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- Iran, pressed on nuclear activities, wraps up summit
- Afghanistan still a 'tough fight': Obama
- 29 dead, 16 injured in Nigeria bus crash: police
- Paralympics: First stadium world record breaker gets gold
- Karachi: 2 killed in encounter with Rangers
- CNG stations in Sindh to remain closed for 24 hours
- Shahbaz eyes Ministry of Water and Power
- Oil prices rise on Bernanke speech
- Dollar falls after Bernanke speech
- Bernanke signals desire for more Fed stimulus
- Jamshed stars as Pakistan beat Australia in 2nd ODI
- England beat South Africa by 4 wickets
- Flower salutes 'great man' Strauss
- Belgian GP: Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi fastest in Spa practice
- Chinese man builds replica Lamborghini
| Iran, pressed on nuclear activities, wraps up summit Posted: Iran on Friday closed a summit of non-aligned states after two days of sometimes conflictual speeches over Syria and stepped-up pressure over its nuclear programme that overshadowed the proceedings.Representatives from the 120 members of the Non-Aligned Movement adopted a document that condemned unilateral sanctions, backed the right of Iran and other states to peaceful nuclear energy, and supported the creation of a Palestinian state, Iranian media reported.The document also reportedly advocated nuclear disarmament, human rights free from political agendas and opposition to racism and Islamophobia. The text was not available late Friday on the foreign ministry website dedicated to the summit.President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad chaired the closing ceremony, reflecting his countrys presidency of the NAM for the next three years, after which it will pass to Venezuela.With around 30 heads of state or government attending, and senior officials filling out the other two-thirds of the heavily secured hall, Iran portrayed the summit as a triumph over Western attempts to isolate it over its disputed nuclear activities.Ahmadinejad said the summit was unique in quality and in the number of participants.But the nuclear issue came back to take a bite out of that goal, with the UN atomic watchdog releasing a report half way through the summit accusing Iran of having significantly hampered inspectors efforts to investigate a suspect military site, Parchin.The report also said Iran had in the past three months installed more than 1,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges in its fortified Fordo nuclear bunker that is one of the prime concerns of the United States and fellow permanent UN Security Council members.Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his opening speech on Thursday, railed against the dictatorship of the Security Council.He said Iran would never cease its nuclear energy activities, which he asserted were not aimed at developing nuclear weapons.Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also rejected the Parchin allegations, telling the ISNA news agency they had no technical basis and that one cannot clean a site of nuclear work.A member of the Iranian parliaments national security and foreign policy committee, Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, called the timing of the release of the International Atomic Energy Agency report politically motivated.
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| Afghanistan still a 'tough fight': Obama Posted: US President Barack Obama Friday told soldiers headed for Afghanistan they still faced a very tough fight but pledged to end the war as responsibly as he halted conflict in Iraq.As his aides lambasted his Republican foe Mitt Romney for failing to mention the Afghan war or tens of thousands of US soldiers waging it in his convention speech Thursday, Obama surrounded himself with fighting men in Texas.His visit to Fort Bliss was ostensibly designed to mark the second anniversary of the end of US combat operations in Iraq, but with soldiers heading to the front soon, his thoughts turned to Americas longest war.I know that some of you will be deploying later this year. Ive got to tell you the truth, this is still a very tough fight, Obama said.You know this. You carry it in your hearts, the memory of comrades who made that ultimate sacrifice, including six heroes from Bliss who gave their lives on that awful day last month.The six troops killed in an attack in July became the latest of more than 2,000 US soldiers to die in Afghanistan, including more than 200 this year, according to a count published on the icasualties.org website.Just as in Iraq, we are going to end this war responsibly. Next year, Afghans will take the lead for their own security. In 2014, the transition will be complete, Obama said.White House and Obama campaign aides meanwhile Friday expressed disbelief that Romney did not mention the war in Afghanistan, one of Americas greatest foreign policy challenges, in his 45 minute speech in Tampa, Florida.I was surprised not to hear mention of the 70,000 men and women who are serving in Afghanistan, executing a mission that is profoundly important to Americas national security in a conflict that was the direct result of an attack on the United States by Al-Qaeda, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.Obama praised troops from Fort Bliss for fighting to quell the insurgency which