Sunday 22 November 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Sports: Messi back as Barca eye last 16 against Roma

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MADRID (AFP) - Fresh from thrashing bitter rivals Real Madrid 4-0 at the weekend, Barcelona are aiming to seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League when Roma visit the Camp Nou on Tuesday.The European champions need just a point to reach the knockout stages for a 12th consecutive season and should be further boosted by the presence of Lionel Messi from the start for the first time in two months.Messi made his return as a substitute from a knee ligament injury with Barca already leading 3-0 against Madrid and played his part in Luis Suarezs second goal of the evening to round off an historic night for the Catalans.Suarez and Neymar have kept Barca afloat without Messi, scoring 24 of their last 28 goals in all competitions.And with a win also sealing top spot in the group, Barca boss Luis Enrique is unlikely to rest any of his star front three even ahead of a busy few weeks in league, Cup and Champions League before they fly off to Japan for the World Club Cup at the end of December.Whilst it would take a remarkable collapse for Barca not to qualify, Roma have it all to play for in their final two group games if they are to make the last 16 for the first time in five years.The Italians sit second in the group, a point clear of Bayer Leverkusen and two ahead of BATE Borisov, who they host in their final game.Roma got their campaign off to a great start by holding Barca to a 1-1 draw in the Italian capital thanks to Alessandro Florenzis sensational strike from just over the halfway line.And he believes they can produce another upset at the Camp Nou.It will certainly be difficult. Theyre the strongest side in the world, but we managed to produce something of an exploit against them at the Stadio Olimpico, Florenzi told Corriere dello Sport.We have to be fearless in Spain and determined to make the most of our chances.In contrast to Barcas brilliance, Romas inconsistent domestic campaign continued with a 2-2 draw in terrible weather conditions at Bologna on Saturday.Rudi Garcia will also have to do without a number of attacking options as Gervinho and Mohamed Salah miss out through injury, whilst captain Francesco Totti hasnt featured since suffering a thigh injury two months ago.

Tennis: Federer warns Djokovic of repeat performance danger

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LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer has warned Novak Djokovic he will find it hard to repeat his incredible 2015 campaign.Federer was Djokovics last victim of the year as the Serb romped to a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the final of the ATP Tour Finals on Sunday.It was 28-year-old Djokovics 11th title of a golden year that saw the world number one win 82 of his 88 matches, reach all four Grand Slam finals and win Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open.But 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer knows just how difficult it will be for Djokovic to emulate his triumphs in 2016.Its hard to play at this pace all the time. You are talking about narrow margins, a break point here and there can change the whole outcome, Federer said.You cant always be on the winning side. Margins are very small at the top.That is why this year of Novaks is amazing. Ive been there, Rafa (Nadal) has been there. We both know how hard it is to back it up year after year.Its not the first good year for Novak. Certainly hes going into next year with massive confidence. Hes playing great.Its going to be hard for him to have a bad year, but you cant just repeat a year like this.It takes a lot of effort. Youve got to be in shape physically with no injuries whatsoever. Mentally you have to be at your peak at all times. Its not as easy as it seems sometimes.Federer remains one of the few players capable of troubling Djokovic, as he showed when he ended the Serbs 23-match winning run with a straight sets victory in the group stage of this years Tour Finals.While he was unable to repeat that performance in the final, and also lost the Wimbledon and US Open finals to Djokovic, the 34-year-old is adamant he doesnt need to change much in his game to wrestle the major trophies away from the world number one.Asked if he needed to alter hs style of play in a bid to subdue Djokovic, Federer said: Not really because I feel I need to work on my overall game that is going to have an impact against most players.For me Rafa is the unique player in the field. I used to work more precisely against him.With Novak its more straightforward. If you dont play very well you are going to have a hard time. If you play better I know I have my chances with my game.Federer will now head off to recharge his batteries and plan a fresh assault on Djokovic in 2016.As ever, winning another Wimbledon title is high on his list of priorities and he will also target a gold medal at the Rio Olympics.Wimbledon is a big one. Rio as well but its not my number one priority. It starts with the Australian Open which is just around the corner, he said.Once thats over then I look more towards the future.I dont think theres that much I need to change, other than a few tactical things against certain players at some times. I had a lot of great things in my game this year.

Karachi: 3 terrorists killed in encounter with police

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, police conducted a search operation in Bagdadi area of Karachi on Sunday during which during which militants opened fire at the police party. Police returned the fire as a result three terrorists belonging to Lyari gang war of Uzair Baloch group were killed.SSP City, Fida Hussain, informed media that the dead terrorists were identified as Jabbar alias Dada, Abdur Rahim alias Rani and Rizwan alias Rado and were members of Uzair Baloch group.Also Read: Karachi: 4 terrorists killed in encounter with RangersSSP Fida Hussain further said that the dead terrorists were planning attacks during the upcoming LB polls in the city and were also involved in several cases of target killing, extortion and hand grenade attacks. Arms were also recovered from their possession.

