france24--2020-10-03--Djokovic demands line judges be replaced by technology

Novak Djokovic , who was famously defaulted at the US Open after he accidentally hit a ball which felled a line judge , on Saturday demanded that the officials be replaced by machines .
In New York , the world number one was disqualified after swiping at a ball in frustration which then smashed into the throat of a lineswoman standing behind him .
The incident happened on the showpiece Arthur Ashe Stadium , one of just two courts at the tournament which maintained the tradition of using linesmen and women .
On all the others , electronic line calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce the number of people on the Flushing Meadows site during the coronavirus pandemic .
There have been growing calls for a similar system to be introduced at Roland Garros which still relies of officials making rulings with the naked eye .
`` With all respect for the tradition and the culture we have in this sport , when it comes to people present on the court during a match , including line umpires , I really do n't see a reason why every single tournament in this world , in this technological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had during Cincinnati/New York tournament , '' he said .
`` The technology is so advanced right now , there is absolutely no reason why you should keep line umpires on the court .
Of course I understand technology is expensive , so it 's an economical issue and a question mark .
`` But I feel like we are all moving towards that , and sooner or later there is no reason to keep line umpires .
`` Maybe you can tell me if there is any significant reason why we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had and have in this sport .
Then I would also probably then have less chances to do what I did in New York . ''
Top players such as US Open champion Dominic Thiem , Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas have called for a rethink of officiating at Roland Garros this week .
On Saturday , Djokovic demolished Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan to reach the last 16 in Paris for a record-equalling 11th successive year .
Djokovic swept past 153rd-ranked Galan 6-0 , 6-3 , 6-2 with his most challenging moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clay on the surface of Court Philippe Chatrier after rain had made it treacherous .
For the 2016 champion , who is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title , it was a 71st win in Paris .
Djokovic also took his 2020 record to 34 wins against just one loss -- his New York brainfade -- as he continues his bid to become the first man in half a century to win all four Grand Slam titles twice .
Next up for a place in the quarter-finals is Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Paris (AFP) –
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Novak Djokovic, who was famously defaulted at the US Open after he accidentally hit a ball which felled a line judge, on Saturday demanded that the officials be replaced by machines.
In New York, the world number one was disqualified after swiping at a ball in frustration which then smashed into the throat of a lineswoman standing behind him.
The incident happened on the showpiece Arthur Ashe Stadium, one of just two courts at the tournament which maintained the tradition of using linesmen and women.
On all the others, electronic line calling was used as part of plans to reduce the number of people on the Flushing Meadows site during the coronavirus pandemic.
There have been growing calls for a similar system to be introduced at Roland Garros which still relies of officials making rulings with the naked eye.
Djokovic believes it's time for a rethink.
"With all respect for the tradition and the culture we have in this sport, when it comes to people present on the court during a match, including line umpires, I really don't see a reason why every single tournament in this world, in this technological advanced era, would not have what we had during Cincinnati/New York tournament," he said.
"The technology is so advanced right now, there is absolutely no reason why you should keep line umpires on the court. Of course I understand technology is expensive, so it's an economical issue and a question mark.
"But I feel like we are all moving towards that, and sooner or later there is no reason to keep line umpires.
"Maybe you can tell me if there is any significant reason why we should keep other than tradition that we had and have in this sport. Then I would also probably then have less chances to do what I did in New York."
Top players such as US Open champion Dominic Thiem, Denis Shapovalov and Stefanos Tsitsipas have called for a rethink of officiating at Roland Garros this week.
On Saturday, Djokovic demolished Colombian lucky loser Daniel Galan to reach the last 16 in Paris for a record-equalling 11th successive year.
Djokovic swept past 153rd-ranked Galan 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 with his most challenging moment coming when he helped groundstaff lay more clay on the surface of Court Philippe Chatrier after rain had made it treacherous.
For the 2016 champion, who is chasing an 18th Grand Slam title, it was a 71st win in Paris.
Djokovic also took his 2020 record to 34 wins against just one loss -- his New York brainfade -- as he continues his bid to become the first man in half a century to win all four Grand Slam titles twice.
Next up for a place in the quarter-finals is Russian 15th seed Karen Khachanov who beat Chile's Cristian Garin.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Israelis protest Netanyahu despite emergency regulations

Israeli anti-government protesters chant slogans during a Tel Aviv demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic in defiance of measures restricting public assembly Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic protested around the country Saturday night , despite new restrictions on public assembly .
In Tel Aviv demonstrators staged several simultaneous marches in different parts of the Mediterranean seafront city , an AFP photographer there said .
Protesters seemed to be widely using protective masks but a police statement said they were intentionally breaching social distancing rules and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give an estimate on how many were involved .
Parliament on Wednesday approved a law restricting demonstrations as part of a coronavirus-related state of emergency , that critics say is aimed at silencing protests against Netanyahu .
On Friday , Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir , of the centrist Blue and White party quit Netanyahu 's coalition government over the restrictions .
Announcing his decision on Twitter he said that Netanyahu was more concerned about his ongoing corruption trial and the growing public protest than about fighting a second wave of Covid-19 .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for another minute with a reality in which the right to demonstrate is restricted , '' he wrote .
`` Therefore I must follow my conscience . ''
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz named the party 's Orit Farkash Hacohen to replace Zamir and the coalition did not seem to be in immediate danger , although commentators speculated that other resignations could follow .
`` We joined the government to rein in the coronavirus , not to curb democracy or the rule of law , '' Gantz said .
The new regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometre ( 0.6 mile ) to attend protests , but the left-wing Haaretz newspaper reported Friday that apps had sprouted on social media giving users locations of protests near their homes .
Police were rigorous in checking people 's identity cards , issuing spot fines to those found to have broken the limits and `` arresting those disturbing public order '' , a statement said .
It did not say how many arrests were made but said `` hundreds '' of fine notices were issued for various breaches of the emergency regulations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 people were protesting outside Netanyahu 's official residence , a marked contrast with the thousands who were there a week earlier .
Other protests were held in a number of towns .
Although a general lockdown went into force on September 18 protest was considered a protected activity until Wednesday 's parliament vote .
The new law gives the government powers to declare a `` special emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic '' for renewable periods of one week .
With over 260,000 coronavirus infections confirmed so far and over 1,600 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel currently has the world 's highest weekly infection rate per capita .

Tel Aviv (AFP) –
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Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic protested around the country Saturday night, despite new restrictions on public assembly.
In Tel Aviv demonstrators staged several simultaneous marches in different parts of the Mediterranean seafront city, an AFP photographer there said.
Protesters seemed to be widely using protective masks but a police statement said they were intentionally breaching social distancing rules and those limiting numbers.
Police did not give an estimate on how many were involved.
Parliament on Wednesday approved a law restricting demonstrations as part of a coronavirus-related state of emergency, that critics say is aimed at silencing protests against Netanyahu.
On Friday, Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir, of the centrist Blue and White party quit Netanyahu's coalition government over the restrictions.
Announcing his decision on Twitter he said that Netanyahu was more concerned about his ongoing corruption trial and the growing public protest than about fighting a second wave of Covid-19.
"I am not willing to put up for another minute with a reality in which the right to demonstrate is restricted," he wrote. "Therefore I must follow my conscience."
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz named the party's Orit Farkash Hacohen to replace Zamir and the coalition did not seem to be in immediate danger, although commentators speculated that other resignations could follow.
"We joined the government to rein in the coronavirus, not to curb democracy or the rule of law," Gantz said.
The new regulations bar demonstrators from travelling more than one kilometre (0.6 mile) to attend protests, but the left-wing Haaretz newspaper reported Friday that apps had sprouted on social media giving users locations of protests near their homes.
Police were rigorous in checking people's identity cards, issuing spot fines to those found to have broken the limits and "arresting those disturbing public order", a statement said.
It did not say how many arrests were made but said "hundreds" of fine notices were issued for various breaches of the emergency regulations.
In Jerusalem Israeli media estimated that around 200 people were protesting outside Netanyahu's official residence, a marked contrast with the thousands who were there a week earlier.
Other protests were held in a number of towns.
Although a general lockdown went into force on September 18 protest was considered a protected activity until Wednesday's parliament vote.
The new law gives the government powers to declare a "special emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic" for renewable periods of one week.
With over 260,000 coronavirus infections confirmed so far and over 1,600 deaths in a population of nine million, Israel currently has the world's highest weekly infection rate per capita.
scw/hkb
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--More than 2,000 US-bound migrants abandon trek in Guatemala

A policeman speaks with Honduran migrants , part of a US-bound caravan , outside a migrant shelter in the municipality of San Marcos , Guatemala , on October 3 , 2020 More than 2,000 migrants on Saturday abandoned their effort to reach the United States after the Guatemalan government threatened to expel them out of concern they might spread the novel coronavirus .
The group , mostly made up of Hondurans , asked local authorities to help them return home , the Guatemalan president 's office told news media .
An AFP journalist saw some being loaded into army trucks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small groups of migrants said they remained determined to reach the US and escape the poverty and violence in their home country .
Late Thursday , Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei had ordered the Hondurans detained and sent home .
However , he urged them to return voluntarily .
`` Amid the current health emergency , not only did they fail to respect measures to enter the country but also health measures established to protect our citizens , '' he said .
Guatemalan officials said some 3,000 people originally crossed the border without submitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreigners entering the country .
Many were not wearing masks .
Giammattei said that `` a massive group of Hondurans violently broke in '' to the country some 310 kilometers ( 190 miles ) northeast of Guatemala City .
The caravan split up once in Guatemala , with a larger group taking a northern route toward Mexico and the smaller one following a southwesterly route .
Mexico had deployed troops and immigration agents at border points to block the caravan .
In recent years , thousands of Central American migrants traveling in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aim of reaching the US border .
The caravan had been heading north just a month before the US presidential election , in which President Donald Trump -- whose hard line against migrants is a central plank of his policy platform -- is seeking a second term .
After Trump threatened Mexico with steep US tariffs if it failed to stem a surge of undocumented migrants , Mexican officials deployed some 26,000 troops to the country 's borders .

