france24--2020-11-06--Maradona to remain in hospital for treatment following surgery: doctor

A supporter of Diego Maradona , kneels outside the private clinic where Argentine former football star underwent brain surgery for a blood clot Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is to remain in hospital for several more days to undergo treatment following surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain , his doctor said Thursday .
`` We saw that in the postoperative phase Diego had episodes of confusion , '' Leopoldo Luque told reporters .
Therapists treating Maradona had linked the behaviour to withdrawal symptoms and the necessary treatment would last `` a few days , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Maradona has a long history of drug and alcohol addiction .
Although he has publicly said he no longer uses cocaine , friends and media reports have suggested he remains addicted to alcohol .
At a press conference outside the private clinic in Buenos Aires where surgeons spent 80 minutes removing the clot on Tuesday night , Luque took pains to present an upbeat assessment of the 60-year-old 's overall condition .
`` Diego is doing well .
The CT scan came out well .
We were even dancing .
Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The doctor said Maradona `` agrees '' with the diagnosis and would remain in the clinic .
Earlier Thursday , he said doctors were happy with the former player 's condition : `` He can walk , talk to me ... .It 's very early this , but the recovery is excellent . ''
World Cup winner Maradona had been taken to hospital in La Plata -- where he is the coach of top-flight side Gimnasia y Esgrima -- on Monday for a series of tests after feeling unwell .
A scan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday he was transferred to the clinic in a northern neighborhood of the capital .
Fans have flocked to the clinic to leave banners showing the star in his prime and messages of support for the ailing icon .
Alongside Brazil 's Pele , who turned 80 last month , Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time .
Maradona , who turned 60 on Friday , has suffered ill health before .
He has survived two heart attacks , and also contracted hepatitis and underwent gastric bypass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maradona had been depressed , his lawyer Matias Morla said on Wednesday .
The famously fast-living icon had only been able to spend half an hour at his own birthday celebration at his team 's training ground on Friday , when he had difficulty walking .
`` He was behaving strangely .
He was very depressed and spoke about dead relatives that he missed , '' said Morla .
He said Maradona was `` very worried '' about the surgery and praised Luque , adding that `` if he had n't detected the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been different . ''
Luque insisted on Tuesday that the procedure was `` a routine operation . ''

Olivos (Argentina) (AFP) –
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Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is to remain in hospital for several more days to undergo treatment following surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain, his doctor said Thursday.
"We saw that in the postoperative phase Diego had episodes of confusion," Leopoldo Luque told reporters.
Therapists treating Maradona had linked the behaviour to withdrawal symptoms and the necessary treatment would last "a few days," he said.
Luque did not provide details, but Maradona has a long history of drug and alcohol addiction.
Although he has publicly said he no longer uses cocaine, friends and media reports have suggested he remains addicted to alcohol.
At a press conference outside the private clinic in Buenos Aires where surgeons spent 80 minutes removing the clot on Tuesday night, Luque took pains to present an upbeat assessment of the 60-year-old's overall condition.
"Diego is doing well. The CT scan came out well. We were even dancing. Yes, we danced!" the doctor said.
The doctor said Maradona "agrees" with the diagnosis and would remain in the clinic.
Earlier Thursday, he said doctors were happy with the former player's condition: "He can walk, talk to me....It's very early this, but the recovery is excellent."
World Cup winner Maradona had been taken to hospital in La Plata -- where he is the coach of top-flight side Gimnasia y Esgrima -- on Monday for a series of tests after feeling unwell.
A scan revealed the blood clot, and on Tuesday he was transferred to the clinic in a northern neighborhood of the capital.
Fans have flocked to the clinic to leave banners showing the star in his prime and messages of support for the ailing icon.
Alongside Brazil's Pele, who turned 80 last month, Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
- 'Depressed' -
Maradona, who turned 60 on Friday, has suffered ill health before. He has survived two heart attacks, and also contracted hepatitis and underwent gastric bypass surgery.
Prior to falling ill, Maradona had been depressed, his lawyer Matias Morla said on Wednesday.
The famously fast-living icon had only been able to spend half an hour at his own birthday celebration at his team's training ground on Friday, when he had difficulty walking.
"He was behaving strangely. He was very depressed and spoke about dead relatives that he missed," said Morla.
He said Maradona was "very worried" about the surgery and praised Luque, adding that "if he hadn't detected the clot, Maradona's fate would have been different."
Luque insisted on Tuesday that the procedure was "a routine operation."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--Can Tiger recapture Masters magic in autumn setting?

Nineteen months after completing one of the most amazing comeback tales in sports , Tiger Woods will defend his Masters title searching for top form in an unfamiliar Augusta National atmosphere .
Woods captured his 15th major title and the first since the 2008 US Open in April 2019 at Augusta National , completing a recovery from multiple back surgeries that left a normal life in doubt much less a golf career .
After knee surgery four months later , Woods made a comeback in Japan at the Zozo Championship and won his 82nd career US PGA title , matching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Snead .
But Woods was struggling with back issues when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the 2020 season in March , pushing the Masters from April to November and imposing a five-month layoff on Woods between events .
`` This entire year has been different for all of us , '' Woods said .
`` And my run-up to Augusta is unlike anything I 've ever experienced .
That 's just the way it is . ''
Since his return , 44-year-old Woods has been a shadow of his former formidable self , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August for his best result in six starts and missing the cut at the US Open in September with back issues .
`` That 's just the nature of my back .
I wish it could be good all the time , '' Woods said .
`` I have moments where it 's not quite as elastic as I 'd like it to be , but I am moving a lot better . ''
The five-time Masters champion has also been working on shots he needs to have any hope of contending in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual weather conditions .
`` I 've got a few weeks out imaging some of those shots already and I have been for quite a while , ever since the US Open , '' Woods said .
`` So hopefully I 'll be ready . ''
Woods knows Augusta National intimately , where to land shots and how putts will break .
But he ca n't make normal preparations for a Masters unlike any ever played before .
`` It 's not normally this time of year .
It 's not normally played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Florida swing .
This is all different .
This whole year has been different for all of us , '' Woods said .
`` I ca n't simulate the ramp-up that I normally have and I do n't think anyone else can either .
It will be different for all of us . ''
Woods has played Augusta National in November before , so he has a clue about what to expect .
`` The few times I 've played in November , it has been the same -- it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , '' Woods said .
`` If you 're able to get the north wind that time of year , it can be awfully difficult and long and very different than what we normally play in April .
`` Maybe a little bit longer and a little bit more softer than we 've probably experienced , but you just never know . ''
There will be no spectators to roar for great shots in a pandemic safety move , opening more areas for shots but bringing an eerie silence to the traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be odd in that sense , but it 's still the Masters , '' Woods said .
`` It 's still the best players in the world ... it 's just we 're not going to have the roars .
`` Sometimes we 've been on the putting green there before we tee off and you hear roars down there 12 and 13 , they reverberate all the way up to the clubhouse -- and there 's going to be nothing . ''
There 's also a new set of formidable rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his long-drive style that some fear will overwhelm the sport .
`` They should have been worried a long time ago , but the genie 's out of the bag now , '' Woods said .
`` It 's about what do we do going forward and how soon can they do it .
`` You 're not going to stop the guys who are there right now ...
I do n't see how they can roll everything back . ''

Augusta (United States) (AFP) –
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Nineteen months after completing one of the most amazing comeback tales in sports, Tiger Woods will defend his Masters title searching for top form in an unfamiliar Augusta National atmosphere.
Woods captured his 15th major title and the first since the 2008 US Open in April 2019 at Augusta National, completing a recovery from multiple back surgeries that left a normal life in doubt much less a golf career.
After knee surgery four months later, Woods made a comeback in Japan at the Zozo Championship and won his 82nd career US PGA title, matching the all-time win mark set by Sam Snead.
But Woods was struggling with back issues when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the 2020 season in March, pushing the Masters from April to November and imposing a five-month layoff on Woods between events.
"This entire year has been different for all of us," Woods said. "And my run-up to Augusta is unlike anything I've ever experienced. That's just the way it is."
Since his return, 44-year-old Woods has been a shadow of his former formidable self, sharing 37th at the PGA Championship in August for his best result in six starts and missing the cut at the US Open in September with back issues.
"That's just the nature of my back. I wish it could be good all the time," Woods said. "I have moments where it's not quite as elastic as I'd like it to be, but I am moving a lot better."
The five-time Masters champion has also been working on shots he needs to have any hope of contending in an autumn Masters with no spectators and unusual weather conditions.
"I've got a few weeks out imaging some of those shots already and I have been for quite a while, ever since the US Open," Woods said. "So hopefully I'll be ready."
Woods knows Augusta National intimately, where to land shots and how putts will break. But he can't make normal preparations for a Masters unlike any ever played before.
"It's not normally this time of year. It's not normally played this way. We're not in a Florida swing. This is all different. This whole year has been different for all of us," Woods said.
"I can't simulate the ramp-up that I normally have and I don't think anyone else can either. It will be different for all of us."
- Masters roars silenced -
Woods has played Augusta National in November before, so he has a clue about what to expect.
"The few times I've played in November, it has been the same -- it has been cold, ball doesn't go very far," Woods said.
"If you're able to get the north wind that time of year, it can be awfully difficult and long and very different than what we normally play in April.
"Maybe a little bit longer and a little bit more softer than we've probably experienced, but you just never know."
There will be no spectators to roar for great shots in a pandemic safety move, opening more areas for shots but bringing an eerie silence to the traditional electric atmosphere.
"It's going to be odd in that sense, but it's still the Masters," Woods said. "It's still the best players in the world... it's just we're not going to have the roars.
"Sometimes we've been on the putting green there before we tee off and you hear roars down there 12 and 13, they reverberate all the way up to the clubhouse -- and there's going to be nothing."
There's also a new set of formidable rivals, including US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau and his long-drive style that some fear will overwhelm the sport.
"They should have been worried a long time ago, but the genie's out of the bag now," Woods said. "It's about what do we do going forward and how soon can they do it.
"You're not going to stop the guys who are there right now... I don't see how they can roll everything back."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--Will Masters green jacket fit bulked-up DeChambeau?

