france24--2020-11-20--Virus infections, dropouts hit Sri Lanka cricket league

Sohail Tanvir was one of the players who tested positive on arrival in Sri Lanka Two foreign players tested positive for coronavirus as they arrived in Sri Lanka for a thrice-delayed Twenty20 cricket tournament , officials said Friday as several other top stars dropped out .
Pakistan 's Sohail Tanvir and Canada 's Ravinderpal Singh were isolated and placed under medical care Friday as their on-arrival Covid-19 tests showed they were infected , officials said .
The setback for the Lanka Premier League ( LPL ) came as big-hitting West Indian star Chris Gayle told his Kandy Tuskers team he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a hamstring injury , a spokesman for the Tuskers told AFP .
South African batsman Faf du Plessis also opted out as he had to be with his national team for its tour of England coinciding with the LPL , match organisers said .
Lasith Malinga , Sri Lanka 's Twenty20 skipper , backed out saying he had not had enough practice to take part in the 23-match tournament starting on November 26 and ending on December 17 .
Strict quarantine restrictions meant all players for the five teams had to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotel in the island 's south by Thursday .
Health authorities have insisted on a one-week quarantine at the hotel .
Matches are to be played at Hambantota stadium with no spectators .
Other players who have withdrawn include England all-rounder Ravi Bopara and Kabir Ali , a former English cricketer who was due to coach one of the teams .
Ali tested positive for the coronavirus just before he was due to arrive in Sri Lanka and was replaced by former South African star Herschelle Gibbs , who had travelled to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The league was postponed three times because of the pandemic , but the Sri Lanka cricket board insisted Friday that it would go ahead as currently planned .

Colombo (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Two foreign players tested positive for coronavirus as they arrived in Sri Lanka for a thrice-delayed Twenty20 cricket tournament, officials said Friday as several other top stars dropped out.
Pakistan's Sohail Tanvir and Canada's Ravinderpal Singh were isolated and placed under medical care Friday as their on-arrival Covid-19 tests showed they were infected, officials said.
The setback for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) came as big-hitting West Indian star Chris Gayle told his Kandy Tuskers team he would not be able to attend because of a hamstring injury, a spokesman for the Tuskers told AFP.
South African batsman Faf du Plessis also opted out as he had to be with his national team for its tour of England coinciding with the LPL, match organisers said.
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka's Twenty20 skipper, backed out saying he had not had enough practice to take part in the 23-match tournament starting on November 26 and ending on December 17.
Strict quarantine restrictions meant all players for the five teams had to join a "bio-secure bubble" at a hotel in the island's south by Thursday.
Health authorities have insisted on a one-week quarantine at the hotel. Matches are to be played at Hambantota stadium with no spectators.
Other players who have withdrawn include England all-rounder Ravi Bopara and Kabir Ali, a former English cricketer who was due to coach one of the teams.
Ali tested positive for the coronavirus just before he was due to arrive in Sri Lanka and was replaced by former South African star Herschelle Gibbs, who had travelled to the island as a commentator for the competition.
The league was postponed three times because of the pandemic, but the Sri Lanka cricket board insisted Friday that it would go ahead as currently planned.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Thailand's 'Bad Students' get an education from the streets

Thailand 's 'Bad Students ' get an education from the streets A mild-mannered teenage girl with owl glasses , a @ @ @ @ @ on her fingernails is not your typical school troublemaker .
The 15-year-old is at the @ @ @ @ @ Bad Student '' movement which is planning a major rally in Bangkok on Saturday .

Thailand's 'Bad Students' get an education from the streets
01:17
A mild-mannered teenage girl with owl glasses, a bob haircut and daisies painted on her fingernails is not your typical school troublemaker. The 15-year-old is at the forefront of Thailand's "Bad Student" movement which is planning a major rally in Bangkok on Saturday.


france24--2020-11-20--28 die in violent start to Uganda's election season

Violence erupted after the arrest of opposition leader Bobi Wine , President Yoweri Museveni 's main opponent in January 's election At least twenty-eight people died in violent clashes between Ugandan security forces and supporters of a detained opposition presidential candidate this week , marking a particularly violent start to the country 's election season .
Two days of protests were sparked by the arrest of Bobi Wine ahead of a political rally in support of his bid for the presidency in January 14 's election .
Dozens died and hundreds were arrested as tyres were burned and police responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullets and live rounds in the capital Kampala and other towns .
On Friday , there was a heavy police and army presence in Kampala with roadblocks and security checks , after protests turned to looting and robberies the evening before .
`` We would like to inform the public that a total of 28 people have died following the violent political demonstrations , in multiple areas , '' police spokesman Fred Enanga told a press conference .
Enanga claimed the protests were `` part of a loosely coordinated campaign '' and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as bottles , tyres and fuel for incendiary devices had been found .
`` All indicators reveal these were not just impromptu actions , '' he said .
Enanga added that 375 people had been arrested with some suspects due to appear in court Friday , Wine among them .
The violence has raised fears and attracted condemnation .
`` The increasing spate of violence so early in the campaign season does not bode well for the weeks to come before the elections , '' said Oryem Nyeko , Africa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights group called for Wine 's release and for security forces to `` respect the rights of people to peacefully protest his detention '' .
In New York , UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Thursday also called for Wine 's release .
`` We call for the immediate release of the detained opposition leaders , including Bobi Wine , and it 's important that security forces act in a way that respects human rights principles and the rule of law in dealing with protesters . ''
The US embassy said it deplored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims and their families .
`` We urge all parties to renounce violence , undertake good-faith measures to reduce tensions , and respect fundamental freedoms , '' it tweeted .
Wine , a 38-year-old popstar-turned-politician , has become a lightning rod for opposition to President Yoweri Museveni who is seeking a sixth term in power , extending his 36-year rule .
Many young Ugandans see Wine as their champion in a country mired in poverty and youth unemployment .
Museveni , a 76-year-old former rebel who seized power in 1986 , is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been repeatedly arrested , most recently on November 3 after he filed his candidacy for the elections , his concerts are routinely banned and his public rallies broken up with teargas .
Other opposition candidates have also been detained and had their rallies broken up by security forces who claim the gatherings contravene Covid-19 restrictions .
However , Museveni 's own rallies have gone ahead unimpeded .
`` The authorities have consistently used Covid-19 guidelines as an excuse for violent repression of the opposition rather than to safeguard the democratic playing field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Nyeko .

Kampala (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
At least twenty-eight people died in violent clashes between Ugandan security forces and supporters of a detained opposition presidential candidate this week, marking a particularly violent start to the country's election season.
Two days of protests were sparked by the arrest of Bobi Wine ahead of a political rally in support of his bid for the presidency in January 14's election.
Dozens died and hundreds were arrested as tyres were burned and police responded to hurled rocks with teargas, rubber bullets and live rounds in the capital Kampala and other towns.
On Friday, there was a heavy police and army presence in Kampala with roadblocks and security checks, after protests turned to looting and robberies the evening before.
"We would like to inform the public that a total of 28 people have died following the violent political demonstrations, in multiple areas," police spokesman Fred Enanga told a press conference.
Enanga claimed the protests were "part of a loosely coordinated campaign" and not spontaneous, adding that bows and arrows, as well as bottles, tyres and fuel for incendiary devices had been found.
"All indicators reveal these were not just impromptu actions," he said.
Enanga added that 375 people had been arrested with some suspects due to appear in court Friday, Wine among them.
- Calls for release -
The violence has raised fears and attracted condemnation.
"The increasing spate of violence so early in the campaign season does not bode well for the weeks to come before the elections," said Oryem Nyeko, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.
The rights group called for Wine's release and for security forces to "respect the rights of people to peacefully protest his detention".
In New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Thursday also called for Wine's release.
"We call for the immediate release of the detained opposition leaders, including Bobi Wine, and it's important that security forces act in a way that respects human rights principles and the rule of law in dealing with protesters."
The US embassy said it deplored the violence and extended its sympathy to the victims and their families.
"We urge all parties to renounce violence, undertake good-faith measures to reduce tensions, and respect fundamental freedoms," it tweeted.
- 'Weaponising' the pandemic -
Wine, a 38-year-old popstar-turned-politician, has become a lightning rod for opposition to President Yoweri Museveni who is seeking a sixth term in power, extending his 36-year rule.
Many young Ugandans see Wine as their champion in a country mired in poverty and youth unemployment.
Museveni, a 76-year-old former rebel who seized power in 1986, is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.
Wine has been repeatedly arrested, most recently on November 3 after he filed his candidacy for the elections, his concerts are routinely banned and his public rallies broken up with teargas.
Other opposition candidates have also been detained and had their rallies broken up by security forces who claim the gatherings contravene Covid-19 restrictions.
However, Museveni's own rallies have gone ahead unimpeded.
Human Rights Watch accused Uganda of seeking to "weaponise" pandemic restrictions.
"The authorities have consistently used Covid-19 guidelines as an excuse for violent repression of the opposition rather than to safeguard the democratic playing field for free and fair elections," said Nyeko.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Rooney says English football should follow US example with heading ban

