france24--2020-09-28--Rescuers dig through Indian trash dump for 12-year-old 'rag picker'

Rescuers searching the Pirana landfill in Ahmedabad for Neha Vasava , 12 , who was buried while `` rag picking '' on the garbage dump Rescuers searched frantically Monday for a 12-year-old girl believed buried for two days under a vast garbage heap which collapsed while she was scavenging in western India .
Neha Vasava and a six-year-old boy were on top of a 25-30 metre ( 80-100 feet ) mountain of trash at Ahmedabad 's biggest rubbish dump when it collapsed on Saturday evening .
An estimated four million Indians -- many of them children -- work in filthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rag pickers '' , sifting through trash for metal and other materials to sell .
`` The boy was also buried in the garbage , but since his head could be seen locals rescued him , '' deputy chief fire officer MP Mistry told AFP .
`` Our operation will continue till we find her . ''
Mistry said rescue conditions were very difficult `` as one can not breath properly surrounded by tonnes of garbage '' , and also because of packs of roaming feral dogs .
The dump , which receives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the city of 5.6 million people , is home to several hundred impoverished families who work as rag pickers .
According to UNICEF well over 41 million children aged under 12 are forced to work in South Asia .
Experts say lockdowns imposed to combat the coronavirus have exacerbated the child labour problem .

Ahmedabad (India) (AFP) –
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Rescuers searched frantically Monday for a 12-year-old girl believed buried for two days under a vast garbage heap which collapsed while she was scavenging in western India.
Neha Vasava and a six-year-old boy were on top of a 25-30 metre (80-100 feet) mountain of trash at Ahmedabad's biggest rubbish dump when it collapsed on Saturday evening.
An estimated four million Indians -- many of them children -- work in filthy, dangerous conditions, as as "rag pickers", sifting through trash for metal and other materials to sell.
"The boy was also buried in the garbage, but since his head could be seen locals rescued him," deputy chief fire officer MP Mistry told AFP.
"Our operation will continue till we find her."
Mistry said rescue conditions were very difficult "as one cannot breath properly surrounded by tonnes of garbage", and also because of packs of roaming feral dogs.
The dump, which receives around 3,500 tonnes of garbage a day from the city of 5.6 million people, is home to several hundred impoverished families who work as rag pickers.
According to UNICEF well over 41 million children aged under 12 are forced to work in South Asia.
Experts say lockdowns imposed to combat the coronavirus have exacerbated the child labour problem.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Kyrgios tells Wilander 'to shut up' over Murray blast

Quick finish : Andy Murray leaves the court after his loss to Stan Wawrinka on Sunday in what was his joint worst defeat at a Grand Slam Australian star Nick Kyrgios told Mats Wilander to `` shut up '' and that nobody cares what he thinks after the seven-time major winner controversially told Andy Murray to retire from tennis .
Former world number one Murray slumped to his joint-worst defeat at a Grand Slam on Sunday with a 6-1 , 6-3 , 6-2 loss at the hands of Stan Wawrinka in the first round of Roland Garros .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love to hear him say why he is out there , giving us a false sense of hope that he going to come back one day , '' Wilander told Eurosport .
`` I keep getting a little bit disappointed , is it his right to be out there doing that ?
Why ?
I did it and I should n't have , it was the biggest mistake I did in my career .
I think Andy Murray needs to stop thinking of himself and start thinking about who he was .
Does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there taking wildcards from the young players ? ''
Kyrgios , no stranger to taking potshots at some of the sport 's biggest names , leapt to the defence of 33-year-old Murray who needed a wildcard to play his first clay court tournament in three years .
`` Just read what Wilander said about @ andy_murray ... .
shut up Mats , no one cares , '' tweeted Kyrgios .
`` Muzz , just know that how ever long you stay , we all appreciate and enjoy your tennis and banter .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mats Wilander . ''
Murray , a three-time Grand Slam title winner and runner-up at the French Open in 2016 , has undergone two hip surgeries in order to cure an injury which pushed him to the brink of retirement .
After his loss to Wawrinka -- his first opening round defeat in Paris since his 2006 debut -- Murray insisted he intends to keep playing even though his ranking is now 111 .
Murray also found support from former coach Daniel Vallverdu who coached him from 2010-2014 .
`` He 's entitled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitled to mine to think that 's absolutely PATHETIC from Mats ... , '' tweeted Vallverdu who is now the coach of Wawrinka .

Paris (AFP) –
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Australian star Nick Kyrgios told Mats Wilander to "shut up" and that nobody cares what he thinks after the seven-time major winner controversially told Andy Murray to retire from tennis.
Former world number one Murray slumped to his joint-worst defeat at a Grand Slam on Sunday with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 loss at the hands of Stan Wawrinka in the first round of Roland Garros.
"I worry about Andy Murray. I would love to hear him say why he is out there, giving us a false sense of hope that he going to come back one day," Wilander told Eurosport.
"I keep getting a little bit disappointed, is it his right to be out there doing that? Why? I did it and I shouldn't have, it was the biggest mistake I did in my career. I think Andy Murray needs to stop thinking of himself and start thinking about who he was. Does he have a right to be out there taking wildcards from the young players?"
Kyrgios, no stranger to taking potshots at some of the sport's biggest names, leapt to the defence of 33-year-old Murray who needed a wildcard to play his first clay court tournament in three years.
"Just read what Wilander said about @andy_murray .... shut up Mats, no one cares," tweeted Kyrgios.
"Muzz, just know that how ever long you stay, we all appreciate and enjoy your tennis and banter. Also I've never watched a point of Mats Wilander."
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam title winner and runner-up at the French Open in 2016, has undergone two hip surgeries in order to cure an injury which pushed him to the brink of retirement.
After his loss to Wawrinka -- his first opening round defeat in Paris since his 2006 debut -- Murray insisted he intends to keep playing even though his ranking is now 111.
Murray also found support from former coach Daniel Vallverdu who coached him from 2010-2014.
"He's entitled to his opinion. Like I'm entitled to mine to think that's absolutely PATHETIC from Mats...," tweeted Vallverdu who is now the coach of Wawrinka.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--#LoveIsNotTourism: The binational couples separated by Covid-19

Binational couple Lauren Child ( American ) and Xavier Sobanski ( French ) are reunited at Paris 's CDG airport on September 27 2020 after spending 264 days apart .
The Covid-19 pandemic has been tough and lonely for many but it has been particularly challenging for binational couples who have been separated by travel restrictions .
Whilst most people were stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitiser right before the shelter-in-place order was issued last spring in New York City , Andrea Hazen was buying paintbrushes , oil paints and canvases .
She sat alone in her light-filled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jazz , throughout the hardest months of the pandemic .
When the city began to open up , she started playing tennis at the concrete courts across from her apartment block .
Andrea has not been able to travel to see her partner , Édouard Mauvais-Jarvis , who lives in Paris , for seven months .
A mutual friend introduced the the couple eight and a half years ago when Édouard was visiting New York and they instantly connected .
They live in separate countries but their lives are intertwined : they own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other at least every six weeks .
But the pandemic changed all that .
“ It ’ s become unbearable , ” Andrea confided .
“ You know , a couple of months I can bear being apart… this is just unreal.
” Andrea and Édouard FaceTime each other every day but it is no substitute for human contact .
“ I miss that physical presence , ” Édouard explained .
“ Sometimes , you just want to be able to sit next to each other and not say anything .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is waiting for the French consulate to issue her what is known as a `` laissez-passer '' , a pass that gives her permission to travel to France from the United States .
Her apartment is filled with her `` pandemic paintings '' .
One features the view from the Monoprix parking lot , near where Édouard lives in Meudon , southwest Paris .
Many other binational couples are in the same situation because non-essential travel to the European Union is currently banned from multiple countries , including the US , unless you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or you have direct family there .
Unmarried couples have to prove their ties and wait for permission and this can take a long time .
Sometimes the requests are not approved .
When Lauren Child , from Richmond , Virginia found herself separated from her French boyfriend , Xavier Sobanski , she joined a worldwide social media campaign called # LoveisNotTourism ” , which aimed to lobby European countries to make exemptions to the ban .
Members of the group , including Lauren , worked hard to come up with innovative ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including creating a video montage of couples separated due to the travel restrictions and circulating it on social media .
The group even won over several French politicians including the Senator for French citizens living abroad , Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam , who lobbied for their cause .
On August 8 , the French Minister of State for Tourism , French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie , Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne , announced that France would start issuing passes – or laissez-passer – for couples who could prove their ties to each other .
`` This virus does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! ''
Lemoyne tweeted .
But three weeks went by without any couples receiving their passes and so members of the group went to meet with French politicians .
It was not until September 17 that France ’ s Minister of State for European affairs , Clément Beaune , announced that the laissez-passer system was to be simplified and promised the first passes would be issued within a week .
Lemoyne announced that the first pass had been issued on September 22 .
The # LoveisNotTourism activists saw that he had turned off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They viewed his subsequent announcement as proof of their campaign 's success .
Lauren finally received her laissez-passer and flew to Paris , arriving on the morning of September 27 .
She was reunited with Xavier after 264 days apart .
`` Can not describe this feeling , ” Lauren posted to # LoveIsNotTourism ’ s Facebook page , `` haven ’ t stopped crying all day , and can not wait for each of you to get this experience , because you ALL WILL !
”