Entre-Ríos (Guatemala) (AFP) –
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More than 2,000 migrants on Saturday abandoned their effort to reach the United States after the Guatemalan government threatened to expel them out of concern they might spread the novel coronavirus.
The group, mostly made up of Hondurans, asked local authorities to help them return home, the Guatemalan president's office told news media. An AFP journalist saw some being loaded into army trucks for the return trip.
But some small groups of migrants said they remained determined to reach the US and escape the poverty and violence in their home country.
Late Thursday, Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei had ordered the Hondurans detained and sent home. However, he urged them to return voluntarily.
"Amid the current health emergency, not only did they fail to respect measures to enter the country but also health measures established to protect our citizens," he said.
Guatemalan officials said some 3,000 people originally crossed the border without submitting to a Covid-19 test, required for foreigners entering the country. Many were not wearing masks.
Giammattei said that "a massive group of Hondurans violently broke in" to the country some 310 kilometers (190 miles) northeast of Guatemala City.
The caravan split up once in Guatemala, with a larger group taking a northern route toward Mexico and the smaller one following a southwesterly route.
Mexico had deployed troops and immigration agents at border points to block the caravan.
In recent years, thousands of Central American migrants traveling in large groups have crossed into Mexico, with the aim of reaching the US border.
The caravan had been heading north just a month before the US presidential election, in which President Donald Trump -- whose hard line against migrants is a central plank of his policy platform -- is seeking a second term.
After Trump threatened Mexico with steep US tariffs if it failed to stem a surge of undocumented migrants, Mexican officials deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Lak penalty save sends Persepolis into Asian Champions League final

Hamed Lak has made three appearances for Iran since his international debut in 2012 Hamed Lak produced a diving save off Maicon Rocque as Persepolis beat Al Nassr 5-3 on penalties to reach the final of the Asian Champions League for the second time in three years on Saturday .
Both teams had played out a tense 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of action forcing the match into the tie-breaker at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium .
But it was the Iranians who emerged as the top team in Asia 's west zone as they scored off all their five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watched in agony from the sidelines as their Brazilian defender Rocque 's shot , his team 's fourth , was saved by Lak , leaping to his right .
A few hours before the match Persepolis were dealt a blow when the Asian Football Confederation banned their star striker Issa Alekasir for six months for a `` discriminatory gesture '' while celebrating his goal against Uzbekistan 's Pakhtakor in the quarter-finals on Wednesday .
In addition to the ban , the 30-year-old , who scored four times in his side 's last three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their progress to the semis , was also fined $ 10,000 for his slant-eyed gesture , considered a serious racial offence .
`` The Asian Football Confederation ( AFC ) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has banned Issa Alekasir , of Persepolis FC , from taking part in any kind of football-related activity for six months for violating Article 58.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code ( 2019 Edition ) , '' the AFC said in a statement .
`` The ban will take effect immediately , '' the continental body added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous , discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning race , skin colour , gender , disability , language , age , physical appearance , religion , political opinion , wealth , birth or any other status , sexual orientation , or ethnic , national , or social origin has committed an offence . ''
On Saturday , however , Al Nassr , who were hoping to reach the final for the first time , could n't make the most of Alekasir 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost Ehsan Pehlevan just before half-time after he received his second yellow card .
The Saudis were first to score though , Abderrazzak Hamdallah foxing goalkeeper Lak with a 'Panenka ' goal in the 36th minute following Bashar Resan 's foul on Khalid al-Ghannam .
But Persepolis needed only six minute to draw level , Abdi Mehdi producing an excellent header past Al Nassr goalkeeper Brad Jones off a cross from Resan .
Luck came to Lak 's rescue immediately after the break as Hamdallah produced a brilliant free-kick only for the ball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goalkeeper was thoroughly beaten .
Both teams had their share of chances before Lak came up with his decisive save in the shootout to put his team against a team from Asia 's east , who are yet to be determined .
The event , which was halted in February following the coronavirus outbreak , resumed in a bio-secure bubble in Doha last month with the matches packed into a tight schedule and the knockout phase doing away with the double-legged format .
The tournament 's matches in the east are yet to @ @ @

Doha (AFP) –
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Hamed Lak produced a diving save off Maicon Rocque as Persepolis beat Al Nassr 5-3 on penalties to reach the final of the Asian Champions League for the second time in three years on Saturday.
Both teams had played out a tense 1-1 draw after 120 minutes of action forcing the match into the tie-breaker at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.
But it was the Iranians who emerged as the top team in Asia's west zone as they scored off all their five penalties, while Saudi giants Al Nassr watched in agony from the sidelines as their Brazilian defender Rocque's shot, his team's fourth, was saved by Lak, leaping to his right.
A few hours before the match Persepolis were dealt a blow when the Asian Football Confederation banned their star striker Issa Alekasir for six months for a "discriminatory gesture" while celebrating his goal against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
In addition to the ban, the 30-year-old, who scored four times in his side's last three matches in Doha and was chiefly instrumental to their progress to the semis, was also fined $10,000 for his slant-eyed gesture, considered a serious racial offence.
"The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has banned Issa Alekasir, of Persepolis FC, from taking part in any kind of football-related activity for six months for violating Article 58.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code (2019 Edition)," the AFC said in a statement.
"The ban will take effect immediately," the continental body added
Article 58.1 states "anyone who offends the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory or denigratory words or actions concerning race, skin colour, gender, disability, language, age, physical appearance, religion, political opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation, or ethnic, national, or social origin has committed an offence."
On Saturday, however, Al Nassr, who were hoping to reach the final for the first time, couldn't make the most of Alekasir's absence or the fact that Persepolis had lost Ehsan Pehlevan just before half-time after he received his second yellow card.
The Saudis were first to score though, Abderrazzak Hamdallah foxing goalkeeper Lak with a 'Panenka' goal in the 36th minute following Bashar Resan's foul on Khalid al-Ghannam.
But Persepolis needed only six minute to draw level, Abdi Mehdi producing an excellent header past Al Nassr goalkeeper Brad Jones off a cross from Resan.
Luck came to Lak's rescue immediately after the break as Hamdallah produced a brilliant free-kick only for the ball to thud into the crossbar after the goalkeeper was thoroughly beaten.
Both teams had their share of chances before Lak came up with his decisive save in the shootout to put his team against a team from Asia's east, who are yet to be determined.
The event, which was halted in February following the coronavirus outbreak, resumed in a bio-secure bubble in Doha last month with the matches packed into a tight schedule and the knockout phase doing away with the double-legged format.
The tournament's matches in the east are yet to be announced.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-03--Try-scorer Kolisi back in Springbok jersey and winning again

