Monday, 30 November 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Drifter charged with murder over Colorado shooting

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COLORADO SPRINGS (AFP) - A drifter was charged with first-degree murder Monday over a shooting spree that killed three people and wounded nine at a family planning center in Colorado.Robert Lewis Dear, 57, made his first court appearance via video link from the El Paso County jail in Colorado Springs, where he is being held, wearing what appeared to be a protective vest.He stood impassive next to his attorney as the judge advised him of his rights and read the charge against him, and set another hearing in the case for December 9, when formal charges will be filed.Several relatives of those killed or wounded in last Fridays shooting at the Planned Parenthood clinic watched the proceedings in the courtroom.Dear faces a minimum of life in prison and a maximum sentence of the death penalty over the killings that have revived the debate in the United States over both gun control and abortion.Investigators have yet to publicly explain Dears motive but several US media outlets, citing law enforcement officials, reported that he mentioned no more baby parts when questioned.The officials said Dears rantings also included comments about politics and President Barack Obama.Vicki Cowart, the head of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said in a statement that witnesses to the shooting spree had confirmed Drew was motivated by opposition to safe and legal abortions.Weve seen an alarming increase in hateful rhetoric and smear campaigns against abortion providers and patients over the last few months, Cowart said. That environment breeds acts of violence.The rampage killed a police officer, Garrett Swasey, 44, and two civilians, Jennifer Markovsky, 35, a mother of two who was at the clinic supporting a friend, and KeArre Marcell Stewart, 29, an Iraq War veteran and father of two.Several vigils were held over the weekend in Colorado Springs, the states second-largest city and a place known for its conservative politics and fundamental religious organizations.An exasperated Obama said enough is enough, as he called for tighter controls on weapons of war.- Domestic terrorism -========================There were also calls for better protection for organizations that provide abortions, a procedure that remains highly divisive in the United States.Whipping people into a frenzy of hate and anger while providing them with easy access to firearms has proven disastrous in this country, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said in a statement.We have a responsibility as leaders to think very hard about what we say and do in this context.He said Democrats were working on reasonable gun safety proposals, and urged his Republican rivals, who hold majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, to support these measures.Critics, many of whom seek to outlaw abortion in the United States, have falsely accused Planned Parenthood of selling fetal organs and body parts for profit, and encouraging women to have abortions in order to expand such operations.Planned Parenthood receives some government funding but little of that goes for abortion procedures.We need to call the threats of violence and the intimidation of health care providers and patients what it is -- domestic terrorism, Karen Middleton, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, said in a statement.More public officials in Colorado and across the country, not just advocacy groups and the people on the frontlines, need to take a stand opposing domestic terrorism and supporting womens health.The shooting was the second in weeks in Colorado Springs to leave several victims.On October 31, a man armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a revolver and a pistol gunned down a bicyclist and two women at a house for women fighting alcoholism and drug abuse.He was killed in a shootout with police.

Oil prices rise in Asia with OPEC meeting in focus

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - Oil prices rose in Asia Tuesday, three days before an OPEC meeting in which the cartel is expected to maintain high output levels despite a global supply glut.Analysts say the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is likely to focus more on maintaining market share against competitors than on slashing production in order to lift prices.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in January was up 29 cents to $41.94 and Brent crude for January was trading 18 cents higher at 44.79 a barrel at around 0300 GMT.Crude oil remained on the soft side as many expect OPEC to be unwaving about its production target when the group gathers this Friday, said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in Singapore.Crude prices are likely to stay sideways ahead of the OPEC meeting, where Iran is expected to announce plans to expand output.Iran is expected to increase its oil exports after crippling western sanctions are lifted under a landmark deal reached with major world powers in July to curb its nuclear programme.The sanctions have restricted Iranian oil shipments and analysts say their return to the market will further add to the crude oversupply.Irans deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said last week his country expects the deal to come into force in early January, when Tehran will have implemented its commitments.Oil prices have been in retreat from levels above $100 a barrel reached in mid-2014, with the decline accelerating after OPECs November 2014 meeting signalled the group would keep output high.A key measure of Chinas manufacturing activity dropped to its weakest level in more than three years in November, data released Tuesday showed, further underlining weaknesses in the worlds top energy consumer.The official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which tracks activity in the crucial factories and workshops sector, fell to 49.6, the government statistics bureau said. It was the fourth consecutive month of decline and the lowest figure since August 2012.

Lahore: 972nd Urs of Data Ganj Bakhsh starts today

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - The three-day Urs ceremonies of 10th century saint Hazrat Ali bin Usman Sheikh Ali Hajveri (RA), commonly known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA), will start today (Tuesday) in Lahore with enthusiasm and fervor.The Urs ceremonies will start at 10am with inauguration of milk sabeel. Thousands of devotees from all around the country have reached Lahore to attend the three-day Urs celebrations.Walkthrough gates and CCTV cameras have been installed for the safety of the devotees while more than 2,000 police personnel will to maintain law and order situation during Urs celebrations.

Coulter-Nile in Australia squad for West Indies

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ADELAIDE (AFP) - Paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile is in line to make his Test debut after being named Tuesday in Australias squad for the opening clash against the West Indies in Hobart next week.Coulter-Nile and fellow quick James Pattinson were both included in a 12-man squad for the Test, which gets under way at Blundstone Arena on December 10.Selectors also named Scott Boland on standby in case any of the four fast bowlers are not fit.National selectors will be forced to make at least one change to the starting XI, with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc out injured.However, with Peter Siddle having back trouble during Australias three-wicket win over New Zealand in Adelaide on Sunday and team management speaking about managing Josh Hazlewoods workload, there could be more.Hopefully all the bowlers from the Adelaide Test recover well over the next few days but we are mindful our fast bowlers have had a heavy workload over this series, chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said.Coulter-Nile, who has played 13 one-dayers and 11 Twenty20s for Australia, only recently started bowling following a shoulder injury.He should have bowled for Western Australia last weekend but was given a one-match ban for showing dissent at an umpires decision in the domestic second XI league, meaning he has not played first-class cricket since the Sheffield Shield final in March.In an ideal world we would have liked Nathan Coulter-Nile to have played some more Sheffield Shield cricket, Marsh said.But he has been a proven performer for Australia in short-format cricket and has very good pace. We think he is ready to compete at Test level if required.Fellow quick Pat Cummins remains sidelined with a serious back injury, while Mitchell Johnsons retirement has further stretched Australias fast bowling resources.Australia - David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Sports: Murray, Fury shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality award

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LONDON (AFP) - Davis Cup hero Andy Murray and newly crowned world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury have been named on the shortlist for the BBCs 2015 Sports Personality of the Year award.Murray led Great Britain to their first Davis Cup title since 1936 over the weekend, while English underdog Fury recorded a stunning victory to end Wladimir Klitschkos reign as world champion in Dusseldorf on Saturday.While Murrays success in the team tennis and Furys triumph in the ring earned them late entries onto the shortlist, the favourite according to William Hill bookmakers is Jessica Ennis-Hill, who was crowned world heptathlon champion in August, 13 months after giving birth.There are two other contenders who enjoyed track and field success at the World Championships in Beijing. One is Mo Farah, who secured a unique treble double in distance running having won golds in both 5,000 metres and 10,000m at two World Championships and the Olympics.The other is Greg Rutherford, the long-jump world champion who became only the fifth British athlete to hold Olympic, Commonwealth, European and world titles at the same time.Last years winner of the BBC award, Lewis Hamilton, is also shortlisted again after successfully defending his Formula One world champion title, his third drivers championship in all.Tour de France winner Chris Froome is nominated, as is fellow cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, who won the UCI World Road Championship.Lucy Bronze, the defender who helped Englands womens football team to third place in the World Cup and was shortlisted for the player of the tournament, is also nominated. Kevin Sinfield, who retired from rugby league after an extraordinary career, including winning the Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and the Super League title in his final season, before switching codes to union is also included.The final contenders are Adam Peaty, who became the first British swimmer to win three gold medals at a single World Championships, and Max Whitlock, who ended Britains 112-year wait for a mens gold medallist at the World Gymnastics Championships.The winner will be decided by a public vote and announced at a live event from Belfast on December 20.

