france24--2020-09-10--Huge fire breaks out at Beirut port one month after fatal explosion

A store of oil and tyres at Beirut port caught fire on Thursday , a military source said , a little more than a month after a massive blast devastated the port and a surrounding residential area of the Lebanese capital .
The army said it was not immediately clear why the oil and tyres had erupted in flames and said it was sending helicopters to help bring the fire under control .
Television footage showed a helicopter dropping water on the blaze .
The blaze erupted in the duty free zone of the port , sending a huge column @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the explosion on Aug. 4 that killed about 190 people and injured 6,000 people .
The head of Lebanon 's Red Cross , George Kettaneh , said there was no fear of another explosion as a result of the flames and said there were no injuries , although he said there were some people suffering from shortness of breath as a result .
Television footage showed firefighters trying to douse the blaze in an area surrounded by the mangled remains of warehouses that were destroyed in the explosion last month .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ammonium nitrate that had been kept at the port in poor condition for years .

A large fire erupted at Beirut port on Thursday, engulfing parts of the Lebanese capital in a pall of smoke weeks after a massive blast devastated the port and surrounding residential area.
An army helicopter drops water on a fire at warehouses at the seaport in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 10. 2020.
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The blaze began in the shattered duty free zone of the port, prompting some residents to flee the city still traumatised by last month's explosion which followed a port fire.
Army helicopters dropped water as firefighters battled on the ground to bring the blaze under control. By evening, officials said most flames had been extinguished. Smoke still rose from smouldering wreckage but it was far less dense.
"For sure we were scared, it's only been a month since the explosion that destroyed Beirut. We saw the same thing happening again," 53-year-old Andre Muarbes said as soot and ash fell on vehicles and buildings across parts of the capital.
Officials said no one had been injured, but the blaze strained nerves already on edge in a nation grappling with a deep economic crisis that has posed the biggest threat to Lebanon's stability since its 1975-1990 civil war.
The sky has turned black again in Beirut. pic.twitter.com/8Z8OSVu4QD — Liz Sly (@LizSly) September 10, 2020
Michel Najjar, public works minister in the outgoing government which resigned in the wake of the blast, told Lebanon's MTV initial indications suggested the blaze was sparked by welding work during repairs at the port.
A military source said it appeared to have started when cooking oil caught fire and spread to stores of tyres. At one point, live television footage had shown flames licking up near a pile of tires in a warehouse ruined by last month's explosion.
The Aug. 4 blast killed about 190 people and injured 6,000.
>> Read more: One month on from massive port explosion, 'Beirut needs us'
Majed Hassanein, 49, was taking his wife and two children out of the capital by car during the height of the blaze. "I am forced to get them out of Beirut from the smoke and the fire that is happening at the port again," he said.
His son, he said, was still suffering shock from the blast that ruined a swathe of the capital near the port, leaving about 300,000 people without inhabitable homes and shattering windows across the city.
The head of Lebanon's Red Cross, George Kettaneh, said there were no injuries but some people suffered shortness of breath.
The public prosecutor ordered an immediate investigation. Many Lebanese are frustrated that they have not been told about any initial findings from an investigation into the port blast, more than a month after it ripped through Beirut.
Carmen Geha, an activist and associate professor at the American University of Beirut, said the fire was further proof of mismanagement by a ruling elite, who have dragged the nation into crisis after years of corruption and poor governance.
"It's a gross crime, gross negligence and gross arrogance," she said. "You can't trust them to manage anything."
Firefighters were shown in television footage dousing the port fire surrounded by mangled remains of warehouses destroyed in last month's explosion, which was caused by a store of ammonium nitrate that had been kept in poor condition at the port for years.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-10--Rashford relishes challenge of reeling in Man Utd's rivals

Marcus Rashford says the task of reeling in Liverpool and Manchester City adds spice to Manchester United 's bid to re-establish themselves as Premier League title contenders .
United put together a nine-game unbeaten run in the league , which included six wins , after the coronavirus lockdown to pip Chelsea to third place at the end of last season .
But they finished 33 points behind Liverpool , who claimed their first league crown in 30 years , and 15 points adrift of City .
Rashford said chasing down their two rivals gave United added motivation .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plays for the club or anyone who 's from Manchester , '' he told the Press Association .
`` We have to use all that as motivation to keep improving as a team .
`` But we ca n't lose sight of what 's important , and that 's our own team 's development and to keep improving .
You can find yourself sometimes looking too much elsewhere , but we play our best and we improve most when we concentrate on ourselves as individuals and as a team . ''
United have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season once since they won their 20th title in 2012/13 , when they were runners-up under Jose Mourinho two years ago .
Rashford is convinced they now have something to build on .
`` It 's obviously a big step , '' he said .
`` The lads worked hard and , for me , it 's what we deserved as a team .
We 've had some tough times ( last ) season and some times where we 've been unstoppable .
`` But we need to find that consistency , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have quite a young team . ''
The England striker missed a big chunk of the last campaign with a back injury but said he was disappointed with his tally of 22 goals for United .
`` I missed four or five months and in my mind , I could have done much more ... but for whatever reason , it did n't happen , '' said the 22-year-old Coca-Cola ambassador .
`` I never lose touch with reality and I know next season , I have to come back better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was always my dream to play for Manchester United and to play as many games as I have is definitely a proud feeling .
But as a player and as a person , it makes me want more and just to keep improving every day . ''

London (AFP) –
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Marcus Rashford says the task of reeling in Liverpool and Manchester City adds spice to Manchester United's bid to re-establish themselves as Premier League title contenders.
United put together a nine-game unbeaten run in the league, which included six wins, after the coronavirus lockdown to pip Chelsea to third place at the end of last season.
But they finished 33 points behind Liverpool, who claimed their first league crown in 30 years, and 15 points adrift of City.
Rashford said chasing down their two rivals gave United added motivation.
"I think that's natural for anyone who plays for the club or anyone who's from Manchester," he told the Press Association. "We have to use all that as motivation to keep improving as a team.
"But we can't lose sight of what's important, and that's our own team's development and to keep improving. You can find yourself sometimes looking too much elsewhere, but we play our best and we improve most when we concentrate on ourselves as individuals and as a team."
United have only finished higher than they did last season once since they won their 20th title in 2012/13, when they were runners-up under Jose Mourinho two years ago.
Rashford is convinced they now have something to build on.
"It's obviously a big step," he said. "The lads worked hard and, for me, it's what we deserved as a team. We've had some tough times (last) season and some times where we've been unstoppable.
"But we need to find that consistency, that's the biggest thing for us. We have quite a young team."
The England striker missed a big chunk of the last campaign with a back injury but said he was disappointed with his tally of 22 goals for United.
"I missed four or five months and in my mind, I could have done much more... but for whatever reason, it didn't happen," said the 22-year-old Coca-Cola ambassador.
"I never lose touch with reality and I know next season, I have to come back better than I was last season.
"It was always my dream to play for Manchester United and to play as many games as I have is definitely a proud feeling. But as a player and as a person, it makes me want more and just to keep improving every day."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--UK holds crisis talks with EU as Pelosi warns on Brexit bill

Britain headed into emergency talks with the European Union on Thursday facing warnings of legal action over a new Brexit bill and a threatening reminder of its obligations to Northern Ireland from leading US Democrat Nancy Pelosi .
Warnings redoubled too within the ranks of the ruling Conservative party as former prime minister John Major , who helped lay the foundations for Northern Irish peace in the 1990s , said his successor Boris Johnson risked trashing the UK 's global reputation .
Britain 's signature on any treaty or agreement has always been `` sacrosanct '' , Major said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new bill would breach an EU withdrawal treaty in the countdown to a full Brexit divorce .
`` If we lose our reputation for honouring the promises we make , we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained , '' he added .
European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic headed to London demanding `` clarifications '' over the new UK Internal Market Bill , after it was submitted to a stormy session of parliament Wednesday .
`` I came here to express serious concerns the European Union has over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the nature of our discussions today , '' Sefcovic told reporters Thursday prior to meeting his counterpart on a UK-EU joint committee , Michael Gove .
The bill would give British ministers unilateral powers to regulate trade among England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland , once the force of EU law expires after a post-Brexit transition period at the end of this year .
But under the EU withdrawal treaty , Britain is meant to liaise with Brussels on arrangements for Northern Ireland , which will have the UK 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and where 30 years of bloodshed were ended with a landmark peace deal in 1998 .
EU diplomats -- and Johnson 's many critics at home including in the UK 's devolved governments -- have ridiculed Downing Street 's argument that the EU treaty was written `` at pace '' and contained unforeseen problems relating to Northern Ireland .
Sefcovic and Gove were to sit down on the last day of a parallel track of negotiations this week in London that have struggled to make headway on a future trading relationship as Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Johnson 's critics say the new bill is aimed partly at torpedoing that track , so Britain can go its own way and forge other trade pacts free of EU oversight , not least with the United States .
However , House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi gave short shrift to any British hopes of Congress ratifying a future trade deal if it ploughs ahead with the new Brexit bill .
In a statement , she said London must respect the EU treaty 's Northern Ireland Protocol , which envisages borderless trade with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upholding the 1998 peace pact .
`` If the UK violates that international treaty and Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord , there will be absolutely no chance of a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress , '' Pelosi warned .
`` The Good Friday Agreement is treasured by the American people and will be proudly defended in the United States Congress . ''
More immediately , the EU 's executive commission circulated a paper setting out legal options against London including recourse to the European Court of Justice -- the supreme arbiter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is meant to escape .
`` A breach of the obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement would open the way to the legal remedies , '' a draft prepared by EU ambassadors and seen by AFP said .
EU diplomats said to avoid that , and the possibility of hefty fines against Britain , much hinged on the Sefcovic-Gove committee finding a way out .
Johnson spoke by phone on Wednesday evening with his Irish counterpart , Micheal Martin , who was left unimpressed by British assurances that the internal market bill is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland .
`` I pointed out very strongly to him that this was very unsettling for Northern Ireland , that it was dragging Northern Ireland back into the centre stage , '' Martin told RTE radio , warning also that Johnson had eroded trust with the EU .
Looking at the broader track , the Irish premier added that British failure to compromise with the EU on a future trading regime would be `` gross irresponsibility '' .
`` A no deal will damage people 's lives and economic prospects , very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Martin said .