The Covid-19 pandemic has been tough and lonely for many but it has been particularly challenging for binational couples who have been separated by travel restrictions.
Binational couple Lauren Child (American) and Xavier Sobanski (French) are reunited at Paris's CDG airport on September 27 2020 after spending 264 days apart.
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Whilst most people were stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitiser right before the shelter-in-place order was issued last spring in New York City, Andrea Hazen was buying paintbrushes, oil paints and canvases.
She sat alone in her light-filled Manhattan apartment, painting and listening to jazz, throughout the hardest months of the pandemic. When the city began to open up, she started playing tennis at the concrete courts across from her apartment block.
Andrea has not been able to travel to see her partner, Édouard Mauvais-Jarvis, who lives in Paris, for seven months.
A mutual friend introduced the couple when Édouard was visiting New York eight and a half years ago, and they instantly connected. They live in separate countries but their lives are intertwined: They own properties and pets together and usually see each other at least every six weeks. But the pandemic changed all that.
“It’s become unbearable,” Andrea confided. “You know, a couple of months I can bear being apart … this is just unreal.”
Andrea Hazen, Art Advisor at Hazen Art Advisory in NYC with her French partner, Edouard Mauvais-Jarvis, Scientific and Environmental Director Parfums Christian Dior. © Jessica Le Masurier
Andrea and Édouard FaceTime each other every day but it is no substitute for human contact. “I miss that physical presence,” Édouard explained. “Sometimes you just want to be able to sit next to each other and not say anything. That’s the hardest part.”
Andrea is waiting for the French consulate to issue her what is known as a "laissez-passer", a pass that gives her permission to travel to France from the United States.
Her apartment is filled with her "pandemic paintings": one features the view from the parking lot of the Monoprix grocery store near where Édouard lives in Meudon in southwest Paris.
A painting by Andrea Hazen of the view from the Monoprix parking lot in Meudon, France. © Andrea Hazen
Many other binational couples are in the same situation because non-essential travel to the European Union is currently banned from multiple countries, including the US, unless you are an EU citizen, a resident or you have close family there.
Unmarried couples have to prove their ties and wait for permission – and this can take a long time. Sometimes requests are not approved.
When Lauren Child, from Richmond, Virginia, found herself separated from her French boyfriend, Xavier Sobanski, she joined a worldwide social media campaign called #LoveIsNotTourism that lobbies European countries to make exemptions to the ban.
Members of the group worked hard to come up with innovative ways to raise awareness of their plight, including creating a video montage of couples separated due to the travel restrictions and circulating it on social media. The group even won over several French politicians including the senator for French citizens living abroad, Joëlle Garriaud-Maylam, who lobbied for their cause.
La France met en place un dispositif spécifique pour les partenaires de vie séparés par la fermeture des frontières. Dès cette semaine, une demande de laissez-passer peut être déposée auprès du consulat 🇫🇷 le plus proche. Ce virus n’aime pas l’amour, nous si ! #LoveIsNotTourism https://t.co/MMIvzseBXa — Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (@JBLemoyne) August 8, 2020
On August 8, the French minister of state for tourism, French nationals abroad and the French language, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, announced that France would start issuing a laissez-passer for couples who could prove their ties to each other.
"This virus doesn't like love, but we do!" Lemoyne tweeted. But three weeks went by without any couples receiving their passes and so members of the group went to meet with French politicians.
It was not until September 17 that France’s minister of state for European affairs, Clément Beaune, announced that the laissez-passer system was to be simplified and promised that the first passes would be issued within a week.
Lemoyne later said the first pass had been issued on September 22, and the #LoveIsNotTourism viewed his announcement as proof of their campaign's success.
Les couples binationaux séparés par la crise vont enfin pouvoir se retrouver ! La procédure a été simplifiée et accélérée :
- le 1er laissez-passer a été accordé ce jour,
- les prochains suivent pour les plus de 800 dossiers en cours d’instruction.#LoveIsNotTourism — Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (@JBLemoyne) September 22, 2020
Lauren finally received her laissez-passer and flew to Paris, arriving on the morning of September 27. She was reunited with Xavier after 264 days apart.
"Cannot describe this feeling,” Lauren posted to the #LoveIsNotTourism’s Facebook page, adding: "haven’t stopped crying all day, and cannot wait for each of you to get this experience, because you ALL WILL!”
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france24--2020-09-28--African players in Europe: Guardiola hails 'exceptional' Mahrez

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Algeria star Riyad Mahrez as he scrambled to find any positives after a stunning 5-2 home loss to Leicester City at the weekend .
The 2016 African Footballer of the Year struck a wonder goal to give City an early lead in the Premier League clash and his boss later called him `` an exceptional footballer '' .
`` Riyad has enormous qualities .
He gives millimetre-perfect passes , likes to score goals and has a winning temperament , '' said the Spaniard .
Mahrez 's stunning strike on his weaker right foot into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapsing to a 5-2 home defeat by Leicester .
He returned to the starting line-up after testing positive for coronavirus in pre-season and also set up City 's other goal for Nathan Ake on an otherwise chastening afternoon for Guardiola 's men .
The Senegalese midfielder scored in a 2-1 home loss to Everton by rising to power home a header that brought the Eagles level before Richarlison 's controversial penalty ensured Everton 's 100 percent start to the season continued .
Wilfried Zaha had been Palace 's talisman in previous victories over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ivorian was kept quiet .
Algeria defender Mandi scored against Real Madrid but could not prevent Real Betis going down 3-2 against the reigning La Liga champions .
Mandi climbed above Casemiro to head in an equaliser just after half an hour and Betis took the lead two minutes later through William Carvalho , only for Madrid to surge back in the second half .
Betis have enjoyed a good start to the season after winning their opening two games and sit top of the table on goal difference .
Kessie scored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the break in a 2-0 win for Milan at Crotone to extend their unbeaten Serie A run to 14 games .
It was the 17th league goal for the Ivorian since joining from Atalanta four years ago .
The Gambian defender scored his first goal for Sampdoria , netting their second after 18 minutes , but the Genoa outfit threw away a two-goal lead to fall 3-2 at home to promoted Benevento .
Ivorian Kouame scored the opening goal after just three minutes in a 4-3 defeat at Inter with Moroccan newcomer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his debut for Antonio Conte 's side and help the hosts secure a comeback win in their opening league match .
Nigerian Osimhen got his first start for Napoli against Genoa and once again impressed in the 6-0 rout after helping lift the southerners past Parma in their season opener last week .
Coach Gennaro Gattuso said : `` When he attacks we find space .
The players look for him , we 're very happy with how he is helping us . ''
The Togolese came on for the last half hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bayern Munich as the European champions suffered their first defeat since December , ending a 23-match winning streak .
The 26-year-old was brought down in the area by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer , who conceded a penalty and Andrej Kramaric converted the stoppage time spot-kick .
The Democratic Republic of Congo winger grabbed his second Bundesliga goal in as many league appearances when he equalised in Stuttgart 's 4-1 win at 10-man Mainz .
The 20-year-old fired home a pass from captain Gonzalo Castro .
After bagging a brace last weekend when Metz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time this season , the Senegalese gave his club the lead on 71 minutes away to Marseille , who salvaged a 1-1 draw through a stoppage-time goal .
Gabonese Manga scored on the hour mark as Ligue 1 bottom club Dijon ended a run of four losses since the season began by drawing 2-2 against visiting Montpellier , whose first goal came from France-born Algerian international Delort .

Paris (AFP) –
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Algeria star Riyad Mahrez as he scrambled to find any positives after a stunning 5-2 home loss to Leicester City at the weekend.
The 2016 African Footballer of the Year struck a wonder goal to give City an early lead in the Premier League clash and his boss later called him "an exceptional footballer".
"Riyad has enormous qualities. He gives millimetre-perfect passes, likes to score goals and has a winning temperament," said the Spaniard.
ENGLAND
RIYAD MAHREZ (Manchester City)
Mahrez's stunning strike on his weaker right foot into the top corner could not prevent City collapsing to a 5-2 home defeat by Leicester. He returned to the starting line-up after testing positive for coronavirus in pre-season and also set up City's other goal for Nathan Ake on an otherwise chastening afternoon for Guardiola's men.
CHEIKHOU KOUYATE (Crystal Palace)
The Senegalese midfielder scored in a 2-1 home loss to Everton by rising to power home a header that brought the Eagles level before Richarlison's controversial penalty ensured Everton's 100 percent start to the season continued. Wilfried Zaha had been Palace's talisman in previous victories over Southampton and Manchester United, but the Ivorian was kept quiet.
SPAIN
AISSA MANDI (Real Betis)
Algeria defender Mandi scored against Real Madrid but could not prevent Real Betis going down 3-2 against the reigning La Liga champions. Mandi climbed above Casemiro to head in an equaliser just after half an hour and Betis took the lead two minutes later through William Carvalho, only for Madrid to surge back in the second half. Betis have enjoyed a good start to the season after winning their opening two games and sit top of the table on goal difference.
ITALY
FRANCK KESSIE (AC Milan)
Kessie scored the first goal from the penalty spot just before the break in a 2-0 win for Milan at Crotone to extend their unbeaten Serie A run to 14 games. It was the 17th league goal for the Ivorian since joining from Atalanta four years ago.
OMAR COLLEY (Sampdoria)
The Gambian defender scored his first goal for Sampdoria, netting their second after 18 minutes, but the Genoa outfit threw away a two-goal lead to fall 3-2 at home to promoted Benevento.
CHRISTIAN KOUAME (Fiorentina)/ACHRAF HAKIMI (Inter Milan)
Ivorian Kouame scored the opening goal after just three minutes in a 4-3 defeat at Inter with Moroccan newcomer Hakimi coming off the bench to make his debut for Antonio Conte's side and help the hosts secure a comeback win in their opening league match.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (Napoli)
Nigerian Osimhen got his first start for Napoli against Genoa and once again impressed in the 6-0 rout after helping lift the southerners past Parma in their season opener last week. Coach Gennaro Gattuso said: "When he attacks we find space. The players look for him, we're very happy with how he is helping us."
GERMANY
IHLAS BEBOU (Hoffenheim)
The Togolese came on for the last half hour of Hoffenheim's shock 4-1 win over Bayern Munich as the European champions suffered their first defeat since December, ending a 23-match winning streak. The 26-year-old was brought down in the area by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who conceded a penalty and Andrej Kramaric converted the stoppage time spot-kick.
SILAS WAMANGITUKA (VfB Stuttgart)
The Democratic Republic of Congo winger grabbed his second Bundesliga goal in as many league appearances when he equalised in Stuttgart's 4-1 win at 10-man Mainz. The 20-year-old fired home a pass from captain Gonzalo Castro.
FRANCE
IBRAHIMA NIANE (Metz)
After bagging a brace last weekend when Metz won in Ligue 1 for the first time this season, the Senegalese gave his club the lead on 71 minutes away to Marseille, who salvaged a 1-1 draw through a stoppage-time goal.
BRUNO ECUELE MANGA (Dijon)/ANDY DELORT (Montpellier)
Gabonese Manga scored on the hour mark as Ligue 1 bottom club Dijon ended a run of four losses since the season began by drawing 2-2 against visiting Montpellier, whose first goal came from France-born Algerian international Delort.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--After cabinet fiasco, where to now for Lebanon?