Football: Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar on shortlist for Ballon d'Or -- FIFA

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ZURICH (AFP) - Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Neymar were on Monday named on the shortlist for FIFAs prestigious Ballon dOr along with double reigning title holder, Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.While Portuguese Ronaldo has triumphed over the last two seasons (in a total of three wins), Argentinian Messi has previously claimed the coveted award four times while Brazilian Neymar makes the shortlist for FIFAs player of the year award for the first time.Messi was the catalyst for Barcelonas impressive run to three titles last season (the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Cup) and will be the standout favourite ahead of Ronaldo.The Portugal international might have finished the season without a trophy, but his individual talent shone out as he was La Ligas highest scorer with 48 goals, and has notched up a leading seven in the Champions League this term.World Cup-winning captain Carli Lloyd (USA/Houston Dash), Aya Miyama (Japan/Okayama Yunogo Belle), and Celia Sasic (Germany/1. FFC Frankfurt) are in the running for the FIFA Womens World Player of the Year award.Two Spanish coaches, Bayern Munichs Pep Guardiola and Barcelonas Luis Enrique made the shortlist of the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Mens Football award alongside Jorge Sampaoli, the Argentinian coach who led Chile to Copa America victory.And Jill Ellis (USA/USA national team), Mark Sampson (Wales/English national team) and Norio Sasaki (Japan/Japanese national team) are the final trio to battle it out for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Womens Football award.All of the awards will be presented at the FIFA Ballon dOr award ceremony in Zurich on January 11, 2016.

Football: Messi voted La Liga's top striker for 2014-2015

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona star Lionel Messi, the favourite to win FIFAs prestigious Ballon dOr title, was on Monday voted the top striker in the Spanish league last season ahead of Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.It is the sixth time that the Argentinian has won the title in seven editions of the trophy given by the Spanish football league, with the prize presented during a gala ceremony in Barcelona on Monday night.Messi, who scored 43 goals and was the catalyst for Barcelonas run to three titles last season -- the Champions League, La Liga and the Spanish Cup -- was selected following a computer analysis of the players statistics in the championship.Im proud to receive this award ahead of so many important players in La Liga, said Messi. This award in particular I want to dedicate to my son Thiago (aged 3) even if he still doesnt understand very well. Every time I leave the house he gets angry and asks me: Papa, are you going again to score goals? This award is for him.Messi also won the vote for the best striker following a poll of the captains of each of Spains top flight sides.Barcelonas Claudio Bravo was voted the best goalkeeper and Luis Enrique top coach while Real Madrids Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez were named best defender and midfielder respectively.Valencias Algerian midfielder Sofiane Feghouli was voted the top African player and Barcelonas Brazilian striker Neymar, the best player from the American continent.Real Madrids Portuguese star Ronaldo, who scored the most La Liga goals last season with 48, won the publics choice award.Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar were all named on Mondays shortlist for FIFAs Ballon dOr which will be awarded on January 11.While Ronaldo has triumphed over the last two seasons (in a total of three wins), Messi has previously claimed the coveted award four times while Neymar makes the shortlist for the first time.Neymar, 23, said it was a great honour to be named for the first time alongside his illustrious La Liga rivals.

Formula One: Uncertainty rules as worried eyes look to 2016

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Nico Rosbergs victory in Sundays season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix may not install him as favourite to unseat his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but it has given the three-time champion much to ponder ahead of the 2016 season.After three straight wins, the 30-year-old German has rebuilt his confidence and the confidence of the Mercedes team in him while Hamilton, who won his second successive title with Mercedes a month ago, appears to have struggled to find the motivation to resist his team-mates late-season vim.But, as Formula One heads home for a winter of rest and reorganisation, it is the sport itself that faces the biggest challenge next year with several teams struggling to cope with the huge costs, uncertainty surrounding the number of entries and no clear sense of direction for the future.Two-time champion Fernando Alonsos post-race rant at the inconsistency -- and ineffectiveness -- of the sports ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), summed up his season and the views of many after a year in which his team McLaren-Honda endured endless failings and disappointments.Its FIA things, said Alonso. We see the grandstands half empty on this circuit -- and half empty on most circuits... And there are championships, which are overtaking us on the right, like WEC, MotoGP... And then we are trying to make the cars louder I think we need a bit of common sense.Embroiled in financial, political and technical problems, the season ended on Sunday with few signals that a brighter future lies ahead. Earlier in the week, former FIA president Max Mosley told the BBC that F1 was in serious trouble and nobody wanted to buy the business because it had become too expensive.There are only two or three teams that can really afford to spend the money thats being spent now, said Mosley. The others are either on the verge of having to stop, or at least greatly disadvantaged by not having enough money. I dont really see how anyone can sell it until those problems have been resolved.The rich teams dont want the less rich teams to become competitive.All of which means that Ferrari, and to a lesser degree Mercedes, call the shots, as they did when shooting down proposals for a cheaper budget engine for the smaller teams.Renault have yet to announce their plans for next year, leaving a proposed take-over of Lotus in limbo, and Honda, after their chastening experience back in F1 with McLaren, are not yet in a position to challenge anyone.Red Bull, four times champions before Mercedes took over at the top, have yet to identify their engine supplier for 2016 and have accepted already that in another season with the current hybrid turbo formula they are not likely to fight at the front again.Next year will be very much an interim year for us, but I believe we can make significant strides, said team chief Christian Horner. I suppose when you look at it, the teams have collectively been spectacularly incapable of coming up with solutions and sensible remedies to the problems.And I think the problem we face in F1 is youve got vested interest.Within your own team, you try to protect the elements that are your strengths, that offer you that competitiveness over your opponents. And I think this is where F1 has tripped over itself.That may not be a note on which a season should end, but it signals more of the same for 2016.In an enlarged calendar, with a new American team in Haas and races in virgin F1 territory, the show will go on led by a Mercedes team hoping to continue its current ascendancy and with a much-improved Sebastian Vettel-inspired Ferrari in closer pursuit.But behind them, with Red Bull rebuilding, McLaren recovering and the rest battling to stay on top of their bills, it is difficult to predict how many teams will line up on the grid in Melbourne.