London (AFP) –
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Britain headed into emergency talks with the European Union on Thursday facing warnings of legal action over a new Brexit bill and a threatening reminder of its obligations to Northern Ireland from leading US Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
Warnings redoubled too within the ranks of the ruling Conservative party as former prime minister John Major, who helped lay the foundations for Northern Irish peace in the 1990s, said his successor Boris Johnson risked trashing the UK's global reputation.
Britain's signature on any treaty or agreement has always been "sacrosanct", Major said, after ministers in London conceded that the new bill would breach an EU withdrawal treaty in the countdown to a full Brexit divorce.
"If we lose our reputation for honouring the promises we make, we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained," he added.
European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic headed to London demanding "clarifications" over the new UK Internal Market Bill, after it was submitted to a stormy session of parliament Wednesday.
"I came here to express serious concerns the European Union has over the proposed bill. So that will be the nature of our discussions today," Sefcovic told reporters Thursday prior to meeting his counterpart on a UK-EU joint committee, Michael Gove.
The bill would give British ministers unilateral powers to regulate trade among England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, once the force of EU law expires after a post-Brexit transition period at the end of this year.
But under the EU withdrawal treaty, Britain is meant to liaise with Brussels on arrangements for Northern Ireland, which will have the UK's only land border with the EU, and where 30 years of bloodshed were ended with a landmark peace deal in 1998.
- Rushed through? -
EU diplomats -- and Johnson's many critics at home including in the UK's devolved governments -- have ridiculed Downing Street's argument that the EU treaty was written "at pace" and contained unforeseen problems relating to Northern Ireland.
Sefcovic and Gove were to sit down on the last day of a parallel track of negotiations this week in London that have struggled to make headway on a future trading relationship as Britain unwinds nearly 50 years of European integration.
Johnson's critics say the new bill is aimed partly at torpedoing that track, so Britain can go its own way and forge other trade pacts free of EU oversight, not least with the United States.
However, House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi gave short shrift to any British hopes of Congress ratifying a future trade deal if it ploughs ahead with the new Brexit bill.
In a statement, she said London must respect the EU treaty's Northern Ireland Protocol, which envisages borderless trade with EU member Ireland as a way of upholding the 1998 peace pact.
"If the UK violates that international treaty and Brexit undermines the Good Friday accord, there will be absolutely no chance of a US-UK trade agreement passing the Congress," Pelosi warned.
"The Good Friday Agreement is treasured by the American people and will be proudly defended in the United States Congress."
- 'Gross irresponsibility' -
More immediately, the EU's executive commission circulated a paper setting out legal options against London including recourse to the European Court of Justice -- the supreme arbiter of EU law which Brexit, ironically, is meant to escape.
"A breach of the obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement would open the way to the legal remedies," a draft prepared by EU ambassadors and seen by AFP said.
EU diplomats said to avoid that, and the possibility of hefty fines against Britain, much hinged on the Sefcovic-Gove committee finding a way out.
Johnson spoke by phone on Wednesday evening with his Irish counterpart, Micheal Martin, who was left unimpressed by British assurances that the internal market bill is aimed in fact at preserving peace in Northern Ireland.
"I pointed out very strongly to him that this was very unsettling for Northern Ireland, that it was dragging Northern Ireland back into the centre stage," Martin told RTE radio, warning also that Johnson had eroded trust with the EU.
Looking at the broader track, the Irish premier added that British failure to compromise with the EU on a future trading regime would be "gross irresponsibility".
"A no deal will damage people's lives and economic prospects, very much indeed in addition to Covid-19," Martin said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Mali junta launches 'consultation' amid pressure over handover

Supporters of the junta , which calls itself the CNSP ( National Committee for the Salvation of the People ) , walk past a banner depicting its leader Assimi Goita in a rally in Bamako on Wednesday Mali 's military junta on Thursday launches a three-day `` national consultation '' with political parties , unions and NGOs , facing questions at home and pressure from abroad over its plans for returning the country to civilian rule .
Around 500 people are due to attend the forum , unfolding at a conference centre in Bamako , the capital of the impoverished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second round of discussions between the young officers who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18 and civilian representatives , many of whom had campaigned fiercely for him to resign .
At stake is how the junta intends to make good on its vow , made just hours after the coup , to restore civilian governance and stage elections within a `` reasonable time . ''
Early jubilation among many Malians over Keita 's exit has been superseded by questions and also divisions about the speed of the handover and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The coup -- Mali 's fourth since gaining independence from France in 1960 -- came after months of protests , stoked by Keita 's failure to roll back a bloody jihadist insurgency and fix the country 's many economic woes .
Mali 's neighbours have watched with concern , fearing the country could spiral back into chaos -- a scenario that eight years ago helped fuel the jihadist revolt which now rattles Niger and Burkina Faso .
The junta initially talked of a three-year transition , corresponding to the time left in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be overseen by a soldier .
In contrast , the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS has set a hard line , closing borders , banning trade with Mali and insisting that the handover last 12 months maximum .
In the runup to the talks , the group said Mali 's civilian transition president and premier `` must be appointed no later than September 15 '' .
The so-called June 5 Movement , which engineered the wave of anti-Keita protests , is split .
Some voices argue in favour of giving the military a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems that have driven the country to the brink .
Others say that this would simply worsen instability -- four more Malian troops were killed in an attack on the eve of the talks -- and set a poor example for democracy in West Africa .
A committee of around 20 lawyers , researchers and academics has drawn up a draft `` road map '' resulting from a first round of talks on Saturday .
This document will be put to the forum `` for amendment , improvement and enrichment '' , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP .

Bamako (AFP) –
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Mali's military junta on Thursday launches a three-day "national consultation" with political parties, unions and NGOs, facing questions at home and pressure from abroad over its plans for returning the country to civilian rule.
Around 500 people are due to attend the forum, unfolding at a conference centre in Bamako, the capital of the impoverished West African state.
The talks mark the second round of discussions between the young officers who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18 and civilian representatives, many of whom had campaigned fiercely for him to resign.
At stake is how the junta intends to make good on its vow, made just hours after the coup, to restore civilian governance and stage elections within a "reasonable time."
Early jubilation among many Malians over Keita's exit has been superseded by questions and also divisions about the speed of the handover and the military's role in the transition period.
The coup -- Mali's fourth since gaining independence from France in 1960 -- came after months of protests, stoked by Keita's failure to roll back a bloody jihadist insurgency and fix the country's many economic woes.
Mali's neighbours have watched with concern, fearing the country could spiral back into chaos -- a scenario that eight years ago helped fuel the jihadist revolt which now rattles Niger and Burkina Faso.
The junta initially talked of a three-year transition, corresponding to the time left in Keita's second five-year mandate, that would be overseen by a soldier.
In contrast, the 15-nation regional bloc ECOWAS has set a hard line, closing borders, banning trade with Mali and insisting that the handover last 12 months maximum.
In the runup to the talks, the group said Mali's civilian transition president and premier "must be appointed no later than September 15".
The so-called June 5 Movement, which engineered the wave of anti-Keita protests, is split.
Some voices argue in favour of giving the military a long handover in order to tackle the problems that have driven the country to the brink.
Others say that this would simply worsen instability -- four more Malian troops were killed in an attack on the eve of the talks -- and set a poor example for democracy in West Africa.
A committee of around 20 lawyers, researchers and academics has drawn up a draft "road map" resulting from a first round of talks on Saturday.
This document will be put to the forum "for amendment, improvement and enrichment", its chair, Diarra Fatoumata Dembele, told AFP.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Ferrari deny crisis ahead of 1,000th race at Tuscan Grand Prix

The Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc both failed to finish last weekend 's Italian Grand Prix at Monza Ferrari go into this weekend 's Tuscan Grand Prix , an event created to celebrate the team 's 1,000th Formula One race , denying they are in crisis and hoping an expected switch to a dark red retro livery will lift the spirits , deliver some points and ensure a party to remember .
After two disappointing and pointless races at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza , the sport 's first visit to the beautiful Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit in the rolling Tuscan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being the first to enter 1,000 World Championship Grands Prix .
To highlight the landmark , Charles Leclerc and departing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will drive SF1000 cars painted a darker red – to stir memories of the team 's F1 debut at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix , the second race of that , the first championship season .
They missed the first due to a commercial dispute with the organisers at Silverstone .
In Monte Carlo , future two-time world champion Alberto Ascari finished second behind Juan Manuel Fangio 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current team would willingly accept this weekend to bring an end to their current travails .
`` It is an important race for us , the 1,000th Grand Prix , '' admitted team boss Mattia Binotto .
`` It is a different type of circuit to Spa and Monza so I think it will be important to understand our level of competitiveness at such a circuit .
`` It 's a very hard season , but it 's by facing up to difficulties like these that you get stronger .
We must look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Having said that , we will give our all at Mugello . ''
Ferrari slumped to sixth in the constructors ' championship last Sunday when Vettel - who will move to Aston Martin next season - suffered a brakes failure after six laps and Leclerc crashed out at high speed .
The team are now only 14 points clear of fellow Italians Alpha Tauri , the Faenza-based minnows who claimed only their second F1 win thanks to Pierre Gasly 's gritty triumph .
But team boss Binotto , who has kept his cool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said : `` I think we were not in a crisis last time ( after Belgium ) and I can confirm that is not the case now ( after Italy ) .
`` It was a bad day , especially with reliability issues , the worst conclusion to a weekend , but it is important to look forward and become stronger . ''
Ferrari may be distracted by their own history this weekend when in addition to the occasion , the retro livery and other novelties , they will be backed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , marking the first time this year that any fans have attended a race due to the Covid-19 restrictions .
The double failure at Monza confirmed the team 's first double-blank in successive races since 2009 and they desperately need to avoid another and prevent their own party falling flat .
As Ferrari seek some relief , series leader and six-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes will be hunting more records after finishing seventh last Sunday following a penalty for pitting when the pit lane was closed .
He said he was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday Mercedes intervened and said they were responsible for the mess-up because they had access to clearer signals and more information .
Team chief Toto Wolff confirmed also that Mercedes were re-painting the official safety car in Ferrari red to honour their achievement .
Another win for Hamilton would be his 90th and lift him to within one of Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher 's record of 91 .
He is unlikely to be challenged by Ferrari , but Red Bull 's Max Verstappen should be back to his best , after failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circuit more suited to his style with several other drivers in close contention .

Mugello (Italy) (AFP) –
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Ferrari go into this weekend's Tuscan Grand Prix, an event created to celebrate the team's 1,000th Formula One race, denying they are in crisis and hoping an expected switch to a dark red retro livery will lift the spirits, deliver some points and ensure a party to remember.
After two disappointing and pointless races at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, the sport's first visit to the beautiful Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit in the rolling Tuscan hills marks the team's achievement in being the first to enter 1,000 World Championship Grands Prix.
To highlight the landmark, Charles Leclerc and departing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will drive SF1000 cars painted a darker red – to stir memories of the team's F1 debut at the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix, the second race of that, the first championship season. They missed the first due to a commercial dispute with the organisers at Silverstone.
In Monte Carlo, future two-time world champion Alberto Ascari finished second behind Juan Manuel Fangio's Alfa Romeo – a result that the current team would willingly accept this weekend to bring an end to their current travails.
"It is an important race for us, the 1,000th Grand Prix," admitted team boss Mattia Binotto. "It is a different type of circuit to Spa and Monza so I think it will be important to understand our level of competitiveness at such a circuit.
"It's a very hard season, but it's by facing up to difficulties like these that you get stronger. We must look ahead and build for the future. Having said that, we will give our all at Mugello."
Ferrari slumped to sixth in the constructors' championship last Sunday when Vettel - who will move to Aston Martin next season - suffered a brakes failure after six laps and Leclerc crashed out at high speed.
The team are now only 14 points clear of fellow Italians Alpha Tauri, the Faenza-based minnows who claimed only their second F1 win thanks to Pierre Gasly's gritty triumph.
- Ferrari keen to move on -
But team boss Binotto, who has kept his cool despite a maelstrom of emotions around him, said: "I think we were not in a crisis last time (after Belgium) and I can confirm that is not the case now (after Italy).
"It was a bad day, especially with reliability issues, the worst conclusion to a weekend, but it is important to look forward and become stronger."
Ferrari may be distracted by their own history this weekend when in addition to the occasion, the retro livery and other novelties, they will be backed by 2,880 of the official Ferrari Supporters Club, marking the first time this year that any fans have attended a race due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The double failure at Monza confirmed the team's first double-blank in successive races since 2009 and they desperately need to avoid another and prevent their own party falling flat.
As Ferrari seek some relief, series leader and six-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes will be hunting more records after finishing seventh last Sunday following a penalty for pitting when the pit lane was closed.
He said he was to blame for missing the signals, but on Wednesday Mercedes intervened and said they were responsible for the mess-up because they had access to clearer signals and more information. Team chief Toto Wolff confirmed also that Mercedes were re-painting the official safety car in Ferrari red to honour their achievement.
Another win for Hamilton would be his 90th and lift him to within one of Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher's record of 91.
He is unlikely to be challenged by Ferrari, but Red Bull's Max Verstappen should be back to his best, after failing to finish at Monza, on a circuit more suited to his style with several other drivers in close contention.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--EU mulls legal action against Britain over plan to break Brexit divorce deal

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves as he leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on September 9 , 2020 , to attend Prime Minister 's Questions ( PMQs ) at the House of Commons .
Britain and the European Union will hold emergency talks on Thursday over Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's plan to undercut parts of the Brexit divorce treaty , with Brussels exploring possible legal action against London .
After Britain explicitly said it would act outside international law by breaching the divorce treaty , EU negotiators are trying to gauge how to deal with London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will meet British counterpart Michael Gove in London at 1200 GMT alongside scheduled trade talks between chief negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost .
If the EU is unhappy with what London says , it could use a part of the Withdrawal Agreement to take legal action against Britain , though there would be no resolution before the end-of-year deadline for Britain 's full exit .
`` The dispute-settling mechanism under the Withdrawal Agreement is there , '' an EU diplomat dealing with Brexit told Reuters .
Two EU officials also involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain 's proposed Internal Market Bill - overriding parts of the Withdrawal Agreement - once it is passed to take into account any amendments before making a final decision on the legal case .
The British government says its planned law merely clarifies ambiguities in the Withdrawal Agreement , but also says its main priority is the 1998 Northern Irish peace deal .
Europe 's leaders have been handed an ultimatum : accept the treaty breach or prepare for a messy divorce when Britain disentangles itself from the EU at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and formally left the EU in January , but remains a member in all but name until the end of 2020 under a status quo agreement .
Sterling was flat at $ 1.2999 though overnight sterling implied volatility rose to 13 % , its highest since March 26 , and the FTSE 100 share index slipped .
Talks on a trade deal have snagged on state aid rules and fishing .
Without an agreement , nearly $ 1 trillion in trade between the EU and Britain could be thrown into confusion at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic .
> > Brexit : UK admits it might break international law as new round of talks begins The latest dispute centres on rules for Northern Ireland , which shares a land border with EU member Ireland .
Under the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement that ended decades of violence , there must be no hard border in Ireland .
To ensure that , Britain 's EU divorce agreement calls for some EU rules to continue to apply in Northern Ireland .
But Britain wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledging this would violate international law .
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said any potential U.S.-UK trade deal would not pass the U.S. Congress if Britain undermined the 1998 agreement .
Former British leaders Theresa May and John Major scolded Johnson , whose government put forward the Internal Market Bill on Wednesday , for considering an explicit , intentional breach of international law .
`` If we lose our reputation for honouring the promises we make , we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was playing a game of Brexit `` chicken '' , threatening to wreck the process and challenging Brussels to change course .
Some fear Johnson may view a no-deal exit as a useful distraction from the pandemic .
`` I 'm not optimistic at this stage , '' Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin told national broadcaster RTE when asked how confident he was in a trade deal being reached .
`` I think yesterday 's development , because it undermines trust in negotiations , makes it all the more difficult to get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , which is a free trade agreement with no tariffs and no quotas . ''

