france24--2020-12-18--Lakers favorites to defend NBA title: survey

The Los Angeles Lakers are favoured to repeat as NBA champions in the league 's annual survey of general managers The Los Angeles Lakers have been installed as overwhelming favourites to win back-to-back NBA titles according to results of the league 's annual general managers survey released Friday .
The Lakers , who won a 17th NBA crown two months ago in the Orlando quarantine bubble , were backed by 81 % of GMs taking part in the survey to successfully defend the title .
It follows an abbreviated offseason which saw the Lakers strengthen an already formidable roster led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Lakers have added German point guard Dennis Schroder from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Montrezl Harrell from the Los Angeles Clippers as well as Spanish veteran Marc Gasol .
The roster moves are largely seen as significant upgrades for the Lakers , who tip-off their new campaign against the Clippers at Staples Center next Tuesday .
The Clippers were picked as second favorites by 11 % of GMs surveyed while the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat also picked up votes .
In the individual predictions , Milwaukee 's Giannis Antetokounmpo was tipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a third straight season by 32 % of GMs , ahead of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic , who polled 21 % .
The Lakers duo of Davis and James each received 18 % of votes , while former MVP Kevin Durant , who is returning this year after missing the entire 2019-2020 campaign through injury , received 7 % of votes .
Antetokounmpo and Doncic were also deadlocked amongst GMs asked to choose the player they would sign if starting a new franchise .
Miami 's Erik Spoelstra was named as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Toronto Raptors ' Nick Nurse and the San Antonio Spurs ' Gregg Popovich .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The Los Angeles Lakers have been installed as overwhelming favourites to win back-to-back NBA titles according to results of the league's annual general managers survey released Friday.
The Lakers, who won a 17th NBA crown two months ago in the Orlando quarantine bubble, were backed by 81% of GMs taking part in the survey to successfully defend the title.
It follows an abbreviated offseason which saw the Lakers strengthen an already formidable roster led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers have added German point guard Dennis Schroder from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Montrezl Harrell from the Los Angeles Clippers as well as Spanish veteran Marc Gasol.
The roster moves are largely seen as significant upgrades for the Lakers, who tip-off their new campaign against the Clippers at Staples Center next Tuesday.
The Clippers were picked as second favorites by 11% of GMs surveyed while the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat also picked up votes.
In the individual predictions, Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo was tipped to win Most Valuable Player honors for a third straight season by 32% of GMs, ahead of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who polled 21%.
The Lakers duo of Davis and James each received 18% of votes, while former MVP Kevin Durant, who is returning this year after missing the entire 2019-2020 campaign through injury, received 7% of votes.
Antetokounmpo and Doncic were also deadlocked amongst GMs asked to choose the player they would sign if starting a new franchise.
Miami's Erik Spoelstra was named as the best head coach in the NBA ahead of the Toronto Raptors' Nick Nurse and the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-18--Paul McCartney urges vaccine take-up as new album released

The new album has all been written , produced and performed by McCartney , who has said he had not intended to release an album in 2020 until the pandemic forced him to stay at home for months British pop legend Paul McCartney on Friday urged people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus , as he celebrated the release of a new solo album crafted during this year 's lockdown .
The former Beatle , who revealed in October he had resurrected unfinished music to complete the record , said the internet had allowed so-called anti-vaxxers ' misleading messages to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ( have the vaccine ) , and I 'd like to encourage people to get it too , '' he told BBC radio .
`` There used to be anti-vaccine people , that was OK , that was their choice .
`` But with the internet now these things really take hold and so you do get these people who wo n't take it . ''
The new album `` McCartney III '' , released a week later than originally planned , is his third eponymous solo album .
It follows months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sussex , in southern England , on previously started and new songs .
It has all been written , produced and performed by McCartney , who has said he had not intended to release an album in 2020 until the pandemic forced him to stay at home for months .
The former Beatles frontman had been set to headline this year 's Glastonbury festival , on its 50th anniversary , before it was cancelled due to the pandemic .
Britain imposed a months-long lockdown from late March as Covid-19 first swept the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65,000 deaths due to the virus , among the worst tolls in Europe .
McCartney 's new release coincides with the 50th anniversary of his first solo endeavour , `` McCartney '' , released as the `` Fab Four '' went their separate ways in 1970 .
A follow-up , `` McCartney II '' , came a decade later .
The latest collection of tracks was mostly built from live takes of McCartney on vocals and guitar or piano , before overdubbing with his bass playing and drumming .
Pictures for the album @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the photographer Mary McCartney , with additional images by his nephew Sonny McCartney and some that he took himself on his phone .
Keeping the photography in the family mirrors how the pop icon illustrated earlier solo albums , with his late wife Linda McCartney shooting the artwork for `` McCartney II '' .
Linda also took many of the photos displayed on the gatefold cover of the original 1970 `` McCartney '' album .

London (AFP) –
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British pop legend Paul McCartney on Friday urged people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, as he celebrated the release of a new solo album crafted during this year's lockdown.
The former Beatle, who revealed in October he had resurrected unfinished music to complete the record, said the internet had allowed so-called anti-vaxxers' misleading messages to "take hold".
"I will (have the vaccine), and I'd like to encourage people to get it too," he told BBC radio.
"There used to be anti-vaccine people, that was OK, that was their choice.
"But with the internet now these things really take hold and so you do get these people who won't take it."
The new album "McCartney III", released a week later than originally planned, is his third eponymous solo album.
It follows months of work at his home studio in Sussex, in southern England, on previously started and new songs.
It has all been written, produced and performed by McCartney, who has said he had not intended to release an album in 2020 until the pandemic forced him to stay at home for months.
The former Beatles frontman had been set to headline this year's Glastonbury festival, on its 50th anniversary, before it was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Britain imposed a months-long lockdown from late March as Covid-19 first swept the country, which has now seen more than 65,000 deaths due to the virus, among the worst tolls in Europe.
McCartney's new release coincides with the 50th anniversary of his first solo endeavour, "McCartney" , released as the "Fab Four" went their separate ways in 1970. A follow-up, "McCartney II", came a decade later.
The latest collection of tracks was mostly built from live takes of McCartney on vocals and guitar or piano, before overdubbing with his bass playing and drumming.
Pictures for the album were shot by McCartney's daughter, the photographer Mary McCartney, with additional images by his nephew Sonny McCartney and some that he took himself on his phone.
Keeping the photography in the family mirrors how the pop icon illustrated earlier solo albums, with his late wife Linda McCartney shooting the artwork for "McCartney II".
Linda also took many of the photos displayed on the gatefold cover of the original 1970 "McCartney" album.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Goggia turns tables on Suter in second Val d'Isere downhill

Olympic champion Sofia Goggia won Saturday 's World Cup downhill , relegating into second Corinne Suter who had got the @ @ @ @ @ season-opening downhill at the French resort 24 hours earlier .
American Breezy Johnson repeated her @ @ @ @ @ downhill to ensure an identikit podium .
Goggia beat the World Cup downhill champion Suter @ @ @ @ @ second to join her at the top of the discipline 's standings .
This was @ @ @ @ @ World Cup success .
`` It was n't a perfect run , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ been quicker in some sections but my technique was up to surgical standard . ''
@ @ @ @ @ overall World Cup winner Switzerland 's Michelle Gisin who was ninth here moves into second @ @ @ @ @ The action at Val d'Isere concludes Sunday with a super-G scheduled for 1000GMT .

Val-d'Isère (France) (AFP) –
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Olympic champion Sofia Goggia won Saturday's World Cup downhill, relegating into second Corinne Suter who had got the better of her in the season-opening downhill at the French resort 24 hours earlier.
American Breezy Johnson repeated her third place in Friday's downhill to ensure an identikit podium.
Goggia beat the World Cup downhill champion Suter by 24 hundredths of a second to join her at the top of the discipline's standings.
This was the 28-year-old Italian's eighth World Cup success.
"It wasn't a perfect run," she said.
"I could have been quicker in some sections but my technique was up to surgical standard."
In the race for the overall World Cup winner Switzerland's Michelle Gisin who was ninth here moves into second place behind Petra Vlhova.
The action at Val d'Isere concludes Sunday with a super-G scheduled for 1000GMT.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Lab-grown meat makes historic debut in Singapore

Lab-grown chicken meat made a historic debut at a Singapore restaurant Saturday in a culinary first that its creators said could help reduce the environmental damage involved in human food production .
US start-up Eat Just said earlier this month that its product had been approved for sale in the city-state as an ingredient in chicken nuggets after Singapore became the first country to allow the sale of meat created without slaughtering any animals .
Consumption of animals is an environmental threat as cattle produce the potent greenhouse gas methane , while logging to create pastures destroys natural barriers against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it had made its first commercial sale of the product to 1880 , a restaurant in Singapore 's Robertson Quay , a posh riverside entertainment centre .
The restaurant began serving the cultured meat on Saturday evening , saying its first diners were students aged 14-18 who had been invited to the launch after showing `` a commitment to building a better planet '' .
The launch , however , was closed to the media because of measures against the coronavirus .
Entrpreneur Marc Nicholson , who founded 1880 , described serving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards solving climate change and creating the opportunity to feed the world without overwhelming the planet '' .
Eat Just chief executive Josh Tetrick said this week that the launch `` moves us closer to a world where the majority of meat we eat will not require tearing down a single forest , displacing a single animal 's habitat or using a single drop of antibiotics '' .
Demand for sustainable meat alternatives is rising due to growing concerns from consumers about the environment and animal welfare , but other products on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projected to increase more than 70 percent by 2050 , and lab-grown alternatives have a role to play in ensuring a secure food supply , the company said .
There were concerns that lab-grown varieties would be too expensive , but a spokesman for Eat Just said the company had made `` considerable progress '' in lowering the cost .

