france24--2020-10-03--Leonardo hits back at Tuchel and says PSG have a 'huge team'

Paris Saint-Germain had no difficulties seeing off Angers in the opening game of the Ligue 1 weekend , but remarks by sporting director Leonardo after the 6-1 victory exposed smouldering problems within the club .
After the game on Friday night , in which Neymar , who scored twice , and Kylian Mbappe , who struck once , showed that the club 's stars can deliver , Leonardo spoke to journalists at the Parc des Princes and responded sharply to coach Thomas Tuchel 's criticism the day before of the club 's transfer activity .
Leonardo said that neither he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's assertion that the PSG squad had been weakened since they reached the Champions League final in August .
`` If someone is not happy , if he decides to stay , he must respect either the sports policy or the internal rules , '' Leonardo said .
`` You have to understand the moment we are all living through , these are very serious situations .
Not understanding this situation , we did n't like it .
Now we 're going to address it internally . ''
Tuchel complained on Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what promises to be an unusually demanding and compressed season .
Leonardo responded that the problems created by the coronavirus extended beyond the playing field .
`` Everybody has lost millions , it 's weird to talk about it .
Nobody is buying , except in England , which is a world apart '' , said Leonardo adding that the health crisis had cost PSG almost 100 million euros .
It was the first time that Leonardo has publicly criticised the coach , who he inherited when he took over in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available in France last season before losing narrowly to Bayern Munich in August 's Champions League final in Lisbon .
However , since the end of last season their captain Thiago Silva , all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani , right-back Thomas Meunier , striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and defensive starlet Tanguy Kouassi have left .
Apart from making Mauro Icardi 's loan move from Inter Milan into a permanent transfer , the only new arrivals are right-back Alessandro Florenzi , on loan from Roma , and third-choice goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier .
Tuchel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we stay like this we ca n't speak about having the same objectives , '' the German said .
`` Perhaps we can do it but we ca n't ask for the same things from such a reduced squad when we will have to fight with teams like Manchester City , Liverpool and Atletico Madrid , who have all been very strong in the transfer market .
`` In a season like this , with players who will be playing a lot for their national teams , with the coronavirus , without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have , I am worried that we will pay the price in October , November , December and January . ''
Leonardo said that Tuchel had to be prepared to work with the talent he had .
`` I also did n't like him saying that this team is weak .
We 're talking about a huge team , '' the Brazilian said .
`` It 's not a question of the transfer window , but of form .
To stay at this club , you have to be happy , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spirit of sacrifice , even if you 're going through a tough moment .
If you can sign players , fine .
If not , we 'll keep going .
That 's the spirit we 're looking for . ''
`` We 'll try to be creative .
I do n't know how it 's going to end .
A lot of things can happen , like nothing .
We are living in such a difficult time .
This is not the time to buy . ''
The disagreement promises three tense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday evening .

Paris (AFP) –
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Paris Saint-Germain had no difficulties seeing off Angers in the opening game of the Ligue 1 weekend, but remarks by sporting director Leonardo after the 6-1 victory exposed smouldering problems within the club.
After the game on Friday night, in which Neymar, who scored twice, and Kylian Mbappe, who struck once, showed that the club's stars can deliver, Leonardo spoke to journalists at the Parc des Princes and responded sharply to coach Thomas Tuchel's criticism the day before of the club's transfer activity.
Leonardo said that neither he nor the club "appreciated" Tuchel's assertion that the PSG squad had been weakened since they reached the Champions League final in August.
"If someone is not happy, if he decides to stay, he must respect either the sports policy or the internal rules," Leonardo said.
"You have to understand the moment we are all living through, these are very serious situations. Not understanding this situation, we didn't like it. Now we're going to address it internally."
Tuchel complained on Thursday that the club had not done enough ahead of what promises to be an unusually demanding and compressed season. Leonardo responded that the problems created by the coronavirus extended beyond the playing field.
"Everybody has lost millions, it's weird to talk about it. Nobody is buying , except in England, which is a world apart", said Leonardo adding that the health crisis had cost PSG almost 100 million euros.
It was the first time that Leonardo has publicly criticised the coach, who he inherited when he took over in July 2019.
PSG won every domestic trophy available in France last season before losing narrowly to Bayern Munich in August's Champions League final in Lisbon.
However, since the end of last season their captain Thiago Silva, all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani, right-back Thomas Meunier, striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and defensive starlet Tanguy Kouassi have left.
Apart from making Mauro Icardi's loan move from Inter Milan into a permanent transfer, the only new arrivals are right-back Alessandro Florenzi, on loan from Roma, and third-choice goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier.
Tuchel said he wanted new signings.
"If we stay like this we can't speak about having the same objectives," the German said.
"Perhaps we can do it but we can't ask for the same things from such a reduced squad when we will have to fight with teams like Manchester City, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, who have all been very strong in the transfer market.
"In a season like this, with players who will be playing a lot for their national teams, with the coronavirus, without a pre-season, with a schedule like we have, I am worried that we will pay the price in October, November, December and January."
Leonardo said that Tuchel had to be prepared to work with the talent he had.
"I also didn't like him saying that this team is weak. We're talking about a huge team," the Brazilian said.
"It's not a question of the transfer window, but of form. To stay at this club, you have to be happy, with the desire to suffer for the club, the spirit of sacrifice, even if you're going through a tough moment. If you can sign players, fine. If not, we'll keep going. That's the spirit we're looking for."
"We'll try to be creative. I don't know how it's going to end. A lot of things can happen, like nothing. We are living in such a difficult time. This is not the time to buy."
The disagreement promises three tense days before the transfer window closes on Monday evening.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--French Pacific outpost decides on independence in new poll

Will New Caledonia go for independence ?
Observers are doubtful The French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia votes in a referendum on independence Sunday , with voters expected to reject breaking away from France after almost 170 years despite rising support for the move .
The referendum is part of a carefully negotiated de-colonisation plan agreed in 1998 , known as the Noumea Accord , designed to put an end to a deadly conflict between the mostly pro-independence indigenous Kanak population , and the descendants of European settlers known as `` Caldoches '' .
That violence in the 1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis in 1988 that saw 19 separatists killed on one side , and six police and special forces on the other .
With Covid-19 having no impact on the vote as New Caledonia has largely avoided the pandemic , polling stations open at 8:00 am ( 2100 GMT Saturday ) and close at 6:00 pm ( 0700 GMT ) .
It will be the second time the tropical archipelago goes to the polls to decide on its fate in two years , after a first referendum in 2018 resulted in the maintenance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote .
But the 2018 result still marked a shift towards pro-independence sympathies , raising campaigners ' hopes that this time it could manage to break free .
Political observers say a majority `` Yes '' to independence is unlikely , although there have been no opinion polls to help provide guidance .
`` I would be surprised if the Yes-vote won , '' said Pierre-Christophe Pantz , a Noumea-based expert in geopolitics .
He said , however , that the gap between both camps could narrow if some of the tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time can be persuaded to join the independence camp .
If independence is rejected , there is the option of another referendum by 2022 so long as the poll is requested by a at least a third of the local legislature .
`` Everyone knows there is going to be no change on Sunday , '' confidently predicted the government chief Thierry Santa , who favours staying with France .
Despite the expectations of a 'No ' vote , opinions are divided in the capital Noumea .
Some see staying with France as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not want to lose the chance of full independence .
`` I made the choice a long time ago because we want to ensure the future of our children and our future also on the territory , '' said Carl Leclerc , a manager .
`` This choice is 'No ' , it is simply to stay with France , '' he said .
But Pierre Gocho , a Kanak , said : `` For me it is 'Yes ' because we want our country in our hands and to go further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situated between Australia and Fiji and sometimes called `` The Pebble '' , has 270,000 inhabitants .
It has been French since 1853 and , after Britain 's exit from the European Union , is one of the few remaining EU outposts in the region .
The economy 's mainstays are the production of metals , especially nickel of which New Caledonia is a major global producer , tourism and financial support from mainland France .
The French government , from more than 16,000 kilometres ( 10,000 miles ) away , subsidises the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.75 billion ) every year , the equivalent of more than 15 percent of New Caledonia 's gross domestic product .
A special authorisation allowing the French national flag to be used in campaign spots angered the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front ( FLNKS ) which accuses the French government of taking sides against independence .
If New Caledonia votes for independence , France would , after a transition period , hand over control .
The last former colonies to be given independence by France were Djibouti in 1977 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop paying its yearly subsidy , a frightening prospect for the six remainer parties which have formed a loyalist coalition .
`` We can not live without French money , '' said Gil Brial , the group 's campaign director .
But Charles Washetine , spokesman for the Party of Kanak Liberation ( Palika ) , said `` our country is mature enough to be completely in charge of its own affairs '' .
French Prime Minister Jean Castex , whose government must remain scrupulously neutral in the vote , has said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actors in the aftermath of the poll .

