france24--2020-10-13--New York Philharmonic cancels 2020-21 season over Covid-19

A woman pushes a cart outside Lincoln Center and the New York Philharmonic at the height of the pandemic in the city in April 2020 The New York Philharmonic has cancelled all shows through mid-June 2021 over the coronavirus pandemic , the first time the 178-year-old institution has been forced to scrap an entire season .
The famed symphony said it made the decision -- the latest blow to live music , coming after similar moves by Broadway and the city 's Metropolitan Opera -- on the advice of health officials .
The Phil vowed to continue offering free digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded winter and spring orchestra streaming series at a later date .
The company also said in the spring it would reboot its newly minted outdoor pop-up series , which found success this fall and features small ensembles who play free shows in parks and on street corners throughout the city on weekends .
`` The cancellation of an entire New York Philharmonic season is not only unprecedented -- it is devastating , both in its impact on the morale of musicians and audiences , and in its profound economic consequences , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deborah Borda , adding there was `` no other choice . ''
`` This will not be a silent season , and we eagerly anticipate September 2021 , when the entire Orchestra can reunite with our audience .
We can not wait for that first downbeat ! ''
she said .
The Phil said it estimates a net loss of approximately $ 10 million in the most recent fiscal year , as well as a loss of $ 20 million in ticket revenue from the cancelled 2020-21 season .
Nearly half of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off , and staff making more than $ 100,000 year have pay cuts up to 30 percent .
A Philharmonic spokesperson told AFP the organization is in negotiations with musicians but declined to comment on specifics per its agreement with the union .
Currently symphony musicians are receiving 75 percent of their base pay , about $ 2,200 a week .
Those who normally earn salaries above base are receiving 35 percent of overscale .
The prolonged lull at Lincoln Center 's David Geffen Hall , the Manhattan stage where the Phil performs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The acoustic overhaul of the facility first opened in 1962 was slated for opening May 2022 , with an estimated cost of $ 550 million .

New York (AFP) –
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The New York Philharmonic has cancelled all shows through mid-June 2021 over the coronavirus pandemic, the first time the 178-year-old institution has been forced to scrap an entire season.
The famed symphony said it made the decision -- the latest blow to live music, coming after similar moves by Broadway and the city's Metropolitan Opera -- on the advice of health officials.
The Phil vowed to continue offering free digital content and said it would announce an expanded winter and spring orchestra streaming series at a later date.
The company also said in the spring it would reboot its newly minted outdoor pop-up series, which found success this fall and features small ensembles who play free shows in parks and on street corners throughout the city on weekends.
"The cancellation of an entire New York Philharmonic season is not only unprecedented -- it is devastating, both in its impact on the morale of musicians and audiences, and in its profound economic consequences," said the institution's President and CEO Deborah Borda, adding there was "no other choice."
"This will not be a silent season, and we eagerly anticipate September 2021, when the entire Orchestra can reunite with our audience. We cannot wait for that first downbeat!" she said.
The Phil said it estimates a net loss of approximately $10 million in the most recent fiscal year, as well as a loss of $20 million in ticket revenue from the cancelled 2020-21 season.
Nearly half of the administrative staff has been furloughed or layed off, and staff making more than $100,000 year have pay cuts up to 30 percent.
A Philharmonic spokesperson told AFP the organization is in negotiations with musicians but declined to comment on specifics per its agreement with the union.
Currently symphony musicians are receiving 75 percent of their base pay, about $2,200 a week. Those who normally earn salaries above base are receiving 35 percent of overscale.
The prolonged lull at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall, the Manhattan stage where the Phil performs, could provide time for long-planned renovations.
The acoustic overhaul of the facility first opened in 1962 was slated for opening May 2022, with an estimated cost of $550 million.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Supreme Court nominee hearing: Coney Barrett avoids questions on abortion & healthcare

US Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett insisted Tuesday that she had no fixed views on hot-button legal issues as @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump 's vehicle to end abortion rights and kill the popular Obamacare health program @ @ @ @ @ of hearings on her hurried nomination , Barrett , who if approved will tilt the @ @ @ @ @ right , told lawmakers she would put personal and religious beliefs aside when deciding landmark @ @ @ @ @ Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more .

Supreme Court nominee hearing: Coney Barrett avoids questions on abortion & healthcare
01:48
US Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett insisted Tuesday that she had no fixed views on hot-button legal issues as Democrats painted her as President Donald Trump's vehicle to end abortion rights and kill the popular Obamacare health program. In the second day of hearings on her hurried nomination, Barrett, who if approved will tilt the high court decisively to the right, told lawmakers she would put personal and religious beliefs aside when deciding landmark cases. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.


france24--2020-10-14--Post-Brexit trade talks on brink as time runs out

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson ( L ) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , seen here earlier this year , are to hold new post-Brexit talks British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hold crunch talks on Wednesday with time running short for the two leaders to decide on whether it is worth pursuing post-Brexit trade negotiations .
The call between the two comes on the eve of an EU summit that Johnson had declared to be the deadline for a breakthrough , but a source close to the talks said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The European Union had never recognised the October 15 ultimatum , but diplomats have prepared a draft summit conclusion proposing to `` intensify '' the negotiations .
A source close to the negotiations told reporters that Johnson 's call with Von der Leyen would not necessarily be decisive .
The source said that London would not make any decision on next steps before hearing the result of Thursday 's summit .
EU spokesman Eric Mamer said the call would take place at 8:30pm ( 1830 GMT ) and would also involve EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 27 EU leaders will meet in Brussels and the log-jam in the post-Brexit trade talks with their former partner will be the first item on their summit programme .
According to draft conclusions seen by AFP , they will express concern `` that progress on key issues of interest to the Union is still not sufficient for an agreement to be reached . ''
And they will invite EU negotiator Michel Barnier to `` intensify negotiations '' to strike and implement a trade deal before January 1 , when the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain left the European Union on January 31 , but Barnier and UK negotiator David Frost have been locked in inconclusive talks on a follow-on arrangement for cross-Channel business .
If no deal is reached , trade rules will revert to the bare bones of World Trade Organisation regulations .
Both sides insist they are ready for this -- and would prefer it to accepting a deal that breaks their red lines -- but experts forecast severe economic disruption .
Seeking to spur progress , Johnson declared October 15 to be his deadline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This date now seems likely to pass without talks breaking down .
On Tuesday , after meeting EU ministers in Luxembourg , Barnier stressed that much remains to be done .
`` The EU will continue to work for a fair deal in the coming days and weeks , '' he tweeted .
In response , a UK government source accused Brussels of `` using the old playbook in which they thought running down the clock would work against the UK . ''
Europe 's three main concerns are agreeing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these rules will be policed and securing access to UK waters for EU fishing fleets .
Britain wants to reassert sovereignty over its waters and refuse EU legal oversight over the deal -- insisting it wants a simple trade deal of the kind the EU signed with Canada .
Brussels in turn stresses that Britain 's economy is far more integrated with and closer to the EU 's than Canada , and that the single market must be protected from British backsliding .
Northern fishing nations , in particular France , are holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that their boats operated in UK waters for centuries before the EU was formed .
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said : `` As things currently stand , the hypothesis of a 'no deal ' is a very real one , and also one that is unfortunately very likely today . ''
On Tuesday , Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the two sides were still `` very far apart '' and insisted EU trawlermen would not be hung out to dry .
In a speech to the EU Committee of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angela Merkel said `` we will not leave Ireland alone here '' , pledging EU unity .
`` We will discuss this intensively at the European Council in two days ' time , we want an agreement , '' she said .
`` But we must also face up to reality , because an agreement must of course be in the interests of both sides . ''

