BusinessAFP NewsSenior staff leave gaming firm Ubisoft in harassment probe
French gaming company Ubisoft's second most powerful executive is among more senior staff to have left the firm as it pursues an internal investigation into sexual harassment allegations, it said Sunday. Last month the company, one of the world's largest video game publishers with a portfolio including Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, launched a probe after allegations of sexual misconduct were shared online. Serge Hascoet, chief creative officer and the company's second-in-command, has now resigned along with human resources director Cecile Cornet, Ubisoft said in a statement.
PoliticsAFP NewsTrump ally Roger Stone still a criminal: Mueller
Donald Trump may have commuted Roger Stone's prison sentence but the president's longtime ally remains a convicted criminal, former special counsel Robert Mueller said Saturday. Stone, 67, had been set to begin serving a 40-month prison term on Tuesday after his conviction on seven felony charges originally brought by Mueller as part of the Russia collusion probe. The charges include tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to help him win the 2016 election.
EntertainmentAFP NewsNew York's Met Opera to host virtual concert series
Several of opera's biggest stars beamed in from around the world on Saturday to announce the Metropolitan Opera's latest virtual initiative amid the coronavirus outbreak. The New York opera house, which suspended live performances in March, plans a dozen pay-per-view concerts through mid-December featuring leading singers from around the world. Others performances include American soprano Renee Fleming at the Dumbarton Oaks Museum in Washington in August and Russian soprano Anna Netrebko from the Liechtenstein Palace in Vienna.
SportsAFP NewsMessi tees up victory as Barcelona cling on to fading title hopes
Lionel Messi made it 20 assists for the season in Barcelona's stodgy 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, even as his team's La Liga challenge appears almost over. Messi teed up Arturo Vidal's winner at Jose Zorilla to become the first player to provide 20 assists in Spain's top flight since Xavi Hernandez in 2009. Victory for Barca means Real Madrid cannot clinch the title on Monday by beating Granada but only an incredible collapse will prevent them putting their name on the trophy later in the week.
SportsAFP NewsTwo-time Irish champion jump jockey Geraghty retires
Former Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Barry Geraghty announced his retirement from jump racing on Saturday at the age of 40. Geraghty, who was Irish champion jump jockey in 2000 and 2004, is the second most successful rider in Cheltenham Festival history with 43 wins, behind only his compatriot Ruby Walsh, who quit the sport last year.
NewsAFP NewsBulgarian president calls on 'mafia-type' government to resign
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev called on Saturday for a resignation of the "mafia-type" conservative government, which he blamed for ordering police raids on his offices this week. The president's legal affairs and anti-corruption secretary and his security and defence advisor were detained for questioning on Thursday and their offices searched as part of two separate probes into influence-peddling and disclosure of state secrets. The searches sparked public anger and brought thousands of demonstrators onto the streets of Sofia to condemn the raids as an attack by the government and the chief prosecutor against the Socialists-backed Radev, rather than on the real oligarchs.
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LeBron James forgoes wearing social justice message on jersey
NBA superstar LeBron James said Saturday he would opt out of wearing a social justice message on the back of his jersey because it doesn't "resonate with his mission." James, who has often spoken out against racism and police brutality in America, is passing on the NBA's plan to help bring attention to racial inequality by having players wear messages like "I Can't Breathe" instead of their family names. "I didn't go with a name on the back of my jersey," the Los Angeles Lakers forward James said Saturday.
NewsAFP NewsUN restarts cross-border aid to Syria but shuts access point
The UN Security Council on Saturday passed a resolution to restart cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, but only after caving to Russian pressure to close one of two access points into the war-torn country. Following a week of division and seven ballots, the Council passed a proposal submitted by Germany and Belgium allowing the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing point for one year. The measure was approved by 12 of 15 members, with Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstaining, diplomats said.
PoliticsAFP NewsAs virus rages in US, Trump finally wears a mask
US President Donald Trump wore a face mask in public for the first time Saturday, finally yielding to intense pressure to set a public health example as the coronavirus rampages across America. Trump had on a dark mask featuring the presidential seal as he walked through the corridors of Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington to meet with wounded veterans. "I've never been against masks but I do believe they have a time and a place," Trump said as he left the White House.
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UN restarts cross-border aid to Syria in reduced form: diplomats
The UN Security Council on Saturday passed a resolution to restart cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, but only after caving to Russian pressure to close one of two access points into the war-torn country. Following a week of division and seven ballots, the Council passed a proposal submitted by Germany and Belgium allowing the use of the Bab al-Hawa crossing point for one year. The measure passed with 12 of 15 votes, with Russia, China and the Dominican Republic abstaining, diplomats said.
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Trump seen wearing face mask in public for first time
US President Donald Trump wore a face mask in public for the first time Saturday, finally yielding to intense pressure to set a public health example as the coronavirus rampages across America. Trump had on a black mask as he walked through the corridors of Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington to meet with wounded veterans. Trump walked past reporters and did not stop to speak to them about what had become a hotly anticipated moment -- his possible change of heart on a practice recommended by the government's own medical experts, even as he resisted.
SportsAFP NewsRonaldo's penalty double edges Juve closer to title in Atalanta draw
Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties as Juventus snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw against Atalanta on Saturday to take a massive step towards a ninth straight Serie A title. Lazio's 2-1 loss to Sassuolo earlier in the day gave Atalanta, on an 11-match winning streak heading into the game, the chance to move second and cut the gap to Juve to six points.
