Sunday 9 November 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Hub: Police mobile plunges into ravine, 2 killed

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HUB (Dunya News) – According to details, a police mobile fell into ravine at Gadani More near Hub on early Monday morning, killing at least two police officials.Those who died were identified as Naseer Ullah and Munir Ahmad. At least four other police officials were injured in the accident. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the dead and injured to Civil Hospital Hub.

Obama warns Iran nuclear deal may not be reached

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MUSCAT (AFP) - The United States and Iran held high-level talks in Oman Sunday as the deadline for a nuclear deal loomed closer, but President Barack Obama warned there may be no agreement.US Secretary of State John Kerry met Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Gulf sultanate, seeking to resolve key disputes that have left the Wests negotiations with the Islamic republic close to deadlock.An interim accord expires on November 24 but Iran and world powers have for months been unable to hammer out what a comprehensive, long-term accord would look like.At issue is the number of uranium-enriching centrifuges Iran should be allowed to keep spinning in exchange for sanctions relief and rigorous inspections at its nuclear sites. The duration of a final settlement between Iran and the P51 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- also remains contested.The West is unconvinced by Tehrans denials that it has never sought a nuclear weapon and wants curbs that would put an atomic bomb forever beyond reach.Iran, however, insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful, civilian energy production only and wants to vastly enhance its uranium enrichment capabilities for this purpose. The country has vowed to do nothing that would roll back its nuclear activities.With both Iran and the US now facing pressure at home over the talks, Obama reiterated in a CBS News interview screened Sunday that the sides were still wide apart.Are we going to be able to close this final gap so that (Iran) can re-enter the international community, sanctions can be slowly reduced and we have verifiable, lock-tight assurances that they cant develop a nuclear weapon? Obama asked.Theres still a big gap. We may not be able to get there, he said.Kerry and Zarif had two meetings lasting more than five hours in Muscat with former EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the lead negotiator in the talks, also present.No statements were made when the meeting broke off for the day but the talks will resume on Monday, officials said.The meeting in Muscat follows the revelation that Obama reportedly wrote to Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to push for a deal, arguing that the Islamic republic and the West have shared regional interests.This apparent reference to the fight against Islamic State group militants in Syria and Iraq was played down by Kerry, however, with the US diplomat saying in Beijing on Saturday there is no linkage whatsoever with the nuclear talks.Domestic politics are hanging heavily over the process, given the loss in midterm elections of the Senate by Obamas Democrats to the Republican party, members of whom have consistently bridled at the White Houses negotiations with Iran.If talks go sour in the coming weeks it is thought the US Congress may respond with fresh sanctions on Iran.Obama has the power to veto them, but the prospect of new penalties could disrupt an already protracted process and push the negotiations toward being untenable for the Iranian government.Zarif and President Hassan Rouhani are already under pressure from lawmakers sceptical of the interim deal who have also said that a final agreement must be ratified by parliament.As if to drive that message home on Sunday, 200 Iranian MPs signed a statement demanding that Zarifs negotiating team vigorously defend the countrys nuclear rights and ensure a total lifting of sanctions.Although officially supportive, hardliners in Tehran have often been ambivalent about the negotiations, which officially resumed last autumn after earlier secret talks in Oman with US officials set the wheels in motion.The surprise election last year of Rouhani, who had pledged to revive Irans sanctions-battered economy, was a turning point on the nuclear issue. But progress has been elusive since the interim deal came into effect in January.After Kerry and Zarif meet again on Monday, the political directors of the P51 powers will hold talks the following day, also in Muscat. The main negotiations then move back to Vienna on November 18 for a final push towards the deadline six days later.

PM to leave for Germany today

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will leave for Germany today (Monday) on a two-day official visit at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.According to Foreign Office spokesperson, the Prime Minister during his visit will hold talks with Chancellor Merkel that will be followed by a lunch in his honour. Thereafter, he will meet with President of the German Parliament.Nawaz Sharif will also address a Business Forum organized by Pakistan Board of Investment, which is expected to be attended by a large number of German business executives and investors.The visit of the Prime Minister will help in strengthening the exiting ties between the two countries. Pakistan and Germany enjoy close and cordial relations. Germany is Pakistan’s fourth largest trading partner globally and the largest in the EU. Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Germany stands at 2.5 billion dollars annually.The two countries have a strong collaboration in various other fields.