Brussels (AFP) –
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen hold crunch talks on Wednesday with time running short for the two leaders to decide on whether it is worth pursuing post-Brexit trade negotiations.
The call between the two comes on the eve of an EU summit that Johnson had declared to be the deadline for a breakthrough, but a source close to the talks said he would only decide after the meeting.
The European Union had never recognised the October 15 ultimatum, but diplomats have prepared a draft summit conclusion proposing to "intensify" the negotiations.
A source close to the negotiations told reporters that Johnson's call with Von der Leyen would not necessarily be decisive. The source said that London would not make any decision on next steps before hearing the result of Thursday's summit.
EU spokesman Eric Mamer said the call would take place at 8:30pm (1830 GMT) and would also involve EU Council president Charles Michel.
On Thursday, the 27 EU leaders will meet in Brussels and the log-jam in the post-Brexit trade talks with their former partner will be the first item on their summit programme.
According to draft conclusions seen by AFP, they will express concern "that progress on key issues of interest to the Union is still not sufficient for an agreement to be reached."
And they will invite EU negotiator Michel Barnier to "intensify negotiations" to strike and implement a trade deal before January 1, when the UK will have left the single market.
Britain left the European Union on January 31, but Barnier and UK negotiator David Frost have been locked in inconclusive talks on a follow-on arrangement for cross-Channel business.
If no deal is reached, trade rules will revert to the bare bones of World Trade Organisation regulations.
- Fair competition -
Both sides insist they are ready for this -- and would prefer it to accepting a deal that breaks their red lines -- but experts forecast severe economic disruption.
Seeking to spur progress, Johnson declared October 15 to be his deadline to reach a deal or walk away. This date now seems likely to pass without talks breaking down.
On Tuesday, after meeting EU ministers in Luxembourg, Barnier stressed that much remains to be done.
"The EU will continue to work for a fair deal in the coming days and weeks," he tweeted.
In response, a UK government source accused Brussels of "using the old playbook in which they thought running down the clock would work against the UK."
Europe's three main concerns are agreeing on the rules of fair competition, agreeing how these rules will be policed and securing access to UK waters for EU fishing fleets.
Britain wants to reassert sovereignty over its waters and refuse EU legal oversight over the deal -- insisting it wants a simple trade deal of the kind the EU signed with Canada.
Brussels in turn stresses that Britain's economy is far more integrated with and closer to the EU's than Canada, and that the single market must be protected from British backsliding.
Northern fishing nations, in particular France, are holding a firm line on fishing, insisting that their boats operated in UK waters for centuries before the EU was formed.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said: "As things currently stand, the hypothesis of a 'no deal' is a very real one, and also one that is unfortunately very likely today."
On Tuesday, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the two sides were still "very far apart" and insisted EU trawlermen would not be hung out to dry.
- ' Face reality' -
In a speech to the EU Committee of the Regions on Tuesday, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said "we will not leave Ireland alone here", pledging EU unity.
"We will discuss this intensively at the European Council in two days' time, we want an agreement," she said.
"But we must also face up to reality, because an agreement must of course be in the interests of both sides."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Israel approves first West Bank settler homes since Gulf deals

NGO Peace Now says Israel 's resumption of settlement expansion across the occupied West Bank deals a blow to hopes of a wider Israeli-Arab peace after normalisation deals with two Gulf states earlier this year Israel approved 2,166 new homes in settlements across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday , official figures sent to AFP showed , ending an eight-month lull in settlement expansion .
The approvals came less than a month after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements to normalise relations with Israel , which in return pledged to freeze its plans to annex swathes of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the settlement uptick signals Israel 's rejection of Palestinian statehood and deals a blow to hopes of a wider Israeli-Arab peace .
It said that around 2,000 more homes were expected to be approved on Thursday .
`` Netanyahu is moving ahead at full steam toward solidifying the de facto annexation of the West Bank , '' it said in a statement ahead of Wednesday 's decisions .
US President Donald Trump sees the Gulf accords as part of his broader initiative for Middle East peace .
But a controversial plan he unveiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annexation of large chunks of the West Bank , including the settlements , communities considered illegal under international law .
Israel agreed to delay those plans under its normalisation deal with the UAE , something Emirati officials have cited in response to Arab and Muslim criticism .
The two Gulf countries were only the third and fourth Arab states to normalise relations with Israel , following Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 , and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he sees others following .

Jerusalem (AFP) –
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Israel approved 2,166 new homes in settlements across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, official figures sent to AFP showed, ending an eight-month lull in settlement expansion.
The approvals came less than a month after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements to normalise relations with Israel, which in return pledged to freeze its plans to annex swathes of the West Bank.
NGO Peace Now says the settlement uptick signals Israel's rejection of Palestinian statehood and deals a blow to hopes of a wider Israeli-Arab peace.
It said that around 2,000 more homes were expected to be approved on Thursday.
"Netanyahu is moving ahead at full steam toward solidifying the de facto annexation of the West Bank," it said in a statement ahead of Wednesday's decisions.
US President Donald Trump sees the Gulf accords as part of his broader initiative for Middle East peace.
But a controversial plan he unveiled in January gave US blessing to Israeli annexation of large chunks of the West Bank, including the settlements, communities considered illegal under international law.
Israel agreed to delay those plans under its normalisation deal with the UAE, something Emirati officials have cited in response to Arab and Muslim criticism.
The two Gulf countries were only the third and fourth Arab states to normalise relations with Israel, following Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he sees others following.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Nigeria's youth finds voice in police brutality protests

Across Nigeria , young protesters have sang and danced , calling for the political change and the end to police brutality Protests against police brutality in Nigeria have brought Africa 's largest city to a standstill and dominated social media , channelling anger among the frustrated youth that has forced the government to listen .
From raising funds online to influencers drawing big crowds , the campaign has topped Twitter worldwide and received support from some of Africa 's biggest celebrities .
In Lagos , Abuja , Port Harcourt and other cities , young protesters have sang and danced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they brandish placards reading `` stop police violence '' , `` no justice , no peace '' .
`` This is unprecedented , '' Udo Jude Ilo from the Open Society Initiative in West Africa told AFP , pointing out that protests in Nigeria are normally organised by political parties or unions .
`` Young people who are usually seen as removed from governance were now asking the hard questions. ''
.
The movement first targeted the police 's notorious federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS ) after a video of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The hashtag `` EndSARS '' was trending worldwide on Twitter late last week , part of the campaign led by young people in Africa 's most populous country , where the median age is 18 .
The government announced on Sunday that it was disbanding the unit -- which has long been accused of unlawful arrests , torture and extrajudicial killings -- and that an independent body would investigate abuse .
But the government has previously promised to end the unit and not followed through , so the protests have continued and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vowing to hold the authorities accountable .
`` It 's no news to us that things are said but not actually done , '' said Anita Izato , a young lawyer based in the capital Abuja .
`` We 've learnt not to trust until we see actions . ''
`` For me it 's personal because I have five brothers , and police usually target young men , '' said the 24-year-old , who helped spearhead demonstrations .
In a country ruled by an entrenched elite dominated by ageing politicians , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the impact of corruption , violence and a lack of opportunities .
Victims of police abuse in Nigeria are often between 16 and 35 years old according to data collected by SBM Intelligence , a research and data consultancy .
`` Mobilisation has been huge because the youth actually faces an injustice that they can all relate to , that goes beyond tribes and family backgrounds , '' Leo Dasilva , a 28-year-old equity investor and real estate developer who has nearly 100,000 followers on Twitter , told AFP .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to SBM Intelligence analyst Confidence MacHarry , is that internet penetration has grown in recent years and police brutality is now often shown and shared online .
Obong Roviel , who has nearly 300,000 Twitter followers , is one of many who has been galvanising support -- but he rejects the term `` leader '' .
`` I 'm just a conscientious citizen like others affected by police brutality .
I 'm not an activist , I do n't play any role , I just use my voice , '' the 23-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader and that is why the protests have been sustained this long , '' he said .
`` This mobilisation has been all about the connections of the youth , the ones out there on the streets , raising funds , using their influence correctly , the youths who are public figures telling everyone to stand firm and the youths in diaspora that really care . ''
Fuelling the protests has been the high-profile support from some of Africa 's biggest stars who have previously been seen as steering clear of politics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests in Abuja while Afropop star Wizkid made a noticed appearance at a gathering in front of the Nigerian embassy in London .
`` There is a hunger for pop musicians to assume leadership in the country , especially in the south where Afropop stars are the most popular figures across social classes . ''
American rapper Kanye West also joined in on Monday , tweeting that he stood with his `` Nigerian brothers and sisters to end police brutality . ''
As a second week of protests began and the government made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movement would last .
`` We 'll rest when we get results .
We 'll rest when we get a better Nigeria .
We 'll rest when police brutality totally disappears , '' Izato responded .
There is still much uncertainty surrounding the fate of officers suspected or accused of human rights violations as well as the shape and form of the police unit that will replace SARS .
`` I think it will be a lifestyle now . ''

