Tuesday 13 October 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Federer stunned by Spanish qualifier in Shanghai

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SHANGHAI (AFP) - Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer crashed out to little-known Spanish left-hander Albert Ramos-Vinolas in a major shock in his opening match at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.Defending title-holder Federer was stunned 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3 by the world number 70, who is yet to claim his first career title and has only won three matches in total at the Grand Slam tournaments.Federer, 34, gave a thin smile and a wave to the crowd, which included his idol Rod Laver, as he left a shocked Qi Zhong Stadium, where he lifted the trophy last year and won the 2006 and 2007 Tennis Masters Cup.I just think the first round here in Shanghai has always been historically quite difficult, getting used to the conditions and the surface and the balls, said Federer, who saved five match points against Leonardo Mayer in his opening match last year. The balls play very different than in other places. Last year I got lucky. This year I didnt. So its a pity.Ramos-Vinolas is the lowest-ranked competitor to beat the world number three in more than two years, since he lost to Argentinas 114th-listed Federico Delbonis in the Hamburg semi-finals in July 2013.Federer, who had a bye in the first round, had played Ramos-Vinolas only once before, in the first round of Wimbledon in 2012, dropping just three games in a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 dismissal of the Spaniard.Before the match I thought Im not going to win. But when I saw how I was playing, it was not the same as Wimbledon, said the Spaniard. It was my first Wimbledon. I didnt feel comfortable during the match.But here, when I saw that we were very, very similar during the first set, I thought, Okay, maybe I can do a good match.And it was a very different story in the Shanghai second round on Tuesday as Federer struggled to impose himself in the first set and collapsed in the tie-breaker with a string of unforced errors.Order was seemingly restored as the great Swiss broke early in the second set and again for 5-2, before calmly serving it out to level the match.But disaster struck as Federer served at 2-3 down in the third, when he dished up a double break point and then clipped the net before Ramos-Vinolas punched away a forehand for his first break of the night.And Federer caused his own downfall in the final game as he netted a forehand to bring up match point, and then misfired a backhand return to leave a disbelieving Ramos-Vinolas saluting the crowd.I played him at Wimbledon before, so I knew him. Ive seen him play. Hes definitely improved since then. That was a while back and that was not his favorite surface, Federer told reporters.I was aware that he could give me a tough workout and even beat me. Im always cautious. I dont underestimate or lack respect for anybody out there. These guys are all touring professionals, they know what theyre doing. The margins are so small, thats why I sometimes struggle to talk to you guys about, Yeah, Id like to play Novak (Djokovic) in the finals, Rafa (Nadal) in the semis, (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga in the second round. Its not like that. Now youre not asking me those questions. I wonder why, you know. Because Im on a flight.

Tennis: Venus battles to next round in Hong Kong

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HONG KONG (AFP) - Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams battled through a gruelling first-round match at the Hong Kong Open Tuesday, taking three sets to beat unseeded Yuliya Beygelzimer.The American finally sealed victory 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 after more than two hours on court.Williams, 35, is fighting for a place in the eight-player WTA Finals in Singapore later this month with Hong Kong her last chance to get the points she needs.She is currently 11th in the Road to Singapore rankings.Williams has had a resurgent season, winning her biggest title in five years in Wuhan at the beginning of October. But Ukrainian Beygelzimer, who came into the competition as a last-minute Lucky Loser from the qualifying rounds, outpaced her in the first set with blistering returns. Williams hobbled around the court with a strapped left thigh but managed to claw her way back to one set all.Both players dropped their serve in the third but Williams finally turned on the power to take the set with a scorching pass.At first I really wasnt that confident, but I didnt want to lose. I just kept fighting, Venus said after the match.There are no givens -- she came out and played the match of her life.Williams added she was trying to play smart so as not to aggravate the thigh injury, which she picked up in Wuhan.Im just trying to make sure that I stay out on court, she said.Williams will play Chinas Wang Yafan in her second round match Thursday.Former world number one Jelena Jankovic also struggled to find her rhythm against Romanian qualifier Ana Bogdan but went on to seal a 6-4 6-2 win.Australias Samantha Stosur and Caroline Garcia of France went through to the second round, as did Britains Heather Watson.World number 10 Angelique Kerber takes on former French Open winner Francesca Schiavone in the final match of the day.

