france24--2020-10-29--German tennis star Zverev denies he attacked ex-girlfriend

Alexander Zverev on his way to the Cologne title last weekend German tennis star Alexander Zverev on Thursday said accusations by an ex-girlfriend that he had attacked her in New York last year were `` simply not true '' .
World number seven Zverev insisted claims made by Olga Sharypova that he tried to `` strangle '' her while at the US Open were `` unfounded '' and made him `` very sad '' .
Sharypova did not initially name Zverev in her Instagram post but later confirmed to Russian media that she was referring to her fellow 23-year-old .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit against a wall and that she was forced to flee a hotel barefoot .
`` The unfounded accusations of my ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova ... make me very sad , '' Zverev , who reached this year 's US Open final , said in a statement .
`` I very much regret that she makes such statements because the accusations are simply not true .
`` We had a relationship , but it ended a long time ago .
Why Olga is making these accusations now , I just do n't know .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us will find a way to deal with each other again in a reasonable and respectful way . ''
Zverev also revealed Thursday that he is to become a father with former partner Brenda Patea .
`` The last few days were quite challenging for me , '' he admitted .

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German tennis star Alexander Zverev on Thursday said accusations by an ex-girlfriend that he had attacked her in New York last year were "simply not true".
World number seven Zverev insisted claims made by Olga Sharypova that he tried to "strangle" her while at the US Open were "unfounded" and made him "very sad".
Sharypova did not initially name Zverev in her Instagram post but later confirmed to Russian media that she was referring to her fellow 23-year-old.
Sharypova claimed also that her head was hit against a wall and that she was forced to flee a hotel barefoot.
"The unfounded accusations of my ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova...make me very sad," Zverev, who reached this year's US Open final, said in a statement.
"I very much regret that she makes such statements because the accusations are simply not true.
"We had a relationship, but it ended a long time ago. Why Olga is making these accusations now, I just don't know.
"I really hope that the two of us will find a way to deal with each other again in a reasonable and respectful way."
Zverev also revealed Thursday that he is to become a father with former partner Brenda Patea.
"The last few days were quite challenging for me," he admitted.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-29--Jones wants England to restore rugby's image after Barbarians 'laughing stock'

England coach Eddie Jones has urged his players to revive rugby union 's reputation when they bid for the Six Nations Championship title away to Italy following the `` laughing stock '' of last week 's cancelled match against the Barbarians .
Jones 's losing World Cup finalists could be crowned champions with a big win over perennial strugglers Italy in Rome and if the result of a match between title rivals France and Ireland later on Saturday 's coronavirus-delayed final round of the tournament goes their way .
England , without a match for months , had hoped to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Twickenham last Sunday .
But that fixture was dramatically scrapped when it emerged several BaaBaas players , including former England captain Chris Robshaw , had breached Covid-19 protocols by making unauthorised trips , including a restaurant meal , outside the 'bubble ' at the squad 's London hotel .
Jones initially appeared relax about the abandonment , urging rugby fans not to be too harsh on flanker Robshaw , a `` good young man '' who has `` served his country well '' .
But Jones , speaking just hours before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday with `` prejudicial '' conduct , took a far less conciliatory tone .
`` Rugby at the moment is a bit of a laughing stock and we all love the game , '' the veteran Australian coach told a conference call .
`` We have a great game in rugby and we do n't like to see it be portrayed as something that is not a serious sport , as it has been . ''
Jones , who has previously coached the Barbarians , as well as his native Australia and Japan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a game called off because of a breakdown in the protocols in society at the moment .
That 's what happened . ''
Nevertheless , he cited how the Australian cricket team had recovered from the shame of a 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa as proof of how a sporting reputation could be restored .
`` History shows that sport changes quickly , '' Jones said .
`` If you look at the situation with the Australian cricket team and the sandpaper , that time was not a great time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for Australian cricket .
`` Now people have forgotten that and it is our responsibility to put on a performance so that people do n't remember what happened from a couple of weeks ago . ''
Jones , a lifelong cricket fan , stuck with the summer game when explaining why he had no qualms about deploying Henry Slade in his starting XV , with the Exeter centre aiming for his third trophy in as many weeks after helping the double-winning Chiefs win gruelling European and English Premiership finals .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hundred in one game , a hundred in the next and the coach comes in and says , 'we 're going to sit you out next game ' , '' Jones explained .
`` And he looks at you as if you 've got two heads .
Why would you want to be left out when you 're in good form ?
...
He ( Slade ) wants to play , he loves playing for England . ''

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England coach Eddie Jones has urged his players to revive rugby union's reputation when they bid for the Six Nations Championship title away to Italy following the "laughing stock" of last week's cancelled match against the Barbarians.
Jones's losing World Cup finalists could be crowned champions with a big win over perennial strugglers Italy in Rome and if the result of a match between title rivals France and Ireland later on Saturday's coronavirus-delayed final round of the tournament goes their way.
England, without a match for months, had hoped to prepare by playing the invitational Barbarians side at Twickenham last Sunday.
But that fixture was dramatically scrapped when it emerged several BaaBaas players, including former England captain Chris Robshaw, had breached Covid-19 protocols by making unauthorised trips, including a restaurant meal, outside the 'bubble' at the squad's London hotel.
Jones initially appeared relax about the abandonment, urging rugby fans not to be too harsh on flanker Robshaw, a "good young man" who has "served his country well".
But Jones, speaking just hours before the RFU charged 13 unnamed Barbarians players on Thursday with "prejudicial" conduct, took a far less conciliatory tone.
"Rugby at the moment is a bit of a laughing stock and we all love the game," the veteran Australian coach told a conference call.
"We have a great game in rugby and we don't like to see it be portrayed as something that is not a serious sport, as it has been."
Jones, who has previously coached the Barbarians, as well as his native Australia and Japan, added: "No-one likes to see a game called off because of a breakdown in the protocols in society at the moment. That's what happened."
- 'Batsman' Slade -
Nevertheless, he cited how the Australian cricket team had recovered from the shame of a 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa as proof of how a sporting reputation could be restored.
"History shows that sport changes quickly," Jones said. "If you look at the situation with the Australian cricket team and the sandpaper, that time was not a great time for cricket and it was not a great time for Australian cricket.
"Now people have forgotten that and it is our responsibility to put on a performance so that people don't remember what happened from a couple of weeks ago."
Jones, a lifelong cricket fan, stuck with the summer game when explaining why he had no qualms about deploying Henry Slade in his starting XV, with the Exeter centre aiming for his third trophy in as many weeks after helping the double-winning Chiefs win gruelling European and English Premiership finals.
"It's like a batsmen, you score a hundred in one game, a hundred in the next and the coach comes in and says, 'we're going to sit you out next game'," Jones explained.
"And he looks at you as if you've got two heads. Why would you want to be left out when you're in good form?...He (Slade) wants to play, he loves playing for England."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-29--MLS confirms points-per-game qualifying change

Major League Soccer said Thursday its final regular season rankings would be calculated using a points-per-game format after Covid-19 disruption left some teams unable to complete a full 23-game schedule .
In a statement , MLS said the league 's regular season would be completed on November 8 and that no games would be scheduled in next month 's international window .
Major League Soccer relaunched its season in July with its `` MLS is Back '' tournament in Orlando following a four-month shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
The league resumed regular-season play with teams playing at their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Covid-19 continuing to cause disruption and scattered cases forcing postponement of multiple fixtures , the league has been left struggling to complete its schedule .
MLS chiefs said the Colorado Rapids would not play five games that had initially been rescheduled after postponement .
As things stand , that would allow Colorado to scrape into the playoffs despite having fewer total points than Vancouver , Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo .
The Rapids occupy the eighth and final slot in the Western Conference standings with 19 points from 15 games .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake ( 22 ) and Houston ( 21 ) all have more points but are outside the playoff places because of an inferior points-per-game average .
This year 's playoffs are being expanded , with the top 10 teams from the Eastern Conference and top eight teams from the Western Conference advancing to the post-season .

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Major League Soccer said Thursday its final regular season rankings would be calculated using a points-per-game format after Covid-19 disruption left some teams unable to complete a full 23-game schedule.
In a statement, MLS said the league's regular season would be completed on November 8 and that no games would be scheduled in next month's international window.
Major League Soccer relaunched its season in July with its "MLS is Back" tournament in Orlando following a four-month shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The league resumed regular-season play with teams playing at their home venues in August.
However, with Covid-19 continuing to cause disruption and scattered cases forcing postponement of multiple fixtures, the league has been left struggling to complete its schedule.
MLS chiefs said the Colorado Rapids would not play five games that had initially been rescheduled after postponement.
As things stand, that would allow Colorado to scrape into the playoffs despite having fewer total points than Vancouver, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo.
The Rapids occupy the eighth and final slot in the Western Conference standings with 19 points from 15 games.
Vancouver (24 points), Salt Lake (22) and Houston (21) all have more points but are outside the playoff places because of an inferior points-per-game average.
This year's playoffs are being expanded, with the top 10 teams from the Eastern Conference and top eight teams from the Western Conference advancing to the post-season.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-29--Greenwald resigns from The Intercept over Biden article

