france24--2020-12-20--Pandemic sends US single mothers into poverty

Bronx residents attend a giveaway for people in need , organized by Food Bank For New York City on December 19 , 2020 When the coronavirus pandemic shuttered restaurants in California , Aleida Ramirez lost her job as a waitress , plunging her -- along with many other single mothers -- into a vicious cycle of poverty , unpaid bills and reliance on food banks .
The pandemic has been particularly hard on women who work in the service sector , which has been crippled by the economic crisis .
And more than 12 million Americans who are unemployed or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after Christmas , when the aid package passed by Congress in the spring expires -- barring a deal in high-stakes talks this weekend .
Ramirez had to quit her second job as a delivery driver for food service Instacart in order to take care of her 11-year-old daughter and her 21-year-old nephew , who has autism , when her husband was arrested in July for domestic violence .
Since October , she has not paid rent on her apartment in a housing complex in Concord , northeast of San Francisco .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't -- I have to choose what do I cover : is it food or rent ? '
'' she said .
To support her household , she received meal tickets from her daughter 's school , as well as vouchers from a local church that she can redeem at a corner store .
In order to pay for internet service -- an essential tool for her daughter 's remote classes -- Ramirez counts on her nephew 's salary from a part-time job at McDonald 's .
She also regularly skips meals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her situation : `` I felt that I was being like a bad mom , I was irresponsible . ''
But then she realized she was n't alone .
Ramirez got together with neighbors and they organized to negotiate with landlords .
`` This is all of us in the same boat , many of us single moms , '' she said .
On the other side of the country , in Washington , Maria Lara is worried she will soon be evicted from her shabby apartment after falling far behind on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evictions is set to end after Christmas .
Lara , who is Salvadoran and has a young daughter , worked as a hotel housekeeper before the pandemic .
She found work as a laborer on construction sites but only works `` two , three days , sometimes four , every two weeks . ''
Her building , meantime , is infested with mice that get stuck in sticky traps .
`` We live with ( the mice ) because when we tell the owner that it smells bad , that there are animals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fumigate -- they say they came , but they do n't come , '' said Lara .
Further north , in New York , Marisol Gonzales lost her job in the spring when the pandemic struck Corona -- the neighborhood in the city 's Queens borough where she lived -- and then her apartment , which cost her $ 2,200 per month , in October .
The 47-year-old massage therapist from El Salvador found a room in a shared apartment ; she lives there with her 20-year-old daughter .
Small jobs allow her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 850 ) , the electric bills and her subway card .
She goes once a month to a food bank .
But for the past month , she has faced an even heavier toll from the pandemic : her daughter was hospitalized for depression .
A student , she could n't stand the confinement and gradually withdrew into herself until she stopped her studies .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
When the coronavirus pandemic shuttered restaurants in California, Aleida Ramirez lost her job as a waitress, plunging her -- along with many other single mothers -- into a vicious cycle of poverty, unpaid bills and reliance on food banks.
The pandemic has been particularly hard on women who work in the service sector, which has been crippled by the economic crisis.
And more than 12 million Americans who are unemployed or without income face losing their benefits the day after Christmas, when the aid package passed by Congress in the spring expires -- barring a deal in high-stakes talks this weekend.
Ramirez had to quit her second job as a delivery driver for food service Instacart in order to take care of her 11-year-old daughter and her 21-year-old nephew, who has autism, when her husband was arrested in July for domestic violence.
Since October, she has not paid rent on her apartment in a housing complex in Concord, northeast of San Francisco.
"I was like, 'I can't -- I have to choose what do I cover: is it food or rent?'" she said.
To support her household, she received meal tickets from her daughter's school, as well as vouchers from a local church that she can redeem at a corner store.
In order to pay for internet service -- an essential tool for her daughter's remote classes -- Ramirez counts on her nephew's salary from a part-time job at McDonald's. She also regularly skips meals.
Ramirez said she felt "guilty" for her situation: "I felt that I was being like a bad mom, I was irresponsible."
But then she realized she wasn't alone. Ramirez got together with neighbors and they organized to negotiate with landlords.
"This is all of us in the same boat, many of us single moms," she said.
- Depression -
On the other side of the country, in Washington, Maria Lara is worried she will soon be evicted from her shabby apartment after falling far behind on her rent. A nationwide moratorium on evictions is set to end after Christmas.
Lara, who is Salvadoran and has a young daughter, worked as a hotel housekeeper before the pandemic. She found work as a laborer on construction sites but only works "two, three days, sometimes four, every two weeks."
Her building, meantime, is infested with mice that get stuck in sticky traps.
"We live with (the mice) because when we tell the owner that it smells bad, that there are animals, they say they will come to fumigate -- they say they came, but they don't come," said Lara.
Further north, in New York, Marisol Gonzales lost her job in the spring when the pandemic struck Corona -- the neighborhood in the city's Queens borough where she lived -- and then her apartment, which cost her $2,200 per month, in October.
The 47-year-old massage therapist from El Salvador found a room in a shared apartment; she lives there with her 20-year-old daughter. Small jobs allow her to pay for the room ($850), the electric bills and her subway card. She goes once a month to a food bank.
But for the past month, she has faced an even heavier toll from the pandemic: her daughter was hospitalized for depression. A student, she couldn't stand the confinement and gradually withdrew into herself until she stopped her studies.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Dutch ban UK flights to stop virus 'mutation'

Dutch leader Mark Rutte 's cabinet has taken the `` precautionary decision '' to ban flights from Britain The Dutch government on Sunday banned all passenger flights from Britain after finding the first case of a new , more infectious coronavirus strain that is circulating in the UK .
The ban , from 6am ( 0500 GMT ) on Sunday until January 1 , came hours after Britain announced a stay at home order for part of the country to slow the new variant .
`` An infectious mutation of the COVID-19 virus is circulating in the United Kingdom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and faster and is more difficult to detect , '' the Dutch health ministry said in a statement .
The Dutch public health body , the RIVM , therefore `` recommends that any introduction of this virus strain from the United Kingdom be limited as much as possible by limiting and/or controlling passenger movements . ''
The health ministry added that a `` case study in the Netherlands at the beginning of December revealed a virus with the variant described in the United Kingdom . ''
Experts were looking at how the infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Prime Minister Mark Rutte 's cabinet had now taken the `` precautionary decision '' to ban flights from Britain , the statement said , adding that other forms of transport were still under review .
He urged Dutch citizens not to travel unless strictly necessary .
`` Over the next few days , together with other EU member states , ( the government ) will explore the scope for further limiting the risk of the new strain of the virus being brought over from the UK , '' the statement said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ until mid-January with schools and all non-essential shops closed to slow a surge in the virus .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said early data suggests the virus circulating in London and southeast England is up to 70 percent more transmissible .

The Hague (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Dutch government on Sunday banned all passenger flights from Britain after finding the first case of a new, more infectious coronavirus strain that is circulating in the UK.
The ban, from 6am (0500 GMT) on Sunday until January 1, came hours after Britain announced a stay at home order for part of the country to slow the new variant.
"An infectious mutation of the COVID-19 virus is circulating in the United Kingdom. It is said to spread more easily and faster and is more difficult to detect," the Dutch health ministry said in a statement.
The Dutch public health body, the RIVM, therefore "recommends that any introduction of this virus strain from the United Kingdom be limited as much as possible by limiting and/or controlling passenger movements."
The health ministry added that a "case study in the Netherlands at the beginning of December revealed a virus with the variant described in the United Kingdom."
Experts were looking at how the infection happened and whether there were related cases.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte's cabinet had now taken the "precautionary decision" to ban flights from Britain, the statement said, adding that other forms of transport were still under review.
He urged Dutch citizens not to travel unless strictly necessary.
"Over the next few days, together with other EU member states, (the government) will explore the scope for further limiting the risk of the new strain of the virus being brought over from the UK," the statement said.
The Netherlands is under a five-week lockdown until mid-January with schools and all non-essential shops closed to slow a surge in the virus.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said early data suggests the virus circulating in London and southeast England is up to 70 percent more transmissible.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Biden introduces environment team to tackle 'existential threat'

