A French court will rule on Friday whether the former CEO of France Telecom and other executives carried out "institutional harassment" that sparked a spate of suicides at the company.
Between 2008 to 2009, 35 employees of the former state-owned telecom giant, now called Orange, took their own lives as managers embarked on a vast restructuring plan that included cutting 22,000 jobs.
The episode became a rallying cry for critics demanding action against "moral harassment" by bosses focusing ruthlessly on the bottom line at the expense of employees' well-being.
Prosecutors sought a one-year prison term for former chief Didier Lombard and the maximum fine of 15,000 euros (USD 16,700) during a trial that wrapped up in July.  France Telecom itself was charged with "institutional harassment" and faces a fine of up to 75,000 euros.
Lombard's deputy and the human resources director could also face a year in prison, while four other executives were charged with complicity in harassment, with ..

France Telecom bosses face verdict over wave of suicides

PTI Automatic

Doping cases in international sport rose 13 percent in 2017 against the year before, the annual report of the World Anti-Doping Agency said.
The Montreal-based agency reported 1,804 Anti-Doping Rule Violations for 2017, a rise from 1,595 in 2016.
It said the cases in 2017 involved people from 114 nationalities, across 93 sports.  Italy had the largest number of infractions, at 171, followed by France at 128 and the United States with 103.
Brazil had 84 and Russia 82, said the report, issued on the same day that Russia said it would contest its ban from major sporting events over doping violations.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on December 10 banned Russia from major global events -- including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar -- for four years.
Widespread, state-sponsored doping in Russia, notably between 2011 and 2015, was revealed in an independent report released three years ago by sports lawyer Richard McLaren.
Russia's athletics team was barred from ...

Global sport doping cases up 13% in 2017: WADA

Wall Street stocks shot to fresh records Thursday, shrugging off a historic US impeachment vote while the British pound continued to retreat.
All three major US indices advanced to new records, basking in an improved outlook on trade, with the mellowing of US-China tensions and a new continental trade agreement with the US, Canada and Mexico advancing in Congress.
Analysts said Thursday's records also reflect broad expectations that the US Senate will vote against removing US President Donald Trump from office after Trump became just the third US president in history impeached.
"The market is going to ignore impeachment in large part, it will pay attention to earnings, interest rates and the Fed," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities.
"That's been true for the last two impeachments." Michael Hewson at CMC said financial markets had given the news "a collective 'meh', while IG analyst Chris Beauchamp quipped that "the president, it seems, could offer to sell ..

US stocks score new records on optimism over trade

Democratic White House candidates have attacked President Donald Trump but also clashed sharply with one another during Democratic debate, where a smaller field allowed lesser-known candidates to shine against the frontrunners.
One day after Trump's ignominious impeachment, seven candidates united to declare the president must be defeated at the 2020 ballot box.
"We need to restore the integrity of the presidency," said frontrunner Joe Biden on Thursday, who accused Trump of "dumbing down" the office "beyond what I even thought he would do."
Senator Bernie Sanders, second in the standings, blasted Trump as "running the most corrupt administration in the modern history of this country," while fellow Senator Elizabeth Warren said the president ignores the poor to do "everything he can for the wealthy and the well-connected."
But after calls for greater moral leadership from the White House and crisp back-and-forth about trade policy, health care and how to lift more Americans out of ...

Heated moments as Democrats clash in presidential debate

Canada's Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed the right to Canadian citizenship for the son of Russian spies, whose case inspired the TV series "The Americans".
Alexander Vavilov was born Alexander Foley in Canada in 1994, four years after his brother Timothy.
Their parents Donald Heathfield and Tracey Ann Foley were among 10 Russian spies expelled from the United States in 2011.
Canada's highest court upheld a June 2017 ruling of the Federal Court of Appeal that Alexander had the right to Canadian citizenship.
The government had stripped Alexander of citizenship after he applied for a Canadian passport in 2014. Ottawa argued that he was ineligible because his parents worked for a foreign government.
A child born in Canada automatically becomes a citizen except if one of the parents is a diplomat.
In 2017 the Federal Court of Appeal said his parents did not have diplomatic privileges or immunities in Canada, leaving him eligible for citizenship.
Canadian media reported that the Supreme 

