Eight people were killed today when fighting broke out in a northern Myanmar town on the border with China, a region long plagued by ethnic rebel insurgencies.
	The clashes are another blow to civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's hopes of forging a nationwide peace agreement after years of war in Myanmar's many ethnic minority border regions.
	Locals in the town of Muse, a hotbed of smuggling, reported that fighting began in the early morning.
	"People from (the) border checkpoint are now fleeing to Muse because of heavy fighting," Aye Aye, a resident of the town, told AFP.
	In a statement later today, Suu Kyi's office said eight people were killed in the fighting - one soldier, three police officers, one rebel fighter and three civilians.
	A hospital worker in Muse told AFP two civilians died after arrival from bullet wounds.
	Fighting between Myanmar's military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin state, which reignited in 2011 after the collapse of a 17-year ceasefire, ...

Eight dead in fighting in Myanmar town on China border

PTI Automatic

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has called on world leaders to forge a more "connected" planet, something he said was under threat after Donald Trump's US election win and Britain's "Brexit" vote.
	Zuckerberg said in a keynote speech yesterday at an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit that while globalisation and interconnectedness have their problems, the world must fight the urge to "disconnect".
	"As we are learning this year in election after election, even if globalisation might (boost) prosperity, it also creates inequality. It helps some people and it hurts others," he said.
	The 32-year-old billionaire said there was a "fundamental choice" to make in reacting to that inequality.
	"We can disconnect, risk less prosperity and hope jobs that are lost come back. Or we can connect more, try to do more great things, try to work on even greater prosperity and then work to aggressively share that prosperity with everyone."
	The second option is better, but also harder, he said in ...

Facebook's Zuckerberg urges post-Trump world not to

A Canadian tourist who left a suitcase containing 10,000 euros (USD 10,500) in cash in a Barcelona taxi has been reunited with his money thanks to an honest cab driver, police said today.]
	The driver dropped off the suitcase yesterday at a police station in Barcelona's Eixample neighbourhood, home to Guadi's famed Sagrada Familia church, after he realised it had been left behind, a police spokeswoman said.
	"Police opened the suitcase to try to find information that could identify its owner. Inside they found 10,000 euros in cash, baby clothes and a Canadian passport," she added.
	Using the passport police were able to track down the owner and return the suitcase.
	"He was really grateful and sent us a thank you note for returning it so quickly," the spokeswoman said.

Spanish taxi driver returns 10,000 euros left in cab

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her party today that she will seek re-election next year, a move likely to be welcomed in many capitals as a sign of stability following poll triumphs for Brexit and Donald Trump.
	After months of feverish speculation, Merkel said at a meeting of her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) that she would run for a fourth term, party sources told AFP.
	Merkel, 62, has governed Europe's top economic power, which does not have term limits, since 2005.
	Another full four-year mandate, which pollsters say is likely, would tie the post-war record set by her mentor Helmut Kohl, who presided over the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
	With no clear successor in the CDU, her decision also comes as a relief to her party.
	Merkel represents "stability and reliability in turbulent times because she holds society together and stands up to over-simplification" by populists, CDU deputy leader Julia Kloeckner told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
	"She stands for moderation .

Merkel tells party ready to seek fourth term as chancellor

Winds gusting to hurricane force left nearly 70,000 homes in western and northwestern France without power today, the national electricity grid Enedis said.
	The national weather agency Meteo France said winds powering to 160 kilometres per hour battered the Breton peninsula and Normandy coast overnight, and two other regions remained under a storm alert.
	Enedis said 33,000 homes were without power in Normandy, 18,700 in Brittany and 16,500 in the Loire-Atlantique region, which lies south of Brittany.
	A woman was seriously hurt in Brittany's Cote d'Armor department when her car hit a fallen tree, local officials said.
	The fire brigade in Brittany was called out more than 600 times during the night, mainly to clear blocked roads, they said.
	Meteo-France said storm conditions in the northeastern Atlantic had combined with a strong airstream directed at northwestern France, producing "an event that occurs three or four times per year."
	The agency maintained a high-winds alert for ...

