france24--2020-08-24--Serena battles into third round of Western & Southern Open

Third-seeded Serena Williams clawed out a 7-6 ( 8/6 ) , 3-6 , 7-6 ( 7/0 ) victory over hard-hitting @ @ @ @ @ Monday to avoid joining the WTA upsets at the Western & Southern Open .
The @ @ @ @ @ currently ranked ninth in the world , fired 14 aces in the hard-fought victory that @ @ @ @ @ minutes on the Grandstand court at the National Tennis Center in New York .
She @ @ @ @ @ with either Maria Sakkari of Greece or Kazakhstan 's Yulia Putintseva .
Williams won this @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati , in 2014 and 2015 .
With the event being held this year in @ @ @ @ @ quarantine bubble that will house the US Open starting on August 31 , Williams is @ @ @ @ @ the women 's draw .
Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova and No .
2 Sonia Kenin both @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .

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Third-seeded Serena Williams clawed out a 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (7/0) victory over hard-hitting Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus on Monday to avoid joining the WTA upsets at the Western & Southern Open.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, currently ranked ninth in the world, fired 14 aces in the hard-fought victory that lasted two hours and 49 minutes on the Grandstand court at the National Tennis Center in New York.
She advanced to a third-round clash with either Maria Sakkari of Greece or Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva.
Williams won this tournament, usually held in Cincinnati, in 2014 and 2015.
With the event being held this year in New York in the same quarantine bubble that will house the US Open starting on August 31, Williams is the highest remaining seed in the women's draw.
Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova and No. 2 Sonia Kenin both lost their opening matches on Sunday.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-24--Bucks hold off Magic for 3-1 NBA series lead

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and Khris Middleton added 18 of his 21 in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee @ @ @ @ @ the Orlando Magic 121-106 in the NBA playoffs on Monday .
The Bucks , owners @ @ @ @ @ the regular season , took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday in the NBA 's quarantine bubble in Orlando , florida .
The underdog Magic @ @ @ @ @ in game one , kept it close through three quarters .
But Milwaukee , up @ @ @ @ @ frame , erupted for an 18-3 scoring run to seize control .
Orlando responded with @ @ @ @ @ to trim the deficit to seven points with 4:02 remaining , but could get no @ @ @ @ @ Valuable Player Antetokounmpo added 15 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks .
The Magic @ @ @ @ @ Aaron Gordon , Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba , were led by 31 points , @ @ @ @ @ from Nikola Vucevic .

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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 31 points and Khris Middleton added 18 of his 21 in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks dominated late to down the Orlando Magic 121-106 in the NBA playoffs on Monday.
The Bucks, owners of the best record in the regular season, took a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference series, with game four on Wednesday in the NBA's quarantine bubble in Orlando, florida.
The underdog Magic, who stunned the Bucks in game one, kept it close through three quarters.
But Milwaukee, up 84-81 heading into the final frame, erupted for an 18-3 scoring run to seize control.
Orlando responded with a run of their own to trim the deficit to seven points with 4:02 remaining, but could get no closer.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Antetokounmpo added 15 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks.
Wesley Matthews scored 12 points and Brook Lopez 10 for Milwaukee.
The Magic, still without key contributors Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba, were led by 31 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from Nikola Vucevic.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-24--Greta Thunberg back in class after year off for climate

Just last week Thunberg was in Berlin to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg said Monday she has returned to school after a year off campaigning to curb climate change .
`` My gap year from school is over , and it feels so great to finally be back in school again ! ''
the 17-year-old tweeted , attaching a smiling photo of herself with a schoolbag on her back and her hands resting on a bicycle .
Thunberg did not say in which city or school she would be continuing her studies .
Since her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the teenager 's travels around the world meant that she ended up doing lessons remotely .
Rather than head into the final years of secondary school , she travelled across the Atlantic by sailing boat -- hoping to highlight the carbon emissions of flying .
Her ultimate destination had been the COP25 UN climate conference in Chilean capital Santiago .
But the event was ultimately shifted to Madrid because of massive unrest in Chile , leaving Thunberg to sail back from the US to Europe on board a catamaran belonging to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , Thunberg rebuked world leaders at the UN , had a repeat visit with former US President Barack Obama , was given the keys to the city of Montreal and travelled around the continent in a Tesla electric car lent by former California governor and action star Arnold Schwarzenegger .

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Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg said Monday she has returned to school after a year off campaigning to curb climate change.
"My gap year from school is over, and it feels so great to finally be back in school again!" the 17-year-old tweeted, attaching a smiling photo of herself with a schoolbag on her back and her hands resting on a bicycle.
Thunberg did not say in which city or school she would be continuing her studies.
Since her last school year finished in June 2019, the teenager's travels around the world meant that she ended up doing lessons remotely.
Rather than head into the final years of secondary school, she travelled across the Atlantic by sailing boat -- hoping to highlight the carbon emissions of flying.
Her ultimate destination had been the COP25 UN climate conference in Chilean capital Santiago.
But the event was ultimately shifted to Madrid because of massive unrest in Chile, leaving Thunberg to sail back from the US to Europe on board a catamaran belonging to a young Australian couple.
While in North America, Thunberg rebuked world leaders at the UN, had a repeat visit with former US President Barack Obama, was given the keys to the city of Montreal and travelled around the continent in a Tesla electric car lent by former California governor and action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-24--Dramatic Zwane winner revives title hopes of Mamelodi Sundowns

A last-gasp winner from Themba Zwane ( L ) kept the South African league title hopes of Mamelodi Sundowns alive Monday .
Themba Zwane came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner for Mamelodi Sundowns Monday and revive their flagging hopes of a South African Premiership title hat-trick .
The attacking midfielder , who turned 31 this month , struck a cross into the net on 91 minutes to earn the 2016 African champions a laboured 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows in chilly Soweto .
It moved second-place Sundowns to 50 points from 26 matches , three less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday at another Soweto stadium .
After the top-of-the-table showdown , Chiefs and Sundowns have three further fixtures each with the season ending on September 5 .
Sundowns are seeking a second Premiership hat-trick while Chiefs , who have won a record 53 domestic trophies , are chasing their first silverware since 2015 after a record barren spell .
Zwane was an ironic match-winner as he had come under fire from coach Pitso Mosimane on the eve of the Arrows match .
`` Themba is our most important player , but since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our games , hence my decision to bench him , '' said Mosimane .
But with Arrows comfortably containing Sundowns on a hard , bumpy pitch , the coach replaced his two wide midfielders and two forwards , Uruguayan Gaston Sirino and Venezuelan Ali Meza .
The lone goal was created by one substitute and scored by another with Lebohang Maboe pouncing on a loose ball and crossing for Zwane to beat goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana .
`` I wish the goal had come earlier , but they all count .
We controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said visibly relieved Mosimane .
`` If you keeping banging at the door it will eventually come off the hinges and fall .
The boys never stopped trying and deserved the three points . ''
The loss left 11th-place Arrows without a win in four matches -- the worst performing of the 16 clubs since the league resumed on August 11 after a five-month suspension .
Meanwhile , Maritzburg United and Bidvest Wits drew 0-0 and Bloemfontein Celtic came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with AmaZulu at Pretoria stadiums .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ above SuperSport United to third on 45 points after a match in which they twice came close to leading only to be deprived by goal-line clearances .
AmaZulu moved off the bottom thanks to their point with Lehlohonolo Majoro and a Wandisile Letlabika own-goal giving them leads that Sera Motabeng and Ndumiso Mabena cancelled .
All league matches since the August 11 restart of the season after a five-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic are being played in a Gauteng province 'bio bubble ' .
Apart from training and playing , footballers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must stay in their hotels .

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Themba Zwane came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner for Mamelodi Sundowns Monday and revive their flagging hopes of a South African Premiership title hat-trick.
The attacking midfielder, who turned 31 this month, struck a cross into the net on 91 minutes to earn the 2016 African champions a laboured 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows in chilly Soweto.
It moved second-place Sundowns to 50 points from 26 matches, three less than leaders Kaizer Chiefs, who they face Thursday at another Soweto stadium.
After the top-of-the-table showdown, Chiefs and Sundowns have three further fixtures each with the season ending on September 5.
Sundowns are seeking a second Premiership hat-trick while Chiefs, who have won a record 53 domestic trophies, are chasing their first silverware since 2015 after a record barren spell.
Zwane was an ironic match-winner as he had come under fire from coach Pitso Mosimane on the eve of the Arrows match.
"Themba is our most important player, but since the season restarted he has had minimal influence on our games, hence my decision to bench him," said Mosimane.
But with Arrows comfortably containing Sundowns on a hard, bumpy pitch, the coach replaced his two wide midfielders and two forwards, Uruguayan Gaston Sirino and Venezuelan Ali Meza.
The lone goal was created by one substitute and scored by another with Lebohang Maboe pouncing on a loose ball and crossing for Zwane to beat goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana.
- 'Fighting spirit prevailed' -
"I wish the goal had come earlier, but they all count. We controlled the match and our fighting spirit prevailed," said visibly relieved Mosimane.
"If you keeping banging at the door it will eventually come off the hinges and fall. The boys never stopped trying and deserved the three points."
The loss left 11th-place Arrows without a win in four matches -- the worst performing of the 16 clubs since the league resumed on August 11 after a five-month suspension.
Meanwhile, Maritzburg United and Bidvest Wits drew 0-0 and Bloemfontein Celtic came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with AmaZulu at Pretoria stadiums.
The point secured by Wits lifted them above SuperSport United to third on 45 points after a match in which they twice came close to leading only to be deprived by goal-line clearances.
AmaZulu moved off the bottom thanks to their point with Lehlohonolo Majoro and a Wandisile Letlabika own-goal giving them leads that Sera Motabeng and Ndumiso Mabena cancelled.
All league matches since the August 11 restart of the season after a five-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic are being played in a Gauteng province 'bio bubble'.
Apart from training and playing, footballers, coaches, support staff and officials must stay in their hotels.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Taliban attacks Afghan base as Pakistan pushes for talks

An injured man near the site of the bombing A Taliban-claimed suicide attack killed at least three people in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday as neighbouring Pakistan pushed for delayed peace talks to begin .
The suicide bomber detonated explosives in a truck near an Afghan army base in the restive northern province of Balkh , military spokesman for the region Hanif Rezayee said .
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter that the attack was revenge for a video circulating online that appeared to show Afghan troops desecrating the bodies of Taliban soldiers in the south .
The Ministry of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , which surfaced earlier this month .
The assault on Tuesday killed two civilians and a commando and wounded more than 40 others , Rezayee said .
Many houses were damaged or destroyed and soldiers were helping to get the victims to safety , he added .
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the attack .
It comes as the Pakistani government was due to meet key Taliban negotiators in Islamabad to push for peace talks in Afghanistan .
Pakistan has said negotiations are the only way forward in Afghanistan and sees its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The warring Taliban and Afghan government had signalled they were prepared to launch negotiations immediately after the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha , which ended earlier this month , but the process remains bogged down over a controversial prisoner swap .
Both sides have fought for nearly two decades in a conflict that has left tens of thousands of people dead .
The Taliban ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001 , when it was ousted by a US-led invasion .

