Sri Lanka's main opposition candidate today won important backing from a top Buddhist monk campaigning to scrap the executive presidency and return the country to a parliamentary democracy.
	The former agriculture and health minister Maithripala Sirisena, who defected Friday to challenge his former boss President Mahinda Rajapakse in the January 8 election, visited monk Maduliwawe Sobitha to receive his blessings.
	"I applaud your courage to enter the fray only to scrap the presidency and bring back parliamentary democracy, ensure rule of law and end corruption," Sobitha said while blessing Sirisena in front of reporters and TV cameras at his temple.
	The monk is a key figure campaigning for political reforms in the majority Buddhist nation of 20 million. He had been the spiritual guide of former president Chandrika Kumaratunga who is also backing the 63-year-old Sirisena for the presidency.
	The monk expressed regret that Rajapakse had failed to deliver on promises to abolish the ...

Opposition secures Buddhist backing for Sri Lanka vote

PTI Automatic

Roger Federer gave Switzerland and himself a first Davis Cup title on Sunday in Lille, pounding Richard Gasquet of France in straight sets to ensure the winning point.
     Federer romped to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win to hand the Swiss an unbeatable 3-1 lead after Stan Wawrinka had won the opening singles of the match and the world number two and four had teamed up to win the doubles on Saturday.
     It was one of the greatest sporting triumphs for Switzerland, the 14th nation to win the Davis Cup, and a huge personal milestone for Federer to go with his 17 Grand Slam titles, six Masters titles and Olympic doubles gold.
     It left him with just an Olympic singles gold to win in Rio in 2016 to become just the third man, after great rival Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi, to win all four Grand Slam titles, the Olympic title and the Davis Cup.
     "It's an an enormous pleasure for me, I've waited 15 years for this," Federer said. "This has been a perfect weekend in a crazy atmosphere and all ..

Tears of joy for Federer as Swiss win Davis Cup

Lewis Hamilton clinched his second drivers' world championship and became the first British multiple champion for 46 years when he won Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
     The 29-year-old Englishman, who took his first title in 2008 with McLaren, won not only the 55-lap race, but also his private duel with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who suffered prolonged problems with his car after making a poor start from pole position.
     Having started from the prime spot on the grid for the 11th time this year, Rosberg was comprehensively outpaced immediately as Hamilton surged clear to control the race with a well-judged and dominant performance.
     Hamilton's victory was his 11th of the season and the 33rd of his record-breaking career and secured a record 16th victory of the season for the Mercedes team.
     Rosberg finished 14th, lapped by Hamilton and bitterly disappointed.
     "Today I don't know how but compared to 2008 I was so much more relaxed. I hoped that was .

Hamilton claims second world title

The tensions over a possible nuclear deal involving Iran were laid bare today outside an atomic facility in Tehran where a rare protest drew hardliners critical of the government's negotiators.
	While the crowd was small - about 200, mostly students, gathered at the entrance to the Tehran Research Reactor - the event was the first such officially approved demonstration in months.
	It coincided with the penultimate day of talks in Vienna between Iran and the United States and other world powers aimed at a permanent deal that seeks to block all routes to Tehran developing a bomb.
	As a sign of defiance on Iran's nuclear activities, several protesters wore white lab coats in memory of four Iranian atomic scientists that Tehran says were assassinated by Israel and the United States.
	"We protest the process of negotiations and the suspension of sanctions. Sanctions should be lifted altogether," said Hamed Tamanaie, one of the protesters.
	"Nuclear energy is our absolute right," and ...

With nuclear deal in balance, hardliners protest in Tehran

Around 50 people were killed and 60 others wounded when a suicide blast ripped through crowds gathered to watch a volleyball game in eastern Afghanistan today, officials said.
	"The suicide attacker was on a motorcycle, he detonated himself in the middle of a volleyball match," Attaullah Fazli, deputy governor of Paktika province, told AFP.
	"A lot of people including some provincial officials and the police chief were there. About 50 people have been killed, and 60 injured, a lot of them seriously."
	The attack was in Yahya Khail district of Paktika, a volatile province bordering Pakistan.
	President Ashraf Ghani, who came to power in September, swiftly condemned the attack, according to his spokesman.
	There was no immediate response from the Taliban insurgents, who are responsible for many of the attacks across Afghanistan.
	Paktika was also struck by a massive suicide blast in July, when a bomber driving a truck packed with explosives killed at least 41 people at a busy market in .