Civil society members clear debris from the Beirut port explosion near a wall with graffiti of a hanged politician in this file picture taken on August 7 , 2020 With Lebanon already mired in multiple crises , where does the failure to form a government despite intense international pressure leave the country ?
Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic crunch in decades , and still reeling from a colossal blast at the capital 's port on August 4 that killed more than 190 people , injured thousands , and ravaged large parts of Beirut .
France earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would help prime minister-designate Mustapha Adib draw up a cabinet within a fortnight , but on Saturday he threw in the towel .
Is there a new deadline ?
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday gave Lebanese leaders another `` four to six weeks '' to form a crisis government of independents as a prerequisite to much-needed financial aid .
`` It now is up to Lebanese leaders to seize this last chance , '' he said .
President Michel Aoun , who on Monday said he still stood by the French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the choice of a new premier-designate , before that candidate can even start trying to form a cabinet .
This is often a drawn-out process in Lebanon , where a complex power-sharing system seeks to maintain a fragile balance between its various political and religious sides .
In practice , main political forces usually agree on a new prime minister even before the president names him .
And similarly , they back a cabinet line-up even before the premier-designate announces it .
`` This will take quite a bit of time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Carnegie Middle East Centre .
This was bad news for a debt-ridden country desperately in need of restarting stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund towards saving its crumbling economy .
`` Meanwhile we 're left with a caretaker government that really can not take any decisions ... and certainly can not negotiate with the IMF on an economic recovery plan , '' she said .
Adib 's efforts were largely hampered by the country 's two Shiite movements , Hezbollah and Amal , demanding the finance portfolio and insisting on naming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Hezbollah , Tehran 's proxy in Lebanon , should `` not think it is more powerful than it is '' .
`` It must show that it respects all the Lebanese -- and in recent days , it has clearly shown the opposite , '' he said .
Iran on Monday said it was in touch with France , and supported French efforts towards helping Lebanon if they were well-intentioned .
`` We are in touch with different Lebanese groups directly and continuously , and we hope that we can help resolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman said .
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is set to speak on Tuesday .
Does this mean no humanitarian aid ?
By the end of October , whether or not there is a government , France will however hold a new aid conference with the United Nations .
The humanitarian assistance will be funnelled `` directly to the population solely through non-governmental organisations on the ground and the United Nations '' , Macron said .
During a first French-UN video conference on August 9 , just days after the Beirut blast , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in emergency aid .
But a political meeting with Lebanese leaders , originally also scheduled for October , has been scrapped .
Instead Macron said he would gather members of the international community within the next 20 days to re-examine a roadmap for the country , and lay out their conditions for support to Lebanon .
They would also `` urge that the results of the probe on the causes of the August 4 explosion be finally established and made public , and that those responsible be named , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate on the dockside .
But it has launched its own probe aided by international experts , arresting 25 people , including top customs and port officials .
Macron , who has twice visited the former French protectorate since the August 4 explosion , earlier this month said he would return to Lebanon in December .
But it was not immediately clear if that was still planned .
Last week , President Michel Aoun warned Lebanon was headed to `` hell '' if no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prices have soared in recent months , and poverty has risen to more than half the population .
Analyst Karim Bitar said Lebanon likely had a rough ride ahead .
`` Even if Lebanon is not hell-bound , we will probably witness ... the weakening of public institutions , a worsening of the economic crisis ... and a wave of emigration , '' he said .
`` Lebanon could empty itself of ... its middle class , to end up with an oligarchy clinging on to power and the impoverishment of those who @ @ @ @

Beirut (AFP) –
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With Lebanon already mired in multiple crises, where does the failure to form a government despite intense international pressure leave the country?
Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic crunch in decades, and still reeling from a colossal blast at the capital's port on August 4 that killed more than 190 people, injured thousands, and ravaged large parts of Beirut.
France earlier this month extracted a promise from political forces that they would help prime minister-designate Mustapha Adib draw up a cabinet within a fortnight, but on Saturday he threw in the towel.
Is there a new deadline?
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday gave Lebanese leaders another "four to six weeks" to form a crisis government of independents as a prerequisite to much-needed financial aid.
"It now is up to Lebanese leaders to seize this last chance," he said.
President Michel Aoun, who on Monday said he still stood by the French initiative, must now consult parliamentary blocs on the choice of a new premier-designate, before that candidate can even start trying to form a cabinet.
This is often a drawn-out process in Lebanon, where a complex power-sharing system seeks to maintain a fragile balance between its various political and religious sides.
In practice, main political forces usually agree on a new prime minister even before the president names him. And similarly, they back a cabinet line-up even before the premier-designate announces it.
"This will take quite a bit of time," said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Centre.
This was bad news for a debt-ridden country desperately in need of restarting stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund towards saving its crumbling economy.
"Meanwhile we're left with a caretaker government that really cannot take any decisions... and certainly cannot negotiate with the IMF on an economic recovery plan," she said.
What of Hezbollah?
Adib's efforts were largely hampered by the country's two Shiite movements, Hezbollah and Amal, demanding the finance portfolio and insisting on naming Shiite ministers themselves.
Macron on Sunday said Hezbollah, Tehran's proxy in Lebanon, should "not think it is more powerful than it is".
"It must show that it respects all the Lebanese -- and in recent days, it has clearly shown the opposite," he said.
Iran on Monday said it was in touch with France, and supported French efforts towards helping Lebanon if they were well-intentioned.
"We are in touch with different Lebanese groups directly and continuously, and we hope that we can help resolve this issue," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is set to speak on Tuesday.
Does this mean no humanitarian aid?
By the end of October, whether or not there is a government, France will however hold a new aid conference with the United Nations.
The humanitarian assistance will be funnelled "directly to the population solely through non-governmental organisations on the ground and the United Nations", Macron said.
During a first French-UN video conference on August 9, just days after the Beirut blast, the international community already pledged around $300 million in emergency aid.
But a political meeting with Lebanese leaders, originally also scheduled for October, has been scrapped.
Instead Macron said he would gather members of the international community within the next 20 days to re-examine a roadmap for the country, and lay out their conditions for support to Lebanon.
They would also "urge that the results of the probe on the causes of the August 4 explosion be finally established and made public, and that those responsible be named," he said.
Lebanon has refused an international investigation into the explosion of hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate on the dockside.
But it has launched its own probe aided by international experts, arresting 25 people, including top customs and port officials.
Macron, who has twice visited the former French protectorate since the August 4 explosion, earlier this month said he would return to Lebanon in December. But it was not immediately clear if that was still planned.
Is Lebanon hell-bound?
Last week, President Michel Aoun warned Lebanon was headed to "hell" if no new cabinet was rapidly hammered out.
Prices have soared in recent months, and poverty has risen to more than half the population.
Analyst Karim Bitar said Lebanon likely had a rough ride ahead.
"Even if Lebanon is not hell-bound, we will probably witness... the weakening of public institutions, a worsening of the economic crisis... and a wave of emigration," he said.
"Lebanon could empty itself of... its middle class, to end up with an oligarchy clinging on to power and the impoverishment of those who stay behind."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Algerian lawyers stage protest over lack of promised reforms

In Algeria , a band of lawyers has staged a sit-in on the steps of an appeals court in the @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s increasing crackdowns on journalists and free speech , and demanding legal @ @

Algerian lawyers stage protest over lack of promised reforms
01:39
In Algeria, a band of lawyers has staged a sit-in on the steps of an appeals court in the capital of Algiers, protesting the country’s increasing crackdowns on journalists and free speech, and demanding legal reforms.


france24--2020-09-28--Harper's Magazine President John R. MacArthur reflects on Franco-American relations

Though their core values are similar , France and the USA have often been pitted as rival models .
Harper @ @ @ @ @ MacArthur talks to France 24 ’ s Florence Villeminot about what ’ s unique about @ @ @ @ @ two countries are fundamentally similar or different .