Mazar-i-Sharif (Afghanistan) (AFP) –
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A Taliban-claimed suicide attack killed at least three people in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday as neighbouring Pakistan pushed for delayed peace talks to begin.
The suicide bomber detonated explosives in a truck near an Afghan army base in the restive northern province of Balkh, military spokesman for the region Hanif Rezayee said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter that the attack was revenge for a video circulating online that appeared to show Afghan troops desecrating the bodies of Taliban soldiers in the south.
The Ministry of Defence has launched an investigation into the video, which surfaced earlier this month.
The assault on Tuesday killed two civilians and a commando and wounded more than 40 others, Rezayee said. Many houses were damaged or destroyed and soldiers were helping to get the victims to safety, he added.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the attack.
It comes as the Pakistani government was due to meet key Taliban negotiators in Islamabad to push for peace talks in Afghanistan.
Pakistan has said negotiations are the only way forward in Afghanistan and sees its role as a "facilitator".
The warring Taliban and Afghan government had signalled they were prepared to launch negotiations immediately after the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which ended earlier this month, but the process remains bogged down over a controversial prisoner swap.
Both sides have fought for nearly two decades in a conflict that has left tens of thousands of people dead. The Taliban ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, when it was ousted by a US-led invasion.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Kremlin slams German medics' 'haste' on Navalny poisoning

The Kremlin on Tuesday accused German medics of being too hasty after they said tests on Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny indicated he had been poisoned .
The 44-year-old Navalny , who is one of the fiercest critics of President Vladimir Putin , is being treated at Berlin 's Charite hospital after falling ill on a flight in Siberia last Thursday .
He was treated for two days in a hospital in Siberia before being transferred to Germany .
His supporters claim he was poisoned by something in his cup of tea at a Siberian airport before taking a flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame at Putin .
The German clinic said Monday that clinical tests `` indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors , '' substances that are used in nerve agents as well as some medicines and insecticides .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russian medics had diagnosed Navalny 's condition in a similar way to German doctors but did not know what caused it .
`` The medical analysis of our doctors and the German ones absolutely matches .
But the conclusions differ .
We do n't understand why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurry .
The substance has n't yet been established , '' he told journalists .
He cast doubt on the German government 's statement that it was `` fairly likely '' that Navalny was poisoned , saying there could be another cause for his illness .
`` We can only partially agree ...
There is a likelihood of something else too . ''
Asked whether he believed that Navalny had been poisoned for his political activities , Peskov said : `` We ca n't consider anything because we do n't know whether this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was a possibility , saying that poisoning `` can be seen as one of the versions , but there are a lot of other medical versions '' .
Peskov said Russian medics at the hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk had detected a low level of the cholinesterase enzyme and treated Navalny with the antidote atropine , as the German medics are doing .
This comes after the chief toxicologist at the Omsk hospital , Alexander Sabayev , said on Monday that Navalny tested negative for cholinesterase inhibitors .
The Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` metabolic disorder '' and low blood sugar .
Russia has not opened a criminal investigation into the poisoning and Peskov said that until the substance that caused Navalny 's condition was identified , there were no grounds for such a move .

Moscow (AFP) –
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The Kremlin on Tuesday accused German medics of being too hasty after they said tests on Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny indicated he had been poisoned.
The 44-year-old Navalny, who is one of the fiercest critics of President Vladimir Putin, is being treated at Berlin's Charite hospital after falling ill on a flight in Siberia last Thursday.
He was treated for two days in a hospital in Siberia before being transferred to Germany.
His supporters claim he was poisoned by something in his cup of tea at a Siberian airport before taking a flight to Moscow, pointing the finger of blame at Putin.
The German clinic said Monday that clinical tests "indicate poisoning with a substance from the group of cholinesterase inhibitors," substances that are used in nerve agents as well as some medicines and insecticides.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Russian medics had diagnosed Navalny's condition in a similar way to German doctors but did not know what caused it.
"The medical analysis of our doctors and the German ones absolutely matches. But the conclusions differ. We don't understand why our German colleagues are in such a hurry. The substance hasn't yet been established," he told journalists.
- 'Lot of other versions' -
He cast doubt on the German government's statement that it was "fairly likely" that Navalny was poisoned, saying there could be another cause for his illness.
"We can only partially agree... There is a likelihood of something else too."
Asked whether he believed that Navalny had been poisoned for his political activities, Peskov said: "We can't consider anything because we don't know whether this was a poisoning."
He acknowledged this was a possibility, saying that poisoning "can be seen as one of the versions, but there are a lot of other medical versions".
Peskov said Russian medics at the hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk had detected a low level of the cholinesterase enzyme and treated Navalny with the antidote atropine, as the German medics are doing.
This comes after the chief toxicologist at the Omsk hospital, Alexander Sabayev, said on Monday that Navalny tested negative for cholinesterase inhibitors.
The Russian doctors earlier suggested that Navalny had a "metabolic disorder" and low blood sugar.
Russia has not opened a criminal investigation into the poisoning and Peskov said that until the substance that caused Navalny's condition was identified, there were no grounds for such a move.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Rain keeps Anderson kept waiting for 600th Test wicket in Pakistan finale

James Anderson was trapped in the England dressing room as bad weather delayed his bid to reach 600 Test wickets in the third and final Test against Pakistan at Southampton on Tuesday .
The last day should have started at 1000 GMT but , with rain still falling following an overnight downpour , the covers remained in place at the Ageas Bowl .
It may be several hours before the match can restart , though the forecast for the rest of the day is brighter .
England , 1-0 up in the three-match contest , are on the brink of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a decade .
If no more play is possible , 38-year-old paceman Anderson could be left on 599 Test wickets for some time yet .
There is uncertainty as to whether England 's rescheduled tour of Sri Lanka or Test series in India pencilled in for the New Year will take place , with the coronavirus pandemic still a major threat to the cricket calendar .
Anderson was left just one wicket shy of becoming only the fourth bowler -- and first paceman -- to reach the landmark figure of 600 Test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bad weather and determined Pakistan batting thwarted him on Monday .
Anderson , denied an early breakthrough when Jos Buttler dropped a routine chance to reprieve Shan Masood , returned late in the day to have opener Abid Ali lbw for 42 after Masood had fallen lbw , playing no shot , to Stuart Broad .
But that was as good as it got for Anderson , who ended a day cut short by bad light and rain with miserly figures of 1-18 from 12 overs .
`` It is a massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said of Anderson 's looming milestone after stumps on Monday .
`` To finish strong tomorrow and see Jimmy get his 600th would be fantastic .
I want to win the game .
That 's my first and foremost . ''
Pakistan , following on , are 100-2 -- still 210 runs behind England 's mammoth first innings 583-8 declared , which featured a double century from Zak Crawley .
Azhar Ali , the Pakistan captain , is 29 not out following his first-innings century and Babar Azam is unbeaten on four .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : `` England have a world-class bowling attack but the plan was to bat longer and that 's what I did .
`` Azhar played a good knock in the first innings and Babar is there so we still have hope of finishing on a high . ''
The only bowlers ahead of Anderson in the all-time Test list are three retired spinners -- Sri Lanka 's Muttiah Muralitharan ( 800 ) , Australia 's Shane Warne ( 708 ) and India 's Anil Kumble ( 619 ) .
Anderson started Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking 5-56 -- his 29th five-wicket haul in 156 Tests -- during Pakistan 's first-innings 273 .
He might even have reached the landmark late on Sunday had not three catches been dropped off his bowling with the new ball .
`` No one means to drop them , '' said Silverwood .
`` Last night ( Sunday ) was gloomy but it 's still not an excuse .
And Jos 's wobbled horrible as it came to him . ''

Southampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
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James Anderson was trapped in the England dressing room as bad weather delayed his bid to reach 600 Test wickets in the third and final Test against Pakistan at Southampton on Tuesday.
The last day should have started at 1000 GMT but, with rain still falling following an overnight downpour, the covers remained in place at the Ageas Bowl.
It may be several hours before the match can restart, though the forecast for the rest of the day is brighter.
England, 1-0 up in the three-match contest, are on the brink of their first Test series win over Pakistan for a decade.
If no more play is possible, 38-year-old paceman Anderson could be left on 599 Test wickets for some time yet.
There is uncertainty as to whether England's rescheduled tour of Sri Lanka or Test series in India pencilled in for the New Year will take place, with the coronavirus pandemic still a major threat to the cricket calendar.
Anderson was left just one wicket shy of becoming only the fourth bowler -- and first paceman -- to reach the landmark figure of 600 Test wickets as a combination of poor catching, bad weather and determined Pakistan batting thwarted him on Monday.
Anderson, denied an early breakthrough when Jos Buttler dropped a routine chance to reprieve Shan Masood, returned late in the day to have opener Abid Ali lbw for 42 after Masood had fallen lbw, playing no shot, to Stuart Broad.
But that was as good as it got for Anderson, who ended a day cut short by bad light and rain with miserly figures of 1-18 from 12 overs.
- 'Massive achievement' -
"It is a massive achievement," England coach Chris Silverwood said of Anderson's looming milestone after stumps on Monday. "To finish strong tomorrow and see Jimmy get his 600th would be fantastic. I want to win the game. That's my first and foremost."
Pakistan, following on, are 100-2 -- still 210 runs behind England's mammoth first innings 583-8 declared, which featured a double century from Zak Crawley.
Azhar Ali, the Pakistan captain, is 29 not out following his first-innings century and Babar Azam is unbeaten on four.
Abid, who faced 162 balls, said: "England have a world-class bowling attack but the plan was to bat longer and that's what I did.
"Azhar played a good knock in the first innings and Babar is there so we still have hope of finishing on a high."
The only bowlers ahead of Anderson in the all-time Test list are three retired spinners -- Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Australia's Shane Warne (708) and India's Anil Kumble (619).
Anderson started Monday in sight of the 600 mark after taking 5-56 -- his 29th five-wicket haul in 156 Tests -- during Pakistan's first-innings 273.
He might even have reached the landmark late on Sunday had not three catches been dropped off his bowling with the new ball.
"No one means to drop them," said Silverwood. "Last night (Sunday) was gloomy but it's still not an excuse. And Jos's wobbled horrible as it came to him."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--US Republican Convention: why Trump is playing to his base

US Republican Convention : why Trump is playing to his base Former US ambassador Jeffrey Hawkins says Trump may call @ @ @ @ @ the elections themselves .

US Republican Convention: why Trump is playing to his base
05:14
Former US ambassador Jeffrey Hawkins says Trump may call into question the validity of the elections themselves.


france24--2020-08-25--Cash-strapped Southern Kings quit Pro14, Currie Cup

Former Southern Kings backs Lukhanyo Am ( L ) and Makazole Mapimpi celebrate after the latter scored a try for South Africa against England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan .
Pro14 strugglers the Southern Kings have officially withdrawn from the 2020 edition to avoid incurring further debts , the South African franchise announced Tuesday .
The Port Elizabeth team will also not take part in the Currie Cup or any other domestic competition when rugby resumes after a shutdown since March due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Kings were bottom of Conference B in the Pro14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Scottish , South African and Welsh sides -- with just one win and 12 losses .
Apart from financial problems , the Kings would not have been able to fulfil fixtures with European teams as the South African borders have been closed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak .
Kings chairman Andre Rademan said `` it would require additional loans or extra shareholder investments of 6.5 million rand ( $ 385,000/325,000 euro ) '' to continue playing this year .
`` This may not be a popular decision , but in the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` It is obviously very disappointing news for the players and management who , like all rugby professionals , were desperate to resume playing , '' However , the board believed that further investment in 2020 with zero commercial return would be reckless in the extreme .
`` We now have time to consider what is the best way forward for rugby in the Eastern Province ( Cape ) in this fluid and financially challenging environment . ''
The decision to pull out of the Pro14 and not compete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of many blows to eastern Cape rugby .
In June , SA Rugby was forced to inherit a 74 percent stake in the Kings after the majority shareholder , GRC , failed to meet financial commitments .
`` I can not stress enough how reluctant we are to resume control of the Southern Kings , '' SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said at the time .
SA Rugby incurred losses in 2016 and 2017 before making small profits in the last two years and had to slash 1.2 billion rand off the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern Cape province is the hotbed of black rugby in South Africa with current Springboks captain Siya Kolisi born near Port Elizabeth , the regional hub .
Kings were coached this year on a caretaker basis by Robbie Kempton , a former South Africa prop forward .
The South African outfit joined the Pro14 in 2017 after being dumped from Super Rugby when the elite southern hemisphere competition was trimmed from 18 teams to 15 .

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Pro14 strugglers the Southern Kings have officially withdrawn from the 2020 edition to avoid incurring further debts, the South African franchise announced Tuesday.
The Port Elizabeth team will also not take part in the Currie Cup or any other domestic competition when rugby resumes after a shutdown since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Kings were bottom of Conference B in the Pro14 -- a competition involving Irish, Italian, Scottish, South African and Welsh sides -- with just one win and 12 losses.
Apart from financial problems, the Kings would not have been able to fulfil fixtures with European teams as the South African borders have been closed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.
Kings chairman Andre Rademan said "it would require additional loans or extra shareholder investments of 6.5 million rand ($385,000/325,000 euro)" to continue playing this year.
"This may not be a popular decision, but in the current circumstances it is the right decision," he said.
"It is obviously very disappointing news for the players and management who, like all rugby professionals, were desperate to resume playing,
"However, the board believed that further investment in 2020 with zero commercial return would be reckless in the extreme.
"We now have time to consider what is the best way forward for rugby in the Eastern Province (Cape) in this fluid and financially challenging environment."
The decision to pull out of the Pro14 and not compete in the Currie Cup is the latest of many blows to eastern Cape rugby.
In June, SA Rugby was forced to inherit a 74 percent stake in the Kings after the majority shareholder, GRC, failed to meet financial commitments.
"I cannot stress enough how reluctant we are to resume control of the Southern Kings," SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said at the time.
SA Rugby incurred losses in 2016 and 2017 before making small profits in the last two years and had to slash 1.2 billion rand off the 2020 budget due to the coronavirus.
The Eastern Cape province is the hotbed of black rugby in South Africa with current Springboks captain Siya Kolisi born near Port Elizabeth, the regional hub.
Kings were coached this year on a caretaker basis by Robbie Kempton, a former South Africa prop forward.
The South African outfit joined the Pro14 in 2017 after being dumped from Super Rugby when the elite southern hemisphere competition was trimmed from 18 teams to 15.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Family thought French-Irish girl abducted, Malaysia inquest hears

The family of a French-Irish teenager who died after disappearing from a Malaysian jungle resort initially suspected she had been kidnapped and taken to a nearby house , an inquest heard Tuesday .
The body of 15-year-old Nora Quoirin , who had learning difficulties , was discovered unclothed after a massive hunt through the rainforest last year .
Police insist there was no foul play but her parents -- who believe there was criminal involvement , as they say she would not have wandered off alone -- pushed for an inquest and authorities agreed .
Senior police official Mohamad Nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in organising the search for the schoolgirl , said Tuesday that her London-based family believed she was in one of three houses near the Dusun Resort .
`` Family members said the child had been abducted and identified the three houses where she might be held , '' he told the court in Seremban city , on the second day of the inquest .
`` We searched the houses but did not find anything . ''
The teen 's family had also told police at the time that she could not walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) on her own , Marzukee said .
As well as the houses , a team searched a hut deep in the jungle after the resort owner said the girl could have been taken there , but only found a man sleeping at the site , he said .
Quoirin disappeared from the resort on August 4 last year , triggering a 10-day hunt involving helicopters , sniffer dogs and hundreds of searchers .
An autopsy found that she probably starved and died of internal bleeding after spending about a week in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the inquest on Monday , a police official said he did not believe the teen was kidnapped after inspecting the house where she stayed with her family , and thought she had climbed out of a window .
The teenager 's Irish mother and French father are not able to attend the inquest due to the coronavirus pandemic , but are following it via a video-conferencing platform .

Seremban (Malaysia) (AFP) –
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The family of a French-Irish teenager who died after disappearing from a Malaysian jungle resort initially suspected she had been kidnapped and taken to a nearby house, an inquest heard Tuesday.
The body of 15-year-old Nora Quoirin, who had learning difficulties, was discovered unclothed after a massive hunt through the rainforest last year.
Police insist there was no foul play but her parents -- who believe there was criminal involvement, as they say she would not have wandered off alone -- pushed for an inquest and authorities agreed.
Senior police official Mohamad Nor Marzukee Besar, who played a key role in organising the search for the schoolgirl, said Tuesday that her London-based family believed she was in one of three houses near the Dusun Resort.
"Family members said the child had been abducted and identified the three houses where she might be held," he told the court in Seremban city, on the second day of the inquest.
"We searched the houses but did not find anything."
The teen's family had also told police at the time that she could not walk more than 20 feet (six metres) on her own, Marzukee said.
As well as the houses, a team searched a hut deep in the jungle after the resort owner said the girl could have been taken there, but only found a man sleeping at the site, he said.
Quoirin disappeared from the resort on August 4 last year, triggering a 10-day hunt involving helicopters, sniffer dogs and hundreds of searchers.
An autopsy found that she probably starved and died of internal bleeding after spending about a week in the dense rainforest.
On the first day of the inquest on Monday, a police official said he did not believe the teen was kidnapped after inspecting the house where she stayed with her family, and thought she had climbed out of a window.
The teenager's Irish mother and French father are not able to attend the inquest due to the coronavirus pandemic, but are following it via a video-conferencing platform.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Trump trailing in polls, but base remains loyal

Barely two months before the presidential vote , Donald Trump is trailing his rival Joe Biden .
But much of @ @ @ @ @ remains loyal to Trump , enthused by aspects including his handling of the economy , @ @ @ @ @ .

