Sunday 27 November 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Latham falls for 80 as Pakistan strike back

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HAMILTON (AFP) - Pakistan claimed the vital wickets of Tom Latham and Kane Williamson to slow New Zealands advance towards an imposing target on the penultimate day of the second Test in Hamilton on Monday.Latham fell for 80 and Williamson for 42 in the middle session of play as New Zealand reached tea at 181-3 in their second innings, a lead of 236 with seven wickets in hand. Ross Taylor was on 37 with Henry Nicholls unbeaten on nine. New Zealand won the first Test and a draw in Hamilton would be enough for them to claim the two-Test series. They have not beaten Pakistan 13 Test series dating back to 1985. Pakistan had their tails up when they removed Jeet Raval early on day four, but they found further success hard to come by as Latham and Williamson put on 96 for the second wicket. Imran Khan made the breakthrough in the third over after lunch with a ball that angled in on Williamson and caught an outside edge that went through to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed. Latham, with Ross Taylor his new partner, seldom had a dull moment as he survived several appeals and smacked 12 boundaries to reach his highest score in 14 innings and put behind him ducks in his last two outings.He was eventually undone by Wahab Riaz, who was still able to find life on the fourth day of a browning pitch. He fired a short ball which angled in towards the batsman and when Latham attempted to fend it away it looped off his glove to Ahmad.Latham had survived a run out appeal by the narrowest of margins on 23 after being called through for a quick single by Williamson. After watching multiple television replays, umpire Ian Gould ruled there was one frame in it, only for a technical gremlin see the word out go up on the big screen before it was quickly corrected.Pakistan wasted a review on Latham for a Sohail Khan lbw shout when the replay showed a clear inside edge, and the review of an lbw appeal from Imran progressed only as far as the delivery which showed it was a no ball. On 41, Latham was dropped by Sami Aslam, the third time in this Test that the fielder has spilled a catch off the bowling of Mohammad Amir.Taylor, who stood in a partnership of 52 with Latham, has added a further 22 with Nicholls. For Pakistan, Amir, Imran and Riaz have one wicket each.

Nawabshah: Two dacoits killed in police encounter

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NAWABSHAH (Dunya News) – According to details, dacoits set up a blockade at the National Highwat near Nawabshah on Sunday when a police patrol reached there. The dacoits open fire at police which was retaliated due to which two dacoits were killed while five of their accomplices managed to escape.Police have recovered two TT pistols from the dead dacoits. Police sources said that the dead dacoits were identified as Sohrab Falpoto and Ashiq Falpoto. Sources further informed that Sohrab Falpoto, with Rs five lakh as head money, was involved in 30 cases of robberies while Ashiq Falpoto was wanted by police in 15 cases of robberies.

Lahore: Dacoit killed in alleged police encounter

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Police shot dead a dacoit in an alleged police encounter in Harbanspura area of Lahore on Sunday night while his accomplice managed to escape, Dunya News reported.According to details, accused named Abu Bakar who escaped from Defence Police Station a day before was shot dead after an exchange of fire when he came face to face with police in Harbanspura area.Police sources said that the killed dacoit was involved in more than 60 cases of robberies while he was also wanted by police for injuring four people during a robbery attempt.

Karachi: Firing incident claims one life

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, some unidentified persons riding on a motorcycle opened fire in Landhi No-1 area of Karachi on Sunday and critically wounded two people identified as Shahzad and Maqsood, Dunya News reported. The injured were shifted to hospital where Shahzad succumbed to his wounds. The initial police report suggests the incident a case of resistance during a robbery. Further investigations are underway.

Multan: 4 suspects arrested during search operation

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MULTAN (Dunya News) – According to details, police and intelligence agencies carried out a joint search operation in Mujahid Town and PC Colony in the jurisdiction of Muzaffarabad Police Station in Multan on Sunday and arrested four suspects.The law enforcement agencies sealed all the entry and exit points of the area before carrying out house-to-house search during which four suspects were taken into custody. Ammunition was also recovered from the suspects. The arrested persons were shifted to some undisclosed location for further investigation.

