france24--2020-09-09--Konchalovsky's tribute to 'pure' Soviet soul tipped for Venice win

A paean to the `` pure '' soul of the Soviet people by Russian master Andrei Konchalovsky has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the top prize at the Venice film festival .
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin may have slaughtered millions of his people , but he can do no wrong for the good women of Novocherkassk who feature in Konchalovsky ’ s new film , `` Dear Comrade '' .
`` If only Stalin were still alive ... he knew what to do , '' one of them says .
`` Prices did n't go up under Stalin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another .
Based on the hushed up massacre of 26 striking workers under Stalin 's successor Nikita Khrushchev in 1962 , ambivalence is everything in the latest offering from the one of Russia 's most renowned film and theatre directors .
The movie is `` not about politics or even the event itself .
It 's a fairytale , '' Konchalovsky told AFP .
`` It ’ s about the characters , and they are good and bad at the same time . ''
None more so than one of the most ambiguous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the heart of the film , however , is a powerful Soviet woman , a war veteran and diehard communist official who is forced to choose between her striker daughter and the Party .
She is played by Konchalovsky ’ s fifth wife , Julia Vysotskaya , who was born in Novocherkassk , the old Don Cossacks capital where the killings took place .
Shot in black and white , the director said he set out to `` scrupulously reproduce 1960s USSR '' .
`` I think the postwar Soviet people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II until victory , deserve to have a movie that pays tribute to their purity , '' he said .
And his heroine is nothing if not that .
`` The tragic dissonance when they realised how different communist ideals were from the reality around them '' is where what Konchalovsky called the `` film ’ s three strings -- love , tears and horror '' -- kick in .
But it is also a meditation on power , and on a more eternal Russia , a country Konchalovsky insisted is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a good sense '' .
`` The last 30 years after the crash of the Soviet Union proved that , '' said the 83-year-old , whose father wrote the lyrics for the old communist national anthem .
Unlike his younger brother , the Oscar-winning director of `` Burnt by the Sun '' , Nikita Mikhalkov , who has always been close to Putin , Konchalovsky has maintained a diplomatic distance from the Kremlin .
Earlier this year , however , he came out in support of a constitutional referendum that could allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Russian leader also gave the Pope a copy of Konchalovsky ’ s film `` Sin '' on his last Vatican visit .
To those perturbed by this and the film ’ s messaging about Stalin , which echoes Putin 's efforts to rehabilitate `` The Man of Steel '' , Konchalovsky has an answer .
`` I wanted you to be disturbed because every great leader in history made a massacre .
Think about Napoleon ... the leader ’ s role is tragic because he is indemnified ( shielded ) from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is a tragic contradiction of history , '' he added , and another of the great `` ambivalences of world .
A lot of communists were very pure , very idealistic , with no idea how it could turn out , '' the director argued .
`` Our parents ’ generation were very Sovietic in a good sense . ''
Vysotskaya agrees , saying they were not motivated by money .
`` Most of them believed they were creating something very special , something good for mankind .
`` Even those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It tells you something about their spirit . ''
Terrible things were done , the actress conceded , but Russia travelled centuries in decades .
`` From the 1917 revolution when 90 percent of the population could n't read to the 1950s and 1960s when they were — and still are — reading more than any nation in Europe , '' Vysotskaya said .
`` Who are we to judge ?
I just have to do my acting job . ''
While Konchalovsky batted away any contemporary comparisons with protests in Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing drastically — everybody requires social justice in one sense or another .
`` It 's very interesting how the world will change towards the left , not the extreme left ... but toward social justice , '' he said .
`` The Russian experiment '' with Communism may have failed but `` greed was controlled by the state and I think it ’ s very important that the next society is going to be a society that greed is going to be controlled and suppressed .
And that 's basically socialism .
@

Venice (AFP) –
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A paean to the "pure" soul of the Soviet people by Russian master Andrei Konchalovsky has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the top prize at the Venice film festival.
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin may have slaughtered millions of his people, but he can do no wrong for the good women of Novocherkassk who feature in Konchalovsky’s new film, "Dear Comrade".
"If only Stalin were still alive... he knew what to do," one of them says. "Prices didn't go up under Stalin, they went down," says another.
Based on the hushed up massacre of 26 striking workers under Stalin's successor Nikita Khrushchev in 1962, ambivalence is everything in the latest offering from the one of Russia's most renowned film and theatre directors.
The movie is "not about politics or even the event itself. It's a fairytale," Konchalovsky told AFP. "It’s about the characters, and they are good and bad at the same time."
None more so than one of the most ambiguous KGB officers ever to grace the screen.
At the heart of the film, however, is a powerful Soviet woman, a war veteran and diehard communist official who is forced to choose between her striker daughter and the Party.
- 'Russia unsuited to open capitalism' -
She is played by Konchalovsky’s fifth wife, Julia Vysotskaya, who was born in Novocherkassk, the old Don Cossacks capital where the killings took place.
Shot in black and white, the director said he set out to "scrupulously reproduce 1960s USSR".
"I think the postwar Soviet people, the ones who fought in World War II until victory, deserve to have a movie that pays tribute to their purity," he said.
And his heroine is nothing if not that.
"The tragic dissonance when they realised how different communist ideals were from the reality around them" is where what Konchalovsky called the "film’s three strings -- love, tears and horror" -- kick in.
But it is also a meditation on power, and on a more eternal Russia, a country Konchalovsky insisted is not mentally suited to "open market capitalism in a good sense".
"The last 30 years after the crash of the Soviet Union proved that," said the 83-year-old, whose father wrote the lyrics for the old communist national anthem.
Unlike his younger brother, the Oscar-winning director of "Burnt by the Sun", Nikita Mikhalkov, who has always been close to Putin, Konchalovsky has maintained a diplomatic distance from the Kremlin.
Earlier this year, however, he came out in support of a constitutional referendum that could allow Putin to stay in power to 2036.
The Russian leader also gave the Pope a copy of Konchalovsky’s film "Sin" on his last Vatican visit.
To those perturbed by this and the film’s messaging about Stalin, which echoes Putin's efforts to rehabilitate "The Man of Steel", Konchalovsky has an answer.
- 'Greed was controlled' -
"I wanted you to be disturbed because every great leader in history made a massacre. Think about Napoleon... the leader’s role is tragic because he is indemnified (shielded) from taking the lives of others.
"That is a tragic contradiction of history," he added, and another of the great "ambivalences of world. A lot of communists were very pure, very idealistic, with no idea how it could turn out," the director argued.
"Our parents’ generation were very Sovietic in a good sense."
Vysotskaya agrees, saying they were not motivated by money.
"Most of them believed they were creating something very special, something good for mankind.
"Even those in top level government had only one coat. It tells you something about their spirit."
Terrible things were done, the actress conceded, but Russia travelled centuries in decades.
"From the 1917 revolution when 90 percent of the population couldn't read to the 1950s and 1960s when they were — and still are — reading more than any nation in Europe," Vysotskaya said.
"Who are we to judge? I just have to do my acting job."
While Konchalovsky batted away any contemporary comparisons with protests in Belarus, he admitted that "something is changing drastically — everybody requires social justice in one sense or another.
"It's very interesting how the world will change towards the left, not the extreme left... but toward social justice," he said.
"The Russian experiment" with Communism may have failed but "greed was controlled by the state and I think it’s very important that the next society is going to be a society that greed is going to be controlled and suppressed. And that's basically socialism."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--Sri Lanka tea storm swirls around Lebanon president

Sri Lankan , or Ceylon , tea brews on display at a factory on the outskirts of Colombo Lebanon 's President Michel Aoun has come under fire after it emerged that tea donated by Sri Lanka for victims of the Beirut blast was distributed instead to families of his presidential guards .
Critics see it as yet another example of official corruption in a country reeling from the August 4 explosion that killed more than 190 people , wounded thousands and ravaged central Beirut .
Sri Lanka , many of whose expat community in Lebanon work as housemaids , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show support in the wake of Lebanon 's worst peace-time disaster .
The president 's office on August 24 released a picture of Aoun receiving the Sri Lankan ambassador , and quoted her as saying Colombo had `` donated 1,675 kilos ( 3,685 pounds ) of Ceylon tea to those affected by the Beirut blast '' .
After Lebanese media and social media asked what happened to the donation , it issued a second statement on Tuesday .
The presidency said Aoun had written to his Sri Lankan counterpart to thank him for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been received by the army ... and distributed to the families of soldiers in the presidential guard '' .
Social media erupted in criticism , with the hashtags `` tea thief '' and `` Ceylon tea '' trending on Twitter .
`` The tea was sent to the Lebanese , particularly those affected by the explosion .
Of course it was n't a present for those who do n't need it , '' wrote Paula Yacoubian , a former MP who resigned after the blast many blame on official neglect .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shameful , '' she wrote .
Another user quipped : `` The excuse that it was a present for the president is even worse than the sin itself . ''
Beside the tea controversy , social media users have also been up in arms over the fate of 12 tonnes of fish that Mauritania sent in mid-August .
After widespread calls to know its whereabouts , the army said Monday it had received the fish and `` stored it according to public safety standards '' .
It was talking to several associations preparing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cook it and distribute it to those affected by the port blast '' .
On Twitter , yet another user made light of the food aid controversy .
`` The presidential palace , or the palace of the people , invites you to a free lunch on Sunday , '' she wrote .
`` Open buffet on Mauritanian fish , and open bar on Ceylon tea . ''