Lagos (AFP) –
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Protests against police brutality in Nigeria have brought Africa's largest city to a standstill and dominated social media, channelling anger among the frustrated youth that has forced the government to listen.
From raising funds online to influencers drawing big crowds, the campaign has topped Twitter worldwide and received support from some of Africa's biggest celebrities.
In Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other cities, young protesters have sang and danced, sprayed graffiti and snapped themselves for Instagram as they brandish placards reading "stop police violence", "no justice, no peace".
"This is unprecedented," Udo Jude Ilo from the Open Society Initiative in West Africa told AFP, pointing out that protests in Nigeria are normally organised by political parties or unions.
"Young people who are usually seen as removed from governance were now asking the hard questions.".
The movement first targeted the police's notorious federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) after a video of an officer allegedly killing a man went viral.
The hashtag "EndSARS" was trending worldwide on Twitter late last week, part of the campaign led by young people in Africa's most populous country, where the median age is 18.
The government announced on Sunday that it was disbanding the unit -- which has long been accused of unlawful arrests, torture and extrajudicial killings -- and that an independent body would investigate abuse.
But the government has previously promised to end the unit and not followed through, so the protests have continued and even spread, the country's youth vowing to hold the authorities accountable.
- 'Learnt not to trust' -
"It's no news to us that things are said but not actually done," said Anita Izato, a young lawyer based in the capital Abuja.
"We've learnt not to trust until we see actions."
"For me it's personal because I have five brothers, and police usually target young men," said the 24-year-old, who helped spearhead demonstrations.
In a country ruled by an entrenched elite dominated by ageing politicians, it is most often the young who suffer from the impact of corruption, violence and a lack of opportunities.
Victims of police abuse in Nigeria are often between 16 and 35 years old according to data collected by SBM Intelligence, a research and data consultancy.
"Mobilisation has been huge because the youth actually faces an injustice that they can all relate to, that goes beyond tribes and family backgrounds," Leo Dasilva, a 28-year-old equity investor and real estate developer who has nearly 100,000 followers on Twitter, told AFP.
One of the main differences with previous protests, according to SBM Intelligence analyst Confidence MacHarry, is that internet penetration has grown in recent years and police brutality is now often shown and shared online.
Obong Roviel, who has nearly 300,000 Twitter followers, is one of many who has been galvanising support -- but he rejects the term "leader".
"I'm just a conscientious citizen like others affected by police brutality. I'm not an activist, I don't play any role, I just use my voice," the 23-year-old told AFP.
"There is no leader and that is why the protests have been sustained this long," he said.
"This mobilisation has been all about the connections of the youth, the ones out there on the streets, raising funds, using their influence correctly, the youths who are public figures telling everyone to stand firm and the youths in diaspora that really care."
- Stars back protests -
Fuelling the protests has been the high-profile support from some of Africa's biggest stars who have previously been seen as steering clear of politics.
Musician Davido was at the forefront of protests in Abuja while Afropop star Wizkid made a noticed appearance at a gathering in front of the Nigerian embassy in London.
"That matters," music journalist Oris Aigbokhaevbolo told AFP.
"There is a hunger for pop musicians to assume leadership in the country, especially in the south where Afropop stars are the most popular figures across social classes."
American rapper Kanye West also joined in on Monday, tweeting that he stood with his "Nigerian brothers and sisters to end police brutality."
As a second week of protests began and the government made new announcements, many wondered how long the movement would last.
"We'll rest when we get results. We'll rest when we get a better Nigeria. We'll rest when police brutality totally disappears," Izato responded.
There is still much uncertainty surrounding the fate of officers suspected or accused of human rights violations as well as the shape and form of the police unit that will replace SARS.
"I think it will be a lifestyle now."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Congo activist fined for snatching 'looted' Paris museum artefact

A Congolese activist who snatched an African artefact from a French museum to protest the looting of art during colonial times received a 1,000-euro fine for theft from a Paris court on Wednesday .
Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza grabbed a 19th century Chadian funerary post during a tour of the Quai Branly museum in Paris on June 12 Shouting `` we 're bringing it home '' he then made for the exit with four other members of an association that campaigns for the return of stolen African art before being stopped by guards .
The protest , which one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the first in a series by Diyabanza who has since snatched African artefacts in museums in the Netherlands and in the French port of Marseille .
He faces court cases in those cities too .
Wednesday 's hearing came a week after French lawmakers voted to return prized artefacts to Benin and Senegal more than a century after they were looted by colonial forces and hauled back to Paris to be displayed in museums .
Benin will recover the throne of its 19th-century King Glele -- a centrepiece of the 70,000-odd African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which showcases indigenous art .
Senegal , meanwhile , will get back a sword and scabbard said to have belonged to Omar Saidou Tall , an important 19th century military and religious figure .
African leaders and activists have called on President Emmanuel Macron 's government to go further and return more items .
Announcing plans to appeal his fine , Diyabanza told reporters after Wednesday 's hearing that the `` judges of a corrupt government '' had no moral right to prevent him `` going to get what belongs to us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight with whatever means we have , '' he said .
Three of the activists who accompanied him to Quai Branly museum received suspended fines of 250 euros ( $ 294 ) , 750 euros ( $ 589 ) and 1,000 euros ( $ 1,177 ) .
A fourth was cleared of the charges .
The judge acknowledged that their actions were `` activist '' in nature but said he was fining them to `` discourage '' further such stunts .
`` You have other ways of drawing the attention of politicians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colonial cultural theft , he said .
An expert report commissioned by Macron in 2018 counted some 90,000 African works in French museums , most of them at the Quai Branly .
Britain has also faced calls to return artefacts , notably the Elgin Marbles to Greece and the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria .
Museums in Belgium and Austria also house tens of thousands of African pieces .

Paris (AFP) –
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A Congolese activist who snatched an African artefact from a French museum to protest the looting of art during colonial times received a 1,000-euro fine for theft from a Paris court on Wednesday.
Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza grabbed a 19th century Chadian funerary post during a tour of the Quai Branly museum in Paris on June 12
Shouting "we're bringing it home" he then made for the exit with four other members of an association that campaigns for the return of stolen African art before being stopped by guards.
The protest, which one of the activists filmed and live-streamed on Facebook, was the first in a series by Diyabanza who has since snatched African artefacts in museums in the Netherlands and in the French port of Marseille.
He faces court cases in those cities too.
Wednesday's hearing came a week after French lawmakers voted to return prized artefacts to Benin and Senegal more than a century after they were looted by colonial forces and hauled back to Paris to be displayed in museums.
Benin will recover the throne of its 19th-century King Glele -- a centrepiece of the 70,000-odd African items held at the Quai Branly museum, which showcases indigenous art.
Senegal, meanwhile, will get back a sword and scabbard said to have belonged to Omar Saidou Tall, an important 19th century military and religious figure.
African leaders and activists have called on President Emmanuel Macron's government to go further and return more items.
Announcing plans to appeal his fine, Diyabanza told reporters after Wednesday's hearing that the "judges of a corrupt government" had no moral right to prevent him "going to get what belongs to us".
"We will continue the fight with whatever means we have," he said.
Three of the activists who accompanied him to Quai Branly museum received suspended fines of 250 euros ($294), 750 euros ($589) and 1,000 euros ($1,177).
A fourth was cleared of the charges.
- 90,000 African objects -
The judge acknowledged that their actions were "activist" in nature but said he was fining them to "discourage" further such stunts.
"You have other ways of drawing the attention of politicians and the public" to the issue of colonial cultural theft, he said.
An expert report commissioned by Macron in 2018 counted some 90,000 African works in French museums, most of them at the Quai Branly.
Britain has also faced calls to return artefacts, notably the Elgin Marbles to Greece and the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.
Museums in Belgium and Austria also house tens of thousands of African pieces.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Trump, Biden target battleground states in race for White House

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are both targeting key battleground states this week as the race for the White House @ @ @ @ @ But while both are targeting voters in swing states , their rhetoric and approach to @ @ @ @ @ be further apart .

Trump, Biden target battleground states in race for White House
01:56
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are both targeting key battleground states this week as the race for the White House enters its final leg. But while both are targeting voters in swing states, their rhetoric and approach to Covid-19 safety protocols could hardly be further apart.


france24--2020-10-14--Tunisia: Protests erupt after man killed in kiosk demolition

The death of a street vendor has sparked angry protests in the Tunisian city of Sbeïtla .
The man was @ @ @ @ @ authorities bulldozed the structure in the middle of the night .

Tunisia: Protests erupt after man killed in kiosk demolition
01:54
The death of a street vendor has sparked angry protests in the Tunisian city of Sbeïtla. The man was sleeping inside a kiosk when authorities bulldozed the structure in the middle of the night.


france24--2020-10-14--Show of force between pro-democracy protesters, royalists in Bangkok