erupted in Iraq after the US invasion in 2003 and said their sacrifice had enabled him to effect a US withdrawal.You helped pull Iraq back from the abyss, Obama said.Obama last traveled to the sprawling base on the Texas and New Mexico border two years ago to meet troops home from Iraq, hours before delivering a televised address on the end of combat operations from the Oval Office.I was able to come here to Bliss and mark the end of our combat mission. That night, I told the American people that all our troops would be out of Iraq by the end of the following year, Obama said.I know some folks didnt believe me, they were skeptical. Some thought the end of combat was just word games and semantics. But I meant what I said, Obama said, polishing his national security credentials as Novembers election looms.Obama declared the end of American combat operations in Iraq, after a seven-year war, on August 31, 2010. All US forces returned home at the end of last year.Although Obamas trip was billed as an official one, consistent with his duties as US commander-in-chief, it will be seen in a highly political context.The president made his political name opposing the Iraq war even before he was elected to the Senate in 2004, and regards bringing US troops home as the fulfillment of one of his core political promises.His decision will feature prominently next week in three days of speeches and events in North Carolina culminating in his acceptance of the Democratic Party nomination as he seeks a second term.
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| 29 dead, 16 injured in Nigeria bus crash: police Posted: Two buses on Friday collided head-on and burst into flames killing at least 29 people and injuring 16 others in northern Nigerias Yobe state, police said.Two Toyota Hiace Buses... travelling in opposite directions had a head-on collision and thereafter went off in flames. Twenty nine persons -- eleven of them burnt beyond recognition -- have so far been confirmed dead, national police spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement.The accident occurred in the states Nengere area, the statement added. The injured were taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Potiskum.A similar crash killed 33 people near Potiskum in 2010, when two commuter buses collided and caught fire.The police statement lamented the incessant accidents on Nigerias highways, considered among the most dangerous in the world because of poor road maintenance and reckless driving.Police urged Nigerians to avoid speeding, over loading and flagrant disobedience of road traffic laws and regulations.More than 17,000 people died in about 31,000 road accidents across Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, between 2007 and 2009, according to the federal road safety agencys 2010 report, the most recent published.Last month, an oil tanker tipped over as it tried to avoid three oncoming vehicles. Petrol began spilling out of the truck and locals rushed to the scene to collect free fuel.The petrol then caught fire, burning more than 100 people to death.
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| Paralympics: First stadium world record breaker gets gold Posted: The British athlete who set the first world record at the Olympic Stadium during a test event earlier this year on Friday won the countrys debut track gold, this time beating the Paralympic record.Wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft took the womens T34 100m in 18.06secs, 0.50secs faster than the then world best she set at the east London venue during competition back in May.The 20-year-old, who won the T34 100m and 200m double at the world championships last year, has since lowered her own world record to 17.60secs at the Swiss National Championships.After the race, she said: I didnt know whether to cry or laugh or what to do.Its a little bit surreal when youre dreaming about it for so long and then it just kind of happens in, what, 18 seconds. Youre kind of like, I want to do that again, I can do that better. But Ive got it now and I cant complain.The stadium was again near its 80,000 capacity after heats on Friday morning and Cockroft paid tribute to the support from the gun and she crossed the finish line.Everyone went mental. It was absolutely amazing. I cant describe it, it was phenomenal, she added.Cockroft, who has cerebral palsy and calls her wheelchair Sally, is now hoping to go one better and take the 200m title.Kenyas David Rushida became the first track athlete to break a world record in the Olympic Stadium, when he stormed to gold in the 800m in 1min 40.91secs.
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| Karachi: 2 killed in encounter with Rangers Posted: According to details, two accused were killed during Rangers operation in Muslimabad area of Karachi. Two Rangers personnel were also wounded in exchange of firing with accused.Large contingent of Rangers took part in the operation which last for more than three hours. Rangers also destroyed drugs and gambling dens in the area during operation.Rangers also arrested 24 persons from the area out of which four belonged to banned outfits.According to sources, the amount collected from drugs and gambling dens was being funded to Tehrik-e-Talibam. A large quantity of arms and drugs were also recovered during the operation.
