Wednesday 6 January 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Lahore: Police take 27 into custody during search operation

Posted:

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Police and Intelligence officials early Thursday morning took 27 alleged suspects into custody during a joint search operation near Walton airport, Naseerabad and surrounding areas.According to sources, a heavy contingent of police was abruptly called in as well.The operation included one Superintendent of Police (SP), two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) and Station House Officers (SHO) of five police stations along with a large number of officers. The police was flanked by intelligence officials as well.Officers checked the identification documents of residents, hotel guests and people residing in hostels. The id documents were also verified online from NADRA on the spot.Sources say individuals taken into custody have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. The search operation was started at 3:00 AM in the morning and continued for several hours.

Windies 330 all out in rain-hit Sydney Test

Posted:

SYDNEY (AFP) - The West Indies reached their highest score of the series before being dismissed for 330 at lunch on the final day of the rain-hit third Test against Australia in Sydney on Thursday.It was the first time the West Indies had passed 300 in their last nine Test innings against Australia.Spinners Nathan Lyon and Steve OKeefe each took three wickets to finish off the West Indies first innings which had remained on hold since Monday after two days of unrelenting rain.Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin pushed his score to 62 as the Windies surprised by deciding to bat on and not declaring their first innings.Play finally got underway under sunny skies, just over 70 hours after the previous ball bowled on Mondays second day.Days three and four were totally washed out making it the first time that two consecutive days of play had been lost to rain in a Test in Australia in almost 26 years.Ramdin raised his 50 before he was out to a sharp catch by Steve Smith at slip off OKeefe.Kemar Roach quickly followed, popping up a catch to Joe Burns at short leg off Nathan Lyon for 15.Jerome Taylor was the last man out for 13, caught by Lyon at backward point off OKeefe, while Jomel Warrican remained unbeaten on 21.Australia have already won the series and retained the Frank Worrell Trophy after huge wins in the Hobart and Melbourne Tests.The players wore black arm bands as a mark of respect for the father of West Indies batsman Rajendra Chandrika, who passed away this week.

Tennis: Djokovic and Nadal ease into Qatar Open quarter-finals

Posted:

DOHA (AFP) - Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal breezed through to the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, raising hopes the pair will appear in a dream Doha final later this week.Number one seed Djokovic lost just four games in a comprehensive defeat of Spains Fernando Verdasco with the world number one triumphing 6-2, 6-2, in one hour nine minutes.He was matched straight after on Centre Court by Nadal, the tournaments number two seed, who swept aside Robin Haase 6-3, 6-2 in just 65 minutes.Djokovics victory matched the result of his first round clash against Dustin Brown and means the Serb has spent just two hours on court in the first two rounds.Ominously for his rivals, Djokovic looked already to be getting back to his dominant form of 2015 where he won three of the seasons four majors.Very pleased with the way I have started this season, two matches, straight sets, he told reporters afterwards.Of course there are things that I think I can still do better, but again I have to be satisfied with how I played the first two matches.In the warmest temperatures experienced in Doha this week -- 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) -- Djokovic controlled the match from the very beginning.He first broke Verdascos serve in the fourth game and was rarely troubled after that.The Serb squandered another break point just two games later but eventually closed out the set on Verdascos serve to go one up in just 31 minutes.Verdasco, the world number 49 who had beaten Djokovic four times in their 11 previous meetings, offered some resistance in the second set but only enough to delay the inevitable.The Spaniard, who may have been feeling the effects of his first round victory less than 24 hours before, missed two break opportunities in the second set and was made to pay.The Serb will play the number eight seed, Argentinas Leonardo Mayer in the last-eight.It was in the third round last year that Djokovic crashed out of the Qatar Open, losing to Croatias Ivo Karlovic.Nadal was just as impressive in his victory over Haase. He broke the Dutchman early on and never looked back.(I am) just very happy to be through, I think I played a very strong match, said the Spaniard.I think I returned so well tonight. And the serve was a little bit worse than yesterday, but in general, I played much better than yesterday, no? So very happy with the victory and with the level of tennis. Nadal had struggled in the first round on Tuesday, finally coming through after dropping the first set against compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta.He plays Andrey Kuznetsov in the last eight.Number three seed Tomas Berdych is also through to the quarter-finals after the Czech beat Bosnias Damir Dzhumar 6-0, 6-4 in a one-sided match.He next plays British qualifier Kyle Edmund who won a third set tie-breaker against Daniel Munoz-De La Nava, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6.Earlier Jeremy Chardy won an all-French clash beating Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-4.Chardy will play the surprise player of the tournament, Ukraines Illya Marchenko, who followed up his impressive first round defeat of defending champion David Ferrer with victory on Tuesday over Teymuraz Gabashvili, 6-4, 6-2.