70,000 homes without power in storm-hit France

At least seven children were killed today by rebel rocket fire that hit a school in the government-held west of Aleppo city, state media said.
	   State television initially gave a toll of 10 killed, but the official SANA news agency subsequently said eight people had been killed, seven children and a woman.
	   The rocket fire hit a school in the Furqan neighbourhood, and also injured at least 32 people, SANA said, citing a police source.
	The news agency reported additional rebel fire on other parts of west Aleppo, which is regularly targeted by the opposition forces that hold the eastern part of the city.
	The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war, also reported the deaths of seven children in rebel fire.
	It said the deaths brought the toll in the last two days in west Aleppo to 13, among them nine children.
	Government forces are currently waging a ferocious assault against east Aleppo, targeting it with air strikes, barrel bombs and artillery ...

Rebel fire on west Aleppo kills 7 children: Syria state TV

Police today said they had arrested 166 radical left-wingers at a protest in the Dutch capital The Hague over police violence.
	About 200 protesters had gathered for yesterday's demonstration, organised under the slogan "Stop oppression against anti-facists and anarchists".
	The city had approved the rally as long as people left their faces uncovered.
	"At the start of the demonstration, a number of protesters covered their faces with scarves, hoods and sunglasses," the police said in a statement.
	After they refused to unmask, the mayor ordered the event to end.
	"A group of 166 protesters resisted... And were arrested for breaking the law on public demonstrations," they said.
	Illegal fireworks, paint bombs, sticks and a hammer were found on the ground when police moved in to make the arrests.

166 arrests in Dutch 'anti-fascism' demo

Two civilians died today as fighting broke out in a northern Myanmar town on the border with China, a region that has long festered with debilitating ethnic rebel insurgencies.
	The latest clashes are another blow to civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's hopes to forge a nationwide peace agreement after years of war in Myanmar's many ethnic minority border regions.
	Locals in the town of Muse, a notorious hotbed of smuggling, reported that fighting broke out since early morning.
	"People from (the) border check point are now fleeing to Muse town because of heavy fighting but we do not know which groups are fighting yet," Aye Aye, a resident in Muse town told AFP.
	"A man and a woman died because of gunshot wounds after they arrived in hospital this morning," a worker at the local hospital said, asking for anonymity and adding that some 25 others were wounded.
	Fighting between the Myanmar military and Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which reignited in 2011 after the collapse of a 17-year 

2 dead in fighting in Myanmar town on China border

Crisis-hit Australia included English-born opener Matt Renshaw among six changes to their revamped Test squad Sunday for this week's crucial third day-night Test against South Africa in Adelaide.
     Selectors named the 20-year-old Queensland opener Renshaw alongside two other batting debutants, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson, in a 12-man squad.
     Pacemen Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird return to the national side, and Matthew Wade comes in as wicketkeeper after Peter Nevill was axed.
     Australia last made as many as six changes in 1984, when they faced the then formidable West Indies. Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson, Nevill and Joe Mennie paid the price for Australia's wretched innings and 80-run defeat to South Africa in last week's second Hobart Test.
     Interim chief selector Trevor Hohns, who stepped in after Rod Marsh stood down on Wednesday, said that Voges, all-rounder Mitch Marsh and spinner Steve O'Keefe were not considered because of injury.
     The ...

Crisis-hit Australia make six changes

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has pulled out of the New Zealand tour to return home because his father-in-law is critically ill, a team spokesman said Sunday.
     Misbah received the news early Sunday and headed to the airport with his wife and daughter as soon as the match ended.
	Azhar Ali will take over as captain and no immediate decision was made about flying out a replacement before the second Test starts in Hamilton on Friday.
	New Zealand won the first Test by eight wickets midway through the fourth day.

Family illness sends Pakistan captain Misbah home

Pope Francis will bring to a close his "Year of Mercy" today, shutting the Holy Door at Saint Peter's after a packed 12 months that has seen him raise Mother Teresa to sainthood and rehome Syrian refugees.
	The Argentine, who has modelled himself on Saint Francis of Assisi, spent the year with the downtrodden, holding special masses and passing one Friday every month with refugees, victims of sex trafficking, the sick, the elderly, and vulnerable children.
	He will close the panelled bronze doors at the Vatican's basilica, which will later be walled up from the inside as per tradition.
	The "extraordinary Jubilee", only the third since the tradition began 700 years ago, kicked off amid security concerns, with fears of possible jihadist attacks. Police with submachine guns stood guard next to Swiss guards around the tiny state.
	In defiance, not one but two men in white attended the opening ceremony: Francis welcoming his predecessor Benedict XVI in a move that marked the first time a .