US President-elect Joe Biden has said fighting climate change and protecting the enviroment will be a top priority of his administration President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday introduced key members of his environmental team and said his administration would make the fight against global warming a pillar of his drive to rebuild the pandemic-hit US economy .
Biden said these nominees will `` lead my Administration 's ambitious plan to address an existential threat of our time -- climate change . ''
`` Folks , we 're in a crisis , '' Biden said at the event in Wilmington , Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a unified nation to respond to Covid-19 , we need a unified national response to climate change . ''
The nominees introduced Saturday include Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico to be Interior Secretary .
Overseeing America 's natural resources that include national parks and wildlife refuges , if confirmed by the Senate , Haaland would be the first Native American to hold a Cabinet position .
Biden said his administration will work to modernize water , transportation and energy infrastructure to make it better equipped to resist extreme weather conditions -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden also said he wants to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations and 1.5 million energy-efficient homes and public housing units .
He also said his administration will create a quarter million jobs `` right away '' by hiring people to plug millions of abandoned oil and gas wells that are deemed a health and safety risk .
Biden repeated that he will rejoin the Paris climate accord , which President Donald Trump abandoned , and restore a slew of Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump eliminated .
For other jobs , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama 's Environmental Protection Agency administrator , to lead a new White House Office of Climate Policy .
Biden has also tapped Michael Regan , North Carolina 's top environmental regulator , to run the Environmental Protection Agency and Brenda Mallory , an environmental attorney , to direct the Council on Environmental Quality .
Regan and Mallory are Black .
Biden said that with Saturday 's announcements , his Cabinet will feature six African Americans .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday introduced key members of his environmental team and said his administration would make the fight against global warming a pillar of his drive to rebuild the pandemic-hit US economy.
Biden said these nominees will "lead my Administration's ambitious plan to address an existential threat of our time -- climate change."
"Folks, we're in a crisis," Biden said at the event in Wilmington, Delaware. "Just like we need to be a unified nation to respond to Covid-19, we need a unified national response to climate change."
The nominees introduced Saturday include Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico to be Interior Secretary.
Overseeing America's natural resources that include national parks and wildlife refuges, if confirmed by the Senate, Haaland would be the first Native American to hold a Cabinet position.
Biden said his administration will work to modernize water, transportation and energy infrastructure to make it better equipped to resist extreme weather conditions -- and create many jobs along the way.
Biden also said he wants to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations and 1.5 million energy-efficient homes and public housing units.
He also said his administration will create a quarter million jobs "right away" by hiring people to plug millions of abandoned oil and gas wells that are deemed a health and safety risk.
Biden repeated that he will rejoin the Paris climate accord, which President Donald Trump abandoned, and restore a slew of Obama-era environmental regulations that Trump eliminated.
For other jobs, Biden said he has picked Gina McCarthy, Obama's Environmental Protection Agency administrator, to lead a new White House Office of Climate Policy.
Biden has also tapped Michael Regan, North Carolina's top environmental regulator, to run the Environmental Protection Agency and Brenda Mallory, an environmental attorney, to direct the Council on Environmental Quality.
Regan and Mallory are Black. Biden said that with Saturday's announcements, his Cabinet will feature six African Americans.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Mexico police break up underground parties to enforce Covid rules

Police in one suburb of Mexico City are playing cat and mouse with revelers at underground parties that flout coronavirus restrictions .
On Friday , for instance , authorities in the town of Ecatepec raided the same house for the third time to break up a party with mask-less people drinking beer and dancing to a DJ .
The festivities , like others held on the sly , had been advertised on social media .
`` Do you know how bad the coronavirus is ? ''
an officer asked the host of the party , as guests filed out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 police , soldiers , firefighters and members of the National Guard .
As the pandemic rages around the world , Mexico is one of the hardest hit nations , with more than 117,000 dead and 1.3 million known infections .
Cases are rising sharply .
It is so bad in Mexico City and the neighboring state of Mexico that on Friday the mayor suspended all non-essential activities .
And Ecatepec is one of the worst affected areas in the sprawling metropolis that is Mexico City .
Raids like Friday 's have become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been staged since the beginning of the pandemic , said Jose Isauro Bautista , the mayor of Ecatepec , who accompanied police on the raid .
He says he has broken up parties with as many as 250 people .
Minutes before police arrived at the house Friday , the music suddenly stopped .
But the murmur of voices made clear something was going on inside .
So did the half-full beer cans being tossed out of the windows .
`` Good evening , everyone must leave , '' the officer said as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting no answer , she shouted , `` We are here with the Civil Guard ! ''
The host finally opened the door but asked the police not take pictures , and 20 guests filed out in silence .
The officer asked the host if he was aware that parties like this raise the risk of revelers going home and spreading the virus to vulnerable people like the elderly .
The host said nothing .
Before this raid , the same team busted a combination pool hall and taco restaurant that was violating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should arrest the snitches , '' a woman without a mask told police .
She was standing under a sign reading : `` God bless this business and all of its customers . ''
A man swore at the local government and put down his taco to line up a billiard shot .
`` We get everything , '' Bautista said , referring to people who say the virus does not pose that much of a risk , or that they can do whatever they want , even if it breaks coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourage dialogue , '' he said .

Ecatepec (Mexico) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Police in one suburb of Mexico City are playing cat and mouse with revelers at underground parties that flout coronavirus restrictions.
On Friday, for instance, authorities in the town of Ecatepec raided the same house for the third time to break up a party with mask-less people drinking beer and dancing to a DJ. The festivities, like others held on the sly, had been advertised on social media.
"Do you know how bad the coronavirus is?" an officer asked the host of the party, as guests filed out to the street under the gaze of some 30 police, soldiers, firefighters and members of the National Guard.
As the pandemic rages around the world, Mexico is one of the hardest hit nations, with more than 117,000 dead and 1.3 million known infections. Cases are rising sharply.
It is so bad in Mexico City and the neighboring state of Mexico that on Friday the mayor suspended all non-essential activities.
And Ecatepec is one of the worst affected areas in the sprawling metropolis that is Mexico City.
Raids like Friday's have become frequent as Christmas approaches but they have been staged since the beginning of the pandemic, said Jose Isauro Bautista, the mayor of Ecatepec, who accompanied police on the raid.
He says he has broken up parties with as many as 250 people.
Minutes before police arrived at the house Friday, the music suddenly stopped. But the murmur of voices made clear something was going on inside. So did the half-full beer cans being tossed out of the windows.
"Good evening, everyone must leave," the officer said as she knocked on the door.
After getting no answer, she shouted, "We are here with the Civil Guard!"
The host finally opened the door but asked the police not take pictures, and 20 guests filed out in silence.
The officer asked the host if he was aware that parties like this raise the risk of revelers going home and spreading the virus to vulnerable people like the elderly.
The host said nothing.
Before this raid, the same team busted a combination pool hall and taco restaurant that was violating a ban on alcohol sales.
"You should arrest the snitches," a woman without a mask told police. She was standing under a sign reading: "God bless this business and all of its customers."
A man swore at the local government and put down his taco to line up a billiard shot.
"We get everything," Bautista said, referring to people who say the virus does not pose that much of a risk, or that they can do whatever they want, even if it breaks coronavirus safety rules.
"We try to encourage dialogue," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Ho ho ho and 'good to go': Fauci gives Santa virus vaccine

Top US infectious disease official Anthony Fauci said he personally gave Santa Claus a coronavirus vaccines Santa Claus can safely deliver gifts to good girls and boys on Christmas , after a special visitor went all the way to the North Pole to deliver a coronavirus vaccine .
Anthony Fauci , the top infectious disease official in the United States , said Saturday he personally gave Old St Nick his jab .
`` I took care of that for you because I was worried that you 'd all be upset , '' he said Saturday during a CNN and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families , after worried youngsters asked whether Santa could safely enter homes on December 25 .
`` I took a trip up there to the North Pole ; I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself .
I measured his level of immunity , and he is good to go , '' Fauci declared .
`` He can come down the chimney , he can leave the presents ... you have nothing to worry about . ''
Fauci 's good news comes as countries around the world are experiencing a surge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Italy preparing to celebrate the holiday under tough `` stay at home '' orders .
The United States , the country that has seen the most deaths linked to Covid-19 , launched its mass vaccination campaign this week .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Santa Claus can safely deliver gifts to good girls and boys on Christmas, after a special visitor went all the way to the North Pole to deliver a coronavirus vaccine.
Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease official in the United States, said Saturday he personally gave Old St Nick his jab.
"I took care of that for you because I was worried that you'd all be upset," he said Saturday during a CNN and "Sesame Street" coronavirus town hall for families, after worried youngsters asked whether Santa could safely enter homes on December 25.
"I took a trip up there to the North Pole; I went there and I vaccinated Santa Claus myself. I measured his level of immunity, and he is good to go," Fauci declared.
"He can come down the chimney, he can leave the presents ... you have nothing to worry about."
Fauci's good news comes as countries around the world are experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, with millions in England and Italy preparing to celebrate the holiday under tough "stay at home" orders.
The United States, the country that has seen the most deaths linked to Covid-19, launched its mass vaccination campaign this week.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Charlie's eagle for Team Woods wows at PNC Championship

Tiger Woods congratulates son Charlie on his eagle in the first round of the PNC Challenge in Orlando , Florida Charlie Woods wowed his 15-time major champion father Tiger with an impressive eagle for Team Woods in the PNC Championship family tournament in Orlando , Florida , on Saturday .
Charlie , 11 , put his drive in the fairway at the par-five third hole of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club , then hooked a five-wood approach around some trees .
The ball bounced short of the green and settled three feet from the pin , Charlie giving a fist-pump just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the putt .
A beaming Woods had a hug for his son , noting as they walked off the green `` First eagle ! ''
Charlie , whose swing , so reminiscent of his famous father 's , has drawn comment this week , drained another birdie putt in the first-round scramble format , following the ball as it rolled toward the cup and in .
The Woods duo got off to a hot start , with six birdies and an eagle on the front nine .
They combined for a 10-under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four shots behind Matt Kuchar and son Cameron .
Vijay Singh and son Qass were in second , two shots adrift , with Australian Greg Norman and son Greg Jr. another shot back and tied with Tom and Sean Lehman and David and Brady Duval .
The two-day exhibition tournament features 20 teams of major champions paired with a family member .
Charlie Woods is the youngest competitor to take part , and Tiger Woods has stressed all week that the main aim was to have fun with his son .

