Sunday 13 November 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Weather to remain cold and dry across country

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), cold and dry weather is expected in most parts during next 24 hours while foggy conditions are expected to prevail over plain areas of Punjab during morning hours.Weather remained cold and dry during the past 24 hours across the country. Skardu remained coldest area of the country where -5C temperature was recorded while mercury fell to -4C in Kalat and -3C in Hunza.

De Kock ton as South Africa tighten noose

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HOBART (AFP) - Quinton de Kock plundered a century Monday as South Africa frustrated Australia to tighten their grip on the second Test as the sun emerged on the third day in Hobart.After Sundays second day was washed out, the Australians were hunting for early wickets to put a brake on the Proteas after they were routed for a record low total of 85 on Saturday.But de Kock and Temba Bavuma batted South Africa into a position of strength with a century stand for the sixth wicket and a 203-run lead to put even more pressure on Steve Smiths embattled team.Wicketkeeper de Kock was bowled by Josh Hazlewood just before lunch for 104 -- his second Test hundred -- off 143 balls with 17 boundaries.His stand of 144 with Temba Bavuma was the highest by a visiting team in Hobart for the sixth wicket.At lunch, the Proteas were 288 for six with Bavuma unbeaten on 74 and Vernon Philander on three.De Kock became only the fourth South African to register 50 or more in five consecutive Tests after he swept spinner Nathan Lyon for four over wide mid-on.He has proved a thorn for Australia in this series following scores of 84 and 64 in the first Test victory in Perth.Bavuma, who raised his fifth Test half-century with an edge off Hazlewood through the gully, had his second Test century in sight.

Karachi: Mystery behind policeman murder solved, 2 held

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Mystery behind police official Rizwan’s murder was solved on Sunday as police apprehended two accused. The motive behind the crime was stated to be personal grudge, Dunya News reported.According to investigating officials, accused Bilal and Habib murdered crime branch official Rizwan two days ago over a personal grudge. The officials revealed that Rizwan was instrumental in sending both accused to the lockup at the Khawaja Ajmer Nagri police station some three years ago.Both Bilal and Habib kept the grudge and were tracking Rizwan soon after their release from the prison. Rizwan informed the higher officials of the crime branch after receiving threats from Bilal and Habib but they failed to provide him any protection.On the other hand police had earlier termed the murder as an incident of target killing.

Iraqi forces say recapture Nimrud, site of ancient city

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi forces said Sunday they had recaptured the Nimrud area, the site of an ancient Assyrian city blown up by the Islamic State group, as they battled the jihadists south of Mosul.Iraqi troops pushed towards Nimrud last week as they pressed an offensive launched on October 17 to recapture Iraqs second city, which the jihadists seized along with swathes of Iraq and Syria in mid-2014.A Kurdish-Arab alliance is pursuing a twin offensive against the other major city still under IS control, Raqa in Syria, and a US-led coalition is backing both assaults with air strikes.On Sunday Iraqs Joint Operations Command (JOC) said troops had retaken the Nimrud area and another village southeast of the famed archeological site.Units of the 9th Armoured Division completely liberate the Nimrud (area) and raise the Iraqi flag over the buildings, the JOC said in a statement.It did not specifically mention the Nimrud archaeological site, which is located a little more than a kilometre (less than a mile) west of the village that bears its name.Nimrud was the one of the great centres of the ancient Middle East. Founded in the 13th century BC, it became the capital of the Assyrian empire, whose rulers built vast palaces and monuments that have drawn archaeologists for more than 150 years.In April last year, IS posted video on the internet of its fighters smashing monuments before planting explosives around the site and blowing it up.It was part of a campaign of destruction against heritage sites under jihadist control that also took in ancient Nineveh on the outskirts of Mosul, Hatra in the desert to the south and Palmyra in neighbouring Syria.IS says the ancient monuments are idols that violate the teachings of its extreme form of Sunni Islam but has still sold artefacts to fund its operations.The Iraqi offensive has seen federal forces and Kurdish peshmerga fighters advance on Mosul from the east, south and north.The elite Counter-Terrorism Services (CTS) have pushed into the eastern outskirts of Mosul, with heavy fighting in recent days.Commanders had told AFP on Saturday that the clashes were intense, in particular as they prepared to surround the dense neighbourhood of Al-Bakr.In neighbouring Syria, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia alliance has moved to about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from Raqa since launching its offensive a week ago.Commanders have said the SDF is close to completing a first phase of the operation to surround and isolate Raqa before launching an assault on the city itself.The jihadists are putting up fierce resistance in both Mosul and Raqa, and military commanders have warned of long and difficult battles ahead. Turkey has launched its own operation against IS just south of its border in Syria and a monitor said Sunday that Ankara-backed rebels had neared the IS stronghold of Al-Bab.The rebels had moved to about two kilometres (just over a mile) from Al-Bab, as Turkish forces targeted the town with artillery fire and air strikes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Ankara launched its unprecedented cross-border operation saying it was targeting both IS and the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia, which has been a key opponent of the jihadist group and dominates the SDF.Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist organisation, and wants to avoid the creation of a contiguous, semi-autonomous Kurdish zone along the Syrian border.Kurdish forces have also played a major role in the battle against IS in Iraq. Its autonomous Kurdish region has gained or solidified control over large areas claimed by both it and the federal government in Baghdad in the course of the war.In a report on Sunday, Human Rights Watch said Iraqi Kurdish forces had demolished Arab homes and buildings in disputed areas in the countrys north.HRW found a pattern of apparently unlawful demolitions of buildings and homes, and in many cases entire villages, between September 2014 and May 2016, the report said.It raised concern that the destruction was for the purpose of preventing or dissuading Arabs from returning to the homes in order to strengthen Kurdish claims to the areas.