Canada citizenship confirmed for son of Russian spies

President Hassan Rouhani will make the first visit to Japan by an Iranian head of state for two decades Friday, as Tokyo seeks to mediate between Tehran and Washington amid spiralling nuclear tensions.
The trip comes after violent protests last month over petroleum price hikes in Iran, as Washington-imposed sanctions over its nuclear programme hit the Iranian economy.
The United States re-imposed crippling sanctions on Iran in 2018 after withdrawing from an international deal aimed at tackling the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme.
Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei has played down the mediation aspect of the trip, saying the visit to Tokyo had "nothing to do with issues such as negotiations with America".
However, he acknowledged that "our Japanese friends usually convey messages or initiatives, which we welcome... and seriously examine".
As a key US ally that also maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Iran, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tried to build bridges ...

Iran's Rouhani to meet Japan PM amid tension with US

The former deputy of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has been chosen as the institution's new governor, British press reported.
The Financial Times and other newspapers said on Thursday that Bailey, the head of the Financial Conduct Authority regulator and former deputy of the BoE between 2013 and 2016, would replace Mark Carney.
Canadian Carney, 54, will handover on January 31 after six years in the role, having extended his tenure twice on turmoil over Britain's looming exit from the European Union.
A source familiar with the matter told AFP that the long-awaited appointment could take place as early as Friday, now that national elections have passed.
There had been speculation that Carney's successor could be the institution's first female chief.
The new governor of the BoE will have the heavy task of conducting the country's monetary policy at the time of its exit from the European Union, promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson by January 31 at the latest.
They may also ...

Andrew Bailey selected as next Bank of England chief: Reports

Britain's freshly-elected parliament prepared on Friday to move past years of partisan wrangling and initially approve Prime Minister Boris Johnson's divorce deal with the European Union.
The all-but-certain outcome in the House of Commons will help Johnson meet his winning campaign promise to "get Brexit done" at any cost on January 31.
But it will also push London and Brussels closer to another cliff edge that might disrupt decades of unfettered trade at the end of 2020.
Last week's polls put Johnson's Conservatives in control of parliament and dispelled doubts over whether Britain was to become the first nation to leave the EU.
A final vote on Johnson's separation terms will come when lawmakers return from their Christmas break early next month.
But Britain will enter the holiday season closer to legal and economic independence than it has been at any point since the 2016 Brexit referendum.
And Johnson has the freedom and power to shape Britain's future that his predecessor Theresa 

Britain's new parliament votes on Johnson's Brexit deal

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are expected to cost some 1.35 trillion yen ($12.6 billion), organisers said Friday, unveiling a final budget showing increased revenue balancing out extra costs including countermeasures against heat.
However, officials admitted the budget does not yet include an estimated three billion yen for moving the marathon and race walk north to Sapporo, as they wrangle with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over who bears the cost.
Revenues from domestic sponsorship and robust ticket sales have increased income by 30 billion yen, according to the fourth and final version of the Olympic budget.
This equals out a rise in forecast expenditure for items such as transport and security -- as well as the heat-busting measures.
The overall 1.35-trillion-yen budget for the Games is unchanged since the last version of the budget unveiled last year.
There is also a 27-billion-yen "contingency" pot to deal with possible emergencies such as natural disasters.
Organisers ...

Tokyo 2020 Olympics unveil final budget of $12.6 billion

Jurgen Klopp's impact on Liverpool during four years in charge has been transformative, but the man in the opposing dugout in Saturday's Club World Cup final has needed just a few short months to make history at Flamengo.
Jorge Jesus was only appointed by the Rio de Janeiro giants in June, the arrival of the white-haired 65-year-old Portuguese coach raising eyebrows in Brazil.
He immediately made his mark and in the last month has seen the country's best-supported side win the Copa Libertadores for just the second time and then claim a first Brazilian title in a decade, finishing 16 points clear.
Jesus has overseen just two defeats in 29 league games and his team are now one win away from lifting the Club World Cup after defeating Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday.
Only the small matter of Klopp's Liverpool stands between them and a first victory for South America in this competition since Corinthians beat Chelsea in 2012.
"This is the most important game of my career. It is the cherry on the ..