Tennis: Federer in the groove, Nishikori downs Murray

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LONDON (AFP) - Roger Federer was back in the groove at the ATP World Tour Finals as the six-time champion defeated Milos Raonic 6-1, 7-6 (7/0), while Japans Kei Nishikori made a dream debut with a surprise 6-4, 6-4 victory over Andy Murray on Sunday.Federer last won the prestigious season-ending event at Londons O2 Arena in 2011 and the world number two looks in the mood to add another title to his collection on the evidence of a powerful performance, featuring 24 winners, that avenged his loss to Raonic in the Paris Masters quarter-finals last month.Raonic, 23, is making his Tour Finals debut as the first player born in the 1990s to compete in the event after a breakthrough year that included a run to the Wimbledon semi-finals.But at 33, Federer has been in age-defying form this year and he arrived as the oldest player to qualify for the tournament in his record 13th consecutive appearance.Federer is set to become the oldest player to finish a season in the worlds top two and still has a slim chance of becoming the oldest player to end the season as world number one if he overhauls Novak Djokovic in the race for top spot.The 17-time Grand Slam winner brushed aside Raonic in straight sets in the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this year and he wasted little time reestablished his supremacy in their latest London meeting.Raonic has fired down over 1,000 aces this year and he looked to overpower the Swiss by firing down 138mph and 141mph bombs in his opening service game. But Federer wasnt intimidated by that barrage, returning both massive serves to earn three break points that swiftly turned into a 2-0 lead.If that was disheartening for Raonic there was worse to come as Federer, defusing the Canadians serve with ease, broke again in the sixth game before closing out the set in emphatic fashion.Despite a chastening first set, Raonic showed commendable resilience and began to assert himself at the start of the second, forcing Federer to dig deep to save two break points in the fourth game.Raonics serve was in the groove now and, with his groundstrokes equally vigorous, the Canadian earned a set point at 6-5.Yet Federer managed to escape that predicament and forced a tie-break, which he took in ruthless fashion to seal the win.I was very happy with how I performed. The second set was much tougher. I dont think he played a great breaker but it was a great one to win, Federer said.Its a small relief. We have a tough group here so its always going to be hard advancing but it brings me a step closer.Nishikori is the first Asian singles player to qualify for the Tour Finals and he rose to the occasion with his first ever victory over former Wimbledon champion Murray at the fourth attempt.The 24-year-old had failed to win even a single set in those losses to Murray, but the last came over two years ago and he has improved greatly since then.He took the game to Murray right from the start and hit 20 winners in a 95-minute triumph that gives him a good chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.Maybe in the beginning I was a little bit tight, but I started feeling better and the second set was almost perfect, Nishikori said. I knew I had to be more aggressive than usual and thats how I won. Its my goal to go to the semi-final and final.Murray added: Its harder to qualify when you lose your first match. Thats pretty obvious.I need to win my next two matches more than likely, and win them well if I want to go through.On Monday, defending champion Novak Djokovic faces US Open winner Marin Cilic, while Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka plays Tomas Berdych.