Noumea (AFP) –
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The French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia votes in a referendum on independence Sunday, with voters expected to reject breaking away from France after almost 170 years despite rising support for the move.
The referendum is part of a carefully negotiated de-colonisation plan agreed in 1998, known as the Noumea Accord, designed to put an end to a deadly conflict between the mostly pro-independence indigenous Kanak population, and the descendants of European settlers known as "Caldoches".
That violence in the 1980s culminated in a bloody, drawn-out hostage crisis in 1988 that saw 19 separatists killed on one side, and six police and special forces on the other.
With Covid-19 having no impact on the vote as New Caledonia has largely avoided the pandemic, polling stations open at 8:00 am (2100 GMT Saturday) and close at 6:00 pm (0700 GMT).
It will be the second time the tropical archipelago goes to the polls to decide on its fate in two years, after a first referendum in 2018 resulted in the maintenance of the status quo with 56.7 percent of the vote.
But the 2018 result still marked a shift towards pro-independence sympathies, raising campaigners' hopes that this time it could manage to break free.
Political observers say a majority "Yes" to independence is unlikely, although there have been no opinion polls to help provide guidance.
"I would be surprised if the Yes-vote won," said Pierre-Christophe Pantz, a Noumea-based expert in geopolitics.
He said, however, that the gap between both camps could narrow if some of the tens of thousands of voters who abstained last time can be persuaded to join the independence camp.
If independence is rejected, there is the option of another referendum by 2022 so long as the poll is requested by a at least a third of the local legislature.
"Everyone knows there is going to be no change on Sunday," confidently predicted the government chief Thierry Santa, who favours staying with France.
- 'Future of our children' -
Despite the expectations of a 'No' vote, opinions are divided in the capital Noumea.
Some see staying with France as the only practical way forwards while others do not want to lose the chance of full independence.
"I made the choice a long time ago because we want to ensure the future of our children and our future also on the territory," said Carl Leclerc, a manager.
"This choice is 'No', it is simply to stay with France," he said.
But Pierre Gocho, a Kanak, said: "For me it is 'Yes' because we want our country in our hands and to go further than autonomy."
New Caledonia, situated between Australia and Fiji and sometimes called "The Pebble", has 270,000 inhabitants.
It has been French since 1853 and, after Britain's exit from the European Union, is one of the few remaining EU outposts in the region.
The economy's mainstays are the production of metals, especially nickel of which New Caledonia is a major global producer, tourism and financial support from mainland France.
The French government, from more than 16,000 kilometres (10,000 miles) away, subsidises the territory with around 1.5 billion euros ($1.75 billion) every year, the equivalent of more than 15 percent of New Caledonia's gross domestic product.
A special authorisation allowing the French national flag to be used in campaign spots angered the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) which accuses the French government of taking sides against independence.
If New Caledonia votes for independence, France would, after a transition period, hand over control.
The last former colonies to be given independence by France were Djibouti in 1977 and Vanuatu in 1980.
Paris would also stop paying its yearly subsidy, a frightening prospect for the six remainer parties which have formed a loyalist coalition.
"We cannot live without French money," said Gil Brial, the group's campaign director.
But Charles Washetine, spokesman for the Party of Kanak Liberation (Palika), said "our country is mature enough to be completely in charge of its own affairs".
French Prime Minister Jean Castex, whose government must remain scrupulously neutral in the vote, has said he plans to talk to all the main actors in the aftermath of the poll.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--India's Modi opens tunnel route to tense China border

A gate for the tunnel project is seen under construction last month near Solang in India 's northern Himachal Pradesh state India 's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday opened a Himalayan tunnel that will drastically reduce the time needed to rush troops to the country 's remote Chinese border as tensions grow between the Asian neighbours .
The tunnel traverses India 's northern Himachal Pradesh state and lies on one of two main routes for troops headed to border areas in Ladakh .
Twenty Indian and an unspecified number of Chinese troops were killed in June during a deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputed boundary with China 's restive Xinjiang and Tibet regions .
The two nuclear-armed countries have since rushed tens of thousands of additional troops and weapons to the area , and have been locked in a tense stand-off for months .
The $ 400-million , nine-kilometre ( six miles ) tunnel will cut the journey by about 50 kilometres ( 30 miles ) and four hours , enabling travellers to bypass a tricky route across a landslide-prone Himalayan pass .
The tunnel , at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres ( 10,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a feat of engineering .
A decade in the making , freezing temperatures and the challenging terrain meant construction work could only be carried out for about six months each year .
The project is part of New Delhi 's push to catch up with Chinese infrastructure development on the other side of the border .
In the last six years , Modi 's government has expedited several frontier projects including roads , bridges and high-altitude airstrips .
`` We have put our entire energy in developing our border infrastructure .
The country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tunnels built at this scale , '' the prime minister said after inaugurating the tunnel Saturday .
`` Besides locals , this ( infrastructure ) will also hugely benefit the men and women in our army , '' Modi added .
New Delhi hopes such projects will promote tourism and spur economic activity .
Sanjay Kundu , the police chief of Himachal Pradesh -- which shares a long border with Tibet -- recently proposed better roads and mobile connectivity as well as even arms training for the state 's border villages .
India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of these strategic projects , says it has built more in the last four years than in the previous decade .
Its head , Lieutenant-General Harpal Singh , told AFP they were pressing ahead with `` long-term plans based on their strategic calculations to develop these regions '' .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday opened a Himalayan tunnel that will drastically reduce the time needed to rush troops to the country's remote Chinese border as tensions grow between the Asian neighbours.
The tunnel traverses India's northern Himachal Pradesh state and lies on one of two main routes for troops headed to border areas in Ladakh.
Twenty Indian and an unspecified number of Chinese troops were killed in June during a deadly clash in Ladakh, which shares a disputed boundary with China's restive Xinjiang and Tibet regions.
The two nuclear-armed countries have since rushed tens of thousands of additional troops and weapons to the area, and have been locked in a tense stand-off for months.
The $400-million, nine-kilometre (six miles) tunnel will cut the journey by about 50 kilometres (30 miles) and four hours, enabling travellers to bypass a tricky route across a landslide-prone Himalayan pass.
The tunnel, at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres (10,000 feet), has been hailed as a feat of engineering.
A decade in the making, freezing temperatures and the challenging terrain meant construction work could only be carried out for about six months each year.
The project is part of New Delhi's push to catch up with Chinese infrastructure development on the other side of the border.
In the last six years, Modi's government has expedited several frontier projects including roads, bridges and high-altitude airstrips.
"We have put our entire energy in developing our border infrastructure. The country hasn't seen roads, bridges and tunnels built at this scale," the prime minister said after inaugurating the tunnel Saturday.
"Besides locals, this (infrastructure) will also hugely benefit the men and women in our army," Modi added.
New Delhi hopes such projects will promote tourism and spur economic activity.
Sanjay Kundu, the police chief of Himachal Pradesh -- which shares a long border with Tibet -- recently proposed better roads and mobile connectivity as well as even arms training for the state's border villages.
India's Border Roads Organisation, which implements most of these strategic projects, says it has built more in the last four years than in the previous decade.
Its head, Lieutenant-General Harpal Singh, told AFP they were pressing ahead with "long-term plans based on their strategic calculations to develop these regions".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Italy’s Salvini goes on trial on charges of illegally detaining migrants at sea

Italy 's Matteo Salvini at a rally in Catania , Sicily , on October 2 , 2020 on the eve of his trial .
Italy ’ s right-wing former interior minister , Matteo Salvini , appeared Saturday before a court in Sicily for a hearing on charges that he illegally detained migrants at sea ahead of a potentially career-derailing trial .
Salvini arrived shortly before 10am local time for the hearing , but the normally pugnacious , ebullient politician made no comment to waiting press outside the court house in the Sicilian city of Catania .
Prosecutors accuse Salvini of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister to block 116 migrants from disembarking from the Italian Gregoretti coastguard boat last year , under his so-called `` closed ports '' policy .
If the opposition leader and head of the anti-immigrant League party is convicted for more than two years , he could also be barred from holding public office for six years , preventing him from running for prime minister in the next election in 2023 .
Salvini , who has largely faded from the public spotlight since being ousted as a minister , has turned the preliminary hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staging days of events in a piazza in Catania to rail against the government of Premier Giuseppe Conte .
`` I 've picked out my best suit '' for the hearing , Salvini quipped as he arrived in Catania Thursday for three days of rallies , dinners and debates on issues from immigration to security in the city 's port area .
The League party has printed T-Shirts and advertised cheap flights for the `` Italians choose freedom '' festival , which will feature fellow far-right head Giorgia Meloni , of the Brothers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi 's Forza Italia .
A 500-strong police force has been tasked with preventing clashes between Salvini fans and left-wing protesters .
Salvini is due to address a rally later Saturday after the hearing .
In court will be a Nigerian family who claim they were `` treated worse than animals '' and are a civil party in the case .
The Senate voted in February to lift Salvini 's parliamentary immunity , paving the way for a possible trial on charges of kidnapping and abuse of power .
The Gregoretti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 2019 until a judge approved its landing in Augusta , Sicily .
The Senate also lifted his immunity in a second case , in which he is accused of refusing to allow 164 migrants off a rescue ship in Sicily .
A preliminary hearing in that case is pending .
During his 14 months as interior minister , Salvini repeatedly denied ships carrying rescued migrants access to ports .
The policy resulted in numerous standoffs , leaving migrants stuck at sea for many weeks before European countries could identify a willing port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to face charges in both cases to clear his name .
Yet he fought to maintain immunity in a third case that was brought while he was still minister , winning protection from prosecution for not allowing 190 migrants off another coast guard ship in August 2018 .
The controversial former Italian interior minister remains the head of the League party , which remains popular even if it has shed about 10 percentage points in opinion polls since the 2018 elections .
The slide began when Salvini lost his Cabinet post in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government in August 2019 .
Instead , the 5-Star Movement formed a new coalition with the center-left Democratic Party , pushing Salvini ’ s League into opposition .
In the Gregoretti case , the 116 migrants , who hailed largely from Sudan , as well as central and western Africa , were rescued in the Mediterranean in two separate operations on July 25 last year after five days at sea .
There were 15 unaccompanied minors among them .
They were transferred to the Gregoretti on July 26 , then held on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sun despite a scabies outbreak and a suspected case of tuberculosis .
The 15 minors were eventually allowed off on July 29 following pressure from Catania 's juvenile court .
The remaining migrants disembarked July 31 after Salvini , 47 , said a deal had been brokered with EU countries to take them .
His defence team insists the decision to hold them was not Salvini 's alone , but reached collectively within the government .
Salvini , who has said Sicilian judges would be better off concentrating on jailing mafiosi than trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the Italians , in the next elections , who will say whether I did the right thing or not '' .
Analysts say the legal trouble is unlikely to hurt Salvini 's popularity , but could on the contrary work in his favour .
Salvini 's fierce `` Italians First '' stance saw his popularity shoot up as interior minister , though his polling numbers slid significantly during the coronavirus lockdown , which overshadowed the migrant question .
With the centre-left government promising to water down Salvini 's harsh security decree which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stage is set for a fresh political showdown .
The far-right is hoping to cash in once more on a vote-winning issue .

