france24--2020-10-31--Clark, Armour defy winds to share PGA Bermuda lead

Americans Wyndham Clark and Ryan Armour battled through brisk winds to share a one-stroke lead in Friday 's darkness-halted second round of the US PGA Bermuda Championship .
Clark , never better than fifth in a PGA event , fired a three-under par 68 while Armour shot 70 to leave both on eight-under 134 after 36 holes at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton .
`` I did what I could out there .
To get it under par was big , '' Armour said .
`` I ca n't stress how difficult it really was out there .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're just trying to keep yourself in the fight . ''
Kramer Hickok was third on 135 with fellow Americans Ollie Schniederjans and Doc Redman on 136 .
A pack of six on 137 included England 's Luke Donald .
Five players remained on the course when darkness halted play , none threatening the five leaders as they prepared to finish the round Saturday .
World number 183 Clark started on the 10th hole , made an early birdie at 11 and added back-to-back birdies at the par-3 16th and par-5 17th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ par-5 second for the second day in a row but bogeys at the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth left him sharing the lead .
`` I 'm overall pretty pleased with how I played , '' Clark said .
`` I 've hit it pretty good .
`` I played the par-5s pretty solid , I 'm making the putts that I need to make and I was really just patient out there .
It was really tough and I did n't have any blemishes until the end , so I felt pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 44 , took his only PGA crown at the 2017 Sanderson Farms Championship .
Armour opened with a birdie and added back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth , but followed with bogeys at the par-5 seventh , par-4 11th and par-3 13th .
Only a birdie at the par-5 17th let him share the lead .
`` I enjoy the challenge of it , '' said Armour .
`` Today was really hard .
We could n't judge the distance very well and we had some balls going sideways out there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it would go 20 yards further left or right than you wanted . ''
Thailand 's Kiradech Aphibarnrat fired a bogey-free 66 to join the pack on 137 .
`` Especially with this condition , I would say this is the best round for me for the whole season , '' he said .
`` I 've been struggling a little bit from the beginning of the year .
Hopefully today is the turning point . ''
Fred Funk , playing alongside son Taylor at age 64 , chipped in for birdie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , becoming only the fourth player his age or older since 1970 to make a PGA cut , joining US compatriots Jack Nicklaus , Sam Snead and Tom Watson .
`` It feels good to know you can do it , '' the elder Funk said .
`` Not many guys even have an opportunity .
It means a lot , but the biggest thing was playing with Taylor .
The bonus was making the cut . ''
Taylor missed the cut after finishing at 12-over .

Miami (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Americans Wyndham Clark and Ryan Armour battled through brisk winds to share a one-stroke lead in Friday's darkness-halted second round of the US PGA Bermuda Championship.
Clark, never better than fifth in a PGA event, fired a three-under par 68 while Armour shot 70 to leave both on eight-under 134 after 36 holes at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton.
"I did what I could out there. To get it under par was big," Armour said.
"I can't stress how difficult it really was out there. It's physically tiring and then mentally... you're just trying to keep yourself in the fight."
Kramer Hickok was third on 135 with fellow Americans Ollie Schniederjans and Doc Redman on 136. A pack of six on 137 included England's Luke Donald.
Five players remained on the course when darkness halted play, none threatening the five leaders as they prepared to finish the round Saturday.
World number 183 Clark started on the 10th hole, made an early birdie at 11 and added back-to-back birdies at the par-3 16th and par-5 17th.
Clark, 26, eagled the par-5 second for the second day in a row but bogeys at the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth left him sharing the lead.
"I'm overall pretty pleased with how I played," Clark said. "I've hit it pretty good.
"I played the par-5s pretty solid, I'm making the putts that I need to make and I was really just patient out there. It was really tough and I didn't have any blemishes until the end, so I felt pretty good."
World 217 Armour, 44, took his only PGA crown at the 2017 Sanderson Farms Championship.
Armour opened with a birdie and added back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth, but followed with bogeys at the par-5 seventh, par-4 11th and par-3 13th. Only a birdie at the par-5 17th let him share the lead.
"I enjoy the challenge of it," said Armour. "Today was really hard. We couldn't judge the distance very well and we had some balls going sideways out there. It just get up in the wind and it would go 20 yards further left or right than you wanted."
Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat fired a bogey-free 66 to join the pack on 137.
"Especially with this condition, I would say this is the best round for me for the whole season," he said. "I've been struggling a little bit from the beginning of the year. Hopefully today is the turning point."
Fred Funk, playing alongside son Taylor at age 64, chipped in for birdie at the par-4 ninth to shoot 72, becoming only the fourth player his age or older since 1970 to make a PGA cut, joining US compatriots Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead and Tom Watson.
"It feels good to know you can do it," the elder Funk said. "Not many guys even have an opportunity. It means a lot, but the biggest thing was playing with Taylor. The bonus was making the cut."
Taylor missed the cut after finishing at 12-over.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Millions more face English virus restrictions as cases spiral

Millions more people in northern England face stricter coronavirus rules next week , officials said Friday , as reports suggested the government is considering a nationwide lockdown .
From Monday , nearly 2.4 million residents in five districts of West Yorkshire , including in the city of Leeds , will be barred from socialising with other households indoors .
Pubs and bars not serving `` substantial meals '' must close , alongside casinos and betting shops , while people have also been told to avoid unnecessary travel .
The Department of Health said the measures were needed as infection rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country and rising rapidly .
The Times reported Friday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was considering a return to a national lockdown to battle the surge .
Johnson was expected to hold a press conference on Monday to announce new restrictions , which would close everything except `` essential shops '' , schools and universities , the paper said , quoting a government source .
In its weekly study of Covid-19 prevalence , the Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) said the number of people with the virus had increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` There has been growth in all age groups over the past two weeks ; older teenagers and young adults continue to have the highest current rates while rates appear to be steeply increasing among secondary school children , '' it said .
The country 's official science advisory panel warned in a report published Friday that the virus was spreading `` significantly '' faster and that hospitalisations were rising at a higher rate through England than its predicted `` worst-case '' scenario drawn up in July .
The report said that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were introduced , around four times as many people were catching Covid than anticipated in the July report .
That study warned that 85,000 more people could die during the winter wave .
West Yorkshire 's imminent restrictions are the latest step in the UK government 's localised response to the surging transmission , which has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks .
More than 11 million people -- about a fifth of England 's population -- will be under the tightest measures from next week .
Most of the areas in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government 's three-tier Covid alert system are in northern and central parts of the country .
Nottingham became the latest city to enter the highest tier Friday .
On Thursday night , young people took to the streets in fancy dress and drank in large groups before a ban on alcohol sales in shops came into force at 2100 GMT .
The pandemic has hit Britain harder than any other country in Europe , with more than 45,000 people having died within 28 days of testing positive .
Case rates are spiralling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation elsewhere on the continent .
England is seeing nearly 52,000 new cases daily , a 47 percent weekly rise , according to the ONS , which conducts its analysis of households with the help of several universities and health bodies , and excludes people in hospitals and care homes .
Britain 's European neighbours and the devolved governments in Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland have reimposed partial lockdowns to try to cut infection rates .
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Friday the government would continue its `` targeted and focused '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The arbitrariness of a blanket approach would be far worse than the effects of trying to be as targeted as possible , '' he said .
Meanwhile , a new study reported Friday that a Covid-19 variant originating in Spanish farm workers has spread rapidly throughout Europe in recent months and now accounts for most cases in Britain .
The variant -- called 20A.EU1 -- is thought to have been spread from northeastern Spain by people returning from holidays there , according to the study , which is awaiting peer review @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently no evidence that the strain spreads faster or impacts illness severity and immunity .

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Millions more people in northern England face stricter coronavirus rules next week, officials said Friday, as reports suggested the government is considering a nationwide lockdown.
From Monday, nearly 2.4 million residents in five districts of West Yorkshire, including in the city of Leeds, will be barred from socialising with other households indoors.
Pubs and bars not serving "substantial meals" must close, alongside casinos and betting shops, while people have also been told to avoid unnecessary travel.
The Department of Health said the measures were needed as infection rates in West Yorkshire were among the highest in the country and rising rapidly.
The Times reported Friday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was considering a return to a national lockdown to battle the surge.
Johnson was expected to hold a press conference on Monday to announce new restrictions, which would close everything except "essential shops", schools and universities, the paper said, quoting a government source.
In its weekly study of Covid-19 prevalence, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people with the virus had increased to around one in 100 nationwide.
"There has been growth in all age groups over the past two weeks; older teenagers and young adults continue to have the highest current rates while rates appear to be steeply increasing among secondary school children," it said.
The country's official science advisory panel warned in a report published Friday that the virus was spreading "significantly" faster and that hospitalisations were rising at a higher rate through England than its predicted "worst-case" scenario drawn up in July.
The report said that in mid-October, shortly before new local rules were introduced, around four times as many people were catching Covid than anticipated in the July report.
That study warned that 85,000 more people could die during the winter wave.
West Yorkshire's imminent restrictions are the latest step in the UK government's localised response to the surging transmission, which has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks.
More than 11 million people -- about a fifth of England's population -- will be under the tightest measures from next week.
Most of the areas in the "very high" category of the government's three-tier Covid alert system are in northern and central parts of the country.
Nottingham became the latest city to enter the highest tier Friday.
On Thursday night, young people took to the streets in fancy dress and drank in large groups before a ban on alcohol sales in shops came into force at 2100 GMT.
- 'Targeted' -
The pandemic has hit Britain harder than any other country in Europe, with more than 45,000 people having died within 28 days of testing positive.
Case rates are spiralling again after a lull, tracking the situation elsewhere on the continent.
England is seeing nearly 52,000 new cases daily, a 47 percent weekly rise, according to the ONS, which conducts its analysis of households with the help of several universities and health bodies, and excludes people in hospitals and care homes.
Britain's European neighbours and the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have reimposed partial lockdowns to try to cut infection rates.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Friday the government would continue its "targeted and focused" strategy of local restrictions in virus hotspots.
"The arbitrariness of a blanket approach would be far worse than the effects of trying to be as targeted as possible," he said.
Meanwhile, a new study reported Friday that a Covid-19 variant originating in Spanish farm workers has spread rapidly throughout Europe in recent months and now accounts for most cases in Britain.
The variant -- called 20A.EU1 -- is thought to have been spread from northeastern Spain by people returning from holidays there, according to the study, which is awaiting peer review in a medical journal.
There is currently no evidence that the strain spreads faster or impacts illness severity and immunity.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Journalist murdered in Mexico, sixth this year: governor