Britain and the European Union will hold emergency talks on Thursday over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to undercut parts of the Brexit divorce treaty, with Brussels exploring possible legal action against London.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves as he leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on September 9, 2020, to attend Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) at the House of Commons.
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After Britain explicitly said it would act outside international law by breaching the divorce treaty, EU negotiators are trying to gauge how to deal with London.
European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic will meet British counterpart Michael Gove in London at 1200 GMT alongside scheduled trade talks between chief negotiators Michel Barnier and David Frost.
If the EU is unhappy with what London says, it could use a part of the Withdrawal Agreement to take legal action against Britain, though there would be no resolution before the end-of-year deadline for Britain's full exit.
We expect the letter and spirit of the #WithdrawalAgreement to be fully respected. I have called for an extraordinary EU-UK Joint Committee to be held as soon as possible - so that our UK partners elaborate and respond to our strong concerns regarding their announcement. pic.twitter.com/MhhWj9MUnC — Maroš Šefčovič🇪🇺 (@MarosSefcovic) September 9, 2020
"The dispute-settling mechanism under the Withdrawal Agreement is there," an EU diplomat dealing with Brexit told Reuters.
Two EU officials also involved in the talks said the Commission would analyse Britain's proposed Internal Market Bill - overriding parts of the Withdrawal Agreement - once it is passed to take into account any amendments before making a final decision on the legal case.
The British government says its planned law merely clarifies ambiguities in the Withdrawal Agreement, but also says its main priority is the 1998 Northern Irish peace deal.
Europe's leaders have been handed an ultimatum: accept the treaty breach or prepare for a messy divorce when Britain disentangles itself from the EU at the end of the year.
Britain signed the treaty and formally left the EU in January, but remains a member in all but name until the end of 2020 under a status quo agreement.
Sterling was flat at $1.2999 though overnight sterling implied volatility rose to 13%, its highest since March 26, and the FTSE 100 share index slipped.
Ireland
Talks on a trade deal have snagged on state aid rules and fishing.
Without an agreement, nearly $1 trillion in trade between the EU and Britain could be thrown into confusion at the beginning of 2021, a further economic blow as they deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
>> Brexit: UK admits it might break international law as new round of talks begins
The latest dispute centres on rules for Northern Ireland, which shares a land border with EU member Ireland. Under the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement that ended decades of violence, there must be no hard border in Ireland.
To ensure that, Britain's EU divorce agreement calls for some EU rules to continue to apply in Northern Ireland. But Britain wants power to override many of them, acknowledging this would violate international law.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said any potential U.S.-UK trade deal would not pass the U.S. Congress if Britain undermined the 1998 agreement.
Former British leaders Theresa May and John Major scolded Johnson, whose government put forward the Internal Market Bill on Wednesday, for considering an explicit, intentional breach of international law.
"If we lose our reputation for honouring the promises we make, we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained," Major said.
European diplomats said Britain was playing a game of Brexit "chicken", threatening to wreck the process and challenging Brussels to change course. Some fear Johnson may view a no-deal exit as a useful distraction from the pandemic.
An Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD tells @Carolecoleman that “trust has been eroded” when asked about his phone call with British PM @BorisJohnson #Brexit pic.twitter.com/nGEWyJMluK — Morning Ireland (@morningireland) September 10, 2020
"I'm not optimistic at this stage," Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin told national broadcaster RTE when asked how confident he was in a trade deal being reached.
"I think yesterday's development, because it undermines trust in negotiations, makes it all the more difficult to get to where everyone says they want to get to, which is a free trade agreement with no tariffs and no quotas."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-10--Fixture chaos in Spain amid latest La Liga row with federation

La Liga 's opening game of the season will now be at Eibar 's Ipurua stadium against Celta Vigo on Saturday La Liga has been forced to change the days of its fixtures for the opening weekend of the season , just two days before they were due to start .
The Spanish league announced on Wednesday night it had given in to the `` nonsense '' of the Spanish Football Federation ( RFEF ) , in order to avoid `` irreparable sporting damage to the clubs '' .
It is the latest in a number of disputes between Spanish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been at loggerheads over scheduling for more than a year .
La Liga is keen to stretch games from Fridays to Mondays to maximise television revenues while the federation is determined to keep matches to Saturdays and Sundays only .
`` In order to avoid irreparable sporting damage to the clubs affected by this nonsense of the RFEF ( Spanish Football Federation ) , La Liga has rescheduled the matches initially scheduled for Friday and Monday for this first day , '' La Liga said in a statement .
It means the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Athletic Bilbao , initially scheduled for Friday at 9:00 pm ( 1900 GMT ) , will be played on Saturday at 6:30 pm .
And Alaves against Real Betis on Monday at 9:00 pm has been brought forward to Sunday 2:00 pm .
The first game of the season will instead be Eibar against Celta Vigo at Ipurua on Saturday at 4:00 pm .
All matches are still without fans .
But La Liga announced its `` firm intention '' to puts its case to the government 's Ministry for Sport regarding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also has kick-offs on Friday and Monday night .
A judge in Madrid is due to decide on October 6 which organisation has the final say on the scheduling of matches .
La Liga is responsible for the top two divisions in Spain while the federation oversees the third tier and below , as well as the women 's top flight .
Reigning champions Real Madrid , Barcelona , Atletico Madrid and Sevilla will all sit out the opening weekend after being given extra time off following their involvement in European competitions last @ @

Madrid (AFP) –
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La Liga has been forced to change the days of its fixtures for the opening weekend of the season, just two days before they were due to start.
The Spanish league announced on Wednesday night it had given in to the "nonsense" of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), in order to avoid "irreparable sporting damage to the clubs".
It is the latest in a number of disputes between Spanish football's two governing bodies, who have been at loggerheads over scheduling for more than a year.
La Liga is keen to stretch games from Fridays to Mondays to maximise television revenues while the federation is determined to keep matches to Saturdays and Sundays only.
"In order to avoid irreparable sporting damage to the clubs affected by this nonsense of the RFEF (Spanish Football Federation), La Liga has rescheduled the matches initially scheduled for Friday and Monday for this first day," La Liga said in a statement.
It means the season's original curtain-raiser between Granada and Athletic Bilbao, initially scheduled for Friday at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT), will be played on Saturday at 6:30 pm.
And Alaves against Real Betis on Monday at 9:00 pm has been brought forward to Sunday 2:00 pm.
The first game of the season will instead be Eibar against Celta Vigo at Ipurua on Saturday at 4:00 pm. All matches are still without fans.
But La Liga announced its "firm intention" to puts its case to the government's Ministry for Sport regarding the second round of league games, which also has kick-offs on Friday and Monday night.
A judge in Madrid is due to decide on October 6 which organisation has the final say on the scheduling of matches.
La Liga is responsible for the top two divisions in Spain while the federation oversees the third tier and below, as well as the women's top flight.
Reigning champions Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla will all sit out the opening weekend after being given extra time off following their involvement in European competitions last term.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Australia still searching for best ODI formula, says Finch

Aaron Finch said Australia were still searching for their `` best formula '' in one-day international cricket as they prepare to pit their wits against world champions England .
The two teams will lock horns in a three-match ODI series starting in Manchester on Friday , following a Twenty20 series in Southampton , which England won 2-1 .
The match at Old Trafford will be the first 50-over contest between the sides since England won last year 's World Cup semi-final on their way to lifting the trophy .
Finch , Australia 's white-ball captain , said his team had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years but there was still room for improvement .
`` Over the last couple of years we 're still searching for our best formula and our best 11 players day in , day out in the one-day format , '' he said .
`` I do n't think there 's been any secret to that .
There 's been great opportunity that we probably have n't nailed in this format .
We 've played some really good cricket in patches and some indifferent cricket in other patches . ''
Australia are fifth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number one side in T20 cricket .
The skipper told reporters on Thursday that it was important that Australia got their `` processes really rolling in one-day cricket '' as they look ahead to the 2023 World Cup in India .
`` I think it 's just finding a consistent selection formula , '' he said .
`` We did a lot of work in the Covid break on how we think we can structure our one-day cricket and where we think we need to get to for that 2023 World Cup .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ information all the time to give us the best chance of winning consistently .
One-day cricket is a hard game , especially away from home . ''
The hard-hitting opening batsman said his side 's victory in the third and final T20 match in Southampton had been important , even though they lost the series .
But he warned England , ranked number one in ODIs , had enviable firepower with bat and ball .
`` They keep coming at you , '' he said .
`` There 's no part in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can take your foot off the gas because there will be someone there to take the opportunity away from you . ''
`` I think their form in white-ball cricket has been exceptional in both formats over the last few years , '' he added .
`` Obviously their one-day game has probably been the benchmark since probably 2016 so it 's going to be a great challenge . ''