Harper's Magazine President John R. MacArthur reflects on Franco-American relations
03:48
Though their core values are similar, France and the USA have often been pitted as rival models. Harper's Magazine President John R. MacArthur talks to France 24’s Florence Villeminot about what’s unique about Franco-American relations and whether the two countries are fundamentally similar or different.


france24--2020-09-28--Lebanon crisis: France's Macron says failure to form govt is 'betrayal'

Lebanon crisis : France 's Macron says failure to form govt is 'betrayal' French President Emmanuel # Macron on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ of `` collective # betrayal '' over their failure to form a government in the @ @ @ @ @ at the # Beirut port in August .
FRANCE 24 's Linda Tamim tells us @ @

Lebanon crisis: France's Macron says failure to form govt is 'betrayal'
03:38
French President Emmanuel #Macron on Sunday accused #Lebanon's leaders of "collective #betrayal" over their failure to form a government in the wake of the giant blast at the #Beirut port in August. FRANCE 24's Linda Tamim tells us more.


france24--2020-09-28--France - USA: debunking clichés with the France 24 newsroom

French and American journalists from the France 24 newsroom take a closer look at the love-hate relationship between the two @

France - USA: debunking clichés with the France 24 newsroom
01:48
French and American journalists from the France 24 newsroom take a closer look at the love-hate relationship between the two countries


france24--2020-09-28--Paris meat cleaver attacker's identity in doubt

The attacker told investigators he thought he was targeting staff of Charlie Hebdo , which he did not know had moved There was confusion Monday over the identity of the man who injured two people in a meat cleaver attack in Paris last week which was condemned by the government as an act of `` Islamist terrorism '' .
Investigators said the assailant had identified himself as Hassan A. , an 18-year-old born in Pakistan .
But in a video in which he said he was targeting the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo -- the scene of a massacre by Islamist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said his name was Zaheer Hassan Mehmood .
Investigators found a photo of an identity document on the attacker 's cellphone of a man by the same name , aged 25 , a source close to the investigation told AFP .
The man seriously injured two employees of TV production agency Premieres Lignes , whose offices are in the same city centre block that used to house Charlie Hebdo , which has since moved to a secret location .
The two victims were outside for a cigarette break , and officials said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacker told investigators he thought he was targeting staff of Charlie Hebdo , which he did not know had moved .
He said he was avenging the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed .
The authorities said the claimed identity of Hassan A. belongs to a young man born in the Pakistani town of Mandi Bahauddin .
Hassan A. entered France three years ago , was not known to police and was not known to have every displayed signs of supporting radical Islam .
In a two-minute video recorded under the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced that : `` Today , Friday September 25 , I will condemn '' Charlie Hebdo .
He did not claim to have acted on behalf of any organisation .
The attacker remained in custody Monday , along with five others investigators said were being held to learn more about the suspect 's `` environment '' .
Police believe he acted alone .
The five include three former flatmates of the attacker , his younger brother , and an acquaintance .
Five more people have been released from custody , including a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed he was arrested while trying to stop the attack .
`` I wanted to be a hero , I ended up behind bars , '' he told TF1 Sunday .
The attack came three weeks into a trial of suspected accomplices of the authors of the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo , a policewoman , and a Jewish supermarket .
Seventeen people were killed in the three-day spree that heralded a wave of Islamist violence in France that has so far claimed 258 lives .

Paris (AFP) –
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There was confusion Monday over the identity of the man who injured two people in a meat cleaver attack in Paris last week which was condemned by the government as an act of "Islamist terrorism".
Investigators said the assailant had identified himself as Hassan A., an 18-year-old born in Pakistan.
But in a video in which he said he was targeting the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo -- the scene of a massacre by Islamist gunmen in January 2015 -- the man said his name was Zaheer Hassan Mehmood.
Investigators found a photo of an identity document on the attacker's cellphone of a man by the same name, aged 25, a source close to the investigation told AFP.
The man seriously injured two employees of TV production agency Premieres Lignes, whose offices are in the same city centre block that used to house Charlie Hebdo, which has since moved to a secret location.
The two victims were outside for a cigarette break, and officials said they were in a stable condition.
The attacker told investigators he thought he was targeting staff of Charlie Hebdo, which he did not know had moved.
He said he was avenging the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.
The authorities said the claimed identity of Hassan A. belongs to a young man born in the Pakistani town of Mandi Bahauddin.
Hassan A. entered France three years ago, was not known to police and was not known to have every displayed signs of supporting radical Islam.
- 'I will condemn' -
In a two-minute video recorded under the name of Zaheer Hassan Mehmood, the attacker announced that: "Today, Friday September 25, I will condemn" Charlie Hebdo.
He did not claim to have acted on behalf of any organisation.
The attacker remained in custody Monday, along with five others investigators said were being held to learn more about the suspect's "environment".
Police believe he acted alone.
The five include three former flatmates of the attacker, his younger brother, and an acquaintance.
Five more people have been released from custody, including a man identified as Youssef, 22, who claimed he was arrested while trying to stop the attack.
"I wanted to be a hero, I ended up behind bars," he told TF1 Sunday.
The attack came three weeks into a trial of suspected accomplices of the authors of the January 2015 attacks on Charlie Hebdo, a policewoman, and a Jewish supermarket.
Seventeen people were killed in the three-day spree that heralded a wave of Islamist violence in France that has so far claimed 258 lives.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Egypt’s Nasser still a divisive figure 50 years after his death

Egyptians visit the tomb of Egypt 's late president Gamal Abdel Nasser at his mausoleum in Cairo on September 28 , 2020 .
Fifty years since Gamal Abdel Nasser 's death , controversy over the legacy of the charismatic Egyptian president who championed Arab unity lives on in Egypt as deep divisions beset the Middle East .
Best known for his colloquial charisma and pan-Arab populism , he enraptured listeners with his radio broadcasts and inspired enormous pride inside the North African country and well beyond its borders .
Nasser was feted as a bulwark against Israel , colonialism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power , first as prime minister and then president .
Early successes included the thwarting , albeit thanks to US influence , of an invasion by Britain , France and Israel in 1956 after Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal .
Critics , however , saw him as a symbol of populist authoritarianism , economic folly and geopolitical imprudence which significantly compromised his standing by the time he died on September 28 , 1970 .
To mark 50 years since his death , his oldest daughter , Hoda , published a book giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divisive leader .
`` Nasser : Secret Archives '' includes excerpts of his journal while he fought the Arab-Israeli war in 1948 and exchanges with US president John F. Kennedy , as well as Soviet ruler Nikita Khrushchev .
`` All I did was recount the events as they happened , and explained the principles he followed by showing documents he wrote while an officer in the army and during his presidency , '' she told AFP .
`` It is up to people how they perceive his rule . ''
A senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of officers who toppled British-backed King Farouk in a 1952 military coup that later came to be known as the `` July 23 revolution '' .
He served as prime minister from 1954 to 1956 , when he became president , until his death .
During his rule , Nasser dismantled the privileges of a landowning aristocracy that had thrived under the old monarchy , and pushed socialist policies including free education and substantial subsidies .
Although very popular , his efforts to establish social equality proved increasingly difficult to fund .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Aswan High Dam and nationalised the Suez Canal , a move that prompted the 1956 attack by Israel , Britain and France , who were forced to withdraw under US pressure .
`` He boosted people 's sense of dignity , and that is what Arab peoples miss as they recall Nasser , '' said Mustapha Kamel , political science professor at Cairo University .
Political parties were abolished under Nasser , while authorities launched a severe crackdown on opponents , including the Muslim Brotherhood .
And Nasser ushered in decades of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers and the army 's significant , often opaque , influence within the economy .
`` While he sought to abolish classism , his regime initiated the concept of the police state , and instilled a culture of fear of authority , '' said Said Sadeq , political science professor at Nile University .
Kamel added : `` He did not believe in democracy and used to declare that openly . ''
`` He is a historic leader , who represented key features of the 1950 's to 60 's -- from battling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political and economic liberalism , '' he added .
In his public speeches , Nasser assumed a populist tone and used simple Arabic to openly lampoon colonial powers and Israel .
But his assertiveness on the international stage sometimes amounted to imprudence , according to critics .
In 1962 , Nasser dispatched troops to back revolutionaries in Yemen against Saudi-backed royalists , draining Egypt 's resources in a years-long quagmire .
But the decimating blow to Nasser was defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War , during which Egypt , Jordan and Syria lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sinai Peninsula before withdrawing 15 years later , but still occupies the West Bank and parts of Syria 's Golan Heights .
`` It was by all accounts a disaster and the Arab world is still paying the price , '' said Sadeq .
Arab leaders have for years been urging Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders to allow for the establishment of a Palestinian state .
Nine years after Nasser 's death , his successor Anwar Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel .
The 1979 pact was the first Arab-Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fatah al-Sisi , who hailed Nasser as a “ patriot '' , said in an interview in 2018 that Egypt could not have remained at war with Israel forever .

