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Monday, June 15, 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Heavy rain turns weather pleasant in Lahore

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Lahore and its adjacent areas received heavy rain on Sunday night which turned the weather pleasant while breaking the intensity of heat.The Met Office has predicted more rains in the next 48 hours. The maximum and minimum temperature in Lahore during next 24 hours would be 37 and 27 Celsius respectively with 80 percent of humiditySeveral low-lying localities in the city were flooded due to heavy rain and roads were submerged under rainwater causing traffic problems.

Nuclear weapons states upgrade warheads despite disarmament

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Nuclear armed states continue to upgrade their stockpiles despite an international trend towards disarmament, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported Monday. Between 2010 and 2015 the number of warheads fell from 22,600 to 15,850 according to the institutes annual disarmament report which said the US and Russia represented the bulk of the reduction.The institute also pointed to extensive and expensive long-term modernization programmes in the worlds two largest nuclear powers which account for 90 percent of the weapons.Despite renewed international interest in prioritizing nuclear disarmament, the modernization programmes under way in the nuclear weapon-possessing states suggests that none of them will give up their nuclear arsenals in the foreseeable future, SIPRI researcher Shannon Kile said in a statement.The other three nuclear armed states legally recognised by the 1968 Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty -- China (260 warheads), France (300 warheads), Britain (215 warheads) -- are either developing or deploying new nuclear weapon systems or have announced their intention to do so according to the Stockholm-based peace institute. China was the only state among the five global nuclear powers to have a modest increase in the size of its arsenal. While the remaining nuclear states -- India (90 to 100 warheads), Pakistan (100 to 120 warheads) and Israel (80 warheads) -- have considerably smaller stockpiles, India and Pakistan continue to increase their arsenals while Israel has tested long-range ballistic missiles. North Korea is believed to be developing its arsenal of six to eight warheads but SIPRI said technical progress was difficult to assess.Reliable information on nuclear stockpiles varied greatly between states with the US getting top marks for transparency in the report, while Britain and France were more restrictive and Russia divulged nothing officially, except in bilateral contacts with the US.In Asia, China revealed little about its arsenal and the only information made public by nuclear rivals India and Pakistan was announcements of missile tests. The five nuclear powers and members of the UN Security Council -- US, Russia, China, Britain and France -- along with Germany, are in ongoing talks with Iran to persuade the Islamic Republic not to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

Algerian jihadist Belmokhtar killed in US strike: Libya's recognised govt

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BENGHAZI (AFP) - Notorious Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar has been killed in a US airstrike in Libya, the strife-torn countrys internationally recognised government said in a statement Sunday.American jets conducted an operation which resulted in the deaths of Mokhtar Belmokhtar and a group of Libyans belonging to a terrorist organisation in eastern Libya, said the statement, which was posted on Facebook.The operation took place after consultation with the Libyan transitional government based in the eastern city of Tobruk, the statement added.One-eyed Islamist commander Belmokhtar was the leader of the north African Al-Murabitoun militant group and a former chief of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.Wanted for terrorist activities in several countries, he was the alleged mastermind behind a 2013 siege of an Algerian gas plant in which 38 mostly Western hostages were killed.The announcement of his death came shortly after the Pentagon said the US military had carried out a strike on an Al-Qaeda-associated terrorist inside Libya.We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said in a statement Sunday, adding it took place last night.There were no more immediate details of the US operation, though Washington has in the past used drones to strike targets in the region.Libya has descended into chaos since a NATO-backed revolt unseated longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. It has rival governments and parliaments, and powerful militias are battling for influence and a share of its oil wealth. Jihadist groups have exploited the lawlessness, which has also prompted a huge influx of migrants trying to make the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe, with shipwrecks leaving hundreds dead and the EU straining to respond.Belmokhtar was previously thought to have been killed in Mali, but security sources told AFP last year that he had moved into Libya.The Al-Murabitoun group was born out of a merger between Belmokhtars Signatories in Blood and MUJAO, one of the jihadist groups that had seized control of northern Mali in early 2012 to 2013.Al-Murabitoun last month said it had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group -- but Belmokhtar immediately distanced himself from the declaration, in what was interpreted as evidence of a power struggle within the group.