Tennis: Kvitova leads Czechs to Fed Cup title

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PRAGUE (AFP) - Petra Kvitova handed the Czech Republic their third Fed Cup title in four years after beating Angelique Kerber in the final on Sunday to give her team an unbeatable lead over Germany.Kvitova, the Wimbledon champion and world number four, beat 10th-ranked Kerber in a three-set rollercoaster rubber pitting the teams number one players 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 57 minutes.The Czechs won the tie 3-1 after Germanys Julia Goerges and Sabine Lisicki beat a reunited Czech pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-3 in Sundays dead doubles rubber.Spearheaded by Kvitova, the Czechs already won the cup in 2011 and 2012, following five titles earned by the former Czechoslovakia in 1975-1988.Germany, with Steffi Graf in the team, last won the Fed Cup in 1992.Angie played so well and Im just glad that I did it, it was really about one point and then she could take it, said a jubilant Kvitova, who had beaten Germanys number two Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday.It was really up and down from the beginning of the match and there was always a big fight for every single point, added the 24-year-old who won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014.I had cramps at the end of the second set, doctors gave me a lot of magnesium. I was lucky in the end maybe.Kerber had to shake off Saturdays 6-4, 6-4 defeat at the hands of Czech number two Lucie Safarova.I gave everything I had today and in the end Petra was better, I think she deserved to win but we both played at a really high level, said the 26-year-old German.It was for sure one of the best matches this year for me.The first set turned into a 76-minute thriller with both left-handers at their most aggressive on the superfast hardcourt of Pragues O2 Arena packed with 13,000 fans.Kvitova squandered four break points while Kerber needed a single one to break her in the fifth game before doing it again for a 5-2 lead.But Kvitova showed why Czech fans and media call her Lioness and broke her rival back twice to come level at 5-5.Kerber went on an attacking spree to earn another break and grab a 6-5 lead, before the drama peaked in game 12.Kerber had five set points in that game but Kvitova managed to tame her before converting her fifth break point of the game to take the set to a tie-break.The Czech star rallied to a 4-1 lead, allowed Kerber to come level but finally took the tie-break 7-5 with a roaring forehand down the line.Kvitova had 31 winners but 30 unforced errors in that set, against 12 winners and 16 unforced errors for Kerber.The crestfallen Kerber lost momentum early into the second set and let Kvitova take a 3-0 lead after winning the first two games to love.But she was quick to recover as she broke Kvitovas serve twice to make it 3-3.Combining ferocious shots with slices and stop volleys, Kerber and Kvitova held onto their serves until Kerber earned two break points at 5-4 and converted the second one as Kvitova fired wide to take the set after 46 minutes.In high spirits, Kerber broke Kvitova early into the third set as the Czech kept piling up unforced errors.But Kvitova fought back once again, broke Kerbers serve twice and closed the rubber out on her fourth match point as Kerber netted a backhand shot.Im very proud of Petra. She showed how good she is as a true champion but many respects to Angelique today, said Czech captain Petr Pala.

Football: Perez stars as Newcastle soar up table

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WEST BROMWICH (AFP) - Ayoze Perezs moment of individual brilliance provided the catalyst for Newcastles 2-0 win away to West Browmich Albion on Sunday as the Magpies moved into the top half of the Premier League after a fifth straight victory in all competitions.The strikers third goal in as many games saw him break the deadlock at the Hawthorns on the stroke of half-time with an outrageous backheel past stranded Baggies goalkeepeer Ben Foster.Fabricio Coloccinis second-half header secured victory for Alan Pardews side, whove now won their last four league games.But this result dropped West Brom down into 13th place following a match where 10 million pounds ($16 million, 12.8 million euros) club-record signing Brown Ideye was again not in the Midlands clubs matchday squad.For Newcastle, Perez started while Papiss Cisse, struggling with a knee injury, was on the bench.Meanwhile Remy Cabella and Massadio Haidara replaced the injured Gabriel Obertan and Steven Taylor respectively.Sammy Ameobi nearly opened the scoring for Newcastle in the 10th minute when his curling shot clipped the crossbar.Six minutes later, the Baggies had their first chance when new England call-up Saido Berahino had a shot pushed over the top by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.Berahino combined with strike partner Victor Anichebe in the 27th minute but the Nigeria forward was denied by Paul Dummett on the edge of the box.Perez opened the scoring in spectacular style shortly before half-time when he turned in a cross from the impressive Daryl Janmaat with a sublime backheel.It was a rare piece of skill in a mundane match but there was no denying that Newcastle deserved to double their lead in the 62nd minute when Coloccini headed in another fine cross from Janmaat.Andre Wisdom could have made the closing 11 minutes a nervous time for Newcastle when the West Brom defender, on loan from Liverpool, was left with just Krul to beat following a pass from Anichebe.However, Wisdom took a touch and then shot wastefully wide from six yards out.That miss marked the end of Albions bid to salvage a draw and they were lucky not to lose 3-0, with Foster doing well to deny Perez a second goal four minutes from time.