England 's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has joined other high profile past and present footballers in calling for a ban on children heading the ball due to concerns over the potential this could lead to dementia later in life England 's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney says children should be banned from heading the ball , following the example of the United States , to reduce the chances of getting dementia later in life .
Former Barcelona and England star Gary Lineker and 1966 World Cup winner Geoff Hurst are among leading names who have called for new regulations to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in Scotland concluded professional footballers are around three and a half times more likely to die of dementia than the general population .
Rooney told the Daily Telegraph he witnessed the US rules frst hand with his son Kai when he played for MLS franchise D.C. United .
`` When we lived in the States , my eldest boy was in a football team and heading was banned in training and in games , '' said Rooney , who now plays for Championship side Derby .
`` If the ball was coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from it and let it run through , so maybe that 's something that could happen on a more regular basis over here .
“ Clearly , something needs to change to make sure this does n't happen to the next generation of players when young men are dying of this disease . ''
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has also says minimising heading could become part of training sessions .
`` I think it is viable , '' he said .
`` We have to start with youth football and at the youth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are developing and their bodies are developing .
“ We can really control the levels of training and I 'm not sure , technically , how important it is to overload training at that age .
`` If we now know there is a health aspect to it , then we can control that . ''
Rooney 's former United team-mate , Newcastle manager Steve Bruce , was a renowned header of the ball .
Bruce has welcomed the Professional Footballers ' Association 's announcement that that they are setting up a taskforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In my career , and every day when I was young we headed a ball in the gym and we ran outside and repeated it hour after hour , '' Bruce said on Friday .
`` There is a genuine concern , when you see players before my era , so why would n't it affect my era ? ''
The family of another 1966 World Cup winner , Nobby Stiles , who died last month aged 78 after living with dementia in his final years , are furious that former players struggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support from the PFA .
`` How can it be right that some of the heroes of 1966 had to sell their medals ( like Stiles ) to provide for the families ? ''
they said this week .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
England's record goalscorer Wayne Rooney says children should be banned from heading the ball, following the example of the United States, to reduce the chances of getting dementia later in life.
Former Barcelona and England star Gary Lineker and 1966 World Cup winner Geoff Hurst are among leading names who have called for new regulations to prevent children heading balls.
A study carried out in Scotland concluded professional footballers are around three and a half times more likely to die of dementia than the general population.
Rooney told the Daily Telegraph he witnessed the US rules frst hand with his son Kai when he played for MLS franchise D.C. United.
"When we lived in the States, my eldest boy was in a football team and heading was banned in training and in games," said Rooney, who now plays for Championship side Derby.
"If the ball was coming to their head, they moved away from it and let it run through, so maybe that's something that could happen on a more regular basis over here.
“Clearly, something needs to change to make sure this doesn't happen to the next generation of players when young men are dying of this disease."
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has also says minimising heading could become part of training sessions.
"I think it is viable," he said.
"We have to start with youth football and at the youth end of the spectrum, children who are developing and their bodies are developing.
“We can really control the levels of training and I'm not sure, technically, how important it is to overload training at that age.
"If we now know there is a health aspect to it, then we can control that."
Rooney's former United team-mate, Newcastle manager Steve Bruce, was a renowned header of the ball.
Bruce has welcomed the Professional Footballers' Association's announcement that that they are setting up a taskforce to look into the matter.
"In my career, and every day when I was young we headed a ball in the gym and we ran outside and repeated it hour after hour," Bruce said on Friday.
"There is a genuine concern, when you see players before my era, so why wouldn't it affect my era?"
The family of another 1966 World Cup winner, Nobby Stiles, who died last month aged 78 after living with dementia in his final years, are furious that former players struggling with the condition are receiving no financial support from the PFA.
"How can it be right that some of the heroes of 1966 had to sell their medals (like Stiles) to provide for the families?" they said this week.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Second Covid wave may have peaked in France: health agency

France may be past the worst of its second wave of coronavirus infections , the country 's health agency said Friday , warning however that protective measures should be kept in place .
Thanks to curfews and lockdowns , confirmed new infections dropped 40 percent last week , admissions to hospital fell 13 percent , and the number of new intensive care patients was down nine percent , Sante Publique France said .
The data provided fresh arguments for shop owners who have been lobbying to be allowed to reopen for the crucial Christmas period , while the government was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming Black Friday shopping splurge .
`` Although indicators are still at high levels , they suggest that the peak of the second peak is behind us , '' the agency said .
The number of Covid deaths has stabilised after several weeks of increases , the agency said , with 3,756 recorded fatalities compared with 3,817 a week earlier .
French cities that imposed curfews earliest are now seeing the sharpest decreases in patient numbers , Sante Publique said .
Confinement measures were having `` a direct impact '' on patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 10 days after restrictions kicked in .
The government placed Paris and some other large cities on curfew on October 17 , with others following suit a week later .
But since October 30 , all of France has been under a lockdown , though it is less severe than the one seen in the spring , with schools still open and a wider range of shops still welcoming clients .
Sante Public said the `` encouraging '' statistics `` should not make us forget that pending the availability of treatments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic and lessen its impact on the health system is still to adopt individual prevention measures , combined with collective measures . ''
Health Minister Olivier Véran said Thursday that lifting the lockdown was not on the agenda for now .
On Friday , Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari warned that it was too early to say whether people would be able to travel at Christmas , saying the Covid trend reversal was still `` fragile . ''
National rail operator SNCF has slashed train schedules by 70 percent , but is planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity starting December 15 .
The French finance ministry on Friday was to discuss options concerning Black Friday , a day of sales promotions that falls on November 27 this year .
Originally a US retail fest , Black Friday has caught on across the world , with French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette saying it generated more revenue on Black Friday in 2019 than on any other day of the year .
Government officials said reopening brick-and-mortar stores on that day was one of the options on the table , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endanger progress made against infections .
Postponing Black Friday by a week was also up for discussion , they said .
French stores have complained that the retail day would unfairly benefit online retail giants like Amazon if high street stores remained shuttered .
The head of Amazon 's French operations , Frederic Duval , has said his company was in favour of moving Black Friday back to December 4 `` if that allows shops and physical stores to reopen before December 1 '' .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
France may be past the worst of its second wave of coronavirus infections, the country's health agency said Friday, warning however that protective measures should be kept in place.
Thanks to curfews and lockdowns, confirmed new infections dropped 40 percent last week, admissions to hospital fell 13 percent, and the number of new intensive care patients was down nine percent, Sante Publique France said.
The data provided fresh arguments for shop owners who have been lobbying to be allowed to reopen for the crucial Christmas period, while the government was trying to decide what to do about the coming Black Friday shopping splurge.
"Although indicators are still at high levels, they suggest that the peak of the second peak is behind us," the agency said.
The number of Covid deaths has stabilised after several weeks of increases, the agency said, with 3,756 recorded fatalities compared with 3,817 a week earlier.
- 'Direct impact' -
French cities that imposed curfews earliest are now seeing the sharpest decreases in patient numbers, Sante Publique said.
Confinement measures were having "a direct impact" on patient statistics, which typically started to fall around 10 days after restrictions kicked in.
The government placed Paris and some other large cities on curfew on October 17, with others following suit a week later.
But since October 30, all of France has been under a lockdown, though it is less severe than the one seen in the spring, with schools still open and a wider range of shops still welcoming clients.
Sante Public said the "encouraging" statistics "should not make us forget that pending the availability of treatments and vaccines, the only way to slow the pandemic and lessen its impact on the health system is still to adopt individual prevention measures, combined with collective measures."
Health Minister Olivier Véran said Thursday that lifting the lockdown was not on the agenda for now.
On Friday, Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari warned that it was too early to say whether people would be able to travel at Christmas, saying the Covid trend reversal was still "fragile."
National rail operator SNCF has slashed train schedules by 70 percent, but is planning to ramp its network back to normal capacity starting December 15.
The French finance ministry on Friday was to discuss options concerning Black Friday, a day of sales promotions that falls on November 27 this year.
Originally a US retail fest, Black Friday has caught on across the world, with French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette saying it generated more revenue on Black Friday in 2019 than on any other day of the year.
Government officials said reopening brick-and-mortar stores on that day was one of the options on the table, but they feared that crowds flocking into shops could endanger progress made against infections.
Postponing Black Friday by a week was also up for discussion, they said.
French stores have complained that the retail day would unfairly benefit online retail giants like Amazon if high street stores remained shuttered.
The head of Amazon's French operations, Frederic Duval, has said his company was in favour of moving Black Friday back to December 4 "if that allows shops and physical stores to reopen before December 1".
burs/jh/js/pma
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Thalys train attack trial: American "heroes" scheduled to give testimony

The trial of Moroccan national Ayoub el Khazzani , who opened fire aboard a Thalys train traveling through Northern Europe @ @ @ @ @ started on Monday in Paris .