Multan: Roznama Dunya to be launched on Nov 25

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MULTAN (Dunya News) - After successful launching from Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Karachi, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Roznama Dunya will start its publication from Multan on November 25 (Wednesday).A ceremony in this regard was held today in Multan on Sunday which was also attended by notables belonging to different walks of life. Addressing the ceremony, speakers welcomed the launching of Roznama Dunya from Multan and said that like Dunya TV, Roznama Dunya will bring to light the problems faced by the traders and common masses.They were of the view that Roznama Dunya with its impartial and unbiased reporting will continue to highlight national, international, and local issues with responsibility and commitment.

Belgian police arrest 16, Salah Abdeslam not caught: prosecutor

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - Belgian police arrested 16 people in a wave of anti-terrorism raids but key Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam slipped the net, with Brussels set to remain under security lockdown on Monday.Schools and the metro will be shut as Brussels stays at the highest possible alert level over what Prime Minister Charles Michel called a serious and imminent threat of attacks similar to those that killed 130 people in France.Police on Sunday carried out 19 raids in Brussels and three in the industrial town of Charleroi, detaining 16 people, prosecutors said, while the driver of a car was injured after police fired two shots when the vehicle drove at officers.Salah Abdeslam was not caught during the raids, federal prosecutor spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told a press conference just after midnight, meaning Europes most wanted man remains at large.Abdeslams elder brother Brahim blew himself up outside a Paris bar in the November 13 attacks.No arms or weapons were found in the raids, prosecutors added.Armed officers and troops have been patrolling the near deserted streets of the tense Belgian capital all weekend after the government raised the terror alert to the highest level of four in the city.The European Union and NATO, which are based in Brussels, both said they would increase security and urged non-essential staff to work from home on Monday.Michel said the Brussels metro system would remain shut and schools and universities would be closed over concerns that jihadists were planning a repeat of the Paris gun and suicide bombing attacks on November 13.What we fear are similar attacks, with several individuals in several places, Michel told reporters.The threat is considered serious and imminent, he said, adding that the rest of the country, including Brussels airport, would remain on security alert level three, meaning an attack is considered possible and the threat credible.Officials will review the situation again on Monday.The historic Grand Place square in central Brussels, usually bustling, was virtually empty at the weekend, with business badly hit in the run-up to Christmas as anxious residents heeded warnings to stay home.With a massive manhunt on for several suspects linked to the carnage in Paris, Belgian police urged the media and social media not to show live footage of the police operations taking place Sunday evening.Many Belgians responded in light-hearted fashion by tweeting pictures of cats under the hashtag BrusselsLockdown.Interior Minister Jan Jambon earlier said the authorities were looking for several suspects and not just for Abdeslam, who is thought to have slipped past French security forces after taking part in the Paris attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.French police meanwhile released a photo of the third of three men who blew themselves up outside Frances national stadium during the rampage, which also targeted the Bataclan concert hall as well as a string of bars and restaurants.The man in the picture passed through Greece with one of the other suicide bombers, carrying a Syrian passport in the name of Mohammad al-Mahmod, a source close to the investigation said.With the world on edge over the jihadist threat, US President Barack Obama said the most powerful tool in the fight against IS was to say that were not afraid.He added that he would go ahead with a December visit to Paris for UN climate talks and called on other countries to show similar resolve.French President Francois Hollande will embark on a diplomatic offensive in the coming days in a bid to forge a broad anti-IS coalition.He will host Britains David Cameron Monday before meeting Obama in Washington on Tuesday, holding talks with Germanys Angela Merkel in Paris Wednesday and Russias Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday.The UN Security Council on Friday authorised all necessary measures to fight jihadist violence after a wave of deadly attacks, including the downing of a Russian aircraft in Egypt with the loss of 224 lives and the storming of a luxury hotel in Mali that left 19 dead.Meanwhile, Eagles of Death Metal, the Californian band that was playing at the Bataclan where 89 people were massacred, spoke for the first time since the attacks, with singer Jesse Hughes saying that many fans died tyring to protect their friends.So many people put themselves in front of people, he said in an excerpt of an interview with Vice.com.The suspected ringleader of the November 13 attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, died in a massive police raid in Paris on Wednesday.He was a notorious Belgian jihadist thought to be fighting in Syria, and his presence in Europe has raised troubling questions about a Europe-wide breakdown in intelligence and border security.Questions remain too over the role played by Belgian-born Abdeslam -- who used to run a bar with his brother Brahim in Brussels.A third brother, Mohamed Abdeslam, told Belgian TV on Sunday he believed Salah had at the last moment decided not go through with the attack.He said the family wanted him to give himself up.That way he can give us the answers we seek, our family and the families of the victims, he said.