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| CNG stations in Sindh to remain closed for 24 hours Posted: The CNG stations across Sindh, including Karachi, will remain closed from Saturday (today) 9:00am to Sunday 9:00am.According to the Sui Southern Gas Company, the decision has been taken by gas load management.The surveillance teams of the Sui Southern Gas Company would examine implementation of the decision made by the company.According to rules and regulation, the CNG stations committing violation to the regulation would have to remain deprived of gas for another 24 hours.Long queues of vehicles were seen at the CNG stations as people wanted to fill their gas cylinders before closure of the CNG stations.
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| Shahbaz eyes Ministry of Water and Power Posted: Addressing a meeting in Islamabad, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he will end energy crisis within a year and a half.He said that agriculture sector in Punjab has been badly damaged by loadshedding while the industries in the province are facing severe difficulties.
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| Oil prices rise on Bernanke speech Posted: The price of oil jumped 1.7 percent Friday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke made clear in a speech that the central bank will do more to revive the U.S. economy.U.S benchmark crude rose $1.59 to $96.21 per barrel in morning trading Friday. Brent Crude, which is used to price oil used by many U.S. refiners, rose $1.49 to $114.14.In a speech at an annual Fed conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Bernanke said the economic recovery is far from satisfactory but he did not give any timetable for action that might reduce borrowing costs and help stimulate growth.If the Fed reduces the cost of borrowing, it could boost demand for the energy needed to fuel growth and make oil and other commodities more attractive investments.With interest rates near zero, people look for somewhere to put their money. One of those places is the oil market, said energy analyst and consultant Jim Ritterbusch.Oil prices have wavered between $94 and $97 per barrel over the past two weeks, and Ritterbusch expects them to stay roughly within that range well into September. World oil demand is rising only slightly, and supplies are adequate. But continued worries over tensions between Iran and the West will keep prices from dropping. Expectations of financial stimulus programs from U.S. and European central banks will also keep the market propped up.Hurricane Isaac did not have a major effect on crude prices this week, even though almost all of the oil production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was halted ahead of the storm. Production is expected to return to normal over the next several days.U.S. retail gasoline prices surged over the past week after the storm forced several Gulf Coast refineries to shut down or operate at lower rates. But the dramatic price spike appears to be over and pump prices are expected to start falling after Labor Day, the last big driving weekend of the summer.The average retail gasoline price rose less than a penny to $3.83 per gallon Friday according to the Oil Price Information Service, AAA, and Wright Express.Tom Kloza said he expects average retail prices to creep slightly higher by Saturday. But were in the ninth inning of this, he said.In other Nymex energy futures trading, heating oil advanced 2 cents to $3.16 a gallon, while wholesale gasoline added 4 cents to $2.94 a gallon. Natural gas rose 3 cents $2.78 per 1,000 cubic feet.
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| Dollar falls after Bernanke speech Posted: The dollar fell against most major currencies Friday, after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that the central bank can do more to help the U.S. economy rebound.Traders have been speculating about the odds of another round of quantitative easing from the Fed. It has already launched two rounds of bond purchases, most recently in August 2010. Those purchases push interest rates lower and can weaken the dollar, which is why traders are trimming their holdings in the currency.Bernanke made his comments at an annual Fed conference in Wyomings Jackson Hole resort Friday.The euro rose to $1.2577 in late trading Friday from $1.2507 late Thursday. The euro rose as high as $1.2637 early Friday, its highest point against the dollar since July 2.The British pound rose to $1.5881 from $1.5787.The dollar fell to 78.33 Japanese yen from 78.63 yen, to 0.9549 Swiss franc from 0.9602 and to 98.55 Canadian cents from 99.25 Canadian cents.The dollar also weakened against the Australian and New Zealand dollar, the Norwegian krone, the Hong Kong dollar and the Brazilian real.