Miami (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Charlie Woods wowed his 15-time major champion father Tiger with an impressive eagle for Team Woods in the PNC Championship family tournament in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday.
Charlie, 11, put his drive in the fairway at the par-five third hole of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, then hooked a five-wood approach around some trees.
The ball bounced short of the green and settled three feet from the pin, Charlie giving a fist-pump just like his old man's before rolling in the putt.
A beaming Woods had a hug for his son, noting as they walked off the green "First eagle!"
Charlie, whose swing, so reminiscent of his famous father's, has drawn comment this week, drained another birdie putt in the first-round scramble format, following the ball as it rolled toward the cup and in.
The Woods duo got off to a hot start, with six birdies and an eagle on the front nine.
They combined for a 10-under 62 that left them sharing sixth, four shots behind Matt Kuchar and son Cameron.
Vijay Singh and son Qass were in second, two shots adrift, with Australian Greg Norman and son Greg Jr. another shot back and tied with Tom and Sean Lehman and David and Brady Duval.
The two-day exhibition tournament features 20 teams of major champions paired with a family member.
Charlie Woods is the youngest competitor to take part, and Tiger Woods has stressed all week that the main aim was to have fun with his son.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--How many goal landmarks left for Lionel Messi?

Great leveller : Lionel Messi heads in against Valencia to equal Pele 's record for goals scored for one club Lionel Messi reached a new landmark Saturday by scoring his 643rd goal for Barcelona , equalling the record held by Pele for goals recorded for the same club , but who is football 's greatest marksman ?
Messi 's latest achievement came in the 2-2 draw with Valencia when the 33-year-old headed in from Jordi Alba 's cross after his first-half penalty was saved .
It equalled the mark set by Brazilian great Pele for Santos before he left for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's goals have come in 748 matches , an average of one every 1.16 games ; Pele 's came in 757 matches at one every 1.17 games .
`` These figures are impressive , we will never have a player so effective at this club , '' admitted Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman .
`` That 's why he is the number one .
What he has done for this club , it 's impressive . ''
Rarely does a season go by when Messi is n't forcing football 's history books to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid , Messi scored the 700th goal of his professional career -- club and internationals combined -- with a clever 'Panenka ' penalty .
More than 15 years have passed since Messi opened his goal account with Barcelona .
It was on May 1 , 2005 , against Albacete in La Liga in a 2-0 win .
However , his love affair with Catalonia soured in August this year when he threatened to leave .
He will still be free to quit on July 1 , 2021 at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In all , he has 680 goals in 801 appearances with Barcelona , if goals scored in 'unofficial ' matches are also counted .
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is comfortably the club 's leading scorer , ahead of Cesar Rodriguez 's 230 goals , as well as in the history of the Spanish Championship .
His 450 goals are ahead of old rival Cristiano Ronaldo 's 311 .
Messi also has won the most titles with the Catalan club -- 34 , including four Champions Leagues .
Matching Pele 's record on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Argentinian star , coming just three weeks after the death of his compatriot and fellow icon Diego Maradona .
`` There is and will be only one .
There will be a few princes , but only one King , '' said a mischievous Pele when asked about the current crop of superstars in March this year .
`` Like you , I know what it 's like to love wearing the same shirt every day , '' he wrote on Instagram .
`` Stories like ours , of loving the same club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rarer in football .
I admire you very much , Leo Messi . ''
Pele still has exclusive rights on other records -- for now .
With between 757 and 767 goals scored in official matches throughout his career , Pele is still ahead of Messi ( 714 ) and Ronaldo ( 756 ) in the total number of career club and national team goals .
Pele claimed more than a thousand goals by including all the matches he played , official or otherwise .
However , if just official matches are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still behind Austrian and Czechoslovak striker Josef Bican , who scored 805 goals in his career which spanned three decades .

Madrid (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Lionel Messi reached a new landmark Saturday by scoring his 643rd goal for Barcelona, equalling the record held by Pele for goals recorded for the same club, but who is football's greatest marksman?
Messi's latest achievement came in the 2-2 draw with Valencia when the 33-year-old headed in from Jordi Alba's cross after his first-half penalty was saved.
It equalled the mark set by Brazilian great Pele for Santos before he left for New York Cosmos in 1974.
Messi's goals have come in 748 matches, an average of one every 1.16 games; Pele's came in 757 matches at one every 1.17 games.
"These figures are impressive, we will never have a player so effective at this club," admitted Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman.
"That's why he is the number one. What he has done for this club, it's impressive."
Rarely does a season go by when Messi isn't forcing football's history books to be updated.
On July 1, in a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid, Messi scored the 700th goal of his professional career -- club and internationals combined -- with a clever 'Panenka' penalty.
More than 15 years have passed since Messi opened his goal account with Barcelona.
It was on May 1, 2005, against Albacete in La Liga in a 2-0 win.
However, his love affair with Catalonia soured in August this year when he threatened to leave.
He will still be free to quit on July 1, 2021 at the end of his current contract.
In all, he has 680 goals in 801 appearances with Barcelona, if goals scored in 'unofficial' matches are also counted.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is comfortably the club's leading scorer, ahead of Cesar Rodriguez's 230 goals, as well as in the history of the Spanish Championship.
His 450 goals are ahead of old rival Cristiano Ronaldo's 311.
Messi also has won the most titles with the Catalan club -- 34, including four Champions Leagues.
Matching Pele's record on Saturday has a strong resonance for the Argentinian star, coming just three weeks after the death of his compatriot and fellow icon Diego Maradona.
"There is and will be only one. There will be a few princes, but only one King," said a mischievous Pele when asked about the current crop of superstars in March this year.
Later Saturday, Pele, now 80, congratulated Messi.
"Like you, I know what it's like to love wearing the same shirt every day," he wrote on Instagram.
"Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, will unfortunately become rarer in football. I admire you very much, Leo Messi."
Pele still has exclusive rights on other records -- for now.
With between 757 and 767 goals scored in official matches throughout his career, Pele is still ahead of Messi (714) and Ronaldo (756) in the total number of career club and national team goals.
Pele claimed more than a thousand goals by including all the matches he played, official or otherwise.
However, if just official matches are the measuring stick, even the Brazilian is still behind Austrian and Czechoslovak striker Josef Bican, who scored 805 goals in his career which spanned three decades.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Ronaldo scores twice as Juventus close on Milan in Serie A

Ronaldo ( L ) has now scored 12 league goals this season Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double as Juventus thrashed Parma 4-0 on Saturday to move within one point of Serie A leaders AC Milan .
The Turin giants , chasing a 10th straight league title this season , remain unbeaten after 13 matches this term .
Ronaldo , who missed a penalty in the midweek 1-1 draw with Atalanta , made amends with his third brace in four games .
Third-placed Juve sit level on points with Inter Milan , who welcome Spezia to the San Siro on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ronaldo started up front alongside Alvaro Morata in Parma , with Paulo Dybala not even on the bench after suffering a muscle injury .
Juve made a slow start to the match , needing 42-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to make an excellent save to prevent Juraj Kucka giving Parma the lead .
Instead , the visitors forged ahead midway through the first half as Dejan Kulusevski side-footed home after good work from Alex Sandro .
The game was all but over three minutes later , as Morata crossed for Ronaldo to power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sepe and into the bottom corner .
Parma were fortunate not to fall further behind before half-time , with Ronaldo curling narrowly off target and Leonardo Bonucci bundling wide from close range .
The 35-year-old Ronaldo made completely sure of the three points shortly after the restart , collecting Aaron Ramsey 's pass and drilling the ball into the net left-footed .
The Portuguese star has now scored 12 Serie A goals this season -- two more than AC Milan 's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Inter Milan 's Romelu Lukaku -- in only nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buffon to make another good save from Kucka to preserve their clean sheet , before Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt had a goal ruled out at the other end .
Morata got the goal his all-round display deserved in the 85th minute , nodding in his 10th of the campaign in all competitions .
Elsewhere , veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella scored as Claudio Ranieri 's Sampdoria beat bottom club Crotone 3-1 to move into 10th place , while seventh-placed Verona played out a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina .
On Sunday , Atalanta will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gomez , after talk of a possible January exit for the Argentinian intensified on Saturday .
The Bergamo club released a statement saying Gomez would not feature against Roma due to a `` technical choice '' .

