Thursday 7 January 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Asian equities swing as China tries to settle markets

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HONG KONG (AFP) - Chinese equities led another day of volatility across Asia Friday as investors were panicked by Beijings attempts to stabilise its beleaguered markets, with fears growing the global economy could be teetering.China late Thursday removed the circuit breaker mechanism blamed for fuelling sharp sell-offs that shuttered mainland markets early twice in the space of four days, provoking losses on trading floors from Asia to Europe to the Americas.The initial response was positive but wild swings reminiscent of the summers China-linked worldwide turmoil, returned on concerns about Beijings ability to control a long-running malaise in the worlds number two economy.Theres not a lot of stability in terms of policy management in China, Matthew Sherwood, head of investment strategy at Perpetual in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.They are very much making it up as they go and theres no doubt that has been quite a common trend from policy makers in the post global-financial-crisis world. It causes large market volatility as people in markets dont like uncertainty.Shanghai rallied more than two percent at the open before reversing course and going more than two percent into the red. By 0230 GMT it was back up 1.9 percent.Hong Kong was one percent higher, having also swung from being 0.9 percent up and 0.7 percent down.Tokyo gained 0.4 percent by the break after a negative start, while Sydney and Seoul also drifted in and out of positive territory.Global investors have been alarmed by slowing growth in Chinas economy, which is expected to have expanded in 2015 at its slowest pace in a quarter of a century.- Social unrest -=================In New York on Thursday, the Dow and S&P 500 lost more than two percent while the Nasdaq shed three percent. London, Paris and Frankfurt were also pummelled, as were Latin American bourses.Fridays swings came after the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said it was shelving the circuit breaker introduced at the beginning of the year.The plan was brought in as part of a scheme to prevent the kind of market volatility that wiped trillions of dollars off valuations in the summer.But dealers said it instead heightened selling pressure from traders who wanted to avoid being stuck with shares they did not want to hold.Mainland markets closed early on Monday as the breaker kicked in at a seven percent loss, while trade lasted just 30 minutes on Thursday before the same happened.Tuesday and Wednesday saw more stable trade, with reports that billions of dollars of government cash was being used to prop up key stocks.Retail investors are unhappy and blaming the circuit breaker for not being well-tested, said Thebes Lo, Hong Kong- based vice president at Kim Eng Securities Ltd.Given the deteriorating economy in China, the government do not want to risk any social unrest. So theyre trying to comfort investors as much as they can in the near term.The governments attempts to appease the nations army of retail investors comes just a month ahead of the Chinese New year celebrations, a time when hundreds of millions of people travel for traditional family gatherings.Authorities also set the central rate for the yuan currency marginally higher against the US dollar on Friday, ending eight days of falls. A decision to set it at a five-year low was one of the catalysts for hefty selling on Thursday.

MQM says no personnel of party linked to Imran Farooq's murder

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Muttahdia Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Friday issued a statement saying none of its workers are linked to slain MQM leader Imran Farooq’s murder. The statement also informed that MQM is ready to cooperate with the British Metropolitan police in every way pertaining to the investigation into the matter.MQM stated that Farooq was an old friend of MQM leaders since many years. MQM statement highlighted that all of its leaders and workers were stricken with grief on the news of his death.The statement also informed that MQM is also aware of the alleged confessions made by suspects in custody.

Formula One: McLaren stalwart Alexander dies aged 76

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LONDON (AFP) - Tyler Alexander, one of the founding fathers of the McLaren Formula One empire, died on Thursday at the age of 76, the British team announced.American-born Alexander worked shoulder-to-shoulder with team founder Bruce McLaren in the 1960s and was involved in various projects before retiring in 2008.His management career also engineered two wins in the Indianapolis 500 before he dedicated his entire time to McLaren from 1989.Alongside Bruce McLaren, who founded the McLaren company in 1963, Tyler Alexander was one of the first pillars of our company and Bruce couldnt have asked for a sturdier pair of shoulders upon which to help build the teams reputation, said McLaren chief executive Ron Dennis.Tyler lived and breathed McLaren and, following his retirement in late 2008, during which season he attended every Grand Prix and played an important part in securing the teams and Lewis Hamiltons world championship success, he remained a much loved and greatly valued chum to many of us.He was a man who would never let you down.