Clashes in Syria's Aleppo after army warning

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ALEPPO (AFP) - Syrian government forces clashed with rebels on the outskirts of eastern Aleppo city Sunday, a monitor said, after residents received messages from the army giving opposition fighters 24 hours to leave.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, and an AFP correspondent in rebel-held east Aleppo reported clashes in the Karam al-Turab neighbourhood and the village of Al-Aziza just outside the city.The AFP correspondent said the fighting could be heard in much of the rebel-held east, which is surrounded by government forces and has come under repeated assault since the army announced an operation to recapture it in September.The fighting came as residents in east Aleppo received text messages warning rebels to leave within 24 hours.Gunmen in east Aleppo, you have 24 hours only to take the decision to leave, the message said.Those who want to save their lives must put down their weapons and their safety will be guaranteed. After the end of this period, the planned strategic offensive will begin, it added.Syrias government and army have regularly sent rebels and residents in eastern Aleppo text messages warning them to leave the besieged sector.Once Syrias economic powerhouse, the city has been divided into a government-held west and rebel-held east since mid-2012.In September, the army announced an operation to recapture the east, unleashing a massive assault backed by Russian warplanes.The initial phase of the assault killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed infrastructure including hospitals.But in recent weeks, Russia has declared a series of brief truces, intended to encourage people to leave the east, although so far few have done so.Rebels, meanwhile, have sought to break through government lines to end the siege on the east that began in July, so far without success.They have fired barrages of rockets into western Aleppo, killing dozens of civilians, including four people in the Halab al-Jadida district on Sunday.State news agency SANA said the dead included a child and two women.Seven people were killed in regime rocket fire into Salhine district in east Aleppo, the Observatory said.It said they died when a rocket hit the minibus they were in, and that the toll could rise because of the number of seriously wounded.Another person was killed in artillery fire on Sukari district in the east.More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Trump names media firebrand, top Republican to key posts