Milan (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double as Juventus thrashed Parma 4-0 on Saturday to move within one point of Serie A leaders AC Milan.
The Turin giants, chasing a 10th straight league title this season, remain unbeaten after 13 matches this term.
Ronaldo, who missed a penalty in the midweek 1-1 draw with Atalanta, made amends with his third brace in four games.
Third-placed Juve sit level on points with Inter Milan, who welcome Spezia to the San Siro on Sunday, when AC Milan also visit Sassuolo.
Ronaldo started up front alongside Alvaro Morata in Parma, with Paulo Dybala not even on the bench after suffering a muscle injury.
Juve made a slow start to the match, needing 42-year-old goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to make an excellent save to prevent Juraj Kucka giving Parma the lead.
Instead, the visitors forged ahead midway through the first half as Dejan Kulusevski side-footed home after good work from Alex Sandro.
The game was all but over three minutes later, as Morata crossed for Ronaldo to power an emphatic header past home goalkeeper Luigi Sepe and into the bottom corner.
Parma were fortunate not to fall further behind before half-time, with Ronaldo curling narrowly off target and Leonardo Bonucci bundling wide from close range.
The 35-year-old Ronaldo made completely sure of the three points shortly after the restart, collecting Aaron Ramsey's pass and drilling the ball into the net left-footed.
The Portuguese star has now scored 12 Serie A goals this season -- two more than AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku -- in only nine appearances.
Andrea Pirlo's men needed Buffon to make another good save from Kucka to preserve their clean sheet, before Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt had a goal ruled out at the other end.
Morata got the goal his all-round display deserved in the 85th minute, nodding in his 10th of the campaign in all competitions.
Elsewhere, veteran striker Fabio Quagliarella scored as Claudio Ranieri's Sampdoria beat bottom club Crotone 3-1 to move into 10th place, while seventh-placed Verona played out a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina.
On Sunday, Atalanta will host Roma without playmaker and captain Papu Gomez, after talk of a possible January exit for the Argentinian intensified on Saturday.
The Bergamo club released a statement saying Gomez would not feature against Roma due to a "technical choice".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Simelane brilliance assures Lions of Currie Cup victory

Lions centre Wandisile Simelane ( L ) scores a try against the Bulls in Johannesburg last month .
A brilliant break by Wandisile Simelane set up Tiaan Swanepoel for a victory-sealing try as the Lions defeated the Sharks 27-12 Saturday in the South African Currie Cup .
The outcome of the fourth round match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg hung in the balance with eight minutes remaining and the Lions ahead by eight points .
After the hosts gained possession off a scrum , a ruck developed in midfield before some slick passing sent centre Simelane clear and he dodged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Captain and fly-half Elton Jantjies converted and there was no way back for the Sharks , who began the match second on the table but dropped to third after the loss as the Lions leapfrogged them .
The Bulls have 35 points , Lions 29 , Sharks 28 , Western Province 26 , defending champions Cheetahs 21 , Pumas 12 and Griquas seven with the top four finishers securing semi-finals places .
An outbreak of Covid-19 in the Bulls camp , affecting an undisclosed number of players and management , led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Griquas in Kimberley and the points were shared .
Simelane brought desperately needed excitement to a dour match dominated by the goal-kicking of Jantjies , Swanepoel and Sharks fly-half Curwin Bosch .
Jantjies slotted three penalties and a conversion from five attempts and Swanepoel , whose speciality is long-range shots , kicked two penalties .
Winger Courtnall Skosan was the other try scorer for the in-form Lions , who have won all four matches this season in the oldest domestic rugby competition in the world .
Bosch took advantage of playing at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to succeed with penalty kicks from 60 and 57 metres , and kicked two others from shorter distances .
`` We are a constantly improving team and our forwards were outstanding tonight , '' said Jantjies ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with the Bulls in Pretoria next Saturday .
Sharks captain and centre Lukhanyo Am hailed the Lions : `` They played really well , putting us under pressure at the set pieces and on the scoreboard . ''
In Mbombela , the Cheetahs put heavy losses to the Bulls and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pumas 35-31 in a 10-try feast .
Eight of the tries were scored by forwards , including two from Cheetahs flanker and man of the match Andisa Ntsila , and six resulted from driving mauls .
Only one of the nine try scorers at Mbombela Stadium , Pumas flanker Daniel Maartens , had scored previously this season .
`` I am growing tired of telling you guys ( the media ) after almost every Currie Cup match that we could have won , '' said Pumas skipper and lock Pieter Jansen van Vuren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal-kicking of fly-half Devon Williams , who fluffed four of five attempts before substitute scrum-half Ginter Smuts took over and succeeded with his two kicks at goal .
All Currie Cup matches are played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A brilliant break by Wandisile Simelane set up Tiaan Swanepoel for a victory-sealing try as the Lions defeated the Sharks 27-12 Saturday in the South African Currie Cup.
The outcome of the fourth round match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg hung in the balance with eight minutes remaining and the Lions ahead by eight points.
After the hosts gained possession off a scrum, a ruck developed in midfield before some slick passing sent centre Simelane clear and he dodged numerous tackles before sending full-back Swanepoel clear.
Captain and fly-half Elton Jantjies converted and there was no way back for the Sharks, who began the match second on the table but dropped to third after the loss as the Lions leapfrogged them.
The Bulls have 35 points, Lions 29, Sharks 28, Western Province 26, defending champions Cheetahs 21, Pumas 12 and Griquas seven with the top four finishers securing semi-finals places.
An outbreak of Covid-19 in the Bulls camp, affecting an undisclosed number of players and management, led to the cancellation of their match against the Griquas in Kimberley and the points were shared.
Simelane brought desperately needed excitement to a dour match dominated by the goal-kicking of Jantjies, Swanepoel and Sharks fly-half Curwin Bosch.
Jantjies slotted three penalties and a conversion from five attempts and Swanepoel, whose speciality is long-range shots, kicked two penalties.
Winger Courtnall Skosan was the other try scorer for the in-form Lions, who have won all four matches this season in the oldest domestic rugby competition in the world.
Bosch took advantage of playing at an altitude of 1,753 metres (5,751 feet) to succeed with penalty kicks from 60 and 57 metres, and kicked two others from shorter distances.
- 'Constantly improving' -
"We are a constantly improving team and our forwards were outstanding tonight," said Jantjies ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with the Bulls in Pretoria next Saturday.
Sharks captain and centre Lukhanyo Am hailed the Lions: "They played really well, putting us under pressure at the set pieces and on the scoreboard."
In Mbombela, the Cheetahs put heavy losses to the Bulls and the Lions behind them as they edged the Pumas 35-31 in a 10-try feast.
Eight of the tries were scored by forwards, including two from Cheetahs flanker and man of the match Andisa Ntsila, and six resulted from driving mauls.
Only one of the nine try scorers at Mbombela Stadium, Pumas flanker Daniel Maartens, had scored previously this season.
"I am growing tired of telling you guys (the media) after almost every Currie Cup match that we could have won," said Pumas skipper and lock Pieter Jansen van Vuren.
He was referring to the disastrous goal-kicking of fly-half Devon Williams, who fluffed four of five attempts before substitute scrum-half Ginter Smuts took over and succeeded with his two kicks at goal.
All Currie Cup matches are played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Reims hold Marseille after Nagatomo own goal

Marseille coach Andre Villas Boas was involved in a confrontation with a local journalist midweek Marseille failed to win for the second time in four days with Saturday 's 1-1 draw at home with Reims in Ligue 1 .
Japan 's Yuto Nagatomo scored an own goal before Florian Thauvin grabbed an equaliser at the Stade Velodrome .
Marseille stay fourth in the table , four points behind leaders Lille .
The hosts ' coach Andre Villas-Boas made two changes from the midweek defeat at Rennes as Nagatomo , Japan 's second-most capped player , and Alvaro Gonzalez came into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boss David Guion changed formation from Wednesday 's victory over Nantes picking a five-man midfield as Mathieu Cafaro , who scored the winner , came in on the right .
Nagatomo , making just his fourth start of the season , made the error for the opener after 21 minutes .
Arber Zeneli played a low cross into the box and Nagatomo deflected the ball into his own net .
The former Inter Milan left-back 's performance then took a further turn for the worse with a yellow card five minutes later for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thauvin brought the sides level just before the interval when the French striker prodded home Dario Benedetto 's wayward header .
Japan right-back Hiroki Sakai and France playmaker Dimitri Payet attempted to claim late winners but the outfit from the Champagne region held on for a point .
Earlier , Opa Nguette and Farid Boulaya scored in Metz 's 2-0 win over Lens to send their side up to eighth .
Later , Lyon can go top with a win over 11th-placed Nice .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Marseille failed to win for the second time in four days with Saturday's 1-1 draw at home with Reims in Ligue 1.
Japan's Yuto Nagatomo scored an own goal before Florian Thauvin grabbed an equaliser at the Stade Velodrome.
Marseille stay fourth in the table, four points behind leaders Lille.
The hosts' coach Andre Villas-Boas made two changes from the midweek defeat at Rennes as Nagatomo, Japan's second-most capped player, and Alvaro Gonzalez came into the starting lineup.
The visitors' boss David Guion changed formation from Wednesday's victory over Nantes picking a five-man midfield as Mathieu Cafaro, who scored the winner, came in on the right.
Nagatomo, making just his fourth start of the season, made the error for the opener after 21 minutes.
Arber Zeneli played a low cross into the box and Nagatomo deflected the ball into his own net.
The former Inter Milan left-back's performance then took a further turn for the worse with a yellow card five minutes later for a challenge on French attacker Cafaro.
Thauvin brought the sides level just before the interval when the French striker prodded home Dario Benedetto's wayward header.
Japan right-back Hiroki Sakai and France playmaker Dimitri Payet attempted to claim late winners but the outfit from the Champagne region held on for a point.
Earlier, Opa Nguette and Farid Boulaya scored in Metz's 2-0 win over Lens to send their side up to eighth.
Later, Lyon can go top with a win over 11th-placed Nice.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Messi equals Pele goal record but Barca lose more ground