Glenn Greenwald , founder and editor of The Intercept , is seen in a 2019 picture Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald said Thursday he had resigned from The Intercept after the US investigative media outlet refused to publish his article critical of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Greenwald , one of the first journalists to report on the Edward Snowden documents on US mass surveillance , said he was leaving the website he started in 2014 with two other journalists .
`` The final , precipitating cause is that The Intercept 's editors , in violation of my contractual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article I wrote this week , refusing to publish it unless I remove all sections critical of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , '' Greenwald said in a blog post .
Greenwald 's article accuses news outlets of pro-Biden bias in their standoffish coverage of corruption allegations against the former vice-president 's son in a recent New York Post story .
The Post accused Hunter Biden of monetizing access to his father in improper business dealings in Ukraine .
Twitter restricted the article 's spread amid questions over the `` origins of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including emails apparently sourced from a laptop left by Hunter Biden at a Delaware repair shop last year .
Facebook also restricted users ability on link to the article , saying -- along with several US news outlets -- that there were questions over its veracity .
Greenwald , 53 , left The Guardian in 2013 to set up The Intercept with the founder of eBay , Pierre Omidyar .
He accused it of the `` same trends of repression , censorship and ideological homogeneity plaguing the national press . ''
But The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him as `` a grown person throwing a tantrum , '' and said it was he who had allowed his standards to drop .
`` While he accuses us of political bias , it was he who was attempting to recycle the dubious claims of a political campaign -- the Trump campaign -- and launder them as journalism , '' the website said in a statement .
Greenwald , who lives in Brazil , shared the Pulitzer in 2014 for his reporting on leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about mass electronic @ @ @

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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald said Thursday he had resigned from The Intercept after the US investigative media outlet refused to publish his article critical of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Greenwald, one of the first journalists to report on the Edward Snowden documents on US mass surveillance, said he was leaving the website he started in 2014 with two other journalists.
"The final, precipitating cause is that The Intercept's editors, in violation of my contractual right of editorial freedom, censored an article I wrote this week, refusing to publish it unless I remove all sections critical of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden," Greenwald said in a blog post.
Greenwald's article accuses news outlets of pro-Biden bias in their standoffish coverage of corruption allegations against the former vice-president's son in a recent New York Post story.
The Post accused Hunter Biden of monetizing access to his father in improper business dealings in Ukraine.
Twitter restricted the article's spread amid questions over the "origins of the materials" on which it relied, including emails apparently sourced from a laptop left by Hunter Biden at a Delaware repair shop last year.
Facebook also restricted users ability on link to the article, saying -- along with several US news outlets -- that there were questions over its veracity.
Greenwald, 53, left The Guardian in 2013 to set up The Intercept with the founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar.
He accused it of the "same trends of repression, censorship and ideological homogeneity plaguing the national press."
But The Intercept hit back at Greenwald, dismissing him as "a grown person throwing a tantrum," and said it was he who had allowed his standards to drop.
"While he accuses us of political bias, it was he who was attempting to recycle the dubious claims of a political campaign -- the Trump campaign -- and launder them as journalism," the website said in a statement.
Greenwald, who lives in Brazil, shared the Pulitzer in 2014 for his reporting on leaks by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about mass electronic surveillance programs.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-29--NASA says probe successfully stowed sample from asteroid

NASA said it had been able to maneuver Osiris-Rex 's robotic arm which had been holding the leaking particles to a storage capsule near the center of the spacecraft , drop off the sample and close the capsule 's lid NASA said Thursday its robotic spacecraft Osiris-Rex was able to stow a rock and dust sample scooped up from the asteroid Bennu , after a flap that had wedged open put the mission at risk .
`` We are here to announce today that we 've successfully completed that operation , '' said Rich Burns , the mission 's project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission to collect fragments that scientists hope will help unravel the origins of our solar system , but hit a snag after it picked up too big of a sample .
Fragments from the asteroid 's surface in a collector at the end of the probe 's three-meter ( 10-foot ) arm had been slowly escaping into space because some rocks prevented the compartment from closing completely .
That arm is what came into contact with Bennu for a few seconds last Tuesday in the culmination of a mission launched from Earth some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA said it had been able a day earlier to maneuver the robotic arm holding the leaking particles to a storage capsule near the center of the spacecraft , drop off the sample and close the capsule 's lid .
It was a delicate two-day procedure , requiring the team at each step to assess images and data from the previous step .
The probe is 200 million miles ( 320 million kilometers ) away , so it takes 18.5 minutes for its transmissions to reach Earth , and any signal from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to reach Osiris-Rex .
`` My heart breaks for loss of sample , '' said Dante Lauretta , the mission 's chief scientist , but he noted that they had successfully stowed hundreds of grams ( several ounces ) of fragments , far in excess of their minimum goal .
`` Now we can look forward to receiving the sample here on Earth and opening up that capsule , '' he said .
Osiris-Rex is set to come home in September 2023 , hopefully with the largest sample returned from space since @ @ @ @

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NASA said Thursday its robotic spacecraft Osiris-Rex was able to stow a rock and dust sample scooped up from the asteroid Bennu, after a flap that had wedged open put the mission at risk.
"We are here to announce today that we've successfully completed that operation," said Rich Burns, the mission's project manager.
The probe is on a mission to collect fragments that scientists hope will help unravel the origins of our solar system, but hit a snag after it picked up too big of a sample.
Fragments from the asteroid's surface in a collector at the end of the probe's three-meter (10-foot) arm had been slowly escaping into space because some rocks prevented the compartment from closing completely.
That arm is what came into contact with Bennu for a few seconds last Tuesday in the culmination of a mission launched from Earth some four years ago.
On Thursday, NASA said it had been able a day earlier to maneuver the robotic arm holding the leaking particles to a storage capsule near the center of the spacecraft, drop off the sample and close the capsule's lid.
It was a delicate two-day procedure, requiring the team at each step to assess images and data from the previous step.
The probe is 200 million miles (320 million kilometers) away, so it takes 18.5 minutes for its transmissions to reach Earth, and any signal from the control room requires the same amount of time to reach Osiris-Rex.
"My heart breaks for loss of sample," said Dante Lauretta, the mission's chief scientist, but he noted that they had successfully stowed hundreds of grams (several ounces) of fragments, far in excess of their minimum goal.
"Now we can look forward to receiving the sample here on Earth and opening up that capsule," he said.
Osiris-Rex is set to come home in September 2023, hopefully with the largest sample returned from space since the Apollo era.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-29--Steelers-Ravens renew rivalry, Patriots look to bounce back

The longest-running coaching rivalry in the NFL is poised for another ferocious instalment on Sunday when the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Super Bowl-chasing Baltimore Ravens .
An AFC North fixture with a history of bruising , hard-fought encounters will be given an added edge by the fact it marks the 25th regular-season meeting between Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Ravens counterpart John Harbaugh .
Since the two head coaches first faced each other in 2008 , Harbaugh holds the edge in victories with 13 to Tomlin 's 11 .
Tomlin has won two out of three playoff meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this season leads a rejuvenated Steelers team who own the last remaining perfect record in the NFL at 6-0 .
The 5-1 Ravens , meanwhile , have the chance to end the Steelers unbeaten streak on Sunday , and will go top of the division with a victory .
History suggests another heavyweight tussle is on the cards at Baltimore 's M & T Bank Stadium .
No fewer than 16 games between the Ravens and the Steelers in the Tomlin-Harbaugh era have been decided by four points or less .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about , '' Tomlin told reporters at a press conference .
`` They are a top-notch organization and football team .
They have talent across the board .
They 're familiar with us .
We 're familiar with them .
`` We should anticipate it being a physical and rough-and-tumble game because history tells us that , and how the two teams are playing this year also gives you that indication . ''
After a relatively disappointing 2019 campaign , where the Steelers finished 8-8 and a distant second to the Ravens ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being back in what he describes as the `` kitchen that is AFC North football . ''
Harbaugh , meanwhile , speaks admiringly of the Steelers and Tomlin 's ability to keep the franchise performing at a relatively high level year-in , year-out .
Since joining the franchise in 2007 , Tomlin has never had a losing season , taken the team to eight playoff appearances and one Super Bowl victory .
`` They stay true to themselves , and that 's what they 're all about , '' Harbaugh said of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mark of a heck of a coach , and obviously coach Tomlin is one of the best , and we have great respect for everything they do . ''
Sunday 's game also marks the first head-to-head duel between veteran Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore 's reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson .
Roethlisberger , who missed almost the entire 2019 campaign due to injury , says he 's relishing a fixture he described as `` football in its purest form . ''
`` I did n't get to play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , '' Roethlisberger said .
`` As much as this game hurts physically at the end of the day , you miss this rivalry because this is fun .
It 's football in its purest form .
`` It should be a good matchup .
We will have our hands full . ''
Elsewhere on Sunday , the New England Patriots head into their divisional scrap with the Buffalo Bills in the unaccustomed position of underdogs .
The Patriots have spent the week licking their wounds after a 33-6 mauling against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the worst home loss of the Bill Belichick area .
More significantly , the defeat was the Patriots ' third consecutive loss -- the first time since 2002 the team has suffered three straight defeats .
`` We 're just not performing at a good level right now in any area , '' Belichick said after a defeat that left his team at 2-4 and third in the AFC East .
It means the Bills ( 5-2 ) can put further daylight between themselves and their divisional rivals with what would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 at Orchard Park on Sunday .
`` It 's the most important game because it 's the next one , '' Bills quarterback Josh Allen said .
`` We 're not trying to make it a bigger deal or a smaller deal than it needs to be . ''
The Patriots ' job will be made harder after receiver Julian Edelman was forced to undergo surgery on a sore knee earlier this week , ruling him out of the game .