Trump trailing in polls, but base remains loyal
02:00
Barely two months before the presidential vote, Donald Trump is trailing his rival Joe Biden. But much of the president’s base remains loyal to Trump, enthused by aspects including his handling of the economy, and even his bullying attitude.


france24--2020-08-25--Pompeo visits Sudan on tour to boost Israel's Arab ties

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on a five-day tour with stops in Israel , Sudan , Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates , focusing on Israel 's normalisation of ties with the UAE and pushing other Arab states to follow suit US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Sudan Tuesday on a tour urging more Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel , following the US-brokered Israel-UAE agreement .
Pompeo , the first American top diplomat to visit Sudan since 2005 , arrived on a historic `` first official non-stop flight '' from Tel Aviv , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technically at war and has no formal diplomatic relations with Sudan , which for years supported hardline Islamist forces under its former strongman Omar al-Bashir .
But its new transitional government has vowed to break with the Bashir era following his ouster last year amid popular pro-democracy protests .
Pompeo was to meet Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sovereign Council Chair General Abdel Fattah el-Burhan to discuss continued US support for the civilian-led transitional government `` and express support for deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship , '' the State Department said .
Sudan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms , now hopes Washington will soon take it off its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism as it seeks to fully re-integrate into the international community .
Closer ties with US ally Israel would help , and both sides have already taken a series of steps , muddied however by mixed messaging from Sudan .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Burhan in Uganda in February and later announced that the two leaders had agreed to cooperate towards normalising ties .
Sudan 's cabinet later denied that Burhan had made such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the Arab world .
More recently , Sudan 's foreign ministry spokesman Haider Badawi said he was in favour of such an accord , but foreign minister Omar Gamaledinne then said the issue had `` never been discussed by the Sudanese government '' and promptly fired the spokesman .
The coalition of parties and civil society groups which led the protest movement , the Forces of Freedom and Change , argued Tuesday that the government has `` no mandate '' to normalise ties with Israel , pointing to `` the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free and dignified life '' .
Pompeo 's regional trip , also taking in Bahrain and the UAE , comes in the wake of the landmark August 13 announcement of a normalisation of relations between the Emirates and the Jewish state .
Speaking in Jerusalem on Monday , both Pompeo and Netanyahu said that they were hopeful that other Arab states would follow suit -- in part to boost an alliance against their common arch foe Iran .
Sudan has been under US sanctions for decades because of the presence of Islamists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived there for years in the 1990s before heading to Afghanistan .
While the US lifted a 20-year trade embargo against Sudan in October 2017 , it kept the country on its list of state sponsors of terrorism , and Khartoum has been lobbying hard to have that designation lifted .
Sudan has been in talks on compensating victims of Bashir-era Al-Qaeda attacks , including the 2000 USS Cole bombing in Yemen and the simultaneous 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania .
Since January Washington has upgraded its diplomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge d'affaires to posting an ambassador .
The Pompeo visit comes as Sudan is in deep economic crisis -- having suffered decades-long US sanctions and the 2011 secession of the country 's oil-rich south .
Grappling with high inflation and the coronavirus pandemic , the country badly needs to attract more foreign aid and investment The United Nations says more than 9.6 million people -- almost a quarter of Sudan 's population -- is suffering severe food insecurity .
`` They are extremely keen to have US sanctions lifted and they are under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bianco , a research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations .
While Bashir is on trial over the Islamist-backed coup that brought him to power over three decades ago , the new transitional government in Khartoum is at pains to distance itself from his legacy .
It has agreed in principle to hand Bashir over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for his role in the Darfur conflict on charges of genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity .
Conflict broke out in the Darfur region in 2003 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the government , citing marginalisation and discrimination .
Khartoum responded by unleashing the feared Janjaweed militia , mainly recruited from Arab pastoralist tribes , in a scorched earth campaign that left 300,000 people dead and displaced 2.5 million .
Hamdok has made finding a peace deal with rebel groups a priority , in order to bring stability to restive regions that also include Blue Nile and South Kordofan .

Khartoum (AFP) –
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Sudan Tuesday on a tour urging more Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel, following the US-brokered Israel-UAE agreement.
Pompeo, the first American top diplomat to visit Sudan since 2005, arrived on a historic "first official non-stop flight" from Tel Aviv, he tweeted from the plane.
Israel remains technically at war and has no formal diplomatic relations with Sudan, which for years supported hardline Islamist forces under its former strongman Omar al-Bashir.
But its new transitional government has vowed to break with the Bashir era following his ouster last year amid popular pro-democracy protests.
Pompeo was to meet Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Sovereign Council Chair General Abdel Fattah el-Burhan to discuss continued US support for the civilian-led transitional government "and express support for deepening the Sudan-Israel relationship," the State Department said.
Sudan, which has launched sweeping social and political reforms, now hopes Washington will soon take it off its blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism as it seeks to fully re-integrate into the international community.
Closer ties with US ally Israel would help, and both sides have already taken a series of steps, muddied however by mixed messaging from Sudan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Burhan in Uganda in February and later announced that the two leaders had agreed to cooperate towards normalising ties.
Sudan's cabinet later denied that Burhan had made such a promise, which remains highly controversial in much of the Arab world.
More recently, Sudan's foreign ministry spokesman Haider Badawi said he was in favour of such an accord, but foreign minister Omar Gamaledinne then said the issue had "never been discussed by the Sudanese government" and promptly fired the spokesman.
The coalition of parties and civil society groups which led the protest movement, the Forces of Freedom and Change, argued Tuesday that the government has "no mandate" to normalise ties with Israel, pointing to "the right of Palestinians to their land and to a free and dignified life".
- Thawing US relations -
Pompeo's regional trip, also taking in Bahrain and the UAE, comes in the wake of the landmark August 13 announcement of a normalisation of relations between the Emirates and the Jewish state.
Speaking in Jerusalem on Monday, both Pompeo and Netanyahu said that they were hopeful that other Arab states would follow suit -- in part to boost an alliance against their common arch foe Iran.
Sudan has been under US sanctions for decades because of the presence of Islamists, including Osama bin Laden, who lived there for years in the 1990s before heading to Afghanistan.
While the US lifted a 20-year trade embargo against Sudan in October 2017, it kept the country on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, and Khartoum has been lobbying hard to have that designation lifted.
Sudan has been in talks on compensating victims of Bashir-era Al-Qaeda attacks, including the 2000 USS Cole bombing in Yemen and the simultaneous 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Since January Washington has upgraded its diplomatic representation in Khartoum from the level of charge d'affaires to posting an ambassador.
The Pompeo visit comes as Sudan is in deep economic crisis -- having suffered decades-long US sanctions and the 2011 secession of the country's oil-rich south.
Grappling with high inflation and the coronavirus pandemic, the country badly needs to attract more foreign aid and investment
The United Nations says more than 9.6 million people -- almost a quarter of Sudan's population -- is suffering severe food insecurity.
"They are extremely keen to have US sanctions lifted and they are under heavy UAE influence," said Cinzia Bianco, a research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
While Bashir is on trial over the Islamist-backed coup that brought him to power over three decades ago, the new transitional government in Khartoum is at pains to distance itself from his legacy.
It has agreed in principle to hand Bashir over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for his role in the Darfur conflict on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Conflict broke out in the Darfur region in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels staged an uprising against the government, citing marginalisation and discrimination.
Khartoum responded by unleashing the feared Janjaweed militia, mainly recruited from Arab pastoralist tribes, in a scorched earth campaign that left 300,000 people dead and displaced 2.5 million.
Hamdok has made finding a peace deal with rebel groups a priority, in order to bring stability to restive regions that also include Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
burs-sk-fz/
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Fears for immunity as man catches coronavirus for second time

Fears for immunity as man catches coronavirus for second time A 33-year-old Hong Kong man returning from a trip to @ @ @ @ @ positive for the coronavirus a second time , having caught a different strain of the @ @ @ @ @ The case is the first ever proof of reinfection , and suggests immunity might be @ @ @ @

Fears for immunity as man catches coronavirus for second time
01:18
A 33-year-old Hong Kong man returning from a trip to Spain in August has tested positive for the coronavirus a second time, having caught a different strain of the disease four months earlier. The case is the first ever proof of reinfection, and suggests immunity might be short-lasting after infection.


france24--2020-08-25--Pompeo in Sudan aims to improve Israel-Arab ties

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was travelling to Sudan on Tuesday , on the first official direct flight from @ @ @ @ @ FRANCE 24 chief foreign editor Robert Parson says it ’ s a sign Sudan wishes @ @ @ @ @ Israel , following in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates , and shrug off @ @ @ @ @ sponsor of terror .

Pompeo in Sudan aims to improve Israel-Arab ties
03:50
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was travelling to Sudan on Tuesday, on the first official direct flight from Tel Aviv to Khartoum. FRANCE 24 chief foreign editor Robert Parson says it’s a sign Sudan wishes to normalise its relationship with Israel, following in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates, and shrug off its reputation as a state sponsor of terror.


france24--2020-08-25--World Cup winner Snyman set for long spell on sidelines

Towering South Africa lock RG Snyman faces a long spell on the sidelines after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament his Irish province Munster said RG Snyman , part of the South Africa side that won last year 's Rugby World Cup , is likely to be out for several months after his Irish province Munster announced the second-row forward had torn a knee ligament on his debut for them over the weekend .
The 25-year-old suffered the injury just seven minutes into his first appearance for Munster in their Pro14 27-25 defeat by Leinster on Saturday .
`` It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newest debutant , RG Snyman , sustained an ACL ( anterior cruciate ligament ) tear in the opening minutes of Saturday night 's Pro14 encounter against Leinster , '' read Munster 's statement .
`` The lock will meet with the specialist next to discuss surgery and management . ''
The 23-times capped Snyman , a towering presence at 2.05 metres ( 6ft 9in ) , featured in every game of South Africa 's successful World Cup campaign .
Snyman , who signed on a two-year contract from Japanese outfit Honda Heat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springbok squad to join Munster with centre Damian de Allende also signing post the quadrennial showpiece .
Munster need to beat rival Irish province Connacht this weekend to secure a place in the Pro14 semi-finals .