Italy’s right-wing former interior minister, Matteo Salvini, appeared Saturday before a court in Sicily for a hearing on charges that he illegally detained migrants at sea ahead of a potentially career-derailing trial.
Italy's Matteo Salvini at a rally in Catania, Sicily, on October 2, 2020 on the eve of his trial.
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Salvini arrived shortly before 10am local time for the hearing, but the normally pugnacious, ebullient politician made no comment to waiting press outside the court house in the Sicilian city of Catania.
Prosecutors accuse Salvini of abusing his powers when he was interior minister to block 116 migrants from disembarking from the Italian Gregoretti coastguard boat last year, under his so-called "closed ports" policy.
If the opposition leader and head of the anti-immigrant League party is convicted for more than two years, he could also be barred from holding public office for six years, preventing him from running for prime minister in the next election in 2023.
Turning a trial into a rally
Salvini, who has largely faded from the public spotlight since being ousted as a minister, has turned the preliminary hearing into a political rally of sorts, staging days of events in a piazza in Catania to rail against the government of Premier Giuseppe Conte.
"I've picked out my best suit" for the hearing, Salvini quipped as he arrived in Catania Thursday for three days of rallies, dinners and debates on issues from immigration to security in the city's port area.
The League party has printed T-Shirts and advertised cheap flights for the "Italians choose freedom" festival, which will feature fellow far-right head Giorgia Meloni, of the Brothers of Italy party, and bigwigs from ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia.
A 500-strong police force has been tasked with preventing clashes between Salvini fans and left-wing protesters.
Salvini is due to address a rally later Saturday after the hearing.
In court will be a Nigerian family who claim they were "treated worse than animals" and are a civil party in the case.
Senate vote lifts immunity
The Senate voted in February to lift Salvini's parliamentary immunity, paving the way for a possible trial on charges of kidnapping and abuse of power. The Gregoretti was stuck at sea for days in July 2019 until a judge approved its landing in Augusta, Sicily.
The Senate also lifted his immunity in a second case, in which he is accused of refusing to allow 164 migrants off a rescue ship in Sicily. A preliminary hearing in that case is pending.
During his 14 months as interior minister, Salvini repeatedly denied ships carrying rescued migrants access to ports. The policy resulted in numerous standoffs, leaving migrants stuck at sea for many weeks before European countries could identify a willing port or courts intervened.
Salvini says he wants to face charges in both cases to clear his name. Yet he fought to maintain immunity in a third case that was brought while he was still minister, winning protection from prosecution for not allowing 190 migrants off another coast guard ship in August 2018.
The controversial former Italian interior minister remains the head of the League party, which remains popular even if it has shed about 10 percentage points in opinion polls since the 2018 elections.
The slide began when Salvini lost his Cabinet post in a failed bid to topple the Italian government in August 2019. Instead, the 5-Star Movement formed a new coalition with the center-left Democratic Party, pushing Salvini’s League into opposition.
Stage set for a political showdown
In the Gregoretti case, the 116 migrants, who hailed largely from Sudan, as well as central and western Africa, were rescued in the Mediterranean in two separate operations on July 25 last year after five days at sea. There were 15 unaccompanied minors among them.
They were transferred to the Gregoretti on July 26, then held on the overcrowded patrol vessel under a fierce summer sun despite a scabies outbreak and a suspected case of tuberculosis.
The 15 minors were eventually allowed off on July 29 following pressure from Catania's juvenile court.
The remaining migrants disembarked July 31 after Salvini, 47, said a deal had been brokered with EU countries to take them.
His defence team insists the decision to hold them was not Salvini's alone, but reached collectively within the government.
Salvini, who has said Sicilian judges would be better off concentrating on jailing mafiosi than trying him, declared that it would be "the Italians, in the next elections, who will say whether I did the right thing or not".
Analysts say the legal trouble is unlikely to hurt Salvini's popularity, but could on the contrary work in his favour.
Salvini's fierce "Italians First" stance saw his popularity shoot up as interior minister, though his polling numbers slid significantly during the coronavirus lockdown, which overshadowed the migrant question.
With the centre-left government promising to water down Salvini's harsh security decree which makes it easier to expel migrants, the stage is set for a fresh political showdown.
The far-right is hoping to cash in once more on a vote-winning issue.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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france24--2020-10-03--'Hi, this is the army': In Spain, troops tackle track-and-trace

More than 2,000 troops from Spain 's armed forces have been drafted for track-and-trace duties '' Hi , this is the army : you 're going to have to quarantine . ''
This is the message a Spaniard might now hear over the phone from the country 's military personnel freshly recruited to track and trace those exposed to the virus in the European Union 's worst-hit country .
At the headquarters of Spain 's armed forces in central Madrid is a room with a sign on the door reading `` Epidemiological surveillance department '' .
Inside , a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , are working 12 hours a day , seven days a week , each making between 70 and 80 daily calls to identify those who 've been in touch with someone who 's tested positive for Covid .
`` I 'm a contact tracer for the region of Madrid , I got your number from someone who has tested positive .
Firstly , where are you right now ? ''
says one , using a phrase that will be repeated throughout the day .
`` You need to observe 10 days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with helping the worst-hit regions , more than 2,000 troops from different branches of the military are engaged with the painstaking work of tracking down the chain of contamination in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19 .
Many have blamed the lack of contact tracing as a key reason for the surge in numbers in Spain where some 760,000 people have been infected and nearly 32,000 have died .
It is an arduous task which involves phoning up every single person who might be infected , and could be passing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting to carry out a test but the main thing is to convince them to immediately isolate themselves from everyone around them .
The idea is to ease the pressure on the Madrid region 's healthcare system , which is already struggling under the weight of new Covid cases , explains commander Tomas Garcia , who is also a nurse , adding it is `` to give the doctors more time '' .
On a rainy morning in October , nine navy personnel are sitting at their desks behind a plexiglass panel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes on a computer .
Drafted in just two weeks ago , they have been ringing round all the contacts provided by individuals who have tested positive , with the list of numbers provided by the regional health authorities .
The aim is to see who they have been in touch with to build a so-called `` map of infections '' .
But guaranteeing the anonymity of the person who has tested positive while reaching out to all the people they have been in touch with is a fine balancing act .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or three contacts , although sometimes it 's seven '' and in some cases many more as was the case with one teacher , and another who worked for a fast-food company .
`` No , no , no -- he ca n't go to school because his sister has tested positive , '' insists one in a low voice , the tone muted for most of the conversations .
`` You must disinfect the bathroom really well if you share it with your husband , '' says another .
Sometimes the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensitivity , with one gently saying : `` It 's not your fault .
You must n't see it like that , do n't give it another thought . ''
For Corporal Rafael Medel , telling someone they might have Covid-19 requires a degree of sensitivity .
`` It can be a shock , '' he says .
Even worse are those who ignore the calls or refuse to cooperate .
`` If it 's someone who is a close relative who hangs up because that person is in hospital , or has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
Earlier this year , there was the well-publicised case of a funeral which turned into a viral time bomb , when all 20 people there got infected , he recalls , saying it required several people to track down all their contacts .
`` There are also moments when you call someone and they just want to get everything off their chest , isolated older people who live alone , '' says Medel .
After one such call , the tracer hung up remarking : `` She reminded me of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team , the main thing is `` to listen '' and to `` be gentle '' with people , he says .
`` Each one has their own style , their own personal touch , '' says Sergeant Ana Castillo , who runs the operation .
As to how much longer they will be doing the job , no-one knows .
`` As long as it takes , '' the defence ministry said .

Madrid (AFP) –
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"Hi, this is the army: you're going to have to quarantine."
This is the message a Spaniard might now hear over the phone from the country's military personnel freshly recruited to track and trace those exposed to the virus in the European Union's worst-hit country.
At the headquarters of Spain's armed forces in central Madrid is a room with a sign on the door reading "Epidemiological surveillance department".
Inside, a team of around a dozen people, headsets on, are working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, each making between 70 and 80 daily calls to identify those who've been in touch with someone who's tested positive for Covid.
"I'm a contact tracer for the region of Madrid, I got your number from someone who has tested positive. Firstly, where are you right now?" says one, using a phrase that will be repeated throughout the day.
"You need to observe 10 days of quarantine."
Tasked by the government with helping the worst-hit regions, more than 2,000 troops from different branches of the military are engaged with the painstaking work of tracking down the chain of contamination in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Many have blamed the lack of contact tracing as a key reason for the surge in numbers in Spain where some 760,000 people have been infected and nearly 32,000 have died.
- Buying time -
It is an arduous task which involves phoning up every single person who might be infected, and could be passing on the virus.
Sometimes it may mean meeting to carry out a test but the main thing is to convince them to immediately isolate themselves from everyone around them.
The idea is to ease the pressure on the Madrid region's healthcare system, which is already struggling under the weight of new Covid cases, explains commander Tomas Garcia, who is also a nurse, adding it is "to give the doctors more time".
On a rainy morning in October, nine navy personnel are sitting at their desks behind a plexiglass panel, speaking softly into the phone while taking notes on a computer.
Drafted in just two weeks ago, they have been ringing round all the contacts provided by individuals who have tested positive, with the list of numbers provided by the regional health authorities.
The aim is to see who they have been in touch with to build a so-called "map of infections".
But guaranteeing the anonymity of the person who has tested positive while reaching out to all the people they have been in touch with is a fine balancing act.
- 'Not your fault' -
In general, there are only "two or three contacts, although sometimes it's seven" and in some cases many more as was the case with one teacher, and another who worked for a fast-food company.
"No, no, no -- he can't go to school because his sister has tested positive," insists one in a low voice, the tone muted for most of the conversations.
"You must disinfect the bathroom really well if you share it with your husband," says another.
Sometimes the situation requires an extra level of tact and sensitivity, with one gently saying: "It's not your fault. You mustn't see it like that, don't give it another thought."
For Corporal Rafael Medel, telling someone they might have Covid-19 requires a degree of sensitivity.
"It can be a shock," he says.
Even worse are those who ignore the calls or refuse to cooperate.
"If it's someone who is a close relative who hangs up because that person is in hospital, or has died, it gets complicated," he says.
Earlier this year, there was the well-publicised case of a funeral which turned into a viral time bomb, when all 20 people there got infected, he recalls, saying it required several people to track down all their contacts.
"There are also moments when you call someone and they just want to get everything off their chest, isolated older people who live alone," says Medel.
After one such call, the tracer hung up remarking: "She reminded me of my grandmother."
For those on the team, the main thing is "to listen" and to "be gentle" with people, he says.
"Each one has their own style, their own personal touch," says Sergeant Ana Castillo, who runs the operation.
As to how much longer they will be doing the job, no-one knows.
"As long as it takes," the defence ministry said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Several missing as Storm Alex batters southeast France