Bryson DeChambeau proved his long driving strategy could bring major success by winning the US Open .
Now he wants to see if a Masters green jacket fits his bulked-up physique .
The 27-year-old American , who proved superior distance without regard for accuracy could be a winning strategy , brings his long-driving style to Augusta National , known for rewarding distance by shunning punitive deep rough in favor of lightning-fast undulating greens .
`` When I 'm playing great golf I feel like I 've got a great chance to win every week , '' DeChambeau said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like I have my golf swing under control and putting well , making a lot of putts , I feel like I can shoot low on a lot of golf courses and usually that wins tournaments . ''
Since adding weight and muscle during the US PGA 's Covid-19 shutdown from March to June , DeChambeau won at Detroit , shared fourth at the PGA Championship and won the US Open in September at Winged Foot by six strokes -- a victory that threatened to be a game-changer for golf .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wedge onto the green and putt for birdie , why worry with fairways ?
Why seek short birdie putts when you might produce eagle chances ?
`` They 're never going to be able to take away athleticism , '' DeChambeau said .
`` And I do n't know the situation that would hinder my performance with the added length . ''
So how could anyone Bryson-proof a course ?
`` I certainly would n't make it longer .
That 's only going to give me a bigger advantage , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , I would definitely say that you almost ca n't .
`` I 'm not saying that in a cocky manner at all .
I 'm just saying it 's difficult to control length .
`` At the same point , it 's also about putting , chipping , wedging -- you still got to do everything else really well . ''
DeChambeau chases golf perfection , tinkering with equipment , strategy and muscle mass in quest of an ultimate success .
`` I 'm always thinking about how I can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's so cool about this game is it 's never perfect -- you always can find something to be a little bit better , '' DeChambeau said .
`` I never will reach it .
I totally submit to that .
But I do want to try and find distinct advantages that allow me to be better and better each and every time I play .
Clearly it has helped .
I think there has been a big change this year and I 'm not going to stop . ''
DeChambeau has talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Masters , compared to the usual 44-45-inch shafts .
`` I 'm looking forward to trying to put in a 48-inch driver and see what opportunities it will present , '' he said .
`` There 's a lot of advantages to having a 48-inch driver and being able to keep it in play .
Still need to get some things worked out , but so far it has been pretty amazing . ''
DeChambeau was hitting over a driving range fence 350 yards away last month at Las Vegas .
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had reached a 211-mph ball speed and 401.3 yards of carry with a driver that was n't even the 48-incher .
Phil Mickelson , a 50-year-old winner of three green jackets , plans to use a 47 1/2-inch driver , saying , `` There is the ability to attack a number of holes if you can fly the ball a little bit farther . ''
With so many options to the size and weight of clubheads and shaft lengths , DeChambeau was asked how many drivers he would test before he Masters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` From a speed training perspective I could probably go upwards of over 1,000 to probably 2,000 drives ... trying to get my speed up .
It takes around 100 , 130 to have a good speed training . ''
DeChambeau enjoys the ball-bashing as he searches for the perfect combination .
`` I think it 's the most fun , '' he said .
`` I watched 'Happy Gilmore ' a little while ago , and it just re-inspired me to try and hit it as far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the title character winning a jacket .
If DeChambeau can do the same , it might be another example of fantasy becoming reality .

Augusta (United States) (AFP) –
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Bryson DeChambeau proved his long driving strategy could bring major success by winning the US Open. Now he wants to see if a Masters green jacket fits his bulked-up physique.
The 27-year-old American, who proved superior distance without regard for accuracy could be a winning strategy, brings his long-driving style to Augusta National, known for rewarding distance by shunning punitive deep rough in favor of lightning-fast undulating greens.
"When I'm playing great golf I feel like I've got a great chance to win every week," DeChambeau said.
"When I'm playing well and I feel like I have my golf swing under control and putting well, making a lot of putts, I feel like I can shoot low on a lot of golf courses and usually that wins tournaments."
Since adding weight and muscle during the US PGA's Covid-19 shutdown from March to June, DeChambeau won at Detroit, shared fourth at the PGA Championship and won the US Open in September at Winged Foot by six strokes -- a victory that threatened to be a game-changer for golf.
When a player can blast into the rough, wedge onto the green and putt for birdie, why worry with fairways? Why seek short birdie putts when you might produce eagle chances?
"They're never going to be able to take away athleticism," DeChambeau said. "And I don't know the situation that would hinder my performance with the added length."
So how could anyone Bryson-proof a course?
"I certainly wouldn't make it longer. That's only going to give me a bigger advantage," he said. "Without giving too much away, I would definitely say that you almost can't.
"I'm not saying that in a cocky manner at all. I'm just saying it's difficult to control length.
"At the same point, it's also about putting, chipping, wedging -- you still got to do everything else really well."
- Chasing perfection -
DeChambeau chases golf perfection, tinkering with equipment, strategy and muscle mass in quest of an ultimate success.
"I'm always thinking about how I can get better and I think that's what's so cool about this game is it's never perfect -- you always can find something to be a little bit better," DeChambeau said.
"I never will reach it. I totally submit to that. But I do want to try and find distinct advantages that allow me to be better and better each and every time I play. Clearly it has helped. I think there has been a big change this year and I'm not going to stop."
DeChambeau has talked of unveiling a 48-inch maximum-length driver at the Masters, compared to the usual 44-45-inch shafts.
"I'm looking forward to trying to put in a 48-inch driver and see what opportunities it will present," he said. "There's a lot of advantages to having a 48-inch driver and being able to keep it in play. Still need to get some things worked out, but so far it has been pretty amazing."
DeChambeau was hitting over a driving range fence 350 yards away last month at Las Vegas. Two weeks ago, he tweeted that he had reached a 211-mph ball speed and 401.3 yards of carry with a driver that wasn't even the 48-incher.
Phil Mickelson, a 50-year-old winner of three green jackets, plans to use a 47 1/2-inch driver, saying, "There is the ability to attack a number of holes if you can fly the ball a little bit farther."
With so many options to the size and weight of clubheads and shaft lengths, DeChambeau was asked how many drivers he would test before he Masters. "As many as I need to," he said.
"From a speed training perspective I could probably go upwards of over 1,000 to probably 2,000 drives... trying to get my speed up. It takes around 100, 130 to have a good speed training."
DeChambeau enjoys the ball-bashing as he searches for the perfect combination.
"I think it's the most fun," he said. "I watched 'Happy Gilmore' a little while ago, and it just re-inspired me to try and hit it as far as possible."
That film ended with the title character winning a jacket. If DeChambeau can do the same, it might be another example of fantasy becoming reality.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--Brady, Brees duel as Bucs and Saints battle for division

The latest instalment of a four-decade quarterback rivalry takes center stage in the NFL on Sunday as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints .
The seventh professional meeting of the fortysomething future Hall of Fame quarterbacks could end up shaping the playoff picture , with Tampa Bay ( 6-2 ) looking to tighten their grip on the NFC South against the Saints ( 5-2 ) .
The Bucs head into Sunday 's game at the Raymond James Stadium with a score to settle after being well-beaten 34-23 by the Saints in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his new surroundings after two decades in New England .
Since that defeat , however , Brady and the Bucs offense have looked a more cohesive unit , and the addition this week of receiver Antonio Brown gives them another potent attacking weapon .
The Saints arrive in Florida on the back of four straight wins , the most recent being a gritty 26-23 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field last Sunday .
An intriguing sub-plot to this weekend 's battle for divisional supremacy is the see-saw duel between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touchdown rankings .
Brady , 43 , and Brees , 41 , have both occupied top spot at different points of the season , with Brady edging clear on Monday by passing for his 560th and 561st touchdowns in the Bucs win over the Giants .
Brees is second with 560 touchdowns .
`` It 's pretty cool , '' Brees said of the back-and-forth record pursuit .
`` When in history has that ever happened ? ''
Brees , however , says the pursuit of personal records is an afterthought compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'm just laser-focused on the job that is right in front of me .
Winning the football game is the most important thing , '' Brees said .
`` We both play on very good teams for very good organizations for great coaches and great systems , great players around us .
I 'm just grateful for the opportunity to compete , that we 're in a situation where we 're battling here in the division . ''
Sunday 's game is the seventh meeting between Brady and Brees in the NFL , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2002 , when Brees 's San Diego Chargers defeated Brady and the Patriots 21-14 .
The two quarterbacks ' paths had also crossed three years earlier at college level in 1999 .
On that occasion , Brady led Michigan to a 38-12 rout of Brees 's Purdue .
`` We 've both been around for quite a while , '' Brady said of Brees .
`` He 's a great quarterback .
He 's been so productive over a lot of years .
He 's been a hell of a player . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the league 's last unbeaten record on the road when they visit the crisis-hit Dallas Cowboys .
The Cowboys ( 2-6 ) will turn to their fourth quarterback in five weeks after a lacklustre outing from rookie Ben DiNucci during last week 's 23-9 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles .
Both of Dallas ' first-choice quarterbacks , Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton , are injured .
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said either Cooper Rush or Garrett Gilbert will start against the Steelers , who improved to 7-0 last weekend with a hardfought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the opponent we are playing , we need more experience , '' McCarthy said of the decision to bench DiNucci .
In other key match-ups on Sunday , the Seattle Seahawks ( 6-1 ) head East looking to shore up their leaky defense against a resurgent Buffalo Bills ( 6-2 ) .
While the Seahawks offense led by quarterback Russell Wilson has scored at will this season , Seattle 's defense is the worst in the NFL , giving up 460.9 yards per outing and shipping an average 28.4 points per game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep the Seahawks defense occupied in order to limit opposite number Wilson 's time on the field .
`` We 've got to make sure we 're doing our part and try to keep them off the field as much as possible , '' Allen said .
`` It 's going to be a four-quarter dog fight .
We understand that . ''