Football: Qatar see off Maldives for fifth qualifier win

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DOHA (AFP) - Qatar won their fifth straight 2018 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday with an unconvincing but ultimately resounding 4-0 win against Maldives in Doha.The final scoreline somewhat flattered the 2022 World Cup hosts who took almost 70 minutes to ensure they maintained their perfect start to qualifying for the finals in Russia in three years time.Regardless of the performance, however, the victory maintained Qatars five point cushion at the top of AFC Group C, following Hong Kongs narrow win in Bhutan earlier.And it means they now require just two more victories at most to automatically progress from the group into the next round of qualification.It was Qatars second home victory in less than a week, after beating rivals China 1-0 in the same Al Sadd stadium 1-0 on October 8.Prior to the match, Qatars coach Jose Daniel Carreno had warned his team would struggle to match the performance from that game and his prediction proved right.The Qataris seemed lethargic at the start and provided little goal threat until the 20th minute when Karim Bouadiaf went close after the Maldives keeper Mohamed Imran was stranded out of goal after misjudging a through ball.The breakthrough came eight minutes later, when Qatar fashioned a fine move to leave midfielder Boualem Khouki free in the penalty area and he cooly finished.It was to be their only goal of the first half.Although the result was never really in doubt after that, Qatar were unable to shake off their opponents, who lived up to coach Ricki Herberts pre-match pledge not to just sit back and defend.It was not until the 68th minute however that Qatar finally secured the three points, when Mohammed Kasola powered in a cross at the far post to the relief of many in the 4,006 crowd.Two minutes later it was 3-0, when Boualem added his second from a corner.The goal provided a curious incident when in their celebrations, Qatari fans threw ticker tape onto the pitch, causing the Maldives players to complain and the ref to order four cleaners with bin bags onto the pitch to tidy up the mess.A goal in the 90th minute from full back Mohamed Musa rounded off the evening for Qatar but was a little harsh on the Maldives.

Football: Czechs bounce dreadful Dutch out of Euro 2016

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AMSTERDAM (AFP) - The Netherlands crashed out of Euro 2016 on Tuesday as a 3-2 home defeat against the 10-man Czech Republic in the final round of qualifying matches ended their slim hopes of reaching next years finals.Pavel Kaderabek and Josef Sural netted first-half goals in Amsterdam before the Czechs lost Marek Suchy to a red card just before the break, but the visitors then added a third as Robin van Persie farcically headed into his own net.The Dutch rallied with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar pulling one back before Van Persie then scored at the right end but it proved insufficient as the Dutch finished fourth in Group A, which means the Oranje will miss a major international tournament for the first time since the 2002 World Cup.I have no intention to step down. Im going to carry on with my work because Im under contract until 2018 and I believe in this team, Dutch coach Danny Blind, who replaced Guus Hiddink in July, said afterwards.I havent achieved my goal. The aim was to qualify automatically or via the play-offs and I havent done that, he continued.Am I the one to blame? I now have to analyse that. The results werent good. I won only one match (out of four since taking over).The Czech Republic went through as group winners after Turkeys 1-0 win over Iceland, which combined with Kazakhstans 1-0 victory away to Latvia, sends Fatih Terims side to France next summer as the best third-place qualifier. The Dutch, third at last years World Cup in Brazil, were already hanging by a thread going into Tuesdays game at the Amsterdam Arena, needing a victory over the Czechs coupled with Iceland beating Turkey in Konya. A 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in Prague a year ago had set the tone for the Netherlands disastrous qualifying campaign, which also included two losses to Iceland as well as a heavy 3-0 reverse in Turkey last month, and they again found themselves behind here after 24 minutes.Jiri Skalak released Kaderabek in behind the Dutch backline and the Hoffenheim right-back swept a composed finish beyond third-choice goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet, deputising between the posts with Jasper Cillessen and Tim Krul both injured. The visitors added a second on 35 minutes as Tomas Necid flicked the ball towards Sural, who held off Virgil van Dijk far too easily inside the box, before poking home his first international goal to leave the Dutch staring into the abyss. The 1988 European champions were given a lifeline on 43 minutes when Suchy was dismissed after bringing down Memphis Depay as the last man but there was further embarrassment after the restart.Van Persie, who celebrated his 100th international cap in Saturdays 2-1 win in Kazakhstan, attempted to cushion a header back to Zoet following a Skalak free-kick but could only watch in horror as the ball skipped into his own net to put the Czechs 3-0 up on 66 minutes.Huntelaar pulled a goal back for the Dutch four minutes later, however, when he rose to power a header past Petr Cech from a corner. Van Persie then ran onto a knockdown from Bas Dost and prodded beyond Cech to make it 3-2 with seven minutes left but Blinds men were unable to avoid failing to qualify for the European Championship for the first time since 1984, when France also hosted the event.