Singapore (AFP) –
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Lab-grown chicken meat made a historic debut at a Singapore restaurant Saturday in a culinary first that its creators said could help reduce the environmental damage involved in human food production.
US start-up Eat Just said earlier this month that its product had been approved for sale in the city-state as an ingredient in chicken nuggets after Singapore became the first country to allow the sale of meat created without slaughtering any animals.
Consumption of animals is an environmental threat as cattle produce the potent greenhouse gas methane, while logging to create pastures destroys natural barriers against climate change.
The company on Wednesday said it had made its first commercial sale of the product to 1880, a restaurant in Singapore's Robertson Quay, a posh riverside entertainment centre.
The restaurant began serving the cultured meat on Saturday evening, saying its first diners were students aged 14-18 who had been invited to the launch after showing "a commitment to building a better planet".
The launch, however, was closed to the media because of measures against the coronavirus.
Entrpreneur Marc Nicholson, who founded 1880, described serving cultured meat as a "revolutionary step towards solving climate change and creating the opportunity to feed the world without overwhelming the planet".
Eat Just chief executive Josh Tetrick said this week that the launch "moves us closer to a world where the majority of meat we eat will not require tearing down a single forest, displacing a single animal's habitat or using a single drop of antibiotics".
Demand for sustainable meat alternatives is rising due to growing concerns from consumers about the environment and animal welfare, but other products on the market are plant-based.
Meat consumption is projected to increase more than 70 percent by 2050, and lab-grown alternatives have a role to play in ensuring a secure food supply, the company said.
There were concerns that lab-grown varieties would be too expensive, but a spokesman for Eat Just said the company had made "considerable progress" in lowering the cost.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Post-Brexit talks grind on as fish spat threatens deal

The European Parliament has highlighted a deadline of midnight ( 2300 GMT ) on Sunday as the last moment to receive a deal for review if MEPs are to ratify it before the end of the year EU and UK negotiators held `` technical talks '' in Brussels on Saturday with no sign of them breaking an impasse over post-Brexit fishing rights in time to save a trade deal .
Sources on both sides said fishing is now the main obstacle to any pact that could be in place on January 1 to prevent a sudden return to tariffs that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides of the Channel .
`` It remains very blocked , '' one EU diplomat told AFP .
One EU diplomat said Barnier had proposed EU fishermen giving up nearly a quarter of the value of the fish they catch in UK waters .
Britain is understood to be holding out for getting back much more than half .
The UK has suggested this compromise last for three years before it is renegotiated , whereas Europe is holding out for seven .
`` It 's all down to numbers now , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointman in the talks , Michel Barnier , has consulted member states that share fishing waters with Britain on the haggling over the issue , the diplomat said .
The European Parliament has highlighted a deadline of midnight ( 2300 GMT ) on Sunday as the last moment to receive a deal for review if MEPs are to ratify it before the end of the year under streamlined procedures .
Their UK parliamentary counterparts are in recess , but can be recalled within 48 hours to do likewise .
But EU capitals are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's deadline .
France 's European affairs minister , Clement Beaune , warned that time left to get a deal was `` a matter of hours , '' echoing words used by Barnier a day earlier .
But , he told French radio , talks will not be called to a halt even if they go past Sunday .
`` We wo n't do that because what is at risk is whole sectors like fishing , like sustainable competition conditions for our businesses , '' he said .
The urgency of reaching a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of long lines of trucks at the entrance to the freight rail link that goes through the Channel tunnel as British companies frantically stockpile .
A group of UK MPs warned in a reported released Saturday that Britain has not yet installed all the complex IT systems and port infrastructure needed to ensure post-Brexit trade with the EU runs smoothly .
`` With just seven working days until the end of the transition period , significant concerns remain , '' said Hilary Benn , a prominent Labour MP who chairs the cross-party Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that put out the study .
Disruption is inevitable whether a deal happens or not .
Outside the single market , British and European traders will have to fill out import-export , health and tax forms to send and receive goods .
A deal would lighten that burden by removing tariffs , but there would still be traffic snarls as checks on truck loads and drivers ' papers are carried out .
Even small things , such as the truck drivers ' lunches , will come under border scrutiny : the British government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banned from entry into Europe under meat and dairy restrictions that apply to non-EU arrivals .
The European Union linked the fishing rights issue to the overall trade deal from the start .
It is an economically tiny activity for both sides , but politically potent , able to galvanise media and voters .
Both sides have come down from their initial positions , with Britain accepting some EU boats will continue to ply its waters and EU countries recognising their catches there will have to be cut .
The haggling is over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in what waters exactly , and for how long a fishing agreement should last before it is put up for review .
Regardless of any trade deal , both sides are bound by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to jointly manage those stocks to prevent overfishing them to extinction .

Brussels (AFP) –
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EU and UK negotiators held "technical talks" in Brussels on Saturday with no sign of them breaking an impasse over post-Brexit fishing rights in time to save a trade deal.
Sources on both sides said fishing is now the main obstacle to any pact that could be in place on January 1 to prevent a sudden return to tariffs that would deal an economic jolt on both sides of the Channel.
"It remains very blocked," one EU diplomat told AFP.
One EU diplomat said Barnier had proposed EU fishermen giving up nearly a quarter of the value of the fish they catch in UK waters. Britain is understood to be holding out for getting back much more than half.
The UK has suggested this compromise last for three years before it is renegotiated, whereas Europe is holding out for seven. "It's all down to numbers now," the European diplomat said.
The EU's pointman in the talks, Michel Barnier, has consulted member states that share fishing waters with Britain on the haggling over the issue, the diplomat said.
The European Parliament has highlighted a deadline of midnight (2300 GMT) on Sunday as the last moment to receive a deal for review if MEPs are to ratify it before the end of the year under streamlined procedures.
Their UK parliamentary counterparts are in recess, but can be recalled within 48 hours to do likewise.
But EU capitals are not binding themselves to the European Parliament's deadline.
France's European affairs minister, Clement Beaune, warned that time left to get a deal was "a matter of hours," echoing words used by Barnier a day earlier.
But, he told French radio, talks will not be called to a halt even if they go past Sunday.
"We won't do that because what is at risk is whole sectors like fishing, like sustainable competition conditions for our businesses," he said.
- 'Concerns' Britain not ready -
The urgency of reaching a deal is being driven home by scenes of long lines of trucks at the entrance to the freight rail link that goes through the Channel tunnel as British companies frantically stockpile.
A group of UK MPs warned in a reported released Saturday that Britain has not yet installed all the complex IT systems and port infrastructure needed to ensure post-Brexit trade with the EU runs smoothly.
"With just seven working days until the end of the transition period, significant concerns remain," said Hilary Benn, a prominent Labour MP who chairs the cross-party Committee on the Future Relationship with the EU that put out the study.
Disruption is inevitable whether a deal happens or not. Outside the single market, British and European traders will have to fill out import-export, health and tax forms to send and receive goods.
A deal would lighten that burden by removing tariffs, but there would still be traffic snarls as checks on truck loads and drivers' papers are carried out.
Even small things, such as the truck drivers' lunches, will come under border scrutiny: the British government warned packed ham and cheese sandwiches are banned from entry into Europe under meat and dairy restrictions that apply to non-EU arrivals.
- Weighing up fish -
The European Union linked the fishing rights issue to the overall trade deal from the start. It is an economically tiny activity for both sides, but politically potent, able to galvanise media and voters.
Both sides have come down from their initial positions, with Britain accepting some EU boats will continue to ply its waters and EU countries recognising their catches there will have to be cut.
The haggling is over how much, for what species, in what waters exactly, and for how long a fishing agreement should last before it is put up for review.
Regardless of any trade deal, both sides are bound by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to jointly manage those stocks to prevent overfishing them to extinction.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Tensions in Armenia as thousands mourn Karabakh  victims