Supporters rejoice as candidates celebrate Islamabad by-polls success

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supporters rejoiced Monday night as candidates for Islamabad’s by-polls celebrated their success. Supporters danced in the streets to the sound of ‘dhol’ and trumpets in the Federal capital, overjoyed on the victory of their candidates. Sweets were distributed among the supporters for the election success.But the festivities in Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) camps reached fever pitch as PML-N celebrated its overall victory, securing the maximum number of seats in the local government elections.Never far from celebrations, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) female supporters and candidates also joined in the celebrations with sheer jubilation over the achievement of their beloved candidates.Fireworks lighted the night sky signifying the joyous zeal of party workers as the celebrations continued long into the night.Also Read:PML-N victorious as Islamabad by-polls unofficial results releasedPML-N emerged victorious in Monday’s local body elections in the capital city, managing to secure 21 seats. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) followed behind with 16 seats while independent candidates were successful in appointment on 13 of the seats.A total number of 6,80,612 registered voters exercised their right to vote in LB elections in the federal capital out of which 3,67,960 are male voters and 3,12,652 female voters. At least 2,396 candidates are contesting for 550 seats in the federal capital of the country.Around 640 polling stuations were established out of which 261 were for males and 256 for females. However; 123 polling stations were be shared by both men and women.Tight security arrangements were made to ensure free, fair and transparent polling. Six hundred and twenty five Army troops and seven hundred personnel of Rangers along with hundreds of police officials were deployed in the capital for the purpose.

Leaders pledge climate rescue, but fault lines emerge

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LE BOURGET (AFP) - World leaders vowed Monday to save mankind from catastrophic climate change as an historic summit opened with the hope of all humanity laid on their shoulders, but fault lines quickly emerged.The heads of more than 150 nations -- a record -- kicked off 12 days of talks in search of an elusive pact that would shift the world economy away from its heavy use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming.They gathered at a conference centre in Le Bourget on the northern outskirts of Paris, swathed by heavy security following terror attacks in the city which appear to have spurred the push for a climate breakthrough.Never have the stakes of an international meeting been so high, because it concerns the future of the planet, the future of life, French President Francois Hollande said in an opening speech.The hope of all of humanity rests on all of your shoulders.Scientists warn that without urgent action to curb greenhouse gases, mankind will suffer worsening droughts, floods, storms and rising seas, threatening millions with hunger, disease and migration. Low-lying island nations would face oblivion.Mondays event was the largest single-day gathering of heads of state or government in history, the United Nations said, highlighting widespread global commitment to the climate fight.Many leaders also vowed to forge an ambitious deal in honour of the 130 people killed in the November 13 attacks in Paris, claimed by the Islamic State group.The leaders began their talks with a minute of silence to remember the dead.US President Barack Obama, who flew to Paris on the eve of the conference to pay homage to the victims, made a speech pledging American commitment and urging others to do the same.The United States of America not only recognises our role in creating this problem but embraces its responsibility to do something about it, Obama said, as he warned the hour of being too late was near.Obama had earlier met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, bringing together the leaders of the two biggest carbon emitters, to highlight a partnership on climate they began to forge last year.In his speech, Xi reasserted Chinas pledge for its carbon emissions to peak by 2030.But he also insisted rich nations shoulder comparatively more of the responsibility in curbing global warming.Addressing climate change should not deny the legitimate needs of developing countries to reduce poverty and improve their peoples living standards, Xi said.He demanded rich nations honour their commitment, dating back to 2009, to mobilise $100 billion a year by to tackle climate change in poorer countries.The United Nations has hosted annual conferences to address global warming since 1995, but its efforts have stumbled on divisions between rich and poor.Many poor nations insist rich countries bear the most responsibility for tackling the problem because they have burnt the most fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution on their way to prosperity.But the United States and other developed nations argue more must be done by China, India and other emerging giants, which are voraciously burning coal to power their fast-growing economies.Underscoring the difficulties ahead in Paris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his nations determination to burn increasing amounts of coal and for developed counties to cut back more sharply.Justice demands that, with what little carbon we can still safely burn, developing countries are allowed to grow, Modi wrote in a column published in the Financial Times on Monday.The lifestyles of a few must not crowd out opportunities for the many still on the first steps of the development ladder.In his speech to the summit, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe lashed out at miserly developed nations that wanted to burden us with cleaning up the mess they themselves have created.Bolivias leftwing president, Evo Morales, blasted capitalist greed for setting the planet on a path to doom.If we continue on the path trod by capitalism we are condemned to disappear, he warned.Stumbling blocks in Paris include providing finance for climate-vulnerable and poor countries, and transferring renewable technologies to developing nations.Scrutiny of commitments to curb greenhouse gases and the legal status of the accord are other expected negotiating battlegrounds.Still, important progress has been made in the runup to Paris, including a roster of voluntary pledges by 183 nations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and other pro-climate measures.UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said these provide the architecture for more ambitious efforts that could eventually reach the goal of limiting warming to less than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) from pre-Industrial Revolution levels.To press world leaders into forging an agreement, more than half a million people participated in climate protests around the world over the weekend.French authorities had banned protests in Paris due to security fears following the terror attacks.But thousands of people in Paris gathered to create a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) human chain.Their stand was disrupted, however, when anti-capitalist militants infiltrated the protests, leading to clashes with riot police which saw hundreds of arrests.

Obama pushes for calm in angry Russia-Turkey row

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LE BOURGET (AFP) - US President Barack Obama pushed Monday for a de-escalation of a furious war of words over Turkeys downing of a Russian warplane, a White House official said.Obama called for an easing of inflamed Russia-Turkey tensions in a closed-door meeting with Russias Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a climate summit in Paris, the official said.Hours earlier, Turkey sent back to Russia the body of a pilot killed when his plane was shot down by the Turkish air force on November 24 for allegedly violating its air space on the Syrian border, reports said.One of the Russian pilots aboard the downed plane was shot dead in Syria after parachuting from the burning aircraft, while the second was found safe and sound. One Russian soldier was killed in a rescue operation.Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have been locked in a furious war of words since the incident and the Kremlin strongman rejected the Turkish leaders offer of face-to-face talks on the sidelines of the climate conference in the French capital. President Obama expressed his regret for the recent loss of a Russian pilot and crew member and reiterated the United States support for de-escalation between Russia and Turkey, the White House official said.The Russian and US leaders discussed efforts to bring about a ceasefire and political resolution to war in Syria, he said, though there appeared to be no breakthrough over Moscows support for Syrian President Bashar Al-AssadObama pushed Putin to focus Russias air campaign in Syria on Islamic State jihadists.President Obama reiterated his belief that it will be necessary for Bashar al-Assad to leave power as a part of the transition and stressed the imperative of focusing military efforts against ISIL, as our international coalition is doing, rather than targeting moderate opposition, the White House official said, using another acronym for IS.Obama also offered the prospect of rolling back sanctions if Russia fully implemented peace accords signed in February over the Ukraine crisis.The Minsk accords set out a lengthy political roadmap to resolve the conflict in the east between Kiev and pro-Russian rebels but have been delayed into next year due to wrangling between all sides. The Kremlin confirmed in a statement that Putin and Obama had met for half an hour in Paris, without providing further details. Russia on Monday laid out more details of retaliatory economic sanctions aimed at denting Turkeys key tourism and agricultural sectors. Moscow said it would halt fruit and vegetable imports from Turkey after Putin signed a decree over the weekend banning charter flights and the sale of package holidays, and scrapping Russias visa-free regime with the country.