Israeli woman killed as more violence hits West Bank

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Attacks involving knives and a car-ramming in the occupied West Bank on Sunday left an Israeli woman dead, while all the assailants were killed when security forces and civilians intervened.Three attacks, including one by a teenage girl, were the latest in a nearly two-month wave of violence that had shown signs of subsiding last week before a new series of assaults took place on Thursday.With the violence defying international efforts to restore calm, US Secretary of State John Kerry is to travel to Israel and the West Bank to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday.On Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated that the attackers appeared to be acting on their own, posing a challenge to security forces.This is not terrorism by organisations, he said at the start of a cabinet meeting.This is terrorism by individuals, occasionally with kitchen knives, who are incited mainly by social media. It is very difficult to hermetically prevent the arrival of such knife-wielding, or other, terrorists to this or that place.He said citizens must be on maximum alert.No Israelis were reported seriously injured in the first two attacks, but the third led to the death of 20-year-old Hadar Bukris, who was taken to hospital with major stab wounds to her head and chest.Sundays first attack saw a 16-year-old Palestinian girl who tried to stab an Israeli civilian run over by a Jewish settler and then shot dead by soldiers.The Israeli military said in a statement that the attack was at a junction south of Nablus.Palestinian security officials confirmed the alleged attacker had died of her wounds and identified her as Asheraqat Qatanani from Askar refugee camp near Nablus.A Jewish settler in the area, Gershon Mesika, told army radio he hit the assailant with his car before a soldier shot her.Later, a Palestinian driving a taxi tried to run over civilians and then charged at them with a knife before a civilian shot him dead, police said.The statement provided no further details on the civilian. A hospital spokeswoman said a 51-year-old Israeli was lightly injured when hit by the taxi.Also in the West Bank, near the Gush Etzion block of settlements south of Jerusalem, the young Israeli woman was stabbed and the Palestinian attacker was shot dead by security forces afterwards, police said.Israels Shin Bet security agency identified the attacker as Issam Thawabteh, 34, from Beit Fajjar near Bethlehem.The wave of violence since October 1 that has left 89 dead on the Palestinian side, including one Arab Israeli, as well as 16 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.Many of the Palestinians killed have been alleged attackers.Violence shattered a nearly week-long lull on Thursday when knife, gun and car-ramming attacks in Tel Aviv and the West Bank killed five people, including an American, three Israelis and a Palestinian.It was one of the deadliest days since the violence first erupted in October.On Friday, dozens of Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire in clashes in the West Bank and along the Gaza Strip border, while on Saturday, police arrested a Palestinian who allegedly stabbed four Israelis in the southern city of Kiryat Gat.The Shin Bet on Sunday identified the alleged assailant as Mohammad Tarda, 18, from a village near southern West Bank city Hebron.Netanyahu said he had ordered security forces to coordinate their efforts in the Hebron district, from which most or all of the attacks are originating.The army said they had arrested eight Palestinians in the Hebron area overnight.Palestinian security forces said 16 were arrested, and residents said many roadblocks were set up at exits from the city and at villages in the area.Kerrys trip will be his latest attempt to ease tensions, having met Netanyahu in Washington this month and in Berlin in October.He also met Abbas in Amman last month as well as Jordans King Abdullah II, and endorsed a plan to install security cameras around the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.Clashes in September between Israeli police and Palestinians at the highly sensitive compound, sacred to both faiths and which Jews revere as the Temple Mount, preceded the current wave of violence.US officials said they were not expecting to strike any new agreement on a return to peace talks during Kerrys visit, and would simply try to walk the parties back from the immediate violence.

