france24--2020-11-01--Govt says new English lockdown could last longer than month

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces that England has to go back into coronavirus lockdown as cases surge A new four-week coronavirus lockdown in England will be extended if it fails to reduce infection rates , the government said Sunday , as it faced criticism over the abrupt decision to shut down again .
The second national lockdown , hastily announced late Saturday following warnings hospitals could be overwhelmed within weeks , is set to come into force from Thursday and end on December 2 .
But senior minister Michael Gove said the government would maintain the stringent measures if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people one person with the virus is likely to infect -- remained above one .
`` With a virus this malignant , and with its capacity to move so quickly , it would be foolish to predict with absolute certainty what will happen in four weeks ' time , '' he told Sky News .
`` And so therefore of course we will review what requires to be done but we have a clear plan over the next four-week ( period ) , '' he added .
Under the new rules unveiled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at home except in cases where exemptions apply , such as for work , education or exercise .
In contrast to the months-long UK-wide lockdown earlier this year , schools , colleges and universities will remain open .
But pubs and restaurants will shut unless serving takeaway food , while all leisure and entertainment venues and non-essential shops will close .
The ramped-up response came as Britain surpassed one million cases , after announcing nearly 22,000 new infections Saturday .
The government 's scientific advisors have warned Covid-19 's prevalence , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster than their most dire predictions .
They cautioned that under the current trajectory , intensive care units and ventilator capacity could be overwhelmed by early December while winter deaths could be double the current toll .
Britain is already among the hardest-hit countries in Europe , with total Covid-19 related deaths nearing 47,000 , after another 326 fatalities were announced .
Some European neighbours and the devolved governments in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland have already re-imposed partial lockdowns to try to cut their surging virus rates .
Last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Emergencies ( SAGE ) recommended a two-week national `` circuit-breaker '' lockdown over the half-term school holidays this past week .
But Johnson , who is responsible for health policy in England only , resisted the move , opting to persevere with a system of localised restrictions .
Keir Starmer , the leader of the main opposition Labour party who last month backed the circuit-breaker , said the delay meant the lockdown would now be longer and harder on people .
`` The government was too slow in the first phase of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too slow again , '' he told the BBC .
Starmer called on ministers to improve the faltering contact tracing system to ensure the shutdown ends early next month .
`` There will be no effective exit on the second of December unless the government uses this time to fix test , trace and isolate , '' he added .
SAGE member Jeremy Farrar said the government may need to consider closing schools , amid evidence the virus is surging amongst secondary school students .
He added ministers may be forced to extend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would be ... much better to do that than remove these restrictions and then have to re-impose even more draconian restrictions around Christmas or into the new year , '' he told the BBC .
Business groups have reacted wearily to the news of another lockdown .
Johnson announced a one-month extension of the government 's financial support scheme to help firms pay furloughed employees .
But the City of London Corporation 's Catherine McGuinness said households and companies will need `` additional support '' to help them through `` a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CEO of the Night Time Industries Association , which lobbies for the entertainment and hospitality sector , said it left these businesses facing `` financial Armageddon '' .
`` We are still being given limited communication , consultation or time to respond , or plan around these decisions , '' he added .

London (AFP) –
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A new four-week coronavirus lockdown in England will be extended if it fails to reduce infection rates, the government said Sunday, as it faced criticism over the abrupt decision to shut down again.
The second national lockdown, hastily announced late Saturday following warnings hospitals could be overwhelmed within weeks, is set to come into force from Thursday and end on December 2.
But senior minister Michael Gove said the government would maintain the stringent measures if the R rate -- the number of people one person with the virus is likely to infect -- remained above one.
"With a virus this malignant, and with its capacity to move so quickly, it would be foolish to predict with absolute certainty what will happen in four weeks' time," he told Sky News.
"And so therefore of course we will review what requires to be done but we have a clear plan over the next four-week (period)," he added.
Under the new rules unveiled by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, people must stay at home except in cases where exemptions apply, such as for work, education or exercise.
In contrast to the months-long UK-wide lockdown earlier this year, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.
But pubs and restaurants will shut unless serving takeaway food, while all leisure and entertainment venues and non-essential shops will close.
- 'Too slow' -
The ramped-up response came as Britain surpassed one million cases, after announcing nearly 22,000 new infections Saturday.
The government's scientific advisors have warned Covid-19's prevalence, and resulting hospitalisations and deaths, are rising faster than their most dire predictions.
They cautioned that under the current trajectory, intensive care units and ventilator capacity could be overwhelmed by early December while winter deaths could be double the current toll.
Britain is already among the hardest-hit countries in Europe, with total Covid-19 related deaths nearing 47,000, after another 326 fatalities were announced.
Some European neighbours and the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already re-imposed partial lockdowns to try to cut their surging virus rates.
Last month, the UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) recommended a two-week national "circuit-breaker" lockdown over the half-term school holidays this past week.
But Johnson, who is responsible for health policy in England only, resisted the move, opting to persevere with a system of localised restrictions.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the main opposition Labour party who last month backed the circuit-breaker, said the delay meant the lockdown would now be longer and harder on people.
"The government was too slow in the first phase of the pandemic and now it's been too slow again," he told the BBC.
Starmer called on ministers to improve the faltering contact tracing system to ensure the shutdown ends early next month.
"There will be no effective exit on the second of December unless the government uses this time to fix test, trace and isolate," he added.
- 'Financial Armageddon' -
SAGE member Jeremy Farrar said the government may need to consider closing schools, amid evidence the virus is surging amongst secondary school students.
He added ministers may be forced to extend the lockdown beyond four weeks.
"It would be... much better to do that than remove these restrictions and then have to re-impose even more draconian restrictions around Christmas or into the new year," he told the BBC.
Business groups have reacted wearily to the news of another lockdown.
Johnson announced a one-month extension of the government's financial support scheme to help firms pay furloughed employees.
But the City of London Corporation's Catherine McGuinness said households and companies will need "additional support" to help them through "a long and difficult winter".
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, which lobbies for the entertainment and hospitality sector, said it left these businesses facing "financial Armageddon".
"We are still being given limited communication, consultation or time to respond, or plan around these decisions," he added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Coronavirus shutdown a 'slap' for German cultural world

Opera houses across Germany have to close down again As curtains were about to close at the renown Bavarian State Opera house , baritone Michael Nagy was unable to hide his tears over the imminent coronavirus shutdown ordered by the German government to fight surging infections .
It is `` a slap '' , said the 43-year-old of the tough curbs hitting the leisure , cultural and food and drink sectors from Monday until the end of November .
The pill was particularly bitter to swallow for the Munich-based opera , which had been holding performances in the cavernous concert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month -- and where no coronavirus infections had been detected .
Director Nikolaus Bachler 69 , said he did not understand why public transport and shops were able to keep going while the opera had to close .
`` We have a disciplined public .
It is possible to master the risks .
It 's not an adequate decision , '' he told AFP .
His disappointment has been shared by colleagues in the entertainment sector .
In an open letter , German actors , singers and humourists said : `` These last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are worth less than cars , planes or footballers . ''
Europe 's biggest economy coped relatively well with the first coronavirus wave earlier in the year but numbers have risen rapidly in recent weeks , in step with the rest of the continent .
With infection rates hitting new 24-hour records almost daily over the past week , the government has decided that leisure , cultural and food and drink sectors must be shut to halt the surge in contagion .
From Monday , theatres , cinema , s swimming pools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shops can stay open .
And professional sports can keep going , but only behind closed doors .
Industries hit by the curbs have hit out at what they feel is uneven treatment .
In a video that went viral , German jazz trumpeter Till Broenner said he was `` angry '' about the lack of support for the cultural sector .
Restrictions over the last months have put the livelihoods of 1.5 million people at risk , he said , noting that the culture and entertainment sector generates 130 billion euros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artistes take the virus very seriously and back all measures necessary to fight it .
But he noted that the past month of shows without contagion had shown that shutting operas down completely might not be necessary .
For him , it was `` a great opportunity '' to have been able to perform the premiere hours before the new shutdown .
As one of the Bavarian State Opera 's final shows before the new curbs , the 50-strong audience clapped with all their might , cheered at the top of their voices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on the red cushioned seats in the hall with elegant balconies that usually seats up to 2,100 , spectators were cheering the premiere of the opera `` The Birds '' by Walter Braunfels .
`` It 's completely depressing and painful to be sitting here in a hall that 's so empty , '' said Jan Brachmann , 48 , with a bow-tie around his neck and a surgical mask covering his nose and mouth .
The opera afficionado said he wanted however to be at the premiere , out of respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .

Munich (Germany) (AFP) –
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As curtains were about to close at the renown Bavarian State Opera house, baritone Michael Nagy was unable to hide his tears over the imminent coronavirus shutdown ordered by the German government to fight surging infections.
It is "a slap", said the 43-year-old of the tough curbs hitting the leisure, cultural and food and drink sectors from Monday until the end of November.
The pill was particularly bitter to swallow for the Munich-based opera, which had been holding performances in the cavernous concert hall for 500 spectators over the past month -- and where no coronavirus infections had been detected.
Director Nikolaus Bachler 69, said he did not understand why public transport and shops were able to keep going while the opera had to close.
"We have a disciplined public. It is possible to master the risks. It's not an adequate decision," he told AFP.
His disappointment has been shared by colleagues in the entertainment sector.
In an open letter, German actors, singers and humourists said: "These last months, we have the impression that we are worth less than cars, planes or footballers."
- 'Angry' -
Europe's biggest economy coped relatively well with the first coronavirus wave earlier in the year but numbers have risen rapidly in recent weeks, in step with the rest of the continent.
With infection rates hitting new 24-hour records almost daily over the past week, the government has decided that leisure, cultural and food and drink sectors must be shut to halt the surge in contagion.
From Monday, theatres, cinema,s swimming pools, and bars must shut.
Schools and shops can stay open. And professional sports can keep going, but only behind closed doors.
Industries hit by the curbs have hit out at what they feel is uneven treatment.
In a video that went viral, German jazz trumpeter Till Broenner said he was "angry" about the lack of support for the cultural sector.
Restrictions over the last months have put the livelihoods of 1.5 million people at risk, he said, noting that the culture and entertainment sector generates 130 billion euros in revenues.
- 'Depressing' -
Baritone Nagy stressed the artistes take the virus very seriously and back all measures necessary to fight it.
But he noted that the past month of shows without contagion had shown that shutting operas down completely might not be necessary.
For him, it was "a great opportunity" to have been able to perform the premiere hours before the new shutdown.
As one of the Bavarian State Opera's final shows before the new curbs, the 50-strong audience clapped with all their might, cheered at the top of their voices and stamped their feet repeatedly.
Spread out on the red cushioned seats in the hall with elegant balconies that usually seats up to 2,100, spectators were cheering the premiere of the opera "The Birds" by Walter Braunfels.
"It's completely depressing and painful to be sitting here in a hall that's so empty," said Jan Brachmann, 48, with a bow-tie around his neck and a surgical mask covering his nose and mouth.
The opera afficionado said he wanted however to be at the premiere, out of respect "for the artistes who prepared it".
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Five-wicket Iftikhar helps Pakistan bowl Zimbabwe for 206

Iftikhar Ahmed ( right ) celebrates with captain Babar Azam after taking the wicket of Wesley Madhevere Off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed took a maiden five-wicket haul as Pakistan skittled Zimbabwe for 206 in the second day-night international in Rawalpindi on Sunday .
The 30-year-old finished with 5-40 as Zimbabwe -- who won the toss and opted to bat -- lost their way from a well-set 3-120 after the halfway mark and were bowled out in 45.1 overs .
Left-hander Sean Williams , who top-scored with a 70-ball 75 and Brendan Taylor ( 36 ) were repairing the innings from 59-3 during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck .
Ahmed , who had only one wicket from his previous five ODIs , had Taylor caught off a miscued sweep at the boundary to start the slide , which saw tourists lose their last seven wickets for 86 runs .
Taylor , who made a fighting 112 in Zimbabwe 's 26-run defeat in the first match here on Friday , hit two sixes and three boundaries in his 45-ball knock .
Ahmed then removed Wesley Madhevere ( 10 ) , Sikandar Raza ( two ) and Tendai Chisoro ( seven ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Williams , who completed his 32nd 50 off 47 balls , holed out to Ahmed at long-off , to end his lone fight .
He smashed 10 boundaries and a six .
The three-match series is part of the One-Day Super League , the first qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup .
Pakistan handed ODI debuts to batsman Haider Ali and paceman Musa Khan in two changes from the first game while Zimbabwe kept an unchanged eleven .

Rawalpindi (Pakistan) (AFP) –
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Off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed took a maiden five-wicket haul as Pakistan skittled Zimbabwe for 206 in the second day-night international in Rawalpindi on Sunday.
The 30-year-old finished with 5-40 as Zimbabwe -- who won the toss and opted to bat -- lost their way from a well-set 3-120 after the halfway mark and were bowled out in 45.1 overs.
Left-hander Sean Williams, who top-scored with a 70-ball 75 and Brendan Taylor (36) were repairing the innings from 59-3 during a fourth-wicket stand of 61 before Ahmed struck.
Ahmed, who had only one wicket from his previous five ODIs, had Taylor caught off a miscued sweep at the boundary to start the slide, which saw tourists lose their last seven wickets for 86 runs.
Taylor, who made a fighting 112 in Zimbabwe's 26-run defeat in the first match here on Friday, hit two sixes and three boundaries in his 45-ball knock.
Ahmed then removed Wesley Madhevere (10), Sikandar Raza (two) and Tendai Chisoro (seven) to leave Zimbabwe struggling at 150-7.
Williams, who completed his 32nd 50 off 47 balls, holed out to Ahmed at long-off, to end his lone fight. He smashed 10 boundaries and a six.
The three-match series is part of the One-Day Super League, the first qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup.
Pakistan handed ODI debuts to batsman Haider Ali and paceman Musa Khan in two changes from the first game while Zimbabwe kept an unchanged eleven.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--France makes new arrests over Nice church attack

People have left tributes to the victims of the Nice attack outside the church French police have made two new arrests in the probe into an attack on a church in the southern city of Nice that left three dead , as authorities seek to understand the profile of the suspected killer , judicial sources said on Sunday .
Authorities are now holding a total of six people for questioning to understand if they were linked to Tunisian Brahim Issaoui , who prosecutors say carried out the knife rampage early Thursday morning in the Notre-Dame Basilica .
It so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the attack , which French President Emmanuel Macron has described as an act of `` Islamist '' terror and was the latest of a string of attacks in recent weeks in France .
The latest people to be detained are aged 25 and 63 and were arrested on Saturday at the residence of an individual detained earlier in the day , a judicial source told AFP , asking not to be named .
Three others detained earlier over suspected links to Issaoui remain in custody .
Issaoui was shot by police multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition in hospital .
Investigators have been unable to question him and his precise motivations remain unclear .
`` It is still too early to say if there were others complicit , what his motivations were in coming to France and when this idea took root in him , '' another source close to the inquiry who asked not to be named said Saturday .
The source said information from two telephones belonging to him and also an investigation being undertaken by the Tunisian authorities would be decisive in the probe .
Investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy 's Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on September 20 .
He arrived at the mainland Italian port of Bari on October 9 before coming to Nice just two days before the attack .
France is on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the Charlie Hebdo weekly , which was followed by an attack outside its former offices , the beheading of a teacher and now the attack in Nice .
On Saturday , an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the French city of Lyon .
Nikolaos Kakavelaki , 52 , was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital , said a police source who asked not to be named .
The attacker fled the scene but Lyon 's public prosecutor later announced that a suspect had been arrested while adding that the motivation for the attack was not clear .

Paris (AFP) –
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French police have made two new arrests in the probe into an attack on a church in the southern city of Nice that left three dead, as authorities seek to understand the profile of the suspected killer, judicial sources said on Sunday.
Authorities are now holding a total of six people for questioning to understand if they were linked to Tunisian Brahim Issaoui, who prosecutors say carried out the knife rampage early Thursday morning in the Notre-Dame Basilica.
It so far remains unclear if he had outside help for the attack, which French President Emmanuel Macron has described as an act of "Islamist" terror and was the latest of a string of attacks in recent weeks in France.
The latest people to be detained are aged 25 and 63 and were arrested on Saturday at the residence of an individual detained earlier in the day, a judicial source told AFP, asking not to be named.
Three others detained earlier over suspected links to Issaoui remain in custody.
Issaoui was shot by police multiple times and is currently in a serious condition in hospital. Investigators have been unable to question him and his precise motivations remain unclear.
"It is still too early to say if there were others complicit, what his motivations were in coming to France and when this idea took root in him," another source close to the inquiry who asked not to be named said Saturday.
The source said information from two telephones belonging to him and also an investigation being undertaken by the Tunisian authorities would be decisive in the probe.
Investigators believe Issaoui travelled illegally to Europe via Italy's Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on September 20.
He arrived at the mainland Italian port of Bari on October 9 before coming to Nice just two days before the attack.
France is on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which was followed by an attack outside its former offices, the beheading of a teacher and now the attack in Nice.
On Saturday, an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon.
Nikolaos Kakavelaki, 52, was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital, said a police source who asked not to be named.
The attacker fled the scene but Lyon's public prosecutor later announced that a suspect had been arrested while adding that the motivation for the attack was not clear.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Agen to pay the price for 'intolerable' 71-5 thrashing

French Top 14 side Agen 's president has lambasted his players after Saturday 's 71-5 capitulation to Bordeaux-Begles , threatening fines as punishment for the `` intolerable '' performance which left the side 's captain in tears .
Jean-Francois Fonteneau vented his displeasure on Twitter after his outfit 's seventh consecutive loss which leaves them adrift and relegation-bound at the foot of the table .
`` I was scandalised by the players ' attitude .
I 'm considering punishing the team financially , '' Fonteneau wrote .
`` It 's intolerable that the team shows no respect as our sponsors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxious time , '' added the Agen boss who estimates each home match held behind closed doors in the latest coronavirus lockdown is costing the club 500,000 euros ( $ 583,874 ) .
Agen 's manager Christophe Laussucq , reportedly unde pressure , was almost lost for words after their heaviest ever defeat to the side who led the table before last season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic .
`` I 've got nothing to say about our pathetic performance .
I 'm sorry for everyone who supports us and do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nothingness of this evening . ''
A tearful Agen captain Romain Briatte told Canal+ : `` We are really in a rough patch . ''
Agen , with just one bonus point to their name , are at home for their next two games against fourth-placed Lyon and Eben Etzebeth 's Toulon .