Tennis: Wawrinka eases into Chennai Open quarters

Posted:

CHENNAI (AFP) - Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka breezed into the quarter-finals of the ATP Chennai Open on Wednesday as the Swiss got his bid for a third consecutive title in southern India off to a perfect start.The world number four took just 52 minutes to dispatch Russian wildcard Andrey Rublev in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 to set up a last-eight clash with Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.Fifth seed Garcia-Lopez had earlier defeated Croatian qualifier Ante Pavic 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in their second-round tie at the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium on Wednesday.Two-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka, who is the top seed in India, is seeking to get his name on the Chennai Open trophy for the fourth time after victories in 2011, 2014 and 2015. And after receiving a first-round bye he got off to a emphatic start, hitting six aces and breaking his 18-year-old Russian opponent on three occasions in Wednesdays clash.Elsewhere in the last 16 on Wednesday, number eight seed Borna Coric of Croatia defeated American Austin Krajicek 6-2, 7-5, while fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut defeated John Millman 6-4, 6-1.The final of the Chennai Open takes place on Sunday.

Tennis: Australia edges past Great Britain

Posted:

PERTH (AFP) - Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios recorded one of the best wins of his career to upset world number two Andy Murray and lead Australia Green to victory over Great Britain at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth on Wednesday.Although Heather Watson then levelled the tie with a brave comeback victory against newly naturalised Australian Daria Gavrilova, the home team secured the tie when they won a thrilling mixed doubles encounter in a tense match tiebreak, 6-2, 6-7 (0/7), 11-9.Unbeaten in their first two group matches, the pairing of Kyrgios and Gavrilova only need to beat France, who are out of contention after losing both their ties, on Friday to advance to Saturdays final.Fittingly, it was Kyrgios who served an ace to seal the mixed doubles win, after the 20-year-old notched a breakthrough win over Murray in the singles, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).The richly-talented Kyrgios is coming off a contentious 2015, including his infamous on-court spat with Stanislas Wawrinka, but has looked in impressive form in his two singles matches in Perth.He beat rising German star Alexander Zverev on Sunday, and overcame a verbal clash with a fan in the second set against Murray to notch his first win in five matches against the Scot.It also ended Murrays 11-match winning streak in teams tennis, including last years Davis Cup final, and the world number 30 said it was one of his best wins.Its up there, he said.One hundred per cent he wanted to win that tonight.I actually was a little bit nervous going out there, Ive lost to him the last four times I played him.I knew it was going to be tough today, I thought I executed well under pressure today.Murray said the fast-paced nature of the match was to his detriment.There were a lot of quick points in the match, he said.I wasnt able to extend as many of the rallies as usual, and as I would have liked.The British then appeared down and out when Gavrilova served for the match, and the tie, at 5-3 in the third set against Watson in the womens singles.However, Watson produced a stunning finish to take the last four games and square the tie with her 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 7-5.Earlier, Germany kept their hopes alive with a thrilling 2-1 win over France.The tie was level at 1-1 after the singles rubbers were split, but the German pairing of Sabine Lisicki and Zverev prevailed in the deciding mixed doubles, beating Caroline Garcia and Kenny de Schepper, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 10-6.It was a make-or-break tie for both teams and the result ended the Hopman hopes of the French after defeats in their first two ties.However, Germany can still reach Saturdays final if they beat Great Britain on Friday and Australia Green loses.It was a dramatic mixed doubles rubber, with the Germans winning the first set and holding a match point at 6-5 in the second.Lisicki thought she had served an ace to take the set, match and tie, but it was called a let and she then served a double fault to enable the French to force it to a tiebreak.The Germans then saved three set points before the French eventually won the tiebreak 8-6 to force the deciding match tiebreak.In the womens singles match, the emerging Garcia took early control.Lisicki started to show more signs of the form that took her to the 2013 Wimbledon final in the second set, but Garcia steadied to win the match in a tiebreaker 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).Zverev then levelled the tie with a commanding win over French journeyman Kenny de Schepper.The teenager looked a class act as he dismantled the 28-year-old Frenchman in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to set up the deciding mixed doubles.World number one Serena Williams officially withdrew from the event on Wednesday due to a knee problem.

