france24--2020-10-25--Positive thinking powers Phillips to magic World Series moment

Brett Phillips put himself in World Series lore -- and nearly in the hospital -- with his game-winning single in the Tampa Bay Rays ' stunning 8-7 walkoff win over the Los Angeles Dodgers .
`` During the celebration , ( I was ) just exhausting a lot of energy and I almost passed out , '' Phillips said Sunday before the Rays took on the Dodgers in game five of the Major League Baseball championship series that was knotted at two games apiece .
`` I was dehydrated I had to get an IV -- first time getting an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intravenous fluid drip administered by team medical staff .
`` I went in the training room , my resting heart rate was over 140 just laying there and they were like we 've got to chill you down and chill out .
`` But it was all worth it -- just a little hyperventilation going on , excitement , '' said Phillips , who said he could n't even pass the time watching television highlight replays because he developed a migraine headache .
The Rays were down to their last out when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Rays roster for the American League Championship Series -- hit a single to centerfield that scored two runs , with the help of a couple of Dodgers errors .
The wild finish , which included Rays slugger Randy Arozarena falling as he ran from third to home , trying to go back to third and finally scoring on a Dodgers error at the plate -- was hailed as an instant World Series classic .
Phillips , who came into the game as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning , zoomed around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chased him and the Dodgers looked on in disbelief .
`` I had no clue what I was doing , '' Phillips said .
`` That 's the first time I 've ever hit a walkoff in a World Series .
Taking off like an airplane looked cool because I saw ( Kevin Kiermaier ) do it in a video .
`` So I just took off -- no direction in mind , just all pure joy and excitement . ''
It was a remarkable moment for the former Brewers prospect , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trade from Kansas City .
He played just 17 games for the Rays in the regular season , and had n't had a hit since September 25 .
Rays pitcher Blake Snell said it was Phillips 's relentlessly positive attitude -- which had him lending a hand to the coaches during the ALCS rather than sulking about being left off the roster -- that made it possible .
`` He was locked in and ready for his moment , '' Snell said .
Phillips , more known before Saturday for his gasping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media videos , said that had always been his nature -- ever since he was a kid from the Tampa Bay area supporting the Rays .
`` That 's who I am , '' he said .
`` Any chance I can make a difference , always positive , I 'm going to take advantage . ''
Phillips said that after his post-game treatment and press conference he stayed up until about four in the morning , answering hundreds of congratulatory texts .
He was touched to find so many from former teammates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It just shows I made somewhat of an impact , even if it was n't through my skill set or I did n't help them win any World Series , but it just shows I made an impact in a positive way there , '' he said .
By Sunday , however , Phillips and the rest of the Rays were already looking ahead as they pursued a first World Series title in club history .
`` As much as I would like to enjoy that moment from last night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phillips said .
`` Now we have to use that energy and that passion towards these next couple of games . ''

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Brett Phillips put himself in World Series lore -- and nearly in the hospital -- with his game-winning single in the Tampa Bay Rays' stunning 8-7 walkoff win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"During the celebration, (I was) just exhausting a lot of energy and I almost passed out," Phillips said Sunday before the Rays took on the Dodgers in game five of the Major League Baseball championship series that was knotted at two games apiece.
"I was dehydrated I had to get an IV -- first time getting an IV," he said of an intravenous fluid drip administered by team medical staff.
"I went in the training room, my resting heart rate was over 140 just laying there and they were like we've got to chill you down and chill out.
"But it was all worth it -- just a little hyperventilation going on, excitement," said Phillips, who said he couldn't even pass the time watching television highlight replays because he developed a migraine headache.
The Rays were down to their last out when the 26-year-old -- who wasn't even on the Rays roster for the American League Championship Series -- hit a single to centerfield that scored two runs, with the help of a couple of Dodgers errors.
The wild finish, which included Rays slugger Randy Arozarena falling as he ran from third to home, trying to go back to third and finally scoring on a Dodgers error at the plate -- was hailed as an instant World Series classic.
Phillips, who came into the game as a pinch-runner in the eighth inning, zoomed around the field, arms outstretched as exhilarated teammates chased him and the Dodgers looked on in disbelief.
"I had no clue what I was doing," Phillips said. "That's the first time I've ever hit a walkoff in a World Series. Taking off like an airplane looked cool because I saw (Kevin Kiermaier) do it in a video.
"So I just took off -- no direction in mind, just all pure joy and excitement."
- 'Locked in' -
It was a remarkable moment for the former Brewers prospect, who arrived in Tampa Bay in August in a trade from Kansas City.
He played just 17 games for the Rays in the regular season, and hadn't had a hit since September 25.
Rays pitcher Blake Snell said it was Phillips's relentlessly positive attitude -- which had him lending a hand to the coaches during the ALCS rather than sulking about being left off the roster -- that made it possible.
"He was locked in and ready for his moment," Snell said.
Phillips, more known before Saturday for his gasping laugh that has featured widely in social media videos, said that had always been his nature -- ever since he was a kid from the Tampa Bay area supporting the Rays.
"That's who I am," he said. "Any chance I can make a difference, always positive, I'm going to take advantage."
Phillips said that after his post-game treatment and press conference he stayed up until about four in the morning, answering hundreds of congratulatory texts.
He was touched to find so many from former teammates and fans of the Brewers and Royals.
"It just shows I made somewhat of an impact, even if it wasn't through my skill set or I didn't help them win any World Series, but it just shows I made an impact in a positive way there," he said.
By Sunday, however, Phillips and the rest of the Rays were already looking ahead as they pursued a first World Series title in club history.
"As much as I would like to enjoy that moment from last night, it's behind us now," Phillips said. "Now we have to use that energy and that passion towards these next couple of games."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--Ex-All Black Kerr-Barlow scores but La Rochelle fail to go top

Former New Zealand scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow crossed but La Rochelle failed to take over as leaders of the French Top 14 despite Sunday 's 20-6 home win against Bordeaux-Begles .
Kerr-Barlow opened his account for the season as his side moved to third in the table and the visitors , who were top when last season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic , remain winless since September 12 .
The hosts ' coach Jono Gibbes was forced into two changes to his starting lineup with South Africans Wiaan Liebenberg and Raymond Rhule coming in for No .
8 Gregory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty with France .
Gibbes ' counterpart Christophe Urios handed Australia back-rower Scott Higginbotham his first start of the campaign after recovering from a knee injury suffered during pre-season .
Matthieu Jalibert was named on Urios ' bench after being released to his club from les Bleus ' squad for unspecified medical reasons .
At Stade Marcel-Deflandre , fly-half Jules Plisson opened the scoring for the home side with a ninth minute penalty .
Kerr-Barlow crossed the whitewash eight minutes later after clinically sniping from a ruck following a Geoffrey Doumayrou break .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence with ball in hand continued as Plisson chipped from inside his own half before Jeremy Sinzelle crossed in the corner .
Plisson added the extras to make it 17-0 at the break before driving rain began to fall .
Jalibert replaced Ben Botica at the interval before he and Plisson traded shots at goal and Gibbes ' men led 20-3 with a quarter of an error-strewn second half impacted by the wet conditions remaining .
The home side went looking for a third try and the crucial bonus point but Jalibert kicked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 points with 10 minutes to go .
Despite spending the closing minutes deep inside opposition territory Gibbes ' side failed to cross for a third time and missed the chance to take top spot .
Earlier , Springboks Cobus Reinach and Jan Serfontein were crucial in Montpellier 's 30-6 bonus point win over Brive .
World Cup winner Reinach set-up two tries and Serfontein , who last played for his country in 2017 , crossed the whitewash on two occasions in Johan Goosen 's first match since February .
On Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled out of Toulouse 's 16-7 loss at home to Lyon just before kick-off with a back problem .

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Former New Zealand scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow crossed but La Rochelle failed to take over as leaders of the French Top 14 despite Sunday's 20-6 home win against Bordeaux-Begles.
Kerr-Barlow opened his account for the season as his side moved to third in the table and the visitors, who were top when last season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, remain winless since September 12.
The hosts' coach Jono Gibbes was forced into two changes to his starting lineup with South Africans Wiaan Liebenberg and Raymond Rhule coming in for No. 8 Gregory Alldritt and winger Arthur Retiere on Test duty with France.
Gibbes' counterpart Christophe Urios handed Australia back-rower Scott Higginbotham his first start of the campaign after recovering from a knee injury suffered during pre-season.
Matthieu Jalibert was named on Urios' bench after being released to his club from les Bleus' squad for unspecified medical reasons.
At Stade Marcel-Deflandre, fly-half Jules Plisson opened the scoring for the home side with a ninth minute penalty.
Kerr-Barlow crossed the whitewash eight minutes later after clinically sniping from a ruck following a Geoffrey Doumayrou break.
La Rochelle's first half dominance and confidence with ball in hand continued as Plisson chipped from inside his own half before Jeremy Sinzelle crossed in the corner.
Plisson added the extras to make it 17-0 at the break before driving rain began to fall.
Jalibert replaced Ben Botica at the interval before he and Plisson traded shots at goal and Gibbes' men led 20-3 with a quarter of an error-strewn second half impacted by the wet conditions remaining.
The home side went looking for a third try and the crucial bonus point but Jalibert kicked another penalty to close the gap to 14 points with 10 minutes to go.
Despite spending the closing minutes deep inside opposition territory Gibbes' side failed to cross for a third time and missed the chance to take top spot.
Earlier, Springboks Cobus Reinach and Jan Serfontein were crucial in Montpellier's 30-6 bonus point win over Brive.
World Cup winner Reinach set-up two tries and Serfontein, who last played for his country in 2017, crossed the whitewash on two occasions in Johan Goosen's first match since February.
On Saturday, Reinach's fellow world champion Cheslin Kolbe pulled out of Toulouse's 16-7 loss at home to Lyon just before kick-off with a back problem.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--Ukraine's Zelensky suffers setback in local elections