Beirut (AFP) –
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Lebanon's President Michel Aoun has come under fire after it emerged that tea donated by Sri Lanka for victims of the Beirut blast was distributed instead to families of his presidential guards.
Critics see it as yet another example of official corruption in a country reeling from the August 4 explosion that killed more than 190 people, wounded thousands and ravaged central Beirut.
Sri Lanka, many of whose expat community in Lebanon work as housemaids, was one of several nations that rushed to show support in the wake of Lebanon's worst peace-time disaster.
The president's office on August 24 released a picture of Aoun receiving the Sri Lankan ambassador, and quoted her as saying Colombo had "donated 1,675 kilos (3,685 pounds) of Ceylon tea to those affected by the Beirut blast".
After Lebanese media and social media asked what happened to the donation, it issued a second statement on Tuesday.
The presidency said Aoun had written to his Sri Lankan counterpart to thank him for "a gift of Ceylon tea that had been received by the army... and distributed to the families of soldiers in the presidential guard".
Social media erupted in criticism, with the hashtags "tea thief" and "Ceylon tea" trending on Twitter.
"The tea was sent to the Lebanese, particularly those affected by the explosion. Of course it wasn't a present for those who don't need it," wrote Paula Yacoubian, a former MP who resigned after the blast many blame on official neglect.
"Distributing the aid to your entourage is shameful," she wrote.
Another user quipped: "The excuse that it was a present for the president is even worse than the sin itself."
Beside the tea controversy, social media users have also been up in arms over the fate of 12 tonnes of fish that Mauritania sent in mid-August.
After widespread calls to know its whereabouts, the army said Monday it had received the fish and "stored it according to public safety standards".
It was talking to several associations preparing meals for those in need "to cook it and distribute it to those affected by the port blast".
On Twitter, yet another user made light of the food aid controversy.
"The presidential palace, or the palace of the people, invites you to a free lunch on Sunday," she wrote.
"Open buffet on Mauritanian fish, and open bar on Ceylon tea."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--Storm as UK violates EU treaty with proposed law

Boris Johnson says changed are needed to Britain 's withdrawal agreement from the EU to help smooth post-Brexit trade Britain readied on Wednesday to intentionally breach its EU divorce treaty with new legislation that critics warned would undermine its global standing and any hopes for an orderly exit out of the world 's biggest single market .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's government was to submit a new bill governing the UK 's own internal market across its devolved nations , to take effect after the expiry of a transition period out of European Union membership in December .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smooth post-Brexit trade between England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , and help power a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic .
But Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has conceded they do `` break international law in a very specific and limited way '' , in an extraordinary admission that provoked incredulity across the political spectrum in Britain , Brussels and beyond .
Scotland 's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed to fight the bill , branding it a `` full frontal assault on devolution '' .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligations under its EU Withdrawal Agreement , having only belatedly apparently discovered problems with the treaty 's provisions for Northern Ireland .
`` The primary international obligation around this issue is to protect the peace process in Northern Ireland and I very much hope we conclude a deal before the end of the transition period , '' he told Times Radio .
Critics accused the British government of engaging in bad-faith diversionary tactics as it battles Brussels on key issues such as state subsidies and fishing rights .
Jonathan Jones , the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned on Tuesday , reportedly because he refused to endorse the new bill .
Tobias Ellwood , Johnson 's Conservative colleague who chairs the House of Commons defence committee , told BBC radio that breaching the Brexit treaty meant Britain would `` lose the moral high ground '' .
`` How can we look at countries such as China in the eye and complain about them breaching international obligations over Hong Kong , or indeed Russia over ballistic missiles , or indeed Iran over the nuclear deal , if we go down this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal market bill comes as British and EU negotiators are engaged in fraught talks to agree a new trading relationship by a crunch EU summit in mid-October and in time for its implementation from January 1 next year .
`` Any attempts by the UK to undermine the ( withdrawal ) agreement would have serious consequences , '' European Parliament president David Sassoli warned .
Prime minister Micheal Martin of Ireland , the EU member with most to lose from a chaotic Brexit , vowed to speak to Johnson to register `` very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Martin 's deputy Leo Varadkar said Lewis 's language amounted to a `` kamikaze '' threat by Britain , but had `` backfired '' , given the scale of angry reactions in Northern Ireland , the EU and also among Democratic politicians in the United States .
`` I think governments are scratching their heads around the world wondering whether they should ever enter into treaties or contracts with the British government if this is their attitude , '' he told RTE radio .
Northern Ireland will have Britain 's only land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement means the territory will continue to follow some of the 27-nation bloc 's rules to ensure the frontier remains open .
Removing a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland was a key part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to 30 years of violence in the British-ruled province .
But under the new legislation , Britain intends unilaterally to give itself new powers to regulate post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland , in violation of the Withdrawal Agreement , arguing they are necessary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well beyond Europe .
The United States was a key broker of the Good Friday Agreement , and Democrats are warning of consequences for a separate US-UK trade deal if London backtracks on its EU obligations .
A senior foreign policy adviser to Joe Biden , President Donald Trump 's opponent in the November election , said the Democrat was `` committed to preserving the hard-earned peace & stability in Northern Ireland '' .
`` As the UK and EU work out their relationship , any arrangements must protect the Good Friday Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border , '' Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter .

London (AFP) –
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Britain readied on Wednesday to intentionally breach its EU divorce treaty with new legislation that critics warned would undermine its global standing and any hopes for an orderly exit out of the world's biggest single market.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government was to submit a new bill governing the UK's own internal market across its devolved nations, to take effect after the expiry of a transition period out of European Union membership in December.
The government maintains the changes are needed to smooth post-Brexit trade between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and help power a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
But Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has conceded they do "break international law in a very specific and limited way", in an extraordinary admission that provoked incredulity across the political spectrum in Britain, Brussels and beyond.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed to fight the bill, branding it a "full frontal assault on devolution".
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "comfortable" with Britain breaking obligations under its EU Withdrawal Agreement, having only belatedly apparently discovered problems with the treaty's provisions for Northern Ireland.
"The primary international obligation around this issue is to protect the peace process in Northern Ireland and I very much hope we conclude a deal before the end of the transition period," he told Times Radio.
- 'Moral high ground' -
Critics accused the British government of engaging in bad-faith diversionary tactics as it battles Brussels on key issues such as state subsidies and fishing rights.
Jonathan Jones, the head of the government's legal department, resigned on Tuesday, reportedly because he refused to endorse the new bill.
Tobias Ellwood, Johnson's Conservative colleague who chairs the House of Commons defence committee, told BBC radio that breaching the Brexit treaty meant Britain would "lose the moral high ground".
"How can we look at countries such as China in the eye and complain about them breaching international obligations over Hong Kong, or indeed Russia over ballistic missiles, or indeed Iran over the nuclear deal, if we go down this road?" he said.
The internal market bill comes as British and EU negotiators are engaged in fraught talks to agree a new trading relationship by a crunch EU summit in mid-October and in time for its implementation from January 1 next year.
"Any attempts by the UK to undermine the (withdrawal) agreement would have serious consequences," European Parliament president David Sassoli warned.
Prime minister Micheal Martin of Ireland, the EU member with most to lose from a chaotic Brexit, vowed to speak to Johnson to register "very strong concerns about this latest development".
Martin's deputy Leo Varadkar said Lewis's language amounted to a "kamikaze" threat by Britain, but had "backfired", given the scale of angry reactions in Northern Ireland, the EU and also among Democratic politicians in the United States.
"I think governments are scratching their heads around the world wondering whether they should ever enter into treaties or contracts with the British government if this is their attitude," he told RTE radio.
- Biden camp weighs in -
Northern Ireland will have Britain's only land border with the EU, and a protocol of the Withdrawal Agreement means the territory will continue to follow some of the 27-nation bloc's rules to ensure the frontier remains open.
Removing a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland was a key part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to 30 years of violence in the British-ruled province.
But under the new legislation, Britain intends unilaterally to give itself new powers to regulate post-Brexit trade involving Northern Ireland, in violation of the Withdrawal Agreement, arguing they are necessary to preserve the peace.
The row stretches well beyond Europe. The United States was a key broker of the Good Friday Agreement, and Democrats are warning of consequences for a separate US-UK trade deal if London backtracks on its EU obligations.
A senior foreign policy adviser to Joe Biden, President Donald Trump's opponent in the November election, said the Democrat was "committed to preserving the hard-earned peace & stability in Northern Ireland".
"As the UK and EU work out their relationship, any arrangements must protect the Good Friday Agreement and prevent the return of a hard border," Antony Blinken wrote on Twitter.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--England's Malan tops T20 batting rankings

England 's Dawid Malan has replaced Pakistan 's Babar Azam as the world 's top-ranked Twenty20 batsman after a fine series against Australia , the International Cricket Council announced Wednesday .
The 33-year-old left-hander is not a high-profile figure in the world game but has burnished his record after scores of 66 , 42 and 21 against Australia saw him jump four places in the ICC standings .
Malan now has eight scores of fifty or more in just 16 career T20 internationals , with an average of 48.71 and an equally impressive strike rate of 146.66 .
Pakistan captain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Australia captain Aaron Finch remained third in the batting standings .
`` Obviously his form in T20 as it stands is phenomenal and it seems to keep getting better the more he bats , '' said England coach Chris Silverwood of Malan .
`` It 's good to watch him .
He 's worked hard to get into the team and when he 's got his opportunity he 's taken it , which is superb .
His record is brilliant at the moment , good on him . ''
There was more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was added as a reserve for the three-match one-day international series against Australia in Manchester starting on Friday .
But with opener Jason Roy passed fit after a side strain and the promising Phil Salt also selected as a batting reserve , Malan will do well to force his way into England 's ODI team .
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has climbed two places to seventh in the global T20 rankings .
Rashid took an impressive 3-21 against Australia at Southampton on Tuesday but could not prevent England losing by five wickets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2-1 .
The victory saw Australia regain their status as the number one ranked side in the format after England briefly claimed top spot , with left-arm spinner Ashton Agar remaining third in the bowling standings and paceman Kane Richardson breaking into the top 10 .