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok rallied in front of a massive crowd out in force to show support for the Thai king on Wednesday as tensions rose over a burgeoning youth-led protest movement calling for democratic reforms .
Student activists have staged large rallies in recent months demanding the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha , a former army chief who first rose to power in a coup six years ago .
Some have also demanded reforms to the kingdom 's powerful monarchy -- a move that has prompted a backlash from Thailand 's staunchly pro-royalist establishment .
A protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought forward by activists worried about potential clashes with royalist groups , who started gathering around the area ahead of a scheduled royal motorcade ferrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn later in the afternoon .
`` There will be provocations from the other side so please trust in me -- we do n't want to clash with anyone , '' said Anon Numpa , a prominent activist .
`` When the royal motorcade arrives , do n't utter swear words . ''
Most protesters ultimately left the scene and started marching to nearby Government House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife were due to drive by .
Gathered along the motorcade route were thousands of others dressed in yellow shirts -- the king 's colours -- who said they were hoping to catch a glimpse of the monarch later .
Some had been ferried into the area in organised trucks and the crowd was massed in numbers that appeared to rival the size of the anti-government demonstrators .
Protesters linked arms and marched away chanting `` Prayut , get out ! ''
and `` Long live the people ! ''
as the royalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We want to show that we love the king , '' said 47-year-old Sirilak Kasemsawat , who accused the pro-democracy movement of wanting to `` overthrow '' the monarchy .
Activists have repeatedly denied that charge , saying they wish only to `` adapt '' it for modern times .
Their demands include the abolition of a strict royal defamation law -- which shields the king from criticism -- and for the monarch to stay out of the country 's turbulent politics .
More than 5,000 anti-government protesters had gathered by afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ground by AFP reporters estimated double that amount .
More than 15,000 police were deployed to control the situation .
The gathering comes a day after police clashed with protesters staging an impromptu rally at the same site , arresting 21 activists in an attempt to clear the area for an earlier royal motorcade .
Dozens of remaining protesters raised a three-finger salute as the royal motorcade drove by on Tuesday , a gesture of defiance the pro-democracy movement has borrowed from the popular `` Hunger Games '' films .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalitions to appear in the turbulent modern history of Thailand , which has endured long bouts of political unrest and more than a dozen successful military coups .
The army has long positioned itself as the sole defender of the ultra-wealthy king , whose influence permeates every aspect of Thai society .
Wednesday 's demonstration is intended to commemorate the 47th anniversary of a 1973 student uprising against a hated military dictatorship that saw 77 people killed .
`` This could be the last fight for Thailand 's democracy , '' said 18-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's northern Pichit province to join the rally .
`` I have to do this if I want a better future . ''
Dozens of anti-government activists have been arrested , charged with sedition , and released on bail since July .
But he added that the student-led movement appeared disorganised and seemed to be struggling to articulate a clear and singular objective .
`` The protest movement requires more time and public persuasion that reform and change are needed , '' he told AFP .

Bangkok (AFP) –
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Thousands of anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok rallied in front of a massive crowd out in force to show support for the Thai king on Wednesday as tensions rose over a burgeoning youth-led protest movement calling for democratic reforms.
Student activists have staged large rallies in recent months demanding the resignation of Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army chief who first rose to power in a coup six years ago.
Some have also demanded reforms to the kingdom's powerful monarchy -- a move that has prompted a backlash from Thailand's staunchly pro-royalist establishment.
A protest at the capital's Democracy Monument was brought forward by activists worried about potential clashes with royalist groups, who started gathering around the area ahead of a scheduled royal motorcade ferrying King Maha Vajiralongkorn later in the afternoon.
"There will be provocations from the other side so please trust in me -- we don't want to clash with anyone," said Anon Numpa, a prominent activist. "When the royal motorcade arrives, don't utter swear words."
Most protesters ultimately left the scene and started marching to nearby Government House two hours before the monarch and his wife were due to drive by.
Gathered along the motorcade route were thousands of others dressed in yellow shirts -- the king's colours -- who said they were hoping to catch a glimpse of the monarch later.
Some had been ferried into the area in organised trucks and the crowd was massed in numbers that appeared to rival the size of the anti-government demonstrators.
Protesters linked arms and marched away chanting "Prayut, get out!" and "Long live the people!" as the royalist group shouted insults at the crowd.
"We want to show that we love the king," said 47-year-old Sirilak Kasemsawat, who accused the pro-democracy movement of wanting to "overthrow" the monarchy.
Activists have repeatedly denied that charge, saying they wish only to "adapt" it for modern times.
Their demands include the abolition of a strict royal defamation law -- which shields the king from criticism -- and for the monarch to stay out of the country's turbulent politics.
More than 5,000 anti-government protesters had gathered by afternoon, authorities say, though a count on the ground by AFP reporters estimated double that amount.
More than 15,000 police were deployed to control the situation.
- 'I want a better future' -
The gathering comes a day after police clashed with protesters staging an impromptu rally at the same site, arresting 21 activists in an attempt to clear the area for an earlier royal motorcade.
Dozens of remaining protesters raised a three-finger salute as the royal motorcade drove by on Tuesday, a gesture of defiance the pro-democracy movement has borrowed from the popular "Hunger Games" films.
The movement is the latest of several pro-democracy coalitions to appear in the turbulent modern history of Thailand, which has endured long bouts of political unrest and more than a dozen successful military coups.
The army has long positioned itself as the sole defender of the ultra-wealthy king, whose influence permeates every aspect of Thai society.
Wednesday's demonstration is intended to commemorate the 47th anniversary of a 1973 student uprising against a hated military dictatorship that saw 77 people killed.
"This could be the last fight for Thailand's democracy," said 18-year-old Attaporn, who travelled from the kingdom's northern Pichit province to join the rally.
"I have to do this if I want a better future."
Dozens of anti-government activists have been arrested, charged with sedition, and released on bail since July.
But he added that the student-led movement appeared disorganised and seemed to be struggling to articulate a clear and singular objective.
"The protest movement requires more time and public persuasion that reform and change are needed," he told AFP.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Japan swim champ Seto suspended for affair

Japan 's top Olympic swimmer Daiya Seto has been barred from competitions and official training until the end of the year as punishment for an affair exposed by a tabloid .
The star athlete was caught on camera in September by a gossip magazine , which chronicled the married 26-year-old 's movements as he picked up his girlfriend , took her to a `` love hotel '' , then went to pick up his daughter from nursery .
Seto apologised for his `` irresponsible behaviour '' in a statement on Tuesday , saying he accepted the sanctions from the Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and abroad .
It means that Seto -- the reigning world champion in the 200m and 400m individual medley -- will miss a national competition in December .
But he will still be allowed to take part in the Games next summer and can also practise in private , the swimming federation said .
Seto will also have to complete the Japan Olympic Committee 's `` integrity education '' programme among other courses , according to his management .
`` I intend to sincerely give my full attention to swimming ... so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my family , whom I hurt deeply with my irresponsible behaviour , and regain the acceptance of my family as well as all of you as a swimmer , '' Seto said in his statement .
The tabloid expose and the federation 's punishment has become a subject of lively discussion on daytime TV talk shows , where Seto is not a usual subject .
Japanese swimming officials told local media that Seto 's actions had violated the code of sportsmanship and harmed the honour of the federation .
The Tokyo Olympics was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic forced a one-year delay .
Officials are yet to announce exactly how the postponed event will be held , and at what cost .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Japan's top Olympic swimmer Daiya Seto has been barred from competitions and official training until the end of the year as punishment for an affair exposed by a tabloid.
The star athlete was caught on camera in September by a gossip magazine, which chronicled the married 26-year-old's movements as he picked up his girlfriend, took her to a "love hotel", then went to pick up his daughter from nursery.
Seto apologised for his "irresponsible behaviour" in a statement on Tuesday, saying he accepted the sanctions from the Japan Swimming Federation, which include events at home and abroad.
It means that Seto -- the reigning world champion in the 200m and 400m individual medley -- will miss a national competition in December.
But he will still be allowed to take part in the Games next summer and can also practise in private, the swimming federation said.
Seto will also have to complete the Japan Olympic Committee's "integrity education" programme among other courses, according to his management.
"I intend to sincerely give my full attention to swimming... so that I may regain the trust of my family, whom I hurt deeply with my irresponsible behaviour, and regain the acceptance of my family as well as all of you as a swimmer," Seto said in his statement.
The tabloid expose and the federation's punishment has become a subject of lively discussion on daytime TV talk shows, where Seto is not a usual subject.
Japanese swimming officials told local media that Seto's actions had violated the code of sportsmanship and harmed the honour of the federation.
The Tokyo Olympics was originally scheduled for summer 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic forced a one-year delay.
Officials are yet to announce exactly how the postponed event will be held, and at what cost.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Dhoni slammed for 'bullying' umpire into changing mind

Umpire Paul Reiffel appeared to change his mind midway through a call in an Indian Premier League match , sparking a deluge of social media commentary Cricket fans have slammed icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni for apparently bullying umpire Paul Reiffel into changing a wide call during an Indian Premier League game .
The incident occurred Tuesday when Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings paceman Shardul Thakur bowled outside the off stump of Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Rashid Khan .
Umpire Reiffel , who played 35 Tests for Australia before retiring , appeared to start the signal for a wide -- both arms outstretched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesting .
Reiffel then seemed to change his mind midway through the signal and the ball went down as legitimate in the crucial penultimate over of Hyderabad 's unsuccessful chase of 168 .
Commentator Ian Bishop , a former West Indian international , said on ESPNcricinfo that Reiffel had erred .
`` He started calling it a wide , he looked up , saw Dhoni and he changed his mind , '' Bishop said .
`` I am someone who is sympathetic to the umpires because it is a difficult job , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mistake . ''
Hyderabad captain David Warner also seemed visibly unhappy from the dugout of the Dubai stadium in the United Arab Emirates .
The match saw Chennai bounce back from two losses to win by 20 runs and draw level with Hyderabad on six points in the eight-team table .
But Dhoni 's action did not go down well on social media .
`` Such a mockery of game , pathetic !
Dhoni keeps bullying umpires and gets away with it .
I have just lost count of it , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others criticised Reiffel for apparently succumbing to pressure from Dhoni .
`` Weak umpiring !
Sad to see an Elite umpire bogging down by the stature of a cricketer , '' said another Twitter user .
Last year Dhoni was fined 50 percent of his match fee after he stormed onto the field during a tense IPL game to contest an umpiring call .
The cricket laws state : `` An umpire may alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly . ''

