france24--2020-11-13--Wales coach Pivac sees improvement despite Irish hammering

Wales 's sixth successive defeat a 32-9 hammering by Ireland is a bitter pill to swallow but coach Wayne Pivac believes things can be turned round Wales 's sixth successive defeat , a 32-9 hammering by Ireland in their Autumn Nations Cup opener , is a bitter pill to swallow , said coach Wayne Pivac .
However , the New Zealander insisted he had seen an improvement in the team 's performance from the 14-10 home loss to Scotland in their Six Nations match a fortnight ago .
Pivac has come under immense pressure as the side with largely the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one crowned Grand Slam champions last year and which reached the World Cup semi-finals under Warren Gatland .
A team boasting over 800 caps rarely threatened the Irish tryline and conceded nearly 20 penalties .
Wales had just three penalties from veteran Leigh Halfpenny to show on the scoreboard .
`` It is a bitter pill to swallow , '' said Pivac .
`` We are not being beaten by our opponent , we are handing them presents regularly and we need to rectify that . ''
Pivac , who said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's game with Georgia , believes the players have the right attitude to turn things round .
`` Obviously as a coach you are concerned by any performance when you do n't get the result you are after , '' said Pivac .
`` We have had a few of those on the bounce but I think the players will answer the question .
`` The preparation has been good and they are working very hard to rectify the errors that are hammering us at the moment . ''
Pivac , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come in and change a team that had been used to one style of play for over a decade .
Pivac 's tenure at Welsh region Scarlets was known for their expansive play in contrast to the more conservative tactics deployed by Gatland as Wales coach .
`` I am looking to change what we have done for over 10 years and mindsets do not change overnight in my experience , '' he said .
`` We believe in it ( our strategy ) and we will roll our sleeves up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2023 World Cup . ''
Ironically , Pivac found the most pleasing part of Wales 's play against the Irish was their defence -- coming days after defence coach Byron Hayward was let go .
`` There are a lot of disappointed players in the dressing room , '' he said .
`` They put in a hell of a shift .
`` It was a hell of a defensive effort and speaks volumes for the group . ''
His Ireland counterpart Andy Farrell could bask in his side bouncing back from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dashed their hopes of the Six Nations title .
The 45-year-old Englishman proclaimed it a `` dominant performance '' although there were plenty of errors too by the Irish .
He was especially heartened by the Test debut of livewire New Zealand-born wing James Lowe and his compatriot scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park making his first start after two appearances off the bench .
Lowe scored Ireland 's second and final try in the dying seconds , due reward for an eye-catching first go in the green jersey .
Farrell , though , admitted it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their next opponents England at Twickenham .
They were well beaten by them earlier this year at Twickenham in the Six Nations after posting a home win over Wales .
`` We have to be more clinical , '' said Farrell .
`` There were a few chances that went begging . ''
Farrell said he believed captain Johnny Sexton would be fit for the England clash .
The star fly-half awaits a scan on a hamstring on Saturday to ascertain the extent of the damage .
Sexton had a nightmare against England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ match will give them a good indication of how they are progressing under Farrell .
`` It is a massive challenge and a great fixture for us to see how far we have come in ... is it eight months ?
It seems like three years , '' he said .
`` We can be very proud of our performance this evening but we can be better and need to be at Twickenham . ''

Dublin (AFP) –
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Wales's sixth successive defeat, a 32-9 hammering by Ireland in their Autumn Nations Cup opener, is a bitter pill to swallow, said coach Wayne Pivac.
However, the New Zealander insisted he had seen an improvement in the team's performance from the 14-10 home loss to Scotland in their Six Nations match a fortnight ago.
Pivac has come under immense pressure as the side with largely the same players has been a shadow of the one crowned Grand Slam champions last year and which reached the World Cup semi-finals under Warren Gatland.
A team boasting over 800 caps rarely threatened the Irish tryline and conceded nearly 20 penalties.
Wales had just three penalties from veteran Leigh Halfpenny to show on the scoreboard.
"It is a bitter pill to swallow," said Pivac.
"We are not being beaten by our opponent, we are handing them presents regularly and we need to rectify that."
Pivac, who said there would be wholesale changes for next week's game with Georgia, believes the players have the right attitude to turn things round.
"Obviously as a coach you are concerned by any performance when you don't get the result you are after," said Pivac.
"We have had a few of those on the bounce but I think the players will answer the question.
"The preparation has been good and they are working very hard to rectify the errors that are hammering us at the moment."
Pivac, though, said in his defence it is hard to come in and change a team that had been used to one style of play for over a decade.
Pivac's tenure at Welsh region Scarlets was known for their expansive play in contrast to the more conservative tactics deployed by Gatland as Wales coach.
"I am looking to change what we have done for over 10 years and mindsets do not change overnight in my experience," he said.
"We believe in it (our strategy) and we will roll our sleeves up on Monday.
"We are working towards the 2023 World Cup."
Ironically, Pivac found the most pleasing part of Wales's play against the Irish was their defence -- coming days after defence coach Byron Hayward was let go.
"There are a lot of disappointed players in the dressing room," he said.
"They put in a hell of a shift.
"It was a hell of a defensive effort and speaks volumes for the group."
- 'Massive challenge' -
His Ireland counterpart Andy Farrell could bask in his side bouncing back from defeat by France a fortnight ago which dashed their hopes of the Six Nations title.
The 45-year-old Englishman proclaimed it a "dominant performance" although there were plenty of errors too by the Irish.
He was especially heartened by the Test debut of livewire New Zealand-born wing James Lowe and his compatriot scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park making his first start after two appearances off the bench.
Lowe scored Ireland's second and final try in the dying seconds, due reward for an eye-catching first go in the green jersey.
Farrell, though, admitted it will be a taller order taking on their next opponents England at Twickenham.
They were well beaten by them earlier this year at Twickenham in the Six Nations after posting a home win over Wales.
"We have to be more clinical," said Farrell.
"There were a few chances that went begging."
Farrell said he believed captain Johnny Sexton would be fit for the England clash.
The star fly-half awaits a scan on a hamstring on Saturday to ascertain the extent of the damage.
Sexton had a nightmare against England earlier this year says next week's match will give them a good indication of how they are progressing under Farrell.
"It is a massive challenge and a great fixture for us to see how far we have come in... is it eight months? It seems like three years," he said.
"We can be very proud of our performance this evening but we can be better and need to be at Twickenham."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-13--Rising stars Smith, Im and Ancer chase Masters history

Three golfers who raised their game playing for the Internationals in last year 's Presidents Cup suddenly find themselves battling for a Masters title .
Mexico 's Abraham Ancer , Australia 's Cameron Smith and South Korean Im Sung-jae were among the leaders when darkness halted Friday 's second round at Augusta National .
Ancer and Smith shared the lead with top-ranked Dustin Johnson and third-ranked Justin Thomas on nine-under par 135 , with Im another stroke adrift .
Im and Ancer could become the first debut players to win the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 while Smith could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the green jacket after Adam Scott in 2013 .
Ancer , Im and Smith all played on the Internationals team that lost 16-14 at Melbourne to a US side starring player-captain Tiger Woods , the defending Masters champion .
`` It was a great week , '' Smith said .
`` We all become best of mates that week and it 's good to see them guys right up there .
Abe finished five or 10 minutes before me , so we were giving each other fisties on the back there .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each led the global squad with 3-1-1 records with Smith on 1-1-1 .
`` That experience in Melbourne definitely prepared me , helped me feel a lot more comfortable , really , in any scenario I get put on or whoever I 'm playing with or whatever tournament it is , '' Ancer said .
`` That whole week was big for me and my career .
I felt like it 's helped me tremendously . ''
Im came to Augusta for the first time confidently .
`` I really feel like I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` This course suited my style .
I just approached the tournament with confidence . ''
Smith answered a bogey at the 14th with an eagle at the par-5 15th and three closing birdies in a row .
`` It was n't crazy stuff .
It was just really solid stuff and the putts dropped in , '' Smith said .
`` It could have got away from me .
It 's almost your tournament and done and dusted .
Just dug deep and the reward was there at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing the weekend at Augusta National , where .
`` There 's a lot of boys still out there trying to work some magic , '' Smith said .
`` I feel like I 've been there enough where I can have a good crack at it . ''
Ancer began his second round with a bogey but collected himself from there with three birdies on the front and back nines , two in the last four holes .
`` Obviously feeling great , '' he said .
`` I kept telling myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bogey .
`` You have to be extremely patient and I 've been able to do that these two rounds .
I 've been able to scramble really well . ''
Ancer played 27 holes at Augusta National on November 4 , the first day he saw the course .
`` I did n't want to get here for the first time ever this week and be really excited , '' Ancer said .
`` The course is incredible .
`` All those shots seen on TV and growing up , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were some amazing shots . '
''