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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The latest instalment of a four-decade quarterback rivalry takes center stage in the NFL on Sunday as Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
The seventh professional meeting of the fortysomething future Hall of Fame quarterbacks could end up shaping the playoff picture, with Tampa Bay (6-2) looking to tighten their grip on the NFC South against the Saints (5-2).
The Bucs head into Sunday's game at the Raymond James Stadium with a score to settle after being well-beaten 34-23 by the Saints in September, when Brady was still adjusting to his new surroundings after two decades in New England.
Since that defeat, however, Brady and the Bucs offense have looked a more cohesive unit, and the addition this week of receiver Antonio Brown gives them another potent attacking weapon.
The Saints arrive in Florida on the back of four straight wins, the most recent being a gritty 26-23 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field last Sunday.
An intriguing sub-plot to this weekend's battle for divisional supremacy is the see-saw duel between Brady and Brees in the all-time passing touchdown rankings.
- 'It's pretty cool' -
Brady, 43, and Brees, 41, have both occupied top spot at different points of the season, with Brady edging clear on Monday by passing for his 560th and 561st touchdowns in the Bucs win over the Giants. Brees is second with 560 touchdowns.
"It's pretty cool," Brees said of the back-and-forth record pursuit. "When in history has that ever happened?"
Brees, however, says the pursuit of personal records is an afterthought compared to the task in hand.
"I'm just laser-focused on the job that is right in front of me. Winning the football game is the most important thing," Brees said.
"We both play on very good teams for very good organizations for great coaches and great systems, great players around us. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to compete, that we're in a situation where we're battling here in the division."
Sunday's game is the seventh meeting between Brady and Brees in the NFL, a rivalry that dates back to September 2002, when Brees's San Diego Chargers defeated Brady and the Patriots 21-14.
The two quarterbacks' paths had also crossed three years earlier at college level in 1999. On that occasion, Brady led Michigan to a 38-12 rout of Brees's Purdue.
Overall, Brees leads the rivalry 4-3.
"We've both been around for quite a while," Brady said of Brees. "He's a great quarterback. He's been so productive over a lot of years. He's been a hell of a player."
- Cowboys crisis -
Elsewhere on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers take the league's last unbeaten record on the road when they visit the crisis-hit Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys (2-6) will turn to their fourth quarterback in five weeks after a lacklustre outing from rookie Ben DiNucci during last week's 23-9 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both of Dallas' first-choice quarterbacks, Dak Prescott and Andy Dalton, are injured.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said either Cooper Rush or Garrett Gilbert will start against the Steelers, who improved to 7-0 last weekend with a hardfought defeat of the Baltimore Ravens.
"With the opponent we are playing, we need more experience," McCarthy said of the decision to bench DiNucci.
In other key match-ups on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks (6-1) head East looking to shore up their leaky defense against a resurgent Buffalo Bills (6-2).
While the Seahawks offense led by quarterback Russell Wilson has scored at will this season, Seattle's defense is the worst in the NFL, giving up 460.9 yards per outing and shipping an average 28.4 points per game.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen aims to keep the Seahawks defense occupied in order to limit opposite number Wilson's time on the field.
"We've got to make sure we're doing our part and try to keep them off the field as much as possible," Allen said. "It's going to be a four-quarter dog fight. We understand that."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--Crowd-loving Snedeker seizes lead at PGA Houston Open

Brandt Snedeker , in the top 40 only once since the PGA Tour 's Covid-19 shutdown , said the first spectators at a US tour event since March helped him seize the lead in Thursday 's first round of the Houston Open .
The 39-year-old American fired a five-under par 65 for a two-stroke edge at Memorial Park Golf Course , a municipal layout hosting a PGA event for the first time since 1963 .
`` Very excited about how I played , '' Snedeker said .
`` Drove it great .
Around this golf course you have to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be a long day .
Did a great job of that .
Made some putts .
Birdied every par-5 out there .
`` You need to take advantage of the scoring holes , which I did a great job of today . ''
A total of 2,000 spectators are being allowed each day with face masks and social distancing precautions in place .
It 's the first PGA event on a US course with spectators since play resumed in June after a three-month layoff .
`` That 's a big reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love having fans out here , '' Snedeker said .
`` I kind of feed off their energy .
It 's great to hear some claps and people excited for good shots . ''
Australians Jason Day and Cameron Davis , Mexico 's Carlos Ortiz and Americans Scottie Scheffler , Michael Thompson and Harold Varner shared second on 67 .
`` I putted a lot better today than I had in the past , '' Day said .
`` I think it 's just a good step in the right direction . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ darkness halted play .
The best of them was Norway 's Kristoffer Ventura at 1-under through 16 holes .
World number 84 Snedeker , whose only top-40 finish since February was a share of 17th last month at Jackson , Mississippi , seeks a 10th career US PGA title and first since 2018 at Greensboro , where he opened with a 59 .
`` Did a great job of kind of thinking my way around the golf course , '' said Snedeker .
`` I 'm excited I got a low one in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead means nothing right now .
We have a lot of golf to go . ''
Snedeker holed a 15-footer from the fringe at the par-3 second and a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 third .
He dropped his approach inside three feet and birdied the par-5 eighth and holed another three-footer to birdie the par-4 13th .
`` I was putting good , which was a good feeling , '' Snedeker said .
`` I 've been driving it well , so it just kind of depended how I hit my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Snedeker missed a four-foot putt to bogey the par-4 14th but answered by sinking a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th and another from just inside nine feet at the par-5 16th .
`` The 15th is going to be really tough by the end of the week , '' he said .
`` It 's just a diabolical green . ''
World number one Dustin Johnson , in his first event since he contracted Covid-19 and missed two tournaments in October , stumbled to four bogeys in five holes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka , trying to find form after hip and knee injuries , also shot 72 .
`` I did n't hit it well but I was still able to keep it around par , '' Koepka said .
`` The way I hit it I could have been 5- or 6-over for sure . ''
Scotland 's Martin Laird made a hole-in-one at the par-3 second from 142 yards with a 9-iron .

Washington (AFP) –
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Brandt Snedeker, in the top 40 only once since the PGA Tour's Covid-19 shutdown, said the first spectators at a US tour event since March helped him seize the lead in Thursday's first round of the Houston Open.
The 39-year-old American fired a five-under par 65 for a two-stroke edge at Memorial Park Golf Course, a municipal layout hosting a PGA event for the first time since 1963.
"Very excited about how I played," Snedeker said. "Drove it great. Around this golf course you have to be in the fairway, otherwise it's going to be a long day. Did a great job of that. Made some putts. Birdied every par-5 out there.
"You need to take advantage of the scoring holes, which I did a great job of today."
A total of 2,000 spectators are being allowed each day with face masks and social distancing precautions in place.
It's the first PGA event on a US course with spectators since play resumed in June after a three-month layoff.
"That's a big reason why I played well today -- I love having fans out here," Snedeker said. "I kind of feed off their energy. It's great to hear some claps and people excited for good shots."
Australians Jason Day and Cameron Davis, Mexico's Carlos Ortiz and Americans Scottie Scheffler, Michael Thompson and Harold Varner shared second on 67.
"I putted a lot better today than I had in the past," Day said. "I think it's just a good step in the right direction."
Nine players remained on the course when darkness halted play. The best of them was Norway's Kristoffer Ventura at 1-under through 16 holes.
World number 84 Snedeker, whose only top-40 finish since February was a share of 17th last month at Jackson, Mississippi, seeks a 10th career US PGA title and first since 2018 at Greensboro, where he opened with a 59.
"Did a great job of kind of thinking my way around the golf course," said Snedeker. "I'm excited I got a low one in me, which is good. The lead means nothing right now. We have a lot of golf to go."
Snedeker holed a 15-footer from the fringe at the par-3 second and a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 third. He dropped his approach inside three feet and birdied the par-5 eighth and holed another three-footer to birdie the par-4 13th.
"I was putting good, which was a good feeling," Snedeker said. "I've been driving it well, so it just kind of depended how I hit my irons and kind of hung in there."
Snedeker missed a four-foot putt to bogey the par-4 14th but answered by sinking a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th and another from just inside nine feet at the par-5 16th.
"The 15th is going to be really tough by the end of the week," he said. "It's just a diabolical green."
World number one Dustin Johnson, in his first event since he contracted Covid-19 and missed two tournaments in October, stumbled to four bogeys in five holes on his way to an opening 72.
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, trying to find form after hip and knee injuries, also shot 72.
"I didn't hit it well but I was still able to keep it around par," Koepka said. "The way I hit it I could have been 5- or 6-over for sure."
Scotland's Martin Laird made a hole-in-one at the par-3 second from 142 yards with a 9-iron.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-05--Maradona to remain in hospital for treatment following surgery: doctor

A supporter of Diego Maradona , kneels outside the private clinic where Argentine former football star underwent brain surgery for a blood clot Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is to remain in hospital for several more days to undergo treatment following surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain , his doctor said Thursday .
`` We saw that in the postoperative phase Diego had episodes of confusion , '' Leopoldo Luque told reporters , adding that therapists had linked the behaviour to `` abstinence '' and that the necessary treatment would last `` a few days '' .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maradona has a history of drug and alcohol addition .
Although he has stated he has not used cocaine in years , according to friends and media reports , he remains addicted to alcohol .
The doctor said Maradona `` agrees '' with the diagnosis and would remain in the clinic .
At a press conference outside the private clinic in Buenos Aires where surgeons spent 80 minutes removing the clot on Tuesday night , Luque took pains to present an upbeat assessment of the 60-year-old 's condition .
`` Diego is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
We were even dancing .
Yes , we danced ! ''
the doctor said .