Putin accuses Turkey over IS oil as pilot's body returns to Russia

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LE BOURGET (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused Ankara of shooting down a Russian warplane to protect supplies of oil from the Islamic State group to Turkey, after snubbing his Turkish counterpart at a climate conference in France.Putin fired the latest salvo in the furious war of words over the downing of the Russian jet on the Syrian border last week as the body of a pilot killed in the incident was returned home.Turkish authorities meanwhile again pledged not to apologise over the incident, which has shattered ties between the two countries, as Moscow rolled out its sanctions aimed at exacting economic revenge on Ankara.After rejecting Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogans offer of face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a UN climate summit outside Paris on Monday, Putin accused Ankara of seeking to protect IS oil exports -- an important source of funds for the jihadist group.We have every reason to think that the decision to shoot down our plane was dictated by the desire to protect the oil supply lines to Turkish territory, right to the ports where it is loaded onto tankers, Putin said during a news conference on the fringes of the climate talks, echoing similar accusations he made last week.We have received additional information which unfortunately confirms that this oil, produced in areas controlled by the Islamic State and other terrorist organisations, is transported on an industrial scale to Turkey.The downing of the Russian jet on the Turkey-Syria border -- the first time a NATO member has shot down a Russian plane since 1952 -- has hammered ties between the two rival players in the Syria conflict. Putin did meet US President Barack Obama, who expressed his regret over the loss of life in the plane downing and called for a de-escalation between Russia and Turkey, a White House official said.Russia on Monday laid out more details of retaliatory economic sanctions aimed at denting Turkeys key tourism and agricultural sectors.Moscow announced it will halt fruit and vegetable imports from Turkey after Putin signed a decree over the weekend banning charter flights and the sale of package holidays, and scrapping Russias visa-free regime with the country. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the moves a first step as Moscow also said it would limit Turkish transport firms and tighten controls on construction contracts.The authorities however stopped short of targeting Russias major joint energy projects with Turkey.The announcement on the economic reprisals came as the body of pilot Oleg Peshkov, who was killed when the plane was shot down, arrived back in Russia from Ankara.A plane carrying the corpse of Peshkov was met by Russias defence minister outside Moscow after the body was bought from Syria to Turkey and handed over to Russian diplomats.Both pilots aboard the Su-24 warplane ejected and parachuted to the ground on the Syrian side of the border after being shot down by Turkish F-16s on November 24.Moscows defence ministry said Peshkov was shot dead from the ground while his comrade Konstantin Murakhtin was rescued by Russian and Syrian special forces. One Russian serviceman was also killed trying to rescue the pilot. Local reports said Peshkov will be buried Wednesday in his hometown Lipetsk, an industrial city in central Russia.After the downing of its jet Moscow has bolstered its firepower in Syria -- where it is flying a bombing campaign at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- and on Monday said its planes were now equipped with air-to-air missiles. Russian media has portrayed the handover of the remains as a goodwill gesture on the part of Ankara after several days of heated rhetoric, but neither side has looked willing to back down.Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu insisted once again that Ankara would not apologise over the downing of the plane.Protection of our airspace, our border is not only a right but a duty for my government and no Turkish premier or president ... will apologise (for) doing our duty, he told a joint press conference with NATO head Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.Davutoglu decried Russias sanctions against Turkey and called on Moscow to reconsider these measures in both our interests, while reiterating once again Ankaras willingness to talk.If the Russian side wants to talk, we are ready; if they want more information, we are ready; if they want to normalise relations, we are ready to talk, he said.

UN peacekeeper among 24 killed in Ugandan rebel attack in DR Congo

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GOMA (AFP) - An attack by Ugandan rebels in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 24 people dead, including a United Nations peacekeeper, the UN said Monday.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the overnight attack in troubled North Kivu province, blamed on Ugandan rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.Felix-Prosper Basse, spokesman for the UN mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) said that in addition to the peacekeeper, 12 rebels were killed, along with four Congolese soldiers and seven civilians who were hacked to death with machetes in a hospital in the town of Eringeti.I saw four civilians killed by bullets... and seven patients and a nurse cut up by machete at the hospital, a regional official told AFP at Eringeti, which lies in the north of North Kivu province. A local non-governmental organisation however gave a higher toll of 30 dead.MONUSCOs interim commander General Jean Baillaud confirmed to AFP that a Malawian soldier serving with the force had been killed, and a second was wounded when their unit tried to fight off the attackers.The rebels attacked our positions at Eringeti and we repelled them all night, said a Congolese army spokesman in the region, Lieutenant Mak Hazukay, declining to give any figures.The mostly Muslim rebels, who have been active in the forested region since being driven out of their homeland in 1995, are accused of a series of killings which have claimed the lives of more than 450 civilians since October 2014.In December that year, Congolese and UN troops launched a joint operation that helped to restore a degree of calm to the region, but the killings did not stop and spread northwards.The ADF, which first emerged in Uganda with the aim of toppling President Yoweri Museveni and setting up a hardline Islamist state, is accused of numerous serious violations of human rights.Its leader Jamil Mukulu was arrested in Tanzania in April and extradited to Uganda in July.The rebels also engage in a profitable illegal traffic in prized tropical timber.MONUSCO -- the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Congo -- comprises about 20,000 uniformed personnel overseeing the disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation and reintegration programme for rebel groups.

Seventeen killed in Guatemala prison fight: official

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ESCUINTLA (AFP) - Seventeen people have been killed in fighting inside a maximum security prison in Guatemala, officials said Monday as hundreds of police moved to take control of the facility.Army troops and police officers surrounded the Granja Penal Canada prison, which holds 3,100 inmates, following violence that erupted on Sunday.After police went inside to round up prisoners and search for reported firearms, AFP saw groups of inmates made to stand or sit on the grounds as officers monitored them, batons in hand.More than 2,000 police were deployed at the prison, backed by dozens of soldiers and an armored vehicle. The facility is circled by three security fences, one of them electrified.Meanwhile the death toll from the episode increased from 16 to 17 after one inmate died in a state hospital from injuries, an official from the district attorneys office said.The violence appeared to have been triggered during a prison yard football game, with tensions between general prisoners and bullying gang members spilling over, a police chief told AFP on condition of anonymity.The episode occurred during visiting hours, sending wives and girlfriends running, some with children. You could hear shooting all around, and I ran out with three of my children, which is why I had to go back to get the other one, one visitor, Heidy Solares, who came with four children told AFP. She didnt know what happened to her incarcerated husband, Estaban.Security forces initially refrained from entering because of reports of armed prisoners, Deputy Interior Minister Elmer Sosa said. There was no immediate action in order to avoid a confrontation between prisoners and police, he told reporters.Guatemalan media overnight showed images of black body bags holding inmates who were shot or stabbed to death being taken from the prison to a morgue.We are coordinating with prosecutors on an investigation, Sosa said.He added that the violence by the prisoners did not seem to be an attempt to escape.Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are plagued by turf battles between violent street gangs fighting to control impoverished communities.The most powerful of these are the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, rival gangs whose members are usually held in separate prisons to avoid conflict.As in many Latin American countries, Guatemalas prisons are badly overcrowded. The prisons service said the Granja Penal Canada facility was built for only 600 inmates yet contained five times that, Guatemalan media reported.The number of homicides in Guatemala has soared this year, with the annual toll on track to be at least 6,000. Most of the murders are at the hands of gangs engaged in contract killings, extortion and drug trafficking.In a bid to curb the violence, Guatemala has deployed nearly 800 police and soldiers in the capital, which is home to some 3.3 million people.Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras together reported 15,802 murders in 2014, according to official figures.More than 50 percent of the victims across the three countries were younger than 25.This year through September, there have been 4,281 homicides in Guatemala and 4,942 in El Salvador. Honduras for the first six months of 2015 reported 2,628 murders.Guatemala, Central Americas most populous country with 15.8 million inhabitants, is still recovering from a 36-year civil war that ended in 1996.