Toulouse (France) (AFP) –
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French Top 14 side Agen's president has lambasted his players after Saturday's 71-5 capitulation to Bordeaux-Begles, threatening fines as punishment for the "intolerable" performance which left the side's captain in tears.
Jean-Francois Fonteneau vented his displeasure on Twitter after his outfit's seventh consecutive loss which leaves them adrift and relegation-bound at the foot of the table.
"I was scandalised by the players' attitude. I'm considering punishing the team financially," Fonteneau wrote.
"It's intolerable that the team shows no respect as our sponsors and fans support us economically during this anxious time," added the Agen boss who estimates each home match held behind closed doors in the latest coronavirus lockdown is costing the club 500,000 euros ($583,874).
Agen's manager Christophe Laussucq, reportedly unde pressure, was almost lost for words after their heaviest ever defeat to the side who led the table before last season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I've got nothing to say about our pathetic performance. I'm sorry for everyone who supports us and don't have any reaction to give on the nothingness of this evening."
A tearful Agen captain Romain Briatte told Canal+: "We are really in a rough patch."
Agen, with just one bonus point to their name, are at home for their next two games against fourth-placed Lyon and Eben Etzebeth's Toulon.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--French police say six people now in custody over deadly church stabbing in Nice

Municipal policemen stand guard outside the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice , France on October 30 , 2020 .
Two more men were arrested in connection with a knife attack that left three dead at a church in Nice , bringing the number of people in custody to six as investigators look at the suspected assailant 's last known contacts , a French police source said .
The latest arrests took place on Saturday , the source said .
An assailant shouting `` Allahu Akbar '' ( God is Greatest ) beheaded a woman and killed two other people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France 's second deadly knife attack in two weeks with a suspected Islamist motive .
The suspected attacker , a 21-year-old from Tunisia , was shot by police and is now in critical condition in a hospital .
The latest arrests in the case involved two men from the town of Grasse , near the southern French coast close to Nice , BFM TV reported .
> > A day after the fatal church attack in Nice , here 's what we know so far France 's chief anti-terrorism prosecutor has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nice attack had arrived in Europe on Sept. 20 in Lampedusa , the Italian island off Tunisia .
Investigators in Italy are also stepping up enquiries about the suspected assailant 's movements and contacts on the island of Sicily .
They believe he may have spent time there after going from Lampedusa to Bari in early October on a ship used to quarantine migrants , judicial sources said .
In Bari , he is believed to have been handed an expulsion order obliging him to leave Italy within a week , the judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the possibility the suspected attacker stayed in the Sicilian town of Alcamo for a 10 day period , the sources added .

Two more men were arrested in connection with a knife attack that left three dead at a church in Nice, bringing the number of people in custody to six as investigators look at the suspected assailant's last known contacts, a French police source said.
Municipal policemen stand guard outside the Basilica of Notre-Dame in Nice, France on October 30, 2020.
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The latest arrests took place on Saturday, the source said.
An assailant shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) beheaded a woman and killed two other people in a church in Nice on Thursday, in France's second deadly knife attack in two weeks with a suspected Islamist motive.
The suspected attacker, a 21-year-old from Tunisia, was shot by police and is now in critical condition in a hospital.
The latest arrests in the case involved two men from the town of Grasse, near the southern French coast close to Nice, BFM TV reported.
>> A day after the fatal church attack in Nice, here's what we know so far
France's chief anti-terrorism prosecutor has said the man suspected of carrying out the Nice attack had arrived in Europe on Sept. 20 in Lampedusa, the Italian island off Tunisia.
Investigators in Italy are also stepping up enquiries about the suspected assailant's movements and contacts on the island of Sicily. They believe he may have spent time there after going from Lampedusa to Bari in early October on a ship used to quarantine migrants, judicial sources said.
In Bari, he is believed to have been handed an expulsion order obliging him to leave Italy within a week, the judicial sources said. Investigators are looking into the possibility the suspected attacker stayed in the Sicilian town of Alcamo for a 10 day period, the sources added.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-01--Clashes in Spain over virus restrictions for second night

In some cities , looting and vandalism broke out on the fringes of the protests Police in Spain made dozens of arrests during clashes with protests for a second consecutive night as demonstrators took to the streets to denounce the new coronavirus restrictions .
In some cities , looting and vandalism broke out on the fringes of the protests .
The biggest disturbances were in Madrid where scores of demonstrators chanting `` freedom ! ''
torched rubbish bins and set up makeshift barricades on the city 's main thoroughfare , the Gran Via , images on social media showed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering , they were pelted with stones and flares .
Twelve people including three police officers were lightly injured in the clashes , emergency services said .
Police said they arrested 32 people .
In Logrono , the capital of the northern wine-producing region of La Rioja , a small group of people burned garbage bins and smashed shop windows .
The trouble broke out following a peaceful protest against the closure of restaurants and bars in the region as part of widening virus restriction in Spain .
Hooded youths wearing face masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armfuls of items in their hand as a security alarm bared , images on local media showed .
`` We earn our living working and in five minutes they destroyed our lives , '' the owner of the shop , Cristina Perez , told a local television station .
Police arrested six people in Logrono , a national police spokeswoman said .
Another ten people were detained in protests held in the northern cities on Bilbao and Santander , she added .
In the southern city of Malaga a small group of demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the unrest .
`` Violent and irrational behaviour by minority groups is intolerable .
It is not the way , '' he tweeted .
`` Only from responsibility , unity and sacrifice will we be able to defeat the pandemic that is devastating all countries . ''
At least 20 police officers were injured on Friday night in clashes with protesters in central Barcelona and 12 were arrested .
Spain last week imposed a nationwide nighttime curfew to try to halt the rise of Covid-19 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have imposed regional border closures to prevent long-distance travel .
Despite the many restrictions imposed in Spain since July , when the number of cases began rising again , infections have spiralled .
The virus has killed more than 35,000 people in Spain and infected more than 1.1 million .

Madrid (AFP) –
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Police in Spain made dozens of arrests during clashes with protests for a second consecutive night as demonstrators took to the streets to denounce the new coronavirus restrictions.
In some cities, looting and vandalism broke out on the fringes of the protests.
The biggest disturbances were in Madrid where scores of demonstrators chanting "freedom!" torched rubbish bins and set up makeshift barricades on the city's main thoroughfare, the Gran Via, images on social media showed.
When police moved in to clear the gathering, they were pelted with stones and flares.
Twelve people including three police officers were lightly injured in the clashes, emergency services said. Police said they arrested 32 people.
In Logrono, the capital of the northern wine-producing region of La Rioja, a small group of people burned garbage bins and smashed shop windows.
The trouble broke out following a peaceful protest against the closure of restaurants and bars in the region as part of widening virus restriction in Spain.
Hooded youths wearing face masks ran out of a clothing shop with armfuls of items in their hand as a security alarm bared, images on local media showed.
"We earn our living working and in five minutes they destroyed our lives," the owner of the shop, Cristina Perez, told a local television station.
Police arrested six people in Logrono, a national police spokeswoman said. Another ten people were detained in protests held in the northern cities on Bilbao and Santander, she added.
In the southern city of Malaga a small group of demonstrators overturned rubbish bins and threw bottles at police.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the unrest. "Violent and irrational behaviour by minority groups is intolerable. It is not the way," he tweeted.
"Only from responsibility, unity and sacrifice will we be able to defeat the pandemic that is devastating all countries."
At least 20 police officers were injured on Friday night in clashes with protesters in central Barcelona and 12 were arrested.
Spain last week imposed a nationwide nighttime curfew to try to halt the rise of Covid-19 infections and almost all of Spain's regions have imposed regional border closures to prevent long-distance travel.
Despite the many restrictions imposed in Spain since July, when the number of cases began rising again, infections have spiralled. The virus has killed more than 35,000 people in Spain and infected more than 1.1 million.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Rescue workers keep searching for survivors as death toll rises after Aegean earthquake

Members of rescue services search in the debris of a collapsed building for survivors in Izmir , Turkey on November 1 , 2020 .
Rescue workers extricated a 70-year-old man from a collapsed building in western Turkey on Sunday , some 34 hours after a strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea struck Turkey and Greece , killing at least 53 people and injuring more than 900 .
It was the latest in a series of remarkable rescues after the Friday afternoon earthquake , which was centered in the Aegean northeast of the Greek island of Samos .
Search-and-rescue teams were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish city of Izmir as day broke .
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay raised the death toll in Izmir , the country 's third-largest city , to 51 as rescuers pulled more bodies out of toppled buildings .
Two teenagers were killed Friday on Samos and at least 19 others were injured .
There was some debate over the magnitude of the earthquake .
The U.S. Geological Survey rated it 7.0 , while Istanbul 's Kandilli Institute put it at 6.9 and Turkey ’ s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency ( AFAD ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered a small tsunami in the Seferihisar district of Izmir , drowning one elderly woman , and on Samos .
The tremors were felt across western Turkey , including in Istanbul , as well as in the Greek capital of Athens .
Hundreds of aftershocks followed .
Turkey ’ s disaster agency said nearly 900 people were injured in Turkey alone .
Ahmet Citim , 70 , was pulled out from the rubble shortly after midnight Sunday and was hospitalized .
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted that he said : “ I never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still buried Turkey has a mix of older buildings and lightly regulated cheap new construction , which can lead to serious damage and deaths when earthquakes hit .
The vice president said 26 badly damaged buildings would be demolished .
“ It ’ s not the earthquake that kills but buildings , ” Oktay said , repeating a common slogan .
AFAD said more than 5,700 personnel had been activated for rescue work and hundreds of others for food distribution , emergency help and building damage control .
It was unclear how many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish media reported three more people were pulled out Sunday from one collapsed apartment building but their conditions were not known .
Dogs , cats and rabbits have also been rescued from the debris .
Turkey is criss-crossed by fault lines and is prone to earthquakes .
In 1999 , two powerful quakes killed some 18,000 people in northwestern Turkey .
Earthquakes are frequent in Greece as well .
In a rare show of unity amid months of tense bilateral relations , Greek and Turkish government officials issued mutual messages of solidarity over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Turkey was already struggling with an economic downturn and the coronavirus pandemic .
So far , more than 10,000 people with the virus have died in Turkey , and some experts have accused the government of concealing the true impact of the virus with the way it counts cases .