Page not found
The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.


france24--2020-11-20--Air France-KLM prepares Covid-19 vaccine airlift

Air France-KLM is among airlines gearing up for the challenge of transporting millions of doses of temperature-sensitive Covid-19 vaccines in @ @ @ @ @ slump .
Breakthrough vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna have yet to win final approval @ @ @ @ @ their logistics and cargo providers are not waiting for a green light to activate freight @ @ @ @ @ .

Air France-KLM prepares Covid-19 vaccine airlift
01:41
Air France-KLM is among airlines gearing up for the challenge of transporting millions of doses of temperature-sensitive Covid-19 vaccines in the midst of a travel slump. Breakthrough vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna have yet to win final approval, but the drugmakers, their logistics and cargo providers are not waiting for a green light to activate freight plans. FRANCE 24 reports.


france24--2020-11-20--Denmark's mink farmers despair as livelihood dies

Denmark 's cull has left mink farmers in despair -- the country is the world 's biggest exporter of pelts but the animals can catch the coronavirus and also pass it back to humans Denmark 's mink farmers are mourning what they say is the death of their industry after a government order to cull all of their stocks over a mutated variant of the new coronavirus .
On Saturday , angry farmers and supporters plan to demonstrate against the cull in the country 's two biggest cities , Copenhagen and Aarhus , with 400 tractors expected to roll in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Marianne Norgaard Sorensen tells AFP .
`` Words ca n't describe the nightmare we 've been through . ''
She and her husband , who has been a mink farmer since 1993 , live in North Jutland , the region in northwestern Denmark home to the most mink farms .
Like millions of others across the country , their 27,000 minks were slaughtered in early November and around two thirds of the country 's stocks have been culled to date .
`` We wrote to the veterinary authorities to ask for two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and took over .
It was very harsh , video of the slaughter went online , '' she recalls .
`` If we had only had two more days , we would have done it in a more humane way . ''
Denmark 's mink breeding began in the 1930s , when farmers sought to diversify their business as butter and meat prices tumbled .
Boosted by a favourable climate , the sector peaked in the 1960s , when there were some 6,000 farms compared to around 1,000 today .
With three times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now the world 's biggest exporter of pelts , ringing up sales of 670 million euros ( $ 792 million ) annually , and the second-biggest producer behind China .
The animal is prized for its soft fur , used in the fashion industry for coats , collars and hats .
Wearing fur remains especially popular in China , while attitudes have shifted in the West over the years .
But minks have posed a problem in the fight against the new coronavirus .
The animals can catch the virus , and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early November , the Danish government sounded the alarm when it announced a nationwide cull of its 15 to 17 million minks , saying they could carry a mutated variant of the virus that could render any future vaccine for humans less effective .
The strain , dubbed 'Cluster 5 ' , was detected in 12 people in August and September in North Jutland , and the government swiftly imposed strict restrictions on the region .
Since then , no new cases of the strain have been detected in humans or minks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has `` most likely been eradicated '' .
The cull has turned into a fiasco for the government .
It was forced to admit last week that it had no legal power to order the killing of healthy minks outside the contaminated zones , leading to the resignation on Wednesday of the agriculture minister and dealing a blow to public confidence in the government .
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has nonetheless insisted the cull is `` non-negotiable '' , and her government is now preparing legislation to make it possible -- by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2022 .
Meanwhile , in another part of Jutland , Erik Vammen has held off killing his animals so far , even though that means he forgoes the extra compensation paid to those who cull rapidly .
`` At night when I see the lights of a car I 'm afraid it 's the police , '' admits this 60-something who inherited his mink farm from his father and grandfather before him .
Since neither his nor the neighbouring farms have had any cases of coronavirus , his minks are not a priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do n't kill the minks they 'll come and kill them . ''
He says the state 's financial compensation is not enough to make up for his lost livelihood .
And , he argues , how can you have confidence in authorities who impose measures without any legal basis ?
Few believe the industry will ever recover , even if mink farms are authorised to open again in 2022 .
Most agree it would take more than 10 years to cultivate minks with top quality pelts .
`` There 's no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marianne Norgaard Sorensen .
The world 's largest fur auction house , Kopenhagen Fur , said it is planning a `` controlled shutdown '' for the next two or three years .
There are , however , those happy to see the industry disappear : animal welfare associations , who have long criticised the fur farms as cruel .
They argue the furry creatures suffer from overcrowding in small cages .
`` Danish fur breeders have put millions of euros into marketing and creating demand for fur by telling fairy tales about how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't produce fur in Europe this misleading marketing will disappear , '' says Joh Vinding , head of the animal rights association Anima .
`` I do n't think we 'll see mink farming in Denmark ever again . ''

Copenhagen (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Denmark's mink farmers are mourning what they say is the death of their industry after a government order to cull all of their stocks over a mutated variant of the new coronavirus.
On Saturday, angry farmers and supporters plan to demonstrate against the cull in the country's two biggest cities, Copenhagen and Aarhus, with 400 tractors expected to roll in.
"We're in shock," Marianne Norgaard Sorensen tells AFP. "Words can't describe the nightmare we've been through."
She and her husband, who has been a mink farmer since 1993, live in North Jutland, the region in northwestern Denmark home to the most mink farms.
Like millions of others across the country, their 27,000 minks were slaughtered in early November and around two thirds of the country's stocks have been culled to date.
"We wrote to the veterinary authorities to ask for two more days but then they came ... and took over. It was very harsh, video of the slaughter went online," she recalls.
"If we had only had two more days, we would have done it in a more humane way."
- Political fiasco -
Denmark's mink breeding began in the 1930s, when farmers sought to diversify their business as butter and meat prices tumbled.
Boosted by a favourable climate, the sector peaked in the 1960s, when there were some 6,000 farms compared to around 1,000 today.
With three times more minks than people, Denmark is now the world's biggest exporter of pelts, ringing up sales of 670 million euros ($792 million) annually, and the second-biggest producer behind China.
The animal is prized for its soft fur, used in the fashion industry for coats, collars and hats. Wearing fur remains especially popular in China, while attitudes have shifted in the West over the years.
But minks have posed a problem in the fight against the new coronavirus. The animals can catch the virus, and also pass it back to humans.
In early November, the Danish government sounded the alarm when it announced a nationwide cull of its 15 to 17 million minks, saying they could carry a mutated variant of the virus that could render any future vaccine for humans less effective.
The strain, dubbed 'Cluster 5', was detected in 12 people in August and September in North Jutland, and the government swiftly imposed strict restrictions on the region.
Since then, no new cases of the strain have been detected in humans or minks, the health ministry said Thursday, saying it has "most likely been eradicated".
The cull has turned into a fiasco for the government.
It was forced to admit last week that it had no legal power to order the killing of healthy minks outside the contaminated zones, leading to the resignation on Wednesday of the agriculture minister and dealing a blow to public confidence in the government.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has nonetheless insisted the cull is "non-negotiable", and her government is now preparing legislation to make it possible -- by banning mink farming until January 1, 2022.
- No hope for recovery -
Meanwhile, in another part of Jutland, Erik Vammen has held off killing his animals so far, even though that means he forgoes the extra compensation paid to those who cull rapidly.
"At night when I see the lights of a car I'm afraid it's the police," admits this 60-something who inherited his mink farm from his father and grandfather before him.
Since neither his nor the neighbouring farms have had any cases of coronavirus, his minks are not a priority. But he knows that "if I don't kill the minks they'll come and kill them."
He says the state's financial compensation is not enough to make up for his lost livelihood.
And, he argues, how can you have confidence in authorities who impose measures without any legal basis?
Few believe the industry will ever recover, even if mink farms are authorised to open again in 2022.
Most agree it would take more than 10 years to cultivate minks with top quality pelts.
"There's no hope for the future," laments Marianne Norgaard Sorensen.
The world's largest fur auction house, Kopenhagen Fur, said it is planning a "controlled shutdown" for the next two or three years.
There are, however, those happy to see the industry disappear: animal welfare associations, who have long criticised the fur farms as cruel.
They argue the furry creatures suffer from overcrowding in small cages.
"Danish fur breeders have put millions of euros into marketing and creating demand for fur by telling fairy tales about how the animals are treated. Once we don't produce fur in Europe this misleading marketing will disappear," says Joh Vinding, head of the animal rights association Anima.
"I don't think we'll see mink farming in Denmark ever again."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--At Thalys attack trial, passengers recount stopping gunman with bare hands

Two French citizens described to a court in Paris on Thursday how they used their bare hands to disarm and @ @ @ @ @ an attack on a high-speed train in France in 2015 .
FRANCE 24 's Alison @ @ @ @ @

At Thalys attack trial, passengers recount stopping gunman with bare hands
02:24
Video by: Alison SARGENT
Two French citizens described to a court in Paris on Thursday how they used their bare hands to disarm and immobilise an Islamist gunman in an attack on a high-speed train in France in 2015. FRANCE 24's Alison Sargent tells us more.


france24--2020-11-20--16 people killed as Uganda's security personnel battle protests over Bobi Wine arrest

Sixteen people have been killed in Uganda over two days in operations by security personnel trying to quell protests triggered @ @ @ @ @ candidate Bobi Wine , police said in a statement .
Police added 65 people had @ @ @ @ @ were arrested .