Olivos (Argentina) (AFP) –
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Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is to remain in hospital for several more days to undergo treatment following surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain, his doctor said Thursday.
"We saw that in the postoperative phase Diego had episodes of confusion," Leopoldo Luque told reporters, adding that therapists had linked the behaviour to "abstinence" and that the necessary treatment would last "a few days".
Luque did not provide details, but Maradona has a history of drug and alcohol addition.
Although he has stated he has not used cocaine in years, according to friends and media reports, he remains addicted to alcohol.
The doctor said Maradona "agrees" with the diagnosis and would remain in the clinic.
At a press conference outside the private clinic in Buenos Aires where surgeons spent 80 minutes removing the clot on Tuesday night, Luque took pains to present an upbeat assessment of the 60-year-old's condition.
"Diego is doing well. The CT scan came out well. We were even dancing. Yes, we danced!" the doctor said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-05--Eight detained after Vienna attack had previous convictions

Hundreds came together to remember the victims in a candlelit vigil near the scene of the attack , including members of Jewish and Muslim youth organisations Eight of those detained following Monday night 's terrorist attack in Vienna had previous convictions , including for terror offences , the Austrian interior minister said Thursday , as the investigation extended to Switzerland and a second , unnamed country .
In the wake of the attack in which an Austrian-born man shot and killed four people in a popular nightlife area of central Vienna on Monday night , police arrested a total of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been convicted for terrorism-related offences , two for violent crime offences , and two for an attempted `` honour killing '' , Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told a press conference Thursday .
`` We have had intensive cooperation with the FBI , '' which provided Austrian authorities with `` valuable information '' , Nehammer added , without giving further details .
The investigation has also led to Switzerland , where prosecutors have confirmed that two Swiss men aged 18 and 24 who were arrested Wednesday had already been the targets of criminal cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country are also investigating `` direct links to the perpetrator , '' according to Nehammer , but added he was n't able to name the country at this stage because of ongoing investigations .
Germany 's Der Spiegel newspaper reported earlier this week that the Vienna attacker had made contact with German Islamists during an attempt to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State organisation .
Neighbouring countries were helping Austrian authorities as well as Europol , the European Union 's law enforcement agency , which dispatched two agents to Vienna .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack in Austria for decades and the first blamed on a jihadist , whom authorities identified as 20-year-old Kujtim Fejzulai , a dual Austrian-Macedonian national who had also been convicted for trying to join IS in Syria .
After killing four people and injuring 22 , including a police officer , Fejzulai was killed by a bullet that entered his body just below his left shoulder and pierced through his lung , authorities said .
Security officials on Thursday also addressed criticism that they did not follow up on a warning from neighbouring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ammunition there in July , about seven months after he was released on probation .
Though on Wednesday Nehammer admitted to `` a failure of communication '' when it came to alerting the justice ministry , Vienna police chief Gerhard Puerstl said the suspect was not initially clearly identifiable in photos sent from Slovakia .
On Thursday , hundreds came together to remember the victims in a candlelit vigil near the scene of the attack , including members of Jewish and Muslim youth organisations .
Earlier imams and rabbis , along with Vienna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took part in a silent march past the scenes of the attack and prayed together for the victims .
More details have emerged in local media about those who were killed in the attack , the youngest of whom was a 21-year-old named as Nedzip V. The other victims were a 24-year-old German student at Vienna 's University of Applied Arts who was working as a waitress , a 39-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman .

Vienna (AFP) –
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Eight of those detained following Monday night's terrorist attack in Vienna had previous convictions, including for terror offences, the Austrian interior minister said Thursday, as the investigation extended to Switzerland and a second, unnamed country.
In the wake of the attack in which an Austrian-born man shot and killed four people in a popular nightlife area of central Vienna on Monday night, police arrested a total of 16 men.
Four of them had been convicted for terrorism-related offences, two for violent crime offences, and two for an attempted "honour killing", Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told a press conference Thursday.
"We have had intensive cooperation with the FBI," which provided Austrian authorities with "valuable information", Nehammer added, without giving further details.
The investigation has also led to Switzerland, where prosecutors have confirmed that two Swiss men aged 18 and 24 who were arrested Wednesday had already been the targets of criminal cases over terrorism offences.
Authorities in another country are also investigating "direct links to the perpetrator," according to Nehammer, but added he wasn't able to name the country at this stage because of ongoing investigations.
Germany's Der Spiegel newspaper reported earlier this week that the Vienna attacker had made contact with German Islamists during an attempt to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State organisation.
Neighbouring countries were helping Austrian authorities as well as Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, which dispatched two agents to Vienna.
The shooting was the first major such attack in Austria for decades and the first blamed on a jihadist, whom authorities identified as 20-year-old Kujtim Fejzulai, a dual Austrian-Macedonian national who had also been convicted for trying to join IS in Syria.
After killing four people and injuring 22, including a police officer, Fejzulai was killed by a bullet that entered his body just below his left shoulder and pierced through his lung, authorities said.
- 'Failure of communication' -
Security officials on Thursday also addressed criticism that they did not follow up on a warning from neighbouring Slovakia that Fejzulai had tried to buy ammunition there in July, about seven months after he was released on probation.
Though on Wednesday Nehammer admitted to "a failure of communication" when it came to alerting the justice ministry, Vienna police chief Gerhard Puerstl said the suspect was not initially clearly identifiable in photos sent from Slovakia.
On Thursday, hundreds came together to remember the victims in a candlelit vigil near the scene of the attack, including members of Jewish and Muslim youth organisations.
Earlier imams and rabbis, along with Vienna's Roman Catholic Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, took part in a silent march past the scenes of the attack and prayed together for the victims.
More details have emerged in local media about those who were killed in the attack, the youngest of whom was a 21-year-old named as Nedzip V.
The other victims were a 24-year-old German student at Vienna's University of Applied Arts who was working as a waitress, a 39-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-05--Lille take Zlatan down a peg with thumping Milan win

Yazici Yusuf has scored six goals in three Europa matches following his second hat-trick of the continental campaign Lille 's Yusuf Yazici brought AC Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic down to earth with a bump on Thursday with all three goals in a 3-0 Europa League win over the seven-time European champions .
The 39-year-old Ibrahimovic had been one of the stories of the early part of the season after firing seven goals in four league games to take the Italian giants top of Serie A , but it was Yazici , who is yet to start in Ligue 1 this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his hat-trick at the San Siro .
Yazici 's goals put Lille , who are unbeaten in all competitions this season , one point ahead of Milan who lost for the first time since football returned from the first coronavirus lockdown .
Celtic are bottom of Group H after being hammered 4-1 at home by Sparta Prague .
The 23-year-old Yazici opened the scoring when he won and scored a soft-looking penalty in the 22nd minute .
He doubled the away side 's lead nine minutes after the break when his hopeful strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then twisted the knife three minutes later when he confidently finished a counter attack .
Incredibly it was Yazici 's second Europa League hat-trick of the season following his treble in Lille 's 4-1 win over Sparta Prague in the opening round of fixtures , taking his European tally to six .
Kelechi Iheanacho was the star for Leicester City as they made it three wins from three with their 4-0 thumping of Portuguese side Braga in a match that was never in doubt from the moment the Nigerian opened the scoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his second with a long range effort three minutes after the break before providing the low cross for Dennis Praet to tap home the third and end the match as a contest .
James Maddison completed the scoring from close range with 12 minutes remaining as Brendan Rodgers 's went three points ahead of Braga at the top of Group G. Fellow Premier League side Arsenal also maintained their 100 percent record with a 4-1 win over Molde of Norway .
Earlier Harry Kane scored his 200th goal for Tottenham Hotspur as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- level on six points with Royal Antwerp and LASK -- with a 3-1 win at Ludogorets .
England captain Kane opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho 's side with just 12 minutes on the clock when he headed home Lucas Moura 's corner to bring up his double century of Tottenham goals in his 300th match for the club .
`` I 'm delighted with that and I probably could have scored a couple more in that 45 minutes , '' said Kane .
`` It 's a great milestone to reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come . ''
Rangers were poised to make it three wins from three in Group D when they were 3-1 ahead at Benfica with 14 minutes remaining .
But despite losing Nicolas Otamendi to a straight red card with less than 20 minutes gone , two-time European champions Benfica fought back and in added time levelled when Darwin Nunez raced through and slotted home past Allan McGregor .
The pair are joined on seven points at the top of the group , four ahead of Lech Poznan who beat bottom side Standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sivasspor to remain rooted to the bottom of Group I a day after their media manager was suspended by UEFA for reportedly calling for the killing of `` all the Armenians , old and young , without distinction '' .
The social media post in question came amid the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Roma took control of Group A with a thumping 5-0 win over Cluj that put the leaders three points clear of the Romanians and Young Boys .
Fellow Italians Napoli also won , 2-1 at HNK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points with Group F leaders AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad .
La Liga leaders Sociedad beat Alkmaar 1-0 , leaving the group on a knife edge with three matches remaining .