IMF approves China's yuan as elite reserve currency

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund welcomed Chinas yuan into its elite reserve currency basket on Monday, recognizing the ascendance of the Asian power in the global economy.The yuan, also known as the renminbi, will join the US dollar, euro, Japanese yen and British pound next year in the basket of currencies the IMF uses as an international reserve asset.IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde called the decision an important milestone in the integration of the Chinese economy into the global financial system.It is also a recognition of the progress that the Chinese authorities have made in the past years in reforming Chinas monetary and financial systems.The move by the IMF executive board, representing the institutions 188 member nations, solidifies Chinas ambition to see the yuan achieve global status as one of the worlds top currencies.China, the worlds second-largest economy, asked last year for the yuan to be added to the Special Drawing Rights basket, but until recently it was considered too tightly controlled to qualify. The yuan already had met the IMFs criteria for being widely used.The board approval had been widely expected after IMF staff experts earlier in November said that Chinese authorities had taken the steps necessary for the yuan to be called freely usable, and Lagarde endorsed their recommendation.Lagarde said the yuans inclusion in the basket was expected to help China open up further to the world economy.The continuation and deepening of these efforts will bring about a more robust international monetary and financial system, which in turn will support the growth and stability of China and the global economy, she said.IMF members can use the Special Drawing Rights basket to obtain currencies to meet balance-of-payments needs. The Fund also issues its crisis loans -- crucial to struggling economies like Greece -- valued in SDRs.The yuans entry into the basket takes effect on October 1, 2016.
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Sunday, 29 November 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Assad says enemies boosting his opponents

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday said his enemies have increased support for rebels fighting his regime as loyalists backed by Russia and Iran push an offensive to regain lost territory.His remarks came as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 18 civilians were killed and 40 wounded in probable Russian air strikes on a northwestern town held by a rebel alliance.The Britain-based Observatory also reported that the Islamic State group had murdered more than 3,500 people in Syria, including 2,000 civilians, since declaring its caliphate last June.The latest developments came as Britain pressed efforts to widen its participation in a US-led air coalition battling IS in Iraq to include Syria.Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said his government was intensively lobbying the opposition Labour party to support air strikes in Syria, two years after it had blocked that option.In remarks during talks with a senior Iranian official in Damascus, Assad spoke of important gains by the Syrian army in the fight against terrorism, with the support of its friends led by Iran and Russia.State news agency SANA also quoted him as saying that these gains had pushed certain countries hostile to Syria and who pretend to fight terrorism to... increase their financing and arming of terrorist groups.Assad did not identify any country by name but since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, he has accused Turkey and Gulf nations of arming his mainly Sunni opponents.Assads regime, dominated by the Shiite Alawite sect, launched a key offensive to retake areas seized by opponents after Moscow began in late September an air war in support of the government.Iran, the regions main Shiite power, has also backed Assad, including with the reported deployment of hundreds of military advisers to bolster regime forces.Following the November 13 Paris attacks which killed 130 people and were claimed by IS there have been increasing calls by French leaders on their allies to step up the fight against the jihadist group.On Thursday French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called on Britain -- which is already taking part in US-led air strikes on IS in Iraq -- to help win this war.Fallon told the BBC that his government had been pressing the opposition Labour party to vote yes on launching air strikes on Syria.Weve been talking to Labour MPs all week, he said, but the government had not yet secured enough support to be sure of winning such a vote.British Prime Minister David Cameron said Saturday that IS was a threat to Britain and conducting air strikes in Syria would be the right thing for Britain to do.He was speaking as thousands of people took to the streets of London to protest against military action in Syria.Britain, which was also hit by terror attacks, remains deeply scarred by its former interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.Thousands also protested against military action in Syria on the streets of Madrid, amid fears by many Spaniards that it would make their country a target for militants.A poll published Sunday in Spains El Mundo newspaper showed that Spaniards are divided on joining anti-IS strikes, with 54 percent opposed.In Germany, army chief of staff General Volker Wieker told Bild am Sonntag newspaper his country is planning to deploy 1,200 troops to help France in the battle against IS but not join air strikes.The coalition already had sufficient forces and means, he said when asked why Germany had shied away from participating in air strikes in Syria.Initially an anti-regime uprising, the Syrian conflict has evolved into a multi-front war in which the regime, jihadists including IS, secular rebels and a range of ethnic militias are battling for territory.More than 250,000 people have died in the fighting and millions have been forced from their homes.Elsewhere, Turkey said the body of a Russian pilot shot dead in Syria after his plane was downed shot down last week by Turkey had been retrieved and will be returned to Moscow.

16 dead in fighting for south Yemen province

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ADEN (AFP) - Yemeni pro-government forces were battling on Sunday to oust Iran-backed rebels from a southern province where they have made gains in recent weeks.Ground fighting and air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition killed 12 rebels in Daleh province, military sources said. Four loyalists were also killed.Daleh is one of five southern provinces which the coalition-backed loyalists retook from the rebels in a July offensive. But the Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies managed to recapture the provinces second-largest city, Damt, earlier this month.Further north, in Yemens third city Taez, where a loyalist garrison has been under rebel siege for months, three civilians were killed and at least 20 wounded by rebel mortar fire late on Saturday, medical and military sources said.Loyalist troops and their coalition backers launched an offensive to try to break the siege earlier this month but it has made little headway.In the rebel-held capital Sanaa, coalition aircraft carried out what a military source described as the heaviest strikes in weeks.The rebels overran Sanaa in September last year before capturing much of the rest of the country and forcing the government into exile. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi returned from neighbouring Saudi Arabia on November 18, two days after the offensive to relieve the siege of Taez began.The United Nations says more than 5,700 people have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led intervention began in March, nearly half of them civilians.

Beijing issues orange alert for heavy smog

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BEIJING (AFP) - Beijing on Sunday issued its highest-level smog alert this year and urged residents to stay indoors as dangerous air pollution continued to cloak swathes of northern China.The smog came as global leaders flew to the French capital Paris for a key summit intended to reach agreement on limiting dangerous climate change.Chinas capital issued an orange alert hours after levels of PM2.5 -- particles which can penetrate deeply into the lungs -- reached more than 15 times recommended levels.Residents were advised to minimise outdoor activities, while those with respiratory illnesses and the elderly were urged to stay inside their homes. The US embassy in Beijing on Saturday reported PM2.5 levels at more than 390 micrograms per cubic metre.Its readings fell below 200 on Sunday, but were still well above the 25 micrograms per cubic metre which the World Health Organization considers safe.In some parts of Hebei province bordering Beijing, levels reached more than 400 micrograms per cubic metre over the weekend.Reports linked the spike in pollution to weather conditions and an increase in coal-burning to provide winter heating.Under the orange alert -- the citys second highest -- industrial plants must reduce production while large trucks are banned from the roads.China generates most of its electricity and heating by burning coal -- which also contributes to the countrys greenhouse gas emissions, the worlds largest.On Sunday hundreds of thousands of people joined worldwide protests aimed at sending a message to the summit.But Chinese media contained no reports of similar protests. Mass marches are almost unheard of in the country, where the ruling Communist party does not tolerate organised political opposition.

