france24--2020-10-31--Mbappe on target as PSG win without injured Neymar

Kylian Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the season as PSG made it seven straight Ligue 1 wins by beating Nantes 3-0 on Saturday Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot as Paris Saint-Germain eased to their seventh straight Ligue 1 win on Saturday , beating Nantes 3-0 away to move provisionally three points clear at the top of the table .
All the goals came in the second half at the Stade de la Beaujoire , with Ander Herrera opening the scoring two minutes after the restart and Mbappe converting a 65th-minute spot-kick before Pablo Sarabia secured the points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum points since starting the season with back-to-back defeats and the reigning champions are three clear of Lille and Rennes at the summit .
Lille , who are unbeaten , can rejoin the club from the capital at the top if they win at home to Lyon on Sunday .
Rennes beat Brest 2-1 earlier on Saturday .
Paris coach Thomas Tuchel made six changes to his line-up following the 2-0 midweek win at Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League , with Neymar one of those missing after suffering an adductor injury that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the upcoming international break .
However Nantes , whose game at Lens last weekend was called off following a coronavirus outbreak in their opponents ' squad , were missing an entire back four here , including three to Covid-19 .
Sarabia hit the post early on for the visitors in this game , which was played behind closed doors after France returned to a full national lockdown in an attempt to stem a surge in coronavirus cases .
Nigerian winger Moses Simon then missed an open goal for Nantes , somehow failing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kolo Muani then curled a shot agonisingly wide after a Herrera slip had let Nantes in , and PSG lost Moise Kean -- scorer of four goals in the previous two games -- to injury at the break .
Nevertheless the league leaders got the breakthrough at the start of the second half when Mbappe picked out the former Manchester United midfielder Herrera to fire home .
Mbappe , who moved from the left wing to a more central role in the second half , then benefited from a very soft penalty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Jean-Charles Castelletto .
The World Cup winner stroked home the penalty for his seventh league goal of the season , all of which have come in the last six matches .
He was then withdrawn and headed straight down the tunnel clutching his right hamstring , giving Tuchel potentially another injury headache ahead of Wednesday 's key Champions League clash with RB Leipzig in Germany .
Just before he went off , Nantes won a penalty of their own when Colin Dagba fouled Marcus Coco in the box , but Abdoul Kader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saved by Keylor Navas .
PSG have conceded just one goal in their seven-game winning run , while Sarabia chipped in after pouncing on Imran Louza 's back-pass to make it 23 goals scored in that time .
Earlier Rennes got back on track by coming from behind to beat Brest 2-1 as they prepare to go to Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek .
Defensive duo Damien Da Silva and Nayef Aguerd got the goals for Rennes after Franck Honorat had given the visitors the lead at Roazhon Park in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last , curtailed French season allowed Rennes to qualify for the Champions League for the first time , but they have taken just one point from their first two group games , a 1-1 draw at home to Russians Krasnodar being followed by a 1-0 loss away to Sevilla in midweek .
They face Chelsea in London on Wednesday , a game which will be missed by teenage French international midfielder Eduardo Camavinga , who is injured and also played no part against Brest .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot as Paris Saint-Germain eased to their seventh straight Ligue 1 win on Saturday, beating Nantes 3-0 away to move provisionally three points clear at the top of the table.
All the goals came in the second half at the Stade de la Beaujoire, with Ander Herrera opening the scoring two minutes after the restart and Mbappe converting a 65th-minute spot-kick before Pablo Sarabia secured the points late on.
PSG have now taken maximum points since starting the season with back-to-back defeats and the reigning champions are three clear of Lille and Rennes at the summit.
Lille, who are unbeaten, can rejoin the club from the capital at the top if they win at home to Lyon on Sunday. Rennes beat Brest 2-1 earlier on Saturday.
Paris coach Thomas Tuchel made six changes to his line-up following the 2-0 midweek win at Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League, with Neymar one of those missing after suffering an adductor injury that is expected to keep him out until the upcoming international break.
However Nantes, whose game at Lens last weekend was called off following a coronavirus outbreak in their opponents' squad, were missing an entire back four here, including three to Covid-19.
Sarabia hit the post early on for the visitors in this game, which was played behind closed doors after France returned to a full national lockdown in an attempt to stem a surge in coronavirus cases.
Nigerian winger Moses Simon then missed an open goal for Nantes, somehow failing to turn in a Randal Kolo Muani assist.
- New injury headache? -
Kolo Muani then curled a shot agonisingly wide after a Herrera slip had let Nantes in, and PSG lost Moise Kean -- scorer of four goals in the previous two games -- to injury at the break.
Nevertheless the league leaders got the breakthrough at the start of the second half when Mbappe picked out the former Manchester United midfielder Herrera to fire home.
Mbappe, who moved from the left wing to a more central role in the second half, then benefited from a very soft penalty award when he went down under pressure from Jean-Charles Castelletto.
The World Cup winner stroked home the penalty for his seventh league goal of the season, all of which have come in the last six matches.
He was then withdrawn and headed straight down the tunnel clutching his right hamstring, giving Tuchel potentially another injury headache ahead of Wednesday's key Champions League clash with RB Leipzig in Germany.
Just before he went off, Nantes won a penalty of their own when Colin Dagba fouled Marcus Coco in the box, but Abdoul Kader Bamba's effort from 12 yards was saved by Keylor Navas.
- Rennes back on track before Chelsea -
PSG have conceded just one goal in their seven-game winning run, while Sarabia chipped in after pouncing on Imran Louza's back-pass to make it 23 goals scored in that time.
Earlier Rennes got back on track by coming from behind to beat Brest 2-1 as they prepare to go to Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek.
Defensive duo Damien Da Silva and Nayef Aguerd got the goals for Rennes after Franck Honorat had given the visitors the lead at Roazhon Park in a Brittany derby.
A third-place finish in the last, curtailed French season allowed Rennes to qualify for the Champions League for the first time, but they have taken just one point from their first two group games, a 1-1 draw at home to Russians Krasnodar being followed by a 1-0 loss away to Sevilla in midweek.
They face Chelsea in London on Wednesday, a game which will be missed by teenage French international midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who is injured and also played no part against Brest.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--England win rugby's Six Nations as France defeat Ireland in Paris

Frenchman Romain Ntamack scores a try against Ireland in the Six Nations Tournament on 31 October 2020 at the Stade @ @ @ @ @ crowned Six Nations Champions on Saturday after they beat Italy 34-5 in Rome and France @ @ @ @ @ .
Les Bleus notched up a bonus-point victory thanks to a fourth try from Virimi @ @ @ @ @ on a first Championship title in a decade after not managing to claim a 31-point @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier in the day , Rugby World Cup runners-up England overcame Italy 34-5 in @ @ @ @ @ Youngs scoring twice in his 100th Test .

England were crowned Six Nations Champions on Saturday after they beat Italy 34-5 in Rome and France defeated Ireland 35-27 in Paris.
Frenchman Romain Ntamack scores a try against Ireland in the Six Nations Tournament on October 31 at the Stade de France outside Paris.
Advertising Read more
Les Bleus notched up a bonus-point victory thanks to a fourth try from Virimi Vakatawa, but missed out on a first Championship title in a decade after not managing to claim a 31-point difference victory over the Irish.
Earlier in the day, Rugby World Cup runners-up England overcame Italy 34-5 in Rome, with scrum-half Ben Youngs scoring twice in his 100th Test.
(AFP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-10-31--England win Six Nations after France's Ireland win

England claimed the Six Nations title for a seventh time on Saturday after France failed to score enough points in @ @ @ @ @ in Paris .
Les Bleus notched up a bonus-point victory thanks to a fourth try @ @ @ @ @ missed out on a first Championship title in a decade after not managing to claim @ @ @ @ @ the Irish .
Earlier in the day , Rugby World Cup runners-up England overcame Italy @ @ @ @ @ scrum-half Ben Youngs scoring twice in his 100th Test .
At the Stade de France @ @ @ @ @ 20 points as the hosts showed their ability with ball in hand , crossing on @ @ @ @ @ but ultimately falling short in their bid to lift the trophy .
Ireland went into @ @ @ @ @ in Paris by more than six points to claim a fifth tournament success .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
England claimed the Six Nations title for a seventh time on Saturday after France failed to score enough points in their 35-27 win over Ireland in Paris.
Les Bleus notched up a bonus-point victory thanks to a fourth try from Virimi Vakatawa, but missed out on a first Championship title in a decade after not managing to claim a 31-point difference victory over the Irish.
Earlier in the day, Rugby World Cup runners-up England overcame Italy 34-5 in Rome, with scrum-half Ben Youngs scoring twice in his 100th Test.
At the Stade de France, fly-half Romain Ntamack scored 20 points as the hosts showed their ability with ball in hand, crossing on four occasions in scintillating fashion but ultimately falling short in their bid to lift the trophy.
Ireland went into the match needing a win in Paris by more than six points to claim a fifth tournament success.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Barcelona held by 10-man Alaves to extend winless streak in La Liga

Barcelona made it four La Liga games without a win on Saturday after failing to beat 10-man Alaves , a @ @ @ @ @ 's side sitting 12th in the table .
Luis Rioja put Alaves in front at @ @ @ @ @ Barca goalkeeper Neto , with Antoine Griezmann equalising in the second half , a minute @ @ @ @ @ off .
But with almost half an hour left and a extra man , Barcelona @ @ @ @ @ a winner , instead settling for a draw to go with recent defeats by Getafe @ @ @ @ @ another draw against Sevilla .
It means Madrid , who had earlier won 4-1 at @ @ @ @ @ sit eight points clear of their Catalan rivals while Atletico are six ahead after they @ @ @ @ @ will go top if they win a game in hand .