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Aaron Finch said Australia were still searching for their "best formula" in one-day international cricket as they prepare to pit their wits against world champions England.
The two teams will lock horns in a three-match ODI series starting in Manchester on Friday, following a Twenty20 series in Southampton, which England won 2-1.
The match at Old Trafford will be the first 50-over contest between the sides since England won last year's World Cup semi-final on their way to lifting the trophy.
Finch, Australia's white-ball captain, said his team had made progress in ODI cricket in recent years but there was still room for improvement.
"Over the last couple of years we're still searching for our best formula and our best 11 players day in, day out in the one-day format," he said.
"I don't think there's been any secret to that. There's been great opportunity that we probably haven't nailed in this format. We've played some really good cricket in patches and some indifferent cricket in other patches."
Australia are fifth in the global ODI rankings but are the number one side in T20 cricket.
The skipper told reporters on Thursday that it was important that Australia got their "processes really rolling in one-day cricket" as they look ahead to the 2023 World Cup in India.
"I think it's just finding a consistent selection formula," he said. "We did a lot of work in the Covid break on how we think we can structure our one-day cricket and where we think we need to get to for that 2023 World Cup.
"It's about getting as much information all the time to give us the best chance of winning consistently. One-day cricket is a hard game, especially away from home."
The hard-hitting opening batsman said his side's victory in the third and final T20 match in Southampton had been important, even though they lost the series.
But he warned England, ranked number one in ODIs, had enviable firepower with bat and ball.
"They keep coming at you," he said. "There's no part in a 20-over game or a 50-over game that you can take your foot off the gas because there will be someone there to take the opportunity away from you."
"I think their form in white-ball cricket has been exceptional in both formats over the last few years," he added. "Obviously their one-day game has probably been the benchmark since probably 2016 so it's going to be a great challenge."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--'No boundary' - Japan women's football great joins men's team

Japanese women 's football great Yuki Nagasato said she was inspired by Megan Rapinoe 's fight for equality as she took the highly unusual step of joining a men 's team on Thursday .
Nagasato , a Women 's World Cup-winner in 2011 , will play for Hayabusa Eleven , an amateur outfit in her home prefecture of Kanagawa , on loan from Chicago Red Stars in the US professional league .
The 33-year-old striker , who will return to the Red Stars for the 2021 season , will play as a professional with Hayabusa Eleven , the team of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how much I can contribute among men is unknown , '' Nagasato , also a runner-up at the 2015 World Cup and 2012 Olympics , said at her unveiling .
`` But I was really inspired by messages on gender gap by Rapinoe at the World Cup and I was wondering if I could also send a message to the society , '' she said .
Rapinoe , this year 's Ballon d'Or winner after starring in the United States ' victorious World Cup campaign , is a strong campaigner for social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equal pay for America 's men 's and women 's national teams .
Nagasato said it was her idea to play for Hayabusa Eleven , a move that she hoped would send out a strong message .
`` I thought I could show that women can also play in a men 's team , '' she said .
`` I want to help create a community where there is no boundary regarding gender or race . ''
Nagasato joined the Chicago team in 2017 and scored eight goals last year , together with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she had no ambitions of playing for the Nadeshiko , Japan 's women 's team , at the postponed Tokyo Olympics next year .
`` I really can not imagine myself joining '' the Olympics , she said .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Japanese women's football great Yuki Nagasato said she was inspired by Megan Rapinoe's fight for equality as she took the highly unusual step of joining a men's team on Thursday.
Nagasato, a Women's World Cup-winner in 2011, will play for Hayabusa Eleven, an amateur outfit in her home prefecture of Kanagawa, on loan from Chicago Red Stars in the US professional league.
The 33-year-old striker, who will return to the Red Stars for the 2021 season, will play as a professional with Hayabusa Eleven, the team of her older brother Genki.
"Honestly, how much I can contribute among men is unknown," Nagasato, also a runner-up at the 2015 World Cup and 2012 Olympics, said at her unveiling.
"But I was really inspired by messages on gender gap by Rapinoe at the World Cup and I was wondering if I could also send a message to the society," she said.
Rapinoe, this year's Ballon d'Or winner after starring in the United States' victorious World Cup campaign, is a strong campaigner for social justice who has led attempts to win equal pay for America's men's and women's national teams.
Nagasato said it was her idea to play for Hayabusa Eleven, a move that she hoped would send out a strong message.
"I thought I could show that women can also play in a men's team," she said.
"I want to help create a community where there is no boundary regarding gender or race."
Nagasato joined the Chicago team in 2017 and scored eight goals last year, together with a league-leading eight assists.
But she said she had no ambitions of playing for the Nadeshiko, Japan's women's team, at the postponed Tokyo Olympics next year.
"I really cannot imagine myself joining" the Olympics, she said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Fleeing California wildfires '10 times harder' during epidemic

It is not the first time that Leanna Mikesler has evacuated her home in the California mountains because of wildfires , but during an epidemic it is `` 10 times harder . ''
Mikesler and her husband fled with only their most important documents , and , as she walks her dog at an emergency Red Cross facility in Clovis in the center of the state , she says she fears their property may be destroyed .
`` The fire is right around it , '' she says of her home in Meadow Lakes , in the Sierra National Forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They call ... the evacuation .
And then you go from there to see if your house has been burned down , '' Mikesler says slowly , adding she has seen aerial images of firefighters battling to save her small community with water bombers .
Since the authorities notified them on Saturday through loudspeakers to evacuate , the couple has been living in a subsidized hotel room because the usual emergency facility -- a gymnasium filled with hundreds of beds -- is not an option during the Covid-19 crisis .
The Red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hotels .
Cindy Huge , a spokeswoman for the aid charity based in a local high school , said : `` There 's over 600 people ... and food has been delivered to them in disposable containers , three meals a day and snacks and water . ''
Another evacuee , 69-year-old David Mascarini , told AFP he fled his home with his wife and dog , and after spending one night in a hotel he had to approach the Red Cross because there were no more rooms available .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around his home in the hope that the flames would not take hold , but he does n't know if it will work .
`` I hope , hope it works out , '' he said .
At least 60 homes have already been destroyed by the Creek blaze , according to the California fire agency , and some communities nestled in the mountains have been turned into ghost towns .
Lines of smoke rise from the mountains as if they are billowing from chimneys , while logs still smolder and small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the distance , helicopters and planes battle the blazes .

Clovis (United States) (AFP) –
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It is not the first time that Leanna Mikesler has evacuated her home in the California mountains because of wildfires, but during an epidemic it is "10 times harder."
Mikesler and her husband fled with only their most important documents, and, as she walks her dog at an emergency Red Cross facility in Clovis in the center of the state, she says she fears their property may be destroyed.
"The fire is right around it," she says of her home in Meadow Lakes, in the Sierra National Forest where the Creek fire is raging.
"They call... the evacuation. And then you go from there to see if your house has been burned down," Mikesler says slowly, adding she has seen aerial images of firefighters battling to save her small community with water bombers.
Since the authorities notified them on Saturday through loudspeakers to evacuate, the couple has been living in a subsidized hotel room because the usual emergency facility -- a gymnasium filled with hundreds of beds -- is not an option during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Red Cross has provided meals for evacuees sheltering in the hotels.
Cindy Huge, a spokeswoman for the aid charity based in a local high school, said: "There's over 600 people... and food has been delivered to them in disposable containers, three meals a day and snacks and water."
Another evacuee, 69-year-old David Mascarini, told AFP he fled his home with his wife and dog, and after spending one night in a hotel he had to approach the Red Cross because there were no more rooms available.
The Grey-bearded Mascarini says he cleared the brush from around his home in the hope that the flames would not take hold, but he doesn't know if it will work.
"I hope, hope it works out," he said.
At least 60 homes have already been destroyed by the Creek blaze, according to the California fire agency, and some communities nestled in the mountains have been turned into ghost towns.
Lines of smoke rise from the mountains as if they are billowing from chimneys, while logs still smolder and small fires burn on the roads. In the distance, helicopters and planes battle the blazes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Huawei releases OS source code in push for own ecosystem

Huawei overtook Samsung as the world 's biggest smartphone maker in the second quarter Chinese telecom giant Huawei on Thursday said its nascent homegrown operating system could be available on smartphones early next year , as it pushes to build an alternative app ecosystem after the US barred it from using Google 's Android .
The source code for HarmonyOS will be made available beginning in December to software developers who create apps for smartphones , said Yu Chengdong , CEO of Huawei 's consumer products division .
HarmonyOS is so far used only with certain products including smart TVs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not the company 's smartphones .
Huawei is the number-two smartphone producer in the world after Samsung , but tech market analysis firm Canalys said Huawei surpassed the South Korean company in the virus-affected second quarter .
Huawei is facing an intense campaign by the United States to isolate the firm , saying it poses a cybersecurity threat .
Both Huawei and China 's government deny the accusation .
The US has been pushing allies to shun products made by Huawei , which is also the global market leader for 5G and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has essentially barred Huawei from the US market and introduced a series of steadily escalating moves to cut off its access to the computer chips and other technology the company needs to survive .
Huawei 's announcement on HarmonyOS was made at an annual software developers conference that it organises at its headquarters in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen .
The move indicates Huawei intends to push ahead with plans to create its own ecosystem , a challenge analysts say is daunting in a world dominated by Android and Apple 's iOS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that China 's huge smartphone market , the world 's largest , could remain a safe space and a platform for drawing global users to HarmonyOS .
`` We are dedicated to introducing Chinese developers ’ work to global consumers , hoping to see more TikToks in the future , '' said Yu , a reference to the wildly popular Chinese-owned short-form video app that also is now in Trump 's crosshairs .
Yu also said overseas developers could continue to find a large market among Chinese users via HarmonyOS .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between , '' he said .