16 people killed as Uganda's security personnel battle protests over Bobi Wine arrest
02:32
Sixteen people have been killed in Uganda over two days in operations by security personnel trying to quell protests triggered by the arrest of presidential candidate Bobi Wine, police said in a statement. Police added 65 people had been injured while 350 people were arrested.


france24--2020-11-20--Mechanical fault blamed for 2016 Pakistan airline crash

Pakistan International Airlines was temporarily barred from the European Union over safety concerns Engineers for Pakistan 's scandal-hit state airline failed to repair a technical fault that led to a 2016 plane crash in which all 47 people on board died , a report has found .
Pakistan International Airlines ( PIA ) came under heavy scrutiny this year after one its planes came down among houses in Karachi , killing 98 people .
A furore later erupted after it emerged dozens of Pakistan pilots may have been holding fake or dubious licences , leading the US and EU to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published late Thursday by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board said the 2016 crash of a twin-turboprop plane in the mountainous north was caused by at least two pre-existing `` technical anomalies '' -- including the fracture of one of the turbine engine blades -- and a third probable error .
The report found PIA 's engineering department had failed to replace the faulty blade during routine maintenance a month before the accident , even though it `` fulfilled the criteria for replacement '' .
The plane burst into flames during a flight from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of the country 's worst aviation accidents at the time .
Rescuers , including hundreds of villagers , pulled charred remains from the wreckage , parts of which were found hundreds of metres away from the main site in Abbottabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province .
PIA said it `` acknowledges that there were three latent factors that aligned together at the time of the crash '' .
`` Had any of these factors happened in isolation , the consequences would not have been so devastating , '' it said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all three pilots had valid licences .
In May this year , just days ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr , only two passengers survived when a PIA plane crashed into homes in Pakistan 's southern city of Karachi .
An initial report blamed human error by the pilot , who had been discussing the coronavirus pandemic as the plane attempted to land , and air traffic control .
Weeks after the crash , Pakistan 's aviation minister claimed around 260 of the country 's 860 active pilots held fake licences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into PIA later found 17 of its pilots had suspicious licences , with seven expelled .
Until the 1970s , Pakistan 's largest airline was considered a top regional carrier but its reputation plummeted amid chronic mismanagement , frequent cancellations and financial struggles .
PIA , which is helmed by a serving air force officer , currently has a fleet of 31 planes and a payroll of about 14,500 workers .

Islamabad (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Engineers for Pakistan's scandal-hit state airline failed to repair a technical fault that led to a 2016 plane crash in which all 47 people on board died, a report has found.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) came under heavy scrutiny this year after one its planes came down among houses in Karachi, killing 98 people.
A furore later erupted after it emerged dozens of Pakistan pilots may have been holding fake or dubious licences, leading the US and EU to temporarily bar the airline.
A report published late Thursday by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board said the 2016 crash of a twin-turboprop plane in the mountainous north was caused by at least two pre-existing "technical anomalies" -- including the fracture of one of the turbine engine blades -- and a third probable error.
The report found PIA's engineering department had failed to replace the faulty blade during routine maintenance a month before the accident, even though it "fulfilled the criteria for replacement".
The plane burst into flames during a flight from Chitral to the capital Islamabad, and was one of the country's worst aviation accidents at the time.
Rescuers, including hundreds of villagers, pulled charred remains from the wreckage, parts of which were found hundreds of metres away from the main site in Abbottabad district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
PIA said it "acknowledges that there were three latent factors that aligned together at the time of the crash".
"Had any of these factors happened in isolation, the consequences would not have been so devastating," it said in a statement.
The investigators noted that all three pilots had valid licences.
In May this year, just days ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, only two passengers survived when a PIA plane crashed into homes in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi.
An initial report blamed human error by the pilot, who had been discussing the coronavirus pandemic as the plane attempted to land, and air traffic control.
Weeks after the crash, Pakistan's aviation minister claimed around 260 of the country's 860 active pilots held fake licences or cheated on exams.
An inquiry into PIA later found 17 of its pilots had suspicious licences, with seven expelled.
Until the 1970s, Pakistan's largest airline was considered a top regional carrier but its reputation plummeted amid chronic mismanagement, frequent cancellations and financial struggles.
PIA, which is helmed by a serving air force officer, currently has a fleet of 31 planes and a payroll of about 14,500 workers.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--New York school shutdown angers parents as gyms, bars stay open

New York 's public schools closed Thursday , sparking debate over whether the measure will help fend off a second @ @ @ @ @ is low and non-essential businesses remain open .
Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday the @ @ @ @ @ school system , which teaches 1.1 million students , would revert to remote learning Thursday @ @ @ @ @ caution . ''

New York school shutdown angers parents as gyms, bars stay open
01:53
New York's public schools closed Thursday, sparking debate over whether the measure will help fend off a second coronavirus wave when classroom transmission is low and non-essential businesses remain open. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday the United States's biggest public school system, which teaches 1.1 million students, would revert to remote learning Thursday "out an abundance of caution."


france24--2020-11-21--Protests in Brazil after security guards beat black man to death

Brazilian police clash with demonstrators outside the Carrefour supermaket where a black man was beaten to death by security guards , in Porto Alegre , Rio Grande do Sul , Brazil , on November 20 , 2020 The death of a black man beaten by white security guards at a supermarket sparked protests across Brazil Friday as the country celebrated Black Consciousness Day .
A video of Thursday night 's incident in the southern city of Porto Alegre captured on a witness 's mobile phone was broadcast on social networks and Brazilian media .
As the video went viral , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a branch of the French-owned Carrefour supermarket chain and stoned the glass storefront before storming the premises , trashing and burning goods , according to an AFP photographer on the scene .
`` Carrefour 's hands are dirty with black blood , '' read one banner held up by demonstrators .
Police in Porto Alegre used tear gas and flash bang grenades to disperse a protest that had formed in front of the supermarket where the death occurred , according to local television .
Protests also broke out in the capital Brasilia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where a crowd picketed a Carrefour supermarket to prevent customers from reaching the checkouts .
`` Carrefour can close , it has killed our brother , it will not work ! ''
chanted dozens of young people carrying banners and masks with the slogan `` Black Lives Matter '' .
The video on social media shows 40-year-old welder Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas repeatedly being punched in the face and head by a security guard while he is being restrained by another at a supermarket .
A woman stands beside them , filming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police in Rio Grande do Sul state said the man had threatened a female worker at the supermarket , who called security .
Silveira Freitas lost consciousness during the assault and died on the spot as medics tried to revive him .
A friend of the victim who witnessed the beating told G1 news that as the security guards were beating him , Silveira Freitas `` screamed that he could not breathe , '' a scene reminiscent of the death of George Floyd , a black man who died of asphyxiation as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Minneapolis last May , a killing that sparked massive protests across the United States .
Both the supermarket security guards were arrested .
One of them was identified as a member of the military police who worked part-time at the supermarket .
In a statement , Carrefour 's Brazilian subsidiary deplored the `` brutal death '' of Silveira Freitas and promised to take `` appropriate measures to hold accountable those involved in this criminal case . ''
Carrefour said it would cut ties with the security company that employed the guards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the French head of Carrefour , Alexandre Bompard , expressed his condolences and said that the images posted on social media were `` unacceptable . ''
`` Internal measures have immediately been implemented by the Carrefour Group Brazil , principally on the question of security company contracts .
These measures are insufficient .
My values , and the values of Carrefour , do not allow for racism and violence , '' he wrote , calling for a complete review of employee training , diversity and intolerance .
The killing sparked outrage on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consciousness Day , a holiday in several states .
`` From one November 20 to another , and every day , the racist structure of this country brings us brutality as a rule , '' social activist Raull Santiago said on Twitter .
`` It seems that we have no way out ... not even on Black Consciousness day , '' Brazil international footballer Richarlison said .
`` In fact , what conscience ?
They killed a black man , beaten in front of the cameras .
They beat him and filmed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence and hatred , '' the Everton player said on Twitter .
In Brazil , the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery -- in 1888 -- around 55 percent of the population of 212 million identifies as black or mixed-race .
Brazil 's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro had made no public comment on the death by late Friday , but his vice president Hamilton Mourao , called it `` regrettable . ''
Mourao said it was the work of `` a security agent unprepared for the work '' and denied that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For me , in Brazil , there is no racism .
That is something that they want to import here to Brazil .
That does not exist here , '' said Mourao .
Philosopher Djamila Ribeiro , one of the most influential voices in the fight against racism in Brazil , told AFP that `` the naturalization and justification of the death of black people as a result of violence is present in political , legal , business and media discourses . ''