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NEW YORK (AFP) - President-elect Donald Trump named anti-establishment firebrand Steve Bannon his top strategist and top Republican Reince Priebus his White House chief of staff Sunday, blending pragmatism with a rabble-rousing edge in the first appointments of his new administration.Trumps choices came as he reaffirmed plans to immediately deport or jail as many as three million undocumented immigrants, in his first television interview since his election.Millions were expected to tune in to Trumps full interview with CBSs 60 Minutes for clues on how the populist billionaire will govern, and how far he intends to convert his strident slogans into hard and fast policy.Trumps two sides -- the practical dealmaker and the anti-establishment provocateur -- were on display in his appointments of Bannon, the CEO of right-wing, conspiracy-mongering Breitbart website, and Priebus, a seasoned Republican operative with close ties to House Speaker Paul Ryan.Steve and Reince are highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign and led us to a historic victory. Now I will have them both with me in the White House as we work to make America great again.The appointments to Trumps inner circle are seen as key to setting the tone of an administration led by a 70-year-old political noviceSince Tuesdays shock election triumph, Trump had appeared to tone down his rhetoric, notably suggesting he might be willing to reconsider a pledge to scrap President Barack Obamas signature health reform.But he made clear in excerpts of Sundays interview that he still intended to crack down on the undocumented, focusing on people with criminal records.What we are going to do is get the people that are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers, where a lot of these people -- probably two million, it could be even three million -- we are getting them out of our country or we are going to incarcerate, Trump said.Experts estimate there are as many as 11 million foreigners living illegally in the United States, many of them Central and Southern Americans long-established in the country.Trump also said he stood by his pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border -- although he said it could include some fencing.His stance stood in opposition with comments by House Speaker Paul Ryan, who said Sunday the focus under a Trump administration would be on securing the border, not rounding up immigrants.We are not planning on erecting a deportation force. Donald Trumps not planning on that, Ryan told CNN.But Newt Gingrich, a member of Trumps inner circle, said he would advise the president-elect to swing for the fences.This is a city which if you dont shove it as hard as you can while you have momentum, it will just surround you. I mean, the swamp doesnt want to be drained. And the swamp will just suck you in if you let it, he said on CBSs Face the Nation.Since his election on the back of an incendiary anti-immigrant campaign, thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets daily, worried that Trump will put his rhetoric into practice.The billionaires Trump Tower residence in Manhattan was picketed for four straight days, with similar protests across the United States.The tower has been a hive of activity as the real estate mogul huddles with his transition team, tackling the colossal task of filling cabinet posts and hundreds of top government jobs ahead of his January 20 inauguration. Democrats have been despondent in the wake of an election they were certain of winning, but vowed Sunday to oppose Trump -- despite now being locked out of power not only in the House and Senate, but now in the White House as well.Our job now is to hold him accountable, said Bernie Sanders, who lost to Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nomination race.If Mr. Trump has the courage to take on Wall Street, to take on the drug companies, to try to work forward, go forward to create a better life for working people, we will work with him, issue by issue. But if his presidency is going to be about discrimination, if its going to be about scapegoating immigrants or scapegoating African-Americans or Muslims, we will oppose him vigorously, Sanders declared.An ABC News/Washington Post poll out Sunday shows that 74 percent of Americans accept Trumps election as legitimate, but that number fell to 58 percent among supporters of his defeated rival Clinton.Trump has shown some willingness to soften his more strident positions. His U-turn on Obamacare -- he now says he may simply amend a law he once branded a disaster on the stump -- was prompted by his White House meeting with the outgoing president earlier this week.He told CBS and The Wall Street Journal he may maintain some of the programs more popular elements, such as a ban on insurance companies denying coverage because of so-called pre-existing health conditions.Asked by the paper whether he would, as threatened, name a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton over her use of a private email server as secretary of state, Trump deflected, saying his priorities were health care, jobs, border control, tax reform.Not long ago Trump was leading crowds in chants of Lock her up