Captain Siya Kolisi ( C ) lifts the Rugby World Cup in Japan last November after South Africa beat England in the final .
Siya Kolisi wore the green Springboks jersey Saturday for the first time since leading South Africa to World Cup glory last November , and once again he was victorious .
The flanker scored one of three tries for the Greens in an unusual 25-9 victory over the Golds in a national trial behind closed doors at Newlands stadium in Cape Town .
It was a strange outcome as the Gold team skippered by World Cup centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lineout duels and conceded far fewer penalties .
Only when it came to handling errors were the Golds inferior , but the side lost because they were less clinical close to the tryline than Kolisi and his team-mates .
It was the second weekend of rugby in the republic after a shutdown since March due to the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed nearly 17,000 South African lives .
For national coach Jacques Nienaber , at the ground , and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus , watching on TV as a Covid-19 precaution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening .
`` No one stood out , '' said Springboks legend and TV analyst Schalk Burger .
`` It was a hard watch throughout .
`` The battle for scrum supremacy was interesting with both sides having spells of control and Sanele Nohamba was a tidy operator at scrum-half .
`` Siya and his boys defended well and the difference between the teams was that his side took their chances while their rivals did not . ''
It was often a scrappy , stop-start affair with the whistle of the referee sounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluent , multi-phase movements .
There was some comic relief when the ball bounced off a head and then a shin before Juarno Augustus , one of 20 replacements used , scored the match-clinching try .
Kolisi had his moment of glory just before the hour mark with the Greens seven points ahead thanks to a penalty try and the offender , Damian Willemse , sin-binned .
It was not a happy outing for Willemse , who succeeded with only one of four kicks at goal before Curwin Bosch took over and converted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the first black Test captain of South Africa , swivelled when a driving maul came to a halt just short of the line and he scored .
`` We operated with a Test mindset , playing little rugby in our own half and slowing the pace whenever possible , '' he said .
The trial featured 11 of the 16 home-based Springboks from the World Cup squad with injuries ruling out three , one quarantined and one temporarily playing abroad .
It followed pre-season matches last weekend involving the four former Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sharks and Stormers .
Super Rugby Unlocked begins Friday and involves the 'big four ' plus the Cheetahs , Griquas and Pumas .
Defending champions South Africa have been included in the fixtures for a Rugby Championship in Australia from November 7 to December 12 .
New Zealand are unhappy at a finish date that could see the squad quarantined over Christmas , and Australia coach Dave Rennie sympathises with the All Blacks .
Argentina have named a 45-man squad , including 23 of the Pumas who failed to get past the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Africa have yet to decide whether they will take part with Erasmus talking of a decision being made not later then October 10 .
The world champions and SA Rugby officials are stuck between a rock and a hard place with no obvious escape route .
Having started playing only last week , the local players will lack sufficient game-time to play Tests while the governing body desperately need the windfall competing would bring .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
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Siya Kolisi wore the green Springboks jersey Saturday for the first time since leading South Africa to World Cup glory last November, and once again he was victorious.
The flanker scored one of three tries for the Greens in an unusual 25-9 victory over the Golds in a national trial behind closed doors at Newlands stadium in Cape Town.
It was a strange outcome as the Gold team skippered by World Cup centre Lukhanyo Am shaded the possession, scrum and lineout duels and conceded far fewer penalties.
Only when it came to handling errors were the Golds inferior, but the side lost because they were less clinical close to the tryline than Kolisi and his team-mates.
It was the second weekend of rugby in the republic after a shutdown since March due to the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed nearly 17,000 South African lives.
For national coach Jacques Nienaber, at the ground, and director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, watching on TV as a Covid-19 precaution, it was not a particularly enlightening evening.
"No one stood out," said Springboks legend and TV analyst Schalk Burger. "It was a hard watch throughout.
"The battle for scrum supremacy was interesting with both sides having spells of control and Sanele Nohamba was a tidy operator at scrum-half.
"Siya and his boys defended well and the difference between the teams was that his side took their chances while their rivals did not."
It was often a scrappy, stop-start affair with the whistle of the referee sounding too often for those longing to see fluent, multi-phase movements.
There was some comic relief when the ball bounced off a head and then a shin before Juarno Augustus, one of 20 replacements used, scored the match-clinching try.
- Moment of glory -
Kolisi had his moment of glory just before the hour mark with the Greens seven points ahead thanks to a penalty try and the offender, Damian Willemse, sin-binned.
It was not a happy outing for Willemse, who succeeded with only one of four kicks at goal before Curwin Bosch took over and converted two of three penalty attempts.
Kolisi, the first black Test captain of South Africa, swivelled when a driving maul came to a halt just short of the line and he scored.
"We operated with a Test mindset, playing little rugby in our own half and slowing the pace whenever possible," he said.
The trial featured 11 of the 16 home-based Springboks from the World Cup squad with injuries ruling out three, one quarantined and one temporarily playing abroad.
It followed pre-season matches last weekend involving the four former Super Rugby sides, the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.
Super Rugby Unlocked begins Friday and involves the 'big four' plus the Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas.
Defending champions South Africa have been included in the fixtures for a Rugby Championship in Australia from November 7 to December 12.
New Zealand are unhappy at a finish date that could see the squad quarantined over Christmas, and Australia coach Dave Rennie sympathises with the All Blacks.
Argentina have named a 45-man squad, including 23 of the Pumas who failed to get past the World Cup pool stage last year.
South Africa have yet to decide whether they will take part with Erasmus talking of a decision being made not later then October 10.
The world champions and SA Rugby officials are stuck between a rock and a hard place with no obvious escape route.
Having started playing only last week, the local players will lack sufficient game-time to play Tests while the governing body desperately need the windfall competing would bring.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Swiatek shocks Halep at Roland Garros as Nadal takes leap into unknown

Polish teenager Iga Swiatek shocked top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals where she will face Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan as the tournament took another dramatic twist on Sunday .
Swiatek , just 19 and ranked 54 in the world , triumphed 6-1 , 6-2 on the back of 30 winners and not allowing 2018 winner Halep a single break point .
`` I am surprised I could do this , '' admitted Swiatek after ending the 17-match winning streak of Halep who was the overwhelming favourite in the absence of 2019 champion Ashleigh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the injury-enforced withdrawal of Serena Williams .
It was a stunning turnaround for the Pole who won just one game against Halep at the same stage in Paris last year , getting swept off court in just 45 minutes .
`` Last year I was n't experienced enough , it was my first match in a big stadium so I was a little stressed , but now I can handle the pressure . ''
Swiatek swept through the opening set in just 23 minutes , firing 17 winners to Halep 's four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaking in the first game of the second set with Halep having to fight off four break points in the third game to stay afloat .
Swiatek 's assault continued against a player who arrived in Paris with claycourt titles in Prague and Rome .
Halep , 29 , saved five more break points in the fifth game but a weary forehand drifted wide and her Polish opponent was 4-1 up with the cushion of a double break .
She took victory on a second match point , ending the tie in 68 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that match , Iga won it , '' said Halep .
Swiatek 's victory was quickly followed by another surprise when Trevisan registered a 6-4 , 6-4 victory over fifth seed Kiki Bertens , a semi-finalist in 2016 .
The 26-year-old Trevisan , ranked 159 , is the first qualifier to make the last eight since Yaroslava Shvedova in 2012 .
Trevisan saved two match points in her win over Greek 20th seed Maria Sakkari .
`` I 'm living in a dream , '' said the Italian whose other appearance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Australian Open in January .
Sunday 's early shocks mean that only four seeds remain in the women 's draw -- third seed Elina Svitolina , fourth-seeded Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin , two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova , seeded at seven , and Tunisia 's Ons Jabeur , the 30th seed .
Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem take great leaps into the unknown when they tackle opponents ranked outside the top 200 for places in the quarter-finals .
Second seed Nadal , the 12-time champion , faces world number 213 Sebastian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1992 .
World number three and US Open champion Thiem , runner-up to Nadal for the last two years , meets Hugo Gaston , ranked at 239 .
Korda , 14 years younger than 19-time Slam winner Nadal , admits that he was in awe of the great Spaniard growing up .
`` I named my cat Rafa after him .
That says a lot about how much I love the guy , '' said 20-year-old Korda who came through qualifying .
Gaston is the only French player left in the men 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Having defeated 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the third round , the wildcard has to take on Thiem .
Austrian Thiem , like Nadal , has reached the last 16 without dropping a set and is looking to make the quarter-finals for a fourth successive year .
Should Nadal defeat Korda and register his 97th win in Paris , he will face either German sixth seed Alexander Zverev or 19-year-old Jannik Sinner of Italy who is the youngest man in the last 16 since Novak Djokovic in 2006 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grand Slam final in New York last month , is in the fourth round for a third straight year .
The day 's other last 16 match features Diego Schwartzman , the 12th-seeded Argentine who stunned Nadal in Rome on the eve of Roland Garros .
He faces 46th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego of Italy who is in the fourth round of a major for the first time .
Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska , ranked 131 , faces number 114 Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic who has four doubles titles at the majors .