Lionel Messi scored his 643rd goal for Barcelona on Saturday to equal Pele 's record of goals for a single club as the Spanish giants were held 2-2 by Valencia .
Messi , 33 , headed in from Jordi Alba 's cross after his first-half penalty was saved to equal the mark set by the Brazilian great for Santos .
`` These figures are impressive , we will never have a player so effective at this club , '' admitted coach Ronald Koeman .
`` That 's why he is the No.1 .
What he 's done for this club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Messi was eventually left frustrated on Saturday as a dogged Valencia forced a draw to leave Barcelona eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid , who beat Elche 3-1 earlier in the day .
`` There were times tonight with good football , we had total control of the match , especially after leading 2-1 where we tried to get the third , but there were also times when we lost the ball in the danger zones , '' added Koeman .
`` What worries me is that sometimes the team does n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We know we 're a team that always likes to attack and score goals , but there are also times when you have to defend and control the game .
`` But the race for the title is not yet lost , we are far behind , but it 's a very complicated season for everyone .
In two months , the situation may be totally different . ''
Barcelona started slowly and went a goal behind to Mouctar Diakhaby 's unchallenged header from a corner after half an hour .
Antoine Griezmann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's record-equalling goal when the France attacker was nudged over by Jose Gaya .
Messi 's spot-kick was saved by Jaume Domenech but the ball rebounded and from Alba 's dinked cross , the Argentina forward headed the ball into the net to draw level with Pele .
Barcelona went ahead thanks to a superb scissor kick from Uruguay 's Ronald Araujo .
But Valencia 's pressure was rewarded when Maxi Gomez got in front of Barca central defender Oscar Mingueza to turn in a cross and equalise .
Philippe Coutinho drove a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Messi curled a free-kick wide but Barcelona were forced to share the points .
Luis Suarez scored twice from close range in a 3-1 victory for Atletico to move Diego Simeone 's side three points clear at the top .
In a tight first half at the Wanda Metropolitano , Atletico wasted a clear chance to take the lead when France forward Thomas Lemar drove the ball straight at Elche 'keeper Edgar Badia as the defence opened up .
Suarez was far more clinical in the 41st minute as the Uruguay forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kieran Trippier 's cross past Badia to take the lead .
The former Barcelona and Liverpool attacker then stretched to poke the lively Yannick Carrasco 's pass into the net in the 58th minute .
Lucas Boye 's powerful header gave Elche hope in the second half but substitute Diego Costa , who has not hidden his frustration at being relegated to the bench since Suarez 's arrival , fired in a penalty with ten minutes remaining to wrap up the three points for Atletico .
`` I 'm very happy to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Movistar after the game .
`` I have taken some hard blows but I always pick myself up again .
It 's has n't been easy but I have enough strength to fight . ''
Real Sociedad stay second but remain three points behind after giving up a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 at Levante .
Socieded , who have played three more games than Atletico , were ahead in the 22nd minute when Swedish international Alexander Isak scored .
Roger levelled just six minutes later before Jorge de Frutus grabbed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fourth thanks to a 3-1 win over Osasuna with Gerard Moreno scoring twice to take his season total to eight goals .
Champions Real Madrid play Eibar away on Sunday where a win would take them level with Atletico on 29 points .

Madrid (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Lionel Messi scored his 643rd goal for Barcelona on Saturday to equal Pele's record of goals for a single club as the Spanish giants were held 2-2 by Valencia.
Messi, 33, headed in from Jordi Alba's cross after his first-half penalty was saved to equal the mark set by the Brazilian great for Santos.
"These figures are impressive, we will never have a player so effective at this club," admitted coach Ronald Koeman.
"That's why he is the No.1. What he's done for this club, it is impressive."
But Messi was eventually left frustrated on Saturday as a dogged Valencia forced a draw to leave Barcelona eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who beat Elche 3-1 earlier in the day.
"There were times tonight with good football, we had total control of the match, especially after leading 2-1 where we tried to get the third, but there were also times when we lost the ball in the danger zones," added Koeman.
"What worries me is that sometimes the team doesn't know what the game is about.
"We know we're a team that always likes to attack and score goals, but there are also times when you have to defend and control the game.
- 'Title not over' -
"But the race for the title is not yet lost, we are far behind, but it's a very complicated season for everyone. In two months, the situation may be totally different."
Barcelona started slowly and went a goal behind to Mouctar Diakhaby's unchallenged header from a corner after half an hour.
Antoine Griezmann earned the penalty that led to Messi's record-equalling goal when the France attacker was nudged over by Jose Gaya.
Messi's spot-kick was saved by Jaume Domenech but the ball rebounded and from Alba's dinked cross, the Argentina forward headed the ball into the net to draw level with Pele.
Barcelona went ahead thanks to a superb scissor kick from Uruguay's Ronald Araujo.
But Valencia's pressure was rewarded when Maxi Gomez got in front of Barca central defender Oscar Mingueza to turn in a cross and equalise.
Philippe Coutinho drove a shot just wide with 12 minutes remaining and Messi curled a free-kick wide but Barcelona were forced to share the points.
Luis Suarez scored twice from close range in a 3-1 victory for Atletico to move Diego Simeone's side three points clear at the top.
In a tight first half at the Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico wasted a clear chance to take the lead when France forward Thomas Lemar drove the ball straight at Elche 'keeper Edgar Badia as the defence opened up.
Suarez was far more clinical in the 41st minute as the Uruguay forward got the slightest of touches to steer Kieran Trippier's cross past Badia to take the lead.
The former Barcelona and Liverpool attacker then stretched to poke the lively Yannick Carrasco's pass into the net in the 58th minute.
Lucas Boye's powerful header gave Elche hope in the second half but substitute Diego Costa, who has not hidden his frustration at being relegated to the bench since Suarez's arrival, fired in a penalty with ten minutes remaining to wrap up the three points for Atletico.
"I'm very happy to be able to play again," Costa told Movistar after the game.
"I have taken some hard blows but I always pick myself up again. It's hasn't been easy but I have enough strength to fight."
Real Sociedad stay second but remain three points behind after giving up a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 at Levante.
Socieded, who have played three more games than Atletico, were ahead in the 22nd minute when Swedish international Alexander Isak scored.
Roger levelled just six minutes later before Jorge de Frutus grabbed the winner three minute from time.
Villarreal are fourth thanks to a 3-1 win over Osasuna with Gerard Moreno scoring twice to take his season total to eight goals.
Champions Real Madrid play Eibar away on Sunday where a win would take them level with Atletico on 29 points.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Lewandowski double fires Bayern top with Leverkusen win

Robert Lewandowski underlined his status as FIFA player of the year with both goals , the second coming just before the final whistle , as European champions Bayern Munich went top of the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen , who they usurped to first place .
Having beaten Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the award on Thursday , Lewandowski claimed the last-gasp winner after 93 minutes at the BayArena .
`` What a year we have had , I hope we will continue to play like this in the new year , '' Lewandowski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nice to score a goal in the last few seconds , especially to get an important victory .
`` This shows that we always want to win games like these , '' Lewandowski added .
Lewandowski has 20 goals in 18 games this season in all competitions having also headed Bayern level just before the break after Patrik Schick gave Leverkusen an early lead .
The Bavarians are two-points clear going into the league 's two-week winter break .
Second-placed Leverkusen are level on 28 points with RB Leipzig , who are third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cologne .
Having also ended Wolfsburg 's unbeaten run this season in mid-week , Bayern are also the first Bundesliga team to beat Leverkusen this term .
For the seventh league game in a row , Bayern conceded the opening goal when Leverkusen exposed the European champions ' current trend of weak defending at set pieces .
The visitors took the lead on 14 minutes when Schick smashed his shot past Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer , voted goalkeeper of the year on Thursday , from a corner .
Schick had the ball in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he was offside .
Bayern equalised with their first clear attack just before half-time when Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba lost possession .
The ball was worked to Thomas Mueller , whose cross flew over the defence to Lewandowksi to head home unmarked at the far post .
Bayern 's England Under-21 midfielder Jamal Musiala hit the post midway through the second-half before Lewandowski struck .
A ball flicked on by Joshua Kimmich , making his first appearance after a knee injury , put Lewandowski in behind the defence to clinically fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off for spitting - Earlier , Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram was sent off for spitting in an opponent 's face during the 2-1 home defeat by Hoffenheim .
The France forward was shown a straight red card with 11 minutes left , which turned the game after the VAR spotted Thuram spitting at the visitors ' defender Stefan Posch .
The incident happened just after Andrej Kramaric had equalised for the away side at Borussia Park .
Nine minutes after Thuram 's dismissal , Tottenham loanee Ryan Sessegnon put Hoffenheim ahead when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the far post .
Gladbach , who face Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League in February , had gone ahead when their captain Lars Stindl converted a first-half penalty .
Having made his France debut in November , this was the first time Thuram - the son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram - has been sent off for Gladbach in his two seasons in Germany .
Despite bringing in Dutch veteran Huub Stevens on Friday as their third coach this season , Schalke are now 29 games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home to Arminia Bielefeld .
Elsewhere , Werder Bremen 's 19-year-old striker Eren Dinkci enjoyed a fairytale Bundesliga debut , scoring their 90th-minute winner with a superb header to seal a 1-0 victory at Mainz .