France marks one year since Paris attacks

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PARIS (AFP) - France on Sunday marked the first anniversary of the Paris attacks with sombre ceremonies and painful memories for the relatives of the 130 people killed.President Francois Hollande unveiled plaques at sites across the city that were attacked by the Islamic State jihadist group.The first was at the Stade de France to commemorate Manuel Dias, 63, who was killed by a suicide bomber outside the national stadium as France were playing Germany in a football match, starting a series of coordinated attacks on the evening of November 13, 2015.Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo then unveiled plaques outside bars and restaurants in the trendy neighbourhood where gunmen sprayed bullets at people enjoying a Friday evening out.The final ceremony took place outside the Bataclan, the concert hall where 90 people were killed by three attackers during a rock gig.The names of those killed at the concert were read out as hundreds of people gathered under rainy skies watched in silence.Rock star Sting reopened the refurbished Bataclan with an emotionally charged show held amid tight security on Saturday.We will not forget them, the British singer told the crowd in French after a minutes silence for the victims.Many in the crowd wept during the first song, Fragile.The Bataclan management said they had prevented two members of the US group Eagles of Death Metal -- who were on stage when the bloodshed started -- from entering the Sting concert over controversial remarks by their lead singer Jesse Hughes.They came, I threw them out -- there are things you cant forgive, said the venues co-director Jules Frutos.However the bands manager denied members of the group had tried to enter the concert hall at all.Hughes, who caused outrage in France by suggesting Muslim staff at the Bataclan might have cooperated with the attackers, was however in the crowd for Sundays ceremony at the venue.Olivier, 28, who was injured during the rampage, fought back the tears as he attended the unveiling of the plaque in front of the Carillon bar and the Petit Cambodge restaurant, where 13 people were killed.He was hit in the arm by a bullet while his friend was killed by the gunmen and on Sunday he accompanied his friends mother to the ceremony.I had to be here to support her, he told AFP.But I wont come to any more commemorations.He said he believed it was not enough to just remember the dead, we must try to understand how this happened.Islamic State said it had struck at France because it was bombing its militants in Iraq and Syria.Hollande responded at the time that France was at war and French jets continue to launch air strikes on the group, which is fighting an Iraqi-led assault to take back the city of Mosul.Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Sunday the state of emergency declared after the attacks would likely be extended as France gears up for presidential elections in six months time.This state of emergency device allows us to make arrests, administrative checks which are effective... So yes, we are probably going to live a few months more with this state of emergency, Valls told the BBC.While stressing he remained very cautious, Valls said the risk of similar coordinated attacks on France appeared to have diminished.But we may face attacks of the kind that we saw in Nice, he said, referring to the attack in July in the Riviera resort in which a 31-year-old Tunisian mowed down 86 people with a truck.Thats to say some individuals who are driven directly by the internet, by social networks, by the Islamic Sate group, without having to go to Syria or Iraq, Valls added. A year on, 59 percent of French people say the attacks have changed forever the way they view life and a similar percentage still feel angry, according to a poll in Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday.

Dozens killed in weekend of fresh violence in Myanmar's Rakhine

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YANGON (AFP) - Myanmars Rakhine state was hit by fresh waves of violence over the weekend with more than 30 insurgents killed over two-days of fighting, the military said, as fears soar for the strife-torn region.Northern Rakhine, which is home to the Muslim Rohingya minority and borders Bangladesh, has been under military lockdown ever since surprise raids on border posts left nine police dead last month.Soldiers have killed scores and arrested many more in their hunt for the attackers, who the government says are radicalised Rohingya militants with links to overseas Islamists.The crisis and reports of grave rights abuses being carried out in tandem with the security crackdown have piled international pressure on Myanmars new civilian government and raised questions about its ability to control the military.Days of apparent calm were shattered on Saturday when the army said six attackers and two soldiers were killed during a series of coordinated ambushes that were only beaten back with the help of helicopter gunships.The toll then jumped on Sunday following further clashes. In a statement Myanmars military said 22 attackers armed with swords were killed near Dar Gyi Zar village on Sunday morning after they charged at soldiers. Six other insurgents were killed during clashes elsewhere in the state on Sunday, the statement added.Authorities have heavily restricted access to the area, making it difficult to independently verify government reports or accusations of army abuse.On Saturday evening, Rohingya activists uploaded a graphic video showing the corpses of eight people dressed in civilian clothes, including a small baby. The videos shooter, speaking in Rohingya, said the victims died that day near Dar Gyi Zar village, with some showing bullet wounds. It was not possible to verify the authenticity of the footage.The resurgence of violence in western Rakhine has deepened and complicated a crisis that already posed a critical challenge to the new administration led by democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.The state has sizzled with religious tension ever since waves of violence between the majority Buddhist population and the Muslim Rohingya left more than 200 dead in 2012.More than 100,000 people, mostly Rohingya, were pushed into displacement camps by the bloodshed and have languished there ever since.Rights groups say they face apartheid-like restrictions on movement and have repeatedly called on Suu Kyi to carve out a solution.But Buddhist nationalists at home viciously oppose any move to grant them citizenship, claiming the Rohingya are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh despite their long roots in the country.The latest surge in fighting came as new satellite images released by Human Rights Watch on Sunday showed what the group said was evidence of mass arson attacks against Rohingya villages.Their analysis showed more than 400 buildings torched in three Rohingya villages where the fighting has been taking place.The group said active fires and burn scars showed that most of the destruction was caused by arson. The latest images were taken on 10 November.Brad Adams, the groups Asia director, said the new photos showed widespread destruction that was greater than we first thought.Burmese authorities should promptly establish a UN-assisted investigation as a first step toward ensuring justice and security for the victims, he said in a statement.The military and government have rejected allegations that troops have burned Rohingya villages, accusing insurgents of lighting the fires.