PML-N will regret doing politics of loose talk:Chandio

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Sindhs Information advisor Maula Bux Chandio said on Sunday that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would regret doing politics of loose talk, reported Dunya News.Chandio responded to Abid Sher Ali and said that if he was relative of Nawaz Sharif, Abid Sher Ali would have been finding job of a peon. Chandio also said that Abid Sher Ali would celebrate if Nawaz Sharif would be in trouble.He added that instead of accusing Ayaan Ali and others, Abid Sher Ali should concentrate on proving Qatars princes letter right.

11 new ministers inducted in Punjab cabinet

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab cabinet was expanded after three and a half years as 11 ministers, three advisors and two special assistants will take oath of office today (Monday), Dunya News reported. Governor Punjab, Malik Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana would administer oath from them at the Governors House.Those who will take oath as ministers included, Jahangir Khanzada, Naghma Mushtaq, Amanatullah Khan Shadikhel, Sheikh Ala-ud-Din, Manshaullah Butt, Mehar Ijaz, Zaeem Qadri, Naeem Akhtar Bhaba, Syed Raza Ali Gilani, Ahmed Yar Hinjar and Khwaja Salman Rafiq.Three advisors including Khwaja Imran Nazir, Rana Maqbool Ahmad and Azamul Haq and two special assistants Rana Arshad and Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan will also take oath today.

Daska: 13-year-old girl molested

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DASKA (Dunya News) – According to details, 13-year-old daughter of a labourer was kidnapped by her neighbourer Wahab with the help of his friends Israr and Usman when she went out of her house at the Awami Road in Daska.Wahab took her to his house where three of them raped her. The victim’s family informed the City Police about the incident who arrested the culprits and also registered a case against them.Soon after the arrest of the culprits, the ill-fated family is being pressurized to make a deal with rapists while the family is also receiving threats. The victim’s family has requested the higher authorities to provide them justice.

New Zealand 97/1, take 152 runs lead against Pakistan at lunch on day 3

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HAMILTON, New Zealand (AFP) - Tom Latham snapped out of a batting slump with a half-century as New Zealand set about compiling a healthy lead on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan on Monday.At lunch in Hamilton New Zealand, 1-0 up in the two-Test series and seeking their first series win over Pakistan in more than 30 years, were 97-1, a lead of 152 with nine wickets in hand.Latham was unbeaten on 53, his 11th half-century, after being out of sorts in his previous three innings in the series with scores of nine and two ducks.Kane Williamson was the other not out batsman on 37.After New Zealand faced only one ball of their second innings before rain ended play on Sunday, Latham and Jeet Raval played patiently through 28 deliveries at the start on Monday before getting the scoreboard moving.They were able to take quick singles when Imran Khan was brought into the attack early so Mohammad Amir could switch ends to have the stiff breeze behind him.The switch worked as Amir immediately had Raval trapped lbw for two, the first time the rookie New Zealand opener has failed to reach double figures in his two Tests so far.Latham brought up his 50 with three boundaries off Amir in the final over before lunch in what has been a shaky innings.He survived a run out appeal by the narrowest of margins on 23 after being called through for a quick single by Williamson.After watching multiple television replays, umpire Ian Gould ruled there was one frame in it and Latham was not out.But Gould then mistakenly pushed the wrong button and out flashed on the big screen before it was quickly changed.Pakistan had earlier wasted a review on Latham before he had scored when Sohail Khans appeal for lbw was rejected after the television replay showed a clear inside edge.Latham was also dropped by Sami Aslam off Amir on 41. It has not been a happy Test for Aslam, who dropped Raval twice off Amir in New Zealands first innings.