More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed during the fighting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led Saturday a thousands-strong march in memory of those killed in clashes with Azerbaijan as the Caucasus country began three days of mourning amid persisting tensions .
Pashinyan has been under huge pressure from the opposition to step down after nearly 3,000 Armenians have been killed in six weeks of clashes with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh .
As Armenia began three days of mourning for the victims of clashes on Saturday , the opposition kept up pressure on Pashinyan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what they say is a humiliating peace deal with Azerbaijan .
Accompanied by top officials , Pashinyan led a thousands-strong procession to a memorial complex in the capital Yerevan where victims of the conflict are buried .
`` The entire nation has been through and is going through a nightmare , '' Pashinyan said in a video address ahead of the memorial march .
`` Sometimes it seems that all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism destroyed , '' he added .
The opposition has called the 45-year-old leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end the war on Azerbaijan 's terms .
Pashinyan , whose wife and son were at the front during the conflict , has said he has no plans to quit and the peace deal was Armenia 's only option , ensuring Karabakh 's survival .
Many critics said on Saturday the leader should stay away from the memorial cemetery where the procession headed .
`` He must not desecrate the graves of our children , '' Misak Avetisyan , who lost a son in the war , told reporters .
The grief-stricken father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his knees and `` beg for forgiveness '' .
Many critics chanted `` Nikol the traitor '' as authorities dramatically beefed up security at the cemetery .
The war ended in November with a Moscow-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory to Azerbaijan which has been backed by close ally Turkey .
The opposition were to hold a separate march later in the day .
Pashinyan 's critics have called on supporters to stage a national strike from December 22 .
A member of the Pashinyan-led procession said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the mistakes of previous leaders .
`` He is not guilty of anything , '' said Karo Sargsyan .
Pashinyan , a former newspaper editor , was propelled to power in 2018 after he channelled widespread desire for change into a broad protest movement against corrupt post-Soviet elites .
But after the war with Azerbaijan , many now say Pashinyan has betrayed Armenia 's interests .
Numerous public figures including the influential head of Armenia 's Apostolic Church , Catholicos Garegin , have called for Pashinyan 's resignation .
As part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacekeeping troops to Karabakh .
Moscow said on Friday that a Russian mine clearer was killed by a blast in Karabakh when an explosive went off earlier this week .
More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed during the fighting between the ex-Soviet rivals , who also fought a war in the 1990s over the mountainous region .

Yerevan (AFP) –
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led Saturday a thousands-strong march in memory of those killed in clashes with Azerbaijan as the Caucasus country began three days of mourning amid persisting tensions.
Pashinyan has been under huge pressure from the opposition to step down after nearly 3,000 Armenians have been killed in six weeks of clashes with Azerbaijan over the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh.
As Armenia began three days of mourning for the victims of clashes on Saturday, the opposition kept up pressure on Pashinyan to resign over the handling of the conflict and what they say is a humiliating peace deal with Azerbaijan.
Accompanied by top officials, Pashinyan led a thousands-strong procession to a memorial complex in the capital Yerevan where victims of the conflict are buried.
"The entire nation has been through and is going through a nightmare," Pashinyan said in a video address ahead of the memorial march.
"Sometimes it seems that all of our dreams have been dashed and our optimism destroyed," he added.
The opposition has called the 45-year-old leader a "traitor" for agreeing to end the war on Azerbaijan's terms.
Pashinyan, whose wife and son were at the front during the conflict, has said he has no plans to quit and the peace deal was Armenia's only option, ensuring Karabakh's survival.
- 'Beg for forgiveness' -
Many critics said on Saturday the leader should stay away from the memorial cemetery where the procession headed.
"He must not desecrate the graves of our children," Misak Avetisyan, who lost a son in the war, told reporters. The grief-stricken father said the prime minister should get down on his knees and "beg for forgiveness".
Many critics chanted "Nikol the traitor" as authorities dramatically beefed up security at the cemetery.
The war ended in November with a Moscow-brokered peace agreement that saw the Armenians cede swathes of territory to Azerbaijan which has been backed by close ally Turkey.
The opposition were to hold a separate march later in the day. Pashinyan's critics have called on supporters to stage a national strike from December 22.
A member of the Pashinyan-led procession said the prime minister should not be blamed for the mistakes of previous leaders.
"He is not guilty of anything," said Karo Sargsyan.
Pashinyan, a former newspaper editor, was propelled to power in 2018 after he channelled widespread desire for change into a broad protest movement against corrupt post-Soviet elites.
But after the war with Azerbaijan, many now say Pashinyan has betrayed Armenia's interests.
Numerous public figures including the influential head of Armenia's Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin, have called for Pashinyan's resignation.
As part of the peace deal Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeeping troops to Karabakh.
Moscow said on Friday that a Russian mine clearer was killed by a blast in Karabakh when an explosive went off earlier this week.
More than 5,000 people including civilians were killed during the fighting between the ex-Soviet rivals, who also fought a war in the 1990s over the mountainous region.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Sydney to Hobart yacht race cancelled for first time in 76 years

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in 76 years Australia 's gruelling Sydney to Hobart yacht race was called off for the first time in 76 years on Saturday because of an escalating coronavirus outbreak , organisers said .
The often brutal 628-nautical mile ( 1,163-kilometre ) bluewater classic was due to start on Boxing Day , but with parts of Sydney locked down after a new cluster of Covid-19 cases , it was cancelled .
`` We are bitterly disappointed to cancel the race this year especially considering the plans and preparations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Covid safe race , '' said Cruising Yacht Club of Australia ( CYCA ) commodore Noel Cornish .
`` We were so well prepared to run the race and we 're only six days from the start .
This is the first time in 76 years that the race will not be conducted . ''
The decision to pull the plug came the same day authorities in Hobart announced plans to impose a 14-day quarantine requirement on all travellers from Sydney .
It came as a cluster of new coronavirus cases on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 38 and residents were ordered to stay at home until at least midnight on Wednesday except for essential reasons .
Government officials also pleaded with the rest of Sydney 's more than five million residents to remain home as much as possible over the coming days .
Cornish said that with the advice unlikely to lift in the immediate future and the immense logistics involved in trying to reorganise a race with around 100 entrants , it was decided to cancel rather than postpone .
`` This race has a long and proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this exciting tradition next year , '' he added .
Australia has recorded over 28,000 Covid-19 cases and 908 deaths linked to the virus in a population of about 25 million , and had been applauded for its success in containing the virus until the latest outbreak .
With coronavirus concerns hovering over the race in recent months , organisers had decided to press ahead but with a smaller fleet and fans encouraged to watch online instead of thronging vantage points .
It was already shaping up as different to normal with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the journey to Australia and all team briefings being held online .
Parties usually held at the CYCA in the lead-up had been ruled out and restrictions placed on the spectator fleets that usually accompany the yachts as they sail out of Sydney Harbour .
Supermaxi Comanche won line honours in 2019 while Ichi Ban was the overall handicap winner with the yachts heading down Australia 's east coast before heading over the treacherous Bass Strait towards Hobart .

Sydney (AFP) –
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Australia's gruelling Sydney to Hobart yacht race was called off for the first time in 76 years on Saturday because of an escalating coronavirus outbreak, organisers said.
The often brutal 628-nautical mile (1,163-kilometre) bluewater classic was due to start on Boxing Day, but with parts of Sydney locked down after a new cluster of Covid-19 cases, it was cancelled.
"We are bitterly disappointed to cancel the race this year especially considering the plans and preparations we had put in place to have a Covid safe race," said Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) commodore Noel Cornish.
"We were so well prepared to run the race and we're only six days from the start. This is the first time in 76 years that the race will not be conducted."
The decision to pull the plug came the same day authorities in Hobart announced plans to impose a 14-day quarantine requirement on all travellers from Sydney.
It came as a cluster of new coronavirus cases on the city's northern beaches grew to 38 and residents were ordered to stay at home until at least midnight on Wednesday except for essential reasons.
Government officials also pleaded with the rest of Sydney's more than five million residents to remain home as much as possible over the coming days.
Cornish said that with the advice unlikely to lift in the immediate future and the immense logistics involved in trying to reorganise a race with around 100 entrants, it was decided to cancel rather than postpone.
"This race has a long and proud history and we look forward to continuing this exciting tradition next year," he added.
Australia has recorded over 28,000 Covid-19 cases and 908 deaths linked to the virus in a population of about 25 million, and had been applauded for its success in containing the virus until the latest outbreak.
With coronavirus concerns hovering over the race in recent months, organisers had decided to press ahead but with a smaller fleet and fans encouraged to watch online instead of thronging vantage points.
It was already shaping up as different to normal with a host of international competitors unable to make the journey to Australia and all team briefings being held online.
Parties usually held at the CYCA in the lead-up had been ruled out and restrictions placed on the spectator fleets that usually accompany the yachts as they sail out of Sydney Harbour.
Supermaxi Comanche won line honours in 2019 while Ichi Ban was the overall handicap winner with the yachts heading down Australia's east coast before heading over the treacherous Bass Strait towards Hobart.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Indian press, ex-players rue 'massacre' in Australia