Fifty years since Gamal Abdel Nasser's death, controversy over the legacy of the charismatic Egyptian president who championed Arab unity lives on in Egypt as deep divisions beset the Middle East.
Egyptians visit the tomb of Egypt's late president Gamal Abdel Nasser at his mausoleum in Cairo on September 28, 2020.
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Best known for his colloquial charisma and pan-Arab populism, he enraptured listeners with his radio broadcasts and inspired enormous pride inside the North African country and well beyond its borders.
Nasser was feted as a bulwark against Israel, colonialism and poverty during much of his 16 years in power, first as prime minister and then president.
Early successes included the thwarting, albeit thanks to US influence, of an invasion by Britain, France and Israel in 1956 after Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal.
Critics, however, saw him as a symbol of populist authoritarianism, economic folly and geopolitical imprudence which significantly compromised his standing by the time he died on September 28, 1970.
To mark 50 years since his death, his oldest daughter, Hoda, published a book giving new insight into the life of the divisive leader.
"Nasser: Secret Archives" includes excerpts of his journal while he fought the Arab-Israeli war in 1948 and exchanges with US president John F. Kennedy, as well as Soviet ruler Nikita Khrushchev.
"All I did was recount the events as they happened, and explained the principles he followed by showing documents he wrote while an officer in the army and during his presidency," she told AFP.
"It is up to people how they perceive his rule."
'Boosted dignity'
A senior army officer, Nasser led a group of officers who toppled British-backed King Farouk in a 1952 military coup that later came to be known as the "July 23 revolution".
He served as prime minister from 1954 to 1956, when he became president, until his death.
During his rule, Nasser dismantled the privileges of a landowning aristocracy that had thrived under the old monarchy, and pushed socialist policies including free education and substantial subsidies.
Although very popular, his efforts to establish social equality proved increasingly difficult to fund.
He initiated costly mega-projects like the building of the Aswan High Dam and nationalised the Suez Canal, a move that prompted the 1956 attack by Israel, Britain and France, who were forced to withdraw under US pressure.
"He boosted people's sense of dignity, and that is what Arab peoples miss as they recall Nasser," said Mustapha Kamel, political science professor at Cairo University.
Political parties were abolished under Nasser, while authorities launched a severe crackdown on opponents, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
And Nasser ushered in decades of military rule, characterised by extended emergency powers and the army's significant, often opaque, influence within the economy.
"While he sought to abolish classism, his regime initiated the concept of the police state, and instilled a culture of fear of authority," said Said Sadeq, political science professor at Nile University.
Kamel added: "He did not believe in democracy and used to declare that openly."
"He is a historic leader, who represented key features of the 1950's to 60's -- from battling colonialism and seeking social equality to undermining political and economic liberalism," he added.
In his public speeches, Nasser assumed a populist tone and used simple Arabic to openly lampoon colonial powers and Israel.
'Still paying price'
But his assertiveness on the international stage sometimes amounted to imprudence, according to critics.
In 1962, Nasser dispatched troops to back revolutionaries in Yemen against Saudi-backed royalists, draining Egypt's resources in a years-long quagmire.
But the decimating blow to Nasser was defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War, during which Egypt, Jordan and Syria lost key territories.
Israel occupied Egypt's Sinai Peninsula before withdrawing 15 years later, but still occupies the West Bank and parts of Syria's Golan Heights.
"It was by all accounts a disaster and the Arab world is still paying the price," said Sadeq.
Arab leaders have for years been urging Israel to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders to allow for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Nine years after Nasser's death, his successor Anwar Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel.
The 1979 pact was the first Arab-Israeli peace treaty.
Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who hailed Nasser as a “patriot", said in an interview in 2018 that Egypt could not have remained at war with Israel forever.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-28--English football structure faces 'collapse', ministers warned

English football is facing the `` collapse of the national league structure '' unless clubs receive emergency help , ministers were warned on Monday .
A letter to culture secretary Oliver Dowden co-signed by a group of prominent figures including two former Football Association chairmen , paints a stark picture of the financial crisis engulfing the game .
The government announced last week that plans for spectators to return to sports venues from October 1 had been scrapped due to a spike in coronavirus infections .
Clubs in the English Football League ( the three tiers below the Premier League @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 258 million ) this season if they are required to play the whole campaign in empty stadiums .
EFL chairman Rick Parry has warned that some clubs `` are on the brink '' of collapse .
Monday 's letter , whose signatories include former FA chairmen Greg Dyke and Lord Triesman as well as a number of lawmakers , said time was running out .
`` Without any plans being made to rescue football clubs , many in the EFL and others in the National League as well , are now actively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redundant , cease playing , close down their youth academies and community foundations , and put their business into administration , '' the letter says .
`` This could lead not only to the failure of many historic community clubs , but the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over 100 years . ''
The situation is critical , the signatories say , with many clubs unable to meet their payroll obligations for next month .
Dowden believes the wealthy Premier League should step in to help lower-league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that top-fight clubs also `` face swingeing losses from lost ticketing receipts and falling revenues from broadcasting matches '' .
The letter refers to the £1.5 billion rescue package for Britain 's arts sector in July .
`` We believe that football , like other well-loved professional sports in this country , is also a cultural activity , '' the signatories say .
`` We would ask that the government now make clear what financial support it 's prepared to give before it is too late . ''

London (AFP) –
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English football is facing the "collapse of the national league structure" unless clubs receive emergency help, ministers were warned on Monday.
A letter to culture secretary Oliver Dowden co-signed by a group of prominent figures including two former Football Association chairmen, paints a stark picture of the financial crisis engulfing the game.
The government announced last week that plans for spectators to return to sports venues from October 1 had been scrapped due to a spike in coronavirus infections.
Clubs in the English Football League (the three tiers below the Premier League) stand to lose £200 million ($258 million) this season if they are required to play the whole campaign in empty stadiums.
EFL chairman Rick Parry has warned that some clubs "are on the brink" of collapse.
Monday's letter, whose signatories include former FA chairmen Greg Dyke and Lord Triesman as well as a number of lawmakers, said time was running out.
"Without any plans being made to rescue football clubs, many in the EFL and others in the National League as well, are now actively preparing to make all but essential staff redundant, cease playing, close down their youth academies and community foundations, and put their business into administration," the letter says.
"This could lead not only to the failure of many historic community clubs, but the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over 100 years."
The situation is critical, the signatories say, with many clubs unable to meet their payroll obligations for next month.
Dowden believes the wealthy Premier League should step in to help lower-league clubs.
But the signatories point out that top-fight clubs also "face swingeing losses from lost ticketing receipts and falling revenues from broadcasting matches".
The letter refers to the £1.5 billion rescue package for Britain's arts sector in July.
"We believe that football, like other well-loved professional sports in this country, is also a cultural activity," the signatories say.
"We would ask that the government now make clear what financial support it's prepared to give before it is too late."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--A brief history of Franco-American relations

France and the USA have strong ties that go back centuries .
In many ways they wouldn ’ t exist @ @ @ @ @ they didn ’ t have each other .

A brief history of Franco-American relations
01:25
France and the USA have strong ties that go back centuries. In many ways they wouldn’t exist as they are today if they didn’t have each other.


france24--2020-09-28--Ai Weiwei supports Assange with silent protest

Assange `` truly represents the very core value of why we are fighting , the freedom of the press , '' Ai said Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei held a silent protest on Monday outside a London court to demand the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange , who faces extradition to the United States .
Exiled Ai , who left China for Germany in 2015 after becoming a target of Beijing 's wrath , said Assange 's possible prosecution in the US was `` unbelievable '' .
`` Let him to be a free man , '' Ai said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British capital , wearing a pink T-shirt featuring him next to Assange , both holding up a middle finger .
`` He truly represents the very core value of why we are fighting , the freedom of the press . ''
Assange faces 18 charges in the US relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq .
Evidence in the trial stage of his long-running battle against extradition entered its fourth week Monday and is due to end within days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it will be at least six weeks before she delivers a verdict -- meaning it will come after the US presidential election on November 3 .
It is the latest in a series of legal battles faced by Assange since the leaks a decade ago .
In 2010 , he faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden , which he denied .
He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempt to extradite him to Sweden by claiming political asylum in Ecuador 's embassy in London .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation over the rape allegation , after failing for years to interrogate Assange in person while he was holed up in the embassy .
Assange lived in a small apartment there for seven years , but was turned over to British police in April 2019 after a change of government in Quito .
Ai , 62 , said he had met Assange several times during this period and , although he did not know him well , felt he was being unfairly targeted .
`` Each step is more and more difficult for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is prepared to fight but alas it 's not fair conditions , this is not fair to him .
`` They tried to smash him and his name , '' he added .
Ai said he chose to stage a silent protest because `` all the words we want to say are already there '' .
`` As an artist , if I can not use my art -- which is very limited -- then I rather just be silent . ''
Ai , a long-time critic of the government in Beijing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He helped design the Bird 's Nest Olympic stadium , but was detained for 81 days in 2011 as part of a crackdown on dissent .
His passport was confiscated and only returned to him in 2015 , after which he moved to Berlin .