Football: Ramsey and Bale get Welsh party started

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CARDIFF (AFP) - Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale scored as Wales celebrated reaching next years European Championship by defeating minnows Andorra 2-0 in Cardiff in their final qualifying match on Tuesday.Wales had qualified for their first major tournament in 57 years on Saturday when they lost 2-0 away to Bosnia-Herzegovina but Cypruss 2-1 win in Israel guaranteed them a place in the top two in Group B.Second-half goals from Ramsey and Bale -- his seventh of the campaign -- got the qualification party started at the Cardiff City Stadium and ensured that Chris Colemans men signed off on a winning note.They were labelled the golden generation before theyd earned it. Now theyve earned it, said manager Coleman, whose players cavorted beneath a shower of tickertape and champagne on the pitch after the game.They deserve it. You get team spirit from working hard for each other on the pitch and coming through tough situations and big challenges, and theyve done it time after time.Belgiums 3-1 win over Israel prevented Wales from reclaiming first place in the group, but after more than half a century in the international wilderness, there were few in the 34,000 sell-out crowd who cared.Real Madrid star Bale will do something former team-mate Ryan Giggs never did when he leads his team into battle in France next year, which will be Wales first major tournament appearance since the 1958 World Cup.Weve put the hard work in for years and years and this is what weve worked hard for, a beaming Bale told Sky Sports.Its time to enjoy it, but as soon as France comes round, well be looking to make an impact.Its something special. The fans, what can I say? We have the best fans in the world. Obviously a great thanks to the gaffer (Coleman) and everybody involved. Were looking forward to the future.There was a festive atmosphere at kick-off in the Welsh capital, but a head injury to visiting midfielder Victor Moreira put an early dampener on proceedings.The Andorra number 17 was left prone on the turf following a clash of heads with James Chester and after seven minutes of treatment he was taken off on a stretcher, with Gabriel Riera replacing him.Showing four changes from the famous night in Zenica and jettisoning their usual 3-5-2 formation in favour of a new-look 4-3-3, Wales quickly took the game by the jugular.Bale, Wales talisman throughout the campaign, menaced with a pair of free-kicks and had a rasping drive parried by goalkeeper Ferran Pol, who also had to tip a header from his own defender Max Llovera over the bar and claw a header by Ramsey out from beneath his crossbar.The hosts lost Hal Robson-Kanu to an apparent ankle injury mid-way through the first half and his replacement, Dave Edwards, lasted only until half-time after sustaining a groin problem, enabling Tom Lawrence of Leicester City to make his debut.But Wales would not be denied and broke through in the 50th minute when Ashley Williams header from Bales in-swinging cross was pushed out by Pol and Ramsey followed in to slam home his 10th international goal.Ramsey could have had a second on the hour, but after jinking past four defenders, his left-foot shot rolled agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.The Arsenal man also teed up Williams for a header that was saved at point-blank range by Pol, before Bale swept home Ben Davies low cross four minutes from time.It was a fitting end to a qualifying campaign that had begun with Bale scoring twice in a narrow 2-1 win in Andorra and proved the precursor to joyous celebrations after the final whistle.

Iran parliament approves nuclear deal with world powers

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TEHRAN (AFP) - Irans parliament approved Tuesday the countrys nuclear deal with world powers, paving the way for the historic agreement curbing Tehrans atomic programme to take effect and for sanctions to end.The vote came after fierce debate over the terms of the accord, which was struck on July 14 but has faced a rough ride from hardliners in Tehran and in the US Congress.A motion to approve the deal passed 161-59, with 13 abstentions.A tally on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the deals official name, said 250 of Irans 290 lawmakers were present, with 17 of them not voting.State television did not broadcast the vote, but media outlets reported angry scenes, with some MPs shouting that their concerns had not been addressed.A notorious critic of the nuclear diplomacy, Hamid Rasaie, was pictured on social media holding up a piece of paper declaring: This is an official violation of law. Parliament is a sham.Another ultraconservative, Mehdi Kouchakzadeh, was quoted as saying: This is no ones decision; it is Larijanis decision, a reference parliament speaker Ali Larijanis refusal to let him speak.The agreement between Iran and the so-called P51 group (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany) came after almost two years of diplomacy.Lawmakers in the United States and Iran, sworn enemies since the Islamic revolution of 1979, had insisted on voting on it.The deal, which will lift nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in return for Tehran, which has always denied that it is seeking an atomic bomb, curbing its nuclear activities. It has been widely hailed as a diplomatic triumph that averts military confrontation and another possible war in the Middle East.Sanctions relief promises to open to foreign investment Irans long-hobbled but resource-rich economy, with the worlds fourth-highest oil and second-highest gas reserves.But opponents of the diplomacy, including Israel and US lawmakers, say it will bolster Irans regional influence and will not halt a dash for the bomb should Tehran want one.Tuesdays vote, however, again reiterated a permanent ban on the production and use of atomic weapons issued by Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.And inspections of military sites, one of the most contentious areas of the deal, will be decided on a case-by-case basis by Irans highest security committee, the Supreme National Security Council.The SNSC is chaired by President Hassan Rouhani, who was elected on a promise to end the nuclear dispute. He reports to Khamenei, who has the final word.Members of the US Congress failed in September to torpedo the deal, with President Barack Obama securing enough support in the Senate to protect the agreement.The accord was debated in Tehran for months, with some MPs repeatedly warning of holes in the text.Later Tuesday, Rouhani thanked lawmakers for approving the nuclear deal, which he said would open new economic opportunities.After the sanctions relief we will enter a competitive international atmosphere, he said on state television. It will stimulate new activities and more cooperation with the world. In selling the deal to sceptics, Rouhani said his negotiators protected the future of Irans nuclear programme while ensuring an end to sanctions, which have ravaged the economy.A debate in parliament on Sunday showed a clear divide remains.Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Irans Atomic Energy Agency, went on the attack after he and other government negotiators were accused of having capitulated to the West.One lawmaker had even threatened to kill him, he said.It is a good ending in line with national interests and sovereignty, Salehi said after Tuesdays vote.Iranian officials have said sanctions should be lifted by the end of the year or January at the latest.However, Iran also has to satisfy the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, of the exclusively peaceful nature of its atomic programme.The IAEA faces a December 15 reporting deadline to resolve what it had termed ambiguities over Irans past nuclear activities.