Jasprit Bumrah trudges off after becoming one of Australia 's victims as India crashed to a historic low of 36 runs The Indian press and ex-players savaged the national cricket team on Saturday after they slumped to their lowest-ever score in a `` humiliating '' and `` jaw-dropping '' Test defeat in Australia .
India were bundled out for 36 on the board in the second innings of the first Test in Adelaide as Australian pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins put the visitors to the sword .
In cricket-crazy India , The Times of India dubbed the performance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an eight-wicket victory on just the third day -- the `` massacre in Adelaide '' .
`` India did almost everything right on Day 2 , '' the paper said in a lengthy post-mortem .
`` Day 3 however saw the Aussie fast bowlers especially Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins come out with a vengeance . ''
The Indian batting performance -- no player got into double figures -- was a `` jaw-dropping act of meek surrender , '' the paper said , calling Hazlewood with his stellar figures of five for eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Express wondered if the `` summer of 36 '' is `` Indian cricket 's lowest point '' , adding tongue-in-cheek that the players had at least `` buried the ghost '' of 1974 , when the previous record low of 42 was set .
Forty-six years ago when India were thrashed by England at Lord 's , that innings at least saw one player -- Eknath Solkar making 18 not out -- reach double figures , the paper recalled .
The Republic TV channel on its website called the batting performance `` humiliating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cheteshwar Pujara , Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane `` badly exposed '' .
Virat Kohli said he was confident that the team would bounce back , but the talismanic Indian skipper is returning home now to be with his Bollywood star wife for the birth of their first child .
With Kohli absent , and a `` question mark '' over the fitness of key batsman Rohit Sharma , `` Team India have a lot to think about , '' the Times of India said .
Former India great Sachin Tendulkar meanwhile was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australians .
`` With the way India batted & bowled in the 1st innings , they were in the driver 's seat , but the Aussies came back really hard this morning , '' he tweeted .
`` That is the beauty of Test cricket .
It 's NEVER over till it 's over .
India was outclassed in the 2nd half .
Congratulations to Australia ! ''
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan said though : `` Very disappointed with the result .
We all expect the Indian team to play better cricket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India opener , captain and selector , was similarly unforgiving .
`` All the hard work done by india in the 1st innings lost by pretty pathetic batting in a span of 20 overs !
Congrats @ CricketAus , '' Srikkanth tweeted .
`` Time for our boys to dig deep and put a decent total on the board for our bowlers ! ''
Former India Test player Sanjay Manjrekar said India `` clearly needs to improve its defensive skills .
Easier said than done in today ’ s environment . ''
Senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ India 's `` superb '' bowling performance , warning the Australians to be `` beware '' in the remaining Tests .
`` That said , defeat of this magnitude has thrown team into major turmoil : Kohli unavailable , Shami injured , openers dodgy , Pujara , Rahane , Vehari , Saha unconvincing .
Shastri & Co swimming in problems , '' he said .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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The Indian press and ex-players savaged the national cricket team on Saturday after they slumped to their lowest-ever score in a "humiliating" and "jaw-dropping" Test defeat in Australia.
India were bundled out for 36 on the board in the second innings of the first Test in Adelaide as Australian pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins put the visitors to the sword.
In cricket-crazy India, The Times of India dubbed the performance and the defeat -- the hosts cruised to an eight-wicket victory on just the third day -- the "massacre in Adelaide".
"India did almost everything right on Day 2," the paper said in a lengthy post-mortem. "Day 3 however saw the Aussie fast bowlers especially Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins come out with a vengeance."
The Indian batting performance -- no player got into double figures -- was a "jaw-dropping act of meek surrender," the paper said, calling Hazlewood with his stellar figures of five for eight the "wrecker-in-chief".
The Indian Express wondered if the "summer of 36" is "Indian cricket's lowest point", adding tongue-in-cheek that the players had at least "buried the ghost" of 1974, when the previous record low of 42 was set.
Forty-six years ago when India were thrashed by England at Lord's, that innings at least saw one player -- Eknath Solkar making 18 not out -- reach double figures, the paper recalled.
The Republic TV channel on its website called the batting performance "humiliating", with the middle order of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane "badly exposed".
Virat Kohli said he was confident that the team would bounce back, but the talismanic Indian skipper is returning home now to be with his Bollywood star wife for the birth of their first child.
With Kohli absent, and a "question mark" over the fitness of key batsman Rohit Sharma, "Team India have a lot to think about," the Times of India said.
- Gracious Tendulkar -
Former India great Sachin Tendulkar meanwhile was gracious about the defeat, congratulating the Australians.
"With the way India batted & bowled in the 1st innings, they were in the driver's seat, but the Aussies came back really hard this morning," he tweeted.
"That is the beauty of Test cricket. It's NEVER over till it's over. India was outclassed in the 2nd half. Congratulations to Australia!"
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan said though: "Very disappointed with the result. We all expect the Indian team to play better cricket".
Kris Srikkanth, a former India opener, captain and selector, was similarly unforgiving.
"All the hard work done by india in the 1st innings lost by pretty pathetic batting in a span of 20 overs! Congrats @CricketAus," Srikkanth tweeted.
"Time for our boys to dig deep and put a decent total on the board for our bowlers!"
Former India Test player Sanjay Manjrekar said India "clearly needs to improve its defensive skills. Easier said than done in today’s environment."
Senior journalist Ayaz Memon saw some positives in India's "superb" bowling performance, warning the Australians to be "beware" in the remaining Tests.
"That said, defeat of this magnitude has thrown team into major turmoil: Kohli unavailable, Shami injured, openers dodgy, Pujara, Rahane, Vehari, Saha unconvincing. Shastri & Co swimming in problems," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--C.African rebels form coalition as UN chief appeals for calm

UN peacekeepers have mobilised in response to a surge in attacks Leaders of the three main armed rebel groups occupying large areas of the Central African Republic announced a coalition Saturday , ahead of next week 's elections and as UN peacekeepers deployed in response to fresh attacks .
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for calm and for all sides to work together to ensure credible elections there .
But the rebels ' announcement could further fuel tensions already on the rise in the troubled country ahead of a presidential and legislative vote on December 27 , where the opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups had decided `` to combine all of our movements into a single entity , called the Coalition of Patriots for Change or CPC , under a unified command , '' they wrote in the statement .
The CPC invited `` all other armed groups to join '' .
They also urged its members to `` scrupulously respect the integrity of the civilian population '' and to allow vehicles belonging to the United Nations and to humanitarian groups to circulate freely .
The authorities in Bangui had not yet reacted to the statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CAR , Minusca , said on Friday that its blue helmet forces were on `` maximum alert '' to prevent armed groups from disrupting the elections .
According to UN and humanitarian sources on Friday , the rebel militia have secured control of key routes leading to the capital Bangui .
`` Reinforcement of the MINUSCA resources , including with air assets , is a response to the violence committed by these armed groups and which also affected Yaloke and Bozoum '' , towns just over 200 kilometres ( 125 miles ) from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces , the UN mission said .
In New York , UN chief Guterres condemned the escalating violence and called on all sides to work towards ensuring conditions conducive to the holding of credible and peaceful elections , his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement .
The UN chief called on all parties to `` resolve their differences peacefully ... in the interest of the Central African people who have for too long suffered from violence and instability . ''
The government on Wednesday accused former president Francois Bozize of a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the opposition says it fears massive electoral fraud .
Bozize , who recently returned after years in exile , has been barred from running in the election by the country 's top court as he had been sought in a international arrest warrant filed by the CAR on charges including murder , arbitrary arrest and torture .
The CAR spiralled into conflict in 2013 , when Bozize , was ousted by as president the Seleka , a rebel coalition drawn largely from the Muslim minority .
The coup triggered a bloodbath between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-defence forces , mainly Christian and animist .
France intervened militarily in its former colony and after a transitional period , elections were staged in 2016 and won by president Faustin-Archange Touadera .
Inter-communal fighting has receded in intensity in the last two years , but militia groups hold sway over two-thirds of the country , often fighting over resources .
This new coalition , the CPC , unites all the groups that emerged from the Seleka force with anti-Balaka fighters against Touadera 's regime .

Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) –
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Leaders of the three main armed rebel groups occupying large areas of the Central African Republic announced a coalition Saturday, ahead of next week's elections and as UN peacekeepers deployed in response to fresh attacks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for calm and for all sides to work together to ensure credible elections there.
But the rebels' announcement could further fuel tensions already on the rise in the troubled country ahead of a presidential and legislative vote on December 27, where the opposition fears massive electoral fraud.
The armed groups had decided "to combine all of our movements into a single entity, called the Coalition of Patriots for Change or CPC, under a unified command," they wrote in the statement. The CPC invited "all other armed groups to join".
They also urged its members to "scrupulously respect the integrity of the civilian population" and to allow vehicles belonging to the United Nations and to humanitarian groups to circulate freely.
The authorities in Bangui had not yet reacted to the statement Saturday.
The UN mission in the CAR, Minusca, said on Friday that its blue helmet forces were on "maximum alert" to prevent armed groups from disrupting the elections.
According to UN and humanitarian sources on Friday, the rebel militia have secured control of key routes leading to the capital Bangui.
"Reinforcement of the MINUSCA resources, including with air assets, is a response to the violence committed by these armed groups and which also affected Yaloke and Bozoum", towns just over 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Bangui, killing two members of government forces, the UN mission said.
- UN appeal for calm -
In New York, UN chief Guterres condemned the escalating violence and called on all sides to work towards ensuring conditions conducive to the holding of credible and peaceful elections, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The UN chief called on all parties to "resolve their differences peacefully... in the interest of the Central African people who have for too long suffered from violence and instability."
The government on Wednesday accused former president Francois Bozize of a "plan to destabilise the country," while the opposition says it fears massive electoral fraud.
Bozize, who recently returned after years in exile, has been barred from running in the election by the country's top court as he had been sought in a international arrest warrant filed by the CAR on charges including murder, arbitrary arrest and torture.
The CAR spiralled into conflict in 2013, when Bozize, was ousted by as president the Seleka, a rebel coalition drawn largely from the Muslim minority.
The coup triggered a bloodbath between the Seleka and so-called "anti-Balaka" self-defence forces, mainly Christian and animist.
France intervened militarily in its former colony and after a transitional period, elections were staged in 2016 and won by president Faustin-Archange Touadera.
Inter-communal fighting has receded in intensity in the last two years, but militia groups hold sway over two-thirds of the country, often fighting over resources.
This new coalition, the CPC, unites all the groups that emerged from the Seleka force with anti-Balaka fighters against Touadera's regime.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--France charges Epstein ex-associate for sex crimes