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The longest-running coaching rivalry in the NFL is poised for another ferocious instalment on Sunday when the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Super Bowl-chasing Baltimore Ravens.
An AFC North fixture with a history of bruising, hard-fought encounters will be given an added edge by the fact it marks the 25th regular-season meeting between Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Ravens counterpart John Harbaugh.
Since the two head coaches first faced each other in 2008, Harbaugh holds the edge in victories with 13 to Tomlin's 11.
Tomlin has won two out of three playoff meetings with Harbaugh's Ravens, however, and this season leads a rejuvenated Steelers team who own the last remaining perfect record in the NFL at 6-0.
The 5-1 Ravens, meanwhile, have the chance to end the Steelers unbeaten streak on Sunday, and will go top of the division with a victory.
History suggests another heavyweight tussle is on the cards at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium. No fewer than 16 games between the Ravens and the Steelers in the Tomlin-Harbaugh era have been decided by four points or less.
"You know what the Ravens games are about," Tomlin told reporters at a press conference. "They are a top-notch organization and football team. They have talent across the board. They're familiar with us. We're familiar with them.
- 'Rough and tumble' -
"We should anticipate it being a physical and rough-and-tumble game because history tells us that, and how the two teams are playing this year also gives you that indication."
After a relatively disappointing 2019 campaign, where the Steelers finished 8-8 and a distant second to the Ravens (14-2), Tomlin is reveling in being back in what he describes as the "kitchen that is AFC North football."
Harbaugh, meanwhile, speaks admiringly of the Steelers and Tomlin's ability to keep the franchise performing at a relatively high level year-in, year-out. Since joining the franchise in 2007, Tomlin has never had a losing season, taken the team to eight playoff appearances and one Super Bowl victory.
"They stay true to themselves, and that's what they're all about," Harbaugh said of the Steelers.
"So, that's a mark of a heck of a coach, and obviously coach Tomlin is one of the best, and we have great respect for everything they do."
Sunday's game also marks the first head-to-head duel between veteran Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Baltimore's reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.
Roethlisberger, who missed almost the entire 2019 campaign due to injury, says he's relishing a fixture he described as "football in its purest form."
"I didn't get to play in it last year. I missed this," Roethlisberger said.
"As much as this game hurts physically at the end of the day, you miss this rivalry because this is fun. It's football in its purest form.
"It should be a good matchup. We will have our hands full."
- Bills eye weary Pats -
Elsewhere on Sunday, the New England Patriots head into their divisional scrap with the Buffalo Bills in the unaccustomed position of underdogs.
The Patriots have spent the week licking their wounds after a 33-6 mauling against the San Fransciso 49ers at Foxboro last weekend, the worst home loss of the Bill Belichick area.
More significantly, the defeat was the Patriots' third consecutive loss -- the first time since 2002 the team has suffered three straight defeats.
"We're just not performing at a good level right now in any area," Belichick said after a defeat that left his team at 2-4 and third in the AFC East.
It means the Bills (5-2) can put further daylight between themselves and their divisional rivals with what would be a first win over the Patriots since 2016 at Orchard Park on Sunday.
"It's the most important game because it's the next one," Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. "We're not trying to make it a bigger deal or a smaller deal than it needs to be."
The Patriots' job will be made harder after receiver Julian Edelman was forced to undergo surgery on a sore knee earlier this week, ruling him out of the game.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Anti-France protests in Bangladesh draw thousands

Muslim worshippers came out of Friday prayers in mosques across the Bangladeshi capital and some burned an effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron Thousands of protesters across Bangladesh vented their fury at Emmanuel Macron on Friday , some burned an effigy of the French president as anger flared over his tough stance on Islamic extremism .
Macron defended freedom of expression and condemned Islamist violence earlier this month after the beheading of a teacher in Paris who showed pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed , prompting a backlash across the Muslim world .
France remains on edge after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church in the southern city of Nice on Thursday , which the French leader described as an `` Islamist terrorist attack '' .
Muslim worshippers came out of Friday prayers in mosques across the Bangladeshi capital and chanted : `` We are all soldiers of Prophet Mohammed '' .
They also called for a boycott of French goods and for Macron to be punished , with some burning a effigy of the leader .
Police said 12,000 people took part in the Dhaka rally , but independent observers and organisers said there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was set alight in the port city of Chittagong , where authorities said another 4,000 people took part in protests .
Smaller rallies were held in other towns across the Muslim-majority nation of more than 160 million people .
Macron 's comments have already prompted denunciations from several Muslim countries .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's office vowed to take `` legal and diplomatic action '' over the cartoon , while the country 's NTV broadcaster said Ankara had summoned a senior diplomat from the French embassy .
Iran 's supreme leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the publications a `` stupid act '' and an `` insult '' to those who voted for him .
Pakistan 's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday wrote to leaders of Muslim countries calling on them to act together against Islamophobia .
Earlier this week , more than 40,000 took part in an anti-France demonstration in Dhaka , and the country 's embassy there has been given extra security .

Dhaka (AFP) –
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Thousands of protesters across Bangladesh vented their fury at Emmanuel Macron on Friday, some burned an effigy of the French president as anger flared over his tough stance on Islamic extremism.
Macron defended freedom of expression and condemned Islamist violence earlier this month after the beheading of a teacher in Paris who showed pupils a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, prompting a backlash across the Muslim world.
France remains on edge after a knife-wielding man killed three people at a church in the southern city of Nice on Thursday, which the French leader described as an "Islamist terrorist attack".
Muslim worshippers came out of Friday prayers in mosques across the Bangladeshi capital and chanted: "We are all soldiers of Prophet Mohammed".
They also called for a boycott of French goods and for Macron to be punished, with some burning a effigy of the leader.
Police said 12,000 people took part in the Dhaka rally, but independent observers and organisers said there were many more.
A poster of Macron was set alight in the port city of Chittagong, where authorities said another 4,000 people took part in protests.
Smaller rallies were held in other towns across the Muslim-majority nation of more than 160 million people.
Macron's comments have already prompted denunciations from several Muslim countries.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office vowed to take "legal and diplomatic action" over the cartoon, while the country's NTV broadcaster said Ankara had summoned a senior diplomat from the French embassy.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Macron's defence of the publications a "stupid act" and an "insult" to those who voted for him.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday wrote to leaders of Muslim countries calling on them to act together against Islamophobia.
Earlier this week, more than 40,000 took part in an anti-France demonstration in Dhaka, and the country's embassy there has been given extra security.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--UK's Labour warns against 'civil war' after Corbyn suspension

Britain 's main opposition Labour party on Friday urged shocked members to stand united against anti-Semitism , appealing against a renewal of internecine `` civil war '' following the suspension of its left-wing former leader .
Jeremy Corbyn was exiled pending investigation after he refused to accept all the findings of a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission ( EHRC ) , which said his office had broken the law in its handling of complaints by Jewish members .
New leader Keir Starmer , calling the report a `` day of shame '' for Labour , said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for blaming party critics as well as the media for exaggerating the scale of anti-Semitism .
Starmer has won strong backing from Jewish groups which , in evidence to the EHRC , detailed a deluge of anti-Semitic abuse online and in party meetings during Corbyn 's leadership , including death threats at the hands of left-wingers .
Jewish Labour Movement chair Mike Katz said the decision to suspend Corbyn was `` brave and correct '' , vowing to work with Starmer `` and put this shameful period behind us '' .
But Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had overwhelmed his efforts to `` recognise the hurt , draw a line and move on '' , even as he wages increasingly effective attacks on the Conservative government 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson 's Conservatives are trying to exploit Labour 's divisions , noting Starmer had continued to serve in Corbyn 's shadow cabinet when anti-Semitic incidents were on the rise .
Veteran socialist Corbyn vowed to fight the suspension and his supporters are mobilising , with the radical group Momentum planning an online rally later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the left '' .
Corbyn ally Len McCluskey , the head of the Unite union , one of Labour 's biggest financial backers , said the suspension would `` create chaos within the party and in doing so compromise Labour 's chances of a general election victory '' .
However , voters turned against Corbyn in droves at the last election in December , with Johnson profiting from Labour infighting over Brexit .
Snap polls meanwhile suggested strong public backing for the moderate Starmer 's confrontation with his more radical predecessor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do n't want a split in the Labour party .
I stood as leader of the Labour party on the basis that I would unite the party , but also that I would tackle anti-Semitism , '' Starmer told Sky News .
`` Both of those can be done .
There 's no reason for a civil war in our party . ''
Corbyn was propelled from the backbenches to become Labour leader in 2015 after decades of socialist activism , including for Palestinian causes .
Among his supporters , criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conspiracies .
The EHRC found damning instances where Corbyn 's leadership team underplayed , belittled or ignored complaints by Jewish members , and sometimes actively interfered to support favoured allies .
The charge of political interference means Starmer must tread a fine line between condemning his predecessor 's actions and allowing internal party procedures to play out , now that Corbyn is under investigation .
`` The leader of the Labour party should now not comment any further , let the process take its course , '' Starmer said , while stressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some are showing no such reticence in calling for Corbyn 's outright expulsion from Labour .
`` A political party founded on the principles of equality and justice , with a proud record of fighting racism , has now been found guilty of breaking the law in its treatment of Jewish people , '' former Labour MP Ian Austin wrote in the Daily Telegraph .