Messi scores but Barcelona drop two more points by drawing

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelonas winless streak at Real Sociedad stretched to eight games as the Spanish champions were outplayed in a 1-1 draw on Sunday that leaves them six points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.A sumptuous finish from Lionel Messi spared Barcas blushes after Willian Jose had headed Sociedad into a deserved lead just after half-time.And Barca were fortunate to escape without a fifth consecutive league defeat in San Sebastian as Carlos Vela hit the woodwork twice and Juanmis header 14 minutes from time was wrongly ruled out for offside.A point is enough to move Barca up to second, but they now desperately need to beat Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season at the Camp Nou on Saturday.Earlier, Atletico Madrid got back to winning ways and moved back into the top four as goals from Diego Godin, Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Carrasco ensured a comfortable 3-0 win at Osasuna.Barcelona still havent won in San Sebastian since 2007, but were grateful for the point as Sociedad failed to cash in on their superiority.Xabi Prieto headed a guilt-edged chance wide, whilst Vela also fired off target when well-placed inside the area before the break.The visitors first effort on target came on 50 minutes when Geronimo Rulli turned behind Neymars free-kick.However, Sociedad went in front three minutes later when Gerard Pique, who played on in the second-half with a severely strapped ankle, could only slash Joses effort into his own net after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had blocked Velas initial effort.Neymar started up front for Barca despite suffering a minor car accident in his Ferrari on Sunday morning.And the Brazilian finally kickstarted a lame Barca display six minutes later as he burst down the left and crossed for Messi to apply a characteristically clinical finish for his 19th goal in 16 games this season.Sociedad were cruelly denied when a wonderful hit by Vela came back off the underside of the bar and substitute Juanmis finish from the rebound was wrongly ruled out for offside.Asier Illarramendi then cleared off the line from Denis Suarez at the other end before Vela struck the woodwork again with a low effort that clipped the post in a frantic finale.Atletico had suffered back-to-back La Liga defeats for the first time in four years at the hands of Sociedad and Real Madrid in recent weeks.However, they never looked in danger after Jan Oblak had saved Roberto Torress penalty with the scores still level at 0-0.Godin nodded home Kokes corner nine minutes before half-time and almost straight from kick-off Angel Correa released Gameiro to double Atleticos lead.Substitute Carrasco rounded off the scoring with his eighth goal of the season in stoppage time.It was a very important game for us for the way in which we ended up playing, said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.Atletico leapfrog Villarreal, who earlier lost 2-0 at home to Alaves, into fourth and move back to within nine points of Real Madrid.Oblak was decisive with the penalty save and after Godins goal we felt more comfortable, added Simeone.In the second half we were a lot more organised and had more of a collective effort which allowed us to kill off the game.Granada remain winless and rooted to the bottom after a 3-1 defeat at Celta Vigo.

Formula One: Button and Massa make proud exits

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Jenson Button and Felipe Massa made emotional exits from Formula One on Sunday when they took part in their final races of long and successful careers.Briton Button, the 2009 champion, and Massa, who missed out on the 2008 title in dramatic circumstances after winning his home Brazilian Grand Prix, were both given warm farewells by their teams, friends and paddock regulars.Button was forced into retirement after only 12 laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix won by former McLaren team-mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton, for Mercedes.Hamiltons current Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg finished second to claim his first drivers world title.Massa finished the race in ninth position to score points in his final race for Williams, the team with which Button started his career.I am so proud and it is very emotional, said Massa. I have enjoyed it all so much and will have wonderful memories of my time.Massa drove 250 races for Sauber, Ferrari and Williams.Button, who came into Formula One aged 20 in 2000, started 305 races and, like Massa, has been much admired for his easy-going personality.Our reliability is something we pride ourselves on -- we dont have failures. Its so unusual. Its unlucky, but to be fair I dont really care, he said on Sunday.But it doesnt change any feelings of my career and ending my career. Im very content with what Ive achieved. Tonights going to be a hell of a lot of fun.

