TOKYO, Dec. 5  -- The Honda Motor Co. Friday announced it has withdrawn its sponsorship on the Formula One auto racing circuit because of "widespread economic uncertainties."

Honda's chief executive officer, Takeo Fukui, said at a Tokyo news conference Friday the company -- the world's largest automaker -- experienced a 34 percent sales drop in November from last year, and that its F1 racing team is for sale.

CHITA, Russia, Dec. 5  -- A MiG-29 fighter on a training flight crashed in Russia's Baikal territory, killing a fighter pilot, a military official said Friday.

HEBRON, West Bank, Dec. 5  -- The Palestinian National Authority says the international community should help limit settler violence in the West Bank.

Palestinian officials said violence against West Bank settlers in cities like Hebron should prompt a response from Israel and other members of the international community, The Jerusalem Post said Thursday.

Settlers from Hebron's Beit Hashalom building have been evacuated after a sudden increase of attacks on settlers in the city.

While Palestinian officials have praised the removal of the endangered settlers, they have urged Israel to remove all other Hebron settlers to avoid additional violence.

Lake Louise, Canada  - Defending overall champion Lindsey Vonn was in command to win the opening downhill of the women's alpine World Cup ski season on Friday.

KOHAT, Pakistan, Dec. 5  -- A car bomb killed at least 20 people Friday at a police checkpoint in northern Pakistan, police said.

At least 80 people were injured, the Pak Tribune reported.

As much as 50 pounds of explosives detonated, Police Inspector Gen. Naveed Khan told Geo News. He said the crater left by the blast suggests that it was not a suicide attack.

An intelligence official said it appeared the bomber had intended to target minority Shia Muslims, but decided to detonate the bomb after being stopped by police in the Orakzai Agency, Dawn reported.

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 5  -- O. J. Simpson was sentenced to at least nine years in a Nevada prison Friday for holding up two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel.

The 61-year-old former football star apologized tearfully, telling a judge he did not realize he was doing anything illegal, the Las Vegas Sun reported. He has consistently said that he was trying to recover his own property.