Rescue workers extricated a 70-year-old man from a collapsed building in western Turkey on Sunday, some 34 hours after a strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea struck Turkey and Greece, killing at least 75 people and injuring more than 900.
Members of rescue services search in the debris of a collapsed building for survivors in Izmir, Turkey on November 1, 2020.
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It was the latest in a series of remarkable rescues after the Friday afternoon earthquake, which was centered in the Aegean northeast of the Greek island of Samos. Search-and-rescue teams were working in nine buildings Sunday in the Turkish city of Izmir as day broke.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay raised the death toll in Izmir, the country's third-largest city, to 73 as rescuers pulled more bodies out of toppled buildings. Two teenagers were killed Friday on Samos and at least 19 others were injured.
00:51
There was some debate over the magnitude of the earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey rated it 7.0, while Istanbul's Kandilli Institute put it at 6.9 and Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said it measured 6.6.
The quake triggered a small tsunami in the Seferihisar district of Izmir, drowning one elderly woman, and on Samos. The tremors were felt across western Turkey, including in Istanbul, as well as in the Greek capital of Athens. Hundreds of aftershocks followed.
Turkey’s disaster agency said nearly 900 people were injured in Turkey alone.
Ahmet Citim, 70, was pulled out from the rubble shortly after midnight Sunday and was hospitalized. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted that he said: “I never lost my hope.”
Unclear how many still buried
Turkey has a mix of older buildings and lightly regulated cheap new construction, which can lead to serious damage and deaths when earthquakes hit. The vice president said 26 badly damaged buildings would be demolished.
“It’s not the earthquake that kills but buildings,” Oktay said, repeating a common slogan.
AFAD said more than 5,700 personnel had been activated for rescue work and hundreds of others for food distribution, emergency help and building damage control.
It was unclear how many more people remained under the rubble. Turkish media reported three more people were pulled out Sunday from one collapsed apartment building but their conditions were not known.
Dogs, cats and rabbits have also been rescued from the debris.
Turkey is criss-crossed by fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. In 1999, two powerful quakes killed some 18,000 people in northwestern Turkey. Earthquakes are frequent in Greece as well.
In a rare show of unity amid months of tense bilateral relations, Greek and Turkish government officials issued mutual messages of solidarity over the quake toll.
The quake occurred as Turkey was already struggling with an economic downturn and the coronavirus pandemic. So far, more than 10,000 people with the virus have died in Turkey, and some experts have accused the government of concealing the true impact of the virus with the way it counts cases.
(AP)
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france24--2020-11-02--Charlie Hebdo trial further delayed after two more defendants Covid-19 positive

A file court sketch created on October 26 , 2020 shows Ali Riza Polat , who is believed to have been the right-hand man of Amedy Coulibaly , who killed a police officer in January 2015 and the next day shot dead four people at a Jewish supermarket in the Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher jihadist killings .
The trial over the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack has been delayed for at least a week after two more defendants tested positive for coronavirus , the presiding lawyer said .
Fourteen people are on trial accused of having helped the killers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly Charlie Hebdo , a female police officer a day later , and four hostages at a Jewish supermarket .
After primary suspect Ali Riza Polat received a Covid-19 diagnosis over the weekend , the presiding judge ordered all those on trial to be tested .
`` In view of the health protocols in force requiring isolation of both positive and contact cases , the hearing will not be able to resume this week , '' Regis de Jorna said in an email sent Sunday to lawyers involved in the case .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following Polat 's positive diagnosis , with Jorna telling lawyers the court would not sit again until all the results were in .
Two further defendants then tested positive , with two others remaining under supervision despite negative results as they were believed to be `` contact cases '' , according to Jorna 's email .
The results from the other defendants , detained in Fleury-Merogis , are due Monday .
The extended suspension of the hearing will further delay the conclusion of the trial , which opened on September 2 .
Defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 , 9 , 10 and 11 with the verdict expected on 13 .
France returned to lockdown last week in the latest measure to curb a disease that has infected more than 44.5 million people worldwide and killed nearly 1.2 million .

The trial over the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack has been delayed for at least a week after two more defendants tested positive for coronavirus, the presiding lawyer said.
A court sketch created on October 26, 2020 shows Ali Riza Polat, who is suspected of having been the right-hand man of Amedy Coulibaly, who killed a police officer in January 2015 and the next day shot dead four people at a Jewish supermarket in the Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher attacks in France.
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Fourteen people are on trial accused of having helped the killers of 12 victims in the attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, a female police officer a day later, and four hostages at a Jewish supermarket.
After primary suspect Ali Riza Polat received a Covid-19 diagnosis over the weekend, the presiding judge ordered all those on trial to be tested.
"In view of the health protocols in force requiring isolation of both positive and contact cases, the hearing will not be able to resume this week," Regis de Jorna said in an email sent Sunday to lawyers involved in the case.
The trial had already been suspended until Wednesday following Polat's positive diagnosis, with Jorna telling lawyers the court would not sit again until all the results were in.
Two further defendants then tested positive, with two others remaining under supervision despite negative results as they were believed to be "contact cases", according to Jorna's email.
The results from the other defendants, detained in Fleury-Merogis, are due Monday.
The extended suspension of the hearing will further delay the conclusion of the trial, which opened on September 2.
Defence lawyers were scheduled to plead on November 6, 9, 10 and 11 with the verdict expected on the 13.
France returned to lockdown last week in the latest measure to curb a disease that has infected more than 44.5 million people worldwide and killed nearly 1.2 million.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-11-02--Colombia's ex-rebels march in Bogota over murders

Former FARC guerrilla members riding in `` chivas '' ( local transport vehicles ) arrive in Bogota , Colombia to protest the murder of hundreds of ex-combatants Around 2,000 former FARC guerrillas rallied in the Colombian capital Sunday to protest the murder of 236 ex-combatants since signing a 2016 peace agreement .
Members of the former rebel movement turned political party arrived in Bogota after completing a 200-kilometer ( 125 miles ) march from the southern town of Mesetas .
`` We are mobilizing to demand respect for our lives and also for compliance with the peace agreement , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced with what she called a `` genocide against the signatories '' of the 2016 peace agreement that ended a half-century of conflict .
Sandino holds one of 10 Congress seats reserved for FARC under the peace deal , when the bulk of the movement laid down its weapons .
The march began in Mesetas on October 21 , following the killing of two local ex-FARC combatants days before .
Two more ex-rebels were killed on October 24 as the delegation continued towards Bogota , in what Rodrigo Granda , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the party , described as `` a low blow to peace . ''
On Sunday , the ex-rebels marched to Bolivar Square in the historic center of Bogota , converging with two other delegations from the south and north of the country to demand a meeting with right-wing President Ivan Duque .
Duque came to power in 2018 vowing to modify the peace agreement made by his predecessor Juan Manuel Santos , which he considered too lenient on former rebels accused of atrocities .
However , Congress has rejected the move .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and waved banners , including one with the slogan , `` Duque : we did not sign the peace deal to be killed . ''
`` We are asking the president to meet with us so that we can talk about the challenges facing the Colombian state in guaranteeing the safety of its citizens , '' said Pastor Alape , a prominent FARC party leader .
According to the FARC , 236 signatories of the peace deal have been killed since it was signed .
`` There is a state responsibility in these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the killings have been motivated by `` intolerance in the speeches of government officials , and the president of the republic himself . ''
The government says drug-trafficking organizations are behind most of the killings , as they fight a turf war over the production and export of cocaine through Central America to the United States .

Bogota (AFP) –
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Around 2,000 former FARC guerrillas rallied in the Colombian capital Sunday to protest the murder of 236 ex-combatants since signing a 2016 peace agreement.
Members of the former rebel movement turned political party arrived in Bogota after completing a 200-kilometer (125 miles) march from the southern town of Mesetas.
"We are mobilizing to demand respect for our lives and also for compliance with the peace agreement," FARC Senator Victoria Sandino told AFP, faced with what she called a "genocide against the signatories" of the 2016 peace agreement that ended a half-century of conflict.
Sandino holds one of 10 Congress seats reserved for FARC under the peace deal, when the bulk of the movement laid down its weapons.
The march began in Mesetas on October 21, following the killing of two local ex-FARC combatants days before.
Two more ex-rebels were killed on October 24 as the delegation continued towards Bogota, in what Rodrigo Granda, one of the negotiators of the agreement and a leader of the party, described as "a low blow to peace."
- 'State responsibility' -
On Sunday, the ex-rebels marched to Bolivar Square in the historic center of Bogota, converging with two other delegations from the south and north of the country to demand a meeting with right-wing President Ivan Duque.
Duque came to power in 2018 vowing to modify the peace agreement made by his predecessor Juan Manuel Santos, which he considered too lenient on former rebels accused of atrocities.
However, Congress has rejected the move.
The marchers banged drums, blew trumpets and waved banners, including one with the slogan, "Duque: we did not sign the peace deal to be killed."
"We are asking the president to meet with us so that we can talk about the challenges facing the Colombian state in guaranteeing the safety of its citizens," said Pastor Alape, a prominent FARC party leader.
According to the FARC, 236 signatories of the peace deal have been killed since it was signed.
"There is a state responsibility in these crimes," said Alape, adding that the killings have been motivated by "intolerance in the speeches of government officials, and the president of the republic himself."
The government says drug-trafficking organizations are behind most of the killings, as they fight a turf war over the production and export of cocaine through Central America to the United States.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-02--Biden condemns Trump fans allegedly harassing campaign bus