Augusta (United States) (AFP) –
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Three golfers who raised their game playing for the Internationals in last year's Presidents Cup suddenly find themselves battling for a Masters title.
Mexico's Abraham Ancer, Australia's Cameron Smith and South Korean Im Sung-jae were among the leaders when darkness halted Friday's second round at Augusta National.
Ancer and Smith shared the lead with top-ranked Dustin Johnson and third-ranked Justin Thomas on nine-under par 135, with Im another stroke adrift.
Im and Ancer could become the first debut players to win the Masters since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 while Smith could become only the second Aussie to don the green jacket after Adam Scott in 2013.
Ancer, Im and Smith all played on the Internationals team that lost 16-14 at Melbourne to a US side starring player-captain Tiger Woods, the defending Masters champion.
"It was a great week," Smith said. "We all become best of mates that week and it's good to see them guys right up there. Abe finished five or 10 minutes before me, so we were giving each other fisties on the back there. It was good."
Ancer and Im each led the global squad with 3-1-1 records with Smith on 1-1-1.
"That experience in Melbourne definitely prepared me, helped me feel a lot more comfortable, really, in any scenario I get put on or whoever I'm playing with or whatever tournament it is," Ancer said.
"That whole week was big for me and my career. I felt like it's helped me tremendously."
Im came to Augusta for the first time confidently.
"I really feel like I'm prepared for this week," he said. "This course suited my style. I just approached the tournament with confidence."
Smith answered a bogey at the 14th with an eagle at the par-5 15th and three closing birdies in a row.
"It wasn't crazy stuff. It was just really solid stuff and the putts dropped in," Smith said. "It could have got away from me. It's almost your tournament and done and dusted. Just dug deep and the reward was there at the end."
His reward will be playing the weekend at Augusta National, where .
"There's a lot of boys still out there trying to work some magic," Smith said. "I feel like I've been there enough where I can have a good crack at it."
Ancer began his second round with a bogey but collected himself from there with three birdies on the front and back nines, two in the last four holes.
"Obviously feeling great," he said. "I kept telling myself that sometimes the best rounds start with a bogey.
"You have to be extremely patient and I've been able to do that these two rounds. I've been able to scramble really well."
Ancer played 27 holes at Augusta National on November 4, the first day he saw the course.
"I didn't want to get here for the first time ever this week and be really excited," Ancer said. "The course is incredible.
"All those shots seen on TV and growing up, now I'm like, 'Wow, those were some amazing shots.'"
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-13--Biden cements US election victory, Trump hints at leaving White House

U.S. President Donald Trump smiles as he delivers an update on the so-called Operation Warp Speed program , the joint Defense Department and HHS initiative that has struck deals with several drugmakers in an effort to help speed up the search for effective treatments for the ongoing coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic , in an address from the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington , U.S. , November 13 , 2020 .
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden solidified his election victory on Friday when he won the state of Georgia as President Donald Trump said `` time will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon , the closest he has come to acknowledging that Biden could succeed him .
Edison Research , which made the Georgia call , also projected that North Carolina , the only other battleground state with an outstanding vote count , would go to Trump , finalising the electoral vote tally at 306 for Biden to 232 for Trump .
The numbers gave Biden , a Democrat , a resounding defeat over Trump in the Electoral College , equal to the 306 votes Trump , a Republican , won to defeat Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` landslide . ''
At a White House event where he predicted a coronavirus vaccine would be available for the whole population by April , Trump came the closest he has yet to acknowledging that he might leave the White House in January , but said that `` time will tell . ''
`` This administration will not be going to a lockdown .
Hopefully the , uh , whatever happens in the future - who knows which administration it will be ?
I guess time will tell , '' Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a week after losing to Biden .
Trump did not take questions after the event .
Trump , a Republican , has claimed without evidence that he was cheated by widespread election fraud and has refused to concede .
State election officials report no serious irregularities , and several of his legal challenges have failed in court .
While Trump had yet to concede , Biden officials reiterated they were moving ahead with transition efforts regardless .
Although the national popular vote does not determine the election outcome , Biden was ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 3.4 percentage points .
His share of the popular vote , at 50.8 % , was slightly higher than Ronald Reagan 's share of the vote in 1980 when he defeated Jimmy Carter .
To win a second term , Trump would need to overturn Biden 's lead in at least three states , but he has so far failed to produce evidence that he could do so in any of them .
States face a Dec. 8 `` safe harbor '' deadline to certify their elections and choose electors for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new president on Dec. 14 .
Biden 's legal team in Georgia said on Friday they do not expect a hand recount of votes in the state to change the results there .
A Michigan state court rejected on Friday a request by Trump 's supporters to block the certification of votes in Detroit , which went heavily in favor of Biden .
And lawyers for Trump 's campaign dropped a lawsuit in Arizona after the final vote count rendered it moot .
Federal election security officials have found no evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , changed votes , `` or was in any way compromised , '' two security groups said in a statement released on Thursday by the lead U.S. cybersecurity agency .
Trump was set on Friday afternoon to make his first public remarks since Biden was projected as the election 's winner on Nov. 7 .
The White House said he would address the nation on the efforts by the government and drugmakers to develop effective treatments for the coronavirus pandemic .
Biden officials said on Friday they would press forward with the transition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency policies and preparing to fill thousands of jobs in the new administration .
`` We 're charging ahead with the transition , '' Jen Psaki , a senior adviser to Biden 's transition team , said on a conference call on Friday , while stressing that Biden still needs `` real-time information '' from the Trump administration to deal with the resurgent pandemic and national security threats .
Psaki urged Trump 's White House to allow Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to receive daily intelligence briefings on potential threats around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes on , it becomes more concerning that our national security team and the president-elect and the vice president-elect do n't have access to those threat assessments , intelligence briefings , real-time information about our engagements around the world , '' Psaki said .
`` Because , you know , you don ’ t know what you don ’ t know . ''
Biden will be briefed by his own group of national-security experts next week , she said .
He met with transition advisers again on Friday at his Delaware beach house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic and prepares to name his top appointees , including Cabinet members .
Trump 's refusal to accept defeat has stalled the official transition .
The federal agency that releases funding to an incoming president-elect , the General Services Administration , has yet to recognize Biden 's victory , denying him access to federal office space and resources .
Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera , a Trump confidant , said he had spoken to the president by phone on Friday and that Trump had given him the impression that he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office after every vote was counted .
`` He told me he 's a realist .
He told me he would do the right thing , '' Rivera said in an interview with Fox .
`` I got no impression that he was plotting the overthrow of the elected government .
He just wants a fair fight . ''

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden solidified his election victory on Friday when he won the state of Georgia as President Donald Trump said "time will tell" if another administration takes office soon, the closest he has come to acknowledging that Biden could succeed him.
US President Donald Trump delivers an update on the so-called Operation Warp Speed program, the joint Defense Department and HHS initiative that has struck deals with several drugmakers in an effort to help speed up the search for effective treatments for the coronavirus pandemic, at the White House in Washington, DC, on November 13, 2020.
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Edison Research, which made the Georgia call, also projected that North Carolina, the only other battleground state with an outstanding vote count, would go to Trump, finalising the electoral vote tally at 306 for Biden to 232 for Trump.
The numbers gave Biden, a Democrat, a resounding defeat over Trump in the Electoral College, equal to the 306 votes Trump, a Republican, won to defeat Hillary Clinton, a 2016 victory that Trump called a "landslide."
At a White House event where he predicted a coronavirus vaccine would be available for the whole population by April, Trump came the closest he has yet to acknowledging that he might leave the White House in January, but said that "time will tell."
"This administration will not be going to a lockdown. Hopefully the, uh, whatever happens in the future - who knows which administration it will be? I guess time will tell," Trump said in his first public remarks in more than a week after losing to Biden.
Trump did not take questions after the event.
Trump, a Republican, has claimed without evidence that he was cheated by widespread election fraud and has refused to concede. State election officials report no serious irregularities, and several of his legal challenges have failed in court.
While Trump had yet to concede, Biden officials reiterated they were moving ahead with transition efforts regardless.
Although the national popular vote does not determine the election outcome, Biden was ahead by more than 5.3 million votes, or 3.4 percentage points. His share of the popular vote, at 50.8%, was slightly higher than Ronald Reagan's share of the vote in 1980 when he defeated Jimmy Carter.
To win a second term, Trump would need to overturn Biden's lead in at least three states, but he has so far failed to produce evidence that he could do so in any of them. States face a Dec. 8 "safe harbor" deadline to certify their elections and choose electors for the Electoral College, which will officially select the new president on Dec. 14.
Biden's legal team in Georgia said on Friday they do not expect a hand recount of votes in the state to change the results there.
A Michigan state court rejected on Friday a request by Trump's supporters to block the certification of votes in Detroit, which went heavily in favor of Biden. And lawyers for Trump's campaign dropped a lawsuit in Arizona after the final vote count rendered it moot.
Federal election security officials have found no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, "or was in any way compromised," two security groups said in a statement released on Thursday by the lead U.S. cybersecurity agency.
Trump was set on Friday afternoon to make his first public remarks since Biden was projected as the election's winner on Nov. 7. The White House said he would address the nation on the efforts by the government and drugmakers to develop effective treatments for the coronavirus pandemic.
Transition talk
Biden officials said on Friday they would press forward with the transition, identifying legislative priorities, reviewing federal agency policies and preparing to fill thousands of jobs in the new administration.
"We're charging ahead with the transition," Jen Psaki, a senior adviser to Biden's transition team, said on a conference call on Friday, while stressing that Biden still needs "real-time information" from the Trump administration to deal with the resurgent pandemic and national security threats.
Psaki urged Trump's White House to allow Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to receive daily intelligence briefings on potential threats around the world.
“With every day that passes on, it becomes more concerning that our national security team and the president-elect and the vice president-elect don't have access to those threat assessments, intelligence briefings, real-time information about our engagements around the world," Psaki said. "Because, you know, you don’t know what you don’t know."
Biden will be briefed by his own group of national-security experts next week, she said. He met with transition advisers again on Friday at his Delaware beach house where he is mapping out his approach to the pandemic and prepares to name his top appointees, including Cabinet members.
Trump's refusal to accept defeat has stalled the official transition. The federal agency that releases funding to an incoming president-elect, the General Services Administration, has yet to recognize Biden's victory, denying him access to federal office space and resources.
Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera, a Trump confidant, said he had spoken to the president by phone on Friday and that Trump had given him the impression that he would follow the U.S. Constitution and surrender his office after every vote was counted.
"He told me he's a realist. He told me he would do the right thing," Rivera said in an interview with Fox. "I got no impression that he was plotting the overthrow of the elected government. He just wants a fair fight."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-11-13--No. 1 Johnson, Thomas, Smith and Ancer share Masters lead

