Liverpool forward Sadio Mane says he will not change his style of play despite Pep Guardiola's "diving" accusation.
The Manchester City boss made the claim at the weekend, when the Senegal international was booked after going down in the penalty area following a challenge by Aston Villa's Frederic Guilbert.
Manager Jurgen Klopp jumped to his defence and Guardiola subsequently rowed back on the comments, saying they were part of a longer speech in which he praised the forward.
Mane, unaware of the subsequent climbdown, was unmoved by Guardiola's initial criticism as he believes if there is contact he has a right to go down.
And he offered a sarcastic response to the City boss ahead of the match between the two sides at Anfield on Sunday, saying: "If it could be a penalty for sure I will 'dive' again.
"If the 'dive' will give me a penalty then I will do it. Why not? But what Jurgen said is correct. I do not dive," said Mane.
"There was contact (at Villa) for sure. Maybe it was not a ...

Mane jokes he would 'dive' again to win Liverpool penalty

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Mauritians are voting in the first election since Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was installed in the job after his father stepped down in 2017.
Jugnauth succeeded his father Anerood Jugnauth as prime minister without a popular vote when the older man stood down  two years ahead of schedule.  The 57-year-old is asking voters to judge him on his short time in office, pointing to his record on modernising public infrastructure and economic reforms in the former British colony.
But he faces two opponents who say his appointment to the island's top job amounted to little more than nepotism.
After three hours of voting, some 15 percent of almost one million registered voters had cast their ballots, according to officials in the Indian Ocean state.  "I voted early to avoid long queues," Sunita, a voter in her 40s, told AFP in the central town of Curepipe. She did not want to say who she voted for, commenting only that change should not be stopped.
Businessman Saoud, 55, who was casting his 

Mauritians vote in first ballot since PM succeeded father

North Korea slammed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as an "idiot and villain" on Thursday and warned he will never set foot in Pyongyang after he condemned the North's latest weapons test.
Pyongyang last week tested what it called "super-large multiple rocket launchers" but Japan said they were likely ballistic missiles that violated UN sanctions, sparking a colourful personal diatribe against Abe.
"Abe, prime minister of Japan, is an idiot and villain," said Song Il Ho, ambassador of the North's foreign ministry, in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.  The Japanese prime minister was "a deformed child" and "an underwit", Song said, accusing Abe of being unable to tell the difference between multiple rocket launchers and missiles.
Japan, which is one of the most hawkish of the major powers on the nuclear-armed North, has relentlessly pursued a summit with its leader Kim Jong Un over the fate of a handful of Japanese abductees in North Korea.
But the statement ...

N Korea slams Japan's Abe as 'idiot' over missile criticism

Lufthansa on Thursday said it was slashing 700 to 800 jobs at its Austrian Airlines subsidiary, more than a tenth of the workforce there, to cut costs in the face of "brutal competition" from rival carriers.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said the cull would help Austrian Airlines, which could end the year in the red, achieve "savings of 90 million euros ($100 million) per year" from the end of 2021.
The small carrier was locked "in the mother of all battles" in Vienna with low-cost rivals Ryanair and Wizz Air, Spohr told reporters in a conference call after announcing a rise in the group's third-quarter revenues.
News of the jobs cull sent shares in Lufthansa soaring by 8.8 percent to 17.6 euros by 1140 GMT, putting it at the top of the blue-chip DAX index in Frankfurt.  "We have to reposition ourselves to be able to survive in the brutal competition with budget carriers," Austrian Airlines boss Alexis von Hoensbroech said in a separate statement.
The planned job cuts amount to a loss ..

Austrian Airlines to slash jobs over 'brutal competition'

Russia's sports minister insisted Thursday that data handed to the World Anti-Doping Agency was not doctored, while WADA has asked Moscow to explain "inconsistencies."
"Nothing was removed there, our experts insist this didn't happen," sports minister Pavel Kolobkov said, Interfax news agency reported.
The electronic data handed to WADA investigators early this year came from RUSADA's former Moscow anti-doping laboratory. in September, WADA asked Russia to respond to "inconsistencies" in the data.
"These are technical questions, they are linked to the system," Kolobkov insisted, according to TASS news agency.
"At a meeting shortly between specialists from Russia and WADA these questions may be cleared up.
"We are doing all we can to fulfil the obligations that we committed to last September and we fulfilled them," Kolobkov added.
He said the current controversy had nothing to do with athletes preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"Such questions only make our athletes, trainers and ..