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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England's Dawid Malan has replaced Pakistan's Babar Azam as the world's top-ranked Twenty20 batsman after a fine series against Australia, the International Cricket Council announced Wednesday.
The 33-year-old left-hander is not a high-profile figure in the world game but has burnished his record after scores of 66, 42 and 21 against Australia saw him jump four places in the ICC standings.
Malan now has eight scores of fifty or more in just 16 career T20 internationals, with an average of 48.71 and an equally impressive strike rate of 146.66.
Pakistan captain Babar dropped down to number two, while Australia captain Aaron Finch remained third in the batting standings.
"Obviously his form in T20 as it stands is phenomenal and it seems to keep getting better the more he bats," said England coach Chris Silverwood of Malan.
"It's good to watch him. He's worked hard to get into the team and when he's got his opportunity he's taken it, which is superb. His record is brilliant at the moment, good on him."
There was more good news for Malan on Wednesday when he was added as a reserve for the three-match one-day international series against Australia in Manchester starting on Friday.
Malan replaces Joe Denly in the 50-over world champions' three-man standby list.
But with opener Jason Roy passed fit after a side strain and the promising Phil Salt also selected as a batting reserve, Malan will do well to force his way into England's ODI team.
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has climbed two places to seventh in the global T20 rankings.
Rashid took an impressive 3-21 against Australia at Southampton on Tuesday but could not prevent England losing by five wickets, although they still won the series 2-1.
The victory saw Australia regain their status as the number one ranked side in the format after England briefly claimed top spot, with left-arm spinner Ashton Agar remaining third in the bowling standings and paceman Kane Richardson breaking into the top 10.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--CAF to discuss club fixtures amid virus spike in Morocco

African football chiefs will decide Thursday whether to go ahead with CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup matches in Morocco during September amid a coronavirus spike there .
The kingdom is scheduled to host the first legs of the Champions League semi-finals and the Confederation Cup 'final four ' mini-tournament this month .
Confederation of African Football ( CAF ) officials are concerned after a rise in Covid-19 cases meant only one Moroccan league match has been played during the first two weeks of September .
At least 12 of the 16 Botola Pro 1 clubs reported positive cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in hotels or sport centres rather than returning home after each match .
`` A video conference meeting of the executive committee will address several important topics related to the football situation on the continent , '' a CAF statement said .
Two senior CAF officials confirmed to AFP that the concluding stages of the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions will be among the issues on the agenda .
Both Champions League semi-finals involve Moroccan and Egyptian clubs with Raja Casablanca playing Zamalek and Wydad Casablanca meeting Al Ahly .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 26 in Casablanca with the return matches in Egypt on October 2 and 3 .
Both Confederation Cup semi-finals are slated for September 22 with Hassania Agadir tackling fellow Moroccans Renaissance Berkane and Pyramids of Egypt confronting Horoya of Guinea .
Horoya , the only sub-Saharan club among the semi-finalists in the two competitions , have experienced difficulties with travel plans .
`` We are considering numerous options to reach Morocco , but it is far from a straightforward situation , '' said club president Soufiane Souare .
Ahly and Zamalek reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if CAF decide that the Champions League first legs can not go ahead as planned in Morocco .
Zamalek president Mortada Mansour told the club website that he would prefer both legs of the semi-finals be played in Egypt rather than be postponed .
`` I propose we play the home and away games of the Champions League semi-finals in Egypt .
We welcome our fellow Moroccans , for whom we have all the love and appreciation , '' he said .
An announcement on Al Ahly TV said the record eight-time African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We were planning to play the semi-finals as per the scheduled dates , ( but ) human and health conditions are more important than a competition , '' the Cairo club said .
The semi-finals and finals of both competitions were originally scheduled for May , but could not be played because of the pandemic .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
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African football chiefs will decide Thursday whether to go ahead with CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup matches in Morocco during September amid a coronavirus spike there.
The kingdom is scheduled to host the first legs of the Champions League semi-finals and the Confederation Cup 'final four' mini-tournament this month.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials are concerned after a rise in Covid-19 cases meant only one Moroccan league match has been played during the first two weeks of September.
At least 12 of the 16 Botola Pro 1 clubs reported positive cases, triggering an order that players must stay in hotels or sport centres rather than returning home after each match.
"A video conference meeting of the executive committee will address several important topics related to the football situation on the continent," a CAF statement said.
Two senior CAF officials confirmed to AFP that the concluding stages of the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions will be among the issues on the agenda.
Both Champions League semi-finals involve Moroccan and Egyptian clubs with Raja Casablanca playing Zamalek and Wydad Casablanca meeting Al Ahly.
The first legs are set for September 25 and 26 in Casablanca with the return matches in Egypt on October 2 and 3.
Both Confederation Cup semi-finals are slated for September 22 with Hassania Agadir tackling fellow Moroccans Renaissance Berkane and Pyramids of Egypt confronting Horoya of Guinea.
- Travel difficulties -
Horoya, the only sub-Saharan club among the semi-finalists in the two competitions, have experienced difficulties with travel plans.
"We are considering numerous options to reach Morocco, but it is far from a straightforward situation," said club president Soufiane Souare.
Ahly and Zamalek reportedly have different opinions on what should happen if CAF decide that the Champions League first legs cannot go ahead as planned in Morocco.
Zamalek president Mortada Mansour told the club website that he would prefer both legs of the semi-finals be played in Egypt rather than be postponed.
"I propose we play the home and away games of the Champions League semi-finals in Egypt. We welcome our fellow Moroccans, for whom we have all the love and appreciation," he said.
An announcement on Al Ahly TV said the record eight-time African champions would not object to a delay.
"We were planning to play the semi-finals as per the scheduled dates, (but) human and health conditions are more important than a competition," the Cairo club said.
The semi-finals and finals of both competitions were originally scheduled for May, but could not be played because of the pandemic.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--I'm a leader not a helper, Geraint Thomas says: report

Former winner Geraint Thomas disclosed Wednesday his `` disappointment '' at being excluded from the Tour de France by his team Ineos but said he was looking forward to spearheading the team 's challenge in the Giro d'Italia instead .
Ineos dropped Thomas , who won the Tour in 2018 , and four-time winner Chris Froome from this year 's race .
While the Tour is midway through its second week in France both riders find themselves in Italy where they are using the Tirreno-Adriatico as a stepping stone to cycling 's other two major prizes .
Thomas , 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Froome focuses on the Vuelta a Espana .
`` This may seem a little harsh but I do n't want to go to the Tour to ride just to help the team , '' Thomas told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport .
`` I have the feeling that I 'm at an age where I have to make the most out of every opportunity .
In this sense , the Giro represents a better chance for me .
`` I think I still have the form to be leader , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Thomas , who also finished second to teammate Egan Bernal in last year 's Tour de France .
`` To not be 100 percent was a disappointment , '' added Thomas , who believes the route for the October 3-25 Giro will `` suit me '' .
He came in only 37th in the Criterium du Dauphine last month but thinks he is `` a little better '' now and has been picking up encouraging vibes from his performances in training .
Ahead of the Tirreno-Adriatico 's third stage he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped to find my rhythm .
Wednesday is interesting . ''
Going into the longest stage of the race Thomas is 20 seconds behind Pascal Ackermann in the general classification .
After the Tirreno he could take in the time-trial at the world championships in Imola , Italy at the end of the month before trying to become the first Welshman to win the Giro .

Rome (AFP) –
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Former winner Geraint Thomas disclosed Wednesday his "disappointment" at being excluded from the Tour de France by his team Ineos but said he was looking forward to spearheading the team's challenge in the Giro d'Italia instead.
Ineos dropped Thomas, who won the Tour in 2018, and four-time winner Chris Froome from this year's race.
While the Tour is midway through its second week in France both riders find themselves in Italy where they are using the Tirreno-Adriatico as a stepping stone to cycling's other two major prizes.
Thomas, 34, is going for the Giro d'Italia while Froome focuses on the Vuelta a Espana.
"This may seem a little harsh but I don't want to go to the Tour to ride just to help the team," Thomas told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I have the feeling that I'm at an age where I have to make the most out of every opportunity. In this sense, the Giro represents a better chance for me.
"I think I still have the form to be leader, another role in France doesn't interest me," said Thomas, who also finished second to teammate Egan Bernal in last year's Tour de France.
"To not be 100 percent was a disappointment," added Thomas, who believes the route for the October 3-25 Giro will "suit me".
He came in only 37th in the Criterium du Dauphine last month but thinks he is "a little better" now and has been picking up encouraging vibes from his performances in training.
Ahead of the Tirreno-Adriatico's third stage he reflected: "The first two days helped to find my rhythm. Wednesday is interesting."
Going into the longest stage of the race Thomas is 20 seconds behind Pascal Ackermann in the general classification.
After the Tirreno he could take in the time-trial at the world championships in Imola, Italy at the end of the month before trying to become the first Welshman to win the Giro.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--Varying degrees of success for coronavirus apps in Europe