Erdogan says Ankara attack may have roots in Syria

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ANKARA (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday ordered a special state probe into possible shortcomings over the Ankara bombings which killed 97, saying intelligence indicated the attack had its origins in Syria.The government has said the Islamic State (IS) group is the prime suspect behind Turkeys deadliest attack, which saw two suicide bombers blow themselves up in crowd of leftist and pro-Kurdish activists at a peace rally.Ergodan -- who has come under fire over alleged security lapses -- broke three days of silence with his first public remarks on the attacks at a joint news conference with visiting Finnish President Sauli Niinisto.He announced that he ordered the State Supervisory Council (DDK), an inspection body attached to the Turkish presidency, to undertake a special investigation to handle (the attack) from a different perspective.Its probe will be held in parallel with the regular police and judicial investigation. The DDK has in the past probed state-sensitive issues like the death in 1993 of former president Turgut Ozal, which many regard as suspicious.Amid bitter criticism of the authorities handling of the disaster, Erdogan admitted there were security shortcomings but said their magnitude would be made clear only later.There must undoubtedly be a mistake, a shortcoming in some place. Of what dimension? This will emerge after examinations.With pressure growing to dismiss Interior Minister Selami Altinok, Erdogan said immediate resignations were not appropriate.If theres any negligence of duty, then both the prime minister and related units will take steps needed. Nobody should doubt it.There have been growing indications that the authorities are focussing on possible parallels or even links to a July 20 suicide bombing at a peace rally in Suruc on the Syrian border that killed 34.The government blamed IS for that attack, which also targeted a gathering of pro-Kurdish and leftist activists.Without giving further details, Erdogan said Turkey received intelligence indicating that the Ankara attack may be linked to Syria, where IS jihadists have captured swathes of territory up to the Turkish border.We received intelligence that there were some preparations for various attacks by entering our country. There is some intelligence that this has roots in Syria, he said. Over the weekend and on Monday, police arrested dozens of people with suspected links to IS in cities stretching from the Mediterranean resort of Antalya to the southern city of Adana.Erdogan said the Ankara attack culprits will be brought to justice but warned some patience is needed as DNA tests are carried out on the remains of the two suicide bombers.Turkeys NATO allies have long pointed the finger at Ankara for not taking a tougher line as IS militants seized swathes of northern Iraq and Syria.But following months of Western pressure, Turkey is now a full member of the US-led coalition against IS and allowing American jets to use its Incirlik air base for raids, potentially making it a more likely target for IS attacks.The attack has raised political tensions to new highs as Turkey prepares for a November 1 snap election, with polarisation within the country now greater than ever.Selahattin Demirtas, the leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) which lost several members in the blasts, accused Ankara of turning a blind eye to IS in Syria.Hundreds of labour activists gathered in front of Istanbuls Sirkeci train station -- the fabled terminus of the Orient Express -- in the hope of marching through the city to remember the dead.We know the killer read the slogan on several banners, accusing the government of complicity in the bombing. The government has ridiculed such claims.But tensions rose after the police blocked their way, saying the rally was not appropriate following a ban issued overnight by the Istanbul authorities. Scuffles broke out as demonstrators clashed with truncheon-wielding police in riot gear, AFP photographers said.With Turkey on a high alert after the violence, the authorities on Tuesday defused a suspect package in front of Ankara train station.The attacks came as the government was waging a relentless anti-terror offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), even after the group announced a ceasefire at the weekend.In the latest air raids on PKK targets, the military said 12 terrorists were killed in air strikes on their hold-outs in the southeastern Hakkari region.