Paris (AFP) –
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Lille's Yusuf Yazici brought AC Milan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic down to earth with a bump on Thursday with all three goals in a 3-0 Europa League win over the seven-time European champions.
The 39-year-old Ibrahimovic had been one of the stories of the early part of the season after firing seven goals in four league games to take the Italian giants top of Serie A, but it was Yazici, who is yet to start in Ligue 1 this season, who stole the show with his hat-trick at the San Siro.
Yazici's goals put Lille, who are unbeaten in all competitions this season, one point ahead of Milan who lost for the first time since football returned from the first coronavirus lockdown.
Celtic are bottom of Group H after being hammered 4-1 at home by Sparta Prague.
The 23-year-old Yazici opened the scoring when he won and scored a soft-looking penalty in the 22nd minute.
He doubled the away side's lead nine minutes after the break when his hopeful strike bobbled over Gianluigi Donnarumma's early dive and then twisted the knife three minutes later when he confidently finished a counter attack.
Incredibly it was Yazici's second Europa League hat-trick of the season following his treble in Lille's 4-1 win over Sparta Prague in the opening round of fixtures, taking his European tally to six.
- Kane's double century -
Kelechi Iheanacho was the star for Leicester City as they made it three wins from three with their 4-0 thumping of Portuguese side Braga in a match that was never in doubt from the moment the Nigerian opened the scoring in the 21st minute.
He collected his second with a long range effort three minutes after the break before providing the low cross for Dennis Praet to tap home the third and end the match as a contest.
James Maddison completed the scoring from close range with 12 minutes remaining as Brendan Rodgers's went three points ahead of Braga at the top of Group G.
Fellow Premier League side Arsenal also maintained their 100 percent record with a 4-1 win over Molde of Norway.
Earlier Harry Kane scored his 200th goal for Tottenham Hotspur as he helped fire Spurs top of Group J -- level on six points with Royal Antwerp and LASK -- with a 3-1 win at Ludogorets.
England captain Kane opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho's side with just 12 minutes on the clock when he headed home Lucas Moura's corner to bring up his double century of Tottenham goals in his 300th match for the club.
"I'm delighted with that and I probably could have scored a couple more in that 45 minutes," said Kane.
"It's a great milestone to reach and hopefully there are a few more to come."
- Benfica bounce back -
Rangers were poised to make it three wins from three in Group D when they were 3-1 ahead at Benfica with 14 minutes remaining.
But despite losing Nicolas Otamendi to a straight red card with less than 20 minutes gone, two-time European champions Benfica fought back and in added time levelled when Darwin Nunez raced through and slotted home past Allan McGregor.
The pair are joined on seven points at the top of the group, four ahead of Lech Poznan who beat bottom side Standard Liege 3-1.
Qarabag lost 2-0 at Sivasspor to remain rooted to the bottom of Group I a day after their media manager was suspended by UEFA for reportedly calling for the killing of "all the Armenians, old and young, without distinction".
The social media post in question came amid the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Roma took control of Group A with a thumping 5-0 win over Cluj that put the leaders three points clear of the Romanians and Young Boys.
Fellow Italians Napoli also won, 2-1 at HNK Rijeka, to move level on six points with Group F leaders AZ Alkmaar and Real Sociedad.
La Liga leaders Sociedad beat Alkmaar 1-0, leaving the group on a knife edge with three matches remaining.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-05--SAfrica great Morkel to play BBL as an Australian

South African fast bowling great Morne Morkel Friday signed on for the Big Bash League , but as a local hire rather than international after becoming an Australian permanent resident .
The 36-year-old , who played 86 Tests and 117 ODIs for the Proteas , moved to Australia in 2018 , where he lives with his sports broadcaster wife and children .
He gained residency this year and put pen to paper with the Brisbane Heat for the Twenty20 tournament starting on December 10 .
`` I am still enjoying my cricket enormously and the chance to be part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keen to experience , '' he said .
`` I admit it will be a bit unusual to call myself a local , but we are enjoying living and working here and this is another aspect of our lives that I am looking forward to being a part of . ''
BBL rules allow three internationals in the same XI with Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and English pair Tom Banton and Lewis Gregory already signed for the Heat .
Vastly experienced , Morkel 's T20 record includes 77 wickets in 70 matches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Royals , Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils .
Heat coach Darren Lehmann said he was eager to see Morkel in action .
`` I consider his best bowling efforts came as he got older , '' he said .
`` His control and skill with the ball were his trademarks so it will be great to introduce him into our group . ''

Sydney (AFP) –
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South African fast bowling great Morne Morkel Friday signed on for the Big Bash League, but as a local hire rather than international after becoming an Australian permanent resident.
The 36-year-old, who played 86 Tests and 117 ODIs for the Proteas, moved to Australia in 2018, where he lives with his sports broadcaster wife and children.
He gained residency this year and put pen to paper with the Brisbane Heat for the Twenty20 tournament starting on December 10.
"I am still enjoying my cricket enormously and the chance to be part of the Heat squad is something I am keen to experience," he said.
"I admit it will be a bit unusual to call myself a local, but we are enjoying living and working here and this is another aspect of our lives that I am looking forward to being a part of."
BBL rules allow three internationals in the same XI with Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and English pair Tom Banton and Lewis Gregory already signed for the Heat.
Vastly experienced, Morkel's T20 record includes 77 wickets in 70 matches in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils.
Heat coach Darren Lehmann said he was eager to see Morkel in action.
"I consider his best bowling efforts came as he got older," he said. "His control and skill with the ball were his trademarks so it will be great to introduce him into our group."
Morkel retired from international cricket in 2018.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-05--Gloved and masked, US vote counters keep focused on historic task

If it were at another time , what they were doing could seem like nothing much , maybe office sorting of some kind .
But the stakes could not have been higher on Thursday as workers in masks and gloves stood over folding tables to verify and count , one by one , the remaining ballots in the yet to be decided US presidential election .
The world was watching -- and so , of course , were the campaign teams for President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden along with their teams of lawyers .
Huge numbers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , staking out space to record what will be a historic moment .
There was often not much to see -- just workers going about their task , sure and steady , dressed casually , sometimes with lanyards and IDs around their necks .
They made their way through a mountain of mailed ballots , the preferred method for many voters this year due to the coronavirus pandemic , checking their validity then sorting and running them through counting machines .
The number of mailed ballots was the reason there were repeated warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process could take longer this year and will require patience -- a prediction that proved accurate .
In some cities , such as Philadelphia , protesters gathered outside counting centers and Trump 's team pressed for greater access , seeking , without evidence , to sow further doubt on the process as Biden moved to the cusp of gaining enough electoral votes for victory .
There were a handful of protesters during the day on Thursday in Atlanta , Georgia , a major city in the American south and one with a proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Martin Luther King Jr. Georgia unexpectedly became an epicenter of attention after Biden performed surprisingly well in the Republican stronghold , making a serious run at its 16 electoral votes .
Should he overtake Trump in the remaining ballots , he would become the first Democratic nominee for president to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992 .
Nevertheless , there was a relaxed , almost mundane atmosphere as counters focused on the job at the arena that is usually the home of the Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball team .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cloud over the process .
Gabriel Sterling of the Georgia secretary of state 's office , which oversees the organization of elections , spoke of the small margin between the two candidates in his state and said `` we are aware of that fact . ''
`` And the county elections officials feel that pressure .
They understand .
They are working hard , '' he said at the state capitol .
`` My hats are off to them having to go through this process and be under this level of scrutiny .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were `` not involved in voter fraud .
These people are not involved in voter suppression . ''
Sterling said early Thursday that about 60,000 votes remained to be counted .
On the other side of the country in the Las Vegas area -- more often known as the country 's gambling mecca -- gloved workers separated by glass dividers fed ballots through counting machines , one of a series of steps in the process of verifying and tabulating the votes .
There were also few protesters on Thursday there , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that remained too close to call two days after the election .
Joe Gloria , registrar of voters for Clark County , which includes Las Vegas , seemed somewhat harried as he explained to journalists the work that remained , speaking through a mask .
But there was also a reminder that while the counting can seem drab and boring , there are heavy tensions underlying it .
Gloria was asked about protests on Wednesday night and if he felt safe .
`` I can tell you that my wife and my mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have security here , '' he said .
`` I feel safe .
We 're going to be OK. We 're going to continue to count .
We will not allow anyone to stop us from doing what our duty is in counting ballots . ''

