Martin Fayulu, who has been picked by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) opposition as its nominee in the race to succeed Joseph Kabila, was among the most vociferous voices against the president’s efforts to cling to power.

A former oil executive educated in the United States and France, though a rank outsider from a minor party, Fayulu was thrust into the limelight as the consensus choice of opposition stalwarts who met in Geneva this weekend.

The head of the Engagement for Citizenship and Development party will take on Kabila protege Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a former interior minister, in the December 23 ballot.

Fiery and at times impulsive, Fayulu was routinely seen at the front of marches against Kabila extending his rule beyond constitutional limits – a bid the president finally renounced in August after exhausting several legal manoeuvres.

Fayulu, who will turn 62 on November 21, was arrested several times during opposition demonstrations in Kinshasa and elsewhere, once being struck in the head with a rubber bullet.

He enjoys the support of two heavyweights – former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who has been barred from standing in the election, and self-exiled ex-provincial governor Moise Katumbi, who says he was prevented from returning to Kinshasa to submit his candidacy.

Fayulu edged out key contender Felix Tshisekedi, head of the longtime main opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party and son of its late founder Etienne Tshisekedi.

The opposition nominee is staunchly opposed to the use of voting machines – an issue that may have tilted the selection debate in his favour, as the UDPS has said it would contest the vote whether the machines are used or not.

US company and hotel 

Fayulu worked for the US group Mobil in several African countries from 1984 to 2003, first as auditor and then as director general.

Speaking to the AFP news agency a week before his nomination, Fayulu said he left the company on “friendly” terms, receiving a comfortable severance package.

Hailing from the Lingala-speaking west of the country, Fayulu owns a hotel in Kinshasa located midway between Kabila’s residence and the president’s office.

The hotel was sealed in May, ostensibly for a tax audit, but has since reopened.

Fayulu entered the political arena during a national conference in 1991-92 that ended the single-party rule of longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in the former Belgian colony.

Fayulu won his first elective office in 2006, when he was elected to parliament.

Celta Vigo v Real Madrid, AC Milan v Juventus, Monaco v PSG – Live – BBC Sport

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Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles were spotted on the morning of Nov. 11 transporting what appeared to be an actual coffin decked out with stickers commemorating the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles’ opponents in the Sunday night game. 

The message was clear: we will bury you. 

The funny (if slightly morbid) gesture was captured by Steven Fisher, an NBC news reporter on assignment at Lincoln Financial Field. 

Oh, Philly. Never change. 

Health and security officials in the Gaza Strip say at least six Palestinians have been killed and six others wounded by Israeli forces who carried out a ground incursion in the besieged enclave.

A senior official with Hamas, the group administering the Gaza Strip, said on Sunday that an Israeli special forces team infiltrated an area near the southern city of Khan Younis in a civilian car.

Among those reportedly killed was Nour Baraka, a prominent commander of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.

“We heard that a special Israeli unit went inside Khan Younis and assassinated Nour Baraka and another [commander],” Ghazi Hamad, senior Hamas official, told Al Jazeera.

“After [that], the car which carried this special unit or some collaborators, they tried to escape … but they were followed by the Hamas and the al-Qassam Brigades and after that Israeli tried to cover this car through striking here in Gaza,” he added.

“I expect this night in Gaza to not be easy, to not be calm.”

Witnesses said that during the chase Israeli aircraft fired over 40 missiles in the area where the incident took place, killing at least four other people. 

Fawzi Barhoum, spokesperson for Hamas, denounced what he called a “cowardly Israeli attack”.

The Israeli military said in a brief statement that: “During IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operational activity in the Gaza Strip, an exchange of fire evolved.”

Further details were not immediately available.

SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies

Lewis Hamilton took a lucky win in the Brazilian Grand Prix after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen lost the lead in a collision with backmarker Esteban Ocon.

Verstappen was on course for a superb win when Force India’s Ocon left his car on the inside of the Red Bull at the Senna S and pitched it into a spin.

The incident dropped Verstappen back to second place and although he came back at Hamilton he could not quite catch him.

Verstappen remonstrated with Ocon in the driver weighing area afterwards and pushed the Frenchman three times as he expressed his anger at what had happened.

Hamilton’s win helped Mercedes secure the constructors’ championship.

They never looked like losing that as Ferrari’s challenge faded but the race win was another matter.

What was Ocon playing at?

Verstappen had driven superbly from the start, and was quickly up into second place by lap 10 after passing both Ferraris and then Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes in succession, and then holding Hamilton’s advantage at about 1.7 seconds.

Hamilton made an early stop for tyres on lap 19, switching on to mediums with the aim of going to the end, but Verstappen stayed out until lap 35.

His pace was so impressive on used super-softs that he almost did enough to rejoin without losing the lead.

In the end, he came back out 2.5secs behind Hamilton, and was on his tail within two laps and passed the Briton on lap 39.

He looked on course for victory until lap 44, when Ocon, who had not long ago pitted for fresh tyres, caught the Red Bull and was trying to unlap himself.

Ocon went around the outside of Verstappen into Turn One and that meant he was on the inside for the right-hander of Turn Two that follows immediately.