Tennis: Murray ends long British wait for Davis Cup

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GHENT (AFP) - Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time in 79 years in Ghent on Sunday when Andy Murray defeated David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 in the first of the reverse singles to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Belgium.It was a fitting climax for the 28-year-old Scot to provide the winning point, having won all 11 rubbers he played in during the campaign as the British defeated heavyweights United States, France and Australia before the clincher against Belgium.The win over Goffin made him just the third player, after John McEnroe and Mats Wilander, to win all eight singles in the same calendar year since the Davis Cup World Group started in 1981.And it underpinned Murrays place in tennis history following his headline-making wins in the 2012 US Open and Olympics, and at Wimbledon the following year.I never thought we would have the opportunity to do this and I cant believe we have done it. Everyone who has played has played an unbelievably high level, Murray said courtside immediately after his triumph.We have to enjoy this because we may never get the opportunity again.The Australian Open is next. I have lost in the final four times. I need to learn a few things about how I have handled this weekend. I will try to do that in Australia.I will enjoy this one.The match-up of the two national number ones came after both had won their opening singles on Friday and Murray had teamed up with brother Jamie the following day to defeat Goffin and Steve Darcis in the doubles.It was do or die for Goffin and Belgium against the world number two who had yet to drop a single set against the 16th ranked Belgian in previous games.But it was a tense and edgy start from both players in front of a raucous 13,000 capacity crowd at the Flanders Expo centre where a claycourt had been laid down in an effort to blunt Murrays firepower.It was the world number two, though, who landed the first blow, breaking the Goffin serve to love in the sixth game and that proved enough for him to take the set 6-3 in 48 minutes on his fourth set point.The second set turned out to be the key to the final. Murray held serve with ease, while Goffin hung on grimly.The Belgian somehow moved out into a 5-4 lead and with the decibel level rising again as the crowd scented blood, Murray needed to serve to stay in the set.But he did that with some ease and then in the next game, the Scot stepped up the pressure once again and got the break he needed as Goffin netted a forehand drive.Goffin had only once in his career come back to win after losing the first two sets of a match and that was in Fridays opening rubber against Kyle Edmund.But against a player of Murrays calibre and fitness it was a huge ask.Goffin, though, had not given up the cause and he raised home hopes with his first break of serve in the second game of the second set.But the revival was short-lived as Murray broke back immediately and three games later the Scot supplied the coup de grace with a break to love to lead 4-3.He only had to serve out twice to end the long wait for Britain but he only needed to do that once as again he captured the Goffin serve, finishing the final with a superb lob with Goffin stranded at the net.

Football: Costa stews as Chelsea make point at Spurs

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LONDON (AFP) - Jose Mourinhos relationship with Diego Costa came under renewed scrutiny after the Chelsea manager dropped the striker for Sundays 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.The point left the reigning champions languishing in the bottom half of the table, while Tottenham -- now unbeaten in 13 league games -- were left frustrated after failing to take a chance to put pressure on the top four.But it was Mourinhos decision to leave Costa on the bench, having clashed with the Spain international at half-time of the mid-week Champions League win away to Maccabi Tel Aviv, that drew most attention.It clearly angered the striker, who tossed his bib towards Mourinho as the game neared its conclusion, but Mourinho said: If he wants to hurt me, its not with a bib. I have a good relationship with him, no problems.I think Diego is very privileged because he was the last one to be (put) on the bench.Everybody was on the bench. I kept him in the team for all these matches and today we thought the best strategy to play was this one. We are happy with the decision.Mourinho described the visitors display as the best Chelsea performance of the season, but opposite number Mauricio Pochettino was frustrated that Spurs had not emerged victorious.Chelsea had only one shot on target and it was a good save from Hugo Lloris, said the Argentine.They did not do much to win the game. We deserved more. We tried to win it. I think Chelsea will be happy with the point. It is more important to them than us.Chelsea captain John Terry was also absent for the visitors after failing to recover from the ankle injury he picked up during the 4-0 victory in Israel.That meant Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill were paired at the heart of the visitors defence, while Eden Hazard was pushed forward to fill the hole left by the brooding Costa.Tottenham also came into the game on the back of a long trip, having travelled to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday.Pochettino had complained about the possible effects on his players of making such a demanding journey just 72 hours beforehand, but still opted to retain eight of his mid-week starting XI in his line-up.It initially appeared as though the home side were still working the journey out of their system as Chelsea started with an energy that has been too often missing from their play this season.Hazards movement up front, together with Pedro Rodriguezs penetrating runs down the left flank, clearly unsettled Pochettinos team.Chelsea, though, were unable to find the finish that might have given them the breakthrough, with Mourinhos side failing to muster a single effort on target during the first half.Hazard was guilty of wasting their best opportunity, the Belgian heading over from Pedros cross when unmarked in front of goal.A high-tempo game lacked quality and Tottenhams efforts in front of goal mirrored those of their opponents, although it took an excellent save by Asmir Begovic to repel Son Heung-Mins header from Harry Kanes cross.The second period followed a similar pattern, with both teams struggling to impose themselves in a game that grew increasingly scrappy.Hazard finally conjured Chelseas first effort on target when he met Branislav Ivanovics deep cross with a powerful left-foot volley that Hugo Lloris did well to tip away for a corner.Tottenhams best chance after the break again fell to Son, who shot tamely at Begovic after working a clever one-two with Erik Lamela, on as a second-half substitute for the injured Ryan Mason.

Football: Bale, Ronaldo give stuttering Real Madrid relief at Eibar

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid got their La Liga title challenge back on course despite an underwhelming performance as goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo handed them a 2-0 win at Eibar on Sunday.In front of a capacity 6,000 crowd at Ipurua, Madrid did little to dispel the doubts caused by their 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona last weekend but Bales first-half header and a late penalty from Ronaldo were enough for all three points.Madrid remain in third, but victory takes Rafael Benitezs men back to within six points of league leaders Barca and two points of city rivals Atletico Madrid.The important thing was to get the three points and do so with this spirit of sacrifice, said Madrid boss Rafael Benitez.The fans know that the most important thing when you have players of this quality is that they also work as they did today.That is the key if we want to continue being strong in the future.Eibar have enjoyed a stellar start to just their second season in the top flight, but as against Barcelona and Atletico in their only other two prior defeats this season, they didnt have enough quality to trouble Madrid in the final third.After a slow start, Ronaldo was presented with a great chance to open the scoring on 15 minutes from James Rodriguezs fine through ball, but he couldnt lift the ball over the advancing Asier Riesgo and Mateo Kovacic wastefully fired the rebound over.Madrids pressure told two minutes before the break when Luka Modrics brilliant cross was flicked home at the near post by Bale for his first goal for Madrid in three months.The Welshman could have had a second moments later as he brilliantly controlled a long ball into the box, but lacked the power needed in his final effort to beat Riesgo.Bale turned provider at the start of the second period with a pinpoint cross for Ronaldo only for the Portuguese to fluff his lines when attempting an overhead kick.Ronaldos wayward afternoon in front of goal continued when he somehow failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy after rounding Riesgo from Lucas Vazquezs pass.Yet, he was gifted the chance to register his 16th goal of the season when referee Gil Manzano pointed to the spot after Vazquez went down under minimal contact from Dani Garcia eight minutes from time.Elsewhere, Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo confirmed a 1-0 defeat at Sevilla would be his last in charge of the club.Sevilla dominated from the off and were handed a huge boost when Joao Cancelo was sent off for a second bookable offence 10 minutes before half-time.Sergio Escudero finally opened the scoring when he connected brilliantly with Ever Banegas clever cross five minutes into the second-half.Valencia ended with nine men as Javi Fuego also picked up a second yellow card to leave Los Che still five points off the top four with Barcelona to come at home next weekend.Villarreal missed the chance to move back into the top four as their awful form continued with a 2-0 defeat at Getafe.Angel Lafita and Alvaro Vazquez struck for the hosts to leave Villarreal still in sixth having won just one of their last seven league games.Meanwhile, Aritz Aduriz became the first Spanish striker to score 20 goals in a season before December this century as he netted a hat-trick in Athletic Bilbaos 3-0 romp at Rayo Vallecano.