Paris (AFP) –
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Polish teenager Iga Swiatek shocked top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep to reach the Roland Garros quarter-finals where she will face Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan as the tournament took another dramatic twist on Sunday.
Swiatek, just 19 and ranked 54 in the world, triumphed 6-1, 6-2 on the back of 30 winners and not allowing 2018 winner Halep a single break point.
"I am surprised I could do this," admitted Swiatek after ending the 17-match winning streak of Halep who was the overwhelming favourite in the absence of 2019 champion Ashleigh Barty and US Open winner Naomi Osaka and the injury-enforced withdrawal of Serena Williams.
It was a stunning turnaround for the Pole who won just one game against Halep at the same stage in Paris last year, getting swept off court in just 45 minutes.
"Last year I wasn't experienced enough, it was my first match in a big stadium so I was a little stressed, but now I can handle the pressure."
Swiatek swept through the opening set in just 23 minutes, firing 17 winners to Halep's four.
The teenager tightened her grip, breaking in the first game of the second set with Halep having to fight off four break points in the third game to stay afloat.
Swiatek's assault continued against a player who arrived in Paris with claycourt titles in Prague and Rome.
Halep, 29, saved five more break points in the fifth game but a weary forehand drifted wide and her Polish opponent was 4-1 up with the cushion of a double break.
She took victory on a second match point, ending the tie in 68 minutes.
"I didn't lose that match, Iga won it," said Halep.
Swiatek's victory was quickly followed by another surprise when Trevisan registered a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fifth seed Kiki Bertens, a semi-finalist in 2016.
The 26-year-old Trevisan, ranked 159, is the first qualifier to make the last eight since Yaroslava Shvedova in 2012.
- Cat called Rafa -
Trevisan saved two match points in her win over Greek 20th seed Maria Sakkari.
"I'm living in a dream," said the Italian whose other appearance in the main draw of a major came at the Australian Open in January.
Sunday's early shocks mean that only four seeds remain in the women's draw -- third seed Elina Svitolina, fourth-seeded Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, seeded at seven, and Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, the 30th seed.
Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem take great leaps into the unknown when they tackle opponents ranked outside the top 200 for places in the quarter-finals.
Second seed Nadal, the 12-time champion, faces world number 213 Sebastian Korda whose father Petr was runner-up in 1992.
World number three and US Open champion Thiem, runner-up to Nadal for the last two years, meets Hugo Gaston, ranked at 239.
Korda, 14 years younger than 19-time Slam winner Nadal, admits that he was in awe of the great Spaniard growing up.
"I named my cat Rafa after him. That says a lot about how much I love the guy," said 20-year-old Korda who came through qualifying.
Gaston is the only French player left in the men's tournament from the 18 who started out.
Having defeated 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the third round, the wildcard has to take on Thiem.
Austrian Thiem, like Nadal, has reached the last 16 without dropping a set and is looking to make the quarter-finals for a fourth successive year.
Should Nadal defeat Korda and register his 97th win in Paris, he will face either German sixth seed Alexander Zverev or 19-year-old Jannik Sinner of Italy who is the youngest man in the last 16 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.
Sinner hasn't dropped a set in three matches.
Zverev, buoyed by making his first Grand Slam final in New York last month, is in the fourth round for a third straight year.
The day's other last 16 match features Diego Schwartzman, the 12th-seeded Argentine who stunned Nadal in Rome on the eve of Roland Garros. He faces 46th-ranked Lorenzo Sonego of Italy who is in the fourth round of a major for the first time.
Svitolina, twice a quarter-finalist, meets France's Caroline Garcia.
Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska, ranked 131, faces number 114 Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic who has four doubles titles at the majors.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Africa roundup: D-day looms in tug of war over Adama Traore

Adama Traore ( L ) playing for Wolves against West Ham last weekend in the English Premier League .
D-day is looming in the tug of war between Mali and Spain for the services of pacy Wolves winger Adama Traore .
Born in Barcelona to parents from the west African country , he has been called up by Spain for a friendly and two UEFA Nations League matches and by Mali for two friendlies .
`` It is up to the player to decide .
I have talked to him and he wants to play for us , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP Sport rounds up African team news ahead of an October 5-13 international window , which is being used to prepare for Cup of Nations qualifying next month : Adama Traore is not the only English Premier League star Mali want with Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure also chosen by coach Mohamed Magassouba .
But Doucoure may turn down the invitation to face Ghana and Iran in Turkey as he longs for a call-up from France , where he was born to Malian parents .
Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma and Southampton forward Moussa Djenepo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ squad .
Madrid-born Sevilla forward Munir el Haddadi has had his wish to play for Morocco granted thanks to a tweak in the FIFA rules governing international eligibility .
After being capped once by Spain six years ago when a teenager , he can now play for the nation where his parents were born .
Morocco have lined up matches against fellow top-10 ranked teams Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo behind closed doors in Rabat because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The withdrawal of star Sadio Mane from the Senegal squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing positive for Covid-19 has been followed by two other drop outs .
Montreal Impact goalkeeper Clement Diop and Olympiakos defender Ousseynou Ba are injured and coach Aliou Cisse will not replace them in squad reduced to 23 players .
Senegal visit Morocco and host Mauritania as they prepare for two Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau next month .
New Aston Villa recruit Bertrand Traore and his older brother , Alain , are in the Burkina Faso squad for warm-up matches against DR Congo and Madagascar in Morocco .
Alain Traore plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contenders for the Moroccan league title and CAF Confederation Cup semi-finalists .
Three other unrelated Traores -- midfielder Abdou Razack , winger Eric and forward Lassina -- have also been chosen by coach Kamou Malo .
All three DR Congo goalkeepers in the squad picked by coach Christian Nsengi-Biembe for friendlies against Burkina Faso and Morocco are based in Switzerland .
Joel Kiassumbua plays for Servette and Timothy Fayulu for Sion in the top tier and Anthony Mossi for relegated Neuchatel Xamax .
A couple of English Premier League players were picked -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward Neeskens Kebano .
Two uncapped South Africans based in Europe -- defender Thibang Phete and forward Kurt Abrahams -- have been selected for friendlies against Namibia and Zambia in Rustenburg .
Phete is with Belenenses in Portugal and Abrahams with Westerlo in Belgium and they are among six foreign-based players in a 25-strong squad .
A surprise omission is Bradley Grobler from SuperSport United , the most prolific South African scorer in the recently concluded Premiership season .
Brazilian coach Valdo Filho does not judge a player by which level he plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth-tier French and Spanish clubs for a friendly with the Gambia .
Defender Hugo Konongo and midfielder Durel Avounou play in the French third division and goalkeeper Will Cesaire Matimbou in the fourth .
Defender Baron Kibamba and midfielder Junior Amour Loussoukou are with Spanish fourth tier outfits .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
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D-day is looming in the tug of war between Mali and Spain for the services of pacy Wolves winger Adama Traore.
Born in Barcelona to parents from the west African country, he has been called up by Spain for a friendly and two UEFA Nations League matches and by Mali for two friendlies.
"It is up to the player to decide. I have talked to him and he wants to play for us," said Spain manager Luis Enrique.
Here, AFP Sport rounds up African team news ahead of an October 5-13 international window, which is being used to prepare for Cup of Nations qualifying next month:
Mali
Adama Traore is not the only English Premier League star Mali want with Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure also chosen by coach Mohamed Magassouba.
But Doucoure may turn down the invitation to face Ghana and Iran in Turkey as he longs for a call-up from France, where he was born to Malian parents.
Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma and Southampton forward Moussa Djenepo are other Premier League footballers in the squad.
Morocco
Madrid-born Sevilla forward Munir el Haddadi has had his wish to play for Morocco granted thanks to a tweak in the FIFA rules governing international eligibility.
After being capped once by Spain six years ago when a teenager, he can now play for the nation where his parents were born.
Morocco have lined up matches against fellow top-10 ranked teams Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo behind closed doors in Rabat because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Senegal
The withdrawal of star Sadio Mane from the Senegal squad for friendlies with Morocco and Mauritania after testing positive for Covid-19 has been followed by two other drop outs.
Montreal Impact goalkeeper Clement Diop and Olympiakos defender Ousseynou Ba are injured and coach Aliou Cisse will not replace them in squad reduced to 23 players.
Senegal visit Morocco and host Mauritania as they prepare for two Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Bissau next month.
Burkina Faso
New Aston Villa recruit Bertrand Traore and his older brother, Alain, are in the Burkina Faso squad for warm-up matches against DR Congo and Madagascar in Morocco.
Alain Traore plays for Renaissance Berkane, one of three contenders for the Moroccan league title and CAF Confederation Cup semi-finalists.
Three other unrelated Traores -- midfielder Abdou Razack, winger Eric and forward Lassina -- have also been chosen by coach Kamou Malo.
DR Congo
All three DR Congo goalkeepers in the squad picked by coach Christian Nsengi-Biembe for friendlies against Burkina Faso and Morocco are based in Switzerland.
Joel Kiassumbua plays for Servette and Timothy Fayulu for Sion in the top tier and Anthony Mossi for relegated Neuchatel Xamax.
A couple of English Premier League players were picked -- West Ham midfielder Arthur Masuaku and Fulham forward Neeskens Kebano.
South Africa
Two uncapped South Africans based in Europe -- defender Thibang Phete and forward Kurt Abrahams -- have been selected for friendlies against Namibia and Zambia in Rustenburg.
Phete is with Belenenses in Portugal and Abrahams with Westerlo in Belgium and they are among six foreign-based players in a 25-strong squad.
A surprise omission is Bradley Grobler from SuperSport United, the most prolific South African scorer in the recently concluded Premiership season.
Congo
Brazilian coach Valdo Filho does not judge a player by which level he plays, choosing five Congolese from third and fourth-tier French and Spanish clubs for a friendly with the Gambia.
Defender Hugo Konongo and midfielder Durel Avounou play in the French third division and goalkeeper Will Cesaire Matimbou in the fourth.
Defender Baron Kibamba and midfielder Junior Amour Loussoukou are with Spanish fourth tier outfits.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Indian star Akshay Kumar acknowledges Bollywood's drug 'problem'

Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar acknowledged on Saturday a drug problem within India 's film industry , following a growing narcotics probe surrounding the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput .
Movie-obsessed India has been gripped by the saga around the death of Rajput , who was found dead in June in his Mumbai apartment , with police saying he took his own life .
The investigation into the 34-year-old 's death has expanded into a massive drugs probe , with his former girlfriend , actress Rhea Chakraborty , arrested earlier this month for allegedly buying cannabis for him .
Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wider investigation into the multibillion-dollar film industry 's so-called `` drugs mafia '' .
In an almost four-minute video posted on his Twitter account on Saturday , Kumar called on the industry 's fervent fans not to tar everyone in Bollywood with the same brush .
`` With a hand on my heart , how can I lie and say that this ( narcotics and drugs ) problem does n't exist in our industry , '' Kumar , 53 , said in Hindi in a video watched more than 2.5 million times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same way problems exist in every other profession .
But to say that everyone in every profession is involved in all its problems would be wrong . ''
Several high-profile actresses including 34-year-old superstar Deepika Padukone , Sara Ali Khan , Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh have been hauled in for questioning .
Wider national interest in the Bollywood case peaked last month after TV channel TimesNow broadcast sections of WhatsApp conversation about procuring hash , alleging that the two people chatting were Padukone and her manager .
Rajput 's family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered from depression and have also accused Chakraborty of stealing his money and harassing him .
Chakraborty , 28 , who has been hounded for months by the media along with her family , has denied any wrongdoing .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar acknowledged on Saturday a drug problem within India's film industry, following a growing narcotics probe surrounding the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Movie-obsessed India has been gripped by the saga around the death of Rajput, who was found dead in June in his Mumbai apartment, with police saying he took his own life.
The investigation into the 34-year-old's death has expanded into a massive drugs probe, with his former girlfriend, actress Rhea Chakraborty, arrested earlier this month for allegedly buying cannabis for him.
Indian media has also joined calls for a wider investigation into the multibillion-dollar film industry's so-called "drugs mafia".
In an almost four-minute video posted on his Twitter account on Saturday, Kumar called on the industry's fervent fans not to tar everyone in Bollywood with the same brush.
"With a hand on my heart, how can I lie and say that this (narcotics and drugs) problem doesn't exist in our industry," Kumar, 53, said in Hindi in a video watched more than 2.5 million times.
"It exists in our profession the same way problems exist in every other profession. But to say that everyone in every profession is involved in all its problems would be wrong."
Several high-profile actresses including 34-year-old superstar Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh have been hauled in for questioning.
Wider national interest in the Bollywood case peaked last month after TV channel TimesNow broadcast sections of WhatsApp conversation about procuring hash, alleging that the two people chatting were Padukone and her manager.
Rajput's family, meanwhile, has disputed reports the actor suffered from depression and have also accused Chakraborty of stealing his money and harassing him.
Chakraborty, 28, who has been hounded for months by the media along with her family, has denied any wrongdoing.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Qualifier Trevisan 'living in a dream' in Paris after toppling Bertens

Martina Trevisan is through to the quarter-finals in just her second appearance at a major Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens was dumped out of the French Open on Sunday when Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan registered a surprise 6-4 , 6-4 victory to advance to the quarter-finals .
The 26-year-old Trevisan , ranked 159 , had not won a Grand Slam main draw match before this tournament .
She goes on to face Polish teenager Iga Swiatek , who knocked out top seed Simona Halep , for a place in the last four .
`` I 'm living in a dream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two match points against Maria Sakkari in the third round .
`` I came here two weeks ago to play my qualifying but today I 'm here in the quarter-finals .
`` Oh my god , I ca n't believe it .
I 'm really honoured to play on this court with Bertens who for me is an incredible player . ''
Trevisan raced into a 5-1 lead in the opening set but dropped serve twice before breaking Bertens for a third time in a lengthy 10th game .
The Italian surged 3-0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ semi-finalist Bertens again rallied by winning the next three games .
Trevisan steadied herself and regained the initiative , failing to serve out the match at 5-3 but wrapping up the biggest win of her career in the following game .
Once a promising junior player , reaching the semi-finals in the girls doubles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon over a decade ago , Trevisan 's only other appearance in the main draw of a major came at the Australian Open in January .
She recently opened up on her struggles with anorexia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from tennis .

Paris (AFP) –
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Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens was dumped out of the French Open on Sunday when Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan registered a surprise 6-4, 6-4 victory to advance to the quarter-finals.
The 26-year-old Trevisan, ranked 159, had not won a Grand Slam main draw match before this tournament.
She goes on to face Polish teenager Iga Swiatek, who knocked out top seed Simona Halep, for a place in the last four.
"I'm living in a dream," said Trevisan, who saved two match points against Maria Sakkari in the third round.
"I came here two weeks ago to play my qualifying but today I'm here in the quarter-finals.
"Oh my god, I can't believe it. I'm really honoured to play on this court with Bertens who for me is an incredible player."
Trevisan raced into a 5-1 lead in the opening set but dropped serve twice before breaking Bertens for a third time in a lengthy 10th game.
The Italian surged 3-0 ahead in the second set but 2016 semi-finalist Bertens again rallied by winning the next three games.
Trevisan steadied herself and regained the initiative, failing to serve out the match at 5-3 but wrapping up the biggest win of her career in the following game.
Once a promising junior player, reaching the semi-finals in the girls doubles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon over a decade ago, Trevisan's only other appearance in the main draw of a major came at the Australian Open in January.
She recently opened up on her struggles with anorexia which prompted her to spend four years away from tennis.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--France steps up search efforts after floods

Eight people are still missing in France Rescue services stepped up their search efforts in southwestern France on Sunday after floods cut off several villages and killed two people in Italy , with eight still missing in France .
Breil-sur-Roya , a French village close to the Italian border , was a scene of devastation with houses buried in mud and turned-over cars stuck in the riverbed , an AFP journalist said .
Eight people were still missing on the French side of the border after storms , torrential rain and flash floods battered the area , washing away roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and triggering landslips .
Rescue efforts were concentrated on the Roya valley where around 1,000 firefighters backed up by helicopters and army units resumed their search hoping to find survivors , and giving assistance to people whose homes were destroyed or inaccessible .
Storm Alex barrelled into France 's west coast on Thursday bringing powerful winds and rain across the country before moving into Italy , where regions across the north suffered an onslaught on Saturday .
`` What we are going through is extraordinary , '' the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to seeing images of such disasters on other continents , sometimes with a lack of concern , but this here is something that affects us all , '' he told AFP .
Local authorities gave shelter to some 200 people overnight , while food and thousands of bottles of water were being airlifted into remote villages cut off by the storms .
Gonzalez called on the families of the missing people not to give up hope .
`` Just because their loved ones have n't been able to get in touch does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the storm , '' he said .
Many landline and some mobile phone services were disrupted , with some villages using satellite phones to communicate with rescue services .
Despite forecasts of more rain , rescue efforts were to continue throughout Sunday , Gonzalez said .
`` The helicopter procession will continue all day long , '' he said , adding however that the prospect of more heavy weather was `` a worry '' .
On the Italian side of the border several villages were also still cut off , and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Breil-sur-Roya (France) (AFP) –
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Rescue services stepped up their search efforts in southwestern France on Sunday after floods cut off several villages and killed two people in Italy, with eight still missing in France.
Breil-sur-Roya, a French village close to the Italian border, was a scene of devastation with houses buried in mud and turned-over cars stuck in the riverbed, an AFP journalist said.
Eight people were still missing on the French side of the border after storms, torrential rain and flash floods battered the area, washing away roads and houses, cutting off entire villages and triggering landslips.
Rescue efforts were concentrated on the Roya valley where around 1,000 firefighters backed up by helicopters and army units resumed their search hoping to find survivors, and giving assistance to people whose homes were destroyed or inaccessible.
Storm Alex barrelled into France's west coast on Thursday bringing powerful winds and rain across the country before moving into Italy, where regions across the north suffered an onslaught on Saturday.
"What we are going through is extraordinary," the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes region said Bernard Gonzalez.
"We are used to seeing images of such disasters on other continents, sometimes with a lack of concern, but this here is something that affects us all," he told AFP.
France has declared the region a natural disaster zone.
Local authorities gave shelter to some 200 people overnight, while food and thousands of bottles of water were being airlifted into remote villages cut off by the storms.
Gonzalez called on the families of the missing people not to give up hope.
"Just because their loved ones haven't been able to get in touch doesn't mean that they have been taken by the storm," he said.
Many landline and some mobile phone services were disrupted, with some villages using satellite phones to communicate with rescue services.
Despite forecasts of more rain, rescue efforts were to continue throughout Sunday, Gonzalez said.
"The helicopter procession will continue all day long," he said, adding however that the prospect of more heavy weather was "a worry".
On the Italian side of the border several villages were also still cut off, and many roads blocked, AFP journalists said.
burs/jh/cdw
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Partial results show New Caledonia rejects independence from France