Eight killed in NE Nigeria suicide bombing: relief agency

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KANO (AFP) - Eight people were killed Sunday when a female suicide bomber detonated her explosives among women and children arriving in Nigerias northeastern city of Maiduguri seeking to escape Boko Haram violence in the countryside.Mohammed Kanar, a local coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said the blast happened on Sunday morning as the group arrived from Dikwa, 90 kilometres (56 miles) to the northeast.The restive city of Maiduguri has repeatedly been attacked by Boko Haram and the latest bloodshed again underlines the threat posed by the Islamist group, which has been launching guerrilla-style attacks since being pushed out of its captured territory and camps by a Nigerian army offensive.Kanar said the bomber in Sundays attack was aged about 20 and struck as the group reached a checkpoint on the outskirts of Maiduguri.The IDPs (interally displaced persons), mostly women and children, were stopped for security checks at the checkpoint when the bomber, disguised as an IDP, sneaked in amongst them before setting off her explosives, he told AFP. Eight people were killed and seven others were injured in the incident.Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman gave the same account and toll.There has been a wave of suicide and home-made bomb attacks against civilians in urban areas recently, particularly Maiduguri, which in October alone was hit six times, killing at least 54 people.On Saturday, four teenage girls blew themselves up in a village near Fotokol, in Cameroons far north region near the border with Nigeria, killing five, including a traditional chief.Similar attacks have happened in Chad and Niger.Dikwa was recaptured from Boko Haram in July and NEMAs Kanar said the town had seen an influx of people from surrounding villages seeking military protection but the authorities had struggled to cope.They had been short of supplies, mostly food and other items, which prompted some of them to move to Maiduguri, he added. We intend to make some relief distribution in the coming days.The six-year Boko Haram insurgency has forced some 2.6 million people from their homes and left at least 17,000 dead.The United Nations said this week that Maiduguris population had swollen to 2.6 million following an influx of 1.6 million people fleeing the violence and its aftermath.Already poor infrastructure in rural areas of Nigerias northeast has been destroyed by the violence, with services such as healthcare and education devastated and agriculture severely hit by the unrest.Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has given his military commanders until next month to end the conflict but has conceded guerrilla-style attacks in urban centres could continue.

Pro-market Macri wins Argentina presidency: early results

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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Argentines elected pro-market leader Mauricio Macri as their new president on Sunday, early official results showed, breaking with 12 years of leftist rule in Latin Americas third-biggest economy.The 56-year-old former chairman of Boca Juniors football club is expected to be Argentinas most economically liberal president since the 1990s and has vowed to ease foreign trade and dollar restrictions.Partial official results with just over 10 percent of ballots counted gave Macri 54.29 percent of the votes with 45.71 percent for his leftist rival Daniel Scioli, 58, echoing exit polls released earlier.Cheering, dancing crowds of Macris supporters celebrated at a conference center on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, waving multicolored balloons and white and sky-blue Argentine flags.Officials from his campaign took to the stage to claim victory, though Macri had yet to appear.We have enormous expectations and 100 percent confidence, said 27-year-old Sofia Matricali, a supporter at the rally of Macris Lets Change coalition. The current government has run its course.Leaders in Sciolis camp did not initially react publicly at the city center hotel where his supporters were gathered.Macri climbed in the polls after losing closely in the first round vote on October 25 to Scioli, an ally of the combative outgoing president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.That result forced Argentinas first ever presidential runoff.Macri has capitalized on discontent among voters who said they were fed up after 12 years of rule by Kirchner and her predecessor and late husband, Nestor Kirchner.With social welfare programs and protectionist economic policies, they won affection among poorer Argentines and mistrust among foreign investors.Macri has vowed to free up trade, liberalize the economy and negotiate with Argentinas foreign debtors.If confirmed by full results, his victory will break the grip of Peronism, the broad populist movement that has dominated Argentine politics for much of the past 70 years.We have lived too long with Peronism, said Luis Nizzo, an 81-year-old retired engineer, after voting for Macri at a school in Buenos Aires.This has been the most corrupt government in Argentinas history.But Guillermo Juarez, 25, said he voted for Scioli because of everything they say about Macri -- that he will take away support for working people and cut social welfare programs.Voting earlier, Macri told a crowd of reporters and supporters: It is a historic day that will change our lives.Scioli said that Macris proposals threatened Argentines welfare payments, salaries and industry.He called on voters to choose the best path for social, economic and political stability, after casting his ballot.The increasingly tense campaign was fought on shifting political ground in the vast South American nation of 42 million people.Macri proposed to immediately lift restrictions on imports and on US dollars.Scioli warned that would trigger a brutal devaluation of the peso, weakening ordinary Argentines incomes.Analysts say Macri may struggle to push his reforms through a hostile Congress.His rise raised hopes among financiers, but fears among domestic businesses and poorer Argentines who have benefited from the social and trade policies of the combative outgoing president.Cristina Kirchner had sharp words at times for foreign powers including the United States, and for Britain in the territorial dispute over the Falkland Islands, known in Spanish as Las Malvinas.After a 2001 financial crisis in which Argentina was bailed out by the International Monetary Fund, the Kirchners presided over a spectacular turnaround, but the economy now seems to be flagging again.Growth was relatively slow at 2.2 percent in the first half of this year and inflation exceeds 20 percent.