Madrid (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Barcelona made it four La Liga games without a win on Saturday after failing to beat 10-man Alaves, a 1-1 draw leaving Ronald Koeman's side sitting 12th in the table.
Luis Rioja put Alaves in front at Mendizorrotza after an error from Barca goalkeeper Neto, with Antoine Griezmann equalising in the second half, a minute after Jota Peleteiro was sent off.
But with almost half an hour left and a extra man, Barcelona were still unable to find a winner, instead settling for a draw to go with recent defeats by Getafe and Real Madrid, and another draw against Sevilla.
It means Madrid, who had earlier won 4-1 at home to Huesca, now sit eight points clear of their Catalan rivals while Atletico are six ahead after they beat Osasuna 3-1. Atletico will go top if they win a game in hand.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Priest shot outside French church, suspect arrested

The priest was closing Greek Orthodox church in Lyon when he was shot An attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon on Saturday , with the country still reeling from a deadly church attack days before .
Nikolaos Kakavelaki , 52 , was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital , said a police source who asked not to be named .
The attacker fled the scene but Lyon 's public prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested .
`` A person who could correspond to the description given by the initial witnesses has been placed in policy custody , '' prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet said , adding that the suspect had not been carrying a weapon when he was arrested .
The priest was shot twice in the chest at point-blank range , according to sources close to the inquiry .
The motive for the attack was not clear .
`` At this stage , no hypothesis is being ruled out , nor favoured , '' Jacquet said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is already on edge after the killing of three people inside a church in Nice on Thursday and the beheading of a teacher earlier this month who had showed his class a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed .
The Lyon prosecutor 's office said in a statement that witnesses , and a passing police patrol , heard gunshots then `` saw an individual fleeing and discovered a man with gunshot wounds at the back door of the church '' .
The prosecutors said that an investigation had been launched , and it remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-terrorist prosecution '' .
The small , art-deco style Orthodox church is situated in a residential area of Lyon which was especially quiet due to the new lockdown measures introduced in France on Friday to stem the growing coronavirus pandemic .
In Paris , Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin opened a crisis cell meeting to consider the situation .
Archbishop Ieronymos , the head of the Greek Orthodox church , denounced a `` horror that defies human logic '' .
`` Intolerant and fanatic extremists , fundamentalists of violence and death use religion as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of freedom and especially the freedom of belief of others , '' he told reporters in Athens .
European Council President Charles Michel condemned `` this new abominable act in Lyon '' .
He added in a tweet that `` in Europe , the freedom of conscience is guaranteed for all and must be respected , violence is intolerable and must be condemned '' .
EU Parliament President David Sassoli said that `` Europe will never bow to violence and terrorism '' .
Saturday 's shooting comes after three people were killed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the southern town of Nice on Thursday .
A Tunisian suspect was shot and injured by police near the scene of that attack .
France was already tense after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine , which was followed by an attack outside its former offices , the beheading of the teacher and the attack in Nice .
After the teacher 's death , President Emmanuel Macron said France would never renounce its laws permitting blasphemous caricatures , sparking protests across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach out to Muslims , Macron gave an interview with Qatar-based TV channel Al-Jazeera on Saturday in which he said he understood that caricatures of Mohammed could be shocking .
He also lashed out at `` lies '' that the French state was behind the caricatures , and said he will `` always defend in my country the freedom to speak , to write , to think , to draw '' .
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has warned that French citizens face a security risk `` wherever they are '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ French nationals abroad .
Prime Minister Jean Castex spoke of `` the government 's determination to allow each and everyone to practice their worship in complete safety and in complete freedom . ''
He was speaking in the northwestern town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray , where a catholic priest was killed in an Islamist attack in 2016 .
France went into a second coronavirus lockdown on Friday but the government has exempted places of worship until Monday , allowing them to celebrate the Christian All Saints ' Day on Sunday .

Lyon (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
An attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon on Saturday, with the country still reeling from a deadly church attack days before.
Nikolaos Kakavelaki, 52, was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital, said a police source who asked not to be named.
The attacker fled the scene but Lyon's public prosecutor later announced that a suspect had been arrested.
"A person who could correspond to the description given by the initial witnesses has been placed in policy custody," prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet said, adding that the suspect had not been carrying a weapon when he was arrested.
The priest was shot twice in the chest at point-blank range, according to sources close to the inquiry.
The motive for the attack was not clear.
"At this stage, no hypothesis is being ruled out, nor favoured," Jacquet said.
But it comes at a time when France is already on edge after the killing of three people inside a church in Nice on Thursday and the beheading of a teacher earlier this month who had showed his class a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed.
The Lyon prosecutor's office said in a statement that witnesses, and a passing police patrol, heard gunshots then "saw an individual fleeing and discovered a man with gunshot wounds at the back door of the church".
The prosecutors said that an investigation had been launched, and it remains "in close contact with the national anti-terrorist prosecution".
The small, art-deco style Orthodox church is situated in a residential area of Lyon which was especially quiet due to the new lockdown measures introduced in France on Friday to stem the growing coronavirus pandemic.
In Paris, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin opened a crisis cell meeting to consider the situation.
- 'Abominable act' -
Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Greek Orthodox church, denounced a "horror that defies human logic".
"Intolerant and fanatic extremists, fundamentalists of violence and death use religion as a bullet which aims at the heart of freedom and especially the freedom of belief of others," he told reporters in Athens.
European Council President Charles Michel condemned "this new abominable act in Lyon".
He added in a tweet that "in Europe, the freedom of conscience is guaranteed for all and must be respected, violence is intolerable and must be condemned".
EU Parliament President David Sassoli said that "Europe will never bow to violence and terrorism".
Saturday's shooting comes after three people were killed in a knife rampage inside a church in the southern town of Nice on Thursday.
A Tunisian suspect was shot and injured by police near the scene of that attack.
- Macron tries to calm tensions -
France was already tense after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine, which was followed by an attack outside its former offices, the beheading of the teacher and the attack in Nice.
After the teacher's death, President Emmanuel Macron said France would never renounce its laws permitting blasphemous caricatures, sparking protests across the Muslim world.
In an apparent bid to reach out to Muslims, Macron gave an interview with Qatar-based TV channel Al-Jazeera on Saturday in which he said he understood that caricatures of Mohammed could be shocking.
He also lashed out at "lies" that the French state was behind the caricatures, and said he will "always defend in my country the freedom to speak, to write, to think, to draw".
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has warned that French citizens face a security risk "wherever they are", saying alerts had been sent to all French nationals abroad.
Prime Minister Jean Castex spoke of "the government's determination to allow each and everyone to practice their worship in complete safety and in complete freedom."
He was speaking in the northwestern town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, where a catholic priest was killed in an Islamist attack in 2016.
France went into a second coronavirus lockdown on Friday but the government has exempted places of worship until Monday, allowing them to celebrate the Christian All Saints' Day on Sunday.
tll-tib-fga-sla/pvh/dl/har
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Voting ends in tense Ivory Coast presidential election

Electoral commission officials are seen at a polling station in Abidjan on October 31 , 2020 , during Ivory Coast 's presidential election .
Ivory Coast citizens cast their ballots in a largely peaceful presidential vote on Saturday but opposition calls to disrupt or boycott the process causedpockets of unrest in a tense standoff over President Alassane Ouattara 's bid for a third term .
The streets of the largest city Abidjan were quiet and voting went smoothly in most districts , in contrast to the violent run-up to the election .
The vote is seen as a test of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has one of the continent 's fastest-growing economies .
`` There was fear but it has not stopped us from coming out , '' said businesswoman Djenebou Toure , sitting with friends outside a polling station in Adjame district .
But efforts to obstruct voting led to clashes and the vandalisation of polling stations in other parts of the country , although the opposition and the authorities gave differing accounts of the impact of the disruption .
`` Apart from a few isolated places - a dozen or so - the vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists as he voted in Abidjan .
Out of over 22,300 polling stations , 30-40 were vandalised , according to the electoral commission .
The opposition said whole swathes of the country had not participated in the vote or had been prevented from doing so .
Candidate Pascal Affi N'Guessan said they estimated around 12 people had died as a result of the civil disobedience campaigns .
A police spokesman said there was no immediate information on the number of casualties .
Clashes in the last 24 hours have caused at least one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Opponents of 78-year-old Ouattara say he is breaking the law by running again because the constitution limits presidents to two terms , and is jeopardising hard-earned economic gains in the country , the world 's top cocoa producer .
`` Ivorians refused to join in with this farce of an election , '' said N'Guessan , who called for the boycott along with fellow candidate , former president Henri Konan Bedie .
Ouattara says he can run again under a new constitution approved in 2016 , and is doing so only because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is seen as likely to win .
Polls closed as scheduled and vote-counting started soon after 6 p.m. ( 1800 GMT ) , according to Reuters witnesses in Abidjan .
Violence linked to the election has killed 30 people since August and brought back memories of the 2010 presidential vote , which unleashed a brief civil war killing 3,000 people after Ouattara 's predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down .
Critics call Ouattara 's candidacy a new blow to West African democracy following a military coup in Mali in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the president of Guinea , Alpha Conde .