Waves hit the shore near the Promenade des Anglais in Nice on October 2 , 2020 as storm Alex reaches the French riviera 's coasts .
At least eight people were missing in France after a storm passed through the southeastern part of the country , causing strong floods around the city of Nice , authorities said on Saturday .
Meteo France said that 450mm ( 17.7 inches ) of rain was recorded over 24 hours in some areas , which is the equivalent of close to four months of rain at this time of the year .
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 , when floods caused the death of 20 people in and around the city of Cannes on the French Riviera , Jérémy Crunchant , the director of civil protection , told France Info .
The department of Alpes-Maritimes , on the border with Italy , was on red alert on Friday as the storm was approaching .
The storm , dubbed Alex , had already caused heavy winds of more than 180 km per hour ( 112 miles per hour ) in Brittany between Thursday and Friday .
Authorities downgraded the alert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rains having moved towards Italy .

Two people died and at least eight people were missing in France and Italy after a storm hit border regions of the two countries, bringing record rainfall in places and causing heavy flooding that swept away roads and damagedhomes, authorities said on Saturday.
This aerial view taken on October 3, 2020 shows flood waters surging through Saint-Martin-Vesubie, southeastern France, after heavy rains and floodings hit the Alpes-Maritimes department.
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The storm, dubbed Alex, ravaged several villages around the city of Nice on the French Riviera. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi called it the worst flooding disaster in the area for more than a century after flying over the worst-hit area by helicopter.
"The roads and about 100 houses were swept away or partially destroyed," he told French news channel BFM.
"I have been particularly shocked by what I saw today," French Prime Minister Jean Castex told a news conference after visiting affected areas, adding he was concerned that the death toll could rise.
At least eight people were missing in France, authorities said. These included two firemen whose vehicle was carried away by a swollen river, according to local witnesses cited by several French media.
Television images from both countries showed several roads and bridges had been swept away by floodwater and numerous rivers were reported to have burst their banks.
In Italy, at least two people died -- one a fireman hit by a falling tree and another a man in his 30s whose car was swept into a river after a road subsided, local authorities said.
As night fell, one Italian was still unaccounted for while a further 16 people earlier feared missing, including a group of six German trekkers, had all been found safe.
Officials in the Piedmont region reported a record 630 mm (24.8 inches) of rain in just 24 hours in Sambughetto, close to the border with Switzerland. The Piedmont regional chief Alberto Cirio called on the government to declare a state of emergency.
The water level in the River Po jumped by 3 metres (9.84 feet) in just 24 hours.
Eric Ciotti, a member of the French parliament who is from one of the worst affected villages in the area, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, said several villages were cut off as they are located in steep-sided valleys of the mountainous region.
Meteo France said that rainfall of 500 mm (19.69 inches) of rain was registered over 24 hours in Saint-Martin-Vésubie and close to 400 mm in several other towns - the equivalent of more than three months of rain at this time of the year.
There was more rainfall than on Oct. 3, 2015, when floods caused the death of 20 people in and around the French Riviera city of Cannes, Jérémy Crunchant, the director of civil protection, told France Info.
In Venice, a long-delayed flood barrier system successfully protected the lagoon city from a high tide for the first time on Saturday, bringing big relief following years of repeated inundations.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-03--Clint Eastwood prepares for new film and role: US media

Clint Eastwood is reportedly working with scriptwriter Nick Schenk , who worked on 'Gran Torino ' ( 2008 ) Clint @ @ @ @ @ direct and star in a new film , `` Cry Macho '' , US media @ @ @ @ @ unclear when filming will begin but Eastwood has already started scouting shooting locations , entertainment @ @ @ @ @ The screenplay for `` Cry Macho '' -- which has not been officially given the @ @ @ @ @ was written by N. Richard Nash , author of the 1970 novel of the same @ @ @ @ @ , who worked with Eastwood on `` Gran Torino '' ( 2008 ) and `` @ @ @ @ @ ) , is also reported to be involved .
The story is about a one-time @ @ @ @ @ who accepts a mission from a former boss to cross the US-Mexico border to snatch @ @ @ @ @ mother and return the child to his father in Texas .
Arnold Schwarzenegger had been @ @ @ @ @ role in 2011 but the project was canceled , US media reported .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
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Clint Eastwood, 90, will direct and star in a new film, "Cry Macho", US media reported Friday.
It is unclear when filming will begin but Eastwood has already started scouting shooting locations, entertainment news site Deadline reported.
The screenplay for "Cry Macho" -- which has not been officially given the go-ahead by Warner Bros -- was written by N. Richard Nash, author of the 1970 novel of the same name.
Scriptwriter Nick Schenk, who worked with Eastwood on "Gran Torino" (2008) and "The Mule" (2018), is also reported to be involved.
The story is about a one-time rodeo star turned horse breeder who accepts a mission from a former boss to cross the US-Mexico border to snatch his son from an alcoholic mother and return the child to his father in Texas.
Arnold Schwarzenegger had been touted to play the lead role in 2011 but the project was canceled, US media reported.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--India's Dhoni now most capped IPL player

India 's Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the most-capped IPL player even as his Chennai Super Kings team -- currently bottom of the table -- faltered in yet another run chase .
The 39-year-old has now played 194 Indian Premier League matches , and overtook on Friday his former India and CSK teammate Suresh Raina , who has 193 games .
The former India skipper Dhoni and Raina both announced their retirement from international cricket last month .
But unlike Dhoni , Raina at the last minute pulled out of this IPL edition which because of the coronavirus pandemic is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dhoni has now played 164 of his 194 games for the CSK franchise .
The others he played for Rising Pune Supergiant .
The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman , famed for his finishing skills during the peak of his international career , has lately faced criticism for batting slowly .
Even Dhoni 's leadership has come under criticism this year , with his otherwise successful franchise uncharacteristically only winning once in the first four games .
The CSK , with Dhoni batting in the middle , lost a run chase to David Warner 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
`` We have to get a lot of things right , '' Dhoni said about his team after the match .
`` It 's the professionalism -- dropping catches , bowling no-balls .
We 're making the same mistakes again , '' he added .

Dubai (AFP) –
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India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni has become the most-capped IPL player even as his Chennai Super Kings team -- currently bottom of the table -- faltered in yet another run chase.
The 39-year-old has now played 194 Indian Premier League matches, and overtook on Friday his former India and CSK teammate Suresh Raina, who has 193 games.
The former India skipper Dhoni and Raina both announced their retirement from international cricket last month.
But unlike Dhoni, Raina at the last minute pulled out of this IPL edition which because of the coronavirus pandemic is being held in the United Arab Emirates.
Dhoni has now played 164 of his 194 games for the CSK franchise. The others he played for Rising Pune Supergiant.
The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman, famed for his finishing skills during the peak of his international career, has lately faced criticism for batting slowly.
Even Dhoni's leadership has come under criticism this year, with his otherwise successful franchise uncharacteristically only winning once in the first four games.
The CSK, with Dhoni batting in the middle, lost a run chase to David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven runs in Dubai on Friday.
"We have to get a lot of things right," Dhoni said about his team after the match.
"It's the professionalism -- dropping catches, bowling no-balls. We're making the same mistakes again," he added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Garcia, Davis, Poston share PGA Sanderson Farms lead

No-look Sergio Garcia and Australian Cameron Davis , who opened with five birdies , shared the lead with American J.T .
Poston after Saturday 's third round of the US PGA Sanderson Farms Championship .
Davis fired a US PGA career-low 63 , nine-under par , while Garcia had a bogey-free 66 and Poston shot 69 to stand level on 14-under 202 after 54 holes at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi .
Garcia , seeking his first US PGA win since capturing the 2017 Masters , made six birdies and praised his new putting method of shutting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's quite simple , '' the 40-year-old Spaniard said .
`` What I 'm looking for is to keep my stroke as smooth as possible .
The less things I have in my head , or my eyes , the better .
`` When I do it , I have a smooth stroke and I make a lot of good putts .
When I do n't , it 's not quite as good . ''
Garcia , who has won three times on the European Tour since capturing the green jacket but is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sank an eight-foot birdie putt at the second hole .
He closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies from 12 and 15 feet and added tap-in birdies at the par-5 11th and par-4 12th .
Garcia also birdied the 15th , blasting from a bunker to three feet and sinking the putt .
`` It 's mainly trying to be consistent and go with it .
Just trust it , '' Garcia said .
`` We want to make every single putt we look at , or do n't look at in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that ...
If I can leave the course feeling I gave it my best chance that 's all I can do . ''
Davis was one off the course record as the 25-year-old from Sydney chases his first US PGA title .
`` I was in the groove , '' Davis said .
`` I just felt like I had a very good idea of where the ball was going today . ''
For much of the round , it was going in the hole for the world number 208 .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside six feet and his next two were from between eight and nine feet .
`` Rolling the ball well , '' Davis said .
`` I was able to hit it close and do that hole after hole after hole . ''
His bogey-free round also featured a 17-foot birdie putt at the eighth , a nine-footer for par at the par-3 13th and an eagle from just inside 10 feet at the par-5 14th .
At 15 , Davis drove into a greenside bunker , blasted out inches from the cup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with three pars .
`` It was one of those days where you forget where you are at , '' Davis said .
`` I had a very good day hitting the ball . ''
Poston chases his second career US PGA victory after last year 's Wyndham Championship , where he became the first tour player since 1974 to win a title without a bogey .
He sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-5 third , added another from nine feet at the eighth and followed a bogey at 10 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Poston made back-to-back birdie putts from 13 feet at the par-5 14th and five feet at the 15th to seize the lead alone at 15-under .
But Poston made a bogey at 16 after finding a greenside bunker to fall back into the lead pack , then sank a 13-foot par putt at 18 to stay there .
Norway 's Kristoffer Ventura and American Brandt Snedeker shared fourth on 203 , one stroke adrift .