Suicide bomber kills 6 at Libya checkpoint: Red Crescent

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BENGHAZI (AFP) - A suicide bomber killed six people, including a child, Thursday at a checkpoint in a Libyan oil region that has been shaken by a recent jihadist assault, the Red Crescent said.I am at the morgue where six bodies from the site of the attack were brought, including the body of a child, said Mansour Ati, the head of Libyas Red Crescent.The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber at the entrance to the town of Ras Lanouf, said Ossama al-Hodeiri, a spokesman for the security forces that guard nearby oil facilities, who was at the scene.A driver in a Toyota Land Cruiser blew himself up at a checkpoint at the entrance to the town of Ras Lanouf, said Hodeiri.He said three guards and a 16-month-old baby were killed, and that two other guards had been wounded.Ati said two other people died in the assault but their identities were not clear. Reports suggested they were relatives of the baby.The suicide bombing comes after the Islamic State group launched an offensive on Monday against Libyas key oil terminals in Ras Lanouf and nearby Al-Sidra.It also coincided with a suicide truck bombing early Thursday on a police training school in the coastal city of Zliten, east of Tripoli, that killed more than 50 people.At least four oil storage tanks have been set on fire during the fighting, which also killed at least 10 security guards, according to the National Oil Company and Ali al-Hassi, a spokesman for guards at Al-Sidra.Ras Lanouf and Al-Sidra are located in the so-called oil crescent along Libyas northern coast.IS has been trying for several weeks to push east from its coastal stronghold of Sirte, and officials have warned of crippling consequences if the jihadists manage to seize control of Libyas oil resources.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursdays attacks in Zliten or Ras Lanouf but IS has in the past said it was behind suicide bombings and other atrocities.IS has been growing in power in Libya, feeding on the chaos that has gripped the North African country since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

MQM leaders wanted to get Imran Farooq out of their way: Khalid Shamim

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Major developments have been made in the murder case of slain Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) leader Imran Farooq. Two prime suspects of the case, Khalid Shamim and Mohsin Ali, have confessed to the crime in front of the judicial Magistrate. Shamim admitted that influential MQM leaders wanted to get Farooq out of their way while Mohsin admitted that Kashif attacked Farooq with the blade.According to the investigation officer, Shamim also confessed that significant personage from London asked them for planning the murder of Farooq. Other suspects Kashif, Moazzam Ali and Moshin Ali were given the responsibility of making arrangements for the killing, stated Shamim. He also revealed that the funding for the assassination was also provided by them.Shamim further informed that Kashif and Mohsin were taken from Mohajir Student Organization Wing. Shamim stated that during this time they were in constant contact with Mohammad Anwar but not with MQM chief Altaf Hussain.On the other hand, Mohsin admitted that they had orders to go to London for murdering somebody. They were not informed of who their target was however, stated Mohsin. Suspect Mohsin confessed that the attack on Farooq with the knife was committed by Kashif who was injured as Farooq resisted the onslaught.After the confessions, both suspects were presented in the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC). ATC Judge Kosar Abbas Zaidi approved a 14 day judicial remand of the suspects and ordered that both suspects be brought to court again on 21st January.