Ivory Coast citizens cast their ballots in a largely peaceful presidential vote on Saturday but opposition calls to disrupt or boycott the process causedpockets of unrest in a tense standoff over President Alassane Ouattara's bid for a third term.
Electoral commission officials are seen at a polling station in Abidjan on October 31, 2020 during Ivory Coast's presidential election.
Advertising Read more
The streets of the largest city Abidjan were quiet and voting went smoothly in most districts, in contrast to the violent run-up to the election. The vote is seen as a test of stability in the West African nation, which has one of the continent's fastest-growing economies.
"There was fear but it has not stopped us from coming out," said businesswoman Djenebou Toure, sitting with friends outside a polling station in Adjame district.
But efforts to obstruct voting led to clashes and the vandalisation of polling stations in other parts of the country, although the opposition and the authorities gave differing accounts of the impact of the disruption.
"Apart from a few isolated places - a dozen or so - the vote is going well," Ouattara told journalists as he voted in Abidjan.
Out of over 22,300 polling stations, 30-40 were vandalised, according to the electoral commission.
The opposition said whole swathes of the country had not participated in the vote or had been prevented from doing so.
Candidate Pascal Affi N'Guessan said they estimated around 12 people had died as a result of the civil disobedience campaigns.
A police spokesman said there was no immediate information on the number of casualties. Clashes in the last 24 hours have caused at least one death, a police source said earlier.
Disagreement over term limit
Opponents of 78-year-old Ouattara say he is breaking the law by running again because the constitution limits presidents to two terms, and is jeopardising hard-earned economic gains in the country, the world's top cocoa producer.
"Ivorians refused to join in with this farce of an election," said N'Guessan, who called for the boycott along with fellow candidate, former president Henri Konan Bedie.
Ouattara says he can run again under a new constitution approved in 2016, and is doing so only because his handpicked successor died unexpectedly in July. He is seen as likely to win.
Polls closed as scheduled and vote-counting started soon after 6 p.m. (1800 GMT), according to Reuters witnesses in Abidjan.
Violence linked to the election has killed 30 people since August and brought back memories of the 2010 presidential vote, which unleashed a brief civil war killing 3,000 people after Ouattara's predecessor Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down.
Critics call Ouattara's candidacy a new blow to West African democracy following a military coup in Mali in August and a successful third-term bid this month by the president of Guinea, Alpha Conde.
(REUTERS)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-10-31--Springsteen lends his voice, and a song, to a Biden ad

Bruce Springsteen , seen during a 2016 appearance in San Sebastian , Spain , narrates a new video in favor of Joe Biden 's presidential candidacy American rock star Bruce Springsteen is lending his voice and one of his songs to a campaign ad for Joe Biden , underlining his support for the Democratic candidate just three days before the Tuesday election .
It will not be the first time the iconic singer/songwriter has shown his support for the former vice president .
In August , Springsteen granted permission for the Biden campaign to use his song `` The Rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown at the opening of the Democratic National Convention .
He has publicly lashed Trump as a `` threat to our democracy . ''
In narrating the campaign ad , which airs for the first time Saturday , Springsteen talks about Biden 's blue-collar roots in Scranton , Pennsylvania , a battleground state likely to play a crucial role in the election .
`` Scranton , Pennsylvania , '' the `` Boss '' says on the video .
`` Here , success is n't handed down .
It 's forged with sweat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a barely veiled allusion to Donald Trump , whose millionaire father gave him a substantial chunk of his fortune .
`` This place stays with him , these streets are part of him , '' the 71-year-old singer says of Biden .
`` This is more than where he 's from , it is who he is for . ''
The message , to be broadcast Saturday evening during a college football game , ends to the swelling sounds of `` My Hometown , '' from what is probably Springsteen 's most famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

New York (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
American rock star Bruce Springsteen is lending his voice and one of his songs to a campaign ad for Joe Biden, underlining his support for the Democratic candidate just three days before the Tuesday election.
It will not be the first time the iconic singer/songwriter has shown his support for the former vice president.
In August, Springsteen granted permission for the Biden campaign to use his song "The Rising" as background music to a video shown at the opening of the Democratic National Convention.
He has publicly lashed Trump as a "threat to our democracy."
In narrating the campaign ad, which airs for the first time Saturday, Springsteen talks about Biden's blue-collar roots in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a battleground state likely to play a crucial role in the election.
"Scranton, Pennsylvania," the "Boss" says on the video. "Here, success isn't handed down. It's forged with sweat, grit and determination."
It was a barely veiled allusion to Donald Trump, whose millionaire father gave him a substantial chunk of his fortune.
"This place stays with him, these streets are part of him," the 71-year-old singer says of Biden. "This is more than where he's from, it is who he is for."
The message, to be broadcast Saturday evening during a college football game, ends to the swelling sounds of "My Hometown," from what is probably Springsteen's most famous album, "Born in the USA."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Super Typhoon Goni nears Philippines with 'catastrophic' damage forecast

Residents fleeing Super Typhoon Goni arrive at an evacuation center in Legazpi south of Manila -- nearly a million people have left their homes ahead of the storm 's arrival Super Typhoon Goni barrelled towards the Philippines Sunday with authorities warning of `` catastrophic wind damage '' in the region expected to receive the hardest hit , where nearly a million people have been evacuated .
The strongest typhoon of the year so far is expected to slam into Catanduanes Island with maximum sustained wind speeds of 215 kilometres ( 134 miles ) per hour before crossing the country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather forecaster said .
The situation in Catanduanes was `` extremely dangerous '' just hours before landfall , the weather service said in its latest update issued at 2:00 am ( 1800 GMT Saturday ) .
`` Catastrophic wind damage is expected '' in Catanduanes , Camarines Sur and Albay provinces , it said .
Goni -- which intensified into a `` super '' typhoon as it neared the Philippines -- comes a week after Typhoon Molave hit the same region of the natural disaster-prone archipelago .
That storm killed 22 people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossing the South China Sea to Vietnam .
`` It looks like we will have really strong winds , increasing the chances of widespread flooding and landslides , '' Mark Timbal , spokesman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council , told local broadcaster ABS-CBN on Saturday .
`` Storm surges are imminent on our east coast .
We are monitoring Mayon and Taal volcanoes for possible volcanic mud flows . ''
Civil Defense chief Ricardo Jalad said `` almost a million '' people had left their homes in the Bicol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Luzon and Catanduanes .
Authorities spent Saturday marshalling rescue vehicles , emergency response teams and relief goods before the storm 's arrival .
Destructive winds and at times torrential rain are expected in an area that is home to more than 20 million people , the weather service said .
There was a `` high risk '' of potentially life-threatening storm surges of more than three metres ( 10 feet ) high along parts of the coast , which could inundate low-lying areas , it warned .
Schools which have been empty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being used as emergency shelters as are government-run evacuation centres and gymnasiums .
`` Evacuating people is more difficult at this time because of Covid-19 , '' Bicol regional civil defence spokesman Alexis Naz told AFP .
Mary Ann Echague , 23 , and her family fled their home in the coastal city of Legazpi to an inland primary school where they were sheltering in a classroom with several other families .
`` We fear the wrath of the typhoon , '' said Echague , who was with her two children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them a portable stove , tinned meat , instant noodles , coffee , bread , blankets and pillows .
`` Each time we 're hit by a typhoon our house gets damaged , since it 's made of wood and galvanised iron roofing , '' she said .
`` We have always managed .
We find a way to get by . ''
Hundreds of people have been left stranded after the coastguard ordered ferries and fishing boats into port in expectation of rough seas throwing up 16-metre waves .
Goni is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it crosses Luzon and enters the South China Sea early Monday , the state forecaster said .
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year , which typically wipe out harvests , homes and infrastructure , keeping millions of people perennially poor .
Its deadliest on record was Super Typhoon Haiyan , which unleashed giant waves on the central city of Tacloban and left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013 .

Legazpi (Philippines) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Super Typhoon Goni barrelled towards the Philippines Sunday with authorities warning of "catastrophic wind damage" in the region expected to receive the hardest hit, where nearly a million people have been evacuated.
The strongest typhoon of the year so far is expected to slam into Catanduanes Island with maximum sustained wind speeds of 215 kilometres (134 miles) per hour before crossing the country's main island of Luzon, the state weather forecaster said.
The situation in Catanduanes was "extremely dangerous" just hours before landfall, the weather service said in its latest update issued at 2:00 am (1800 GMT Saturday).
"Catastrophic wind damage is expected" in Catanduanes, Camarines Sur and Albay provinces, it said.
Goni -- which intensified into a "super" typhoon as it neared the Philippines -- comes a week after Typhoon Molave hit the same region of the natural disaster-prone archipelago.
That storm killed 22 people and flooded low-lying villages and farmland, before crossing the South China Sea to Vietnam.
"It looks like we will have really strong winds, increasing the chances of widespread flooding and landslides," Mark Timbal, spokesman for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, told local broadcaster ABS-CBN on Saturday.
"Storm surges are imminent on our east coast. We are monitoring Mayon and Taal volcanoes for possible volcanic mud flows."
Civil Defense chief Ricardo Jalad said "almost a million" people had left their homes in the Bicol region, which includes the southern part of Luzon and Catanduanes.
Authorities spent Saturday marshalling rescue vehicles, emergency response teams and relief goods before the storm's arrival.
Destructive winds and at times torrential rain are expected in an area that is home to more than 20 million people, the weather service said.
There was a "high risk" of potentially life-threatening storm surges of more than three metres (10 feet) high along parts of the coast, which could inundate low-lying areas, it warned.
- Covid complicates evacuations -
Schools which have been empty since the start of the coronavirus pandemic are being used as emergency shelters as are government-run evacuation centres and gymnasiums.
"Evacuating people is more difficult at this time because of Covid-19," Bicol regional civil defence spokesman Alexis Naz told AFP.
Mary Ann Echague, 23, and her family fled their home in the coastal city of Legazpi to an inland primary school where they were sheltering in a classroom with several other families.
"We fear the wrath of the typhoon," said Echague, who was with her two children, parents and siblings. They had carried with them a portable stove, tinned meat, instant noodles, coffee, bread, blankets and pillows.
"Each time we're hit by a typhoon our house gets damaged, since it's made of wood and galvanised iron roofing," she said.
"We have always managed. We find a way to get by."
Hundreds of people have been left stranded after the coastguard ordered ferries and fishing boats into port in expectation of rough seas throwing up 16-metre waves.
Goni is expected to "weaken considerably" as it crosses Luzon and enters the South China Sea early Monday, the state forecaster said.
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year, which typically wipe out harvests, homes and infrastructure, keeping millions of people perennially poor.
Its deadliest on record was Super Typhoon Haiyan, which unleashed giant waves on the central city of Tacloban and left more than 7,300 people dead or missing in 2013.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Bulls crush Springbok-laden Stormers in match shortened by storm

