Tuesday 1 November 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Karachi: 7 accused arrested in Rangers, police operation

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Crackdown against criminal elements under the National Action Plan (NAP) in Kharachi continues as seven accused were taken into custody during Rangers and police operation in different parts of the city on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.According to details, police conducted a raid in Boat Basin area and apprehended three accused. Police sources said that the arrested accused were involved in several cases of robberies in Shireen Jinnah Colony and its adjoining areas.In another raid in Sarhani Town, police arrested two accused involved in street crimes. Police sources said that the arrested accused, Mukarram and Anwar, were wanted in several cases of street crimes.Police also arrested two drug peddlers during a raid in Soldier Bazar and recovered narcotics and a motorcycle from them.On the other hand, Rangers carried out a search operation in Sakhi Sarwar area. All the entry and exit points of the area were sealed before the start of the operation. Rangers personnel conducted house-to-house search but no arrest was made.

Sheikhupura: 9 terrorist killed in encounter with CTD

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SHEIKHUPURA (Dunya News) - At least nine terrorists of a banned Al Qaeda were killed in exchange of fire with Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Sheikhupura on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.According to details, CTD personnel on an intelligence report that terrorists are present at the Muridke Road conducted an operation during which the militants opened fire. CTD personnel returned the fire due to which nine terrorist were killed file five other managed to escape from the scene.The CTD sources said that the terrorists were Al Qaeda members who were planning to target police and intelligence agencies offices in the city.The CTD sources further informed that six kilograms of explosive material, four Kalashnikovs, five pistols, dozens of bullets and five motorcycles were recovered from the dead terrorists.

Hackers pounce on Windows crack exposed by Google

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Microsoft on Tuesday warned that a Windows vulnerability exposed by rival Google was being exploited by a hacking group suspected of cyber attacks on US political institutions.Hackers that Microsoft researchers call Strontium launched a low-volume spear-phishing campaign aimed at a specific set of people, Windows and Devices Group executive vice president Terry Myerson said in a blog post.Spear phishing involves tricking people with personally crafted email messages that get them to click on links or files booby-trapped with malicious code that infects machines, letting hackers steal information or take control.The vulnerability exposed this week let hackers slip into computers through web browsing software, eventually installing back doors through which they could enter as they please.Strontium, given an array of names by cyber security researchers, has been described as a sophisticated hacking operation with ties to Russia.The group has also been suspected of involvement in hacks of political parties in the US presidential race.In a threat report, Microsoft described Strontium as having the markings of being backed by a nation state, but did not conclude which one.However, the US technology titan did take aim at Google, saying that a responsible member of the industry would have put users first and waited for a patch to be ready before making the vulnerability public.Googles decision to disclose these vulnerabilities before patches are broadly available and tested is disappointing, and puts customers at increased risk, Myerson said.Google countered that it gave Microsoft seven days to fix the flaw, as per its policy regarding critical flaws, before making it public on Monday.This vulnerability is particularly serious because we know it is being actively exploited, Neel Mehta and Billy Leonard of the Google threat analysis group said in an online post.Google said it told Microsoft and Adobe about the vulnerabilities on October 21, and an update to Flash addressing the weakness was released five days later.Microsoft said people using the Edge browser on fully updated Windows 10 operating systems should be protected from the attack.We have coordinated with Google and Adobe to investigate this malicious campaign and to create a patch for down-level versions of Windows, Myerson said.Adobe Patches for Windows are being tested and Microsoft planned to released them on November 8.A Microsoft threat report described Strontium as a group that usually targets government agencies, diplomatic institutions and military organizations, as well as affiliated private sector organizations such as defense contractors and public policy research institutes.

Revolution has started, our victory will be seen in some time: Imran Khan

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan said on Wednesday that there victory would be seen in few days, reported Dunya News.Imran Khan said that revolution had started and the time of oppressors was about to end. He paid a tribute to his cabinet and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Pervaiz Khattak.Imran Khan also went to Parade Lane to see the preparations of rally and once again claimed that 1 million people would attend his rally.