Obama vows not to campaign for opponents of new gun laws

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama on Thursday vowed not to campaign or vote for any candidate who does not support tighter gun laws, as he rallied support for contentious executive measures.In an article published before pressing his case in a prime time forum, Obama said he would blackball even members of his own Democratic party if necessary.Even as I continue to take every action possible as president, I will also take every action I can as a citizen, he said in an opinion column published by the New York Times.I will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support commonsense gun reform. That list could include Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, who voted against gun reform in 2013.Obama later appeared on CNN in a town-hall style forum to challenge critics who he said have mischaracterized his position.The appearance came after Obama announced executive measures regulating the sale and purchase of weapons, bypassing Congress.He also challenged Americas most prominent pro-gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, for not taking part in the event.There is a reason why the NRA is not here, Obama said. They are just down the street. And since this is the main reason they exist, youd think they would be prepared to have a debate with the president.NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam told the event host that the National Rifle Association sees no reason to participate in a public relations spectacle orchestrated by the White House.Earlier this week a tearful Obama said unilateral measures were needed to tackle US gun violence.Flanked by survivors of the violence that kills around 30,000 Americans every year and relatives of some of those killed, Obama became emotional as he remembered 20 elementary school children shot dead three years ago in Newtown, Connecticut.Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad, the president said, struggling to collect himself. So all of us need to demand a Congress brave enough to stand up to the gun lobbys lies.According to a CNN poll 67 percent of people support the measures -- which include an increase in background checks and registration of gun dealers -- and 32 percent oppose. Critics accuse Obama of infringing on their constitutional right to bear arms.On Thursday, Obama insisted he had no intention of taking their guns and said that he skeet shoots from time to time at Camp David, a presidential retreat near Washington.Keep in mind Ive been president for over seven years and gun sales dont seem to have suffered during that time.Ive been very good for gun manufacturers, he said.Obamas proposals have prompted a fierce response from Republicans looking to replace him in the White House.Senator Ted Cruz, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, emailed supporters an image of the president in combat uniform, complete with helmet, claiming Obama wants your guns.The White House called that message irresponsible. I think hes appealing to peoples anxieties and insecurities and even outright fears in an attempt to win votes for his presidential campaign, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.Thats unfortunate, in some cases it veers into the territory of being irresponsible. But, you know, ultimately, thats clearly what hes up to.

UN urges Yemen not to expel rights official

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned Yemens decision to expel the leading UN rights official in the country and urged the government to reverse the measure. Yemens foreign ministry accused George Abu al-Zulof of lacking impartiality in his assessments of the human rights situation in the country and declared him persona non grata.Ban said in a statement that he has full confidence in Zulof and urged the government to reconsider its position on his expulsion.The decision came just days after the United Nations raised alarm over the use of cluster bombs by the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemens government in its war against the Huthi rebels.The office of the UN high commissioner for human rights said Tuesday that its staff in Yemen had found remnants of 29 cluster bombs during a field visit in Haradh district in the northwest.Ban said the Yemeni government was failing to uphold its obligations by impeding the United Nations human rights work.The people of Yemen have suffered grave human rights violations and the UN rights office is actively and effectively helping to document these violations, Ban said.Yemens foreign ministry indicated in its statement that Zulof may have been misinformed by his local staff in rebel-held Sanaa.UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric earlier described the decision to expel Zulof as an extremely regrettable development and praised the official for doing an excellent job.Ban added that he was extremely concerned about the safety of the remaining national and international staff.The United Nations has been increasingly alarmed by the mounting civilian toll in Yemen and the dire humanitarian crisis.Yemen descended into chaos when the coalition began air strikes in March to push back Huthi rebels who had seized Sanaa.More than 5,800 people have been killed and 27,000 wounded since then, according to UN figures.

Iran nuclear deal implementation may be 'days away': Kerry

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday implementation of the Iran nuclear deal may be only days away, with Tehran on track to meet its pledge to put a bomb beyond its reach.Kerry told reporters he had spoken to Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who insisted Iran would live up to its promises, and the secretary said the United States would be ready to begin lifting its nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran.The foreign minister made it clear to me they intend to complete obligations with respect to implementation day as rapidly as possible, Kerry said.And we are currently engaged ourselves in making certain that were prepared to move on that day and I think it could come -- without being specific -- sooner rather than later.Earlier, Kerry had hailed the deals Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, from which we are days away from implementation, if all goes well.Kerry said Iran had shipped its stock of low-enriched uranium to Russia and that additional steps Iran was taking would leave it at least a year from achieving a nuclear capability even if it changed its mind.With that, Iran literally shipped out its capacity currently to build a nuclear weapon, he said.We went from two months of potential breakdown time, two to three months to nine months. And in the next days we will meet our task of being more than a year of breakout time.Under the JCPOA plan, agreed in July between Iran and the P51 group of world powers, Tehran agreed to rein in its nuclear program -- which Western capitals alleged was aimed at building a weapon -- in exchange for sanctions relief.The United States and European Union have begun preparations to drop their nuclear-related sanctions, but will not do so until implementation day, after the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA verifies that Iran has unheld its end of the deal.