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Sunday denounced the alleged harassment of one of his campaign buses by Donald Trump supporters on a Texas highway , in an incident the FBI confirmed it is investigating .
Video posted on Twitter appears to show multiple trucks waving Trump flags surrounding and slowing the Biden/Harris bus .
Democratic officials said the bus , carrying state congressional candidate Wendy Davis , stopped its journey and canceled two planned events and a news conference , citing `` safety concerns . ''
The president himself tweeted a video of the incident late Saturday , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We 've never had anything like this -- at least we 've never had a president who thinks it 's a good thing , '' Biden told supporters in Philadelphia .
He added that the president 's son , Donald Trump Jr , made a video urging backers to `` keep it up , '' and find where Biden running mate Kamala Harris is and greet her the same way .
`` Folks , that 's not who we are .
We are so much better than this , '' Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told AFP Sunday they were investigating the Texas incident but declined to give further comment .
An SUV belonging to the Democratic caravan was reportedly sideswiped .
No injuries were reported , and it was unclear whether anyone involved was armed .
Meantime , multiple posts on Twitter showed scenes of long traffic backups on New Jersey 's Garden State Parkway reportedly caused by pro-Trump drivers .
The reported incidents came amid high concern about voter suppression or intimidation , and post-election violence .
Amid the continuing fears , Democratic officials in Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were canceling a campaign event after learning that a `` large militia presence is expected '' due to Trump 's planned evening rally in the city of Rome , Georgia .
And during a rally in Michigan , Trump explicitly embraced the action , saying that the Texas protesters were trying to `` protect '' the Biden bus .
`` You see the way our people , you know , they were protecting this bus yesterday , '' he said , adding that the Trump supporters numbered in the `` hundreds . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Texas on Friday by Harris , whose presence was seen to show that Democrats see a chance of flipping the traditionally conservative state .
`` Rather than engage in productive conversation ... Trump supporters in Texas ( Friday ) instead decided to put our staff , surrogates , supporters , and others in harm 's way , '' Tariq Thowfeek , a Texas spokesman for the Biden campaign , told The Texas Tribune .
Local media said the incident occurred on the I-35 highway , southwest of Austin , the state capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Republican chairman , Allen West , as dismissing the incident as `` fake news and propaganda , '' adding , `` Stop bothering me . ''

Washington (AFP) –
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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Sunday denounced the alleged harassment of one of his campaign buses by Donald Trump supporters on a Texas highway, in an incident the FBI confirmed it is investigating.
Video posted on Twitter appears to show multiple trucks waving Trump flags surrounding and slowing the Biden/Harris bus.
Democratic officials said the bus, carrying state congressional candidate Wendy Davis, stopped its journey and canceled two planned events and a news conference, citing "safety concerns."
The president himself tweeted a video of the incident late Saturday, saying, "I LOVE TEXAS."
"We've never had anything like this -- at least we've never had a president who thinks it's a good thing," Biden told supporters in Philadelphia.
He added that the president's son, Donald Trump Jr, made a video urging backers to "keep it up," and find where Biden running mate Kamala Harris is and greet her the same way.
"Folks, that's not who we are. We are so much better than this," Biden said.
The FBI's San Antonio office told AFP Sunday they were investigating the Texas incident but declined to give further comment.
An SUV belonging to the Democratic caravan was reportedly sideswiped. No injuries were reported, and it was unclear whether anyone involved was armed.
Meantime, multiple posts on Twitter showed scenes of long traffic backups on New Jersey's Garden State Parkway reportedly caused by pro-Trump drivers.
The reported incidents came amid high concern about voter suppression or intimidation, and post-election violence.
Amid the continuing fears, Democratic officials in Floyd County, Georgia, said Sunday they were canceling a campaign event after learning that a "large militia presence is expected" due to Trump's planned evening rally in the city of Rome, Georgia.
And during a rally in Michigan, Trump explicitly embraced the action, saying that the Texas protesters were trying to "protect" the Biden bus.
"You see the way our people, you know, they were protecting this bus yesterday," he said, adding that the Trump supporters numbered in the "hundreds."
The bus was separate from a visit to Texas on Friday by Harris, whose presence was seen to show that Democrats see a chance of flipping the traditionally conservative state.
"Rather than engage in productive conversation... Trump supporters in Texas (Friday) instead decided to put our staff, surrogates, supporters, and others in harm's way," Tariq Thowfeek, a Texas spokesman for the Biden campaign, told The Texas Tribune.
Local media said the incident occurred on the I-35 highway, southwest of Austin, the state capital.
The Texas Tribune quoted the state's Republican chairman, Allen West, as dismissing the incident as "fake news and propaganda," adding, "Stop bothering me."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-02--Canada sword attacker kills two in Halloween rampage

Police cars close off a street in Old Quebecafter a sword-wielding attacker dressed in medieval costume killed two people and injured five others The sword-wielding attacker dressed in medieval costume who killed two people and injured five others in a Halloween rampage in Quebec City was `` not associated with a terrorist group , '' Canadian police said Sunday .
The attacks occurred Saturday night in multiple locations in the Old Quebec neighborhood , near the tourist hotspot Chateau Frontenac and the National Assembly , the Quebec provincial parliament .
The suspect , who was arrested early Sunday after an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local media as Carl Girouard , a man with a history of mental health issues from a Montreal suburb .
Police have yet to confirm his identity .
A police spokesman did say the attack appeared premeditated -- the suspect had spoken of carrying out such a crime five years ago -- but added that he had no criminal record .
The suspect made a brief preliminary court appearance by video-link Sunday afternoon ; he was informed that he would face two charges of homicide and five more for attempted homicide .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sainte-Therese , near Montreal , local media also reported .
`` Yesterday evening we were plunged into a night of horror when a 24-year-old man , who does not live in Quebec , came with the intention of claiming as many victims as possible , '' Quebec City police chief Robert Pigeon told reporters .
He said the suspect was armed with a Katana sword , a curved saber of the type once used by Samurai warriors in Japan .
`` Everything leads us to believe that he chose his victims at random @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman identified the two persons killed as 56-year-old Francois Duchesne and 61-year-old Suzanne Clermont .
Four men , ranging in age from 19 to 67 , were wounded , as was a 24-year-old woman .
The police chief said that two of the victims are longtime French residents of Quebec .
Some of the injured suffered `` significant lacerations , '' he said .
Anne Pasquier , a hair stylist neighbor of one of those slain , Clermont , said the woman had n't had time to cross the street Saturday night `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second and decapitated her , '' a detail which has not yet been confirmed by officials .
`` She was lovely .
She had a great sense of humor , '' added Jean-Pierre Ajmo , 82 , a personal friend .
The other fatal victim , Duchesne , was head of communications at the Quebec Fine Arts Museum , according to Jean Rousseau , a city councilor .
`` My heart breaks for the loved ones of the two people killed in last night 's horrific attack in Quebec City , '' Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 'm also wishing a full recovery to the injured . ''
`` All of Quebec is in mourning , '' said Quebec deputy premier Genevieve Guilbault , who denounced the `` barbaric '' acts .
According to three witnesses quoted by Quebec newspaper Le Soleil , the attacker allegedly `` slit the throat '' of his first victim near the Chateau Frontenac hotel , and there was `` a lot of blood . ''
The man then continued on Rue des Remparts , where the second person was killed , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other victims , according to the newspaper .
Quebec resident Karin Lacoste said she was going to a convenience store around 11:00 pm when she saw several armed police officers wearing bulletproof vests .
`` There was one who told me , 'Run to your home because there is someone walking around , he is a killer and he has killed people , ' '' she told LCN news channel .
`` I was really scared . ''
Due to the coronavirus pandemic , the streets of Old Quebec were quiet at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Regis Labeaume called the incident `` terrifying , '' but insisted the city is `` one of the safest in the world . ''
`` It is difficult , nearly impossible , to anticipate the consequences of madness clearly stemming from problems of mental health , '' he added .

Quebec City (AFP) –
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The sword-wielding attacker dressed in medieval costume who killed two people and injured five others in a Halloween rampage in Quebec City was "not associated with a terrorist group," Canadian police said Sunday.
The attacks occurred Saturday night in multiple locations in the Old Quebec neighborhood, near the tourist hotspot Chateau Frontenac and the National Assembly, the Quebec provincial parliament.
The suspect, who was arrested early Sunday after an hours-long street-by-street manhunt, was identified by local media as Carl Girouard, a man with a history of mental health issues from a Montreal suburb. Police have yet to confirm his identity.
A police spokesman did say the attack appeared premeditated -- the suspect had spoken of carrying out such a crime five years ago -- but added that he had no criminal record.
The suspect made a brief preliminary court appearance by video-link Sunday afternoon; he was informed that he would face two charges of homicide and five more for attempted homicide.
A search was conducted of his home in Sainte-Therese, near Montreal, local media also reported.
"Yesterday evening we were plunged into a night of horror when a 24-year-old man, who does not live in Quebec, came with the intention of claiming as many victims as possible," Quebec City police chief Robert Pigeon told reporters.
He said the suspect was armed with a Katana sword, a curved saber of the type once used by Samurai warriors in Japan.
"Everything leads us to believe that he chose his victims at random," Pigeon added.
A police spokesman identified the two persons killed as 56-year-old Francois Duchesne and 61-year-old Suzanne Clermont. Four men, ranging in age from 19 to 67, were wounded, as was a 24-year-old woman.
The police chief said that two of the victims are longtime French residents of Quebec.
Some of the injured suffered "significant lacerations," he said.
Anne Pasquier, a hair stylist neighbor of one of those slain, Clermont, said the woman hadn't had time to cross the street Saturday night "because the suspect had arrived just that second and decapitated her," a detail which has not yet been confirmed by officials.
"She was lovely. She had a great sense of humor," added Jean-Pierre Ajmo, 82, a personal friend.
The other fatal victim, Duchesne, was head of communications at the Quebec Fine Arts Museum, according to Jean Rousseau, a city councilor.
- 'Barbaric' stabbings -
"My heart breaks for the loved ones of the two people killed in last night's horrific attack in Quebec City," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter. "I'm also wishing a full recovery to the injured."
"All of Quebec is in mourning," said Quebec deputy premier Genevieve Guilbault, who denounced the "barbaric" acts.
According to three witnesses quoted by Quebec newspaper Le Soleil, the attacker allegedly "slit the throat" of his first victim near the Chateau Frontenac hotel, and there was "a lot of blood."
The man then continued on Rue des Remparts, where the second person was killed, before heading to the Old Port, wounding the other victims, according to the newspaper.
Quebec resident Karin Lacoste said she was going to a convenience store around 11:00 pm when she saw several armed police officers wearing bulletproof vests.
"There was one who told me, 'Run to your home because there is someone walking around, he is a killer and he has killed people,'" she told LCN news channel. "I was really scared."
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the streets of Old Quebec were quiet at the time of the attacks.
Quebec Mayor Regis Labeaume called the incident "terrifying," but insisted the city is "one of the safest in the world."
"It is difficult, nearly impossible, to anticipate the consequences of madness clearly stemming from problems of mental health," he added.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-02--Bad Romance: Lady Gaga in Twitter feud with Trump campaign