Russian sports minister denies doping data was falsified

Thousands of students took to the streets across Lebanon Thursday to demand a better future as an unprecedented anti-government protest movement entered its fourth week and continued to spread.
Waving Lebanese flags, students and high school pupils massed in front of the education ministry in Beirut to voice their grievances against a political class seen as corrupt and incompetent.
"I challenge any politician or official to send their children to state schools," one pupil told a local television channel.
"The economy is in trouble, there is no work, how will we survive in the future?."
Groups of students gathered elsewhere in Beirut and in other cities, the latest boost to a mobilisation that has been relentless since the protests erupted on October 17.
Students in the coastal towns of Jounieh and Chekka gathered in front of the gates of the national telecommunications operator to block access, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The rallies have created a rare moment of ...

Students swell Lebanon protest movement

More than 60 endangered turtles have disappeared from a zoo in Japan's southernmost province in a suspected theft, officials said Thursday.
"We feed them twice a week and a keeper noticed their number was clearly low," said Kozue Ohgimi, zoo section chief at Okinawa Zoo and Museum, told AFP.
Officials later found cable ties used to secure netting over the enclosure housing the turtles had been removed at several spots.
"The nets were loose enough to enable an adult to sneak into the area," Ohgimi told AFP on the phone.
Officials fear the turtles may have been stolen for sale on the black market, where they are valued as exotic pets.
"They are traded for high prices," Ohgimi said.
The disappearances have been reported to local police, who are investigating, zoo officials said.
The turtles are small, measuring about a maximum 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) long.
In all, the zoo said 64 turtles have disappeared -- 15 Ryukyu leaf turtles and 49 yellow-margined box turtles.
Both types are on .

Dozens of endangered turtles disappear from Japan zoo

About 90,000 barrels of crude oil meant for export were trapped at a northern Iraq field on Thursday because transport routes were cut by protests, an industry source told AFP.
Anti-government demonstrations have rocked Iraq's capital and its south, with sit-ins increasingly targeting main roads and state infrastructure -- including oil fields -- in OPEC's second-biggest producer.
The Qayyarah field in northern Iraq produces 30,000 barrels per day of crude oil that is trucked to the southern port of Basra to be exported, but sit-ins have sealed off some of those roads.
A senior source at the North Oil Company, which manages the Qayyarah field, told AFP on Thursday that trucks were unable to carry out that journey for a third consecutive day.
"These trucks usually transport the oil daily, but have been unable to do so since Tuesday because of what's happening in Basra," the source said.
"I don't know when it will resume as it depends on the situation stabilising and the roads being ...

Iraq crude stuck at field for third day as protests cut roads

China and the United States have agreed a plan to remove tariffs imposed on two-way goods in stages, the commerce ministry said Thursday, as negotiators try to hammer out a trade deal.
The two sides have been embroiled in a bruising trade war for more than a year, and have slapped punitive tariffs on hundreds-of-billions-of-dollars-worth of two-way trade.
But there has been growing hope that they are close to reaching a mini agreement as part of a wider deal.
"In the past two weeks, the negotiation leaders of the two sides have held serious and constructive discussions on properly resolving their core concerns and agreed to roll back the additional tariffs in stages, as progress is made towards a (final) agreement," ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a news conference.
If confirmed by the US, the comments could be the latest positive signal in efforts by negotiators to formalise a partial trade deal -- although details remain sparse.
Gao said if the two sides reached a phase-one ...

China says agreed with US to remove tariffs if trade deal progresses

Philippine authorities rescued dozens of people on Thursday after a ferry sank in rough seas, but search teams were still working to confirm all aboard were accounted for, the coast guard said.
Rescuers plucked 59 people from waters off the central island of Cebu, while another three swam to shore after the vessel took on water and capsized.  The manifest showed 60 crew and passengers aboard, the coast guard said, however it is not clear if the list was complete.
Manifests in the Philippines are often not a full accounting because passengers may stow away or captains can exceed the official capacity of their vessel.
"Rescue operations are ongoing. We cannot stop until we are satisfied that everyone is safe and has been accounted for," coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Michael Encina told AFP.
"The boat has sunk. We haven't been able to find it," he added.  The vessel, Siargao Princess, was plying a route near Cebu when its crew radioed for help, saying the boat was in trouble.
The ...