Dubai (AFP) –
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Cricket fans have slammed icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni for apparently bullying umpire Paul Reiffel into changing a wide call during an Indian Premier League game.
The incident occurred Tuesday when Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings paceman Shardul Thakur bowled outside the off stump of Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Rashid Khan.
Umpire Reiffel, who played 35 Tests for Australia before retiring, appeared to start the signal for a wide -- both arms outstretched at shoulder height -- when Dhoni began protesting.
Reiffel then seemed to change his mind midway through the signal and the ball went down as legitimate in the crucial penultimate over of Hyderabad's unsuccessful chase of 168.
Commentator Ian Bishop, a former West Indian international, said on ESPNcricinfo that Reiffel had erred.
"He started calling it a wide, he looked up, saw Dhoni and he changed his mind," Bishop said.
"I am someone who is sympathetic to the umpires because it is a difficult job, but tonight I will say that Reiffel made a mistake."
Hyderabad captain David Warner also seemed visibly unhappy from the dugout of the Dubai stadium in the United Arab Emirates.
The match saw Chennai bounce back from two losses to win by 20 runs and draw level with Hyderabad on six points in the eight-team table.
But Dhoni's action did not go down well on social media.
"Such a mockery of game, pathetic! Dhoni keeps bullying umpires and gets away with it. I have just lost count of it," one cricket fan wrote on Twitter.
Others criticised Reiffel for apparently succumbing to pressure from Dhoni.
"Weak umpiring! Sad to see an Elite umpire bogging down by the stature of a cricketer," said another Twitter user.
Last year Dhoni was fined 50 percent of his match fee after he stormed onto the field during a tense IPL game to contest an umpiring call.
The cricket laws state: "An umpire may alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Premier League clubs debate radical reform plan

Premier League clubs are holding a shareholders ' meeting on Wednesday after Football Association chairman Greg Clarke said a breakaway from the top flight was wielded `` as a threat '' during talks over radical proposals to restructure English football .
The `` Project Big Picture '' plan , backed by Liverpool and Manchester United , has been criticised by the government , the Premier League and fan groups .
Proposals include cutting the number of Premier League teams from 20 to 18 , scrapping the League Cup , controversial changes to voting rights and a financial settlement for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representatives of the 20 Premier League clubs will have the chance to debate the issue in the open for the first time during a virtual get-together on Wednesday that comes after an eye-catching intervention from Clarke .
In a letter to the FA council , which convenes on Thursday , he said he had taken part in initial discussions before walking away when he felt the aim had become `` the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few clubs , with a breakaway league mooted as a threat '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its so-called `` golden share '' as a trump card if it felt the wider interests of the game were being compromised and suggested any breakaway competition would not receive the necessary sanctions from the governing body .
`` We , the FA board and council , have to ensure that any changes would be to the long-term benefit of the whole of football and we have substantial controls to help ensure that the best interests of the game are served by any new proposals , '' he said .
The plans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with teams in the Championship , League One and League Two in line to receive £250 million ( $ 323 million ) up front alongside a promise of a 25 percent share of future Premier League broadcast revenue .
Support among the 72 EFL clubs appeared to be soaring after separate divisional meetings led by Parry on Tuesday , although the plans have reportedly been less well received by most Premier League clubs outside the elite names .
Former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale , representing Preston , said there were `` no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Burton Albion chief executive Jez Moxey described League One support as `` unanimous '' and Leyton Orient chairman Nigel Travis said excitement about the plans was `` overwhelming '' .
But Christian Purslow , chief executive of Premier League club Aston Villa , indicated his opposition to Project Big Picture before the shareholders ' meeting .
`` I do n't think we should give too much credence to this particular plan , '' he told the BBC .
`` I think a much broader , long-term plan for football is what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League . ''
The Football Supporters ' Association has described the proposals as a `` sugar-coated cyanide pill offered up by billionaire owners who do not understand or care about our football culture '' .
A joint statement from supporters ' groups representing Liverpool , Manchester United , Manchester City , Tottenham , Arsenal and Chelsea followed , in which fans of the `` Big Six '' clubs made clear their opposition to the initiative in its current form .

London (AFP) –
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Premier League clubs are holding a shareholders' meeting on Wednesday after Football Association chairman Greg Clarke said a breakaway from the top flight was wielded "as a threat" during talks over radical proposals to restructure English football.
The "Project Big Picture" plan, backed by Liverpool and Manchester United, has been criticised by the government, the Premier League and fan groups.
Proposals include cutting the number of Premier League teams from 20 to 18, scrapping the League Cup, controversial changes to voting rights and a financial settlement for the English Football League (EFL).
Representatives of the 20 Premier League clubs will have the chance to debate the issue in the open for the first time during a virtual get-together on Wednesday that comes after an eye-catching intervention from Clarke.
In a letter to the FA council, which convenes on Thursday, he said he had taken part in initial discussions before walking away when he felt the aim had become "the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few clubs, with a breakaway league mooted as a threat".
Clarke warned the FA could use its so-called "golden share" as a trump card if it felt the wider interests of the game were being compromised and suggested any breakaway competition would not receive the necessary sanctions from the governing body.
- FA warning -
"We, the FA board and council, have to ensure that any changes would be to the long-term benefit of the whole of football and we have substantial controls to help ensure that the best interests of the game are served by any new proposals," he said.
The plans have been championed by EFL chairman Rick Parry, with teams in the Championship, League One and League Two in line to receive £250 million ($323 million) up front alongside a promise of a 25 percent share of future Premier League broadcast revenue.
Support among the 72 EFL clubs appeared to be soaring after separate divisional meetings led by Parry on Tuesday, although the plans have reportedly been less well received by most Premier League clubs outside the elite names.
Former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, representing Preston, said there were "no dissenting voices" in the Championship call, Burton Albion chief executive Jez Moxey described League One support as "unanimous" and Leyton Orient chairman Nigel Travis said excitement about the plans was "overwhelming".
But Christian Purslow, chief executive of Premier League club Aston Villa, indicated his opposition to Project Big Picture before the shareholders' meeting.
"I don't think we should give too much credence to this particular plan," he told the BBC. "I think a much broader, long-term plan for football is what I would expect to come from the Premier League."
The Football Supporters' Association has described the proposals as a "sugar-coated cyanide pill offered up by billionaire owners who do not understand or care about our football culture".
A joint statement from supporters' groups representing Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea followed, in which fans of the "Big Six" clubs made clear their opposition to the initiative in its current form.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Pandemic caused 'unprecedented' emissions drop: study

The study found that emissions from the power sector fell 22 percent during the first six months of 2020 Pandemic restrictions saw an unprecedented fall in greenhouse gas emissions in the first half of 2020 -- larger than during the 2008 financial crisis and even World War II -- experts said Wednesday .
As governments ordered lockdowns to try to crush the first wave of Covid-19 , CO2 emissions from transport , power and aviation plummeted , the international team of researchers said .
Using data including hourly electricity production , vehicle traffic from more than 400 cities worldwide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consumption figures , they determined that the emissions drop was the largest in modern history .
They suggested some fundamental steps that could be taken to `` stabilise the global climate '' as countries look to recover from the economic shock of the pandemic .
They noted however that emissions had rebounded to their usual levels by July 2020 , when most nations had eased lockdown measures .
Zhu Liu from the Department of Earth System Science at Tsinghua University in Beijing said the study was the most accurate yet undertaken on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We were able to get a much faster and more accurate overview , including timelines that show how emissions decreases have corresponded to lockdown measures in each country , '' said Zhu , lead author of the study published in Nature Communications .
The team found that CO2 emissions from transport decreased by 40 percent in the first half of 2020 , and power production and industry emissions fell 22 percent and 17 percent respectively .
With more people working from home , the study showed a perhaps surprising three percent fall in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an abnormally warm winter leading to lower heating consumption .
An international plan to limit global warming outlined in the 2015 Paris climate deal aims to cap temperature rises well below two degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels .
The accord envisages a safer limit of 1.5 degrees of warming -- something the United Nations says would take an annual 7.7 percent reduction in emissions this decade to achieve .
The authors of Wednesday 's study agreed with the writers of similar research released in August claiming that the 2020 emissions dip was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the long term .
They said nothing less than a `` complete overhaul '' of the industry and commerce would keep a handle on global warming .
`` While the CO2 drop is unprecedented , decreases of human activities can not be the answer , '' said Wednesday 's co-author Hans Joachim Schellnhuber , founding director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research .
`` We need structural and transformational changes in our energy production and consumption systems . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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Pandemic restrictions saw an unprecedented fall in greenhouse gas emissions in the first half of 2020 -- larger than during the 2008 financial crisis and even World War II -- experts said Wednesday.
As governments ordered lockdowns to try to crush the first wave of Covid-19, CO2 emissions from transport, power and aviation plummeted, the international team of researchers said.
Using data including hourly electricity production, vehicle traffic from more than 400 cities worldwide, daily passenger flights and monthly production and consumption figures, they determined that the emissions drop was the largest in modern history.
They suggested some fundamental steps that could be taken to "stabilise the global climate" as countries look to recover from the economic shock of the pandemic.
They noted however that emissions had rebounded to their usual levels by July 2020, when most nations had eased lockdown measures.
Zhu Liu from the Department of Earth System Science at Tsinghua University in Beijing said the study was the most accurate yet undertaken on the pandemic's effect on emissions.
"We were able to get a much faster and more accurate overview, including timelines that show how emissions decreases have corresponded to lockdown measures in each country," said Zhu, lead author of the study published in Nature Communications.
The team found that CO2 emissions from transport decreased by 40 percent in the first half of 2020, and power production and industry emissions fell 22 percent and 17 percent respectively.
With more people working from home, the study showed a perhaps surprising three percent fall in residential emissions -- something researchers attributed to an abnormally warm winter leading to lower heating consumption.
- 'Complete overhaul' needed -
An international plan to limit global warming outlined in the 2015 Paris climate deal aims to cap temperature rises well below two degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels.
The accord envisages a safer limit of 1.5 degrees of warming -- something the United Nations says would take an annual 7.7 percent reduction in emissions this decade to achieve.
The authors of Wednesday's study agreed with the writers of similar research released in August claiming that the 2020 emissions dip was unlikely to ease the climate emergency in the long term.
They said nothing less than a "complete overhaul" of the industry and commerce would keep a handle on global warming.
"While the CO2 drop is unprecedented, decreases of human activities cannot be the answer," said Wednesday's co-author Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, founding director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
"We need structural and transformational changes in our energy production and consumption systems."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Hunt for missing rescue team in flood-hit Vietnam, more rain forecast