Taliban declare withdrawal from Afghan city of Kunduz

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KABUL (AFP) - The Taliban on Tuesday announced their withdrawal from Kunduz, two weeks after their stunning capture of the northern Afghan city that marked their biggest military victory in 14 years of war.The tactical retreat after prolonged street battles comes as the insurgents make an unprecedented push to seize other big cities across multiple provinces.The announcement comes days after the government claimed to have recaptured the city, where insurgents burned down government buildings, gunned down opponents and freed hundreds of prisoners.The (Taliban) ordered its mujahideen to withdraw from the main square, markets and government buildings to the outlying rural areas... in order to reinforce their defense lines and reserve their strength for effective future operations, the group said on its website.The Taliban said that they were capable of retaking the city after the successful conquest, during which various Afghan military equipment and government documents were seized.Afghan soldiers, backed by NATO special forces and US air support, have been combing the city to flush out pockets of insurgents hiding in civilian homes.As fighting abates, local residents are slowly emerging from their homes after days of crippling food, water and electricity shortages. The fall of Kunduz on September 28 was a stinging blow to Western-trained Afghan forces, who have largely been fighting on their own since the end of NATOs combat mission in December.As the insurgency spreads, concerns are mounting that the citys seizure was merely the opening gambit in a new, bolder strategy to tighten the Talibans grip across Afghanistan.Around 2,000 Taliban insurgents threatened to storm Ghazni on Monday, triggering fierce clashes around the outskirts of the southeastern city.And last week the militants attempted to overrun Maimana, the capital of northern Faryab province.Afghan forces repelled both assaults, but they triggered alarm as the insurgency threatens large urban centres for the first time since the Taliban were toppled from power in 2001.With this kind of guerrilla fighting focused around big cities, the Taliban are exerting enormous pressure on overstretched Afghan forces, Kabul-based military analyst Atiqullah Amarkhil told AFP.The Taliban know they cant control a city for long, but capturing one, even momentarily, is a huge propaganda win.Security officials said the militants had slowly infiltrated Kunduz during the recent Eid festival, launching a Trojan Horse attack that enabled them to capture it within hours.The lightning capture of the city sent thousands of residents fleeing as the Taliban set up camp in civilian homes and conducted door-to-door searches for Afghan soldiers and government staff.Amnesty International condemned the Talibans reign of terror, citing civilian testimonies of mass murder and gang rapes by militant death squads.Health officials have said that more than 60 civilians were killed and around 400 wounded in the fighting, but the real toll is estimated to be much higher.The Talibans incursion into Kunduz, barely nine months after NATOs combat mission concluded, has raised troubling questions about the capabilities of Afghan forces.The NATO coalition said Tuesday that US and Afghan forces carried out one of their largest joint operations in southern Kandahar province, dismantling a major Al-Qaeda sanctuary in the Talibans historic heartland.The news came after a series of setbacks.NATO forces are under pressure after a US air strike on October 3 pummelled a hospital in Kunduz run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), killing at least 12 staff and 10 patients.The medical charity shut down the trauma centre, branding the incident a war crime and demanding an international investigation into the strike, which sparked an avalanche of global condemnation.NATO also confirmed that two Americans, two Britons and a Frenchman were killed in a helicopter crash in Kabul Sunday, though the coalition ruled out any insurgent activity behind the incident.

IS vows to defeat Russia in Syria as strikes intensify

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BEIRUT (AFP) - The Islamic State group vowed Tuesday to attack Russia and defeat it, as Moscow announced it had intensified its air campaign against jihadists in Syria.Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised Washington for refusing to cooperate with Moscow in its Syrian campaign, which is having an increasingly dramatic effect.Russia will be defeated, IS spokesman Abu Mohamed al-Adnani said in a recording posted online, calling on Muslims everywhere to launch jihad against the Russians and the Americans.IS seeks not only to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but is also vying with Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front for jihadist supremacy in the country.Al-Nusra chief Abu Mohamed al-Jolani also threatened Moscow, saying its air war would have dire consequences.If the Russian army kills the people of Syria, then kill their people, he said late Monday in a call to jihadists in the Caucasus. And if they kill our soldiers, then kill their soldiers. An eye for an eye.The war in Syria will make the Russians forget the horrors that they found in Afghanistan, Jolani said, referring to the disastrous Soviet attempt to subdue the country in the 1980s.Russia said Tuesday its air force had hit 86 terrorist targets in Syria in the past 24 hours -- the highest one-day tally since it launched its bombing campaign on September 30.Among them, it said, were several IS targets.Washington and its allies -- engaged in their own air war against IS in Syria and Iraq -- accuse Moscow of targeting moderate Western-backed rebels and seeking to prop up Assad, a longtime Russian ally.Putin hit back, criticising Washington for refusing to share intelligence with Russia and accusing it of muddled thinking.I think some of our partners simply have mush for brains; they do not have a clear understanding of what really happens in the country and what goals they are seeking to achieve, he said.Ironically, the ISs Adnani said the United States is weak and is using Russia and Assads other ally Iran to strengthen its position in Syria, claiming Washington is willing to forge an alliance with the devil.In contrast, he said the Islamic State is today stronger than ever.Amid the threats, Russias embassy in Damascus was struck by two rockets, sparking panic among some 300 people waving Russian flags and pictures of Putin in support of Moscows intervention.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets were fired from the eastern edges of the capital, where Islamist rebels are entrenched.Russian news agency Interfax quoted an embassy official as saying the rockets hit embassy territory but that there were no casualties.Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow it was an act of terror.On Tuesday he was meeting UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura for the first time since the Kremlin launched its campaign.Efforts have repeatedly failed to end Syrias conflict, which has cost more than 240,000 lives and driven millions from their homes since it erupted in March 2011.The fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with regime forces making gains with Russian support.The Observatory said fighters from the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah -- which also supports Assad -- arrived in the strategic Sahl al-Ghab plain to reinforce an offensive there.Sahl al-Ghab, at the intersection of Hama, Latakia and Idlib provinces, has been a major target for Russian air strikes.Thousands of fighters and supplies from Iran had also reached Hmeimim airport in Latakia province, the Observatory said.A powerful rebel alliance that includes Al-Nusra -- the Army of Conquest -- announced the launch of a major offensive of its own to take the central Hama province.It called on fighters there to light the fire on the fronts inside the regions, so that hordes of Muslims will meet in Hama as liberators.Fierce fighting in the key Hama village of Kafr Nabuda forced pro-regime forces to retreat and killed 25 of them, the Observatory said.Washington has been increasing support for rebel groups it backs in Syria, and one group said Tuesday American-made anti-tank missiles were turning the tide in a major battle in the countrys centre and northwest.Non-Islamist opposition factions say they are using the US-made TOW missiles to halt an army advance that is backed by Russian air strikes in Hama and Idlib provinces.These rockets have played an important role in stopping the fierce attack by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally, said Asaad Hanna, spokesman for the non-Islamist Division 101.We are using the (missiles) more now to turn up the heat on the front lines.On Sunday, US-led forces air-dropped ammunition to the Syrian Arab Coalition battling jihadists near ISs northern stronghold of Raqa.