Sunday 's vote is the first held in Ukraine since the start of the coronavirus pandemic Early exit polls showed that Ukraine 's President Volodymyr Zelensky has suffered a setback in Sunday 's local elections , while his pro-Russian and pro-European rivals are leading in most of the country 's major cities .
In nine major cities and regional centres across the country where the polls were held , no presidential party candidate was elected mayor -- not even in Zelensky 's hometown .
His party Servant of the People won the elections to municipal councils in two large cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the other seven it most often placed third or fourth , according to two polls .
The local elections were seen as a test for Zelensky , whose popularity has suffered in the year-and-a-half since he came unexpectedly to power .
Zelensky , a former comedian with no political experience , won a landslide victory in a 2019 presidential election promising to root out corruption and end a war with Russian-backed separatists in the east .
His newly created Servant of the People party won an outright majority in a parliamentary election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former Soviet republic of around 40 million people .
But in the absence of tangible results , Zelensky 's popularity and that of his party has been on the decline .
`` His party is losing political leadership in almost all regions , '' analyst Mykola Davydiuk told AFP .
`` This is a very heavy blow for him , '' Davydiuk said , adding that it could mean a change of government and even early parliamentary elections .
Voter turnout reached just 36 percent , according to the Ukrainian election watchdog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five years ago it was almost 47 percent .
`` Unlike some of our neighbours , we do have a great luxury -- free elections , '' Zelensky said on his Facebook page after the exit polls , alluding to neighbouring Russia and Belarus .
A poll published days before the vote showed that just 17 percent of voters planned to cast ballots for the Servant of the People party .
In close second was a pro-Russian party , Opposition Platform - For Life , with 14 percent , followed by the pro-Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poroshenko with 13 percent .
In areas of the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions that are still controlled by Kiev , only 10 percent of voters planned to vote for Zelensky 's party .
The vote to elect mayors , local and regional councils did not extend to the Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 or the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People 's Republics in eastern Ukraine .
`` We will see the figures , '' Zelensky said Sunday in response to a question about his party 's popularity .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we trust , '' he said after casting his vote .
`` These are local elections , it 's important what these people are able to do in their localites . ''
Sunday 's vote is the first held in Ukraine since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
In polling stations equipped with disinfectant dispensers , election officials wore masks and gloves .
Voters were asked to maintain social distance , wear a mask and have their temperature taken before casting their vote .
In the capital Kiev , acting mayor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best chance to win the mayoral election with more than 45 % of votes , according to two exit polls .
If the numbers are confirmed and he does not receive more than 50 % , the second round is expected on November 15 .
Klitschko was not able to vote himself because he was self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus .
At a polling station in the Pechersk district in Kiev , more than 30 people had lined up to vote .
`` I want to return to the time before 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us towards Europe came to power , '' Inna , a retiree , who said she voted for pro-Russian party , told AFP .
`` What have we got since then ?
War , devastation , poverty , '' she said on the condition that she withhold her last name .
Final results are expected in three to five days , according to the election commission .

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Early exit polls showed that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has suffered a setback in Sunday's local elections, while his pro-Russian and pro-European rivals are leading in most of the country's major cities.
In nine major cities and regional centres across the country where the polls were held, no presidential party candidate was elected mayor -- not even in Zelensky's hometown.
His party Servant of the People won the elections to municipal councils in two large cities in the centre of Ukraine, but in the other seven it most often placed third or fourth, according to two polls.
The local elections were seen as a test for Zelensky, whose popularity has suffered in the year-and-a-half since he came unexpectedly to power.
Zelensky, a former comedian with no political experience, won a landslide victory in a 2019 presidential election promising to root out corruption and end a war with Russian-backed separatists in the east.
His newly created Servant of the People party won an outright majority in a parliamentary election last year, a record win in the former Soviet republic of around 40 million people.
But in the absence of tangible results, Zelensky's popularity and that of his party has been on the decline.
"His party is losing political leadership in almost all regions," analyst Mykola Davydiuk told AFP.
"This is a very heavy blow for him," Davydiuk said, adding that it could mean a change of government and even early parliamentary elections.
Voter turnout reached just 36 percent, according to the Ukrainian election watchdog Opora, while in previous local elections five years ago it was almost 47 percent.
"Unlike some of our neighbours, we do have a great luxury -- free elections," Zelensky said on his Facebook page after the exit polls, alluding to neighbouring Russia and Belarus.
- 'People we trust' -
A poll published days before the vote showed that just 17 percent of voters planned to cast ballots for the Servant of the People party.
In close second was a pro-Russian party, Opposition Platform - For Life, with 14 percent, followed by the pro-Western European Solidarity aligned with former leader Petro Poroshenko with 13 percent.
In areas of the eastern Donetsk and Lugansk regions that are still controlled by Kiev, only 10 percent of voters planned to vote for Zelensky's party.
The vote to elect mayors, local and regional councils did not extend to the Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 or the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine.
"We will see the figures," Zelensky said Sunday in response to a question about his party's popularity.
"It's important that we elect people who we trust," he said after casting his vote. "These are local elections, it's important what these people are able to do in their localites."
Sunday's vote is the first held in Ukraine since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In polling stations equipped with disinfectant dispensers, election officials wore masks and gloves.
Voters were asked to maintain social distance, wear a mask and have their temperature taken before casting their vote.
In the capital Kiev, acting mayor and former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko has the best chance to win the mayoral election with more than 45% of votes, according to two exit polls.
If the numbers are confirmed and he does not receive more than 50%, the second round is expected on November 15.
Klitschko was not able to vote himself because he was self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus.
At a polling station in the Pechersk district in Kiev, more than 30 people had lined up to vote.
"I want to return to the time before 2014, before these reformers who are dragging us towards Europe came to power," Inna, a retiree, who said she voted for pro-Russian party, told AFP.
"What have we got since then? War, devastation, poverty," she said on the condition that she withhold her last name.
Final results are expected in three to five days, according to the election commission.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--Centre-right ahead in Lithuania vote overshadowed by pandemic

A woman and a child cast a ballot during the second round of the parliamentary elections in Lithuanian capital Vilnius Lithuania 's centre-right opposition came first in parliamentary elections on Sunday after a campaign overshadowed by the pandemic , opening the way for an all-female coalition at the head of the Baltic state .
The conservative Homeland Union won 49 seats in the 141-member parliament , while the ruling Lithuanian Peasants and Green Union party took 32 seats , with most votes counted from the second round run-off vote .
Ex-finance minister Ingrida Simonyte , who is the conservatives ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to build a majority coalition with two liberal parties , which won 12 and 11 seats respectively .
Both of the liberal parties are led by women .
As well as mandatory masks and social distancing in polling stations , the election featured drive-in voting as part of safety measures amid record spikes in the number of infections in the EU and NATO member state .
Despite the recent surge in cases , coronavirus-related deaths are below the EU average , while the International Monetary Fund forecasts the Lithuanian economy will contract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smallest blow of any eurozone country .
Simonyte has pledged to accelerate the economy 's modernisation from a cheap labour model to higher-value manufacturing .
She has also condemned Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis for failing to prepare for the second wave of the pandemic .
The 45-year-old , a fan of rock music and ice hockey , is popular among young urbanites .
Her previous experience as a finance minister who dealt with the fallout of the global financial crisis was seen by voters as an asset against the pandemic .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better than current authorities , due to her values and critical thinking , she is tough but also seeks dialogue , '' Simona Dirse , 33 , who works at a Vilnius insurance company , told AFP .
Skvernelis , who is more popular among lower-income rural voters , had pledged to continue fighting social inequality if reelected -- including a new annual `` 13th pension '' cash bonus for the elderly .
All major parties share a pro-EU and NATO platform , and they all back Vilnius 's drive to rally support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratic opposition after the disputed presidential election there .
`` Only minor adjustments and tweaks are likely in EU and foreign policy , as there is broad and solid consensus concerning its main guidelines , '' Vilnius university professor Kestutis Girnius told AFP .
President Gitanas Nauseda , whose terms runs out in 2024 , will continue to lead foreign and defence policy .