People wait in line to cast their vote in the referendum on independence on the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia , in Noumea on October 4 , 2020 .
Partial results in an independence referendum on the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia on Sunday showed the 'no ' camp edging ahead in the vote over whether to break away from France .
The results released by France 's Ministry for Overseas Territories showed the 'no ' vote had 54.8 % support with 294 out of 304 polling stations counted and was expanding its lead as results came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditionally a bastion of pro-Paris loyalty .
Sunday 's independence referendum is part of a three-decade decolonisation effort aimed at settling tensions in New Caledonia between native Kanaks seeking independence and residents willing to remain in France .
It ’ s the second time the Pacific archipelago has gone to the polls to decide on its fate in two years .
The first referendum in 2018 resulted in the maintenance of the status quo with 56.7 percent of the vote .
But the 2018 result still marked a shift towards pro-independence sympathies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could manage to break free .
Enthusiasm was high and authorities said turnout was about 80 percent an hour before voting ended -- a full six points higher than in its first independence referendum held in 2018 -- leaving people to form long queues to cast their ballots .
`` I waited 45 minutes .
It 's very important for me to vote , '' said retiree Germaine Le Demezet in the capital Noumea .
`` I have children and grandchildren here , the future needs to be clear and we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us . ''
'The Pebble ' in the Pacific New Caledonia , situated between Australia and Fiji and sometimes called `` The Pebble '' , was seized by France in 1853 and is home to 270,000 people .
The economy 's mainstays are the production of metals , especially nickel of which New Caledonia is a major global producer , as well as tourism and financial support from mainland France .
The French government , from more than 16,000 kilometres ( 10,000 miles ) away , subsidises the territory with around 1.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year , the equivalent of more than 15 percent of New Caledonia 's gross domestic product .
A special authorisation allowing the French national flag to be used in campaign spots angered the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front ( FLNKS ) , which accused the French government of taking sides against independence .
The last former colonies to gain independence from France were Djibouti in 1977 and Vanuatu in 1980 .
French Prime Minister Jean Castex , whose government must remain scrupulously neutral in the vote , has said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actors in the aftermath of the poll .

The South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia voted against independence from France in a referendum on Sunday, full provisional results showed.
People wait in line to cast their vote in the referendum on independence on the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia, in Noumea on October 4, 2020.
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The 'no' camp won 53.26% of the vote, according to the archipelago's high commission, marking a narrower margin of victory than in a previous referendum in 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the referendum result with a "deep feeling of gratitude" in a speech from the Élysée Palace.
Sunday's independence referendum was part of a three-decade decolonisation effort aimed at settling tensions in New Caledonia between native Kanaks seeking independence and residents willing to remain in France.
00:35
It’s the second time the Pacific archipelago has gone to the polls to decide on its fate in two years. The first referendum in 2018 resulted in the maintenance of the status quo with 56.7 percent of the vote. The close result this time “opens the door to the possibility of a third independence referendum”, noted FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Philip Turle.
But the 2018 result still marked a shift towards pro-independence sympathies, raising campaigners' hopes that this time it could manage to break free.
03:32
High voter turnout
Enthusiasm was high and authorities said turnout was about 80 percent an hour before voting ended -- a full six points higher than in its first independence referendum held in 2018 -- leaving people to form long queues to cast their ballots.
"I waited 45 minutes. It's very important for me to vote," said retiree Germaine Le Demezet in the capital Noumea.
"I have children and grandchildren here, the future needs to be clear and we need to know what's going to happen to us."
'The Pebble' in the Pacific
New Caledonia, situated between Australia and Fiji and sometimes called "The Pebble", was seized by France in 1853 and is home to 270,000 people.
01:31
The economy's mainstays are the production of metals, especially nickel of which New Caledonia is a major global producer, as well as tourism and financial support from mainland France.
The French government, from more than 16,000 kilometres (10,000 miles) away, subsidises the territory with around 1.5 billion euros ($1.75 billion) every year, the equivalent of more than 15 percent of New Caledonia's gross domestic product.
A special authorisation allowing the French national flag to be used in campaign spots angered the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), which accused the French government of taking sides against independence.
The last former colonies to gain independence from France were Djibouti in 1977 and Vanuatu in 1980.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex, whose government must remain scrupulously neutral in the vote, has said he plans to talk to all the main actors in the aftermath of the poll.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-10-04--US, Iran officials visit Kuwait after death of emir

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper ( L ) met Kuwait 's new Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah ( R ) who was sworn in last week after the death of his brother Top officials from the US and Iran on Sunday visited Kuwait to meet with the new emir , Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah , who was sworn in last week .
Sheikh Nawaf succeeded his half-brother , Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah , a giant of Gulf diplomacy who died at the age of 91 .
In a divided region , Sheikh Sabah cultivated a role as a go-between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday 's visitors who included senior officials from arch-rivals Washington and Tehran .
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper conveyed his condolences over the loss of the late leader in a meeting with the new emir , who also expressed concern over the health of US President Donald Trump .
Sheikh Nawaf said he was glad that Trump , who has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with coronavirus , was `` recovering and well '' .
Esper thanked him for his `` expression of concern '' .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Kuwaiti counterpart to pay his respects .
Zarif `` congratulated them on the election of the new emir of Kuwait and stressed the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran , '' the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement .
Dubai 's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum also visited to express his condolences , the Dubai Media Office said in a tweet .
Kuwait and the United States are close allies , bound by a defence agreement that expires in 2022 , but the Gulf state also balances relations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The US alliance was sealed with the Gulf War in 1991 , during which a US-led international coalition expelled Saddam Hussein 's Iraqi troops from Kuwait after seven months of occupation .
Before arriving in Kuwait on Sunday , Esper spent the night in Qatar , another US ally in the oil-rich Gulf , where he discussed `` the importance of the strong defence partnership '' between the two countries .
Kuwait has also acted as a mediator in a diplomatic divide between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours , after Saudi Arabia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 imposed a blockade on Doha .

Kuwait City (AFP) –
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Top officials from the US and Iran on Sunday visited Kuwait to meet with the new emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was sworn in last week.
Sheikh Nawaf succeeded his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a giant of Gulf diplomacy who died at the age of 91.
In a divided region, Sheikh Sabah cultivated a role as a go-between and mediator, a status illustrated by Sunday's visitors who included senior officials from arch-rivals Washington and Tehran.
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper conveyed his condolences over the loss of the late leader in a meeting with the new emir, who also expressed concern over the health of US President Donald Trump.
Sheikh Nawaf said he was glad that Trump, who has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with coronavirus, was "recovering and well". Esper thanked him for his "expression of concern".
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif met separately with the new emir and his Kuwaiti counterpart to pay his respects.
Zarif "congratulated them on the election of the new emir of Kuwait and stressed the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum also visited to express his condolences, the Dubai Media Office said in a tweet.
Kuwait and the United States are close allies, bound by a defence agreement that expires in 2022, but the Gulf state also balances relations with regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The US alliance was sealed with the Gulf War in 1991, during which a US-led international coalition expelled Saddam Hussein's Iraqi troops from Kuwait after seven months of occupation.
Before arriving in Kuwait on Sunday, Esper spent the night in Qatar, another US ally in the oil-rich Gulf, where he discussed "the importance of the strong defence partnership" between the two countries.
Kuwait has also acted as a mediator in a diplomatic divide between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours, after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2017 imposed a blockade on Doha.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--'Surprised' Swiatek stuns top seed Halep to reach Roland Garros quarter-finals

Top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep was sent crashing out of Roland Garros on Sunday when Polish teenager Iga Swiatek stormed to a shock 6-1 , 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals .
Swiatek , just 19 and ranked 54 in the world , will take on either Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens or Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan for a place in the semi-finals .
`` I am surprised I could do this , '' admitted Swiatek after ending the 17-match winning streak of Halep who was the overwhelming favourite in the absence of 2019 champion Ashleigh Barty and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury-enforced withdrawal of Serena Williams .
`` I felt like I played a great match , '' added Swiatek who will be playing in her first quarter-finals at the majors .
It was a stunning turnaround for the Pole who won just one game against Halep at the same stage in Paris last year , getting swept off court in just 45 minutes .
`` Last year I was n't experienced enough , it was my first match in a big stadium so I was a little stressed .
`` But I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , playing girls like Simona , Naomi and Caroline Wozniacki .
Now I can handle the pressure . ''
Swiatek swept through the opening set in just 23 minutes , firing 17 winners to Halep 's four .
The teenager tightened her grip , breaking in the first game of the second set with Halep having to fight off four break points in the third game to stay afloat .
Swiatek 's assault continued against a player who arrived in Paris with claycourt titles in Prague and Rome .
Halep , 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fifth game but a weary forehand drifted wide and her Polish opponent was 4-1 up with the cushion of a double break .
She took victory on a second match point , ending the tie in 68 minutes on the back of 30 winners and not having allowed Wimbledon champion Halep a single break point .