Dublin (AFP) –
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RG Snyman, part of the South Africa side that won last year's Rugby World Cup, is likely to be out for several months after his Irish province Munster announced the second-row forward had torn a knee ligament on his debut for them over the weekend.
The 25-year-old suffered the injury just seven minutes into his first appearance for Munster in their Pro14 27-25 defeat by Leinster on Saturday.
"It has been confirmed that the province’s newest debutant, RG Snyman, sustained an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in the opening minutes of Saturday night's Pro14 encounter against Leinster," read Munster's statement.
"The lock will meet with the specialist next to discuss surgery and management."
The 23-times capped Snyman, a towering presence at 2.05 metres (6ft 9in), featured in every game of South Africa's successful World Cup campaign.
Snyman, who signed on a two-year contract from Japanese outfit Honda Heat, is one of two members of the Springbok squad to join Munster with centre Damian de Allende also signing post the quadrennial showpiece.
Munster need to beat rival Irish province Connacht this weekend to secure a place in the Pro14 semi-finals.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Mexico students return to class, even as schools stay shut

Mexico students return to class , even as schools stay shut Mexican have returned to classes , but not to @ @ @ @ @ put in place a system of online learning , with broadcasts on radio and television @ @ @ @ @ of its 30 million school children miss out on an education due to coronavirus .

Mexico students return to class, even as schools stay shut
01:32
Mexican have returned to classes, but not to schools. The government has put in place a system of online learning, with broadcasts on radio and television, to ensure as few of its 30 million school children miss out on an education due to coronavirus.


france24--2020-08-25--South Korean students forced online as global virus crisis deepens

Millions of South Korean students were ordered back to online classes Tuesday and Mexico launched a nationwide televised schooling programme , highlighting the deepening crisis for children as the coronavirus pandemic drags into a ninth month .
The school closures were part of new measures in many parts of the to halt the disease that has killed more than 813,000 people and infected over 23 million , according to an AFP tally .
The latest high-profile case was sprint legend Usain Bolt , who was in quarantine Monday after undergoing a test for the virus that Jamaican media reported had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 200 metres world-record holder said on Twitter that he was `` trying to be responsible '' by going into isolation , but he did not confirm the result .
He is one of a growing number of sports personalities to have fallen victim as the virus touches all corners of society .
In the education sector , the United Nations estimates at least 60 percent of the global student population has been impacted by school closures across more than 140 countries .
All schools and kindergartens in the greater Seoul region were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning as authorities battled multiple coronavirus clusters .
Another 280 infections were reported on Tuesday , taking South Korea 's total to almost 18,000 .
`` The alarming emergence of mass infections since August is turning up as infections of our students and staff members , '' Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae told reporters .
In Mexico , around 30 million children began a new school year on Monday with lessons via television in a nationwide experiment in distance learning .
The government has teamed up with four private television stations to broadcast classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recorded more than 60,000 deaths from the virus .
Face-to-face lessons have already been suspended since March .
The government said it chose TV because it reached 94 percent of the country , compared with between 70 and 80 percent for the internet .
`` I 'm worried about how good the ( lessons ) can be through television , '' said one father , Alfredo Urdiain , whose 11-year-old son Emiliano is taking part .
The social isolation many children are experiencing has also prompted mental health concerns .
`` These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are taking their toll , '' said Emmanuel Sarmiento , general director of the Juan N. Navarro Children 's Psychiatric Hospital in Mexico City .
Anxiety about the pandemic was fuelled Tuesday by an announcement from researchers in Hong Kong that they had identified what they said was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection , raising questions about the durability of immunity .
The patient , a 33-year-old man living in Hong Kong , tested positive in March but after two negative tests was found to be positive again in August .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the study , told AFP : `` COVID-19 patients should not assume after they recover that they wo n't get infected again . ''
However experts were uncertain about the significance of the announcement , with some researchers saying the case could be extremely rare .
Months of lockdowns to stem the spread of the virus have taken a huge toll on the global economy , with millions losing their jobs and business shutting their doors .
On Tuesday Australian airline Qantas said it would cut almost 2,500 more jobs on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the firm posted a huge annual loss .
Airlines have been clobbered by a collapse in tourism as nations keep their borders closed .
On Tuesday the Indonesian holiday island of Bali said foreign tourists would not be allowed to visit for the rest of 2020 , scrapping a previous plan to open up from next month .
One pair of Japanese honeymooners stranded in Cape Verde by the pandemic have been named unlikely ambassadors for the tropical paradise 's Olympic team at next year 's Tokyo Games .
Rikiya and Ayumi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the country 's airport shut down .
They have since struck a partnership with authorities to make videos promoting the country .
`` I do n't think I will be so lucky to be given these great jobs again , '' Rikiya said .

Seoul (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Millions of South Korean students were ordered back to online classes Tuesday and Mexico launched a nationwide televised schooling programme, highlighting the deepening crisis for children as the coronavirus pandemic drags into a ninth month.
The school closures were part of new measures in many parts of the to halt the disease that has killed more than 813,000 people and infected over 23 million, according to an AFP tally.
The latest high-profile case was sprint legend Usain Bolt, who was in quarantine Monday after undergoing a test for the virus that Jamaican media reported had come back positive.
The retired 100 and 200 metres world-record holder said on Twitter that he was "trying to be responsible" by going into isolation, but he did not confirm the result.
He is one of a growing number of sports personalities to have fallen victim as the virus touches all corners of society.
In the education sector, the United Nations estimates at least 60 percent of the global student population has been impacted by school closures across more than 140 countries.
All schools and kindergartens in the greater Seoul region were told on Tuesday to return to online learning as authorities battled multiple coronavirus clusters.
Another 280 infections were reported on Tuesday, taking South Korea's total to almost 18,000.
"The alarming emergence of mass infections since August is turning up as infections of our students and staff members," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae told reporters.
- 'Taking their toll' -
In Mexico, around 30 million children began a new school year on Monday with lessons via television in a nationwide experiment in distance learning.
The government has teamed up with four private television stations to broadcast classes across the Latin American country, which has recorded more than 60,000 deaths from the virus.
Face-to-face lessons have already been suspended since March. The government said it chose TV because it reached 94 percent of the country, compared with between 70 and 80 percent for the internet.
"I'm worried about how good the (lessons) can be through television," said one father, Alfredo Urdiain, whose 11-year-old son Emiliano is taking part.
The social isolation many children are experiencing has also prompted mental health concerns.
"These extraordinary measures of physical and social isolation are taking their toll," said Emmanuel Sarmiento, general director of the Juan N. Navarro Children's Psychiatric Hospital in Mexico City.
Anxiety about the pandemic was fuelled Tuesday by an announcement from researchers in Hong Kong that they had identified what they said was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection, raising questions about the durability of immunity.
The patient, a 33-year-old man living in Hong Kong, tested positive in March but after two negative tests was found to be positive again in August.
Microbiologist Kelvin Kai-Wang To, lead author of the study, told AFP: "COVID-19 patients should not assume after they recover that they won't get infected again."
However experts were uncertain about the significance of the announcement, with some researchers saying the case could be extremely rare.
- 'So lucky' -
Months of lockdowns to stem the spread of the virus have taken a huge toll on the global economy, with millions losing their jobs and business shutting their doors.
On Tuesday Australian airline Qantas said it would cut almost 2,500 more jobs on top of 6,000 already announced, just days after the firm posted a huge annual loss.
Airlines have been clobbered by a collapse in tourism as nations keep their borders closed.
On Tuesday the Indonesian holiday island of Bali said foreign tourists would not be allowed to visit for the rest of 2020, scrapping a previous plan to open up from next month.
One pair of Japanese honeymooners stranded in Cape Verde by the pandemic have been named unlikely ambassadors for the tropical paradise's Olympic team at next year's Tokyo Games.
Rikiya and Ayumi Kataoka found themselves marooned in Cape Verde when the country's airport shut down.
They have since struck a partnership with authorities to make videos promoting the country.
"I don't think I will be so lucky to be given these great jobs again," Rikiya said.
burs-axn/kma
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-25--Rescue teams search rubble of Indian building collapse

Rescue efforts continued overnight to save residents trapped in the rubble of a five-storey building that collapsed in Maharashtra , @ @ @ @ @ of 47 apartments , and the cause of its collapse is not yet known .
@ @ @ @ @ was constructed 10 years ago on weak foundations .

Rescue teams search rubble of Indian building collapse
01:05
Rescue efforts continued overnight to save residents trapped in the rubble of a five-storey building that collapsed in Maharashtra, India. The building comprised of 47 apartments, and the cause of its collapse is not yet known. Local politicians say the building was constructed 10 years ago on weak foundations.


france24--2020-08-25--US media fact-checks Republican National Convention in real time