Juventus stunned 3-1 in the Italian league by Genoa

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MILAN (AFP) - A quickfire brace from Giovanni Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, opened up the Serie A title race on Sunday as Genoa claimed a stunning 3-1 win over leaders Juventus.Juves third defeat of a season in which they are hoping to secure a record sixth consecutive scudetto left the Turin giants just four points ahead of on-form AC Milan, with several other challengers close behind.Coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted the defeat was a blow in a game that saw Leonardo Bonucci and Dani Alves added to the clubs lengthy injury list.Its a blow and has brought us back to earth with a bump, said Allegri. Im angry, but no team is capable of winning all the time.Juventus travelled to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium without a number of key players, with forwards Paulo Dybala and Marko Pjaca and defender Andrea Barzagli notably all in the treatment room.Experienced defender Giorgio Chiellini was on the bench recovering from a knock, meaning a start in the back three for Swiss wing-back Stephan Lichtsteiner.With Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain in the same straits due to a muscle problem, Allegri was forced to play Juan Cuadrado up front alongside Mario Mandzukic.Genoa sensed an upset, and were 2-0 up by the 13th minute thanks to a fine Simeone double.Were delighted to have beaten the strongest team in Italy, it gives you a special kind of satisfaction, said Genoa coach Ivan Juric.We had a great game and everyone was completely focused. I want us to kick on from this and have more confidence in ourselves.For the opener, Lichtsteiner was outfoxed by Diego Laxalt in midfield and the fleet-footed Uruguayan motored away to set up Luca Rigoni for a drive that Gianluigi Buffon did well to parry.But Lucas Ocampos was quick to the rebound and when Buffon stopped the ball again, Simeone pounced to beat the keeper at the second time of asking.When Simeone was left unmarked on the edge of the box by Moroccan defender Medhi Benatia, it left the 21-year-old Argentine free to get down low and direct a diving header past Buffon, although Darko Lazovic deserved plenty of credit for turning Alex Sandro inside out prior to the cross.Genoa were looking dangerous every time they moved upfield, and a nervous Juve conceded a third before the half-hour.A chaotic corner was knocked down for Rigoni to fire a volley goalwards and when Alex Sandro attempted a clearance, the Brazilian only managed to shin the ball over the line and into the roof of his own net.Juve avoided a total whitewash when Miralem Pjanic stepped up to curl a superb free-kick past Mattia Perin eight minutes from the end.Elsewhere Crotone moved off bottom spot thanks to a 1-1 home draw with Sampdoria, thanks also to Palermos earlier 1-0 defeat to Lazio that sent the Sicilians to rock bottom.Lazio, who host Roma in the city derby next week, are up to third, just five points behind Juve.Atalantas fine form continued with a 2-0 win at Bologna thanks to goals from Andrea Masiello and Jasmin Kurtic either side of the interval that moved the Bergamo-based side up to fourth, also just five points off the lead.Cagliari had Marco Saus 58th-minute goal to thank for a 2-1 win at home to Udinese after Seko Fofanas superb 51st-minute strike levelled for the visitors following Diego Fariass 35th-minute opener from the spot.Roma, currently fifth, can move to within four points of Juve with a win at home to Pescara later on Sunday.On Monday, Napoli will look to close their nine-point gap to Juve when they host Sassuolo, while Inter Milan host Fiorentina.

Syria forces retake 6 Aleppo rebel areas, civilians flee

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ALEPPO (AFP) - Government forces retook six rebel-held districts of eastern Aleppo over the weekend, forcing thousands of civilians to flee as they pressed their offensive Sunday to retake Syrias second city.In a major breakthrough in the push to retake the whole city, regime forces on Saturday captured Masaken Hanano, which had been the biggest rebel-held district in eastern Aleppo.On Sunday, the 13th day of the operation, they also took control of the adjacent neighbourhoods of Jabal Badra and Baadeeen and captured three others, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Inzarat, Al-Sakan al-Shaabi and Ain al-Tall have all returned to regime hands and government forces have made large forays into Sakhur and nearby Haidariya, the monitor said.It said government forces are in control of most of the northern part of Aleppo.The rebels have lost at least 30 percent of the territory they once controlled in Aleppo, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.The regime gains came as its aircraft pounded rebel positions and amid heavy clashes between the opposition and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad in the strategic Sakhur district.Masaken Hanano was the first district the rebels took in the summer of 2012 in a move that divided the city into a rebel-held east and a regime-controlled west.Around 250,000 civilians besieged for months in the east have faced serious food and fuel shortages.The Observatory said that more than 4,000 civilians had fled east Aleppo overnight Saturday -- nearly 1,700 to government-held areas and more than 2,500 to the Kurdish-controlled northern district of Sheikh Maksoud.It is the first exodus of this kind from east Aleppo since 2012, Abdel Rahman said.Syrian state television broadcast images of a crowd of civilians including women and children gathered around green buses that it said had come to pick them up in Masaken Hanano.One woman was shown pushing a stroller and many others carried plastic bags on their heads as bombardment was heard in the distance.Official media said they were taken by the army to safe areas.Yasser al-Youssef, from the rebel group Nureddin al-Zinki, said opposition fighters were consolidating their positions in Sakhur.We are strengthening our positions to defend the city and residents, but the aircraft are destroying everything methodically, area by area, he said of a regime campaign of air strikes.Sakhur lies on a stretch of just 1.5 kilometres (less than a mile) between west Aleppo and Masaken Hanano, now both regime-controlled.If the regime takes control of Sakhur, east Aleppo would be split in two from north to south, dealing a further blow to the armed opposition.The latest regime push comes after days of intense bombardment on the east, which has been pounded with air strikes, shelling and barrel bombs.On Saturday, dozens of families fled Sakhur and Haidariya as regime raids and artillery killed at least 18 civilians in several districts, the Britain-based Observatory said.At least 225 civilians, including 27 children, have been killed since the governments latest assault on east Aleppo began on November 15.Rebel forces also intensified rocket attacks on western districts overnight, killing at least four civilians and wounding dozens, the Observatory said.Such attacks have killed a total of 27 civilians since the offensive began, among them 11 children.The United Nations has a plan to deliver aid to Aleppo and evacuate the sick and wounded, which rebel factions have approved but which Damascus has not yet agreed. Guarantees are also needed from regime ally Russia.Once a commercial and industrial hub, Aleppo has seen some of the worst fighting in Syrias nearly six-year war.The conflict broke out in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests, and has since evolved into a complex war involving different factions and foreign powers.On Sunday, the Turkish army said that 22 pro-Ankara Syrian rebels were hit by a chemical gas attack from Islamic State group jihadists in northern Syria.The Turkish army is backing the Syrian fighters in an unprecedented cross-border operation it says is targeting both IS and the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Ankara considers to be a terrorist group.The YPG is a key component of a US-backed Arab-Kurdish alliance fighting to oust IS from its de facto Syria capital of Raqa, after the jihadist group overran large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014.Syrias war has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced more than half the population.