Gadani ship-breaking yard fire: Death toll rises to 16

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The death toll from fire at the Gadani ship-breaking yard fire rose to 16 and two more bodies of the labourers were recovered on late Tuesday night, Dunya News reported.At least 66 people also received burn injuries as an oil tanker caught fire during gas welding work at the Gadani ship-breaking yard in Balochistan, about 50 kilometres northwest of Karachi.. Eye-witnesses said that the fire caused a series of blast at the oil tanker. Deputy Commission Lasbela, Zulfiqar Shah, said that the fire started due to negligence during gas welding work at the oil tanker.More than 50 people are still missing, feared to be trapped inside the oil tanker which is still on fire and there was not enough equipment to extinguish it.The dead and injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Hub, Lasbela and Burns Centre Karachi. According to Faisal Edhi, the rescue work was halted due to darkness. He further informed that nine of the victims brought to Burns Centre Karachi were in critical condition.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief over the incident and directed the concerned authorities to speed up rescue operation. Gadani ship-breaking yard is the world‘s third largest ship breaking yard. The yard consists of 132 ship-breaking plots located across a 10 km long beachfront at Gadani.

Trump targets Democratic states after shock poll boost

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EAU CLAIRE, United States (AFP) - Donald Trump stormed into traditionally Democratic territory on Tuesday in a last-ditch bid to open up a path to an unlikely White House win, buoyed by a shock new poll showing him edging ahead of Hillary Clinton.If Clinton was rattled by the dramatic tightening in the numbers a week before Election Day, she did not show it, barnstorming through key swing state Florida and once again hammering Trumps attitude to women.Forecast models still show the 70-year-old Republican property mogul facing an uphill battle to win enough states to secure an electoral college victory over the 69-year-old Democratic frontrunner on November 8.But he received a boost on Tuesday when an ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll showed him leading his rival, embroiled in an FBI probe into her email history, by 46 to 45 percent.This was enough to spook the markets, which had expected the former secretary of state to comfortably defeat a populist Republican economists fear could plunge the world into recession.US stocks closed down 0.7 percent and the Vix Volatility or fear index jumped to its highest level since Britain voted to leave the European Union.But no matter how close Trump comes in the popular vote, in order to win the White House, he must seize at least one traditionally Democratic state as well as several swing states and the Republican heartland.On Tuesday, that quest brought the brash billionaire to Wisconsin, which in 2012 voted 53-46 percent to give its 10 electoral college votes to President Barack Obama and return him to the White House.Earlier, the Manhattan real estate mogul went to the town of King of Prussia in Pennsylvania -- another crucial battleground -- to deliver a policy speech .Our tax plan will provide a 35 percent tax cut to middle class families with two kids, he told supporters. Our middle class has not been properly respected. That I can tell you.If Trump can win both the safe Republican states and those considered up for grabs -- itself a challenge -- Wisconsins 10 votes could put him over the 270 threshold and force Obama to hand him the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.But this remains a long shot. The New York Times statistical model gives Clinton an 88 percent chance of winning, while respected data tracking website FiveThirtyEight says she has a 74 percent chance of victory.Nevertheless, the tumultuous presidential race -- which has of late featured footage showing Trump boasting of sexual assault and claims of Russian interference in the contest -- may have a few twists and turns left in store.On Monday, Trump was hit by fresh allegations in a detailed report by The New York Times that he not only dodged paying income tax, but did so in a legally dubious way that has since been outlawed.This may not be enough to turn attention away from stories about a revived FBI investigation into whether Clinton put US secrets at risk by using a private email server while serving as secretary of state.Both ongoing scandals were bubbling under the surface when Clinton appeared in Florida to hammer Trumps fitness for office and -- in particular -- his treatment of women.Clinton was introduced by Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe whom Trump, then the owner of the pageant, humiliated by mocking her post-victory weight gain and calling her Miss Piggy.Can we just stop for a minute and reflect on the absurdity of Donald Trump finding fault with Miss Universe? Clinton snorted. Trumps doctor says he is more than overweight at 236 pounds (107 kilos).What about our girls? What happens to their confidence, their sense of self-worth? Clinton demanded, warning against electing a president who insults more than half the population.And she pivoted to the notorious tape where Trump is overheard on a hot mic bragging about being able to grope women and get away with because he is a star.And I have to tell you, since that tape came out 12 women have come forward to say: What he said on that tape is what he did to me, Clinton said. Trump denies these allegations.Clintons campaign has spent three days berating FBI director James Comey for revealing to lawmakers that the bureau is looking anew at her use of a private email server while at the State Department.Clinton and her supporters were furious that Comey made his announcement without providing any new evidence of wrongdoing, but her campaign insists the scandal has not torpedoed her candidacy.We do not see any evidence that the Comey story has had an impact on our polling, a senior aide told reporters travelling on her plane.If anything, its angered our supporters and been a motivating factor, but it doesnt seem to be affecting the overall vote, he said, writing off the new tracker results as bad polling.Obama and Vice President Joe Biden both hit the campaign trail for Clinton on Tuesday and have a full schedule for the week, hoping to push her past Trump in the homestretch.Obama -- who was in Ohio -- is having what his spokesman called a heck of a good time making the case for Clinton, calling his full schedule an indication of exactly how big he thinks the stakes are in this election.