Atlanta (AFP) –
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If it were at another time, what they were doing could seem like nothing much, maybe office sorting of some kind.
But the stakes could not have been higher on Thursday as workers in masks and gloves stood over folding tables to verify and count, one by one, the remaining ballots in the yet to be decided US presidential election.
The world was watching -- and so, of course, were the campaign teams for President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden along with their teams of lawyers.
Huge numbers of journalists from around the world were gathered, staking out space to record what will be a historic moment.
There was often not much to see -- just workers going about their task, sure and steady, dressed casually, sometimes with lanyards and IDs around their necks.
They made their way through a mountain of mailed ballots, the preferred method for many voters this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, checking their validity then sorting and running them through counting machines.
The number of mailed ballots was the reason there were repeated warnings ahead of Tuesday's election that the process could take longer this year and will require patience -- a prediction that proved accurate.
In some cities, such as Philadelphia, protesters gathered outside counting centers and Trump's team pressed for greater access, seeking, without evidence, to sow further doubt on the process as Biden moved to the cusp of gaining enough electoral votes for victory.
- 'Feel that pressure' -
There were a handful of protesters during the day on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia, a major city in the American south and one with a proud history of African-American activism as the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.
Georgia unexpectedly became an epicenter of attention after Biden performed surprisingly well in the Republican stronghold, making a serious run at its 16 electoral votes.
Should he overtake Trump in the remaining ballots, he would become the first Democratic nominee for president to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Nevertheless, there was a relaxed, almost mundane atmosphere as counters focused on the job at the arena that is usually the home of the Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball team.
Officials defended workers against attempts to cast a cloud over the process.
Gabriel Sterling of the Georgia secretary of state's office, which oversees the organization of elections, spoke of the small margin between the two candidates in his state and said "we are aware of that fact."
"And the county elections officials feel that pressure. They understand. They are working hard," he said at the state capitol.
"My hats are off to them having to go through this process and be under this level of scrutiny."
He added, firmly, that they were "not involved in voter fraud. These people are not involved in voter suppression."
Sterling said early Thursday that about 60,000 votes remained to be counted.
- 'I feel safe' -
On the other side of the country in the Las Vegas area -- more often known as the country's gambling mecca -- gloved workers separated by glass dividers fed ballots through counting machines, one of a series of steps in the process of verifying and tabulating the votes.
There were also few protesters on Thursday there, which is located in Nevada, another state that remained too close to call two days after the election.
Joe Gloria, registrar of voters for Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, seemed somewhat harried as he explained to journalists the work that remained, speaking through a mask.
But there was also a reminder that while the counting can seem drab and boring, there are heavy tensions underlying it.
Gloria was asked about protests on Wednesday night and if he felt safe.
"I can tell you that my wife and my mother are very concerned for me, but we have security here," he said.
"I feel safe. We're going to be OK. We're going to continue to count. We will not allow anyone to stop us from doing what our duty is in counting ballots."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-05--Landslides kill 12 as Eta takes a toll on Central America

A boy and a man save chairs from a flooded house as heavy rains from tropical depression Eta cause flooding in Izabal , north of Guatemala City in November 2020 The death toll from hurricane Eta rose to at least 12 Thursday as it spun itself out into a tropical depression in Central America , while rising floodwaters and a wake of destruction in Nicaragua , Honduras and Guatemala left thousands without shelter and at risk of landslides .
Four people died in landslides in Guatemala , including two children whose fragile family dwelling was swept away .
Landslides also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Honduras , emergency services reported Thursday , while a US citizen and his wife died when their home was buried by mud in Costa Rica .
Eta tore into Central America as a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday , devastating impoverished coastal areas of northern Nicaragua before weakening to a tropical depression by Wednesday as it pushed north through Honduras , Guatemala and Costa Rica .
The depression was packing `` intense and catastrophic '' rains as it closed in Thursday on the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa and its population of one million , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez ordered the army to mobilize helicopters and boats to evacuate inundated areas .
In the north of the country , many people were forced to take refuge on the roofs of their houses as floodwaters rose , relief agencies said .
Three thousand people had already been evacuated from the path of the storm on Wednesday , COPECO said .
Two children , an eight-year-old and a toddler of 11 months , died when a mudslide swept their home away in the northwestern department of Santa Barbara .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result two minors dead , '' police said in a statement .
Two other children were killed in similar circumstances in the country 's south , authorities reported Wednesday .
Meanwhile , a 71-year-old American and his 51-year-old Costa Rican wife died when a landslide buried their home in the southern canton of Coto Brus , on the border with Panama .
Their bodies were recovered by emergency workers .
The four people killed in Guatemala were swept away in mudslides as rain-saturated hillsides gave way .
They included two children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were killed when their home was swept away in the village of Los Triagles , in the country 's northern Quiche department , according to David de Leon of the Disaster Reduction Coordinating Committee , CONRED .
Another person died in a village in the same region , where two other people are reported missing .
The fourth victim died in Chinaulta , just north of Guatemala City .
Landslides swept away roads and at least five bridges , and the highway linking the capital Tegucigalpa with second city San Pedro Sula was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Authorities evacuated around 700 prisoners in the city of El Progreso , north of the capital , after the site was swamped by floodwaters .
In neighboring La Lima , hundreds of families fled their homes and took refuge in makeshift plastic and sheet metal shelters erected along a highway median .
Even as Eta eased to a tropical depression , the US National Hurricane Center continued to warn of `` life-threatening flash flooding '' over portions of Central America .
Eta slammed ashore at the northern Nicaraguan coastal town of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- on Tuesday packing winds of 130 miles ( 210 kilometers per ) per hour that knocked over walls , uprooted trees , downed power lines and tore roofs off dwellings .
It left impoverished indigenous communities along Nicaragua 's northern coast underwater , and swept away several coastal villages .
The hurricane is likely to have a devastating effect on the communities ' main livelihoods of fishing and agriculture , said the World Food Programme ( WFP ) , which has sent 80 tons of food aid to the region .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to climate change , hurricanes are becoming more powerful and carrying more water , posing an increasing threat to the world 's coastal communities , scientists say .
Storm surges amplified by rising seas can be especially devastating .

Tegucigalpa (AFP) –
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The death toll from hurricane Eta rose to at least 12 Thursday as it spun itself out into a tropical depression in Central America, while rising floodwaters and a wake of destruction in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala left thousands without shelter and at risk of landslides.
Four people died in landslides in Guatemala, including two children whose fragile family dwelling was swept away.
Landslides also claimed the lives of two children in Honduras, emergency services reported Thursday, while a US citizen and his wife died when their home was buried by mud in Costa Rica.
Eta tore into Central America as a Category 4 hurricane on Tuesday, devastating impoverished coastal areas of northern Nicaragua before weakening to a tropical depression by Wednesday as it pushed north through Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica.
The depression was packing "intense and catastrophic" rains as it closed in Thursday on the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa and its population of one million, the Honduran disaster agency COPECO warned.
- Widespread flooding -
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez ordered the army to mobilize helicopters and boats to evacuate inundated areas.
In the north of the country, many people were forced to take refuge on the roofs of their houses as floodwaters rose, relief agencies said.
Three thousand people had already been evacuated from the path of the storm on Wednesday, COPECO said.
Two children, an eight-year-old and a toddler of 11 months, died when a mudslide swept their home away in the northwestern department of Santa Barbara.
"A house was buried, leaving as a result two minors dead," police said in a statement.
Two other children were killed in similar circumstances in the country's south, authorities reported Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a 71-year-old American and his 51-year-old Costa Rican wife died when a landslide buried their home in the southern canton of Coto Brus, on the border with Panama. Their bodies were recovered by emergency workers.
The four people killed in Guatemala were swept away in mudslides as rain-saturated hillsides gave way.
They included two children, aged two and 11, who were killed when their home was swept away in the village of Los Triagles, in the country's northern Quiche department, according to David de Leon of the Disaster Reduction Coordinating Committee, CONRED.
Another person died in a village in the same region, where two other people are reported missing.
The fourth victim died in Chinaulta, just north of Guatemala City.
Landslides swept away roads and at least five bridges, and the highway linking the capital Tegucigalpa with second city San Pedro Sula was cut off by a mudslide, it said.
Authorities evacuated around 700 prisoners in the city of El Progreso, north of the capital, after the site was swamped by floodwaters.
In neighboring La Lima, hundreds of families fled their homes and took refuge in makeshift plastic and sheet metal shelters erected along a highway median.
- Flash flooding warning -
Even as Eta eased to a tropical depression, the US National Hurricane Center continued to warn of "life-threatening flash flooding" over portions of Central America.
Eta slammed ashore at the northern Nicaraguan coastal town of Bilwi -- also known as Puerto Cabezas -- on Tuesday packing winds of 130 miles (210 kilometers per) per hour that knocked over walls, uprooted trees, downed power lines and tore roofs off dwellings.
It left impoverished indigenous communities along Nicaragua's northern coast underwater, and swept away several coastal villages.
The hurricane is likely to have a devastating effect on the communities' main livelihoods of fishing and agriculture, said the World Food Programme (WFP), which has sent 80 tons of food aid to the region.
As the surface layer of oceans warms due to climate change, hurricanes are becoming more powerful and carrying more water, posing an increasing threat to the world's coastal communities, scientists say.
Storm surges amplified by rising seas can be especially devastating.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--Championship club Derby set for Abu Dhabi takeover

A deal has been agreed for a takeover of Wayne Rooney 's Derby by an Abu Dhabi sheikh Derby County said on Friday that a deal had been agreed `` in principle '' for the sale of the English Championship club to a company owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family .
Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan , a cousin of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour , has passed the English Football League 's ( EFL 's ) owners ' and directors ' test .
`` Derby County Football Club 's owner and executive chairman Mel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Derventio Holdings ( UK ) Limited since May in relation to taking over the ownership the club , '' Derby said in a statement .
`` These talks progressed to the point where a deal has , in principle , been agreed between the two parties . ''
The statement added : `` Derventio Holdings ( UK ) Limited , whose ultimate controlling entity is Bin Zayed International LLC , owned by Sheikh Khaled ... may now proceed with the transaction , which is expected to close very soon . ''
The fee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around £60 million ( $ 78 million ) .
Sheikh Khaled has previously attempted to buy into English football , with a £2 billion offer for Liverpool rebuffed by Fenway Sports Group in 2018 and a bid for Newcastle last year falling through .
Morris took control of Derby in 2015 but despite major investment in transfers and wages that have seen the club run up huge losses , they have failed to secure a return to the riches of the Premier League .
The club 's Pride Park stadium was sold to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million in 2018 to avoid falling foul of the EFL 's profit and sustainability rules .
Derby , captained by former England and Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney , are second bottom of the Championship after 10 games of the season , with manager Phillip Cocu reportedly set to be sacked once the takeover is completed .