Thousands of Syrian refugees flee into Turkey from Tal Abyad

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AKCAKALE (AFP) - Thousands of Syrian refugees poured into Turkey on Sunday to escape the battle between Kurds and Islamic State (IS) jihadists for the Syrian town of Tal Abyad, as the Turkish authorities reopened the border after days of closure.The Syrians, many carrying sacks of possessions and small children, flooded through the Akcakale border gate onto Turkish territory, an AFP photographer said.There had earlier been chaotic scenes as some of the refugees crossed the border illegally through holes in fences, prompting rapid intervention from the Turkish army.Turkey had for several days been blocking the Syrians from entering Turkey, saying it would only allow them into the country in the event of a humanitarian tragedy.However, local officials in Akcakale said earlier that permission had been received from Ankara to allow the refugees into Turkey.The decision came as Kurdish forces advanced on Tal Abyad, which is controlled by the IS group that has captured swathes of Syria and Iraq.A delay followed which Turkish television said was due to IS jihadists trying to stop the refugees from crossing the border into Turkey.Chaos ensued with some Syrians managing to push their way through the fences away from the main Akcakale border gate to enter Turkey illegally.Some squeezed under the mesh-wire barrier while others managed to climb over, throwing their bags over the fence.They then had to negotiate the border trench with dozens managing to scramble across. The army used water cannon and tear gas in a bid to restore control.But in the early evening Turkish authorities opened the Akcakale border gate and the refugees began to enter in an orderly fashion. Many had relatives already waiting for them on the other side. The queue of refugees could be seen extending up the hillside.With temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, Turkish emergency workers threw bottled water into the crowds as dozens of hands stretched out to catch them.The refugees were then registered with the Turkish authorities, receiving vaccinations and health checks.Those with relations already in Turkey can stay with them, others will be taken to existing refugee camps, the Dogan news agency said.Turkish television said that in all 3,000 people were expected to cross over into Turkey but the AFP correspondent at the scene said the numbers appeared considerably greater.Under an open-door policy championed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has taken in 1.8 million Syrian refugees since the conflict in Syria erupted in 2011.But the Turkish government has in recent months grown increasingly frustrated with the situation, claiming that it has been left to shoulder the burden of refugees while the West stands by.The government said in April that it had spent almost $5.5 billion (4.8 billion euros) to provide for Syrian refugees.Before last weeks border closure, Turkey had taken in more than 13,500 Syrian refugees escaping the fighting for Tal Abyad, officials said.Turkish officials have said that the refugees are mainly ethnic Arabs and Turkmen. Erdogan said earlier he was troubled by the advance of Kurdish forces to Tal Abyad, saying they could in the future threaten Turkey.He said the places refugees had vacated were being occupied by the Syrian Kurdish group the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).This is not a good sign, he said. This could lead to the creation of a structure that threatens our borders.

Car bomb attack kills 10 people in Iraq

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BAGHDAD (AP) - Authorities in Iraq say a car bomb blast near a market has killed 10 people in the capital, Baghdad.Police officials say the attack took place Sunday night when the car bomb hit a market and shops in Baghdads Qahira neighborhood. At least 20 people were wounded in the attack.Several cars and shops were burnt in the attack, police said.Medical officials in nearby hospitals confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.Baghdad and outlying areas see near-daily bombings. Many of them are later claimed by the Islamic State group, which seized large parts of the country during a stunning blitz last year.

25 killed in two Egypt road accidents

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CAIRO (AFP) - Twenty-five people were killed and 29 others injured on Sunday in two separate road accidents in Egypt, where poor road and traffic regulations kill thousands each year, officials said.One accident took place on the highway linking Cairo to the Mediterranean coast further north when a minibus collided with a truck killing 13 people and injuring four, said a health ministry official.Twelve people were killed and 25 injured in the other accident when a bus overturned near the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada, medics and security officials said.The driver of the bus, which was carrying hotel employees from Hurghada to Cairo, apparently lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn, they said.Traffic accidents are common in Egypt, where roads are often poorly maintained and traffic regulations little enforced.The World Health Organisation says they account for nearly 12,000 deaths annually.