Journalists protest against the murder of one of their colleagues in Mexico , one of the world 's most dangerous @ @ @ @ @ journalist has been shot dead in crime-ridden Ciudad Juarez near the US border , Chihuahua @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
Arturo Alba Medina is the sixth journalist murdered this year in Mexico , @ @ @ @ @ most dangerous countries for reporters .
Corral condemned the `` cowardly murder '' and said @ @ @ @ @ ensure the killers are punished .
`` Justice will be done , '' he wrote @ @ @ @ @ journalist and television news show host was assassinated a few minutes after the end of @ @ @ @ @ , according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) .
More than 100 @ @ @ @ @ 2000 in Mexico , where asking questions about political corruption or powerful drug cartels can @ @ @ @ @ Only a fraction of those crimes have resulted in convictions .

Mexico City (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A Mexican journalist has been shot dead in crime-ridden Ciudad Juarez near the US border, Chihuahua state governor Javier Corral said Friday.
Arturo Alba Medina is the sixth journalist murdered this year in Mexico, one of the world's most dangerous countries for reporters.
Corral condemned the "cowardly murder" and said he had told prosecutors to ensure the killers are punished.
"Justice will be done," he wrote on Twitter.
The 49-year-old journalist and television news show host was assassinated a few minutes after the end of his program on Thursday night, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
More than 100 reporters have been murdered since 2000 in Mexico, where asking questions about political corruption or powerful drug cartels can be a deadly business.
Only a fraction of those crimes have resulted in convictions.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Barbarians call-off frustrates England's George

Jamie George said he felt `` huge frustration '' knowing England 's bid to win the Six Nations title with victory away to Italy on Saturday had been hampered by the Barbarians players responsible for having last week 's warm-up match called off .
The Rugby Football Union has launched disciplinary proceedings against 13 Barbarians after they breached coronavirus health protocols by going out in central London on successive nights , leading to the cancellation of last Sunday 's fixture with England at Twickenham .
That means title contenders England head into the final round of the Covid-delayed Championship without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RFU has lost some £1 million in revenue as a result of the game being ditched .
Several of George 's Saracens team-mates were among the Barbarians involved , with the England hooker telling a conference call from Rome on Friday : `` My personal reaction was of huge frustration .
I was gutted .
`` It was another chance for us to play for England . ''
George , who will be winning his 50th England cap at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday , added : `` I 've spoken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were involved .
It was mostly just checking in on them .
`` I know they are n't bad people , they have made a pretty big mistake but at the same time they have held their hands up and appreciate they were wrong in what they did .
`` They put their hands up and realised they messed up .
They are very disappointed in themselves .
They have obviously gone out and got things very wrong .
`` We 're privileged to be in a bubble where everything is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are very aware of our responsibilities .
`` The disciplinary hearing 's going to be happening next week and I think they will take full responsibility for their actions . ''
George made his England debut in 2015 but much of his early international career was spent providing bench cover for the now retired Dylan Hartley .
Since 2018 , however , the British and Irish Lions front row has become England 's first-choice hooker under Eddie Jones .
`` I never thought I 'd get to this point , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now on the eve of my 50th cap is very surreal .
But it is a great moment . ''

Rome (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Jamie George said he felt "huge frustration" knowing England's bid to win the Six Nations title with victory away to Italy on Saturday had been hampered by the Barbarians players responsible for having last week's warm-up match called off.
The Rugby Football Union has launched disciplinary proceedings against 13 Barbarians after they breached coronavirus health protocols by going out in central London on successive nights, leading to the cancellation of last Sunday's fixture with England at Twickenham.
That means title contenders England head into the final round of the Covid-delayed Championship without having played for seven months, while the RFU has lost some £1 million in revenue as a result of the game being ditched.
Several of George's Saracens team-mates were among the Barbarians involved, with the England hooker telling a conference call from Rome on Friday: "My personal reaction was of huge frustration. I was gutted.
"It was another chance for us to play for England."
George, who will be winning his 50th England cap at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, added: "I've spoken to a couple of the guys at Saracens who were involved. It was mostly just checking in on them.
"I know they aren't bad people, they have made a pretty big mistake but at the same time they have held their hands up and appreciate they were wrong in what they did.
"They put their hands up and realised they messed up. They are very disappointed in themselves. They have obviously gone out and got things very wrong.
"We're privileged to be in a bubble where everything is very clear and laid out for us. We are very aware of our responsibilities.
"The disciplinary hearing's going to be happening next week and I think they will take full responsibility for their actions."
George made his England debut in 2015 but much of his early international career was spent providing bench cover for the now retired Dylan Hartley.
Since 2018, however, the British and Irish Lions front row has become England's first-choice hooker under Eddie Jones.
"I never thought I'd get to this point," said George.
"To be sat here now on the eve of my 50th cap is very surreal. But it is a great moment."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Ait-Nouri scores on debut as Wolves go third

Debut goal - Wolves ' French defender Rayan Aït-Nouri ( R ) scores the opener in Wolves ' 2-0 win @ @ @ @ @ Rayan Ait-Nouri marked his Wolves debut with a goal as the Midlands club beat Crystal @ @ @ @ @ Friday to move up into third place in the Premier League .
Victory put Wolves @ @ @ @ @ leading Merseyside duo of Everton and reigning champions Liverpool ahead of the bulk of this @ @ @ @ @ , the ony change from the Wolves side that drew 1-1 with Newcastle last time @ @ @ @ @ minutes to put the hosts in front when his first-time shot found the bottom corner @ @ @ @ @ after Palace 's Michy Batshuayi had an effort correctly disallowed for offside .
Daniel Podence @ @ @ @ @ the 27th minute when he turned in Pedro Neto 's cross from close range .
@ @ @ @ @ worse when when Luka Milivojevic was sent off late on following a VAR review of @ @ @ @ @ Joao Moutinho .

Wolverhampton (United Kingdom) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Rayan Ait-Nouri marked his Wolves debut with a goal as the Midlands club beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Molineux on Friday to move up into third place in the Premier League.
Victory put Wolves level on points with the leading Merseyside duo of Everton and reigning champions Liverpool ahead of the bulk of this weekend's fixtures.
Ait-Nouri, the ony change from the Wolves side that drew 1-1 with Newcastle last time out, needed just 18 minutes to put the hosts in front when his first-time shot found the bottom corner.
His goal came soon after Palace's Michy Batshuayi had an effort correctly disallowed for offside.
Daniel Podence doubled Wolves' lead in the 27th minute when he turned in Pedro Neto's cross from close range.
Palace's defeat was made worse when when Luka Milivojevic was sent off late on following a VAR review of his challenge on Wolves substitute Joao Moutinho.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Harshly criticized Russia-backed UN resolution on women fails

Female soldiers in Senegal demonstrate how a peacekeeping operation is performed in February 2020 amid global efforts to increase the role of women in peacemaking A Russian-backed resolution at the UN Security Council on boosting the number of women in positions of power failed Friday after Western nations said it could damage the cause it claimed to address .
The resolution , which according to it proponents also aimed to boost women 's representation in peace efforts , received only five of 15 votes in the council .
The draft listed recommendations in a dozen paragraphs for UN member states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Critics said the text was too weak and even a step backwards from previous measures on the subject adopted over the last two decades .
Russia , which has held the Security Council presidency in October , along with China , Indonesia , South Africa and Vietnam voted in favor .
The 10 other countries on the 15-member council , including the United States and the five European members , abstained .
Western diplomats said the resolution lacked provisions on the role of civil society in promoting women 's rights , while a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during negotiations .
`` The adoption of this text would have undermined the significant achievements made on this critical agenda and the enduring efforts of so many women 's rights activists , '' said British acting UN ambassador Jonathan Allen .
Russia 's ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said the draft 's failure was more `` proof of a worrying trend '' .
He called it `` attempts by some to usurp and establish monopoly in the protection of the rights of women , while denying others the right to take part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women . ''
The vote came as the UN this week marked the 20th anniversary of a Security Council resolution that sought to boost women 's representation in the world 's peace efforts .
On Thursday , UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deplored the persistent lack of women in that area , saying there had been `` important changes '' over the last two decades but not enough .
He told a virtual meeting of the Security Council that `` gender equality is first and foremost a question of power , and wherever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by men . ''

