the broad outlines of the trading relationship from the start of 2021 .
Most economists think that the costs of a “ no-deal ” outcome would fall disproportionately on the U.K .
Supporters of Brexit have said that one of the benefits of unshackling the British economy from the EU is that it allows the country to sign trade deals with whomever it wishes — the EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all its members .
The concern over future trade ties comes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to recover from a deep recession caused by the shutdown of businesses to limit the coronavirus pandemic .
The Office for National Statistics said the economy grew by a month-on-month rate of 6.6 % in July as many sectors started reopening after months of being idle .
Despite the increase , the economy remains 11.7 % smaller than it was in February .
Economists think the recovery will moderate as new virus infections have picked up again , leading the government to put new limits on social gatherings and travel .
The looming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainties over a trade deal with the EU are also expected to weigh on growth and , as a result , most economists think the economy will end the year about 8 % smaller than it was before the pandemic .
“ The big risk to the U.K. upswing remains a disorderly hard exit from the EU single market , ” said Kallum Pickering , senior economist at Berenberg Bank .

The U.K. secured its first major post-Brexit trade deal on Friday after signing an agreement with Japan just as discussions with the European Union appeared to be on the verge of collapse.
Britain's International Trade Secretary Liz Truss participates in a video conference call with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, as they formally begin negotiations on a free trade agreement, at the Department for International Trade in London on June 9, 2020.
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The deal, which has so far only been agreed upon in principle and for which details are thin, will increase commerce with Japan by around 15 billion pounds ($19 billion) and expands upon a recently signed deal between the EU and Japan, the U.K. said.
“The agreement we have negotiated — in record time and in challenging circumstances — goes far beyond the existing EU deal, as it secures new wins for British businesses in our great manufacturing, food and drink, and tech industries,” said Britain’s international trade secretary, Liz Truss.
The government said U.K. businesses would benefit from tariff-free trade on 99% of exports to Japan and that it would give British businesses a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
Skeptics say no amount of such trade deals can mitigate for the losses Britain would suffer in the event of a ‘no-deal’ outcome with the EU, given that trade with the 27-nation bloc accounts for around half the country’s total.
While the U.K. left the EU this year, it is still trying to agree on new trade relations when current deals expire at the end of the year.
Concerns over a post-Brexit deal have risen in the past few days as relations between the U.K. and the EU soured. The announcement from the British government that new legislation breaches parts of the withdrawal agreement, which allowed for the country’s smooth departure from the bloc, has prompted a furious reaction from the EU and raised the prospect of an imminent collapse in the talks.
Even before the standoff, the trade discussions had made little progress, with the two sides seemingly wide apart on several issues, notably on business regulations, the extent to which the U.K. can support certain industries and over the EU fishing fleet’s access to British waters.
The EU has been particularly insistent on ensuring that British-based businesses don’t have an unfair advantage as a result of laxer social, environmental or subsidy rules in the U.K.
British businesses are worried about a collapse in the talks that could see tariffs and other impediments slapped on trade with the EU at the start of next year. Though the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31, it is in a transition period that effectively sees it abide by EU rules until the end of this year. The discussions are about agreeing the broad outlines of the trading relationship from the start of 2021.
Most economists think that the costs of a “no-deal” outcome would fall disproportionately on the U.K.
Supporters of Brexit have said that one of the benefits of unshackling the British economy from the EU is that it allows the country to sign trade deals with whomever it wishes — the EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all its members.
The concern over future trade ties comes at a time when the British economy continues to recover from a deep recession caused by the shutdown of businesses to limit the coronavirus pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics said the economy grew by a month-on-month rate of 6.6% in July as many sectors started reopening after months of being idle. Despite the increase, the economy remains 11.7% smaller than it was in February.
Economists think the recovery will moderate as new virus infections have picked up again, leading the government to put new limits on social gatherings and travel.
The looming end of a salary-support scheme and heightened uncertainties over a trade deal with the EU are also expected to weigh on growth and, as a result, most economists think the economy will end the year about 8% smaller than it was before the pandemic.
“The big risk to the U.K. upswing remains a disorderly hard exit from the EU single market,” said Kallum Pickering, senior economist at Berenberg Bank.
(AP)
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france24--2020-09-11--Graft mars Africa's gains in fight against pandemic