Golf: Schwartzel wins fourth Alfred Dunhill title in style

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Home favourite Charl Schwartzel protected his overnight lead to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship for the fourth time on Sunday as he finished four strokes clear of Frenchman Gregory Bourdy at the Leopard Creek Country Club. The former Masters champion shook off a shaky front nine when he made the turn in one over 36 but a closing 34 was enough to see the Johannesburg native clinch a fourth win in the first event of the 2016 Race to Dubai. He finished the tournament 15-under par and also became the first South African to win an EPGA event four times and the third man from his country, after Ernie Els and Retief Goosen to win ten EPGA tournaments. The 31-year-old was never really in danger after coming into the final 18 holes with a three shot lead and Bourdy was his closest rival. Another Frenchman Benjamin Hebert was a further shot back in third spot, his best European finish. Sebastien Gros of France and fellow Challenge Tour graduate Thomas Linard was then at eight under alongside Matt Ford and Joost Luiten.Defending champion Branden Grace was a further shot back after seeing his late charge, which began with an eagle on the par four 11th, ended as he found the water on the 16th and 18th.Jaco Van Zyl was also at seven under after firing the round of the day with a 64, alongside Eddie Pepperell who ended his week with a 68.Two-time champion Pablo Martin was then in the group at six under with last seasons Road to Oman winner Ricardo Gouveia and Qualifying School rookie Brandon Stone among those at five under.

Islamabad: Voting for LB elections starts

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Voting for the local bodies elections in Islamabad started at 7:00 in the morning which will conclude at 5:00 in the evening.A total number of 6,80,612 registered voters will exercise their right to vote in LB elections in the federal capital out of which 3,67,960 are male voters and 3,12,652 female voters.According to a spokesman of Election Commission of Pakistan, 2,396 candidates are contesting for 550 seats in the federal capital of the country.At least 255 candidates are contesting for the posts of chairman while 1,210 candidates are battling for the general seats. Besides this 351 female candidates are competing for the women seats while 248 candidates are in the run for the labour seats.On the other hand, 230 candidates are contesting for the youth seats while 102 candidates are in the race for the minority’s seats in today’s LB polls.A total number of 640 polling stations have been established of which 261 are for males and 256 for females. However; 123 polling stations will be shared by both men and women.Tight security arrangements have been made to ensure free, fair and transparent polling. Six hundred and twenty five Army troops and seven hundred personnel of Rangers along with hundreds of police officials have been deployed in the capital for the purpose.

Formula One: Rosberg wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Nico Rosberg ended his 2015 season in triumph on Sunday when he completed a hat-trick of victories in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and world champion Lewis Hamilton.The 30-year-old German, who has produced remarkable dominant form since seeing Hamilton secure his third drivers title at last months United States Grand Prix, made a perfect start from his sixth successive pole position and, pit-stops apart, was in control all the way.Rosberg was celebrating his sixth win of the year and the 14th of his career. It was his first success at the Yas Marina circuit where Hamilton beat him in 2014 to take his second title.Hamilton won 10 races this year, but on Sunday was unable to rediscover the form that carried him to the championship despite pushing hard through the middle and latter stages of the race. Finn Kimi Raikkonen finished third ahead of his Ferrari team-mate, four-time former champion Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez of Force India.Daniel Ricciardo was sixth for Red Bull ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in the second Force India, Felipe Massa of Williams, Romain Grosjean who marked his last race for Lotus with a surge to ninth and Daniil Kvyat in the second Red Bull.The race was preceded by an announcement from the stewards that cleared Ferrari and the American Haas team, which is set to join the grid next year, of any wrong-doing in their joint use of the Ferrari wind-tunnel to prepare cars.But the sports ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), made clear that such a relationship - and any kind of collusion on aerodynamic testing -- will not be permitted in future.This announcement clarified the issues and closed a possible loophole, leaving the paddock to focus on the final contest in perfect sunset conditions with a track temperature of 29 degrees Celsius and the two Mercedes together again on the front row.When the lights went out, Rosberg made a perfect start while Hamilton struggled to stay with him and had to engage his best defensive driving to retain second place.Behind the two silver arrows, the luckless Alonso suffered a puncture in a collision with Pastor Maldonados Lotus, for which he was regarded as the guilty party, and given a drive-through penalty, taken after his necessary pit-stop for repairs. Maldonado was eliminated.After a frantic opening lap, Rosberg led by 1.4 seconds and extended that steadily before making his first stop after 11 laps. Hamilton led briefly before he followed him in, rejoining third. This came briefly after Bottas had crashed into the rear of Button in the pit lane, the Williams man taking a five-seconds penalty for an unsafe release from his garage.Hamilton regained second after Vettel, running on the harder tyres after starting 15th, ran wide and off at Turn 17, the champion making short work of his pass under braking at Turn Eight. Rosberg remained more than six seconds ahead.For a period, the Briton cut into that lead, reducing it to one second before Rosberg was called in for his second stop after 32 laps. Hamilton led and chose to stay out on old tyres. He led by 18.2 seconds after 35 laps, but faced a second stop knowing he really needed an advantage of 22 seconds, if possible.Ferraris erratic weekend continued with another bungle in the pits when Raikkonens right front wheel refused to budge easily during a tyre-change, the Finn losing time that dropped him to fourth behind Vettel.Hamilton finally made his second stop after 42 laps, re-joining on the harder tyres 13 seconds behind Rosberg with 13 laps remaining. His determination was evident. With 10 laps to go, the gap was down to 10.3 and with six remaining it was 7.5.The chase was on under the desert floodlights, but Rosberg had the cushion of a controllable lead as he sped towards his third successive season-ending win with the aid of pit-wall crew keen to see a team one-two finish.

DG Khan: 4 terrorists killed during security forces operation

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DERA GHAZI KHAN (Dunya News) – According to details, security forces conducted a search operation on Sunday night in Sakhi Sarwar area of Dere Ghazi Khan on a tip-off that Al Qaeda key commander Shoaib Cheema and his accomplices are present in the area.The militants present in the area opened fire at the security forces. The security forces returned the fire as a result four terrorists were killed while Al Qaeda Shoaib Cheema managed to escape from the scene.Also Read: Karachi: 4 terrorists killed in encounter with RangersAccording to sources, Shoaib Cheema is a key commander of Al Qaeda and reached Dere Ghazi Khan recently from Balochistan along with six other accomplices.

LB elections in Islamabad to be held today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya New) - Polling for the local government elections in the federal capital Islamabad will be held today (Monday). Polling will start from 7:00 in the morning and will conclude at 5:00 in the evening.At least 6,80,612 registered voters will use their right to vote in LB elections in the federal capital out of which 3,67,960 are male voters and 3,12,652 female voters.A total number of 640 polling stations have been established of which 261 are for males and 256 for females. However; 123 polling stations will be shared by both men and women.According to a spokesman of Election Commission of Pakistan, 2,396 candidates are contesting for 550 seats in the federal capital of the country.At least 255 candidates are contesting for the posts of chairman while 1,210 candidates are battling for the general seats. Besides this 351 female candidates will compete for the women seats while 248 candidates will be aiming for the labour seats.On the other hand, 230 candidates will be aiming for the youth designations while 102 candidates will contest for the minority’s seats in today’s LB polls.Foolproof security arrangements have been made to maintain law and order situation under control during local government elections in Islamabad capital territory.Six hundred and twenty five Army troops and seven hundred personnel of Rangers along with hundreds of police officials would be deployed in the capital for the purpose.