United Nations (United States) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A Russian-backed resolution at the UN Security Council on boosting the number of women in positions of power failed Friday after Western nations said it could damage the cause it claimed to address.
The resolution, which according to it proponents also aimed to boost women's representation in peace efforts, received only five of 15 votes in the council.
The draft listed recommendations in a dozen paragraphs for UN member states to improve the status of women.
Critics said the text was too weak and even a step backwards from previous measures on the subject adopted over the last two decades.
Russia, which has held the Security Council presidency in October, along with China, Indonesia, South Africa and Vietnam voted in favor.
The 10 other countries on the 15-member council, including the United States and the five European members, abstained.
Western diplomats said the resolution lacked provisions on the role of civil society in promoting women's rights, while a reference related to human rights was deleted during negotiations.
"The adoption of this text would have undermined the significant achievements made on this critical agenda and the enduring efforts of so many women's rights activists," said British acting UN ambassador Jonathan Allen.
Russia's ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said the draft's failure was more "proof of a worrying trend".
He called it "attempts by some to usurp and establish monopoly in the protection of the rights of women, while denying others the right to take part in the debate to improve the standing of women."
The vote came as the UN this week marked the 20th anniversary of a Security Council resolution that sought to boost women's representation in the world's peace efforts.
On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deplored the persistent lack of women in that area, saying there had been "important changes" over the last two decades but not enough.
He told a virtual meeting of the Security Council that "gender equality is first and foremost a question of power, and wherever we look, power structures are dominated by men."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--'I did what I came for': Djokovic suffers heaviest loss but securing top spot priority

What a shock : Italy 's Lorenzo Sonego returns the ball to Novak Djokovic Novak Djokovic shrugged off his heaviest defeat on Friday by insisting he had achieved his goal of wrapping up the year-end world number one spot for a record-equalling sixth time .
Djokovic was stunned 6-2 , 6-1 by Italian lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals of the Vienna ATP tournament .
But having won two rounds in the Austrian capital , 33-year-old Djokovic is virtually guaranteed equalling Pete Sampras 's record of securing the year-ending top ranking for the sixth time .
`` Clinching the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , '' Djokovic told a news conference .
`` I have done what I came here for , securing the number one .
And I 'm completely fine with today 's result .
`` I 'm healthy and looking forward to a strong finish in London ( the season-ending ATP Finals ) '' .
Italian Sonego , ranked 42 and who had intially lost in qualifying last weekend , is the first lucky loser ever to beat Djokovic .
The only other time Djokovic had won just three games was at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marat Safin in a best-of-five set encounter .
`` He just blew me off the court , that 's all , '' Djokovic told atptour.com .
`` He was better in every segment of the game .
It was a pretty bad match from my side , but amazing from his side .
`` He definitely deserved this result , '' added the Serb star who was playing his first tournament since his Roland Garros final defeat to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago .
Djokovic can only be denied the end of year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unlikely wild card into the Sofia tournament next month .
The Spaniard has already said , however , that travelling to Bulgaria after next week 's Paris Masters and before London is not on his agenda .
Sonego fired 26 winners past Djokovic who lost for only the third time in 2020 against 39 victories Djokovic , a 17-time major champion , managed just seven winners against 25 unforced errors .
`` For sure it 's the best victory of my life .
Novak is the best in the world .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Sonego said .
`` It 's unbelievable .
It 's amazing .
I played the best match in my life .
I 'm so happy for this . ''
Sonego goes on to face Britain 's Dan Evans , who defeated Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 7-6 ( 7/3 ) , 4-6 , 6-3 , for a place in Sunday 's final .
Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost Friday , going down 7-6 ( 7/5 ) , 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev .
Rublev hit 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes on to face South Africa 's Kevin Anderson for a place in the final .
`` I came here with the mood that I have nothing to lose , '' said Rublev who is chasing a fifth title of the year .
`` I had already a really great season .
I came here with zero expectations , just wanting to do my best .
To try to fight every match .
At the end , I am here in the semi-finals . ''
Anderson made the semi-finals by accounting for Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 7/5 ) .
It was 2018 champion Anderson 's first top 10 win in two years .

Vienna (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Novak Djokovic shrugged off his heaviest defeat on Friday by insisting he had achieved his goal of wrapping up the year-end world number one spot for a record-equalling sixth time.
Djokovic was stunned 6-2, 6-1 by Italian lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego in the quarter-finals of the Vienna ATP tournament.
But having won two rounds in the Austrian capital, 33-year-old Djokovic is virtually guaranteed equalling Pete Sampras's record of securing the year-ending top ranking for the sixth time.
"Clinching the year-end number one had an effect on me," Djokovic told a news conference.
"I have done what I came here for, securing the number one. And I'm completely fine with today's result.
"I'm healthy and looking forward to a strong finish in London (the season-ending ATP Finals)".
Italian Sonego, ranked 42 and who had intially lost in qualifying last weekend, is the first lucky loser ever to beat Djokovic.
The only other time Djokovic had won just three games was at the 2005 Australian Open at the hands of Marat Safin in a best-of-five set encounter.
"He just blew me off the court, that's all," Djokovic told atptour.com.
"He was better in every segment of the game. It was a pretty bad match from my side, but amazing from his side.
"He definitely deserved this result," added the Serb star who was playing his first tournament since his Roland Garros final defeat to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago.
- 'Unbelievable, amazing' -
Djokovic can only be denied the end of year world number one ranking if Nadal takes an unlikely wild card into the Sofia tournament next month.
The Spaniard has already said, however, that travelling to Bulgaria after next week's Paris Masters and before London is not on his agenda.
Sonego fired 26 winners past Djokovic who lost for only the third time in 2020 against 39 victories
Djokovic, a 17-time major champion, managed just seven winners against 25 unforced errors.
"For sure it's the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. Today I played so, so good," Sonego said.
"It's unbelievable. It's amazing. I played the best match in my life. I'm so happy for this."
Sonego goes on to face Britain's Dan Evans, who defeated Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3, for a place in Sunday's final.
Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost Friday, going down 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev.
Rublev hit 30 winners past the US Open champion and goes on to face South Africa's Kevin Anderson for a place in the final.
"I came here with the mood that I have nothing to lose," said Rublev who is chasing a fifth title of the year.
"I had already a really great season. I came here with zero expectations, just wanting to do my best. To try to fight every match. At the end, I am here in the semi-finals."
Anderson made the semi-finals by accounting for Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
It was 2018 champion Anderson's first top 10 win in two years.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Nine dead, 35 missing in El Salvador mudslide

Survivors of the landslide that buried some 50 homes look at washed away buildings in Nejapa , just outside the city of San Salvador , on October 30 , 2020 Nine people were killed and 35 were missing Friday after heavy rain in El Salvador triggered a devastating mudslide near the capital San Salvador , officials said .
`` It is a tragedy , '' said Interior Minister Mario Duran , adding that nine bodies had been recovered from the path of the mudslide , which covered four kilometers ( 2.5 miles ) .
There was `` a tremendous rainfall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is impressive to have 133 mm ( five inches ) of water , and it generated a landslide '' that hit 135 houses , and 35 people were still listed as missing .
Some 300 firefighters , police and military personnel were involved in the search for the missing , the interior ministry said .
`` Our search teams are scouring an area of four kilometers , '' said Duran .
Defense Minister Rene Francis Merino said a team of Army search and rescue dogs had been deployed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mud and huge boulders smashed through the main highway linking the capital to the north of the country until it reached a ravine that crosses the center of Nejapa , a city of 30,000 inhabitants .
It damaged dozens of homes in Nejapa , some 15 kilometers north of the capital , and killed at least two people there , officials said .
`` I felt the house shaking and shaking , I managed to run and I told my family 'Get out , ' '' said Miguel Angel Erroa , a 61-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything .
My wife and a son of mine named Vladimir are dead , they ca n't find him , and I have a son in the hospital , '' Erroa said through tears .
At his side stood his son Samuel , one of the survivors of the landslide .
`` It was fast .
I was able to rescue my two children , but we could n't do anything for my brother and my mother , '' he said .
The mayor of the town , Adolfo Barrios , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the entire development model '' being used in the country .
Around 30 people who sought shelter in a church were evacuated from the disaster zone .
In 1982 , a landslide on the upper slopes of the same volcano destroyed 160 houses in the town of Montebello , killing more than 300 people .