Berlin (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Robert Lewandowski underlined his status as FIFA player of the year with both goals, the second coming just before the final whistle, as European champions Bayern Munich went top of the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 2-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen, who they usurped to first place.
Having beaten Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the award on Thursday, Lewandowski claimed the last-gasp winner after 93 minutes at the BayArena.
"What a year we have had, I hope we will continue to play like this in the new year," Lewandowski told Sky.
"It's always nice to score a goal in the last few seconds, especially to get an important victory.
"This shows that we always want to win games like these," Lewandowski added.
Lewandowski has 20 goals in 18 games this season in all competitions having also headed Bayern level just before the break after Patrik Schick gave Leverkusen an early lead.
The Bavarians are two-points clear going into the league's two-week winter break.
Second-placed Leverkusen are level on 28 points with RB Leipzig, who are third after their goalless draw at home to Cologne.
Having also ended Wolfsburg's unbeaten run this season in mid-week, Bayern are also the first Bundesliga team to beat Leverkusen this term.
For the seventh league game in a row, Bayern conceded the opening goal when Leverkusen exposed the European champions' current trend of weak defending at set pieces.
The visitors took the lead on 14 minutes when Schick smashed his shot past Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, voted goalkeeper of the year on Thursday, from a corner.
Schick had the ball in the Bayern net again on 28 minutes, but he was offside.
Bayern equalised with their first clear attack just before half-time when Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba lost possession.
The ball was worked to Thomas Mueller, whose cross flew over the defence to Lewandowksi to head home unmarked at the far post.
Bayern's England Under-21 midfielder Jamal Musiala hit the post midway through the second-half before Lewandowski struck.
A ball flicked on by Joshua Kimmich, making his first appearance after a knee injury, put Lewandowski in behind the defence to clinically fire home the winner.
- Thuram sent off for spitting -
Earlier, Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram was sent off for spitting in an opponent's face during the 2-1 home defeat by Hoffenheim.
The France forward was shown a straight red card with 11 minutes left, which turned the game after the VAR spotted Thuram spitting at the visitors' defender Stefan Posch.
The incident happened just after Andrej Kramaric had equalised for the away side at Borussia Park.
Nine minutes after Thuram's dismissal, Tottenham loanee Ryan Sessegnon put Hoffenheim ahead when he tapped in a cross unmarked at the far post.
Gladbach, who face Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League in February, had gone ahead when their captain Lars Stindl converted a first-half penalty.
Having made his France debut in November, this was the first time Thuram - the son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram - has been sent off for Gladbach in his two seasons in Germany.
Despite bringing in Dutch veteran Huub Stevens on Friday as their third coach this season, Schalke are now 29 games without a win after their 1-0 defeat at home to Arminia Bielefeld.
Elsewhere, Werder Bremen's 19-year-old striker Eren Dinkci enjoyed a fairytale Bundesliga debut, scoring their 90th-minute winner with a superb header to seal a 1-0 victory at Mainz.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Turkish hospital fire kills 10 Covid-19 patients

Police cordon off the area in front of the privately-run Sanko University Hospital in Gaziantep At least ten coronavirus patients @ @ @ @ @ oxygen tank explosion triggered a fire at a hospital in southeastern Turkey , the health @ @ @ @ @ in an intensive care ward of the hospital in Gaziantep broke out when a tank @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are profoundly saddened by this tragedy , '' Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin @ @ @ @ @ visit to the hospital .
All the victims were patients who had been hospitalised with @ @ @ @ @ affected by the fire were transferred to other hospitals .
Images in local media showed @ @ @ @ @ fire with charred beds .
Turkey has recorded more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ since the pandemic began a year ago .
Faced with a surge in cases , @ @ @ @ @ place at the end of November with a total curfew during the weekend and partial @ @ @ @ @

Ankara (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
At least ten coronavirus patients died on Saturday after an oxygen tank explosion triggered a fire at a hospital in southeastern Turkey, the health ministry said.
The blaze in an intensive care ward of the hospital in Gaziantep broke out when a tank on an artificial respirator exploded.
"We are profoundly saddened by this tragedy," Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said before a planned visit to the hospital.
All the victims were patients who had been hospitalised with the coronavirus. Other patients affected by the fire were transferred to other hospitals.
Images in local media showed the ward completely destroyed by fire with charred beds.
Turkey has recorded more than 1.9 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 17,600 deaths since the pandemic began a year ago.
Faced with a surge in cases, Turkey strengthened restrictions put in place at the end of November with a total curfew during the weekend and partial one during the week.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Trump says cyberattack 'under control,' plays down Russian role

US President Donald Trump undercut his own administration 's assessment that Russia was behind a massive cyberattack President Donald Trump on Saturday downplayed a massive cyberattack on US government agencies , declaring it `` under control '' and undercutting the assessment by his own administration that Russia was to blame .
`` I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control , '' Trump tweeted in his first public comments on the hack , adding that `` Russia Russia Russia is the priority chant when anything happens '' and suggesting without offering evidence that China `` may '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in sharp contradiction to comments a day earlier from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about both the source and the severity of the attack .
Pompeo had said the breach -- which cyber experts say could have far-reaching impact and take months to unravel -- was `` pretty clearly '' Russia 's work .
`` There was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of US government systems , '' Pompeo told interviewer Mark Levin , alluding to widely used security software from Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very significant effort , '' Pompeo added , `` and I think it 's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity . ''
CNN said White House officials had made plans Friday to release a statement directly blaming Russia , before it was abruptly pulled back for unclear reasons .
It was far from the first time the president has played down apparent threats from Russia , starting with his refusal to recognize interference by Moscow in the 2016 election despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia has denied involvement in the latest attack , but several officials in and out of the US government have pointed the finger at Moscow , and none at Beijing .
There was no immediate reaction from China .
Dramatic details about the extraordinarily wide attack have emerged even as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office next month amid already high tensions with Moscow .
Biden has expressed `` great concern '' over the breach .
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Thursday that the attack poses a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be `` highly complex . ''
It did not identify those behind it .
On Friday , Senator Marco Rubio , a prominent Republican , tweeted that `` the methods used to carry out the cyberhack are consistent with Russian cyber operations , '' while adding that it was crucial to be certain .
`` We ca n't afford to be wrong on attribution , because America must retaliate , and not just with sanctions . ''
In a move apparently planned before news of the cyberattack emerged , the State Department on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining US consulates in Russia , in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg , due to `` ongoing staffing challenges . ''
Among the government agencies affected by the cyberattack , according to media reports , are the departments of State , Treasury , Commerce and Homeland Security .
Also targeted were the National Institutes of Health -- at a time of keen interest in coronavirus vaccines -- as well as the Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration , which manage the nuclear weapons stockpile .
Microsoft said Thursday that it had notified more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which security experts say could allow attackers unfettered network access to key government systems and electric power grids and other utilities .
Roughly 80 percent of the affected customers are located in the United States , Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a blog post , with victims also found in Belgium , Britain , Canada , Israel , Mexico , Spain and the United Arab Emirates .
`` It 's certain that the number and location of victims will keep growing , '' Smith said .
NATO said Saturday it was checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no evidence of compromise . ''
The European Commission said Saturday it had not found any computer system intrusion but was `` analyzing the situation . ''
In one of his two tweets Saturday , Trump attempted to link the cyberattack to his persistent efforts to undercut Biden 's election win .
`` There could also have been a hit on our ridiculous voting machines during the election , which is now obvious that I won big , making it an even more corrupted embarrassment for the USA . ''
It was his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the November 3 vote , and Twitter appended a note stating that Biden had been certified by election officials as the winner .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
President Donald Trump on Saturday downplayed a massive cyberattack on US government agencies, declaring it "under control" and undercutting the assessment by his own administration that Russia was to blame.
"I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control," Trump tweeted in his first public comments on the hack, adding that "Russia Russia Russia is the priority chant when anything happens" and suggesting without offering evidence that China "may" also be involved.
Trump's response was in sharp contradiction to comments a day earlier from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about both the source and the severity of the attack. Pompeo had said the breach -- which cyber experts say could have far-reaching impact and take months to unravel -- was "pretty clearly" Russia's work.
"There was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of US government systems," Pompeo told interviewer Mark Levin, alluding to widely used security software from Texas firm SolarWinds.
"This was a very significant effort," Pompeo added, "and I think it's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity."
Trump's tweets left administration spokespeople scrambling to reconcile the conflicting takes.
CNN said White House officials had made plans Friday to release a statement directly blaming Russia, before it was abruptly pulled back for unclear reasons.
- Playing down threats -
It was far from the first time the president has played down apparent threats from Russia, starting with his refusal to recognize interference by Moscow in the 2016 election despite the clear finding of US intelligence agencies.
Russia has denied involvement in the latest attack, but several officials in and out of the US government have pointed the finger at Moscow, and none at Beijing.
There was no immediate reaction from China.
Dramatic details about the extraordinarily wide attack have emerged even as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office next month amid already high tensions with Moscow.
Biden has expressed "great concern" over the breach.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Thursday that the attack poses a "grave risk" and thwarting it would be "highly complex." It did not identify those behind it.
On Friday, Senator Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican, tweeted that "the methods used to carry out the cyberhack are consistent with Russian cyber operations," while adding that it was crucial to be certain.
"We can't afford to be wrong on attribution, because America must retaliate, and not just with sanctions."
- Closing consulates -
In a move apparently planned before news of the cyberattack emerged, the State Department on Saturday confirmed plans to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia, in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg, due to "ongoing staffing challenges."
Among the government agencies affected by the cyberattack, according to media reports, are the departments of State, Treasury, Commerce and Homeland Security.
Also targeted were the National Institutes of Health -- at a time of keen interest in coronavirus vaccines -- as well as the Energy Department and National Nuclear Security Administration, which manage the nuclear weapons stockpile.
Microsoft said Thursday that it had notified more than 40 customers hit by the malware, which security experts say could allow attackers unfettered network access to key government systems and electric power grids and other utilities.
Roughly 80 percent of the affected customers are located in the United States, Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a blog post, with victims also found in Belgium, Britain, Canada, Israel, Mexico, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
"It's certain that the number and location of victims will keep growing," Smith said.
NATO said Saturday it was checking its computer systems but had found "no evidence of compromise."
The European Commission said Saturday it had not found any computer system intrusion but was "analyzing the situation."
In one of his two tweets Saturday, Trump attempted to link the cyberattack to his persistent efforts to undercut Biden's election win.
"There could also have been a hit on our ridiculous voting machines during the election, which is now obvious that I won big, making it an even more corrupted embarrassment for the USA."
It was his latest baseless allegation of mass fraud in the November 3 vote, and Twitter appended a note stating that Biden had been certified by election officials as the winner.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Rare Christmas sales in Saudi Arabia