US President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte , North Carolina , US , August 24 , 2020 .
The opening of the Republican National Convention on Monday quickly generated controversy over how the four-day event is being covered by the news media , with advocates of US President Donald Trump angered over attempts to fact-check claims in real time .
Day One of the Republican National Convention featured a complaint about his coverage by President Donald Trump , some aggressive fact-checking by television reporters and an odd social media backlash against Fox News Channel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's fans .
Trump gave an unexpected 54-minute address to delegates , appeared in two segments from the White House in prime time and had Donald Trump Jr. give one of the featured speeches .
“ It starts by rejecting radicals who want to drag us into the dark , and embracing the man who represents a bright and beautiful future for all .
It starts by re-electing Donald J. Trump president of the United States , ” Trump Jr. said in his speech .
MSNBC and CNN , the ratings leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were again the two commercial networks that covered the convention most thoroughly .
But unlike last week , they interrupted the Republicans for real-time fact-checks and analysis .
In one case , MSNBC interrupted a speech from a nurse who had praised Trump 's response to Covid-19 for saving lives .
“ It 's all propaganda , ” said contributor Dr. Vin Gupta .
“ There 's no truth to it.
” MSNBC also broke into a speech by the Missouri couple who stood outside of their house with guns as a Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting in an onscreen chyron that the duo had been charged with unlawful use of a weapon .
“ We do feel a responsibility to make sure that we are not unquestionably presenting things that are false , that are deliberately false and are potentially dangerously false , ” said MSNBC host Rachel Maddow .
The decision to point out falsehoods as they arose drew the ire of Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham , who asked why the Democratic National Convention was not similarly scrutinised .
“ MSNBC is fact-checking the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Twitter .
“ Why did n't they do the same last week for the DNC ?
” The usually Trump-friendly Fox network had its own issues during the first 90 minutes of its coverage , when viewers noticed they could see more of the actual proceedings on either CNN and MSNBC .
This despite criticisms from pro-Trump media personalities even before the convention got under way .
“ The mob , the media – they wo n't be showing large parts of the RNC that we 'll be showing , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his eponymous show .
And yet that turned out not to be true , with Fox often choosing coverage of its own TV personalities over that of the actual convention .
Hannity himself talked over a speech by a Georgia state legislator , a Democrat who supports Trump , while CNN and MSNBC aired it .
Fox also broadcast a conversation in which analyst Brit Hume told fellow Fox personality Tucker Carlson that the convention was trying to feature more women – while at the same moment the other two networks were actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Committee 's chairwoman , Ronna McDaniel .
The dearth of actual coverage on Fox led Trump campaign aide Brad Parscale to complain on Twitter : “ Ca n't believe I have to watch the convention on CNN .
Unbelievable.
” Trump appeared in two White House segments , one with essential workers of the coronavirus epidemic telling their stories and the other with former hostages in foreign countries who had been freed during the Trump administration .
All praised the president .
Trump himself complained about spotty coverage of the roll call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican candidate for president .
Some networks abandoned the president 's informal acceptance speech in a Charlotte , North Carolina , arena for fact-checking .
Democrats last week turned the traditional roll call vote into a well-received television production , with delegates stationed in their home states or territories to pledge their support for Joe Biden .
Republicans had 336 delegates – a fraction of the normal amount – support Trump at the Charlotte Convention Center .
Listening to the president “ underscores the challenge for us in the news business ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a sad thing to say , but a lot of what you have heard from the president of the United States is wrong , misleading or outright lies , ” he added .
Some networks dipped in and out of the roll call coverage as they also covered the testimony of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy before the House Oversight Committee .
The move led Trump to complain that his moment was overshadowed by the “ boring ” hearing into whether the postal service was sufficiently prepared for a sharp increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump advocate DeJoy has been undermining its operations since he took over .
CNN 's King corrected Trump 's statements calling voting by mail into question , as did Major Garrett of CBS News when that network stopped showing the president .
Potential problems with mail-in voting claimed by Trump are “ highly , highly unlikely ” to happen , Garrett said .
MSNBC 's Chuck Todd , host of the popular Sunday political show Meet the Press , lit into Trump and the Republicans .
“ We were told this convention would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Well , what we have just heard from the president was a grievance-filled informal acceptance speech that was filled with so many made-up problems about mail-in voting that if we were to air just the truthful parts , we probably could only air maybe a sentence .
”

The opening of the Republican National Convention on Monday quickly generated controversy over how the four-day event is being covered by the news media, with advocates of US President Donald Trump angered over attempts to fact-check claims in real time.
US President Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, US, August 24, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Day One of the Republican National Convention featured a complaint about his coverage by President Donald Trump, some aggressive fact-checking by television reporters and an odd social media backlash against Fox News Channel, the favourite network of many of the president's fans.
Trump gave an unexpected 54-minute address to delegates, appeared in two segments from the White House in prime time and had Donald Trump Jr. give one of the featured speeches.
“It starts by rejecting radicals who want to drag us into the dark, and embracing the man who represents a bright and beautiful future for all. It starts by re-electing Donald J. Trump president of the United States,” Trump Jr. said in his speech.
MSNBC and CNN, the ratings leaders during last week's Democratic convention, were again the two commercial networks that covered the convention most thoroughly.
But unlike last week, they interrupted the Republicans for real-time fact-checks and analysis. In one case, MSNBC interrupted a speech from a nurse who had praised Trump's response to Covid-19 for saving lives.
“It's all propaganda,” said contributor Dr. Vin Gupta. “There's no truth to it.”
MSNBC also broke into a speech by the Missouri couple who stood outside of their house with guns as a Black Lives Matter protest march went by, noting in an onscreen chyron that the duo had been charged with unlawful use of a weapon.
WATCH: A White couple pointed guns at protesters in St. Louis as a group marched toward the mayor's home to demand her resignation. Video shows the armed couple standing outside their home Sunday evening in the upscale Central West End neighborhood of the Missouri city. pic.twitter.com/VTuQjzcJyA — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 29, 2020
“We do feel a responsibility to make sure that we are not unquestionably presenting things that are false, that are deliberately false and are potentially dangerously false,” said MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.
>> Politifact: Fact-checking Donald Trump's Monday speech at the 2020 RNC
The decision to point out falsehoods as they arose drew the ire of Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham, who asked why the Democratic National Convention was not similarly scrutinised.
“MSNBC is fact-checking the GOP speakers in real time,” Ingraham wrote on Twitter. “Why didn't they do the same last week for the DNC?”
MSNBC is fact-checking the GOP speakers in real time. Why didn't they do same last week for the DNC? — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) August 25, 2020
The usually Trump-friendly Fox network had its own issues during the first 90 minutes of its coverage, when viewers noticed they could see more of the actual proceedings on either CNN and MSNBC.
This despite criticisms from pro-Trump media personalities even before the convention got under way.
“The mob, the media – they won't be showing large parts of the RNC that we'll be showing,” Sean Hannity promised at the opening of his eponymous show.
And yet that turned out not to be true, with Fox often choosing coverage of its own TV personalities over that of the actual convention. Hannity himself talked over a speech by a Georgia state legislator, a Democrat who supports Trump, while CNN and MSNBC aired it. Fox also broadcast a conversation in which analyst Brit Hume told fellow Fox personality Tucker Carlson that the convention was trying to feature more women – while at the same moment the other two networks were actually listening to a speech by the Republican National Committee's chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel.
The dearth of actual coverage on Fox led Trump campaign aide Brad Parscale to complain on Twitter: “Can't believe I have to watch the convention on CNN. Unbelievable.”
Can’t believe I have to watch the convention on @CNN. Unbelievable. @FoxNews — Brad Parscale (@parscale) August 25, 2020
Trump appeared in two White House segments, one with essential workers of the coronavirus epidemic telling their stories and the other with former hostages in foreign countries who had been freed during the Trump administration. All praised the president.
Trump himself complained about spotty coverage of the roll call vote that officially renominated him as the Republican candidate for president. Some networks abandoned the president's informal acceptance speech in a Charlotte, North Carolina, arena for fact-checking.
Democrats last week turned the traditional roll call vote into a well-received television production, with delegates stationed in their home states or territories to pledge their support for Joe Biden. Republicans had 336 delegates – a fraction of the normal amount – support Trump at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Listening to the president “underscores the challenge for us in the news business”, said CNN's John King.
“This is a sad thing to say, but a lot of what you have heard from the president of the United States is wrong, misleading or outright lies,” he added.
Some networks dipped in and out of the roll call coverage as they also covered the testimony of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy before the House Oversight Committee. The move led Trump to complain that his moment was overshadowed by the “boring” hearing into whether the postal service was sufficiently prepared for a sharp increase in voting by mail this fall and whether Trump advocate DeJoy has been undermining its operations since he took over.
CNN's King corrected Trump's statements calling voting by mail into question, as did Major Garrett of CBS News when that network stopped showing the president. Potential problems with mail-in voting claimed by Trump are “highly, highly unlikely” to happen, Garrett said.
WATCH: @Chucktodd fact checks Trump’s address at the GOP convention, says “if we were to air just the truthful parts, we probably could only air maybe a sentence, if that much.” #MTPDaily pic.twitter.com/8wyGoXrPhx — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 24, 2020
MSNBC's Chuck Todd, host of the popular Sunday political show Meet the Press, lit into Trump and the Republicans.
“We were told this convention would be upbeat, optimistic,” Todd said. “Well, what we have just heard from the president was a grievance-filled informal acceptance speech that was filled with so many made-up problems about mail-in voting that if we were to air just the truthful parts, we probably could only air maybe a sentence.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-08-28--Tiger, Champ and Finau support Blake-inspired boycotts