Washington (AFP) –
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No-look Sergio Garcia and Australian Cameron Davis, who opened with five birdies, shared the lead with American J.T. Poston after Saturday's third round of the US PGA Sanderson Farms Championship.
Davis fired a US PGA career-low 63, nine-under par, while Garcia had a bogey-free 66 and Poston shot 69 to stand level on 14-under 202 after 54 holes at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi.
Garcia, seeking his first US PGA win since capturing the 2017 Masters, made six birdies and praised his new putting method of shutting his eyes while striking putts.
"It's quite simple," the 40-year-old Spaniard said. "What I'm looking for is to keep my stroke as smooth as possible. The less things I have in my head, or my eyes, the better.
"When I do it, I have a smooth stroke and I make a lot of good putts. When I don't, it's not quite as good."
Garcia, who has won three times on the European Tour since capturing the green jacket but is ranked a modest 51st in the world, sank an eight-foot birdie putt at the second hole.
He closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies from 12 and 15 feet and added tap-in birdies at the par-5 11th and par-4 12th.
Garcia also birdied the 15th, blasting from a bunker to three feet and sinking the putt.
"It's mainly trying to be consistent and go with it. Just trust it," Garcia said.
"We want to make every single putt we look at, or don't look at in this case, but we don't do that... If I can leave the course feeling I gave it my best chance that's all I can do."
Davis was one off the course record as the 25-year-old from Sydney chases his first US PGA title.
- Davis in the groove -
"I was in the groove," Davis said. "I just felt like I had a very good idea of where the ball was going today."
For much of the round, it was going in the hole for the world number 208.
His first three birdie putts were all from inside six feet and his next two were from between eight and nine feet.
"Rolling the ball well," Davis said. "I was able to hit it close and do that hole after hole after hole."
His bogey-free round also featured a 17-foot birdie putt at the eighth, a nine-footer for par at the par-3 13th and an eagle from just inside 10 feet at the par-5 14th.
At 15, Davis drove into a greenside bunker, blasted out inches from the cup and tapped in for birdie before closing with three pars.
"It was one of those days where you forget where you are at," Davis said. "I had a very good day hitting the ball."
Poston chases his second career US PGA victory after last year's Wyndham Championship, where he became the first tour player since 1974 to win a title without a bogey.
He sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-5 third, added another from nine feet at the eighth and followed a bogey at 10 with a tap-in birdie at the par-5 11th.
Poston made back-to-back birdie putts from 13 feet at the par-5 14th and five feet at the 15th to seize the lead alone at 15-under.
But Poston made a bogey at 16 after finding a greenside bunker to fall back into the lead pack, then sank a 13-foot par putt at 18 to stay there.
Norway's Kristoffer Ventura and American Brandt Snedeker shared fourth on 203, one stroke adrift.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Spitting Image returns with Trump, Johnson in its sights

British satirical show Spitting Image returned television after a 24-year break , with Boris Johnson ( R ) and Donald Trump in its sights Spitting Image , the ground-breaking British satirical television show that used grotesque puppets to skewer politicians and public figures , returned Saturday after a 24-year break -- with Boris Johnson and Donald Trump in its sights .
The UK prime minister and US president are among 100 characters immortalised in foam latex for a new series for streaming service BritBox , alongside Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle , Mark Zuckerberg and Kim Kardashian .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's silly and often crass sketches brought politics to a mass audience and provided an outlet for anger against the right-wing reforms of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan .
Co-curator Roger Law said it was a `` good time '' to bring it back , as the social upheaval of that time `` is not dissimilar with what 's going on now '' , citing British divisions over Brexit .
But some commentators question how the show will fare in today 's censorious age , where a mere whiff of controversy sets off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme pulls no punches against Trump , who is shown in the first episode trying to make a deal with an actual coronavirus , and then asleep as his snake-like extended anus writes angry tweets .
The show -- which will be written and aired weekly to keep it topical -- had to be hastily updated after the president this week contracted Covid-19 , and portrays him complaining about being quarantined with his wife Melania .
Closer to home , Johnson is shown as a bumbling idiot controlled by his chief advisor Dominic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throbbing head .
In other scenes , Prince Harry searches in vain for a job in Los Angeles , while Disney executives discuss whether to create a `` black Yoda '' in response to demands for racial justice .
The portrayal as a weather girl of teen climate activist Greta Thunberg , who has autism , has sparked criticism online -- although she herself 'liked ' her puppet on Twitter .
Lead writer Jeff Westbrook , of `` The Simpsons '' and `` Futurama '' fame , said he hoped viewers would see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than cruelty '' .
`` I do n't set out to really offend people , '' he said at a preview , noting the show was `` a little bit whimsical and silly '' .
Law admitted Spitting Image in the 1980s used `` visual cliches '' and said he worked hard to personalise the new puppets .
`` I do n't find what we do offensive .
I find some of the people we 're attacking much more offensive , '' he said .
Spitting Image ran from 1984 to 1996 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week at its peak .
Politicians took centre stage , from the besuited Conservative prime minister Thatcher constantly berating her cabinet -- the `` vegetables '' -- to US president Reagan , separated from his brain and his finger always close to the nuclear button .
The show made many more junior ministers household names , although often it was the puppet that viewers remembered .
For many Britons , former premier John Major will always be a grey figure who liked peas .
Other celebrities also featured , notably footballer Paul Gascoigne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the royals were fair game , with the Queen Mother swigging gin and Queen Elizabeth II checking the horse racing section in newspapers typically read by gamblers .
Many of the original scripts , some puppets and viewers ' letters of complaints are held in Law 's archive at Cambridge University Library , alongside the works of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton .
Dr Lucy Delap , reader in Modern British and Gender History at Cambridge University , has used the memorabilia in lectures , citing Spitting Image 's place in a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It gave a satirical platform to a society that was deeply divided -- by neoliberal policies , the closure of coal mines , police racism and brutality , nuclear weapons , '' she told AFP .
Asked if it could succeed in 2020 , she said : `` Spitting Image was needed to needle the pompous , the bigoted and the corrupt , and that need is just as pressing today . ''

London (AFP) –
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Spitting Image, the ground-breaking British satirical television show that used grotesque puppets to skewer politicians and public figures, returned Saturday after a 24-year break -- with Boris Johnson and Donald Trump in its sights.
The UK prime minister and US president are among 100 characters immortalised in foam latex for a new series for streaming service BritBox, alongside Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, Mark Zuckerberg and Kim Kardashian.
In its 1980s heyday, Spitting Image's silly and often crass sketches brought politics to a mass audience and provided an outlet for anger against the right-wing reforms of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.
Co-curator Roger Law said it was a "good time" to bring it back, as the social upheaval of that time "is not dissimilar with what's going on now", citing British divisions over Brexit.
But some commentators question how the show will fare in today's censorious age, where a mere whiff of controversy sets off a social media storm.
- 'Whimsical and silly' -
The new programme pulls no punches against Trump, who is shown in the first episode trying to make a deal with an actual coronavirus, and then asleep as his snake-like extended anus writes angry tweets.
The show -- which will be written and aired weekly to keep it topical -- had to be hastily updated after the president this week contracted Covid-19, and portrays him complaining about being quarantined with his wife Melania.
Closer to home, Johnson is shown as a bumbling idiot controlled by his chief advisor Dominic Cummings, an alien overlord with a throbbing head.
In other scenes, Prince Harry searches in vain for a job in Los Angeles, while Disney executives discuss whether to create a "black Yoda" in response to demands for racial justice.
The portrayal as a weather girl of teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has autism, has sparked criticism online -- although she herself 'liked' her puppet on Twitter.
Lead writer Jeff Westbrook, of "The Simpsons" and "Futurama" fame, said he hoped viewers would see the new series as "satire, rather than cruelty".
"I don't set out to really offend people," he said at a preview, noting the show was "a little bit whimsical and silly".
Law admitted Spitting Image in the 1980s used "visual cliches" and said he worked hard to personalise the new puppets.
"I don't find what we do offensive. I find some of the people we're attacking much more offensive," he said.
- 'Needling the pompous' -
Spitting Image ran from 1984 to 1996 and drew in 15 million viewers a week at its peak.
Politicians took centre stage, from the besuited Conservative prime minister Thatcher constantly berating her cabinet -- the "vegetables" -- to US president Reagan, separated from his brain and his finger always close to the nuclear button.
The show made many more junior ministers household names, although often it was the puppet that viewers remembered. For many Britons, former premier John Major will always be a grey figure who liked peas.
Other celebrities also featured, notably footballer Paul Gascoigne, who was constantly weeping. Even the royals were fair game, with the Queen Mother swigging gin and Queen Elizabeth II checking the horse racing section in newspapers typically read by gamblers.
Many of the original scripts, some puppets and viewers' letters of complaints are held in Law's archive at Cambridge University Library, alongside the works of Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton.
Dr Lucy Delap, reader in Modern British and Gender History at Cambridge University, has used the memorabilia in lectures, citing Spitting Image's place in a long history of British political satire.
"It gave a satirical platform to a society that was deeply divided -- by neoliberal policies, the closure of coal mines, police racism and brutality, nuclear weapons," she told AFP.
Asked if it could succeed in 2020, she said: "Spitting Image was needed to needle the pompous, the bigoted and the corrupt, and that need is just as pressing today."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Swiss Skydiver edges Authentic in Preakness Stakes thriller