Nejapa (El Salvador) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Nine people were killed and 35 were missing Friday after heavy rain in El Salvador triggered a devastating mudslide near the capital San Salvador, officials said.
"It is a tragedy," said Interior Minister Mario Duran, adding that nine bodies had been recovered from the path of the mudslide, which covered four kilometers (2.5 miles).
There was "a tremendous rainfall in the night," he said. "It is impressive to have 133 mm (five inches) of water, and it generated a landslide" that hit 135 houses, and 35 people were still listed as missing.
Some 300 firefighters, police and military personnel were involved in the search for the missing, the interior ministry said.
"Our search teams are scouring an area of four kilometers," said Duran.
Defense Minister Rene Francis Merino said a team of Army search and rescue dogs had been deployed to the scene.
The torrent of water, mud and huge boulders smashed through the main highway linking the capital to the north of the country until it reached a ravine that crosses the center of Nejapa, a city of 30,000 inhabitants.
It damaged dozens of homes in Nejapa, some 15 kilometers north of the capital, and killed at least two people there, officials said.
"I felt the house shaking and shaking, I managed to run and I told my family 'Get out,'" said Miguel Angel Erroa, a 61-year-old farmer.
"I couldn't do anything. My wife and a son of mine named Vladimir are dead, they can't find him, and I have a son in the hospital," Erroa said through tears.
At his side stood his son Samuel, one of the survivors of the landslide.
"It was fast. I was able to rescue my two children, but we couldn't do anything for my brother and my mother," he said.
The mayor of the town, Adolfo Barrios, said the tragedy should prompt a "profound review of the entire development model" being used in the country.
Around 30 people who sought shelter in a church were evacuated from the disaster zone.
In 1982, a landslide on the upper slopes of the same volcano destroyed 160 houses in the town of Montebello, killing more than 300 people.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--‘Islam is being hyper-politicised in France, but Muslims are not part of the debate’

The resurgence in attacks by radical Islamists on French soil has rekindled fierce debates on Islam , secularism and discrimination in France , home to Europe ’ s largest Muslim population .
But Muslim voices are largely kept out of the conversation .
On October 2 , the day President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his plan to fight “ Islamist separatism ” in France , the mayor of the Paris suburb of Trappes , 35-year-old Ali Rabeh , was invited by French broadcaster CNews to discuss Macron ’ s proposed measures to root out radical Islam from the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more police officers and public services in his town of 32,000 inhabitants , a working-class and ethnically diverse municipality with the unwanted distinction of having seen more homegrown jihadists travel to Syria , per capita , than any other in France .
The conversation soon veered into acrimony when one of the channel ’ s regular commentators quizzed the mayor about the prevalence of political Islam in Trappes , “ a territory lost to the Republic ” .
He asked Rabeh whether he was even aware that Sharia law was applied there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Trappes , nor anywhere in France , ” a flustered Rabeh hit back .
“ There are laws in France to prevent anyone from applying Sharia law .
Help me obtain more police officers for Trappes instead of repeating nonsense on TV.
” As another CNews pundit joined in the fray , lecturing the young mayor , Rabeh took aim at the commentators and editorialists whom he accused of pontificating on France ’ s commercial 24-hour news channels , with no real knowledge of the topic .
“ These people know nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening on the ground , because they never set foot there , ” he blasted .
“ They ’ re experts in TV newsrooms , experts in the leafy districts of Paris , who merely lecture and agitate.
” Amel Boubekeur , a researcher at the University of Grenoble who specialises in French Islam , says such heated exchanges are indicative of an ill-informed debate on Islam in France that is dominating the airwaves and stoking tensions .
“ There ’ s a hyper-politicisation of Islam in France , but Muslims are largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boubekeur said .
“ And so are the academics who carry out real research , but are chased away by TV pundits.
” While Islam is a favourite topic of politicians and the media , Muslims seldom get to have their say , Boubakeur argued .
The result is a difficulty to understand the extraordinary diversity of opinions and customs among the estimated five million people who make up France ’ s Muslim population , the largest in Europe .
There are multiple reasons for this , including a structural reluctance by France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage with religious pluralities .
Boubakeur also pointed to a legacy of France ’ s colonial past “ in the tendency to view Muslims as a single , homogeneous bloc ” with an immigrant background .
“ And then there ’ s the growing weight of the far right , which has imposed its preferred topics – Islam and immigration – at the very top of the agenda , ” the sociologist added .
This has paved the way for hateful speech by the likes of Éric Zemmour , another CNews mainstay , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam and France , ignoring the overwhelming majority of French Muslims who cherish the country ’ s laws and values .
In his October 2 speech , Macron was careful to distinguish between that majority and the small number of radicalised Islamists who foster hatred of France and the Western way of life .
“ The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic , ” Macron said .
He stressed that he was referring to “ radical Islamism ” and not Muslims in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam was “ in crisis everywhere in the world ” – an assertion that has upset some Muslims well beyond France .
The French president reiterated his stance on October 21 , following the gruesome murder of teacher Samuel Paty by an 18-year-old radical Islamist in a suburb of Paris .
He vowed that France would never give up freedom of speech and the right to mock religion , including the Charlie Hebdo caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad that Paty had shown his pupils in class .
Two weeks later , as angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the Muslim world , Islamist terrorism struck again on French soil with the deadly stabbing on Thursday of three people in a church in Nice .
The horrific attack , carried out by a 21-year-old Tunisian migrant , was swiftly condemned by France ’ s Muslim leaders , who called for Mawlid celebrations – marking the prophet ’ s birthday – to be cancelled .
Outrage over the recent resurgence in Islamist attacks has fuelled calls for a more robust response to a murderous ideology that has repeatedly shed blood on French @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the core principle of laïcité , or state secularism .
It has rekindled a dispute between rival understandings of French secularism , which disagree on how far the state should go in asserting religious neutrality in the public sphere .
> > After teacher ’ s murder , a hunt for appeasers who ‘ disarmed ’ French secularism According to Rim-Sarah Alouane , a legal scholar specialising in religious freedom at the University of Toulouse , French secularism is increasingly being “ weaponised ” to silence Muslim voices – and not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pundits and commentators are using laïcité to remove any visibility [ of religious minorities from the public sphere ] , and at the moment it is being used against Muslims , ” Alouane said .
She pointed to a discrepancy between Macron ’ s concern not to lump together moderates and radicals , and a more hardline rhetoric coming from members of his government for whom criticising intransigent forms of secularism is a sign of complicity with the terrorists .
The term “ Islamophobia ” – used to refer to hatred of Muslims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fierce dispute .
Since the latest attacks , people who use the term have been described , at best , as appeasers of radical Islam , and , at worst , as its accomplices .
According to Razika Adnani of the Foundation for Islam in France , a body designed to foster a moderate form of Islam and improve relations between the French state and Muslim communities , the notion of a “ fear of Islam ” has long been used by Islamists to curtail all criticism of the Islam they preach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign countries finance the country ’ s mosques and provide its imams , “ who have no knowledge of this country and its values.
” She welcomed Macron ’ s pledge to `` free Islam in France from foreign influences '' , stressing that the country is now paying “ very dearly ” for its past errors .
“ Islamists want to live in separate communities , without respecting French laws and values , and this is neither in France 's interest nor in that of French Muslims , ” Adnani said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to France want to be French and live here , but they are hostage to the Islamists.
” According to a survey of France ’ s Muslim population , published by the Ipsos institute earlier this year , 81 percent of people polled had a positive view of French secularism and 77 percent said they had no trouble practising their religion in France .
Asked whether they loved their country , 90 percent answered “ yes ” and 82 percent said they were proud of being French – matching the percentages for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the same survey found that 44 percent of French Muslims believe the rest of society has little regard for them .
The figure rose to 61 percent among Muslims living in households earning less than the minimum wage .
The overlapping social , geographical , ethnic and religious discriminations suffered by many French Muslims living in the country ’ s most deprived suburbs has been amply documented by sociologists – as has their exploitation by Islamist radicals .
Dounia Bouzar , an anthropologist and member of the Observatory of Secularism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intransigent interpretations of laïcité were also giving ammunition to France ’ s foes .
She pointed at the frequent and highly publicised rows over garments worn by some Muslim women , such as hijabs .
Last month , several French lawmakers walked out of the National Assembly in protest at the presence of a student union representative who wore a Muslim veil , igniting a vitriolic debate .
There was similar turmoil last year when a politician in Dijon asked a Muslim mother on a school trip to remove her hijab .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France ’ s secular laws .
According to Bouzar , such incidents are routinely exploited by Islamists to back their claims that Muslims are not free to practise their religion in France .
The difficulty , she said , is to find the right balance between denouncing this imposture while also recognising the legitimate grievances of marginalised communities .
“ Radical Islamists seek to portray their ideology , and their ‘ separatist ’ stance , as a defence of Islam , ” she said .
“ Those who denounce this should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither should the very real stigmatisation of Muslims be denied or dismissed.
” Bouzar added : “ Every time we deny the discrimination and negative stereotyping that many Muslims are subjected to , we help the radical groups who feed on the discrepancy between the Republican promise of equality and the reality they experience day to day.
” Amid the furore triggered by last month ’ s National Assembly walkout , few bothered to find out what the veiled student representative had to say .
Her voice had effectively been silenced – by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name of women ’ s rights .
Fatima Bent , the head of Lallab , a Muslim feminist organisation that campaigns for women ’ s right to dress and practice their religion as they please , argues that feminists who shun Muslim women for wearing a veil are guilty of the very sin they denounce .
“ Using one woman ’ s fight to oppress another woman is not feminism , ” she said .
Bent 's group describes itself as neither pro- nor anti-veil , but pro-choice .
It denounces an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying Muslim women are routinely subjected to intrusion , harassment and violence .
“ There are constant debates about Muslim women , their veils , their bodies – but women are not part of the debate .
It ’ s a violation of their intimacy , ” Bent explained .
She said Lallab was frequently accused of “ advocating hijabs ” , lamenting a “ demonisation of those , like us , who seek to combat both Islamism and Islamophobia ” .
Like numerous analysts , Bent bemoaned the lack of nuance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France .
Muslims are not a monolithic group , she stressed , and there is no fit-all norm for Muslim women .
“ We defend women who are forced by their families to wear a veil and we defend those who are barred from doing so by societal judgements – it ’ s not one or the other , ” she said , warning that ostracising women was no way to emancipate them .
Bent said Lallab does not deny the existence of radical ideologies that preach violence and hatred , nor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , she added , this should not be used to stigmatise all Muslims .
“ France is going after the wrong target , ” she said , warning that the “ manipulation of laïcité creates a confusion between radical Islamists and other Muslims , ultimately encouraging Islamophobia and helping the extremists ” .