Russia in heaviest Syria strikes yet as rockets hit embassy

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Moscow said Tuesday it had carried out its most intense day of air raids yet in Syria, as jihadists called for revenge attacks and rockets hit the Russian embassy in Damascus.With Russias involvement having an increasingly dramatic effect on Syrias conflict, President Vladimir Putin slammed Washington for refusing to cooperate with Moscow.The defence ministry in Moscow said Russias air force had hit 86 terrorist targets in Syria in the past 24 hours, in the highest one-day tally since it launched its bombing campaign on September 30.The ministry said it had hit several positions of the Islamic State group, which Russia insists it is targeting in the air campaign.Washington and its allies -- who are carrying out their own air war against IS in Syria and Iraq -- have accused Moscow of targeting Western-backed moderate rebels and seeking to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Russian ally.Putin hit back at the West, criticising Washington for refusing to share intelligence with Russia on Syria and accusing it of muddled thinking.I think some of our partners simply have mush for brains, they do not have a clear understanding of what really happens in the country and what goals they are seeking to achieve, he said.Russias increasing attacks prompted a warning from Syrias Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, with its chief Abu Mohamed al-Jolani urging jihadists in the Caucasus to target Russians.If the Russian army kills the people of Syria, then kill their people. And if they kill our soldiers, then kill their soldiers. An eye for an eye, Jolani said in an audio recording released late Monday.He pledged that Moscows air war would have dire consequences.The war in Syria will make the Russians forget the horrors that they found in Afghanistan, Jolani said.Russias embassy compound in Damascus was struck by two rockets on Tuesday, sparking panic among some 300 demonstrators waving Russian flags and pictures of Putin in support of Moscows intervention.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rockets were fired from the eastern edges of the capital, where Islamist rebels are entrenched.Two rockets hit embassy territory at 10:15 am. No one was killed or wounded, Russian news agency Interfax quoted an embassy official as saying.Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow it was an act of terror.On Tuesday he was meeting the UNs Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura in Moscow for the first time since the Kremlin launched its campaign.Efforts at reaching a diplomatic solution to Syrias conflict have repeatedly failed, despite the deaths of more than 240,000 people and millions being forced from their homes since the conflict erupted in March 2011.The fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with regime forces making gains with Russian support.The Observatory said fighters with Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah -- which also supports Assad -- arrived in the strategic Sahl al-Ghab plain to reinforce a regime offensive there.Sahl al-Ghab, at the intersection of Hama, Latakia and Idlib provinces, has been a major target for Russian air strikes.Thousands of fighters and supplies from Iran -- another key Assad backer -- had also reached Hmeimim airport in Latakia province, the Observatory said.A powerful rebel alliance that includes Al-Nusra -- the Army of Conquest -- announced the launch of a major offensive of its own to take the central province of Hama.It called on fighters in Hama to light the fire on the fronts inside the regions, so that hordes of Muslims will meet in Hama as liberators.Fierce fighting in the key village of Kafr Nabuda in the province forced pro-regime forces to retreat and killed 25 of them, the Observatory said.Washington has been increasing support for rebel groups it backs in Syria and they said Tuesday that American-made anti-tank missiles were turning the tide in a major battle in the countrys centre and northwest.Non-Islamist opposition factions say they are using the US-made TOW missiles to halt a Syrian army advance that is backed by Russian air strikes in the provinces of Hama and Idlib. These rockets have played an important role in stopping the fierce attack by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally, said Asaad Hanna, spokesman for the non-Islamist Division 101.We are using the (TOW missiles) more now to turn up the heat on the front lines.US-led coalition forces separately air-dropped ammunition late on Sunday to the Syrian Arab Coalition battling jihadists near ISs northern stronghold of Raqa.