Formula One: Rosberg wins Brazilian Grand Prix

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Nico Rosberg took full advantage of one mistake by Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to win Sundays Brazilian Grand Prix and keep alive his hopes of winning this years world championship.Rosbergs triumph ended Hamiltons run of five straight wins and reduced his lead in the championship from 24 points to 17 with one race remaining, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 23 where double points will be awarded.The 29-year-old German, who had dominated every practice session and started from his 10th pole of the season, came home 1.457 seconds ahead of the Briton who wasted his only chance to take the lead when he spun off the track on lap 29.I made a big mistake in the middle of the race, admitted Hamilton, who was trying to put the hammer down in a bid to take advantage of Rosbergs second pit stop. But otherwise the car was superb and everyone did a great job.Hamiltons error came when he stayed out for a second hammer lap following a communications misunderstanding with his team. It was only a small mistake, he said of the error that cost him seven seconds. But it cost me the win.He explained: I was much quicker up to that point. I went a second quicker on the next lap. I thought I was going to pit on that lap, used all my tyres -- and on the next lap there was nothing left.I locked the rear and went wide. It was no-ones mistake, but mine. It was a great race pushing right to the finish, which is what motor racings all about.The result gave Rosberg his first win and podium finish in Brazil, his first victory in eight races since triumphing on home soil in Germany in July, the fifth of his season and eighth of his career.I am very happy with the whole weekend, said Rosberg. I was able to attack and control the gap to Lewis in the race. It all worked out so that is great and the support has been excellent.Rosberg added that he felt confident that even if Hamilton had not had his spin, he had done the work to cover his attack and his speed. I learned my lesson from the previous race in Austin (where he started on pole only to be passed by Hamilton), he said. I kept my lead and I kept him away from me so he could not make an attack. I knew I had to do that and to raise my game. Why? You know, my team-mate knows quite well how to drive a car. I knew I could not afford to make a mistake.For Mercedes, it was their record 11th one-two finish this year, beating the previous record held by McLaren who had scored 10 one-twos in their triumphant 1988 season with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.It also extended Mercedes total of podiums to 30 for the season, one more than Ferraris 2004 record of 29. Brazilian Felipe Massa came home third for Williams ahead of Jenson Button in what may have been his penultimate race for McLaren and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.I am so happy for the race, there were so many mistakes, said Massa who inadvertently had stopped in the McLaren garage when he pitted.I had a five-second penalty and I stopped in the wrong garage, but the car was terrific. I was so pleased with it today.Two-time champion Fernando Alonso finished sixth for Ferrari after a tense battle ahead of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen who was seventh.Nico Hulkenberg was eighth for Force India, Kevin Magnussen ninth in the second McLaren and Valtteri Bottas 10th in the second Williams.The result leaves Hamilton out in front with 334 points in the title race ahead of Rosberg on 317. Even with double points, Hamilton knows he will be champion for a second time if he can finish second in Abu Dhabi, no matter what Rosberg achieves.