Brasília (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The death of a black man beaten by white security guards at a supermarket sparked protests across Brazil Friday as the country celebrated Black Consciousness Day.
A video of Thursday night's incident in the southern city of Porto Alegre captured on a witness's mobile phone was broadcast on social networks and Brazilian media.
As the video went viral, around 1,000 protesters in Sao Paulo marched to a branch of the French-owned Carrefour supermarket chain and stoned the glass storefront before storming the premises, trashing and burning goods, according to an AFP photographer on the scene.
"Carrefour's hands are dirty with black blood," read one banner held up by demonstrators.
Police in Porto Alegre used tear gas and flash bang grenades to disperse a protest that had formed in front of the supermarket where the death occurred, according to local television.
Protests also broke out in the capital Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro, where a crowd picketed a Carrefour supermarket to prevent customers from reaching the checkouts.
"Carrefour can close, it has killed our brother, it will not work!" chanted dozens of young people carrying banners and masks with the slogan "Black Lives Matter".
The video on social media shows 40-year-old welder Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas repeatedly being punched in the face and head by a security guard while he is being restrained by another at a supermarket.
A woman stands beside them, filming with her mobile phone.
The military police in Rio Grande do Sul state said the man had threatened a female worker at the supermarket, who called security.
Silveira Freitas lost consciousness during the assault and died on the spot as medics tried to revive him.
- 'Could not breathe' -
A friend of the victim who witnessed the beating told G1 news that as the security guards were beating him, Silveira Freitas "screamed that he could not breathe," a scene reminiscent of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died of asphyxiation as a white US police kneeled on his neck in Minneapolis last May, a killing that sparked massive protests across the United States.
Both the supermarket security guards were arrested. One of them was identified as a member of the military police who worked part-time at the supermarket.
In a statement, Carrefour's Brazilian subsidiary deplored the "brutal death" of Silveira Freitas and promised to take "appropriate measures to hold accountable those involved in this criminal case."
Carrefour said it would cut ties with the security company that employed the guards.
In a series of tweets in Portuguese, the French head of Carrefour, Alexandre Bompard, expressed his condolences and said that the images posted on social media were "unacceptable."
"Internal measures have immediately been implemented by the Carrefour Group Brazil, principally on the question of security company contracts. These measures are insufficient. My values, and the values of Carrefour, do not allow for racism and violence," he wrote, calling for a complete review of employee training, diversity and intolerance.
- Structural Racism -
The killing sparked outrage on social networks and overshadowed Brazil's Black Consciousness Day, a holiday in several states.
"From one November 20 to another, and every day, the racist structure of this country brings us brutality as a rule," social activist Raull Santiago said on Twitter.
"It seems that we have no way out...not even on Black Consciousness day," Brazil international footballer Richarlison said.
"In fact, what conscience? They killed a black man, beaten in front of the cameras. They beat him and filmed. Decency and shame have been lost to violence and hatred," the Everton player said on Twitter.
In Brazil, the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery -- in 1888 -- around 55 percent of the population of 212 million identifies as black or mixed-race.
Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro had made no public comment on the death by late Friday, but his vice president Hamilton Mourao, called it "regrettable."
Mourao said it was the work of "a security agent unprepared for the work" and denied that it was a racist act.
"For me, in Brazil, there is no racism. That is something that they want to import here to Brazil. That does not exist here," said Mourao.
Philosopher Djamila Ribeiro, one of the most influential voices in the fight against racism in Brazil, told AFP that "the naturalization and justification of the death of black people as a result of violence is present in political, legal, business and media discourses."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-21--US allows convicted spy Pollard to move to Israel

Jonathan Pollard was released in November 2015 after serving a 30-year term for passing sensitive security documents to Israel An American jailed in 1985 for spying for Israel was released from strict parole conditions Friday , allowing his move to Israel , the US Justice Department said .
Jonathan Pollard served 30 years for giving away classified US documents and had been confined by parole terms to the United States since his release in 2015 , despite Israeli pressure to allow him to leave .
`` After a review of Mr. Pollard 's case , the US Parole Commission has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclude that he is likely to violate the law , '' the Justice Department said .
Pollard , 66 , was a US Navy intelligence analyst in the mid-1980s when he made contact with an Israeli colonel in New York and began sending US secrets to Israel in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars .
Pollard , who is Jewish , passed thousands of crucial US documents to Israel , straining relations between the two close allies .
Israel 's October 1985 raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organization 's Tunis headquarters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information from Pollard , according to CIA documents declassified in 2012 .
He was arrested in 1985 and was sentenced to life in prison two years later , despite pleading guilty in a deal his attorneys expected would result in a more lenient sentence .
After his release in 2015 , he was kept in the United States by parole rules and not allowed to travel to Israel where his wife , whom he married after he was jailed , lived .
He remained subject to a curfew , had to wear a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working for any company that lacked US government monitoring software on its computer systems .
In addition he was restricted from traveling abroad .
The restrictions , his lawyers said , had been `` insurmountable impediments on Mr. Pollard 's ability to earn a living . ''
Israel , where he is regarded as a hero and which awarded him citizenship in 1995 , repeatedly pressured Washington for the release of Pollard , making it one of the top issues of bilateral relations .
But the US intelligence community was reportedly deeply opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence he received , which was similar to the sentences given in serious spying cases related to Russia .
According to the New York Times , in 1998 , as president Bill Clinton presided over Middle East peace talks , CIA director George Tenet threatened to resign if Clinton bowed to Israeli pressure to include Pollard 's release in any peace deal .
`` It 's going to be pretty damn annoying if this traitor gets a celebratory heroes welcome in Tel Aviv .
If Israelis are smart , this is done very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case officer Marc Polymeropoulos .
Pollard 's lawyers , Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman , said in a statement that they are `` grateful and delighted that our client is finally free of any restrictions , and is now a free man in all respects . ''
`` We look forward to seeing our client in Israel , '' they said .
`` Mr. Pollard is happy to finally be able to assist his beloved wife Esther , who is fighting an aggressive form of cancer , '' they added .
`` Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was his wife , more than anyone else , who kept him alive during all the years he was in prison . ''
In the statement Pollard also thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ambassador Ron Dermer for their efforts on his behalf .
There was little immediate reaction from US Jewish organizations or political figures , perhaps reflecting the sensitivity of commenting on a US citizen who spied against his country for one of its closest allies .
In 2005 , a US defense department official , Larry Franklin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel via the influential lobby the American Israel Public Affairs Committee , or AIPAC .
Franklin had verbally shared classified information regarding Iran with two AIPAC officials , who then informed Israel .
Franklin was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2009 .
But three years later the sentence was cut to 10 months under house arrest , after prosecutors dropped their spying conspiracy cases against the two AIPAC officials .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
An American jailed in 1985 for spying for Israel was released from strict parole conditions Friday, allowing his move to Israel, the US Justice Department said.
Jonathan Pollard served 30 years for giving away classified US documents and had been confined by parole terms to the United States since his release in 2015, despite Israeli pressure to allow him to leave.
"After a review of Mr. Pollard's case, the US Parole Commission has found that there is no evidence to conclude that he is likely to violate the law," the Justice Department said.
- Thousands of documents passed -
Pollard, 66, was a US Navy intelligence analyst in the mid-1980s when he made contact with an Israeli colonel in New York and began sending US secrets to Israel in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars.
Pollard, who is Jewish, passed thousands of crucial US documents to Israel, straining relations between the two close allies.
Israel's October 1985 raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Tunis headquarters that killed around 60 people was planned with information from Pollard, according to CIA documents declassified in 2012.
He was arrested in 1985 and was sentenced to life in prison two years later, despite pleading guilty in a deal his attorneys expected would result in a more lenient sentence.
After his release in 2015, he was kept in the United States by parole rules and not allowed to travel to Israel where his wife, whom he married after he was jailed, lived.
He remained subject to a curfew, had to wear a wrist monitor, and was prohibited from working for any company that lacked US government monitoring software on its computer systems.
In addition he was restricted from traveling abroad.
The restrictions, his lawyers said, had been "insurmountable impediments on Mr. Pollard's ability to earn a living."
Israel, where he is regarded as a hero and which awarded him citizenship in 1995, repeatedly pressured Washington for the release of Pollard, making it one of the top issues of bilateral relations.
But the US intelligence community was reportedly deeply opposed to giving him anything less than the sentence he received, which was similar to the sentences given in serious spying cases related to Russia.
According to the New York Times, in 1998, as president Bill Clinton presided over Middle East peace talks, CIA director George Tenet threatened to resign if Clinton bowed to Israeli pressure to include Pollard's release in any peace deal.
"It's going to be pretty damn annoying if this traitor gets a celebratory heroes welcome in Tel Aviv. If Israelis are smart, this is done very low key," tweeted former CIA case officer Marc Polymeropoulos.
- Few comments -
Pollard's lawyers, Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman, said in a statement that they are "grateful and delighted that our client is finally free of any restrictions, and is now a free man in all respects."
"We look forward to seeing our client in Israel," they said.
"Mr. Pollard is happy to finally be able to assist his beloved wife Esther, who is fighting an aggressive form of cancer," they added.
"Mr. Pollard would like people to know that it was his wife, more than anyone else, who kept him alive during all the years he was in prison."
In the statement Pollard also thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ambassador Ron Dermer for their efforts on his behalf.
There was little immediate reaction from US Jewish organizations or political figures, perhaps reflecting the sensitivity of commenting on a US citizen who spied against his country for one of its closest allies.
In 2005, a US defense department official, Larry Franklin, was charged with passing US secrets to Israel via the influential lobby the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.
Franklin had verbally shared classified information regarding Iran with two AIPAC officials, who then informed Israel.
Franklin was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2009.
But three years later the sentence was cut to 10 months under house arrest, after prosecutors dropped their spying conspiracy cases against the two AIPAC officials.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-21--Rudy Giuliani, from 'America's Mayor' to Trump's conspiracy monger