More rain was forecast for the coming days A search operation has been launched for a missing rescue team as severe flooding and landslides battered central Vietnam , authorities said on Wednesday , as the country braced for further heavy rain .
Close to a million people have been impacted by heavy downpours and rising waters since mid last week , with more than 200,000 homes flooded , according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ( IFRC ) .
Thirty-six people are now dead , Vietnam 's disaster management authority said , while rescue workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people missing at a hydropower plant in Thua Thien Hue province following landslides .
The missing include a team of soldiers and officials who had tried to find plant workers who disappeared days ago .
Images on state media showed helicopters and hundreds of soldiers struggling to access the site through thick mud and fallen trees .
Elsewhere across the central region , villages and rice fields were submerged , with relief workers resorting to makeshift boats and canoes to deliver food and bottled water to those stuck in flooded homes .
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather on Wednesday as Storm Nangka made landfall .
Forecasters said it could bring further rain in the coming days , while warning another storm was expected to form and make impact this weekend .
The IFRC said it had `` grave fears '' that the deadly floods would worsen as more rain was dumped on hard hit communities .
`` These floods are a double whammy making it even tougher for millions of people already grappling with the economic fall-out of COVID-19 that has destroyed incomes and livelihoods , '' said IFRC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prone to natural disasters and is often affected by more than a dozen storms each year , regularly bringing flooding and landslides .
More then 130 people were reported dead or missing due to natural disasters in the country last year , the General Statistics Office said .

Hanoi (AFP) –
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A search operation has been launched for a missing rescue team as severe flooding and landslides battered central Vietnam, authorities said on Wednesday, as the country braced for further heavy rain.
Close to a million people have been impacted by heavy downpours and rising waters since mid last week, with more than 200,000 homes flooded, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Thirty-six people are now dead, Vietnam's disaster management authority said, while rescue workers have launched a search for around 30 people missing at a hydropower plant in Thua Thien Hue province following landslides.
The missing include a team of soldiers and officials who had tried to find plant workers who disappeared days ago.
Images on state media showed helicopters and hundreds of soldiers struggling to access the site through thick mud and fallen trees.
Elsewhere across the central region, villages and rice fields were submerged, with relief workers resorting to makeshift boats and canoes to deliver food and bottled water to those stuck in flooded homes.
North central Vietnam was also hit by severe weather on Wednesday as Storm Nangka made landfall.
Forecasters said it could bring further rain in the coming days, while warning another storm was expected to form and make impact this weekend.
The IFRC said it had "grave fears" that the deadly floods would worsen as more rain was dumped on hard hit communities.
"These floods are a double whammy making it even tougher for millions of people already grappling with the economic fall-out of COVID-19 that has destroyed incomes and livelihoods," said IFRC's Hung Ha Nguyen.
Vietnam is prone to natural disasters and is often affected by more than a dozen storms each year, regularly bringing flooding and landslides.
More then 130 people were reported dead or missing due to natural disasters in the country last year, the General Statistics Office said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--India frees top Kashmir politician after 14 months

Mehbooba Mufti was detained 14 months ago along with thousands of others when New Delhi imposed direct rule on Indian-administered Kashmir India has freed a former chief minister of Kashmir who was detained 14 months ago along with thousands of others when New Delhi imposed direct rule on the disputed region with a huge security clampdown .
Mehbooba Mufti was released late Tuesday after remaining in custody since August 2019 when the Indian government imposed emergency laws , snapped all communications and sent thousands of extra troops into the Muslim-majority state .
Mufti , 61 , was arrested along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top politicians under the Public Safety Act that allows authorities to keep people in custody for up to two years without charge or a trial .
The other three former chief ministers have since been released but many of the roughly 8,000 other detainees , including some politicians , remain in custody .
Mufti 's detention order was revoked late Tuesday , without authorities providing any explanation , just a day before India 's Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a petition in her case .
Mufti , who also heads the regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran the state from 2016 until 2018 before her alliance partner , Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party , withdrew its support .
India 's government had justified her detention on the grounds that it prevented violence in the aftermath of the August 2019 move , which also saw the state split in two and downgraded to union territories governed directly from New Delhi .
Modi 's government says the revocation of Kashmir 's special status was necessary for the region 's development and for ending a three-decade armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly civilians .
The Himalayan region is divided between India and Pakistan , with many in the region demanding an independent country .
Mufti released an audio statement on Twitter demanding the restoration of political rights and a final settlement of the political dispute .
`` We will have to continue our struggle for the Kashmir issue for which thousands of our people have laid down their lives , '' she said .

Srinagar (India) (AFP) –
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India has freed a former chief minister of Kashmir who was detained 14 months ago along with thousands of others when New Delhi imposed direct rule on the disputed region with a huge security clampdown.
Mehbooba Mufti was released late Tuesday after remaining in custody since August 2019 when the Indian government imposed emergency laws, snapped all communications and sent thousands of extra troops into the Muslim-majority state.
Mufti, 61, was arrested along with three other former chief ministers and other top politicians under the Public Safety Act that allows authorities to keep people in custody for up to two years without charge or a trial.
The other three former chief ministers have since been released but many of the roughly 8,000 other detainees, including some politicians, remain in custody.
Mufti's detention order was revoked late Tuesday, without authorities providing any explanation, just a day before India's Supreme Court was scheduled to hear a petition in her case.
Mufti, who also heads the regional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ran the state from 2016 until 2018 before her alliance partner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, withdrew its support.
India's government had justified her detention on the grounds that it prevented violence in the aftermath of the August 2019 move, which also saw the state split in two and downgraded to union territories governed directly from New Delhi.
Modi's government says the revocation of Kashmir's special status was necessary for the region's development and for ending a three-decade armed rebellion that has left thousands dead, mostly civilians.
The Himalayan region is divided between India and Pakistan, with many in the region demanding an independent country.
Mufti released an audio statement on Twitter demanding the restoration of political rights and a final settlement of the political dispute.
"We will have to continue our struggle for the Kashmir issue for which thousands of our people have laid down their lives," she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-14--Thousands flee Taliban onslaught in southern Afghanistan

Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes because of intense fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Helmand province Tens of thousands of people in southern Afghanistan have fled their homes following days of heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces , officials said Wednesday , as violence continues to soar despite ongoing peace talks .
Taliban militants launched a series of attacks on the city of Lashkar Gah in restive Helmand province on Sunday night , prompting the US to call in air strikes to defend Afghan forces .
The fighting triggered an exodus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , taxis and buses .
`` More than 5,100 families or 30,000 people ... have fled the fighting so far , '' Sayed Mohammad Ramin , director of the refugees department in Helmand , told AFP .
`` Some families are still living in the open in the streets in Lashkar Gah , we do n't have tents to give them . ''
Local resident Hekmatullah said he was forced to flee after a mortar hit his neighbour 's house , killing two women .
`` The fighting was so intense that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra clothes .
I only took my family , '' said Attaullah Afghan , a farmer who fled with his family of 12 .
Fighting was ongoing in at least four districts on Wednesday , Afghan officials said , adding that security forces have repelled repeated Taliban assaults in the area .
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said thousands had fled and called on Taliban fighters and security forces `` to take all feasible measures to protect civilians , inc. safe paths for those wishing to leave '' the area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday in Helmand 's Nawa district also killed at least nine people , according to Omar Zhwak , a spokesperson for the provincial governor .
The defence ministry said they were investigating the incident .
Helmand -- a Taliban stronghold -- is where international forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of Afghanistan 's 19-year war .
Under a deal the Taliban signed with Washington in February , the insurgents are not supposed to hit urban areas and are meant to keep violence down .
The US committed to pulling all foreign troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return for Taliban security pledges and an agreement to begin peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar .
Talks began last month between the Taliban and Afghan government in Doha but appear to be stalled as the two sides have struggled to establish a basic framework for negotiations .