Tennis: Djokovic sweeps to record fourth successive Tour Finals title

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LONDON (AFP) - Novak Djokovic finished the best season of his life in fitting style as the world number one crushed Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win the ATP Tour Finals title for a record fourth successive year.Djokovic is the first player in the tournaments 46-year history to take home the trophy four years in a row and he joins Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl on five victories at the season-ending event.Only Federer, with six Tour Finals crowns, has won the tournament more times.The 11th title of Djokovics astonishingly dominant campaign served as the perfect finale to arguably the best run by any male player in the Open Era.Playing in a record 15th consecutive tour-level final, Djokovic delivered another masterclass to record his 82nd victory from 88 matches this year and bank the winners cheque for $1.05 million.Im very proud, together with my team, for the achievements of the season. It could not have been a better finish. Its been a long season, but the best of my life, said Djokovic on the day that coach Boris Becker celebrated his 48th birthday.In dispatching Federer with such ease after an equally imperious semi-final win over Rafael Nadal, Djokovic showed why he has been able to move so far ahead of his rivals in a year in which he also won Wimbledon and the Australian and US Opens.Meanwhile, Federers defeat means Andy Murray is guaranteed to finish second in the year-end world rankings for the first time.I tried my best, I thought I played some great tennis all week and in the final, but Novak deserves the win today like so many times this year, said 34-year-old Federer.Djokovic and Federer have been the gold standard at the Tour Finals for over a decade, lifting the trophy 10 times between them in the last 12 years and making it to the final a combined 15 times.Federer had ended Djokovics 23-match winning run earlier this week with an impressive straight sets success in the group stage.But although Federer held a 22-21 lead in his head-to-head record with Djokovic, ominously the 28-year-old Serb had taken the silverware in 10 of their 16 career final meetings, including at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.Federer gifted the trophy to Djokovic last year when the 17-time Grand Slam winner pulled out of the final just hours before the scheduled start to protect a back injury ahead of the Davis Cup final.Djokovic had to work harder to take the title this time, but even so he gave the impression of hardly breaking sweat.Nadal described Djokovic as almost unbeatable after he failed to earn a single break point against the Serb in the semi-finals and Federer didnt fare much better.After both players squandered a break point in the first two games, Djokovic started to click into rhythm in the third game.He unfurled a sublime backhand crosscourt winner to bring up a break point that he converted thanks to another Federer miscue.Federer could ill-afford to be so generous and the world number three was scowling in frustration again in the sixth game when another sloppy forehand let Djokovic off the hook on break point.That kind of profligacy had cost Federer dearly in the US Open final and it was the same story this time.Djokovic, so consistent on his groundstrokes, earned two set points when he put Federer in an awkward position with a searing backhand that the Swiss could only prod into the net.Djokovic seized the opportunity with in typically ruthless style, driving a winner down the line to seal the set.The Serb remained untroubled in the second set and stepped up the pressure in the eighth game to bring up three break points.This time the crisis brought out some of Federers best tennis and clawed his way back from the brink with a string of big serves and booming winners.But it was too little too late.At 4-5 down, Federer found himself under seige again and crumbled with a double fault on match point giving Djokovic one more memorable moment in his golden year.

Tennis: Nadal eyes downing Djokovic in 2016

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LONDON (AFP) - Rafael Nadal said he would have to redouble his efforts to return to form after the worst year of his career if he is to get the better of world number one Novak Djokovic next year.Nadals world ranking sunk to number 10 in 2015 when his long reign as French Open champion ended, before embarrassingly early exits from Wimbledon and the US Open.But the Spaniard, who has 14 Grand Slam titles to his name, is enjoying a resurgence in form and said his defeat to Djokovic in the World Tour Finals semis on Saturday would not dishearten him as he prepares for 2016.My next step is just keep practising the way that I am doing. I know I need to keep improving things if I want to have chances against Novak next year, the 29-year-old said.Thats what I am going to try. Just keep working the way that I am doing. I think I am doing well.Very few moments in my career I get frustrated. When one player is better than you, the only thing you can do is try to find (a) solution.The world number five beat Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Stan Wawrinka in the group stages at Londons O2 Arena in the season-ending World Tour Finals, disputed between the worlds top eight players.But a red-hot Djokovic proved a class apart, winning their semi-final clash 6-3, 6-3.Im happy about the tournament. Happy about finishing the season with that positive energy. Now I have a week off, and thats it, said Nadal.The former world number one is eyeing some relentless training and playing in Asias International Premier Tennis League showcase next month, in order to hit the ground running at the Australian Open in January.I practise thinking about what I have to do to be better, then well see if I am good enough, he said.My motivation has always been just personal, that I want to improve myself, I want to be better. Thats what Im going to try to keep doing. Well see. 2016 is going to be a new year. Hopefully a better one for me.My goal is try to keep being in that top league, that is the top five, top four of the world. Thats my goal, and well see if I am able to keep doing this.It has taken the left-hander several months to rediscover a semblance of his best form.But the Spaniard has no intention of letting his strong showing in southeast London convince him to take it easy before the 2016 campaign begins.And he predicted Djokovic, who took over from Nadal as world number one in July 2014, may be due a dip in form.Novak for the moment is almost unbeatable. The only thing you can do is congratulate him, he said.But... you never know whats going on in the future. I have been in very good situations a couple of times, then I get some injuries, things change.What Novak is doing is just amazing. But its obvious that its true if somebody can do it, its him, but its not easy to stay at that high level four or five years in a row.