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Lithuania's centre-right opposition came first in parliamentary elections on Sunday after a campaign overshadowed by the pandemic, opening the way for an all-female coalition at the head of the Baltic state.
The conservative Homeland Union won 49 seats in the 141-member parliament, while the ruling Lithuanian Peasants and Green Union party took 32 seats, with most votes counted from the second round run-off vote.
Ex-finance minister Ingrida Simonyte, who is the conservatives' candidate for prime minister, is now expected to build a majority coalition with two liberal parties, which won 12 and 11 seats respectively.
Both of the liberal parties are led by women.
As well as mandatory masks and social distancing in polling stations, the election featured drive-in voting as part of safety measures amid record spikes in the number of infections in the EU and NATO member state.
Despite the recent surge in cases, coronavirus-related deaths are below the EU average, while the International Monetary Fund forecasts the Lithuanian economy will contract just 1.8 percent this year, the smallest blow of any eurozone country.
- 'Critical thinking' -
Simonyte has pledged to accelerate the economy's modernisation from a cheap labour model to higher-value manufacturing.
She has also condemned Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis for failing to prepare for the second wave of the pandemic.
The 45-year-old, a fan of rock music and ice hockey, is popular among young urbanites.
Her previous experience as a finance minister who dealt with the fallout of the global financial crisis was seen by voters as an asset against the pandemic.
"I believe she would deal with the situation better than current authorities, due to her values and critical thinking, she is tough but also seeks dialogue," Simona Dirse, 33, who works at a Vilnius insurance company, told AFP.
Skvernelis, who is more popular among lower-income rural voters, had pledged to continue fighting social inequality if reelected -- including a new annual "13th pension" cash bonus for the elderly.
All major parties share a pro-EU and NATO platform, and they all back Vilnius's drive to rally support within the EU for neighbouring Belarus's democratic opposition after the disputed presidential election there.
"Only minor adjustments and tweaks are likely in EU and foreign policy, as there is broad and solid consensus concerning its main guidelines," Vilnius university professor Kestutis Girnius told AFP.
President Gitanas Nauseda, whose terms runs out in 2024, will continue to lead foreign and defence policy.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--Caracas says Spain envoy helped Venezuela opposition leader flee

Venezuelan high-profile opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez , pictured in 2019 , followed by his wife Lilian Tintori carrying a Venezuelan flag walks out the Spanish embassy in Caracas Venezuela 's government accused Madrid 's envoy to Caracas on Sunday of being an accomplice in the `` escape '' of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez to Spain .
Lopez , who had been sheltering at the Spanish ambassador 's residence in Caracas for 18 months , arrived Sunday in Madrid after first crossing into Colombia .
`` The head of the Spanish diplomatic mission in Venezuela served as the main organizer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuelan territory of the criminal Leopoldo Lopez , '' President Nicolas Maduro 's government said in a statement .
Following Lopez 's departure , Caracas denounced what it called `` the flagrant breach of the fundamental provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations '' by Spain .
It accused Spain of `` incessant '' interference in Venezuelan affairs .
Spanish ambassador Jesus Silva had been expelled in January 2018 , also on allegations of interfering .
His return was agreed in April the same year , and Caracas says he failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Venezuelan and international laws , '' noting his sheltering of Lopez .
Lopez , the former mayor of Chacao , an up-market district of Caracas , was arrested in 2014 and accused of inciting violence when mass opposition protests began in Venezuela .
He served several years in prison before being released to house arrest .
His father is a Spanish European deputy with the conservative Popular Party .
In addition to rejoining his family in Madrid , Lopez will be able to contact other Venezuelan opposition leaders there , such as @ @ @ @ @ @

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Venezuela's government accused Madrid's envoy to Caracas on Sunday of being an accomplice in the "escape" of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez to Spain.
Lopez, who had been sheltering at the Spanish ambassador's residence in Caracas for 18 months, arrived Sunday in Madrid after first crossing into Colombia.
"The head of the Spanish diplomatic mission in Venezuela served as the main organizer and confessed accomplice of the... escape from Venezuelan territory of the criminal Leopoldo Lopez," President Nicolas Maduro's government said in a statement.
Following Lopez's departure, Caracas denounced what it called "the flagrant breach of the fundamental provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations" by Spain.
It accused Spain of "incessant" interference in Venezuelan affairs.
Spanish ambassador Jesus Silva had been expelled in January 2018, also on allegations of interfering.
His return was agreed in April the same year, and Caracas says he failed to live up to his commitment to respect "Venezuelan and international laws," noting his sheltering of Lopez.
Lopez, the former mayor of Chacao, an up-market district of Caracas, was arrested in 2014 and accused of inciting violence when mass opposition protests began in Venezuela.
He served several years in prison before being released to house arrest.
His father is a Spanish European deputy with the conservative Popular Party.
In addition to rejoining his family in Madrid, Lopez will be able to contact other Venezuelan opposition leaders there, such as former Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--Spain imposes national Covid curfew as global infection cases soar

In this file photo taken on October 4 , 2020 a couple sit next to thousands of Spanish flags , representing the Spanish victims of COVID-19 , on Patacona beach in Valencia .
Spain declared a national state of emergency Sunday to tackle a second coronavirus wave as the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reported a third straight day of record new infections around the world .
France set a daily record of more than 50,000 Covid-19 cases , while Chinese officials began mass testing to cover 4.75 million residents in the far northwest after 137 new infections were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has the world 's worst toll at around 225,000 deaths , challenger Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump 's administration of waving `` the white flag of defeat '' after his chief of staff Mark Meadows said : `` We are not going to control the pandemic . ''
The WHO has warned that some countries are on a `` dangerous track '' , with too many witnessing an exponential increase in cases , and called on authorities to take decisive action to curb the spread of the disease .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases were declared on Saturday alone , half of them in Europe , which it said was at an especially critical juncture with winter looming .
Covid-19 has now claimed the lives of 1.1 million people and infected more than 42 million globally .
WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for global solidarity in a future rollout of any vaccine , warning that `` vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic , not shorten it . ''
As the disease continued its relentless march across Europe , Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the entire country except for the Canary Islands .
Spain was the first EU member state to pass the bleak milestone of one million cases and has been joined since by northern neighbour France .
`` The situation we are going through is extreme , '' Sanchez said .
'It 's going to destroy us' Italy -- the epicentre of the first European outbreak -- also ramped up restrictions on daily life , ordering the closure of theatres , cinemas and gyms and shutting bars and restaurants early .
Governments are struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to revive economies already battered by earlier draconian lockdowns after the virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year .
But populations weary of social isolation and economic hardship have bristled at the tougher measures .
`` This is going to destroy us , '' Augusto D'Alfonsi , who owns the Torricella family-run fish restaurant in Rome , told AFP after the new measures were announced .
`` We 've already lost 50 percent of our customers this year .
Without government aid , we 're done for .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clashed with riot police overnight during a demonstration against a curfew , setting off fireworks , burning bins and throwing projectiles .
Police in Berlin also broke up a protest against curbs , and launched an arson investigation after an attack on a building that housed the public health agency .
There has been opposition to tighter curbs in Spain as well , but some said they accepted the need for controls .
`` The curfew is good for those who are drinking in the street a lot lately , because at our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are uncontrolled and then what happens , happens , '' said 17-year-old student Juan Pelayo in the town of Valladolid .
Pensioner Jose Benitez , 76 , said in Barcelona : `` It is beginning to worry me , because if I catch it at my age , I wo n't make it . ''
The United States remains the hardest-hit country on the planet , and on Saturday it set a daily record for new Covid-19 cases for the second straight day , at nearly 89,000 , with a further surge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus has become a central issue ahead of the November 3 election , with Biden and Trump sparring over the president 's handling of the pandemic .
US Vice President Mike Pence 's chief of staff tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday , the latest in a list of figures connected to Trump 's administration to do so .
`` The idea that somehow this White House has done anything but completely screw this thing up is nonsense , '' said Trump 's predecessor Barack Obama , who hit the campaign trail on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former deputy .
After the US , the worst affected countries are Brazil , India , Mexico and Britain , while Colombia is the latest country to record one million confirmed coronavirus cases .
The disease has not spared politicians , with Bulgaria 's prime minister joining a growing list of leaders who have tested positive for coronavirus .
In Germany , Frankfurt became the latest city to cancel its traditional Christmas market .
It usually attracts more than two million visitors who come to sip mulled wine , nibble on roasted chestnuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cluster of wooden chalets .

Spain imposes national Covid-19 curfew as global infection cases soar
Spain declared a national state of emergency Sunday to tackle a second coronavirus wave as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a third straight day of record new infections around the world.
01:34 A couple sits amid thousands of Spanish flags, representing the Spanish victims of Covid-19, on Patacona beach in Valencia, Spain, on October 4, 2020. © Jose Jordan, AFP (file photo)


france24--2020-10-25--Three things we learned from the Premier League

Liverpool unveiled their 'fab four ' as the Premier League champions moved within touching distance of first place .
Manchester United and Chelsea 's goalless draw showed the flaws in both teams , while Manchester City are still searching for their peak form .
AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from the weekend 's Premier League action : Diogo Jota staked his claim to become part of Liverpool 's 'fab four ' as the Portugal forward capped their comeback in a 2-1 win against Sheffield United .
Jurgen Klopp 's side had fallen behind to Sander Berge 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equalised before Jota headed the winner to move Liverpool level on points with leaders Everton .
Jota has scored twice in four league games since signing from Wolves for £45 million in September .
He was deployed as the right-sided forward in a 4-2-3-1 system as Klopp fielded all four of his main attackers together for the first time .
In the hometown of The Beatles , Jota 's contribution conjured memories of the period when Philippe Coutinho played alongside Firmino , Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in Klopp 's original Anfield 'fab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is : he is quick , he has the physicality , he is strong , he is good in the air , he is good on the ground , '' Klopp said .
`` A lot of good things .
He has exactly the quality we need , so that helps a lot . ''
As rain lashed down on Old Trafford , Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea boss Frank Lampard looked as gloomy as the conditions that left them drenched on the touchline .
A dour goalless draw showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they are to turn their teams from top four contenders into title challengers .
Solskjaer and Lampard finished last season with reasons for optimism after taking their clubs into the Champions League via top four finishes .
But there have been precious few signs of progress this term , with United failing to win any of their first three home league games for the first time in 48 years .
Even the debut cameo from Edinson Cavani , who nearly scored with his first touch after coming off the bench , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pale shadow of the team that surprisingly beat Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League in midweek .
United 's inconsistency will irk Solskjaer and while Lampard took pride in Chelsea 's second successive clean-sheet , the Blues were n't much more impressive .
Set out to contain United after conceding far too often in recent weeks , Chelsea needed two fine saves from Edouard Mendy to hold onto their third successive draw in all competitions .
It was hardly the kind of swashbuckling performance many expected from Chelsea after Lampard spent over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signings in the close-season .
Timo Werner , Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech are all still finding their feet and Chelsea look lost at times as a result .
Pep Guardiola 's frustrated expression told its own story as the Manchester City manager fended off another round of questions about his team 's struggles .
City 's underwhelming 1-1 draw at West Ham left them languishing well behind the Premier League pace setters and underlined the growing feeling that Guardiola is struggling to find answer to the problems that ail his team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ barely a whimper last season , City were expected to bounce back this term , but they remain defensively frail and inconsistent in attack .
`` I would prefer to have results but we have to analyse where we are .
Many injuries , a lack of preparation , no recovery time , and tough games we 've played so far , '' Guardiola said .
Adding to Guardiola 's problems , Sergio Aguero was forced off against West Ham with a muscle injury .
It took the second half introduction of 20-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City at the London Stadium and the dynamic England midfielder 's equaliser suggested it is time Guardiola finally leans more heavily on his brightest young talent .