Cameron Champ considered not playing in Thursday 's opening round of the US PGA 's BMW Championship over the police shooting of Jacob Blake , but made his own statement with his shoes .
The 25-year-old biracial American wore one white shoe and one black shoe with messages of support during his seven-over 77 at Olympia Fields , where Tiger Woods and Tony Finau also backed the growing sport boycott movement .
`` I definitely thought about it for sure , '' Champ said of sitting out .
`` But obviously I feel like I can do a lot more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support and expressing myself . ''
The PGA on Thursday backed the game boycotts and sport shutdowns by the NBA , NHL , Major League Baseball , Major League Soccer and Women 's NBA clubs over shooting of Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
`` The PGA Tour supports them and any of our own members standing up for issues they believe in , '' the tour said in a statement .
Woods , a 15-time major winner and reigning Masters champion , said he did not consider sitting out the round , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualify for next week 's Tour Championship .
`` No , I talked to the commissioner and they were on board .
Obviously he released his statement , and all the guys were on board , '' Woods said .
`` There was talk about it because of obviously what happened , but we 're all on board , on the same page . ''
Champ had Blake 's name and `` Black Lives Matter '' among the messages on his shoes , objecting to police brutality and racial injustice .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Champ said .
`` Black Lives Matter means all lives matter .
Yes , all lives matter , but so do black lives .
It 's a situation where , again , as a country , as a whole we 've kind of dug ourselves a hole .
Now with media and people videotaping and seeing things , it 's starting to come alive .
`` People are starting to talk about it , which is the good thing .
Without dialogue , without talking about it , nothing is going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start , but obviously there 's still a lot of stuff going on that quite frankly should not be happening at all . ''
Among those , to Champ , is Blake being shot from behind as he tried to enter a car with his three children inside , a video seen around the world .
`` For me just to watch that video ... he 's a human being , '' Champ said .
`` It just has to end .
`` It 's a good thing we 're all talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen for change to happen . ''
Tony Finau , the PGA 's first player of Tongan and Samoan descent , cited the charity benefits tour events give to host areas as part of the reasons why he played .
`` I do n't think I would have been surprised if somebody had boycotted the BMW Championship , '' Finau said .
`` Our tour has taken the position that we 're going to continue to play .
`` We 're in full support of what the NBA is doing . ''
Finau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tense racial issues that remain unresolved .
`` If we can learn from each other , listen to each other , I think it 's a big deal , '' Finau said .
`` If we can continue to have those uncomfortable conversations , we can move forward . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Cameron Champ considered not playing in Thursday's opening round of the US PGA's BMW Championship over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, but made his own statement with his shoes.
The 25-year-old biracial American wore one white shoe and one black shoe with messages of support during his seven-over 77 at Olympia Fields, where Tiger Woods and Tony Finau also backed the growing sport boycott movement.
"I definitely thought about it for sure," Champ said of sitting out. "But obviously I feel like I can do a lot more playing, and again, showing my support and expressing myself."
The PGA on Thursday backed the game boycotts and sport shutdowns by the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and Women's NBA clubs over shooting of Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
"The PGA Tour supports them and any of our own members standing up for issues they believe in," the tour said in a statement.
Woods, a 15-time major winner and reigning Masters champion, said he did not consider sitting out the round, which would have ended his bid to qualify for next week's Tour Championship.
"No, I talked to the commissioner and they were on board. Obviously he released his statement, and all the guys were on board," Woods said.
"There was talk about it because of obviously what happened, but we're all on board, on the same page."
Champ had Blake's name and "Black Lives Matter" among the messages on his shoes, objecting to police brutality and racial injustice.
"I want to show my love and support," Champ said.
"Black Lives Matter means all lives matter. Yes, all lives matter, but so do black lives. It's a situation where, again, as a country, as a whole we've kind of dug ourselves a hole. Now with media and people videotaping and seeing things, it's starting to come alive.
"People are starting to talk about it, which is the good thing. Without dialogue, without talking about it, nothing is going to happen. It's a decent start, but obviously there's still a lot of stuff going on that quite frankly should not be happening at all."
Among those, to Champ, is Blake being shot from behind as he tried to enter a car with his three children inside, a video seen around the world.
"For me just to watch that video... he's a human being," Champ said. "It just has to end.
"It's a good thing we're all talking about it. it's what needs to happen for change to happen."
- 'full support' of NBA -
Tony Finau, the PGA's first player of Tongan and Samoan descent, cited the charity benefits tour events give to host areas as part of the reasons why he played.
"I don't think I would have been surprised if somebody had boycotted the BMW Championship," Finau said. "Our tour has taken the position that we're going to continue to play.
"We're in full support of what the NBA is doing."
Finau called for conversations to help solve the tense racial issues that remain unresolved.
"If we can learn from each other, listen to each other, I think it's a big deal," Finau said. "If we can continue to have those uncomfortable conversations, we can move forward."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-28--Matsuyama grabs US PGA BMW lead with stunning late birdies

Hideki Matsuyama birdied two of the last three holes , including a spectacular closing 67-foot putt , to seize the lead after Thursday 's first round of the PGA 's BMW Championship .
The 28-year-old Japanese star , seeking his first US PGA victory since the 2017 WGC Bridgestone Invitational , fired a three-under par 67 in windy conditions at Olympia Fields .
That gave him a one-stroke lead over American Tyler Duncan and a two-shot edge on Canada 's Mackenzie Hughes , the only other players to break par in the US PGA Tour playoff event .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going today , '' Matsuyama said .
`` But that last putt , that long putt that went in , very happy with that one , so we 'll remember that one . ''
The top 30 players in FedEx Cup points after the BMW advance to next week 's Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta , with Duncan and Hughes needing to move up to reach the season finale .
The suburban Chicago layout , host course for the 2003 US Open , imposed the highest scoring average of any 2019-20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strokes over par .
Matsuyama opened bogey-birdie-bogey on the back nine , added a birdie at 14 but another bogey at 18 , but his fortunes changed on the front side .
Matsuyama tapped in for birdie at the par-5 first , sank an 11-footer for birdie at the second , dropped in a 21-foot birdie putt at the seventh and seized the lead with a stunner at the ninth .
`` I made some mistakes early but I was able to come back and play good golf toward the end , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matsuyama said .
`` Greens were firm and playing really tough .
There 's some water holes that you 've got to avoid , but all in all , I played good and was able to stay out of trouble . ''
Duncan , who sank two birdies from inside six feet to begin his round , answered his lone bogey at 12 with a 13-foot birdie putt at 14 .
He made all 16 putts he had inside 10 feet .
`` It was a grind , '' Duncan said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those were the two biggest factors I thought it was going to take to do well this week .
`` It 's firm and fast and the rough is long .
It 's all you want . ''
Hughes opened with a 32-foot birdie putt at the 10th hole , sank a 22-footer at one to start his back nine and dropped in a four-foot birdie at the third , but followed it with back-to-back bogeys .
`` The course was n't giving up a lot of birdies , '' Hughes said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accept you were going to make birdies here and there .
It was a great test . ''
Tiger Woods ranks 57th in points , needing a top-six finish to have a chance at reaching Atlanta , but the 15-time major winner closed with three consecutive bogeys to shoot 73 .
Woods , who began on the back nine , took a bogey at the 11th but answered by rolling in a 28-foot birdie putt at 14 .
He missed a par putt from just inside five feet at the par-3 16th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ par putt at the par-4 second .
Reigning Masters champion Woods , who found only six of 14 fairways , rescued par from eight feet at the third hole , just under five feet on the fourth and from six feet on the fifth to stay two off the lead .
But he came up nine feet short from 35 feet out of greenside rough at the par-4 seventh and missed his par putt to fall from a share of eighth , then missed a four-footer to bogey the par-3 eighth and found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bogey at nine .
`` Not the way I wanted to finish , '' Woods said .
`` But the golf course is playing difficult for sure . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Hideki Matsuyama birdied two of the last three holes, including a spectacular closing 67-foot putt, to seize the lead after Thursday's first round of the PGA's BMW Championship.
The 28-year-old Japanese star, seeking his first US PGA victory since the 2017 WGC Bridgestone Invitational, fired a three-under par 67 in windy conditions at Olympia Fields.
That gave him a one-stroke lead over American Tyler Duncan and a two-shot edge on Canada's Mackenzie Hughes, the only other players to break par in the US PGA Tour playoff event.
"I'm not sure really what I had going today," Matsuyama said. "But that last putt, that long putt that went in, very happy with that one, so we'll remember that one."
The top 30 players in FedEx Cup points after the BMW advance to next week's Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, with Duncan and Hughes needing to move up to reach the season finale.
The suburban Chicago layout, host course for the 2003 US Open, imposed the highest scoring average of any 2019-20 PGA opening round, more than 2.5 strokes over par.
Matsuyama opened bogey-birdie-bogey on the back nine, added a birdie at 14 but another bogey at 18, but his fortunes changed on the front side.
Matsuyama tapped in for birdie at the par-5 first, sank an 11-footer for birdie at the second, dropped in a 21-foot birdie putt at the seventh and seized the lead with a stunner at the ninth.
"I made some mistakes early but I was able to come back and play good golf toward the end, so it was a good day," Matsuyama said.
"Greens were firm and playing really tough. There's some water holes that you've got to avoid, but all in all, I played good and was able to stay out of trouble."
Duncan, who sank two birdies from inside six feet to begin his round, answered his lone bogey at 12 with a 13-foot birdie putt at 14. He made all 16 putts he had inside 10 feet.
"It was a grind," Duncan said. "I drove it well and scrambled well and those were the two biggest factors I thought it was going to take to do well this week.
"It's firm and fast and the rough is long. It's all you want."
Hughes opened with a 32-foot birdie putt at the 10th hole, sank a 22-footer at one to start his back nine and dropped in a four-foot birdie at the third, but followed it with back-to-back bogeys.
"The course wasn't giving up a lot of birdies," Hughes said. "You had to be patient and accept you were going to make birdies here and there. It was a great test."
- Late bogeys foil Tiger -
Tiger Woods ranks 57th in points, needing a top-six finish to have a chance at reaching Atlanta, but the 15-time major winner closed with three consecutive bogeys to shoot 73.
Woods, who began on the back nine, took a bogey at the 11th but answered by rolling in a 28-foot birdie putt at 14. He missed a par putt from just inside five feet at the par-3 16th but pulled level again on a seven-foot par putt at the par-4 second.
Reigning Masters champion Woods, who found only six of 14 fairways, rescued par from eight feet at the third hole, just under five feet on the fourth and from six feet on the fifth to stay two off the lead.
But he came up nine feet short from 35 feet out of greenside rough at the par-4 seventh and missed his par putt to fall from a share of eighth, then missed a four-footer to bogey the par-3 eighth and found a fairway bunker on his way to a bogey at nine.
"Not the way I wanted to finish," Woods said. "But the golf course is playing difficult for sure."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-27--Spies called in as cyberattacks again halt NZ stock exchange