The different contract-tracing apps in Europe have met with varying degrees of success Designed to help fight the spread of the novel coronavirus by automatically tracing the contacts of infected people , Covid-19 tracking applications have encountered a series of challenges since their launch , from privacy concerns to technical glitches .
Here is a round-up of the main European contact tracing initiatives and their varying degrees of success .
Launched in June , the German track and trace app is seen as `` an important additional tool for keeping infection rates down , '' but `` no cure-all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a country whose population jealously guards security and control over their personal data , the app has generally been well-received , even by staunch privacy advocates like the Chaos Computer Club .
As of September 1 , the app had been downloaded 17.8 million times -- compared with an overall population of around 83 million -- and at the start of July , it had alerted several hundreds of cases of infections .
Downloads of Iceland 's app peaked shortly after its launch -- at an estimated 40 percent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- but rose again with the start of the tourist season .
Visitors to the volcanic island are encouraged to download the app , not only for its good functionality , but also because it contains links to important Covid-19-related documents and even has an online chat function .
Unlike other tracing apps in use in Europe , the Icelandic one can track an individual 's movements in the case of infection or suspected infection .
And , with the individual 's permission , it uses GPS to geo-locate the phone .
Portugal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it has come under fire from consumer rights groups for perceived loopholes in personal data usage and the dominant role played by tech giants in drawing up health protocols .
In addition , media reports suggest around 800,000 mobile phones -- out of an overall population of 10 million -- can not install the app because of incompatible software , ultimately rendering it useless .
The French government launched its StopCovid app at the beginning of June , but by mid-August it had only been downloaded some 2.3 million times , compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So far , only 72 possible risk contacts have been flagged up by the app , while 1,169 users have declared themselves positive .
StopCovid has been criticised by IT specialists with regard to data privacy .
Based on a so-called `` centralised '' protocol , the French app is incompatible with the majority of its European peers which are `` decentralised '' .
Under the centralised model , the anonymised data gathered are uploaded to a remote server where matches are made with other contacts , should a person start to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives users more control over their information by keeping it on the phone .
It is there that matches are made with people who may have contracted the virus .
This is the model promoted by Google , Apple and an international consortium .
SwissCovid , developed by the EPFL university of Lausanne and based on the decentralised protocol , began testing on May 25 .
Nearly 1.6 million people now actively use the app , which has been downloaded 2.3 million times out of a population of 8.5 million .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signalling an average 56 infections every day and seems to be generally well accepted by the population .
In Italy , the Immuni app was downloaded 5.4 million times , equivalent to 14 percent of the overall number of potential users ( excluding anyone under the age of 14 and people without mobile phones ) .
According to official data , 155 users have declared themselves positive between June 1 and August 31 .
In June , the Norwegian health authorities suspended the locally developed app after the Nordic country 's national data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Authorities are currently working on a solution which they hope to launch before Christmas and do not rule out resorting to Google and Apple technology .
In Britain , the government revealed its first attempt at a contact-tracing app in May .
But in a major U-turn in June , it abandoned the app , based on the centralised model and seen as flawed .
The government , which blamed the problems on restrictions imposed by Apple , has since switched to the decentralised approach .
But , as yet , no track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the UK .
Northern Ireland , however , rolled out its own app at the end of July and it has been downloaded more than 300,000 times by August 26 .

Paris (AFP) –
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Designed to help fight the spread of the novel coronavirus by automatically tracing the contacts of infected people, Covid-19 tracking applications have encountered a series of challenges since their launch, from privacy concerns to technical glitches.
Here is a round-up of the main European contact tracing initiatives and their varying degrees of success.
- Germany: no cure-all -
Launched in June, the German track and trace app is seen as "an important additional tool for keeping infection rates down," but "no cure-all," according to government spokesman Steffen Seibert.
In a country whose population jealously guards security and control over their personal data, the app has generally been well-received, even by staunch privacy advocates like the Chaos Computer Club.
As of September 1, the app had been downloaded 17.8 million times -- compared with an overall population of around 83 million -- and at the start of July, it had alerted several hundreds of cases of infections.
- Iceland: keeping tracks on tourists -
Downloads of Iceland's app peaked shortly after its launch -- at an estimated 40 percent of the population, the user rate is high -- but rose again with the start of the tourist season.
Visitors to the volcanic island are encouraged to download the app, not only for its good functionality, but also because it contains links to important Covid-19-related documents and even has an online chat function.
Unlike other tracing apps in use in Europe, the Icelandic one can track an individual's movements in the case of infection or suspected infection. And, with the individual's permission, it uses GPS to geo-locate the phone.
- Portugal: compatibility issues -
Portugal only launched its tracing app this month and it has come under fire from consumer rights groups for perceived loopholes in personal data usage and the dominant role played by tech giants in drawing up health protocols.
In addition, media reports suggest around 800,000 mobile phones -- out of an overall population of 10 million -- cannot install the app because of incompatible software, ultimately rendering it useless.
- France: a flop -
The French government launched its StopCovid app at the beginning of June, but by mid-August it had only been downloaded some 2.3 million times, compared with an overall population of 67 million. So far, only 72 possible risk contacts have been flagged up by the app, while 1,169 users have declared themselves positive.
StopCovid has been criticised by IT specialists with regard to data privacy.
Based on a so-called "centralised" protocol, the French app is incompatible with the majority of its European peers which are "decentralised".
Under the centralised model, the anonymised data gathered are uploaded to a remote server where matches are made with other contacts, should a person start to develop Covid-19 symptoms.
The decentralised model gives users more control over their information by keeping it on the phone. It is there that matches are made with people who may have contracted the virus. This is the model promoted by Google, Apple and an international consortium.
- Favourable marks for Switzerland and Italy -
SwissCovid, developed by the EPFL university of Lausanne and based on the decentralised protocol, began testing on May 25.
Nearly 1.6 million people now actively use the app, which has been downloaded 2.3 million times out of a population of 8.5 million.
At the beginning of September, the app was signalling an average 56 infections every day and seems to be generally well accepted by the population.
In Italy, the Immuni app was downloaded 5.4 million times, equivalent to 14 percent of the overall number of potential users (excluding anyone under the age of 14 and people without mobile phones). According to official data, 155 users have declared themselves positive between June 1 and August 31.
- Damp squibs in Norway and Britain -
In June, the Norwegian health authorities suspended the locally developed app after the Nordic country's national data protection agency found it too intrusive.
Authorities are currently working on a solution which they hope to launch before Christmas and do not rule out resorting to Google and Apple technology.
In Britain, the government revealed its first attempt at a contact-tracing app in May.
But in a major U-turn in June, it abandoned the app, based on the centralised model and seen as flawed.
The government, which blamed the problems on restrictions imposed by Apple, has since switched to the decentralised approach. But, as yet, no track and trace app is widely available in much of the UK.
Northern Ireland, however, rolled out its own app at the end of July and it has been downloaded more than 300,000 times by August 26.
burs-jub/aue/spm/wdb
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--'Masked men' detain Belarus opposition lawyer

Opposition figures in Belarus have been detained or forced to leave the country in an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko Masked men detained one of the last high-profile opposition figures still free in Belarus on Wednesday , his colleagues said , the latest in a series of detentions and expulsions of those leading mass protests .
Maxim Znak , who had worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko , had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up , instead sending the word `` masks '' to the group , Babaryko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a witness had also seen Znak , 39 , being led down the street near his offices by several men in civilian clothes and wearing masks .
Along with Svetlana Alexievich , a 72-year-old Nobel Prize-winning author , Znak was the last of the seven members of the opposition Coordination Council 's governing presidium to remain free .
Others have been detained or forced to leave Belarus , in an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko 's regime over a disputed election .
Znak 's apparent detention came a day after the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria Kolesnikova , was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car .
The Coordination Council was set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rejected Lukashenko 's claim to have been re-elected to a sixth term in an August 9 vote .
The election has sparked the biggest anti-government demonstrations of Lukashenko 's 26-year rule , with tens of thousands taking to the streets for weeks to demand he resign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back with waves of arrests , deadly violence against protesters and a campaign of intimidation and expulsion against opposition leaders .
Kolesnikova 's fate was unknown after the dramatic events on Wednesday , when she and two other members of the Council were taken in a car to the buffer zone between the Belarusian and Ukrainian borders .
The other two council members , press secretary Anton Rodnenkov and executive secretary Ivan Kravtsov , told a press conference in Kiev that Kolesnikova had torn her passport `` into small pieces '' and climbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car to avoid expulsion .
Border police said she was being held pending an investigation .
Kolesnikova had gone missing on Monday , with witnesses saying she was bundled into a minibus by unidentified masked men on the street in Minsk .
Kolesnikova , 38 , is the only one of the trio of women who fronted Tikhanovskaya 's campaign still in Belarus .
Tikhanovskaya left the country under pressure from the authorities and was granted refuge in EU member state Lithuania .
Her other campaign partner , Veronika Tsepkalo , is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Russians not to believe propaganda trying to `` poison '' ties between the two peoples and thanked those backing Belarusians ' `` fight for freedom '' .
Her first major address to Russians came after Lukashenko gave a wide-ranging interview to a group of journalists from Russian state media on Tuesday .
`` It is very important not to damage ties between the two countries , '' 37-year-old Tikhanovskaya said in the video address .
`` Let 's not allow propaganda to poison ties between two friendly peoples , and unscrupulous politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Russia , '' she said .
No date has been set , but Lukashenko is preparing to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Putin quickly congratulated Lukashenko on his re-election last month and has offered Russia 's support .
In the interview with Russian journalists , Lukashenko said he did not recognise the Council as the opposition and warned that if his government falls , `` Russia will be next '' .