Governor Sindh hospitalized with chest infection

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to a Governor House statemen, Governor Sindh Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui was admitted to a private hospital in Karachi for a day on Sunday due to chest infection, Dunya News reported.The Governor House spokesman further informed that the doctors have completed the medical check-up of Governor Sindh and declared him out of danger.Justice (Retd) Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui, 79, served as Chief Justice of Pakistan from July, 1, 1999 to January 26, 2000. He was appointed as Governor Sindh on November 9, 2016.

Golf: Sizzling Noren wins in stunning Sun City recovery

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SUN CITY (AFP) - Swede Alex Noren fired a dream 63 to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge by six shots on Sunday in a dramatic final-round turnaround at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City. Trailing by six strokes after the third round, Noren stewed beforehand in his hotel room and then sizzled on the course, while overnight leader Wang Jeunghun of South Korea slumped to a three-over-par 75.The Swede carded eight birdies, an eagle and one bogey in a round that left him one stroke short of equalling the course record. Noren finished on 274 and Wang on 280 in a swing few could have imagined when the final round began in northwest South Africa.It was the fourth European Tour triumph of the season for 34-year-old Noren, who pocketed $1.16 million (1.03 million euros).Success lifted Noren to third behind compatriot Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett of England in the Road to Dubai standings with one tournament left, in Dubai next week.After a third-round 75, Noren said he spent an hour in his hotel room plotting a recovery.I was not happy with my round and spent an hour in my room figuring out what went wrong and how to fix it, he told reporters.My final round was one of those you dream about. It was huge, amazing. I felt so relaxed even though I was well behind going to the first tee today.Noren made a great start to his final round with three consecutive birdies, and picked up three more on the outward nine to reach the turn in 30, six under.His second nine began with an eagle and a birdie before he experienced the only hiccup of the round, a bogey six at 14. He birdied 16 and concluded with two par fours.Wang, whose third-round 64 in windy conditions was hailed as magnificent by South African golf legend Gary Player, turned in level-par 36 after three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey. Any hopes of catching Noren faded when he suffered a meltdown and bogeyed four of his final six holes.Spaniard Alejandro Canizares (68), Victor Dubuisson (68) of France, Portuguese Ricardo Gouveia (67), Branden Grace (70) of South Africa and Englishman Andy Sullivan (72) shared third place on 281.Reigning British Open champion Stenson (70) came next on 282, a shot ahead of big local hope Louis Oosthuizen, who finished with a disappointing 75.