Tennis: Nadal and Djokovic on course for Qatar final clash

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DOHA (AFP) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic remained on course for their first clash of 2016 as both came through tough quarter-finals on Thursday to reach the last four of the Qatar Open.A fist-pumping Nadal qualified by beating Andrey Kuznetsov over three sets in an enthralling battle.Nadal won 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 but was made to work for his victory by the Russian.Djokovics progress was more serene, though not without its scares, as he beat Argentinas Leonardo Mayer, 6-3, 7-5.The world number one is yet to drop a set in his three matches so far.Nadals match, however, will live longest in the memory.The Spaniard, looking to recapture the form that has made him a 14-time Grand Slam winner, won the first set comfortably enough but from there the real drama started.Despite initially being a break up, Nadal lost a see-saw second set as Kuznetsovs powerful forehands brought him back into the match.The Russian eventually took it 7-5, the first time the 24-year-old had ever taken a set from Nadal.The final set was also unpredictable, with number two seed Nadal again squandering a break advantage before decisively taking the Russians serve in the ninth game.The world number five then served out immediately afterwards to secure a place in the last four.Winning matches in three sets is very good news and very positive thing, Nadal told reporters. That happens when you are fresh mentally, when you are able to analyse well whats going on in the match. And last year I lost a lot of matches like todays match. So for me its so important to win these kind of matches.Nadal added that he was happy with his game other than his serve, which was broken four times.Meanwhile, Djokovic overcame losing his serve in the first two games of each set to beat his Argentine opponent.Despite that, the Serb never looked like going out, especially after Mayer squandered his best chance in the second set. Serving for the set at 5-4, he was broken to love in a game which included the Argentinian putting a straight forward overhead smash into the net.Djokovic took the next two games as well to secure his first ever semi-final appearance at the Qatar Open.Also in the last four -- where he will play Nadal -- is the Ukrainian outsider Illya Marchenko.He continued his remarkable run in Doha, overcoming injury and Frances Jeremy Chardy to qualify for the semi-finals.The world-ranked number 94, who knocked defending champion David Ferrer out in the first round, won in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).Marchenko, 28, triumphed despite calling for two medical timeouts in the second set and receiving treatment on court from a physio for a back problem.(The) second set was more difficult, because I got a pain in my back and I was a bit struggling with that, said Marchenko. Because of my back, I started to make more mistakes and to be not that confident in the rallies, in the running, and especially in the serve.Marchenko, from Donetsk, also revealed he is now based in Slovakia because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.Djokovic will play the winner of Tomas Berdych or British qualifier Kyle Edmund.