London (AFP) –
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Britain's main opposition Labour party on Friday urged shocked members to stand united against anti-Semitism, appealing against a renewal of internecine "civil war" following the suspension of its left-wing former leader.
Jeremy Corbyn was exiled pending investigation after he refused to accept all the findings of a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which said his office had broken the law in its handling of complaints by Jewish members.
New leader Keir Starmer, calling the report a "day of shame" for Labour, said he was "deeply disappointed" in Corbyn for blaming party critics as well as the media for exaggerating the scale of anti-Semitism.
Starmer has won strong backing from Jewish groups which, in evidence to the EHRC, detailed a deluge of anti-Semitic abuse online and in party meetings during Corbyn's leadership, including death threats at the hands of left-wingers.
Jewish Labour Movement chair Mike Katz said the decision to suspend Corbyn was "brave and correct", vowing to work with Starmer "and put this shameful period behind us".
But Starmer acknowledged on BBC TV that the suspension had overwhelmed his efforts to "recognise the hurt, draw a line and move on", even as he wages increasingly effective attacks on the Conservative government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives are trying to exploit Labour's divisions, noting Starmer had continued to serve in Corbyn's shadow cabinet when anti-Semitic incidents were on the rise.
Veteran socialist Corbyn vowed to fight the suspension and his supporters are mobilising, with the radical group Momentum planning an online rally later Friday against Starmer's "naked attack on the left".
Corbyn ally Len McCluskey, the head of the Unite union, one of Labour's biggest financial backers, said the suspension would "create chaos within the party and in doing so compromise Labour's chances of a general election victory".
- 'Utter disgrace' -
However, voters turned against Corbyn in droves at the last election in December, with Johnson profiting from Labour infighting over Brexit.
Snap polls meanwhile suggested strong public backing for the moderate Starmer's confrontation with his more radical predecessor and attempts to bury the recent past.
"I don't want a split in the Labour party. I stood as leader of the Labour party on the basis that I would unite the party, but also that I would tackle anti-Semitism," Starmer told Sky News.
"Both of those can be done. There's no reason for a civil war in our party."
Corbyn was propelled from the backbenches to become Labour leader in 2015 after decades of socialist activism, including for Palestinian causes.
Among his supporters, criticism of Israel veered often into anti-Jewish tropes and conspiracies.
The EHRC found damning instances where Corbyn's leadership team underplayed, belittled or ignored complaints by Jewish members, and sometimes actively interfered to support favoured allies.
The charge of political interference means Starmer must tread a fine line between condemning his predecessor's actions and allowing internal party procedures to play out, now that Corbyn is under investigation.
"The leader of the Labour party should now not comment any further, let the process take its course," Starmer said, while stressing he opposed "purging" anyone.
Some are showing no such reticence in calling for Corbyn's outright expulsion from Labour.
"A political party founded on the principles of equality and justice, with a proud record of fighting racism, has now been found guilty of breaking the law in its treatment of Jewish people," former Labour MP Ian Austin wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Hulkenberg 'not stressed' as he considers F1 future

Formula One super-sub Nico Hulkenberg said this week he is staying cool as he ponders his future in the sport – not knowing if he could be racing for Red Bull next year or watching from the stands again .
The 33-year-old German driver has produced outstanding performances when called up at short notice as a reserve driver for Racing Point this year , but knows his hopes of landing a permanent seat rely on other team decisions .
`` The situation in Formula One is that there are 20 seats and that is super limited , '' he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers ...
This is a thing that is out of my control and other people make the decision for me – or about me , but I 'm not too stressed . ''
Hulkenberg said he had produced competitive peformances when called up this year .
`` When I had the chance – and that 's the one thing , if you are not doing a full season , that is kind of difficult ... You 're not that visible and people tend to forget quickly .
`` They always tend just to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not easy to make an impression .
I was happy to be able to have some races and to perform well .
I think I did what I had to do and now it 's up to them . ''
Hulkenberg has been linked with a potential vacancy at Red Bull where London-born Thai driver Alex Albon has struggled as team-mate to Max Verstappen this year .
The outfit has said it will consider Albon 's future after this weekend 's two-day Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola with team chief Christian Horner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep him .
Hulkenberg is likely to be in competition with Mexican Sergio Perez , the man he stood in for with Racing Point at both Silverstone races in July , for that seat if Red Bull decide to switch to a more experienced and reliable points-scoring driver alongside Verstappen .
Both Alfa Romeo and Haas , two teams powered by Ferrari , have yet to confirm their 2021 driver line-ups , but Hulkenberg is only an outsider as a candidate for those seats as they are almost certain to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain their 2020 pairing of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi with Haas recruiting from the Ferrari junior stable .
Mick Schumacher , the 21-year-old son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher , is heavily-tipped to join them – possibly with Perez , whose Mexican funding and fan-base has an appeal to the American team .
Hulkenberg said he is not allowing all the speculation to affect his own outlook .
`` I 'm not someone who needs to rush into the next thing , or cockpit , now , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first really what I want to do ... '' F1 -- and if the door is closed , fine .
I 'll look at the next thing and what I want to do and if I want to do it , but we 're not quite there yet . ''

Imola (Italy) (AFP) –
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Formula One super-sub Nico Hulkenberg said this week he is staying cool as he ponders his future in the sport – not knowing if he could be racing for Red Bull next year or watching from the stands again.
The 33-year-old German driver has produced outstanding performances when called up at short notice as a reserve driver for Racing Point this year, but knows his hopes of landing a permanent seat rely on other team decisions.
"The situation in Formula One is that there are 20 seats and that is super limited," he told The ESPN F1podcast.
"Very few numbers... This is a thing that is out of my control and other people make the decision for me – or about me, but I'm not too stressed."
Hulkenberg said he had produced competitive peformances when called up this year.
"When I had the chance – and that's the one thing, if you are not doing a full season, that is kind of difficult... You're not that visible and people tend to forget quickly.
"They always tend just to remember the last race so it's not easy to make an impression. I was happy to be able to have some races and to perform well. I think I did what I had to do and now it's up to them."
Hulkenberg has been linked with a potential vacancy at Red Bull where London-born Thai driver Alex Albon has struggled as team-mate to Max Verstappen this year.
The outfit has said it will consider Albon's future after this weekend's two-day Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola with team chief Christian Horner stressing it is Red Bull's preference to keep him.
- 'No rush' -
Hulkenberg is likely to be in competition with Mexican Sergio Perez, the man he stood in for with Racing Point at both Silverstone races in July, for that seat if Red Bull decide to switch to a more experienced and reliable points-scoring driver alongside Verstappen.
Both Alfa Romeo and Haas, two teams powered by Ferrari, have yet to confirm their 2021 driver line-ups, but Hulkenberg is only an outsider as a candidate for those seats as they are almost certain to go to Ferrari-approved drivers.
Alfa are expected to retain their 2020 pairing of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi with Haas recruiting from the Ferrari junior stable. Mick Schumacher, the 21-year-old son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, is heavily-tipped to join them – possibly with Perez, whose Mexican funding and fan-base has an appeal to the American team.
Hulkenberg said he is not allowing all the speculation to affect his own outlook.
"I'm not someone who needs to rush into the next thing, or cockpit, now," he said.
"I think I need to be clear first really what I want to do...
"F1 -- and if the door is closed, fine. I'll look at the next thing and what I want to do and if I want to do it, but we're not quite there yet."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Real Madrid aim to put crisis behind them with win over lowly Huesca

Eden Hazard came on off the bench for Real Madrid against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday Real Madrid will be hoping to leave their sticky patch behind them when they play Huesca in La Liga on Saturday , with an early six-point lead to preserve over Barcelona .
The resignation of Barca 's club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has overshadowed what has been a dramatic week for Madrid , who barely salvaged a 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday .
Trailing 2-0 with three minutes left , Madrid were facing a defeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from last weekend 's Clasico win at Camp Nou .
A late double from Karim Benzema and Casemiro ensured Zinedine Zidane 's side snatched a draw that felt like a win but to consolidate that positivity , they can not afford another slip this weekend .
`` The team is what it has shown , it 's about a reaction , '' said Zidane .
`` The first half was very good , we played well .
The pity is we conceded the first goal , but we continued to think it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That showed the character of the team and I 'm very proud of them .
We are not happy because we want to win , but we must be happy with the performance . ''
Madrid play a Huesca side that is yet to win this season , as they followed four consecutive draws with a 4-1 loss away at league leaders Real Sociedad on Sunday .
Zidane could also hand Eden Hazard his first start since August , after the Belgian came off the bench in midweek .
That was Hazard 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tries to overcome his latest injury setback , which the club have only described as a muscle injury .
`` It 's good .
I 'm here to play football , '' said Hazard on Wednesday .
`` After two or three months off the pitch , I 'm so happy .
I just want to play football , that 's why I 'm here . ''
On the last-gasp draw in Germany , Hazard said : `` We showed great character , to be 2-0 down with five minutes to play , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , I could have scored one more , but I missed .
It 's not three points but it feels like a victory . ''
Zidane was determined to give Hazard time to recover fully and he believes the club will have to be cautious .
`` He 's just started playing .
It is his first game after a long time away , '' said Zidane .
`` The plan was for him to try to play but little by little is what we have to do . ''
A Madrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the top of the table , above Real Sociedad who are the only team to have retained top spot in consecutive rounds so far this term .
Real Sociedad play away at Celta Vigo on Sunday , just before third-placed Granada host Levante and struggling Valencia play at home to Getafe .
If Atletico Madrid win their two games in hand they will go top , with Diego Simeone 's side away at Osasuna on Saturday .
Barcelona , who beat Juventus on Wednesday , also have two games in hand but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their new era without Bartomeu begins in La Liga away at Alaves on Saturday night .