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Liverpool unveiled their 'fab four' as the Premier League champions moved within touching distance of first place.
Manchester United and Chelsea's goalless draw showed the flaws in both teams, while Manchester City are still searching for their peak form.
AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from the weekend's Premier League action:
Liverpool on song with Jota
Diogo Jota staked his claim to become part of Liverpool's 'fab four' as the Portugal forward capped their comeback in a 2-1 win against Sheffield United.
Jurgen Klopp's side had fallen behind to Sander Berge's penalty at Anfield, but Roberto Firmino equalised before Jota headed the winner to move Liverpool level on points with leaders Everton.
Jota has scored twice in four league games since signing from Wolves for £45 million in September.
He was deployed as the right-sided forward in a 4-2-3-1 system as Klopp fielded all four of his main attackers together for the first time.
In the hometown of The Beatles, Jota's contribution conjured memories of the period when Philippe Coutinho played alongside Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in Klopp's original Anfield 'fab four'.
"The player he is: he is quick, he has the physicality, he is strong, he is good in the air, he is good on the ground," Klopp said.
"A lot of good things. He has exactly the quality we need, so that helps a lot."
No joy for United, Chelsea
As rain lashed down on Old Trafford, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Chelsea boss Frank Lampard looked as gloomy as the conditions that left them drenched on the touchline.
A dour goalless draw showed the problems both men have to resolve if they are to turn their teams from top four contenders into title challengers.
Solskjaer and Lampard finished last season with reasons for optimism after taking their clubs into the Champions League via top four finishes.
But there have been precious few signs of progress this term, with United failing to win any of their first three home league games for the first time in 48 years.
Even the debut cameo from Edinson Cavani, who nearly scored with his first touch after coming off the bench, couldn't inspire United, who looked a pale shadow of the team that surprisingly beat Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League in midweek.
United's inconsistency will irk Solskjaer and while Lampard took pride in Chelsea's second successive clean-sheet, the Blues weren't much more impressive.
Set out to contain United after conceding far too often in recent weeks, Chelsea needed two fine saves from Edouard Mendy to hold onto their third successive draw in all competitions.
It was hardly the kind of swashbuckling performance many expected from Chelsea after Lampard spent over £200 million on a host of new signings in the close-season.
Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech are all still finding their feet and Chelsea look lost at times as a result.
Guardiola needs answers
Pep Guardiola's frustrated expression told its own story as the Manchester City manager fended off another round of questions about his team's struggles.
City's underwhelming 1-1 draw at West Ham left them languishing well behind the Premier League pace setters and underlined the growing feeling that Guardiola is struggling to find answer to the problems that ail his team.
After surrendering the title to Liverpool with barely a whimper last season, City were expected to bounce back this term, but they remain defensively frail and inconsistent in attack.
"I would prefer to have results but we have to analyse where we are. Many injuries, a lack of preparation, no recovery time, and tough games we've played so far," Guardiola said.
Adding to Guardiola's problems, Sergio Aguero was forced off against West Ham with a muscle injury.
It took the second half introduction of 20-year-old Phil Foden to spark some life into City at the London Stadium and the dynamic England midfielder's equaliser suggested it is time Guardiola finally leans more heavily on his brightest young talent.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--Djokovic eyes 'amazing' Sampras year-end world number one record in Vienna

Novak Djokovic said it will be `` amazing '' to equal childhood idol Pete Sampras 's all-time record of ending the year as world number one on six occasions .
Djokovic will make sure he matches the great American by winning two matches at this week 's Vienna ATP tournament .
The 33-year-old Serb has been the top-ranked player at the end of a season five times : in 2011 , 2012 , 2014 , 2015 and 2018 .
He shares that mark with career rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal .
Sampras achieved the feat six years in succession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was my childhood idol growing up and it will be amazing to tie his record by being the year-end world number one six time , '' Djokovic told a news conference on Sunday .
Djokovic has another target -- beating Federer 's all-time best of 310 weeks spent on top of the rankings .
On Monday , Djokovic will begin his 292nd week in total as world number one .
Should he stay in pole position , he will pass Federer in early March 2021 although he admits that in the current climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
`` It 's my great goal to achieve that and it 's something I am working towards , '' said Djokovic .
`` I hope it happens in March , but let 's see .
So many unpredictable things can happen and things change week by week . ''
Djokovic will play in Vienna for the first time since he won the title there in 2007 .
He opens against fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic with a second-round clash against either Borna Coric of Croatia or America 's Taylor Fritz .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner 's first tournament since his straight sets loss to Nadal in the Roland Garros final two weeks ago .
However , his path to a fifth title of 2020 will likely run into defending Vienna champion and home star Dominic Thiem in the final .
Djokovic and US Open winner Thiem are two of six top 10 players in the draw in the Austrian capital .
`` The quality of matches from the first round will be very , very high , '' said Djokovic .
Djokovic said he was surprised when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will play countryman Krajinovic in the first round .
They are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head series , with Djokovic beating Krajinovic in straight sets last month at the Rome Masters .
`` I practised with Filip for a few days in Belgrade before coming here and we joked around that we might draw each other and that 's what happened , '' Djokovic said .
`` The odds of this happening are very slim .
But it is what it is .
We are great friends , I 've known Filip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a very talented guy , hard court is his preferred surface .
He can play very quick tennis .
We have similar games actually because we kind of grew up together . ''
Thiem faces Japan 's Kei Nishikori in the first round .
Greece 's Stefanos Tsitsipas , the ATP Finals champion , is the third seed with Russia 's Daniil Medvedev taking the fourth seeding .

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Novak Djokovic said it will be "amazing" to equal childhood idol Pete Sampras's all-time record of ending the year as world number one on six occasions.
Djokovic will make sure he matches the great American by winning two matches at this week's Vienna ATP tournament.
The 33-year-old Serb has been the top-ranked player at the end of a season five times: in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018.
He shares that mark with career rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Sampras achieved the feat six years in succession between 1993 and 1998.
"Sampras was my childhood idol growing up and it will be amazing to tie his record by being the year-end world number one six time," Djokovic told a news conference on Sunday.
Djokovic has another target -- beating Federer's all-time best of 310 weeks spent on top of the rankings.
On Monday, Djokovic will begin his 292nd week in total as world number one.
Should he stay in pole position, he will pass Federer in early March 2021 although he admits that in the current climate everything in the sport remains "unpredictable".
"It's my great goal to achieve that and it's something I am working towards," said Djokovic.
"I hope it happens in March, but let's see. So many unpredictable things can happen and things change week by week."
Djokovic will play in Vienna for the first time since he won the title there in 2007.
He opens against fellow Serb Filip Krajinovic with a second-round clash against either Borna Coric of Croatia or America's Taylor Fritz.
It will be the 17-time Grand Slam title winner's first tournament since his straight sets loss to Nadal in the Roland Garros final two weeks ago.
However, his path to a fifth title of 2020 will likely run into defending Vienna champion and home star Dominic Thiem in the final.
Djokovic and US Open winner Thiem are two of six top 10 players in the draw in the Austrian capital.
"The quality of matches from the first round will be very, very high," said Djokovic.
Djokovic said he was surprised when he saw the draw, which revealed he will play countryman Krajinovic in the first round.
They are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head series, with Djokovic beating Krajinovic in straight sets last month at the Rome Masters.
"I practised with Filip for a few days in Belgrade before coming here and we joked around that we might draw each other and that's what happened," Djokovic said.
"The odds of this happening are very slim. But it is what it is. We are great friends, I've known Filip for a long time.
"He's a very talented guy, hard court is his preferred surface. He can play very quick tennis. We have similar games actually because we kind of grew up together."
Thiem faces Japan's Kei Nishikori in the first round.
Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, the ATP Finals champion, is the third seed with Russia's Daniil Medvedev taking the fourth seeding.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-25--First stage of Egypt parliament elections wraps up

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Esna , south of Egypt 's southern city of Luxor , on October 24 , 2020 , during the first stage of parliamentary elections Polls closed in Egypt Sunday after the first phase of parliamentary elections in which candidates loyal to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are expected to sweep to victory .
Some 63 million voters out of Egypt 's more than 100 million people are eligible to elect 568 of the 596 lawmakers in the lower house , widely seen as a rubber-stamp body for executive policies .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army general-turned-president Sisi , whose government has over the past six years silenced any serious political opposition to its rule .
The first phase of voting took place over the weekend in 14 provinces including Cairo , Alexandria and Aswan .
Polling stations opened on Saturday morning and closed on Sunday at 9 pm local time ( 1900 GMT ) .
The second stage of voting , to be held on November 7-8 , will cover Egypt 's 13 other provinces .
Run-offs are scheduled to take place in November and December , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their terms in January .
The new parliament will be the second to convene under Sisi , who took office in 2014 after the previous year leading the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi .
The outgoing legislature , elected in 2015 , was packed with Sisi supporters and featured only a small opposition bloc known as 25/30 .
Over 4,000 candidates , believed to be mostly pro-government , are competing for 284 of the 568 seats reserved for individuals .
Eight party lists are running for the remaining 284 seats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ election five years ago in a political landscape marked by the presence of dozens of parties but with little weight and influence on the ground .