The hair coloring melting down the sides of his face while he declared long-dead Venezuelan caudillo Hugo Chavez caused President Donald Trump 's election defeat made one thing clear -- Rudy Giuliani is no longer `` America 's Mayor . ''
The accolade Giuliani earned for his calm fortitude in leading New York City after the September 11 , 2001 attacks has dissolved in a series of increasingly bizarre claims that Democrats , the media , and yes , the late Venezuelan dictator , had robbed Trump of reelection .
His press conference Thursday , pushing election conspiracy theories without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audacious , fact-shy display on behalf of Trump , who lost the November 3 election to Democrat Joe Biden but refuses to concede defeat .
`` We can not allow these crooks , because that 's what they are , to steal an election from the American people .
They elected Donald Trump .
They did n't elect Joe Biden , '' Giuliani said , ignoring Biden 's nearly six million vote margin over Trump .
The Republican governor of Maryland , Larry Hogan , called the press conference a `` train wreck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of US election security recently fired by Trump , called it `` the most dangerous 1hr 45 minutes of television in American history .
And possibly the craziest . ''
According to the New York Times this week , Giuliani had asked to be paid $ 20,000 a day for his performances on behalf of Trump -- though the same report said it was unclear how much compensation he would ultimately receive .
Money aside , Robert Polner , editor of a book on Giuliani , says that the once-feared federal prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` restless political opportunist '' for whom credibility was not a priority .
The 9/11 attacks set Giuliani up for bigger things , with one writer comparing his response to Winston Churchill .
But that may have been Giuliani 's finest hour .
He set his sights on a White House run in 2008 , but a questionable primary strategy failed , as did his leaning on his September 11 credentials without developing a broader platform .
`` There 's only three things he mentions in a sentence : a noun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , who that year sought the Democratic presidential nomination .
The 2008 loss left him adrift , but eventually his longtime New York friend and political ally Trump offered a way forward .
`` Giuliani saw a path to power as a result of his friendship with Trump , and never looked back , '' said Polner .
His energy and willingness to defend Trump on anything made him essential .
When an embarrassing tape threatened to kill Trump 's 2016 chances , Giuliani did a marathon of television interviews to explain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the election Trump did n't reward his wish to be named secretary of state , but Giuliani hardly suffered .
He earned millions of dollars from countries and companies needing a lobbyist with a direct line into the Oval Office .
In early 2018 the president hired him to help fight against the Mueller investigation .
With a Trump-like flair for showmanship , Giuliani became a constant presence on television defending the president and accusing investigators and the media of corruption and bias .
Tireless , he often spoke so much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before , or , as in August 2018 on NBC , defend the president with remarkable statements like `` Truth is n't truth . ''
But Giuliani 's efforts also led to trouble .
Anticipating Biden would run against Trump in 2020 , in late 2018 Giuliani led an effort to find dirt on the Democrat and his son , who had done business in Ukraine .
Based on what Giuliani claimed to find , Trump froze aid to Ukraine , telling the country 's president to hand over alleged evidence of Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump becoming only the third president in history to be impeached .
The effort to reverse Trump 's clear election loss appears Giuliani 's most Sisyphean challenge .
A briefing he billed as a major press event after the vote was mercilessly mocked when it emerged the venue was not the plush Four Seasons hotel in Philadelphia , as tweeted by Trump , but a suburban garden center between a crematorium and an adult book store -- Four Seasons Total Landscaping .
To pile ignominy on farce , the press conference was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced Trump had lost the election after four days of ballot counting .
Several of Giuliani 's cases have been withdrawn or dismissed as groundless .
In a court appearance this week , he kept denouncing election fraud until the judge forced him to admit the case at hand had no relation to fraud .
In his press conference Thursday he claimed to have certain evidence of election crimes , but would n't produce it .
Some of the other evidence he offered up , alleged witness statements , was quickly debunked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
`` We have enough evidence without that to overturn this election .
We have it from the affidavits of American citizens , but that 's a matter of national security that we 're talking about now , '' he said .
`` If that 's not a headline tomorrow , then you do n't know what a headline is . ''

New York (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The hair coloring melting down the sides of his face while he declared long-dead Venezuelan caudillo Hugo Chavez caused President Donald Trump's election defeat made one thing clear -- Rudy Giuliani is no longer "America's Mayor."
The accolade Giuliani earned for his calm fortitude in leading New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks has dissolved in a series of increasingly bizarre claims that Democrats, the media, and yes, the late Venezuelan dictator, had robbed Trump of reelection.
His press conference Thursday, pushing election conspiracy theories without any evidence, was Giuliani's latest audacious, fact-shy display on behalf of Trump, who lost the November 3 election to Democrat Joe Biden but refuses to concede defeat.
"We cannot allow these crooks, because that's what they are, to steal an election from the American people. They elected Donald Trump. They didn't elect Joe Biden," Giuliani said, ignoring Biden's nearly six million vote margin over Trump.
The Republican governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, called the press conference a "train wreck."
And Chris Krebs, the head of US election security recently fired by Trump, called it "the most dangerous 1hr 45 minutes of television in American history. And possibly the craziest."
- $20,000 a day? -
According to the New York Times this week, Giuliani had asked to be paid $20,000 a day for his performances on behalf of Trump -- though the same report said it was unclear how much compensation he would ultimately receive.
Money aside, Robert Polner, editor of a book on Giuliani, says that the once-feared federal prosecutor then New York mayor has always been a "restless political opportunist" for whom credibility was not a priority.
The 9/11 attacks set Giuliani up for bigger things, with one writer comparing his response to Winston Churchill.
But that may have been Giuliani's finest hour.
He set his sights on a White House run in 2008, but a questionable primary strategy failed, as did his leaning on his September 11 credentials without developing a broader platform.
"There's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb and 9/11," said Biden, who that year sought the Democratic presidential nomination.
- 'Truth isn't truth' -
The 2008 loss left him adrift, but eventually his longtime New York friend and political ally Trump offered a way forward.
"Giuliani saw a path to power as a result of his friendship with Trump, and never looked back," said Polner.
His energy and willingness to defend Trump on anything made him essential.
When an embarrassing tape threatened to kill Trump's 2016 chances, Giuliani did a marathon of television interviews to explain it away, effectively neutering the problem.
After the election Trump didn't reward his wish to be named secretary of state, but Giuliani hardly suffered.
He earned millions of dollars from countries and companies needing a lobbyist with a direct line into the Oval Office.
In early 2018 the president hired him to help fight against the Mueller investigation.
With a Trump-like flair for showmanship, Giuliani became a constant presence on television defending the president and accusing investigators and the media of corruption and bias.
Tireless, he often spoke so much he would contradict what he said moments before, or, as in August 2018 on NBC, defend the president with remarkable statements like "Truth isn't truth."
- Impeachment -
But Giuliani's efforts also led to trouble.
Anticipating Biden would run against Trump in 2020, in late 2018 Giuliani led an effort to find dirt on the Democrat and his son, who had done business in Ukraine.
Based on what Giuliani claimed to find, Trump froze aid to Ukraine, telling the country's president to hand over alleged evidence of Biden's corruption.
That illegal act led to Trump becoming only the third president in history to be impeached.
The effort to reverse Trump's clear election loss appears Giuliani's most Sisyphean challenge.
A briefing he billed as a major press event after the vote was mercilessly mocked when it emerged the venue was not the plush Four Seasons hotel in Philadelphia, as tweeted by Trump, but a suburban garden center between a crematorium and an adult book store -- Four Seasons Total Landscaping.
To pile ignominy on farce, the press conference was held at the moment US news networks announced Trump had lost the election after four days of ballot counting.
Several of Giuliani's cases have been withdrawn or dismissed as groundless. In a court appearance this week, he kept denouncing election fraud until the judge forced him to admit the case at hand had no relation to fraud.
In his press conference Thursday he claimed to have certain evidence of election crimes, but wouldn't produce it.
Some of the other evidence he offered up, alleged witness statements, was quickly debunked by media.
But that didn't stop him.
"We have enough evidence without that to overturn this election. We have it from the affidavits of American citizens, but that's a matter of national security that we're talking about now," he said.
"If that's not a headline tomorrow, then you don't know what a headline is."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Toronto ordered into Covid-19 lockdown starting Monday