Bulls ( blue jerseys ) and Stormers players walk off at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria Saturday after the referee suspended play due to an approaching storm .
The match was later called off with the 39-6 lead held by the Bulls declared the result .
A rampant Bulls team went six points clear at the top of the South African Super Rugby Unlocked table Saturday after a 39-6 victory over the Stormers in a fourth round match that never finished .
Play was suspended on 64 minutes at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria when referee AJ Jacobs informed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometres ( 4.7 miles ) away and it was unsafe to continue playing .
Following a 30-minute delay , the match was officially called off and the score declared the official result with the Bulls also securing a bonus point for notching five tries .
A surprisingly easy success lifted the Bulls to 15 points , six more than the Cheetahs and Sharks and seven above the Stormers .
After labouring to a narrow home win over perennial strugglers the Griquas and losing away to the Cheetahs , the Bulls have used home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on successive weekends .
Having sunk the Sharks by 27 points , South African rugby followers were anticipating a much closer match against a Stormers team including six 2019 Springbok World Cup winners .
But after taking a 6-3 lead on 14 minutes , a Stormers side skippered by prop Steven Kitshoff in the absence of injured Springboks captain Siya Kolisi fell apart to trail 32-6 by half-time .
Hooker Johan Grobbelaar , centre Stedman Gans , scrum-half Ivan van Zyl and lock Ruan Nortje crossed for tries and veteran fly-half Morne Steyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Cape Town visitors fell further behind when Gans scored his second try and Steyn converted to complete a goal-kicking performance in which he succeeded with six of eight attempts .
Fly-half Damian Willemse kicked two penalties for the Stormers , who were suffering a first loss in the single-round competition after victories over the Lions and the Pumas .
While the Stormers matched the Bulls at the lineouts , they suffered several embarrassing scrum retreats , especially given they boasted an all-Springbok front row of Kitshoff , Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bulls ' far greater hunger for the ball in the loose and clinical finishing when the tryline came within sight .
The Bulls are a transformed side under 2007 Springboks Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White , who made huge changes when he took over early this year with many signings and departees .
Veteran back-row forward Duane Vermeulen has been an inspirational leader and previously unknown centre Gans is the joint leading try scorer with four in the competition .
Steyn , a 36-year-old who returned to South Africa last season after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the leading points scorer with 47 from 10 conversions and nine penalties .
Meanwhile , the Sharks recovered from the mauling by the Bulls to score six converted tries in a 42-19 triumph over the Pumas in Mbombela .
The Sharks hookers were particularly happy with Dan Jooste scoring a try and his replacement off the bench , Kerron van Vuuren , bagging a brace .

Johannesburg (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A rampant Bulls team went six points clear at the top of the South African Super Rugby Unlocked table Saturday after a 39-6 victory over the Stormers in a fourth round match that never finished.
Play was suspended on 64 minutes at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria when referee AJ Jacobs informed the teams that an electrical storm was 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) away and it was unsafe to continue playing.
Following a 30-minute delay, the match was officially called off and the score declared the official result with the Bulls also securing a bonus point for notching five tries.
A surprisingly easy success lifted the Bulls to 15 points, six more than the Cheetahs and Sharks and seven above the Stormers.
After labouring to a narrow home win over perennial strugglers the Griquas and losing away to the Cheetahs, the Bulls have used home advantage to crush the Sharks and Stormers on successive weekends.
Having sunk the Sharks by 27 points, South African rugby followers were anticipating a much closer match against a Stormers team including six 2019 Springbok World Cup winners.
But after taking a 6-3 lead on 14 minutes, a Stormers side skippered by prop Steven Kitshoff in the absence of injured Springboks captain Siya Kolisi fell apart to trail 32-6 by half-time.
Hooker Johan Grobbelaar, centre Stedman Gans, scrum-half Ivan van Zyl and lock Ruan Nortje crossed for tries and veteran fly-half Morne Steyn slotted three conversions and two penalties.
- Embarrassing scrum retreats -
The Cape Town visitors fell further behind when Gans scored his second try and Steyn converted to complete a goal-kicking performance in which he succeeded with six of eight attempts.
Fly-half Damian Willemse kicked two penalties for the Stormers, who were suffering a first loss in the single-round competition after victories over the Lions and the Pumas.
While the Stormers matched the Bulls at the lineouts, they suffered several embarrassing scrum retreats, especially given they boasted an all-Springbok front row of Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe.
But the major difference was the Bulls' far greater hunger for the ball in the loose and clinical finishing when the tryline came within sight.
The Bulls are a transformed side under 2007 Springboks Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White, who made huge changes when he took over early this year with many signings and departees.
Veteran back-row forward Duane Vermeulen has been an inspirational leader and previously unknown centre Gans is the joint leading try scorer with four in the competition.
Steyn, a 36-year-old who returned to South Africa last season after seven years with Paris outfit Stade Francais, is the leading points scorer with 47 from 10 conversions and nine penalties.
Meanwhile, the Sharks recovered from the mauling by the Bulls to score six converted tries in a 42-19 triumph over the Pumas in Mbombela.
The Sharks hookers were particularly happy with Dan Jooste scoring a try and his replacement off the bench, Kerron van Vuuren, bagging a brace.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-10-31--Super sub Jota sends Liverpool top of the Premier League

Diogo Jota came off the bench to score the winner as Liverpool beat West Ham 2-1 Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool 's ability to find a way to win after Diogo Jota came off the bench to score the winner five minutes from time to beat West Ham 2-1 on Saturday .
Like so often in their first title-winning campaign for 30 years last season , Liverpool left it late to snatch all three points but their patience and persistence was rewarded at Anfield to move three points clear at the top .
`` Football is always about finding the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , '' said Klopp .
`` It 's so difficult with the number of games we have .
Seeing the determination and desire of the boys , the will to play football , to deal with setbacks is really exceptional . ''
Liverpool again felt the absence of Virgil van Dijk in defence as Pablo Fornals took advantage of a depleted backline to give West Ham the lead on 10 minutes .
Nathaniel Phillips made his league debut for the champions at the heart of the defence with Joel Matip and Fabinho @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liverpool 's other first-choice centre-back Joe Gomez who was at fault for the opening goal as his misplaced header went straight to Fornals , whose low shot found the bottom corner via the inside of the post .
Klopp 's men have now conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League this season and travel to Manchester City next weekend in a clash between the two sides that have dominated English football for the past three years .
Yet , Liverpool still top the table thanks to their firepower and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the third time in seven Premier League games this season they came from a goal down to win .
West Ham had been on an impressive unbeaten run in the league , taking eight points from games against Wolves , Leicester , Tottenham and Manchester City over the past month .
The visitors sat in doggedly to defend their lead , but gave Liverpool a route back into the game three minutes before half-time when Mohamed Salah made the most of Arthur Masuaku 's challenge to win a penalty .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first half .
I ca n't believe that we 're allowing those sorts of penalties to be awarded , '' said Hammers boss David Moyes .
`` It 's a good sign that we 're disappointed not to take anything from Anfield .
The players are disappointed not to get anything from the game . ''
Salah smashed home his 14th consecutive successful spot-kick to bring the Reds level and ward off a potential first league defeat at Anfield since April 2017 .
Masuaku nearly made amends early in the second-half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who could only shoot tamely into the arms of Alisson Becker .
However , the vast majority of the action was still taking place in the West Ham half as Liverpool penned the visitors back .
Klopp turned to Jota and Shaqiri for inspiration off the bench and the changes worked to perfection .
`` Obviously I loved the second goal , '' added Klopp .
`` It was super play .
Shaq 's in incredible form at the moment , and Diogo Jota obviously . ''
Jota thought he had scored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loose ball after Sadio Mane clashed with Lukasz Fabianski and Angelo Ogbonna , but the goal was ruled out for a foul by the Senegalese .
The Portuguese did eventually register his fourth goal in seven Liverpool appearances since joining from Wolves in September as he kept his head with a cool finish from Shaqiri 's brilliant pass to open up the mass ranks of West Ham defence .

Liverpool (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool's ability to find a way to win after Diogo Jota came off the bench to score the winner five minutes from time to beat West Ham 2-1 on Saturday.
Like so often in their first title-winning campaign for 30 years last season, Liverpool left it late to snatch all three points but their patience and persistence was rewarded at Anfield to move three points clear at the top.
"Football is always about finding the right way, and tonight the boys found it," said Klopp.
"It's so difficult with the number of games we have. Seeing the determination and desire of the boys, the will to play football, to deal with setbacks is really exceptional."
Liverpool again felt the absence of Virgil van Dijk in defence as Pablo Fornals took advantage of a depleted backline to give West Ham the lead on 10 minutes.
Nathaniel Phillips made his league debut for the champions at the heart of the defence with Joel Matip and Fabinho also out injured.
But it was Liverpool's other first-choice centre-back Joe Gomez who was at fault for the opening goal as his misplaced header went straight to Fornals, whose low shot found the bottom corner via the inside of the post.
Klopp's men have now conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League this season and travel to Manchester City next weekend in a clash between the two sides that have dominated English football for the past three years.
Yet, Liverpool still top the table thanks to their firepower and ability to react from going behind.
For the third time in seven Premier League games this season they came from a goal down to win.
West Ham had been on an impressive unbeaten run in the league, taking eight points from games against Wolves, Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester City over the past month.
The visitors sat in doggedly to defend their lead, but gave Liverpool a route back into the game three minutes before half-time when Mohamed Salah made the most of Arthur Masuaku's challenge to win a penalty.
"I'm amazed that a penalty was given in the first half. I can't believe that we're allowing those sorts of penalties to be awarded," said Hammers boss David Moyes.
"It's a good sign that we're disappointed not to take anything from Anfield. The players are disappointed not to get anything from the game."
Salah smashed home his 14th consecutive successful spot-kick to bring the Reds level and ward off a potential first league defeat at Anfield since April 2017.
Masuaku nearly made amends early in the second-half putting in a low cross for Fornals who could only shoot tamely into the arms of Alisson Becker.
However, the vast majority of the action was still taking place in the West Ham half as Liverpool penned the visitors back.
Klopp turned to Jota and Shaqiri for inspiration off the bench and the changes worked to perfection.
"Obviously I loved the second goal," added Klopp. "It was super play. Shaq's in incredible form at the moment, and Diogo Jota obviously."
Jota thought he had scored the winner earlier as he smashed home a loose ball after Sadio Mane clashed with Lukasz Fabianski and Angelo Ogbonna, but the goal was ruled out for a foul by the Senegalese.
The Portuguese did eventually register his fourth goal in seven Liverpool appearances since joining from Wolves in September as he kept his head with a cool finish from Shaqiri's brilliant pass to open up the mass ranks of West Ham defence.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Dupont, Ntamack leading France's revival under Galthie

Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack started their first Test together as half-backs against Scotland in February 2019 France just missed out on their first Six Nations title in a decade despite a home win over Ireland in a scintillating display created , controlled and decided by young half-backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack .
The Toulouse pair started the campaign 's five matches together scoring 85 of les Bleus ' tournament-leading 138 points by repaying the faith shown in them by head coach Fabien Galthie , a conviction rarely seen by many of Galthie 's predecessors .
The only time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scoresheet this year was in March 's loss at Scotland , their only defeat as they finished second in the table for the first time since 2011 , when the 21-year-old was substituted after seven minutes with a head injury .
Dupont , who only turns 24 in mid-November , was as crucial as his club team-mate and has featured in all but 28 of his country 's 480 minutes since Galthie took over , which has also included a Test in over Wales .
`` In the building of our team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have players who are used to playing together at this level which is very different compared to other levels , '' Galthie said following the 35-27 success at the Stade de France .
`` They , like the team , matured a lot during this competition with what they ’ ve experienced .
`` We 're very happy with our half-backs , with their match as was the case with matches beforehand , '' the former Test scrum-half added .
Dupont has been nicknamed `` The Interior Minister '' following his efforts this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligent inside support lines , making the most of outside breaks from Gael Fickou , Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas .
Under-20s Six Nations and junior world champion Ntamack came through the academy at Toulouse , the record 20-time French champions where his father Emile won domestic and European titles .
Ntamack junior and partner Dupont have started 12 Internationals together at half-back , compared to just the seven games for their Top 14 side with Ntamack being used at inside centre during the earlier stages of his senior career and Dupont suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the far more experienced visiting combination of Conor Murray and 2018 World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton .
`` They can create something out of nothing .
That 's what they ’ ve done throughout the Championship , '' Sexton said after the loss in Paris .
`` We studied them hard .
There were a couple of tries from our mistakes obviously and a couple of moments of brilliance from them . ''
Next up for the 2023 World Cup hosts is the Autumn Nations Cup but it is unlikely Dupont @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition .
They have played two out of the maximum of three games for each squad member as dictated by an agreement between the Top 14 clubs and the French Federation .
`` What we want is consistency and regularity , '' Galthie said last week .
Unfortunately Galthie will be denied the chance to see more from his in-form half-backs just as they announce themselves as les Bleus ' hopes for not just the future but the present .

Paris (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
France just missed out on their first Six Nations title in a decade despite a home win over Ireland in a scintillating display created, controlled and decided by young half-backs Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack.
The Toulouse pair started the campaign's five matches together scoring 85 of les Bleus' tournament-leading 138 points by repaying the faith shown in them by head coach Fabien Galthie, a conviction rarely seen by many of Galthie's predecessors.
The only time Ntamack failed to put his name on the scoresheet this year was in March's loss at Scotland, their only defeat as they finished second in the table for the first time since 2011, when the 21-year-old was substituted after seven minutes with a head injury.
Dupont, who only turns 24 in mid-November, was as crucial as his club team-mate and has featured in all but 28 of his country's 480 minutes since Galthie took over, which has also included a Test in over Wales.
"In the building of our team and our gameplan it's important we have players who are used to playing together at this level which is very different compared to other levels," Galthie said following the 35-27 success at the Stade de France.
"They, like the team, matured a lot during this competition with what they’ve experienced.
"We're very happy with our half-backs, with their match as was the case with matches beforehand," the former Test scrum-half added.
Dupont has been nicknamed "The Interior Minister" following his efforts this autumn as he scored three times with intelligent inside support lines, making the most of outside breaks from Gael Fickou, Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas.
Under-20s Six Nations and junior world champion Ntamack came through the academy at Toulouse, the record 20-time French champions where his father Emile won domestic and European titles.
- 'Brilliance' -
Ntamack junior and partner Dupont have started 12 Internationals together at half-back, compared to just the seven games for their Top 14 side with Ntamack being used at inside centre during the earlier stages of his senior career and Dupont suffering injuries.
Against Ireland the pair dominated the far more experienced visiting combination of Conor Murray and 2018 World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton.
"They can create something out of nothing. That's what they’ve done throughout the Championship," Sexton said after the loss in Paris.
"We studied them hard. There were a couple of tries from our mistakes obviously and a couple of moments of brilliance from them."
Next up for the 2023 World Cup hosts is the Autumn Nations Cup but it is unlikely Dupont and Ntamack will feature much in the competition.
They have played two out of the maximum of three games for each squad member as dictated by an agreement between the Top 14 clubs and the French Federation.
"What we want is consistency and regularity," Galthie said last week.
Unfortunately Galthie will be denied the chance to see more from his in-form half-backs just as they announce themselves as les Bleus' hopes for not just the future but the present.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Sean Connery widow reveals he had suffered from dementia

Micheline Roquebrune , pictured here in 2003 with her husband , said Connery wanted to 'slip away without any fuss . '
Iconic British actor Sean Connery , who has died at the age of 90 , suffered from dementia in his final years , his widow Micheline Roquebrune revealed on Sunday .
Connery , famous for playing the original on-screen James Bond , passed away at his home in the Bahamas , prompting an outpouring of tributes .
He died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family members , his widow Micheline Roquebrune told the Mail on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and he just slipped away , '' the 91-year-old told the newspaper .
`` He had dementia and it took its toll on him .
He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss .
`` It was no life for him .
He was not able to express himself latterly . ''
Connery will be honoured in a private funeral ceremony , with a memorial event to be held later , according to a publicist .
The actor , who was knighted in 2000 , won numerous awards during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big-screen hits , including an Oscar , three Golden Globes and two Bafta awards .
But it was his smooth , Scottish-accented portrayal of the suave licensed-to-kill spy 007 that earned him lasting worldwide fame and adoration .
The first actor to utter the unforgettable `` Bond , James Bond '' , Connery made six official films as novelist Ian Fleming 's creation , giving what many still consider to be the definitive portrayal .
Former 007 actor Pierce Brosnan joined the flood of weekend tributes to the Scottish actor , who he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all who followed in your iconic foot steps '' .
`` You were my greatest James Bond as a boy , and as a man who became James Bond himself , you cast a long shadow of cinematic splendour that will live on forever , '' Brosnan added .
Connery , born in Edinburgh in 1930 , married French artist Roquebrune in 1974 , a year after he divorced first wife Diane Cilento .
The couple first met in Morocco in 1970 .
They had lived outside his native Britain for decades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resort of Marbella and then in the Bahamas .
In one of the last photographs said to have been taken of the 007 legend , and published by the Mail on Sunday , Connery can be seen clasping the hand of a smiling Roquebrune .
The picture was taken on the pair 's 45th wedding anniversary on May 6 , according to the paper .
`` He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together , '' the Tunisian-born widow said .
`` He was a model of a man .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , I know that .
But it could not last for ever and he went peacefully . ''

London (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Iconic British actor Sean Connery, who has died at the age of 90, suffered from dementia in his final years, his widow Micheline Roquebrune revealed on Sunday.
Connery, famous for playing the original on-screen James Bond, passed away at his home in the Bahamas, prompting an outpouring of tributes.
He died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family members, his widow Micheline Roquebrune told the Mail on Sunday.
"I was with him all the time and he just slipped away," the 91-year-old told the newspaper.
"He had dementia and it took its toll on him. He got his final wish to slip away without any fuss.
"It was no life for him. He was not able to express himself latterly."
Connery will be honoured in a private funeral ceremony, with a memorial event to be held later, according to a publicist.
The actor, who was knighted in 2000, won numerous awards during his decades-spanning career encompassing an array of big-screen hits, including an Oscar, three Golden Globes and two Bafta awards.
But it was his smooth, Scottish-accented portrayal of the suave licensed-to-kill spy 007 that earned him lasting worldwide fame and adoration.
The first actor to utter the unforgettable "Bond, James Bond", Connery made six official films as novelist Ian Fleming's creation, giving what many still consider to be the definitive portrayal.
Former 007 actor Pierce Brosnan joined the flood of weekend tributes to the Scottish actor, who he said "led the way for us all who followed in your iconic foot steps".
"You were my greatest James Bond as a boy, and as a man who became James Bond himself, you cast a long shadow of cinematic splendour that will live on forever," Brosnan added.
- 'Model of a man' -
Connery, born in Edinburgh in 1930, married French artist Roquebrune in 1974, a year after he divorced first wife Diane Cilento.
The couple first met in Morocco in 1970. They had lived outside his native Britain for decades, previously owning a home in the Spanish resort of Marbella and then in the Bahamas.
In one of the last photographs said to have been taken of the 007 legend, and published by the Mail on Sunday, Connery can be seen clasping the hand of a smiling Roquebrune.
The picture was taken on the pair's 45th wedding anniversary on May 6, according to the paper.
"He was gorgeous and we had a wonderful life together," the Tunisian-born widow said.
"He was a model of a man. It is going to be very hard without him, I know that. But it could not last for ever and he went peacefully."
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Israel begins coronavirus vaccine trials

Paramedics with Israel 's Magen David Adom , wearing personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , stand next to an ambulance outside the Hadassah University Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem Israel began clinical trials of a novel coronavirus vaccine on Sunday , authorities said , as the government loosens a second lockdown imposed to stem soaring infections .
`` We can see the light at the end of the tunnel , '' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv .
Early in the pandemic , Netanyahu tasked the Israel Institute for Biological Research ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
Two volunteers , one at Sheba and another at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem , received the vaccine on Sunday .
One of the two , 34-year-old Aner Ottolenghi encouraged as many healthy people as possible to volunteer , according to a statement from Hadassah .
Israel will first test the vaccine on 80 people , before extending it to 980 in the second phase , and then 25,000 in the final stage , slated for April or May .
The Israeli trial is one of around 40 `` vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
Ten are at the most advanced stage , where effectiveness is measured on a large scale on tens of thousands of volunteers .
The trial start in Israel coincided with a reduction in lockdown restrictions .
After a peak of more than 10,000 cases per day in September -- then the highest infection rate per capita in the world -- the number of cases in Israel has fallen below a thousand a day , according to official data .
Covid-19 has killed over 2,541 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 314,000 confirmed cases , official figures show .
On Sunday , primary school children were allowed to return to class .