World number one Dustin Johnson and third-ranked Justin Thomas shared the second-round clubhouse lead Friday at the Masters with two unexpected contenders , Australian Cameron Smith and Mexico 's Abraham Ancer .
As rain-softened Augusta National surrendered unprecedented success , Thomas closed with back-to-back birdies to shoot a three-under 69 and US compatriot Johnson birdied his final hole to shoot 70 and join the lead pack on nine-under-par 135 .
`` I like my position going into the weekend , '' Johnson said .
`` Conditions are going to stay relatively the same .
You are going to have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting well . ''
Smith closed with an eagle and three birdies to shoot 68 while Ancer , trying to become the first debut Masters winner in 41 years , birdied two of his last four holes to fire 67 .
`` It was a very up and down round , a little bit scrappy , '' Smith said .
`` But hung in there and at the end , it was brilliant . ''
Im Sung-jae , a 22-year-old South Korean also making his Masters debut , fired a 70 to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I really feel like I 'm prepared this week , '' Im said .
`` I did feel like this course suited my style .
I just approached the tournament with confidence . ''
Three Englishmen were another stroke adrift -- reigning Olympic champion Justin Rose , 16th-ranked Tommy Fleetwood and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett .
`` With it being softer this year , some flags are a hell of a lot easier , '' Willett said .
`` Some are a lot trickier .
But all in all you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are softer . ''
World number two Jon Rahm of Spain and Japan 's Hideki Matsuyama were both on 8-under , Rahm 5-under on the round with six holes to play and Matsuyama 4-under on the round with three holes remaining at sunset .
In all , 48 golfers must finish round two on Saturday morning .
With a Thursday rain delay forcing a Friday first-round finish , golfers stung Augusta National for the lowest opening-round scoring average in Masters history , 71.43 strokes , with 53 players under par in round one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both Masters round records .
Germany 's 63-year-old Bernhard Langer became the oldest player to make the cut in Masters history on 141 .
An expected 1-under cut line would be the lowest in Masters history .
The low cut line could also spell trouble for Bryson DeChambeau .
The big-hitting American , who had been tipped to overpower the Augusta layout , is one over par with six holes of the second round left to play .
DeChambeau could be left ruing a triple-bogey seven on the par-3 third , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn .
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy , seeking a green jacket to complete a career Grand Slam , completed a 75 in the storm-hit first round Friday , then rebounded with a bogey-free 66 to revive his chances .
Defending champion Tiger Woods , who matched his best-ever Masters start with a 68 , was on level par for the second round after 10 holes , sharing 22nd place as he chases a 16th major title and sixth Masters victory .
Johnson reeled off three birdies in Amen Corner , Augusta 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back-to-back bogeys and pars all the way until his closing birdie .
`` Played real solid , had a lot of good looks , none of them seemed to want to go in , '' Johnson said .
`` But it was nice to finish with a birdie . ''
- Ancer has seen enough - World number 21 Ancer , who had n't seen Augusta National before playing 27 holes on November 4 , has n't felt troubled on a course where experience is considered a vital asset .
`` It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I 've been able to get it up and down or make birdie from the pine straw .
It has been a lot of fun .
I feel good . ''
Neither Ancer nor Smith has ever held a 36-hole lead on the US PGA Tour .
The Masters was postponed from its usual April date by the Covid-19 pandemic , which also forced the event behind closed doors as a safety move .
On Friday morning , Johnson finished his opening-round 65 , his lowest career Masters round and first without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PGA Championship winner , finished a first-round 68 , having never shot better than a 73 in four prior Masters opening rounds .

Augusta (United States) (AFP) –
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World number one Dustin Johnson and third-ranked Justin Thomas shared the second-round clubhouse lead Friday at the Masters with two unexpected contenders, Australian Cameron Smith and Mexico's Abraham Ancer.
As rain-softened Augusta National surrendered unprecedented success, Thomas closed with back-to-back birdies to shoot a three-under 69 and US compatriot Johnson birdied his final hole to shoot 70 and join the lead pack on nine-under-par 135.
"I like my position going into the weekend," Johnson said. "Conditions are going to stay relatively the same. You are going to have to stay aggressive. You have to keep shooting well."
Smith closed with an eagle and three birdies to shoot 68 while Ancer, trying to become the first debut Masters winner in 41 years, birdied two of his last four holes to fire 67.
"It was a very up and down round, a little bit scrappy," Smith said. "But hung in there and at the end, it was brilliant."
Im Sung-jae, a 22-year-old South Korean also making his Masters debut, fired a 70 to share fifth with American Patrick Cantlay on 136.
"I really feel like I'm prepared this week," Im said. "I did feel like this course suited my style. I just approached the tournament with confidence."
Three Englishmen were another stroke adrift -- reigning Olympic champion Justin Rose, 16th-ranked Tommy Fleetwood and 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett.
"With it being softer this year, some flags are a hell of a lot easier," Willett said. "Some are a lot trickier. But all in all you'll see scoring better when the greens are softer."
World number two Jon Rahm of Spain and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama were both on 8-under, Rahm 5-under on the round with six holes to play and Matsuyama 4-under on the round with three holes remaining at sunset.
In all, 48 golfers must finish round two on Saturday morning.
With a Thursday rain delay forcing a Friday first-round finish, golfers stung Augusta National for the lowest opening-round scoring average in Masters history, 71.43 strokes, with 53 players under par in round one and 24 scores in the 60s, both Masters round records.
- History for Langer -
Germany's 63-year-old Bernhard Langer became the oldest player to make the cut in Masters history on 141. An expected 1-under cut line would be the lowest in Masters history.
The low cut line could also spell trouble for Bryson DeChambeau.
The big-hitting American, who had been tipped to overpower the Augusta layout, is one over par with six holes of the second round left to play.
DeChambeau could be left ruing a triple-bogey seven on the par-3 third, which was followed by three more bogeys before the turn.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, seeking a green jacket to complete a career Grand Slam, completed a 75 in the storm-hit first round Friday, then rebounded with a bogey-free 66 to revive his chances.
Defending champion Tiger Woods, who matched his best-ever Masters start with a 68, was on level par for the second round after 10 holes, sharing 22nd place as he chases a 16th major title and sixth Masters victory.
Johnson reeled off three birdies in Amen Corner, Augusta's famed 11th-13th holes, then followed with back-to-back bogeys and pars all the way until his closing birdie.
"Played real solid, had a lot of good looks, none of them seemed to want to go in," Johnson said. "But it was nice to finish with a birdie."
- Ancer has seen enough -
World number 21 Ancer, who hadn't seen Augusta National before playing 27 holes on November 4, hasn't felt troubled on a course where experience is considered a vital asset.
"It has been fine," Ancer said. "I've been able to get it up and down or make birdie from the pine straw. It has been a lot of fun. I feel good."
Neither Ancer nor Smith has ever held a 36-hole lead on the US PGA Tour.
The Masters was postponed from its usual April date by the Covid-19 pandemic, which also forced the event behind closed doors as a safety move.
On Friday morning, Johnson finished his opening-round 65, his lowest career Masters round and first without a bogey.
Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, finished a first-round 68, having never shot better than a 73 in four prior Masters opening rounds.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-13--SpaceX-NASA launch postponed to Sunday due to weather

NASA on Friday said the planned launch of a crewed SpaceX vessel to the International Space Station ( ISS ) on Saturday had to be postponed by a day due to inclement weather .
`` Due to onshore winds and recovery operations , @ NASA and @ SpaceX are targeting launch of the Crew-1 mission with astronauts to the @ Space_Station at 7:27 p.m. EST Sunday , Nov. 15 ( 0027 GMT Monday ) , '' NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted .
`` Recovery operations '' refers to the ships that have to be moved into place in case the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew is forced to splash down in the ocean .
Sunday 's launch begins the first of what the US hopes will become routine missions for SpaceX following a successful test flight in late spring .
That demonstration flight in May was in turn the first time a crewed mission took off from US soil since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011 , leaving NASA reliant on Russian rockets for rides to the ISS .
The crew members -- three Americans and one Japanese -- will fly aboard a Crew Dragon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the first to be certified by NASA since the Space Shuttle nearly 40 years ago .
`` The history being made this time is we 're launching what we call an operational flight to the International Space Station , '' Bridenstine told reporters at a press conference earlier .
The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock at the space station at about 11:00 pm Monday , November 16 .
SpaceX , founded by Elon Musk in 2002 , has leapfrogged its much older rival Boeing , whose program has foundered after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But SpaceX 's success wo n't mean the US will immediately stop purchasing seats from the Russian space agency , said Bridenstine .
`` We want to have an exchange of seats where American astronauts can fly on Russian Soyuz rockets and Russian cosmonauts can fly on commercial crew vehicles , '' he said , explaining it was necessary in case either program was down for a period of time .
SpaceX has been operating space station re-supplying flights with the cargo version of the Dragon since 2012 .
The next crewed mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of March 2021 , carrying one European , one Japanese and two American crew members .