The resurgence in attacks by radical Islamists on French soil has rekindled fierce debates on Islam, secularism and discrimination in France, home to Europe’s largest Muslim population. But Muslim voices are largely kept out of the conversation.
Advertising Read more
On October 2, the day President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his plan to fight “Islamist separatism” in France, the mayor of the Paris suburb of Trappes, 35-year-old Ali Rabeh, was invited by French broadcaster CNews to discuss Macron’s proposed measures to root out radical Islam from the country’s deprived banlieues.
Rabeh began by calling for more police officers and public services in his town of 32,000 inhabitants, a working-class and ethnically diverse municipality with the unwanted distinction of having seen more homegrown jihadists travel to Syria, per capita, than any other in France.
The conversation soon veered into acrimony when one of the channel’s regular commentators quizzed the mayor about the prevalence of political Islam in Trappes, “a territory lost to the Republic”. He asked Rabeh whether he was even aware that Sharia law was applied there.
“There is no Sharia law in Trappes, nor anywhere in France,” a flustered Rabeh hit back. “There are laws in France to prevent anyone from applying Sharia law. Help me obtain more police officers for Trappes instead of repeating nonsense on TV.”
As another CNews pundit joined in the fray, lecturing the young mayor, Rabeh took aim at the commentators and editorialists whom he accused of pontificating on France’s commercial 24-hour news channels, with no real knowledge of the topic.
“These people know nothing, absolutely nothing about what’s happening on the ground, because they never set foot there,” he blasted. “They’re experts in TV newsrooms, experts in the leafy districts of Paris, who merely lecture and agitate.”
Islam or France
Amel Boubekeur, a researcher at the University of Grenoble who specialises in French Islam, says such heated exchanges are indicative of an ill-informed debate on Islam in France that is dominating the airwaves and stoking tensions.
“There’s a hyper-politicisation of Islam in France, but Muslims are largely kept out of the conversation,” Boubekeur said. “And so are the academics who carry out real research, but are chased away by the pundits.”
While Islam is a favourite topic of politicians and the media, Muslims seldom get to have their say, Boubakeur argued. The result is a difficulty to understand the extraordinary diversity of opinions and customs among the estimated five million people who make up France’s Muslim population, the largest in Europe.
A banner reading "French and Muslim, proud of our two identities", at a rally in Paris. © Geoffroy Van der Hasselt, AFP
There are multiple reasons for this, including a structural reluctance by France’s secular state to recognise and engage with religious pluralities. Boubakeur also pointed to a legacy of France’s colonial past “in the tendency to view Muslims as a single, homogeneous bloc” with an immigrant background.
“And then there’s the growing weight of the far right, which has imposed its preferred topics – Islam and immigration – at the very top of the agenda,” the sociologist added.
This has paved the way for hateful speech by the likes of Éric Zemmour, another CNews mainstay, who argues that Muslims must choose between Islam and France, ignoring the overwhelming majority of French Muslims who cherish the country’s laws and values.
Secularism ‘weaponised’
In his October 2 speech, Macron was careful to distinguish between that majority and the small number of radicalised Islamists who foster hatred of France and the Western way of life.
“The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic,” Macron said. He stressed that he was referring to “radical Islamism” and not Muslims in general, though he also argued that Islam was “in crisis everywhere in the world” – an assertion that has upset some Muslims well beyond France.
The French president reiterated his stance on October 21, following the gruesome murder of teacher Samuel Paty by an 18-year-old radical Islamist in a suburb of Paris. He vowed that France would never give up freedom of speech and the right to mock religion, including the Charlie Hebdo caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad that Paty had shown his pupils in class.
Two weeks later, as angry protests against France and its president swept across the Muslim world, Islamist terrorism struck again on French soil with the deadly stabbing on Thursday of three people in a church in Nice. The horrific attack, carried out by a 21-year-old Tunisian migrant, was swiftly condemned by France’s Muslim leaders, who called for Mawlid celebrations – marking the prophet’s birthday – to be cancelled.
The beheading of teacher Samuel Paty has shaken the French nation to the core. © Charles Platiau, REUTERS
Outrage over the recent resurgence in Islamist attacks has fuelled calls for a more robust response to a murderous ideology that has repeatedly shed blood on French soil – and a more assertive defence of the core principle of laïcité, or state secularism. It has rekindled a dispute between rival understandings of French secularism, which disagree on how far the state should go in asserting religious neutrality in the public sphere.
>> After teacher’s murder, a hunt for appeasers who ‘disarmed’ French secularism
According to Rim-Sarah Alouane, a legal scholar specialising in religious freedom at the University of Toulouse, French secularism is increasingly being “weaponised” to silence Muslim voices – and not only the radical ones.
“Politicians, pundits and commentators are using laïcité to remove any visibility [of religious minorities from the public sphere], and at the moment it is being used against Muslims,” Alouane said.
She pointed to a discrepancy between Macron’s concern not to lump together moderates and radicals, and a more hardline rhetoric coming from members of his government for whom criticising intransigent forms of secularism is a sign of complicity with the terrorists.
Islam and France
The term “Islamophobia” – used to refer to hatred of Muslims – has long been the subject of fierce dispute. Since the latest attacks, people who use the term have been described, at best, as appeasers of radical Islam, and, at worst, as its accomplices.
According to Razika Adnani of the Foundation for Islam in France, a body designed to foster a moderate form of Islam and improve relations between the French state and Muslim communities, the notion of a “fear of Islam” has long been used by Islamists to curtail all criticism of the Islam they preach.
Adnani said France was guilty of letting foreign countries finance the country’s mosques and provide its imams, “who have no knowledge of this country and its values.” She welcomed Macron’s pledge to "free Islam in France from foreign influences", stressing that the country is now paying “very dearly” for its past errors.
“Islamists want to live in separate communities, without respecting French laws and values, and this is neither in France's interest nor in that of French Muslims,” Adnani said. She added: “Muslims who have come to France want to be French and live here, but they are hostage to the Islamists.”
According to a survey of France’s Muslim population, published by the Ipsos institute earlier this year, 81 percent of people polled had a positive view of French secularism and 77 percent said they had no trouble practising their religion in France. Asked whether they loved their country, 90 percent answered “yes” and 82 percent said they were proud of being French – matching the percentages for the rest of France’s population.
However, the same survey found that 44 percent of French Muslims believe the rest of society has little regard for them. The figure rose to 61 percent among Muslims living in households earning less than the minimum wage.
Ammunition for the Islamists
The overlapping social, geographical, ethnic and religious discriminations suffered by many French Muslims living in the country’s most deprived suburbs has been amply documented by sociologists – as has their exploitation by Islamist radicals.
Dounia Bouzar, an anthropologist and member of the Observatory of Secularism, a state-funded watchdog, warned that intransigent interpretations of laïcité were also giving ammunition to France’s foes. She pointed at the frequent and highly publicised rows over garments worn by some Muslim women, such as hijabs.
Last month, several French lawmakers walked out of the National Assembly in protest at the presence of a student union representative who wore a Muslim veil, igniting a vitriolic debate. There was similar turmoil last year when a politician in Dijon asked a Muslim mother on a school trip to remove her hijab. In neither case were the women infringing on France’s secular laws.
According to Bouzar, such incidents are routinely exploited by Islamists to back their claims that Muslims are not free to practise their religion in France. The difficulty, she said, is to find the right balance between denouncing this imposture while also recognising the legitimate grievances of marginalised communities.
“Radical Islamists seek to portray their ideology, and their ‘separatist’ stance, as a defence of Islam,” she said. “Those who denounce this should not be treated as ‘Islamophobes’. But neither should the very real stigmatisation of Muslims be denied or dismissed.”
Bouzar added: “Every time we deny the discrimination and negative stereotyping that many Muslims are subjected to, we help the radical groups who feed on the discrepancy between the Republican promise of equality and the reality they experience day to day.”
Voices silenced
Amid the furore triggered by last month’s National Assembly walkout, few bothered to find out what the veiled student representative had to say. Her voice had effectively been silenced – by female lawmakers who marched out in the name of women’s rights.
Fatima Bent, the head of Lallab, a feminist and anti-racist group that campaigns for women’s right to dress and practice their religion as they please, argues that feminists who shun Muslim women for wearing a veil are guilty of the very sin they denounce.
“Using one woman’s fight to oppress another woman is not feminism,” she said.
A woman holds a placard reading "my veil is my freedom" as she takes part in a protest against Islamophobia in Paris, on November 10, 2019. © Geoffroy Van der Hasselt, AFP
Bent's group describes itself as neither pro- nor anti-veil, but pro-choice. It denounces an “obsession” by media organisations and politicians, saying Muslim women are routinely subjected to intrusion, harassment and violence.
“There are constant debates about Muslim women, their veils, their bodies – but women are not part of the debate. It’s a violation of their intimacy,” Bent explained. She said Lallab was frequently accused of “advocating hijabs”, lamenting a “demonisation of those, like us, who seek to combat both Islamism and Islamophobia”.
Like numerous analysts, Bent bemoaned the lack of nuance and complexity in discussions of Islam in France. Muslims are not a monolithic group, she stressed, and there is no fit-all norm for Muslim women.
“We defend women who are forced by their families to wear a veil and we defend those who are barred from doing so by societal judgements – it’s not one or the other,” she said, warning that ostracising women was no way to emancipate them.
Bent said Lallab does not deny the existence of radical ideologies that preach violence and hatred, nor the patriarchal oppression suffered by some Muslim women. However, she added, this should not be used to stigmatise all Muslims.
“France is going after the wrong target,” she said, warning that the “manipulation of laïcité creates a confusion between radical Islamists and other Muslims, ultimately encouraging Islamophobia and helping the extremists”.
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-10-30--F1 pencils in record 23 races for 2021, includes Saudi Arabia