London (AFP) –
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Derby County said on Friday that a deal had been agreed "in principle" for the sale of the English Championship club to a company owned by a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan, a cousin of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, has passed the English Football League's (EFL's) owners' and directors' test.
"Derby County Football Club's owner and executive chairman Mel Morris CBE has been in discussion with Derventio Holdings (UK) Limited since May in relation to taking over the ownership the club," Derby said in a statement.
"These talks progressed to the point where a deal has, in principle, been agreed between the two parties."
The statement added: "Derventio Holdings (UK) Limited, whose ultimate controlling entity is Bin Zayed International LLC, owned by Sheikh Khaled... may now proceed with the transaction, which is expected to close very soon."
The fee for the club is reported to be around £60 million ($78 million).
Sheikh Khaled has previously attempted to buy into English football, with a £2 billion offer for Liverpool rebuffed by Fenway Sports Group in 2018 and a bid for Newcastle last year falling through.
Morris took control of Derby in 2015 but despite major investment in transfers and wages that have seen the club run up huge losses, they have failed to secure a return to the riches of the Premier League.
The club's Pride Park stadium was sold to a company controlled by Morris for £81 million in 2018 to avoid falling foul of the EFL's profit and sustainability rules.
Derby, captained by former England and Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, are second bottom of the Championship after 10 games of the season, with manager Phillip Cocu reportedly set to be sacked once the takeover is completed.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--Democrats lose ground with Latino voters in key states

The majority of Latin Americans continue to support the Democratic candidate but the pro-Trump vote within the community has increased .
More Hispanics voted for US President Donald Trump in the 2020 election than in 2016 , allowing the incumbent to win key battleground states , such as Florida and Texas in a shift that could have a long-term impact on the American political landscape .
Wavering between hope and disappointment , Democratic candidate Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to have edged out his Republican rival Donald Trump in the wake of the US presidential election on November 3 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the polls during the campaign never materialised .
While pollsters appear to have been blindsided by the incoming results , analysts have been left scratching their heads , trying to identify all the possible reasons that led the incumbent president to defy , once again , the opinion polls .
It seems certain that `` the Latino vote helped prevent the Democrats from winning a clear victory , ” said Paul Schor , Associate Professor of US social history at the University of Paris-VII , in an interview with FRANCE 24 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloc . ''
In Florida , the pro-Trump vote increased by more than 3 % among Latinos compared to 2016 – a crucial factor in Trump ’ s winning of the key state for the second time in a row .
In Texas , too , some Latin Americans , who had voted overwhelmingly for the Democrats in 2016 and in the midterm elections in 2018 , chose Trump this time around .
In several counties near the Mexican border , the Hispanic vote for Trump increased 200 percent over 2016 , USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right `` is one of the surprises of this election and explains , in large part , why the outgoing president was able to win in Texas ” , noted Schor .
Certainly , the Hispanic community has remained mostly loyal to the Democrats .
Biden attracted nearly two-thirds of those votes and could not have won Arizona without them , CBS said .
However , as Schor points out , the erosion of this Latino support base is one of the great lessons of this election .
`` We can no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Democrats used to win because of some Republicans ’ anti-immigration rhetoric , '' Richard Johnson , a specialist in US politics and policy at Queen Mary University in London , told FRANCE 24 .
There is now a diverse range of Latino votes , which can differ according to country of origin , religious sentiment , age and gender , or socio-professional status .
It may seem surprising that the issue of immigration is no longer the main electoral driver for this segment of the population , even as Trump presents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy and has not refrained , in the past , from labelling immigrants from Latin America as `` rapists '' and `` thieves '' .
Although he has heaped copious insults on Latinos during his term in office , Trump also did a lot to win them back , compared to Biden who was less active on this front , `` perhaps thinking a little too quickly that their vote was largely his ” , Schor said .
Trump opened campaign offices in the heavily Spanish-speaking areas of cities across Florida and Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post reported .
He gave speeches in prisons with large Latino minorities and visited community churches to present himself as a candidate with traditional Christian values .
`` Many Americans with Latin American backgrounds are very Christian and have very conservative positions on societal issues such as abortion , '' Schor explained .
Trump also managed to `` convince some of these voters that Joe Biden was the candidate for socialism , an ideology many of these immigrants , including those from Venezuela under Maduro , sought to escape when they came to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump may have boasted of having pursued an uncompromising foreign policy towards Venezuela and , more generally , other Latin American countries governed by the left , but it was a less significant factor in swinging the Latino vote .
The shift among Hispanic voters towards the Republican side of politics represents a challenge for the Democrats that stretches beyond this election .
`` There seems to be a transformation within this community , marked by the fact that being Latin American is no longer the predominant factor in the vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new efforts to win back this electorate , '' Schor said .
Republicans , especially the more conservative among them , would no doubt welcome this development .
`` American demographics have forced Republicans into a soul-searching exercise for a while .
The growing importance of the Latin American minority means they would have to reconsider their positions on issues such as immigration , '' Schor explained .
But such questions seem redundant if an overtly anti-immigrant candidate like Trump can succeed in capturing more votes from this community .
This article was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicole Trian .

More Hispanics voted for US President Donald Trump in the 2020 election than in 2016, allowing the incumbent to win key battleground states, such as Florida and Texas in a shift that could have a long-term impact on the American political landscape.
The majority of Latin Americans continue to support the Democratic candidate but the pro-Trump vote within the community has increased.
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Wavering between hope and disappointment, Democratic candidate Joe Biden on Thursday appeared to have edged out his Republican rival Donald Trump in the wake of the US presidential election on November 3. But the “blue wave” promised by the polls during the campaign never materialised.
While pollsters appear to have been blindsided by the incoming results, analysts have been left scratching their heads, trying to identify all the possible reasons that led the incumbent president to defy, once again, the opinion polls.
It seems certain that "the Latino vote helped prevent the Democrats from winning a clear victory,” said Paul Schor, Associate Professor of US social history at the University of Paris-VII, in an interview with FRANCE 24. "It is no longer a monolithic bloc."
In Florida, the pro-Trump vote increased by more than 3% among Latinos compared to 2016 – a crucial factor in Trump’s winning of the key state for the second time in a row. In Texas, too, some Latin Americans, who had voted overwhelmingly for the Democrats in 2016 and in the midterm elections in 2018, chose Trump this time around.
In several counties near the Mexican border, the Hispanic vote for Trump increased 200 percent over 2016, USA Today reported.
This shift to the right "is one of the surprises of this election and explains, in large part, why the outgoing president was able to win in Texas”, noted Schor.
Certainly, the Hispanic community has remained mostly loyal to the Democrats. Biden attracted nearly two-thirds of those votes and could not have won Arizona without them, CBS said. However, as Schor points out, the erosion of this Latino support base is one of the great lessons of this election.
"We can no longer discuss this community as a monolithic bloc that the Democrats used to win because of some Republicans’ anti-immigration rhetoric," Richard Johnson, a specialist in US politics and policy at Queen Mary University in London, told FRANCE 24.
There is now a diverse range of Latino votes, which can differ according to country of origin, religious sentiment, age and gender, or socio-professional status. It may seem surprising that the issue of immigration is no longer the main electoral driver for this segment of the population, even as Trump presents himself as a champion of tough migration policy and has not refrained, in the past, from labelling immigrants from Latin America as "rapists" and "thieves".
Although he has heaped copious insults on Latinos during his term in office, Trump also did a lot to win them back, compared to Biden who was less active on this front, "perhaps thinking a little too quickly that their vote was largely his”, Schor said.
Trump opened campaign offices in the heavily Spanish-speaking areas of cities across Florida and Texas ignored by his opponent, the Washington Post reported. He gave speeches in prisons with large Latino minorities and visited community churches to present himself as a candidate with traditional Christian values.
"Many Americans with Latin American backgrounds are very Christian and have very conservative positions on societal issues such as abortion," Schor explained.
Trump also managed to "convince some of these voters that Joe Biden was the candidate for socialism, an ideology many of these immigrants, including those from Venezuela under Maduro, sought to escape when they came to the United States”, noted Johnson.
Trump may have boasted of having pursued an uncompromising foreign policy towards Venezuela and, more generally, other Latin American countries governed by the left, but it was a less significant factor in swinging the Latino vote.
The shift among Hispanic voters towards the Republican side of politics represents a challenge for the Democrats that stretches beyond this election.
"There seems to be a transformation within this community, marked by the fact that being Latin American is no longer the predominant factor in the vote, which will force the Democrats to make new efforts to win back this electorate," Schor said.
Republicans, especially the more conservative among them, would no doubt welcome this development. "American demographics have forced Republicans into a soul-searching exercise for a while. The growing importance of the Latin American minority means they would have to reconsider their positions on issues such as immigration," Schor explained.
But such questions seem redundant if an overtly anti-immigrant candidate like Trump can succeed in capturing more votes from this community.
This article was translated from the original in French by Nicole Trian.
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france24--2020-11-06--All aboard: Singapore 'cruise to nowhere' sets sail