At least 240 South African health workers have died of coronavirus out of the more than 27,000 infected in the line of duty New coronavirus infections are now steadily declining in many parts of Africa , but this good news has been marred by scandals over corruption and missing funds earmarked for the pandemic .
In countries that are already graft-weary , the public has been stunned by revelations of inflated contracts awarded to the politically connected , as well as inflated invoicing and plain theft .
Heading the scandal list is South Africa , where government investigators are probing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five billion rand ( $ 300 million ) in contracts to supply personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for health workers and distribute relief aid .
Pocketing state funds is not a new phenomenon in South Africa -- scandals date back years to the time of former president Jacob Zuma .
But the notion of funds being siphoned off for PPE and emergency help has stung many South Africans to the core .
Plunderers have earned themselves the epithet `` Covidpreneurs '' .
Health workers have staged rolling lunch-hour protests at their work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picket outside President Cyril Ramaphosa 's office in Pretoria , to highlight the shortage of masks , gowns , gloves and goggles for frontline workers .
They have already lost at least 240 of their colleagues to Covid-19 out of the more than 27,000 infected in the line of duty .
`` We can no longer keep quiet anymore , '' complained nurse Frans Mokgope .
The country 's chief tax collector , Edward Kieswetter , revealed on Thursday that 63 percent of awarded PPE tenders were not tax compliant -- and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in PPE supplies .
Africa has recorded 1.33 million cases and nearly 32,000 fatalities , according to official figures .
If the toll is accurate , the pandemic has had a far less severe impact on health than initially feared .
But for many countries , this success has come at crippling economic cost because of curfews and lockdowns -- and despite a glaring lack of PPE for frontline workers and intensive-care equipment for the seriously ill .
In East Africa , images posted by doctors and nurses of defective PPE distributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely , embarrassing the government .
Under particular scrutiny is the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority ( KEMSA ) , where officials are accused of pilfering huge sums earmarked for PPE .
Investigators can not account for some $ 64 million , but activists say that is just the beginning .
A television expose called `` COVID millionaires '' that first aired the allegations claims the theft is many times larger , hovering around $ 400 million .
In Uganda , four senior government officials face jail for allegedly skimming about half a million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the most vulnerable during the pandemic .
Uganda 's ambassador to Denmark and her deputy meanwhile were recorded apparently plotting in a Zoom meeting to steal funds earmarked for the pandemic .
The government has vowed to investigate .
In Somalia , nine ministry officials have been convicted of misusing funds and sentenced to prison terms between three and eight years .
In central Africa , Democratic Republic of Congo premier Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba announced in May that he had disbursed $ 10.7 million ( $ 8.4 million ) to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country 's coronavirus tsar , Jean-Jacques Muyembe , said he had only received $ 1.4 million from the government .
`` Corruption related to PPE , lifesaving , for me it 's actually murder , '' World Health Organization ( WHO ) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last month .
`` If health workers work without PPE , we are risking their lives , and that also risks the lives of the people they serve . ''
Diversion of funds meant to save lives `` is a human rights issue that has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( Africa CDC ) head John Nkengasong .
Civil society groups say pandemic-related financial sleaze has been widespread .
`` Corruption is extremely deep-seated and deep-rooted , '' David Lewis , director of Corruption Watch , told AFP .
`` During war time it used to be the people who were caught profiteering from a war who were executed ... ( were ) shot on the spot because it was considered to be treasonous , '' Lewis said .
An association of traditional leaders in South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they said ransacked the public purse at the expense of saving lives .
`` It is a mutiny against citizenry that is tantamount to treason , '' said the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa in a statement .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
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New coronavirus infections are now steadily declining in many parts of Africa, but this good news has been marred by scandals over corruption and missing funds earmarked for the pandemic.
In countries that are already graft-weary, the public has been stunned by revelations of inflated contracts awarded to the politically connected, as well as inflated invoicing and plain theft.
Heading the scandal list is South Africa, where government investigators are probing more than 600 companies and institutions awarded five billion rand ($300 million) in contracts to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers and distribute relief aid.
Pocketing state funds is not a new phenomenon in South Africa -- scandals date back years to the time of former president Jacob Zuma.
But the notion of funds being siphoned off for PPE and emergency help has stung many South Africans to the core. Plunderers have earned themselves the epithet "Covidpreneurs".
Health workers have staged rolling lunch-hour protests at their work places, culminating last week with a picket outside President Cyril Ramaphosa's office in Pretoria, to highlight the shortage of masks, gowns, gloves and goggles for frontline workers.
They have already lost at least 240 of their colleagues to Covid-19 out of the more than 27,000 infected in the line of duty.
"We can no longer keep quiet anymore," complained nurse Frans Mokgope.
The country's chief tax collector, Edward Kieswetter, revealed on Thursday that 63 percent of awarded PPE tenders were not tax compliant -- and many companies that won tenders had no experience in PPE supplies.
- Missing gear, missing funds -
Africa has recorded 1.33 million cases and nearly 32,000 fatalities, according to official figures.
If the toll is accurate, the pandemic has had a far less severe impact on health than initially feared.
But for many countries, this success has come at crippling economic cost because of curfews and lockdowns -- and despite a glaring lack of PPE for frontline workers and intensive-care equipment for the seriously ill.
In East Africa, images posted by doctors and nurses of defective PPE distributed to hospital ICUs across Kenya have been circulated widely, embarrassing the government.
Under particular scrutiny is the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), where officials are accused of pilfering huge sums earmarked for PPE.
Investigators cannot account for some $64 million, but activists say that is just the beginning.
A television expose called "COVID millionaires" that first aired the allegations claims the theft is many times larger, hovering around $400 million.
In Uganda, four senior government officials face jail for allegedly skimming about half a million dollars from a food relief programme meant for the most vulnerable during the pandemic.
Uganda's ambassador to Denmark and her deputy meanwhile were recorded apparently plotting in a Zoom meeting to steal funds earmarked for the pandemic. The government has vowed to investigate.
In Somalia, nine ministry officials have been convicted of misusing funds and sentenced to prison terms between three and eight years.
In central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo premier Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba announced in May that he had disbursed $10.7 million ($8.4 million) to fight the virus.
But a month later the country's coronavirus tsar, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, said he had only received $1.4 million from the government.
- Virus corruption is 'murder' -
"Corruption related to PPE, lifesaving, for me it's actually murder," World Health Organization (WHO) boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last month.
"If health workers work without PPE, we are risking their lives, and that also risks the lives of the people they serve."
Diversion of funds meant to save lives "is a human rights issue that has to be condemned and penalised," said Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) head John Nkengasong.
Civil society groups say pandemic-related financial sleaze has been widespread.
"Corruption is extremely deep-seated and deep-rooted," David Lewis, director of Corruption Watch, told AFP.
"During war time it used to be the people who were caught profiteering from a war who were executed... (were) shot on the spot because it was considered to be treasonous," Lewis said.
An association of traditional leaders in South Africa this week censured government officials who they said ransacked the public purse at the expense of saving lives.
"It is a mutiny against citizenry that is tantamount to treason," said the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa in a statement.
burs-sn/erc/ri
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-12--Zverev beats Carreno Busta to reach US Open final

Alexander Zverev recovered from two sets down to defeat Spain 's Pablo Carreno Busta in a scrappy encounter and reach the US Open final on Friday .
The German fifth seed beat the 20th seed 3-6 , 2-6 , 6-3 , 6-4 , 6-3 in 3hr 23min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up his first ever Grand Slam final .
He will play either second seed Dominic Thiem or third seed Daniil Medvedev in Sunday 's showpiece .
It marked the first time in the 23-year-old Zverev 's career that he came from two sets down to win .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when I was down two sets to love , '' Zverev said .
`` I was like , ' I ca n't believe it .
I 'm playing in a semi-final , I 'm supposed to be the favorite and I have no chance , I 'm playing that bad .
`` So I knew I had to come up with better tennis and I knew that I had to be more stable . ''
Zverev made 36 unforced errors in the first two sets compared to just 12 for Carreno Busta as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the better of him .
Double fault followed double fault and a string of misplaced , nervy forehands allowed Carreno Busta to build a sizable lead .
But Zverev began to seriously cut down on his mistakes in the third set , upping his service game and taking control of rallies with more powerful , accurate groundstrokes .
It continued to be a nervy , error-strewn affair , though , with both players appearing overwhelmed at times with coming so close to reaching their first tennis major final .
Zverev hit eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
Zverev recorded 57 unforced errors to 44 for Carreno Busta .
But the tall German smashed way more winners , 71 to 37 .
`` I 'm through to my first Grand Slam final and that 's all that matters , '' Zverev said .
`` I could n't be happier , but there 's still one more step to go for me , '' he added .
Zverev had reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open this year .
He now becomes the first German man to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since Rainer Schuttler at the 2003 Australian Open .
This year 's US Open field has been depleted by the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal .
The tournament was blown wide open by the disqualification of world number one and heavy favourite Novak Djokovic in the last 16 for hitting a line judge with the ball .
It means Sunday 's final will see a first-time Grand Slam champion for the first time since Croatian Marin Cilic won at Flushing Meadows in 2014 .
It also means there will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nadal or Federer for the first time since Switzerland 's Stan Wawrinka won the third of his tennis majors at the US Open in 2016 .