Tennis: British Davis Cup team delays travel plans

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LONDON (AFP) - The British Davis Cup team have delayed travelling to Belgium until Monday amid ongoing security fears, but the players remain committed to playing in the final in Ghent.The terror alert level in Brussels, where the team were due to fly to, was raised to the highest category on Saturday because of a serious and imminent threat of a Paris-style attack.The search for a man believed to be one of the masterminds of the atrocities in the French capital continues in the Brussels area.Soldiers have been patrolling the streets and the citys metro system was shut for a second day on Sunday while several sporting events were cancelled.Ghent is only 55 kilometres (35 miles) from Brussels and the British Foreign Office has updated its guidance for the country, advising visitors not to go to places with large numbers of people.The final is being played in the 13,000-seat Flanders Expo, which is sold out for all three days of the final, which begins on Friday. More than 1,000 British fans were expected to attend to see if they can celebrate a first Davis Cup title win since 1936.International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said on Saturday he was greatly concerned by developments but that preparations for the tie would continue.Led by world number two Andy Murray, the five-strong British team spent the day practicing on clay in London with the travel plans to Belgium postponed from Sunday until Monday.The alert level in Ghent is category three, the same as London, and sporting events there have been held this weekend including the Ghent Six Days, cycling competition.

Golf: McIlroy reaps massive payday after Dubai double

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DUBAI (AFP) - Rory McIlroy completed a lucrative double when he won the DP World Tour Championship and retained his Race to Dubai crown on Sunday following a thrilling victory that was built around a final-round of six-under 66.The world number three had to battle hard and then get over a errant tee shot on the 17th hole that ended in the water to beat overnight leader Andy Sullivan of England, who fought tooth and nail and forced McIlroy to dig deep.The win was worth $3.208 million (3.02m euros for McIlroy - $1.33 million for winning the DP World Tour Championship and $1.875 million bonus for winning the Race to Dubai.McIlroy, who will remain the world number three behind Jason Day and Jordan Spieth despite the win, finished on 21-under par 267 for the tournament.That was one shot better than Sullivan, who added a second successive 68 over the weekend to finish on 20-under par 268.By winning the tournament, the Northern Irish star made sure none of the permutations needed to be worked against the six other players in the reckoning for the Race to Dubai crown could work.Englands Danny Willett (70) gave it his all, but ran out of the holes towards the end and two late bogeys meant he finished tied for the fourth place at 13-under par 275.South Africas Branden Grace made a five-under par 67 to finish alone in third place at 15-under par 273.After trailing Sullivan for most part of the day, McIlroy built a two-shot lead over the world number 53, who was looking for his fourth win of the season on the European Tour, with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.But after the leading group was made to wait on the 17th hole, McIlroy failed to draw his tee shot and splashed into the water.He pitched to nearly 40 feet from the cup and with Sullivan making a regulation par, a two-shot swing looked imminent.However, McIlroy made what he called the best bogey of his life to limit the damage to one shot, and secured the win with a par on the 18th.Its definitely probably the longest putt Ive ever made for a bogey. I dont think theres been one thats come at a better time. So, yeah, definitely the best bogey of my career, said McIlroy, who won his third Race to Dubai honour in last four years.To be European number one, yeah, that was a goal of mine at the start of the year. It was a goal of mine in the middle of the year and it was definitely a goal coming into these last few weeks.Obviously grateful to the European Tour for letting me be a part of The Race to Dubai and letting me play here this week even though I didnt quite play the required minimum events.It was a great way to finish this year and Im looking forward to playing a full European Tour schedule next year with no hiccups.The deficit was down to one after eight holes and McIlroy could have made the turn tied for the lead if not for a stunning chip-in for par from behind the ninth green by Sullivan.On the back nine, McIlroy finally caught up with Sullivan with back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holesKoreas Byeong-hun An won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award on the European Tour by finishing ahead of his closest challenger Matthew Fitzpatrick of England in the Race to Dubai.The BMW PGA Championship winner however closed with a 71 and finished tied with the British Masters champion at 13-under par 275 and joint fourth. Englishman Justin Rose, the world number five, went 12 shots better than his third-round 78 to close the year with a 66 that improved him to seven-under par 281.Swedens world number six Henrik Stenson, the champion in Dubai for the last two years, could not make a move and finished tied for last at three-over par 291 after a round of 73.