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| Bernanke signals desire for more Fed stimulus Posted: US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke expressed deep worry over the US economy Friday and argued for fresh action to stimulate growth from the central bank.Warning that stagnation in the US labor market was a grave concern, Bernanke defended the Feds interventions of the past four years and signaled he would be pushing for more help for the economy when the Feds policy board meets in 12 days.The economic situation is obviously far from satisfactory, he said in the keynote speech of the Feds annual conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.Growth in recent quarters has been tepid, and so, not surprisingly, we have seen no net improvement in the unemployment rate since January, he said.Unless the economy begins to grow more quickly than it has recently, the unemployment rate is likely to remain far above levels consistent with maximum employment for some time.Bernanke made clear that the jobless rate, stuck around 8.3 percent, is one of his biggest worries.The stagnation of the labor market in particular is a grave concern not only because of the enormous suffering and waste of human talent it entails, but also because persistently high levels of unemployment will wreak structural damage on our economy that could last for many years, he said.In a firm statement, Bernanke said the Fed will take additional action as needed to strengthen growth and boost job creation.Markets liked the news, with oil prices climbing steadily and the S&P 500-stock index clinging to 0.3 percent-plus gains for most of the session.Bond prices climbed sharply too, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond falling to 1.56 percent from 1.62 percent Thursday.Bernanke, whose easy money policies have been criticized by conservative politicians including Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, delivered a lengthy defense of the Feds actions since the financial crisis.He said that efforts to drive down long-term interest rates through quantitative easing (QE) bond purchase operations and other programs had boosted economic output by three percent and added more than two million jobs relative to what otherwise would have occurred.He warned, as he has over much of the past year, that Fed action is not a panacea for policy action from political leaders.Besides heavy spending cuts by federal and local governments, he said the economy has been held back by partisan battles over raising the debt ceiling and the looming fiscal cliff policy -- a poison-pill budget law from last year that could force a sharp contraction in the economy beginning on January 1 if not changed.Policymakers should take care to avoid a sharp near-term fiscal contraction that could endanger the recovery, Bernanke said.Economists said Bernankes comments raised the likelihood that he could garner support for fresh action in the Federal Open Market Committees September 12-13 meeting -- whether more firm signaling of Fed intent on keeping interest rates low over the next few years, or a third QE program.The Fed chairmans Jackson Hole speech was clearly consistent with more Fed easing, although not definitive, said Jim OSullivan of High Frequency Economics.At a minimum, we expect officials to extend their forward guidance on the near-zero funds rate at the September meeting, with a slightly better than 50 percent chance that a new asset purchase program -- i.e. QE3 -- will be announced then as well, OSullivan said.Our expectation is that the Fed will at least extend its forward guidance for the fed funds rate into 2015 and will likely initiate QE3, said Paul Edelstein of IHS Global Insight.But Bernankes push for action could run into political headwinds as the battle for the White House, largely focused on the economy under President Barack Obama, intensifies ahead of the November 6 vote.Obamas rival Romney said last week that he disapproved of the Feds recent work and that he would seek to replace Bernanke if he wins the presidency.I dont think QE2 was terribly effective. I think a QE3, another Fed stimulus, is not going to help this economy. I think thats the wrong way to go, Romney said.