New York (AFP) –
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Alexander Zverev recovered from two sets down to defeat Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in a scrappy encounter and reach the US Open final on Friday.
The German fifth seed beat the 20th seed 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in 3hr 23min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to set up his first ever Grand Slam final.
He will play either second seed Dominic Thiem or third seed Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's showpiece.
It marked the first time in the 23-year-old Zverev's career that he came from two sets down to win.
"I actually looked at the scoreboard when I was down two sets to love," Zverev said.
"I was like, 'I can't believe it. I'm playing in a semi-final, I'm supposed to be the favorite and I have no chance, I'm playing that bad.
"So I knew I had to come up with better tennis and I knew that I had to be more stable."
Zverev made 36 unforced errors in the first two sets compared to just 12 for Carreno Busta as the nerves of the occasion seemed to get the better of him.
Double fault followed double fault and a string of misplaced, nervy forehands allowed Carreno Busta to build a sizable lead.
But Zverev began to seriously cut down on his mistakes in the third set, upping his service game and taking control of rallies with more powerful, accurate groundstrokes.
It continued to be a nervy, error-strewn affair, though, with both players appearing overwhelmed at times with coming so close to reaching their first tennis major final.
Zverev hit eight double faults overall to Carreno Busta's one. Zverev recorded 57 unforced errors to 44 for Carreno Busta.
But the tall German smashed way more winners, 71 to 37.
"I'm through to my first Grand Slam final and that's all that matters," Zverev said.
"I couldn't be happier, but there's still one more step to go for me," he added.
Zverev had reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open this year.
He now becomes the first German man to reach the final of a tennis major since Rainer Schuttler at the 2003 Australian Open.
This year's US Open field has been depleted by the absence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The tournament was blown wide open by the disqualification of world number one and heavy favourite Novak Djokovic in the last 16 for hitting a line judge with the ball.
It means Sunday's final will see a first-time Grand Slam champion for the first time since Croatian Marin Cilic won at Flushing Meadows in 2014.
It also means there will be a Grand Slam champion other than Djokovic, Nadal or Federer for the first time since Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka won the third of his tennis majors at the US Open in 2016.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Hazlewood's World Cup woe behind him as Australia beat England

Man of the match Josh Hazlewood took 3-26 as Australia beat England by 19 runs in the first ODI at Old Trafford Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood insisted it was a case of `` onwards and upwards '' after he starred in a 19-run win over world champions England in the first one-day international at Old Trafford on Friday .
Hazlewood took a miserly 3-26 from his maximum 10 overs that stifled England 's pursuit of a target of 295 from the outset , removing opener Jason Roy and Test skipper Joe Root for single figure scores as the hosts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overs .
This was Australia 's first 50-over match against England since a crushing eight-wicket defeat by their arch-rivals in the semi-finals of last year 's World Cup at Edgbaston .
Hazlewood , however , did n't play in that match after being controversially omitted from the World Cup squad , with the selectors instead wanting him to regain full fitness following a back injury for the subsequent Test series in England , where Australia retained the Ashes in a 2-2 draw .
Asked if the way he bowled on Friday made his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hazlewood replied : `` Nah it 's onwards and upwards .
That 's a long time ago now , so always looking forward . ''
The 29-year-old was close to unplayable during a stunning opening spell of two wickets for five runs in six overs .
`` England 's top order is probably the form top order in the world in the last three or four years , so I guess going against them is a good measure of where you 're at , '' Hazlewood said after what was just Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their oldest foe .
`` To keep them down to 20-odd for two in the first 10 was great . ''
Meanwhile England captain Eoin Morgan said Hazlewood had enjoyed a `` day out '' after his side went 1-0 down in a three-match series that continues Sunday .
`` They ( Australia ) were outstanding , incredibly accurate and they got the ball moving , '' he said .
`` It 's not often it happens to us . ''
Sam Billings kept England in the game with 118 , his maiden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with Jonny Bairstow ( 84 ) following the hosts ' collapse to 57-4 .
Billings was the only member of England 's XI on Friday not involved in the World Cup squad , with his inclusion owing much to star all-rounder Ben Stokes still being on compassionate leave with his ill father in New Zealand .
Billings , reflecting on his `` mixed feelings '' at making a hundred in a losing cause , told Sky Sports he was keen to `` keep putting scores on the board '' after what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five-year England career .
The 29-year-old Kent batsman added , however : `` I do n't think it matters how many runs I get , I know I 'm only keeping Stokesy 's chair warm for him . ''
Morgan , however , insisted Billings had batted brilliantly on the back of `` sporadic '' chances caused by the fact he , as well as Jos Buttler and Stokes , had often been at No 6 instead .
`` But today he ( Billings ) really stood out in a spot that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be thrown in at all different circumstances , '' said Morgan .