Formula One teams may be looking at two teams of mechanics as the programme rises to 23 races in 2021 Formula One has put a brave face on the coronavirus pandemic by publishing a proposed programme on Friday of a record 23 Grand Prix for the 2021 season , including one in Saudi Arabia .
The previous record for races in a season stands at 21 .
Twenty-two races were slated for 2020 but the pandemic reduced that to 17 .
The programme reveals several sets of three races in successive weekends , something which is likely to stretch the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge job for the mechanics , '' said Christian Horner , team principal of Red Bull .
`` This is 23 weeks away from home .
We are approaching saturation point at which we would need two teams , '' said the Briton .
While the drivers would need to be at every race , other teams are also thinking of switching their mechanics .
`` We hope to set up a rotation system so that no one has to go to all the races , '' said Williams team principal Simon Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is of a similar mind while Guenther Steiner of Haas suspects that coronavirus will have the final say yet again .
`` There is a chance , with the pandemic , that races will be cancelled , '' said Steiner .
`` Twenty-three GPs , it would be hard for the teams .
If it continues , we will have to find solutions such as shorter weekends . ''
Two-day GPs , as is the case with this weekend 's race in Imola with a single free practice session on Saturday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , are the options proposed by Red Bull driver Alexander Albon and championed by Horner .
The sport has already come under close scrutiny over the staging of a GP in Bahrain and the addition of Saudi Arabia is sure to raise the volume of dissent from human rights watchers .
While most preferred to claim ignorance of the subject on Friday , world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke of sport in general as `` a powerful platform to initiate change '' .
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto also spoke of the `` power of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sport can have .
Horner said he had confidence in the governing bodies of F1 ( its promoter Liberty Media , and the International Automobile Federation ) to `` make the right decisions '' .
`` Whatever their decision , we will be there , '' he said .

Imola (Italy) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Formula One has put a brave face on the coronavirus pandemic by publishing a proposed programme on Friday of a record 23 Grand Prix for the 2021 season, including one in Saudi Arabia.
The previous record for races in a season stands at 21. Twenty-two races were slated for 2020 but the pandemic reduced that to 17.
The programme reveals several sets of three races in successive weekends, something which is likely to stretch the teams.
"It would represent a huge job for the mechanics," said Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull.
"This is 23 weeks away from home. We are approaching saturation point at which we would need two teams," said the Briton.
While the drivers would need to be at every race, other teams are also thinking of switching their mechanics.
"We hope to set up a rotation system so that no one has to go to all the races," said Williams team principal Simon Roberts.
His AlphaTauri counterpart, Franz Tost, is of a similar mind while Guenther Steiner of Haas suspects that coronavirus will have the final say yet again.
"There is a chance, with the pandemic, that races will be cancelled," said Steiner.
"Twenty-three GPs, it would be hard for the teams. If it continues, we will have to find solutions such as shorter weekends."
Two-day GPs, as is the case with this weekend's race in Imola with a single free practice session on Saturday morning instead of three on Friday and Saturday, are the options proposed by Red Bull driver Alexander Albon and championed by Horner.
The sport has already come under close scrutiny over the staging of a GP in Bahrain and the addition of Saudi Arabia is sure to raise the volume of dissent from human rights watchers.
While most preferred to claim ignorance of the subject on Friday, world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke of sport in general as "a powerful platform to initiate change".
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto also spoke of the "power of unity" and "change" that sport can have.
Horner said he had confidence in the governing bodies of F1 (its promoter Liberty Media, and the International Automobile Federation) to "make the right decisions".
"Whatever their decision, we will be there," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Skosan scores hat-trick and Jantjies kicks 16 points in Lions romp

A hat-trick of tries from former Springbok winger Courtnall Skosan helped the Lions trounce the Griquas 61-31 Friday for the biggest South African Super Rugby Unlocked win so far this season .
Skosan scored the first try of the match on 10 minutes and the last a minute from time as the home side secured a bonus-point victory behind closed doors at Ellis Park in Johannesburg due to the coronavirus .
The emphatic triumph by nine tries to four lifted the Lions from sixth to fourth in the standings after three matches , three points behind frontrunners the Bulls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Griquas , the Kimberley-based also-rans of South African rugby for decades , remain bottom with just two points after three consecutive losses .
The clinical finishing of Skosan and brilliant goal-kicking from captain and fly-half Elton Jantjies , who converted all but one of the tries , contributed 31 of the Lions points .
Tries from centres Dan Kriel and Wandisile Simelane , winger Stean Pienaar , flanker MJ Pelser , hooker Jaco Visagie and substitute lock Reinhard Nothnagel completed the total .
Griquas fly-half and skipper George Whitehead kicked a penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hooker HJ Luus , full-back James Verity-Amm and substitute back Tinus de Beer .
Jantjies and his team-mates were thrilled to succeed after narrow away losses to the Sharks and the Stormers and the postponement of a home fixture with the Cheetahs owing to positive Covid-19 tests .
`` It was great to see the team repeatedly running the ball tonight , '' said the playmaker who was part of the 2019 Springbok Rugby World Cup-winning squad .
`` Although the postponement of the Cheetahs match was a blow , we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excellent preparations paid off against the Griquas .
`` This was a beautiful night for goal-kicking with no wind and it was great to convert eight consecutive tries from angles of varying difficulty . ''
His 16 points lifted Jantjies to the top of the scorers ' table with 39 , three more than Eddie Fouche of the Pumas , who is unlikely to play again this season after dislocating his hip last weekend .
Whitehead admitted that the gap in quality between the two teams showed during the first half at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he was proud of a second-half fightback .
`` The Lions have more experienced players than us and much greater strength in depth and it was glaringly obvious during the first 40 minutes , '' he said .
`` But this team will never throw in the towel and it was great to score four tries during a much-improved second-half performance . ''
On Saturday , the Pumas host the Sharks in Mbombela ( formerly Nelspruit ) followed by the highlight of the weekend schedule between the Bulls against the Stormers @

Johannesburg (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A hat-trick of tries from former Springbok winger Courtnall Skosan helped the Lions trounce the Griquas 61-31 Friday for the biggest South African Super Rugby Unlocked win so far this season.
Skosan scored the first try of the match on 10 minutes and the last a minute from time as the home side secured a bonus-point victory behind closed doors at Ellis Park in Johannesburg due to the coronavirus.
The emphatic triumph by nine tries to four lifted the Lions from sixth to fourth in the standings after three matches, three points behind frontrunners the Bulls, who host the Stormers in Pretoria Saturday.
Griquas, the Kimberley-based also-rans of South African rugby for decades, remain bottom with just two points after three consecutive losses.
The clinical finishing of Skosan and brilliant goal-kicking from captain and fly-half Elton Jantjies, who converted all but one of the tries, contributed 31 of the Lions points.
Tries from centres Dan Kriel and Wandisile Simelane, winger Stean Pienaar, flanker MJ Pelser, hooker Jaco Visagie and substitute lock Reinhard Nothnagel completed the total.
Griquas fly-half and skipper George Whitehead kicked a penalty and converted tries by scrum-half Zak Burger, hooker HJ Luus, full-back James Verity-Amm and substitute back Tinus de Beer.
Jantjies and his team-mates were thrilled to succeed after narrow away losses to the Sharks and the Stormers and the postponement of a home fixture with the Cheetahs owing to positive Covid-19 tests.
"It was great to see the team repeatedly running the ball tonight," said the playmaker who was part of the 2019 Springbok Rugby World Cup-winning squad.
- 'Excellent preparations' -
"Although the postponement of the Cheetahs match was a blow, we had a normal week from Monday and our excellent preparations paid off against the Griquas.
"This was a beautiful night for goal-kicking with no wind and it was great to convert eight consecutive tries from angles of varying difficulty."
His 16 points lifted Jantjies to the top of the scorers' table with 39, three more than Eddie Fouche of the Pumas, who is unlikely to play again this season after dislocating his hip last weekend.
Whitehead admitted that the gap in quality between the two teams showed during the first half at the end of which the Lions led 28-3, but he was proud of a second-half fightback.
"The Lions have more experienced players than us and much greater strength in depth and it was glaringly obvious during the first 40 minutes," he said.
"But this team will never throw in the towel and it was great to score four tries during a much-improved second-half performance."
On Saturday, the Pumas host the Sharks in Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) followed by the highlight of the weekend schedule between the Bulls against the Stormers.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--US sets requirements for 'phased resumption' of cruises