Minsk (AFP) –
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Masked men detained one of the last high-profile opposition figures still free in Belarus on Wednesday, his colleagues said, the latest in a series of detentions and expulsions of those leading mass protests.
Maxim Znak, who had worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko, had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up, instead sending the word "masks" to the group, Babaryko's press service said.
It said a witness had also seen Znak, 39, being led down the street near his offices by several men in civilian clothes and wearing masks.
Along with Svetlana Alexievich, a 72-year-old Nobel Prize-winning author, Znak was the last of the seven members of the opposition Coordination Council's governing presidium to remain free.
Others have been detained or forced to leave Belarus, in an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko's regime over a disputed election.
Znak's apparent detention came a day after the most prominent opposition figure still in Belarus, Maria Kolesnikova, was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car.
The Coordination Council was set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rejected Lukashenko's claim to have been re-elected to a sixth term in an August 9 vote.
The election has sparked the biggest anti-government demonstrations of Lukashenko's 26-year rule, with tens of thousands taking to the streets for weeks to demand he resign.
Lukashenko's security services have hit back with waves of arrests, deadly violence against protesters and a campaign of intimidation and expulsion against opposition leaders.
Kolesnikova's fate was unknown after the dramatic events on Wednesday, when she and two other members of the Council were taken in a car to the buffer zone between the Belarusian and Ukrainian borders.
- Appeal to Russians -
The other two council members, press secretary Anton Rodnenkov and executive secretary Ivan Kravtsov, told a press conference in Kiev that Kolesnikova had torn her passport "into small pieces" and climbed out of the back window of the car to avoid expulsion.
Border police said she was being held pending an investigation.
Kolesnikova had gone missing on Monday, with witnesses saying she was bundled into a minibus by unidentified masked men on the street in Minsk.
Kolesnikova, 38, is the only one of the trio of women who fronted Tikhanovskaya's campaign still in Belarus.
Tikhanovskaya left the country under pressure from the authorities and was granted refuge in EU member state Lithuania. Her other campaign partner, Veronika Tsepkalo, is now in Ukraine.
Tikhanovskaya on Wednesday called on Russians not to believe propaganda trying to "poison" ties between the two peoples and thanked those backing Belarusians' "fight for freedom".
Her first major address to Russians came after Lukashenko gave a wide-ranging interview to a group of journalists from Russian state media on Tuesday.
"It is very important not to damage ties between the two countries," 37-year-old Tikhanovskaya said in the video address.
"Let's not allow propaganda to poison ties between two friendly peoples, and unscrupulous politicians to damage the interests of both Belarus and Russia," she said.
No date has been set, but Lukashenko is preparing to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin quickly congratulated Lukashenko on his re-election last month and has offered Russia's support.
In the interview with Russian journalists, Lukashenko said he did not recognise the Council as the opposition and warned that if his government falls, "Russia will be next".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--Afghan VP escapes deadly roadside bomb attack in Kabul

A roadside bomb in Kabul targeted first Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Wednesday morning but he escaped unharmed , his spokesman said .
The attack killed at least 10 people .
The Taliban denied involvement in the attack , which comes just ahead of long-awaited peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar 's capital Doha .
`` Today , once again the enemy of Afghanistan tried to harm Saleh , but they failed in their evil aim , and Saleh escaped the attack unharmed , '' Razwan Murad , a spokesman for Saleh 's office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reuters the bomb targeted Saleh 's convoy and some of his bodyguards were injured .
Saleh appeared in a video on his social media accounts soon after , saying he had sustained a minor burn on his face and an injury to his hand in the attack .
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on Twitter that Taliban fighters were not involved in the blast .
The former intelligence chief and the senior of President Ashraf Ghani 's two vice-presidents , has survived several assassination attempts , including one on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wednesday 's blast killed at least 10 civilians and wounded 15 people including Saleh 's security guards , according to the interior ministry .
`` Such attacks wo n't weaken our resolve for a lasting and dignified peace in Afghanistan , '' Javid Faisal , spokesman for the National Security Council , said in a tweet .
International powers including the European Union and Pakistan also condemned the attack .
`` This is an attack on the Republic , & desperate act by spoilers of peace efforts , who must be collectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan said in a statement on Twitter .
Officials and diplomats have warned that rising violence is sapping trust needed for the success of talks aimed at ending an insurgency that began when the Taliban was ousted from power in Kabul by U.S.-back forces in late 2001 .

A roadside bomb in Kabul targeted first Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh on Wednesday morning but he escaped unharmed, his spokesman said. The attack killed at least 10 people.
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The Taliban denied involvement in the attack, which comes just ahead of long-awaited peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha.
"Today, once again the enemy of Afghanistan tried to harm Saleh, but they failed in their evil aim, and Saleh escaped the attack unharmed," Razwan Murad, a spokesman for Saleh's office, wrote on Facebook.
He told Reuters the bomb targeted Saleh's convoy and some of his bodyguards were injured.
Saleh appeared in a video on his social media accounts soon after, saying he had sustained a minor burn on his face and an injury to his hand in the attack.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on Twitter that Taliban fighters were not involved in the blast.
The former intelligence chief and the senior of President Ashraf Ghani's two vice-presidents, has survived several assassination attempts, including one on his office last year that killed 20 people.
Wednesday's blast killed at least 10 civilians and wounded 15 people including Saleh's security guards, according to the interior ministry.
"Such attacks won't weaken our resolve for a lasting and dignified peace in Afghanistan," Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a tweet.
International powers including the European Union and Pakistan also condemned the attack.
"This is an attack on the Republic, & desperate act by spoilers of peace efforts, who must be collectively confronted," the EU Delegation in Afghanistan said in a statement on Twitter.
Officials and diplomats have warned that rising violence is sapping trust needed for the success of talks aimed at ending an insurgency that began when the Taliban was ousted from power in Kabul by U.S.-back forces in late 2001.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-09--Ethiopia's Tigray region defies PM Abiy with 'illegal' election

Woman and children wait in line in order to enter a polling station during Tigrays regional elections in the city of Mekele , Ethiopia , on September 9 , 2020 .
- Ethiopia 's northern Tigray region vote on September 9 , 2020 in parliamentary elections that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed 's government has deemed illegal .
Ageing war veterans and university students joined long pre-dawn lines in Ethiopia 's northern Tigray region to vote Wednesday in parliamentary elections that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed 's government has deemed illegal .
Polls opened at 6am ( 0300 GMT ) across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to postpone all elections because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The election represents the latest challenge to Abiy 's authority as he navigates a democratic transition hobbled by deep political and ethnic divisions , and a low point in the bitter dispute between the federal government in Addis Ababa and Tigray .
The region sharing a border with Eritrea and Sudan dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before anti-government protests swept Abiy to power in 2018 .
Ethiopia was supposed to hold national elections in August , but the national poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be postponed because of the pandemic .
Tigrayan leaders rejected the extension of mandates -- which would have expired in October -- contending Abiy will have no legitimacy after that .
Their decision to unilaterally hold their own elections has clearly rankled federal officials , who have said they have `` no legal basis '' and are `` null and void '' .
In the regional capital Mekele , some voters struck a defiant note as they waited to cast ballots .
`` We want the federal government to take a lesson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections , too , so we can work together to build the country , '' said Hailay Haileselassie , a 37-year-old who works for a construction company .
More than 600 candidates from five parties are vying for 152 regional parliamentary seats , and the parties will decide how to allocate the remaining 38 seats at a later date , said election commissioner Muluwork Kidanemariam .
The heavy favourite is the Tigray People 's Liberation Front ( TPLF ) , which led the armed struggle to topple the brutal Derg regime in 1991 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition that took over .
Though the TPLF has been sidelined under Abiy , it remains in command in Tigray , which makes up six percent of Ethiopia 's population of 110 million .
Hailu Kiros , 62 , was one of many wheelchair-bound TPLF veterans who cast votes Wednesday morning .
`` This is important for me .
We fought for this , so that elections could be held every five years , '' he told AFP .
The TPLF is facing off against four other parties , one of which -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Tigray to secede and form its own country .
The campaign featured televised debates among party leaders , and opposition politicians say they have had good access to regional media .
Yet some opposition politicians have been harassed and briefly detained by security forces in recent days and pressured into dropping out , said Hayalu Godefay , chairman of opposition party Salsay Woyane Tigray .
`` When the election got closer , the stance of the TPLF changed toward the opposition .
I think they did n't expect such support for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It remains unclear whether Tigray will face federal retaliation for going ahead with the vote .
Abiy , winner of last year 's Nobel Peace Prize , has previous ruled out a military intervention or budget cuts .
In an interview with state media Tuesday night , he resorted to metaphor to issue a vague threat .
`` The election that will be held in Tigray is a shanty election .
And when you build a shanty , some days the local officials will see you , some days they wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But because those who construct a shanty do n't have land deeds and are illegal dwellers , they do n't sleep with their eyes closed . ''