Jeffrey Epstein , who was arrested in New York in July 2019 on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex , was found hanged in his New York jail cell the following month French prosecutors said Saturday they had charged and imprisoned a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein , the prominent French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel , over alleged sex crimes .
Brunel was charged with rape of minors over the age of 15 and sexual harassment , said a statement from the prosecutors ' office .
He was initially detained on Wednesday at Paris Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to board a flight to Senegal .
Epstein , who was arrested in New York in July 2019 on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex , was found hanged in his New York jail cell the following month while awaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean .
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused in France prompted French prosecutors to open their own investigation .
That probe has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused in American court documents of rape and of procuring young girls for his friend .
`` This is what the victims have been waiting for for many years , some of them for more than 30 years , '' said Anne-Claire Lejeune , a lawyer for several of the women .
The prosecutor 's decision to charge him `` gives meaning to what they have been saying for all these years , '' she added .
Now in his 70s , Brunel began his career as a model scout who in 1978 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karin Models agency .
He then moved to the United States where he co-founded the Miami-based agency MC2 .
Brunel 's lawyer in October 2019 said he vehemently rejected allegations made in the press , but denied his client was on the run , insisting he was available for questioning .
French police last year raided the offices of Karin Models and searched Epstein 's luxury Paris home not far from the Arc de Triomphe .
In US court documents , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , a key plaintiff against Epstein , accused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` sex slave '' and said she had been forced to have sex with well-known politicians and businessmen , including Brunel .
She also alleged that Brunel would bring girls as young as 12 to the United States and pass them on to his friends , including Epstein .
These claims prompted a rare statement by Brunel in 2015 that itself broke years of silence in which he vehemently denied involvement , `` directly or indirectly '' , in Epstein 's crimes .
Long before the Epstein scandal broke , Brunel was accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1988 documentary by CBS .
On Thursday , Thysia Huisman , a former Dutch model who says she was drugged and raped by Brunel at the age of 18 , had welcomed news of his initial arrest as `` great news '' .
Huisman said she was the first plaintiff to report Brunel to the authorities in 2019 , and 11 other victims then came forwards .
But these accusations risked never making it to court due to the statute of limitations .

Paris (AFP) –
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French prosecutors said Saturday they had charged and imprisoned a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, the prominent French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, over alleged sex crimes.
Brunel was charged with rape of minors over the age of 15 and sexual harassment, said a statement from the prosecutors' office. He was initially detained on Wednesday at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to board a flight to Senegal.
Epstein, who was arrested in New York in July 2019 on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex, was found hanged in his New York jail cell the following month while awaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean.
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused in France prompted French prosecutors to open their own investigation.
That probe has focused on Brunel, who has been accused in American court documents of rape and of procuring young girls for his friend.
"This is what the victims have been waiting for for many years, some of them for more than 30 years," said Anne-Claire Lejeune, a lawyer for several of the women.
The prosecutor's decision to charge him "gives meaning to what they have been saying for all these years," she added.
Now in his 70s, Brunel began his career as a model scout who in 1978 was involved in setting up the prestigious Karin Models agency.
He then moved to the United States where he co-founded the Miami-based agency MC2.
- Previous allegations -
Brunel's lawyer in October 2019 said he vehemently rejected allegations made in the press, but denied his client was on the run, insisting he was available for questioning.
French police last year raided the offices of Karin Models and searched Epstein's luxury Paris home not far from the Arc de Triomphe.
In US court documents, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a key plaintiff against Epstein, accused the American tycoon of using her as a "sex slave" and said she had been forced to have sex with well-known politicians and businessmen, including Brunel.
She also alleged that Brunel would bring girls as young as 12 to the United States and pass them on to his friends, including Epstein.
These claims prompted a rare statement by Brunel in 2015 that itself broke years of silence in which he vehemently denied involvement, "directly or indirectly", in Epstein's crimes.
Long before the Epstein scandal broke, Brunel was accused of rape by several models in a 1988 documentary by CBS.
On Thursday, Thysia Huisman, a former Dutch model who says she was drugged and raped by Brunel at the age of 18, had welcomed news of his initial arrest as "great news".
Huisman said she was the first plaintiff to report Brunel to the authorities in 2019, and 11 other victims then came forwards. But these accusations risked never making it to court due to the statute of limitations.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--France places former Jeffrey Epstein associate under formal investigation for rape, sexual harassmen

France places former Jeffrey Epstein associate under formal investigation for rape, sexual harassment

French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel is a former associate of Jeffrey Epstein , who owned an apartment building in an upmarket Paris district .
French prosecutors said Saturday they had charged and imprisoned a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein , the prominent French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel , over alleged sex crimes .
Brunel was charged with rape of minors over the age of 15 and sexual harassment , said a statement from the prosecutors ' office .
He was initially detained on Wednesday at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was arrested in New York in July 2019 on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex , was found hanged in his New York jail cell the following month while awfraaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean .
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused in France prompted French prosecutors to open their own investigation .
That probe has focused on Brunel , who has been accused in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procuring young girls for his friend .

French prosecutors said Saturday they had charged and imprisoned a former close associate of disgraced American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, the prominent French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, over alleged sex crimes.
French modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel is a former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, who owned an apartment building in an upmarket Paris district.
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Brunel was charged with rape of minors over the age of 15 and sexual harassment, said a statement from the prosecutors' office. He was initially detained on Wednesday at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to board a flight to Senegal.
Epstein, who was arrested in New York in July 2019 on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex, was found hanged in his New York jail cell the following month while awfraaiting trial over abuses involving girls at his Palm Beach home and on his private island in the Caribbean.
His ownership of an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and allegations from women who say they were abused in France prompted French prosecutors to open their own investigation.
That probe has focused on Brunel, who has been accused in American court documents of rape and of procuring young girls for his friend.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-19--India slump to lowest ever score as Australia clinch first Test

A devastated India crashed to their lowest ever score of 36 on Saturday as Australia ran riot to win the opening Test in Adelaide by eight wickets after Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins produced a bowling masterclass .
India started the third day of the pink-ball Test on nine for one and with a 62-run lead , looking to build a competitive second innings total for the hosts to chase .
But their hopes were left in tatters by a wicket with bounce and deviation as Hazlewood took 5-8 , including his 200th Test wicket , and Cummins 4-21 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bowlers found the edge .
`` I did n't expect it to come that quick , I was expecting a real dogfight , '' said skipper Paine .
`` To hang in , give our bowlers a chance , and then turn up and start the day the way we did , full credit to our bowling attack again .
`` It 's nice to get off to a good start .
Chuffed with the way we bowled in this Test . ''
It was an incredible Indian collapse , with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that lasted less than 22 overs , in contrast to their battling first innings ' 244 .
That included skipper Virat Kohli , who fell for four and now heads home for the birth of his first child , leaving his stunned team to face three more Tests , starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day , without him .
Ajinkya Rahane will assume the captaincy .
`` It 's very hard to put those feelings into words , '' said a disconsolate Kohli .
`` We had a lead of 60-odd when we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lose it in an hour .
It really hurts . ''
India 's previous Test low was 42 against England at Lord 's in 1974 .
Their 36 was the joint fourth lowest of all time , with New Zealand 's 26 facing England in 1955 at Auckland the worst ever .
The carnage left Australia , who scored 191 in the first innings , needing 90 to win , with out-of-form Joe Burns hitting a confidence-building 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the match .
Matthew Wade made 33 and Marnus Labuschagne six with Steve Smith not out one .
Cummins wasted no time removing nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah for two in the second over of the day , tempting him to push at a slower ball that popped back up to him .
That brought the stubborn Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease .
He saw off an over from Cummins , but that was as good as it got for the veteran who fell without scoring .
Cummins , the world 's number one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had to be played and Pujara caught an edge that carried to wicketkeeper Paine .
It left India on 15 for three , and it only got worse with opener Mayank Agarwal back in the pavillon five balls later for nine , again caught by Paine on Hazlewood 's opening delivery .
Hazlewood and Paine again combined to get rid of Rahane for nought , after which Cummins picked up the massive wicket of Kohli .
The superstar batsman had smacked Cummins for four but was gone the next ball after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he attempted a cover drive .
At 19 for six , India were in real danger of making their lowest ever score and when Wriddhiman Saha ( 4 ) chipped a Hazlewood delivery to Marnus Labuschagne and Ravi Ashwin was out next ball it became a reality .
A four from Hanuma Vihari spared them some shame , taking India past New Zealand 's all-time low .
But Vihari ( 8 ) did n't last much longer , caught by Paine with Hazlewood again doing the damage to complete an excellent five-wicket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retire hurt after a Cummins thunderbolt hit his right arm .
`` Everything went to plan , '' said Hazlewood .
`` Patty ( Cummins ) set the tone and I just followed suit .
To join the 200th club is pretty special . ''