Pope closes jubilee of saints, refugees

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick delivered Real Madrid's first success over Atletico Madrid in La Liga for three years with a 3-0 win in the last meeting between the sides at Atletico's Vicente Calderon.
     Real now lead second-placed Barcelona by four points after the Catalans paid a heavy price for the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in a 0-0 draw with nine-man Malaga earlier on Saturday.
     Ronaldo struck the decisive spot-kick as Real edged Atletico on penalties in the Champions League final in May and was the match winner once more, albeit with a slight hint of fortune.
     The Portuguese's opener took a wicked deflection on its way past the excellent Jan Oblak.
     Ronaldo doubled Real's lead from the penalty spot 19 minutes from time before a brilliant Gareth Bale cross teed him up for the simplest of finishes to complete his hat-trick.
     "We played an enormous game from the start against a very difficult opponent," said a delighted Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.
   

Ronaldo hat-trick downs Atletico, extends Real lead

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye had a collusive role in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal engulfing her government, prosecutors said today, as they formally laid out charges against Park's close confidante and two former presidential aides.
	The scandal has sparked nationwide fury, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to call for Park's resignation, providing a stark challenge to her authority.
	"We, based on the evidence collected so far... View that the president played a collusive role in a considerable portion of the criminal activities involving the (three) people," said Lee Young-Ryeol, who is leading a probe into the scandal.
	Park's ally Choi Soon-Sil and one of Park's former aides were arrested earlier this month on charges of fraud and abuse of power. Another presidential aide was arrested for leaking confidential state documents.
	Choi, 60, has been accused of using her personal ties with the president to meddle in state affairs and coerce local ..

'S Korea's Park had collusive role in corruption scandal'

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will slug it out for the world number one ranking in a high-stakes final at the ATP Tour Finals after completing their contrasting paths to the dramatic showdown.
     Murray and Djokovic's unprecedented clash for pole position will end with one of the old rivals finishing the year on top of the world after the Scot shattered his rival's 122-week reign at number one earlier this month.
     Fittingly, they will bring the curtain down on the ATP season with both the prestigious Tour Finals title and the top spot up for grabs in Sunday's final at London's O2 Arena.
     After staging a superb fightback to defeat Milos Raonic 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (11/9) in Saturday's first semi-final, Murray is just one win away from capping a dream year in perfect fashion.
     But Djokovic can say exactly the same after the defending champion thrashed Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-1 in the other semi.
     Crucially, Murray might be on his last legs after having to survive .

Murray, Djokovic set up gripping final showdown in London

Senior New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has vision problems and will see an eye specialist before the second Test against Pakistan, coach Mike Hesson confirmed today.
     There has been concern about Taylor's lack of runs in recent Tests and he did not bat in his usual number four spot in the second innings of the first Test against Pakistan in Christchurch, which New Zealand won by eight wickets.
     Hesson said Taylor had his eyes checked before the start of the match and "it certainly showed he needed to see a specialist.
     "It just appears the eyesight has deteriorated. Ross was keen to get it seen to."
     No decision will be made on whether Taylor will play in the second Test starting in Hamilton on Friday until the results of the tests are known.
     The 32-year-old Taylor has an average of 45.95 but has only averaged just over 10 in his last 10 innings, scoring 11 in his only knock against Pakistan.
     Hesson said Taylor had a check-up six months ago and there were no .

Eyesight worry for N. Zealand batsman Taylor

Completed scoreboard in the
first Test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday:
	   Pakistan first innings 133 (Misbah-ul-Haq 31; C. De Grandhomme 6-41, T. Southee 2-20)
	   New Zealand first innings 200 (J. Raval 55, H. Nicholls 30; Rahat 4-62, Amir 3-43, Sohail 3-78)
	   Pakistan second innings (overnight 129-7; Sohail 22 not out, Shafiq 6 not out)
	   Sami Aslam c Watling b de Grandhomme    7
	   Azhar Ali b Boult                      31
	   Babar Azam c Watling b Wagner          29
	   Younis Khan c Watling b Wagner          1
	   Misban-ul-Haq c Boult b Southee        13
	   Asad Shafiq c Raval b Wagner           17
	   Sarfraz Ahmed b Boult                   2
	   Mohammad Amir c Astle b Boult           6
	   Sohail Khan c de Grandhomme b Southee  40
	   Yasir Shah not out                      6
	   Rahat Ali c Latham b Southee            2
	   Extras: (B-5, LB-7, W-5)               17
	   Total: (all out in 78.4 overs)         171
	   Fall of ..