Ageing war veterans and university students joined long pre-dawn lines in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region to vote Wednesday in parliamentary elections that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has deemed illegal.
Woman and children wait in line in order to enter a polling station during Tigrays regional elections in the city of Mekele, Ethiopia, on September 9, 2020. - Ethiopia's northern Tigray region vote on September 9, 2020 in parliamentary elections that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has deemed illegal.
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Polls opened at 6am (0300 GMT) across the mountainous northern Tigray region despite a federal decision to postpone all elections because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The election represents the latest challenge to Abiy's authority as he navigates a democratic transition hobbled by deep political and ethnic divisions, and a low point in the bitter dispute between the federal government in Addis Ababa and Tigray.
The region sharing a border with Eritrea and Sudan dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before anti-government protests swept Abiy to power in 2018.
Ethiopia was supposed to hold national elections in August, but the national poll body announced in March they would need to be postponed because of the pandemic.
Tigrayan leaders rejected the extension of mandates -- which would have expired in October -- contending Abiy will have no legitimacy after that.
Their decision to unilaterally hold their own elections has clearly rankled federal officials, who have said they have "no legal basis" and are "null and void".
In the regional capital Mekele, some voters struck a defiant note as they waited to cast ballots.
"We want the federal government to take a lesson from this: They need to hold elections, too, so we can work together to build the country," said Hailay Haileselassie, a 37-year-old who works for a construction company.
More than 600 candidates from five parties are vying for 152 regional parliamentary seats, and the parties will decide how to allocate the remaining 38 seats at a later date, said election commissioner Muluwork Kidanemariam.
The heavy favourite is the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which led the armed struggle to topple the brutal Derg regime in 1991 and went on to control the ruling coalition that took over.
Though the TPLF has been sidelined under Abiy, it remains in command in Tigray, which makes up six percent of Ethiopia's population of 110 million.
Hailu Kiros, 62, was one of many wheelchair-bound TPLF veterans who cast votes Wednesday morning.
"This is important for me. We fought for this, so that elections could be held every five years," he told AFP.
'Shanty election'
The TPLF is facing off against four other parties, one of which -- the Tigray Independence Party -- is calling for Tigray to secede and form its own country.
The campaign featured televised debates among party leaders, and opposition politicians say they have had good access to regional media.
Yet some opposition politicians have been harassed and briefly detained by security forces in recent days and pressured into dropping out, said Hayalu Godefay, chairman of opposition party Salsay Woyane Tigray.
"When the election got closer, the stance of the TPLF changed toward the opposition. I think they didn't expect such support for the opposition from the people," Hayalu said.
It remains unclear whether Tigray will face federal retaliation for going ahead with the vote.
Abiy, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, has previous ruled out a military intervention or budget cuts.
In an interview with state media Tuesday night, he resorted to metaphor to issue a vague threat.
"The election that will be held in Tigray is a shanty election. And when you build a shanty, some days the local officials will see you, some days they won't," he said.
"But because those who construct a shanty don't have land deeds and are illegal dwellers, they don't sleep with their eyes closed."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-09-09--Tokyo governor pledges to hold 2020 Olympics 'by all means'

Tokyo will 'implement every possible measure ' to ensure the safety of the Olympics , governor Yuriko Koike says The postponed Olympics must be held next year `` by all means '' , Tokyo 's governor said Wednesday , becoming the latest official to insist the event is feasible despite the coronavirus pandemic .
Yuriko Koike 's remarks , at an event hosted by Kyodo news agency , come after International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates told AFP that the Games would go ahead in 2021 `` with or without Covid '' .
`` Athletes are going through much hardship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their physical condition and motivation were targeted at this summer , '' Koike said , according to an English translation of her remarks published by Kyodo .
`` We have to go forward with the Games next summer by all means , '' she added , at the corporate event for the news agency 's subscribers .
The city will `` implement every possible measure '' to ensure the safety of the event , Koike said .
On Tuesday , Japan 's Olympic minister also said the event should be held next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready .
`` I feel we have to hold it at any cost , '' Seiko Hashimoto said , when asked about Coates 's remarks .
The 2020 Games were postponed in a historic decision earlier this year because of the pandemic , and they are now set to open on July 23 , 2021 .
But Japan 's borders are still largely closed to foreign visitors and a vaccine is months or even years away .
Officials have made clear that another delay would not be possible , and there are signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite the obstacles , Coates said Monday he was confident the Games would open as planned next year , vowing they will be the `` Games that conquered Covid '' .
`` It will take place with or without Covid .
The Games will start on July 23 next year , '' he said .
The Tokyo 2020 organisers have not commented directly on whether they agree with Coates 's assessment , but said his remarks showed the IOC was committed to holding the Games next year .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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The postponed Olympics must be held next year "by all means", Tokyo's governor said Wednesday, becoming the latest official to insist the event is feasible despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Yuriko Koike's remarks, at an event hosted by Kyodo news agency, come after International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates told AFP that the Games would go ahead in 2021 "with or without Covid".
"Athletes are going through much hardship due to the one-year delay given that their physical condition and motivation were targeted at this summer," Koike said, according to an English translation of her remarks published by Kyodo.
"We have to go forward with the Games next summer by all means," she added, at the corporate event for the news agency's subscribers.
The city will "implement every possible measure" to ensure the safety of the event, Koike said.
On Tuesday, Japan's Olympic minister also said the event should be held next year, given athletes' efforts to be ready.
"I feel we have to hold it at any cost," Seiko Hashimoto said, when asked about Coates's remarks.
The 2020 Games were postponed in a historic decision earlier this year because of the pandemic, and they are now set to open on July 23, 2021.
But Japan's borders are still largely closed to foreign visitors and a vaccine is months or even years away.
Officials have made clear that another delay would not be possible, and there are signs that public enthusiasm in Japan is waning.
Despite the obstacles, Coates said Monday he was confident the Games would open as planned next year, vowing they will be the "Games that conquered Covid".
"It will take place with or without Covid. The Games will start on July 23 next year," he said.
The Tokyo 2020 organisers have not commented directly on whether they agree with Coates's assessment, but said his remarks showed the IOC was committed to holding the Games next year.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--Australian spy agency targeted Chinese journalists: Beijing

ABC News journalist Bill Birtles was one of two Australians who fled China Beijing claimed Wednesday that Australia 's intelligence agency questioned foreign correspondents working for Chinese state-run media , seizing computers and mobile phones in raids apparently linked to a billowing spy scandal .
The accusation , the latest scrap in a diplomatic falling-out that spans security , trade and media freedoms , follows an investigation by Beijing into Australian journalists based in China .
The last two foreign correspondents working for Australian media in China fled Monday , while another -- Cheng Lei , who worked as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being detained under `` national security '' laws .
On Wednesday a spokesman for China 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added a new layer to the intrigue , saying Australia-based journalists from Xinhua , China News Service and the China Media group were the target of Australian intelligence raids in late June .
Four journalists were `` interrogated ... on the grounds of a possible breach of Australia 's anti-foreign interference laws '' , Zhao Lijian told reporters .
They were questioned and had their phones , computers and even their children 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stress that the journalists of the Chinese media in Australia have strictly observed local laws and regulations , '' he said .
Australia 's actions `` seriously interferes with the normal reporting duties of the Chinese media ... and causes serious damage to the physical and mental health of the journalists and their families . ''
The Australian intelligence activity is alleged to have taken place on June 26 and involved four journalists working in Australia .
ASIO , Australia 's main intelligence agency , refused to confirm or deny the raids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had `` no comment to make '' on the matter .
Media and court documents show Australian intelligence and police officers raided the home and office of New South Wales state legislator Shaoquett Moselmane that day as part of a months-long investigation into covert Chinese influence campaigns in Australia .
The timing of the allegations against Australian intelligence coincided with a furore over the treatment of two Australian correspondents in China , Bill Birtles and Michael Smith .
After midnight visits to their homes by Chinese police last week , the pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Shanghai .
They were allowed to leave the country only after days of diplomatic wrangling and an agreement that they would undergo questioning before departure .
Both men were quizzed about fellow Australian Cheng Lei , who has been detained in China since last month .
Their case has been seen another blow to press freedom in China and emblematic of rapidly deteriorating relations between Beijing and Canberra .