Motorcycling: Marc Marquez wins Valencia MotoGP

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VALENCIA (AFP) - MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez claimed a record 13th win of the season at the Valencia Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Valentino Rossi and teammate Dani Pedrosa.Marquezs victory lifted him past the previous record mark held by Australian rider Mick Doohan of 12 victories in 17 races in 1997.Victory for the 21-year-old in the 18th and final race of the season also ensured he and Pedrosa delivered back-to-back constructors titles for Honda.Rossis second place ensured he finished second overall in the championship standings with Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who retired from the race with five laps remaining, back in third.It was a special Sunday all round for the Marquez family as Alex Marquez followed in his older brothers footsteps earlier in the day by becoming Moto3 world champion to ensure a clean sweep of world titles for Spanish riders in 2014.The truth is am very, very happy. During the race at times I was thinking of my brother and thought I had to do well, said Marquez.Marquez started fifth on the grid after a crash in qualifying on Saturday, but quickly moved up to third behind Rossi and Andrea Iannone.He then had to bide his time before passing Rossi on lap 10 and Iannone a lap later.And in a fitting end to a sensational season he sped away from the competition to seal a comfortable victory despite some intermittent spells of rain.When it started to rain I didnt know what to do, I just had to concentrate and then I was out on my own. I was enjoying it a lot and I thought I would risk it, I didnt have anything to lose.It went well and now I have to celebrate.Second place in the overall standings was Rossis best finish since he won the last of his seven premier class world titles in 2009, but the 35-year-old admitted it is going to be hard to get back on top of the world with Marquez around in the final years of his career.With Marquez there is it going to be very difficult, said the Italian.I am very happy because it has been a very positive season for me.I was on the podium many times, won two races and got a pole position yesterday.Pedrosa, however, wasnt as satisfied with his end to the season as the rain affected his pursuit of Rossi for second place.It wasnt very easy to see when it was raining because it was raining more at the end of the track than the beginning, so the whole race I was pushing a little more, then a little less.It was difficult to calculate the risk and the moment when it was raining hardest was when I lost most time on Valentino, but to end the season with a podium isnt bad.

Injured Duminy to miss ODI series with Aussies

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SYDNEY (AFP) - South African all-rounder JP Duminy will miss this months five-match one-day series against Australia due to a knee injury, team officials said on Monday.Duminy was withdrawn from the series, which begins in Perth on Friday, with patella tendinopathy in his left knee, a team spokesman said.Farhaan Behardien, who is in Australia for the T20 series, will replace him in the squad, while Marchant de Lange has been added to bolster their pace-bowling resources.JP aggravated his long-standing knee injury during the current T20 series against Australia, Proteas team manager Mohammed Moosajee said.This is the same injury that plagued him during the tri-series in Zimbabwe and caused him to miss the Champions League T20.The recommendation from the medical committee is that he returns back to South Africa for a six-week period of rest and rehabilitation, particularly ahead of a busy season at home and the ICC World Cup in three months.South Africas ODI squad will gather in Perth later Monday, ahead of the first match at the WACA on Friday.Duminy scored just two runs as Australia won the deciding T20 by two wickets with one ball to spare in Sydney on Sunday.Cameron White steered the Australians home with an unbeaten 41 off 31 balls to pip the Proteas in a tense decider at Olympic Stadium.

WIndies withdrawal from India Tour damaging for cricket: ICC

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DUBAI (AFP) - Crickets governing body on Sunday vowed to take steps to prevent a repeat of the damaging West Indies cancellation of their tour of India last month.The West Indies team left India four matches into a five-game one-day series after a pay dispute between players and the Board, with a Twenty20 international and three Tests to play.As a result The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are demanding $42 million in compensation and damages.It was undoubtedly a sad chapter in our sport, said International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan.It damaged crickets integrity and reputation, as well as affecting confidence within the cricket community, especially that of the fans, added Srinivasan after the crisis was discussed during the ICCs two-day board meeting in Dubai.The ICC and all of its Member Boards noted with deep disappointment the recent decision of the West Indies players to abandon an international tour without fulfilling the contractually agreed playing obligations between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), an ICC statement said.Putting aside the legitimacy or otherwise of any grievances of parties involved (and which are now the subject of a domestic Task Force probe), the ICC and all Member Boards noted that players abandoning tours have the potential to cause irrevocable damage to the sport.It can also damage in the jurisdiction of the relevant Member Board concerned, as well as enormous financial damage, which might adversely affect the financial viability of the sport itself.With that in mind, and in a show of solidarity, all Member Boards collectively expressed the view that they consider such player action to be extremely disruptive, damaging and unacceptable, the ICC said.The ICC said that players would be penalised if there was similar action in the future.Players who behave in a similar manner in the future will not only risk breaching the disciplinary rules of the relevant Member Board and being sanctioned accordingly, but may also put in jeopardy their ability to conclude future contractual arrangements with domestic franchises or clubs in other jurisdictions.India, who are scheduled to tour the Caribbean in March 2016, also announced all tours to the West Indies would be suspended while the WICB sought a mutual agreement.The ICC Board will also discuss and finalise a change in its anti-corruption code on Monday, which will allow all banned players to resume domestic cricket a few months before their bans expire.The revised code is likely to benefit Pakistan paceman Mohammad Aamer who was banned for five years after a spot-fixing scandal in England in 2101.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb: 2 soldiers martyred, 4 militants killed in clash