London (AFP) –
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Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei held a silent protest on Monday outside a London court to demand the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces extradition to the United States.
Exiled Ai, who left China for Germany in 2015 after becoming a target of Beijing's wrath, said Assange's possible prosecution in the US was "unbelievable".
"Let him to be a free man," Ai said outside the Old Bailey court in the British capital, wearing a pink T-shirt featuring him next to Assange, both holding up a middle finger.
"He truly represents the very core value of why we are fighting, the freedom of the press."
Assange faces 18 charges in the US relating to the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Evidence in the trial stage of his long-running battle against extradition entered its fourth week Monday and is due to end within days.
But the judge hearing the case has said it will be at least six weeks before she delivers a verdict -- meaning it will come after the US presidential election on November 3.
It is the latest in a series of legal battles faced by Assange since the leaks a decade ago.
In 2010, he faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, which he denied.
He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempt to extradite him to Sweden by claiming political asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London.
In November 2019, Swedish prosecutors dropped their investigation over the rape allegation, after failing for years to interrogate Assange in person while he was holed up in the embassy.
Assange lived in a small apartment there for seven years, but was turned over to British police in April 2019 after a change of government in Quito.
Ai, 62, said he had met Assange several times during this period and, although he did not know him well, felt he was being unfairly targeted.
"Each step is more and more difficult for him. It's unbelievable. He is prepared to fight but alas it's not fair conditions, this is not fair to him.
"They tried to smash him and his name," he added.
Ai said he chose to stage a silent protest because "all the words we want to say are already there".
"As an artist, if I cannot use my art -- which is very limited -- then I rather just be silent."
Ai, a long-time critic of the government in Beijing, is China's best known modern artist.
He helped design the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium, but was detained for 81 days in 2011 as part of a crackdown on dissent.
His passport was confiscated and only returned to him in 2015, after which he moved to Berlin.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-29--Trump's 2016 team accused of deterring black Americans from voting

Donald Trump 's digital team is accused of trying to dissuade millions of black Americans from voting in 2016 Donald Trump 's digital campaign team tried to dissuade millions of African Americans from voting in the 2016 US presidential election , Britain 's Channel 4 News channel alleged in a report broadcast on Monday .
The channel 's investigative journalists said they had got hold of a file used by Trump 's team four years ago that contains close to 200 million US voters who were put into different categories in order to send them targeted ads on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million black Americans were allegedly put into a category dubbed `` deterrence '' that aimed to push them to abstain from voting .
Channel 4 journalists said African Americans , who are by and large loyal to the Democratic party , were targeted by this strategy more than other communities .
In the state of Georgia , for instance , black people made up 61 percent of members of the `` dissuasion '' category when they only represent 32 percent of the population , according to the investigation .
`` It was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black vote in key states like Wisconsin , '' the report said .
Trump went on to win the election .
His 2016 digital campaign had included a team from British firm Cambridge Analytica , accused of having collected and used personal data of Facebook users without their consent for political purposes .
Brad Parscale , the campaign 's 2016 digital director , insisted that his team did not target black voters .
`` I would say I 'm nearly 100-percent sure we did not run any campaigns that targeted even African Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Channel 4 News investigators said they saw a confidential document in which Cambridge Analytica recognised having targeted black Americans .
The report also said that negative publicity was used to discourage people from voting for Hillary Clinton , Trump 's rival in the 2016 election , where the Democrat candidate described young blacks as `` superpredators '' in videos viewed by millions of people on Facebook .
`` The thing that 's shocking , slash troubling , about this is that there 's this category of suppression , '' said Jamal Watkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights organisation the NAACP , quoted by the television channel .
`` We use data –- similar to voter file data –- but it 's to motivate , persuade and encourage folks to participate .
We do n't use the data to say who can we deter and keep at home , '' he said .
`` It 's a shift from the notion of democracy . ''

London (AFP) –
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Donald Trump's digital campaign team tried to dissuade millions of African Americans from voting in the 2016 US presidential election, Britain's Channel 4 News channel alleged in a report broadcast on Monday.
The channel's investigative journalists said they had got hold of a file used by Trump's team four years ago that contains close to 200 million US voters who were put into different categories in order to send them targeted ads on social media.
Among those, more than 3.5 million black Americans were allegedly put into a category dubbed "deterrence" that aimed to push them to abstain from voting.
Channel 4 journalists said African Americans, who are by and large loyal to the Democratic party, were targeted by this strategy more than other communities.
In the state of Georgia, for instance, black people made up 61 percent of members of the "dissuasion" category when they only represent 32 percent of the population, according to the investigation.
"It was a strategy that preceded a collapse in the black vote in key states like Wisconsin," the report said.
Trump went on to win the election.
His 2016 digital campaign had included a team from British firm Cambridge Analytica, accused of having collected and used personal data of Facebook users without their consent for political purposes.
Brad Parscale, the campaign's 2016 digital director, insisted that his team did not target black voters.
"I would say I'm nearly 100-percent sure we did not run any campaigns that targeted even African Americans," he told PBS Frontline.
But Channel 4 News investigators said they saw a confidential document in which Cambridge Analytica recognised having targeted black Americans.
The report also said that negative publicity was used to discourage people from voting for Hillary Clinton, Trump's rival in the 2016 election, where the Democrat candidate described young blacks as "superpredators" in videos viewed by millions of people on Facebook.
"The thing that's shocking, slash troubling, about this is that there's this category of suppression," said Jamal Watkins, vice-president of civic engagement at US civil rights organisation the NAACP, quoted by the television channel.
"We use data –- similar to voter file data –- but it's to motivate, persuade and encourage folks to participate. We don't use the data to say who can we deter and keep at home," he said.
"It's a shift from the notion of democracy."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-29--Bangladesh cricketers to return to scene of N.Zealand mosque attacks

The Al Noor Mosque , which stands opposite the Hagley Oval cricket ground in Christchurch Bangladesh cricketers are to return to the scene of the Christchurch mosque massacres two years after the tragedy , New Zealand cricket said Tuesday .
They are among four international teams confirmed to play in New Zealand over the coming months .
Bangladesh are scheduled to play a one-day international in Christchurch on March 17 and are likely to be in the city on March 15 , two years to the day after a gunman killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques and wounded another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rampage at the Al Noor Mosque , opposite the Hagley Park cricket oval , just as the mainly Muslim Bangladesh team arrived for prayers before practice on the eve of the second Test against New Zealand last year .
As the players were about to enter the mosque , a woman warned them that there was shooting inside and players took cover on the floor of their bus .
`` We were very lucky because we were not inside that place , '' team manager Khaled Mashud told reporters .
`` We saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , like in the movies .
We saw many people coming out bloodied . ''
None of the players were injured and the team returned home the following day after the Test was cancelled .
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said series against Bangladesh and Australia were yet to receive government approval but he was `` confident '' they would .
The government last week gave the green light for the West Indies and Pakistan to arrive under strict quarantine conditions for their first 14 days in the country due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 pandemic .
`` I 'm thrilled to be making this announcement today , given the uncertainty and difficulties over the past six or seven months , '' White said .
`` We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the New Zealand government for helping us navigate this complex process . ''
Included in the schedule are four Tests , two against the West Indies and two against Pakistan , the first of which will be a Boxing Day Test at Tauranga 's Bay Oval .
New Zealand are currently fourth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind India , England and Australia -- and just ahead of Pakistan with the West Indies seventh .
White said New Zealand Cricket was aware of the challenging circumstances many people found themselves in as a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis and would be reducing ticket prices by nearly 50 percent to acknowledge this .
`` It might sound counter-intuitive to be lowering ticket prices at a time of great additional cost and expense to the game , but we think it 's the right thing to do . ''
When the teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their required 14-days quarantine in Christchurch where they will be able to train at NZC 's high-performance centre in Lincoln University .

Wellington (AFP) –
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Bangladesh cricketers are to return to the scene of the Christchurch mosque massacres two years after the tragedy, New Zealand cricket said Tuesday.
They are among four international teams confirmed to play in New Zealand over the coming months.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play a one-day international in Christchurch on March 17 and are likely to be in the city on March 15, two years to the day after a gunman killed 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques and wounded another 40.
The gunman began his murderous rampage at the Al Noor Mosque, opposite the Hagley Park cricket oval, just as the mainly Muslim Bangladesh team arrived for prayers before practice on the eve of the second Test against New Zealand last year.
As the players were about to enter the mosque, a woman warned them that there was shooting inside and players took cover on the floor of their bus.
"We were very lucky because we were not inside that place," team manager Khaled Mashud told reporters.
"We saw it from outside, like watching a video, like in the movies. We saw many people coming out bloodied."
None of the players were injured and the team returned home the following day after the Test was cancelled.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said series against Bangladesh and Australia were yet to receive government approval but he was "confident" they would.
The government last week gave the green light for the West Indies and Pakistan to arrive under strict quarantine conditions for their first 14 days in the country due to concerns over the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I'm thrilled to be making this announcement today, given the uncertainty and difficulties over the past six or seven months," White said.
"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the New Zealand government for helping us navigate this complex process."
Included in the schedule are four Tests, two against the West Indies and two against Pakistan, the first of which will be a Boxing Day Test at Tauranga's Bay Oval.
New Zealand are currently fourth in the inaugural Test Match Championship standings -- behind India, England and Australia -- and just ahead of Pakistan with the West Indies seventh.
White said New Zealand Cricket was aware of the challenging circumstances many people found themselves in as a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis and would be reducing ticket prices by nearly 50 percent to acknowledge this.
"It might sound counter-intuitive to be lowering ticket prices at a time of great additional cost and expense to the game, but we think it's the right thing to do."
When the teams arrive in New Zealand they will spend their required 14-days quarantine in Christchurch where they will be able to train at NZC's high-performance centre in Lincoln University.
West Indies tour:
Nov 27 - 1st T20, Auckland
Nov 29 - 2nd Twenty20, Tauranga
Nov 30 - 3rd Twenty20, Tauranga
Dec 3-7 - 1st Test, Hamilton
Dec 11-15 - 2nd Test, Wellington
Pakistan tour:
Dec 18 - 1st T20, Auckland
Dec 20 - 2nd T20, Hamilton
Dec 22 - 3rd T20, Napier
Dec 26-30 - 1st Test, Tauranga
Jan 3-7 - 2nd Test, Christchurch
Australia tour:
Feb 22 - 1st T20, Christchurch
Feb 25 - 2nd T20, Dunedin
Mar 3 - 3rd T20, Wellington
Mar 5 - 4th T20, Auckland
Mar 7 - 5th T20, Tauranga
Bangladesh tour:
Mar 13 - 1st ODI, Dunedin
Mar 17 - 2nd ODI, Christchurch
Mar 20 - 3rd ODI, Wellington
Mar 23 - 1st T20, Napier
Mar 26 - 2nd T20, Auckland
Mar 28 - 3rd T20, Hamilton
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Mexican police clash with pro-abortion protesters