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| Jamshed stars as Pakistan beat Australia in 2nd ODI Posted: Opener Nasir Jamshed hit an aggressive 97 to guide Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over Australia in the second one-day, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 here on Friday.The 22-year-old left-hander took the attack to the Australian bowlers during his 98-ball innings, hitting 11 boundaries and two well-timed sixes to help his team successfully chase a challenging 249-run target in the 43.4 overs at Abu Dhabi Stadium.Australia owed their recovery to another left-hander Michael Hussey (61) to post a challenging total despite an impressive performance by Pakistans ace spinner Saeed Ajmal (4-32).Australia had won the first match by four wickets in Sharjah on Tuesday. The third and final match will be played in Sharjah on Monday.Pakistans batting, which folded in the first one-day for 198, showed a remarkable improvement as Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez (23) raced to 66 by the 12th over to set their team on course for a win.Even when Hafeez pulled Dan Christian straight into the hands of Hussey, Jamshed remained unpurturbed, treating the Australian bowlers with contempt as he pulled Christian for two exquisite sixes over mid-wicket.He brought up his sixth one-day fifty off 58 balls.As he looked set for his second hundred, Jamshed miscued a drive off Mitchell Johnson straight into the hands of Starc at mid-off. He added 101 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali who made 59 not out.Pakistan also lost Asad Shafiq (nine) but Ali and Misbah-ul Haq (35) saw off the target.Australian paceman Starc and James Pattinson who shared eight wickets between them in the first match failed in the excessive dew as they found the ball hard to grip, dismissing just one batsman.Earlier Hussey came good with his 38th one-day fifty to lead Australian recovery from a precarious 87-4 after they won the toss and batted. Australia scored 73 runs in the last ten overs foiling Ajmal who at one point looked capable of keeping Australia down to 220.Hussey added an invaluable 66 for the fifth wicket with George Bailey (39) and then a rapid 58 for the sixth with Glenn Maxwell who made 28 in 27 balls to propel the Australian total.Hussey hit two sixes and a boundary off 72 balls before he was bowled by Ajmal in the 46th over.Australia had lost opener Mathew Wade in the second over for seven before David Warner and Michael Clarke added 66 for the second wicket.Warner, who played an uncharacteristically slow knock, with his first run coming off his 19th delivery, and Clarke (37) slowly progresed the score to 74 before Pakistani spinners Ajmal and Hafeez (1-28) took three quick wickets.Hafeez dismissed Clarke while Ajmal accounted for Warner -- both trapped in front of the wicket. Warner hit two boundaries in his 24 which came off 68 balls.Australia upped the pace of their innings when Maxwell hit two towering sixes off Rehman in the 40th over, helping them to 31 in the batting power-play. Paceman Junaid Khan took 3-52.Australia won the first match by four wickets at Sharjah which hosts the series decider on Monday.
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| England beat South Africa by 4 wickets Posted: England beat South Africa by four wickets in their third one-day international at the Oval on Friday, leveling the series at 1-1 and reclaiming the No. 1 ranking it lost to the Proteas earlier in the week.Eoin Morgan hit 73 and Jonathan Trott added 71 as England finished on 212-6, in reply to South Africas 211 all out with 12 balls to spare.Robin Peterson had South Africas best figures with 2-39, but the hosts seldom looked flustered.Earlier, Englands James Anderson took 4-44, while paceman Jade Dernbach vindicated his selection ahead of Tim Bresnan with 3-44 as the Proteas middle order squandered a promising start.Dernbachs victims included Hashim Amla the tourists top scorer with 43 from 51 balls and Dean Elgar, the next highest scorer with 42.Spinner James Tredwell, who replaced the rested Graeme Swann, took 2-49.South Africa, 1-0 ahead in the series, had won the toss and chose to bat. The visitors raced to 50 without loss before Graeme Smith charged down the wicket and was bowled by Anderson for 18.Cook said Dernbach had been preferred to Bresnan because the hosts needed to freshen up after Tuesdays 80-run defeat in the second ODI. The seamer revitalized the hosts attack, claiming the key wicket of Amla who was bowled off an inside edge.De Villiers made 28 before chipping Tredwell to Ian Bell at deep midwicket and five balls later Faf du Plessis was bowled for 1 by Ravi Bopara, stepping across the line and losing his leg stump.Elgar was deceived by a slower ball from Dernbach that crashed into his off stump and Wayne Parnell departed in Dernbachs next over for 13. Having edged successive balls through the slips for four, Parnells third consecutive nick went straight to wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.JP Duminy misjudged Tredwells delivery and was caught at long off by Bell for 33, before Anderson polished off the tail with three wickets in eight balls.Dale Steyn had made just 1 when Anderson sent his off stump cartwheeling. In Andersons next over, Morne Morkel was bowled off his pads for 7.The innings ended with 20 balls to spare when Lonwabo Tsotsobe was lbw for a golden duck to Andersons next delivery.Bell made a rapid start to the chase but was lbw to Steyn for 12.Cook gave his wicket away for 20, wafting a Peterson delivery to Elgar at midwicket and Bopara was then given out caught behind off Morkel for 0.The batsman instantly referred the call but with no conclusive evidence the decision was upheld.Morgan gradually put England back in control however and cracked the first six of the match when he hit Elgar into the top tier of the stand.Trott moved to 50, from 86 balls, with a single off Steyn in the 25th over and in the next Morgan reached the same landmark, from 54 balls, with a glanced single off Tsotsobe.Morgan smashed Tsotsobe for another six over long off before he was caught and bowled by Peterson in the 38th over.Kieswetter survived an lbw referral and hit Petersons next ball for six, though in the 42nd over he was dropped, by both Peterson and du Plessis before he was run out for 14.By then however England needed only 22 to win and although Trott was caught behind off Parnell, Samit Patel hit the winning run when he flicked Morkel through point.The fourth ODI of the five-match series is at Lords on Sunday.