Passengers walk toward the World Dream cruise ship before departure from Singapore Hundreds of passengers were setting sail from Singapore Friday on a `` cruise to nowhere '' with safety measures in place to prevent coronavirus outbreaks , as the industry seeks to bounce back from a pandemic-induced crunch .
Cruises were halted worldwide in March after travel restrictions kicked in and several vessels were hit by major outbreaks , but have now resumed in a few places .
The `` cruise to nowhere '' -- starting and ending at the same place , with no stops -- has proved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for virus tests conducted by workers in protective suits before boarding the World Dream liner .
The liner departs Friday evening into the Malacca Strait , a major shipping lane between the Indian and Pacific Oceans , and will head into international waters before returning to the city-state Sunday .
Vinoth Arun , 27 , a financial consultant accompanied by his girlfriend , was among about 1,400 passengers on board -- half the ship 's capacity , to ensure social distancing .
`` The fact that you carry your luggage and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's just the mindset that you ’ re going on holiday , '' he told AFP .
He felt it was safer to sail now compared with earlier this year , when cruise ships were hard hit : `` Now everyone knows about Covid and they 're not so nonchalant about it any more . ''
The cruise operator , Malaysia 's Genting Group , has introduced a raft of safety measures .
Rooms and public areas are disinfected regularly , restaurants have reduced capacity , guests have to book the swimming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's clinic is kitted out with a machine that churns out virus test results in an hour .
The ship also has an intensive care unit , in case anyone does contract Covid-19 .
Despite not making any stops as a regular cruise would , there is plenty of entertainment on board such as a casino , movies , water slides and a Christmas show .
Accounts executive Renee Toh , 56 , who was cruising with her husband and daughter , said she was excited to be able to take to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` relaxing time '' with her family and having some fun at the casino .
Tourism operators are rolling out new services as they struggle to survive .
Airlines are operating `` flights to nowhere '' and travel-stranded diners last month ate aboard two parked Singapore Airlines jets turned into pop-up restaurants .

Singapore (AFP) –
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Hundreds of passengers were setting sail from Singapore Friday on a "cruise to nowhere" with safety measures in place to prevent coronavirus outbreaks, as the industry seeks to bounce back from a pandemic-induced crunch.
Cruises were halted worldwide in March after travel restrictions kicked in and several vessels were hit by major outbreaks, but have now resumed in a few places.
The "cruise to nowhere" -- starting and ending at the same place, with no stops -- has proved a hit, and mask-wearing passengers lined up for virus tests conducted by workers in protective suits before boarding the World Dream liner.
The liner departs Friday evening into the Malacca Strait, a major shipping lane between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and will head into international waters before returning to the city-state Sunday.
Vinoth Arun, 27, a financial consultant accompanied by his girlfriend, was among about 1,400 passengers on board -- half the ship's capacity, to ensure social distancing.
"The fact that you carry your luggage and you bring your passport out, I guess it's just the mindset that you’re going on holiday," he told AFP.
He felt it was safer to sail now compared with earlier this year, when cruise ships were hard hit: "Now everyone knows about Covid and they're not so nonchalant about it any more."
The cruise operator, Malaysia's Genting Group, has introduced a raft of safety measures.
Rooms and public areas are disinfected regularly, restaurants have reduced capacity, guests have to book the swimming pool in advance, while the ship's clinic is kitted out with a machine that churns out virus test results in an hour.
The ship also has an intensive care unit, in case anyone does contract Covid-19.
Despite not making any stops as a regular cruise would, there is plenty of entertainment on board such as a casino, movies, water slides and a Christmas show.
Accounts executive Renee Toh, 56, who was cruising with her husband and daughter, said she was excited to be able to take to the seas, and was looking forward to a "relaxing time" with her family and having some fun at the casino.
Tourism operators are rolling out new services as they struggle to survive. Airlines are operating "flights to nowhere" and travel-stranded diners last month ate aboard two parked Singapore Airlines jets turned into pop-up restaurants.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-06--'Exhausted' Swiss doctors reel as second virus wave hits

The novel coronavirus has been mercilessly lashing Switzerland , where hospitals are rapidly becoming overwhelmed No more room .
Patients with severe Covid-19 infections fill all the 10 enclosed beds in the intensive care unit at this small Swiss hospital , but more keep coming .
`` This morning , I was asked to take one more patient ... so I had to transfer the most stable patient I had to another hospital to make room , '' Herve Zender , the chief physician at the La-Chaux-de-Fonds 's ICU , told AFP .
The sudden reorganisation at the hospital in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine .
`` This is something we are doing basically every day at the moment , '' he said .
`` The unit is constantly full .
We have no back-up . ''
For weeks now , the novel coronavirus has been mercilessly lashing Switzerland , and in particular its French-speaking region , where hospitals are rapidly becoming overwhelmed .
Switzerland emerged relatively unscathed from the first wave of Covid-19 infections in the spring , but as a second wave engulfs Europe , health workers here agree the situation in the wealthy Alpine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There are far more patients '' this time around , Zender said .
`` One could say the first wave was bearable .
We managed to handle everything and we did not see a massive influx , '' she told AFP .
`` But now , this is just becoming very difficult to manage . ''
Switzerland , a country of 8.5 million people , is currently seeing one of Europe 's greatest spikes in case numbers compared to population size .
In recent days its daily case count has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200,000 cases and more than 2,330 deaths since the start of the pandemic .
`` There are too many patients .
Too many hospitalised patients .
It is complicated , '' Hostettler said .
`` There are also far more staff members who have tested positive . ''
As for who the patients are , she said they were of `` all ages '' .
`` A lot of them are elderly , between 70 and 80 or older , but there are also younger people , who are 45 , 35 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the La-Chaux-de-Fonds hospital is located , currently counts 314 positive tests per 10,000 inhabitants .
That is nearly twice the infection rate in Switzerland overall , where there are currently 174 infections per 10,000 people , according to the Neuchatel hospital network ( RHNe ) .
In a bid to face the surge in infections , the network has boosted its bed and staffing capacity to allow it to care for up to 250 hospitalised Covid-19 patients at once .
On Wednesday , 120 patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canton of some 33,000 inhabitants , RHNe said .
The La-Chaux-de-Fonds hospital has meanwhile been forced to halt all surgical activities , postponing many interventions and sending the most urgent cases to other hospitals .
The health workers here say they understand that the population is `` fed up '' with the increasingly strict measures aimed to rein in the pandemic .
But they say most people do not appear to realise just how quickly and how dangerously the situation in the hospitals has devolved .
Some also criticise the Swiss government for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week announced a slew of measures , including more stringent requirements on wearing face masks and crowd sizes , but stopped short of returning the entire country to the partial confinement of the spring .
A number of cantons , including Neuchatel , have meanwhile gone the extra mile and ordered restaurants , bars and most shops shuttered .
Health care workers say they hope that will be enough to slow the surge .
`` Everyone is tired , '' said Jeremy Bouhelier , head nurse in the ICU .

La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) (AFP) –
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No more room. Patients with severe Covid-19 infections fill all the 10 enclosed beds in the intensive care unit at this small Swiss hospital, but more keep coming.
"This morning, I was asked to take one more patient... so I had to transfer the most stable patient I had to another hospital to make room," Herve Zender, the chief physician at the La-Chaux-de-Fonds's ICU, told AFP.
The sudden reorganisation at the hospital in western Switzerland has in recent days become routine.
"This is something we are doing basically every day at the moment," he said.
"The unit is constantly full. We have no back-up."
For weeks now, the novel coronavirus has been mercilessly lashing Switzerland, and in particular its French-speaking region, where hospitals are rapidly becoming overwhelmed.
Switzerland emerged relatively unscathed from the first wave of Covid-19 infections in the spring, but as a second wave engulfs Europe, health workers here agree the situation in the wealthy Alpine nation this time is far more worrying.
- 'Far more patients' -
"There are far more patients" this time around, Zender said.
Head nurse Brigitte Hostettler agreed.
"One could say the first wave was bearable. We managed to handle everything and we did not see a massive influx," she told AFP.
"But now, this is just becoming very difficult to manage."
Switzerland, a country of 8.5 million people, is currently seeing one of Europe's greatest spikes in case numbers compared to population size.
In recent days its daily case count has repeatedly surpassed 10,000, and now counts over 200,000 cases and more than 2,330 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
And hospitalisations are surging.
"There are too many patients. Too many hospitalised patients. It is complicated," Hostettler said.
"There are also far more staff members who have tested positive."
As for who the patients are, she said they were of "all ages".
"A lot of them are elderly, between 70 and 80 or older, but there are also younger people, who are 45, 35."
The Swiss canton of Neuchatel, where the La-Chaux-de-Fonds hospital is located, currently counts 314 positive tests per 10,000 inhabitants.
That is nearly twice the infection rate in Switzerland overall, where there are currently 174 infections per 10,000 people, according to the Neuchatel hospital network (RHNe).
In a bid to face the surge in infections, the network has boosted its bed and staffing capacity to allow it to care for up to 250 hospitalised Covid-19 patients at once.
On Wednesday, 120 patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 and 19 suspected cases were hospitalised across the canton of some 33,000 inhabitants, RHNe said.
The La-Chaux-de-Fonds hospital has meanwhile been forced to halt all surgical activities, postponing many interventions and sending the most urgent cases to other hospitals.
- 'Mentally and physically exhausted' -
The health workers here say they understand that the population is "fed up" with the increasingly strict measures aimed to rein in the pandemic.
But they say most people do not appear to realise just how quickly and how dangerously the situation in the hospitals has devolved.
Some also criticise the Swiss government for not taking more decisive measures.
Bern last week announced a slew of measures, including more stringent requirements on wearing face masks and crowd sizes, but stopped short of returning the entire country to the partial confinement of the spring.
A number of cantons, including Neuchatel, have meanwhile gone the extra mile and ordered restaurants, bars and most shops shuttered.
Health care workers say they hope that will be enough to slow the surge.
"Everyone is tired," said Jeremy Bouhelier, head nurse in the ICU.
"Just mentally and physically exhausted."
© 2020 AFP