FBI releases Bill Clinton closed case files days before vote

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The FBI has unexpectedly released documents concerning ex-president Bill Clintons pardon of the husband of a wealthy Democratic donor, in a surprise move just days before the election in which his wife is seeking to become Americas first female president.The release of the heavily redacted 129-page report over the pardon of trader Marc Rich -- an investigation that closed in 2005 without charges -- triggered questions from Democrats already angered by the FBIs probe into hundreds of thousands of newly uncovered emails possibly linked to Hillary Clinton.While the Rich documents were published online Monday, they received little notice until they were posted on Tuesday on a Twitter account for the Federal Bureau of Investigations division managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that had had no posts since a year ago, except for a small handful released simultaneously on Sunday.Absent a FOIA litigation deadline, this is odd, asked Hillary Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon.Will FBI be posting docs on Trumps housing discrimination in 70s? he added, referring to Clintons Republican rival Donald Trump, a billionaire real estate magnate.The FBI said the documents were posted shortly after they were processed, as with FOIA materials requested three or more times.Per the standard procedure for FOIA, these materials became available for release and were posted automatically and electronically to the FBIs public reading room in accordance with the law and established procedures, the statement said.The FBI indicated that this was only a preliminary release that could therefore be followed by more.Rich was indicted on federal charges of tax evasion in the United States. He was a fugitive from the Department of Justice -- at a time one of the FBIs most wanted -- living in exile in Switzerland at the time of his indictment. He died there in 2013.In a controversial move, Bill Clinton pardoned him on his last day in office on January 20, 2001. The FBI opened its investigation into the pardon later that year.Richs ex-wife Denise Eisenberg Rich, whose name was redacted from the FBI files, has been a major political donor to the Democratic Party, and these donations may have been intended to influence the fugitives pardon, reads a bureau note requesting that a preliminary investigation be opened.Some of the donations went to the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation, the predecessor to the Clinton Foundation, according to the document.It appears that the required pardon standards and procedures were not followed, reads the FBI document dated February 15, 2001.The Rich case fell under the watch of current FBI Director James Comey, then a younger prosecutor.The FBI document dump comes as Comey is under fire, from both Democrats and some Republicans, for effectively reopening in recent days the bureaus investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server.

Arsenal reach last 16 of Champions League for the 17th time

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SOFIA, BULGARIA (AFP) Mesut Ozil scored a stunning winner as Arsenal fought back from two goals down to beat Ludogorets 3-2 in Sofia and secure their place in the last 16 for the 17th season in succession.Jonathan Cafu put the Bulgarian champions ahead and then set up Claudiu Keseru to make it 2-0 to Ludogorets inside quarter of an hour.However, Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud scored to haul the Gunners back level before the break, before Ozils fine solo effort won it two minutes from time.The German ran through, chipped goalkeeper Milan Borjan and cut inside two defenders before slotting in from close range.