Musician Lady Gaga ( pictured August 2020 during the MTV VMAs ) joked that she was `` GLAD TO BE LIVING RENT FREE '' in US President Donald Trump 's head Music superstar Lady Gaga got into an unlikely Twitter feud Sunday with President Donald Trump 's reelection campaign after they accused her of being anti-fracking .
Democratic challenger Joe Biden announced that Gaga would appear with him Monday evening at a drive-in rally in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , a state crucial to clinching victory on November 3 .
`` Nothing exposes Joe Biden 's disdain for the forgotten working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ant-fracking activist Lady Gaga , '' campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement posted to Twitter .
`` This desperate effort to drum up enthusiasm for his lackluster candidacy is actually a sharp stick in the eye for 600,000 Pennsylvanians who work in the fracking industry , '' Murtaugh said , adding that Biden has `` repeatedly promised left-wing activists '' to end fracking should he take office .
Fracking -- gas and oil extraction from deep underground rock using an injection of water and chemicals -- boomed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , it made the US the world 's biggest oil and gas producer .
But its costs are high : the drilling triggers earthquakes , while research links its air emissions and water contamination to myriad health problems .
It also contributes to global warming when methane leaks out from drilling wells and becomes a highly potent greenhouse gas .
Biden favors prohibiting new fracking on public lands and transitioning the country to renewables , but has said he would not eliminate fracking entirely .
Lady Gaga clapped back at Murtaugh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realDonaldTrump SO HAPPY IM GLAD TO BE LIVING RENT FREE in your HEAD .
# BidenHarris . ''
The Grammy winner attached an image of Murtaugh 's statement , decorated with animated stickers that said `` LOL '' and `` Vote Biden , '' as well as the message , `` Heeeey Donald ... # WINNING ( also , what is a fracking ? )
keep your jobs PA ... We ( heart emoji ) You . ''
Murtaugh thanked Gaga for sharing the statement with her 82 million followers , saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see this . ''
`` Next time @ me , '' he added , referring to Twitter 's method of tagging people in posts .
But there was only love for Gaga in the rest of the comments , where fans jokingly urged her to `` END HIM '' and `` GET HIM QUEEN . ''
Biden currently leads Trump by an average of 4.3 percentage points in Pennsylvania , according to RealClearPolitics , two days before the election .

Washington (AFP) –
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Music superstar Lady Gaga got into an unlikely Twitter feud Sunday with President Donald Trump's reelection campaign after they accused her of being anti-fracking.
Democratic challenger Joe Biden announced that Gaga would appear with him Monday evening at a drive-in rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a state crucial to clinching victory on November 3.
Trump's team responded immediately, slamming the joint appearance.
"Nothing exposes Joe Biden's disdain for the forgotten working men and women of Pennsylvania like campaigning with ant-fracking activist Lady Gaga," campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement posted to Twitter.
"This desperate effort to drum up enthusiasm for his lackluster candidacy is actually a sharp stick in the eye for 600,000 Pennsylvanians who work in the fracking industry," Murtaugh said, adding that Biden has "repeatedly promised left-wing activists" to end fracking should he take office.
Fracking -- gas and oil extraction from deep underground rock using an injection of water and chemicals -- boomed in the mid-2000s thanks to new technology.
By 2014, it made the US the world's biggest oil and gas producer.
But its costs are high: the drilling triggers earthquakes, while research links its air emissions and water contamination to myriad health problems. It also contributes to global warming when methane leaks out from drilling wells and becomes a highly potent greenhouse gas.
Biden favors prohibiting new fracking on public lands and transitioning the country to renewables, but has said he would not eliminate fracking entirely.
Lady Gaga clapped back at Murtaugh, tweeting: "HEY TIM HEY @realDonaldTrump SO HAPPY IM GLAD TO BE LIVING RENT FREE in your HEAD. #BidenHarris."
The Grammy winner attached an image of Murtaugh's statement, decorated with animated stickers that said "LOL" and "Vote Biden," as well as the message, "Heeeey Donald... #WINNING (also, what is a fracking?) keep your jobs PA... We (heart emoji) You."
Murtaugh thanked Gaga for sharing the statement with her 82 million followers, saying he hoped "lots of folks in PA see this."
"Next time @ me," he added, referring to Twitter's method of tagging people in posts.
But there was only love for Gaga in the rest of the comments, where fans jokingly urged her to "END HIM" and "GET HIM QUEEN."
Biden currently leads Trump by an average of 4.3 percentage points in Pennsylvania, according to RealClearPolitics, two days before the election.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Three talking points from the Premier League

Paul Pogba was the villain for Manchester United in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal Manchester United were the big losers as the rest of the Premier League 's major powers restored a semblance of normality after a chaotic start to the season filled with goalfests and upsets .
Liverpool , Manchester City and Tottenham moved up the table with single-goal victories , while big-spending Chelsea are beginning to click into gear as they won 3-0 at Burnley .
United on the other hand are languishing in 15th after failing to win at Old Trafford for a sixth straight league game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 's penalty .
AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the Premier League weekend .
Arsenal 's improvement under Mikel Arteta took another huge step forward with the Gunners ' first away win against a 'big six ' rival in the Premier League for 30 games stretching back to January 2015 .
In nearly a year in charge , Arteta has managed to make Arsenal competitive again when faced with opposition of the calibre of Liverpool , City , Chelsea , United and Tottenham .
City and Chelsea were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cup last season , while Liverpool have won only one of four meetings against Arteta 's Arsenal .
Much more is needed to turn the Londoners back into title contenders as they again showed a struggle to score goals despite dominating large spells of the game at Old Trafford .
Indeed , Aubameyang 's penalty is the only time Arteta 's men have found the net in their past three games .
But the fact they now boast the best defensive record in the league having already played City , Liverpool and United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they are now a far harder side to beat .
`` We knew since the beginning we have to trust the process , '' said Aubameyang .
`` Mikel is bringing something very nice . ''
Gareth Bale has had to bide his time to make an impact in his second spell at Spurs with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min now the established stars for Jose Mourinho 's men .
But the Welshman offered a glimpse of what could be possible if all three can gel as an attacking trio as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner in a 2-1 victory over Brighton .
Spurs are now up to second , just two points adrift of Liverpool .
Had they not conceded last-gasp equalisers to Newcastle and West Ham in their previous two home games , Tottenham could have been top of the table .
They may well head into the November international break there as they travel to struggling West Brom next weekend , while Liverpool face Manchester City .
So much will depend on keeping Bale , Kane and Son fit as all three have had injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of England 's traditional giants showing frailties , there is a golden opportunity for Spurs to target a first league title in 60 years .
After dream starts to the campaign for Everton and Aston Villa have fizzled out , Southampton have stepped forward as the latest side to dream of what could be possible in an unpredictable season .
Ralph Hasenhuttl 's men sum up the unpredictability of the Premier League with just three points separating Tottenham in second from Newcastle in 11th .
Thrashed 5-2 at home by Spurs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening two games , Southampton have stormed back to move fourth thanks to four wins and a thrilling 3-3 draw at Chelsea in their last five games .
After roaring into a 4-0 lead at Aston Villa on Sunday , the Saints were left hanging on for a 4-3 win , but of greater concern for Hasenhuttl was an injury suffered by Danny Ings .
The England international has twice previously suffered cruciate ligament damage in the past .
`` It did n't look good at the time , '' Hasenhuttl said after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee and this is always dangerous and he was immediately shouting , 'my knee , my knee ' .
He will have a scan tomorrow . ''