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NASA on Friday said the planned launch of a crewed SpaceX vessel to the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday had to be postponed by a day due to inclement weather.
"Due to onshore winds and recovery operations, @NASA and @SpaceX are targeting launch of the Crew-1 mission with astronauts to the @Space_Station at 7:27 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 15 (0027 GMT Monday)," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted.
"Recovery operations" refers to the ships that have to be moved into place in case the mission is aborted after launch and the crew is forced to splash down in the ocean.
Sunday's launch begins the first of what the US hopes will become routine missions for SpaceX following a successful test flight in late spring.
That demonstration flight in May was in turn the first time a crewed mission took off from US soil since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, leaving NASA reliant on Russian rockets for rides to the ISS.
The crew members -- three Americans and one Japanese -- will fly aboard a Crew Dragon, a capsule spacecraft that earlier this week became the first to be certified by NASA since the Space Shuttle nearly 40 years ago.
"The history being made this time is we're launching what we call an operational flight to the International Space Station," Bridenstine told reporters at a press conference earlier.
The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock at the space station at about 11:00 pm Monday, November 16.
SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, has leapfrogged its much older rival Boeing, whose program has foundered after a failed test of its uncrewed Starliner.
But SpaceX's success won't mean the US will immediately stop purchasing seats from the Russian space agency, said Bridenstine.
"We want to have an exchange of seats where American astronauts can fly on Russian Soyuz rockets and Russian cosmonauts can fly on commercial crew vehicles," he said, explaining it was necessary in case either program was down for a period of time.
SpaceX has been operating space station re-supplying flights with the cargo version of the Dragon since 2012.
The next crewed mission is expected to blast off at the end of March 2021, carrying one European, one Japanese and two American crew members.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Morning charges for Tiger, Rahm as 84th Masters resumes

Defending champion Tiger Woods was set for a morning test at Amen Corner while second-ranked Jon Rahm chased the leaders as the darkness-halted second round of the Masters resumed Saturday .
World number one Dustin Johnson , third-ranked Justin Thomas , Mexico 's Abraham Ancer and Australia 's Cameron Smith shared the clubhouse lead on nine-under par 135 with 47 players returning to the course to complete their second rounds .
Woods , a 15-time major winner seeking his sixth green jacket to match the record set by Jack Nicklaus , was five back on four-under for the tournament and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holes .
The former world number one opened with a four-under 68 , matching his best-ever Masters start as he chases an 83rd career PGA Tour victory to break the record he shares with Sam Snead .
Woods , who turns 45 next month , restarts with a 200-yard approach shot at the par-4 11th as he faces Augusta National 's formidable Amen Corner -- the famed stretch of holes from 11 to 13 that often proves crucial to deciding champions .
Last year , Woods won a major for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final round , capturing the Masters to complete an epic comeback from back surgery that threatened a pain-free life much less his golf career .
Spain 's Rahm and Japan 's Hideki Matsuyama , both chasing a first major title , were on eight-under for the tournament -- one off the lead -- with holes to play .
Rahm birdied the par-3 12th just before sunset Friday and had a bogey-free five-under round going as he returned to finish the last six holes .
`` Hopefully I can finish strong as I 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Rahm said .
World number 18 Matsuyama , whose best Masters finish was fifth in 2015 , birdied the par-5 15th just before his round was stopped and hopes to complete a bogey-free second round that stood on four-under .
`` Overall , I 'm playing well , '' Matsuyama said .
`` All I can do is just go out and do my best . ''
In the clubhouse sharing fifth on eight-under 136 were South Korean Im Sung-jae and American Patrick Cantlay with the English trio of Tommy Fleetwood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympic champion Justin Rose another stroke adrift after 36 holes .
US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau , who many feared who overwhelm Augusta National with his power-driving game , was in danger of missing the cut .
The 27-year-old American , the longest driver at the Masters with an average of 337.9 yards off the tee , had said he felt par for him was 67 instead of 72 , but Augusta National has made him pay a price for such reckless words .
DeChambeau closed birdie-birdie to shoot 70 in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost ball off the tee in taking a triple bogey at the par-4 third hole in his second round .
Bogeys followed on the next two holes .
Sixth-ranked DeChambeau birdied the par-3 12th hole to stand one-over , two shots off the expected record-low Masters cut line of one-under .
The long-driving style DeChambeau used to crush Winged Foot in September for his first major title was on display in twilight Friday , when he blasted over left trees at the par-5 13th and set up an eagle putt , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Masters victory to complete a career Grand Slam , completed a second-round 66 on Friday to stand on 141 , six off the lead .
Fiji 's Vijay Singh , the 2000 Masters champion , withdrew Saturday due to illness .
Singh , 57 , was 8-over for the tournament and 5-over for his second round after 10 holes .

Augusta (United States) (AFP) –
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Defending champion Tiger Woods was set for a morning test at Amen Corner while second-ranked Jon Rahm chased the leaders as the darkness-halted second round of the Masters resumed Saturday.
World number one Dustin Johnson, third-ranked Justin Thomas, Mexico's Abraham Ancer and Australia's Cameron Smith shared the clubhouse lead on nine-under par 135 with 47 players returning to the course to complete their second rounds.
Woods, a 15-time major winner seeking his sixth green jacket to match the record set by Jack Nicklaus, was five back on four-under for the tournament and level par in the round after 10 holes.
The former world number one opened with a four-under 68, matching his best-ever Masters start as he chases an 83rd career PGA Tour victory to break the record he shares with Sam Snead.
Woods, who turns 45 next month, restarts with a 200-yard approach shot at the par-4 11th as he faces Augusta National's formidable Amen Corner -- the famed stretch of holes from 11 to 13 that often proves crucial to deciding champions.
Last year, Woods won a major for the first time when he was not leading entering the final round, capturing the Masters to complete an epic comeback from back surgery that threatened a pain-free life much less his golf career.
Spain's Rahm and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, both chasing a first major title, were on eight-under for the tournament -- one off the lead -- with holes to play.
Rahm birdied the par-3 12th just before sunset Friday and had a bogey-free five-under round going as he returned to finish the last six holes.
"Hopefully I can finish strong as I've been playing the last two days," Rahm said.
World number 18 Matsuyama, whose best Masters finish was fifth in 2015, birdied the par-5 15th just before his round was stopped and hopes to complete a bogey-free second round that stood on four-under.
"Overall, I'm playing well," Matsuyama said. "All I can do is just go out and do my best."
In the clubhouse sharing fifth on eight-under 136 were South Korean Im Sung-jae and American Patrick Cantlay with the English trio of Tommy Fleetwood, 2016 Masters winner Danny Willett and 2016 Olympic champion Justin Rose another stroke adrift after 36 holes.
- DeChambeau could be cut -
US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, who many feared who overwhelm Augusta National with his power-driving game, was in danger of missing the cut.
The 27-year-old American, the longest driver at the Masters with an average of 337.9 yards off the tee, had said he felt par for him was 67 instead of 72, but Augusta National has made him pay a price for such reckless words.
DeChambeau closed birdie-birdie to shoot 70 in the first round, then was foiled by a lost ball off the tee in taking a triple bogey at the par-4 third hole in his second round. Bogeys followed on the next two holes.
Sixth-ranked DeChambeau birdied the par-3 12th hole to stand one-over, two shots off the expected record-low Masters cut line of one-under.
The long-driving style DeChambeau used to crush Winged Foot in September for his first major title was on display in twilight Friday, when he blasted over left trees at the par-5 13th and set up an eagle putt, which he missed.
Fifth-ranked Rory McIlroy, needing a Masters victory to complete a career Grand Slam, completed a second-round 66 on Friday to stand on 141, six off the lead.
Fiji's Vijay Singh, the 2000 Masters champion, withdrew Saturday due to illness. Singh, 57, was 8-over for the tournament and 5-over for his second round after 10 holes.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Rain stops Turkish Grand Prix qualifying

Turkish Grand Prix qualifying was red-flagged on Saturday after heavy rain made driving conditions hazardous on the freshly-resurfaced circuit in @ @ @ @ @ session was interrupted with almost seven minutes still to go with Renault 's Esteban Ocon @ @ @ @ @ time sheets .
`` It 's raining , crazy '' said Lewis Hamilton over the @ @ @ @ @ were six minutes and 56 seconds of the opening Q1 session remaining when the session @ @ @ @ @ had struggled to avoid accidents and collisions .
Ocon led the times ahead of Valtteri @ @ @ @ @ Stroll of Racing Point .
Six-time champion Hamilton who is seeking to seal a record-equalling @ @ @ @ @ ’ s race , held fourth place in the second Mercedes .
Red Bull ’ @ @ @ @ @ topped the times in all three of the rain-affected and cold practice sessions , was @ @ @ @ @ start to the action .