Football: Guardiola glee as Gundogan guns down Barcelona

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as Manchester City sank Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday to give manager Pep Guardiola an electrifying victory over his former club.Barca had won 4-0 when the sides met two weeks ago, but although Lionel Messi put them ahead, City stormed back in thrilling fashion as Gundogan scored twice either side of a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick.It ended Barcelonas run of five successive wins over City and moved Guardiolas side to within two points of Luis Enriques Group C leaders with two games remaining.After the doubts engendered by a recent six-game winless run, this was a resounding validation of Guardiolas principles, City outhustling his old team to give him the first statement win of his nascent tenure.With Celtic holding Borussia Moenchengladbach in the other group game, City can secure a place in the last 16 if they draw in Germany on November 23, when Barca go to Celtic needing a point to progress.Guardiola signalled his greater attacking intent by restoring Sergio Aguero to his starting XI, having left the Argentina striker on the bench for the reverse fixture two weeks ago.The home side should have been awarded a penalty in the 11th minute after Raheem Sterling appeared to be tripped by Samuel Umtiti, but instead referee Viktor Kassai booked the England forward for diving.Sterling was incensed and there was worse to come 10 minutes later as Barca took the lead in devastating style with a move that began with a block from Javier Mascherano inside his own area.Messi, 15 yards outside the box, sprayed a pass wide to Neymar on the left and the Brazilian drove downfield before squaring to Messi, who neatly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner.Gundogan fired a shot down Marc-Andre ter Stegens throat at the other end, but for a brief moment it looked like City were on the verge of being swamped as Neymar, Andre Gomes and Luis Suarez threatened.City, though, refused to be deterred and their committed pressing game paid off in the 39th minute.Sergi Robertos overhit square pass from Barcas right was intercepted by Aguero, who played in Sterling, and he brilliantly rolled the ball across the box to give Germany midfielder Gundogan an easy tap-in.Citys tails were up and they almost went ahead two minutes later when Fernandinhos mishit shot eluded the lurking Aguero by inches.The onslaught continued after the break, Sterling fluffing a chance with a heavy first touch and Aguero lashing wide, before Guardiolas men took the lead in the 51st minute.Sergio Busquetss foul on David Silva presented City with a shooting opportunity 22 yards from goal and slightly to the left of centre.De Bruyne administered the sentence, stroking the ball into the top-right corner past the wrong-footed Ter Stegen.Now it was Barca who were rocking, De Bruynes free-kick just eluding Nicolas Otamendi, Aguero heading Silvas cross wide and Aleksandar Kolarov narrowly failing to pick out the stretching De Bruyne.Back came the visitors, Gomes rattling the bar after John Stoness overzealous tackle sent the ball into Suarezs path, but after De Bruyne had curled a shot a fraction wide, City struck again.De Bruyne was the architect, his exquisite pass behind the full-back finding substitute Jesus Navas, whose cross struck Aguero and fell kindly for Gundogan to kill Barca off for good.

Football: Bayern into last 16 after Lewandowski double

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EINDHOVEN (AFP) - Robert Lewandowski netted twice on Tuesday as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven and seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.Carlo Ancelottis side are guaranteed a place in the top two in Group D with two matches still to play after a night on which Poland hot-shot Lewandowski could have scored five goals, having also hit the woodwork on three occasions.Overall we played well going forward, but took a little bit too long to move the ball in the first half, said Bayerns Germany forward Thomas Mueller.We should probably have won by more so we cant be 100 percent satisfied.Dutch champions PSVs slim chances of qualifying are over with Phillip Cocus side third in the section and eight points adrift of Bayern.Bayerns home clash on December 6 against Atletico -- who are also through after beating Rostov 2-1 -- is likely to decide who wins the group.It was a painstaking start to the game, but we came back step by step and deserved the win, said Ancelotti.It was important that we did not lose our self-confidence after it went 1-1.We still have two games to reach first place.This is important, but qualifying was more important.Having lost 4-1 away in Munich a fortnight ago, PSV took a shock lead when Santiago Arias headed the hosts ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour in controversial fashion.Thomas Mueller had a chance in the first two minutes and Lewandowski hit the crossbar with a header with barely four minutes gone at the Philips Stadion before the home side took a shock lead.Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer reacted quickly to parry Davy Proeppers header, but Colombia defender Arias was on hand to head home the rebound from close range on 14 minutes as the visitors appeals for offside were waved away.Lewandowski headed Arjen Robbens cross onto the post on the half-hour amid protests that his marker Hector Moreno was holding him back.Bayerns luck finally turned four minutes later, however, when a Philipp Lahm cross clipped the hand of Andres Guardado.Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi pointed to the spot and Lewandowski converted the penalty past PSV goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who was making his Champions League debut.It was 1-1 at the break and Bayern were all business at the start of the second half as left-back David Alaba cut back inside to force an early save from Pasveer.With 25 minutes left, Ancelotti injected some pace by bringing on wingers Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman for Robben and Joshua Kimmich.I tried to change the system to play with two wingers and open the space, explained Ancelotti.The switch paid off.It was Costas excellent pass between two defenders which freed Alaba to put in the cross for Lewandowski to tap home the winning goal on 74 minutes.It was his 19th goal in 17 games for club and country and his fourth in as many Champions League games this season. He hit the woodwork for a third time on 85 minutes with a half volley.