Formula One: Hamilton wins to take title showdown to final race

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton survived carnage and relentless rain to send this years world championship down to the wire in Abu Dhabi as he claimed a spectacular victory in Sundays Brazilian Grand Prix.The defending three-time world champion showed all his tenacity and skill with a near-flawless drive in treacherous Interlagos conditions to finish ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg.The German came home second to leave himself needing a podium finish in the final event on November 27 to seal his maiden title triumph, in what promises to be one of the most tense season F1 finales in recent memory.With one race remaining, Rosberg leads by 12 points, but Hamilton warned that he was hunting his team-mate. Max Verstappen produced the most stunning performance of the day -- if not the season -- when he recovered from falling to 16th after a late tyre change to claim third place with a series of daring passes in the final laps.It was Hamiltons first win in Brazil at the 10th attempt and completed a hat-trick of recent wins, following his triumphs in the United States and Mexico last month.Hamiltons ninth victory of the year and 52nd of his career lifted him one clear of four-time world champion Alain Prost.Not too bad, said the Briton Hamilton, with rich irony. I was just chilling up front. When it rains, it is usually a good day for me.It didnt go my way today, said Rosberg, who nevertheless still has one hand on the title.Lewis did a great job. It was very difficult conditions, but I can live with second place.In a three-hour race that featured two red-flag stoppages, five safety car interventions, major high-speed crashes and high emotions, Sergio Perez finished fourth for Force India ahead of an embittered Sebastian Vettel.The four-time champion was again left complaining that Verstappen had pushed him off the track in a late move as the Dutchman charged to the podium.Carlos Sainz came home sixth for Toro Rosso ahead of Nico Hulkenberg of Force India, Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Felipe Nasr of Sauber and two-time champion Fernando Alonso.The race started behind the safety car and the field ran in grid order for seven laps before they began racing in earnest.Pole-sitter Hamilton took control while behind him Verstappen passed Kimi Raikkonen under braking into the spectacular Turn One, leading into the Senna S bend.On lap 10, Vettel spun off and recovered before pitting while, two laps later, Swede Marcus Ericsson crashed his Sauber, losing control at the start of the straight and leaving widespread debris on the track. As the rain intensified, it was no surprise to see the safety car peel in again at the end of the 19th lap.Almost immediately, Raikkonen crashed on the main straight, losing control in the heavy rain. Esteban Ocon just missed hitting him with an instant reaction in his Manor as the race threatened to spiral out of control.Raikkonen was unhurt and walked back to the pits as the race was halted by a red flag.The aquaplaning is not for fun, these tyres are not capable, warned Hulkenberg.I nearly lost it, admitted Verstappen, whose Red Bull had a massive twitch on the straight as Raikkonen crashed.After a 35-minute break, the action resumed behind the safety car, but the race was red-flagged for a second time after a further eight rain-soaked laps -- to widespread boos and thumbs down from the Interlagos crowd.Finally, the race re-started, again, behind the safety car with Hamilton pulling clear and Verstappen charging.Rosberg defended his first attack, but could not respond when the teenager passed on the outside at Turn Three. Great job Max, a mega move, said Red Bull team chief Christian Horner.Verstappen, living up to his Mad Max soubriquet with astonishing audacity and supreme bravery, almost spun into the wall at the final corner on lap 38, saving the car with stunning skill.Hamilton stayed ahead, tip-toeing delicately amid the chaos, while Rosberg, second and chasing, half-spun and recovered.The safety car was called for again after 49 laps when Felipe Massa, in his final home race, crashed after the final corner, his car stopping at the pit lane entry.He climbed out unhurt, but emotional, wrapping himself in the Brazilian flag as he trudged back to the Williams garage with the crowd -- and rival teams -- cheering his every step.