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| Flower salutes 'great man' Strauss Posted: England coach Andy Flower said Friday that Andrew Strauss was a great man and deserved to be remembered as one of his countrys best captains.Flower, speaking publicly for the first time since Test skipper Strauss announced his retirement from all cricket on Wednesday, told Sky Sports: Hes a great man.Very simply hes a great bloke, a very strong man with a good sense of what is happening around him and an understanding and empathy of other people which is a great quality.He was a kind person and often saw things from other peoples perspective which is important in a leader and earned him a lot of close friendships in the changing room.Flower and Strauss were thrown together as a duo after Kevin Pietersens resignation as England captain in January 2009 also led to the sacking of then coach Peter Moores.But the partnership between the former Zimbabwe batsman and the Middlesex left-handed opener presided over one of Englands most successful periods, with the team winning home and away Ashes series under the Andocracy as well as rising to number one in the world Test rankings.He should be remembered as one of the great England captains, Flower said of Strauss. He has made other people better players and helped them grow as people, he has brought people together and people have been keen to follow him.In the main its been a very successful partnership and one Ill treasure.The 35-year-old Strauss, who made his Test debut in 2004, insisted Wednesday he was retiring because of declining form with the bat and the teams recent poor results rather than as a result of the fall-out from Pietersens ongoing international exile for sending provocative texts to South African players, some of which are alleged to be critical of his successor.Englands recent 2-0 series defeat by South Africa, in which Strauss averaged only just over 17, saw them lose their number one status to the Proteas but Flower said hed been surprised when Strauss told him hed been considering standing down for some time.I definitely didnt see any lack of motivation. Im surprised he said hes been thinking about it for that long. But hes 35 years old and is very aware of himself. He has decided the time is right and hes a pretty accurate judge of most things.Strausss 27-year-old opening partner Alastair Cook, already the one-day captain, has succeeded him as Test skipper and is someone Flower knows well from their time together as team-mates at county side Essex.I will miss his (Strausss) friendship but we need to move on, Flower said. Alastair Cook is taking over. I know him pretty well from his early days at Essex and we need to forge a strong partnership.Alastair is a good young man. Hes done a lot of growing up and hes a mature young man.He is without doubt a strong enough man to take on the challenge.