Tennis: Ukraine into Hopman Cup final

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PERTH (AFP) - Ukraine advanced to their second Hopman Cup final with a 2-1 win over Australia Gold in Perth on Thursday.The home team needed to win the tie to stay alive, but Ukraine claimed both singles matches to ensure they finished their round robin phase unbeaten in three ties.Lleyton Hewitt and Jarmila Wolfe won the dead mixed-doubles rubber for Australia in a match tiebreak.The pairing of Alexandr Dolgopolov and Elina Svitolina, who have both won all their singles matches this week, will play in Saturdays final.Ukraines previous appearance at the Hopman Cup was back in 1995, when siblings Andrei Medvedev and Natalia Medvedeva reached the final.They were beaten 3-0 in the decider by the German pairing of Boris Becker and Anke Huber.After Svitolina gave Ukraine the early advantage with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Wolfe, Dolgopolov came from a set down to beat Hewitt and put them into the final.Dolgopolov said his form was not as good as in his previous two singles wins, but he knew he needed to eke out a win over Hewitt.Today was a tough match, hes not easy to play, and it was not easy to come back, he said.I didnt want to go to third match at 1-1, wed lost both our mixed doubles and we needed to win this match.It means a lot, I get a bit more nervous (playing for Ukraine) than in my own tournaments, and the whole country is watching.There is just one match left now and thats the final.Svitolina continued her impressive form this week by outclassing Wolfe in quick time.The world number 19 has been in brilliant singles form and has not dropped a set in the tournament, having also beaten the 11th-ranked Karolina Pliskova.That left Australia Gold needing straight sets wins in the mens singles and mixed doubles to have a chance of reaching the final.That dream was alive briefly when Hewitt, in his eighth and final appearance in Perth, took the first set against Dolgopolov.However, the 36th-ranked Ukrainian took the second set off the dual Grand Slam champion to scuttle Hewitts hopes of a fairytale Hopman Cup ending.Dolgopolov then launched Ukraine into the final by taking the third set to complete a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.The evening match meant little, with both the United States and Czech Republic out of contention.The USA won the tie 2-1 in a deciding mixed doubles rubber.In the mens singles Jack Sock notched his first win of the week when he came from a set down to beat Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), before Pliskova was made to work harder than expected by American youngster Vicky Duval, but also came from behind to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.The Americans won the doubles in a match tiebreak.

Tennis: Federer breezes past German qualifier

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BRISBANE (AFP) - Top seed Roger Federer barely broke a sweat as he breezed past German qualifier Tobias Kamke 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the Brisbane International on Thursday.Federer, who had a first round bye, took just 55 minutes to see off Kamke, playing in the main draw of an ATP tournament for the first time since April.The Swiss maestro had been suffering from the flu earlier in the week but showed no signs of illness in a commanding performance at the Pat Rafter Arena.He asked organisers to put his first match back a day, and said he only started to feel better on Wednesday morning.The defending champion smashed 18 winners past Kamke, who struggled from the outset against the world number three and only had one break point on Federers serve throughout the match.Federer will next meet Bulgarias Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals, a rematch from last years semi-final, which Federer won comfortably.I played great against him last year here, Federer said.Tomorrow is going to be tougher. Its been a rocky last couple of days and I dont quite know what to expect quite yet.Today was thankfully short, but it also doesnt give me as much information as where my game is at.In practice its been great -- I have been hitting the ball well. I am where I want to be. Tomorrow well see. Hes (Dimitrov) had a tough grind today, but hes extremely match-tough. I expect him to be fresh again tomorrow. I played him quite aggressive last year and that worked well. Well see if Ill do the same again tomorrow.Dimitrov earlier survived a three-set epic against Serbias Viktor Troicki 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.I think I was definitely struggling a little bit at the beginning of the match, he said.But it was good. It was a good match for me. Thats how I see it.And Im happy that after two hours, 45 minutes my body felt really well. I took the heat pretty good.Fourth seeded Canadian Milos Raonic was pushed all the way by Croatian qualifier Ivan Dodig before eventually winning 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-4 in almost two and a half hours.Raonic, who reached a career ranking of four last May, dropped back to 14 after injury problems later in the year saw him withdraw from the French Open then miss the last three weeks of the season.He said he was finally playing injury free for the first time in nine months.Im further along than where I was (last year), he said.I think I just sort of need matches like today to sort of reset myself.Raonic next takes on Lucas Pouille after the Frenchman ousted sixth seeded Belgian David Goffin 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-3.