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood insisted it was a case of "onwards and upwards" after he starred in a 19-run win over world champions England in the first one-day international at Old Trafford on Friday.
Hazlewood took a miserly 3-26 from his maximum 10 overs that stifled England's pursuit of a target of 295 from the outset, removing opener Jason Roy and Test skipper Joe Root for single figure scores as the hosts limped to 22-2 off the first 10 overs.
This was Australia's first 50-over match against England since a crushing eight-wicket defeat by their arch-rivals in the semi-finals of last year's World Cup at Edgbaston.
Hazlewood, however, didn't play in that match after being controversially omitted from the World Cup squad, with the selectors instead wanting him to regain full fitness following a back injury for the subsequent Test series in England, where Australia retained the Ashes in a 2-2 draw.
Asked if the way he bowled on Friday made his World Cup absence all the more painful, Hazlewood replied: "Nah it's onwards and upwards. That's a long time ago now, so always looking forward."
The 29-year-old was close to unplayable during a stunning opening spell of two wickets for five runs in six overs.
"England's top order is probably the form top order in the world in the last three or four years, so I guess going against them is a good measure of where you're at," Hazlewood said after what was just Australia's third win in 14 ODIs against their oldest foe.
"To keep them down to 20-odd for two in the first 10 was great."
Meanwhile England captain Eoin Morgan said Hazlewood had enjoyed a "day out" after his side went 1-0 down in a three-match series that continues Sunday.
"They (Australia) were outstanding, incredibly accurate and they got the ball moving," he said. "It's not often it happens to us."
- 'Keeping Stokesy's chair warm' -
Sam Billings kept England in the game with 118, his maiden ODI hundred, after sharing a century partnership with Jonny Bairstow (84) following the hosts' collapse to 57-4.
Billings was the only member of England's XI on Friday not involved in the World Cup squad, with his inclusion owing much to star all-rounder Ben Stokes still being on compassionate leave with his ill father in New Zealand.
Billings, reflecting on his "mixed feelings" at making a hundred in a losing cause, told Sky Sports he was keen to "keep putting scores on the board" after what was just his 19th ODI appearance in a five-year England career.
The 29-year-old Kent batsman added, however: "I don't think it matters how many runs I get, I know I'm only keeping Stokesy's chair warm for him."
Morgan, however, insisted Billings had batted brilliantly on the back of "sporadic" chances caused by the fact he, as well as Jos Buttler and Stokes, had often been at No 6 instead.
"But today he (Billings) really stood out in a spot that is really difficult to bat, where you can be thrown in at all different circumstances," said Morgan.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Belarus president to visit Russia on Monday: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday will hold talks with Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko , who faces the biggest protest of his nearly three-decade rule , the Kremlin said .
Lukashenko 's visit will be the first to Soviet-era master Russia by the Belarusian leader since protests broke out over his disputed election win last month .
Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus , and Moscow has accompanied its recent offers of military aid with calls for tighter integration .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday however there was no plan for the leaders to hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The location of the `` working visit '' in Russia was yet to be announced , he said .
Lukashenko said last week that during his talks with Putin , he planned to `` dot all the i 's on issues that are very sensitive and delicate for the two states '' .
Lukashenko , who has been in power for 26 years , has vowed that he will not give up power to the opposition , which claims its candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was the rightful winner of the August 9 polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member Lithuania after coming under official pressure .
There were fresh global expressions of worry and outrage on Friday .
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was `` deeply concerned '' over the use of force against peaceful protesters and also expressed worry over `` the detention of people exercising their legitimate democratic rights . ''
The European Union , meanwhile , deplored `` the increasingly open disregard for the rule of law in Belarus , in particular the escalation of violence and forced exile of members of the Coordination Council '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its determination to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for violence , the repression of peaceful protests and the falsification of election results and is ready to take further restrictive measures as necessary , '' a statement said .
Lukashenko , 66 , has had a volatile relationship with Moscow , playing it off against the European Union and ruling out an outright unification with Russia .
But with Western pressure against Lukashenko mounting , his options are now limited .
Since mass demonstrations against him began he has sought support from Putin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lukashenko has harshly cracked down on the protest movement with thousands detained , and those held in custody giving accounts of police violence and torture .
Putin has swiftly congratulated Lukashenko on his victory and raised the possibility of intervening militarily .
More than 100,000 people are estimated to have taken to the streets of the Belarusian capital Minsk over the past four weekends , and a new protest is planned for the coming weekend .
Historically , Russians and Belarusians have enjoyed good relations and members of the opposition say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In an address to Russians this week , Tikhanovskaya said it was important not to allow politicians and propaganda trying to `` poison '' ties between the two peoples .
Belarus , an ex-Soviet state sandwiched between Russia and the European Union , has for years relied on Moscow for cheap oil and loans .
The two countries have already formed a `` union state '' that links their economies and militaries but the Kremlin has been pushing for a closer integration .
In a symbolic gesture , the Russian ambassador to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handed Lukashenko a gift of a book of historic maps depicting Belarus when it was part of the Russian Empire .
The opposition formed a Coordination Council to organise a peaceful handover of power but the Belarusian authorities have detained senior members and pressured them to leave the country .
One leading activist , Maria Kolesnikova , who is currently in jail in Minsk , issued a statement through lawyers saying security officers threatened to force her out of the country `` alive or in pieces . ''
She said she ripped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been jailed on suspicion of making calls for actions `` aimed at harming national security . ''

Moscow (AFP) –
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday will hold talks with Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who faces the biggest protest of his nearly three-decade rule, the Kremlin said.
Lukashenko's visit will be the first to Soviet-era master Russia by the Belarusian leader since protests broke out over his disputed election win last month.
Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its recent offers of military aid with calls for tighter integration.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday however there was no plan for the leaders to hold a news conference or sign any documents. The location of the "working visit" in Russia was yet to be announced, he said.
Lukashenko said last week that during his talks with Putin, he planned to "dot all the i's on issues that are very sensitive and delicate for the two states".
Lukashenko, who has been in power for 26 years, has vowed that he will not give up power to the opposition, which claims its candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was the rightful winner of the August 9 polls.
She has taken shelter in EU member Lithuania after coming under official pressure.
- Mounting Western pressure -
There were fresh global expressions of worry and outrage on Friday.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply concerned" over the use of force against peaceful protesters and also expressed worry over "the detention of people exercising their legitimate democratic rights."
The European Union, meanwhile, deplored "the increasingly open disregard for the rule of law in Belarus, in particular the escalation of violence and forced exile of members of the Coordination Council" opposition grouping.
"The EU reiterates its determination to impose sanctions on individuals responsible for violence, the repression of peaceful protests and the falsification of election results and is ready to take further restrictive measures as necessary," a statement said.
Lukashenko, 66, has had a volatile relationship with Moscow, playing it off against the European Union and ruling out an outright unification with Russia.
But with Western pressure against Lukashenko mounting, his options are now limited. Since mass demonstrations against him began he has sought support from Putin, with regular phone calls between the leaders.
Lukashenko has harshly cracked down on the protest movement with thousands detained, and those held in custody giving accounts of police violence and torture.
Putin has swiftly congratulated Lukashenko on his victory and raised the possibility of intervening militarily.
More than 100,000 people are estimated to have taken to the streets of the Belarusian capital Minsk over the past four weekends, and a new protest is planned for the coming weekend.
Historically, Russians and Belarusians have enjoyed good relations and members of the opposition say the protests movement is not aimed against Russia.
In an address to Russians this week, Tikhanovskaya said it was important not to allow politicians and propaganda trying to "poison" ties between the two peoples.
Belarus, an ex-Soviet state sandwiched between Russia and the European Union, has for years relied on Moscow for cheap oil and loans.
The two countries have already formed a "union state" that links their economies and militaries but the Kremlin has been pushing for a closer integration.
- Historic maps -
In a symbolic gesture, the Russian ambassador to Minsk, Dmitry Mezentsev, on Thursday handed Lukashenko a gift of a book of historic maps depicting Belarus when it was part of the Russian Empire.
The opposition formed a Coordination Council to organise a peaceful handover of power but the Belarusian authorities have detained senior members and pressured them to leave the country.
One leading activist, Maria Kolesnikova, who is currently in jail in Minsk, issued a statement through lawyers saying security officers threatened to force her out of the country "alive or in pieces."
She said she ripped up her passport to resist forced expulsion but has been jailed on suspicion of making calls for actions "aimed at harming national security."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--NBA ousts Rockets forward House after bubble violation