Tennis: Nadal wins Stuttgart grass title

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STUTTGART (AFP) - Rafael Nadal earned his second title of the season and his fourth on grass as he defeated Serb Viktor Troicki 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 on Sunday to become the first man to triumph on both clay and turf at the Stuttgart Open.The Spanish top seed set another minor record, as he won the inagural grass edition after taking clay trophies here in 2005 and 2007. Stuttgart made the switch to grass starting with this edition as part of the new Wimbledon pre-season.Nadals 66th career title marked his second in 2015 after claiming a trophy on South American clay last February. The Spaniard now owns two grass titles at Wimbledon plus 2008 Queens Club, London and now Stuttgart.The 14-time grand slam champion who is ranked 10th, polished his record against eighth seed Troicki to 5-0, last facing the Serb in a Tokyo semi-final nearly five years ago. Nadal took victory as he played his his 95th career final, now standing 66-29 in finals.His last grass final came at Wimbledon in 2011 when he lost to Novak Djokovic. Troicki was playing his seventh career final - and first on grass - and now stands 2-5 in title matches.Nadals victory boosted him to 33-10 this season as he prepares for what he hopes is a better second half of 2015. He is now 17-2 in Stuttgart, where he last competed eight years ago.Im not bothered by the expectations of others, said the 29-year-old. Im only motivated by my own goals, There is no pressure on meIts fantastic to win here on grass after winning on clay. Victor is a tough opponent.But Ive been gaining confidence over the past month and a half after a very poor first three and a half months of this season.Ive been feeling my game better since after my first match in Monte Carlo (mid-April). It was mentally tiring for me to play tennis in the first part of the year. I was not feeling comfortable on court.I was not able to play the way that I wanted. I didnt feel confidence. But that has been changing and my focus now if to prepare as best as I can for Wimbledon.Nadal added: My level has always been there, Ive not forgotten how to play tennis. But now things are coming together for me.Nadal spent 48 minutes in winning the opening set, which he took into a tiebreaker with a love game. The top seed grabbed the early 4-2 lead in the decider and fired a ninth ace to wrap up the opener.In the second, the Spaniard broke for 3-1 and took victory on his third match point, ending with 11 aces in the 88-minute contest.

Tennis: Federer looks for Wimbledon boost at Halle

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HALLE (AFP) - Roger Federer begins his bid for a record eighth Wimbledon title in the familiar surroundings of Halle on Monday admitting hes still surprised by his staggering success on grass.The 33-year-old needs one more Wimbledon triumph to go clear of Pete Sampras who also won at the All England Club on seven occasions.As he prepares for his assault on an eighth title in Halle, Federer said his career record of 14 grass-court trophies -- more than any other active player -- still surprises him.I never thought that I could ever play so well in my career on grass. It was always a dream to play such good tennis on grass or even be able to play on a grass court, he told reporters on Sunday.Where I grew up in Switzerland, there was only sand, carpet or dirt. So a grass court was always a dream.The last of Federers seven Wimbledon crowns came in 2012 while he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic last year.If he were to capture an eighth title in London next month, he would also become the tournaments oldest champion of the modern era, surpassing Arthur Ashe who was still a month short of his 32nd birthday when he was the winner in 1975.At this stage of my career I want to have the perfect preparation for Wimbledon, said Federer, who begins his Halle campaign against Germanys Philipp Kohlschreiber on Monday.That means a victory. I want to defend the title in a tough field of competitors. Thats exactly what I need, the world number two told www.atpworldtour.com.Federer is top seed in Halle with Japans Kei Nishikori seeded two and Tomas Berdych taking the third seeding.Nishikori takes on Austrias Dominic Thiem in his opener with 2010 Wimbledon runner-up Berdych facing Victor Estrella Burgos of Dominica.