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned of ' a long winter ahead ' and the risk of overwhelming hospitals as infections spike in the country Canada 's largest city Toronto and much of its suburbs will be placed under lockdown beginning Monday due to the spread of Covid-19 , Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced .
`` I 've been clear on this : the situation is extremely serious and further action is required , '' Ford told journalists on Friday .
`` Effective Monday , November 23 at 12:01 am , Toronto and Peel will be moved into lockdown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ban on indoor private gatherings , will last at least 28 days and violators can be fined CAN $ 750 ( $ 570 ) .
Outside gatherings will be limited to 10 people , as will religious services , funerals and weddings .
Hair salons and other personal care locations as well as gyms and casinos will be closed .
Schools will remain open , but restaurants and non-essential stores will only be open for pickup and delivery .
`` We ca n't risk overwhelming our hospitals , '' said Ford , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just passed 100,000 coronavirus infections .
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier warned Canadians of `` a long winter ahead '' and the risk of overwhelming hospitals as infections spike .
`` If you are planning to see friends this weekend , maybe do n't , '' Trudeau said .
`` There was a birthday party or a gathering for dinner you were thinking about doing -- do n't do it . ''
Trudeau said Canadians would have to take precautions `` as the weather drives us indoors . ''
`` It 'll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to do , '' he said .
The country had a total of 317,000 cases and 11,273 deaths on Friday .
Canada has averaged nearly 4,800 daily cases and 65 deaths over the past seven days , a sharp increase in numbers .
Without concerted steps to stem the virus , Trudeau warned , new daily cases are projected to jump as high as 60,000 by the end of December .

Toronto (Canada) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Canada's largest city Toronto and much of its suburbs will be placed under lockdown beginning Monday due to the spread of Covid-19, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced.
"I've been clear on this: the situation is extremely serious and further action is required," Ford told journalists on Friday.
"Effective Monday, November 23 at 12:01 am, Toronto and Peel will be moved into lockdown."
The lockdown, whose restrictions include a ban on indoor private gatherings, will last at least 28 days and violators can be fined CAN$750 ($570).
Outside gatherings will be limited to 10 people, as will religious services, funerals and weddings.
Hair salons and other personal care locations as well as gyms and casinos will be closed.
Schools will remain open, but restaurants and non-essential stores will only be open for pickup and delivery.
"We can't risk overwhelming our hospitals," said Ford, with Canada's most populous province having just passed 100,000 coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier warned Canadians of "a long winter ahead" and the risk of overwhelming hospitals as infections spike.
"If you are planning to see friends this weekend, maybe don't," Trudeau said.
"There was a birthday party or a gathering for dinner you were thinking about doing -- don't do it."
Trudeau said Canadians would have to take precautions "as the weather drives us indoors."
"It'll be tough. But we know what we have to do," he said.
The country had a total of 317,000 cases and 11,273 deaths on Friday.
Canada has averaged nearly 4,800 daily cases and 65 deaths over the past seven days, a sharp increase in numbers.
Without concerted steps to stem the virus, Trudeau warned, new daily cases are projected to jump as high as 60,000 by the end of December.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Trans day of remembrance : 350 trans and gender-diverse people murdered in 2020

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore .


france24--2020-11-20--Saints QB Brees to injured reserve with broken ribs

The New Orleans Saints placed Drew Brees on injured reserve on Friday , ensuring the star quarterback will miss at @ @ @ @ @ from injuries that reportedly include broken ribs and a punctured lung .
Brees exited last @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco 49ers at halftime with what the Saints called a rib injury , suffered @ @ @ @ @ was ruled roughing the passer by Kentavius Street .
Brees finished out the first half @ @ @ @ @ this week that he was found to have multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung @ @ @ @ @ is the NFL 's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes .
But the @ @ @ @ @ star signal-caller last season as he recovered from a torn ligament in his throwing hand @ @ @ @ @ top the NFC South Division at 7-2 , host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ will get the starting nod at quarterback ahead of Jameis Winston .

Los Angeles (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The New Orleans Saints placed Drew Brees on injured reserve on Friday, ensuring the star quarterback will miss at least three NFL games recovering from injuries that reportedly include broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Brees exited last week's win against the San Francisco 49ers at halftime with what the Saints called a rib injury, suffered on a second-quarter sack that was ruled roughing the passer by Kentavius Street.
Brees finished out the first half, but reports trickled out this week that he was found to have multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung.
Brees, 40, is the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes. But the Saints went 5-0 without their star signal-caller last season as he recovered from a torn ligament in his throwing hand.
The Saints, who top the NFC South Division at 7-2, host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. ESPN reported that Taysom Hill will get the starting nod at quarterback ahead of Jameis Winston.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Kim goes one clear at Pelican Championshop

Kim Sei-young fired a five-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the LPGA Tour 's Pelican Women 's Championship in Florida on Friday .
The 27-year-old world number two from South Korea produced a bogey-free round at the Pelican Golf Club layout , notching five birdies and 13 pars to head into the weekend on eight under for the tournament .
Kim , brimming with confidence after her maiden major triumph at the Women 's PGA Championship last month , was in the groove from the first tee , bagging back-to-back birdies on the opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the sixth and seventh holes took her to seven under at the turn before her fifth and final birdie of the day on the 14th hole .
Ally McDonald of the United States is one behind Kim in second place after shooting a four-under-par 66 .
McDonald , who is chasing her second tour victory after winning the LPGA Drive On Championship in October , teed off on the back nine and reeled off consecutive birdies on her eighth , ninth and 10th holes to move to seven under .
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the par-four second , McDonald 's 11th hole , but the 28-year-old from Mississippi recovered to pick up her fifth birdie on the par-five seventh .
McDonald said afterwards her breakthrough win at the Drive On had helped settle her nerves .
`` I do n't feel as stressed about things since I got that win under my belt , '' McDonald said .
`` I 'm still carrying some positive momentum from that . ''
First round leader Sophia Popov is one adrift of McDonald in third place alongside Northern Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popov had lit up the course on Thursday with a six-under-par 66 when she pocketed six birdies on the front nine alone .
But the British Open champion found the going tougher on Friday after teeing off on the 10th .
Two early birdies took her to eight under before she dropped a shot with a bogey on the 16th .
She recovered with a birdie just after the turn to back to eight under , but then stuttered with a double-bogey six on the par-four second hole .
Popov was kept in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trio of puts from between 10-15 feet which helped her make a level-par 70 .
`` I grinded it out and I made a lot of par putts coming in , so I 'm pretty happy with my score , '' the German said .
Meadow , meanwhile , charged up the leaderboard with a barnstorming finish en route to a five-under-par 65 .
Meadow , who began the round on one under , dropped down the leaderboard with a bogey on her opening hole after teeing off on the 10th .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left her two under .
After a run of eight consecutive pars , Meadow then erupted down the stretch with four birdies in her final five holes to move to six under .

Miami (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Kim Sei-young fired a five-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the LPGA Tour's Pelican Women's Championship in Florida on Friday.
The 27-year-old world number two from South Korea produced a bogey-free round at the Pelican Golf Club layout, notching five birdies and 13 pars to head into the weekend on eight under for the tournament.
Kim, brimming with confidence after her maiden major triumph at the Women's PGA Championship last month, was in the groove from the first tee, bagging back-to-back birdies on the opening two holes.
Another pair of birdies on the sixth and seventh holes took her to seven under at the turn before her fifth and final birdie of the day on the 14th hole.
Ally McDonald of the United States is one behind Kim in second place after shooting a four-under-par 66.
McDonald, who is chasing her second tour victory after winning the LPGA Drive On Championship in October, teed off on the back nine and reeled off consecutive birdies on her eighth, ninth and 10th holes to move to seven under.
There was a brief stumble with a bogey five on the par-four second, McDonald's 11th hole, but the 28-year-old from Mississippi recovered to pick up her fifth birdie on the par-five seventh.
McDonald said afterwards her breakthrough win at the Drive On had helped settle her nerves.
"I don't feel as stressed about things since I got that win under my belt," McDonald said. "I'm still carrying some positive momentum from that."
First round leader Sophia Popov is one adrift of McDonald in third place alongside Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow on six under.
Popov had lit up the course on Thursday with a six-under-par 66 when she pocketed six birdies on the front nine alone.
But the British Open champion found the going tougher on Friday after teeing off on the 10th. Two early birdies took her to eight under before she dropped a shot with a bogey on the 16th.
She recovered with a birdie just after the turn to back to eight under, but then stuttered with a double-bogey six on the par-four second hole.
Popov was kept in contention with some solid putting including a trio of puts from between 10-15 feet which helped her make a level-par 70.
"I grinded it out and I made a lot of par putts coming in, so I'm pretty happy with my score," the German said.
Meadow, meanwhile, charged up the leaderboard with a barnstorming finish en route to a five-under-par 65.
Meadow, who began the round on one under, dropped down the leaderboard with a bogey on her opening hole after teeing off on the 10th.
But birdies on the 12th and 14th holes left her two under. After a run of eight consecutive pars, Meadow then erupted down the stretch with four birdies in her final five holes to move to six under.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--All-conquering Lyon women lose air of invincibility