Verstappen’s right rear caught Ocon’s left front as he turned into the corner, pitching into a spin and into the run-off area.

Verstappen was furious. “What an idiot,” he fumed over the radio.

Ocon claimed Verstappen had not left him enough space, but he was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty, the most severe punishment before a disqualification.

“I came out of the box, the first lap I stayed behind, the second lap the team said you can unlap yourself if you want.

“I was side by side and I couldn’t disappear and then I saw he turned and we collided but what I am really surprised about is his behaviour after the race. We went on the scales he started to push me and wanted to punch me and stuff and this is not proper.”

Never give up

Verstappen was 5.7secs behind Hamilton when he got going again and he soon began to inch back towards the leader.

The car was damaged and Red Bull told him that he had lost some downforce around the front of the side-pod area but he kept coming at Hamilton regardless.

Meanwhile, Hamilton was battling problems with his power-unit, which was having drop-outs, as well as worn tyres, Mercedes asking 52 laps of his set of mediums, about their maximum limit.

Verstappen closed and closed but he did not have enough time and crossed the line 1.5secs behind.

Verstappen’s engineer said: “I don’t know what to say, mate.” And the Dutchman turned the air blue over the radio, saying: “I know what to say. I hope I don’t find him in the paddock.”

In the green room before the podium, Hamilton told Verstappen that Ocon had the right to unlap himself. Verstappen agreed, but added: “But you can’t crash.” Hamilton responded: “You had more to lose than he did. He had nothing to lose.”

Later, Verstappen told the media: “He has the right to unlap himself but still you have to be careful. He has always been an idiot.”

In his post-race interview, he said: “You do everything right and then you get taken out when he is being lapped.

“The car was working great but I don’t know what to say. I’m happy with second but we should have won.”

Ferrari fading

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen finished third, the red cars unable to challenge for the lead despite what had been perceived as an advantageous strategy.

Raikkonen tracked Bottas in the first stint as the Mercedes hit tyre problems but was unable to pass before Bottas stopped on lap 18.

A longer first stint gave Raikkonen a tyre advantage in the second stint, he caught team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who was ordered to let him past, but again Raikkonen became stuck behind Bottas.

Eventually, after 10 laps, Raikkonen finally got past, and then Bottas came under pressure from Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo before Mercedes ordered him in for a second stop on lap 59, with 12 to go.

Ricciardo took fourth, ahead of Bottas, with Vettel, who also made a second stop, a struggling sixth.

Driver of the day

What happens next?

The curtain comes down on the season in Abu Dhabi in two weeks’ time. After wins for three different drivers from three different teams in the past three races, who knows what will happen?

Image: KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images

At an excavation of a pharaoh’s 4,500-year-old pyramid complex, Egyptian archaeologists discovered dozens of mummified cats — in addition to 100 ornate cat statues. 

Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El-Enany announced the ancient cat artifacts on Nov. 10, and the Ministry took to Twitter to share images of the long-deceased felines, wrapped in ribbons of cloth.

Ancient Egyptians may not have worshiped their cats, but there’s ample evidence that they viewed the small mammals as divine. 

The mummified cats, however, weren’t alone. 

Piles of mummified scarab beetles were also found in the tomb. The large beetles lay buried under the lid of heavy limestone sarcophagus for 4,500 years. 

ATP Finals: Watch Roger Federer v Kei Nishikori live – BBC Sport

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You like booty? Great, but Saturday Night Live‘s “Permission” video is here to remind you that butts have boundaries. Future, Lil’ Wayne, Kenan Thompson, Chris Redd, and Pete Davidson in character as someone called “Uncle Butt” spit bars about respecting women’s space, donating to civil rights causes, and generally keeping the club a safe environment for all to enjoy. 

Standout line: “Treat that booty right, ’cause we allies in this bitch.”

Fourteen kilometres into the Athens marathon, Athanasia Tsoumeleka, a 2004 Olympic gold medalist, was overcome with emotion.

With tears in her eyes, she stopped running and began walking among a black-clad crowd lining the street.

That was because she had just reached Mati, the grief-stricken coastal village near Greece‘s capital, Athens, where 99 people lost their lives to devastating wildfires some three months ago.

“It was as if you were breathing the souls of the people that perished,” Tsoumeleka, winner of the women’s 20km walk in the Athens Olympics, told Al Jazeera.

“The race felt like it was honouring the lost lives.

“You could see that the people were trying to be happy and support us but there was endless grief in their eyes,” the 36-year-old said.

A record 18,750 participants from 105 countries on Sunday ran the historic 42km route of the Athens Classic Marathon, cutting right across Mati and passing through decimated forest areas as well as blackened and burnt houses.

Banners saying “I will not forget” and “99 victims” were hung along the way, as black balloons flew into the sky.

The spectators, many of whom were dressed in plan mourning black or dark t-shirts emblazoned with the words “I love Mati”, cheered and clapped to encourage the passing runners.

“It was like a dignified protest but they were our warmest supporters,” Irini Vartzioti, who ran the race for the second time, told Al Jazeera.