Football: Griezmann strikes late winner as Atletico advance

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MADRID (AFP) - Antoine Griezmann scored a 93rd-minute winner as Atletico Madrid secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over FC Rostov at the Vicente Calderon.Griezmanns brilliant volleyed effort gave Atletico the lead just before the half-hour mark, but Rostov immediately replied through Sardar Azmoun.Atletico struggled to create chances throughout, but got a break deep into added time when Griezmann fired home and the goal was allowed to stand despite Rostovs furious protests for offside.They are a similar team to us: they defend and counter-attack well. They made it very difficult, but the most important thing was the three points and in the end we are happy, Griezmann told BeIN Sports Spain.Victory keeps Atletico three points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of Group D.The Germans also qualified for the knockout phase on Tuesday with a 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven.We are on top, but there are two games left and we have to try to finish top of the group, added Griezmann.Atletico had scored 18 goals in winning their last five home games, but laboured against the Russians deep-lying defence.The on-form Yannick Carrasco found some rare space in behind the Rostov back line 18 minutes in from Griezmanns fine through ball, but Soslan Dzhanaev rushed from his line to block the Belgians effort.Griezmann opened the scoring in spectacular fashion as he spun onto a deflected effort to flick the ball into the top corner with the outside of his left foot.However, the lead lasted just two minutes as Atletico were caught by a brilliant Rostov counter-attack when Dmitri Poloz timed his pass into Azmoun to perfection and the Iranian slotted low past Jan Oblak.It was the first time Atletico had conceded in the Champions League this season and Rostov became only the second away team to score at the Calderon in the last 15 European games.The hosts dominated from then on, but lacked the creativity or physical presence up front to break down the Rostov wall of defenders.Dzhanaev comfortably smothered low shots from Koke and Carrasco, while Atletico coach Diego Simeone ended the game with four forwards on the pitch as Kevin Gameiro and Angel Correa joined Griezmann and a forlorn Fernando Torres.It was a day of bad decisions, said a self-critical Simeone.The coach didnt have a good game and the players overcame it.However, last seasons finalists needed the presence of central defender Diego Godin when the winner did arrive in controversial circumstances deep into injury time.Griezmann barely celebrated as he converted what appeared to be Godins flick-on off the underside of the bar.Yet, despite the offside flag being raised, Scottish referee Craig Thomson rightly identified the flick-on in fact came off a Rostov player, meaning Griezmann couldnt be in an offside position.

Golf: Woods confirms Bahamas comeback on Dec 1

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Tiger Woods will make his long-awaited return from injury at next months Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the former world number one confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.Woods jolted the golf world last month after aborting his planned comeback at the Safeway Open in California, sparking fresh uncertainty about his career after a 16-month layoff.However the 40-year-old 14-time major winner said he would now be ready to host and play in his December 1-4 tournament at Albany in the Bahamas.I am excited to make my return at the Hero World Challenge at Albany and play in this terrific tournament, Woods said.Woods had already hoped to play in the Bahamas despite the concerns over his form, which prompted him to withdraw from the Safeway in Napa.The 18-player Hero World Challenge is owned by his charity foundation. Woods, who has won the tournament five times before, made a similar return from injury at the event in 2014.Woods told US television late night host Stephen Colbert last month his game has shown signs of improvement since his recovery from two separate operations on his back in 2015.Im not quite there, where I feel like I can shoot 63s and 64s in tournaments, Woods said. Im shooting the low rounds at home. But I just dont quite feel quite as ready to shoot those type scores under tournament conditions.Woods has won 79 US PGA titles, three shy of Sam Sneads all-time record, and is four shy of the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus. Woods was a vice captain for the triumphant US Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine in October. He has been named an assistant captain to Steve Stricker for next years Presidents Cup.The Hero World Challenge field features the cream of world golf, with the four reigning major champions, the top 11 players available from the world rankings along with the defending champion and two special-exemption players.