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Manchester United were the big losers as the rest of the Premier League's major powers restored a semblance of normality after a chaotic start to the season filled with goalfests and upsets.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham moved up the table with single-goal victories, while big-spending Chelsea are beginning to click into gear as they won 3-0 at Burnley.
United on the other hand are languishing in 15th after failing to win at Old Trafford for a sixth straight league game as Arsenal were worthy 1-0 winners thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty.
AFP Sports looks at three talking points from the Premier League weekend.
Arsenal break 'big six' ceiling
Arsenal's improvement under Mikel Arteta took another huge step forward with the Gunners' first away win against a 'big six' rival in the Premier League for 30 games stretching back to January 2015.
In nearly a year in charge, Arteta has managed to make Arsenal competitive again when faced with opposition of the calibre of Liverpool, City, Chelsea, United and Tottenham.
City and Chelsea were beaten en route to winning the FA Cup last season, while Liverpool have won only one of four meetings against Arteta's Arsenal.
Much more is needed to turn the Londoners back into title contenders as they again showed a struggle to score goals despite dominating large spells of the game at Old Trafford.
Indeed, Aubameyang's penalty is the only time Arteta's men have found the net in their past three games. But the fact they now boast the best defensive record in the league having already played City, Liverpool and United away in the opening seven games exemplifies how they are now a far harder side to beat.
"We knew since the beginning we have to trust the process," said Aubameyang. "Mikel is bringing something very nice."
Bale bolsters Tottenham's title credentials
Gareth Bale has had to bide his time to make an impact in his second spell at Spurs with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min now the established stars for Jose Mourinho's men.
But the Welshman offered a glimpse of what could be possible if all three can gel as an attacking trio as he came off the bench to score the winner in a 2-1 victory over Brighton.
Spurs are now up to second, just two points adrift of Liverpool. Had they not conceded last-gasp equalisers to Newcastle and West Ham in their previous two home games, Tottenham could have been top of the table.
They may well head into the November international break there as they travel to struggling West Brom next weekend, while Liverpool face Manchester City.
So much will depend on keeping Bale, Kane and Son fit as all three have had injury problems in recent seasons.
But with all of England's traditional giants showing frailties, there is a golden opportunity for Spurs to target a first league title in 60 years.
Ings injury mars Southampton joy
After dream starts to the campaign for Everton and Aston Villa have fizzled out, Southampton have stepped forward as the latest side to dream of what could be possible in an unpredictable season.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's men sum up the unpredictability of the Premier League with just three points separating Tottenham in second from Newcastle in 11th.
Thrashed 5-2 at home by Spurs to be left with no points from their opening two games, Southampton have stormed back to move fourth thanks to four wins and a thrilling 3-3 draw at Chelsea in their last five games.
After roaring into a 4-0 lead at Aston Villa on Sunday, the Saints were left hanging on for a 4-3 win, but of greater concern for Hasenhuttl was an injury suffered by Danny Ings.
The England international has twice previously suffered cruciate ligament damage in the past.
"It didn't look good at the time," Hasenhuttl said after the game.
"He overstretched his knee and this is always dangerous and he was immediately shouting, 'my knee, my knee'. He will have a scan tomorrow."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Silva off the mark as Real Sociedad go back to top of La Liga

David Silva scored his first goal for Real Sociedad on Sunday to help them go back to the top of La Liga after a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo .
Silva headed La Real in front at Balaidos for his first goal since he left Manchester City in the summer , and his first in La Liga since he departed Valencia 11 years ago .
Mikel Oyarzabal made it two with his fifth of the season , a tally that also makes him the league 's top scorer so far .
Willian Jose then hit the net twice in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aspas converting a penalty , which gave Celta brief hope of a comeback .
Celta 's Jose Fontan was sent off for a second yellow card late on , to cap a disappointing afternoon for the home side , who sit 17th , without a win in six games .
But another impressive victory for Real Sociedad means they have won their last four league games on the bounce , with scorelines of 3-0 , 3-0 , 4-1 and 4-1 .
They return to the top of the table , one point ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first place after their 4-1 win over Huesca on Saturday .
Atletico Madrid are third , three points off the leaders but with two games in hand .
Valencia , meanwhile , avoided a fourth straight defeat by drawing 2-2 at home to Getafe but could easily have lost or won the game after a wild finish at Mestalla .
Leading 1-0 through a goal from Yunus Musah , Valencia were reduced to 10 men when Thierry Correia was sent off just before the hour .
They conceded in the 87th minute when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who then looked to have snatched a victory when Angel scored again in the 94th minute .
But Valencia hit back in the 10th minute of injury-time , Carlos Soler converting a penaly to ensure they at least went away with a point .
Getafe 's Damian Suarez was also shown a red card in the 98th minute to add to the mayhem .
Real Betis had earlier beaten Elche 3-1 to climb to seventh .
Elche drop to 10th .

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David Silva scored his first goal for Real Sociedad on Sunday to help them go back to the top of La Liga after a 4-1 win over Celta Vigo.
Silva headed La Real in front at Balaidos for his first goal since he left Manchester City in the summer, and his first in La Liga since he departed Valencia 11 years ago.
Mikel Oyarzabal made it two with his fifth of the season, a tally that also makes him the league's top scorer so far.
Willian Jose then hit the net twice in the second half, either side of Iago Aspas converting a penalty, which gave Celta brief hope of a comeback.
Celta's Jose Fontan was sent off for a second yellow card late on, to cap a disappointing afternoon for the home side, who sit 17th, without a win in six games.
But another impressive victory for Real Sociedad means they have won their last four league games on the bounce, with scorelines of 3-0, 3-0, 4-1 and 4-1.
They return to the top of the table, one point ahead Real Madrid, who had temporarily taken first place after their 4-1 win over Huesca on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid are third, three points off the leaders but with two games in hand.
Valencia, meanwhile, avoided a fourth straight defeat by drawing 2-2 at home to Getafe but could easily have lost or won the game after a wild finish at Mestalla.
Leading 1-0 through a goal from Yunus Musah, Valencia were reduced to 10 men when Thierry Correia was sent off just before the hour.
They conceded in the 87th minute when Juan Camilo Hernadez equalised for Getafe, who then looked to have snatched a victory when Angel scored again in the 94th minute.
But Valencia hit back in the 10th minute of injury-time, Carlos Soler converting a penaly to ensure they at least went away with a point. Getafe's Damian Suarez was also shown a red card in the 98th minute to add to the mayhem.
Getafe slip to eighth while Valencia stay 13th.
Real Betis had earlier beaten Elche 3-1 to climb to seventh. Elche drop to 10th.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Peru's Machu Picchu reopens after Covid lockdown

This officer from the tourism police will soon have visitors to watch over at the Inca stone citadel of Machu Picchu The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu , the crown jewel of Peru 's tourist sites , reopens Sunday after a nearly eight-month lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic .
For safety reasons , however , only 675 tourists will be able to access the site per day , just 30 percent of the number of visitors pre-pandemic .
Opening Machu Picchu to the world shows `` that we Peruvians are resilient , '' Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus cases has been steadily decreasing in Peru , and tourists will be expected to maintain social distancing .
The coronavirus lockdown has been a body blow to the tens of thousands of people who make their living from country 's tourism industry , especially those in the mountainous Cusco region where the stone citadel is located .
Scores of hotels , restaurants and tourism-related businesses throughout the region went bankrupt by the time a strict mandatory virus lockdown that lasted more than 100 days was lifted in July .
Taxi driver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport of the city of Cusco , the former capital of the Inca empire , was among those affected .
With no visitors to shuttle to the downtown tourist sites , in April he was forced to leave the city and move to a plot of farmland belonging to his parents along with his wife and young daughter .
`` The situation has been very bad , because Cusco depends on tourism , '' he told AFP .
Before the pandemic there were 80 hotels of varios types in Ollantaytambo , a town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the road from Cusco to Machu Picchu .
Tourists can catch a train there to visit Machu Picchu .
`` At least half of them have gone bankrupt , '' said Joaquin Randall , head of the local hotel and restaurant association .
`` The formal hotels that pay taxes have been able to access government aid , '' he told AFP - but not so for the myriad of informal hotels in the area , many of them geared towards backpackers .
Machu Picchu , which means old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enduring legacy of the Inca empire that ruled a large swathe of western South America for 100 years before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century .
The ruins of the Inca settlement , abandoned and overgrown by vegetation , were rediscovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham .
In 1983 , UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site .
The first trainload of tourists reached the village of Machu Picchu , a hamlet close to the stone ruins , on Sunday after a train ride from Ollantaytambo .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to visit the site since it closed on March 16 .

Machu Picchu (Perú) (AFP) –
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The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of Peru's tourist sites, reopens Sunday after a nearly eight-month lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
For safety reasons, however, only 675 tourists will be able to access the site per day, just 30 percent of the number of visitors pre-pandemic.
Opening Machu Picchu to the world shows "that we Peruvians are resilient," Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Rocio Barrios told AFP.
The number of coronavirus cases has been steadily decreasing in Peru, and tourists will be expected to maintain social distancing.
The coronavirus lockdown has been a body blow to the tens of thousands of people who make their living from country's tourism industry, especially those in the mountainous Cusco region where the stone citadel is located.
Scores of hotels, restaurants and tourism-related businesses throughout the region went bankrupt by the time a strict mandatory virus lockdown that lasted more than 100 days was lifted in July.
Taxi driver Eberth Hancco, who works at the airport of the city of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire, was among those affected.
With no visitors to shuttle to the downtown tourist sites, in April he was forced to leave the city and move to a plot of farmland belonging to his parents along with his wife and young daughter.
"The situation has been very bad, because Cusco depends on tourism," he told AFP.
- Bankrupt hotels -
Before the pandemic there were 80 hotels of varios types in Ollantaytambo, a town with an imposing Inca stone fortress located at the end of the road from Cusco to Machu Picchu. Tourists can catch a train there to visit Machu Picchu.
"At least half of them have gone bankrupt," said Joaquin Randall, head of the local hotel and restaurant association.
"The formal hotels that pay taxes have been able to access government aid," he told AFP - but not so for the myriad of informal hotels in the area, many of them geared towards backpackers.
Machu Picchu, which means old mountain in Quechua, is the most enduring legacy of the Inca empire that ruled a large swathe of western South America for 100 years before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.
The ruins of the Inca settlement, abandoned and overgrown by vegetation, were rediscovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. In 1983, UNESCO declared Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site.
The first trainload of tourists reached the village of Machu Picchu, a hamlet close to the stone ruins, on Sunday after a train ride from Ollantaytambo.
On Monday, they will be the first people to visit the site since it closed on March 16.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Hamilton's 'after-life', 'monster defender': Who said what this sporting weekend

'Tell the grandchildren ' : Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his Mercedes team Who said what in sport this weekend : '' No guarantee ... there 's a lot that excites me with the after-life – time will tell ! ''
-- Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton hinting that this season could be his last in the sport .
`` I did n't want to tell the players we had n't won here in 14 years . ''
-- Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta after his team defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford .
`` I will learn from that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the box , I can work on that . ''
-- Paul Pogba admitting his mistake which led to Arsenal 's winning penalty .
`` Cristiano is back .
This is the important thing . ''
-- Cristiano Ronaldo , who had been out of action due to the coronavirus , after scoring twice in Juventus 's 4-1 win over Spezia .
`` He 's not easy on the eye , he 's not Messi but who cares ?
In the air , he 's a monster !
He was incredible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender Nathaniel Phillips after the 2-1 win over West Ham .
`` I said many times , my period as a manager in Barcelona is over .
I think in life there is once you have to do things . ''
-- Man City boss Pep Guardiola pushing back at speculation he could return to coach Barcelona .
`` We 're hurting a lot from that . ''
-- Wallabies captain Michael Hooper after his side were trounced 43-5 by the All Blacks .
`` We saw a team together .
In my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is always in front of the ' I ' .
The day we put the ' I ' in front , we are on the wrong track .
Today , I found that we put the 'we ' first and after the ' I ' . ''
- Christophe Urios , the coach of Bordeaux-Begles rugby team in the French Top 14 , after a 71-5 rout of Agen .
`` It 's a massive achievement for us as a group to win the Six Nations in the strangest year and circumstances .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ securing the Six Nations title , nine months after the tournament started .