Shanghai (AFP) –
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Chinese telecom giant Huawei on Thursday said its nascent homegrown operating system could be available on smartphones early next year, as it pushes to build an alternative app ecosystem after the US barred it from using Google's Android.
The source code for HarmonyOS will be made available beginning in December to software developers who create apps for smartphones, said Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer products division.
HarmonyOS is so far used only with certain products including smart TVs, in-car entertainment systems and wearable devices, not the company's smartphones.
Huawei is the number-two smartphone producer in the world after Samsung, but tech market analysis firm Canalys said Huawei surpassed the South Korean company in the virus-affected second quarter.
Huawei is facing an intense campaign by the United States to isolate the firm, saying it poses a cybersecurity threat. Both Huawei and China's government deny the accusation.
The US has been pushing allies to shun products made by Huawei, which is also the global market leader for 5G and other telecom-network equipment.
The Trump administration has essentially barred Huawei from the US market and introduced a series of steadily escalating moves to cut off its access to the computer chips and other technology the company needs to survive.
Huawei's announcement on HarmonyOS was made at an annual software developers conference that it organises at its headquarters in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
The move indicates Huawei intends to push ahead with plans to create its own ecosystem, a challenge analysts say is daunting in a world dominated by Android and Apple's iOS.
Yu, however, expressed hope that China's huge smartphone market, the world's largest, could remain a safe space and a platform for drawing global users to HarmonyOS.
"We are dedicated to introducing Chinese developers’ work to global consumers, hoping to see more TikToks in the future," said Yu, a reference to the wildly popular Chinese-owned short-form video app that also is now in Trump's crosshairs.
Yu also said overseas developers could continue to find a large market among Chinese users via HarmonyOS.
"We would like to be the bridge in between," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Rio Tinto CEO resigns over destruction of Aborginal site

Rio Tinto blasted caves in Western Australia 's remote Pilbara region , destroying one of the earliest known sites occupied by Australia 's indigenous people Rio Tinto 's CEO and two other top officers resigned Friday after an uproar over the mining giant 's destruction of an ancient Aboriginal heritage site to expand an iron ore mine in Australia .
Following a board investigation into the May 24 incident , Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson said CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques was stepping down `` by mutual agreement '' along with the chief of the company 's core Iron Ore division , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simone Niven .
The Anglo-Australian firm blasted 46,000-year-old caves in the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia 's remote Pilbara region on May 24 , destroying one of the earliest known sites occupied by Australia 's indigenous people .
`` What happened at Juukan was wrong and we are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation , '' Thompson said in a statement .
`` We have listened to our stakeholders ' concerns that a lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to rebuild that trust and to move forward to implement the changes identified in the Board Review , '' he said .
Jacques will remain in his role until a successor can be found or until March 31 , whichever is sooner , and the other two executives will leave the company on December 31 , he said .
The three executives had already been forced to forfeit millions of dollars in performance bonuses amid shareholder anger over the destruction of the Aboriginal heritage site .
The board-led review found Rio Tinto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites but doing so `` fell short of the standards and internal guidance that Rio Tinto sets for itself '' .
Rio Tinto initially defended its blasting in the Juukan Gorge as authorised under a 2013 agreement with the state government .
But protests by Aboriginal leaders , who said they had not been informed of the planned blasting until it was too late to prevent it , led the company to issue an apology .
The cultural importance of Juukan Gorge was confirmed by an archaeological dig carried out at one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- a year after Rio Tinto obtained approval to blast in the area .
The dig uncovered the oldest known example of bone tools in Australia -- a sharpened kangaroo bone dating back 28,000 years -- and a plaited-hair belt that DNA testing linked to indigenous people still living in the area .
Western Australia 's state government is currently reviewing the laws governing mining operations near indigenous heritage sites .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Rio Tinto's CEO and two other top officers resigned Friday after an uproar over the mining giant's destruction of an ancient Aboriginal heritage site to expand an iron ore mine in Australia.
Following a board investigation into the May 24 incident, Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson said CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques was stepping down "by mutual agreement" along with the chief of the company's core Iron Ore division, Chris Salisbury, and corporate relations head Simone Niven.
The Anglo-Australian firm blasted 46,000-year-old caves in the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia's remote Pilbara region on May 24, destroying one of the earliest known sites occupied by Australia's indigenous people.
"What happened at Juukan was wrong and we are determined to ensure that the destruction of a heritage site of such exceptional archaeological and cultural significance never occurs again at a Rio Tinto operation," Thompson said in a statement.
"We have listened to our stakeholders' concerns that a lack of individual accountability undermines the Group's ability to rebuild that trust and to move forward to implement the changes identified in the Board Review," he said.
Jacques will remain in his role until a successor can be found or until March 31, whichever is sooner, and the other two executives will leave the company on December 31, he said.
The three executives had already been forced to forfeit millions of dollars in performance bonuses amid shareholder anger over the destruction of the Aboriginal heritage site.
The board-led review found Rio Tinto had obtained legal authority to blast the sites but doing so "fell short of the standards and internal guidance that Rio Tinto sets for itself".
Rio Tinto initially defended its blasting in the Juukan Gorge as authorised under a 2013 agreement with the state government.
But protests by Aboriginal leaders, who said they had not been informed of the planned blasting until it was too late to prevent it, led the company to issue an apology.
The cultural importance of Juukan Gorge was confirmed by an archaeological dig carried out at one of the caves -- known as rock shelters -- a year after Rio Tinto obtained approval to blast in the area.
The dig uncovered the oldest known example of bone tools in Australia -- a sharpened kangaroo bone dating back 28,000 years -- and a plaited-hair belt that DNA testing linked to indigenous people still living in the area.
Western Australia's state government is currently reviewing the laws governing mining operations near indigenous heritage sites.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Spike Lee launches pandemic-hit Toronto festival with online premiere