Jerusalem (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Israel began clinical trials of a novel coronavirus vaccine on Sunday, authorities said, as the government loosens a second lockdown imposed to stem soaring infections.
"We can see the light at the end of the tunnel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv.
Early in the pandemic, Netanyahu tasked the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR) with developing a vaccine against the virus.
Two volunteers, one at Sheba and another at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, received the vaccine on Sunday.
One of the two, 34-year-old Aner Ottolenghi encouraged as many healthy people as possible to volunteer, according to a statement from Hadassah.
Israel will first test the vaccine on 80 people, before extending it to 980 in the second phase, and then 25,000 in the final stage, slated for April or May.
The Israeli trial is one of around 40 "vaccine candidates" being tested worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ten are at the most advanced stage, where effectiveness is measured on a large scale on tens of thousands of volunteers.
The trial start in Israel coincided with a reduction in lockdown restrictions.
After a peak of more than 10,000 cases per day in September -- then the highest infection rate per capita in the world -- the number of cases in Israel has fallen below a thousand a day, according to official data.
Covid-19 has killed over 2,541 people in Israel out of a total of 314,000 confirmed cases, official figures show.
On Sunday, primary school children were allowed to return to class.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--French Catholics pray under heavy security after new arrests

People have left tributes to the victims of the Nice attack outside the church French Catholics on Sunday celebrated a religious festival under the tightest security as police made two new arrests over the attack on a church in the southern city of Nice blamed on an Islamist knifeman .
Three people were killed in the knife rampage Thursday in the Notre-Dame Basilica that prosecutors say was carried out by a young Tunisian recently arrived in Europe .
It was the latest attack in France to be described by the government as an act of `` Islamist '' terror , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in September by the Charlie Hebdo weekly .
French President Emmanuel Macron , who has vowed to stamp out radical Islamism in the country , sought to quell anger against France by saying in an interview with an Arab TV channel he could understand Muslims could be shocked by the cartoons .
The tensions did not prevent Catholics going to church to celebrate the All Saints holiday in Nice , with the authorities also allowing an exemption during the coronavirus lockdown .
`` I was apprehensive , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claudia , 49 , as she went to church , reassured by the presence of heavily armed soldiers .
`` We need to show that we are not scared and we are here , '' she said , following several other worshippers into the church .
- 'Too early to say ' - Authorities are now holding a total of six people for questioning to understand if they were linked to suspected attacker Brahim Issaoui , 21 .
The latest people to be detained , aged 25 and 63 , were arrested Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier in the day , a judicial source told AFP , asking not to be named .
Three others detained earlier over suspected links to Issaoui remain in custody .
Issaoui was shot by police multiple times and is currently in a serious condition in hospital .
Investigators have been unable to question him and his precise motivations remain unclear .
`` It is still too early to say if there were others complicit , what his motivations were in coming to France and when this idea took root in him , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked not to be named said Saturday .
The source said information from two telephones belonging to him and also an investigation being undertaken by the Tunisian authorities would be decisive in the probe .
Investigators believe Issaoui travelled illegally to Europe via Italy 's Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on September 20 .
He arrived at the mainland Italian port of Bari on October 9 before coming to Nice just two days before the attack .
France is on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed by an attack outside its former offices , the beheading of a teacher and now the attack in Nice .
On Saturday , an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon .
Nikolaos Kakavelaki , 52 , was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital , said a police source who asked not to be named .
The attacker fled the scene but Lyon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect had been arrested while adding that the motivation for the attack was not clear .
Macron had vowed after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty -- who had showed his class a cartoon of the prophet -- that France would never renounce the right to caricature .
This comment prompted a storm of anger in the Muslim world and on Saturday the president gave an interview to Al-Jazeera television saying he understood that people could be `` shocked '' by the cartoons .
But Macron added he would always defend freedom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' -- sometimes spread by political leaders -- that the French state was behind the cartoons .
Charlie Hebdo had republished the cartoons to mark the start of the trial of suspected accomplices in the 2015 massacre of its staff by Islamist gunmen .
The trial has been suspended until Wednesday after the primary suspect tested positive for coronavirus .

Nice (France) (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
French Catholics on Sunday celebrated a religious festival under the tightest security as police made two new arrests over the attack on a church in the southern city of Nice blamed on an Islamist knifeman.
Three people were killed in the knife rampage Thursday in the Notre-Dame Basilica that prosecutors say was carried out by a young Tunisian recently arrived in Europe.
It was the latest attack in France to be described by the government as an act of "Islamist" terror, in the wake of the republication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in September by the Charlie Hebdo weekly.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has vowed to stamp out radical Islamism in the country, sought to quell anger against France by saying in an interview with an Arab TV channel he could understand Muslims could be shocked by the cartoons.
The tensions did not prevent Catholics going to church to celebrate the All Saints holiday in Nice, with the authorities also allowing an exemption during the coronavirus lockdown.
"I was apprehensive, I was scared of coming," said Claudia, 49, as she went to church, reassured by the presence of heavily armed soldiers.
"We need to show that we are not scared and we are here," she said, following several other worshippers into the church.
- 'Too early to say' -
Authorities are now holding a total of six people for questioning to understand if they were linked to suspected attacker Brahim Issaoui, 21.
The latest people to be detained, aged 25 and 63, were arrested Saturday at the residence of an individual detained earlier in the day, a judicial source told AFP, asking not to be named.
Three others detained earlier over suspected links to Issaoui remain in custody.
Issaoui was shot by police multiple times and is currently in a serious condition in hospital. Investigators have been unable to question him and his precise motivations remain unclear.
"It is still too early to say if there were others complicit, what his motivations were in coming to France and when this idea took root in him," another source close to the inquiry who asked not to be named said Saturday.
The source said information from two telephones belonging to him and also an investigation being undertaken by the Tunisian authorities would be decisive in the probe.
Investigators believe Issaoui travelled illegally to Europe via Italy's Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on September 20.
He arrived at the mainland Italian port of Bari on October 9 before coming to Nice just two days before the attack.
- Understand 'shock' -
France is on edge after the republication in early September of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed by the Charlie Hebdo weekly, which was followed by an attack outside its former offices, the beheading of a teacher and now the attack in Nice.
On Saturday, an attacker armed with a sawn-off shotgun seriously wounded a Greek Orthodox priest in a shooting outside a church in the French city of Lyon.
Nikolaos Kakavelaki, 52, was closing his Lyon church mid-afternoon when he was attacked and is now in a serious condition in hospital, said a police source who asked not to be named.
The attacker fled the scene but Lyon's public prosecutor later announced that a suspect had been arrested while adding that the motivation for the attack was not clear.
Macron had vowed after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty -- who had showed his class a cartoon of the prophet -- that France would never renounce the right to caricature.
This comment prompted a storm of anger in the Muslim world and on Saturday the president gave an interview to Al-Jazeera television saying he understood that people could be "shocked" by the cartoons.
But Macron added he would always defend freedom of speech and lashed out at "lies" -- sometimes spread by political leaders -- that the French state was behind the cartoons.
Charlie Hebdo had republished the cartoons to mark the start of the trial of suspected accomplices in the 2015 massacre of its staff by Islamist gunmen. The trial has been suspended until Wednesday after the primary suspect tested positive for coronavirus.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--Obama joins Biden to campaign in Michigan before US presidential election

