Tuesday 31 January 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Karachi: Govt officer accused of kidnapping, case filed

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - A government officer, former project director Surjani Shahzad Ahmad was accused of kidnapping and a case was filed against him on Tuesday, reported Dunya News.According to detail, Shahzad Ahmad was accused of kidnapping Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Muhammad Akram Khan. Before this police officers were also accused of kidnappings.The father of Akram, Nizaam Khan told that his son was kidnapped by Shahzad Ahmad as he was PTI candidate in 2013 elections.

Syria peace talks postponed until Feb 20

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN-led peace talks on Syria have been postponed until Feb 20 to allow a ceasefire to take hold and to give the opposition time to present a united front, the UN envoy said on Tuesday.The talks in Geneva had been scheduled to begin on Feb 8 but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week announced they would be delayed, without providing reasons.UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told a closed meeting of the Security Council that the postponement would help bolster preparations for the talks aimed at ending the nearly six-year war.We want to give a chance both to the government to become seriously engaged in discussions and the opposition (...) to actually be able to be given a chance to come with one unified opposition, De Mistura told reporters after the meeting.Russia, Iran and Turkey last week led talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana on shoring up a ceasefire in Syria, where more than 310,000 people have died.If the ceasefire becomes as solid as we hope that will only help the Syria talks, said the envoy.The Syrian opposition has been divided over representation to the talks.De Mistura warned that if the opposition failed to agree on the composition of the delegation by Feb 8, he will select the representatives from the various groups who will come to the peace table.If by the 8th of February, the opposition will not be ready to come up with a unified group, I will have to ... actually select the delegation in order to make sure that it can be as inclusive as possible, he said.The council heard a report from De Mistura amid concerns that the Astana discussions could open up a new track of negotiations.During the Astana talks, Russia, Syrias main ally, presented opposition rebels with a draft constitution that was immediately rejected by the groups.The unilateral move by Russia raised concern in Western capitals.We have been concerned that the Geneva talks have been delayed and we would be concerned if there were any watering down of the basis of those talks, British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters.Its very important that there is confirmation that the UN will lead the next round of talks, said Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog, this months council president.The UN has to be front and center in the political process, said French Ambassador Francois Delattre.He cited the need to respect the Geneva communique agreed with Russia that calls for a transition in Syria.We start with a transition, then the constitution, and then the elections, said Delattre. I think if we can all stay on this line, then we can move.Previous UN-led talks have broken down over disagreements on ensuring a transition in Damascus that would lead to President Bashar al-Assads exit from power.Western powers have for weeks questioned the purpose of the Astana talks and raised concern that they could sideline the Geneva talks.Turkey, which backs rebel forces, has for the first time conceded that a peace deal that excludes Assad from power might not be possible.The new date was announced after US Ambassador Nikki Haley meet with De Mistura on Monday to discuss the way forward in Syria.

Israel says will build 3,000 new homes in West Bank settlements

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JERUSALEM (Reuters): Israel announced plans on Tuesday for 3,000 more settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the third such declaration in eleven days since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.Trump has signalled he could be more accommodating towards such projects than his predecessor Barack Obama.A statement from the Israeli Defence Ministry, which administers lands Israel captured in a 1967 war, said the decision was meant to fulfil demand for housing and return to life as usual.The announcement came close to midnight as preparations began for the eviction of 330 settlers from an outpost in the West Bank. The Supreme Court had ruled that the Amona outpost must be evacuated by Feb 8. because it was built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian land.Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are due to meet in Washington on Feb. 15. The presidents chief spokesman said last week the two leaders would discuss settlement building.The muted response from the Trump White House so far on Israels settlement announcements has been a clear departure from Obama, whose aides routinely criticized settlement construction plans.An announcement a week ago by Israel that it would build some 2,500 more homes in the West Bank drew rebuke from the Palestinians and from the EU. It followed approval of more than 560 new homes in East Jerusalem days before.Palestinians want the West Bank and Gaza Strip for an independent state, with its capital in East Jerusalem. Israeli troops and settlers withdrew from Gaza in 2005.Most countries consider settlements illegal and an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace as they reduce and fragment the territory Palestinians need for a viable state.Israel disagrees, citing biblical, historical and political connections to the land - which the Palestinians also assert - as well as security interests.