Lashkar Gah (Afghanistan) (AFP) –
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Tens of thousands of people in southern Afghanistan have fled their homes following days of heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces, officials said Wednesday, as violence continues to soar despite ongoing peace talks.
Taliban militants launched a series of attacks on the city of Lashkar Gah in restive Helmand province on Sunday night, prompting the US to call in air strikes to defend Afghan forces.
The fighting triggered an exodus by local residents who crammed onto motorcycles, taxis and buses.
"More than 5,100 families or 30,000 people... have fled the fighting so far," Sayed Mohammad Ramin, director of the refugees department in Helmand, told AFP.
"Some families are still living in the open in the streets in Lashkar Gah, we don't have tents to give them."
Local resident Hekmatullah said he was forced to flee after a mortar hit his neighbour's house, killing two women.
"The fighting was so intense that I did not have time to take any extra clothes. I only took my family," said Attaullah Afghan, a farmer who fled with his family of 12.
Fighting was ongoing in at least four districts on Wednesday, Afghan officials said, adding that security forces have repelled repeated Taliban assaults in the area.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said thousands had fled and called on Taliban fighters and security forces "to take all feasible measures to protect civilians, inc. safe paths for those wishing to leave" the area.
A collision between two helicopters early on Wednesday in Helmand's Nawa district also killed at least nine people, according to Omar Zhwak, a spokesperson for the provincial governor.
The defence ministry said they were investigating the incident.
Helmand -- a Taliban stronghold -- is where international forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of Afghanistan's 19-year war.
Under a deal the Taliban signed with Washington in February, the insurgents are not supposed to hit urban areas and are meant to keep violence down.
The US committed to pulling all foreign troops from the country by next May in return for Taliban security pledges and an agreement to begin peace talks with the Afghan government in Qatar.
Talks began last month between the Taliban and Afghan government in Doha but appear to be stalled as the two sides have struggled to establish a basic framework for negotiations.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Thai police clear pro-democracy protesters, ban public gatherings

Police officers advance with riot shields during the 47th anniversary of the 1973 student uprising , in Bangkok , Thailand , October 15 , 2020 .
Thai riot police cleared thousands of protesters from outside the prime minister ’ s office early on Thursday as an emergency decree banned large gatherings and the publication of sensitive news in the face of escalating protests .
A series of demonstrations over three months have brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets of Bangkok to demand the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha , a former junta leader , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a longstanding taboo by calling for reforms to the powerful monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn – and in an act cited by the government as one reason for its emergency measures they obstructed a royal motorcade .
Shortly after the emergency decree took affect at 4 a.m. ( 2100 GMT ) , riot police advanced behind shields on protesters who had camped outside Government House .
Many of the thousands who had protested there late on Wednesday had already left .
Some protesters tried to resist with makeshift barricades of garbage cans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By dawn , hundreds of police occupied the nearby streets and city workers began cleaning up .
At least three of the protest leaders were arrested , Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said .
Police made no immediate comment .
The government said it acted in the face of increasing disorder and after the obstruction of the motorcade .
“ It is extremely necessary to introduce an urgent measure to end this situation effectively and promptly to maintain peace and order , ” state television announced .
The emergency decree bans big gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities to stop people from entering any area they designate .
It also prohibits “ publication of news , other media , and electronic information that contains messages that could create fear or intentionally distort information , creating misunderstanding that will affect national security or peace and order.
” Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said that three protest leaders had been arrested .
It named them as Parit Chirawat , rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and Panupong Jadnok .
It said Arnon had been arrested on charges related to a speech he gave in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It said it did not know the grounds for the other arrests .
Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Bangkok on Wednesday .
The protest movement aims to remove Prayuth , who took power in a 2014 coup that was meant to end a decade of violence between supporters and opponents of the country ’ s establishment .
Those marching on the streets also want a new constitution and have called for a reduction in the powers of the king .
Protesters shouted at the king ’ s motorcade in Bangkok on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Wednesday , some protesters slowed a convoy carrying Queen Suthida , giving the three-finger salute and chanted “ get out ” at police protecting the vehicle .

Thai riot police cleared thousands of protesters from outside the prime minister’s office early on Thursday as an emergency decree banned large gatherings and the publication of sensitive news in the face of escalating protests.
Police officers advance with riot shields during the 47th anniversary of the 1973 student uprising, in Bangkok, Thailand, October 15, 2020.
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A series of demonstrations over three months have brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets of Bangkok to demand the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, and a new constitution.
They have also broken a longstanding taboo by calling for reforms to the powerful monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn – and in an act cited by the government as one reason for its emergency measures they obstructed a royal motorcade.
Shortly after the emergency decree took affect at 4 a.m. (2100 GMT), riot police advanced behind shields on protesters who had camped outside Government House. Many of the thousands who had protested there late on Wednesday had already left.
Some protesters tried to resist with makeshift barricades of garbage cans, but they were swiftly pushed back. By dawn, hundreds of police occupied the nearby streets and city workers began cleaning up.
At least three of the protest leaders were arrested, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said. Police made no immediate comment.
The government said it acted in the face of increasing disorder and after the obstruction of the motorcade.
“It is extremely necessary to introduce an urgent measure to end this situation effectively and promptly to maintain peace and order,” state television announced.
The emergency decree bans big gatherings of five or more people and allows authorities to stop people from entering any area they designate.
It also prohibits “publication of news, other media, and electronic information that contains messages that could create fear or intentionally distort information, creating misunderstanding that will affect national security or peace and order.”
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said that three protest leaders had been arrested. It named them as Parit Chirawat, rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and Panupong Jadnok. It said Arnon had been arrested on charges related to a speech he gave in the northern city of Chiang Mai. It said it did not know the grounds for the other arrests.
Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Bangkok on Wednesday.
The protest movement aims to remove Prayuth, who took power in a 2014 coup that was meant to end a decade of violence between supporters and opponents of the country’s establishment.
Those marching on the streets also want a new constitution and have called for a reduction in the powers of the king.
Protesters shouted at the king’s motorcade in Bangkok on Tuesday after the arrest of 21 protesters. On Wednesday, some protesters slowed a convoy carrying Queen Suthida, giving the three-finger salute and chanted “get out” at police protecting the vehicle.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-15--Mexican school owner sentenced to 31 years over quake deaths

Nineteen children were among those killed when the school collapsed in the 2017 earthquake A Mexican court on Wednesday sentenced the owner of a school where 19 children and seven adults were crushed to death in a 2017 earthquake to 31 years in prison .
`` We achieved justice for the victims ! ''
Mexico City attorney general Ernestina Godoy Ramos wrote on Twitter .
Monica Garcia Villegas , head of the private Rebsamen elementary school in the Mexican capital , was convicted last month of culpable homicide .
The court also ordered her to pay a total of 11.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damages to the victims ' families , a judicial source told AFP on condition of anonymity .
`` We , the lawyers and the victims we represent , are satisfied , '' Fernando Castillo , lawyer for the relatives of those killed , told reporters .
The school owner , who spent more than a year on the run , maintains her innocence and plans to appeal , her lawyer said .
Garcia Villegas was arrested after it was discovered that she had built a large apartment on top of the classrooms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have contributed to the building 's collapse .
The school was the focus of worldwide attention in the hours after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake as rescuers raced to rescue survivors .
Activists say that cost-cutting by construction companies , combined with corruption or incompetence by the authorities , contributed to the collapse of buildings in the quake , which left 369 people dead .