Rare Christmas sales in Saudi Arabia

People walk past Christmas decorations for sale at a gift shop in Riyadh on December 7 , 2020 .
In recent years , festive sales have gradually crept into the Saudi capital , a sign of loosening social restrictions Christmas trees and glittery ornaments are for sale at a Saudi gift shop , a once unthinkable sight in the cradle of Islam where all public non-Muslim worship is banned .
In recent years , festive sales have gradually crept into the capital Riyadh , a sign of loosening social restrictions after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to steer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , moderate Islam '' .
`` I did n't ever imagine I 'd see this '' in Saudi Arabia , a Riyadh resident told AFP at the shop selling trees , Santa Claus outfits as well as tinsel , baubles and other ornaments .
`` I am surprised , '' said the resident , declining to be identified .
Until barely three years ago , it was almost impossible to sell such items openly in Saudi Arabia , but authorities have been clipping the powers of the clerical establishment long notorious for enforcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales were largely underground , and Christians from the Philippines , Lebanon and other countries celebrated behind closed doors or in expat enclaves .
`` It was very difficult to find such '' Christmas items in the kingdom , said Mary , a Lebanese expat based in Riyadh who preferred to be identified by her first name .
`` Many of my friends used to buy them from Lebanon or Syria and sneak them into the country , '' she said .
But in a sign of the changing times , the Riyadh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide his surname , said his store sold not just Christmas items but also outfits for Halloween -- widely seen by arch-conservatives as an American tradition that is a deviation from Islam .
Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Mecca and Medina , Islam 's two holiest sites .
The Arab kingdom has long been accused of exporting its ultra-conservative Wahhabist Sunni doctrine around the world but has been slowly pushing for inter-religious exchange .
It has even hosted officials linked to the Vatican as well as Jewish figures in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once well-known for denigrating Jews and other non-Muslims as `` swines '' and `` apes '' , are undergoing revision as part of Prince Mohammed 's campaign to combat extremism in education .
The heir to the Saudi throne has curbed the influence of the once-powerful religious police , as he permits mixed-gender music concerts , cinemas and other entertainment , but temples and churches are still forbidden .
Earlier this month , the United States reconfirmed Saudi Arabia 's place among a list of countries on a religious freedom blacklist .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tolerating `` systematic , ongoing , egregious violations of religious freedom '' , according to the US State Department .
Last month , Prince Mohammed pledged to strike extremists with an `` iron fist '' , after a bombing against a gathering of Western diplomats at a non-Muslim cemetery in the Red Sea city of Jeddah that was claimed by the Islamic State group .

Riyadh (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Christmas trees and glittery ornaments are for sale at a Saudi gift shop, a once unthinkable sight in the cradle of Islam where all public non-Muslim worship is banned.
In recent years, festive sales have gradually crept into the capital Riyadh, a sign of loosening social restrictions after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to steer the conservative Gulf kingdom towards an "open, moderate Islam".
"I didn't ever imagine I'd see this" in Saudi Arabia, a Riyadh resident told AFP at the shop selling trees, Santa Claus outfits as well as tinsel, baubles and other ornaments.
"I am surprised," said the resident, declining to be identified.
Until barely three years ago, it was almost impossible to sell such items openly in Saudi Arabia, but authorities have been clipping the powers of the clerical establishment long notorious for enforcing Islamic traditions.
For decades, Christmas sales were largely underground, and Christians from the Philippines, Lebanon and other countries celebrated behind closed doors or in expat enclaves.
"It was very difficult to find such" Christmas items in the kingdom, said Mary, a Lebanese expat based in Riyadh who preferred to be identified by her first name.
"Many of my friends used to buy them from Lebanon or Syria and sneak them into the country," she said.
- Changing times -
But in a sign of the changing times, the Riyadh shop manager, Omar, who declined to provide his surname, said his store sold not just Christmas items but also outfits for Halloween -- widely seen by arch-conservatives as an American tradition that is a deviation from Islam.
Saudi Arabia is the custodian of Mecca and Medina, Islam's two holiest sites.
The Arab kingdom has long been accused of exporting its ultra-conservative Wahhabist Sunni doctrine around the world but has been slowly pushing for inter-religious exchange.
It has even hosted officials linked to the Vatican as well as Jewish figures in recent years.
Local officials say school textbooks, once well-known for denigrating Jews and other non-Muslims as "swines" and "apes", are undergoing revision as part of Prince Mohammed's campaign to combat extremism in education.
The heir to the Saudi throne has curbed the influence of the once-powerful religious police, as he permits mixed-gender music concerts, cinemas and other entertainment, but temples and churches are still forbidden.
Earlier this month, the United States reconfirmed Saudi Arabia's place among a list of countries on a religious freedom blacklist.
The countries are accused of engaging in or tolerating "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom", according to the US State Department.
Last month, Prince Mohammed pledged to strike extremists with an "iron fist", after a bombing against a gathering of Western diplomats at a non-Muslim cemetery in the Red Sea city of Jeddah that was claimed by the Islamic State group.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Ledecka edges Suter in opening women's super-G

Ester Ledecka raced to her first World Cup super-G victory in Val d ’ Isere Olympic champion Ester Ledecka won the first World Cup super-G race of her career on Sunday , edging Corinne Suter in Val d'Isere .
Czech skier and snowboarder Ledecka finished in 1min 24.64sec , just 0.03sec ahead of Swiss Suter , who won the small globe for the discipline last year , with Italy 's Federica Brignone third 0.35sec off the winning time .
The race was the first World Cup super-G of the season after the first two scheduled races of the season in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ledecka , who won the Olympic super-G and the parallel giant slalom in snowboard in Pyeongchang in 2018 , top of the World Cup standings in the discipline .
Despite winning the Olympic gold , Ledecka had never finished on a World Cup super-G podium before Sunday .
The victory was her second on the circuit , after a downhill in Lake Louise last December .
Slovak Petra Vlhova finished sixth to increase her lead in the overall standings after her closest challenger Michelle Gisin of Switzerland came in ninth .
Visitors have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Val d'Isere in the last two days with the start of French school holidays and , although the race was held behind closed doors , a few curious people were able to enjoy Sunday 's competition standing in the surrounding ski slopes .

Val-d'Isère (France) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Olympic champion Ester Ledecka won the first World Cup super-G race of her career on Sunday, edging Corinne Suter in Val d'Isere.
Czech skier and snowboarder Ledecka finished in 1min 24.64sec, just 0.03sec ahead of Swiss Suter, who won the small globe for the discipline last year, with Italy's Federica Brignone third 0.35sec off the winning time.
The race was the first World Cup super-G of the season after the first two scheduled races of the season in Saint-Moritz were cancelled.
The victory leaves Ledecka, who won the Olympic super-G and the parallel giant slalom in snowboard in Pyeongchang in 2018, top of the World Cup standings in the discipline.
Despite winning the Olympic gold, Ledecka had never finished on a World Cup super-G podium before Sunday. The victory was her second on the circuit, after a downhill in Lake Louise last December.
Slovak Petra Vlhova finished sixth to increase her lead in the overall standings after her closest challenger Michelle Gisin of Switzerland came in ninth.
Visitors have begun to arrive in the resort of Val d'Isere in the last two days with the start of French school holidays and, although the race was held behind closed doors, a few curious people were able to enjoy Sunday's competition standing in the surrounding ski slopes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Syrian potter preserves centuries-old craft

Syrian-Armenian potter Misak Antranik Petros uses an ancient pottery wheel to churn different types of pots at his workshop located inside an ancient mud-brick house near the city of Qamishli in Syria 's northeastern Hasakeh province Inside a dusty and dark workshop on the banks of the Jaghjagh river in northeast Syria , Misak Antranik Petros uses an ancient pottery wheel to throw different shapes from clay .
The 85-year-old Syrian potter of Armenian origin said his family has practised the craft for more than 450 years .
`` The profession was passed down from one generation to another like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Now , my son is taking it up . ''
His workshop is located inside an ancient mud-brick house near the city of Qamishli , administered by Kurdish authorities who control much of northeastern Syria .
It is cluttered with pots , tools and classically shaped vases , mostly covered in dust .
Petros and his two sons spend most of their time in the humid space , heated by an old wood-burning stove .
`` I dont like to clean the clay off my hands because I like the texture , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Petros was only a teenager when he had to take over for his sick father and become the main potter of the family .
He has since become a master of the craft , and is keen to pass his skills on .
`` I am happy when I see the door of the workshop open and my son working inside , '' he said .
`` This craft deserves to be preserved . ''
Syria 's nine-year-long war has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions from their homes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their home and workshop dodging damage .
Of Petros 's two sons -- Anto and Yerevan -- the former is likely to follow in his footsteps as a professional potter , especially after receiving training from his father .
`` His hands need to be balanced , '' Petros said of his son , like a trapeze artist `` walking on a tight rope '' .
Sitting at the pottery wheel , Anto , 43 , moulds a clay vase with expert hands while his father watches .
The young man said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ craft .
`` I ca n't stop pottery for even two days because my hands miss it , '' Anto said .
`` If God blesses me with a child , I will teach them this craft the way my father taught me . ''