Madrid (AFP) –
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Real Madrid will be hoping to leave their sticky patch behind them when they play Huesca in La Liga on Saturday, with an early six-point lead to preserve over Barcelona.
The resignation of Barca's club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has overshadowed what has been a dramatic week for Madrid, who barely salvaged a 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Trailing 2-0 with three minutes left, Madrid were facing a defeat that would have squandered the momentum gained from last weekend's Clasico win at Camp Nou.
A late double from Karim Benzema and Casemiro ensured Zinedine Zidane's side snatched a draw that felt like a win but to consolidate that positivity, they cannot afford another slip this weekend.
"The team is what it has shown, it's about a reaction," said Zidane. "The first half was very good, we played well. The pity is we conceded the first goal, but we continued to think it was possible, even at 2-0.
"That showed the character of the team and I'm very proud of them. We are not happy because we want to win, but we must be happy with the performance."
Madrid play a Huesca side that is yet to win this season, as they followed four consecutive draws with a 4-1 loss away at league leaders Real Sociedad on Sunday.
- Hazard back from injury -
Zidane could also hand Eden Hazard his first start since August, after the Belgian came off the bench in midweek.
That was Hazard's first appearance of the season as he tries to overcome his latest injury setback, which the club have only described as a muscle injury.
"It's good. I'm here to play football," said Hazard on Wednesday. "After two or three months off the pitch, I'm so happy. I just want to play football, that's why I'm here."
On the last-gasp draw in Germany, Hazard said: "We showed great character, to be 2-0 down with five minutes to play, I think we could have scored one more, I could have scored one more, but I missed. It's not three points but it feels like a victory."
Zidane was determined to give Hazard time to recover fully and he believes the club will have to be cautious.
"He's just started playing. It is his first game after a long time away," said Zidane. "The plan was for him to try to play but little by little is what we have to do."
A Madrid victory against Huesca could send them back to the top of the table, above Real Sociedad who are the only team to have retained top spot in consecutive rounds so far this term.
Real Sociedad play away at Celta Vigo on Sunday, just before third-placed Granada host Levante and struggling Valencia play at home to Getafe.
If Atletico Madrid win their two games in hand they will go top, with Diego Simeone's side away at Osasuna on Saturday.
Barcelona, who beat Juventus on Wednesday, also have two games in hand but are seven points off the lead. Their new era without Bartomeu begins in La Liga away at Alaves on Saturday night.
Fixtures (GMT)
Friday
Eibar v Cadiz (2000)
Saturday
Real Madrid v Huesca (1300), Athletic Bilbao (1515), Osasuna v Atletico Madrid (1530), Alaves v Barcelona (2000)
Sunday
Real Betis v Elche (1300), Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad (1500), Granada v Levante (1730), Valencia v Getafe (2000)
Monday
Villarreal v Real Valladolid (2000)
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Qatar to charge those behind invasive airport searches of women

A passenger checks the departures board at the Hamad International Airport in Doha , Qatar in this file picture taken on March 7 , 2017 Qatar said on Friday that those responsible for invasive gynaecological searches of passengers at Doha airport had been referred for prosecution over the `` violations '' following widespread outrage .
Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom on October 2 .
`` Those responsible for these violations and illegal actions have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the government said in a statement .
`` The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior expressed the Government of the State of Qatar 's sincerest apology for what some female travelers went through as a result of the measures . ''
The incident has caused diplomatic tensions with three friendly nations -- Australia , Britain and New Zealand -- which intensified when authorities initially declined to apologise , leading to an online backlash against the airline , one of the wealthy Gulf nation 's prestige projects .
New Zealand was the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the invasive examinations .
`` We were extremely concerned to learn ... that a New Zealand national was involved in the appalling incident involving female passengers on several Qatar Airways flights , '' its foreign ministry said in a statement .
The incident only came to light this week after affected Australian passengers spoke out .
Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the `` appalling '' examinations , Britain said it is providing support for two women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman was also affected .
Qatar said the baby girl -- who survived -- was wrapped in plastic and left to die in a bathroom rubbish bin , prompting what sources said was a lockdown of Hamad International Airport .
Women were then led from aircraft to ambulances on the tarmac where they were subject to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth .
Wolfgang Babeck , a passenger on one of the affected flights , a Qatar Airways service to Sydney , said the women who were subjected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ordeals .
Qatar is an ultra-conservative Muslim monarchy , where sex and childbirth outside of marriage are punishable by jail .
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar , it has struggled to reassure critics that its promises on women 's rights , labour relations and democracy are credible .
Facing potentially devastating commercial and reputational damage , Qatar has repeatedly vowed to guarantee the future `` safety and security '' of passengers .
Australia 's criticism of Qatar had grown increasingly strident in the absence of an unequivocal apology from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged .
Qatar said on Friday that taskforces were looking at `` potential gaps in the procedures and protocols '' at the airport .
`` This incident is the first of its kind at Hamad International Airport , which has served tens of millions of passengers without any issues like this before , '' the Qatari statement said .
`` What took place is wholly inconsistent with Qatar 's culture and values . ''
Qatar 's assistant foreign minister Lolwah al-Khater , one of the few female ministers in the Gulf region , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disturbing experience '' .

Doha (AFP) –
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Qatar said on Friday that those responsible for invasive gynaecological searches of passengers at Doha airport had been referred for prosecution over the "violations" following widespread outrage.
Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom on October 2.
"Those responsible for these violations and illegal actions have been referred to the Public Prosecution Office," the government said in a statement.
"The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior expressed the Government of the State of Qatar's sincerest apology for what some female travelers went through as a result of the measures."
The incident has caused diplomatic tensions with three friendly nations -- Australia, Britain and New Zealand -- which intensified when authorities initially declined to apologise, leading to an online backlash against the airline, one of the wealthy Gulf nation's prestige projects.
New Zealand was the latest to raise concerns, saying late Thursday that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the invasive examinations.
"We were extremely concerned to learn... that a New Zealand national was involved in the appalling incident involving female passengers on several Qatar Airways flights," its foreign ministry said in a statement.
It labelled the action "completely unacceptable".
The incident only came to light this week after affected Australian passengers spoke out.
- 'Appalling' -
Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the "appalling" examinations, Britain said it is providing support for two women, and AFP has learned a French woman was also affected.
Qatar said the baby girl -- who survived -- was wrapped in plastic and left to die in a bathroom rubbish bin, prompting what sources said was a lockdown of Hamad International Airport.
Women were then led from aircraft to ambulances on the tarmac where they were subject to invasive examinations to see if they had recently given birth.
Wolfgang Babeck, a passenger on one of the affected flights, a Qatar Airways service to Sydney, said the women who were subjected to the searches were "shell-shocked" after their ordeals.
Qatar is an ultra-conservative Muslim monarchy, where sex and childbirth outside of marriage are punishable by jail.
Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it has struggled to reassure critics that its promises on women's rights, labour relations and democracy are credible.
Facing potentially devastating commercial and reputational damage, Qatar has repeatedly vowed to guarantee the future "safety and security" of passengers.
Australia's criticism of Qatar had grown increasingly strident in the absence of an unequivocal apology from Doha in the days after the scandal emerged.
Qatar said on Friday that taskforces were looking at "potential gaps in the procedures and protocols" at the airport.
"This incident is the first of its kind at Hamad International Airport, which has served tens of millions of passengers without any issues like this before," the Qatari statement said.
"What took place is wholly inconsistent with Qatar's culture and values."
Qatar's assistant foreign minister Lolwah al-Khater, one of the few female ministers in the Gulf region, tweeted Qatar's apologies "for the disturbing experience".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--France on edge as man linked to Nice attacker detained

A woman lights a candle outside the Notre-Dame basilica in Nice after Thursday 's attack French police have detained a man believed to have been in contact with the jihadist knifeman who brutally killed three people at a church in Nice , judicial sources said Friday , with security forces on high alert for other attacks ahead of a key Catholic holiday .
The 47-year-old was taken into custody late Thursday after the killings at Nice 's Notre-Dame basilica by a 21-year-old Tunisian who arrived in France on October 9 .
`` He was n't on any of our security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said of the attacker , reiterating that France was `` at war with Islamist extremism ... an enemy that is both internal and external '' .
`` And when you 're at war , you have to understand that unfortunately , there have been and there will be other incidents like this , '' he told RTL radio .
The attacker , identified as Brahim Aouissaoui , is in hospital after being shot several times by police .
President Emmanuel Macron , who was to hold a crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already stepped up military patrols at churches and other sites ahead of All Saints ' Day on Sunday .
Many Catholic families mark the day with visits to cemeteries , which will remain open for visits despite a new coronavirus lockdown that took effect Friday .
The Nice attack came as fears of Islamist violence were already running high , just two weeks after a French teacher was beheaded in a street near his school in a Paris suburb .
The teacher , Samuel Paty , angered some parents by showing cartoons mocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a lesson on free speech .
Two French newspapers , Le Figaro and Liberation , reported Friday that Darmanin had already told regional authorities last Sunday to be on heightened alert for `` individual jihad '' attempts .
The warning came after a media service called Thabat , which the interior ministry note said was `` linked to Al-Qaeda , '' called for retaliation against France , including the publication of the Mohammed cartoons by the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo .
The attacker in Nice had a copy of the Koran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entered the church in the centre of the Mediterranean city at around 8:30 am , according to France 's anti-terror prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard .
He slit the throats of a 60-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man who worked at the church , and stabbed a 44-year-old Brazilian woman now residing in France , who managed to flee but later died of her wounds .
Officials said Aouissaoui repeatedly chanted `` Allahu Akbar '' ( God is greatest ) as he was taken to the hospital after being shot and wounded by police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sole reason that they were present in this church at that moment , '' Ricard said at a press conference late Thursday .
He said Aouissaoui was in a `` life-threatening '' condition .
Macron , who travelled to the scene , denounced an `` Islamist terrorist attack '' and said France would not cave to terror over his vow to combat extremist violence .
Authorities have closed some mosques and shut down two groups accused of fomenting hate and violence in the wake of Paty 's killing , which prompted an outpouring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrate across France last weekend .
More than 250 people have been killed in jihadist attacks on French soil since January 2015 , when gunmen massacred 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo over its publishing of Mohammed cartoons .
To mark the start of the trial for 14 suspected accomplices of the attackers , Charlie Hebdo republished the controversial cartoons last month .
Just days later , an 18-year-old man from Pakistan seriously injured two people with a meat cleaver outside Charlie Hebdo 's former offices in Paris .
But Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his defence of the Mohammed cartoons , has outraged many Muslims around the world who accuse him of unfairly targeting an entire religion .
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian insisted Thursday that France extended `` a message of peace to the Muslim world '' Thursday , saying it was a `` country of tolerance '' .
Many French imams have also appealed for calm .
`` Islam , like Christianity or Judaism , is light-years away from an act like this , '' he said .