Adelaide (Australia) (AFP) –
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A devastated India crashed to their lowest ever score of 36 on Saturday as Australia ran riot to win the opening Test in Adelaide by eight wickets after Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins produced a bowling masterclass.
India started the third day of the pink-ball Test on nine for one and with a 62-run lead, looking to build a competitive second innings total for the hosts to chase.
But their hopes were left in tatters by a wicket with bounce and deviation as Hazlewood took 5-8, including his 200th Test wicket, and Cummins 4-21. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine claimed five catches as the bowlers found the edge.
"I didn't expect it to come that quick, I was expecting a real dogfight," said skipper Paine.
"To hang in, give our bowlers a chance, and then turn up and start the day the way we did, full credit to our bowling attack again.
"It's nice to get off to a good start. Chuffed with the way we bowled in this Test."
It was an incredible Indian collapse, with no batsman reaching double figures during a capitulation that lasted less than 22 overs, in contrast to their battling first innings' 244.
That included skipper Virat Kohli, who fell for four and now heads home for the birth of his first child, leaving his stunned team to face three more Tests, starting in Melbourne on Boxing Day, without him. Ajinkya Rahane will assume the captaincy.
"It's very hard to put those feelings into words," said a disconsolate Kohli.
"We had a lead of 60-odd when we arrived, and then just collapsed. We played two days of good cricket to get in a position and then just lose it in an hour. It really hurts."
India's previous Test low was 42 against England at Lord's in 1974. Their 36 was the joint fourth lowest of all time, with New Zealand's 26 facing England in 1955 at Auckland the worst ever.
The carnage left Australia, who scored 191 in the first innings, needing 90 to win, with out-of-form Joe Burns hitting a confidence-building 51 not out, including a six to win the match.
Matthew Wade made 33 and Marnus Labuschagne six with Steve Smith not out one.
- In trouble -
Cummins wasted no time removing nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah for two in the second over of the day, tempting him to push at a slower ball that popped back up to him.
That brought the stubborn Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease. He saw off an over from Cummins, but that was as good as it got for the veteran who fell without scoring.
Cummins, the world's number one Test bowler, sent down a delivery that had to be played and Pujara caught an edge that carried to wicketkeeper Paine.
It left India on 15 for three, and it only got worse with opener Mayank Agarwal back in the pavillon five balls later for nine, again caught by Paine on Hazlewood's opening delivery.
Hazlewood and Paine again combined to get rid of Rahane for nought, after which Cummins picked up the massive wicket of Kohli.
The superstar batsman had smacked Cummins for four but was gone the next ball after a review, caught by debutant Cameron Green as he attempted a cover drive.
At 19 for six, India were in real danger of making their lowest ever score and when Wriddhiman Saha (4) chipped a Hazlewood delivery to Marnus Labuschagne and Ravi Ashwin was out next ball it became a reality.
A four from Hanuma Vihari spared them some shame, taking India past New Zealand's all-time low.
But Vihari (8) didn't last much longer, caught by Paine with Hazlewood again doing the damage to complete an excellent five-wicket haul, before Mohammed Shami was forced to retire hurt after a Cummins thunderbolt hit his right arm.
"Everything went to plan," said Hazlewood. "Patty (Cummins) set the tone and I just followed suit. To join the 200th club is pretty special."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Kohli confident India will bounce back from batting nightmare

India captain Virat Kohli insisted Saturday he was `` very , very confident '' his team would bounce back from their worst-ever batting display , blaming a poor mindset for the side throwing away the first Test against Australia .
The visitors were skittled for a humiliating 36 in their second innings -- their lowest Test score of all time -- to lose the day-night game in Adelaide by eight wickets inside three days .
Compounding their problems , Kohli will now head home for the birth of his first child , missing the final three Tests , while fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scans for a right arm injury .
Despite this , Kohli said they could fix their problems before the second Test in Melbourne next week .
`` I definitely would have loved it if we had won this game , with me leaving , but this is Test cricket and anything can happen at any stage , '' he said .
`` I am confident that the team is going to bounce back strong in Melbourne and a few of the guys are going to realise their true characters and how they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't think we have ever had a worse batting performance so we can only go upwards from here . ''
After starting the day on nine for one , India capitulated to some sizzling bowling from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in less than 22 overs , with no batsman reaching double figures .
Kohli , who scored just four , admitted India lost their way , with the wickets falling so quickly that `` no one could make any sense of it '' .
`` To be honest there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't do anything drastic .
I think it was the mindset , it was very evident , '' he said .
`` It felt like the runs were so difficult to come by and the bowlers got confident .
I think it was a combination of lack of intent and the bowlers hitting their areas . ''
Although the scorecard made for dismal reading , Kohli said he had never been one to dwell too long on the past .
`` Playing at the highest level , there will definitely be collapses again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our mistakes and understand what we have to work on , '' he said .
`` We do n't feel we are vulnerable to getting bowled out so cheaply ...
I do n't think it is anything alarming . ''
The second Test in Melbourne gets under way on December 26 , followed by Sydney and Brisbane .

Adelaide (Australia) (AFP) –
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India captain Virat Kohli insisted Saturday he was "very, very confident" his team would bounce back from their worst-ever batting display, blaming a poor mindset for the side throwing away the first Test against Australia.
The visitors were skittled for a humiliating 36 in their second innings -- their lowest Test score of all time -- to lose the day-night game in Adelaide by eight wickets inside three days.
Compounding their problems, Kohli will now head home for the birth of his first child, missing the final three Tests, while fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been sent for scans for a right arm injury.
Despite this, Kohli said they could fix their problems before the second Test in Melbourne next week.
"I definitely would have loved it if we had won this game, with me leaving, but this is Test cricket and anything can happen at any stage," he said.
"I am confident that the team is going to bounce back strong in Melbourne and a few of the guys are going to realise their true characters and how they can step up for the team.
"I don't think we have ever had a worse batting performance so we can only go upwards from here."
After starting the day on nine for one, India capitulated to some sizzling bowling from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in less than 22 overs, with no batsman reaching double figures.
Kohli, who scored just four, admitted India lost their way, with the wickets falling so quickly that "no one could make any sense of it".
"To be honest there were some good balls but the ball didn't do anything drastic. I think it was the mindset, it was very evident," he said.
"It felt like the runs were so difficult to come by and the bowlers got confident. I think it was a combination of lack of intent and the bowlers hitting their areas."
Although the scorecard made for dismal reading, Kohli said he had never been one to dwell too long on the past.
"Playing at the highest level, there will definitely be collapses again and again and we have to accept our mistakes and understand what we have to work on," he said.
"We don't feel we are vulnerable to getting bowled out so cheaply ... I don't think it is anything alarming."
The second Test in Melbourne gets under way on December 26, followed by Sydney and Brisbane.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Two dead, hundreds flee floods in Philippine storm

At least two people were killed and hundreds forced to flee their inundated homes in the Philippines as torrential rain triggered flooding and landslides in the storm-battered archipelago , officials said Saturday .
Huge waves smashed into a coastal village on Lapu-Lapu island in the central province of Cebu on Friday night , wiping out dozens of houses and leaving around 290 people homeless , Mayor Junard Chan said on Facebook .
Photos posted online by the mayor showed piles of wood and bamboo near the few houses still standing after the region was drenched by heavy rain .
Rescuers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were killed when a landslide hit an area of Mahaplag town before dawn in the nearby province of Leyte , police officer Racquel Hernandez said .
A boy was also pulled from the rubble of his home and treated for his injuries , Hernandez told AFP .
About 1,500 people were forced to leave their homes on the major southern island of Mindanao as floodwaters engulfed 13 villages , the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said .
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas .
The latest storm comes after a succession of typhoons in recent months pummelled the country , taking the lives 148 people , destroying hundreds of thousands of houses , wrecking cash crops and leaving swathes of the country without power .