Trump picks conservative judge Gorsuch for US Supreme Court

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Neil Gorsuch for a lifetime job on the US Supreme Court, picking the 49-year-old federal appeals court judge to restore the courts conservative majority and help shape rulings on divisive issues such as abortion, gun control, the death penalty and religious rights.The Colorado native faces a potentially contentious confirmation battle in the U.S. Senate after Republicans last year refused to consider Democratic President Barack Obamas nominee to fill the vacancy caused by the February 2016 death of conservative justice Antonin Scalia.Gorsuch is the youngest nominee to the nations highest court in more than a quarter century, and he could influence the direction of the court for decades.Announcing the selection at the White House flanked by the judge and his wife, Trump said Gorsuchs resume is as good as it gets. Trump said he hopes Republicans and Democrats can come together on this nomination for the good of the country.Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous disciple, and has earned bipartisan support, Trump said.Depending on their age, a justice can be active for 50 years. And his or her decisions can last a century or more, and can often be permanent, Trump added.Gorsuch is a judge on the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and was appointed to that post by Republican President George W. Bush in 2006.Some Democrats in the U.S. Senate, which votes on whether to confirm judicial nominees, have already said they would seek to block whoever Trump nominates.Gorsuch is considered a conservative intellectual, known for backing religious rights, and is seen as very much in the mold of Scalia, a leading conservative voice on the court for decades.A senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the choice of Gorsuch was seen by the White House as a significant departure from Supreme Court nominations from the recent past, given that many justices have come from the eastern United States. Gorsuch lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he raises horses and is a life-long outdoorsman.The official described Gorsuch as a mainstream judge who should easily be confirmed by the Senate. The official noted that the Senate confirmed him for his current judgeship in 2006 by voice vote with no one voting against him.The official said the White House feels Gorsuch has the qualities that Democratic senators said they wanted to see in a justice during visits with senior Trump officials about filling the vacancy.He plays it straight. He sticks to principles, and his opinions reflect a consistency regardless of who is in his courtroom, the official said of Gorsuch.Trump made his choice between two U.S. appeals court judges, Gorsuch and Thomas Hardiman of the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to a source involved in the selection process.Gorsuch became the youngest U.S. Supreme Court nominee since Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1991 selected conservative Clarence Thomas, who was 43 at the time.He is the son of Anne Burford, the first woman to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She served in Republican President Ronald Reagans administration but resigned in 1983 amid a fight with Congress over documents on the EPAs use of a fund created to clean up toxic waste dumps nationwide.Trumps selection was one of the most consequential appointments of his young presidency as he moved to restore a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that had been in place for decades until Scalia died at age 79 on Feb. 13, 2016.Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, got the opportunity to name Scalias replacement only because the Republican-led U.S. Senate, in an action with little precedent in U.S. history, refused to consider Obamas nominee for the post, appeals court judge Merrick Garland. Obama nominated Garland on March 16 but Republican senators led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell denied Garland the customary confirmation hearings and vote.Trump has said his promise to appoint a conservative justice was one of the reasons he won the Nov. 8 presidential election, with Christian conservatives and others emphasizing the importance of the pick during the campaign. Trump last week said evangelical Christians would love his nominee.Trumps fellow Republicans hold a 52-48 majority in the Senate. The minority Democrats, irate over Garlands rebuff, potentially could try to block the nomination with procedural hurdles.The new appointee would expand the courts conservative wing, made up of John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Kennedy long has been considered the courts pivotal vote, sometimes siding with the liberals in key cases such as the June 2016 ruling striking down abortion restrictions in Texas.The courts restored conservative majority likely would be supportive toward the death penalty and gun rights and hostile toward campaign finance limits. Scalias replacement also could be pivotal in cases involving abortion, religious rights, presidential powers, transgender rights, voting rights, federal regulations others.Gorsuch has strong academic qualifications, with an Ivy League education: attending Columbia University and, like several of the other justices on the court, Harvard Law School. He also completed a doctorate in legal philosophy at Oxford University, spent several years in private practice and worked in George W. Bushs Justice Department.Gorsuch joined an opinion in 2013 saying that owners of private companies could object on religious grounds to a provision of the Obamacare health insurance law requiring employers to provide coverage for birth control for women.As long as Kennedy and four liberals remain on the bench, the court is not expected to pare back abortion rights as many U.S. conservatives fervently hope. The Supreme Court legalized abortion in the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. In June, the justices ruled 5-3 to strike down a Texas law that restricted abortion access, with Kennedy and the liberals in the majority.The current vacancy is the courts longest since a 391-day void from 1969 to 1970 during Republican Richard Nixons presidency. After Abe Fortas resigned from the court in May 1969, the Senate voted down two nominees put forward by Nixon before confirming Harry Blackmun, who became a justice in June 1970. Aside from that one, no other Supreme Court vacancy since the U.S. Civil War years of the 1860s has been as long as the current one.Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative legal advocacy group, said it would launch the first part of a US$10 million media advertisement campaign on Tuesday night in favor of Trumps pick. The effort will hold Senate Democrats who face election in 2018 accountable for their choice on the Supreme Court, the group said.Liberal groups including People For the American Way and abortion rights advocate NARAL Pro-Choice America planned a nighttime rally in opposition to Trumps nominee outside the Supreme Court after the announcement.Some Democrats have threatened to pursue a procedural hurdle called a filibuster, meaning 60 votes would be needed in the 100-seat Senate unless its long-standing rules are changed. Trumps fellow Republicans hold a 52-48 majority, meaning some Democratic votes would be needed to confirm his pick.Trump said last week he would favor Senate Republicans eliminating the filibuster, a change dubbed the nuclear option, for Supreme Court nominees if Democrats block his pick.Trump during his presidency may get to make additional appointments to the Supreme Court. Liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who Trump called upon to resign last July after she called him a faker, is 83 while Kennedy is 80. Stephen Breyer, another liberal, is 78.If any of those three is replaced by a Trump appointee, conservatives would be eager to bring cases challenging the Roe v. Wade ruling in the hope it would be overturned, long a goal for many Christian conservatives.