Christchurch, Nov 20 (AFP) Completed scoreboard in the

A Kane Williamson half century saw New Zealand snap a four-Test losing streak when they beat Pakistan by eight wickets Sunday in the first Test at Hagley Oval.
     A low-scoring match was wrapped up inside eight sessions after the first day's washout, with Williamson's second innings 61 -- his 24th Test 50 -- the top score of the match.
     Set 105 to win after Pakistan were all out for 171 in their second innings on the morning of the fourth day, Williamson lost his wicket with the scores level, leaving debutant Jeet Raval to seal victory with a boundary off Yasir Shah.
     It was a much-needed confidence boost for the home side, coming off a 3-0 series whitewash in India and a comprehensive 204-run loss to South Africa.
     "It was a nice toss to win," said Williamson who put Pakistan into bat on a seaming wicket and had them all out for 133 in their first innings.
     "After a couple of really tough tours in South Africa and India, it was important we learned a lot but at the .

Toss key as New Zealand thrash Pakistan in first Test

Russia's Soyuz spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station, carrying a European, a Russian and an American astronaut for a four-month mission at the orbiting outpost.
	"Capture confirmed," said a NASA commentator as the spacecraft docked at the ISS at 4:58 PM (local time), live US space agency television images showed yesterday.
	The trio - including Frenchman Thomas Pesquet, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy and American astronaut Peggy Whitson -- launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Thursday.
	Pesquet, a rookie astronaut and amateur saxophone player, is the first French national to be sent to the ISS by the European Space Agency since 2008.
	Whitson, meanwhile is an experienced veteran and biochemistry expert who will break records with this space mission, including the title of the most days in space by a US astronaut.
	Whitson is scheduled to surpass NASA astronaut Jeff Williams' 534 days on April 24.
	In February, Whitson, 56, will become the first .

Russian spaceship delivers three astronauts to space station

Thousands of people, including women and children, marched today in Istanbul against a controversial bill that would overturn men's convictions for child sex assault if they married their victim.
	"We will not shut up. We will not obey. Withdraw the bill immediately!" the around 3,000 protesters shouted amid claps and whistles as they marched to Kadikoy square on the city's Asian side.
	Others waved banners emblazoned with slogans such as "#Rape cannot be legitimised" and "AKP, take your hands off my body," a reference to the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which introduced the bill.
	The opposition, celebrities, and even an association whose deputy chairman is Erdogan's daughter have expressed alarm over the move.
	But the government insists the legislation was aimed at dealing with the widespread custom of child marriages and the criticism was a crude distortion of its aim.
	Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag on Saturday moved to reassure opponents that the bill would not 

Thousands rally against Turkey child sex conviction bill

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto today said that his government will seek a dialogue with US President-elect Donald Trump, who infuriated Mexicans with vitriolic attacks on their country and its people during his campaign.
	"In the face of the positions that President-elect Trump has taken, we are prioritising dialogue as a path to build a new agenda for our bilateral relations," Pena Nieto said at a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders.
	"For Mexico, our relation with the United States is central, given the level of trade and integration we have now," he added during a roundtable on trade in Lima, Peru.
	"Mexico, like the rest of the world, is about to begin a new era in our relations with the United States, and in trade terms we want to give that relationship its fair value."
	He pushed back against Trump's calls to tear up or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, the United States and Canada, saying his country "will continue to be a fervent ...

Mexican president vows talks, 'new agenda' with Trump

Syria's government pounded rebel-held Aleppo with air strikes and artillery fire today, killing 27 people and prompting Washington to condemn the "heinous actions" of Damascus and its ally Russia.
	UN officials said they were "appalled" by the escalating violence and urged access to east Aleppo, where more than 250,000 people have been under siege for nearly four months.
	Since it began on Tuesday, the assault on the rebel-held east of Aleppo has damaged hospitals, forced schools to close, and killed nearly 100 civilians, according to a monitor.
	An AFP correspondent described relentless bombardment with air strikes, mortar rounds and barrel bombs slamming into residential neighbourhoods where residents cowered at home.
	"It is a catastrophic day in besieged Aleppo with unprecedented bombardment with every type of weapon," a member of the White Helmets rescue group said in a video posted on the organisation's Facebook page.
	US National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Washington ...

AFP

AFP

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