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Operation Zarb-e-Azb ‎by the Pakistan Army in North Waziristan continues with great success. At least four militants were killed in a fresh clash with Pakistan Army in Gurlamai area of North Waziristan on Sunday night.ISPR reported that two soldiers were also martyred in the clash. Pakistan Army is battling insurgents in North Waziristan since June 15 to eliminate all local and foreign militant groups.Earlier, 13 militants including an important rebel commander were killed in air attacks in Khyber Agency. Sources said that 16 hideouts of the terrorist outfits and a large quantity of ammunition were also destroyed in the air strikes.The military said the commander who was killed was known for his training of suicide bombers, but it did not disclose his name or nationality.

Pakistan air strikes kill 13 militants

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ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistans military said on Sunday it killed 13 militants including an important rebel commander in air attacks in a troubled tribal district near the Afghan border.The strikes were mounted in Khyber district where the Taliban and another banned militant group the Lashkar-e-Islam have taken refuge, the military said in a statement.The military said the commander who was killed was known for his training of suicide bombers, but it did not disclose his name or nationality.Two suicide bombers were also among those killed, it said.The military launched a large-scale offensive in the North Waziristan tribal district in June in response to a bloody raid by insurgents on Karachi Airport, an attack which ended faltering peace talks between the government and the Taliban.Militants have taken sanctuary in Khyber after fleeing strongholds in North Waziristan, and troops began a military operation in Khyber in October.More than 150,000 people have fled the district since then.The army says it has killed more than 1,100 militants and lost around 100 soldiers since the start of the June operation.But the toll and identity of those killed is difficult to verify because journalists do not have regular access to the conflict zones.

First food aid convoy from Sudan reaches South: UN

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KHARTOUM (AFP) - The United Nations said on Sunday it has sent its first aid convoy from Sudan into South Sudanese territory, with enough supplies to feed 45,000 people for a month.Juba, Khartoum and the United nations agreed in July to send food aid to South Sudan, where fighting flared last month in the countrys 11-month civil war.The first 18 trucks crossed into South Sudan on Saturday, carrying some 700 metric tons of food for 45,000 people for one month, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum Ali Zaatari said in an announcement.It was also signed by Sudans Humanitarian Aid Commission, the South Sudanese embassy in Khartoum and the World Food Programme.It said the aid would contribute to ongoing efforts to alleviate the suffering of the conflict-affected populations in South Sudan.A political dispute between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar has degenerated into a brutal ethnic conflict between their Dinka and Nuer peoples, driving 1.8 million people from their homes.Fighting erupted again in October at the end of the rainy season, which makes many roads in the country impassable.Juba split from Sudan in 2011 under a peace agreement that ended a bloody 22-year civil war in the formerly united country.

Lebanon army arrests Syria rebel commander

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BAALBEK (AFP) - The Lebanese army on Sunday arrested a Syrian rebel commander who was trying to enter Lebanon using fake documents, a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity.The army arrested a commander of the (rebel) Free Syrian Army from the Qalamun area near Lebanon, the source said.He was trying to enter Lebanon using a fake Lebanese ID. The vehicle he was travelling in was stopped at a checkpoint in the Wadi Hmeid area near the Syrian border, he added.Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, a military spokesman confirmed the arrest.The official National News Agency identified the Syrian as Colonel Abdullah al-Rifai and said he is a top leader of the rebel military council in Qalamun, Syria.Rebels in the Qalamun region have battled both the Syrian army and Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters into Syria to back President Bashar al-Assads regime.In August, jihadists streamed across the border from Syria and fought fierce battles with the Lebanese army in the frontier town of Arsal.They are still holding 27 Lebanese police and soldiers they took hostage during the clashes, having executed three of them.The August fighting erupted after the Lebanese army arrested and jailed a jihadist-linked Syrian fighter.Lebanon is sharply divided over the war in neighbouring Syria, and has regularly seen deadly battles linked to the conflict next door.Most Sunnis support the revolt seeking Assads ouster, while most Shiites back Damascus and its ally Hezbollah.