Beijing (AFP) –
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Beijing claimed Wednesday that Australia's intelligence agency questioned foreign correspondents working for Chinese state-run media, seizing computers and mobile phones in raids apparently linked to a billowing spy scandal.
The accusation, the latest scrap in a diplomatic falling-out that spans security, trade and media freedoms, follows an investigation by Beijing into Australian journalists based in China.
The last two foreign correspondents working for Australian media in China fled Monday, while another -- Cheng Lei, who worked as an anchor for Chinese state TV -- is being detained under "national security" laws.
On Wednesday a spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added a new layer to the intrigue, saying Australia-based journalists from Xinhua, China News Service and the China Media group were the target of Australian intelligence raids in late June.
Four journalists were "interrogated... on the grounds of a possible breach of Australia's anti-foreign interference laws", Zhao Lijian told reporters.
They were questioned and had their phones, computers and even their children's tablets confiscated.
"I would like to stress that the journalists of the Chinese media in Australia have strictly observed local laws and regulations," he said.
Australia's actions "seriously interferes with the normal reporting duties of the Chinese media... and causes serious damage to the physical and mental health of the journalists and their families."
The Australian intelligence activity is alleged to have taken place on June 26 and involved four journalists working in Australia.
ASIO, Australia's main intelligence agency, refused to confirm or deny the raids, while the Australian Federal Police said it had "no comment to make" on the matter.
Media and court documents show Australian intelligence and police officers raided the home and office of New South Wales state legislator Shaoquett Moselmane that day as part of a months-long investigation into covert Chinese influence campaigns in Australia.
The timing of the allegations against Australian intelligence coincided with a furore over the treatment of two Australian correspondents in China, Bill Birtles and Michael Smith.
After midnight visits to their homes by Chinese police last week, the pair secretly fled to diplomatic compounds in Beijing and Shanghai.
They were allowed to leave the country only after days of diplomatic wrangling and an agreement that they would undergo questioning before departure.
Both men were quizzed about fellow Australian Cheng Lei, who has been detained in China since last month.
Their case has been seen another blow to press freedom in China and emblematic of rapidly deteriorating relations between Beijing and Canberra.
burs-apj/fox
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--India syringe maker boosts production to meet virus vaccine demand

India 's biggest syringe manufacturer is ramping up production to churn out a billion units , anticipating a surge in demand for coronavirus vaccinations India 's biggest syringe manufacturer is ramping up production to churn out a billion units , anticipating a surge in demand as the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine heats up .
While the focus on tackling the pandemic has mostly been on the development of vaccines , experts say medical essentials to administer them are also vital .
Hindustan Syringes -- one of the world 's largest makers of the item -- said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( which prevent re-use ) from 700 million a year to one billion by 2021 to meet the expected demand .
`` Even if 60 percent of the world 's population is immunised , it would mean four to five billion syringes would be required , '' Hindustan Syringes managing director Rajiv Nath told AFP at their factory in northern Haryana state .
There are currently more than 30 candidate vaccines being tested on humans , with governments hoping to deploy one as soon as possible with the coronavirus wrecking lives and economies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hampered early responses to the pandemic , and countries have now started building up their stockpile of syringes , vials and needles .
`` We may have sufficient capacity for the first wave of vaccines which would only be administered to priority groups , '' Prashant Yadav , a healthcare supply chains expert at Harvard Medical School , told AFP .
`` ( But ) when we get to a large-scale vaccination in late 2021 or 2022 and the dose demand estimates would be greater than 10 billion , that 's when syringe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So far , UNICEF has ordered 140 million syringes from Hindustan for COVAX , a global initiative aimed at ensuring a more equitable distribution of vaccines to poorer nations .
Much of the world 's demand for syringes is expected to be met by factories in China and India .

Faridabad (India) (AFP) –
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India's biggest syringe manufacturer is ramping up production to churn out a billion units, anticipating a surge in demand as the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine heats up.
While the focus on tackling the pandemic has mostly been on the development of vaccines, experts say medical essentials to administer them are also vital.
Hindustan Syringes -- one of the world's largest makers of the item -- said it is increasing its output of auto-disable devices (which prevent re-use) from 700 million a year to one billion by 2021 to meet the expected demand.
"Even if 60 percent of the world's population is immunised, it would mean four to five billion syringes would be required," Hindustan Syringes managing director Rajiv Nath told AFP at their factory in northern Haryana state.
There are currently more than 30 candidate vaccines being tested on humans, with governments hoping to deploy one as soon as possible with the coronavirus wrecking lives and economies.
Shortages of PPE such as masks hampered early responses to the pandemic, and countries have now started building up their stockpile of syringes, vials and needles.
"We may have sufficient capacity for the first wave of vaccines which would only be administered to priority groups," Prashant Yadav, a healthcare supply chains expert at Harvard Medical School, told AFP.
"(But) when we get to a large-scale vaccination in late 2021 or 2022 and the dose demand estimates would be greater than 10 billion, that's when syringe supply starts becoming a constraint."
So far, UNICEF has ordered 140 million syringes from Hindustan for COVAX, a global initiative aimed at ensuring a more equitable distribution of vaccines to poorer nations.
Much of the world's demand for syringes is expected to be met by factories in China and India.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--US professor who posed as black woman quits university

George Washington University , which announced that Dr Jessica Krug , a white professor who for years posed as a black woman , has quit her post A white US university professor who lied for years about being black has quit her job at George Washington University in the capital Washington , the school said Wednesday .
`` Update regarding Jessica Krug : Dr. Krug has resigned her position , effective immediately , '' the university said on its Twitter account .
Krug -- a history professor focusing on Africa -- said she had been pretending to be black `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult life .
`` I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child in suburban Kansas City under various assumed identities within a Blackness that I had no right to claim , '' Krug wrote in a post on the platform Medium .
Krug , who is light-skinned , said she first claimed `` North African Blackness , then US rooted Blackness , then Caribbean rooted Bronx Blackness . ''
One of her former students told CNN that Krug voiced pride in her Bronx roots , but told another student she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Medium that her actions were the `` very epitome of violence , of thievery and appropriation , of the myriad ways in which non-Black people continue to use and abuse Black identities and cultures . ''
The professor called herself a cultural `` leech . ''
The university launched an investigation in the situation last week , and said Krug would not be teaching this semester .
`` We want to acknowledge the pain this situation has caused for many in our community , '' it said .
ON Wednesday , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes for this semester will be taught by other faculty members , and students in those courses will receive additional information this week , '' it said on Twitter .
Krug 's situation brought to mind the case of controversial US activist Rachel Dolezal , who made headlines in 2015 after saying she identified as black , even though both of her parents are white .
`` I 'm more black than I am white , '' Dolezal said at the time .
Cultural appropriation has become more and more taboo in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university communities .
Pop diva Adele recently found herself in hot water after posting a photo of herself on Instagram with her hair in Bantu knots , a traditional African hairstyle .

Washington (AFP) –
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A white US university professor who lied for years about being black has quit her job at George Washington University in the capital Washington, the school said Wednesday.
"Update regarding Jessica Krug: Dr. Krug has resigned her position, effective immediately," the university said on its Twitter account.
Krug -- a history professor focusing on Africa -- said she had been pretending to be black "for the better part" of her adult life.
"I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child in suburban Kansas City under various assumed identities within a Blackness that I had no right to claim," Krug wrote in a post on the platform Medium.
Krug, who is light-skinned, said she first claimed "North African Blackness, then US rooted Blackness, then Caribbean rooted Bronx Blackness."
One of her former students told CNN that Krug voiced pride in her Bronx roots, but told another student she was from Puerto Rico.
Krug said on Medium that her actions were the "very epitome of violence, of thievery and appropriation, of the myriad ways in which non-Black people continue to use and abuse Black identities and cultures."
The professor called herself a cultural "leech." The university launched an investigation in the situation last week, and said Krug would not be teaching this semester.
"We want to acknowledge the pain this situation has caused for many in our community," it said.
ON Wednesday, it announced she had resigned.
"Her classes for this semester will be taught by other faculty members, and students in those courses will receive additional information this week," it said on Twitter.
Krug's situation brought to mind the case of controversial US activist Rachel Dolezal, who made headlines in 2015 after saying she identified as black, even though both of her parents are white.
"I'm more black than I am white," Dolezal said at the time.
Cultural appropriation has become more and more taboo in the United States, notably in progressive and university communities.
Pop diva Adele recently found herself in hot water after posting a photo of herself on Instagram with her hair in Bantu knots, a traditional African hairstyle.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--England coach Eddie Jones joins San Diego Legion as adviser

England coach Eddie Jones is to join San Diego Legion as a part-time consultant to the franchise , the Major League Rugby club announced on Wednesday .
The Legion said Jones would advise the club on operations at `` every level '' either virtually or on the ground in San Diego .
`` My primary commitment remains to my England duties and other international commitments , but I have a passion for growing the game of rugby , '' Jones said in a statement released by the club .
`` I was very impressed by the vision and ambition shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivering a professional rugby outfit with the clear aim of winning trophies .
I am excited to support them in that endeavor . ''
Legion chairman Darren Gardner said Jones had been recruited to help turn the club into a `` world class rugby organization . ''
`` Eddie Jones is the benchmark for professionalism and global achievement in rugby , and we are confident he is the best person to help us do that , '' Gardner said .
`` We are also very committed to winning a championship for San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key role in helping us to achieve that goal . ''
Jones led England to the final at last year 's World Cup in Japan and also led the team to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016 .
He previously coached Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and also coached Japan at the 2015 World Cup .
San Diego stressed Jones 's work with the club would be fitted in around his England coaching responsibilities .
Jones agreed an extension to his existing England coaching contract earlier this year which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2023 World Cup in France .
San Diego have emerged as one of the strongest clubs in Major League Rugby , which launched in 2018 .
The Legion lost last season 's championship final to Seattle Seawolves .
The 2020 campaign was abandoned earlier this year due to the coronavirus epidemic .
The club has regularly looked overseas to recruit playing talent , notably signing former England captain Chris Robshaw for the 2021 and 2022 seasons as well as former All Blacks centre Ma ' a Nonu .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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England coach Eddie Jones is to join San Diego Legion as a part-time consultant to the franchise, the Major League Rugby club announced on Wednesday.
The Legion said Jones would advise the club on operations at "every level" either virtually or on the ground in San Diego.
"My primary commitment remains to my England duties and other international commitments, but I have a passion for growing the game of rugby," Jones said in a statement released by the club.
"I was very impressed by the vision and ambition shown by San Diego and its ownership in delivering a professional rugby outfit with the clear aim of winning trophies. I am excited to support them in that endeavor."
Legion chairman Darren Gardner said Jones had been recruited to help turn the club into a "world class rugby organization."
"Eddie Jones is the benchmark for professionalism and global achievement in rugby, and we are confident he is the best person to help us do that," Gardner said. "We are also very committed to winning a championship for San Diego, and we believe Eddie can play a key role in helping us to achieve that goal."
Jones led England to the final at last year's World Cup in Japan and also led the team to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016.
He previously coached Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and also coached Japan at the 2015 World Cup.
San Diego stressed Jones's work with the club would be fitted in around his England coaching responsibilities.
Jones agreed an extension to his existing England coaching contract earlier this year which will take the 60-year-old through to the 2023 World Cup in France.
San Diego have emerged as one of the strongest clubs in Major League Rugby, which launched in 2018. The Legion lost last season's championship final to Seattle Seawolves. The 2020 campaign was abandoned earlier this year due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The club has regularly looked overseas to recruit playing talent, notably signing former England captain Chris Robshaw for the 2021 and 2022 seasons as well as former All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--US revokes visas for 1,000 Chinese under Trump order

