PSG win without Messi ahead of Man City showdownPSG players celebrate after Idrissa Gana Gueye (right) put them ahead against Montpellier. Messi has made just three appearances for the Qatar-owned club since arriving from Barcelona in early August, playing a total of 190 minutes. Armand Lauriente's stunning free-kick put Lorient ahead but Karl Toko-Ekambi equalised five minutes after the break for Lyon, who with 12 points are already 12 points behind PSG. It is a second straight win for reigning champions Lille, who go to Austria to play Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League in midweek. His team won all 11 matches in which he found the net as they pipped PSG to the title.

(Photo by Apichit Jinakul)Covid-19 vaccinations in Thailand have surpassed 50 million doses after a record 1.44 million were administered on Friday. For the rest of the year, the ministry has procured 125 million doses. They include another 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine due to arrive by the end of September, which would be given to youths aged 12-18, he added. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, attributed the accelerated vaccination speed to the 15.7 million doses Thailand received this month. “We’ll get another 24 million doses in October — 30 million if those of the alternative vaccine Sinopharm are included — and 23-24 million doses in November to December.

Detainees include two women who got lost in forest after getting separated from compatriots caught earlierOfficers question two women from Myanmar who had become separated from a larger group of border-crossers and then got lost in a forested area in Muang district of Kanchanaburi. (Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen)KANCHANABURI: Authorities on Saturday arrested 11 Myanmar nationals for illegal entry, including two women who had spent two nights lost in a forest after getting separated from a larger group that was caught on Thursday. They told authorities that they had crossed the border on foot with 14 Myanmar nationals who were arrested on Thursday. In a separate roundup, nine other illegal migrants from Myanmar were caught along the border near Huai Nam Khao village in Muang district on Saturday. The soldiers took them to undergo Covid testing before handing them over to police at the Muang district station.

Detainees include two women who got lost in forest after getting separated from compatriots caught earlierOfficers question two women from Myanmar who had become separated from a larger group of border-crossers and then got lost in a forested area in Muang district of Kanchanaburi. (Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen)KANCHANABURI: Authorities on Saturday arrested 11 Myanmar nationals for illegal entry, including two women who had spent two nights lost in a forest after getting separated from a larger group that was caught on Thursday. They told authorities that they had crossed the border on foot with 14 Myanmar nationals who were arrested on Thursday. In a separate roundup, nine other illegal migrants from Myanmar were caught along the border near Huai Nam Khao village in Muang district on Saturday. The soldiers took them to undergo Covid testing before handing them over to police at the Muang district station.

'A regime cannot take away the people's memory,' says jailed leader of Hong Kong AllianceA display shows images of the crowds at the annual candlelight vigils held in Hong Kong to remember those who died during the military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989, at the June 4th Museum in Hong Kong. (Reuters Photo)HONG KONG: The pro-democracy group that for three decades organised vigils in Hong Kong commemorating the victims of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square crackdown voted to disband on Saturday in the face of China’s sweeping crackdown on dissent. The Hong Kong Alliance was one of the most prominent symbols of the city’s former political plurality and its dissolution is the latest illustration of how quickly China is remoulding the territory in its own authoritarian image. Beijing has since made clear it will no longer tolerate Tiananmen remembrance in Hong Kong or Macau, the only two places within China where public remembrance could take place. China’s top official in Hong Kong recently described those who call for “ending the one-party dictatorship” as “real enemies”.

She will also headline a Global Citizen event being staged at Central Park in Manhattan on Saturday night. Stevie Wonder will play in Los Angeles, while Ed Sheeran will headline in Paris alongside Elton John, Black Eyed Peas and Stormzy. The 24-hour event will be live-streamed on the Global Citizen YouTube channel starting at midnight Saturday, Thailand time (1700 GMT). Global Citizen said it wants one billion trees planted, one billion vaccines delivered to the poorest countries and meals for 41 million people on the brink of famine. But he said he would wait until after the Global Citizen Live gig for his operation “as I don’t want to let a charity down”.

Pattaya comes alive as thousands flock to Koh LanHolidaymakers head to Bali Hai pier in South Pattaya of Chon Buri to board a ferry to Koh Lan, a popular tourist destination in Pattaya resort town, on Saturday. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)CHON BURI: Pattaya City buzzed with tourists on Saturday as thousands flocked to Koh Lan, a popular tourist destination in this resort town, during the three-day holiday period that began on Friday. At Bali Hai pier in South Pattaya, both Thais and foreign tourists, arrived in groups to spend their holidays on Koh Lan, a tiny island accessible by a 30-minute ferry ride. The Pattaya City Municipality and related agencies sent officials to facilitate visitors boarding the ferries. At Jomthien and other beaches, the atmosphere was also lively as many holidaymakers spent time there with families.

Arrests, anger and court battles -- the case of Meng WanzhouHuawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou leaves court in Vancouver after an extradition hearing in AugustNEW YORK - The 2018 arrest in Vancouver of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on a US warrant, followed by China's detention of two Canadians, sparked an unprecedented dispute between Beijing and Ottawa. Here are the key dates in the case:- Wanted: Meng Wanzhou -In August 2018, a New York court issues an arrest warrant for Meng, Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei's number two, dubbed the "Princess of Huawei." - Meng's arrest -On December 1, Meng is arrested at the request of US authorities as she changes planes in Vancouver. The arrests are widely seen by observers as retaliation for Meng's detention. On September 24, Meng reaches a deal with US prosecutors to avoid felony fraud charges, and is granted release in a Vancouver court hearing.