Formula One: Vettel escapes sanctions for Mexico Grand Prix rant

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PARIS (AFP) - The FIA Formula One governing body on Tuesday let off Ferrari star Sebastian Vettel with a warning for an expletive-filled rant against the race director at the Mexico Grand Prix.FIA president Jean Todt decided on an exceptional basis not to charge Vettel after he made an apology to race director Charlie Whiting and wrote contrite letters to Todt and Whiting, said a statement.The German four time world champion, furious over the driving of Red Bulls Max Verstappen, repeatedly swore at Whiting during the closing stages of Sundays race.The tirade was captured on the team radio and broadcast around the world on live television.Todt ordered a special report on the incident into what the FIA statement called foul language directed at Whiting and Verstappen.But it added: Immediately following this incident, Sebastian Vettel spontaneously sought out Charlie Whiting to express his regrets for his behaviour in person.He then, again on his own initiative, sent letters to each of the FIA president Jean Todt and Charlie Whiting, in which he apologised profusely for his actions.He also indicated that he would likewise be contacting Max Verstappen and vowed that such an incident would never occur again.In the light of this sincere apology and strong commitment, the FIA president has decided, on an exceptional basis, not to take disciplinary action against Mr Vettel by bringing this matter before the FIA international tribunal.But it added that in the event of any future incident similar to the one that occurred in Mexico Vettel would go before the tribunal.The FIA said it would always condemn the use of offensive language especially directed at race officials and other competitors.Vettel was reminded that the governing body expects all participants in its championships to be respectful and mindful of the example they set for the public and the younger generation in particular.The driver said after the race that his F-word outburst had been a heat-of-the-moment explosion at the end of a fraught race.The ex-champion was already penalised 10 seconds for blocking Red Bulls Daniel Ricciardo, dropping him from third to fifth in the final race standings.Vettel had been promoted to third provisionally, replacing Verstappen, immediately after the Dutch teenager was given a five seconds penalty. Vettel was penalised for moving under braking as he defended fourth place at a turn against Ricciardo in the penultimate lap of the race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.The pair banged wheels and Vettel retained his position.