Swiss Skydiver held off Authentic in a thrilling finish Saturday , becoming just the sixth filly to win the Preakness Stakes in a dramatic end to a topsy-turvy Triple Crown year .
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Robby Albarado , Swiss Skydiver edged to the lead as they headed into the final turn , then held off a fierce challenge from Kentucky Derby winner Authentic , whose trainer Bob Baffert was denied a record eighth Preakness win .
`` She 's just such a special filly , '' McPeek said of the determined chestnut filly that romped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second in the Kentucky Oaks .
He said he knew some questioned his decision to put Swiss Skydiver up against the colts in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness .
But she justified his faith , becoming the first filly since Rachel Alexandra in 2009 -- and just the second female since 1924 .
She was the first filly to run in the Preakness since Ria Antonia finished last in 2014 .
`` She continues to get stronger and it 's amazing , '' McPeek said .
`` I 've been doing this for 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sometimes you run them and they come back tired .
`` She never gets tired .
If anything , she makes me tired dragging me around the barn every day . ''
The Baffert-trained Thousand Words and Authentic , ridden By Johnny Velazquez , dueled for the lead early , but Albarado slipped Swiss Skydiver past them as they were turning for home .
`` I had an opportunity , '' Albarado said .
`` I took advantage of the rail .
Johnny stayed off the fence there , made a conscious decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or take now .
If I make that move now or I wait and get smothered . ''
Swiss Skydiver , who went off at odds of 11-1 , held her ground as the two thundered away from the rest of the field down the stretch , finally getting her nose across the wire first .
Jesus ' Team , a 40-1 longshot trained by Jose D'Angelo and ridden by Jevian Toledo , was a distant third .
Pimlico , which usually features a raucous crowd of 100,000 , was virtually empty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in attendance amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
COVID-19 had already turned the Triple Crown , which normally starts with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May , upside down with the Belmont Stakes opening the action on June 20 and the Kentucky Derby held in September .
Belmont winner Tiz the Law , pipped by Authentic in the Kentucky Derby , opted out of the Preakness in preparation for the Breeders ' Cup Classic .
Baffert was vying to become the first trainer to win the Preakness .
He currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wyndham Walden .
Baffert 's most recent Preakness win remains Justify 's 2018 triumph on the way to the Triple Crown .

Washington (AFP) –
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Swiss Skydiver held off Authentic in a thrilling finish Saturday, becoming just the sixth filly to win the Preakness Stakes in a dramatic end to a topsy-turvy Triple Crown year.
Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Robby Albarado, Swiss Skydiver edged to the lead as they headed into the final turn, then held off a fierce challenge from Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, whose trainer Bob Baffert was denied a record eighth Preakness win.
"She's just such a special filly," McPeek said of the determined chestnut filly that romped to victory in the Alabama Stakes before running second in the Kentucky Oaks.
He said he knew some questioned his decision to put Swiss Skydiver up against the colts in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.
But she justified his faith, becoming the first filly since Rachel Alexandra in 2009 -- and just the second female since 1924.
She was the first filly to run in the Preakness since Ria Antonia finished last in 2014.
"She continues to get stronger and it's amazing," McPeek said. "I've been doing this for 35 years and you're around horses and sometimes you run them and they come back tired.
"She never gets tired. If anything, she makes me tired dragging me around the barn every day."
The Baffert-trained Thousand Words and Authentic, ridden By Johnny Velazquez, dueled for the lead early, but Albarado slipped Swiss Skydiver past them as they were turning for home.
"I had an opportunity," Albarado said. "I took advantage of the rail. Johnny stayed off the fence there, made a conscious decision to move at that time. Give or take now. If I make that move now or I wait and get smothered."
Swiss Skydiver, who went off at odds of 11-1, held her ground as the two thundered away from the rest of the field down the stretch, finally getting her nose across the wire first.
Jesus' Team, a 40-1 longshot trained by Jose D'Angelo and ridden by Jevian Toledo, was a distant third.
Pimlico, which usually features a raucous crowd of 100,000, was virtually empty, with just owners, trainers and workers in attendance amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 had already turned the Triple Crown, which normally starts with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, upside down with the Belmont Stakes opening the action on June 20 and the Kentucky Derby held in September.
Belmont winner Tiz the Law, pipped by Authentic in the Kentucky Derby, opted out of the Preakness in preparation for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Baffert was vying to become the first trainer to win the Preakness. He currently shares the record with 19th-century trainer R. Wyndham Walden.
Baffert's most recent Preakness win remains Justify's 2018 triumph on the way to the Triple Crown.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Caputo fires Sassuolo top with Crotone brace, virus cases increase

Francesco Caputo , seen here celebrating after scoring against Lazio in July , has three goals three matches into the new season Sassuolo will be top of Serie A overnight after Francesco Caputo struck twice in a confident 4-1 over Crotone that continued their positive start to the new season , as Napoli announced another coronavirus case ahead their match with Juventus .
Roberto De Zerbi 's exciting team are on seven points after three games and can not be caught until Sunday with Udinese and Roma sharing just one point between them ahead of their match later Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams , including Napoli -- who take on champions Juve on Sunday -- Inter Milan and Atalanta , who are all expected to challenge for the Serie A title this season .
Caputo , known as `` Ciccio '' in Italy , was on Friday called up for Italy ahead of matches against Moldova , Poland and the Netherlands between October 7-14 , and the 33-year-old celebrated with a clinical performance that takes him to three goals in as many games this season .
He struck from the penalty spot in the 58th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead , just nine minutes after Simy had levelled Domenico Berardi 's first-half opener with a penalty of his own for Crotone .
The forward made it 3-1 with five minutes remaining after being put clean through by Berardi before Manuel Locatelli completed the rout with a close range finish deep into stoppage time .
Roma finally notched up their first win of the season , Spanish forward Pedro Rodriguez -- who signed a three-year deal with the capital club in August after leaving Chelsea on a free transfer -- scoring in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Udinese .
Pedro seized on a weak clearing kick and hit the ball from long-range , going in off the post for his first goal for his new club .
The other match scheduled for Saturday , Genoa 's home clash with Torino , was postponed earlier in the week followed a raft of Covid-19 cases for the hosts which rose to 22 among playing and coaching staff .
Both Napoli and Atalanta announced new cases among playing staff on Saturday , with Gennaro Gattuso 's side now counting midfielder Eljif Elmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international Piotr Zielinski was revealed as testing positive on Friday .
The Italian football league said late Saturday that Juve 's match against Napoli would go ahead as planned .
Juve coach Andrea Pirlo had earlier said he did not believe there was `` any risk '' of the match not being played .
`` I do n't think there will be problems that mean we ca n't play the match , '' he told reporters .
`` We 've prepared for the match like all the other teams have so tomorrow evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ( the situation ) has n't changed anything for us at all . ''
But a later round of testing showed two positive cases among Juve staff , though not connected with the playing squad , management or medical teams .
The squad , as a consequence , will conduct isolated training , Juve said .
No Napoli players have been called up to the Italy squad , with the Italian Football Federation saying that the decision to not select the club 's players was a `` precautionary '' measure following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case `` with low viral load was diagnosed within the team group '' , adding that the unnamed player was asymptomatic .

Milan (AFP) –
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Sassuolo will be top of Serie A overnight after Francesco Caputo struck twice in a confident 4-1 over Crotone that continued their positive start to the new season, as Napoli announced another coronavirus case ahead their match with Juventus.
Roberto De Zerbi's exciting team are on seven points after three games and cannot be caught until Sunday with Udinese and Roma sharing just one point between them ahead of their match later Saturday.
They are a point ahead of five teams, including Napoli -- who take on champions Juve on Sunday -- Inter Milan and Atalanta, who are all expected to challenge for the Serie A title this season.
Caputo, known as "Ciccio" in Italy, was on Friday called up for Italy ahead of matches against Moldova, Poland and the Netherlands between October 7-14, and the 33-year-old celebrated with a clinical performance that takes him to three goals in as many games this season.
He struck from the penalty spot in the 58th minute to put the hosts in the lead, just nine minutes after Simy had levelled Domenico Berardi's first-half opener with a penalty of his own for Crotone.
The forward made it 3-1 with five minutes remaining after being put clean through by Berardi before Manuel Locatelli completed the rout with a close range finish deep into stoppage time.
Roma finally notched up their first win of the season, Spanish forward Pedro Rodriguez -- who signed a three-year deal with the capital club in August after leaving Chelsea on a free transfer -- scoring in the 55th minute to seal a 1-0 win over Udinese.
Pedro seized on a weak clearing kick and hit the ball from long-range, going in off the post for his first goal for his new club.
The other match scheduled for Saturday, Genoa's home clash with Torino, was postponed earlier in the week followed a raft of Covid-19 cases for the hosts which rose to 22 among playing and coaching staff.
- Juve-Napoli gets green light -
Both Napoli and Atalanta announced new cases among playing staff on Saturday, with Gennaro Gattuso's side now counting midfielder Eljif Elmas among those with the virus after Poland international Piotr Zielinski was revealed as testing positive on Friday.
The Italian football league said late Saturday that Juve's match against Napoli would go ahead as planned.
Juve coach Andrea Pirlo had earlier said he did not believe there was "any risk" of the match not being played.
"I don't think there will be problems that mean we can't play the match," he told reporters.
"We've prepared for the match like all the other teams have so tomorrow evening we will be ready to play. It (the situation) hasn't changed anything for us at all."
But a later round of testing showed two positive cases among Juve staff, though not connected with the playing squad, management or medical teams.
The squad, as a consequence, will conduct isolated training, Juve said.
No Napoli players have been called up to the Italy squad, with the Italian Football Federation saying that the decision to not select the club's players was a "precautionary" measure following the surge in cases.
Atalanta said one case "with low viral load was diagnosed within the team group", adding that the unnamed player was asymptomatic.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Real Betis go top of La Liga after win over Valencia

Real Betis provisionally moved atop La Liga with a 2-0 victory over Valencia on Saturday , Joaquin Sanchez ( L @ @ @ @ @ in each goal Real Betis provisionally moved atop La Liga with a 2-0 victory over @ @ @ @ @ both Barcelona and Real Madrid playing on Sunday .
Ex-Valencia player Sergio Canales opened the @ @ @ @ @ Betis in the 19th minute , Cristian Tello bagging the second in the 74th , @ @ @ @ @ passes from tireless 39-year-old Joaquin .
Atletico Madrid could only manage a goalless draw with @ @ @ @ @ into second on goal difference by Real Sociedad , 3-0 winners over Getafe .
Mikel @ @ @ @ @ Real Sociedad with a 28th-minute penalty , before Mikel Merino and Portuguese midfielder Portu bagged @ @ @ @ @ 10 minutes to play .
Real Madrid travel to Levante and Barcelona host Sevilla in @ @ @ @ @ of the table could change depending on results .