Paris (AFP) –
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Top seed and 2018 champion Simona Halep was sent crashing out of Roland Garros on Sunday when Polish teenager Iga Swiatek stormed to a shock 6-1, 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals.
Swiatek, just 19 and ranked 54 in the world, will take on either Dutch fifth seed Kiki Bertens or Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan for a place in the semi-finals.
"I am surprised I could do this," admitted Swiatek after ending the 17-match winning streak of Halep who was the overwhelming favourite in the absence of 2019 champion Ashleigh Barty and US Open winner Naomi Osaka and the injury-enforced withdrawal of Serena Williams.
"I felt like I played a great match," added Swiatek who will be playing in her first quarter-finals at the majors.
It was a stunning turnaround for the Pole who won just one game against Halep at the same stage in Paris last year, getting swept off court in just 45 minutes.
"Last year I wasn't experienced enough, it was my first match in a big stadium so I was a little stressed.
"But I have made a lot of progress since then, playing girls like Simona, Naomi and Caroline Wozniacki. Now I can handle the pressure."
Swiatek swept through the opening set in just 23 minutes, firing 17 winners to Halep's four.
The teenager tightened her grip, breaking in the first game of the second set with Halep having to fight off four break points in the third game to stay afloat.
Swiatek's assault continued against a player who arrived in Paris with claycourt titles in Prague and Rome.
Halep, 29, saved five more break points in the fifth game but a weary forehand drifted wide and her Polish opponent was 4-1 up with the cushion of a double break.
She took victory on a second match point, ending the tie in 68 minutes on the back of 30 winners and not having allowed Wimbledon champion Halep a single break point.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Cities under fire as Armenia-Azerbaijan fighting intensifies

Locals gather near the remains of a shell in the Azerbaijani town of Beylagan on Sunday during the fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Armenian and Azerbaijani forces exchanged rocket fire as fighting intensified over Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday , with the breakaway region 's capital and Azerbaijan 's second-largest city bombarded .
Yerevan said Nagorno-Karabakh 's main city Stepanakert , which has been under artillery fire since Friday , was hit again on Sunday and AFP journalists said there were regular explosions and smoke rising in parts of the city .
Azerbaijan 's defence ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 330,000 in western Azerbaijan , was also `` under fire '' while separatist forces claimed to have destroyed an airbase there .
The two sides accused each other of targeting civilian areas , as the conflict appeared to be widening a week after heavy fighting broke out in the decades-old dispute over Karabakh .
Armenia and Azerbaijan have resisted international calls for a ceasefire and clashes have intensified in recent days , with both sides claiming victories on the front and saying they are inflicting heavy losses .
Sirens were sounding and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stepanakert , where residents were taking shelter including several families in the basement of a church .
Armenia 's foreign ministry said Stepanakert and the town of Martakert were under rocket attack and accused Azerbaijani forces of `` the deliberate targeting of the civilian population . ''
It said the air force was also involved .
Drones could be heard flying over Stepanakert .
Azerbaijan said Ganja was under fire , including from areas outside of Karabakh .
`` Armenian forces struck Ganja with rockets from Armenian territory , '' said Hikmet Hajiyev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aliyev .
He said Armenian forces had also used heavy artillery and rockets against the towns of Terter and Goradiz in Azerbaijan .
Karabakh 's separatist forces said they had targeted and destroyed an airbase in Ganja , while the region 's leader , Arayik Harutyunyan , warned that it would now consider `` military facilities in Azerbaijan 's big cities '' as legitimate targets .
`` I call on the residents of these cities to immediately leave , '' Harutyunyan said in a post on Facebook .
Azerbaijan claims to have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its defence ministry saying that 14 settlements have been taken as well as a strategically important plateau .
In an address to the country on Saturday , Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenians were facing a `` decisive moment '' and called for the nation to come together .
Armenia on Saturday announced the deaths of 51 more separatist fighters , taking the number of reported fatalities on both sides above 240 , including more than 30 civilians .
Russia , the United States and France -- whose leaders co-chair a mediation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political resolution to the conflict -- have called for an immediate halt to the fighting .
Armenia has said it is `` ready to engage '' with mediators but Azerbaijan -- which considers Karabakh under Armenian occupation -- has said Armenian forces must fully withdraw before a ceasefire can be brokered .
Karabakh 's declaration of independence from Azerbaijan during the collapse of the Soviet Union sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives .
Talks to resolve the conflict have made little progress since a 1994 ceasefire agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as independent by any country -- including Armenia -- and Karabakh said Saturday that international recognition was `` the only way towards peace and security in the region '' .
Yerevan has accused Turkey of dispatching mercenaries from Syria and Libya to the fighting -- an allegation confirmed and denounced by Russia and France .

Stepanakert (Azerbaijan) (AFP) –
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Armenian and Azerbaijani forces exchanged rocket fire as fighting intensified over Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, with the breakaway region's capital and Azerbaijan's second-largest city bombarded.
Yerevan said Nagorno-Karabakh's main city Stepanakert, which has been under artillery fire since Friday, was hit again on Sunday and AFP journalists said there were regular explosions and smoke rising in parts of the city.
Azerbaijan's defence ministry said Ganja, a city of more than 330,000 in western Azerbaijan, was also "under fire" while separatist forces claimed to have destroyed an airbase there.
The two sides accused each other of targeting civilian areas, as the conflict appeared to be widening a week after heavy fighting broke out in the decades-old dispute over Karabakh.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have resisted international calls for a ceasefire and clashes have intensified in recent days, with both sides claiming victories on the front and saying they are inflicting heavy losses.
Sirens were sounding and explosions were heard at regular intervals in Stepanakert, where residents were taking shelter including several families in the basement of a church.
Armenia's foreign ministry said Stepanakert and the town of Martakert were under rocket attack and accused Azerbaijani forces of "the deliberate targeting of the civilian population."
It said the air force was also involved. Drones could be heard flying over Stepanakert.
Azerbaijan said Ganja was under fire, including from areas outside of Karabakh.
"Armenian forces struck Ganja with rockets from Armenian territory," said Hikmet Hajiyev, an advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
He said Armenian forces had also used heavy artillery and rockets against the towns of Terter and Goradiz in Azerbaijan.
- 'Decisive moment' -
Karabakh's separatist forces said they had targeted and destroyed an airbase in Ganja, while the region's leader, Arayik Harutyunyan, warned that it would now consider "military facilities in Azerbaijan's big cities" as legitimate targets.
"I call on the residents of these cities to immediately leave," Harutyunyan said in a post on Facebook.
Azerbaijan claims to have made gains in Karabakh in recent days, with its defence ministry saying that 14 settlements have been taken as well as a strategically important plateau.
In an address to the country on Saturday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenians were facing a "decisive moment" and called for the nation to come together.
Armenia on Saturday announced the deaths of 51 more separatist fighters, taking the number of reported fatalities on both sides above 240, including more than 30 civilians.
Russia, the United States and France -- whose leaders co-chair a mediation group that has failed to bring about a political resolution to the conflict -- have called for an immediate halt to the fighting.
Armenia has said it is "ready to engage" with mediators but Azerbaijan -- which considers Karabakh under Armenian occupation -- has said Armenian forces must fully withdraw before a ceasefire can be brokered.
Karabakh's declaration of independence from Azerbaijan during the collapse of the Soviet Union sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives.
Talks to resolve the conflict have made little progress since a 1994 ceasefire agreement.
The breakaway province is not acknowledged as independent by any country -- including Armenia -- and Karabakh said Saturday that international recognition was "the only way towards peace and security in the region".
Yerevan has accused Turkey of dispatching mercenaries from Syria and Libya to the fighting -- an allegation confirmed and denounced by Russia and France.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Three Salzburg players test positive after Maccabi play-off

Austrian champions Salzburg announced Sunday that three players had tested positive for coronavirus after their midweek Champions League play-off match @ @ @ @ @ champions Salzburg announced Sunday that three players had tested positive for coronavirus after their midweek @ @ @ @ @ Maccabi Tel Aviv .
In a statement on its social media channels , the club @ @ @ @ @ three players was currently displaying symptoms and all of them were now in quarantine .
@ @ @ @ @ are in so-called `` team quarantine '' , meaning they are only allowed to attend @ @ @ @ @ Obviously checks will take place more frequently in the coming period , '' Salzburg said @ @ @ @ @ team members will not be available to play for the Austrian national team for the @ @ @ @ @ beat Maccabi 3-1 in the second leg of the qualifying play-off round on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ Austria has so far registered more than 48,000 coronavirus cases and 813 deaths .

Vienna (AFP) –
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Austrian champions Salzburg announced Sunday that three players had tested positive for coronavirus after their midweek Champions League play-off match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
In a statement on its social media channels, the club said that none of the three players was currently displaying symptoms and all of them were now in quarantine.
The rest of the squad are in so-called "team quarantine", meaning they are only allowed to attend training and matches.
"Obviously checks will take place more frequently in the coming period," Salzburg said.
In addition, Salzburg team members will not be available to play for the Austrian national team for the next two weeks.
Salzburg beat Maccabi 3-1 in the second leg of the qualifying play-off round on Wednesday, advancing 5-2 on aggregate.
Austria has so far registered more than 48,000 coronavirus cases and 813 deaths.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Interpol issues 'red notice' for Thai Red Bull heir over hit-and-run

Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya will be prosecuted for reckless driving over a fatal hit-and-run after crashing his Ferrari ( pictured in 2012 ) Interpol has issued a `` red notice '' to arrest the fugitive Thai heir to the Red Bull billions for his role in a fatal hit-and-run , police said Sunday .
The move by the international police organisation is the latest in the years-long saga surrounding Vorayuth `` Boss '' Yoovidhya who crashed his Ferrari in 2012 , killing a police officer .
The charges against Vorayuth , who is the grandson of Red Bull 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparking public outrage from Thais who saw it as an example of impunity enjoyed by the kingdom 's elite .
It spurred probes by various government agencies , including the Attorney General 's Office which last month announced fresh charges against Vorayuth of reckless driving causing death and cocaine use .
National Police spokesman Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen confirmed Sunday a red notice -- Interpol 's most urgent alert -- was issued earlier this week .
`` After we received the confirmation , we then passed our request to 194 member countries asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP .
`` We have to do whatever it takes to ... ultimately bring him back to the country because it is a serious crime . ''
A red notice for Vorayuth had not been published on the Interpol website as of Sunday afternoon .
The fugitive heir fled the country back in 2017 on a private jet .
After charges against him were dropped in July , a probe conducted by Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha 's office concluded the entire investigation had been `` compromised '' .
The public outcry over Vorayuth came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , coinciding with near-daily protests across Thailand led by pro-democracy student leaders calling for Prayut 's resignation .
Protesters have carried cardboard cut-outs of Red Bull 's logo to symbolise their anger at the military-aligned government , which enjoys close alliances with the kingdom 's billionaire families .
The clan of Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya is Thailand 's second richest , boasting a fortune estimated at $ 20.2 billion according to Forbes .