Dozens rescued after Philippine ferry capsizes

Eleven pro-Turkish Syrian fighters were killed Thursday by Kurdish forces in violation of ceasefire agreements aimed at creating a "safe zone" in northern Syria, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
"This morning, 11 members of the Syrian National Army were martyred," Erdogan told a press conference in Ankara, using the name for a Syrian militia fighting for Turkey.
"Of course, a bigger number died on the other side... When they attack the SNA or our soldiers, should we stay silent? Of course, we have to retaliate -- more than retaliate," he added.
Erdogan did not say where the fighting had taken place, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor, said clashes had taken place near the Syrian border town of Ain Issa, without detailing casualties.
Turkey launched an offensive in northern Syria last month aimed at establishing a "safe zone" that would push Kurdish forces away from its border and create room to repatriate Syrian refugees.
It halted the offensive after .

Kurdish forces kill 11 pro-Turkish Syrian fighters: Erdogan

Tourists visiting Singapore can now check in at some hotels using facial recognition technology under a pilot programme that could cut waiting times and help tackle a labour crunch.
The tech-savvy country of 5.7 million people is increasingly turning to automation to speed up services and deal with workforce shortages, with robots deployed for tasks ranging from cleaning to making noodles.
Under the pilot launched Wednesday, visitors will not need to wait to be checked in by hotel staff but can instead use a phone app fitted with facial recognition technology or machines which scan their passports.
The data from the scan is sent to immigration authorities for checks after which the visitor is issued a room key, said the Singapore Tourism Board and Hotel Association, which announced the initiative this week.
The technology, reportedly being trialled at three hotels and is similar to that used in some airports including Singapore's Changi, could reduce check-in times by up to 70 ...

Skip the queue: Singapore hotels use face recognition check-in

Equity markets and oil prices rose Thursday after China said it had agreed with the United States on a plan to gradually remove each other's tariffs, fuelling hopes they can resolve a trade war that has roiled the global economy.
Broad optimism that the economic superpowers would soon complete part one of a wider agreement has been the basis of a rally in global equities for several weeks.
And that confidence was boosted by commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng saying on Thursday that they had decided to remove levies on each other's imports in phases as negotiations go on.
"In the past two weeks, top negotiators had serious, constructive discussions and agreed to remove the additional tariffs in phases as progress is made on the agreement," he said.
"If China and the US reach a phase-one deal, both sides should roll back existing additional tariffs in the same proportion simultaneously based on the content of the agreement."
China and the US have been locked on a painful trade war for 

Asian, European markets rise on fresh China-US trade hopes

Beijing on Thursday criticised as "fictitious" a report by British politicians claiming there was "alarming evidence" of Chinese interference on university campuses.
The report, which was released Tuesday, cited examples where Beijing-linked organisations appeared to suppress freedom of speech at institutions of higher education.
One academic told lawmakers he saw Confucius Institute officials confiscating papers which mentioned Taiwan -- which Beijing considers a rebel province awaiting reunification -- at an academic conference.
Likened to France's Alliance Francaise, Spain's Instituto Cervantes and the British Council, the Confucius Institute teaches students about Chinese language and culture at hundreds of universities around the world.
Christopher Hughes, a professor at the London School of Economics, said he had seen Chinese students in the British capital engaged in activities to "undermine Hong Kong protestors".
"China has always adhered to a principle of non-interference in .

China slams British MP university report as 'fictitious'

A senior Cambodian opposition figure was detained in Malaysia as she tried to fly home for the planned return of her exiled party leader, authorities said Thursday, in another win for strongman Hun Sen.
Members of the opposition are trying to get back to Cambodia to support their leader, Sam Rainsy, who wants to make a dramatic end to his exile this weekend to mark Cambodian Independence Day.
However Hun Sen, an authoritarian leader who has ruled Cambodia since 1985, has vowed not to allow Rainsy to return, and sought support from regional neighbours to thwart the opposition's plans.
Mu Sochua, deputy leader of Rainsy's Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was held at Kuala Lumpur airport late Wednesday, Malaysia's foreign minister said.
The former women's minister had flown in from Jakarta in neighbouring Indonesia, where the Cambodian ambassador had stormed a press conference she was giving and attempted to get the event cancelled.
Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy ...