Democratic presidential candidate and former vice president Joe Biden ( R ) and former president Barack Obama on stage together at a rally at Northwestern High School in Flint , Michigan on October 31 , 2020 .
Calling Joe Biden his “ brother ” , Barack Obama on Saturday accused Donald Trump of failing to take the coronavirus pandemic and the presidency seriously , as Democrats leaned on America 's first Black president to energize Black voters in battleground state Michigan on the final weekend of the 2020 campaign .
Obama , the 44th president , and Biden , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 46th , held drive-in rallies in Flint and Detroit , predominantly Black cities where strong turnout will be essential to swing the long-time Democratic state into Biden 's column after Trump won it in 2016 .
“ Three days until the most important election of our lifetime – and that includes mine , which was pretty important , ” said Obama , urging Democrats to get to the polls .
The memories of Trump 's win in Michigan and most of the Upper Midwest are still searing in the minds of many Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
As of Saturday , nearly 92 million voters had already cast ballots nationwide , according to a tally by The Associated Press .
Tens of millions more will vote by the time polls close on Tuesday night .
In Michigan , the former president hammered on Trump 's continued focus on the size of his campaign crowds .
“ Did no one come to his birthday party when he was a kid ?
Was he traumatised ?
” Obama said in a mocking tone .
“ The country ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not what you ’ re supposed to be worrying about . ''
Obama was attempting to help give Biden an electoral slam dunk , but the former high school basketball player nailed a three-pointer instead .
Literally .
At a high school gym in Flint , Obama , who is known for his skill on the court , was passed a basketball as he was leaving the room .
The former president dribbled , then sank the shot from the corner before casually resuming his exit and confidently telling the campaign entourage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Video of the shot quickly went viral , gaining hundreds of thousands of likes and praise from none other than LeBron James , recently named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 NBA Finals .
Throughout the day , Trump and Biden , both septuagenarians , threw stinging barbs at one another that at moments verged into schoolyard taunt territory .
Speaking in Flint , Biden joked of Trump , “ When you were in high school , wouldn ’ t you have liked to take a shot ?
” He also mocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Trump , too , on Saturday suggested he could beat up Biden if given the chance and suggested the former vice president wears sunglasses to cover up “ surgery on the eyes ” .
“ He ’ s not a big guy , ” Trump said of Biden .
“ A slight slap , you wouldn ’ t have to close your fist.
” Later in Detroit , Biden ridiculed Trump for calling himself a `` perfect specimen '' , called him Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s `` puppy '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times report that showed Trump had spent $ 70,000 on hair care .
As Biden campaigned in Michigan , Trump made an aggressive play for pivotal Pennsylvania , focusing largely on his white , working-class base in four rallies , the last ending at about 10pm ( 0300 GMT ) as temperatures fell to near 40 Fahrenheit ( 4.44 Celsius ) .
`` You know , ” Trump told supporters in Montoursville , `` if we win Pennsylvania , it 's over .
That 's why I 'm standing up here . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ town in Bucks County on the eastern edge of the state , Trump raised baseless concerns about election fraud , pointing specifically at Philadelphia , a city whose large African American population is key to Biden 's fate in the state .
`` They say you have to be very , very careful – what happens in Philadelphia , '' Trump charged .
`` Everybody has to watch . ''
Republicans are betting that Trump can win a second term by driving up turnout among his strongest supporters – white , non-college-educated men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's advantage with Blacks and Latinos .
Democrats in several swing states worry that voters of colour may not be excited enough about Biden to show up in the numbers they need .
The worst day of the year in terms of new Covid-19 infections arrived with Election Day looming .
More than 99,000 Americans reported new cases of coronavirus on Friday , a record high , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Trump told Pennsylvania voters that his administration has done “ an incredible job ” dealing with the pandemic .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine was “ just weeks away ” .
He 's been saying that since August .
Biden has focused on Trump ’ s inability to control the pandemic .
“ We ’ re gon na beat this virus and get it under control and the first step to doing that is beating Donald Trump , '' he said .
With the campaign down to the final days , Trump ’ s closing sprint includes , in addition to four stops in Pennsylvania , nearly a dozen events in the final 48 hours across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will close out his campaign on Monday in Pennsylvania , the state where he was born and the one he ’ s visited more than any other .
The Biden team announced that the candidate , his wife , Jill , running mate Kamala Harris , and the California junior senator 's husband , Doug Emhoff , plan to “ fan out across all four corners of the state ” .

Calling Joe Biden his “brother”, Barack Obama on Saturday accused Donald Trump of failing to take the coronavirus pandemic and the presidency seriously, as Democrats leaned on America's first Black president to energize Black voters in battleground state Michigan on the final weekend of the 2020 campaign.
Democratic presidential candidate and former vice president Joe Biden (R) and former president Barack Obama on stage together at a rally at Northwestern High School in Flint, Michigan on October 31, 2020.
Advertising Read more
Obama, the 44th president, and Biden, his vice president who wants to be the 46th, held drive-in rallies in Flint and Detroit, predominantly Black cities where strong turnout will be essential to swing the long-time Democratic state into Biden's column after Trump won it in 2016.
“Three days until the most important election of our lifetime – and that includes mine, which was pretty important,” said Obama, urging Democrats to get to the polls.
The memories of Trump's win in Michigan and most of the Upper Midwest are still searing in the minds of many Democrats during this closing stretch before Tuesday's election.
As of Saturday, nearly 92 million voters had already cast ballots nationwide, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Tens of millions more will vote by the time polls close on Tuesday night.
In Michigan, the former president hammered on Trump's continued focus on the size of his campaign crowds.
“Did no one come to his birthday party when he was a kid? Was he traumatised?” Obama said in a mocking tone. “The country’s going through a pandemic. That’s not what you’re supposed to be worrying about."
Slam dunk
Obama was attempting to help give Biden an electoral slam dunk, but the former high school basketball player nailed a three-pointer instead. Literally.
At a high school gym in Flint, Obama, who is known for his skill on the court, was passed a basketball as he was leaving the room.
The former president dribbled, then sank the shot from the corner before casually resuming his exit and confidently telling the campaign entourage, "That's what I do."
Video of the shot quickly went viral, gaining hundreds of thousands of likes and praise from none other than LeBron James, recently named Most Valuable Player of the 2020 NBA Finals.
so this was absolutely insane pic.twitter.com/W4JL6LQZxq — Olivia Raisner (@OliviaRaisner) October 31, 2020
Schoolyard taunts
Throughout the day, Trump and Biden, both septuagenarians, threw stinging barbs at one another that at moments verged into schoolyard taunt territory.
Speaking in Flint, Biden joked of Trump, “When you were in high school, wouldn’t you have liked to take a shot?” He also mocked the president as a “macho man".
Trump, too, on Saturday suggested he could beat up Biden if given the chance and suggested the former vice president wears sunglasses to cover up “surgery on the eyes”.
“He’s not a big guy,” Trump said of Biden. “A slight slap, you wouldn’t have to close your fist.”
Later in Detroit, Biden ridiculed Trump for calling himself a "perfect specimen", called him Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "puppy", and joked about a New York Times report that showed Trump had spent $70,000 on hair care.
As Biden campaigned in Michigan, Trump made an aggressive play for pivotal Pennsylvania, focusing largely on his white, working-class base in four rallies, the last ending at about 10pm (0300 GMT) as temperatures fell to near 40 Fahrenheit (4.44 Celsius).
"You know,” Trump told supporters in Montoursville, "if we win Pennsylvania, it's over. That's why I'm standing up here."
Earlier in the day in a small town in Bucks County on the eastern edge of the state, Trump raised baseless concerns about election fraud, pointing specifically at Philadelphia, a city whose large African American population is key to Biden's fate in the state.
"They say you have to be very, very careful – what happens in Philadelphia," Trump charged. "Everybody has to watch."
Republicans are betting that Trump can win a second term by driving up turnout among his strongest supporters – white, non-college-educated men and rural voters – while limiting Biden's advantage with Blacks and Latinos. Democrats in several swing states worry that voters of colour may not be excited enough about Biden to show up in the numbers they need.
'An incredible job'
The worst day of the year in terms of new Covid-19 infections arrived with Election Day looming. More than 99,000 Americans reported new cases of coronavirus on Friday, a record high, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Trump told Pennsylvania voters that his administration has done “an incredible job” dealing with the pandemic. He promised that the mass distribution of a vaccine was “just weeks away”. He's been saying that since August.
Biden has focused on Trump’s inability to control the pandemic. “We’re gonna beat this virus and get it under control and the first step to doing that is beating Donald Trump," he said.
With the campaign down to the final days, Trump’s closing sprint includes, in addition to four stops in Pennsylvania, nearly a dozen events in the final 48 hours across states he carried in 2016.
Biden will close out his campaign on Monday in Pennsylvania, the state where he was born and the one he’s visited more than any other. The Biden team announced that the candidate, his wife, Jill, running mate Kamala Harris, and the California junior senator's husband, Doug Emhoff, plan to “fan out across all four corners of the state”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP)
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-11-01--Swordsman in medieval clothing kills two in Quebec rampage

A sword-wielding suspect killed two people and wounded five others in a rampage through Old Quebec .
The attacks occurred in multiple locations , including near the National Assembly of Quebec A swordsman dressed in medieval clothing killed two people and wounded five others in a Halloween rampage in Quebec City , Canadian police said early Sunday after arresting the suspect .
The attacks occurred late Saturday in multiple locations in the Old Quebec neighborhood , near the tourist hotspot Chateau Frontenac and the National Assembly , the Quebec provincial parliament , according to police .
The suspect , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was armed with a sword and dressed in `` medieval clothing , '' Quebec City police spokesman Etienne Doyon said during a press briefing .
`` According to our initial information , nothing indicates to us that the suspect acted for anything other than personal motivation , '' police said in a tweet .
According to three witnesses quoted by Quebec newspaper Le Soleil , the attacker allegedly `` slit the throat '' of his first victim near the Chateau Frontenac hotel and there was `` a lot of blood . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the second person was killed , before heading to the Old Port , wounding the other victims , according to the newspaper .
Quebec resident Karin Lacoste said she was going to a convenience store to do some shopping around 11 pm when she saw several armed police officers wearing bulletproof vests .
`` There was one who told me 'run to your home because there is someone walking around , he is a killer and he has killed people , ' '' she told LCN news channel .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested early Sunday after a manhunt through the streets of Old Quebec , police spokesman Doyon said .
Police received a report about the attacks at around 10:30 pm and sent several officers to the scene , including dog handlers , Doyon said .
The suspect was arrested shortly before 1:00 am near the Old Port , he added .
He was then `` checked '' and `` transported to hospital for evaluation . ''
The suspect has been formally identified but police have not released his identity or said if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a man who was dressed medieval .
It 's a man who carried a sword with him .
It 's stab wounds -- that 's all we can tell you at the moment , '' Doyon said .
The five survivors wounded in the rampage had suffered injuries of varying severity , he said .
Police have not released any details on the identities or ages of the victims .
The suspect was lying on the ground , barefoot and hypothermic , when he was arrested , Le Soleil reported .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to police , according to the newspaper , which said he had been planning his attack for a year and a half .
Police asked city residents to stay inside with the doors locked while their investigation was underway , with several neighborhoods cordoned off with a heavy police presence .
Due to the coronavirus pandemic , the streets of Old Quebec were quiet at the time of the attacks , freelance journalist Jordan Proust told AFP .
`` Most of the kids who were celebrating Halloween did so in the afternoon , @ @ @ @