Pakistan to face India in Blind Cricket T20 World Cup today

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NEW DELHI (Dunya News) - Pakistan will take on arch-rivals, hosts India in their third match of the Blind cricket World Cup today, reported Dunya News.The players of national blind team were in high spirits ahead of the all important game. In first two matches, Pakistan had beaten New Zealand and Englands teams.In their last match Pakistan had beaten England by 98 runs as Muhammad Akram scored 105 whereas Riasat Khan added 83 runs.

Israel 'sorry for any hurt' with Mexico over wall tweet

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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israels president told his Mexican counterpart on Tuesday that he was sorry for the hurt over a tweet in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to praise U.S. President Donald Trumps plans to build a wall on the Mexican border.In a tweet on Saturday that drew a rebuke from Mexico, the right-wing Netanyahu wrote: President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israels southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea.Netanyahu had earlier sidestepped Mexicos demand for an apology and echoed previous Israeli explanations - rejected as insufficient by Mexicos foreign minister on Monday - of his remarks on Twitter. He said his comments did not refer to ties between the United States and its southern neighbour.The office of President Reuven Rivlin, whose post is largely ceremonial, issued a statement taking a more conciliatory line.I am sorry for any hurt caused as a result of this misunderstanding, but we must remember that we are talking about a misunderstanding, and I am sure that we can put the issue behind us, Rivlin was quoted as telling Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.Mexicos foreign ministry acknowledged Rivlins apology.The ministry said Pena Nieto told Rivlin the tweet had upset Mexico and its Jewish community, before adding that Mexico wanted to maintain its friendship and cooperation with Israel.On Monday, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said he thought an apology would be appropriate for Netanyahus tweet while noting that Israel was a close friend of Mexico.Trumps planned border wall, which he says will keep out illegal immigrants, along with his threat to impose punitive taxes against Mexico to rebalance trade, has brought about the worst crisis in U.S.-Mexican relations for decades. Trump signed an executive order last week ordering construction of the wall.Netanyahu, in public remarks on Monday, said that in his tweet he had been referring to Trumps praise for the barrier Israel constructed along the Egyptian frontier, a fence with electronic sensors that has largely halted the influx of African migrants.I did point out the remarkable success of Israels security fence. But I did not comment about U.S.-Mexico relations. Weve had, and will continue to have, good relations with Mexico, Netanyahu said in English at a cybersecurity conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.Political commentators and opposition politicians in Israel said Netanyahus tweet had needlessly thrust Israel into the U.S.-Mexican feud.At the Tel Aviv conference, Netanyahu said that Israeli-Mexican ties are much stronger than any passing disagreement or misunderstanding.