Football: Neymar to the rescue as Brazil down Peru

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TEMUCO (AFP) - Brazil captain Neymar scored one goal and set up an injury-time winner as the five-time world champions opened their Copa America campaign with a desperate 2-1 win over Peru here Sunday.Neymar nodded in a fifth-minute equaliser for the Brazilians -- his 44th international goal at the age of just 23 -- after Peru had taken a shock lead through Christian Cueva.The Barcelona superstar appeared to be single-handedly trying to find a winner for the remainder of the match, invariably at the heart of Brazils best attacks.It looked as if Peru had done enough to earn a share of the points in Group C as the match headed into injury time with the score locked at 1-1.But with the final whistle looming, Neymar advanced menacingly down the left flank and threaded a pass through a forest of bodies for the unmarked Shakhtar Donetsk striker Douglas.Douglas, who had earlier squandered a golden chance created by Neymar, made no mistake with his second opportunity, calmly placing his shot beyond the despairing dive of Pedro Gallese.Brazil had entered the match on a run of 10 consecutive wins since their ill-fated World Cup campaign last year, when they were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.But Brazils hopes of extending their winning run to 11 matches were rocked within minutes of the start at a rain-lashed Estadio German Becker in Temuco when Peru took the lead through Cueva.A defensive blunder from Paris Saint-Germain defender David Luiz proved the catalyst, needlessly putting goalkeeper Jefferson under pressure after a long ball forward from Peru.The Botafogo shot-stoppers attempted clearance only went as far as Cueva, who rifled home from 10 yards to make it 1-0 after only three minutes.Brazils response was immediate.Wing back Dani Alves picked up the ball wide on the right and curled an inviting cross into the area to pick out his unmarked Barcelona team-mate who headed home for 1-1.Brazil enjoyed the better chances thereafter but struggled to carve out clear openings.Neymar almost gave his side the lead in the 53rd minute, curling a shot from outside the box which cannoned back off the crossbar.The striker was again at the center of things late in the game, breaking clear from deep inside his own half and releasing substitute Douglas.Douglass attempt to lift his finish above the advancing goalkeeper drifted wide however. But the 24-year-old Ukraine-based striker made no mistake when given a second chance in injury-time as Brazil snatched the win.

Football: Rooney sees off Slovenia to close on record

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LJUBLJANA (AFP) - Wayne Rooney moved to within one goal of Englands all-time scoring record with an 86th-minute winner as his side edged Slovenia 3-2 in a topsy-turvy Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday.Milivoje Novakovic gave Slovenia the lead against the run of play in the 37th minute at the Stozice Stadium, before Jack Wilshere broke his international duck with a pair of brilliant, almost identical second-half goals to put England ahead.Slovenia substitute Nejc Pecnik appeared to have rescued a point with an 84th-minute equaliser, but moments later Rooney atoned for two glaring earlier misses by scoring his 48th England goal, taking him level with Gary Lineker and leaving him one goal behind Bobby Charlton.Its great to score the winner, but it was a great team performance, Rooney told ITV.We came out on the front foot for the second half and Jack Wilshere scored two great goals.Rooneys strike gave England a sixth win in six qualifying games, sending them provisionally nine points clear at the Group E summit, as they finished a season unbeaten for the first time in 24 years.The display also allowed Roy Hodgsons men to answer some of their critics after they were lambasted for an anaemic goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland in their previous outing.Its a good achievement. Having a complete season (unbeaten), with eight wins and two draws, has not been done for well over 20 years, Hodgson said.I think the players deserve a great deal of credit for that. Now we just need to keep building on it.Hodgson made three changes to the team that had started in Dublin, with Kieran Gibbs, Fabian Delph and Andros Townsend coming in, but it was a player whose place was thought to have been under threat, Raheem Sterling, who provided the hosts spark.Twice Rooney freed Sterling to run at goal in the early stages, but after side-footing his first attempt over the bar, he then saw a low shot deflected behind.The 20-year-old also sent a cross skidding across the face of goal, while Rooney drew a finger-tip save from Samir Handanovic with a left-foot shot.There was crispness to Englands passing and purpose to their attacking forays, but eight minutes before half-time a succession of mistakes allowed the home side to land a sucker-punch.Phil Joness loose throw-in gifted possession to Slovenia and when Josip Ilicic played the ball behind the England defence, Gary Cahill misjudged his attempt to play offside and Novakovic ran through to score his 30th international goal.Hodgson made a change at half-time, sending on Adam Lallana for Jones and asking Jordan Henderson to fill in at right-back, and although it seemed a puzzling switch, his side drew level in the 57th minute.Sterlings pacy pass into the box was neatly gathered by Lallana and while the former Southampton captain could not get a shot away, the loose ball was crashed into the net by Wilshere from just outside the box.Rooney then squandered two gilt-edged chances to put England in front, with Sterling the creator on both occasions, first leaning back and shooting over with his right foot and then spooning over with his left.But Wilshere spared the Manchester United strikers blushes in the 73rd with a goal that will live long in the memory.After a high-speed one-two with Townsend, Henderson stroked the ball infield to Lallana, who deftly back-heeled it into Wilsheres path, and the Arsenal man took one touch before slamming a glorious shot into the top-left corner.Pecnik looked to have spoilt Englands end-of-season send-off when he rose to head home a left-wing cross from Bojan Jokic, but within seconds, Jokics sliding challenge on Theo Walcott sent the ball into Rooneys path and the captain rolled home the winner.The England team showed their class, said Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec.Im mostly sorry we came within five minutes of winning before conceding in such a naive way.