The requirements for a `` phased resumption '' of cruise ship passenger operations were released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The US health authorities on Friday issued a detailed set of requirements that would allow cruise ships to resume services as early as next month .
The requirements for a `` phased resumption '' of cruise ship passenger operations were released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
In light of the continued spread of Covid-19 , a `` careful approach '' was needed , the CDC said in releasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This would include `` simulated voyages to test cruise ship operators ' ability to mitigate Covid-19 risk , '' it said .
`` During the initial phases , cruise ship operators must demonstrate adherence to testing , quarantine and isolation , and social distancing requirements to protect crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test crew and future passengers , '' the CDC said .
Cruises could be no longer than seven days and social distancing would have to be respected during meals .
Cruises were halted in March after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` no-sail '' order has been regularly renewed by the CDC .
It expires on October 31 .
One of the largest cruise operators , Carnival Cruise Line , has already canceled all voyages through November and December except for those between Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida .
Another major operator , Britain 's P & O Cruises , does not plan to resume passenger operations before early 2021 .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The US health authorities on Friday issued a detailed set of requirements that would allow cruise ships to resume services as early as next month.
The requirements for a "phased resumption" of cruise ship passenger operations were released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In light of the continued spread of Covid-19, a "careful approach" was needed, the CDC said in releasing its "conditional sailing order."
This would include "simulated voyages to test cruise ship operators' ability to mitigate Covid-19 risk," it said.
"During the initial phases, cruise ship operators must demonstrate adherence to testing, quarantine and isolation, and social distancing requirements to protect crew members while they build the laboratory capacity needed to test crew and future passengers," the CDC said.
Cruises could be no longer than seven days and social distancing would have to be respected during meals.
Cruises were halted in March after Covid-19 outbreaks aboard several ships and a "no-sail" order has been regularly renewed by the CDC. It expires on October 31.
One of the largest cruise operators, Carnival Cruise Line, has already canceled all voyages through November and December except for those between Miami and Port Canaveral in Florida.
Another major operator, Britain's P&O Cruises, does not plan to resume passenger operations before early 2021.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--Clashes in Barcelona over virus restrictions

Members of the Catalan regional police force take position next to burning trash set on fire by protesters during a demonstration against new coronavirus restrictions in BarcelonaOne by one , Spain 's regions have announced regional border closures .
Clashes erupted in central Barcelona Friday between protesters and Catalan police during a demonstration against mobility restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus , an AFP correspondent said .
The clashes erupted when hundreds gathered in the city centre to protest at restrictions which include a 10:00 pm curfew and a ban on leaving the city for the long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mossos d'Esquadra regional police told AFP up to 700 protesters attended the rally which later turned violent when a group of some 50 people `` began throwing dangerous objects '' at police , prompting them to try and break up the crowd .
An AFP correspondent at the scene saw protesters hurling objects at the security forces , including crowd control barriers , while police hit back with batons .
Sirens wailed throughout the city centre as police sought to disperse the protesters and firefighters hosed down the streets to put out fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested two people , the spokesman said .
Despite the many restrictions imposed in Spain since July , when the number of cases began rising again , infections have spiralled with the virus claiming more than 35,000 lives and infecting more than 1.1 million people .
Almost all of Spain 's regions have imposed border closures in the hope of avoiding a new lockdown , but in Catalonia , where bars and restaurants have been closed since mid-October , the authorities have imposed extra restrictions .
Residents have been barred from leaving towns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday checking drivers on the main roads leading out of Barcelona .

Madrid (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Clashes erupted in central Barcelona Friday between protesters and Catalan police during a demonstration against mobility restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, an AFP correspondent said.
The clashes erupted when hundreds gathered in the city centre to protest at restrictions which include a 10:00 pm curfew and a ban on leaving the city for the long holiday weekend.
A spokesman for the Mossos d'Esquadra regional police told AFP up to 700 protesters attended the rally which later turned violent when a group of some 50 people "began throwing dangerous objects" at police, prompting them to try and break up the crowd.
An AFP correspondent at the scene saw protesters hurling objects at the security forces, including crowd control barriers, while police hit back with batons.
Sirens wailed throughout the city centre as police sought to disperse the protesters and firefighters hosed down the streets to put out fires in several large wheelie bins.
Police arrested two people, the spokesman said.
Despite the many restrictions imposed in Spain since July, when the number of cases began rising again, infections have spiralled with the virus claiming more than 35,000 lives and infecting more than 1.1 million people.
Almost all of Spain's regions have imposed border closures in the hope of avoiding a new lockdown, but in Catalonia, where bars and restaurants have been closed since mid-October, the authorities have imposed extra restrictions.
Residents have been barred from leaving towns and cities over the weekend with police on Friday checking drivers on the main roads leading out of Barcelona.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--'Blew me off court': Djokovic suffers heaviest loss to lucky loser Sonego in Vienna

Novak Djokovic suffered his heaviest ever defeat in a three-set match on Friday when he was knocked out of the Vienna ATP tournament by lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego , stalling his bid to wrap up the year-end world number one ranking for a sixth time .
Italian Sonego , ranked 42 and who had intially lost in qualifying last weekend , is the first lucky loser ever to beat Djokovic .
His 6-2 , 6-1 quarter-final stunner was 33-year-old Djokovic 's heaviest ever defeat .
The only other time the Serb had won just three games was at the 2005 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safin in a best-of-five set encounter .
`` He just blew me off the court , that 's all , '' Djokovic told atptour.com .
`` He was better in every segment of the game .
It was a pretty bad match from my side , but amazing from his side .
`` He definitely deserved this result , '' added the Serb star who was playing his first tournament since his Roland Garros final defeat to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago .
Friday 's defeat means Djokovic will have to wait a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of equalling Pete Sampras 's all-time record of ending the season top of the rankings for a sixth time .
`` For sure it 's the best victory of my life .
Novak is the best in the world .
Today I played so , so good , '' Sonego said .
`` It 's unbelievable .
It 's amazing .
I played the best match in my life .
I 'm so happy for this . ''
Sonego fired 26 winners past the Serb who lost for only the third time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ champion , managed just seven winners against 25 unforced errors .
Sonego goes on to face either Britain 's Dan Evans or Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria for a place in the final .
Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost Friday , going down 7-6 ( 7/5 ) , 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev .
Rublev hit 30 winners past the US Open champion and goes on to face South Africa 's Kevin Anderson for a place in the final .
`` I came here with the mood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Rublev who is chasing a fifth title of the year .
`` I had already a really great season .
I came here with zero expectations , just wanting to do my best .
To try to fight every match .
At the end , I am here in the semi-finals . ''
Anderson made the semi-finals by accounting for Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4 , 7-6 ( 7/5 ) .
It was 2018 champion Anderson 's first top 10 win in two years .

Vienna (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Novak Djokovic suffered his heaviest ever defeat in a three-set match on Friday when he was knocked out of the Vienna ATP tournament by lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego, stalling his bid to wrap up the year-end world number one ranking for a sixth time.
Italian Sonego, ranked 42 and who had intially lost in qualifying last weekend, is the first lucky loser ever to beat Djokovic.
His 6-2, 6-1 quarter-final stunner was 33-year-old Djokovic's heaviest ever defeat.
The only other time the Serb had won just three games was at the 2005 Australian Open at the hands of Marat Safin in a best-of-five set encounter.
"He just blew me off the court, that's all," Djokovic told atptour.com.
"He was better in every segment of the game. It was a pretty bad match from my side, but amazing from his side.
"He definitely deserved this result," added the Serb star who was playing his first tournament since his Roland Garros final defeat to Rafal Nadal three weeks ago.
Friday's defeat means Djokovic will have to wait a little longer before he completes the formality of equalling Pete Sampras's all-time record of ending the season top of the rankings for a sixth time.
"For sure it's the best victory of my life. Novak is the best in the world. Today I played so, so good," Sonego said.
"It's unbelievable. It's amazing. I played the best match in my life. I'm so happy for this."
Sonego fired 26 winners past the Serb who lost for only the third time in 2020.
Djokovic, a 17-time major champion, managed just seven winners against 25 unforced errors.
Sonego goes on to face either Britain's Dan Evans or Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria for a place in the final.
Second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem also lost Friday, going down 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to Russian world number eight Andrey Rublev.
Rublev hit 30 winners past the US Open champion and goes on to face South Africa's Kevin Anderson for a place in the final.
"I came here with the mood that I have nothing to lose," said Rublev who is chasing a fifth title of the year.
"I had already a really great season. I came here with zero expectations, just wanting to do my best. To try to fight every match. At the end, I am here in the semi-finals."
Anderson made the semi-finals by accounting for Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
It was 2018 champion Anderson's first top 10 win in two years.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-30--US salutes Greece, Turkey earthquake diplomacy