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Turkish Grand Prix qualifying was red-flagged on Saturday after heavy rain made driving conditions hazardous on the freshly-resurfaced circuit in Istanbul.
The first qualifying session was interrupted with almost seven minutes still to go with Renault's Esteban Ocon at the top of the time sheets.
"It's raining, crazy" said Lewis Hamilton over the Mercedes team radio.
There were six minutes and 56 seconds of the opening Q1 session remaining when the session was stopped after the drivers had struggled to avoid accidents and collisions.
Ocon led the times ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes and Lance Stroll of Racing Point.
Six-time champion Hamilton who is seeking to seal a record-equalling seventh title triumph in Sunday’s race, held fourth place in the second Mercedes.
Red Bull’s Verstappen, who had topped the times in all three of the rain-affected and cold practice sessions, was 15th after making an early start to the action.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Polisario says new fighting in W.Sahara

Polisario says new fighting in W.Sahara

A Sahrawi holds aloft a Polisario flag under the watchful eyes of Moroccan soldiers guarding an observation post on the 2,700 kilometre ( 1,700 mile ) long wall that Rabat built to defend its control of much of the disputed Western Sahara The pro-independence Polisario Front said Saturday that clashes are continuing in the disputed Western Sahara after the Moroccan army launched an operation in the buffer zone on its southern border .
`` Fighting is continuing after the crime committed by Moroccan troops in Guerguerat , '' senior Polisario official Mohamed Salem Ould Salek told AFP .
The ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a `` thing of the past '' , added Ould Salek , who serves as foreign minister of the Polisario-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic ( SADR ) .
On Friday , Morocco announced that its troops had launched an operation to reopen the final section of the highway through Western Sahara to Mauritania by extending its network of defensive walls .
Dozens of truck drivers have been stranded for days at Guerguerat , the last Moroccan-held stop before the road enters a buffer zone along the border where the Polisario has maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the SADR defence ministry late Friday said Sahrawi forces had carried out `` massive attacks '' during the afternoon at multiple points along Morocco 's 2,700 kilometre ( 1,700 mile ) long defensive wall .
It said they had inflicted `` human and material damage on the enemy '' but did not elaborate .
There was no immediate independent verification of the defence ministry 's claim .
For its part , the Moroccan army general staff declared late Friday that `` the Guerguerat crossing between Morocco and Mauritania has now been fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security cordon by the Royal Armed Forces . ''
It made no mention of any attacks elsewhere along its desert wall .

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The pro-independence Polisario Front said Saturday that clashes are continuing in the disputed Western Sahara after the Moroccan army launched an operation in the buffer zone on its southern border.
"Fighting is continuing after the crime committed by Moroccan troops in Guerguerat," senior Polisario official Mohamed Salem Ould Salek told AFP.
The ceasefire supervised by the United Nations since 1991 is a "thing of the past", added Ould Salek, who serves as foreign minister of the Polisario-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
On Friday, Morocco announced that its troops had launched an operation to reopen the final section of the highway through Western Sahara to Mauritania by extending its network of defensive walls.
Dozens of truck drivers have been stranded for days at Guerguerat, the last Moroccan-held stop before the road enters a buffer zone along the border where the Polisario has maintained a periodic presence.
A communique issued by the SADR defence ministry late Friday said Sahrawi forces had carried out "massive attacks" during the afternoon at multiple points along Morocco's 2,700 kilometre (1,700 mile) long defensive wall.
It said they had inflicted "human and material damage on the enemy" but did not elaborate.
There was no immediate independent verification of the defence ministry's claim.
For its part, the Moroccan army general staff declared late Friday that "the Guerguerat crossing between Morocco and Mauritania has now been fully made safe by the installation of a security cordon by the Royal Armed Forces."
It made no mention of any attacks elsewhere along its desert wall.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Paris November 2015 attacks : what commemoration  five years after ?

Paris November 2015 attacks : what commemoration five years after ?
Five years after the Paris November 2015 terror attacks @ @ @ @ @ at the CNRS , analyses the different ways to commemorate .

Paris November 2015 attacks : what commemoration five years after ?
04:38
Five years after the Paris November 2015 terror attacks, Sarah Gensburger, researcher at the CNRS, analyses the different ways to commemorate.


france24--2020-11-14--Armenian villagers burn houses ahead of Azerbaijan takeover

A man walks past as a house burns in the village of Charektar on Saturday Villagers outside of Nagorno-Karabakh set their houses on fire Saturday before fleeing to Armenia ahead of a weekend deadline that will see disputed territory handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a peace agreement .
Residents of the Kalbajar district in Azerbaijan that was controlled by Armenian separatists for decades began a mass exodus this week after it was announced Azerbaijan would regain control on Sunday .
Fighting between the separatists backed by Armenian troops and the Azerbaijan army erupted over the Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .
Armenia on Saturday said that 2,317 of it fighters were killed in the clashes , an increase of nearly 1,000 deaths compared to the last confirmed death toll among Armenian fighters .
Azerbaijan has not revealed its military casualties and the real toll after weeks of fighting is expected to be much higher .
Russian President Vladimir Putin this week said the number of fatalities was higher than 4,000 and that tens of thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes .
In the village of Charektar , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martakert which is to remain under Armenian control , at least six houses were on fire Saturday morning with thick plumes of smoke rising over the valley , an AFP journalist saw .
`` This is my house , I ca n't leave it to the Turks , '' as Azerbaijanis are often called by Armenians , said one resident as he threw burning wooden planks and rags soaked in gasoline into a completely empty house .
`` Everybody is going to burn down their house today ... We were given until midnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We also moved our parents ' graves , the Azerbaijanis will take great pleasure in desecrating our graves .
It 's unbearable , '' he added .
On Friday at least 10 houses were burned in and around Charektar .
The ex-Soviet rivals agreed to end hostilities earlier this week after previous efforts by Russia , France and the United States to get a ceasefire fell through .
A key part of the peace deal includes Armenia 's return of Kalbajar , as well as the Aghdam district by November 20 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which have been held by Armenians since a devastating war in the 1990s .
The two sides will maintain positions in the territories they currently hold , a significant gain for Azerbaijan after it reclaimed some 15 to 20 percent of lost territory including the key town of Shusha .
Russian peacekeepers began deploying to Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday as part of the terms of the accord and took control of a key transport artery connecting Armenia to the disputed province .
Russian military officials said the mission consisting of nearly 2,000 troops would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor .
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday accused Armenians of destroying `` 99 percent of the liberated territory '' including hospitals , houses and monuments , adding that he wanted Armenia to pay compensation .
Meanwhile in Armenia , anger was mounting over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan 's decision to cede swathes of disputed territory .
Thousands of people converged on the streets of Yerevan in demonstrations this week , while protesters stormed and ransacked government buildings , demanding Pashinyan 's resignation .

Charektar (Azerbaïdjan) (AFP) –
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Villagers outside of Nagorno-Karabakh set their houses on fire Saturday before fleeing to Armenia ahead of a weekend deadline that will see disputed territory handed over to Azerbaijan as part of a peace agreement.
Residents of the Kalbajar district in Azerbaijan that was controlled by Armenian separatists for decades began a mass exodus this week after it was announced Azerbaijan would regain control on Sunday.
Fighting between the separatists backed by Armenian troops and the Azerbaijan army erupted over the Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region in late September and raged for six weeks.
Armenia on Saturday said that 2,317 of it fighters were killed in the clashes, an increase of nearly 1,000 deaths compared to the last confirmed death toll among Armenian fighters.
Azerbaijan has not revealed its military casualties and the real toll after weeks of fighting is expected to be much higher.
Russian President Vladimir Putin this week said the number of fatalities was higher than 4,000 and that tens of thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes.
In the village of Charektar, on the border with the neighbouring district of Martakert which is to remain under Armenian control, at least six houses were on fire Saturday morning with thick plumes of smoke rising over the valley, an AFP journalist saw.
"This is my house, I can't leave it to the Turks," as Azerbaijanis are often called by Armenians, said one resident as he threw burning wooden planks and rags soaked in gasoline into a completely empty house.
"Everybody is going to burn down their house today... We were given until midnight to leave," he said.
"We also moved our parents' graves, the Azerbaijanis will take great pleasure in desecrating our graves. It's unbearable," he added.
- Russian peacekeepers -
On Friday at least 10 houses were burned in and around Charektar.
The ex-Soviet rivals agreed to end hostilities earlier this week after previous efforts by Russia, France and the United States to get a ceasefire fell through.
A key part of the peace deal includes Armenia's return of Kalbajar, as well as the Aghdam district by November 20 and the Lachin district by December 1, which have been held by Armenians since a devastating war in the 1990s.
The two sides will maintain positions in the territories they currently hold, a significant gain for Azerbaijan after it reclaimed some 15 to 20 percent of lost territory including the key town of Shusha.
Russian peacekeepers began deploying to Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday as part of the terms of the accord and took control of a key transport artery connecting Armenia to the disputed province.
Russian military officials said the mission consisting of nearly 2,000 troops would put in place 16 observation posts in mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday accused Armenians of destroying "99 percent of the liberated territory" including hospitals, houses and monuments, adding that he wanted Armenia to pay compensation.
Meanwhile in Armenia, anger was mounting over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's decision to cede swathes of disputed territory.
Thousands of people converged on the streets of Yerevan in demonstrations this week, while protesters stormed and ransacked government buildings, demanding Pashinyan's resignation.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Lebanon starts two-weeks of restrictions to stem virus

Martyr 's Square in the centre of the Lebanese capital Beirut is deserted as the country went into lockdown , in a bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus Lebanon started a new two-week lockdown Saturday after coronavirus infections crossed the 100,000 mark in a country where hospital capacity has become saturated .
The capital 's roads were largely empty and police checkpoints had been set up at several locations , while the seaside promenade often thronging on weekends was deserted , an AFP photographer said .
The airport however remained open , as did essential businesses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day people were to stay home unless they were granted an exception , and only cars with certain number plates were allowed on the roads .
A nightime curfew was to come into force from 5:00 pm ( 1500 GMT ) to 5:00 am ( 0300 GMT ) .
Lebanon , with a population of around six million , has been recording some 11,000 coronavirus infections on average each week , the health ministry said Thursday .
Since February , the country has recorded 102,607 Covid-19 cases , including 796 deaths , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March was effective in stemming the spread of the virus , and restrictions were gradually lifted as summer beckoned people outdoors .
But the number of coronavirus cases surged following a monstrous blast at Beirut 's port on August 4 which killed more than 200 people , wounded at least 6,500 , and overwhelmed hospitals .
The new restrictions are set to last until November 30 but the authorities have said they could be extended , as they fear the health system would not be able to cope with many more cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is critical and getting worse , '' Said al-Asmar , a pulmonologist at the main public hospital in Beirut dealing with Covid-19 cases , warned on Friday .
Sometimes , `` patients need intensive care , but we have to leave them in accident and emergency , '' the doctor at the Rafik Hariri Hospital told AFP .
The World Health Organization said at the end of October that 88 percent of Lebanon 's 306 intensive care beds were occupied .
On Thursday , Qatar sent two planes carrying medical equipment to Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Tyre and northern city of Tripoli , each with 500 beds , the Qatari embassy in Beirut said .