NewsAFP NewsBosnia Muslims mourn their dead 25 years after Srebrenica massacre
Bosnian Muslims marked the 25th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on Saturday, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II, with the memorial ceremony sharply reduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Many mourners braved the tighter restrictions put in place to stem the spread of COVID-19 to attend the commemorations which culminated in a ceremony laying to rest the remains of nine victims identified over the past year. On July 11, 1995, after capturing Srebrenica, Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in a few days.
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Sheff Utd cruise past Chelsea, Liverpool's record bid hit by Burnley
Sheffield United dealt a major blow to Chelsea's chances of a Premier League top-four finish by thrashing the Blues 3-0 at Bramall Lane, while Liverpool's long winning run at Anfield came to an end in a draw with Burnley on Saturday. Manchester City did guarantee their presence in the top four for a 10th successive season with Raheem Sterling scoring a hat-trick in a 5-0 win at Brighton.
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Man City 'deserve' Champions League return, says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City deserve their place in the Champions League next season as the club wait to find out whether their two-season ban against playing in European competitions will be overturned. On the field, City ensured they will finish in the Premier League's top four with Raheem Sterling scoring a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. "Today we achieved one incredible challenge, which is qualification for the Champions League mathematically," said Guardiola.
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Football: English Premier League table
English Premier League table after Saturday's late match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
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Football: English Premier League results - collated
Collated English Premier League results on Saturday:
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Sterling hat-trick as Man City secure top four ahead of Champions League verdict
Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick as Manchester City ensured they will finish in the Premier League's top four with a 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday as the club wait to find out whether they will be allowed to compete in the Champions League next season. City were handed a two-season ban from European competitions by UEFA in February, but appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which will deliver its verdict on Monday. On the field, there is no doubt Pep Guardiola's men deserve their place among the elite of European football next season with another display that belied the 21-point gap between them and champions Liverpool.
NewsAFP NewsDisney World reopens as US virus death toll surges
Disney World is known as "The Most Magical Place on Earth" but as the Florida theme park reopened Saturday, it was counting on a bit of science -- masks, social distancing, hand sanitizer -- to stave off the coronavirus. The state of Florida is one of the hardest-hit by a new wave of cases and deaths in the United States, already the most affected country in the world in terms of infections and fatalities. On Saturday, Florida reported its third-highest daily increase in cases, with 10,360 new infections, as well as 95 deaths.
NewsAFP NewsDisney World reopens as WHO urges virus caution
Florida's Walt Disney World theme park reopened Saturday in a state hard hit by the coronavirus, as the World Health Organization issued a fresh warning that countries should step up pandemic restrictions. Hundreds of people in face masks and some in red Mickey Mouse ears queued to enter the Magic Kingdom, with social distancing and hygiene precautions in place. The Disney complex is in Orlando, Florida -- one of several states where the daily rate of new cases of the virus has been increasing.
SportsAFP NewsAstros halt training again as Yanks and Royals report positive coronavirus tests
Coronavirus concerns continue to cast a shadow over Major League Baseball's build-up to a pandemic shortened season, with the Houston Astros cancelling practice Saturday as two more teams reported players testing positive for COVID-19. The Astros opted to cancel a day's worth of training after a staff member reported potential exposure to someone who had tested positive for the virus. "As part of MLB's testing and reporting plan, we were alerted that a staff member was potentially exposed to a COVID-positive individual outside the organization," Astros general manager James Click said in a statement.
CelebrityAFP NewsBollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan hospitalized with COVID-19
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, 77, tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and was admitted to hospital in Mumbai, with his actor son Abhishek -- who also announced he had the virus -- saying both cases were mild. "I have tested CoviD positive .. shifted to Hospital," Amitabh Bachchan told his 43 million Twitter followers. "All that have been in close proximity to me in the last 10 days are requested to please get themselves tested!" His son Abhishek added "both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital... I request all to stay calm and not panic."
SportsAFP News'No player parties here,' says Berlin tennis chief
Organisers of a Berlin exhibition tennis tournament aimed a thinly-disguised jibe at Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev on Saturday by declaring: "There'll be no player parties here." Germany's world number seven Zverev was due to be one of the headline acts in Berlin but pulled out last week.
SportsAFP NewsLazio's Serie A title bid hit again by Sassuolo loss
Lazio's title dream suffered yet another setback on Saturday as Francesco Caputo's injury-time header grabbed Sassuolo a 2-1 victory at the Stadio Olimpico to hand Juventus the chance to move 10 points clear at the Serie A summit. The midweek loss at lowly Lecce appeared to signal the end of Lazio's title challenge, but Juve's late implosion in a 4-2 defeat by AC Milan kept the gap at seven points.
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Dismal Chelsea humbled in Blades battering
Frank Lampard warned his Chelsea flops that he "won't forget" the lessons learned from their damaging 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday. Lampard's side were punished for some dismal defending at Bramall Lane as David McGoldrick struck twice, either side of Oli McBurnie's goal. It was another alarmingly sloppy display from Chelsea, whose other loss since the restart was a defensively shambolic 3-2 loss at lowly West Ham.