Golf: Ko takes LPGA awards as Kerr wins Tour Championship

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NAPLES (AFP) - New Zealand teen Lydia Ko edged South Korean Park In-Bee for LPGA Player of the Year and season points honors Sunday while American Cristie Kerr captured the season-ending Tour Championship.Multiple tour trophies, the world number one ranking and the title itself came down to dramatic final-hole tests.Ko, the 18-year-old defending champion of the event and last years $1 million season points chase, fired a par 72 to finish on 11-under 277 and share seventh, just enough to hold off Park -- who fired a 69 to finish sixth on 276 -- and stay world number one.The hole was smaller than the ball today, Ko said. A lot of lip outs, a lot of close ones. I tried my best. It could have been worse. I made a couple clutch 3-footers for pars.Kerrs final-round 68 left her on 17-under par 271, one stroke in front of compatriot Gerina Piller and South Korean rookie Jang Ha-Na. American Lexi Thompson was fourth on 274 with Frances Karine Icher fifth on 275.Ko answered a bogey at the third with a birdie at the par-3 fifth and birdied the par-3 17th before a closing lip-out bogey that left her uncertain about her status until her sister greeted her with news of her rewards that sparked tears of joy.What triggered it more was what kind of tough day it was, Ko said. I tried to stay patient all day. Even the lip out at the end, it was a long year. I went through every kind of emotion out there.Quite exciting, even to the last moment.Ko joined Swedens Annika Sorenstam and Americans Beth Daniel and Nancy Lopez as the only players in LPGA history to follow a Rookie of the Year season with a Player of the Year campaign.Park edged Ko for the Vare Trophy for season low scoring average and that achievement pushed her across the line for qualification into the LPGA Hall of Fame, although she must wait one more year to have played the minimum 10 seasons for induction.Ko had a chance to overtake Park for the Vare Trophy on the final hole but could not hole her second shot from the fairway, coming up just short of the green.The Kiwi then had three shots to get down to secure Player of the Year and needed all three after missing a seven-footer for par.That left the stage to the players at the top of the leaderboard, with 38-year-old Kerr sinking a 15-foot eagle putt at 17 to seize a one-stroke lead but Jang made birdie to stay within one shot entering the final hole.But Kerr, the oldest woman to win on tour this year, sank a tension-packed two-footer for par and took her 18th career LPGA victory.I still cant believe it, Kerr said. What a day.

Football: Kane brace sets Spurs on Arsenal's tail

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LONDON (AFP) - Harry Kane scored his seventh and eighth goals in five matches as Tottenham Hotspur dispatched West Ham United 4-1 on Sunday to close on the Premier Leagues top four.Defenders Toby Alderweireld and Kyle Walker also found the net at a chilly White Hart Lane as Mauricio Pochettinos side equalled the club record of 12 successive Premier League games without defeat.Spurs now trail fourth-place Arsenal by just two points and leaders Leicester City by four, leaving them ideally placed for an assault on the Champions League berths ahead of next weekends home game with spluttering champions Chelsea, who will not relish the trip to north London.Kane, who has scored 12 goals in 14 London derbies, branded the display Spurs best of the season and Pochettino said: It was a high-level performance. It was fantastic and we feel very proud.It was a brilliant effort. We showed how we can play and we need to keep the whole season the performance that we showed.The only disappointment for the Spurs manager was the booking collected by rising star Dele Alli following a shoving match with Mark Noble, which rules the England newcomer out of the Chelsea game.It was only a second defeat in 10 league games for Slaven Bilics West Ham, who replied late on through Manuel Lanzini, and left them three points adrift of Spurs in sixth place.The performance matches the result, to be fair, Bilic told BBC Sport. They were better than us.The visitors badly missed injured playmaker Dimitri Payet, whose place was taken by Diafra Sakho in West Hams only change.Bilic strung his midfielders across the pitch in a 4-1-4-1 system, with Sakho wide on the right, in an attempt to stop Spurs centre-backs sliding passes into the feet of Alli, Christian Eriksen and fit-again Son Heung-Min, who replaced the suspended Erik Lamela.Victor Moses gave Spurs early concern by skipping past Mousa Dembele and crossing from the left, but Spurs were in control and after Eriksen had warmed Adrians palms from range, they took a 23rd-minute lead.Allis shot from the edge of the box was partially blocked and fell to Kane, who easily rolled Carl Jenkinson before rifling a left-foot shot into the roof of the net for his seventh goal of the league campaign.West Ham threatened to reply immediately when Cheikhou Kouyate volleyed acrobatically against the crossbar after Nobles blocked shot ballooned into the air.But in the 33rd minute the hosts added a second, Alderweireld outjumping Andy Carroll at the near post and nodding in Eriksens corner.Spurs should have put the game out of sight before half-time.Alli headed against the bar after Adrian had thwarted Son and moments later Kane was sent clean through, only to miscue horribly and bobble a left-foot shot well wide.It did not take long for him to atone, however, as an ill-advised attempt to play the ball out from the back by West Ham gifted Spurs their third goal five minutes after the change of ends.The reluctant recipient of a throw from Adrian, Tomkins passed the ball straight to Eriksen, who moved it on to Kane, and the England striker drove a low strike through Adrian from outside the box.Adrian should have done better than allow the ball to slip beneath him, but he provided a firmer barrier shortly after, blocking from Son at his near post and then parrying Eriksens volleyed follow-up.Walker was booked after a needless face-off with Sakho, but the right-back made amends in the 83rd minute by using the outside of his right foot to curl Sons lay-off around Adrians forlorn dive and into the net.Lanzini denied Hugo Lloris a clean sheet by flummoxing Walker with a step-over and slamming home left-footed, but Spurs finished strongly, with substitute Ryan Mason hitting the post.