Manila (AFP) –
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At least two people were killed and hundreds forced to flee their inundated homes in the Philippines as torrential rain triggered flooding and landslides in the storm-battered archipelago, officials said Saturday.
Huge waves smashed into a coastal village on Lapu-Lapu island in the central province of Cebu on Friday night, wiping out dozens of houses and leaving around 290 people homeless, Mayor Junard Chan said on Facebook.
Photos posted online by the mayor showed piles of wood and bamboo near the few houses still standing after the region was drenched by heavy rain.
Rescuers retrieved the bodies of two elderly women who were killed when a landslide hit an area of Mahaplag town before dawn in the nearby province of Leyte, police officer Racquel Hernandez said.
A boy was also pulled from the rubble of his home and treated for his injuries, Hernandez told AFP.
About 1,500 people were forced to leave their homes on the major southern island of Mindanao as floodwaters engulfed 13 villages, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure in already impoverished areas.
The latest storm comes after a succession of typhoons in recent months pummelled the country, taking the lives 148 people, destroying hundreds of thousands of houses, wrecking cash crops and leaving swathes of the country without power.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Four placed under formal investigation in France for suspected links to Paris cleaver attack

A man armed with a meat cleaver seriously wounded two people in a suspected terror attack outside the former offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris on September 25 , 2020 .
French authorities have charged and detained four Pakistanis suspected of links to a meat cleaver attack by a compatriot outside the former offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly that wounded two people , the national counter-terrorism prosecutor 's office said Friday .
The four male suspects , aged 17 to 21 , were in contact with the attacker , said a source familiar with the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the attacker 's plot and inciting him to carry it out , according to another judicial source close to the investigation .
Three of them were charged on Friday with taking part in a terrorist conspiracy and placed in pre-trial detention .
The fourth had already been charged on Wednesday .
Two were arrested in the southwest Gironde department , a third in the northern port city of Caen and the last in the Paris region .
`` They share his ideology and one of them expressed his hatred of France a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said one of the sources .
News of the charges comes two days after a Paris court convicted 13 accomplices of the jihadist gunmen who massacred Charlie Hebdo staff in January 2015 .
To mark the start of that trial in early September , the magazine had in typically provocative style reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed .
Three weeks later , a Pakistani man wounded two people outside the weekly 's former offices , hacking at them with a cleaver .
The assailant , named as Zaheer Hassan Mahmoud , 25 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terror charges and remains in custody .
He told investigators that prior to the attack he had watched `` videos from Pakistan '' concerning the satirical magazine 's decision to republish the cartoons .
> > Yet another attack on press freedom in France ?
Paris reels from stabbing On October 16 , a young Chechen refugee beheaded teacher Samuel Paty , who had shown some of the caricatures to his pupils .
Less than two weeks later , three people were killed when a young Tunisian recently arrived in Europe went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mediterranean city of Nice .
President Emmanuel Macron 's government has introduced legislation to tackle radical Islamist activity in France , a bill that has sparked anger and protests in some Muslim countries .

French authorities have charged and detained four Pakistanis suspected of links to a meat cleaver attack by a compatriot outside the former offices of the Charlie Hebdo weekly that wounded two people, the national counter-terrorism prosecutor's office said Friday.
A man armed with a meat cleaver seriously wounded two people in a suspected terror attack outside the former offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris on September 25, 2020.
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The four male suspects, aged 17 to 21, were in contact with the attacker, said a source familiar with the case.
They are suspected of being aware of the attacker's plot and inciting him to carry it out, according to another judicial source close to the investigation.
Three of them were charged on Friday with taking part in a terrorist conspiracy and placed in pre-trial detention. The fourth had already been charged on Wednesday.
Two were arrested in the southwest Gironde department, a third in the northern port city of Caen and the last in the Paris region.
"They share his ideology and one of them expressed his hatred of France a few days before the action," said one of the sources.
News of the charges comes two days after a Paris court convicted 13 accomplices of the jihadist gunmen who massacred Charlie Hebdo staff in January 2015.
To mark the start of that trial in early September, the magazine had in typically provocative style reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
Three weeks later, a Pakistani man wounded two people outside the weekly's former offices, hacking at them with a cleaver.
The assailant, named as Zaheer Hassan Mahmoud, 25, was arrested after September's attack on terror charges and remains in custody.
He told investigators that prior to the attack he had watched "videos from Pakistan" concerning the satirical magazine's decision to republish the cartoons.
>> Yet another attack on press freedom in France? Paris reels from stabbing
On October 16, a young Chechen refugee beheaded teacher Samuel Paty, who had shown some of the caricatures to his pupils.
Less than two weeks later, three people were killed when a young Tunisian recently arrived in Europe went on a stabbing spree at a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice.
President Emmanuel Macron's government has introduced legislation to tackle radical Islamist activity in France, a bill that has sparked anger and protests in some Muslim countries.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-12-19--US planning to close last consulates in Russia: report

Relations between Russia and the United States have soured as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office Donald Trump 's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia , media reports said Friday , as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow .
The US will close its consulate in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg , CNN reported , citing a December 10 letter sent to Congress from the State Department .
The move comes in `` response to ongoing staffing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the US Mission and the resultant impasse with Russia over diplomatic visas , '' the report said , citing the letter .
Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow , while 33 local staff will lose their jobs .
`` No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned , '' CNN cited the letter as saying .
The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In March 2018 Moscow ordered the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg amid a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on UK soil .
It was unclear whether the closures would happen before January 20 , when President-elect Biden takes office .
AFP reached out to the State Department for comment on the report , but did not receive a response .
On Friday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia was `` pretty clearly '' behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that security experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical IT systems and electric power grids .
Yohannes Abraham , executive director for the Biden transition team , said the hack was of `` great concern '' and that under the new administration cyber attacks would meet a response inflicting `` substantial cost . ''
Russia has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks .

Washington (AFP) –
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Donald Trump's outgoing administration is planning to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia, media reports said Friday, as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office amid high tensions with Moscow.
The US will close its consulate in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and suspend operations at its post in Yekaterinburg, CNN reported, citing a December 10 letter sent to Congress from the State Department.
The move comes in "response to ongoing staffing challenges for the US Mission in Russia in the wake of the 2017 Russian-imposed personnel cap on the US Mission and the resultant impasse with Russia over diplomatic visas," the report said, citing the letter.
Ten diplomats assigned to the consulates will reportedly be relocated to the US embassy in Moscow, while 33 local staff will lose their jobs.
"No action related to the Russian consulates in the United States is planned," CNN cited the letter as saying.
The closures would leave the embassy in Moscow as the United States' last diplomatic mission in Russia.
In March 2018 Moscow ordered the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg amid a diplomatic spat sparked by the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on UK soil.
It was unclear whether the closures would happen before January 20, when President-elect Biden takes office.
AFP reached out to the State Department for comment on the report, but did not receive a response.
On Friday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia was "pretty clearly" behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that security experts say could allow attackers unfettered access to critical IT systems and electric power grids.
Yohannes Abraham, executive director for the Biden transition team, said the hack was of "great concern" and that under the new administration cyber attacks would meet a response inflicting "substantial cost."
Russia has denied any involvement in the cyberattacks.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-19--Fiji scrambles to provide aid as cyclone toll rises

Cyclone Yasa hit Fiji on Thursday , leaving thousands unable to return home and killing four The devastation in Fiji following Cyclone Yasa was compared to a war zone Saturday as reconnaissance flights showed entire villages wiped out and authorities put the cost at hundreds of millions of dollars .
The death toll rose to four with aid workers fearing it will increase when contact is re-established with outlying areas .
A state of natural disaster has been declared for 30 days as emergency services scramble to provide food and clothing to the worst affected areas .
The superstorm slammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late Thursday , leaving a trail of destruction and affecting 93,000 people , according to the National Disaster Management Office .
Of the 24,000 people who evacuated their homes at the height of the storm , 16,113 are still unable to return .
A New Zealand Air Force reconnaissance flight flew over the area on Saturday to assess the scale of the damage , with reports of houses , crops and entire livelihoods wiped out .
The storm also damaged schools and caused widespread flooding and landslides .
`` We 've been receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen total devastation .
It looks like a war zone , '' Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali told AFP .
`` Houses have been smashed to pieces and nothing remains .
People are really desperate for shelter and desperate for food .
There 's obviously huge psychological damage . ''
Communications with the eastern Lau islands group were cut during the storm and the extent of damage there was unknown .
National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soki said that while it would take days to assess the full scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely looking at hundreds of millions of dollars . ''
She said the immediate focus was on restoring critical infrastructure , re-establishing communication with severely affected areas and maintaining public safety .
The deaths of a 45-year-old man and a three-month-old baby were confirmed after the storm swept through on Friday , and Soko said two more bodies had since been found .
One , a 70-year-old man , was inside his home when the roof blew away and timber fell on his head .
`` There were villages that were totally wiped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only clothes ( the villagers have ) are those on their backs , '' Fiji Red Cross operations manager Maciu Nokelvu told AFP .
`` We are providing temporary shelters with the provision of tarpaulins and shelter toolkits , and dry clothes .
`` The most devastated area is in the second largest island Vanua Levu ; however , we have n't received any information from the Lau group of islands on the eastern side . ''
More than 10,000 food parcels were being prepared for distribution on Sunday .
Yasa weakened after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has since veered south , away from the islands , although a heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remain in force for parts of Tonga .