Beirut (AFP) –
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Lebanon started a new two-week lockdown Saturday after coronavirus infections crossed the 100,000 mark in a country where hospital capacity has become saturated.
The capital's roads were largely empty and police checkpoints had been set up at several locations, while the seaside promenade often thronging on weekends was deserted, an AFP photographer said.
The airport however remained open, as did essential businesses.
Under the measures announced, during the day people were to stay home unless they were granted an exception, and only cars with certain number plates were allowed on the roads.
A nightime curfew was to come into force from 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) to 5:00 am (0300 GMT).
Lebanon, with a population of around six million, has been recording some 11,000 coronavirus infections on average each week, the health ministry said Thursday.
Since February, the country has recorded 102,607 Covid-19 cases, including 796 deaths, it says.
A first country-wide lockdown imposed in March was effective in stemming the spread of the virus, and restrictions were gradually lifted as summer beckoned people outdoors.
But the number of coronavirus cases surged following a monstrous blast at Beirut's port on August 4 which killed more than 200 people, wounded at least 6,500, and overwhelmed hospitals.
The new restrictions are set to last until November 30 but the authorities have said they could be extended, as they fear the health system would not be able to cope with many more cases needing intensive care.
"The situation is critical and getting worse," Said al-Asmar, a pulmonologist at the main public hospital in Beirut dealing with Covid-19 cases, warned on Friday.
Sometimes, "patients need intensive care, but we have to leave them in accident and emergency," the doctor at the Rafik Hariri Hospital told AFP.
The World Health Organization said at the end of October that 88 percent of Lebanon's 306 intensive care beds were occupied.
On Thursday, Qatar sent two planes carrying medical equipment to Lebanon to equip field hospitals in the southern city of Tyre and northern city of Tripoli, each with 500 beds, the Qatari embassy in Beirut said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Swiss team Sauber joins F1’s elite teams club

Switzerland , the country that banned motor racing for 60 years , will on Sunday witness its only Formula One team joining an elite club of the sport ’ s grandee outfits .
The modest Swiss Sauber team will start its landmark 500th race at the Turkish Grand Prix – a feat achieved by only three other teams , led by Ferrari .
The Hinwil-based team , founded by Peter Sauber as a sportscar outfit , entered F1 in 1993 and has raced since under various identities including BMW Sauber and , more recently , Alfa Romeo .
This weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raikkonen , himself the individual record-holder for most F1 race entries – he starts his 326th on Sunday – will allow himself a smile of pleasure .
He is back racing with the team that gave him his debut in 2001 , after spells with McLaren , Ferrari and Lotus , and fills with pride at the survival and achievements of the Swiss privateer team .
`` The team is quite a bit bigger than when I started in F1 with them , '' the 2007 world champion , now 41 , recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team .
We have all the tools , we have been building cars .
The gearbox and engine come from Ferrari , but apart from that we do everything . ''
In his first season , Sauber finished fourth in the constructors ’ championship , their best result .
Since then , despite being sold to BMW and bought back , the Sauber brand has continued .
`` Money is always an issue with the small teams , but that ’ s how it is , ” said Raikkonnen .
`` It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the team are achieving and I think only three others have done more Grands Prix .
`` So , I think for a private team they ’ ve been here a long time , surviving some really difficult times and , hopefully , we can make them go higher up in the coming years.
” Ferrari , McLaren and Williams are the trio of rival teams to have entered more races .
They have also won the most teams ’ titles .
By contrast , Sauber have only one win to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robert Kubica at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix when BMW were in control .
Raikkonen ’ s Italian team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi , a Ferrari protégé in his third season , similarly oozes affection for the unsung Swiss team that has nurtured and developed many young drivers , including current Ferrari star Charles Leclerc .
`` It ’ s a great achievement , a small team like Sauber doing 500 Grands Prix is amazing , ” he said .
“ I ’ m proud even if I ’ m a small part of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an important team .
`` I did my debut with them back in 2017 , my first full season with them , and now my third season with them.
” Although the team was taken over by Swiss investment group Longbow Finance , when it was in financial peril in 2016 , it has retained its home and staff in Hinwil – and its Swiss identity .
`` I ’ m proud to be part of this family , ” said Giovinazzi .
“ To be a small team , they achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record like this one . ''
Switzerland banned motor racing after the 1955 Le Mans 24-Hours tragedy when 83 spectators were killed after a car crashed into the crowd .

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Switzerland, the country that banned motor racing for 60 years, will on Sunday witness its only Formula One team joining an elite club of the sport’s grandee outfits.
The modest Swiss Sauber team will start its landmark 500th race at the Turkish Grand Prix – a feat achieved by only three other teams, led by Ferrari.
The Hinwil-based team, founded by Peter Sauber as a sportscar outfit, entered F1 in 1993 and has raced since under various identities including BMW Sauber and, more recently, Alfa Romeo.
This weekend at the Istanbul Park Circuit, Kimi Raikkonen, himself the individual record-holder for most F1 race entries – he starts his 326th on Sunday – will allow himself a smile of pleasure.
He is back racing with the team that gave him his debut in 2001, after spells with McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus, and fills with pride at the survival and achievements of the Swiss privateer team.
"The team is quite a bit bigger than when I started in F1 with them," the 2007 world champion, now 41, recalled.
"It’s a proper team. We have all the tools, we have been building cars. The gearbox and engine come from Ferrari, but apart from that we do everything."
In his first season, Sauber finished fourth in the constructors’ championship, their best result. Since then, despite being sold to BMW and bought back, the Sauber brand has continued.
"Money is always an issue with the small teams, but that’s how it is,” said Raikkonnen.
"It’s a great number – 500 – that the team are achieving and I think only three others have done more Grands Prix.
"So, I think for a private team they’ve been here a long time, surviving some really difficult times and, hopefully, we can make them go higher up in the coming years.”
Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are the trio of rival teams to have entered more races. They have also won the most teams’ titles.
By contrast, Sauber have only one win to show for their longevity and that came with Robert Kubica at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix when BMW were in control.
Raikkonen’s Italian team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi, a Ferrari protégé in his third season, similarly oozes affection for the unsung Swiss team that has nurtured and developed many young drivers, including current Ferrari star Charles Leclerc.
"It’s a great achievement, a small team like Sauber doing 500 Grands Prix is amazing,” he said. “I’m proud even if I’m a small part of this record, because for me it’s an important team.
"I did my debut with them back in 2017, my first full season with them, and now my third season with them.”
Although the team was taken over by Swiss investment group Longbow Finance, when it was in financial peril in 2016, it has retained its home and staff in Hinwil – and its Swiss identity.
"I’m proud to be part of this family,” said Giovinazzi. “To be a small team, they achieve great results and they have a great record like this one."
Switzerland banned motor racing after the 1955 Le Mans 24-Hours tragedy when 83 spectators were killed after a car crashed into the crowd.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Pandemic casts shadow over India's festival of light

A Hindu devotee wears a mask as she places earthen lamps or 'diyas ' at her home on the eve of Diwali Fear of the coronavirus , mixed with chronic pollution , has spoiled the party for hundreds of millions of Indians celebrating the biggest Hindu holiday of the year on Saturday .
Diwali is meant to be the festival of light , but the pandemic has clouded the future for many in the country of 1.3 billion .
The smog-shrouded capital New Delhi has banned firecrackers because of sky-high pollution levels and , while people still thronged markets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending .
With 8.7 million cases , India has the world 's second-highest coronavirus infection count behind the United States .
About 130,000 people have died from Covid-19 in India since February and Delhi is going through a new surge with nearly 8,000 new cases a day .
Experts have blamed the rise on Diwali crowds , and -- although traditional revelry was muted -- there was no sign that people were staying at home .
Engineer Rahul Randhawa , 27 , said the throngs were `` the total opposite '' of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the United States .
`` There are major jams on the street ... and there are huge crowds in markets , '' he said .
However , the crowds are being selective .
Cinemas are open but remain empty .
Restaurants say they are struggling to get people to come in .
Mahinder Kumar , who sells flowers outside the Jhandewala temple , one of the oldest in Delhi , said that normally there are huge queues for Diwali .
`` This year it 's nothing - almost empty . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have hardly sold any flowers this year . ''
The eight weeks up to Diwali can account for 40 percent of some traders ' annual business and it is considered an auspicious time to buy gold .
But the lights were off at Vineet Garg 's gold and jewellery store near the central Connaught Place , despite an `` open '' sign on display .
`` It is a waste of electricity to put the lights on , '' he said .
`` People are not buying in shops .
The business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are too worried to have fun . ''
In Mumbai , markets were bustling with shoppers buying lights and food but shopkeepers said sales were no better than on an average day .
`` It is a dull Diwali , '' said Raju Harijan , 35 , who has a food store in north Mumbai .
`` Usually every year , sales would peak now but this year , even survival has become tough . ''
Bank worker Sonam Choudhary acknowledged that people were `` scared '' of the coronavirus and `` adjusting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said families would celebrate Diwali `` with all the precautions '' .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and most of his ministers put out traditional Diwali greetings .
`` May everyone be prosperous and healthy , '' Modi told his 63.5 million Twitter followers .
But the government is struggling to kick-start an economy that is expected to shrink by nearly 10 percent this year because of the pandemic crisis .
Millions across the country have lost their jobs .
But Garg said there would be no point putting the lights on in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to all .
`` The new normal is all dark for now , '' he said .