Qamishli (Syria) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Inside a dusty and dark workshop on the banks of the Jaghjagh river in northeast Syria, Misak Antranik Petros uses an ancient pottery wheel to throw different shapes from clay.
The 85-year-old Syrian potter of Armenian origin said his family has practised the craft for more than 450 years.
"The profession was passed down from one generation to another like an inheritance," he said. "Now, my son is taking it up."
His workshop is located inside an ancient mud-brick house near the city of Qamishli, administered by Kurdish authorities who control much of northeastern Syria.
It is cluttered with pots, tools and classically shaped vases, mostly covered in dust.
Petros and his two sons spend most of their time in the humid space, heated by an old wood-burning stove.
"I dont like to clean the clay off my hands because I like the texture," he told AFP from his workshop.
Petros was only a teenager when he had to take over for his sick father and become the main potter of the family.
He has since become a master of the craft, and is keen to pass his skills on.
"I am happy when I see the door of the workshop open and my son working inside," he said.
"This craft deserves to be preserved."
Syria's nine-year-long war has killed more than 387,000 people and displaced millions from their homes.
Petros and his family were largely spared with their home and workshop dodging damage.
Of Petros's two sons -- Anto and Yerevan -- the former is likely to follow in his footsteps as a professional potter, especially after receiving training from his father.
"His hands need to be balanced," Petros said of his son, like a trapeze artist "walking on a tight rope".
Sitting at the pottery wheel, Anto, 43, moulds a clay vase with expert hands while his father watches.
The young man said he is just as enthusiastic about the craft.
"I can't stop pottery for even two days because my hands miss it," Anto said.
"If God blesses me with a child, I will teach them this craft the way my father taught me."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Thailand to test 10,000 after virus outbreak linked to seafood market

A worker is swabbed for a coronavirus test at Mahachai seafood market in Samut Sakhon after an outbreak among Mynmar migrant workers Thailand will test more than 10,000 people for coronavirus after an outbreak linked to its biggest seafood market , officials said Sunday .
Nearly 700 new infections have been linked to Mahachai market and port since a 67-year-old female prawn seller tested positive on Thursday -- most cases among Myanmar workers who toil in the kingdom 's multi-billion-dollar seafood industry .
Authorities ordered Myanmar workers around the market not to leave their residences .
`` We are locking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health ministry 's permanent secretary , Kietphgum Wongit , said Sunday -- adding authorities would provide them with food and water .
By Sunday officials had confirmed 689 cases linked to Mahachai .
`` The ( Department of Disease Control ) will do active tracing in several communities of about 10,300 people , '' said Taweesin Visanuyothin , a spokesman for Thailand 's Covid-19 taskforce .
The testing would be free for migrant workers and continue until Wednesday , he said .
Before the outbreak , Thailand had just over 4,000 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considering it was the first country outside of China to register an infection .
It shares porous borders with four countries , including Myanmar , which sees more than 1,000 new cases a day .
Images shared Sunday by Thai media showed crowds of masked workers lined up shoulder-to-shoulder as they waited to get tested .
`` It is impossible to social distance here , '' said Kyaw Zay Yar , a Myanmar worker helping a local foundation coordinate testing .
He said anti-Myanmar sentiment had been shared on social media -- with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly infectious disease .
`` Myanmar migrants are feeling uneasy as well ... we are just trying to calm each other down , '' he said .
`` The situation is likely to get worse in the coming days . ''
Rights groups say Mahachai 's shrimping and seafood industry is fueled by a low-paid migrant workforce , subjected to poor working and cramped living conditions .

Bangkok (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Thailand will test more than 10,000 people for coronavirus after an outbreak linked to its biggest seafood market, officials said Sunday.
Nearly 700 new infections have been linked to Mahachai market and port since a 67-year-old female prawn seller tested positive on Thursday -- most cases among Myanmar workers who toil in the kingdom's multi-billion-dollar seafood industry.
Authorities ordered Myanmar workers around the market not to leave their residences.
"We are locking and banning them from moving," the health ministry's permanent secretary, Kietphgum Wongit, said Sunday -- adding authorities would provide them with food and water.
By Sunday officials had confirmed 689 cases linked to Mahachai.
"The (Department of Disease Control) will do active tracing in several communities of about 10,300 people," said Taweesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for Thailand's Covid-19 taskforce.
The testing would be free for migrant workers and continue until Wednesday, he said.
Before the outbreak, Thailand had just over 4,000 cases and 60 deaths -- a low toll considering it was the first country outside of China to register an infection.
It shares porous borders with four countries, including Myanmar, which sees more than 1,000 new cases a day.
Images shared Sunday by Thai media showed crowds of masked workers lined up shoulder-to-shoulder as they waited to get tested.
"It is impossible to social distance here," said Kyaw Zay Yar, a Myanmar worker helping a local foundation coordinate testing.
He said anti-Myanmar sentiment had been shared on social media -- with Thais accusing the workers of importing the highly infectious disease.
"Myanmar migrants are feeling uneasy as well... we are just trying to calm each other down," he said.
"The situation is likely to get worse in the coming days."
Rights groups say Mahachai's shrimping and seafood industry is fueled by a low-paid migrant workforce, subjected to poor working and cramped living conditions.
burs-dhc/fox
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Security forces rescue dozens of schoolchildren after new abduction in Nigeria

Annas Shuaibu , left , one of the 334 students rescued last week in Kankara , Nigeria , plays football with a friend on December 19 , 2020 .
Gunmen in Nigeria abducted more than 80 Islamic school students in northwestern Katsina state Saturday night , but the pupils were quickly rescued by security forces after a fierce gun battle , police announced Sunday .
The foiled abduction comes less than two days after the release of 344 schoolboys who were kidnapped in the same area on Dec. 11 .
The incidents have highlighted the insecurity in northern Nigeria .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in Dandume , about 64 kilometers ( 40 miles ) from Kankara , the town where the earlier kidnapping of schoolboys occurred .
The bandits had already abducted four people and stolen a dozen cows when they ran into the schoolchildren who were on their way home from a celebration , Katsina state police spokesman , Gambo Isa , said early Sunday morning .
Police and a local community self-defense group rescued the children from the bandits after a gunfight , he said .
“ The teams succeeded in dislodging the bandits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recovered all the 12 rustled cows.
” said Isa in a statement .
“ Search parties are still combing the area with a view of arresting the injured bandits and/or the recovery of their dead bodies.
” Dandume , an area bordering the northern part of Kaduna state , is one of the region ’ s hotspots for banditry and kidnapping , according to residents .
“ Dandume is a no-go-area for many of us because of the high level of crimes and insecurity being perpetrated by armed bandits , ” Saidu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civic group in Katsina , told The Associated Press .
“ Despite government efforts to open up the area by constructing roads leading from the metropolitan locations to the hinterlands of Dandume ... the banditry still persists , ” said Lawal .
“ On many occasions , the bandits block the Dandume-Sabuwa highways to attack travelers .
It was based on that reason that many people have abandoned the new route .
”

Gunmen in Nigeria abducted more than 80 Islamic school students in northwestern Katsina state Saturday night, but the pupils were quickly rescued by security forces after a fierce gun battle, police announced Sunday.
Annas Shuaibu, left, one of the 334 students rescued last week in Kankara, Nigeria, plays football with a friend on December 19, 2020.
Advertising Read more
The foiled abduction comes less than two days after the release of 344 schoolboys who were kidnapped in the same area on Dec. 11. The incidents have highlighted the insecurity in northern Nigeria.
Saturday night’s attempted kidnapping took place in Dandume, about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from Kankara, the town where the earlier kidnapping of schoolboys occurred.
The bandits had already abducted four people and stolen a dozen cows when they ran into the schoolchildren who were on their way home from a celebration, Katsina state police spokesman, Gambo Isa, said early Sunday morning. Police and a local community self-defense group rescued the children from the bandits after a gunfight, he said.
“The teams succeeded in dislodging the bandits and rescued all the 84 kidnapped victims and recovered all the 12 rustled cows.” said Isa in a statement. “Search parties are still combing the area with a view of arresting the injured bandits and/or the recovery of their dead bodies.”
Dandume, an area bordering the northern part of Kaduna state, is one of the region’s hotspots for banditry and kidnapping, according to residents.
“Dandume is a no-go-area for many of us because of the high level of crimes and insecurity being perpetrated by armed bandits,” Saidu Lawal, an official of a local civic group in Katsina, told The Associated Press.
“Despite government efforts to open up the area by constructing roads leading from the metropolitan locations to the hinterlands of Dandume ... the banditry still persists,” said Lawal. “On many occasions, the bandits block the Dandume-Sabuwa highways to attack travelers. It was based on that reason that many people have abandoned the new route.”
(AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-12-20--French climate council warns that 5G will lead to spike in carbon emissions

French climate council warns that 5G will lead to spike in carbon emissions 2020-12-20 11:07 French climate council warns that @ @ @ @ @ in carbon emissions

Page not found
The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.