Football: Free-scoring Inter go two points clear

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MILAN (AFP) - Goal-shy title contenders Inter Milan found their scoring boots in timely fashion on Sunday with a 4-0 win over Frosinone that fired Roberto Mancinis men two points clear in Serie A.Inters defensive game has been the bedrock of their push for a first title since their treble-winning season in 2010, although the Nerazzurri have also been conspicuously short of goals.Inter had been given a huge incentive when overnight leaders Fiorentina were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Empoli, 24 hours after fellow title contenders Roma were held by the same scoreline at Bologna.Those results left Napoli top of the pile on goal difference after Maurizio Sarris men saw Lorenzo Insigne and Gonzalo Higuain strike in a 2-0 away win at Verona earlier on Sunday.Jonathan Biabiany broke the deadlock on the half-hour after ramming the rebound from an Adem Ljajic strike in under the crossbar to hit his maiden league goal for the club, and almost immediately Inter began to play with swagger.Argentinian striker Mauro Icardi doubled Inters lead eight minutes after the restart after flicking Ljajics short pass past Nicola Leali in the visitors goal.It was only the second time this season Inter had netted two goals in a league game, but defender Jeison Murillo made it 3-0 three minutes from the final whistle when he beat Leali from Stevan Jovetics backheel after Ivan Perisics decisive run.The three-goal cushion prompted Mancini to replace Icardi with Marcelo Brozovic, and the Croatian seized the day when he burst downfield after linking up with Ljajic to fire past Leali.Inter now have 30 points and a two-point cushion on Napoli and Fiorentina, with Roma a point further behind.Earlier, Higuain hit his 10th goal of the campaign to take the lead in Serie As scoring charts and fire Napoli one-point clear of Fiorentina after victory over struggling Verona.But Fiorentina maintained their hopes in what continues to be a thrilling battle for this seasons scudetto and were unlucky not to go two points clear after spurning a series of late chances at the Artemio Franchi.Empoli travelled to Florence looking for their fourth win in six league outings and were well on their way after taking a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Marko Livaja and Marcel Buchel.Paulo Sousa had rested his most potent strike pair, Nikola Kalinic and Josip Ilicic, with one eye on Thursdays Europa League clash against the coachs former club, FC Basel.But Kalinic and Federico Bernardeschi replaced Mario Suarez and Ante Rebic for the start of the second half and the impact was almost immediate.Croatia marksman Kalinic reduced arrears with a finely-taken header from just outside the six-yard box and had his brace inside five minutes when he squeezed between two defenders to slot Khouma Babacars low delivery home after the Senegalese striker had been given acres of space on the right.Kalinic could have secured his second hat-trick of the season, after his triple in a 4-1 win at Inter, 13 minutes from the end but saw his first-timer from eight yards out glance off the top of the crossbar. Sousa applauded his sides second-half comeback but admitted he would not repeat the same starting line-up.After seeing our performance in the first half, I wouldnt send out the same starting team again, he told Mediaset.Were very happy with our second half and showed enough character to level and also win. I think we deserved more.Champions Juventus finished the weekend in sixth place after claiming a third consecutive win for the first time this season with a 1-0 victory over AC Milan on Saturday.But Massimiliano Allegris men, who host Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, remain nine points off the pace.
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