Wily Jorge Jesus stands in Klopp's way as Flamengo aim to stop Liverpool

The first Clasico stalemate in 17 years means Barcelona will likely finish 2019 top of La Liga if they beat Alaves on Saturday, despite a distinctly underwhelming opening half of the season.
Barca have lacked purpose and clarity in recent months and three defeats in the league is already more than they endured in the entirety of their title-winning run last term.
"Grey, but surviving - Barcelona are still the leader," read the headline in Madrid daily AS on Thursday.
None of their rivals have been able to take advantage, not even Real Madrid, who were the better team for long spells of a scrappy contest on Wednesday but failed to make it count.
Madrid have failed to take their chances in the title race too and are still level on points with Barcelona and two behind on goal difference after missing opportunities to jump above their rivals last weekend and again in midweek.
It might be harsh to judge draws away at Mestalla against Valencia and then Camp Nou as slip-ups, yet a Barcelona .

Barca surviving as Clasico leaves La Liga delicately poised

Frank Lampard will lock horns with former boss Jose Mourinho in a Premier League London derby this weekend as second-placed Leicester seek to take advantage of Liverpool's absence at Manchester City.
Elsewhere, out-of-form Arsenal travel to Everton and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer takes his Manchester United side to bottom club Watford.
League leaders Liverpool, who have a 10-point lead at the top of the table, are away at the Club World Cup in Qatar.
AFP Sport picks out some of the key talking points ahead of the weekend's Premier League fixtures.
Master v apprentice
===================
When Jose Mourinho took over as Tottenham boss last month, his side were 12 points behind Frank Lampard's Chelsea and looked out of the running for the top four.
But Spurs will leapfrog their London rivals into fourth place in the Premier League if they come out on top on Sunday in a match pitting the grizzled Portuguese veteran against one of his key players during their time together at Stamford Bridge.
It .

Lampard seeks to outwit Mourinho as Leicester face Man City

Leonardo Jardim finds himself again facing mounting scrutiny in his second spell as Monaco boss after a humbling home defeat by Lille in the French League Cup in midweek.
Jardim, the mastermind of Monaco's run to the 2017 Ligue 1 title, heads into the final game of the year with his side six points adrift of the Champions League places.
Monaco host Lille, who occupy that third European spot, for the second time in five days this weekend having suffered a deflating 3-0 loss at the Stade Louis II on Tuesday.
"We weren't up to scratch. We expect more of ourselves and we must give a response Saturday," Jardim said following his side's last 16 exit.
The Portuguese landed himself in the spotlight in September as Monaco picked up just three points from their opening six games despite a summer outlay of 135 million euros ($150 million).
Five wins in six helped douse the flames but this week's abject display against Lille stoked fresh concerns about the direction the club is heading.
"Do I ...

Jardim again in firing line at middling Monaco

Maria Sharapova insisted that she still has the "internal fire and motivation" to compete professionally, despite the lingering shoulder problem that kept her out of action for long stretches this season.
The former world number one was only able to play in eight events in 2019, contesting just 15 matches in total.
The Russian five-time major champion made her first on-court appearance since her US Open first round exit in August in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, where she fought back from a break down in each set to defeat Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 7-5.
"Any chance that I get to come out and play competitively is a really good day because I just haven't played a lot," Sharapova told reporters at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship.
"Definitely I'm coming out of this match happy that I was out there again and it can only get better from here."
While she wouldn't reveal too many details about the state of her shoulder injury, she did say she "felt fine" after her ...

Sharapova still has 'fire and motivation' despite 2019 misery

Ukraine weightlifter Oleksiy Torokhtiy was stripped of his 2012 Olympic gold medal for doping, the International Olympic Committee announced.
The 33-year-old, who triumphed in the 105kg division, was disqualified after a reanalysis of his urine sample revealed a positive test for testosterone.
Torokhtiy has been banned for two years with his results between August 4, 2012, and August 3, 2015, annulled.
At 2012 event, Iran's Navab Nasirshelal had taken silver with Poland's Bartlomiej Bonk winning bronze.

Ukrainian weightlifter stripped of 2012 Olympic gold for doping

A firearms buyback scheme launched in New Zealand after the Christchurch mosque shootings ends on Friday, with gun control groups hailing its success despite opposition from some firearms owners.
The March 15 attacks in which 51 Muslim worshippers were killed shocked the normally peaceful South Pacific nation and prompted a swift ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons used by the lone shooter.
A key element of the ban was a buyback scheme accompanied by an amnesty, giving gun owners a payment and a guarantee of "no questions asked" when they handed in weapons deemed illegal under new laws.
Police said Friday that 56,350 firearms and 188,000 parts had been handed in and they were expecting a late rush before the final collection event at 8:00pm (0700GMT) Friday.
"There will be no extension -- anyone prosecuted may lose their firearms licence and could face a penalty of up to five years imprisonment," police said.
Gun control advocates say the scheme has ...