Paris (AFP) –
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French police have detained a man believed to have been in contact with the jihadist knifeman who brutally killed three people at a church in Nice, judicial sources said Friday, with security forces on high alert for other attacks ahead of a key Catholic holiday.
The 47-year-old was taken into custody late Thursday after the killings at Nice's Notre-Dame basilica by a 21-year-old Tunisian who arrived in France on October 9.
"He wasn't on any of our security watchlists, either French or European," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said of the attacker, reiterating that France was "at war with Islamist extremism... an enemy that is both internal and external".
"And when you're at war, you have to understand that unfortunately, there have been and there will be other incidents like this," he told RTL radio.
The attacker, identified as Brahim Aouissaoui, is in hospital after being shot several times by police.
President Emmanuel Macron, who was to hold a crisis meeting with top ministers Friday, has already stepped up military patrols at churches and other sites ahead of All Saints' Day on Sunday.
Many Catholic families mark the day with visits to cemeteries, which will remain open for visits despite a new coronavirus lockdown that took effect Friday.
- 'Individual jihad' -
The Nice attack came as fears of Islamist violence were already running high, just two weeks after a French teacher was beheaded in a street near his school in a Paris suburb.
The teacher, Samuel Paty, angered some parents by showing cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed to students as part of a lesson on free speech.
Two French newspapers, Le Figaro and Liberation, reported Friday that Darmanin had already told regional authorities last Sunday to be on heightened alert for "individual jihad" attempts.
The warning came after a media service called Thabat, which the interior ministry note said was "linked to Al-Qaeda," called for retaliation against France, including the publication of the Mohammed cartoons by the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
- 'Country of tolerance' -
The attacker in Nice had a copy of the Koran, two phones and three knives when he entered the church in the centre of the Mediterranean city at around 8:30 am, according to France's anti-terror prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard.
He slit the throats of a 60-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man who worked at the church, and stabbed a 44-year-old Brazilian woman now residing in France, who managed to flee but later died of her wounds.
Officials said Aouissaoui repeatedly chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) as he was taken to the hospital after being shot and wounded by police.
The victims were "targeted for the sole reason that they were present in this church at that moment," Ricard said at a press conference late Thursday.
He said Aouissaoui was in a "life-threatening" condition.
Macron, who travelled to the scene, denounced an "Islamist terrorist attack" and said France would not cave to terror over his vow to combat extremist violence.
Authorities have closed some mosques and shut down two groups accused of fomenting hate and violence in the wake of Paty's killing, which prompted an outpouring of anger that saw thousands of people demonstrate across France last weekend.
More than 250 people have been killed in jihadist attacks on French soil since January 2015, when gunmen massacred 12 people at the offices of Charlie Hebdo over its publishing of Mohammed cartoons.
To mark the start of the trial for 14 suspected accomplices of the attackers, Charlie Hebdo republished the controversial cartoons last month.
Just days later, an 18-year-old man from Pakistan seriously injured two people with a meat cleaver outside Charlie Hebdo's former offices in Paris.
But Macron's stance against Islamist extremist violence, and his defence of the Mohammed cartoons, has outraged many Muslims around the world who accuse him of unfairly targeting an entire religion.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian insisted Thursday that France extended "a message of peace to the Muslim world" Thursday, saying it was a "country of tolerance".
Many French imams have also appealed for calm.
"Islam, like Christianity or Judaism, is light-years away from an act like this," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Trump v Biden: the bookmakers' $1 billion election

The US presidential election is proving a boon for bookmakers , with estimates that more than $ 1 billion has already been bet on the winner around the world even before polling day .
Matthew Shaddick , head of political betting at British sports betting and gambling firm GVC , said that is double the amount in 2016 , when Donald Trump upset the odds and polls to beat Hillary Clinton .
Republican party candidate Trump is once again the outsider , with his Democratic challenger Joe Biden the favourite with GVC 's gaming brands , which include Labrokes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Hill , also has former vice-president Biden tipped for victory .
`` This is a huge market , '' Shaddick told AFP .
`` It is twice as big as 2016 , easily making it the biggest political event ever .
`` It might be the biggest ever market on anything pretty much and outstrip football worldwide .
I guess a billion pounds ( $ 1.3 billion , 1.1 billion euros ) is being bet . ''
William Hill said they also expect the election to be easily its biggest event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money-spinners such as the Grand National due to Covid-19 .
`` We are already over £3 million and expect to take £10 million , '' said Hill 's international spokesman Rupert Adams .
`` We predict that this will be the biggest wagering event of 2020 .
The figures are simply astounding and include all sporting events . ''
For Adams , the huge amounts laid on Tuesday 's vote are largely down to the love-him-or-loathe-him personality of Trump .
`` There is no doubt the fact he is such a colourful character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise be uninterested , '' he added .
`` If it was Jeb Bush versus Biden , we would be taking a third of the turnover . ''
Biden may be favourite but Shaddick said 70 percent of bets placed this week have been for Trump , calling the level of confidence in him winning `` astonishing '' .
`` A whole new universe of bettors won last time .
These are people who go for their gut feelings and instincts , '' he said .
`` Biden is a clear bookies ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to win but it is way out of line with polling forecasting which would give Trump a 10 percent chance .
`` The betting markets give Trump a 35-45 percent chance .
Betting markets take a different view .
It is a much more pro-Trump market . ''
Shaddick , though , said it is a misnomer that opinion polls favouring Clinton over Trump were way off in 2016 .
`` The polls were not far off and Trump needs much bigger polling to win this time round .
The bettors do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` They believe there are millions of shy Trump voters . ''
Shaddick believes bookies generally overrate the chances of populist candidates globally , which drives betting that Trump and his like will fare more favourably at the ballot box .
Much of the money placed on the real estate tycoon turned politician comes from people who seek their information from sources other than the media or political experts , he said .
`` The truth is there is a very large section of people round the world who prefer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .
`` Clearly , they do not care about the polls .
Some think they are fake or the polls miss out millions of Trump supporters .
It is incredible the confidence they have on that side of Trump winning .
`` On the other side , the liberal left are still traumatised by him winning and they do not want to risk their money .
`` Those are two different psychological factors so I would prefer to trust the polls than the betting markets . ''

London (AFP) –
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The US presidential election is proving a boon for bookmakers, with estimates that more than $1 billion has already been bet on the winner around the world even before polling day.
Matthew Shaddick, head of political betting at British sports betting and gambling firm GVC, said that is double the amount in 2016, when Donald Trump upset the odds and polls to beat Hillary Clinton.
Republican party candidate Trump is once again the outsider, with his Democratic challenger Joe Biden the favourite with GVC's gaming brands, which include Labrokes, Coral and BWin.
Its rival, William Hill, also has former vice-president Biden tipped for victory.
"This is a huge market," Shaddick told AFP. "It is twice as big as 2016, easily making it the biggest political event ever.
"It might be the biggest ever market on anything pretty much and outstrip football worldwide. I guess a billion pounds ($1.3 billion, 1.1 billion euros) is being bet."
William Hill said they also expect the election to be easily its biggest event of the year, given the cancellation of money-spinners such as the Grand National due to Covid-19.
"We are already over £3 million and expect to take £10 million," said Hill's international spokesman Rupert Adams.
"We predict that this will be the biggest wagering event of 2020. The figures are simply astounding and include all sporting events."
For Adams, the huge amounts laid on Tuesday's vote are largely down to the love-him-or-loathe-him personality of Trump.
"There is no doubt the fact he is such a colourful character makes it appealing for people who would otherwise be uninterested," he added.
"If it was Jeb Bush versus Biden, we would be taking a third of the turnover."
- 'Social media bubble' -
Biden may be favourite but Shaddick said 70 percent of bets placed this week have been for Trump, calling the level of confidence in him winning "astonishing".
"A whole new universe of bettors won last time. These are people who go for their gut feelings and instincts," he said.
"Biden is a clear bookies' favourite still with about a 65 percent chance to win but it is way out of line with polling forecasting which would give Trump a 10 percent chance.
"The betting markets give Trump a 35-45 percent chance. Betting markets take a different view. It is a much more pro-Trump market."
Shaddick, though, said it is a misnomer that opinion polls favouring Clinton over Trump were way off in 2016.
"The polls were not far off and Trump needs much bigger polling to win this time round. The bettors do not seem to care," he said.
"They believe there are millions of shy Trump voters."
Shaddick believes bookies generally overrate the chances of populist candidates globally, which drives betting that Trump and his like will fare more favourably at the ballot box.
Much of the money placed on the real estate tycoon turned politician comes from people who seek their information from sources other than the media or political experts, he said.
"The truth is there is a very large section of people round the world who prefer to rely on a social media bubble," he added.
"Clearly, they do not care about the polls. Some think they are fake or the polls miss out millions of Trump supporters. It is incredible the confidence they have on that side of Trump winning.
"On the other side, the liberal left are still traumatised by him winning and they do not want to risk their money.
"Those are two different psychological factors so I would prefer to trust the polls than the betting markets."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Analysis: Trump needs Florida for path to victory

Analysis : Trump needs Florida for path to victory FRANCE 24 ’ s international affairs editor Robert Parsons says Donald @ @ @ @ @ for any chance of being re-elected .
Biden is ahead in Florida by a narrow @ @ @ @ @ benefiting from large campaign donations , including $ 100 million from Michael Bloomberg .