Mexico City (AFP) –
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A Mexican court on Wednesday sentenced the owner of a school where 19 children and seven adults were crushed to death in a 2017 earthquake to 31 years in prison.
"We achieved justice for the victims!" Mexico City attorney general Ernestina Godoy Ramos wrote on Twitter.
Monica Garcia Villegas, head of the private Rebsamen elementary school in the Mexican capital, was convicted last month of culpable homicide.
The court also ordered her to pay a total of 11.5 million pesos ($540,000) in damages to the victims' families, a judicial source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"We, the lawyers and the victims we represent, are satisfied," Fernando Castillo, lawyer for the relatives of those killed, told reporters.
The school owner, who spent more than a year on the run, maintains her innocence and plans to appeal, her lawyer said.
Garcia Villegas was arrested after it was discovered that she had built a large apartment on top of the classrooms, the weight of which is thought to have contributed to the building's collapse.
The school was the focus of worldwide attention in the hours after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake as rescuers raced to rescue survivors.
Activists say that cost-cutting by construction companies, combined with corruption or incompetence by the authorities, contributed to the collapse of buildings in the quake, which left 369 people dead.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Trump blasts Facebook, Twitter for censoring article critical of Biden

Joe Biden 's son Hunter Biden was on the board of a Ukrainian energy company , Burisma , when Biden was in charge of Ukraine policy during the Barack Obama administration US President Donald Trump rebuked Facebook and Twitter Wednesday for blocking links to a New York Post article purporting to expose corrupt dealings by election rival Joe Biden and his son in Ukraine .
The newspaper said it had obtained a computer abandoned by Hunter Biden that implicated his father in his Ukraine business affairs .
The former vice president -- the Democratic nominee for the November 3 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad , '' the newspaper 's headline read .
As Biden 's campaign denied he had ever met the businessman , Facebook and Twitter placed restrictions on linking to the article , saying there were questions over its veracity .
`` This is part of our standard process to reduce the spread of misinformation , '' said Facebook spokesman Andy Stone .
Twitter said it was limiting the article 's dissemination due to questions about `` the origins of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans though were outraged by what they called partisan censorship .
Trump , who trails Biden in polls 20 days before the presidential election , blasted the two social media giants .
`` So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of 'Smoking Gun ' emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son , Hunter , in the @ NYPost , '' Trump posted on Twitter .
`` It is only the beginning for them .
There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician . ''
The New York Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter Biden at a Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019 .
The unidentified shop owner told the newspaper that after the computer seemed to have been forgotten , he copied the hard drive and gave the machine to federal authorities .
The shop owner passed the hard drive copy to Rudy Giuliani , President Donald Trump 's personal lawyer , who provided it to the newspaper .
While the Biden campaign did not deny the existence of the computer or validity of the emails on it , Giuliani has a record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In September the US Treasury said one `` source '' Giuliani met with several times , Ukrainian politician Andrii Derkach , `` has been an active Russian agent for over a decade . ''
The Post criticized Facebook and Twitter for helping Biden 's election campaign , saying that no one has disputed the story 's veracity .
`` Facebook and Twitter are not media platforms .
They 're propaganda machines , '' it wrote in an editorial .
Republican Senator Josh Hawley , in a letter to Facebook chief executive Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' blocking `` suggests partiality on the part of Facebook . ''
The Post report , he said , is `` clearly relevant to the public interest '' and reveals `` potentially unethical activity by a candidate for president . ''
`` Twitter 's censorship of this story is quite hypocritical , given its willingness to allow users to share less-well-sourced reporting critical of other candidates , '' Republican Senator Ted Cruz said in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey .
The story revived criticisms from the past two years that Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Obama administration 's Ukraine policy , took actions to help his son and the Ukrainian energy company whose board Hunter Biden sat on , Burisma .
Biden has repeatedly rejected such allegations .
`` I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings , '' he said flatly in September 2019 .
The story focused on one email from April 2015 , in which a Burisma board advisor named Vadym Pozharskyi thanks Hunter for inviting him to a Washington meeting with his father .
But there was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it ever happened .
`` We have reviewed Joe Biden 's official schedules from the time and no meeting , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place , '' the Biden campaign said .
Trump 's campaign , battling to overcome a steep polling deficit to Biden ahead of the election , quickly issued a campaign statement saying the emails were proof Biden `` lied to the American people '' about his son 's business dealings .

Washington (AFP) –
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US President Donald Trump rebuked Facebook and Twitter Wednesday for blocking links to a New York Post article purporting to expose corrupt dealings by election rival Joe Biden and his son in Ukraine.
The newspaper said it had obtained a computer abandoned by Hunter Biden that implicated his father in his Ukraine business affairs.
The former vice president -- the Democratic nominee for the November 3 election -- has repeatedly denied any such involvement.
"Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad," the newspaper's headline read.
As Biden's campaign denied he had ever met the businessman, Facebook and Twitter placed restrictions on linking to the article, saying there were questions over its veracity.
"This is part of our standard process to reduce the spread of misinformation," said Facebook spokesman Andy Stone.
Twitter said it was limiting the article's dissemination due to questions about "the origins of the materials" included in the article.
Republicans though were outraged by what they called partisan censorship.
Trump, who trails Biden in polls 20 days before the presidential election, blasted the two social media giants.
"So terrible that Facebook and Twitter took down the story of 'Smoking Gun' emails related to Sleepy Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in the @NYPost," Trump posted on Twitter.
"It is only the beginning for them. There is nothing worse than a corrupt politician."
- Abandoned computer -
The New York Post said the computer had been left by Hunter Biden at a Delaware computer repair shop in April 2019.
The unidentified shop owner told the newspaper that after the computer seemed to have been forgotten, he copied the hard drive and gave the machine to federal authorities.
The shop owner passed the hard drive copy to Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, who provided it to the newspaper.
While the Biden campaign did not deny the existence of the computer or validity of the emails on it, Giuliani has a record of dispersing disinformation about both Bidens and Ukraine.
In September the US Treasury said one "source" Giuliani met with several times, Ukrainian politician Andrii Derkach, "has been an active Russian agent for over a decade."
The Post criticized Facebook and Twitter for helping Biden's election campaign, saying that no one has disputed the story's veracity.
"Facebook and Twitter are not media platforms. They're propaganda machines," it wrote in an editorial.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley, in a letter to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, said the "seemingly selective" blocking "suggests partiality on the part of Facebook."
The Post report, he said, is "clearly relevant to the public interest" and reveals "potentially unethical activity by a candidate for president."
- Ukraine business -
"Twitter's censorship of this story is quite hypocritical, given its willingness to allow users to share less-well-sourced reporting critical of other candidates," Republican Senator Ted Cruz said in a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
The story revived criticisms from the past two years that Joe Biden, when he was in charge of the Obama administration's Ukraine policy, took actions to help his son and the Ukrainian energy company whose board Hunter Biden sat on, Burisma.
Biden has repeatedly rejected such allegations. "I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings," he said flatly in September 2019.
The story focused on one email from April 2015, in which a Burisma board advisor named Vadym Pozharskyi thanks Hunter for inviting him to a Washington meeting with his father.
But there was no indication when the meeting was scheduled or whether it ever happened.
"We have reviewed Joe Biden's official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place," the Biden campaign said.
Trump's campaign, battling to overcome a steep polling deficit to Biden ahead of the election, quickly issued a campaign statement saying the emails were proof Biden "lied to the American people" about his son's business dealings.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-15--Major League Baseball eyes return to Australia

America 's Major League Baseball has set its sights on returning to Australia for a series of games with the head of their global strategy saying : `` We 're interested and our owners are interested . ''
The nation hosted the widely-acclaimed 2014 Opening Series between Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks , with the Sydney Cricket Ground transformed for the occasion .
MLB 's senior vice president international Jim Small said Australia would be on the agenda of the sport 's collective bargaining agreement starting 2022 .
`` We 'll have a decent chance , in that next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Australia , if we 're invited , and if we find the right partner to do it , '' he told the Melbourne Herald Sun Thursday .
`` We had a wonderful time in Sydney , I love Sydney , it 's an amazing place , but I can still love Melbourne .
`` If we have an opportunity to participate , we would be honoured to do it , '' he added .
`` We 'd have to work through all the details ... but we 're interested and our owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive Cam Vale said he was excited by the prospect .
`` Jim 's support wanting to see baseball grow in Australia has been evident throughout my time , and he has kept us informed on this exciting possibility , '' he said .
Playing games abroad is seen as critically important to growing baseball internationally , with showcase matches in a host of countries over recent years , including Japan and Mexico .

Melbourne (AFP) –
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America's Major League Baseball has set its sights on returning to Australia for a series of games with the head of their global strategy saying: "We're interested and our owners are interested."
The nation hosted the widely-acclaimed 2014 Opening Series between Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Sydney Cricket Ground transformed for the occasion.
MLB's senior vice president international Jim Small said Australia would be on the agenda of the sport's collective bargaining agreement starting 2022.
"We'll have a decent chance, in that next play plan hopefully, to play games in Australia, if we're invited, and if we find the right partner to do it," he told the Melbourne Herald Sun Thursday.
"We had a wonderful time in Sydney, I love Sydney, it's an amazing place, but I can still love Melbourne.
"If we have an opportunity to participate, we would be honoured to do it," he added. "We'd have to work through all the details ... but we're interested and our owners are interested."
Baseball Australia chief executive Cam Vale said he was excited by the prospect.
"Jim's support wanting to see baseball grow in Australia has been evident throughout my time, and he has kept us informed on this exciting possibility," he said.
Playing games abroad is seen as critically important to growing baseball internationally, with showcase matches in a host of countries over recent years, including Japan and Mexico.
© 2020 AFP