Suva (Fiji) (AFP) –
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The devastation in Fiji following Cyclone Yasa was compared to a war zone Saturday as reconnaissance flights showed entire villages wiped out and authorities put the cost at hundreds of millions of dollars.
The death toll rose to four with aid workers fearing it will increase when contact is re-established with outlying areas.
A state of natural disaster has been declared for 30 days as emergency services scramble to provide food and clothing to the worst affected areas.
The superstorm slammed into Fiji's second-largest island Vanua Levu late Thursday, leaving a trail of destruction and affecting 93,000 people, according to the National Disaster Management Office.
Of the 24,000 people who evacuated their homes at the height of the storm, 16,113 are still unable to return.
A New Zealand Air Force reconnaissance flight flew over the area on Saturday to assess the scale of the damage, with reports of houses, crops and entire livelihoods wiped out.
The storm also damaged schools and caused widespread flooding and landslides.
"We've been receiving pictures of Kia island. We have seen total devastation. It looks like a war zone," Save the Children Fiji chief executive Shairana Ali told AFP.
"Houses have been smashed to pieces and nothing remains. People are really desperate for shelter and desperate for food. There's obviously huge psychological damage."
Communications with the eastern Lau islands group were cut during the storm and the extent of damage there was unknown.
National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soki said that while it would take days to assess the full scale of the damage, "we are likely looking at hundreds of millions of dollars."
She said the immediate focus was on restoring critical infrastructure, re-establishing communication with severely affected areas and maintaining public safety.
The deaths of a 45-year-old man and a three-month-old baby were confirmed after the storm swept through on Friday, and Soko said two more bodies had since been found.
One, a 70-year-old man, was inside his home when the roof blew away and timber fell on his head.
"There were villages that were totally wiped out by the storm surge and the only clothes (the villagers have) are those on their backs," Fiji Red Cross operations manager Maciu Nokelvu told AFP.
"We are providing temporary shelters with the provision of tarpaulins and shelter toolkits, and dry clothes.
"The most devastated area is in the second largest island Vanua Levu; however, we haven't received any information from the Lau group of islands on the eastern side."
More than 10,000 food parcels were being prepared for distribution on Sunday.
Yasa weakened after leaving Fiji and initially headed towards Tonga.
It has since veered south, away from the islands, although a heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remain in force for parts of Tonga.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-12-20--Graffiti explodes across pandemic-era New York

Graffiti artist Saynosleep painting on a storefront in New York in December 2020 Graffiti -- part of New York 's history for over 50 years -- is flourishing during the coronavirus pandemic , a sign of decadence for some , but vitality for others .
As dusk becomes nightfall , graffiti artist Saynosleep takes a quick look around and then gets to work on a luxury store closed since it was looted in June during protests over George Floyd 's death .
`` If you 're not painting right now , I do n't know what you 're doing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expletive .
`` There has never been a time like this . ''
The facades of hundreds of store that have shut because of the pandemic are `` an invitation '' to artists , says Marie Flageul , curator at New York 's Museum of Street Art ( MoSA ) .
Walls , bridges , sidewalks and subway cars -- 34 of which have been painted since the beginning of the month -- are canvases .
`` It 's a big surge , a renaissance of graffiti , '' enthuses Saynosleep , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artwork .
Graffiti was first accepted by the art world in the 1980s when it moved into galleries .
Expressive street art then captured the imagination of the general public in the 2000s when it went from illegal to legal spaces .
But since March , it is the raw , illegal type of graffiti that has spread in a disorderly fashion .
`` Everybody wants to express themselves , '' says Saynosleep , who says he has seen a woman in her 60s drawing graffiti .
`` People are bored .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth of the Black Lives Matter movement following Floyd 's killing at the hands of a Minnesota police officer in May has accelerated the trend , with protesters scribbling racial justice slogans and demands on buildings .
In a year when socialising has virtually stopped and streets no longer throng with activity , graffiti is artists ' way of saying , `` 'It feels like New York is dead and you do n't see us but we are still here , ' '' says Flageul .
The creative impulses are not to everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Governor Andrew Cuomo said the graffiti was `` another sign of decay , '' along with an increase in murders and shootings in New York City .
He indirectly blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio for supposedly taking a lax attitude towards it .
Critics were also angry that the city government , over budgetary constraints , axed its graffiti removal program that had cleaned almost 15,000 sites in 2019 .
`` I think it 's horrible , '' said Darcy Weber , who has recently settled in New York .
`` Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they get permission for that ?
No , so it 's vandalism . ''
For some , graffiti reminds them of the dark days of the 1970s and '80s when New York was broke and crime was rife .
`` From the beginning of the shutdown , I 've been seen by police and I kept going , multiple times , '' without being arrested Saynosleep says .
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told AFP the force is `` fully aware of the importance of addressing graffiti-related crime , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent from last year .
Flageul , who is also a spokesperson for the 5Pointz graffiti collective , says it 's `` a bit of a cliche '' to say that more graffiti means New York is regressing .
Brooklyn President Eric Adams , who wants to become New York 's mayor next year , says tags spray painted onto public and private property `` is quickly destroying our borough 's landscape . ''
`` It costs home and business owners hundreds of thousands of dollars and tremendous efforts to erase it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between `` vandalism '' and `` amazing street murals . ''
Ken Lovett , an advisor to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman , noted that cleaning graffiti from trains is draining resources when the MTA is facing `` the worst financial crisis '' in its history .
New Jersey resident Emile Fu says he 's not too bothered .
`` There 's other things to be concerned about , '' she told AFP .
Bryce Graham , who lives in the Chelsea neighborhood , said the graffiti would shock him in somewhere like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` But here in New York , it 's a hell of a mix of what is clean and what is dirty , '' he said .

New York (AFP) –
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Graffiti -- part of New York's history for over 50 years -- is flourishing during the coronavirus pandemic, a sign of decadence for some, but vitality for others.
As dusk becomes nightfall, graffiti artist Saynosleep takes a quick look around and then gets to work on a luxury store closed since it was looted in June during protests over George Floyd's death.
"If you're not painting right now, I don't know what you're doing," says the 40-year-old, adding an expletive. "There has never been a time like this."
The facades of hundreds of store that have shut because of the pandemic are "an invitation" to artists, says Marie Flageul, curator at New York's Museum of Street Art (MoSA).
Walls, bridges, sidewalks and subway cars -- 34 of which have been painted since the beginning of the month -- are canvases.
"It's a big surge, a renaissance of graffiti," enthuses Saynosleep, who uses a different pseudonym for his legal artwork.
Graffiti was first accepted by the art world in the 1980s when it moved into galleries.
Expressive street art then captured the imagination of the general public in the 2000s when it went from illegal to legal spaces.
But since March, it is the raw, illegal type of graffiti that has spread in a disorderly fashion.
"Everybody wants to express themselves," says Saynosleep, who says he has seen a woman in her 60s drawing graffiti. "People are bored. They need something to do."
The growth of the Black Lives Matter movement following Floyd's killing at the hands of a Minnesota police officer in May has accelerated the trend, with protesters scribbling racial justice slogans and demands on buildings.
- 'Vandalism' -
In a year when socialising has virtually stopped and streets no longer throng with activity, graffiti is artists' way of saying, "'It feels like New York is dead and you don't see us but we are still here,'" says Flageul.
The creative impulses are not to everyone's taste, however. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said the graffiti was "another sign of decay," along with an increase in murders and shootings in New York City.
He indirectly blamed Mayor Bill de Blasio for supposedly taking a lax attitude towards it.
Critics were also angry that the city government, over budgetary constraints, axed its graffiti removal program that had cleaned almost 15,000 sites in 2019.
"I think it's horrible," said Darcy Weber, who has recently settled in New York. "Some say it's art, but did they get permission for that? No, so it's vandalism."
For some, graffiti reminds them of the dark days of the 1970s and '80s when New York was broke and crime was rife.
"From the beginning of the shutdown, I've been seen by police and I kept going, multiple times," without being arrested Saynosleep says.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told AFP the force is "fully aware of the importance of addressing graffiti-related crime," and said such incidents were down 17 percent from last year.
Flageul, who is also a spokesperson for the 5Pointz graffiti collective, says it's "a bit of a cliche" to say that more graffiti means New York is regressing.
Brooklyn President Eric Adams, who wants to become New York's mayor next year, says tags spray painted onto public and private property "is quickly destroying our borough's landscape."
"It costs home and business owners hundreds of thousands of dollars and tremendous efforts to erase it," he added, drawing a distinction between "vandalism" and "amazing street murals."
Ken Lovett, an advisor to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman, noted that cleaning graffiti from trains is draining resources when the MTA is facing "the worst financial crisis" in its history.
New Jersey resident Emile Fu says he's not too bothered. "There's other things to be concerned about," she told AFP.
Bryce Graham, who lives in the Chelsea neighborhood, said the graffiti would shock him in somewhere like Ottawa "where everything is super clean."
"But here in New York, it's a hell of a mix of what is clean and what is dirty," he said.
© 2020 AFP