Analysis: Trump needs Florida for path to victory
03:37
FRANCE 24’s international affairs editor Robert Parsons says Donald Trump needs to win Florida for any chance of being re-elected. Biden is ahead in Florida by a narrow margin, with the Democrats benefiting from large campaign donations, including $100 million from Michael Bloomberg.


france24--2020-10-30--Residents in Nice pay tribute, as police release details on attacker

Residents in Nice pay tribute , as police release details on attacker Police say the man who attacked a church @ @ @ @ @ three , is a 21-year-old Tunisian who arrived in France in October .
The man @ @ @ @ @ and remains in hospital .
FRANCE 24 senior reporter Catherine Norris-Trent says according to sources @ @ @ @ @ had previously been in trouble with police , and had links to radical Islam .
@ @ @ @ @ was also taken in for questioning .

Residents in Nice pay tribute, as police release details on attacker
02:04
Police say the man who attacked a church in Nice Thursday, killing three, is a 21-year-old Tunisian who arrived in France in October. The man was injured during his arrest and remains in hospital. FRANCE 24 senior reporter Catherine Norris-Trent says according to sources in Tunisia, the man had previously been in trouble with police, and had links to radical Islam. A 47-year-old man second suspect was also taken in for questioning.


france24--2020-10-30--Veteran Raikkonen to remain with 'second family' Alfa Romeo

Finland 's 2007 Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen will drive at the top level for a 19th season Finland 's former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen has been retained by the team he calls his `` second family '' Alfa Romeo for next season along with team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi .
Raikkonen , crowned world champion in 2007 driving for Ferrari , will be able to extend his record number of Grand Prix starts which he set earlier this season .
The 41-year-old known as 'The Iceman ' -- who finished runner-up twice in the world championship -- will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest level .
Giovinazzi , 26 , is Ferrari 's reserve driver and they saw enough of his ability this season to give him another campaign -- Ferrari control one of the Alfa seats .
The announcement comes a day after Alfa Romeo confirmed its commercial deal to brand and back the Swiss-based team that started its life in F1 as Sauber in 1993 .
Raikkonen , who made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2001 , before moving back to them in 2019 after a second stint with Ferrari , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him .
`` It is more than a team to me ; it is like a second family , '' he said .
`` So many of the faces that were around me when I made my F1 debut in 2001 are still here and the unique atmosphere of this team is what gives me that extra motivation to keep going .
`` This is a team that values hard work over words and this fits well with my style . ''
Raikkonen , who is 17th in the drivers ' standings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hoped he and Giovinazzi could move up a gear next season and challenge for more points .
Alfa Romeo said the line-up highlighted the team 's `` commitment to continuity '' .
`` I still see the passion and motivation in Kimi every time I see him at work , '' said team boss Frederic Vasseur .
`` He can be trusted to deliver 100 % of what the car can produce and he is a true leader for the people working around him .
`` Antonio finished last year 's campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left off and kept improving throughout 2020 . ''
Raikkonen and Giovinazzi will be seeking to repay the confidence placed in them with a decent showing at this weekend 's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola .

Imola (Italy) (AFP) –
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Finland's former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen has been retained by the team he calls his "second family" Alfa Romeo for next season along with team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi.
Raikkonen, crowned world champion in 2007 driving for Ferrari, will be able to extend his record number of Grand Prix starts which he set earlier this season.
The 41-year-old known as 'The Iceman' -- who finished runner-up twice in the world championship -- will be competing in his 19th season at the highest level.
Giovinazzi, 26, is Ferrari's reserve driver and they saw enough of his ability this season to give him another campaign -- Ferrari control one of the Alfa seats.
The announcement comes a day after Alfa Romeo confirmed its commercial deal to brand and back the Swiss-based team that started its life in F1 as Sauber in 1993.
Raikkonen, who made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2001, before moving back to them in 2019 after a second stint with Ferrari, said the team was like a home from home for him.
"It is more than a team to me; it is like a second family," he said.
"So many of the faces that were around me when I made my F1 debut in 2001 are still here and the unique atmosphere of this team is what gives me that extra motivation to keep going.
"This is a team that values hard work over words and this fits well with my style."
Raikkonen, who is 17th in the drivers' standings with two points this season, added he hoped he and Giovinazzi could move up a gear next season and challenge for more points.
Alfa Romeo said the line-up highlighted the team's "commitment to continuity".
"I still see the passion and motivation in Kimi every time I see him at work," said team boss Frederic Vasseur.
"He can be trusted to deliver 100% of what the car can produce and he is a true leader for the people working around him.
"Antonio finished last year's campaign strongly and he picked up where he left off and kept improving throughout 2020."
Raikkonen and Giovinazzi will be seeking to repay the confidence placed in them with a decent showing at this weekend's Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Japan tests virus measures at near-full baseball stadium

Engineers have installed dozens of high-resolution cameras and sensors across the stadium to monitor the crowd 's movements Fans flooded into a baseball stadium in Japan that will host Olympic events next year as officials tested virus-prevention measures Friday with their eyes on the delayed Games .
The experiment will see three daily matches played at the 32,000-seat Yokohama Stadium with 80 to 100 percent of seats filled -- an exception to government guidelines that sports venues should operate at half capacity .
Engineers have installed dozens of high-resolution cameras and sensors across the stadium to monitor mask-wearing and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detectors will be used to measure crowd density .
The data will be fed to Japan 's `` Fugaku '' supercomputer -- the world 's fastest -- for analysis , said an official in charge of the project that kicked off on Friday in Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo , where the stadium is located .
Fugaku has been used to simulate the spread of airborne droplets inside trains or classrooms , and also when people wear different kinds of face coverings .
`` There 's no data yet on how droplets spread outdoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the official , who asked to remain anonymous , told AFP .
`` With the wind , and the way stadiums are built with tiered seats , we need to know how droplets spread in such circumstances to prevent infections , '' he said .
Yokohama Stadium will host baseball and softball games at the Tokyo Olympics , now set to open on July 23 , 2021 after they were delayed for a year because of the pandemic .
At Friday 's test-run , all spectators had to wear masks and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who they came into contact with , or notify them of any detected cases after the game .
Officials also used smartphone signals to gauge where and when crowds gathered , in an attempt to reduce congestion and improve social distancing .
`` As a fan , I want to cheer for my team in a packed stadium but I 'm also worried about the virus , '' a participant wearing a local team 's kit told public broadcaster NHK .
`` I think this is a good opportunity to verify what 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned next week at Tokyo Dome , an indoor facility that is the home to the popular Yomiuri Giants baseball team .
Japan has detected around 100,000 coronavirus infections so far with just over 1,700 deaths -- relatively low numbers , despite the country never having enforced any lockdown measures .

Tokyo (AFP) –
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Fans flooded into a baseball stadium in Japan that will host Olympic events next year as officials tested virus-prevention measures Friday with their eyes on the delayed Games.
The experiment will see three daily matches played at the 32,000-seat Yokohama Stadium with 80 to 100 percent of seats filled -- an exception to government guidelines that sports venues should operate at half capacity.
Engineers have installed dozens of high-resolution cameras and sensors across the stadium to monitor mask-wearing and the movements of excited fans, while CO2 detectors will be used to measure crowd density.
The data will be fed to Japan's "Fugaku" supercomputer -- the world's fastest -- for analysis, said an official in charge of the project that kicked off on Friday in Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo, where the stadium is located.
Fugaku has been used to simulate the spread of airborne droplets inside trains or classrooms, and also when people wear different kinds of face coverings.
"There's no data yet on how droplets spread outdoors, for example at a stadium," the official, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP.
"With the wind, and the way stadiums are built with tiered seats, we need to know how droplets spread in such circumstances to prevent infections," he said.
Yokohama Stadium will host baseball and softball games at the Tokyo Olympics, now set to open on July 23, 2021 after they were delayed for a year because of the pandemic.
At Friday's test-run, all spectators had to wear masks and were encouraged to install apps designed to track who they came into contact with, or notify them of any detected cases after the game.
Officials also used smartphone signals to gauge where and when crowds gathered, in an attempt to reduce congestion and improve social distancing.
"As a fan, I want to cheer for my team in a packed stadium but I'm also worried about the virus," a participant wearing a local team's kit told public broadcaster NHK. "I think this is a good opportunity to verify what's best."
Similar tests are also planned next week at Tokyo Dome, an indoor facility that is the home to the popular Yomiuri Giants baseball team.
Japan has detected around 100,000 coronavirus infections so far with just over 1,700 deaths -- relatively low numbers, despite the country never having enforced any lockdown measures.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Qatar says to prosecute those behind invasive airport searches

A passenger checks the departures board at the Hamad International Airport in Doha , Qatar in this file picture taken on March 7 , 2017 Qatar said on Friday that those responsible for the invasive gynaecological searches of women passengers at Doha airport had been referred for prosecution over the `` violations '' .
Women on 10 flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom on October 2 .
`` Those responsible for these violations and illegal actions have been referred to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communications Office said in a statement .
`` The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior expressed the Government of the State of Qatar 's sincerest apology for what some female travelers went through as a result of the measures .
New Zealand said late Thursday that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the invasive examinations , labelling the action `` completely unacceptable '' .
The incident occurred in early October but only came to light this week after affected Australian passengers spoke out .
Australia has since said 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` appalling '' examinations , Britain said it is providing support for two women , and AFP has learned a French woman was also affected .