NZealand to close gun buyback sparked by mosque shootings

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison cut short a Hawaii holiday on Friday following a barrage of criticism for vacationing while his country endured an unprecedented bushfire crisis.
Morrison expressed regret for the trip, with his announcement coming shortly after two volunteer firefighters were killed and a record heatwave this week exacerbated dozens of out-of-control blazes.
Pressure had been piling up on Morrison over his vacation this week, as thousands of exhausted volunteer firefighters battled blazes across the country and millions of people in Sydney choked on toxic smoke.
"I deeply regret any offence caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time," Morrison said in a statement Friday.
He added he would be returning to Australia as soon as possible "given the most recent tragic events", referring to the deaths of the two firefighters.
Geoffrey Keating, 32, and Andrew O'Dwyer, 36 died when a tree ...

Australian PM ends holiday to face fire crisis

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Thursday on the United States not to sign a trade deal with China unless Beijing agrees to release two Canadians detained since last year.
Former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor have been held in China's opaque legal system since they were apprehended on December 10, 2018, accused of espionage.
Their case is widely viewed by Canadians as retribution for the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver just nine days prior. She is wanted in the United States on charges related to Iran sanctions violations.
Obtaining the two men's release has been a top priority of Trudeau's government.
When asked if he thought a US-China trade deal could help resolve the situation during an interview with French-language channel TVA, Trudeau responded: "We hope so."
"We told them that the United States must not sign a final and complete deal with China that does not solve the problem of Meng Wanzhou and the two ..

Trudeau to US: Don't sign China trade deal unless Canadians freed

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son denied allegations Thursday that he laundered money embezzled from public funds, after a document leaked by the media revealed he was implicated.
The document from the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor's office was leaked after searches of properties belonging to Flavio Bolsonaro, several former advisers, and members of Jair Bolsonaro's former wife's family, the mother of his fourth son, Renan.
Flavio Bolsonaro, who is now a senator, was a Rio state deputy from 2003 to 2018.  The document shows that Flavio is suspected of laundering money through the purchase of apartments in cash, for the amount of 638,400 reais, or about USD 157,000 at the current exchange rate.
"There is an absurd persecution against me in Rio de Janeiro, because they want to get to me in order to attempt to get to the president," Flavio Bolsonaro said in a video posted on social media.
"A message for you: You will not succeed. Because we have not done anything wrong," he ...

Brazil president's eldest son denies allegations of money laundering

Israel's air force targeted Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas for a second time in 24 hours late Thursday after renewed fire from the Palestinian enclave, the army said.
A projectile was fired from Gaza towards Israel Thursday evening, following one late the previous day, the army said.
"In response, a short while ago, (Israeli) aircraft targeted an underground infrastructure and a naval target of the Hamas terror organization in the southern Gaza Strip as well as a military compound" in northern Gaza, the army said in a statement late Thursday.
A Palestinian security source in Gaza confirmed that at least three Hamas sites were hit, causing damage.
No injuries were immediately reported by either side.  Israel holds Hamas, which controls Gaza, responsible for any rockets fired from the strip towards communities along the border, even if launched by smaller groups.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.
Following the rocket fire overnight Wednesday, Israeli authorities ...

Israel strikes Hamas again after fresh Gaza fire: Army

US lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Thursday approved a new continental trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, a victory for President Donald Trump even as he faces impeachment.
A law to implement the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority -- an unusual occurrence in the current political atmosphere -- with a vote tally of 385-41.
The bill now must be approved by the Senate, where the Republican majority leader has said it will have to wait until 2020.
Though the free trade pact was signed in 2018, House Democrats had held up the treaty's ratification for a year, demanding greater assurances that Mexico could be held to its commitments to labor reforms demanded by the treaty.
Last-minute agreements with Mexican authorities allowed a compromise deal amending the treaty.
USMCA replaces the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, changing rules on auto manufacturing, e-commerce, intellectual property protections and dispute ...

AFP

AFP

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