Football: Icardi fires Inter back to top of Serie A

Posted:

MILAN (AFP) - Mauro Icardi hit his eighth goal of the campaign as Inter Milan edged hosts Empoli 1-0 on Wednesday to reclaim top spot in Serie A from Fiorentina. Fiorentina had gone provisional top thanks to a 3-1 win at Palermo where Slovenia international Josip Ilicic struck a brace to take his goals tally to the season to nine in 18 games.But Inter, one of several teams showing they have the tools to unseat four-time consecutive champions Juventus this season, restored their one-point lead over La Viola thanks to Icardis winner on the stroke of half-time.It was the ninth time this season Inter have won 1-0, but that statistic is unlikely to unnerve coach Roberto Mancini as long as his side keep on winning.Empoli are a really tough side at home and (coach, Marco) Giampaolo is doing a great job here. We knew from the start it wouldnt be easy, Mancini told Mediaset.Its a good result for us after the winter break. We missed a chance for 2-0 and they had several chances to level because of mistakes we made.Inter weathered an early storm at the Castellani stadium, where veteran striker Massimo Maccarone, Riccardo Saponara and Piotr Zielinski were just off target for the hosts in a busy opening period.Inter keeper Samir Handanovic had extended his contract by three years on Monday and showed why the club are keen to retain his services when he rushed off his line to anticipate Manuel Pucciarelli. Handanovic also beat away a Marcel Buchel strike and on the stroke of half-time Empoli were made to pay for their earlier misses, Icardi pouncing at the near post to beat home keeper Lukasz Skorupski to Ivan Perisics weighted delivery.Remarkably, the Argentinian -- who finished tied with veteran Verona striker Luca Toni on top of the leagues scoring charts last season -- has only had 12 shots on target all season, with a return of eight goals.Empoli remained a threat throughout the second half but Inter, who boast the stingiest defence in the league with only 11 goals conceded, held firm to make sure they stay top at least until they host Sassuolo at the San Siro on Sunday.Earlier, Ilicic hit a brace and late substitute Jakub Blaszczykowski added the trimmings as Fiorentina maintained their own title push.For Fiorentina coach Paulo Sousa, it was another positive sign but he insisted the race for a title they havent won since 1969 will go right to the wire.We fully deserved the win but it wasnt easy after the festive break, said the Portuguese. We have to continue like this but Ive said from the start of the season the league championship this season is a tough one.Juventus consigned their poor start to the campaign to distant memory with a commanding 3-0 win over Verona in Turin to move up to third at the expense of Napoli ahead of their later match at home to Torino.Massimiliano Allegris men have now won eight league games on the trot, and it came with relative ease after Argentina international Dybala put the hosts ahead after eight minutes.A Leonardo Bonucci header on the stroke of half-time and Simone Zazas late goal capped a comprehensive win for the Turin giants.In late September, Juve were ruled out of contention for a record-equalling fifth consecutive scudetto, but Allegri told Mediaset: Were back among the leading pack: whoever makes the least mistakes will triumph.He added: We werent great at the start of the game but we didnt concede anything to Verona.The lads did well, especially for a first game back after the holidays, but were still not quick enough and we have to improve our technique.Roma remain in fifth place but Rudi Garcias men dropped two precious points after letting a two-goal lead slip in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Chievo, where goalline technology was used for the first time in Serie A to validate a late leveller from Chievo midfielder Simone Pepe.