Motorcycling: Lorenzo signs off at Yamaha with Valencia win

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VALENCIA (AFP) - Three-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo signed off his nine-year Yamaha career with victory in the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday, the final event of the season.The Spaniard led from pole position to take victory from world champion Marc Marquez on a Honda with Andrea Iannone on a Ducati taking third place.Lorenzo, who will switch to Ducati in 2017, secured third in the championship behind Marquez and Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi, who was fourth on Sunday.Now I can relax, said Lorenzo after a 44th career win. Its very emotional after nine years with Yamaha.I didnt expect to win today because I knew Marc was very strong. I suffered in the last 10 laps because he was pushing and attacking.It was an incredible weekend with a perfect first few laps, pole position, fastest lap, and victory. I arrived here in MotoGP at 20 years old, taking my first pole position on my first race. After almost 10 years I leave with a pole position and a victory, I think I couldnt have given Yamaha a better present than this for their support and their hard work during these years.Marquezs second-place finish allowed Honda to claim a 22nd constructors title.The 23-year-old Spaniard, who wrapped up his third world title in Japan with three races to spare, won five races in 2016.Today was the worst start of the year, admitted Marquez, who lost a number of places on the first lap from second on the grid.There was a mistake or problem with the clutch, a big wheelie and I lost a lot of time. I pushed like I had nothing to lose, and I was catching Jorge. It was difficult but I tried, and I ran out of laps. But no excuses - the race is 30 laps and Jorge won.For Rossi, who started on the front row, the result left him still seeking a first win since 2004 at the circuit.The 2016 season brought a lot of positive things: second place in the championship, a lot of podiums and front-row starts, said the veteran.Next year I want to try to win more races -- more than two -- but we are always competitive.World champion Johann Zarco, riding a Kalex, won the Moto2 race for his 16th career victory.The French rider, who will race in the elite MotoGP category next season, captured his seventh win of the campaign.Switzerlands Thomas Luthi was second on Sunday with Italys Franco Morbidelli coming home in third place. Luthi was able to claim the runners-up spot in the championship ahead of Spains Alex Rins, who was fifth in the race.South African Brad Binder riding for KTM won the Moto3 race.The world champion landed his seventh win of the season as he saw off Spaniard Joan Mir and Italian Andrea Migno, also of KTM.Italian Enea Bastianini secured second spot in the championship after placing fourth on a Honda.

EU ministers seek strong partnership with Trump

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - European Union foreign ministers insisted on Sunday they expected good relations with Donald Trump, after a crisis meeting that Britain, France and Hungary snubbed in a move that exposed rifts over the US president-elect.The ministers said they wanted more details about Republican Trumps plans following his shock election win, which has sparked anxiety in Europe due to his campaign-trail rhetoric questioning US commitment to the continent.EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called the special dinner on the eve of a scheduled meeting of the ministers, but some capitals criticsed the decision to have an emergency meeting on a democratic election result in a key ally.We are looking forward to a very strong partnership with the next administration, weve decided together to engage with the incoming administration even from this very first week of transition, Mogherini told reporters afterwards.Its not up to us... its up to the next US administration to define to define their own position, she said following the two-and-a-half hour meeting.For the moment its not a wait and see attitude we can afford having, because the world goes on, Europe goes on, crisis goes on, but also opportunities we can take go on, she said.Mogherini also hit out at British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnsons decision to sit out the meeting, linking it to Britains referendum vote in June to leave the 28-nation EU, which has left London needing US support for new trade deals.I guess its only normal for a country that has decided to leave not to be so interested in our discussion on the future of our relations, she said.Britains Foreign Office said Saturday, explaining Johnsons absence, that we do not see the need for an additional meeting on Sunday because the US election timetable is long established.An act of democracy has taken place, there is a transition period and we will work with the current and future administrations to ensure the best outcomes for Britain.Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, another no-show, said on Friday that the meeting was completely premature and hit out at frustrated and hysterical statements have been made in Europe on the theme.Until we dont know who will be in charge of the direction of US diplomacy, until the White House officially makes public its economic and foreign policy priorities, this is a complete waste of time, I dont know what we have to talk about.In Paris, the French foreign ministry said Ayrault was unable to attend the dinner as he had a very important meeting early Monday with incoming UN chief Antonio Guterres.The three were replaced at the dinner table by their respective EU ambassadors.Meanwhile NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned bluntly of the dangers of American isolationism.In an article in Britains Observer newspaper on Sunday, Stoltenberg warned: This is no time to question the partnership between Europe and the United States.Going it alone is not an option.Trumps apparent coolness on Europe has caused nervousness throughout a bloc grappling with an migration crisis, a stalled economy and a resurgent Russia on its eastern border.But his win is also being seen by some in the EU as a chance to push ahead with projects of its own in a bid to build unity after the shock of Brexit.On Monday the foreign ministers will discuss plans to boost defence cooperation -- a move that Britain had long blocked -- including a controversial proposal for a European military headquarters.Lets stop talking about disarray (after the Trump victory). Isnt this a chance for Europe to pull itself together? Ayrault told the French radio station Europe 1.Britain has traditionally led opposition to stronger European defence initiatives, arguing that these could weaken US commitment to NATO. Washington shoulders two-thirds of the 28-nation alliances military spending.But commentators say Britain is now on particularly tricky ground as it plans to leave the EU yet also needs Trumps backing for special trade status after Brexit.