Doha (AFP) –
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Qatar said on Friday that those responsible for the invasive gynaecological searches of women passengers at Doha airport had been referred for prosecution over the "violations".
Women on 10 flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom on October 2.
"Those responsible for these violations and illegal actions have been referred to the Public Prosecution Office," the Government Communications Office said in a statement.
"The Prime Minister and Minister of Interior expressed the Government of the State of Qatar's sincerest apology for what some female travelers went through as a result of the measures.
New Zealand said late Thursday that one of its citizens was among the women subjected to the invasive examinations, labelling the action "completely unacceptable".
The incident occurred in early October but only came to light this week after affected Australian passengers spoke out.
Australia has since said 13 of its citizens had to endure the "appalling" examinations, Britain said it is providing support for two women, and AFP has learned a French woman was also affected.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Poll finds majority of Europeans would vote for Biden

French President Emmanuel Macron ( L ) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ( R ) have often struggled to get along with Trump Joe Biden would hammer Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election if it were Europeans heading to the ballot box , a poll showed Friday , underscoring the incumbent 's unpopularity across the Atlantic .
Among five countries surveyed by pollsters BVA -- Britain , France , Germany , Italy and Spain -- the Germans were the most enthusiastic Biden supporters , with 66 percent saying they would back the Democrat if allowed to vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would vote Trump , while 27 percent were undecided or said they would abstain .
Trump 's best score was in Italy , where 15 percent would make their mark for the Republican candidate .
But Biden 's score was close to three times as high there , at 42 percent .
Across Europe , Trump 's decision to withdraw the US from the 2015 Paris climate agreement was one of his least popular moves of the last four years , with single-digit approval ratings everywhere but Spain , where 11 percent agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the US border with Mexico was almost as unpopular , with Brits the biggest fans at only 17 percent approval .
A large majority of Europeans say they are interested in the election , with Germans following the race for the White House most closely at 85 percent , while other countries clustered around the 70-percent mark .
Asked their opinion of the US more generally , just 22 percent of Germans said they viewed the country positively , 12 points behind than the next-most-sceptical Brits .
Italy was the most favourable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying they had a good opinion .
BVA said it surveyed a total of 11,737 people across 10 countries in October to compile the survey .

Paris (AFP) –
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Joe Biden would hammer Donald Trump in the upcoming US presidential election if it were Europeans heading to the ballot box, a poll showed Friday, underscoring the incumbent's unpopularity across the Atlantic.
Among five countries surveyed by pollsters BVA -- Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain -- the Germans were the most enthusiastic Biden supporters, with 66 percent saying they would back the Democrat if allowed to vote.
Just eight percent of Germans said they would vote Trump, while 27 percent were undecided or said they would abstain.
Trump's best score was in Italy, where 15 percent would make their mark for the Republican candidate.
But Biden's score was close to three times as high there, at 42 percent.
Across Europe, Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the 2015 Paris climate agreement was one of his least popular moves of the last four years, with single-digit approval ratings everywhere but Spain, where 11 percent agreed.
His plan to build a wall along the US border with Mexico was almost as unpopular, with Brits the biggest fans at only 17 percent approval.
A large majority of Europeans say they are interested in the election, with Germans following the race for the White House most closely at 85 percent, while other countries clustered around the 70-percent mark.
Asked their opinion of the US more generally, just 22 percent of Germans said they viewed the country positively, 12 points behind than the next-most-sceptical Brits.
Italy was the most favourable to the US, with 38 percent saying they had a good opinion.
BVA said it surveyed a total of 11,737 people across 10 countries in October to compile the survey.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Biden's mask mandate gains traction as US nears 90,000 daily infections

In a grim new record for the United States , authorities reported around 90,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ rise in many states .
Just days before the presidential election , candidate Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ national mask mandate has gained traction , the idea backed by the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Fauci .

Biden's mask mandate gains traction as US nears 90,000 daily infections
01:45
In a grim new record for the United States, authorities reported around 90,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, with hospitalisations also on the rise in many states. Just days before the presidential election, candidate Joe Biden’s call for a national mask mandate has gained traction, the idea backed by the country’s top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci.


france24--2020-10-30--Be brave Ireland, says Irish rugby legend O'Gara

Ireland rugby great Ronan O'Gara says the team have to be braver than usual if they are to secure the bonus-point win over France that will secure this year 's Six Nations title in Paris Ireland have to be `` braver than usual '' in their potential Six Nations title decider with France in Paris on Saturday , Irish rugby great Ronan O'Gara told The Irish Times .
The 43-year-old United States-born former playmaker knows both sides well as he is head coach of Top 14 club La Rochelle .
He says the hosts and the Irish can throw caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as their game at an empty Stade de France is `` a shoot-out for gold '' .
Ireland can seal the title in head coach Andy Farrell 's first Six Nations in overall charge with a bonus-point win over the French -- they have a one-point advantage over both their opponents and England .
The French , who have been revived since Fabien Galthie took over after last year 's World Cup , probably require a bonus-point win themselves to have a chance of lifting the trophy .
England are likely to secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet to register a point , and the title may come down to points difference between them and the French .
O'Gara , though , believes the days an Irish side trembled at the thought of playing France in Paris are long over .
A stunning 41-phase move resulted in Johnny Sexton dropping a sublime goal for a last-second 15-13 win two years ago .
However , the 128-times capped O'Gara -- who scored the winning drop goal when the Irish won only their second Grand Slam in 2009 -- said Ireland are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they need four tries for the bonus point .
`` Ireland have to score tries and if you know you have to score tries you have to have a Plan B , C and D up your sleeve to try to break France down and get your scores , '' he said .
`` It 's kind of 'all in ' on this occasion .
`` They 're in a shoot-out for gold .
It 's not about getting a bronze this weekend .
`` There 's everything to play for .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 75 minutes and you force a pass and they intercept and score the other way and you lose the game , I think you can live with that .
`` There 's a huge reward in being braver than usual as long as there 's a bit of smarts with it . ''
O'Gara , who cut his teeth in the coaching ranks in the backroom staff of Top 14 outfit Racing 92 and then in New Zealand with Crusaders , says it is too close to call .
`` This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are playing with a lot of belief , and a lot of tempo and X-factor .
`` I genuinely make it a 50-50 game because I think there 's vulnerabilities in both teams .
`` France , most definitely , have more X-factor but I think Ireland are far more disciplined . ''
O'Gara , though , says former France skipper Galthie has seemingly resolved a problem that has dogged the French through the years .
`` What really impressed me about France last week against Wales is how good they looked when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` I have n't seen them look like that before .
`` And they looked trained to do it .
`` There 's a lot of method to their so-called madness nowadays . ''

Dublin (AFP) –
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Ireland have to be "braver than usual" in their potential Six Nations title decider with France in Paris on Saturday, Irish rugby great Ronan O'Gara told The Irish Times.
The 43-year-old United States-born former playmaker knows both sides well as he is head coach of Top 14 club La Rochelle.
He says the hosts and the Irish can throw caution to the wind to a certain extent as their game at an empty Stade de France is "a shoot-out for gold".
Ireland can seal the title in head coach Andy Farrell's first Six Nations in overall charge with a bonus-point win over the French -- they have a one-point advantage over both their opponents and England.
The French, who have been revived since Fabien Galthie took over after last year's World Cup, probably require a bonus-point win themselves to have a chance of lifting the trophy.
England are likely to secure maximum points against Italy, who are yet to register a point, and the title may come down to points difference between them and the French.
O'Gara, though, believes the days an Irish side trembled at the thought of playing France in Paris are long over. A stunning 41-phase move resulted in Johnny Sexton dropping a sublime goal for a last-second 15-13 win two years ago.
However, the 128-times capped O'Gara -- who scored the winning drop goal when the Irish won only their second Grand Slam in 2009 -- said Ireland are obliged to be more expansive this time as they need four tries for the bonus point.
"Ireland have to score tries and if you know you have to score tries you have to have a Plan B, C and D up your sleeve to try to break France down and get your scores," he said.
"It's kind of 'all in' on this occasion.
"They're in a shoot-out for gold. It's not about getting a bronze this weekend.
"There's everything to play for.
"If you score three tries after 75 minutes and you force a pass and they intercept and score the other way and you lose the game, I think you can live with that.
"There's a huge reward in being braver than usual as long as there's a bit of smarts with it."
- 'Method to their so-called madness' -
O'Gara, who cut his teeth in the coaching ranks in the backroom staff of Top 14 outfit Racing 92 and then in New Zealand with Crusaders, says it is too close to call.
"This is a French team who are confident and they are playing with a lot of belief, and a lot of tempo and X-factor.
"I genuinely make it a 50-50 game because I think there's vulnerabilities in both teams.
"France, most definitely, have more X-factor but I think Ireland are far more disciplined."
O'Gara, though, says former France skipper Galthie has seemingly resolved a problem that has dogged the French through the years.
"What really impressed me about France last week against Wales is how good they looked when they turned it on," he said.
"I haven't seen them look like that before.
"And they looked trained to do it.
"There's a lot of method to their so-called madness nowadays."
© 2020 AFP