Football: Negredo hat-trick eases Valencia towards Cup quarters

Posted:

MADRID (AFP) - Alvaro Negredo scored a hat-trick as Gary Neville enjoyed just his second win in seven games in charge of Valencia with a 4-0 thrashing of Granada in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.Neville is still waiting for his first win in La Liga, but it would take a monumental collapse in next weeks second leg for his side not to book their place in the Cup quarter-finals.We are going in the right direction, said Neville.We are better physically, in our play and our confidence, but obviously we have a long way to go and we cant get carried away with just one win.Former Manchester City striker Negredo showed no ill effects from the glorious chance he missed to hand his side a famous victory over Real Madrid in the dying seconds of Sundays 2-2 draw by coolly slotting home the opener after just seven minutes.Santi Mina then unselfishly squared for Rodrigo to tap home just his second goal of the season just after the half-hour mark.Granada had their chances to get back in the tie when lively young Venezuelan striker Adalberto Penaranda skewed just wide before Australian goalkeeper Maty Ryan made the most of a rare outing in the Valencia goal with a good low stop to deny Ruben Rochina.And Valencia killed the tie thanks to two Negredo penalties after the break.Earlier, Cup specialists Athletic Bilbao produced a stirring second-half comeback from 2-0 down to take a 3-2 lead into the second leg of their last-16 tie against Villarreal.The visitors counter-attacked to perfection before the break to take a commanding lead through Leo Baptistao and Samu Garcia despite resting a host of first-team regulars to prioritise their push for a top-four finish in La Liga.However, Inaki Williamss early strike after half-time brought last years finalists back into the game before Aritz Aduriz came off the bench to score his 22nd goal of the season and Aymeric Laporte rounded off the comeback 10 minutes from time.Mirandes, one of only two sides from outside the top flight left in the competition, maintained their hopes of reaching the last eight as Alberto Lopos late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Deportivo la Coruna. Holders Barcelona are in action later on Wednesday when they host Espanyol fresh from being held 0-0 by their local rivals on Saturday in the first of three Catalan derbies in 10 days.La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid also face a derby against Rayo Vallecano.

Rallying: Peterhansel wins as Peugeot dominate Dakar fourth stage

Posted:

SAN SALVADOR DE JUJUY (AFP) - Stephane Peterhansel kept afloat his bid for a 12th Dakar Rally crown when leading a Peugeot clean sweep in Wednesdays fourth stage around Jujuy in Argentina.The marathon events all-time most successful competitor held off teammates Carlos Sainz and Sebastien Loeb by 11sec and 27sec at the end of the 429 kilometre stage.This was the veteran Frenchmans 66th stage win, a record tally split equally between cars and bikes.The 50-year-old from Alsace made his Dakar debut in 1988, winning the first of his six overall victories on two wheels back in 1991 and taking his 11th victory behind the wheel of a Mini in 2013.Its the first Dakar special I win for Peugeot, its nice, said Peterhansel.We worked hard all year, but arent too proud yet because we know we werent able to carry out all the tests we wanted, and its just the third day of racing.We had a good special, with no navigational mistakes and a high pace from the beginning. Our work is paying off.World rally legend Loeb, with two stage wins in the bag already on his promising Dakar debut, remained atop the overall standings with Peterhansel in second at 4min 48sec.Defending Dakar champion, Qatars Nasser Al-Attiyah (Mini) is third at 11min 9sec.Al-Attiyah, who won bronze in the mens skeet shooting event at the London 2012 Olympics, reflected after his fourth place: It aint easy. I did my best to attack, but you just cant keep up with the Peugeots.Spains Joan Barreda Bort won the motorcycling section only to be deprived of success for speeding for the second day running.Barreda crossed the line clear of his Portuguese teammate Paulo Goncalves only to be docked five minutes and demoted to fourth.Goncalves was handed the win ahead of his Portuguese compatriot Ruben Faria (Husqvarna) with Argentinas Kevin Benavides in third.It was a good day, bringing the bike home in one piece was crucial. Im happy for me and Honda, said Goncalves.He tops the overall times, 2min 17sec clear of Benavides, with Barreda now third, at 3min 3sec.Thursdays fifth stage of the marathon two-week rally is a 327 kilometre ride from Jujuy to Uyuni with the crossing into Bolivia coming with a steep increase in altitude to 4,500 metres - the highest point in this route.