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Polls closed in Egypt Sunday after the first phase of parliamentary elections in which candidates loyal to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are expected to sweep to victory.
Some 63 million voters out of Egypt's more than 100 million people are eligible to elect 568 of the 596 lawmakers in the lower house, widely seen as a rubber-stamp body for executive policies.
The remaining deputies will be appointed by former army general-turned-president Sisi, whose government has over the past six years silenced any serious political opposition to its rule.
The first phase of voting took place over the weekend in 14 provinces including Cairo, Alexandria and Aswan.
Polling stations opened on Saturday morning and closed on Sunday at 9 pm local time (1900 GMT).
The second stage of voting, to be held on November 7-8, will cover Egypt's 13 other provinces.
Run-offs are scheduled to take place in November and December, and the newly elected lawmakers will begin their terms in January.
The new parliament will be the second to convene under Sisi, who took office in 2014 after the previous year leading the military ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
The outgoing legislature, elected in 2015, was packed with Sisi supporters and featured only a small opposition bloc known as 25/30.
Over 4,000 candidates, believed to be mostly pro-government, are competing for 284 of the 568 seats reserved for individuals. Eight party lists are running for the remaining 284 seats.
Many of the candidates also stood for election five years ago in a political landscape marked by the presence of dozens of parties but with little weight and influence on the ground.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--Uncapped Umaga in England squad

Uncapped Umaga in England squad

England coach Eddie Jones included uncapped fly-half Jacob Umaga in his squad announced Monday for this week 's Six Nations @ @ @ @ @ upcoming Autumn Nations Cup .
Umaga , the nephew of former New Zealand captain Tana @ @ @ @ @ steering Wasps to last weekend 's Premiership final , where they were beaten by Exeter @ @ @ @ @ of two specialist stand-offs selected by Jones , together with England captain Owen Farrell .
@ @ @ @ @ for Exeter captain and fly-half Joe Simmonds , also yet to win his first England @ @ @ @ @ Willis , still to make his Test debut , was also included in a 36-man @ @ @ @ @ honours in an impressive 2019/20 season .
Meanwhile Henry Slade , a centre who covers @ @ @ @ @ fresh from starring in Exeter 's 19-13 win over Wasps in the Premiership final at @ @ @ @

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England coach Eddie Jones included uncapped fly-half Jacob Umaga in his squad announced Monday for this week's Six Nations finale against Italy and the upcoming Autumn Nations Cup.
Umaga, the nephew of former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga, was chosen after steering Wasps to last weekend's Premiership final, where they were beaten by Exeter.
He was only one of two specialist stand-offs selected by Jones, together with England captain Owen Farrell.
But there was no place for Exeter captain and fly-half Joe Simmonds, also yet to win his first England cap.
Wasps back-row Jack Willis, still to make his Test debut, was also included in a 36-man squad after winning several individual honours in an impressive 2019/20 season.
Meanwhile Henry Slade, a centre who covers at fly-half, was included fresh from starring in Exeter's 19-13 win over Wasps in the Premiership final at Twickenham last Saturday.
England squad
Backs
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Furbank (Northampton), Willi Heinz (Gloucester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Ollie Lawrence (Worcester), Max Malins (Bristol), Joe Marchant (Harlequins), Jonny May (Gloucester), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester), Jacob Umaga (Wasps), Anthony Watson (Bath), Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards
Tom Curry (Sale), Tom Dunn (Bath), Ben Earl (Bristol), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Jonny Hill (Exeter), Ted Hill (Worcester), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton), Beno Obano (Bath), David Ribbans (Northampton), Jack Singleton (Gloucester), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol), Will Stuart (Bath), Sam Underhill (Bath), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter), Jack Willis (Wasps)
Fixtures
Six Nations
Oct 31: Italy v England, Rome (1645 GMT kick-off)
Autumn Nations Cup
Nov 14: England v Georgia, Twickenham (1500 GMT)
Nov 21: England v Ireland, Twickenham (1500 GMT)
Nov 28: Wales v England, venue tbc (1600 GMT)
Dec 06: England v tbc, placing match, Twickenham (1400 GMT
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--African footballers in Europe: 'Zaha a hard player to stop'

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson praised Wilfried Zaha after the Ivory Coast winger scored his fifth goal in six English Premier League matches during a 2-1 win at Fulham .
`` Wilfried reminds us that when he is on top of his game , he is a very hard player to stop .
He is an excellent player and deserves all the praise he is going to get .
`` If ever I sound mildly critical he thinks I 'm picking on him , but every press conference I go to he is the only player they want to talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP Sport rounds up how Africans fared in the major European leagues at the weekend .
Palace were leading struggling Fulham 1-0 when Andros Townsend fed Michy Batshuayi down the right and his cross was turned in at the far post by Zaha on 64 minutes at Craven Cottage .
Zaha collided with a post in the act of scoring but was able to shake off the injury .
The Senegal forward played a key role as Liverpool came from behind to beat Sheffield United 2-1 .
It was from a rebound off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before half-time .
And he was involved again on the hour when his accurate cross was turned in by pre-season signing Diego Jota for the champions ' winner .
But he appeared unhappy late on after Egyptian strike partner Mohamed Salah missed a chance to put the result beyond doubt with a shot that hit the post rather than pass to the unmarked Mane , who could have slotted the ball into an empty net .
The Gunners ' 1-0 defeat by Leicester City left their club captain without a goal in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gabon forward did score against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League last Thursday .
Gambian striker Colley had a goal ruled offside after quarter of an hour in Turin as Verona held champions Juventus 1-1 .
The former Atalanta forward threatened to break through for his first Verona goal but was to remain frustrated in his first game against the nine-time defending Serie A champions .
Nigerian international Osimhen had the ball in the net after 17 minutes against promoted Benevento , but his celebrations at scoring for a second consecutive game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled offside .
Napoli won 2-1 to move second in Serie A behind AC Milan .
The Nigerian international endured a torrid and ultimately rather short evening as his side drew 1-1 with Stuttgart because he was substituted after just 16 minutes having picked up a yellow card .
Ehizibue was run ragged by Stuttgart winger Tanguy Coulibaly in the opening stages , and was booked for the third time in five games for a late challenge on Sasa Kalajdzic .
Apparently unimpressed with his right-back 's performance , Cologne coach Markus Gisdol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Senegal defender almost scored an own goal in the Ruhr derby against Borussia Dortmund , heading a Jadon Sancho free-kick just inches over his own crossbar in the second half when the match was goalless .
Manuel Akanji opened the scoring just minutes later , kick-starting a 3-0 win for Dortmund and condemning Schalke to a 21st league game without a win .
The Cameroon midfielder almost helped his side to a first win of the season , against Borussia Monchengladbach .
With his side leading 2-1 , Kunde unleashed team mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the box , but the German was denied by a strong save from Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer .
Gladbach then came from behind to win 3-2 , condemning Kunde and Mainz to a fifth defeat in five games this season .
Lyon continued their revival with a second straight Ligue 1 victory , and for the second consecutive week Cameroon striker Karl Toko Ekambi scored twice .
Last week in Strasbourg , Toko Ekambi struck in the 25th and 42nd minutes to set up a 3-2 Lyon victory .
On Sunday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 44th minutes as Lyon won 4-1 .
In the 34th minute , Toko Ekambi converted a cross from Zimbabwean Tino Kadewere at the second attempt .
In the 41st minute , the Cameroon striker won a penalty that Houssem Aouar converted .
Three minutes later , Toko Ekambi took advantage of a misunderstanding in the Monegasque defence to score and put Lyon four goals up .