Houston Rockets forward Danuel House will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs after a violation of COVID-19 quarantine rules , the league announced Friday .
The NBA season , shut down March 11 by the coronavirus pandemic , resumed in July in a bubble atmosphere under strict health and safety rules at Disney World in Orlando , Florida .
The league conducted an investigation into House 's actions and found he had violated rules by having an unauthorized guest in his hotel room .
`` The NBA has concluded its investigation of a recent violation of campus health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
`` The findings are that ( I ) Houston Rockets forward Danuel House had a guest in his hotel room over multiple hours on September 8 who was not authorized to be on campus and ( II ) no evidence was found that other players or staff had contact with the guest or were involved in this incident . ''
The statement said House would leave the NBA campus and not play again for the Rockets this season .
The remainder of the Rockets might soon follow House out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Lakers 3-1 in their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series with game five on Saturday .
In nine playoff appearances , House averaged 11.4 points , 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game .

New York (AFP) –
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Houston Rockets forward Danuel House will miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs after a violation of COVID-19 quarantine rules, the league announced Friday.
The NBA season, shut down March 11 by the coronavirus pandemic, resumed in July in a bubble atmosphere under strict health and safety rules at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The league conducted an investigation into House's actions and found he had violated rules by having an unauthorized guest in his hotel room.
"The NBA has concluded its investigation of a recent violation of campus health and safety protocols," the league said in a statement.
"The findings are that (I) Houston Rockets forward Danuel House had a guest in his hotel room over multiple hours on September 8 who was not authorized to be on campus and (II) no evidence was found that other players or staff had contact with the guest or were involved in this incident."
The statement said House would leave the NBA campus and not play again for the Rockets this season.
The remainder of the Rockets might soon follow House out of the bubble.
Houston trails the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1 in their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series with game five on Saturday.
In nine playoff appearances, House averaged 11.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Morales backers persecuted in Bolivia: HRW

Evo Morales -- whose image is seen here on a supporter 's flag during a campaign rally on September 9 , 2020 in El Alto , Bolivia -- remains a hugely influential figure in the South American country Bolivia 's interim leadership is using the justice system to persecute supporters of ex-president Evo Morales , Human Rights Watch reported Friday .
The human rights group said interim President Jeanine Anez , a conservative , used the system against more than 100 allies of leftist Morales , now in exile .
Her government has violated due process against Morales allies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preventive detention , HRW charged , adding that some have been accused of `` terrorism '' simply for speaking to Morales on the phone .
The Anez government -- which is in office after the political crisis that followed the annulled October 20 election -- categorically rejected the allegations of any political persecution .
Morales , 60 , is a hugely influential figure in Bolivia even though he currently lives in exile in Argentina after 14 years in power .
He fled following three weeks of protests against his controversial reelection to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had appealed to the constitutional court in La Paz to overturn the electoral commission 's decision and permit him to run as a senate candidate for the central region of Cochabamba , where he emerged as a political leader decades ago .
But a judge ruled against his eligibility last week .
Neither Morales nor his party , the Movement for Socialism ( MAS ) , issued a statement in the immediate aftermath of the announcement .
It is not the first criminal proceeding brought by the government against Morales -- Bolivia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power from 2006-19 .
Authorities have also accused Morales of two intimate relationships with minors , including one in which he supposedly fathered a child with a girl who was 15 when she became pregnant .
Bolivia heads to the polls on October 18 , a year after the elections that triggered mass protests over allegations of being rigged .
MAS has dismissed those accusations as a pre-election tactic .
Luis Arce , the MAS candidate for president , has led polls since he was nominated in January -- but in the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carlos Mesa .

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Bolivia's interim leadership is using the justice system to persecute supporters of ex-president Evo Morales, Human Rights Watch reported Friday.
The human rights group said interim President Jeanine Anez, a conservative, used the system against more than 100 allies of leftist Morales, now in exile.
Her government has violated due process against Morales allies and supporters; limited free expression and overused preventive detention, HRW charged, adding that some have been accused of "terrorism" simply for speaking to Morales on the phone.
The Anez government -- which is in office after the political crisis that followed the annulled October 20 election -- categorically rejected the allegations of any political persecution.
Morales, 60, is a hugely influential figure in Bolivia even though he currently lives in exile in Argentina after 14 years in power. He fled following three weeks of protests against his controversial reelection to an unconstitutional fourth term last October.
Morales had appealed to the constitutional court in La Paz to overturn the electoral commission's decision and permit him to run as a senate candidate for the central region of Cochabamba, where he emerged as a political leader decades ago. But a judge ruled against his eligibility last week.
Neither Morales nor his party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), issued a statement in the immediate aftermath of the announcement.
It is not the first criminal proceeding brought by the government against Morales -- Bolivia's first ever indigenous president who was in power from 2006-19.
Authorities have also accused Morales of two intimate relationships with minors, including one in which he supposedly fathered a child with a girl who was 15 when she became pregnant.
Bolivia heads to the polls on October 18, a year after the elections that triggered mass protests over allegations of being rigged.
MAS has dismissed those accusations as a pre-election tactic.
Luis Arce, the MAS candidate for president, has led polls since he was nominated in January -- but in the latest he was neck-and-neck with centrist former president Carlos Mesa.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Peru Congress debates removing president over obstructing probe