New Delhi (AFP) –
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Fear of the coronavirus, mixed with chronic pollution, has spoiled the party for hundreds of millions of Indians celebrating the biggest Hindu holiday of the year on Saturday.
Diwali is meant to be the festival of light, but the pandemic has clouded the future for many in the country of 1.3 billion.
The smog-shrouded capital New Delhi has banned firecrackers because of sky-high pollution levels and, while people still thronged markets, traders said Covid-19 had scared them off spending.
With 8.7 million cases, India has the world's second-highest coronavirus infection count behind the United States. About 130,000 people have died from Covid-19 in India since February and Delhi is going through a new surge with nearly 8,000 new cases a day.
Experts have blamed the rise on Diwali crowds, and -- although traditional revelry was muted -- there was no sign that people were staying at home.
Engineer Rahul Randhawa, 27, said the throngs were "the total opposite" of what he expected to see when he returned from the United States.
"There are major jams on the street... and there are huge crowds in markets," he said.
However, the crowds are being selective. Cinemas are open but remain empty. Restaurants say they are struggling to get people to come in.
- Lights off -
Mahinder Kumar, who sells flowers outside the Jhandewala temple, one of the oldest in Delhi, said that normally there are huge queues for Diwali. "This year it's nothing - almost empty."
"Our business has been affected badly. We have hardly sold any flowers this year."
The eight weeks up to Diwali can account for 40 percent of some traders' annual business and it is considered an auspicious time to buy gold.
But the lights were off at Vineet Garg's gold and jewellery store near the central Connaught Place, despite an "open" sign on display.
"It is a waste of electricity to put the lights on," he said. "People are not buying in shops. The business I am doing is online. They are too worried to have fun."
In Mumbai, markets were bustling with shoppers buying lights and food but shopkeepers said sales were no better than on an average day.
"It is a dull Diwali," said Raju Harijan, 35, who has a food store in north Mumbai. "Usually every year, sales would peak now but this year, even survival has become tough."
Bank worker Sonam Choudhary acknowledged that people were "scared" of the coronavirus and "adjusting to the new normal". She said families would celebrate Diwali "with all the precautions".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and most of his ministers put out traditional Diwali greetings. "May everyone be prosperous and healthy," Modi told his 63.5 million Twitter followers.
But the government is struggling to kick-start an economy that is expected to shrink by nearly 10 percent this year because of the pandemic crisis. Millions across the country have lost their jobs.
But Garg said there would be no point putting the lights on in his jewellery store until a coronavirus vaccine is available to all. "The new normal is all dark for now," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Iran mocks Al-Qaeda No. 2 killed in Tehran report

Abu Muhammad al-Masri was indicted by the US for the 1998 bombings of its embassies in Tanzania and Kenya Iran on Saturday dismissed a US newspaper report that Al-Qaeda 's second-in-command was killed in Tehran by Israeli agents as `` made-up information '' and denied the presence of any of the Sunni jihadist group 's members in the Islamic republic .
The New York Times said Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah , indicted in the United States for 1998 bombings of its embassies in Tanzania and Kenya , was secretly shot and killed in Tehran by Israeli operatives on a motorcycle at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader , whose nom de guerre was Abu Muhammad al-Masri , was killed along with his daughter , Miriam , the widow of Osama bin Laden 's son Hamza , the Times reported Friday , citing intelligence sources .
The attack took place on August 7 on the anniversary of the Africa bombings , according to the paper .
Iran 's foes , the United States and Israel , `` try to shift the responsiblity for the criminal acts of ( Al-Qaeda ) and other terrorist groups in the region and link Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaking made-up information to the media '' , foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement .
Khatibzadeh accused the US itself and `` its allies in the region '' of having created Al-Qaeda through their `` wrong policies '' and advised US media to `` not fall into the trap of American and Zionist officials ' Hollywood scenarios '' .
American intelligence officials told the Times that Abdullah had been in Iran ’ s `` custody '' since 2003 , but he had been living freely in the Pasdaran district of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 2015 .
On August 7 , he was driving a white Renault L90 sedan with his daughter near his home when two gunmen on a motorbike shot five times at them with a pistol fitted with a silencer , it said .
Iran 's state news IRNA and Mehr news agency at the time reported a similar incident and identified the victims as Habib Dawoud , a 58-year-old Lebanese history teacher , and his daughter Maryam , 27 , without giving further details .
They said the `` individual on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the scene and that police investigations were ongoing .
There have since been no updates .
US federal authorities have offered a $ 10- million reward for information leading to Abdullah 's capture .
He was the `` most experienced and capable operational planner not in US or allied custody '' , according to a highly classified document provided by the US National Counterterrorism Center in 2008 , the Times said .
The bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 left 224 people dead and more than 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US federal grand jury later that year for his role .
Washington accused Shiite Iran of harbouring Al-Qaeda members and allowing them to pass through its territory in 2016 , an accusation denied by Tehran officials at the time .
Tehran , which has been subject to several attacks by Sunni extremists , considers Al-Qaeda a `` terrorist group '' and has taken part in the fight against it , mainly in Syria and Iraq .
`` Even though America has not shied away from making any false accusation against Iran in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the current US administration , '' Khatibzadeh said .
He accused President Donald Trump 's administration of pursuing an `` Iranophobic '' agenda as part of its `` all-out economic , intelligence and psychological '' war against Tehran .
`` The media should not be a loudspeaker for the publication of the White House 's purposeful lies against Iran , '' he said .
Since unilaterally abandoning a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and major powers in 2018 , the Trump administration has reimposed crippling economic sanctions against Iran as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against its government .

Tehran (AFP) –
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Iran on Saturday dismissed a US newspaper report that Al-Qaeda's second-in-command was killed in Tehran by Israeli agents as "made-up information" and denied the presence of any of the Sunni jihadist group's members in the Islamic republic.
The New York Times said Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah, indicted in the United States for 1998 bombings of its embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, was secretly shot and killed in Tehran by Israeli operatives on a motorcycle at Washington's behest.
The senior Al-Qaeda leader, whose nom de guerre was Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was killed along with his daughter, Miriam, the widow of Osama bin Laden's son Hamza, the Times reported Friday, citing intelligence sources.
The attack took place on August 7 on the anniversary of the Africa bombings, according to the paper.
Iran's foes, the United States and Israel, "try to shift the responsiblity for the criminal acts of (Al-Qaeda) and other terrorist groups in the region and link Iran to such groups with lies and by leaking made-up information to the media", foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.
Khatibzadeh accused the US itself and "its allies in the region" of having created Al-Qaeda through their "wrong policies" and advised US media to "not fall into the trap of American and Zionist officials' Hollywood scenarios".
American intelligence officials told the Times that Abdullah had been in Iran’s "custody" since 2003, but he had been living freely in the Pasdaran district of Tehran, an upscale suburb, since at least 2015.
On August 7, he was driving a white Renault L90 sedan with his daughter near his home when two gunmen on a motorbike shot five times at them with a pistol fitted with a silencer, it said.
Iran's state news IRNA and Mehr news agency at the time reported a similar incident and identified the victims as Habib Dawoud, a 58-year-old Lebanese history teacher, and his daughter Maryam, 27, without giving further details.
They said the "individual on the motorbike shot from the sidewalk and fled" the scene and that police investigations were ongoing. There have since been no updates.
- 'Most experienced' planner -
US federal authorities have offered a $10- million reward for information leading to Abdullah's capture.
He was the "most experienced and capable operational planner not in US or allied custody", according to a highly classified document provided by the US National Counterterrorism Center in 2008, the Times said.
The bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 left 224 people dead and more than 5,000 injured.
Abdullah was indicted by a US federal grand jury later that year for his role.
Washington accused Shiite Iran of harbouring Al-Qaeda members and allowing them to pass through its territory in 2016, an accusation denied by Tehran officials at the time.
Tehran, which has been subject to several attacks by Sunni extremists, considers Al-Qaeda a "terrorist group" and has taken part in the fight against it, mainly in Syria and Iraq.
"Even though America has not shied away from making any false accusation against Iran in the past, this approach has become routine in the current US administration," Khatibzadeh said.
He accused President Donald Trump's administration of pursuing an "Iranophobic" agenda as part of its "all-out economic, intelligence and psychological" war against Tehran.
"The media should not be a loudspeaker for the publication of the White House's purposeful lies against Iran," he said.
Since unilaterally abandoning a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and major powers in 2018, the Trump administration has reimposed crippling economic sanctions against Iran as part of a policy of "maximum pressure" against its government.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Greece shuts down all schools as hospitals are overwhelmed

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said `` closing elementary schools was the last thing we wanted to do . ''
Greece announced on Saturday the closure of its primary schools , kindergartens and daycare centres amid a surge in coronavirus cases that has saturated the national health system .
`` The Greek government decided the suspension of the functioning of schools until November 30 , '' said a statement from Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias .
`` Closing elementary schools was the last thing we wanted to do .
This is a measure of how serious the situation is , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all lessons have taken place remotely since Monday .
Most European countries have kept schools open during the second waves of cases that has hit the continent since September , unlike in March and April when they were shuttered during the first lockdowns .
The World Health Organisation recommends that schools only be shut as a last resort .
Since late October , the daily number of deaths in Greece has quadrupled with 50 deaths reported some days , while the number of infections has doubled to around 3,000 cases daily .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit beds nationwide on Friday 830 were occupied .
`` The coming weeks will be extremely critical '' , Greek Prime Minister , Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday in the Greek Parliament where he was briefing MPs for the second lockdown since March .
This lockdown started November 7 and is to last until November 30 , although experts suggest it might last longer .
Since Friday night a curfew from 9 pm to 5am was imposed all over Greece .
The country with a population of of 19 million people has experienced 997 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic in late February , most of them in the last four months .
The most hard-hit area is the northern city of Thessaloniki , the second largest city in Greece .
`` The health system is in the red '' , Minister of Health , Vassilis Kikilias has warned .