West Indian Narine suspended over illegal action

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DUBAI (AFP) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday suspended West Indian spinner Sunil Narine after his action was deemed illegal by an independent assessment.The 27-years action was reported during the third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele this month and was subsequently assessed in a biomechanical laboratory in Loughborough, England.The ICC confirmed Narines action was illegal.The ICC has found the bowling action of Narine to be illegal and, as such, the off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect, the ICC said. The mystery spinners action was reported for the first time during last years Champions League -- a private Indian Twenty20 tournament -- which forced the West Indies to withdraw him from the 2015 World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.Narines international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations within domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction, save that, with the consent of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Narine may be able to play in domestic cricket events played under the auspices of the WICB, the ICC statement added.The ICC said the assessment revealed that all variations of Narines deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.Under the rules Narine can apply for a re-assessment after modifying his bowling action.The ICC launched a world-wide crackdown on bowlers with illegal bowling actions in June last year. Sri Lankas Sachitra Senanayake, New Zealands Kane Williamson, Pakistans Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez, Zimbabwes Prosper Utseya and Maclom Waller and Bangladeshs Sohag Gazi were among a dozen bowlers whose action were deemed illegal.Of these bowlers only Hafeez was reported for a second time in July this year and has since been banned for a year from bowling at international level.Narine has so far played six Tests, 55 one-day and 34 Twenty20 internationals.

Skippers praise day-night Test as success

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ADELAIDE (AFP) - The worlds first day-night Test match was a great success, rival skippers Steve Smith and Brendon McCullum agreed Sunday, after the match at the Adelaide Oval lived up to its much-hyped billing.Thirty-seven wickets tumbled in three days as the pink ball dominated the bat, and the first Test to be played under lights in the 138-year history of the five-day game drew a total of 123,736 fans through the gates. The tension lasted into the third day as the determined Kiwis battled right to the end. The Australians won the historic match by just three wickets as bowler Peter Siddle cracked the winning runs with a hobbling Mitchell Starc as his partner.It was the first time since 1993 that an Adelaide Test match had not produced a single individual century. It was the first three-day Test match at the famous ground in 64 years -- since the West Indies beat Australia by six wickets.The whole Test match was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle, and to get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely amazing, said Australias Smith.It was just a game that was dominated by the bowlers. I thought New Zealands bowlers bowled just as well as ours.Kiwi counterpart McCullum was equally excited by the concept, which has attracted high interest around the cricket world.Its a great concept. As pink-ball cricket evolves, which Im sure it will in the global game, I think well see that pitches wont have quite as much grass on it, he said.Overall, its a roaring success -- 120,000 people turning up over three days. People are voting with their feet. I think its here to stay, which is great.It definitely brought a different element, even on day one. It certainly asked some different questions.I think, tactically, theres a lot to learn for captains as we head into the pink-ball era.International Cricket Council chief executive David Richardson said the day-night Test was part of a package designed to lift the five-day format. Cricket Australia already has plans in place for more day-night Tests during next seasons tours by South Africa and Pakistan.

Australia win historic day-night Test in tense finish

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ADELAIDE (AFP) - Australia on Sunday claimed a thrilling three-wicket victory over New Zealand inside three days at the Adelaide Oval in the first-ever day-night Test match.Shaun Marsh anchored Australia to the cusp of victory before losing his wicket on 49, and the battling Kiwis set up a tense finish under the floodlights by also dismissing Peter Nevill to leave the home side seven wickets down.Much to the crowds relief Peter Siddle, whose ailing grandmother passed away overnight, cracked the winning runs with a hobbling Mitchell Starc as his batting partner, to clinch a 2-0 series victory over the gallant Black Caps.Australia won the first Brisbane Test by 208 runs and the second Perth Test was drawn. The match was redemption for Marsh, who has struggled to hold down a place in the Australian team with inconsistent batting performances over his four years at Test level.It was fantastic for Shaun to get an opportunity, said skipper Steve Smith. Hes been batting extremely well and the way he played under pressure with his brother to put a partnership together was really crucial for us at that stage.The pink ball developed for day-night Tests triumphed over the bat in a fast-paced Test which attracted a total attendance of 123,736. The aim of the experiment is to bring the crowds back to the long form of the game. The bowlers have dominated this game and its great for cricket, Smith said.It was the first three-day Test match at the Adelaide Oval in 64 years -- since the West Indies beat Australia by six wickets.I thought it was an outstanding Test match. It was closely fought. Wed dearly have loved an extra few runs today, but it wasnt to be, said Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum.Its pretty hard to separate the two teams over the last two Test matches.Shaun Marsh had been dropped during the Ashes series in England in August and only came into the Adelaide Test as a replacement for injured number three Usman Khawaja.He lost his younger brother Mitch during the final session, caught holing out to spinner Mitchell Santner for 28 with 26 runs still needed for victory. Shaun Marsh lost his own wicket when he dabbled at Trent Boult and was snapped up by Ross Taylor at first slip. Adam Voges, who had earlier shared a valuable 49-run fourth-wicket stand with Marsh, was out early in the final session -- snapped up at second slip by Tim Southee for 28 off Boult, who finished with five for 60.After being set 187 to win, the hosts were rocked by the double loss of key batsmen Smith and David Warner in the space of seven balls.Smith pulled Doug Bracewell high into the air towards Santner on the leg-side. But the Kiwi debutant put down the skied chance to give the Australian skipper a massive letoff on two.However Warner was out 12 balls later, caught at second slip by Southee off Bracewell for 35 in a big scalp for the Black Caps.And the Kiwis got another major fillip when Smith was out leg before wicket to Boult seven balls later.Smith reviewed the decision and the ball was tracked hitting him high on his pad. But the Hawk Eye technology had it just flicking the leg bail and that was enough to back up umpire Richard Illingworths on-field decision.Smith left the field shaking his head after scoring just 14 and leaving his team on a precarious 66 for three, still 121 runs away from victory.Smiths departure signalled the arrival of Shaun Marsh at a crucial stage in the Australian innings and with victory not assured.New Zealand earlier lost their last five wickets in the days first session to be bowled out for 208, a lead of 186.Man-of-the-match paceman Josh Hazlewood led the Australian attack in the absence of the injured Mitchell Starc, taking six for 70 off 24.5 overs.The Kiwis, who had resumed on 116 for five, lost their last five wickets for 92. Santner top-scored with an impressive 45 off 88 balls.

Govt determined to uproot terrorism: Shahbaz Sharif

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LONDON: (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has on Sunday said that the government is determined to uproot terrorism. He said that the civil-military leadership is on the same page, reported Dunya News.Talking to overseas Pakistanis in London, Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s economy has improved a lot due to government’s policies. He said that the government has been trying to save state money since 2008. “I have been using the same car since 2008. This is the only car I have been using since then”, he said.Punjab CM said that country’s civil-military leadership is on the same page and the government is determined to uproot terrorism.“Operation Zarb-e-Azb is going on with great success and country will soon be rid of terrorism”, said Shahbaz Sharif.Praising Britain, Shahbaz Sharif said that the cooperation by United Kingdom (UK) is exemplary in the fields of education, health and security.
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