Director Spike Lee , seen here in New York City in February 2020 , paid tribute to black victims of police violence with his latest movie at the Toronto film festival Spike Lee kicked off a unique Toronto film festival Thursday with a tribute to black victims of police violence , as his latest movie premiered online and at drive-in screenings due to coronavirus .
With a pandemic and a closed Canadian border forcing Hollywood stars and media to remain home , North America 's biggest film festival has scrambled to find socially-distanced ways to present this year 's line-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning that `` David Byrne 's American Utopia '' -- Lee 's movie version of the Talking Heads musician 's Broadway concert -- officially opened the festival by streaming on the web .
The unusual format did not dampen reviews .
Deadline Hollywood said the film `` is n't just a concert doc , but also a life-affirming , euphoria-producing , soul-energizing sing-along protest film that 's asking us to rise up against our own complacency . ''
In the film , which meshes themes of community and battling injustice , Lee projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and George Floyd -- all African Americans killed by police -- over a rousing protest song .
The anthem features a call-and-response chant of `` Say his name '' for each black victim -- a theme veteran filmmaker Lee has covered extensively over his long career .
`` It feels like this year in particular , what he 's been saying for decades is resonating with a lot more people , '' festival co-head Cameron Bailey told AFP .
`` It does feel like it is exactly the film for the moment ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to really focus the audience 's attention on issues of anti-black racism , of the Black Lives Matter movement , '' he added .
The Toronto International Film Festival typically draws half a million attendees to its celebrity-studded red carpets and world premieres , which include Oscars hopefuls and obscure arthouse flicks hoping to find distributors .
This year due to Covid-19 , only movie lovers who are already based in town can attend physical screenings at a dramatically pared-down festival boasting just 50 feature films on show -- compared with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowds gathered at drive-ins , a lakeside open-air screen , and a handful of limited-capacity indoor theaters to watch Lee 's movie , as well as French debut feature `` Spring Blossom '' by Suzanne Lindon .
In a separate online festival talk , Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis confronted racism and typecasting in Hollywood , telling audiences that films with black stars `` do n't always have to be a 'Boyz n the Hood ' . ''
Her comments come days after the Academy changed best picture Oscar rules to require minimum levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 1960s `` only one black actor had an agent , that was Sidney Poitier , '' today 's trailblazers have benefited from diverse roles on streaming platforms and a cultural zeitgeist `` screaming and absolutely demanding '' more representation .
In one of several films that premiered online to Canadian web users , legendary director Werner Herzog -- fresh from his on-screen role in Star Wars series `` The Mandalorian '' -- explores the real cosmos in meteorite documentary `` Fireball : Visitors from Darker Worlds . ''
Werner told AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life is likely -- `` some ( meteorites ) carry sugar , a building block of life , so the probability is good that there 's something out there '' -- but that fears of a deadly strike were overstated .
`` Maybe in two million years we 'll be hit by something big ... let 's face it , so what ? ''
he added , citing threats of nuclear war , a huge volcanic eruption or `` some really mean microbes . ''
With the current pandemic shutting down other festivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Martin Scorsese , Anthony Hopkins , Nicole Kidman and Kate Winslet have been virtually called in to boost Toronto with online talks and galas , running through to September 20 .
`` We still wanted to do a festival , '' said Bailey .
`` It 's important for our audience , and I think we just all need some inspiration that art can provide . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Spike Lee kicked off a unique Toronto film festival Thursday with a tribute to black victims of police violence, as his latest movie premiered online and at drive-in screenings due to coronavirus.
With a pandemic and a closed Canadian border forcing Hollywood stars and media to remain home, North America's biggest film festival has scrambled to find socially-distanced ways to present this year's line-up.
Even directors have stayed away, meaning that "David Byrne's American Utopia" -- Lee's movie version of the Talking Heads musician's Broadway concert -- officially opened the festival by streaming on the web.
The unusual format did not dampen reviews.
Deadline Hollywood said the film "isn't just a concert doc, but also a life-affirming, euphoria-producing, soul-energizing sing-along protest film that's asking us to rise up against our own complacency."
In the film, which meshes themes of community and battling injustice, Lee projects images of Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd -- all African Americans killed by police -- over a rousing protest song.
The anthem features a call-and-response chant of "Say his name" for each black victim -- a theme veteran filmmaker Lee has covered extensively over his long career.
"It feels like this year in particular, what he's been saying for decades is resonating with a lot more people," festival co-head Cameron Bailey told AFP.
"It does feel like it is exactly the film for the moment... it gives both David and Spike the opportunity to really focus the audience's attention on issues of anti-black racism, of the Black Lives Matter movement," he added.
- 'Screaming' -
The Toronto International Film Festival typically draws half a million attendees to its celebrity-studded red carpets and world premieres, which include Oscars hopefuls and obscure arthouse flicks hoping to find distributors.
This year due to Covid-19, only movie lovers who are already based in town can attend physical screenings at a dramatically pared-down festival boasting just 50 feature films on show -- compared with a typical 300-odd.
On Thursday, small crowds gathered at drive-ins, a lakeside open-air screen, and a handful of limited-capacity indoor theaters to watch Lee's movie, as well as French debut feature "Spring Blossom" by Suzanne Lindon.
In a separate online festival talk, Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis confronted racism and typecasting in Hollywood, telling audiences that films with black stars "don't always have to be a 'Boyz n the Hood'."
Her comments come days after the Academy changed best picture Oscar rules to require minimum levels of diversity.
Davis noted that while in the 1960s "only one black actor had an agent, that was Sidney Poitier," today's trailblazers have benefited from diverse roles on streaming platforms and a cultural zeitgeist "screaming and absolutely demanding" more representation.
- 'Really mean microbes' -
In one of several films that premiered online to Canadian web users, legendary director Werner Herzog -- fresh from his on-screen role in Star Wars series "The Mandalorian" -- explores the real cosmos in meteorite documentary "Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds."
Werner told AFP his investigation led him to conclude alien life is likely -- "some (meteorites) carry sugar, a building block of life, so the probability is good that there's something out there" -- but that fears of a deadly strike were overstated.
"Maybe in two million years we'll be hit by something big... let's face it, so what?" he added, citing threats of nuclear war, a huge volcanic eruption or "some really mean microbes."
With the current pandemic shutting down other festivals including Cannes and Telluride, movie icons including Martin Scorsese, Anthony Hopkins, Nicole Kidman and Kate Winslet have been virtually called in to boost Toronto with online talks and galas, running through to September 20.
"We still wanted to do a festival," said Bailey. "It's important for our audience, and I think we just all need some inspiration that art can provide."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Vaccine trust growing in Europe, falling elsewhere: survey

The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of its top 10 global health threats Public trust in vaccine safety is slowly growing in Europe even as it dips in parts of Asia and Africa , researchers said Friday , calling for more investment in health information campaigns for the forthcoming Covid-19 vaccine .
The largest ever global survey of vaccine confidence , published in the Lancet medical journal , shows clear links between political instability and misinformation and the levels of trust in the safety of medicines .
The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dipping levels of immunisation coverage have seen outbreaks of preventable diseases such as polio and measles in recent years .
The survey of nearly 300,000 respondents shows trust in vaccine safety increasing -- with some exceptions -- across Europe .
In France , where confidence in vaccines has been consistently low for decades , it shows an increase from 22 percent to 30 percent of people strongly agreeing they are safe .
In Britain , confidence in vaccine safety rose from 47 percent in May 2018 to 52 percent in November 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declines in public vaccine confidence .
Afghanistan , the Philippines , Indonesia , Nigeria and Pakistan saw `` substantial '' increases in the number of people strongly disagreeing that vaccines are safe between 2015 and 2019 .
In Azerbaijan , public mistrust surged from 2 percent to 17 percent in that timeframe .
Authors of the research attributed this `` worrying trend '' in part to political instability and religious extremism .
Heidi Larson from the London school of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , who led the research , said online misinformation was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a large drop in vaccination coverage , it is often because there 's an unproven vaccine safety scare seeding doubt and distrust , '' she said .
Larson said that public mistrust in politicians in general also likely played a role .
As the world races to find a vaccine to potentially end the Covid-19 pandemic , the researchers warned that governments need to ramp up investment in public information campaigns and as well as distribution infrastructure .
Without this , Daniel Salmon from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SARS-CoV-2 vaccines never reaching their potential due to a continued inability to quickly and effectively respond to public vaccine safety concerns , real or otherwise '' .

Paris (AFP) –
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Public trust in vaccine safety is slowly growing in Europe even as it dips in parts of Asia and Africa, researchers said Friday, calling for more investment in health information campaigns for the forthcoming Covid-19 vaccine.
The largest ever global survey of vaccine confidence, published in the Lancet medical journal, shows clear links between political instability and misinformation and the levels of trust in the safety of medicines.
The World Health Organization lists vaccine hesitancy as one of its top 10 global health threats, and dipping levels of immunisation coverage have seen outbreaks of preventable diseases such as polio and measles in recent years.
The survey of nearly 300,000 respondents shows trust in vaccine safety increasing -- with some exceptions -- across Europe.
In France, where confidence in vaccines has been consistently low for decades, it shows an increase from 22 percent to 30 percent of people strongly agreeing they are safe.
In Britain, confidence in vaccine safety rose from 47 percent in May 2018 to 52 percent in November 2019.
Poland and Serbia however saw significant declines in public vaccine confidence.
Afghanistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan saw "substantial" increases in the number of people strongly disagreeing that vaccines are safe between 2015 and 2019.
In Azerbaijan, public mistrust surged from 2 percent to 17 percent in that timeframe.
Authors of the research attributed this "worrying trend" in part to political instability and religious extremism.
Heidi Larson from the London school of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the research, said online misinformation was also a significant problem.
"When there is a large drop in vaccination coverage, it is often because there's an unproven vaccine safety scare seeding doubt and distrust," she said.
Larson said that public mistrust in politicians in general also likely played a role.
As the world races to find a vaccine to potentially end the Covid-19 pandemic, the researchers warned that governments need to ramp up investment in public information campaigns and as well as distribution infrastructure.
Without this, Daniel Salmon from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said "there is a risk of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines never reaching their potential due to a continued inability to quickly and effectively respond to public vaccine safety concerns, real or otherwise".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-11--Infection higher in hospital cleaners than ICU staff: report

Intensive care medics were significantly less likely to have been infected with Covid-19 than cleaners and other healthcare workers in departments deemed lower risk , according to a study of several British hospitals at the peak of the pandemic .
The research also found that people of black , Asian and minority ethnicity were nearly twice as likely to have been infected as white colleagues .
It follows several studies suggesting race , income and allocation of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) create biases in the burden of infections .
Researchers said the results could be because those working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were prioritised for the highest level of masks and other equipment .
`` We presumed intensive care workers would be at highest risk ...
But workers in ITU are relatively well protected compared with other areas , '' said lead author Alex Richter , a professor of immunology at the University of Birmingham .
In the study , published in the journal Thorax , researchers tested more than 500 staff at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust , which runs several hospitals and employs more than 20,000 staff .
All the staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when cases were peaking around a month after the UK went into lockdown .
At this time the trust was admitting five patients with serious Covid-19 infection every hour , but capacity to perform tests for infection was severely constrained even for healthcare workers .
Researchers offered to give staff who had no symptoms two different tests -- one to see if they were currently infected and the other to test for antibodies indicating that they had previously had the virus .
Nearly 2.5 percent -- 13 out of 545 -- staff tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Covid-19 infection .
Researchers also took blood samples from 516 staff and found that 24 percent of them had antibodies for the virus .
This compares to six percent generally in the Midlands region of England at the time .
Ten out of 29 cleaners involved in the study -- or 34.5 percent -- had antibodies suggesting a previous infection .
The rates were similar for clinicians working in acute medicine and general internal medicine -- 33 percent and 30 percent respectively -- while staff working in intensive care had the lowest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of 61 participants ) .
The authors said it was not clear from their observational study whether the higher rates of infection among some staff `` arises from a greater risk of exposure to the virus , or a greater risk of infection if exposed '' .
`` Regardless of the cause , this finding demands urgent further investigation , particularly in view of the ethnic disparities in the outcome from Covid-19 , '' they said .
A slew of studies in the general population have highlighted how people from minority backgrounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disproportionately more likely to die from Covid-19 than their white counterparts .
Last month a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal found that frontline health workers were more than three times more likely to test positive for the virus than the general population early in the pandemic , with the rate rising to five times for ethnic minority medical staff .
Commenting on the study in Thorax , Tim Cook , an anaesthesia professor at the University of Bristol , said it adds to research suggesting those working in intensive care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other parts of a hospital .
He said the availability and type of PPE could be a factor as well as familiarity with more rigorous precautions for sterility and infection prevention in emergency rooms .
He added that recent studies suggested patients were more infectious at the beginning of their illness , so may be less likely to spread the virus by the time that they are treated in intensive care .
`` Those caring for the patients earlier in their illness may be more at risk and this has implications for managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .

London (AFP) –
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Intensive care medics were significantly less likely to have been infected with Covid-19 than cleaners and other healthcare workers in departments deemed lower risk, according to a study of several British hospitals at the peak of the pandemic.
The research also found that people of black, Asian and minority ethnicity were nearly twice as likely to have been infected as white colleagues.
It follows several studies suggesting race, income and allocation of personal protective equipment (PPE) create biases in the burden of infections.
Researchers said the results could be because those working in intensive therapy units (ITU) were prioritised for the highest level of masks and other equipment.
"We presumed intensive care workers would be at highest risk... But workers in ITU are relatively well protected compared with other areas," said lead author Alex Richter, a professor of immunology at the University of Birmingham.
In the study, published in the journal Thorax, researchers tested more than 500 staff at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs several hospitals and employs more than 20,000 staff.
All the staff were at work in late April, when cases were peaking around a month after the UK went into lockdown.
At this time the trust was admitting five patients with serious Covid-19 infection every hour, but capacity to perform tests for infection was severely constrained even for healthcare workers.
Researchers offered to give staff who had no symptoms two different tests -- one to see if they were currently infected and the other to test for antibodies indicating that they had previously had the virus.
Nearly 2.5 percent -- 13 out of 545 -- staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19 infection.
Researchers also took blood samples from 516 staff and found that 24 percent of them had antibodies for the virus. This compares to six percent generally in the Midlands region of England at the time.
Ten out of 29 cleaners involved in the study -- or 34.5 percent -- had antibodies suggesting a previous infection.
The rates were similar for clinicians working in acute medicine and general internal medicine -- 33 percent and 30 percent respectively -- while staff working in intensive care had the lowest rates (15 percent, or nine out of 61 participants).
The authors said it was not clear from their observational study whether the higher rates of infection among some staff "arises from a greater risk of exposure to the virus, or a greater risk of infection if exposed".
"Regardless of the cause, this finding demands urgent further investigation, particularly in view of the ethnic disparities in the outcome from Covid-19," they said.
- Protecting staff -
A slew of studies in the general population have highlighted how people from minority backgrounds in Britain and the United States are disproportionately more likely to die from Covid-19 than their white counterparts.
Last month a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal found that frontline health workers were more than three times more likely to test positive for the virus than the general population early in the pandemic, with the rate rising to five times for ethnic minority medical staff.
Commenting on the study in Thorax, Tim Cook, an anaesthesia professor at the University of Bristol, said it adds to research suggesting those working in intensive care were at lower risk than staff in other parts of a hospital.
He said the availability and type of PPE could be a factor as well as familiarity with more rigorous precautions for sterility and infection prevention in emergency rooms.
He added that recent studies suggested patients were more infectious at the beginning of their illness, so may be less likely to spread the virus by the time that they are treated in intensive care.
"Those caring for the patients earlier in their illness may be more at risk and this has implications for managing all patient-facing staff on the wards," he added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-09-10--Large explosion rocks arms depot in Jordan, but no casualties reported

Jordanian police close the highway between the capital of Amman and the city of Zarqa , after reports of large @ @ @ @ @ base , September 11 , 2020 .
Jordan said a series of large explosions that @ @ @ @ @ was caused by an electric short circuit at an army depot that stored mortars .
@ @ @ @ @ casualties from the explosion which took place in a remote area early Friday , government @ @ @ @ @ media .
“ Initial investigations show that the explosion was caused by an electric circuit @ @ @ @ @ are in an isolated and unpopulated area and under camera surveillance , ” Adailah said @ @ @ @ @ explosion took place houses several army bases east of Zarqa , near the capital Amman @ @ @ @ @ , a sprawling industrial city , and prevented cars from leaving or entering .
Residents @ @ @ @ @ shattered in parts of the city and large flames could be seen .
Video published @ @ @ @ @ Jordanian media outlet Alghad News appeared to show the explosion .

Jordan said a series of massive explosions that rocked the city of Zarqa early on Friday was likely caused by an electric short circuit at a nearby army munitions depot.
Jordanian police close the highway between the capital, Amman, and the city of Zarqa, after reports of large explosions at a nearby army base on September 11, 2020.
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There were no immediate reports of casualties from the explosions which took place in the desert east of Jordan’s second-largest city, the government and the army command said.
Huge orange flames lit the desert night sky and could be seen as far away as the capital, Amman, 35 kms (22 miles) to the southwest.
“We felt like an earthquake had struck. Our windows shook and glass shattered. My kids started crying,” said Zarqa resident Nabila Issa, a housewife and mother of five children.
Video published on Twitter by the independent Jordanian media outlet Alghad News appeared to show the explosion.
Security forces sealed off Zarqa, a sprawling industrial city of 1.5 million people, and prevented traffic from leaving or entering. Journalists wanting to travel through Zarqa to the blast site about 10 kms to the east were prevented from doing so.
The desert area where the explosions took place houses several major US-equipped army bases including an airfield built in 2018. Jordan’s location makes it an ideal logistics and supply hub for the Unites States, including for the US military’s garrison at Tanf in southeastern Syria.
“Initial investigations show that the explosion was caused by an electric circuit in army ammunition depots that are in an isolated and unpopulated area and under camera surveillance,” government spokesman Amjad Adailah said.
Adailah said mortars stored at the facility were old and not usable but an army source said on condition of anonymity that some of the weapons at the site were precision-guided anti-aircraft missiles.
The army command declined to comment on the cause of the explosions, saying it was under investigation.
US officials say that military aid to Jordan helps to build the kingdom’s defensive capabilities as part of a wider regional strategy.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-09-10--Scotland's Knox fires 63 to grab early lead in PGA opener

Scotland 's Russell Knox fired a bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to seize the lead in Thursday 's opening round of the PGA Safeway Open , the first round of the 2020-21 season .
Knox 's round was the lowest in the first 18 holes at the Silverado Country Club in Napa , California , since Scott Piercy 's 62 in 2016 .
Brendan Steele was second on 65 with fellow Americans Scott Harrington , Tom Hoge and Akshay Bhatia plus China 's Andy Zhang sharing third on 66 with half the field still on the course .
Knox seeks his third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the WGC Shanghai event and in 2016 at the Travelers Championship .
The event was played with air quality monitoring and an orange haze in the sky due to wildfires burning in areas of Northern California .
After sinking an 11-foot birdie putt at the fourth , Knox reached the green in two at the par-5 fifth and sank a 14-foot eagle putt , then dropped his approach inside six feet at the sixth to set up another birdie .
Knox closed the front nine with a birdie putt from 2 1/2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 10-foot birdie putt and dropped in another birdie from 31 feet at the 12th .
He closed with birdies at the par-5 16th and 18th holes , each from about four feet , to stand alone atop the leaderboard .
Knox hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation and did n't miss a putt inside of 10 feet .

San Francisco (AFP) –
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Scotland's Russell Knox fired a bogey-free nine-under-par 63 to seize the lead in Thursday's opening round of the PGA Safeway Open, the first round of the 2020-21 season.
Knox's round was the lowest in the first 18 holes at the Silverado Country Club in Napa, California, since Scott Piercy's 62 in 2016.
Brendan Steele was second on 65 with fellow Americans Scott Harrington, Tom Hoge and Akshay Bhatia plus China's Andy Zhang sharing third on 66 with half the field still on the course.
Knox seeks his third US PGA title after wins in 2015 at the WGC Shanghai event and in 2016 at the Travelers Championship.
The event was played with air quality monitoring and an orange haze in the sky due to wildfires burning in areas of Northern California.
After sinking an 11-foot birdie putt at the fourth, Knox reached the green in two at the par-5 fifth and sank a 14-foot eagle putt, then dropped his approach inside six feet at the sixth to set up another birdie.
Knox closed the front nine with a birdie putt from 2 1/2 feet then began the back side with a 10-foot birdie putt and dropped in another birdie from 31 feet at the 12th.
He closed with birdies at the par-5 16th and 18th holes, each from about four feet, to stand alone atop the leaderboard.
Knox hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation and didn't miss a putt inside of 10 feet.
© 2020 AFP