Paris (AFP) –
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Who said what in sport this weekend:
"No guarantee...there's a lot that excites me with the after-life – time will tell!"
-- Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton hinting that this season could be his last in the sport.
"I didn't want to tell the players we hadn't won here in 14 years."
-- Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta after his team defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford.
"I will learn from that, I'm not the best defensively in the box, I can work on that."
-- Paul Pogba admitting his mistake which led to Arsenal's winning penalty.
"Cristiano is back. This is the important thing."
-- Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been out of action due to the coronavirus, after scoring twice in Juventus's 4-1 win over Spezia.
"He's not easy on the eye, he's not Messi but who cares? In the air, he's a monster! He was incredible."
-- Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on defender Nathaniel Phillips after the 2-1 win over West Ham.
"I said many times, my period as a manager in Barcelona is over. I think in life there is once you have to do things."
-- Man City boss Pep Guardiola pushing back at speculation he could return to coach Barcelona.
"We're hurting a lot from that."
-- Wallabies captain Michael Hooper after his side were trounced 43-5 by the All Blacks.
"We saw a team together. In my conception of rugby, the 'we' is always in front of the 'I'. The day we put the 'I' in front, we are on the wrong track. Today, I found that we put the 'we' first and after the 'I'."
- Christophe Urios, the coach of Bordeaux-Begles rugby team in the French Top 14, after a 71-5 rout of Agen.
"It's a massive achievement for us as a group to win the Six Nations in the strangest year and circumstances."
-- England skipper Owen Farrell after securing the Six Nations title, nine months after the tournament started.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--I.Coast ruling party warns opposition over post-vote disruption

Scattered unrest was reported during Ivory Coast 's presidential election , which the opposition boycotted Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara 's ruling party on Sunday warned opposition leaders against attempts to call for a transition of power after they boycotted a weekend election in protest over his bid for a third term .
The West African country 's electoral commission released preliminary results from Saturday 's ballot showing Ouattara with a dominant lead , which had been expected given the opposition 's boycott .
Clashes erupted in Ivory Coast in August when Ouattara said a constitutional reform allowed him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , angering the opposition who called it an `` electoral coup '' .
Pre-election violence killed at least 30 and the opposition protest stoked fears of a repeat of the 2010-2011 crisis when 3,000 people died after then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by Ouattara .
`` The RHDP warns Mr Affi N'Guessan and his cohorts against any attempt at destabilisation , '' ruling RHDP party director Adama Bictogo told a news conference .
He was responding to opposition leader Pascal Affi N'Guessan , who earlier said the opposition rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` civilian transition '' .
N'Guessan said they believed Ouattara 's mandate was over and called for Ivorians to mobilise against him .
`` The RHDP calls for authorities to be firm .
No one is above the law , '' Bictogo said .
Scattered unrest , vandalised voting material and some closed polling stations were reported mostly in opposition strongholds during Saturday 's election .
Abidjan was quiet on Sunday and there were no immediate reports of protests .
The tension in French-speaking West Africa 's top economy are a test for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught up in post-election disputes , Nigeria is emerging from widespread unrest and Mali suffered a coup .
The standoff over Ouattara 's third term pits the ex-IMF economist against his old adversary former president Henri Konan Bedie , one of the feuds between ageing leaders that have marked Ivorian politics for decades .
`` This is really a difficult situation ... .
The crisis has not been resolved by the election , '' said Professor Arsene Brice Bado at Abidjan 's CERAP research institute .
`` The winning party needs to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The final results of the election are expected on Monday .
But with the opposition 's boycott , Ouattara is expected to cruise to a win , particularly in the north where his support base is located .
At least two people died in clashes on Saturday in central Tiebissou and Oume , a security source said , though a local mayor of Tiebissou said four were killed in his town .
On Saturday , protests degenerated into clashes between ethnic communities who back rival political factions in Tiebissou , Oume , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in the western town of Gboguhe , according to witnesses .
According to the office of Tiebissou 's mayor , a member of Ouattara 's party , some of the 27 injured in the town had gunshot and stab wounds .
The country 's political feuds are often linked with ethnic identities and regional loyalties -- in part dating back to the 2002 civil war that split the country in two , north and south .
Opposition leaders on Saturday already dismissed the election as a failure and several opposition figures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , announced they no longer recognised Ouattara as president .
Ouattara , 78 , had said after his second term he planned to make way for a new generation , but the sudden death of his chosen successor prompted him to seek a third term .
The Ivorian leader says a constitutional court ruling approved his third term , allowing him to reset the country 's two-term presidential limit thanks to a 2016 reform .
But Bedie , 86 , and other opposition leaders had accused the electoral commission and the constitutional court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair vote impossible .
The weeks before the election saw clashes , mainly between local ethnic groups close to the opposition and Dioula communities seen as loyal to the president , himself a Muslim from the north .
When Ivory Coast emerged from a civil war after 2002 , the country was split in two , the north held by rebels and the south by forces of then president Gbagbo .
Following battles in Abidjan , French forces intervened to help Ouattara loyalists oust the former president .

Abidjan (AFP) –
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Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara's ruling party on Sunday warned opposition leaders against attempts to call for a transition of power after they boycotted a weekend election in protest over his bid for a third term.
The West African country's electoral commission released preliminary results from Saturday's ballot showing Ouattara with a dominant lead, which had been expected given the opposition's boycott.
Clashes erupted in Ivory Coast in August when Ouattara said a constitutional reform allowed him to bypass a two-term presidential limit to run again, angering the opposition who called it an "electoral coup".
Pre-election violence killed at least 30 and the opposition protest stoked fears of a repeat of the 2010-2011 crisis when 3,000 people died after then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by Ouattara.
"The RHDP warns Mr Affi N'Guessan and his cohorts against any attempt at destabilisation," ruling RHDP party director Adama Bictogo told a news conference.
He was responding to opposition leader Pascal Affi N'Guessan, who earlier said the opposition rejected Saturday's election and called for a "civilian transition".
N'Guessan said they believed Ouattara's mandate was over and called for Ivorians to mobilise against him.
"The RHDP calls for authorities to be firm. No one is above the law," Bictogo said.
- Ageing adversaries -
Scattered unrest, vandalised voting material and some closed polling stations were reported mostly in opposition strongholds during Saturday's election.
Abidjan was quiet on Sunday and there were no immediate reports of protests.
The tension in French-speaking West Africa's top economy are a test for a region where Guinea and Tanzania are caught up in post-election disputes, Nigeria is emerging from widespread unrest and Mali suffered a coup.
The standoff over Ouattara's third term pits the ex-IMF economist against his old adversary former president Henri Konan Bedie, one of the feuds between ageing leaders that have marked Ivorian politics for decades.
"This is really a difficult situation.... The crisis has not been resolved by the election," said Professor Arsene Brice Bado at Abidjan's CERAP research institute.
"The winning party needs to find ways to start a new dialogue."
The final results of the election are expected on Monday. But with the opposition's boycott, Ouattara is expected to cruise to a win, particularly in the north where his support base is located.
- Clashes in provinces -
At least two people died in clashes on Saturday in central Tiebissou and Oume, a security source said, though a local mayor of Tiebissou said four were killed in his town.
On Saturday, protests degenerated into clashes between ethnic communities who back rival political factions in Tiebissou, Oume, Yopougon, a poor Abidjan district, and in the western town of Gboguhe, according to witnesses.
According to the office of Tiebissou's mayor, a member of Ouattara's party, some of the 27 injured in the town had gunshot and stab wounds.
The country's political feuds are often linked with ethnic identities and regional loyalties -- in part dating back to the 2002 civil war that split the country in two, north and south.
Opposition leaders on Saturday already dismissed the election as a failure and several opposition figures, including exiled former rebel chief Guillaume Soro, announced they no longer recognised Ouattara as president.
Ouattara, 78, had said after his second term he planned to make way for a new generation, but the sudden death of his chosen successor prompted him to seek a third term.
The Ivorian leader says a constitutional court ruling approved his third term, allowing him to reset the country's two-term presidential limit thanks to a 2016 reform.
But Bedie, 86, and other opposition leaders had accused the electoral commission and the constitutional court of favouring the government, making a fair vote impossible.
The weeks before the election saw clashes, mainly between local ethnic groups close to the opposition and Dioula communities seen as loyal to the president, himself a Muslim from the north.
When Ivory Coast emerged from a civil war after 2002, the country was split in two, the north held by rebels and the south by forces of then president Gbagbo.
Following battles in Abidjan, French forces intervened to help Ouattara loyalists oust the former president.
© 2020 AFP