Rescuers search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Turkish city of Izmir after a powerful earthquake The United States on Friday hailed diplomacy between uneasy neighbors Greece and Turkey following a major earthquake and said it was ready to assist the NATO allies .
`` It 's great to see both countries putting their differences aside to help each other during a time of need .
The United States also stands ready to assist , '' said Robert O'Brien , the national security advisor .
At least 14 people died in the 7.0-magnitude quake near the Greek island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage in the coastal Turkish city of Izmir .
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus offered US condolences for the loss of life and said the United States was `` heartened '' by cooperation between the Turkish and Greek foreign ministers .
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placed a rare call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the earthquake .
`` Whatever our differences , these are times when our people need to stand together , '' Mitsotakis said on Twitter .
Erdogan aide Fahrettin Altun tweeted that the disaster `` reminds us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our differences over policy . ''
Tensions have soared in recent months after Turkey sent a military-backed vessel to explore for energy resources in disputed waters .

Washington (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
The United States on Friday hailed diplomacy between uneasy neighbors Greece and Turkey following a major earthquake and said it was ready to assist the NATO allies.
"It's great to see both countries putting their differences aside to help each other during a time of need. The United States also stands ready to assist," said Robert O'Brien, the national security advisor.
At least 14 people died in the 7.0-magnitude quake near the Greek island of Samos, with much of the damage in the coastal Turkish city of Izmir.
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus offered US condolences for the loss of life and said the United States was "heartened" by cooperation between the Turkish and Greek foreign ministers.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placed a rare call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the earthquake.
"Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together," Mitsotakis said on Twitter.
Erdogan aide Fahrettin Altun tweeted that the disaster "reminds us once again how close we are despite our differences over policy."
Tensions have soared in recent months after Turkey sent a military-backed vessel to explore for energy resources in disputed waters.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Ivory Coast president seeks third term in tense vote

At least 30 people were killed in pre-election clashes since August Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara seeks reelection on Saturday in a presidential vote that his opponents boycotted in protest over his bid to secure a contested third term .
At least 30 people were killed in pre-election clashes since August , stoking fears of a return to the violence that left 3,000 dead in a crisis a decade ago when then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down .
A former IMF official in power since 2010 , Ouattara is facing off with veteran opposition leader Henri Konan Bedie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ivorian politics for decades .
Ouattara 's decision to run angered Bedie and another opposition candidate , Pascal Affi N'Guessan , who called for a boycott and civil disobedience over a third mandate they branded an illegal `` electoral coup '' .
On Saturday , after having cast his own vote , Ouattara called on the opposition to abandon their civil disobedience campaign and urged the country 's youth not to let themselves be manipulated .
Protesters had blocked the main route between Abidjan and the north of the country since early on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 350 kilometres ( 220 miles ) north of Abidjan , local residents said .
Groups of youths also set up makeshift barricades in some neighbourhoods in and around Daoukro , stronghold of opposition leader Bedie , an AFP correspondent at the scene said .
`` We got up very early to put up barricades to stop the election and respect the boycott , '' said one youth Jean , standing at barricade of tree branches .
Electoral material had still not arrived and some Daoukro polling stations were closed .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been mobilised to secure the election .
`` The process has been tense , '' said Patrick Allou , 32 , waiting to vote in Abidjan 's Plateau district .
`` Everyone has their opinion but you should express it democratically .
No one needs to die in an election . ''
Polls close at 1800 GMT , though it is not clear when the results will be released .
Electoral authorities by law have up to five days to announce the results .
The ballot in French-speaking West Africa 's economic powerhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Nigeria faces widespread social protests , Mali is emerging from a coup and jihadist violence wracks the Sahel .
Ouattara , 78 , was supposed to step aside after his second term to make way for a younger generation , but the sudden death of his chosen successor led to a change in plan .
The Ivorian leader says a constitutional court ruling approved his third term , allowing him to bypass two-term presidential limits after a 2016 legal reform .
His supporters expect a strong win , touting his record in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stability to the world 's top cocoa producer after a decade of instability .
But Bedie and opposition leaders accuse the electoral commission and the constitutional court of favouring the government , making a fair and transparent vote impossible .
The constitutional court rejected 40 other candidacies , including those of Gbagbo , 75 , and former rebel leader turned prime minister Guillaume Soro , 47 .
Both men are outside the country , but retain strong followings in their local Ivorian strongholds .
While the UN has called for calm , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an `` active '' boycott and a campaign to block the vote , stoking fears of violence in opposition strongholds .
`` The question is what will the opposition do after November 1 ? ''
said Sylvain N'Guessan , director and political analyst at the Abidjan Strategies institute .
The weeks before the election saw sporadic clashes in the south of the country , mainly between local ethnic groups close to the opposition and Dioula communities seen as loyal to the president , himself a Muslim from the north .
The country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its leaders ' ethnic identities and regional loyalties .
Police fired tear gas on Friday in the political capital Yamoussoukro to break up fighting between Dioula youth and opposition-aligned Baoule communities .
Ouattara won a long-postponed election in 2010 although Gbagbo refused to accept defeat .
After battles in Abidjan , French forces intervened to help Ouattara loyalists oust the former president .

Abidjan (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara seeks reelection on Saturday in a presidential vote that his opponents boycotted in protest over his bid to secure a contested third term.
At least 30 people were killed in pre-election clashes since August, stoking fears of a return to the violence that left 3,000 dead in a crisis a decade ago when then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down.
A former IMF official in power since 2010, Ouattara is facing off with veteran opposition leader Henri Konan Bedie in a bitter rivalry that has defined Ivorian politics for decades.
Ouattara's decision to run angered Bedie and another opposition candidate, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, who called for a boycott and civil disobedience over a third mandate they branded an illegal "electoral coup".
On Saturday, after having cast his own vote, Ouattara called on the opposition to abandon their civil disobedience campaign and urged the country's youth not to let themselves be manipulated.
Protesters had blocked the main route between Abidjan and the north of the country since early on Saturday near the central town of Djebonoua, 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Abidjan, local residents said.
Groups of youths also set up makeshift barricades in some neighbourhoods in and around Daoukro, stronghold of opposition leader Bedie, an AFP correspondent at the scene said.
"We got up very early to put up barricades to stop the election and respect the boycott," said one youth Jean, standing at barricade of tree branches.
Electoral material had still not arrived and some Daoukro polling stations were closed.
In Benanou, a village near Daoukro, a large tree trunk blocked a key road.
More than 35,000 police and security force officials have been mobilised to secure the election.
"The process has been tense," said Patrick Allou, 32, waiting to vote in Abidjan's Plateau district. "Everyone has their opinion but you should express it democratically. No one needs to die in an election."
Polls close at 1800 GMT, though it is not clear when the results will be released. Electoral authorities by law have up to five days to announce the results.
- Growth, stability -
The ballot in French-speaking West Africa's economic powerhouse is a crunch test in a region where Nigeria faces widespread social protests, Mali is emerging from a coup and jihadist violence wracks the Sahel.
Ouattara, 78, was supposed to step aside after his second term to make way for a younger generation, but the sudden death of his chosen successor led to a change in plan.
The Ivorian leader says a constitutional court ruling approved his third term, allowing him to bypass two-term presidential limits after a 2016 legal reform.
His supporters expect a strong win, touting his record in bringing infrastructure projects, economic growth and stability to the world's top cocoa producer after a decade of instability.
But Bedie and opposition leaders accuse the electoral commission and the constitutional court of favouring the government, making a fair and transparent vote impossible.
The constitutional court rejected 40 other candidacies, including those of Gbagbo, 75, and former rebel leader turned prime minister Guillaume Soro, 47.
Both men are outside the country, but retain strong followings in their local Ivorian strongholds.
- Appeal for calm -
While the UN has called for calm, the opposition called on supporters to carry out an "active" boycott and a campaign to block the vote, stoking fears of violence in opposition strongholds.
"The question is what will the opposition do after November 1?" said Sylvain N'Guessan, director and political analyst at the Abidjan Strategies institute.
The weeks before the election saw sporadic clashes in the south of the country, mainly between local ethnic groups close to the opposition and Dioula communities seen as loyal to the president, himself a Muslim from the north.
The country's political feuds are often closely tied up with its leaders' ethnic identities and regional loyalties.
Police fired tear gas on Friday in the political capital Yamoussoukro to break up fighting between Dioula youth and opposition-aligned Baoule communities.
Ouattara won a long-postponed election in 2010 although Gbagbo refused to accept defeat. After battles in Abidjan, French forces intervened to help Ouattara loyalists oust the former president.
© 2020 AFP