The Lyon team that has dominated women 's football in France and in Europe in recent years was brought back down to earth on Friday as a 1-0 loss away to rivals Paris Saint-Germain ended a run of 73 matches without defeat .
Lyon have won the Champions League in each of the last five years and have been French champions in 14 consecutive seasons , but this result allowed PSG to replace them at the top of the table .
French international striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored the only goal of a game played behind closed doors at the Parc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PSG men 's team .
PSG were the last team to beat Lyon in any competition when they won 1-0 in the French Cup final in May 2018 , with Katoto also scoring the only goal on that occasion .
The team from the capital go a point clear at the top from Lyon , who had won all eight previous matches this season despite being without 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg , as the Norwegian striker recovers from a tibia stress fracture .
Lyon had been unbeaten in 80 domestic league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them there was also PSG , also by a 1-0 margin , in December 2016 .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The Lyon team that has dominated women's football in France and in Europe in recent years was brought back down to earth on Friday as a 1-0 loss away to rivals Paris Saint-Germain ended a run of 73 matches without defeat.
Lyon have won the Champions League in each of the last five years and have been French champions in 14 consecutive seasons, but this result allowed PSG to replace them at the top of the table.
French international striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored the only goal of a game played behind closed doors at the Parc des Princes, usually reserved for the PSG men's team.
PSG were the last team to beat Lyon in any competition when they won 1-0 in the French Cup final in May 2018, with Katoto also scoring the only goal on that occasion.
The team from the capital go a point clear at the top from Lyon, who had won all eight previous matches this season despite being without 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg, as the Norwegian striker recovers from a tibia stress fracture.
Lyon had been unbeaten in 80 domestic league games. The last team to beat them there was also PSG, also by a 1-0 margin, in December 2016.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--US allows convicted spy Pollard to move to Israel

Jonathan Pollard was released in November 2015 after serving a 30-year term for passing sensitive security documents to Israel An American jailed in 1985 for spying for Israel was released from strict parole conditions Friday , allowing his move to Israel , the US Justice Department said .
Jonathan Pollard served 30 years for giving away classified US documents and had been confined by parole terms to the United States since his release in 2015 , despite Israeli pressure to allow him to leave .
`` After a review of Mr. Pollard 's case , the US Parole Commission has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclude that he is likely to violate the law , '' the Justice Department said .
Pollard , 66 , was a US Navy intelligence analyst in the mid-1980s when he made contact with and Israeli colonel in New York and began sending US secrets to Israel in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars .
He had passed thousands of crucial US documents to Israel , straining relations between the two close allies .
Israel 's October 1985 raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organization 's Tunis headquarters that killed around 60 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to CIA documents declassified in 2012 .
He was arrested in 1985 and was sentenced to life in prison two years later , despite pleading guilty in a deal his attorneys expected would result in a more lenient sentence .
After his release in 2015 , he remained subject to a curfew , had to wear a wrist monitor , and was prohibited from working for any company that lacked US government monitoring software on its computer systems .
In addition he was restricted from traveling abroad .
The restrictions , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impediments on Mr. Pollard 's ability to earn a living . ''
Israel though has repeatedly pressured Washington for the release of Pollard , who is Jewish , making it one of the top issues of bilateral relations .
`` We are grateful and delighted that our client is finally free of any restrictions , and is now a free man in all respects .
We look forward to seeing our client in Israel , '' his lawyers , Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman , said in a statement .
`` Mr. Pollard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assist his beloved wife Esther , who is fighting an aggressive form of cancer , '' they added .
`` Mr. Pollard would like people to know that it was his wife , more than anyone else , who kept him alive during all the years he was in prison . ''
In the statement Pollard also thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ambassador Ron Dermer , for their efforts on his behalf .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
An American jailed in 1985 for spying for Israel was released from strict parole conditions Friday, allowing his move to Israel, the US Justice Department said.
Jonathan Pollard served 30 years for giving away classified US documents and had been confined by parole terms to the United States since his release in 2015, despite Israeli pressure to allow him to leave.
"After a review of Mr. Pollard's case, the US Parole Commission has found that there is no evidence to conclude that he is likely to violate the law," the Justice Department said.
Pollard, 66, was a US Navy intelligence analyst in the mid-1980s when he made contact with and Israeli colonel in New York and began sending US secrets to Israel in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars.
He had passed thousands of crucial US documents to Israel, straining relations between the two close allies.
Israel's October 1985 raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Tunis headquarters that killed around 60 people was planned with information from Pollard, according to CIA documents declassified in 2012.
He was arrested in 1985 and was sentenced to life in prison two years later, despite pleading guilty in a deal his attorneys expected would result in a more lenient sentence.
After his release in 2015, he remained subject to a curfew, had to wear a wrist monitor, and was prohibited from working for any company that lacked US government monitoring software on its computer systems.
In addition he was restricted from traveling abroad.
The restrictions, his lawyers said, had been "insurmountable impediments on Mr. Pollard's ability to earn a living."
Israel though has repeatedly pressured Washington for the release of Pollard, who is Jewish, making it one of the top issues of bilateral relations.
"We are grateful and delighted that our client is finally free of any restrictions, and is now a free man in all respects. We look forward to seeing our client in Israel," his lawyers, Eliot Lauer and Jacques Semmelman, said in a statement.
"Mr. Pollard is happy to finally be able to assist his beloved wife Esther, who is fighting an aggressive form of cancer," they added.
"Mr. Pollard would like people to know that it was his wife, more than anyone else, who kept him alive during all the years he was in prison."
In the statement Pollard also thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ambassador Ron Dermer, for their efforts on his behalf.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-20--Djokovic backs domestic violence policy for tennis

Novak Djokovic said he supported a domestic violence policy for tennis following allegations made against Alexander Zverev after the top seed reached the last four at the ATP Finals on Friday .
The Serbian beat his German opponent 6-3 , 7-6 ( 7/4 ) and will play US Open champion Dominic Thiem in Saturday 's semi-finals .
Zverev , who won the 2018 ATP Finals in London , has been competing under the shadow of serious abuse claims made by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova .
He strongly denies the allegations , which were made by the former junior player on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but has not addressed them in any detail .
The ATP , which runs the men 's tour , had been criticised for not making any public comment until last week , when it issued a generic statement saying it `` fully condemns any form of violence or abuse '' .
Several major American sports have a policy setting out a procedure to be followed in such situations , and Djokovic believes tennis should go down the same route .
`` I 've known Sascha ( Zverev ) for a very long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` I always had a great relationship with him , he 's a very nice guy .
I have a lot of respect for him , his family .
I was sad to hear that he 's going through something like this .
`` I do n't know what happened .
Obviously I 'm not supporting any kind of violence .
Whether ATP should develop a policy ?
Yes , why not ?
Probably it should be there in place . ''
Tennis has largely closed ranks around Zverev , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in saying she believes Sharypova , and Djokovic has offered the German his support .
`` He 's been handling it well by the looks of his results in the last month-and-a-half or so .
He 's been doing well considering he 's got a lot on his plate off the court , '' said the world number one .
`` I sincerely wish for him that he overcomes this soon and that he can focus on his life and tennis career . ''
Zverev again implied he would not be taking legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- and , despite the allegations and the coronavirus pandemic , declared it had been a `` great year '' .
The 23-year-old reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the US Open final .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Novak Djokovic said he supported a domestic violence policy for tennis following allegations made against Alexander Zverev after the top seed reached the last four at the ATP Finals on Friday.
The Serbian beat his German opponent 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) and will play US Open champion Dominic Thiem in Saturday's semi-finals.
Zverev, who won the 2018 ATP Finals in London, has been competing under the shadow of serious abuse claims made by his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova.
He strongly denies the allegations, which were made by the former junior player on Instagram and in two media interviews, but has not addressed them in any detail.
The ATP, which runs the men's tour, had been criticised for not making any public comment until last week, when it issued a generic statement saying it "fully condemns any form of violence or abuse".
Several major American sports have a policy setting out a procedure to be followed in such situations, and Djokovic believes tennis should go down the same route.
"I've known Sascha (Zverev) for a very long time since he was very young," he said. "I always had a great relationship with him, he's a very nice guy. I have a lot of respect for him, his family. I was sad to hear that he's going through something like this.
"I don't know what happened. Obviously I'm not supporting any kind of violence. Whether ATP should develop a policy? Yes, why not? Probably it should be there in place."
Tennis has largely closed ranks around Zverev, with Australian Daria Gavrilova a notable exception in saying she believes Sharypova, and Djokovic has offered the German his support.
"He's been handling it well by the looks of his results in the last month-and-a-half or so. He's been doing well considering he's got a lot on his plate off the court," said the world number one.
"I sincerely wish for him that he overcomes this soon and that he can focus on his life and tennis career."
Zverev again implied he would not be taking legal action -- something Sharypova has also said -- and, despite the allegations and the coronavirus pandemic, declared it had been a "great year".
The 23-year-old reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the US Open final.
© 2020 AFP