Peru 's President Martin Vizcarra , who faces an attempt by opponents in Congress to remove him from office Peru 's Congress on Friday began debating a motion to remove President Martin Vizcarra from office for `` moral incapacity '' over accusations he tried to obstruct a corruption probe against government officials .
The debate was to be followed by a vote , expected late Friday , with Vizcarra 's opponents needing 52 votes to open impeachment proceedings early next week .
`` I 'm not going to quit .
I do not run , '' Vizcarra said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate in which he denied any wrongdoing .
`` We are facing a plot against democracy , '' he said , adding that he had nothing to hide but that lawmakers should act `` with caution , with responsibility , and to take the decision they deem necessary . ''
Vizcarra , in power since 2018 , came under fire after leaked audio recordings in which he is heard telling aides to hide details of his office 's controversial hiring of a popular singer as a highly-paid cultural advisor .
Should Friday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 votes to impeach Vizcarra .
Six out of nine parties -- representing 95 of the 130 seats in Congress -- have backed the motion .
In the event of impeachment , legislative speaker Manuel Merino will act as interim leader until the current presidential term ends in July 2021 .
Vizcarra has won popular support for an anti-corruption crusade that has put him at loggerheads with opponents in Congress , including over a reform banning convicted criminals from standing for election .
The impeachment motion is reminiscent of the one that forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kuczynski in 2018 , after he became embroiled in the Odebrecht bribes scandal .
It comes as the country is in the throes of an economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic , which has seen Peru 's second-quarter GDP slashed by 30 percent .

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Peru's Congress on Friday began debating a motion to remove President Martin Vizcarra from office for "moral incapacity" over accusations he tried to obstruct a corruption probe against government officials.
The debate was to be followed by a vote, expected late Friday, with Vizcarra's opponents needing 52 votes to open impeachment proceedings early next week.
"I'm not going to quit. I do not run," Vizcarra said in a televised address on the eve of the debate in which he denied any wrongdoing.
"We are facing a plot against democracy," he said, adding that he had nothing to hide but that lawmakers should act "with caution, with responsibility, and to take the decision they deem necessary."
Vizcarra, in power since 2018, came under fire after leaked audio recordings in which he is heard telling aides to hide details of his office's controversial hiring of a popular singer as a highly-paid cultural advisor.
Should Friday's motion pass, the opposition would need 87 votes to impeach Vizcarra. Six out of nine parties -- representing 95 of the 130 seats in Congress -- have backed the motion.
In the event of impeachment, legislative speaker Manuel Merino will act as interim leader until the current presidential term ends in July 2021.
Vizcarra has won popular support for an anti-corruption crusade that has put him at loggerheads with opponents in Congress, including over a reform banning convicted criminals from standing for election.
The impeachment motion is reminiscent of the one that forced the resignation of his predecessor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in 2018, after he became embroiled in the Odebrecht bribes scandal.
It comes as the country is in the throes of an economic crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen Peru's second-quarter GDP slashed by 30 percent.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Klopp reveals Ferguson apology

Klopp reveals Ferguson apology

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp revealed he apologised to Alex Ferguson after waking the former Manchester United boss in the early hours of the morning .
Ferguson sent a congratulatory message to Klopp when Liverpool ended their 30-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions following Manchester City 's defeat at Chelsea in June .
When Klopp 's celebrations with his players at a Liverpool hotel had finally petered out , it was approaching 3.30am but the German was still keen to reply to Ferguson 's message .
He did not anticipate the 78-year-old Scot would still have his phone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response , with Ferguson later revealing Klopp had accidently woken him up .
`` The problem was that I came back late in my room that night and I could n't sleep immediately so I went through the messages I got and one of them was from Alex Ferguson , '' Klopp told reporters ahead of Liverpool 's opening game of the new English top-flight season against Leeds on Saturday .
`` I just replied in a very polite way I think .
It was about 3.30am-4am and I did n't expect him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bed .
I did n't want to wake him up .
If that happened then sorry Alex !
`` But since then we have not been in contact .
He is still the former Man United manager and I do n't think he wants to talk to me too much about the success of Liverpool .
`` He respects it but it 's not his favourite thing to watch on television ! ''

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Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp revealed he apologised to Alex Ferguson after waking the former Manchester United boss in the early hours of the morning.
Ferguson sent a congratulatory message to Klopp when Liverpool ended their 30-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions following Manchester City's defeat at Chelsea in June.
When Klopp's celebrations with his players at a Liverpool hotel had finally petered out, it was approaching 3.30am but the German was still keen to reply to Ferguson's message.
He did not anticipate the 78-year-old Scot would still have his phone on by his bedside when he sent his response, with Ferguson later revealing Klopp had accidently woken him up.
"The problem was that I came back late in my room that night and I couldn't sleep immediately so I went through the messages I got and one of them was from Alex Ferguson," Klopp told reporters ahead of Liverpool's opening game of the new English top-flight season against Leeds on Saturday.
"I just replied in a very polite way I think. It was about 3.30am-4am and I didn't expect him to have his phone next to his bed. I didn't want to wake him up. If that happened then sorry Alex!
"But since then we have not been in contact. He is still the former Man United manager and I don't think he wants to talk to me too much about the success of Liverpool.
"He respects it but it's not his favourite thing to watch on television!"
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Arabic theatre is cultural lifeline for Sweden's migrants

A theatre group based their play -- performed in Arabic -- on interviews with young migrants who arrived in Sweden from 2015 In a theatre in Stockholm 's suburbs , a small crowd gathered to watch three actors , two Syrian and one Swedish , act out the lives of a young migrant couple settling into life in Sweden .
But the language spoken by the troupe on the sparsely decorated stage in the small municipal theatre was Arabic , not Swedish .
This group has spent four years performing in the language , making it the first of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their Stockholm play was based on interviews with young migrants who arrived in Sweden from 2015 , when more than one million people mostly from Syria , Iraq and Afghanistan made their way to Europe .
Sweden took in some 160,000 asylum seekers , the highest number per capita of any European Union nation .
After the performance -- one of the last before anti-coronavirus measures shut theatres -- Iraqi-Syrian actor Helen al-Janabi said the lack of opportunities for young Arabic speakers in Sweden to express themselves prompted her to launch the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There 's a serious lack of Arabic cultural activities , '' she said at the Stockholm office she shares with her husband , Oskar Rosen .
That gap was a particularly sore spot for Janabi , 40 , who had worked in theatre in Damascus before arriving in Sweden and found next to no chance of using her skills in her new home .
With Rosen , 55 , she tours small theatres with a rotating cast , often in areas with high populations of recently arrived migrants .
So far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an estimated 20,000 people in total .
While all performances are in Arabic , the group also aims to attract as wide an audience as possible , and an LED board over the stage always gives a translation of the dialogue into Swedish .
Most recently , they produced Midnight Sun , the story of a young couple — an Iraqi man and a Syrian woman — who arrived in Sweden in 2015 , depicting their trials with integration , the asylum process and racism .
Syrian playwright Waseem al-Sharqi , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ script after reading through the transcripts .
He picked out recurring themes and experiences the migrants talked about , such as loneliness and the difficulties of integration .
`` A large part of the audience tell us after the performance they either see themselves in the performing characters , or part of the processes they 've been through , '' the 30-year-old said during a visit to the Swedish capital .
Farah Jarrar , a Syrian in her early thirties living in Stockholm who watched the performance , agreed .
`` I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years , it 's very hard transiting from one society to another , '' she said as actors and the audience mingled behind her .
`` We are n't performing at all , and we do n't know when we can perform again , '' Rosen said .
`` We have scaled down our work and are trying to survive . ''
In the meantime , Janabi and Rosen are recording productions and posting them online -- in hopes of getting back into theatres again in the future .