Football: Austria defeat damages Russia Euro hopes

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Russias hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 were dealt a blow on Sunday as Fabio Capellos side slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Austria.Giant striker Marc Janko scored the only goal of the game for the Austrians with a spectacular overhead kick in the 33rd minute at Spartak Moscows Otkrytie Arena as they extended their lead at the top of qualifying Group G.After six games, unbeaten Austria are top with 16 points, seven points clear of Sweden before their match at home to Montenegro later on Sunday.We played really well in the first half, Austrias manager Marcel Koller said. We scored a goal and had chances to score more but unfortunately missed them. After the break Russia put more pressure on us but we managed to cope with it and won deservedly.Russia, meanwhile, are third with eight points, three points better off than Montenegro and Liechtenstein.With only the best third-placed side from the nine groups qualifying along with the top two sides from each section, and the rest going into play-offs, Russias place at the expanded finals in France next year is far from secure.The 2018 World Cup host have won only one game in their qualifying campaign so far, at home to Liechtenstein last September.They were also awarded a 3-0 win over Montenegro after the game in Podogorica in March was abandoned due to crowd trouble with the score goalless midway through the second half.Austria, who beat Russia 1-0 in Vienna in November, came to Moscow without injured Bayern Munich star David Alaba but their recent improvement continued as they closed in on qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since they co-hosted Euro 2008.Janko, who plays his club football in Australia for Sydney FC, pounced on Russias inability to clear their lines inside the penalty box with a remarkable overhead effort past Igor Akinfeev.That goal proved enough, although Julian Baumgartlinger missed a great chance to double the visitors lead.Russias next qualifier is a potentially decisive fixture at home to Sweden in September.We ruined everything in the first half, Russias skipper Roman Shirokov said.In the second half we had chances to level but we failed to capitalise on them.

Golf: Park In-Bee wins WPGA Championship to return to number one

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HARRISON (AFP) - South Korean Park In-Bee won the Womens PGA Championship for the third year in a row on Sunday to return to number one in the world in dominant style.Park finished with a five-under-par 68 for an impressive 19-under total of 273 and a five-shot victory over compatriot Kim Sei-Young.Park joined Swedish great Annika Sorenstam as the only players to win three successive editions of the major, which was formerly known as the LPGA Championship and was rebranded this year in a collaboration between the LPGA and the PGA of America.And the 26-year-old did it in commanding fashion, rolling in her fifth birdie of the final round at the 18th hole.I dont know what word can describe how I feel right now, said Park, whose 19-under total matched the lowest score in relation to par in the tournaments history, achieved previously by Cristie Kerr in 2010 and Taiwans Yani Tseng in 2011.Im so thrilled and so honored to be in this position, Park said. I do things that I cant even believe.Kim, who started the day two strokes behind Park, tried to keep the pressure on, but a string of four birdies in a row ended with a double-bogey at the par-five ninth that proved too much to overcome.The rookie -- who shocked Park in a playoff at the Lotte Championship this season -- finished with a two-under 71 on the par-73 Westchester Country Clubs West course for 278.American Lexi Thompson, who nabbed eight birdies in her first 13 holes, finished in third on 280 after a seven-under 66.With her sixth major title, Park is assured of returning to number one in the world. Shell supplant 18-year-old New Zealander Lydia Ko, whose missed cut on Friday was a first in her precocious pro career.

Golf: Wood shines at Diamond Club with Austrian Open win

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ATZENBRUGG (AFP) - Englands Chris Wood claimed his second European Tour title on Sunday with a two-shot triumph in the Austrian Open at the Diamond Country Club.Wood started the final round five shots off the lead which had been held by Frances Gregory Bourdy since Thursday.But a final round of a five-under 67 gave him his first title since the 2013 Qatar Masters.Woods said he was delighted with victory especially after an injury-hit start to the season when his wrist was in a cast as a result of an injury suffered while playing tennis.It was a long winter sitting at home with a cast on my wrist getting frustrated and just wanting to be out here playing and competing, said the 27-year-old.I have been playing well the last few weeks so I felt that a victory was coming, but until the moment comes you always think when will it come?I played great all week and today especially. I felt that if I could beat 68 today I would have an outside chance and obviously things went my way and 67 was good enough.Wood finished on 15 under with Spains Rafa Cabrera-Bello two shots back after a level-par 72 while Bourdy was tied for sixth after a disastrous final round of 78 left him six behind Wood.Bourdy had led by two overnight but imploded with a double bogey and five bogeys.