Riot police protect themselves during clashes with supporters of the legalization of abortion nationwide in Mexico , in Mexico City @ @ @ @ @ Mexico 's capital Monday to demand nationwide legalization of abortion , leading to clashes with @ @ @ @ @ .
Protesters gathered near the capital 's historic center to head to the central plaza @ @ @ @ @ police officers with shields , AFP journalists reported .
Police used pepper spray against demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ route of the march to mark International Safe Abortion Day .
The protesters want abortion @ @ @ @ @ in the Mexican capital and the southwestern state of Oaxaca , to be decriminalized throughout @ @ @ @ @ .
Mexican feminist groups have started to take a more hardline stance in the face @ @ @ @ @ .
Ten women are murdered every day in Mexico , according to official figures , @ @ @ @ @ go unpunished .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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Hundreds of women marched through Mexico's capital Monday to demand nationwide legalization of abortion, leading to clashes with police who blocked their way.
Protesters gathered near the capital's historic center to head to the central plaza but were stopped by female police officers with shields, AFP journalists reported.
Police used pepper spray against demonstrators who sprayed paint along the route of the march to mark International Safe Abortion Day.
Some police officers sustained minor injuries, Mexico City official Arturo Medina told local television.
The protesters want abortion, which is only allowed in the Mexican capital and the southwestern state of Oaxaca, to be decriminalized throughout the country of 128 million.
Mexican feminist groups have started to take a more hardline stance in the face of growing violence against women.
Ten women are murdered every day in Mexico, according to official figures, and many of the crimes go unpunished.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Former Louisville police officer pleads not guilty in Breonna Taylor case

Protesters march during a peaceful protest after a grand jury decided not to bring homicide charges against police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor , in Louisville , Kentucky September 26 , 2020 .
The only police officer indicted after the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville , Kentucky , during a botched raid pleaded not guilty on Monday on three counts of wanton endangerment of Taylor ’ s neighbors , local media reported .
Former detective Brett Hankison was indicted by a grand jury last Wednesday and charged with endangering Taylor ’ s neighbors because some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the March 13 raid on her home entered an adjacent apartment .
The other two officers who shot Taylor were not charged at all after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron , a Black Republican , concluded their use of force was justified .
The lack of charges against any of the three men , all of them white , for Taylor ’ s death triggered a new wave of the protests against police brutality and racism .
The protests have become a daily feature of US cities since another incident in the spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis .
Taylor , a 26-year-old Black emergency medical technician and aspiring nurse , was struck by six bullets moments after she and her boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , were roused from bed as the three plain-clothes officers forced open the front door shortly after midnight .
Walker , who has maintained he did not know the intruders were police , fired toward the officers , wounding one in the thigh , according to Cameron ’ s investigation .
The three officers started shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taylor , though none appeared to be from Hankison ’ s gun , according to Cameron .
The Louisville Metro Police Department had obtained a so-called “ no knock ” warrant in their investigation of a suspected drug dealer who lived elsewhere in the city who had previously dated Taylor .
Hankison entered his plea during an audio conference call before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Ann Bailey Smith , the Louisville Courier Journal reported .
The police department fired him in June for his actions during the raid .
Smith ordered Hankison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objection of his lawyer , who said the former detective , who was released from jail on a $ 15,000 bond last week , may need weapons for self-defense , the Courier Journal reported .
He is next due to appear before to court on Oct. 28 for a pre-trial hearing .

The only police officer indicted after the killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, during a botched raid pleaded not guilty on Monday on three counts of wanton endangerment of Taylor’s neighbors, local media reported.
Protesters march during a peaceful protest after a grand jury decided not to bring homicide charges against police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, in Louisville, Kentucky September 26, 2020.
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Former detective Brett Hankison was indicted by a grand jury last Wednesday and charged with endangering Taylor’s neighbors because some of the 10 bullets he fired during the March 13 raid on her home entered an adjacent apartment.
The other two officers who shot Taylor were not charged at all after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Black Republican, concluded their use of force was justified.
The lack of charges against any of the three men, all of them white, for Taylor’s death triggered a new wave of the protests against police brutality and racism.
The protests have become a daily feature of US cities since another incident in the spring when George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency medical technician and aspiring nurse, was struck by six bullets moments after she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were roused from bed as the three plain-clothes officers forced open the front door shortly after midnight.
Walker, who has maintained he did not know the intruders were police, fired toward the officers, wounding one in the thigh, according to Cameron’s investigation. The three officers started shooting back. Six of their bullets hit Taylor, though none appeared to be from Hankison’s gun, according to Cameron.
The Louisville Metro Police Department had obtained a so-called “no knock” warrant in their investigation of a suspected drug dealer who lived elsewhere in the city who had previously dated Taylor.
Hankison entered his plea during an audio conference call before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Ann Bailey Smith, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. The police department fired him in June for his actions during the raid.
Smith ordered Hankison to not possess any guns over the objection of his lawyer, who said the former detective, who was released from jail on a $15,000 bond last week, may need weapons for self-defense, the Courier Journal reported. He is next due to appear before to court on Oct. 28 for a pre-trial hearing.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-28--Rivers out as Clippers coach

Rivers out as Clippers coach

Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers has parted company with the franchise in the wake of the team 's latest playoff flop , the coach confirmed Monday .
In a statement on Twitter , Rivers said he was no longer the coach of the Los Angeles club .
`` Thank you Clipper nation for allowing me to be your coach and for all your support in helping make this a winning franchise , '' Rivers wrote .
`` When I took this job , my goals were to make this a winning basketball program , a free agent destination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` While I was able to accomplish most of my goals , I wo n't be able to see them all through . ''
Rivers ' departure comes after the Clippers agonising loss in the Western Conference semi-finals , when they blew a 3-1 series lead before losing 4-3 to the Denver Nuggets .
The 58-year-old Rivers joined the Clippers from the Boston Celtics in 2013 .
However although the team were consistent qualifiers for the playoffs , Rivers was unable to take them beyond the Western Conference semi-finals .
Six of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended in the first round .
Rivers however insists he believes the Clippers , who had high hopes of reaching the NBA Finals this year after recruiting Kawhi Leonard in 2019 , are close to competing for championships .
`` Though it was a disappointing ending to our season , you are right there and I know what this team is capable of accomplishing with your support , '' Rivers said in his message to fans .
`` Thank you to all the players , coaches , and staff for helping us get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the fans .
We went through a lot , and I am grateful for my time here . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers has parted company with the franchise in the wake of the team's latest playoff flop, the coach confirmed Monday.
In a statement on Twitter, Rivers said he was no longer the coach of the Los Angeles club.
"Thank you Clipper nation for allowing me to be your coach and for all your support in helping make this a winning franchise," Rivers wrote.
"When I took this job, my goals were to make this a winning basketball program, a free agent destination, and bring a championship to this organisation.
"While I was able to accomplish most of my goals, I won't be able to see them all through."
Rivers' departure comes after the Clippers agonising loss in the Western Conference semi-finals, when they blew a 3-1 series lead before losing 4-3 to the Denver Nuggets.
The 58-year-old Rivers joined the Clippers from the Boston Celtics in 2013. However although the team were consistent qualifiers for the playoffs, Rivers was unable to take them beyond the Western Conference semi-finals.
Six of the team's playoff campaigns under Rivers ended in the first round.
Rivers however insists he believes the Clippers, who had high hopes of reaching the NBA Finals this year after recruiting Kawhi Leonard in 2019, are close to competing for championships.
"Though it was a disappointing ending to our season, you are right there and I know what this team is capable of accomplishing with your support," Rivers said in his message to fans.
"Thank you to all the players, coaches, and staff for helping us get there. Most importantly, thank you to the fans. We went through a lot, and I am grateful for my time here."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Colombia arrests ex-paramilitary chief after US deportation

Rodrigo Tovar ( C ) , pictured with his paramilitaries in March 2006 in the Colombian department of Cesar Colombian @ @ @ @ @ right-wing paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar on his arrival in the country after he was deported @ @ @ @ @ Tovar arrived in Bogota on a deportation flight from the United States after serving a @ @ @ @ @ trafficking .
Also known as Jorge 40 , Tovar was a leader of one of @ @ @ @ @ groups , fighting a bloody turf war against the country 's leftist guerrillas in the @ @ @ @ @ already at the disposal of immigration and judicial authorities , and will have to answer @ @ @ @ @ , '' Colombia 's High Commissioner for Peace , Miguel Ceballos , said on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ wanted by Colombian authorities over his alleged involvement in atrocities committed by the now defunct @ @ @ @ @ during the country 's multi-decade conflict .
He was extradited to the United States in @ @ @ @ @ .