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| Belgian GP: Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi fastest in Spa practice Posted: The first track action for five weeks, following Formula 1s summer break, was seriously hampered by the weather.There was limited running in the first session and the second was washed out - only 18 drivers ventured out and none did a flying lap.Kobayashi ended the first session 0.552 seconds quicker than Williams driver Pastor Maldonado.Continue reading the main story“Theres so much water out there, going into and out of Eau Rouge. Its pretty dangerous”Nico Hulkenberg Force India driverFerraris Fernando Alonso, the world championship leader, was among a handful of drivers not to do a flying lap in either session. That list also included both Lotus drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.McLarens Lewis Hamilton did only one quick lap in the morning, which was enough to put him 15th, one place ahead of team-mate Jenson Button.Its been incredibly wet, Hamilton said. Lots of rivers on the track, with no real benefit bombing around, except trying to find out if the updates were working.Our rear wing, which is especially for here and Monza, we know we had some problems at the beginning. So we just had to make some modifications to ensure it was working perfectly, and it is, but we wont see until tomorrow how good the upgrades are working, he added.Thats the challenge - everyone is in the same boat. So its going to be very interesting trying to find the correct set-up in the short space of time well have tomorrow.Hopefully our simulator has helped us so we are best prepared, with tomorrow the first real test of whether the set up is there or thereabouts.Of the other leading figures, Red Bulls Mark Webber, second in the championship, was fifth fastest and team-mate Sebastian Vettel ninth.Webber said: It wasnt too bad in P1, the conditions were a lot better than in this [later] session. Extremely wet, lot of standing water, this session has been a bit of a write-off. [Its been a] difficult day for everyone and were looking forward to coming back tomorrow.Vettel added: Its not the best weather for us because there is too much water. We would love to go out but we cant. Its a shame for the people round the track, they have been quite brave today. Hopefully they will come back tomorrow and we will have some sunshine. Thats the forecast.Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher, celebrating his 300th grand prix, managed to control his car after a lurid slide in the famous Eau Rouge corner in the first session.And Ferraris Felipe Massa pulled off in a big cloud of smoke at the end of the morning with an engine failure.The rain continued over the lunch break, and with no improvement in the conditions the teams and drivers all decided it was too dangerous to run.Caterhams Heikki Kovalainen was one of the drivers to do an exploratory lap in the afternoon and he reported rivers running across the track at several corners and aquaplaning.Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg said: Theres so much water out there, going into and out of Eau Rouge. Its pretty dangerous out there.BBC F1 technical analyst Gary Anderson, the former technical director of the Jordan, Stewart and Jaguar teams, said it made no sense to run in such weather because of the risk of crashing and causing damage that could run to hundreds of thousands of pounds.It had rained overnight and all morning and a heavy downpour 10 minutes before the start of the session ensured the track was well and truly soaked.There was little running in the first hour of the first session and those drivers who did venture out found the track too wet for meaningful work.Hamilton had a nasty moment when his McLaren aquaplaned approaching the fast Blanchimont corner on his first lap and he abandoned any attempt to run, preferring to wait until conditions improved.The conditions meant the teams were unable to make meaningful analysis of the large number of upgrades they have brought for their cars, and many remain a secret for now.Ferrari say they have a number of new parts as they seek to improve the pace of their car and help Alonso hold on to his championship lead.One new development that was obvious was at McLaren, who have new, small wings on the bodywork beside the driver.Technical director Paddy Lowe said the team were pleased with the data they had logged but that the conditions meant it was not possible to form a full picture of the affect of the changes.Lotus had their double DRS straight-line speed boosting system on both cars for the first time after trialling it with Raikkonen in Germany and Hungary in July.Anderson said he believed the teams intention was to run it throughout the weekend.The device feeds air from intakes behind the drivers head up a central pillar on the rear wing to stall it, reducing drag along the straights.Like a different system Mercedes have been running all season, it is in addition to the standard DRS system run by all the cars. It is believed to operate separately from the DRS and to be usable at all times, while DRS is restricted in the race.Tail-enders Marussia also have a double DRS system they hope to try.
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| Chinese man builds replica Lamborghini Posted: A 28-year old man in China has become an internet sensation after building his very own Lamborghini replica.Wang Jian, who hails from a rural area of Chinas eastern Jiangsu province spent 60,000 yuan (£6,000) building his replica of Lamborghinis 2007 Reventon.The famous Italian manufacturer is reported to have made only 21 Reventon models worldwide.Born into a humble farming family, Wang chose to train as a mechanic when he was 16 out of a passion for cars, and began to build his very own supercar in May last year.Ive always loved sports cars since I was a child. After growing up, I thought of making my own, when I had the circumstances in life and the knowledge. In order to realise this dream, I struggled to learn about this. When I had the right circumstances and the time, I assembled it myself and realised my dream, he said.
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