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In a theatre in Stockholm's suburbs, a small crowd gathered to watch three actors, two Syrian and one Swedish, act out the lives of a young migrant couple settling into life in Sweden.
But the language spoken by the troupe on the sparsely decorated stage in the small municipal theatre was Arabic, not Swedish.
This group has spent four years performing in the language, making it the first of its kind catering to Sweden's Arabic speakers.
Their Stockholm play was based on interviews with young migrants who arrived in Sweden from 2015, when more than one million people mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan made their way to Europe.
Sweden took in some 160,000 asylum seekers, the highest number per capita of any European Union nation.
After the performance -- one of the last before anti-coronavirus measures shut theatres -- Iraqi-Syrian actor Helen al-Janabi said the lack of opportunities for young Arabic speakers in Sweden to express themselves prompted her to launch the company with her Swedish husband in 2015.
"There's a serious lack of Arabic cultural activities," she said at the Stockholm office she shares with her husband, Oskar Rosen.
That gap was a particularly sore spot for Janabi, 40, who had worked in theatre in Damascus before arriving in Sweden and found next to no chance of using her skills in her new home.
With Rosen, 55, she tours small theatres with a rotating cast, often in areas with high populations of recently arrived migrants.
So far they have performed 400 times in front of an estimated 20,000 people in total.
While all performances are in Arabic, the group also aims to attract as wide an audience as possible, and an LED board over the stage always gives a translation of the dialogue into Swedish.
- Integration themes -
Most recently, they produced Midnight Sun, the story of a young couple — an Iraqi man and a Syrian woman — who arrived in Sweden in 2015, depicting their trials with integration, the asylum process and racism.
Syrian playwright Waseem al-Sharqi, who now lives in Berlin, wrote the script after reading through the transcripts.
He picked out recurring themes and experiences the migrants talked about, such as loneliness and the difficulties of integration.
"A large part of the audience tell us after the performance they either see themselves in the performing characters, or part of the processes they've been through," the 30-year-old said during a visit to the Swedish capital.
Farah Jarrar, a Syrian in her early thirties living in Stockholm who watched the performance, agreed.
"I've been in this country for more than two years, it's very hard transiting from one society to another," she said as actors and the audience mingled behind her.
"We aren't performing at all, and we don't know when we can perform again," Rosen said. "We have scaled down our work and are trying to survive."
In the meantime, Janabi and Rosen are recording productions and posting them online -- in hopes of getting back into theatres again in the future.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Willian can be key man for Arsenal, says Arteta

Mikel Arteta has tipped Willian to play a crucial role in driving Arsenal forward as the Gunners boss insisted he had no qualms about signing him on a long-term deal at the age of 32 .
Arteta landed the Brazil winger on a three-year contract last month after his deal at Chelsea expired .
Willian won two Premier League titles during seven years at Stamford Bridge but moved across London on a free transfer , with Chelsea unwilling to offer the multi-year contract he desired .
Arteta is desperate to improve on last season 's eighth-placed finish in the Premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1995 , and he believes Willian could be a key man .
`` With all the conversations I had with him , the thing that stands out is his ambition and his willingness to be the man who can drive this club forward and be a big part of it , '' Arteta said on Friday .
`` He has very special qualities .
He has experience in this league and if there is something with him , he is always available .
`` He 's a player that does n't miss football @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could see the amount of games he played even after the coronavirus . ''
Arteta , whose side open their Premier League campaign at Fulham on Saturday , said he had no concerns about bringing in a player in his 30s .
`` We need a balance in this squad , '' he said .
`` We have some really young talent and they need some experienced players that can just put their shirts on and ( produce ) a star performance .
`` This will evolve .
It will be up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well with our environment , if he 's able to perform at that level for another three years .
I think he has a great chance to achieve that . ''
Arteta , who believes Willian can play in a number of positions , claimed it was `` impossible '' to sign a similar type of player in his early 20s .
`` We need some players that can hit the ground straight away and we can be more patient with others , '' he said .
`` If we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players around them because they will increase their performance and their value . ''

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Mikel Arteta has tipped Willian to play a crucial role in driving Arsenal forward as the Gunners boss insisted he had no qualms about signing him on a long-term deal at the age of 32.
Arteta landed the Brazil winger on a three-year contract last month after his deal at Chelsea expired.
Willian won two Premier League titles during seven years at Stamford Bridge but moved across London on a free transfer, with Chelsea unwilling to offer the multi-year contract he desired.
Arteta is desperate to improve on last season's eighth-placed finish in the Premier League, Arsenal's lowest position since 1995, and he believes Willian could be a key man.
"With all the conversations I had with him, the thing that stands out is his ambition and his willingness to be the man who can drive this club forward and be a big part of it," Arteta said on Friday.
"He has very special qualities. He has experience in this league and if there is something with him, he is always available.
"He's a player that doesn't miss football matches. Last season at Chelsea you could see the amount of games he played even after the coronavirus."
Arteta, whose side open their Premier League campaign at Fulham on Saturday, said he had no concerns about bringing in a player in his 30s.
"We need a balance in this squad," he said. "We have some really young talent and they need some experienced players that can just put their shirts on and (produce) a star performance.
"This will evolve. It will be up to him and how much we help him as well with our environment, if he's able to perform at that level for another three years. I think he has a great chance to achieve that."
Arteta, who believes Willian can play in a number of positions, claimed it was "impossible" to sign a similar type of player in his early 20s.
"We need some players that can hit the ground straight away and we can be more patient with others," he said.
"If we want to develop other players well they need top players around them because they will increase their performance and their value."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Bahrain deal a win-win for Trump and Israel in a changing region