Montreal (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
A swordsman dressed in medieval clothing killed two people and wounded five others in a Halloween rampage in Quebec City, Canadian police said early Sunday after arresting the suspect.
The attacks occurred late Saturday in multiple locations in the Old Quebec neighborhood, near the tourist hotspot Chateau Frontenac and the National Assembly, the Quebec provincial parliament, according to police.
The suspect, "a man in his mid-20s," was armed with a sword and dressed in "medieval clothing," Quebec City police spokesman Etienne Doyon said during a press briefing.
"According to our initial information, nothing indicates to us that the suspect acted for anything other than personal motivation," police said in a tweet.
According to three witnesses quoted by Quebec newspaper Le Soleil, the attacker allegedly "slit the throat" of his first victim near the Chateau Frontenac hotel and there was "a lot of blood."
The man then continued on Rue des Remparts, where the second person was killed, before heading to the Old Port, wounding the other victims, according to the newspaper.
Quebec resident Karin Lacoste said she was going to a convenience store to do some shopping around 11 pm when she saw several armed police officers wearing bulletproof vests.
"There was one who told me 'run to your home because there is someone walking around, he is a killer and he has killed people,'" she told LCN news channel. "I was really scared."
- Manhunt -
The suspect was arrested early Sunday after a manhunt through the streets of Old Quebec, police spokesman Doyon said.
Police received a report about the attacks at around 10:30 pm and sent several officers to the scene, including dog handlers, Doyon said.
The suspect was arrested shortly before 1:00 am near the Old Port, he added.
He was then "checked" and "transported to hospital for evaluation."
The suspect has been formally identified but police have not released his identity or said if he is known to them.
"It's a man who was dressed medieval. It's a man who carried a sword with him. It's stab wounds -- that's all we can tell you at the moment," Doyon said.
The five survivors wounded in the rampage had suffered injuries of varying severity, he said. Police have not released any details on the identities or ages of the victims.
The suspect was lying on the ground, barefoot and hypothermic, when he was arrested, Le Soleil reported.
He was wearing a black mask and surrendered to police, according to the newspaper, which said he had been planning his attack for a year and a half.
Police asked city residents to stay inside with the doors locked while their investigation was underway, with several neighborhoods cordoned off with a heavy police presence.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the streets of Old Quebec were quiet at the time of the attacks, freelance journalist Jordan Proust told AFP.
"Most of the kids who were celebrating Halloween did so in the afternoon," he said.
© 2020 AFP


france24--2020-11-01--'Generation Rabin' quest for peace dims 25 years after assassination

Portrait of late Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin seen at Rabin Square in the Israeli coastal city Tel Aviv , during a 25,000-candle vigil Twenty-five years after Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin 's assassination , enthusiasm appears to have waned among a generation of young Israelis who pledged support for the peace he sought with the Palestinians .
On November 4 , 1995 -- two years after his famous White House handshake with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat sealed the historic Oslo accords -- Rabin was gunned down during a peace rally in Tel Aviv .
His murder by a Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , triggered an outpouring of grief , with young Israelis flocking to light candles in the plaza outside Tel Aviv city hall -- since renamed Rabin Square .
Adopting the motto to `` neither forget , nor forgive '' , waves of young Israelis who asserted their demand for peace came to be known as `` Generation Rabin . ''
For Rabin 's granddaughter Noa Rothman , whose emotional eulogy at his funeral captured global attention , the thirst for peace expressed by Israeli youths a quarter century ago has been beaten down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We repeated that there was no partner for peace and , in doing so , we sidelined the basis for rapprochement ( with the Palestinians ) , '' the 43-year-old told AFP .
While the trauma of his murder persists , Generation Rabin 's call to end the Palestinian conflict has dimmed , and for a new crop of young Israelis ending the conflict is not a top priority , said Ilan Greilsammer , political science professor at Bar Ilan University .
Young people `` have shifted their focus '' , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to push for change , as evident in the sustained protests against right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
`` But they demonstrate against corruption and attacks on democracy , '' not for peace , Greilsammer said .
`` Peace with the Palestinians , which was central at Rabin 's time , is no longer so , '' he added .
The professor cited a well-known list of factors that have fuelled a `` weariness '' about peace , highlighting the second Palestinian intifada , or uprising , and the emergence of Islamist group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Israel 's occupation of the West Bank , which Oslo was intended to eventually end , has instead seen the continuing expansion of Jewish settlement construction in the Palestinian territory .
As for Rabin 's Labour party , it now holds just three seats in Israel 's 120-member parliament , the Knesset , a devastating collapse compared to the 44 seats it held in 1992 as Oslo was being negotiated .
`` It is difficult to identify anyone who can advance ( a peace push ) , '' Greilsammer said .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rabin 's death under the Hebrew calendar , a group committed to preserving Rabin 's legacy called `` Hozrim La Kikar '' held a ceremony in his honour in Tel Aviv .
Group member Yotam Yakuba , 31 , told AFP he was not surprised by the waning interest among young Israelis in seeking peace .
`` The government in power succeeded in making Israelis believe that we did not need to make peace with the Palestinians , '' that we could `` live with the conflict '' , he said , referring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power since 2009 .
`` I do n't think you can live in conflict forever , '' Yakuba added .
Netanyahu has repeatedly boasted that recent normalisation deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain proved Israel 's relations with the Arab world did not hinge on the Palestinian issue .
The deals broke decades of Arab League consensus that there should be no normalisation with the Jewish state until it makes peace with the Palestinians .
Itamar Banit , who attended a rally in Rabin 's honour in Jerusalem on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to put the issue back on the agenda '' .
Banit , who was 14 when Rabin was assassinated , refused to concede that the premier 's vision of a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel was defunct .
`` It 's true that we talk about it less , but the majority of Israelis still support a two-state solution , '' he said .
For Rabin 's granddaughter , the fact that there is currently no political momentum in Israel towards peace talks with the Palestinians does not render the cause dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not popular , does not mean it should n't be defended , '' Rothman said .

Jerusalem (AFP) –
Advertising Read more
Twenty-five years after Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination, enthusiasm appears to have waned among a generation of young Israelis who pledged support for the peace he sought with the Palestinians.
On November 4, 1995 -- two years after his famous White House handshake with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat sealed the historic Oslo accords -- Rabin was gunned down during a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
His murder by a Jewish extremist opposed to Oslo, Yigal Amir, triggered an outpouring of grief, with young Israelis flocking to light candles in the plaza outside Tel Aviv city hall -- since renamed Rabin Square.
Adopting the motto to "neither forget, nor forgive", waves of young Israelis who asserted their demand for peace came to be known as "Generation Rabin."
For Rabin's granddaughter Noa Rothman, whose emotional eulogy at his funeral captured global attention, the thirst for peace expressed by Israeli youths a quarter century ago has been beaten down by the steady refrain of sceptics.
"We repeated that there was no partner for peace and, in doing so, we sidelined the basis for rapprochement (with the Palestinians)," the 43-year-old told AFP.
- Focus 'shifted' -
While the trauma of his murder persists, Generation Rabin's call to end the Palestinian conflict has dimmed, and for a new crop of young Israelis ending the conflict is not a top priority, said Ilan Greilsammer, political science professor at Bar Ilan University.
Young people "have shifted their focus", he said.
Factions of Israeli society continue to push for change, as evident in the sustained protests against right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"But they demonstrate against corruption and attacks on democracy," not for peace, Greilsammer said.
"Peace with the Palestinians, which was central at Rabin's time, is no longer so," he added.
The professor cited a well-known list of factors that have fuelled a "weariness" about peace, highlighting the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, and the emergence of Islamist group Hamas as rulers of the Gaza Strip.
Israel's occupation of the West Bank, which Oslo was intended to eventually end, has instead seen the continuing expansion of Jewish settlement construction in the Palestinian territory.
As for Rabin's Labour party, it now holds just three seats in Israel's 120-member parliament, the Knesset, a devastating collapse compared to the 44 seats it held in 1992 as Oslo was being negotiated.
"It is difficult to identify anyone who can advance (a peace push)," Greilsammer said.
- 'Back on the agenda'? -
On Wednesday, to commemorate the anniversary of Rabin's death under the Hebrew calendar, a group committed to preserving Rabin's legacy called "Hozrim La Kikar" held a ceremony in his honour in Tel Aviv.
Group member Yotam Yakuba, 31, told AFP he was not surprised by the waning interest among young Israelis in seeking peace.
"The government in power succeeded in making Israelis believe that we did not need to make peace with the Palestinians," that we could "live with the conflict", he said, referring to the series of Netanyahu-led right-wing governments in power since 2009.
"I don't think you can live in conflict forever," Yakuba added.
Netanyahu has repeatedly boasted that recent normalisation deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain proved Israel's relations with the Arab world did not hinge on the Palestinian issue.
The deals broke decades of Arab League consensus that there should be no normalisation with the Jewish state until it makes peace with the Palestinians.
Itamar Banit, who attended a rally in Rabin's honour in Jerusalem on Saturday, insisted that some Israelis were "trying to put the issue back on the agenda".
Banit, who was 14 when Rabin was assassinated, refused to concede that the premier's vision of a viable Palestinian state alongside Israel was defunct.
"It's true that we talk about it less, but the majority of Israelis still support a two-state solution," he said.
For Rabin's granddaughter, the fact that there is currently no political momentum in Israel towards peace talks with the Palestinians does not render the cause dead.
"Just because an idea is not popular, does not mean it shouldn't be defended," Rothman said.
© 2020 AFP