Athens (AFP) –
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Greece announced on Saturday the closure of its primary schools, kindergartens and daycare centres amid a surge in coronavirus cases that has saturated the national health system.
"The Greek government decided the suspension of the functioning of schools until November 30," said a statement from Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias.
"Closing elementary schools was the last thing we wanted to do. This is a measure of how serious the situation is," he added.
Secondary schools have already closed and all lessons have taken place remotely since Monday.
Most European countries have kept schools open during the second waves of cases that has hit the continent since September, unlike in March and April when they were shuttered during the first lockdowns.
The World Health Organisation recommends that schools only be shut as a last resort.
Since late October, the daily number of deaths in Greece has quadrupled with 50 deaths reported some days, while the number of infections has doubled to around 3,000 cases daily.
Out of the 1,143 total intensive care unit beds nationwide on Friday 830 were occupied.
"The coming weeks will be extremely critical", Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday in the Greek Parliament where he was briefing MPs for the second lockdown since March.
This lockdown started November 7 and is to last until November 30, although experts suggest it might last longer.
Since Friday night a curfew from 9 pm to 5am was imposed all over Greece.
The country with a population of of 19 million people has experienced 997 deaths and 69,675 contaminations since the beginning of the pandemic in late February, most of them in the last four months.
The most hard-hit area is the northern city of Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece.
"The health system is in the red", Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilias has warned.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--Verstappen maintains grip on Turkish practice in 'shocking' conditions

Red Bull 's Max Verstappen completed a clean sweep by topping the times in a rain-curtailed third practice on Saturday for the Turkish Grand Prix .
On a miserable cold and wet morning at the ultra-slippery resurfaced Istanbul Park Circuit , back in use for a Grand Prix for the first time since 2011 , the Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 48.485 on intermediate tyres before the rain intensified .
It was enough for him to be a second faster than Ferrari 's Charles Leclerc with his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon third , 1.6 off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fourth , but a further four seconds adrift .
Lewis Hamilton , seeking to seal his record-equalling seventh drivers ’ world title , ventured out for a couple of exploratory laps in his Mercedes , but without clocking a time .
`` No grip out here at all , it ’ s shocking , '' he said .
`` It 's like ice driving , which I did in the winter , '' said Russian Daniil Kvyat after slithering and drifting across the glistening surface in his Alpha Tauri .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions that may delay or even postpone qualifying later Saturday .
Lando Norris was fifth for McLaren ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and Racing Point ’ s Sergio Perez , who on Friday compared it to like `` driving in your kitchen '' .
Hamilton ’ s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas , the only man who can stop the Englishman taking the title again , was eighth ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas and Lance Stroll in the second Racing Point .
After Friday ’ s ‘ ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colder weather and rain to add to their challenge as third practice began .
A message from Race Control confirmed it was official : ‘ Low Grip Conditions ’ , it stated .
Out on track , the spinning began almost immediately .
Led by Perez , Ocon , aided by a nudge from Perez and Norris all following his example .
Leclerc was quickest in the early stages before Verstappen went top on intermediate tyres as the rain intensified , most teams opting to switch to full wets .
By the half-hour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone to retreat to the pits .
Hamilton had ventured out only for an inspection lap and no-one , other than Vettel on 14 , had done more than a bare handful of laps .
In the Red Bull garage , Verstappen chatted with reserve driver Juri Vips .
The spin count had by then grown to include Kvyat , Sainz and Leclerc , who did well to keep his Ferrari out of the barriers .
With 20 minutes remaining , there was little prospect of further action – everyone being aware that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their prospects for qualifying and use up sets of the limited supply of full-wet tyres .

Istanbul (AFP) –
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Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed a clean sweep by topping the times in a rain-curtailed third practice on Saturday for the Turkish Grand Prix.
On a miserable cold and wet morning at the ultra-slippery resurfaced Istanbul Park Circuit, back in use for a Grand Prix for the first time since 2011, the Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 48.485 on intermediate tyres before the rain intensified.
It was enough for him to be a second faster than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with his Red Bull team-mate Alex Albon third, 1.6 off the pace. Esteban Ocon of Renault was fourth, but a further four seconds adrift.
Lewis Hamilton, seeking to seal his record-equalling seventh drivers’ world title, ventured out for a couple of exploratory laps in his Mercedes, but without clocking a time.
"No grip out here at all, it’s shocking," he said.
"It's like ice driving, which I did in the winter," said Russian Daniil Kvyat after slithering and drifting across the glistening surface in his Alpha Tauri.
He was one of the few drivers laughing in conditions that may delay or even postpone qualifying later Saturday.
Lando Norris was fifth for McLaren ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and Racing Point’s Sergio Perez, who on Friday compared it to like "driving in your kitchen".
Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, the only man who can stop the Englishman taking the title again, was eighth ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas and Lance Stroll in the second Racing Point.
After Friday’s ‘ice rink’ conditions, the drivers had colder weather and rain to add to their challenge as third practice began. A message from Race Control confirmed it was official: ‘Low Grip Conditions’, it stated.
Out on track, the spinning began almost immediately. Led by Perez, Ocon, aided by a nudge from Perez and Norris all following his example.
Leclerc was quickest in the early stages before Verstappen went top on intermediate tyres as the rain intensified, most teams opting to switch to full wets.
By the half-hour mark, the heavy rain had persuaded everyone to retreat to the pits.
Hamilton had ventured out only for an inspection lap and no-one, other than Vettel on 14, had done more than a bare handful of laps.
In the Red Bull garage, Verstappen chatted with reserve driver Juri Vips. The spin count had by then grown to include Kvyat, Sainz and Leclerc, who did well to keep his Ferrari out of the barriers.
With 20 minutes remaining, there was little prospect of further action – everyone being aware that one error in the rain could ruin their prospects for qualifying and use up sets of the limited supply of full-wet tyres.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-14--'Massive disappointment': All Blacks coach Foster under the gun

Ian Foster said there were 'no excuses ' after the All Blacks went down 25-15 to Argentina in Sydney All Blacks coach Ian Foster denied Saturday he was feeling extra pressure after New Zealand were shocked by Argentina in the Tri Nations , leaving him with just two wins from five since taking over .
The three-time world champions were widely expected to coast against a team they had not lost to once in their 29 previous encounters , but instead were embarrassed 25-15 in Sydney .
It was their first back-to-back defeats since 2011 after slumping 24-22 against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always comes with pressure and what I feel now is massive disappointment that I have n't achieved what I wanted to achieve in the last two games , '' Foster said .
`` We have a lot of good people in this group and we have shown we can perform at a high level and we need to go back and show we can do it again . ''
He took over from Steve Hansen following last year 's World Cup in Japan but his reign so far has been littered with inconsistency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his opening game , he oversaw two wins against the Wallabies before the last two losses .
Foster admitted Argentina had more passion and were the better team , despite playing their first Test since the World Cup and struggling through preparations disrupted by the coronavirus .
`` We 're all hurting in there .
It 's been a massively difficult year for everyone but when it comes to the game we prepared well , but were met by a team that had too much passion for us and we have got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We had two teams very similar but with contrasting build-ups ... but it 's an All Blacks jersey and we want to be at our best every time , but there were two contrasting intensity levels between the teams today . ''
The last time the All Blacks lost twice on the trot was in 2011 , against South Africa and Australia .
Asked how he felt about overseeing the first side in nine years to chalk up back-to-back losses , Foster replied : `` You can tell by my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''
They face Argentina again on November 28 .

Sydney (AFP) –
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All Blacks coach Ian Foster denied Saturday he was feeling extra pressure after New Zealand were shocked by Argentina in the Tri Nations, leaving him with just two wins from five since taking over.
The three-time world champions were widely expected to coast against a team they had not lost to once in their 29 previous encounters, but instead were embarrassed 25-15 in Sydney.
It was their first back-to-back defeats since 2011 after slumping 24-22 against the Wallabies last week.
"This role always comes with pressure and what I feel now is massive disappointment that I haven't achieved what I wanted to achieve in the last two games," Foster said.
"We have a lot of good people in this group and we have shown we can perform at a high level and we need to go back and show we can do it again."
He took over from Steve Hansen following last year's World Cup in Japan but his reign so far has been littered with inconsistency.
After a 16-16 draw against Australia in his opening game, he oversaw two wins against the Wallabies before the last two losses.
Foster admitted Argentina had more passion and were the better team, despite playing their first Test since the World Cup and struggling through preparations disrupted by the coronavirus.
"We're all hurting in there. It's been a massively difficult year for everyone but when it comes to the game we prepared well, but were met by a team that had too much passion for us and we have got to sort that out," he said.
"There's no excuses.
"We had two teams very similar but with contrasting build-ups... but it's an All Blacks jersey and we want to be at our best every time, but there were two contrasting intensity levels between the teams today."
The last time the All Blacks lost twice on the trot was in 2011, against South Africa and Australia.
Asked how he felt about overseeing the first side in nine years to chalk up back-to-back losses, Foster replied: "You can tell by my body language I'm not excited by it."
They face Argentina again on November 28.
© 2020 AFP