Football: Platini withdraws bid for FIFA presidency

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PARIS (AFP) - Suspended UEFA chief Michel Platini on Thursday withdrew from the race to become FIFA president, telling LEquipe that he will concentrate on clearing his name instead.I will not present myself for the presidency of FIFA. I am withdrawing my candidature. I no longer have the time nor the means to go to the voters, to meet people, to fight against the other candidates, said Platini in reference to the January 26 deadline for nominations to succeed Sepp Blatter.In withdrawing, I am dedicating myself to my defence.Platini and Blatter were suspended for eight years by FIFAs ethics committee over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment made to Platini in 2011 for work carried out between 1999 and 2002.The 60-year-old Platini added that his eight-year ban has made it impossible for him to have any kind of constructive campaign to take the sports most powerful job.The new FIFA president will be revealed on February 26.It is a question of the calendar, but not only that. How can you win an election when you are prevented from campaigning?, he told French sports daily LEquipe in the interview to be published in full on Friday.Platini added that when Blatter decided not to run again for a post he had held since 1998, he was busily garnering support for the FIFA presidency.I had received 150 declarations of support -- 100 official letters from federations and 50 promises. All in two days.Platini said he will concentrate his resources on an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the FIFA electoral commission which is presided over by Domenico Scala and claimed that I had falsified accounts.He added: I have fought like I have always fought in my life but I have not been given the opportunity to compete this time round.Platinis decision to give up on his dream of becoming FIFA president leaves five declared candidates.They are Asian football head Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain, South African politician and tycoon Tokyo Sexwale, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan, UEFA general-secretary Gianni Infantino and Jerome Champagne, a former FIFA assistant general secretary from France.Platini, a FIFA vice president, and 79-year-old Blatter were banned from all football-related acivities by FIFAs ethics committee on December 21.Platini insisted there was nothing illegal in his oral contract he said was agreed with Blatter. The salary agreement was however never disclosed in FIFA documentation until the payment was made in 2011.Im struggling to understand. Why? How did we get to this? I did some work, I asked to be paid, I sent an invoice, I was paid, I paid my taxes on that. That was in 2011, he told AFP when the ban was announced.There was a debt that was settled, full stop Then, in 2015, the Swiss court wanted more information. Then it took off at FIFA and a lot of people at FIFA are happy that this issue happened.And here I am, suspended from all football-related activity for eight years.Platini repeated his suspicions that the timing of the ban was a deliberate attempt to prevent him from standing in Februarys election.What was the FIFA ethics committee doing between 2011 when I was paid and 2015? Was it sleeping? Suddenly it wakes up, he scoffed.Ah yes, it wakes up in a FIFA election year when Im a candidate. Its amazing

Football: Suarez faces ban for 'waste of space' jibe

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Barcelona striker Luis Suarez faces a ban of up to three Copa del Rey matches after being cited in the referees report for calling Espanyol players a waste of space at the end of a heated Catalan derby.Barca won the first leg of the Copa de Rey last-16 tie between the sides 4-1 on Wednesday as Espanyol had two players sent-off and were lucky to escape further punishment as goalkeeper Pau Lopezs violent stamp on Lionel Messi went unseen.However, it is Suarez, who was also booked for a clash with Lopez, who is expected to receive a one to three-game Cup ban for sparking a brawl in the tunnel after the game that security personnel had to break up.Whilst all the Espanyol players climbed the stairs in the tunnel towards the dressing rooms, he (Suarez) waited for them and confronted them saying on various occasions: Here I am waiting for you, come here; you are a waste of space, referee Juan Martinez Munuera wrote in his report.That provoked a clash between players from both clubs forcing security personnel present and the managerial staff from both teams to intervene.Espanyols physical approach had frustrated Barca in an equally fiery clash between the two in La Liga on Saturday which finished 0-0.And Barcelona boss Luis Enrique praised the referees more strict approach to Espanyols roughhouse tactics in midweek, comparing the visitors style to American football.Suarezs controversial career has seen him receive four long bans; three for biting opponents and once for allegedly racially abusing French defender Patrice Evra during his time at Liverpool.Yet, the Uruguayans behaviour since joining Barcelona 18 months ago has been exemplary and a suspension would be his first since the four-month ban he received for his latest bite on Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.