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Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson praised Wilfried Zaha after the Ivory Coast winger scored his fifth goal in six English Premier League matches during a 2-1 win at Fulham.
"Wilfried reminds us that when he is on top of his game, he is a very hard player to stop. He is an excellent player and deserves all the praise he is going to get.
"If ever I sound mildly critical he thinks I'm picking on him, but every press conference I go to he is the only player they want to talk to me about."
Here, AFP Sport rounds up how Africans fared in the major European leagues at the weekend.
ENGLAND
WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace)
Palace were leading struggling Fulham 1-0 when Andros Townsend fed Michy Batshuayi down the right and his cross was turned in at the far post by Zaha on 64 minutes at Craven Cottage. Zaha collided with a post in the act of scoring but was able to shake off the injury.
SADIO MANE (Liverpool)
The Senegal forward played a key role as Liverpool came from behind to beat Sheffield United 2-1. It was from a rebound off his shot that Roberto Firmino equalised just before half-time. And he was involved again on the hour when his accurate cross was turned in by pre-season signing Diego Jota for the champions' winner. But he appeared unhappy late on after Egyptian strike partner Mohamed Salah missed a chance to put the result beyond doubt with a shot that hit the post rather than pass to the unmarked Mane, who could have slotted the ball into an empty net.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)
The Gunners' 1-0 defeat by Leicester City left their club captain without a goal in his last five Premier League games, although the Gabon forward did score against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League last Thursday.
ITALY
EBRIMA COLLEY (Hellas Verona)
Gambian striker Colley had a goal ruled offside after quarter of an hour in Turin as Verona held champions Juventus 1-1. The former Atalanta forward threatened to break through for his first Verona goal but was to remain frustrated in his first game against the nine-time defending Serie A champions.
VICTOR OSIMHEN (Napoli)
Nigerian international Osimhen had the ball in the net after 17 minutes against promoted Benevento, but his celebrations at scoring for a second consecutive game were short lived with the goal was ruled offside. Napoli won 2-1 to move second in Serie A behind AC Milan.
GERMANY
KINGSLEY EHIZIBUE (Cologne)
The Nigerian international endured a torrid and ultimately rather short evening as his side drew 1-1 with Stuttgart because he was substituted after just 16 minutes having picked up a yellow card. Ehizibue was run ragged by Stuttgart winger Tanguy Coulibaly in the opening stages, and was booked for the third time in five games for a late challenge on Sasa Kalajdzic. Apparently unimpressed with his right-back's performance, Cologne coach Markus Gisdol took drastic action and benched him.
SALIF SANE (Schalke)
The Senegal defender almost scored an own goal in the Ruhr derby against Borussia Dortmund, heading a Jadon Sancho free-kick just inches over his own crossbar in the second half when the match was goalless. Manuel Akanji opened the scoring just minutes later, kick-starting a 3-0 win for Dortmund and condemning Schalke to a 21st league game without a win.
PIERRE KUNDE MALONG (Mainz)
The Cameroon midfielder almost helped his side to a first win of the season, against Borussia Monchengladbach. With his side leading 2-1, Kunde unleashed team mate Levin Oztunali with a clever chip into the box, but the German was denied by a strong save from Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Gladbach then came from behind to win 3-2, condemning Kunde and Mainz to a fifth defeat in five games this season.
FRANCE
KARL TOKO EKAMBI (Lyon)
Lyon continued their revival with a second straight Ligue 1 victory, and for the second consecutive week Cameroon striker Karl Toko Ekambi scored twice. Last week in Strasbourg, Toko Ekambi struck in the 25th and 42nd minutes to set up a 3-2 Lyon victory. On Sunday, the Paris-born 28-year-old sunk Monaco between the 34th and 44th minutes as Lyon won 4-1. In the 34th minute, Toko Ekambi converted a cross from Zimbabwean Tino Kadewere at the second attempt. In the 41st minute, the Cameroon striker won a penalty that Houssem Aouar converted. Three minutes later, Toko Ekambi took advantage of a misunderstanding in the Monegasque defence to score and put Lyon four goals up.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--AC Milan goalkeeper Donnarumma tests positive for coronavirus

Donnarumma , 21 , has played over 200 games for Milan AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has tested positive for @ @ @ @ @ Serie A leaders ' next three matches , the club said on Monday .
Milan @ @ @ @ @ and Donnarumma will also sit out Thursday 's Europa League match against Sparta Prague and @ @ @ @ @ Udinese .
Young Norwegian striker Jens Petter Hauge and three members of club staff have @ @ @ @ @ .
In Italy , for asymptomatic cases like Donnarumma 's , the self-isolation period must @ @ @ @ @ and is lifted after a negative test .
He could possibly return for Milan 's @ @ @ @ @ on November 5 .
Stefano Pioli 's men could move four points clear at the @ @ @ @ @ a fifth straight win to start the season against Roma .

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AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has tested positive for coronavirus and will miss the Serie A leaders' next three matches, the club said on Monday.
Milan play Roma later on Monday and Donnarumma will also sit out Thursday's Europa League match against Sparta Prague and this weekend's game with Udinese.
Young Norwegian striker Jens Petter Hauge and three members of club staff have also tested positive for Covid-19.
In Italy, for asymptomatic cases like Donnarumma's, the self-isolation period must last at least 10 days and is lifted after a negative test.
He could possibly return for Milan's Europa League clash with Lille on November 5.
Stefano Pioli's men could move four points clear at the top of Serie A with a fifth straight win to start the season against Roma.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--Anger over Italy virus rules as curfews enforced around Europe

Italian police officers clashed with neo-fascists over the weekend over virus restrictions Anger was growing in Italy Monday over harsh new coronavirus restrictions brought in to `` save Christmas '' , while other hard-hit countries enforced curfews in a bid to avoid fresh national lockdowns .
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte 's decision to close restaurants and bars from 6:00 pm and shut all theatres , cinemas and gyms for a month was widely criticised , even as scientists questioned whether it would be enough to stop the virus .
`` These restrictions will be the end of us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the owner of a restaurant in Oderzo , a small village in northeastern Italy .
`` We 're not in a city centre , we 're in the provinces .
Our customers come in the evening or during the weekend , '' he told AFP after a photograph of him , slumped in despair at the news , went viral on social media .
Countries across Europe are seeing dramatic spikes in cases , and governments are taking drastic action .
Spain imposed a new national state of emergency and overnight curfews , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 50,000 cases and extended an overnight curfew to cover areas home to around 46 million people .
Covid-19 has now claimed the lives of 1.1 million people and infected more than 43 million globally .
The United States -- still the worst-hit country -- smashed its own record for new daily cases this weekend , pushing the issue up the agenda in the nation 's presidential election campaign .
Challenger Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump 's administration of waving `` the white flag of defeat '' after a senior official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control the pandemic .
But the battle was being won elsewhere : Australia 's second biggest city Melbourne registered no new cases on Monday , and was set to exit lockdown this week after nearly four months of onerous restrictions .
- 'The end of us ' - Conte told Italy he hoped the unpopular new restrictions , which deal a severe blow to sectors already on their knees after a national lockdown this spring , `` will allow us to be more relaxed by Christmas '' , though he warned `` hugging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the question .
`` Stop !
We 've brought in a decree to save you ! ''
a cartoon Conte told a suicidal Father Christmas on the Corriere della Sera 's front-page .
Restaurant and bar owners were not laughing .
The early closing times mean Italy 's bustling aperitivo hour is gone , as are dinners out .
Famed Italian conductor Riccardo Muti appealed publicly to the prime minister , saying closing down the arts would also `` harm health '' .
`` Defining ... theatre and music as 'superfluous ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have , is ignorant , uncultured and insensitive , '' he said .
Italy , the first European country to be hit hard by the pandemic , on Sunday registered 21,273 new cases .
Regional heads had warned a new decree with strict measures would fuel social tensions , after street clashes in Naples and Rome last week .
The World Health Organization 's Italian government adviser Walter Ricciardi said it also may `` not be enough '' to stop the virus spreading .
Italy was the epicentre of the outbreak earlier in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher in Spain and France -- both countries crossing the milestone of one million confirmed infections .
Spain 's state of emergency will give regions the power to limit movement in and out of their territories and extend curfews .
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he wanted `` at any price '' to avoid a second national lockdown , adding : `` The more we stay home the more protected we and others will be . ''
The city 's residents have been under far tighter restrictions than anywhere else in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatically , the state 's politicians had been under pressure to lift the measures .
`` This has been a very difficult year .
And Victorians have given a lot and I 'm proud of every single one of them , '' said Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews .

Rome (AFP) –
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Anger was growing in Italy Monday over harsh new coronavirus restrictions brought in to "save Christmas", while other hard-hit countries enforced curfews in a bid to avoid fresh national lockdowns.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's decision to close restaurants and bars from 6:00 pm and shut all theatres, cinemas and gyms for a month was widely criticised, even as scientists questioned whether it would be enough to stop the virus.
"These restrictions will be the end of us," said Giuseppe Tonon, 70, the owner of a restaurant in Oderzo, a small village in northeastern Italy.
"We're not in a city centre, we're in the provinces. Our customers come in the evening or during the weekend," he told AFP after a photograph of him, slumped in despair at the news, went viral on social media.
Countries across Europe are seeing dramatic spikes in cases, and governments are taking drastic action.
Spain imposed a new national state of emergency and overnight curfews, while France set a daily record of more than 50,000 cases and extended an overnight curfew to cover areas home to around 46 million people.
Covid-19 has now claimed the lives of 1.1 million people and infected more than 43 million globally.
The United States -- still the worst-hit country -- smashed its own record for new daily cases this weekend, pushing the issue up the agenda in the nation's presidential election campaign.
Challenger Joe Biden accused President Donald Trump's administration of waving "the white flag of defeat" after a senior official conceded the government was not going to control the pandemic.
But the battle was being won elsewhere: Australia's second biggest city Melbourne registered no new cases on Monday, and was set to exit lockdown this week after nearly four months of onerous restrictions.
- 'The end of us' -
Conte told Italy he hoped the unpopular new restrictions, which deal a severe blow to sectors already on their knees after a national lockdown this spring, "will allow us to be more relaxed by Christmas", though he warned "hugging and partying" would still be out of the question.
"Stop! We've brought in a decree to save you!" a cartoon Conte told a suicidal Father Christmas on the Corriere della Sera's front-page.
Restaurant and bar owners were not laughing. The early closing times mean Italy's bustling aperitivo hour is gone, as are dinners out.
Famed Italian conductor Riccardo Muti appealed publicly to the prime minister, saying closing down the arts would also "harm health".
"Defining... theatre and music as 'superfluous', as some elements of the government have, is ignorant, uncultured and insensitive," he said.
Italy, the first European country to be hit hard by the pandemic, on Sunday registered 21,273 new cases.
Regional heads had warned a new decree with strict measures would fuel social tensions, after street clashes in Naples and Rome last week.
The World Health Organization's Italian government adviser Walter Ricciardi said it also may "not be enough" to stop the virus spreading.
- 'Very difficult year' -
Italy was the epicentre of the outbreak earlier in the year, but caseloads are now much higher in Spain and France -- both countries crossing the milestone of one million confirmed infections.
Spain's state of emergency will give regions the power to limit movement in and out of their territories and extend curfews.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he wanted "at any price" to avoid a second national lockdown, adding: "The more we stay home the more protected we and others will be."
The city's residents have been under far tighter restrictions than anywhere else in the country, but with new cases falling dramatically, the state's politicians had been under pressure to lift the measures.
"This has been a very difficult year. And Victorians have given a lot and I'm proud of every single one of them," said Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--Russia strikes kill 78 Turkey-backed rebels in Syria: monitor