Valencia (Spain) (AFP) –
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Real Betis provisionally moved atop La Liga with a 2-0 victory over Valencia on Saturday, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid playing on Sunday.
Ex-Valencia player Sergio Canales opened the scoring for Manuel Pellegrini's Betis in the 19th minute, Cristian Tello bagging the second in the 74th, both goals aided by decisive passes from tireless 39-year-old Joaquin.
Atletico Madrid could only manage a goalless draw with Villarreal, who were leapfrogged into second on goal difference by Real Sociedad, 3-0 winners over Getafe.
Mikel Oiarzabal opened the scoring for Real Sociedad with a 28th-minute penalty, before Mikel Merino and Portuguese midfielder Portu bagged a quick goal each with 10 minutes to play.
Real Madrid travel to Levante and Barcelona host Sevilla in the knowledge that the head of the table could change depending on results.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Robshaw braces for emotional Harlequins farewell in 300th game

Former England captain Chris Robshaw ( left ) is preparing to make his 300th appearance for Harlequins Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw says a final circuit of his Harlequins home ground felt `` like I was being walked to my death '' as he prepares to play his 300th and final game for the club on Sunday .
The 34-year-old flanker 's last outing for the English Premiership club will be at Leicester before he starts a new chapter in the United States with San Diego Legion .
`` They are preparing a surf board for me , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having motorbike lessons ahead of his switch to Major Rugby League .
Robshaw , popular and with a self-deprecatory sense of humour , said it was `` devastating '' not to have had fans at Harlequins ' Stoop ground for his farewell on Monday , which ended in defeat against Wasps .
His final match will also be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions .
Robshaw says he is proud to reach the 300-game landmark , 15 years after his first-team debut for the club , whom he led to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was something I first started thinking about earlier in the season , what number of games I was on , and I knew it would be touch and go , '' he said .
`` I did not realise it would be the last game , something which when I first started I would never have dreamed of .
`` Achieving this incredible milestone , to represent them so many times -- the good , the bad and the ugly so to speak -- it might not mean a lot to others but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Robshaw 's nadir as a player came at the 2015 World Cup when he and head coach Stuart Lancaster took the brunt of the criticism as England exited in the first round .
The forward had been captain since the 2012 Six Nations , enduring an agonising run of four successive runners-up spots in the northern hemisphere championship -- three of those on points difference .
Lancaster 's replacement , Eddie Jones , stripped Robshaw of the captaincy , installing Dylan Hartley as skipper , but he is not bitter about that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game against Uruguay I thought 'this is it , this is the end ' , '' said Robshaw , who skippered England in 43 of his 66 Test appearances .
`` I was in a horrible situation but Eddie was honest when we chatted behind closed doors for about an hour-and-a-half .
`` We got to know each other and I have a huge amount of respect for him for the trust he showed in me and gave me a second life . ''
That second coming resulted in a Six Nations Grand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Australia in 2016 .
`` That whole year for me had a huge meaning , coming on the back of the World Cup and the lowest point of my career , '' said Robshaw .
`` Losing out three successive times on points difference , looking back on it affected me massively .
Winning the Grand Slam took us in that group so long to achieve .
`` However , it is the second Test victory over Australia ( 23-7 ) which was my 50th cap , which stands out .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jason Leonard presenting me with it in the dressing room and everyone applauding me .
`` It meant so much to me as for me it was closure on a very difficult chapter as in the year before .
It was a massive step forward . ''

London (AFP) –
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Former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw says a final circuit of his Harlequins home ground felt "like I was being walked to my death" as he prepares to play his 300th and final game for the club on Sunday.
The 34-year-old flanker's last outing for the English Premiership club will be at Leicester before he starts a new chapter in the United States with San Diego Legion.
"They are preparing a surf board for me," he joked, adding he was also having motorbike lessons ahead of his switch to Major Rugby League.
Robshaw, popular and with a self-deprecatory sense of humour, said it was "devastating" not to have had fans at Harlequins' Stoop ground for his farewell on Monday, which ended in defeat against Wasps.
His final match will also be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions.
Robshaw says he is proud to reach the 300-game landmark, 15 years after his first-team debut for the club, whom he led to the Premiership title in 2012.
"It was something I first started thinking about earlier in the season, what number of games I was on, and I knew it would be touch and go," he said.
"I did not realise it would be the last game, something which when I first started I would never have dreamed of.
"Achieving this incredible milestone, to represent them so many times -- the good, the bad and the ugly so to speak -- it might not mean a lot to others but it makes me feel rather proud."
- 'Closure' -
Robshaw's nadir as a player came at the 2015 World Cup when he and head coach Stuart Lancaster took the brunt of the criticism as England exited in the first round.
The forward had been captain since the 2012 Six Nations, enduring an agonising run of four successive runners-up spots in the northern hemisphere championship -- three of those on points difference.
Lancaster's replacement, Eddie Jones, stripped Robshaw of the captaincy, installing Dylan Hartley as skipper, but he is not bitter about that.
"The final World Cup pool game against Uruguay I thought 'this is it, this is the end'," said Robshaw, who skippered England in 43 of his 66 Test appearances.
"I was in a horrible situation but Eddie was honest when we chatted behind closed doors for about an hour-and-a-half.
"We got to know each other and I have a huge amount of respect for him for the trust he showed in me and gave me a second life."
That second coming resulted in a Six Nations Grand Slam and a historic 3-0 series win in Australia in 2016.
"That whole year for me had a huge meaning, coming on the back of the World Cup and the lowest point of my career," said Robshaw.
"Losing out three successive times on points difference, looking back on it affected me massively. Winning the Grand Slam took us in that group so long to achieve.
"However, it is the second Test victory over Australia (23-7) which was my 50th cap, which stands out.
"I was man of the match, Jason Leonard presenting me with it in the dressing room and everyone applauding me.
"It meant so much to me as for me it was closure on a very difficult chapter as in the year before. It was a massive step forward."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Eagle lifts England's Reid to LPGA lead in New Jersey

Mel Reid fired an eagle and three birdies in a five-under par 66 on Saturday to seize a one-shot lead going into the final round of the LPGA ShopRite Classic .
England 's Reid , who was one off the pace heading into the round , had 15-under par total at the Seaview resort in Galloway New Jersey , and was one in front of Americans Jennifer Song and Jennifer Kupcho , who both shot 65 .
It 's the second straight event that Reid , a six-time winner on the Ladies European Tour , has held the 54-hole lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title .
She was two-up through three rounds in Portland but finished tied for fifth in a tournament won by compatriot Georgia Hall in a playoff .
Reid put herself in position again with a quick start at Seaview , where she birdied the first and third .
She was on the green in two at the par-five ninth and two-putted for birdie and a birdie at the 10th put her alone atop the leaderboard .
Kupcho and Song both birdied the par-five 18th to close the gap .
Kupcho 's four-foot birdie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right side as she capped a bogey-free round .
The 23-year-old had drained a dazzling birdie putt at the 13th , her effort from the tier above the pin breaking wide and curling back toward the hole , finally dropping in the back side of the cup .
`` It was just curling and it just back-doored in , '' Kupcho said .
Song also played without a bogey , grabbing three birdies on each side for her share of second .
With her lead down to one as she arrived at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her approach from the rough flew high and through the green , leaving her a tough downhill chip .
She left a birdie putt short but still walked off with a slender advantage .
Overnight leader Nasa Hataoka of Japan was alone in fourth after a one-under par 70 for 201 .
Hataoka was even for the day after two bogeys and two birdies through 16 holes .
She missed the green at the par-three 17th but produced a great par-saving putt and gave herself a closing boost with a birdie from a @ @ @ @ @

New York (AFP) –
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Mel Reid fired an eagle and three birdies in a five-under par 66 on Saturday to seize a one-shot lead going into the final round of the LPGA ShopRite Classic.
England's Reid, who was one off the pace heading into the round, had 15-under par total at the Seaview resort in Galloway New Jersey, and was one in front of Americans Jennifer Song and Jennifer Kupcho, who both shot 65.
It's the second straight event that Reid, a six-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, has held the 54-hole lead in search of a first LPGA Tour title.
She was two-up through three rounds in Portland but finished tied for fifth in a tournament won by compatriot Georgia Hall in a playoff.
Reid put herself in position again with a quick start at Seaview, where she birdied the first and third.
She was on the green in two at the par-five ninth and two-putted for birdie and a birdie at the 10th put her alone atop the leaderboard.
Kupcho and Song both birdied the par-five 18th to close the gap. Kupcho's four-foot birdie attempt wobbled a bit but dropped in the right side as she capped a bogey-free round.
The 23-year-old had drained a dazzling birdie putt at the 13th, her effort from the tier above the pin breaking wide and curling back toward the hole, finally dropping in the back side of the cup.
"It was just curling and it just back-doored in," Kupcho said.
Song also played without a bogey, grabbing three birdies on each side for her share of second.
With her lead down to one as she arrived at 18, Reid missed the fairway and her approach from the rough flew high and through the green, leaving her a tough downhill chip. She left a birdie putt short but still walked off with a slender advantage.
Overnight leader Nasa Hataoka of Japan was alone in fourth after a one-under par 70 for 201.
Hataoka was even for the day after two bogeys and two birdies through 16 holes. She missed the green at the par-three 17th but produced a great par-saving putt and gave herself a closing boost with a birdie from a bunker at the last.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Aussie Power holds off Herta for IndyCar Harvest victory