“It was very distressing. Everything was burned, and the people on either side of the road were dressed in black – you couldn’t help but start crying,” she said.

“Many of the runners and the viewers around me were also crying.”

Like Tsoumeleka, Vartzioti also stopped briefly when she reached Mati. She cut a small olive tree brunch from the side of the road among the charred forest which she carried until the finish line.

Nation in mourning

On July 23, gale-force winds fanned soaring walls of flames that raged through Mati, a popular resort in the southern Attica region.

The blaze, one of the worst disasters to hit the country in recent decades, caught mostly local holidaymakers in their vehicles and residents of the seaside town in their houses.

At least 99 people were eventually declared dead, many of whom had unsuccessfully attempted to flee into the sea, the only available shelter from the encroaching fire. In one case, authorities found the charred bodies of 26 trapped people, including small children, huddled closely together close to the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the coast.

The tragedy plunged Greece, a crisis-hit country still down to its knees after years of recession, into mourning and underscored chronic grievances over inadequate emergency response and poor urban planning.

In the lead-up to this year’s marathon, organisers said they would keep the original route that goes through Mati amid hopes to raise awareness and begin the “green revival” of the affected areas.

The Hellenic Athletic Federation (SEGAS) urged official sponsors and partners to participate in the effort with the launch of “Runners’ Forest“, a project seeking to plant trees over a four-kilometre stretch along the decimated marathon course.

“Lives were lost, the environment was destroyed, thousands of people suffered,” Kostas Panagopoulos, head of SEGAS, told a press conference.

“We feel deep respect for the memory of the people who perished and that is why we are taking an initiative to reforest the marathon route.”

Green bandanas with the project’s logo were also distributed at the beginning of the race and runners wore them in a gesture of camaraderie and support.

Kenyan Brimin Kipkokir Misoi finished first in the men’s race, covering the distance in 2:10:56, while fellow Kenyan Shelmith Muriuki won the women’s event in 2:36:46.

Dubbed “The Authentic”, the Athens marathon has given its name to all other long-distance footraces around the world.

It marks the legendary feat of a soldier in 5th Century BC Greece who is supposed to have run in full armour the distance from Marathon to Athens to announce the Athenian victory over the Persians and then died.

Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit with a convincing derby victory over Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side were seeking the result they needed to go back to the top of the table after Liverpool’s lunchtime win over Fulham at Anfield – and it was rarely in doubt after David Silva bundled home an early goal to give them a narrow interval advantage.

City got the second goal their superiority deserved with Sergio Aguero’s rasping, rising finish past David de Gea three minutes into the second half following an exchange of passes with Riyad Mahrez.

Jose Mourinho’s side, without injured Paul Pogba, barely mounted a serious threat but were given hope of earning an unlikely point just before the hour when Romelu Lukaku was hauled down by Ederson seconds after he had come on as substitute. Anthony Martial sent the Brazilian the wrong way from the spot.

It briefly revived memories of last season’s dramatic derby here when United came from two goals down to win, but City never looked like losing control and wrapped up the win two minutes from time when substitute Ilkay Gundogan took advantage of static United defending to beat De Gea from close range following a 44-pass move.

Who can stop rampant Man City?

Manchester City’s answer to Liverpool briefly returning to the head of the Premier League table was emphatic as this win was a comfortable as the scoreline suggests, arguably even more so.

Liverpool and Chelsea remain unbeaten in the Premier League, although Maurizio Sarri’s side slipped as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Stamford Bridge.

They remain very much in the title shake-up, as do fourth-placed Tottenham.

The problem for the chasing pack appears to be that Manchester City are currently operating on a different level to everyone else.

United were probably feeling pleased with themselves that somehow, despite barely laying a glove on City, they were actually still in contention for a point until Gundogan’s late goal ended all the arguments.

And it was a goal that summed up City under Guardiola.

The finish looked simple enough as Gundogan slipped in past some static United defenders to score with ease but it crowned a 44-pass sequence, the most before a goal since Juan Mata scored for Manchester United against Queens Park Rangers in September 2015.

City are two points clear of Liverpool but have a goal difference of +31 as opposed to +18 and this was another of their most difficult fixtures negotiated with their usual flair.

Man City’s old guard key to victory

Manchester City’s latest win was built on the foundations built by three established members of their recent glories.

Sergio Aguero may have gone from brunette to striking blonde but under the new hairstyle remained the same lethal striker who has been the centrepiece of so many of their successes.

It was classic Aguero when he scored City’s crucial second three minutes after half-time, exchanging passes with Mahrez before lashing home a near-post finish that carried so much power, De Gea barely had time to react.

It was his 151st goal in 218 Premier League games and his 208th goal in 307 games in all competitions for City. These statistics emphasise his status as one of the modern game’s great strikers.

David Silva, at 32 now an elder statesman at City, set them on their way with the early opener and showed his usual knack of finding space in crowded areas and ability to dictate tempo even at the most frenetic times.

At the heart of it all was the unsung Fernandinho, the 33-year-old Brazilian patrolling midfield with class and quality, working effectively in the shadows.

Guardiola knows his worth – and will also know he will be very difficult to replace when the time comes.

More to follow.