A picture taken on September 7 , 2018 shows a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet dropping bombs over the Syrian village of Kafr Ain in the northwestern province of Idlib Air strikes by Damascus regime ally Russia killed 78 Turkey-backed rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday , a monitor said , in the bloodiest surge in violence since a truce almost eight months ago .
More than 90 others were wounded when Russian warplanes targeted a training camp of the Faylaq al-Sham faction in the Jabal Duwayli area in Idlib province , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Moscow and Ankara stemmed a deadly months-long Russia-backed regime military offensive on the country 's last major rebel stronghold in Idlib .
That onslaught from December had displaced almost a million people from their homes in one of the worst humanitarian crises of the nine-year civil war .
Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman described Monday 's strikes as the `` deadliest since the ceasefire came into force '' .
The National Liberation Front , an umbrella group of Ankara-backed rebels based in Idlib that includes Faylaq al-Sham , told AFP that Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions and caused casualties .
It did not give an exact death toll .
NLF spokesman Sayf Raad denounced the `` Russian aircraft and regime forces continuously violating the Turkish-Russian deal in targeting military positions , villages and towns '' .
Of the almost one million people displaced in the last Idlib offensive , more than 200,000 have returned home to their towns and villages , most since the ceasefire went into force .
The March truce has largely held , despite some intermittent bombardment in the area from both sides .
Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted military positions , including those of Turkey-backed groups , Abdel Rahman said .
The US army on Thursday said it carried a drone strike against Al-Qaeda leaders in northwestern Syria , with the Observatory reporting 17 jihadists killed at a dinner gathering .
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , led by Syria 's former Al-Qaeda affiliate , and allied rebels dominate the region of some three million people , around half living in camps after being displaced by fighting in other parts of the country .
Last week , Turkey withdrew from one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been encircled for the past year by Syrian regime forces .
The outpost in Morek had been Turkey 's largest in Hama province , most of which is now under Syrian government control .
After a string of military victories backed by Russia , the Syrian government has regained control of around 70 percent of the country , the Observatory says .
Syria 's war , which broke out after the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011 , has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions inside the country and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks have failed to stem the bloodshed and in recent years have been largely overtaken by a parallel negotiations track led by Russia and Turkey .
On Sunday , UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen visited Damascus and met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem .
Pedersen afterwards said the meeting `` touched upon all issues related to Security Council resolution 2254 '' for a political solution to the conflict .
`` It 's my hope that meetings we have had today and meetings we will continue to have could be the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The UN envoy said he would then hold talks with members of the political opposition .
`` Hopefully we can see if it 's possible to find more common ground on how to move this process forward , '' he added .

Beirut (AFP) –
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Air strikes by Damascus regime ally Russia killed 78 Turkey-backed rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday, a monitor said, in the bloodiest surge in violence since a truce almost eight months ago.
More than 90 others were wounded when Russian warplanes targeted a training camp of the Faylaq al-Sham faction in the Jabal Duwayli area in Idlib province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
In early March, a truce brokered between Moscow and Ankara stemmed a deadly months-long Russia-backed regime military offensive on the country's last major rebel stronghold in Idlib.
That onslaught from December had displaced almost a million people from their homes in one of the worst humanitarian crises of the nine-year civil war.
Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman described Monday's strikes as the "deadliest since the ceasefire came into force".
The National Liberation Front, an umbrella group of Ankara-backed rebels based in Idlib that includes Faylaq al-Sham, told AFP that Monday's Russian strikes hit one of its positions and caused casualties. It did not give an exact death toll.
NLF spokesman Sayf Raad denounced the "Russian aircraft and regime forces continuously violating the Turkish-Russian deal in targeting military positions, villages and towns".
Of the almost one million people displaced in the last Idlib offensive, more than 200,000 have returned home to their towns and villages, most since the ceasefire went into force.
The March truce has largely held, despite some intermittent bombardment in the area from both sides.
Russian air strikes have from time to time targeted military positions, including those of Turkey-backed groups, Abdel Rahman said.
- UN envoy visit -
The US army on Thursday said it carried a drone strike against Al-Qaeda leaders in northwestern Syria, with the Observatory reporting 17 jihadists killed at a dinner gathering.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, and allied rebels dominate the region of some three million people, around half living in camps after being displaced by fighting in other parts of the country.
Last week, Turkey withdrew from one of its largest outposts in northwestern Syria which had been encircled for the past year by Syrian regime forces.
The outpost in Morek had been Turkey's largest in Hama province, most of which is now under Syrian government control.
After a string of military victories backed by Russia, the Syrian government has regained control of around 70 percent of the country, the Observatory says.
Syria's war, which broke out after the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011, has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions inside the country and abroad.
Endless rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to stem the bloodshed and in recent years have been largely overtaken by a parallel negotiations track led by Russia and Turkey.
On Sunday, UN envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen visited Damascus and met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.
Pedersen afterwards said the meeting "touched upon all issues related to Security Council resolution 2254" for a political solution to the conflict.
"It's my hope that meetings we have had today and meetings we will continue to have could be the beginning of something new," he said.
The UN envoy said he would then hold talks with members of the political opposition.
"Hopefully we can see if it's possible to find more common ground on how to move this process forward," he added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--Mercedes' Hamilton, Wolff set to stay in further records assault

Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff will continue their assault on Formula One 's records next season , the pair made clear in the aftermath of Hamilton 's landmark 92nd career win in Sunday ’ s Portuguese Grand Prix .
The pair erased doubts about their futures together in an outfit set to claim a record seventh consecutive constructors ' title at next weekend 's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix .
Both have contracts with Mercedes that end this year , but have avoided making any commitment for 2021 .
Speaking to reporters via a post-race video news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his Daimler boss Ola Kaellenius `` to continue with each other '' while Hamilton in a separate interview said he would like to remain at Mercedes .
The remarkable relationship has powered Mercedes to a record six consecutive teams ' titles and , for Hamilton , five drivers ' wins since they joined in 2013 .
`` Where we stand today is that everybody has the will to continue , '' said Wolff .
`` With Lewis and I , it is simply that we are living like hermits and , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I hope we can finish the next couple of races on a high and then concentrate on the contract . ''
Hamilton , 35 , whose win total represents more than five seasons of unbroken victories , told Sky Sports he could still improve .
`` I do n't think I 'm at my peak .
I 'm in a good area for sure , but I still want to continue to race .
I do n't know how much longer that will be – this is a period of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the future holds .
`` All I can say is I plan to be here next year . ''
Hamilton 's commitment to Mercedes will be greeted warmly by the team , fans of his driving and his sport .
`` His achievement is just phenomenal , '' said Mercedes ’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin .
`` He doesn ’ t show any signs of giving up or slowing down either .
So , I suspect he 's going to go on and hit some more milestones , but it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Hamilton and Wolff may this year by affected by the Covid-19 pandemic-hit landscape of global finances , but as the team boss admitted his value to Mercedes is `` huge '' .
He joked Mercedes may have to sell off some factories to afford to keep him , but knows too that as Kaellenius has hinted Hamilton and the 'silver arrows ' are vital to their future success .

Portimao (Portugal) (AFP) –
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Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff will continue their assault on Formula One's records next season, the pair made clear in the aftermath of Hamilton's landmark 92nd career win in Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix.
The pair erased doubts about their futures together in an outfit set to claim a record seventh consecutive constructors' title at next weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Both have contracts with Mercedes that end this year, but have avoided making any commitment for 2021.
Speaking to reporters via a post-race video news conference, Wolff said he had agreed with his Daimler boss Ola Kaellenius "to continue with each other" while Hamilton in a separate interview said he would like to remain at Mercedes.
The remarkable relationship has powered Mercedes to a record six consecutive teams' titles and, for Hamilton, five drivers' wins since they joined in 2013.
"Where we stand today is that everybody has the will to continue," said Wolff.
"With Lewis and I, it is simply that we are living like hermits and, I think, our team is particularly disciplined.
"I hope we can finish the next couple of races on a high and then concentrate on the contract."
- 'Here next year' -
Hamilton, 35, whose win total represents more than five seasons of unbroken victories, told Sky Sports he could still improve.
"I don't think I'm at my peak. I'm in a good area for sure, but I still want to continue to race. I don't know how much longer that will be – this is a period of time when I've got to work out what the future holds.
"All I can say is I plan to be here next year."
Hamilton's commitment to Mercedes will be greeted warmly by the team, fans of his driving and his sport.
"His achievement is just phenomenal," said Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin.
"He doesn’t show any signs of giving up or slowing down either. So, I suspect he's going to go on and hit some more milestones, but it's just a phenomenal achievement."
Negotiations between Hamilton and Wolff may this year by affected by the Covid-19 pandemic-hit landscape of global finances, but as the team boss admitted his value to Mercedes is "huge".
He joked Mercedes may have to sell off some factories to afford to keep him, but knows too that as Kaellenius has hinted Hamilton and the 'silver arrows' are vital to their future success.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--Meet 'K.K.B', youngest contender in Ivory Coast's presidential elections

Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara will be running for his third term when the West African nation votes on October @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s bid is unconstitutional , and has called for a boycott .
@ @ @ @ @ candidate Kouadio Konan Bertin .