Australian Will Power held off American Colton Herta over the final 10 laps to win Sunday 's IndyCar Harvest Grand Prix while New Zealand 's Scott Dixon 's season points lead dwindled .
Pole-sitter Power led from start to finish in a field of 25 drivers over 75 laps in the second race in as many days on the 14-turn , 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course .
`` Over the moon to get another win , especially at this place , '' Power said .
`` I just pushed so hard the whole race .
Fantastic day . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Indy road course after taking the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in 2015 , 2017 and 2018 .
Power captured his 61st career IndyCar pole , six shy of Mario Andretti 's all-time record , and the 39-year-old Aussie fought off 20-year-old Herta for his 39th career IndyCar triumph , level fifth-best in series history with Al Unser Sr. '' It 's just amazing , the names , absolute legends of the sport , '' Power said .
`` I could never have imagined my name among these drivers .
They were my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rossi was third for his fourth consecutive podium finish followed by countryman Josef Newgarden and Mexico 's Pato O'Ward .
Dixon settled for eighth place in the penultimate race of the campaign and saw his points edge shrink to 502-470 over defending champion Newgarden entering the October 25 finale on the streets of St. Petersburg , Florida .
`` It 's nice to be still on the leading side of the points , '' Dixon said .
`` But they 've been good at St. Pete the past few years .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Even if Newgarden , the defending St. Petersburg race champion , captured the maximum 54 points on offer in Florida , Dixon could still claim the crown by finishing ninth or better .
`` We 're in it with a shout , '' Newgarden said .
`` We can go to St. Pete with a chance to win it .
I just wish we were a little closer .
We needed to be a little bit better to get up there in the points .
We were just mediocre . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one shy of A.J .
Foyt 's all-time record , while Newgarden seeks his third crown in four seasons .
Dixon 's car was struck as he passed American Ryan Hunter-Reay early , a broken left sidepod slowing the Kiwi the rest of the way .
`` I was loose the whole race , '' Dixon said .
`` We tried everything .
we were flat out . ''
Power jumped ahead at the start with Herta and Rossi just behind until the final pit stops with 24 laps to go .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had anything for Will today , '' Rossi said .
Herta underbraked Rossi to pass him inside on the first curve with 11 laps remaining but could n't catch Power .
`` The tires had gone away , '' Power said .
`` It was a very tough battle .
I had to work very hard to keep him behind . ''
Herta said he `` just needed a litle bit more time and a little bit more tire .
Thought I had a chance at the end . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Australian Will Power held off American Colton Herta over the final 10 laps to win Sunday's IndyCar Harvest Grand Prix while New Zealand's Scott Dixon's season points lead dwindled.
Pole-sitter Power led from start to finish in a field of 25 drivers over 75 laps in the second race in as many days on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
"Over the moon to get another win, especially at this place," Power said. "I just pushed so hard the whole race. Fantastic day."
Power won for the fourth time on the Indy road course after taking the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Power captured his 61st career IndyCar pole, six shy of Mario Andretti's all-time record, and the 39-year-old Aussie fought off 20-year-old Herta for his 39th career IndyCar triumph, level fifth-best in series history with Al Unser Sr.
"It's just amazing, the names, absolute legends of the sport," Power said. "I could never have imagined my name among these drivers. They were my heroes growing up."
American Alexander Rossi was third for his fourth consecutive podium finish followed by countryman Josef Newgarden and Mexico's Pato O'Ward.
Dixon settled for eighth place in the penultimate race of the campaign and saw his points edge shrink to 502-470 over defending champion Newgarden entering the October 25 finale on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
"It's nice to be still on the leading side of the points," Dixon said. "But they've been good at St. Pete the past few years. We're going to have our work cut out."
Even if Newgarden, the defending St. Petersburg race champion, captured the maximum 54 points on offer in Florida, Dixon could still claim the crown by finishing ninth or better.
"We're in it with a shout," Newgarden said. "We can go to St. Pete with a chance to win it. I just wish we were a little closer. We needed to be a little bit better to get up there in the points. We were just mediocre."
Dixon is chasing his sixth career title, one shy of A.J. Foyt's all-time record, while Newgarden seeks his third crown in four seasons.
Dixon's car was struck as he passed American Ryan Hunter-Reay early, a broken left sidepod slowing the Kiwi the rest of the way.
"I was loose the whole race," Dixon said. "We tried everything. we were flat out."
Power jumped ahead at the start with Herta and Rossi just behind until the final pit stops with 24 laps to go.
"I don't know if anybody had anything for Will today," Rossi said.
Herta underbraked Rossi to pass him inside on the first curve with 11 laps remaining but couldn't catch Power.
"The tires had gone away," Power said. "It was a very tough battle. I had to work very hard to keep him behind."
Herta said he "just needed a litle bit more time and a little bit more tire. Thought I had a chance at the end."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Italy's Rugani joins Champions League rookies Rennes

Daniele Rugani has played 101 games for Juventus since joining from Empoli in 2015 Italy centre-back Daniele Rugani has joined @ @ @ @ @ a season-long loan from Juventus , the Ligue 1 leaders announced on Saturday .
Italian @ @ @ @ @ Bretons have paid two million euros ( $ 2.34 million ) for 26-year-old Rugani , @ @ @ @ @ the Azzurri .
`` We could n't hope for better .
He has Champions League @ @ @ @ @ '' the French club 's president Nicolas Holveck said in a statement .
In March @ @ @ @ @ Serie A player to test positive for Covid-19 before last season was halted due to @ @ @ @ @ , Holveck 's side announced the arrival of Inter Milan wing-back Dalbert Henrique , also @ @ @ @ @ On Sunday , the unbeaten top-of-the-table outfit welcome second-from-bottom Reims in their final match ahead @ @ @ @ @ to the international window .

Rennes (France) (AFP) –
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Italy centre-back Daniele Rugani has joined Champions League debutants Rennes on a season-long loan from Juventus, the Ligue 1 leaders announced on Saturday.
Italian and French media report the Bretons have paid two million euros ($2.34 million) for 26-year-old Rugani, who has seven appearances for the Azzurri.
"We couldn't hope for better. He has Champions League experience and with Italy," the French club's president Nicolas Holveck said in a statement.
In March, Rugani became the first Serie A player to test positive for Covid-19 before last season was halted due to the virus outbreak.
Earlier, Holveck's side announced the arrival of Inter Milan wing-back Dalbert Henrique, also on a temporary deal.
On Sunday, the unbeaten top-of-the-table outfit welcome second-from-bottom Reims in their final match ahead of a two-week break due to the international window.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--German anti-mask rally fails to ignite at Alpine lake

Germany enforces similar rules to many other European countries , obliging people to wear masks on public transport and keep 1.5 metres ( five feet ) apart where possible Hundreds of protesters opposed to mask wearing and other coronavirus measures gathered at a lakeside town in southern Germany on Saturday for rallies that were smaller than planned .
The gathering in Konstanz on the border with Switzerland fell far short of the expected 15,000 people , with police saying roughly 1,000 had arrived in the area and all the events had passed off peacefully .
Similar events in August in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extreme left and right , anti-vaccination campaigners , conspiracy theorists and self-described free thinkers -- had attracted roughly 20,000 people .
Germany enforces similar rules to many other European countries , obliging people to wear masks on public transport and keep 1.5 metres ( five feet ) apart where possible are among the most prominent .
But the country has consistently had a lower rate of infection than most of its neighbours and has managed to avoid the kind of restrictive blanket lockdowns seen in Spain and Italy .
In Konstanz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain for half an hour , the centrepiece of the day of demonstrations .
`` People need to think a bit more about this ... and not be so afraid of nature because viruses and bacteria are part of nature , '' said one participant , Ella , 51 .
Police were out in force to patrol the rallies after one of the previous gatherings saw groups of protesters try to break into the parliament building in Berlin .
The rallies have also caused outrage after images showed some participants with Nazi insignia @

Konstanz (Germany) (AFP) –
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Hundreds of protesters opposed to mask wearing and other coronavirus measures gathered at a lakeside town in southern Germany on Saturday for rallies that were smaller than planned.
The gathering in Konstanz on the border with Switzerland fell far short of the expected 15,000 people, with police saying roughly 1,000 had arrived in the area and all the events had passed off peacefully.
Similar events in August in Berlin -- attended by a mix of the extreme left and right, anti-vaccination campaigners, conspiracy theorists and self-described free thinkers -- had attracted roughly 20,000 people.
Germany enforces similar rules to many other European countries, obliging people to wear masks on public transport and keep 1.5 metres (five feet) apart where possible are among the most prominent.
But the country has consistently had a lower rate of infection than most of its neighbours and has managed to avoid the kind of restrictive blanket lockdowns seen in Spain and Italy.
In Konstanz, a group of protesters formed a human chain for half an hour, the centrepiece of the day of demonstrations.
"People need to think a bit more about this... and not be so afraid of nature because viruses and bacteria are part of nature," said one participant, Ella, 51.
Police were out in force to patrol the rallies after one of the previous gatherings saw groups of protesters try to break into the parliament building in Berlin.
The rallies have also caused outrage after images showed some participants with Nazi insignia.
© 2020 AFP