Bangkok (AFP) –
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Interpol has issued a "red notice" to arrest the fugitive Thai heir to the Red Bull billions for his role in a fatal hit-and-run, police said Sunday.
The move by the international police organisation is the latest in the years-long saga surrounding Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya who crashed his Ferrari in 2012, killing a police officer.
The charges against Vorayuth, who is the grandson of Red Bull's co-founder, were dropped in July -- sparking public outrage from Thais who saw it as an example of impunity enjoyed by the kingdom's elite.
It spurred probes by various government agencies, including the Attorney General's Office which last month announced fresh charges against Vorayuth of reckless driving causing death and cocaine use.
National Police spokesman Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen confirmed Sunday a red notice -- Interpol's most urgent alert -- was issued earlier this week.
"After we received the confirmation, we then passed our request to 194 member countries asking for assistance from them," he told AFP.
"We have to do whatever it takes to... ultimately bring him back to the country because it is a serious crime."
A red notice for Vorayuth had not been published on the Interpol website as of Sunday afternoon.
The fugitive heir fled the country back in 2017 on a private jet.
After charges against him were dropped in July, a probe conducted by Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha's office concluded the entire investigation had been "compromised".
The public outcry over Vorayuth came at a particularly tense period for the government, coinciding with near-daily protests across Thailand led by pro-democracy student leaders calling for Prayut's resignation.
Protesters have carried cardboard cut-outs of Red Bull's logo to symbolise their anger at the military-aligned government, which enjoys close alliances with the kingdom's billionaire families.
The clan of Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya is Thailand's second richest, boasting a fortune estimated at $20.2 billion according to Forbes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-04--Enable bids for Arc history, O'Brien withdraws runners

Aidan O'Brien 's decision to withdraw all four of his runners including Epsom Derby champion Serpentine has boosted Enable 's chances of winning an historic third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Enable bids to become the first horse to win the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe three times on Sunday , boosted by the shock withdrawal of Aidan O'Brien 's four runners .
Frankie Dettori and Enable will now face just 10 rivals with the rain-affected ground at Longchamp racecourse the main obstacle to her making history .
O'Brien withdrew his quartet -- which included the fancied Mogul and Epsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after they tested positive for a banned substance .
It is believed the substance may have been in contaminated horse feed .
Leading English trainer Roger Varian withdrew all seven runners he had racing in England on Saturday due to using the same feed .
Various batches of Gain Equine Nutrition feeds have been found to be contaminated with a prohibited substance .
`` Unfortunately the results of the urine samples taken from the horses yesterday have come back positive from the French laboratory , '' read a tweet from O'Brien 's Ballydoyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility that the contaminant may have left their system by the time of racing tomorrow .
`` However we have no guarantee of this , and in order to protect the integrity of racing we have decided to withdraw all our horses from racing tomorrow ( Sunday ) . ''
Enable may be unaffected by the feed furore but the heavy rain throughout the week in Paris has turned the ground at Longchamp into a real challenge for her .
Dettori described the going as `` heavy '' after riding there on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and saying it was the `` most gruelling '' he had ever experienced at the track .
Enable 's trainer John Gosden mused it was `` Nature 's way of getting back at us ( humans ) '' after years of neglecting it .
The 69-year-old Englishman , who along with Dettori is bidding for their fourth win in six editions of the Arc , fears the race is going to turn into a grim test of endurance .
`` She ( Enable ) does n't much like that ground .
She prefers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she can show her class , but it is going to be a bit of a slog , '' said Gosden .
`` It is drying up now and it is tacky , but you might get another shower or two .
`` It is Longchamp , by the River Seine -– it is deep . ''
Enable would not have been running but for seeing her hopes of a third successive Arc triumph last year dashed when runner-up having been collared by Waldgeist in the dying strides .
`` I think Prince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) was brave in saying we 'll try again , '' Gosden told English broadcaster ITV .
`` We 're here and we 're trying .
We care about the filly in every way , she 's a gorgeous filly to be around and she 's been with us for five years .
`` Let 's hope she gets a great run round -– and if she wins , marvellous , if she does n't , she couldn ’ t have done more for racing .
`` She reminds me of the great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denman , Arkle , Desert Orchids –- she ’ s that kind of feeling . ''
Gosden is two-handed as he runs his legendary three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius but he dislikes the 'bottomless ground ' even more than Enable .
Winning the Arc has been the dream of Japanese turfistes for decades but their one runner Deirdre has been in poor form this year .
Enable 's greatest dangers appear to be the Jean Claude Rouget-trained duo Sotsass and Raabihah and Francis-Henri Graffard 's German Derby winner In Swoop .
Graffard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be unduly alarmed if he is trailing behind the other runners early on .
`` He 's by nature a very calm horse , which can almost give the impression that he ’ s not engaged mentally in his race , '' said Graffard .
`` He only really hit full stride in the final 200 metres of the race ( the German Derby ) before going on to win . ''

Paris (AFP) –
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Enable bids to become the first horse to win the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe three times on Sunday, boosted by the shock withdrawal of Aidan O'Brien's four runners.
Frankie Dettori and Enable will now face just 10 rivals with the rain-affected ground at Longchamp racecourse the main obstacle to her making history.
O'Brien withdrew his quartet -- which included the fancied Mogul and Epsom Derby champion Serpentine -- late on Saturday after they tested positive for a banned substance.
It is believed the substance may have been in contaminated horse feed. Leading English trainer Roger Varian withdrew all seven runners he had racing in England on Saturday due to using the same feed.
Various batches of Gain Equine Nutrition feeds have been found to be contaminated with a prohibited substance.
"Unfortunately the results of the urine samples taken from the horses yesterday have come back positive from the French laboratory," read a tweet from O'Brien's Ballydoyle Stables account.
"There is a possibility that the contaminant may have left their system by the time of racing tomorrow.
"However we have no guarantee of this, and in order to protect the integrity of racing we have decided to withdraw all our horses from racing tomorrow (Sunday)."
Enable may be unaffected by the feed furore but the heavy rain throughout the week in Paris has turned the ground at Longchamp into a real challenge for her.
Dettori described the going as "heavy" after riding there on Saturday with fellow jockey Christophe Soumillon going further and saying it was the "most gruelling" he had ever experienced at the track.
- 'A very calm horse' -
Enable's trainer John Gosden mused it was "Nature's way of getting back at us (humans)" after years of neglecting it.
The 69-year-old Englishman, who along with Dettori is bidding for their fourth win in six editions of the Arc, fears the race is going to turn into a grim test of endurance.
"She (Enable) doesn't much like that ground. She prefers the easy side of good, so she can show her class, but it is going to be a bit of a slog," said Gosden.
"It is drying up now and it is tacky, but you might get another shower or two.
"It is Longchamp, by the River Seine -– it is deep."
Enable would not have been running but for seeing her hopes of a third successive Arc triumph last year dashed when runner-up having been collared by Waldgeist in the dying strides.
"I think Prince Khalid (Abdullah her owner and breeder) was brave in saying we'll try again," Gosden told English broadcaster ITV.
"We're here and we're trying. We care about the filly in every way, she's a gorgeous filly to be around and she's been with us for five years.
"Let's hope she gets a great run round -– and if she wins, marvellous, if she doesn't, she couldn’t have done more for racing.
"She reminds me of the great jumping legends who had tremendous popular appeal Denman, Arkle, Desert Orchids –- she’s that kind of feeling."
Gosden is two-handed as he runs his legendary three-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius but he dislikes the 'bottomless ground' even more than Enable.
Winning the Arc has been the dream of Japanese turfistes for decades but their one runner Deirdre has been in poor form this year.
Enable's greatest dangers appear to be the Jean Claude Rouget-trained duo Sotsass and Raabihah and Francis-Henri Graffard's German Derby winner In Swoop.
Graffard says those who back In Swoop should not be unduly alarmed if he is trailing behind the other runners early on.
"He's by nature a very calm horse, which can almost give the impression that he’s not engaged mentally in his race," said Graffard.
"He only really hit full stride in the final 200 metres of the race (the German Derby) before going on to win."
© 2020 AFP