Iraq forces fight way into Mosul

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BARTALLA (AFP) - Iraqi forces fought their way into jihadist-held Mosul on Tuesday, the military said, as a top commander declared the true liberation of the city from the Islamic State group had begun.Just over two weeks into the massive offensive to retake Mosul -- ISs last major stronghold in Iraq -- soldiers managed to push within city limits.Troops had entered the Judaidat Al-Mufti area, within the left bank of the city of Mosul, said the Joint Operations Command.Mosul is split by the Tigris River, with the eastern half of the city known as the left bank. Judaidat al-Mufti is on the southeastern side of the city.Elite Iraqi forces had also recaptured the key village of Gogjali and taken control of a television station building belonging to a local affiliate of Iraqiya state TV on the eastern edge of the city.Fighters from the US-trained Counter-Terrorism Service had pushed into the area amid heavy fighting on the eastern front in the past two days.Now is the beginning of the true liberation of the city of Mosul, Staff General Taleb Sheghati al-Kenani, the commander of the CTS, told Iraqiya from Gogjali.We are working with army units to secure the area and advance on Mosul together, Muntathar Salem, a lieutenant colonel with CTS told an AFP reporter near the front line.Soldiers from Iraqs 16th Division also retook a series of villages north of Mosul, according to the Joint Operations Command, while pro-government paramilitary forces said they captured villages southwest of the city.Backed by air and ground support from a US-led coalition, tens of thousands of Iraqi fighters have been converging on Mosul.Since the offensive was launched on October 17, federal forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters have retaken a series of villages as they advance on the city from the north, east and south.Some 4,000 to 7,000 jihadists are believed to be in and around Mosul, where IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a cross-border caliphate after the group seized control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria two years ago.Colonel John Dorrian, the spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS, said it had targeted the jihadists with nearly 3,000 bombs, artillery shells, rockets and missiles since the operation began.Weve taken out hundreds of fighters, fighting positions (and) weapons in the strikes, Dorrian told AFP.As his forces advanced, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned the jihadists they would have no place to run.We will close in on (IS) from every place, he said on state television on Monday, dressed in a camouflage uniform.They dont have an exit, they dont have an escape, they can only surrender -- they can die or they can surrender, said Abadi.For now the jihadists do have an escape route -- to the west towards IS-controlled territory in Syria.Paramilitary forces from the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation), an umbrella organisation dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militia, launched an assault at the weekend to cut off that route.They have been advancing north, their sights set on the town of Tal Afar which commands the citys western approaches.On the northern and eastern sides of Mosul, peshmerga forces from the autonomous Kurdish region have taken a series of villages and towns and consolidated their positions, while federal forces have advanced toward the city from the south.Iraqi forces are expected to try to open safe corridors for the million-plus civilians still believed to be inside.Humanitarian organisations have been fighting against the clock to build up the capacity to handle the possible mass exodus from the city.The United Nations says up to one million people could be displaced in the coming weeks.Save the Children said Tuesday that up to 600,000 children may be trapped in Mosul, calling for safe routes to be opened for them and other civilians to leave.More than 17,900 people have already fled their homes since the operation began, according to the International Organization for Migration.The UN said Tuesday it had received more reports of IS fighters forcing thousands of civilians into Mosul, possibly to be used as human shields. In the early hours of Monday, IS fighters brought dozens of long trucks and mini-buses to Hamam al-Alil... south of Mosul, in an attempt to forcibly transfer some 25,000 civilians towards locations in and around Mosul, said the UN rights office.Most of the vehicles were prevented from reaching Mosul because of coalition aircraft patrolling the area, it added.The jihadists also reportedly killed 40 former Iraqi security forces members and dumped their bodies in the river, UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.That would bring to 296 the number of former Iraqi security officers killed by IS since last Tuesday, according to the UN. IS has been losing ground steadily in Iraq since 2015 and the outcome of the Mosul battle is in little doubt, but commanders have warned it could last months.

Russia says chance of Syria settlement remote

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Tuesday accused the US-led coalition in Syria of failing to rein in hardline rebels, and said the chance of a political settlement was now remote.He said the coalition was putting spokes in the wheel of Russias military operation in the country and failing to act in unison.As a result, the prospect of the start of a political settlement and a return of the Syrian people to peaceful life has been postponed indefinitely, he said at a televised meeting with top brass.He said rebels were shooting dozens of peaceful civilians every day for attempting to use humanitarian corridors set up by Russia out of rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which so far have seen only a trickle of people leave.Is that really opposition you can come to an agreement with? he said.Moscow has been conducting a bombing campaign in Syria in support of long-time ally Bashar al-Assad since September 2015.Russia has now ceased air strikes on eastern Aleppo for 16 days, Shoigu said, after criticism over a Russian-backed Syrian government assault that has killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed infrastructure including hospitals.Defiantly hitting back at Western opposition to Russian warships using European ports en route to Syria, Shoigu called on Western countries to decide who they are really fighting: terrorists or Russia.Russias battle group led by nuclear-powered Pyotr Veliky battle cruiser has now entered the Mediterranean, Shoigu said Our ships voyage caused a sensation among our Western partners, Shoigu said, adding that Russia was particularly amazed by the position of certain countries which under pressure from the US and NATO publicly announced a refusal for our warships to enter their ports.Russia last week scrapped plans to refuel Syria-bound warships in a Spanish port after Madrid came under pressure to refuse access to a flotilla that may be used to help attacks on Aleppo.Shoigu insisted this did not affect the ships schedule since they are equipped with all the necessary resources.He said Russias Hmeimim military base in Syria and its Tartus naval facility also receive regular supplies.
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