Distributed denial of service ( DDoS ) attacks involve disrupting computer networks by flooding them with traffic Cyberattacks forced New Zealand 's stock exchange to halt trading for a fourth straight day Friday , with the country 's spy agency called in to help combat the ongoing security breaches .
`` We are currently experiencing connectivity issues which appear similar to those caused by severe DDoS attacks from offshore this week , '' NZX said in a statement .
Distributed denial of service ( DDoS ) attacks involve disrupting computer networks by flooding them with traffic .
There have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The shutdown on Friday came despite the NZX putting additional measures in place to maintain connectivity before the market 's opening bell .
`` NZX has been continuing to work with its network service provider , Spark , and national and international cybersecurity partners , including GCSB , to address the recent cyberattacks , '' it said .
The GCSB is New Zealand 's intelligence agency , tasked with safeguarding the country 's infrastructure from online attacks .
The disruption has hit in the midst of earnings season , normally one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Air New Zealand and telecoms carrier Spark announce their annual results .
NZX has remained tight-lipped about who is behind the attacks .
Experts have told local media possibilities include a state-sponsored incursion , online activists with an anti-capitalist agenda such as Anonymous , or a criminal enterprise seeking a ransom .
Regulators from the Financial Markets Authority ( FMA ) were in close contact with NZX .
`` The NZX has informed us that no internal systems have been compromised and trading information has not been breached , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the FMA supports the decisions of NZX to halt trading , for periods where issuers are unable to release information to the market and investors do not have access to disclosures on nzx.com . ''

Wellington (AFP) –
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Cyberattacks forced New Zealand's stock exchange to halt trading for a fourth straight day Friday, with the country's spy agency called in to help combat the ongoing security breaches.
"We are currently experiencing connectivity issues which appear similar to those caused by severe DDoS attacks from offshore this week," NZX said in a statement.
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks involve disrupting computer networks by flooding them with traffic.
There have been similar temporary training halts daily since Tuesday.
The shutdown on Friday came despite the NZX putting additional measures in place to maintain connectivity before the market's opening bell.
"NZX has been continuing to work with its network service provider, Spark, and national and international cybersecurity partners, including GCSB, to address the recent cyberattacks," it said.
The GCSB is New Zealand's intelligence agency, tasked with safeguarding the country's infrastructure from online attacks.
The disruption has hit in the midst of earnings season, normally one of NZX's busiest periods, when companies such as Air New Zealand and telecoms carrier Spark announce their annual results.
NZX has remained tight-lipped about who is behind the attacks.
Experts have told local media possibilities include a state-sponsored incursion, online activists with an anti-capitalist agenda such as Anonymous, or a criminal enterprise seeking a ransom.
Regulators from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) were in close contact with NZX.
"The NZX has informed us that no internal systems have been compromised and trading information has not been breached," the agency said.
"In the circumstances, the FMA supports the decisions of NZX to halt trading, for periods where issuers are unable to release information to the market and investors do not have access to disclosures on nzx.com."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-08-27--Hurricane Laura pummels Louisiana, killing several but sparing region the worst

A couple react as they go through their destroyed mobile home following the passing of hurricane Laura in Lake Charles , Louisiana , on August 27 , 2020 .
Hurricane Laura ripped through Louisiana on Thursday , killing four people who were crushed by falling trees and igniting a chemical plant fire that continued to send a chlorine-infused plume of smoke skyward 15 hours after landfall .
Laura caused less mayhem than forecasts predicted — but officials said it remained a dangerous storm and that it would take days to assess the damage .
At least 867,000 homes and businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without power on Thursday afternoon .
“ This was the most powerful storm to ever make landfall in Louisiana , ” Governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference .
“ It ’ s continuing to cause damage and life-threatening conditions.
” Laura ’ s maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour ( 241 kph ) upon landfall easily bested Hurricane Katrina , which sparked deadly levee breaches in New Orleans in 2005 , and arrived with wind speeds of 125 mph .
The National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) said Laura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arkansas late Thursday afternoon and was heading to the northeast at 15 miles per hour ( 24 kph ) .
The storm could dump 7 inches of rain ( 178 mm ) on portions of Arkansas , likely causing flash floods .
Laura ’ s howling winds leveled buildings across a wide swath of the state and a wall of water that was 15 feet ( 4.6 m ) high crashed into tiny Cameron , Louisiana , where the hurricane made landfall around 1 a.m. A calamitous 20-foot storm surge that had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ km ) inland was avoided when Laura tacked east just before landfall , Edwards said .
That meant a mighty gush of water was not fully pushed up the Calcasieu Ship Channel , which would have given the storm surge an easy path far inland .
Tropical-force winds were felt in nearly every parish across Louisiana — and Edwards warned that the death toll could climb as search and rescue missions increase .
A 14-year-old girl in Leesville , Louisiana , died when a tree fell on her house , a spokeswoman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least three other people were killed by trees falling on structures elsewhere .
A chemical plant caught fire in Laura ’ s wake on Thursday morning in Westlake , Louisiana , 4 miles west of Lake Charles , sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky over the wind-torn landscape near Interstate 10 .
Edwards warned residents in the area to shelter in place , close doors and windows and turn off air conditioners as authorities investigated .
Traffic was blocked on the interstate and Highway 90 .
Residents of Lake Charles heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of breaking glass as the storm passed through the city of 78,000 with winds of 85 mph and gusts up to 128 mph in the hour after landfall .
National Guard troops cleared debris from roads in Lake Charles on Thursday afternoon .
There were downed power lines in streets around the city , and the winds tipped a few semi-trucks onto their sides .
The windows of the city ’ s 22-storey Capital One Tower were blown out , street signs were toppled and pieces of wooden fence and debris from collapsed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , video footage on Twitter and Snapchat showed .
Lake Charles resident Borden Wilson , a 33-year-old pediatrician , was anxious about his return home after evacuating to Minden , Louisiana .
“ I never even boarded up my windows .
I didn ’ t think to do that .
This is the first hurricane I ’ ve experienced .
I just hope my house is fine , ” he said in a telephone interview .
In the small town of Starks , about 25 miles northwest of Lake Charles , pine trees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest challenge in cleaning up .
Rev .
Karl Smith carefully inspected the damage done to buildings around his First Pentecostal Church .
He rode out the storm in the cellar of his house — and had to cut through trees so that he and his wife could get out .
“ We just had trees thrown everywhere , ” Smith said .
“ It ’ s a big mess.
” Laura rapidly weakened to a Category 1 storm on Thursday morning with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph , and has since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that high water levels would persist along the Gulf Coast for several hours as Laura moved north and then northeast .
Besides threatening life , the storm slammed the heart of the US oil industry , forcing oil rigs and refineries to shut down production .
The Port of Lake Charles remained closed as workers were unable to enter or exit the facility due to downed power lines and trees .

Hurricane Laura tore through Louisiana on Thursday, killing six people and flattening buildings across a wide swatch of the state before moving into Arkansas with heavy rains.
A couple react as they go through their destroyed mobile home following the passing of hurricane Laura in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on August 27, 2020.
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Laura’s powerful gusts uprooted trees — and four people were crushed to death in separate incidents of trees falling on homes. The state’s department of health said late Thursday that there were two more fatalities attributed to the hurricane — a man who drowned while aboard a sinking boat and a man who had carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator in his home.
In Westlake, a chemical plant caught fire when hit by Laura, and the flames continued to send a chlorine-infused plume of smoke skyward nearly 24 hours after landfall.
Laura caused less mayhem than forecasts predicted — but officials said it remained a dangerous storm and that it would take days to assess the damage. At least 867,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas remained without power on Thursday afternoon.
“This was the most powerful storm to ever make landfall in Louisiana,” Governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference. “It’s continuing to cause damage and life-threatening conditions.”
Laura’s maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (241 kph) upon landfall easily bested Hurricane Katrina, which sparked deadly levee breaches in New Orleans in 2005, and arrived with wind speeds of 125 mph.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Laura’s eye had crossed into southern Arkansas late Thursday afternoon and was heading to the northeast at 15 mph (24 kph). The storm could dump 7 inches (178 mm) of rain on portions of Arkansas, likely causing flash floods.
Laura was downgraded to a tropical depression by the NHC at 10 p.m., and the forecaster said it will move to the mid-Mississippi Valley later on Friday and then to the mid-Atlantic states on Saturday.
Chemical plume
Laura’s howling winds leveled buildings across a wide swath of the state and a wall of water that was 15 feet (4.6 m) high crashed into tiny Cameron, Louisiana, where the hurricane made landfall around 1 a.m.
A calamitous 20-foot storm surge that had been forecast to move 40 miles (64 km) inland was avoided when Laura tacked east just before landfall, Edwards said. That meant a mighty gush of water was not fully pushed up the Calcasieu Ship Channel, which would have given the storm surge an easy path far inland.
Tropical-force winds were felt in nearly every parish across Louisiana — and Edwards warned that the death toll could climb as search and rescue missions increase.
Chemical fire erupts at a BioLab plant in Westlake in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura; firefighters are at the scene to control the blaze https://t.co/RDpH7qyOLr pic.twitter.com/xSq1lnHUPs — Reuters (@Reuters) August 27, 2020
Cleanup begins
Residents of Lake Charles heard Laura’s winds and the sound of breaking glass as the storm passed through the city of 78,000 with winds of 85 mph and gusts up to 128 mph in the hour after landfall.
National Guard troops cleared debris from roads in Lake Charles on Thursday afternoon. There were downed power lines in streets around the city, and the winds tipped a few semi-trucks onto their sides.
The windows of the city’s 22-storey Capital One Tower were blown out, street signs were toppled and pieces of wooden fence and debris from collapsed buildings lay scattered in the flooded streets, video footage on Twitter and Snapchat showed.
Here is the damage to the Capital One Tower in Lake Charles.pic.twitter.com/XKNEuFXOoA — Ted Corcoran (Red T Raccoon) (@RedTRaccoon) August 27, 2020
Lake Charles resident Borden Wilson, a 33-year-old pediatrician, was anxious about his return home after evacuating to Minden, Louisiana.
“I never even boarded up my windows. I didn’t think to do that. This is the first hurricane I’ve experienced. I just hope my house is fine,” he said in a telephone interview.
(REUTERS)
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