Police probe death of French academic in New York

US: New York police Tuesday were investigating the death of a prominent French academic and the director of one of France's most elite colleges after his naked body was found in his hotel room.

"The hotel had checked earlier in the morning at nine, and he was asleep, at one he was found dead," deputy commissioner Paul Browne told AFP, adding that Richard Descoings was found slumped "on his bed" by hotel staff.

Browne said the police were investigating, saying there was "no obvious sign of trauma" although "the room was in a state of disarray" due to efforts by medical staff to revive Descoings. AFP