Motorcycling: Lorenzo wins Catalunya MotoGP

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MADRID (AFP) - Spains Jorge Lorenzo won a fourth consecutive MotoGP on Sunday after holding off Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi at the Catalunya Grand Prix.Rossi pushed hard and with five laps to go around the Montmelo circuit outside Barcelona, the gap was just 1.288sec.But Lorenzo held the Italian off for victory on his home track to move within one point, on 137, of Rossi (138) in the overall standings. Dani Pedrosa, on a Honda, was third for his first podium finish of an injury-hit season.I stayed focused and didnt make any mistakes, said Lorenzo.There was no such joy for Spains Marc Marquez, the two-time reigning champion crashing off the track while in hot pursuit of Lorenzo early on, the third time hes fallen in seven races this season.You try to push a little bit more, said the 22-year-old Marquez.I made a mistake and I lose more points. The next race will be different and will be better.I was on the limit, and on my bike I need to be very careful.Rossi said he was happy with second spot after struggling to match Lorenzos pace in the three previous races.Throughout my career I always thought that when you take 20 points, it has been a good race, said Rossi.I enjoyed this weekend, which was an important one, because I came from three races where I struggled a lot and I dont like to arrive in third when Jorge wins. Its a great shame because I had the pace to fight with him.Frances Johann Zarco, on a Kalex, consolidated his lead atop the Moto2 standings with victory ahead of Spanish duo Alex Rins and reigning champion Tito Rabat.Zarco started on pole, but at one stage had slipped back to sixth before regaining the lead on the final lap.Zarco has now accrued 134 points in the overall standings after his second victory of the season, with Rabat second on 94.If I wanted to overtake I had to do it at the start of the last lap, said Zarco.I closed the gap step by step, he added. I enjoyed this race a lot and its very good for the championship overall.British biker Danny Kent roared past a group of rivals to snatch an astonishing win for Honda in the Moto3 category.Sitting in sixth position going into the last lap of an edgy race Kent eventually beat Italys pole position-starting Enea Bastianini into second and Spains Efren Vazquez into third.Having now won four of the seven races so far, the 21-year-old Kent has 149 points in the world championship rankings ahead of Bastianini, who is second on 98.

Rallying: Ogier reinforces lead with Sardinia rally win

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ALGHERO (AFP) - Frances Sebastien Ogier, in a Volkswagen Polo, won the Rally of Sardinia on Sunday finishing ahead of New Zealands Hayden Paddon and Thierry Neuville of Belgium.The two-time world champion Ogier claimed the 28th victory of his career and his fourth this season to reinforce his lead at the top of the world rally championship standings.Ogier won the four-day rough road event by 3min 05.4sec over Paddon, the long-time leader in a Hyundai i20 claiming a career best finish of second with Neuville third at 4:22.5 behind the Frenchman in another i20.Winning the final Power Stage Ogier claimed three bonus points, with Jari-Matti Latvala taking two and Andreas Mikkelsen one to earn a clean sweep for Volkswagen Motorsport.Im very happy because I didnt expect such a result here, said Ogier. My times gradually got better without me having to force too much.Everything went to plan. The car was perfect and so were the weather conditions.Hayden Paddon had a great race. He is well deserving of second place.Paddon had become the first New Zealand driver to lead a WRC round outside his home country but a series of problems on Saturday put paid to his overall victory hopes.A broken gearbox from a heavy impact on Saturday meant he had to top up the oil and use ratchet straps to tie everything so it didnt move about just to get to the finish on Saturday.Paddon eased through the final day, and later admitted: We still had some damage from the impact yesterday so we were lucky to get here.Im very relieved, it was a massive weekend but theres more to come yet.Neuville moved up to third on the final day after Ostberg went off the road in the opening stage and suffered damage to his brakes.

Posted by IMRAN ALI SOOMRO (DARVESH) at 6/15/2015 08:08:00 AM

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