A pro-China activist holds an effigy of President Donald Trump outside the US consulate in Hong Kong in May 2020 after he announced restrictions on Chinese students The United States has revoked visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers under an order by President Donald Trump that accused some of them of espionage , the State Department said Wednesday .
Trump , in a May 29 proclamation as tensions rose with Beijing on multiple fronts , declared that some Chinese nationals officially in the United States for study have stolen intellectual property and helped modernize China 's military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first figures on the effects of Trump 's order , said that more than 1,000 visas have been revoked since it began implementing the proclamation on June 1 .
`` The high-risk graduate students and research scholars made ineligible under this proclamation represent a small subset of the total number of Chinese students and scholars coming to the United States , '' a State Department spokeswoman said .
`` We continue to welcome legitimate students and scholars from China who do not further the Chinese Communist Party 's goals of military dominance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to give details on whose visas have been revoked , citing privacy laws .
Nearly 370,000 students from China were enrolled at US universities in 2018-19 , the most of any country , offering a lucrative source of income to institutions that are now facing growing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic .
Some Asian American activists have warned that Trump 's orders are creating a climate of suspicion on campuses , with students of Asian descent facing unfounded questions about their intentions .
But US officials say the number of espionage cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of a concerted effort by Beijing .
US officials accuse China of seeking to steal university research into Covid-19 , a reason cited for the Trump administration 's closing China 's consulate in Houston in June .

Washington (AFP) –
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The United States has revoked visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers under an order by President Donald Trump that accused some of them of espionage, the State Department said Wednesday.
Trump, in a May 29 proclamation as tensions rose with Beijing on multiple fronts, declared that some Chinese nationals officially in the United States for study have stolen intellectual property and helped modernize China's military.
The State Department, offering its first figures on the effects of Trump's order, said that more than 1,000 visas have been revoked since it began implementing the proclamation on June 1.
"The high-risk graduate students and research scholars made ineligible under this proclamation represent a small subset of the total number of Chinese students and scholars coming to the United States," a State Department spokeswoman said.
"We continue to welcome legitimate students and scholars from China who do not further the Chinese Communist Party's goals of military dominance," she said.
The State Department declined to give details on whose visas have been revoked, citing privacy laws.
Nearly 370,000 students from China were enrolled at US universities in 2018-19, the most of any country, offering a lucrative source of income to institutions that are now facing growing pressure from the coronavirus pandemic.
Some Asian American activists have warned that Trump's orders are creating a climate of suspicion on campuses, with students of Asian descent facing unfounded questions about their intentions.
But US officials say the number of espionage cases involving China has soared in recent years as part of a concerted effort by Beijing.
US officials accuse China of seeking to steal university research into Covid-19, a reason cited for the Trump administration's closing China's consulate in Houston in June.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-09--Russia protests Germany's 'accusations and ultimatums' on Navalny

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny , who fell suddenly ill on a flight in a suspected poisoning , speaks at a rally in Moscow in September 2019 Russia on Wednesday issued a strong protest to Germany over the alleged poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny , denouncing what it said were baseless claims and warning of a major risk to diplomatic ties .
The foreign ministry in Moscow said it had summoned German ambassador Geza Andreas von Geyr and protested `` unfounded accusations and ultimatums against Russia '' and the `` obvious use of ( Navalny 's ) situation by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country '' .
It again urged Berlin to respond to a request from Russian prosecutors for the evidence , including medical data , that led Germany to declare that Navalny , one of President Vladimir Putin 's fiercest critics , had been poisoned with nerve agent Novichok .
Failure to provide the materials will be seen as a `` gross hostile provocation '' that would be `` fraught with consequences for Russian-German relations , as well as a serious complication of the international situation , '' the ministry said .
Navalny , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell seriously ill last month as he took a flight in Siberia and was evacuated to Berlin for treatment .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged Wednesday that `` there is a substantial chance that this actually came from senior Russian officials . ''
He warned that the United States would also investigate the poisoning and may take its own action .
`` It 's something that we 'll take a look at , we 'll evaluate , and we 'll make sure we do our part to do whatever we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this happen again , '' he said in a radio interview .
Moscow went on a diplomatic offensive on Thursday over the case , hitting back at Western accusations and talk of new sanctions against Russia .
As well as summoning the German envoy , the foreign ministry issued a response to a G7 statement calling for those behind the suspected poisoning to be quickly found and prosecuted .
The ministry denounced an `` ongoing massive disinformation campaign '' aimed at `` mobilising sanctions sentiment '' that had nothing to do with Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genuine reasons for his hospitalisation '' .
`` Unfounded attacks on Russia are continuing , '' the ministry said , with a `` whipping up of hysteria '' around the case .
Germany said last week there was unequivocal evidence that Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok , the same substance used in the 2018 attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury .
Navalny 's associates say the use of Novichok , a military-grade nerve agent , shows that only the Russian state could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denies any involvement .
Russian officials have repeatedly accused Germany of being slow to share the findings of its investigation despite the request from prosecutors .
The Navalny poisoning is the latest in a long series of assassination attempts against Kremlin critics .
Already suffering from wide-ranging Western sanctions imposed over its 2014 annexation of Crimea , as well as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the drop in oil prices , Moscow is anxious to avoid any further pressure on its economy .
As well as talk of sanctions , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Nord Stream 2 project , a 10 billion euro ( $ 11 billion ) pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea that is near completion and set to double Russian natural gas shipments to Germany .
Navalny became sick after boarding a plane in Siberia last month , with aides saying they suspect he drank a cup of spiked tea at the airport .
He was initially treated at a local hospital , where doctors said they were unable to find any toxic substances in his blood , before he was flown to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treating him said Monday that he was out of a medically induced coma and reacting to speech .

Moscow (AFP) –
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Russia on Wednesday issued a strong protest to Germany over the alleged poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, denouncing what it said were baseless claims and warning of a major risk to diplomatic ties.
The foreign ministry in Moscow said it had summoned German ambassador Geza Andreas von Geyr and protested "unfounded accusations and ultimatums against Russia" and the "obvious use of (Navalny's) situation by Berlin as a pretext to discredit our country".
It again urged Berlin to respond to a request from Russian prosecutors for the evidence, including medical data, that led Germany to declare that Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics, had been poisoned with nerve agent Novichok.
Failure to provide the materials will be seen as a "gross hostile provocation" that would be "fraught with consequences for Russian-German relations, as well as a serious complication of the international situation," the ministry said.
Navalny, a 44-year-old lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner, suddenly fell seriously ill last month as he took a flight in Siberia and was evacuated to Berlin for treatment.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged Wednesday that "there is a substantial chance that this actually came from senior Russian officials."
He warned that the United States would also investigate the poisoning and may take its own action.
"It's something that we'll take a look at, we'll evaluate, and we'll make sure we do our part to do whatever we can to reduce the risk that things like this happen again," he said in a radio interview.
- 'Massive disinformation campaign' -
Moscow went on a diplomatic offensive on Thursday over the case, hitting back at Western accusations and talk of new sanctions against Russia.
As well as summoning the German envoy, the foreign ministry issued a response to a G7 statement calling for those behind the suspected poisoning to be quickly found and prosecuted.
The ministry denounced an "ongoing massive disinformation campaign" aimed at "mobilising sanctions sentiment" that had nothing to do with Navalny's health or "finding out the genuine reasons for his hospitalisation".
"Unfounded attacks on Russia are continuing," the ministry said, with a "whipping up of hysteria" around the case.
Germany said last week there was unequivocal evidence that Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok, the same substance used in the 2018 attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury.
Navalny's associates say the use of Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent, shows that only the Russian state could be responsible, but the Kremlin strenuously denies any involvement.
Russian officials have repeatedly accused Germany of being slow to share the findings of its investigation despite the request from prosecutors.
The Navalny poisoning is the latest in a long series of assassination attempts against Kremlin critics.
Already suffering from wide-ranging Western sanctions imposed over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, as well as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the drop in oil prices, Moscow is anxious to avoid any further pressure on its economy.
As well as talk of sanctions, some in Germany have called for an end to the Nord Stream 2 project, a 10 billion euro ($11 billion) pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea that is near completion and set to double Russian natural gas shipments to Germany.
Navalny became sick after boarding a plane in Siberia last month, with aides saying they suspect he drank a cup of spiked tea at the airport.
He was initially treated at a local hospital, where doctors said they were unable to find any toxic substances in his blood, before he was flown to Berlin for specialised treatment.
The hospital treating him said Monday that he was out of a medically induced coma and reacting to speech.
© 2020 AFP