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , seen in June 2020 , and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa , seen in December 2019 , have agreed on historic reconciliation Bahrain announced Friday it would become the latest Arab state to recognize Israel , a triumph both for the Jewish state and US President Donald Trump who is looking for pre-election wins .
The deal is another step in a cherished dream by Israeli and US conservatives to win Arab recognition of Israel without establishing a state for the Palestinians , who quickly denounced Bahrain .
The announcement , weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would recognize Israel , comes against the backdrop of soaring tensions with Iran , an arch-enemy for Gulf Arabs , Israel and the Trump administration .
Here are how the developments affect the key players : Bahrain , a Sunni-ruled kingdom with a large Shiite population , has especially tense ties with Iran and relies on the United States , which stations its Fifth Fleet on the tiny Gulf island .
Trump reversed course from his predecessor Barack Obama by selling weapons to Bahrain despite human rights concerns and has encouraged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with Trump 's son-in-law Jared Kushner last year launching the administration 's Middle East plan in Manama .
Will Wechsler , director of the Middle East program at the Atlantic Council think tank , said that Gulf Arabs were also reacting to a perceived US withdrawal from its leadership role , which they found `` hugely concerning . ''
With historic Arab power centers Cairo , Damascus and Baghdad focused inward , the Gulf states are increasingly worried by the influence of non-Arab players -- Shiite clerical state Iran , Muslim Brotherhood-linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What you 're seeing now is the emergence of a new coalition to be able to fend off those parties , '' Wechsler said .
Israel and Gulf Arabs `` are not natural allies .
There are cultural differences , but they are all being overcome right now because they share this perception in geopolitics and of opportunities , '' especially economic , he said .
The recognition is a coup for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , who will come to the White House on Tuesday to sign with both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states are the first to recognize Israel in more than two decades , bringing the Jewish state closer to its goal of acceptance on the world stage and further connecting it within the region , including through direct flights to the Gulf .
Netanyahu 's main concession was to give up a controversial plan blessed by Trump to annex much of the occupied West Bank -- but it is no closer to allowing a Palestinian state , a goal the UAE and Bahrain say they still support .
Wechsler said that annexation would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' for Israel and the normalization deals effectively forced it to `` avoid shooting itself in the foot '' -- especially with the possibility that Joe Biden defeats Trump in November .
The Palestinian Authority called the agreement by Bahrain another `` stab in the back '' amid fears its cause for an independent state is losing steam among Arab governments .
Trump has spared no self-praise over his achievement , with the White House trumpeting that the president had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize -- which requires only a submission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump can make an even stronger case that he has been an ally of historic proportions to Israel after bucking the international consensus with steps such as recognizing Jerusalem as its capital .
Bahrain 's announcement came just as Afghanistan 's government opens talks with the Taliban , moving Trump closer on another key international goal .
Brian Katulis , a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress , welcomed the Bahrain agreement but questioned Trump 's role .
And he said the agreement did nothing to reduce tensions with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The agreement is mostly the result of shifting interests and alliances that have been in motion for many years , '' he said .
`` It is unlikely that this deal , combined with the one between Israel and the United Arab Emirates , will fundamentally shift the overall instability in the Middle East . ''

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Bahrain announced Friday it would become the latest Arab state to recognize Israel, a triumph both for the Jewish state and US President Donald Trump who is looking for pre-election wins.
The deal is another step in a cherished dream by Israeli and US conservatives to win Arab recognition of Israel without establishing a state for the Palestinians, who quickly denounced Bahrain.
The announcement, weeks after the United Arab Emirates also said it would recognize Israel, comes against the backdrop of soaring tensions with Iran, an arch-enemy for Gulf Arabs, Israel and the Trump administration.
Here are how the developments affect the key players:
- Why is Bahrain recognizing Israel? -
Bahrain, a Sunni-ruled kingdom with a large Shiite population, has especially tense ties with Iran and relies on the United States, which stations its Fifth Fleet on the tiny Gulf island.
Trump reversed course from his predecessor Barack Obama by selling weapons to Bahrain despite human rights concerns and has encouraged the kingdom to strengthen unofficial ties with Israel, with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner last year launching the administration's Middle East plan in Manama.
Will Wechsler, director of the Middle East program at the Atlantic Council think tank, said that Gulf Arabs were also reacting to a perceived US withdrawal from its leadership role, which they found "hugely concerning."
With historic Arab power centers Cairo, Damascus and Baghdad focused inward, the Gulf states are increasingly worried by the influence of non-Arab players -- Shiite clerical state Iran, Muslim Brotherhood-linked Turkey and Vladimir Putin's assertive Russia.
"What you're seeing now is the emergence of a new coalition to be able to fend off those parties," Wechsler said.
Israel and Gulf Arabs "are not natural allies. There are cultural differences, but they are all being overcome right now because they share this perception in geopolitics and of opportunities," especially economic, he said.
- Big victory for Israel -
The recognition is a coup for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will come to the White House on Tuesday to sign with both the UAE and Bahrain.
The Arab states are the first to recognize Israel in more than two decades, bringing the Jewish state closer to its goal of acceptance on the world stage and further connecting it within the region, including through direct flights to the Gulf.
Netanyahu's main concession was to give up a controversial plan blessed by Trump to annex much of the occupied West Bank -- but it is no closer to allowing a Palestinian state, a goal the UAE and Bahrain say they still support.
Wechsler said that annexation would have been a "massive strategic disaster" for Israel and the normalization deals effectively forced it to "avoid shooting itself in the foot" -- especially with the possibility that Joe Biden defeats Trump in November.
The Palestinian Authority called the agreement by Bahrain another "stab in the back" amid fears its cause for an independent state is losing steam among Arab governments.
- New achievement for Trump -
Trump has spared no self-praise over his achievement, with the White House trumpeting that the president had been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize -- which requires only a submission from a lawmaker.
With the deal, Trump can make an even stronger case that he has been an ally of historic proportions to Israel after bucking the international consensus with steps such as recognizing Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel enjoys wide support within Trump's crucial electoral base of evangelical Christians.
Bahrain's announcement came just as Afghanistan's government opens talks with the Taliban, moving Trump closer on another key international goal.
Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, welcomed the Bahrain agreement but questioned Trump's role.
And he said the agreement did nothing to reduce tensions with Iran or move toward a Palestinian state.
"The agreement is mostly the result of shifting interests and alliances that have been in motion for many years," he said.
"It is unlikely that this deal, combined with the one between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, will fundamentally shift the overall instability in the Middle East."
© 2020 AFP