Saudi embassy attack may backfire on Iran hardliners

Posted:

TEHRAN (AFP) - The arson attack on Saudi Arabias embassy in Tehran that prompted Riyadh to cut diplomatic ties with Iran was initially seen as a victory for hardline opponents of President Hassan Rouhani.But analysts say the incident could ultimately backfire on his foes ahead of Iranian parliamentary elections next month, giving the moderate Rouhani ammunition as he confronts conservatives and works to restore his countrys international reputation.Although similar episodes have occurred in the past -- Britains embassy was stormed in 2011 for example -- Rouhanis response signals a shift against the rogue elements he condemned for Saturdays attack.The violence has undermined the presidents efforts in the Middle East and beyond to bring Iran out of its relative isolation -- exemplified by last years deal with world powers on its nuclear programme.His government has maintained its criticism of Saudi Arabias execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, which sparked the angry protests at the Tehran embassy and Riyadhs consulate in Mashhad, Irans second-largest city.The row has reduced opportunities for Rouhani to engage with Arab states -- several Saudi allies also cut or reduced ties -- and benefited those who want to stop his efforts at rapprochement.The reaction at the embassy changed the game against us and helped Saudi Arabia and the radicals, Amir Mohebbian, a political strategist close to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, told AFP.Public opinion, not only in Iran but the world, had been against Saudi Arabia but the action of the radicals made the situation bad for Iran in handling our relations with Western countries and in the region.Riot selfiesAlthough 50 arrests were quickly made, the ransacking of the embassy was condemned across the world, including by the UN Security Council.Such a setback for Rouhani -- who Wednesday wrote to Irans judiciary chief to demand that those accused of orchestrating the violence be dealt with urgently -- came after years of trying to improve Irans international image.In contrast, the scenes at the embassy included petrol bombs being thrown and people climbing onto the buildings roof to tear down the Saudi flag, while some took selfies with items they had stolen from inside.Hardline organisations including the Revolutionary Guards and its junior Basij militia publicly criticised the embassy attack and denied any involvement.The rift between competing political factions, however, has been visible in Iranian media, with reformist newspapers accusing hardline groups in the regime of fuelling the crisis in a bid to harm Rouhani at the polls.But given that the violence will likely only have costs for Iran Rouhani may seek to confront the issue, said Mohebbian, a moderate conservative who has advised top politicians.Maybe this should be the start of something to manage the radical people, whose actions are not rational, he said, noting that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis comments about the violence would be vital.Waiting for KhameneiThough yet to address the attack, Khamenei has previously spoken out against similar incidents.When the British embassy was attacked in 2011, after a new round of sanctions was imposed on the Islamic republic as punishment for its nuclear programme, Khamenei later said the emotions of youths involved were right, but their actions were not.Unlike Rouhani this week, Irans then president, the hardline Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, remained silent four years ago.Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the recent violence had limited the space for diplomacy on regional crises.This seemed to be the result that hardliners in Saudi and Iran wanted, she said, noting that Riyadh knew Nimrs execution would bear costs with Shiite governments but it was a price it seemed willing to pay.The reaction from Rouhani and other officials in condemning the attack, however, may be a harbinger of a dramatically different result.Ironically, Irans hardliners may have given Rouhani more ammunition to convince the supreme leader to marginalise the radical elements of the system and to continue participating in multilateral diplomacy, such as in resolving the conflict in Syria, Geranmayeh said.Only by doing so will Iran recoup its standing among the international community, she added.

Arrested terrorist close aide of Baitullah Mehsud, says met TTP leader

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Arrested terrorist named Meherban is believed to be a close aide of the slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Baitullah Mehsud. In a shocking statement during interrogation, Meherban revealed of his meetings with Baitullah Mehsud. The arrested suspect also confessed of collecting funds and providing ammunition to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban outfit.The notorious terrorist was arrested from Kotari area during joint action by Rangers and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The apprehended terrorist stated that he first came in contact with the TTP leader back in 2006 and then met him several times after that.The apprehended suspect stated that he collected for Mehsud by conducting crimes of varying degrees in Karachi. The terrorist further revealed that he had played an influential part in strengthening the roots of Tehreek-e-Taliban in Karachi. Meherban stated that during this time he was in contact with several Taliban commanders and provided them with ammunition. The suspect stated that he was hiding in Kotari after Karachi operation was initiated.Sources say that further arrests are expected following the interrogation.