Belgium crush Estonia 8-1, Portugal thrash Latvia 4-1

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PARIS (AFP) - Belgium hammered Estonia 8-1 to go clear in Group H, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal survived a scare before overcoming Latvia 4-1 in World Cup qualifying on Sunday.There were braces from Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens as Belgium ran rampant with further goals from Thomas Meunier, Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco and an own goal to make it four wins from four.In the same group Greece scored a 95th-minute equaliser through Giorgos Tzavellas after a free-kick had given Bosnia the lead as the ball rebounded back off the post and in off goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.The point for Greece means they have 10 from four games in Group H, two behind the Belgians.Gibraltar made a piece of history and were level for a while in Cyprus before going down agonisingly 3-1.But they had cause to celebrate a significant consolation with Lee Casciaros 51st-minute equaliser -- their first ever World Cup qualifier away goal.Ronaldo scored twice and even missed a spot-kick as European champions Portugal recovered from a second-half wobble in Lisbon to remain three points adrift of Group B leaders Switzerland.Ronaldo converted a first-half spot kick to open the scores but then missed a second one which hit the post.Within a minute Latvia were level as substitute Arturs Zjuzins pounced on the loose ball following a goalmouth scramble to fire home on 67 minutes.But headers from Willian and Bruno Alves and a spectacular scissor-kick from Ronaldo assured Portugal of the three points.Earlier in Group B, the Faroe Islands were similarly plucky in soggy Lucerne, where Switzerland scored seven minutes from the end through Stephan Lichtsteiner to grind out a 2-0 victory and maintain their 100 percent record.In the same group Hungary hammered Andorra 4-0 at home.Out-of-favour Manchester United winger Memphis Depay came off the bench to score twice and save the Netherlands blushes in Luxembourg.Depay gave United manager Jose Mourinho a reminder of his worth just as the Dutch were sliding to an embarrassing draw.The 3-1 victory over Luxembourg keeps the misfiring Dutch in the hunt for a place at Russia 2018, but they will need to play better if they are to trump the twin threats of table-toppers France and Sweden in Group A.Arjen Robben had a chance after a quarter of an hour for the Dutch, but should have done better than firing at Ralph Schon in the Luxembourg goal, as the Dutch tightened the screw.The home stopper was finally beaten on 36 minutes when Robben moved the ball onto his favourite left foot to slot home for a deserved Dutch lead.But a minute before the break the minnows grabbed a leveller after Joshua Brenet felled Daniel da Mota in the box and Maxime Chanot punished the visitors from the penalty spot.Robben, whose brilliant career has been blighted by injury, failed to make it out for the second half. Wesley Sneijder was also hooked at the break.It was Depay, one of the replacements, who struck soon afterwards to break home hearts.And the 22-year-old, strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford to Everton, sealed the match with his second goal in the final minutes.Also in Group A Bulgaria edged Belarus 1-0 in Sofia.

Steyn to target England for comeback

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South Africa cricket star Dale Steyn will target a tour of England starting next May for an international comeback after breaking a shoulder bone in Australia this month. The 33-year-old fast bowler is sure to miss a visit by Sri Lanka from late December and a tour to New Zealand beginning in mid-February.Dale will be sidelined for at least six months before attempting to bowl again, national team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Sunday.We are positive that he will make a successful return to international cricket.A 10-match South Africa tour of England begins on May 24 with a one-day international (ODI) at Headingley in Leeds.The Proteas are scheduled to play three ODIs, three Twenty20 internationals and four Tests during a tour that stretches into August.Steyn needs five Test wickets to reach 422 and replace retired former skipper Shaun Pollock as the leading South African wicket-taker in the longest format of the game.The injury-prone bowler had an operation in Cape Town this week to repair the injury that occurred during a 177-run first Test triumph over Australia in Perth.
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