Iraqis in liberated Mosul district wave white flags

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MOSUL (AFP) - The women ululated as residents waved white flags Sunday in celebration of Iraqi forces who drove Islamic State group jihadists from their eastern Mosul neighbourhood of Al-Khadraa.We are raising white flags to show the army that were peaceful, said shopkeeper Abu Mohammad, a man in his 70s, as he stood outside his store.Iraqi forces launched a major offensive on October 17 to retake Mosul, which is the countrys second city and where jihadist supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a caliphate in 2014.On Saturday, they drove IS jihadists out of Al-Khadraa after days of fierce fighting.Abu Mohammad said residents greeted the army with flowers to show their appreciation, and immediately he reopened his shop.We are now done with the jihadists, he said.But intermittent gunfire and explosions could still be heard in the distance and Iraqi forces say they are still hunting down diehard jihadists who may be hiding in the area.There are residents who are cooperating with us, said Lieutenant Nasser al-Ruqabi from the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS).He said CTS started working with them Sunday to identify would-be jihadist holdouts and to determine which roads could have been mined by the IS fighters.But Abu Mohammad is adamant that the situation in Al-Khadraa is under control and that he will not have to flee his home as tens of thousands of Iraqis in the region have in recent weeks.We will not leave, he insisted.A CTS commander, Thaer al-Kenani, said his unit had encouraged residents to hunker down in their homes and raise the white flags for their protection.But despite that, the jihadists went inside their homes and inside mosques and used them as hideouts from where they opened fire at us, said Kanani.With the presence of Iraqi forces in Al-Khadraa, residents have been trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.Many can be seen cleaning their homes or just walking down the streets, preciously carrying their white flags like a protection shield as if to reassure themselves that everything is back to normal.Children cooped up for days indoors are also out on the streets and run after a military convoy flashing V for victory signs.In a house bustling with people, a group of women are crowded in a room talking about their new found freedom after years of living under the brutal rule of the jihadists.Some like Rima are even planning for the future.Yesterday, at 1:00 pm we got rid of them and we were liberated, said Rima who is in her 20s.Now I would like to go back to university to continue my studies in Arabic literature, she said.Her mother, Umm Ahmad Hamdani, interrupts her.This is not our house. We live in the building next door, but Daesh (IS) kicked us out, now we are seven families living here, she said.We buried our dead in public gardens. Before yesterday we buried three and yesterday two, she added.Across the street from the house, black plumes of smoke billow into the sky and beyond that a group of residents are walking by, clasping white flags.Umm Akram Juwadiya said she raised a white flag on top of her house two days ago, when the fighting between Iraqi forces and the jihadists intensified.Since the army entered Al-Khadraa, it has summoned many young men for questioning, including her four sons.For two-and-a-half-years, Umm Akram and many other mothers endured abuse from the jihadists.They used to come almost daily to question my four boys, and now they are being interrogated by the army. I am worried, she said.But her concern melted and she broke out in tears when she saw the two sons of her neighbour return home after being summoned for questioning by the army.Umm Akram then rushed outside as a military convoy carrying Lieutenant General Abdul Ghani al-Asadi, a top CTS commander, drove past her house.May God make you victorious. Long live Iraq, long live Iraq, she shouts at the soldiers.Asadi says the residents of Al-Khadraa played a key role in securing the victory.They provided us with information and they helped us. And they also followed the instructions we gave them, he told AFP.An AFP correspondent on Sunday saw security forces arresting a number of young men.They are members of the intelligence unit, and they are arresting people who collaborated with Daesh, Kenani said.