Malaysia detains Cambodian opposition figure

China and the United States have agreed a plan to remove tariffs imposed on two-way goods in stages, the commerce ministry said Thursday, as negotiators try to hammer out a trade deal.
"In the past two weeks, the negotiation leaders of the two sides have held serious and constructive discussions on properly resolving their core concerns and agreed to roll back the additional tariffs in stages, as progress is made towards a (final) agreement," ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a press conference.

China says agreed with US to remove tariffs as trade deal progresses

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that UEFA was discriminating against Turkey's football team following a controversy over the players' use of military salutes on the pitch.
UEFA opened disciplinary hearings against Turkey last month after its players saluted during Euro 2020 qualifiers -- a gesture seen as supporting the country's military offensive in Syria.
Erdogan said this was part of a wider campaign against Turkish sports stars who supported the operation.
"Sportsmen representing our country abroad are being subjected to a lynching campaign since the start of the operation," Erdogan said at a press conference in Ankara.
"We reject UEFA's discriminating, unjust and political attitude towards our national team and clubs," he added.
"It is the natural right of our sportsmen to salute our soldiers after a victory." The players made the military salutes during anthems and after goals against Albania and France last month.
UEFA's press chief Philip Townsend said at the ...

UEFA Turkey probe is 'discrimination': Erdogan

Steel giant ArcelorMittal said Thursday lower prices and rising costs of raw materials pushed up losses in the third quarter.
The world's biggest steel maker reported a net loss of $539 million (587 million euros) for the three-month period ending September 30, after a loss of 447 million in the second quarter.
"As anticipated, we continued to face tough market conditions in the third quarter, characterised by low steel prices coupled with high raw material costs," CEO Lakshmi Mittal was quoted as saying in a statement.
"In these markets, we remain focused on our own initiatives to improve performance and our priority is to reduce costs, adapt production and focus on ensuring the business remains cash flow positive.
He said the group expects a "substantial working capital release" in the fourth quarter which should enable it to further reduce net debt year on year.
The Luxembourg-based multinational maintained its forecast for a rise in global steel consumption this year, although in .

ArcelorMittal's reports higher losses amid rising costs

Philippine authorities launched a rescue operation Thursday after a ferry with at least 60 people onboard capsized in rough seas, the coast guard said.
The vessel was plying a route near the central island Cebu when its crew radioed for help, saying the vessel was taking on water.
"We do not have a tally now, but all those we recovered are alive," Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Michael Encina told AFP. "We cannot find the boat as of now." The Philippines, an archipelago where millions rely on rickety ferries for cheap transport between islands, has regular boat accidents.

Philippines launches rescue after ferry capsizes

A student was killed in Bolivian protests Wednesday amid increasing pressure on President Evo Morales to resign over opposition claims that he rigged his recent re-election.
The 20 year-old student died of injuries sustained in clashes between pro- and anti-government demonstrators in the central city of Cochabamba, a doctor at the local hospital told AFP. Some 20 other people were wounded in the fighting, some seriously, Ombudsman Nadia Cruz said.
The fatality brings to three the death toll in clashes following the controversial October 20 election that saw Morales, 60, win re-election in a first round of voting -- but only after a pause and an abrupt shift in the vote count in his favor, which his opponents have branded as fraudulent.
Morales, first elected president in 2006, is seeking to remain in power until 2025 after he took legal action to get around constitutional term limits.
He tweeted "deep regret" over the death Wednesday, and described the student as "an innocent victim .

Student killed as pressure mounts in Bolivia protests

A McDonald's burger bought in 1995 and kept in an Australian shed for years has never decomposed, according to two men who now refer to the quarter-century Quarter Pounder as their "mate".
Casey Dean, 39, and Eduards Nits, 38, claim they ordered the Quarter Pounder with cheese from a McDonald's outlet in Adelaide as teenagers -- and have hung onto it ever since.
"Being teenagers we ordered a truckload of food, and it was just way too much," Dean told AFP. "It started a chain of events where we were joking 'imagine if we kept this forever', and here we are."
Though the burger has shrunk a little from its original size, its shape remains intact, there are no signs of mould, and it doesn't smell.
"Even the sesame seeds are still on there, just a few have been knocked off," Dean said.
The men say their relationship with the Quarter Pounder will span 25 years by November 2020, a milestone even many marriages fail to reach.
"We have been talking about taking him back to his birthplace, just 

AFP

AFP

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