IS confirms killing of number two in US air strike

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BEIRUT (AFP) - The Islamic State groups spokesman confirmed on Tuesday the killing of the jihadist organisations second in command in a US air strike earlier this year.America is rejoicing over the killing of Abu Mutaz al-Qurashi and considers this a great victory, Abu Mohamed al-Adnani said in an audio recording posted on jihadist websites.I will not mourn him... he whose only wish was to die in the name of Allah... he has raised men and left behind heroes who, God willing, are yet to harm America, he added.Adnani did not say, however, in what circumstances Qurashi died.But the White House, in an announcement on August 22, said that Qurashi, whose real name is Fadhil Ahmad al-Hayali, was killed on August 18 in a US air strike near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.It said the strike targeted a vehicle and also killed an IS media operative known as Abu Abdullah.The US National Security Council said at the time that Hayali was IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadis senior deputy.The White House described Hayali as a member of the IS ruling council, and a primary coordinator for moving large amounts of weapons, explosives, vehicles and people between Iraq and Syria.IS controls large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq and has set up an Islamic caliphate straddling both countries.In its August announcement the White House also said that Hayali was in charge of ISIL operations in Iraq, where he was instrumental in planning operations over the past two years, including the ISIL offensive in Mosul in June 2014, using another name for IS.Like many senior Iraqi jihadists, before joining the IS group, Hayali had been a member of Al-Qaedas Iraqi faction.He was reportedly a former Iraqi officer from the era of Saddam Hussein.IS militants launched a devastating offensive in Iraq in June 2014.Beginning in Mosul, the countrys second city and capital of Nineveh province, they swept security forces aside and eventually overran around a third of the country.

Three dead in Jerusalem's bloodiest day of rising unrest

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Jerusalem suffered its bloodiest day yet Tuesday in a recent wave of unrest, with at least three Israelis killed as Palestinian attackers shot at a bus and another rammed a car into pedestrians.The bus attack was the first assault with a gun in Jerusalem in the two-week-old upsurge of Palestinian violence.The rising tide of violence, which has seen a series of stabbing attacks and protests, has raised fears of a full-scale third Palestinian intifada, or uprising.A Palestinian was also killed in clashes in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.In the intifadas of 1987-1993 and 2000-2005, hundreds of people were killed in near daily Israel-Palestinian violence.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would use all means available to end Palestinian violence.Speaking to parliament, he warned Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that he would hold him responsible if incitement led to a further deterioration.Netanyahus security cabinet early Wednesday unveiled a series of measures in response to the violence, including authorising police to seal off or impose a curfew on parts of Jerusalem.A statement from the cabinet also outlined authorisation for the demolition of terrorists houses.The United States was swift to condemn the attacks and call for calm.I continue to urge all sides to take affirmative steps to restore calm and I will stay in very close touch with leaders in the region in the days ahead, said US Secretary of State John Kerry.Tuesdays assault on an east Jerusalem bus saw one Palestinian with a pistol and another wielding knives attack some 15 people, police said.Two Israelis, including a 60-year-old, were killed, and around 10 were wounded, medics and police said.One attacker was shot dead and the other was wounded.I was in my house and I heard between 20 and 30 shots between the police and the terrorists, a local resident said.At around the same time, in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish area of the city, a Palestinian rammed a car into people at a bus stop and jumped out with a knife.At least one person was killed and eight wounded, medics said. The attacker was shot and later died, police said.All three assailants were from the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Jabel Mukaber, police said, but it was unclear if the attacks were coordinated.A spokesman for Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, called the attacks heroic and said the intifada is intensifying.The Jerusalem attacks came after a Palestinian stabbed and wounded a passer-by north of Tel Aviv before being overpowered by civilians.Police said that attacker was a 22-year-old Palestinian from east Jerusalem and that he was hospitalised after residents severely beat him.The violence began on October 1, when a suspected Hamas cell shot dead a Jewish settler couple in the West Bank in front of their children.Those killings followed repeated clashes at Jerusalems flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in September between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths.Initially limited to annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, the unrest has spread to Gaza, with Israeli troops killing nine Palestinians in border clashes in recent days.Palestinians had called for a day of rage Tuesday and Arab Israelis called a general strike.Violent protests took place in parts of both Gaza and the West Bank, including in Bethlehem and at a checkpoint near Ramallah where Israeli fire wounded at least one Palestinian. A 28-year-old Palestinian was killed in Bethlehem, and Palestinian medics reported at least 15 Palestinians wounded by Israeli fire.Funerals of Palestinians killed in unrest or while allegedly carrying out attacks -- as well as online videos of shootings -- have fed anger.Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary general Saeb Erakat said new petitions would be sent to the International Criminal Court against Israel, accusing it of extrajudicial executions.More than 20 stabbing attacks have occurred in Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank since October 3.There has been one revenge attack, with a Jew stabbing and wounding two Arab Israelis and two Palestinians in the southern Israeli city of Dimona last week.Seven Israelis have been killed along with about 30 Palestinians, including alleged attackers.The assailants are usually youths who appear to be acting on their own.Frustrated Palestinian youths have defied Abbas and an Israeli crackdown by staging violent protests in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.Tuesday saw further unrest along the Israel-Gaza border when about 1,000 protesters threw stones and firebombs at a checkpoint.Israels army also said shots were fired at a military vehicle along the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip.UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Israel to carry out a serious review on whether its security forces were using excessive force.