'Greatest' Serena, the pioneer of 'tennis intimidation', turns 40'The greatest': Serena Williams on her way to victory over sister Venus in the 2017 Australian Open finalBIOT (FRANCE) - Serena Williams turns 40 on Sunday with her long-time coach hailing her as the "greatest of all time" and a pioneer of tennis "intimidation". The American superstar is frustratingly marooned on 23 Grand Slam titles, one short of the all-time record held by Margaret Court. Court, an Australian, won 11 of her Grand Slam titles at her home event. With former world number one Serena now down at 40 in the rankings, questions have been asked over her future in the sport. Williams has been beaten in her four Grand Slam final appearances since her 2017 Melbourne triumph.

But she has found herself dragged into the frantic campaign schedule of the unpopular chairman of her party, Laschet. In the last week of the campaign, Merkel took Laschet to her constituency by the Baltic coast and on Friday headlined the closing rally gathering the conservatives' bigwigs in Munich. "To keep Germany stable, Armin Laschet must become chancellor, and the CDU and CSU must be the strongest force," she said. Laschet had gone into the race for the chancellery badly bruised by a tough battle for the conservatives' chancellor candidate nomination. Nevertheless, his party had enjoyed a substantial lead ahead of the SPD heading into the summer.

Theranos founder wooed believers in 'parallel universe'Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes made grand promises -- scoffed at by critics, but believed by her backersSAN JOSé (UNITED STATES) - For critics outside the orbit of fallen US biotech star Elizabeth Holmes, her pledges of a medical revolution reeked of quackery. - 'Parallel universe' -For experts in the biotech field, the starry line-up of backers, including Henry Kissinger and Rupert Murdoch, and devotion to unproven technology was mystifying. As problems mounted with the Theranos testing equipment and staffers began to press her to hold off on launching the machines, the facade began to crack. He eventually left the company, disillusioned and thinking Theranos cared more about public relations than patients. "I really bought into the idea of laboratory testing being done from a very small pinprick sample," he told the court.

Nicaragua's presidential campaign kicks off, with no rivalsNicaragua's long-time President Daniel Ortega will take part in a presidential election with all his main rivals under arrestMANAGUA - Nicaragua's presidential election campaign officially kicks off on Saturday with incumbent Daniel Ortega's main rivals all under arrest. The 75-year-old, in power since 2007, will be seeking a fourth consecutive term in the November 7 vote despite international condemnation of his government's detention of 37 opposition figures since June. Ortega's government has been accused of political persecution for its rounding up of opposition figures in a series of house and night-time raids since June 2, including seven aspiring presidential candidates. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Nicaragua's November election had "lost all credibility" and accused the Ortega regime of "undemocratic, authoritarian actions." Other than the 37 opposition figures, some 100 other Nicaraguans remain imprisoned for their part in anti-government protests in 2018, which were violently put down by the regime.

US have Europe in dire straits in quest to reclaim Ryder CupAmerican Collin Morikawa tees off before an impressive crowd at Whistling Straits in the first session of the 43rd Ryder CupKOHLER (UNITED STATES) - The United States flexed their muscle at wind-whipped Whistling Straits Friday, dominating Europe 6-2 to launch their quest to regain the Ryder Cup. It marked the first time in six Ryder Cup appearances that Northern Ireland star McIlroy lost two matches in a single day. “I love pressure, I think you have to in Ryder Cup situations,” Finau said. But Europe, winners of nine of the last 12 editions of the biennial match play event, face a tall order in trying to claw back in hostile territory. "There's obviously still 20 points to play for," Europe captain Padraig Harrington said.

US power company charged over deadly California forest fireThe Zogg Fire burned 56,000 acres and killed four people after it was sparked by a power line in September 2020LOS ANGELES - A US power company whose cables sparked a devastating California fire that killed four people has been charged with manslaughter, prosecutors said Friday. Prosecutors said the company knew the tree in Shasta County was dangerously close to a powerline and should have removed it three years earlier. PG&E is one of California's biggest power companies, and is responsible for maintaining large swathes of the state's creaking electricity infrastructure. PG&E has already been found guilty of causing the Camp Fire in 2018, the deadliest fire in recent California history. This year the company said it would bury 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of powerlines in an effort to keep them away from vegetation.

(AFP photo)Thailand logged 11,975 Covid-19 cases and 127 fatalities on Saturday, bringing the total to 1.52 million cases and 16,049 fatalities since the start of the third wave, according to the Public Health Ministry. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,549,285 Covid-19 cases, with 1,408,821 complete recoveries so far. The single-day toll peaked in mid-August, with 312 deaths on Aug 18 and 23,418 cases on Aug 13. The 11,975 new cases comprised 11,956 local infections and 19 imported cases. Thailand ranked 29th globally with 1.54 million cases.