Bogota (AFP) –
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Colombian authorities on Monday arrested former right-wing paramilitary leader Rodrigo Tovar on his arrival in the country after he was deported from the United States.
Tovar arrived in Bogota on a deportation flight from the United States after serving a 12-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
Also known as Jorge 40, Tovar was a leader of one of Colombia's most feared paramilitary groups, fighting a bloody turf war against the country's leftist guerrillas in the 1990s.
"He is already at the disposal of immigration and judicial authorities, and will have to answer to justice and his victims," Colombia's High Commissioner for Peace, Miguel Ceballos, said on Twitter.
He has long been wanted by Colombian authorities over his alleged involvement in atrocities committed by the now defunct United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia during the country's multi-decade conflict.
He was extradited to the United States in 2008 on cocaine trafficking charges.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Liverpool lay down Premier League marker in Arsenal win

Cloud nine : Jurgen Klopp 's Liverpool have taken nine points from their opening three Premier League games Liverpool came from behind to maintain a perfect start to their Premier League title defence as goals from Sadio Mane , Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota saw off a resilient Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield .
The Gunners had also won their opening two league games of the season and hit the champions on the counter-attack to take the lead through Alexandre Lacazette .
But while Manchester City , Chelsea , Manchester United , Tottenham and now Arsenal have all lost in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Liverpool have taken maximum points to lay down an early marker that they remain the team to beat in the Premier League this season .
The outcome of the match could have been very different had Mane not escaped with just a yellow card for an elbow on Kieran Tierney after just three minutes .
Arsenal followed the game plan that had brought them two victories over Liverpool in recent months as they dropped deep then looked to play around the Reds ' press when in possession .
However , unlike when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season 's Premier League when Jurgen Klopp 's men had already won the league or the Community Shield in August , Liverpool were far sharper in pulling the Gunners out of position .
Mane was first to threaten with a clean strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold 's cross that was too close to Bernd Leno before Alexander-Arnold 's deflected effort came back off the crossbar .
The only time Arsenal did manage to pierce the Liverpool press before half-time , they opened the scoring completely against the run of play .
Robertson was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's cross into the path of Lacazette , who also failed to make a proper connection but the ball bounced into the ground and looped over the helpless Alisson Becker .
Liverpool responded immediately to level within three minutes as Salah outmuscled Tierney and when his shot was parried across goal by Leno , Mane turned into an empty net .
Robertson them made amends for his previous error as Liverpool 's flying full-backs combined as Alexander-Arnold 's cross was this time converted by the Scotland captain .
However , where Arsenal sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they did in losing 4-0 and 5-1 at Anfield in 2018 and 2019 , Mikel Arteta has instilled a new-found belief in the FA Cup winners .
The visitors were more expansive after the break and created a huge chance to level when Dani Ceballos put Lacazette through on goal , but Alisson stood up well to block the French striker 's shot .
Klopp introduced Jota for his league debut 10 minutes from time and the Portuguese international should have sealed the win when he fired into the side-netting from Salah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was less generous moments later when he stole the ball of Jota 's toes and failed to beat Leno .
But Jota did not have to wait long for his first Liverpool goal as a sweetly-struck volley found the bottom corner to show why the Reds spent £41 million ( $ 52 million ) to sign him from Wolves .

Liverpool (AFP) –
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Liverpool came from behind to maintain a perfect start to their Premier League title defence as goals from Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota saw off a resilient Arsenal 3-1 at Anfield.
The Gunners had also won their opening two league games of the season and hit the champions on the counter-attack to take the lead through Alexandre Lacazette.
But while Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and now Arsenal have all lost in the opening three weeks of the new campaign, Liverpool have taken maximum points to lay down an early marker that they remain the team to beat in the Premier League this season.
The outcome of the match could have been very different had Mane not escaped with just a yellow card for an elbow on Kieran Tierney after just three minutes.
Arsenal followed the game plan that had brought them two victories over Liverpool in recent months as they dropped deep then looked to play around the Reds' press when in possession.
However, unlike when they met at the back end of last season's Premier League when Jurgen Klopp's men had already won the league or the Community Shield in August, Liverpool were far sharper in pulling the Gunners out of position.
Mane was first to threaten with a clean strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross that was too close to Bernd Leno before Alexander-Arnold's deflected effort came back off the crossbar.
The only time Arsenal did manage to pierce the Liverpool press before half-time, they opened the scoring completely against the run of play.
Robertson was at fault as he spooned Ainsley Maitland-Niles's cross into the path of Lacazette, who also failed to make a proper connection but the ball bounced into the ground and looped over the helpless Alisson Becker.
Liverpool responded immediately to level within three minutes as Salah outmuscled Tierney and when his shot was parried across goal by Leno, Mane turned into an empty net.
Robertson them made amends for his previous error as Liverpool's flying full-backs combined as Alexander-Arnold's cross was this time converted by the Scotland captain.
However, where Arsenal sides of recent years might have collapsed, as they did in losing 4-0 and 5-1 at Anfield in 2018 and 2019, Mikel Arteta has instilled a new-found belief in the FA Cup winners.
The visitors were more expansive after the break and created a huge chance to level when Dani Ceballos put Lacazette through on goal, but Alisson stood up well to block the French striker's shot.
Klopp introduced Jota for his league debut 10 minutes from time and the Portuguese international should have sealed the win when he fired into the side-netting from Salah's excellent through ball.
The Egyptian was less generous moments later when he stole the ball of Jota's toes and failed to beat Leno.
But Jota did not have to wait long for his first Liverpool goal as a sweetly-struck volley found the bottom corner to show why the Reds spent £41 million ($52 million) to sign him from Wolves.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-28--Millions in Chile capital emerge from lockdown

Chile on Monday lifted strict coronavirus lockdown measures for millions of people in the capital Santiago , a month ahead of a key referendum to amend the dictatorship-era constitution .
Most of the capital 's seven million population moved to phase three of a five-step deconfinement plan , allowing the reopening of bars and restaurants as well as regional transport links .
However , fears are widespread that a new outbreak in infections could drive parts of the capital back into confinement .
`` It 's like I agree and do n't agree at the same time , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Puente Alto , Santiago 's most populous district .
`` What 's happening now is that they are acting as if nothing happened .
What they want to do is to increase trade and get back to work so they do n't have to worry about people . ''
The relaxation of the confinement measures comes as the country prepares for the October 25 referendum to decide whether to change the constitution established under the military rule of General Augusto Pinochet ( 1973-90 ) .
Chile is one of the worst-affected countries in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly half a million infections and more than 12,000 confirmed Covid-19 deaths .
Around two million people have lost their jobs since the lockdown began in March , and the Central Bank expects the economy to shrink by 7.5 percent in 2020 .
Johanna Medina , 38 , said authorities were ending the lockdown too early : `` They should n't release us from quarantine . ''
`` It 's good for everything , for the state of mind of the people .
It was a very complicated time , '' Silva told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with pupils attending classes virtually over the internet .
Most companies are encouraging their employees to work from home .
Chile 's borders remain closed to tourists and non-residents , and nighttime curfews are still in place to prevent the spread of the virus .
As the city reopened , Undersecretary for Health , Paula Daza , urged residents of Santiago to `` maintain the Covid life '' with frequent hand-washing , social distancing and the use of masks .
Authorities continue to be concerned about the high levels of infection in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , which has been experiencing a resurgence of the disease in recent weeks .

Santiago (AFP) –
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Chile on Monday lifted strict coronavirus lockdown measures for millions of people in the capital Santiago, a month ahead of a key referendum to amend the dictatorship-era constitution.
Most of the capital's seven million population moved to phase three of a five-step deconfinement plan, allowing the reopening of bars and restaurants as well as regional transport links.
However, fears are widespread that a new outbreak in infections could drive parts of the capital back into confinement.
"It's like I agree and don't agree at the same time," said Gabriela Flores, a 21-year-old student in Puente Alto, Santiago's most populous district.
"What's happening now is that they are acting as if nothing happened. What they want to do is to increase trade and get back to work so they don't have to worry about people."
The relaxation of the confinement measures comes as the country prepares for the October 25 referendum to decide whether to change the constitution established under the military rule of General Augusto Pinochet (1973-90).
Chile is one of the worst-affected countries in Latin America by the coronavirus, with nearly half a million infections and more than 12,000 confirmed Covid-19 deaths.
Around two million people have lost their jobs since the lockdown began in March, and the Central Bank expects the economy to shrink by 7.5 percent in 2020.
Johanna Medina, 38, said authorities were ending the lockdown too early: "They shouldn't release us from quarantine."
Others, like building caretaker Sergio Silva, 60, welcomed Santiago citizens' newly rediscovered freedom.
"It's good for everything, for the state of mind of the people. It was a very complicated time," Silva told AFP.
Schools and universities remain closed, with pupils attending classes virtually over the internet.
Most companies are encouraging their employees to work from home.
Chile's borders remain closed to tourists and non-residents, and nighttime curfews are still in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
As the city reopened, Undersecretary for Health, Paula Daza, urged residents of Santiago to "maintain the Covid life" with frequent hand-washing, social distancing and the use of masks.
Authorities continue to be concerned about the high levels of infection in the Magellan region in the south of the country, which has been experiencing a resurgence of the disease in recent weeks.
© 2020 AFP