Suicide blast at Afghan volleyball game kills around 50

Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull ahead

Lewis Hamilton clinched his second drivers' world championship and became the first British multiple champion for 46 years when he won Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
     The 29-year-old Englishman, who took his first title in 2008 with McLaren, won not only the 55-laps race, but also his private duel with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who suffered prolonged problems with his car after making a poor start from pole position.
     Having started from the prime spot on the grid for the 11th time this year, Rosberg was comprehensively outpaced as Hamilton surged clear to control the race with a well-judged and dominant performance.
     Hamilton's victory was his 11th of the season and the 33rd of his record-breaking career and secured a record 16th victory of the season for the Mercedes team.
     Rosberg finished 14th, lapped by Hamilton and bitterly disappointed.
     As Hamilton roared his delight - "Whoooah world champion - Oh my God, cannot believe it - thanks ...

Hamilton wins Abu Dhabi GP, claims second world title

Opening batsmen Anamul Haque and Tamim Iqbal each struck a half-century to set up an easy 68-run win for Bangladesh in the second one-day international against Zimbabwe here today.
     Anamul made 80 off 110 balls while Tamim cracked 76 off 98 balls as Bangladesh posted 251-7 before dismissing Zimbabwe for 183 runs in 44.5 overs to take 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
     Anamul and Tamim provided Bangladesh the foundation putting on 158 runs in what was the side's second best opening stand after Mehrab Hossain and Shahirar Hossain's 170 against the same opponents in 1999.
     Bangladesh suffered a major collapse losing six wickets for 46 runs after Tamim was run out, but Mominul Haque, batting at number seven, guided the score past 250-run mark with an unbeaten 33 off 23 balls.
     Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza took three wickets in his opening spell to rattle Zimbabwe and left the visitors struggling at 3-40 and the side could never recover from the damage.
     Solomon Mire ...

Anamul, Tamim set up easy win for Bangladesh

Scoreboard of the second one-day international between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong today.
     Bangladesh innings
     Tamim Iqbal run out 76
     Anamul Haque c Sibanda b Panyangara 80
     Shakib Al Hasan b Sibanda 0
     Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Kamungozi 27
     Sabbir Rahman c Kamungozi b Panyangara 0
     Mahmudullah c Panyangara b Kamungozi 12
     Mominul Haque not out 33
     Mashrafe Mortaza b Chatara 6
     Rubel Hossain not out 5
     Extras (lb3, w8, nb1) 12
     Total (for seven wickets; 50 overs) 251
     Fall of wickets: 1-158, 2-158, 3- 173, 4- 173, 5-204, 6-204, 7-225.
     Bowling: Panyangara 10-1-51-2 (w1, nb-1), Chatara 10-0-58-1(w1), Kamungozi 10-0-38-2 (w1), Nyumbu 10-0-56-0 (w2), Sibanda 10-0-45-1(w3)
     Zimbabwe innings
     H. Masakadza b Mortaza 0
     S. Raza c Mahmudullah b Mortaza 16
     V. Sibanda b Mortaza 21
     B. Taylor c Mahmudullah b Sunny 8
     S. Mire c Sunny b Shakib 50
     R. Chakabva c Mortaza .

Bangladesh v Zimbabwe second ODI scoreboard

Two Italian regions voted today in elections seen as a test of popularity for youthful centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
	Some 5.4 million people are eligible to vote in the polls in Emilia-Romagna, a wealthy central region, and southern Calabria, Italy's poorest.
	Renzi, the 39-year-old former mayor of Florence who became prime minister last year, initially enjoyed wide praise for his dynamic, modern style, but his popularity has been eroded by the economic crisis, unemployment and social tensions.
	Trade unions are up in arms over Renzi's planned reforms to the job market, which critics say will stamp on workers' rights.
	Italy is teetering on the brink of a third recession in six years.
	Polls close at 2200 GMT and results will be announced tomorrow.

Italian regional polls test PM Renzi's popularity

British police have foiled four or five suspected terror plots this year, the country's most senior police officer said today ahead of a week-long campaign to enlist the public's help in countering the threat.
	"We've said on average over the last few years it's been about one (plot) a year, but this year alone we think four or five," Scotland Yard commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe told BBC television.
	He added: "Certainly we've seen a change to the momentum... We've seen a change to the frequency and the seriousness of the types of plots that we're looking at."
	More than 250 counter-terrorism arrests have been made so far this year, according to police sources.
	Most recently, three people were charged in London last week over an alleged plot which media reports said included a plan to behead somebody in Britain.
	Hogan-Howe said the threat from so-called "lone wolf" attacks by individuals or small groups was causing "growing concern", and warned their ability to act quickly left ...