Conservative Fillon wins French rightwing primary

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PARIS (AFP) - Francois Fillon, a conservative reformist promising to shrink the French state, on Sunday clinched the rightwing nomination to stand in next years presidential election with a resounding victory.Ex-prime minister Fillon will now become a favourite to be Frances next leader after winning the US-style primary to pick the nominee of the Republicans party and its allies.Partial results showed him winning 67 percent of the vote with results counted from 9,193 polling stations out of 10,229.France wants the truth and France wants action, he told cheering supporters after his centrist rival Alain Juppe conceded defeat.The left means failure, the far-right means bankruptcy, he declared, saying he would be the candidate of all those who in their hearts are proud to be French.The French presidential vote is seen as a key test for mainstream political parties after the success of Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign in Britain, both of which harnessed anti-elite anger.Fillon will face fierce competition in the election in April and May from far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the anti-establishment candidate hoping to emulate Trumps shock victory in the US.Turnout in the primary was expected to be beat the four million people who took part in a first round of voting a week ago when Fillon, 62, came from behind to lead a field of seven candidates.The prime minister from 2007-12 has warned that France is on the verge of revolt and believes his plan to slash 500,000 public sector jobs and increase working hours is the tonic needed to kickstart the economy.The devout Catholic has also taken a hard line on immigration and Islam in France, telling newcomers to the country last week that when you enter someone elses house you do not take over.Voting in the northwest of Paris, Christophe Mordelet, a 45-year-old human resources manager, said he chose Fillon because he showed more authority than Juppe, who campaigned as a unifier.You have to bang your fist on the table to get reforms through in this country. We have to stop giving into the power of the street, he said.Juppe made a clear pitch for the centre-ground, saying his opponents agenda was too brutal and he was better placed to keep the far-right out of power.Conceding defeat and ending his career-long dream of becoming president, the 71-year-old wished Fillon good luck in his campaign to become Frances next leader.During the campaign, Juppe had hit out at his opponent as a yes man for Russian President Vladimir Putin and also questioned his views on abortion. Fillon wants closer ties with the Kremlin and has called for the European Union to lift its sanctions on Moscow imposed after Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The Republicans candidate is widely tipped by pollsters to face Le Pen -- and beat her -- in a second round run-off in May next year.But the race is seen as highly unpredictable after a year of political upsets and uncertainty about the impact of independents and the Socialist party candidate.Socialist President Francois Hollande has yet to announce whether he will try to defy his historically low approval ratings by running for a second term.After a troubled five years in power, a survey on Friday showed current Prime Minister Manuel Valls would be a far more popular candidate than Hollande.Valls has not ruled out challenging his boss in a left-wing primary set for January, telling the weekly Journal du Dimanche he wanted to dispel the idea that the left has no chance of retaining power.Hollandes former protege and economy minister, 38-year-old Emmanuel Macron, is also set to stand for the presidency as a centrist independent.Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is also likely to draw votes away from mainstream parties in a trend seen in elections across Europe following years of austerity and anger over globalisation and job losses.Like Fillon, Juppe had pledged to cut public sector jobs -- but only half as many -- saying a more gradual response was needed in a country where trade unions still have significant clout.The head of the hardline CGT trade union, Philippe Martinez, told France Inter radio a mobilisation will be on the cards if he tried to ram through reforms.Some analysts believe that Fillon might have to moderate his programme.Accepting the presidential nomination on Sunday, he promised to reach out to all those who want to serve the country.
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