Thousands of balloons rise to sky to fete Berlin Wall fall

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BERLIN (AFP) - Thousands of illuminated balloons sailed into the night sky Sunday from the former route of the Berlin Wall, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel said its fall 25 years ago proved that dreams can come true.The flight of the glowing white orbs through the heart of Berlin marked the climax of a huge open-air party at the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of German unity, which drew an estimated one million guests to the city.A quarter-century after the breach of Europes Cold War division, artists had tethered nearly 7,000 balloons along a 15-kilometre (nine-mile) stretch of the despised concrete barriers former 155-kilometre path, making it visible once again.As the balloons were released and floated to the heavens, the Berlin State Orchestra, under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, played Beethovens Ode to Joy.Earlier British singer Peter Gabriel sang a stripped-down version of David Bowies Wall anthem Heroes, sharing the stage with rock bands from east and west Germany and former dissidents.Merkel, 60, who grew up in communist East Germany, said earlier at a memorial for those killed trying to escape the repressive regime that the Wall was a symbol of state abuse cast in concrete that broke many people.In an unusually emotional speech, Merkel said: We can change things for the better -- that is the message of the fall of the Berlin Wall.This is true for Germany and for the people in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq and in many, many other regions of the world where liberty and human rights are threatened or being trampled, she said.- A miracle -Merkel said the events inspired hope that the world can tear down walls of dictatorship, violence, ideology and hostility.Too good to be true? A daydream that will burst like a bubble? No, the fall of the Wall has shown us that dreams can come true.The celebrations started on a sombre note with an ecumenical service and ceremony for the at least 389 victims of the border, many of whom were shot or blown up by mines as they tried to flee the East.A couple from the former West Berlin, Gunnar and Uschi Schultz, who visited the memorial early Sunday, recalled how they spent the entire historic night in 1989 at the Brandenburg Gate, which was a centrepiece of the tense frontier for 28 years.It was wonderful, obviously, wonderful, but at the same time, strange, said medical researcher Uschi, 50, about the night when citizens from both sides found the courage to cross into the heavily guarded no-mans land.The police were very hesitant. Its a miracle that no shot was fired.Frank Marschner, a 56-year-old forester from the east German town of Neustadt, said November 9, 1989 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.The freedom to travel is the freedom weve enjoyed the most, he said, joined by his wife Pia, 54.It started with a jaunt to West Berlin and its since taken us to Canada, Greece, Cape Verde -- all over the world. Places we could never even dream of in the GDR, he added, using the acronym for communist East Germany.- Peoples celebration -Unlike for the 20th anniversary, when foreign heads of state and government flocked to Berlin, the festivities this year were mainly a peoples celebration in a city that has blossomed into an international cultural hub and major tourist destination.The only foreign dignitaries were veterans of the era, chiefly the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, 83, whose glasnost and perestroika reforms kicked off the series of historic events.Gorbachev, who remains highly popular in Germany, warned at a Wall commemoration Saturday that the world was on the brink of a new Cold War, amid East-West tensions over Ukraine.Also at the festivities were Polish freedom icon Lech Walesa, 71, Hungarian ex-premier Miklos Nemeth, 66, and German President Joachim Gauck, 74, a former Christian pastor and rights activist in the East.Pope Francis also honoured the events of 25 years ago, noting that people were killed for their beliefs or religion.We need bridges, not walls, he said from the Vatican.East Germany built the Wall, which it called an Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart, in August 1961 to halt a mass exodus of its citizens to the West.On November 9, 1989, East German border guards, overwhelmed by large crowds after months of mounting protests against the regime, threw open the gates to West Berlin, allowing free passage for the first time since it was built.Germany would reunite within the year, on October 3, 1990.
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