UK police chief claims '4 or 5' terror plots foiled

Three thousand people were evacuated from their homes in the centre of the French city of Rennes today while a 250-kg British bomb from World War II was being diffused.
	The bomb was found near the city's town hall during the building of a new metro line in the capital of the Brittany region of western France, mayor Nathalie Appere told AFP.
	She said it was packed with 70 kg of high explosives and police bomb disposal experts face a very "delicate operation" to disarm it. "They are having to diffuse it manually rather than with one of their radio controlled devices," she said.
	Police evacuated all homes and businesses within 270 metres (300 yards) of the scene just before 9 am (1330 IST), including a fire station and 90 residents of a home for the elderly.
	Several hundred people were taken to a nearby hall where volunteers offered them coffee and hot chocolate. The operation is expected to take six hours.
	Rennes, a major railway junction, was the target of several raids by ...

Thousands evacuated after WWII bomb found in French city

Afghanistan's lower house of parliament today approved agreements that will allow about 12,500 NATO-led troops to stay on next year as the national army and police struggle to hold back the Taliban.
	US-led NATO combat operations will finish at the end of this year, but the Taliban have launched a series of recent offensives that have severely tested Afghan soldiers and police.
	The new NATO mission -- named Resolute Support -- will focus on supporting the Afghan forces, in parallel with US counter-terrorism operations.
	The Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States, and a similar pact with NATO, were the source of huge friction between the Afghan government and its allies under previous president Hamid Karzai.
	But Ashraf Ghani, who became president in September, reset ties by signing the long-awaited deals on his first day in power.
	Ghani welcomed lawmakers' overwhelming vote in favour of the two agreements on Sunday and said he awaited the prompt approval of the upper ...

Afghan lower house approves foreign troops staying on

James Faulkner hit the winning boundary with five balls to spare to give Australia a thrilling two-wicket victory over South Africa today and push them to the top of the ICC one-day rankings.
     The Australians were cruising towards a rain-reduced victory target of 275 in Sydney but then lost four wickets for three runs to give the Proteas a late chance of victory.
     But Faulkner (six not out) got Australia over the line with a sweep for four off spinner Robin Peterson, who had bowled the Proteas into contention with four wickets.
     Australia secured a 4-1 series win and nudged ahead of India to top  the one-day rankings, less than three months before the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
     Wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was named man-of-the-match in a losing side for his 107 off 123 balls in South Africa's innings after they had won the toss.
     The Australians seemed in control of the run chase with Aaron Finch scoring 76 (67 balls), Shane Watson 82 (93 

Australia edge South Africa in final ODI to go top of rankings

Ministers were to vote today on a controversial proposal to anchor in law Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people, at the expense of its democratic character.
	The proposal would mean Israel would no longer be defined in its Basic Laws as "Jewish and democratic" but instead as "the national homeland of the Jewish people."
	Critics, who include the government's top legal adviser, say the proposed change to the laws that act as Israel's effective constitution could institutionalise discrimination against its 1.7 million Arab citizens.
	By giving preeminence to the "Jewish" character of Israel over its democratic nature, the law in its current format is "anti-democratic," they say.
	But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the law would give equal weight to both characteristics.
	"There are those who would like the democratic to prevail over the Jewish and there are those who would like the Jewish to prevail over the democratic. And in the principles of the ...

Israel cabinet votes on enshrining 'Jewish state' in law

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in an interview published today that he would be prepared to send troops to a future Palestinian state to help stabilise it.
	Sisi, who begins his first European trip tomorrow since ousting his Islamist predecessor, made the comments in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
	He is due to visit France and Italy, while the trip will also include a meeting with Pope Francis.
	The Egyptian leader said he would send forces to a future Palestinian state in agreement with Israel and the Palestinian authority.
	"We are ready to send military forces into a Palestinian state," he said.
	"We would help the local police and reassure the Israelis through our role as guarantor. Not forever, of course. For the time necessary to reestablish confidence. But first a Palestinian state must exist where troops can be sent to."
	Sisi said he had spoken of the idea with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud .

Egypt could send forces to stabilise Palestinian state: Sisi

An Iraqi court sentenced former Sunni MP Ahmed al-Alwani to death today for murder, a spokesman said, a verdict that could damage Baghdad's relationship with a powerful tribe battling jihadists.
	Alwani is a member of the Albu Alwan tribe, members of which are fighting against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in the Ramadi area of Anbar province, a key front in the war against IS which has seized key parts of Iraq since June.
	"The central criminal court sentenced Ahmed al-Alwani to death... For his killing of two soldiers," judicial spokesman Abdelsattar Bayraqdar told AFP, without saying when the murders took place.
	He has a month to appeal the decision, Bayraqdar said.
	Alwani, who was a prominent supporter of a now-collapsed Sunni Arab anti-government protest movement, was arrested in a raid on his house in late December 2013 that killed his brother Ali and five guards.
	The defence ministry said at the time that one security forces member was also killed and five were ...

Iraq court sentences Sunni ex-MP to death for murder

A watercolour of the graphic novel hero Corto Maltese has sold at auction for a record 391,800 euros ( USD 485,500), just months after a Tintin strip set a new world high for a comic of 2.65 million euros.
	The artwork for a 1979 French edition of Corto Maltese in Africa -- "Corto Maltese - Les Ethiopiques" -- went for more than twice the original estimate, the French auction house Artcurial said today.
	Maltese, a sophisticated sailor adventurer whose stories are set in the early decades of the 20th century, was the creation of the Venetian comic book writer Hugo Pratt.
	Like his most famous character, Pratt (1927-1995) -- a cousin of the Frankenstein actor Boris Karloff --  was a restless cosmopolitan who divided his time between France, Britain, Argentina and Italy, and spent a large part of his youth in Ethiopia, where the adventure takes place.
	Some 400 lots of comic art were sold at the auction in Paris yesterday, Artcurial said, with the highest price fetched by a Tintin strip 

New world record for Corto Maltese comic book art

Six Mirage fighter jets have arrived in Jordan to join France's operations against the Islamic State group in Iraq, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said today.
	"Since a few hours ago, our Mirages have been positioned... In Amman," Valls said during a visit to the Niger capital Niamey. France already has nine Rafale fighter jets in the United Arab Emirates.
	"Every day, everywhere in the world, our military demonstrates its capacities in the service of France," Valls said in a speech at a French airbase in Niamey, where his visit is devoted to the fight against terrorism in the Sahel.
	France operates drone surveillance missions in the region from the Niamey base.
	Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had announced the planned deployment of the six Mirage 2000-Ds to Jordan on Wednesday.

French jets in Jordan to join fight against IS group: PM

Iran signalled today it is open to having nuclear talks with world powers extended by up to a year if no real progress toward a deal is achieved later today, the eve of a deadline.
	Foreign ministers holding marathon negotiations in the Austrian capital Vienna have been deadlocked in their efforts to secure a high-stakes nuclear agreement by tomorrow.
	"We're working hard," US Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday in Vienna, "and we hope we're making careful progress, but we have big gaps, we still have some serious gaps, which we're working to close."
	Kerry, who on Friday postponed a trip to Paris to remain in Vienna for the talks, met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif yesterday afternoon, their fourth meeting in three days.
	Another meeting was expected today.
	German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, also in the Austrian capital, called this final weekend of talks, after months of negotiations, a "moment of truth".
	At stake is a historic deal in which ..

Iran open to extending nuclear talks up to one year

Oscar Pistorius, serving a five-year prison sentence for killing his girlfriend, received a long visit from his brother and sister for his 28th birthday that may have bent the rules of his incarceration, a South African newspaper reported today.
	Carl and Aimee Pistorius were able to visit the double-amputee track star for nearly two hours yesterday morning at Pretoria's central prison, the Sunday Times reported.
	Pistorius is technically allowed five hour-long visits per month, the paper said.
	His siblings also brought balloons, gifts and a birthday cake bought outside the prison, which would usually not be allowed, the paper said, while their vehicles did not appear to have been searched.
	Prison services spokesman Logan Maistry told the paper that Pistorius had not been receiving special treatment, but that an investigation would be opened to look into the allegations.
	Because of his physical disability, Pistorius, sentenced in October, is being held in the prison's hospital ...

AFP

AFP

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