Golf: Van Zyl leads lightning-threatened SA Open

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Jaco Van Zyl opened up a one-shot lead at the SA Open on Thursday as 33 players were left unable to complete their first rounds due to the threat of lightning.The South African veteran is seeking his first European Tour title having finished runner-up on four occasions.After firing an opening 65 to take the lead ahead of countryman Shaun Norris, the 36-year-old admitted that condtions got tougher as the day progressed.The first couple of holes today, there was not a breath of wind, it was nice and cool, so you really needed to capitalise on the first couple of holes, the leader told www.europeantour.com. By the time we got to our eighth hole the wind really started picking up and it was warming up a little bit, so it just got so much tougher out there.It really felt good out there today. I felt very comfortable.Van Zyl is playing the tournament -- the worlds second oldest national Open championship -- for the 15th time but his best finish was 12th in 2014.Victory on Sunday would not only give him a first European Tour title, it would also allow him to join an illustrious list of home winners such as Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Hennie Otto and Richard Sterne.Starting on the tenth, Van Zyl birdied his first and the 13th before back-to-back gains on the 15th and 16th saw him turn in 32. A further birdie came on the first and was then followed by an eagle on the par-five second to move him to seven under and a two-shot lead.Norris was one of those two shots back after he birdied the 11th and 12th before an eagle on the 15th catapulted him up the leaderboard. Another birdie came on the 17th but a shot was given back on the next as he turned in 32.A birdie on the first got him back on track before a dropped shot on the fourth and a birdie on the fifth had him five under through 14 holes.But he would soon have a share of the lead as he picked up a birdie despite a wayward tee shot on the eighth and Van Zyl dropped his only shot of the day on the seventh after a chip from an awkward lie on the edge of the green.Van Zyl responded in impressive fashion, though, putting his approach on the eighth to three feet and moving back ahead.On 67 were fellow South Africans Jbe Kruger and Keith Horne, while two-time champion Retief Goosen was a further shot back alongside Daniel Brooks, Estanislao Goya, Justin Walters and Ross McGowan.

Rallying: Loeb builds Dakar lead with third stage win

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UYUNI (AFP) - Nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb continued to make light work of his Dakar debut by claiming his third stage win on the gruelling event on Thursday.The French driver, behind the wheel of a Peugeot, took the fifth stage between Jujuy in Argentina and Uyuni in Bolivia to extend his lead in the overall standings.Loeb won the 327km timed run in 3hr 32min 34sec with Peugeot teammates Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel completing a sweep for the French manufacturer.It was a good day. I pushed really hard from the start. I had a good feeling and the car was perfect again, so theres nothing to add, said Loeb.It was a good day and tomorrow we will be first on the road so it maybe will be another story, but its a part of the experience that we have to take.Loeb also showed no ill-effects from having to race in Bolivias notorious, lung-busting high altitude which peaked at 4,600m on Thursday.In the overall standings, he now leads 11-time winner Peterhansel by 7min 48sec and is 13min 26sec ahead of Sainz.Qatars Nasser Al-Attiyah, the 2015 champion, is fourth in a Mini after finishing fourth on Thursday.Al-Attiyah was 3min 7sec behind Loeb on the stage but is 14min 16sec off the pace overall and admitted the Peugeots were looking almost unbeatable.Yesterday and today never have I pushed in my life like this. We drove at more than 100 percent, but we have no chance against the Peugeots, no chance, said the Qatari.Its impossible, if the Peugeots dont stop, its difficult to catch them.In the motorcycling section, Australias Toby Price, who was third overall in 2015, won the stage on his KTM.Price clocked 4 hrs 3 mins 44secs to see off KTM teammates Stefan Svitko, by 2:33 minutes, and Matthias Walkner at 2:40 off the lead.Antoine Meo, the world enduro champion and another KTM rider, had finished second before being demoted to eighth after receiving a five-minute time penalty.Portugals Paulo Goncalves, who was 8:56 behind Price in 12th spot, still leads the overall classification with a 1:45 advantage over Svitko and 1:47 in front of Price.This marathon stage was definitely difficult. Today was a little bit tricky with the navigation. I had to stay on top of the game, said Price.I caught a couple of other guys and got in some dust. I made a couple of little errors in the end there, because I was a little too worried to take my eyes off the road. It was a pretty crazy track.
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