Oil prices extend losses

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Crude oil prices dipped Tuesday, extending the prior days steep falls, as traders considered an IEA prediction that the global oversupply will continue next year.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November fell 44 cents to $46.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Brent North Sea crude for delivery in November, the global benchmark, finished at $49.24 a barrel in London, down 62 cents from Mondays settlement.Both futures contracts had plummeted more than five percent Monday, partly on worries about excessive supply and profit taking after Fridays powerful rally.Its a continuation of what I thought was a bearish technical day yesterday, said Kyle Cooper of IAF Advisors.The monthly International Energy Agency report released Tuesday projected that world demand growth would slow from 1.8 million barrels per day in 2015 to 1.2 million bpd in 2016, for a total demand of 95.7 million bpd.The growth estimate, lower than the previous month, underscored the risk of an ongoing physical surplus at least through the end of 2016, said Tim Evans of Citi Futures.The oil market also was weighing the latest trade data from China. Imports plunged by 20.4 percent in September as growth in the worlds second-largest economy slows.But Chinese crude oil import volumes were still 8.8 percent higher over the first nine months of the year than a year ago.Crude oil import growth YTD is running at almost 10 percent with the extra growth largely a reflection of commercial and strategic stockpiling as more storage facilities come online and also Chinas shift to a net exporter of refined products, Barclays analysts said in a research note.

Dollar slips on signs of weakening global economy

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar slipped against most major currencies Tuesday after poor data in China and Europe bolstered prospects the Federal Reserve will delay hiking its key interest rate.The dollar surrendered some strength as fresh signs of a weakening world economy seemingly tossed a US rate hike further into the future, said Joe Manimbo of Western Union Business Solutions.Manimbo said the greenback fell after Chinese imports plunged more than 20 percent, British inflation fell below zero and investor sentiment in Germany slumped to its lowest level in a year.The Fed is all but certain to stand pat on rates when it meets in two weeks, the analyst said.The euro rose despite the gloomy sentiment reading in Germany, Europes biggest economy. The single currency advanced to $1.1381 from $1.1363 late Monday in New York.The pound sold off after Britains annual inflation rate registered a negative 0.1 percent in September, after a zero reading in August. Muted inflation suggests that the Bank of England will hold off any hike in ultra-low rates, economists said.

Miandad, Inzamam hail record-breaking Younis

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KARACHI (AFP) - Former Pakistan captains Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq praised hard-working and committed Younis Khan who became the countrys leading Test run scorer on Tuesday.Younis, 37, overtook Miandads tally of 8832 runs made in 124 Tests -- a record which stood for 22 years on the opening day of the first Test against England in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.Younis jumped out of his crease and heaved off-spinner Moeen Ali over deep mid-wicket for a big six, crossing Inzamams 8830 runs and Miandads aggregate in one stroke.Younis was finally dismissed for 38 and now has 8852 runs in 102 Tests.I am happy that my record is broken by a patriot who plays for the team and for the country, Miandad told AFP. He is a very hard working player who has made his name through his commitment and honesty.Miandad added that Younis has always been a good student of the game.Younis had played under my coaching and I have always found him a great student of the game who is always willing to learn and always ready to put in a committed effort, which is the hallmark of a great sportsman, said Miandad.Miandad said Younis had made good contribution to Pakistan cricket.I wish him the best of luck and now he has broken the record I hope he will not stop, and play as well as he has done in the past 15 years, said Miandad.Inzamam, who skippered Younis from 2003 to 2007, said Younis was someone who takes pride in his hard work.When he came into the team I found that he is not very talented but he overcame that through his hard work, said Inzamam. He has scored runs whenever the team needed them the most and that is the sign of a great team man.
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