Saudi Foriegn Minister to reach Islamabad today

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Saudi Arabian Forieng Minister Adil Al-Jubair will be reaching Pakistan today (Thursday). The Saudi Minister will be meeting with the top leadership of the country including Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz.The Saudi Foreign Minister will discuss bilateral relations along with regional and international situation. Al-Jubair’s visit will also include taking Pakistani leadership into confidence for the inclusion into united army of 34 Islamic countries and the situation of the Middle East.Al-Jubair was expected to reach Islamabad on Sunday but the visit was delayed due to Saudi conflict with Iran.The new Ambassador of Iran Mehdi Honardoost had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.The Adviser congratulated Ambassador Honardoost on his appointment as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan.He hoped that the Ambassador‘s tenure in Pakistan would be successful and fulfilling, both in professional and personal terms.The Ambassador stated that he looked forward to making positive contributions to Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, particularly enhancing economic cooperation and promoting trade.He also conveyed the greetings of Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to the Adviser.

Saudi FM to raeach Pakistan today

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel Bin Ahmed al-Jubeir will arrive in Islamabad today (Thursday), Dunya News reported.During his stay in Pakistan, Saudi Foreign Minister will hold meeting with Pakistani leadership and discuss regional and international issues. Bilateral relations between the two countries will also come under discussion.Saudi FM will also consult Pakistan’s leadership over joining the anti-terrorism alliance. Saudi Arabia recently announced the formation of the 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism.Saudi Foreign Minister was scheduled to visit Pakistan on January 3 on a two-day official visit, however the visit was postponed after an Iranian mob attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran to protest the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

Qatar recalls ambassador to Iran

Posted:

DOHA (AFP) - Qatar has recalled its ambassador to Iran following an attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran, state media in Doha said on Wednesday.Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled today Qatars Ambassador to Tehran following the attacks on the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Tehran and general consulate in Mashhad, said foreign ministry director, Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Hamar, quoted by the Qatar News Agency.The response by Doha is similar to action taken by other countries in the Gulf following the attack on the Saudi missions, carried out by protestors angry at Riyadhs execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have broken off diplomatic ties with Iran in response and Kuwait has recalled its ambassador.

UN sanctions threat over North Korea nuclear test

Posted:

UNITED NATIONS (AFP/Dunya News) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday agreed to roll out new measures to punish North Korea after Pyongyang said it carried out a successful hydrogen bomb test -- a claim rejected by Washington and experts.With backing from China, Pyongyangs sole major ally, the 15-member council strongly condemned the test and said it would begin work on a new UN draft resolution that would contain further significant measures.UN diplomats confirmed that talks were under way on strengthening several sets of sanctions that have been imposed on secretive North Korea since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.Pyongyangs announcement drew swift condemnation from the international community, including from China and Washington, which said an initial analysis was not consistent with North Koreas claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test.South Korean President Park Geun-Hye condemned what she described as a grave provocation and called for a strong international response.I demand the DPRK cease any further nuclear activities, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.Skeptical experts suggested the apparent yield was far too low for a thermonuclear device.North Korean state television announced the republics first hydrogen bomb test, which was successfully performed at 10:00 am (0130 GMT).We have now joined the rank of advanced nuclear states, it said, adding that the test was of a miniaturized device.State television showed North Korean leader Kim Jong-Uns signed order -- dated December 15 -- to go ahead with the test and begin 2016 with the thrilling sound of the first hydrogen bomb explosion.John KerryIn a statement related to the North Korean Hydrogen bomb testing, US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that the H-bomb test is a threat to international peace and security. Kerry stated that North Korea had blatantly violated the laws of UN Security Council. Kerry further added that the US will not recognize North Korea as a nuclear power and such actions were only strengthening this belief. Clear threat to peaceAfter meeting behind closed doors, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the underground test and described it as a clear threat to international peace and security.US Ambassador Samantha Power called for a tough, comprehensive and credible package of new sanctions to make clear to Pyongyang that there are real consequences to its actions.Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said he will be pushing for a series of measures under chapter 7 of the UN charter, which provides for enforceable sanctions.But it remained an open question whether China, a veto-wielding council member, would support tough measures against its ally.The foreign ministry in Beijing said it firmly opposes the nuclear test, which was carried out irrespective of the international communitys opposition.The three previous tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 triggered waves of UN sanctions.Currently, there are a total of 20 entities and 12 individuals on the UN sanctions blacklist, which provides for a global travel ban and an assets freeze.In 2013, the council ramped up the sanctions by asking all countries to prevent the sale of luxury goods to North Korea, a measure designed to hit at Pyongyangs elites.SkepticismThe new test, which came just two days before Kims birthday, was initially detected as a 5.1-magnitude tremor at the Norths main Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the northeast of the country.The explosive yield was initially estimated at between six and nine kilotons -- similar to the Norths last nuclear test in 2013.Most experts had assumed North Korea was years from developing a hydrogen bomb, and assessments were divided on how far it had gone in developing a miniaturized warhead to fit on a ballistic missile.The initial analysis that has been conducted... is not consistent with North Koreas claim of a successful hydrogen bomb test, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.There is nothing that has occurred in the last 24 hours that has caused the United States government to change our assessment of North Koreas technical and military capabilities.Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst with the Rand Corporation research group, said if an H-bomb was actually tested, the detonation clearly failed -- at least the fusion stage.If it were a real H-bomb, the Richter scale reading should have been about a hundred times more powerful, Bennett told AFP.China keyNorth Koreas fourth nuclear test marked a striking act of defiance in the face of warnings from enemies and allies that Pyongyang would pay a steep price for moving forward with its nuclear weapons program.The final response of China, North Koreas economic and diplomatic patron, will be key in determining the international communitys next step, experts say.Beijing will face increased pressure both domestically and internationally to punish and rein in Kim Jong-Un, said Yanmei Xie, the International Crisis Groups senior analyst for Northeast Asia.A nuclear-armed North Korea is uncomfortable and disturbing.But a regime collapse in Pyongyang leading to mass chaos next door and potentially a united Korean peninsula with Washington extending its influence northward to Chinas doorstep is downright frightening.Roberta Cohen of the US Brookings think tank called China the elephant in the room and what it is willing to do unilaterally as well as in the UN.China really has to decide whether North Korea as it stands now is a liability or an asset, she said.

Over 160 killed in Madagascar cattle theft clashes: army

Posted:

ANTANANARIVO (AFP) - At least 161 people, including nearly a dozen soldiers, were killed in cattle-rustling violence in Madagascar last year, authorities announced on Wednesday. Theft of the much-prized humped zebu cattle has surged in recent years on the Indian Ocean island, where hunting the animals is a rural tradition among young men seeking to prove their virility.The cattle are also stolen to be sold for money to the nearby island nation of Comoros, despite a government ban.We have had a rather heavy toll: 11 killed and about 30 wounded among soldiers and some 100 dead, 150 to be precise, for the dahalos (rustlers), Madagascan army General Beni Xavier Rasolofonirina told AFP. In a context in which the gendarmes were not able to carry out their internal security functions the army launched a five-month pacification operation that mobilised 1,300 soldiers, the general said. A symbol of wealth, zebu are at the heart of local culture in southern Madagascar, where they are eaten only at weddings or special celebrations, sacrificed for ancestor worship or in burial rituals.The tradition of stealing them has fuelled inter-communal violence, with the army accused of carrying out extra-judicial killings and razing villages that are suspected of sheltering cattle rustlers.Members of the island nations civil society have denounced the soldiers use of violence during these operations, with Madagascars defence minister admitting to military blunders.We leave it to the gendarmerie to carry out investigations if there are complaints and if they are substantiated it is up to the courts to deliver a punishment, Rasolofonirina said.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)