Meet 'K.K.B', youngest contender in Ivory Coast's presidential elections
01:43
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara will be running for his third term when the West African nation votes on October 31. The opposition says the president’s bid is unconstitutional, and has called for a boycott. FRANCE 24 spoke with independent candidate Kouadio Konan Bertin.


france24--2020-10-26--Belarus opposition leader says supporters launching strike

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said Monday supporters were beginning a nationwide strike after her deadline expired for strongman Alexander Lukashenko to step down .
`` Today the People 's Strike is beginning , '' Tikhanovskaya said on her Telegram channel .
`` Employees of state factories and enterprises , transport workers and miners , teachers and students have gone on strike since this morning . ''
All major stores and pharmacies were open in the capital Minsk on Monday morning but some small business were shuttered , an AFP reporter said .
Tikhanovskaya had given Lukashenko until Sunday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and release political prisoners , warning he would otherwise face a general strike from Monday .
The 66-year-old Lukashenko , who the opposition accuses of stealing August polls , ignored the ultimatum and police cracked down on the latest of a series of opposition protests on Sunday .
Several thousand pensioners and students took to the streets of Minsk on Monday to back the workers , an AFP reporter said .
Tikhanovskaya also called on employees at private businesses , clergy and athletes to join in with the strike .
The 38-year-old opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the August 9 election and is now based in EU member Lithuania , did not provide any figures on the number of people participating .
Independent reporting inside Belarus has been curtailed and it was not possible to immediately estimate the scale of the industrial action .
Citing witnesses , Onliner , a local news outlet , said that police deployed patrol vans and other vehicles outside major plants including the Grodno Azot chemical plant , the Minsk Automobile Plant and Minsk Tractor Works .
Rights group Viasna said more than 100 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities on Monday .
Elena Velichko , who works in the beauty industry , said she did not go to work on Monday in support of the strike .
`` There are thousands of people like me , '' the 43-year-old told AFP near a Minsk department store where more than a dozen protesters had formed a human chain .
Natalya Bezrukova , 54 , said she and several co-workers also went on strike from their jobs at a state construction company .
`` We are against the Lukashenko regime ... We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repression .
We want to live in a free democratic country , '' she said .
Authorities denied the strike call was being followed , with government spokeswoman Alexandra Isaeva saying that on Monday morning all companies were `` operating in routine mode '' .
Alexander Yaroshuk , the head of the Belarusian Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions , said he was aware that some unions and individual workers were ready to strike .
`` But it 's hard to predict just how far people will go given the authorities ' massive pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-Soviet nation has been gripped by historic protests after Lukashenko claimed victory in the election over Tikhanovskaya , a political newcomer , who ran after her blogger husband was jailed and prevented from joining the race .
The protest movement has kept up a series of large-scale demonstrations for the past two months , with tens of thousands taking to the streets every Sunday .
More than 500 people were detained at protests in Minsk and other cities on Sunday , the interior ministry said .
Several people have died and thousands were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harrowing accounts emerging of abuse in jails .

Minsk (AFP) –
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Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said Monday supporters were beginning a nationwide strike after her deadline expired for strongman Alexander Lukashenko to step down.
"Today the People's Strike is beginning," Tikhanovskaya said on her Telegram channel.
"Employees of state factories and enterprises, transport workers and miners, teachers and students have gone on strike since this morning."
All major stores and pharmacies were open in the capital Minsk on Monday morning but some small business were shuttered, an AFP reporter said.
Tikhanovskaya had given Lukashenko until Sunday to quit power, halt violence against protesters and release political prisoners, warning he would otherwise face a general strike from Monday.
The 66-year-old Lukashenko, who the opposition accuses of stealing August polls, ignored the ultimatum and police cracked down on the latest of a series of opposition protests on Sunday.
Several thousand pensioners and students took to the streets of Minsk on Monday to back the workers, an AFP reporter said.
Tikhanovskaya also called on employees at private businesses, clergy and athletes to join in with the strike.
The 38-year-old opposition figure, who claims to have won the August 9 election and is now based in EU member Lithuania, did not provide any figures on the number of people participating.
Independent reporting inside Belarus has been curtailed and it was not possible to immediately estimate the scale of the industrial action.
Citing witnesses, Onliner, a local news outlet, said that police deployed patrol vans and other vehicles outside major plants including the Grodno Azot chemical plant, the Minsk Automobile Plant and Minsk Tractor Works.
Rights group Viasna said more than 100 people had been detained in Minsk and other cities on Monday.
- 'Thousands like me' -
Elena Velichko, who works in the beauty industry, said she did not go to work on Monday in support of the strike.
"There are thousands of people like me," the 43-year-old told AFP near a Minsk department store where more than a dozen protesters had formed a human chain.
Natalya Bezrukova, 54, said she and several co-workers also went on strike from their jobs at a state construction company.
"We are against the Lukashenko regime... We don't need any deaths or murders or repression. We want to live in a free democratic country," she said.
Authorities denied the strike call was being followed, with government spokeswoman Alexandra Isaeva saying that on Monday morning all companies were "operating in routine mode".
Alexander Yaroshuk, the head of the Belarusian Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions, said he was aware that some unions and individual workers were ready to strike.
"But it's hard to predict just how far people will go given the authorities' massive pressure," Yaroshuk told AFP.
The ex-Soviet nation has been gripped by historic protests after Lukashenko claimed victory in the election over Tikhanovskaya, a political newcomer, who ran after her blogger husband was jailed and prevented from joining the race.
The protest movement has kept up a series of large-scale demonstrations for the past two months, with tens of thousands taking to the streets every Sunday.
More than 500 people were detained at protests in Minsk and other cities on Sunday, the interior ministry said.
Several people have died and thousands were arrested in a post-election crackdown, with harrowing accounts emerging of abuse in jails.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-26--Pakistan opens first metro line after years of delays

It is hoped that the `` Orange Line '' will cut travel times across the perennially congested city Pakistan 's first metro line began operations Monday in the eastern city of Lahore following years of delays , in a country severely lacking public transport or modern infrastructure .
Stretching 27 kilometres and dotted with more than two dozen stations , the Chinese-backed `` Orange Line '' will cut travel time across the perennially congested city in Punjab province from two-and-a-half hours by bus to 45 minutes on the metro .
`` This project will provide world-class facilities to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister Usman Buzdar said during an inauguration ceremony Sunday .
The line 's opening follows years of delays , political controversies , and growing questions about the massive amount of debt Pakistan has taken on in recent years through Chinese-financed infrastructure projects .
The metro cost approximately 300 billion rupees ( $ 1.8 billion ) .
Critics have also blasted the project for endangering numerous historical sites across Lahore .
Despite the delays and controversies , authorities are hopeful the new line will reduce traffic congestion in the city of more than 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cars or buses daily due to grinding traffic .
Officials expect about 250,000 people will be able to travel on the metro system daily .
Much of Pakistan suffers from poor public transport infrastructure making daily commutes in urban areas difficult and costly for many low-wage workers .
Beijing has been steadily pouring cash into Pakistan , investing more than $ 50 billion as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ) that has upgraded infrastructure , power and transport links across the country .
Chinese news agency Xinhua praised the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it the beginning of `` a new stage for the South Asian country in the public transportation sector '' .

Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) –
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Pakistan's first metro line began operations Monday in the eastern city of Lahore following years of delays, in a country severely lacking public transport or modern infrastructure.
Stretching 27 kilometres and dotted with more than two dozen stations, the Chinese-backed "Orange Line" will cut travel time across the perennially congested city in Punjab province from two-and-a-half hours by bus to 45 minutes on the metro.
"This project will provide world-class facilities to the public in Lahore," Punjab's chief minister Usman Buzdar said during an inauguration ceremony Sunday.
The line's opening follows years of delays, political controversies, and growing questions about the massive amount of debt Pakistan has taken on in recent years through Chinese-financed infrastructure projects.
The metro cost approximately 300 billion rupees ($1.8 billion). Critics have also blasted the project for endangering numerous historical sites across Lahore.
Despite the delays and controversies, authorities are hopeful the new line will reduce traffic congestion in the city of more than 11 million, where commuters frequently spend hours in cars or buses daily due to grinding traffic.
Officials expect about 250,000 people will be able to travel on the metro system daily. Much of Pakistan suffers from poor public transport infrastructure making daily commutes in urban areas difficult and costly for many low-wage workers.
Beijing has been steadily pouring cash into Pakistan, investing more than $50 billion as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that has upgraded infrastructure, power and transport links across the country.
Chinese news agency Xinhua praised the opening of the metro line, calling it the beginning of "a new stage for the South Asian country in the public transportation sector".
© 2020 AFP