Wenger stumped after Watford sink Arsenal

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London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was at a loss to explain his side’s appalling first-half display during their surprise 2-1 defeat by Watford at the Emirates Stadium.His side mustered just three wayward efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes as they allowed Watford to canter into a two-goal lead and damage further their tilt at the Premier League title.“It was not good in the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes. We were beaten in the duels and Watford were sharper than us,” Wenger admitted after Tuesday’s match.“Did we think subconsciously that we just had to turn up? I don’t know. Honestly we prepared well for the game. Looking at the preparation, I have no basic regret.“We knew that Watford would make it very physical and we prepared for that.“You do not make 47 points after 23 games in the Premier League if you don’t have physical power, but you have to switch it on 100 percent all of the time in the Premier League.“We didn’t start the way we wanted, but in the second half it was all us and let’s be fair, we didn’t deserve to lose this game.“We hit the bar and (Watford goalkeeper Heurelho) Gomes made fantastic saves as well, so I still think that if you look at the chances, we were unlucky to lose.“On top of that we were a bit unlucky with the free-kick for the first goal and then a deflected shot on top of that.”Younes Kaboul’s deflected free-kick gave Watford a 10th-minute lead and Watford added a second three minutes later when Troy Deeney tucked in the rebound from Etienne Capoue’s shot.Arsenal, who replied through Alex Iwobi, travel to leaders Chelsea on Saturday and Wenger insisted his team will not suffer from a hangover from this result.Nor was he comforted by draws for Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, which limited the ground Arsenal lost.– Taylor tribute –“We want to respond against Chelsea and win the game, of course. But we first have to analyse why we didn’t start well in this game,” said the Frenchman, whose team now trail Chelsea by nine points.“I’m responsible for the results of the team so I am very frustrated that we did not win the game. We are playing at home, we had a great opportunity and we had a start like we did.“We have to learn from that and respond very quickly and in a very convincing way. What the other teams do doesn’t matter.”Wenger confirmed that Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey had limped off with a calf strain.For Watford manager Walter Mazzari, the result justified his decision to rest almost his entire first team for Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by third-tier Millwall.The Italian made a point of dedicating the victory to former Watford manager Graham Taylor, who passed away on January 12.“My objective is for Watford to stay in the Premier League and to make my team grow game by game, week by week,” said Mazzarri, whose side sit 13th.“Of course the players need this victory to work better with me and also to believe that they can achieve great things.“I was very happy at the end because recently we deserved to win some games, but didn’t because luck was not on our side. We needed a big win, especially for the morale of the team.“Of course I would have liked us to play the whole 90 minutes like we did in the first half.“But we had at least four or five players coming back from injury and who hadn’t played 90 minutes for a long time, so they weren’t in condition to play the full 90 minutes at the same level.“Today was a great game and I want to dedicate this victory to a great person in Graham Taylor.”

Mourinho warns Manchester Uniteds Martial to prove his worth

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Manchester - (AFP) – Anthony Martial still has work to do to convince Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho he is worthy of a regular starting place in his Premier League line-up.French forward Martial, signed from Monaco in 2015, has endured a difficult season since Mourinho’s arrival.Martial has scored just two league goals this term and has drawn criticism recently from his manager, leading to speculation that he might be leaving Old Trafford during the January transfer window.No move has materialised and Mourinho was adamant that the 21-year-old would be staying with the club.Martial was handed a starting opportunity in the weekend FA Cup win over Championship club Wigan.He improved after a poor first-half showing, assisting on two goals in the 4-0 victory.But as Mourinho prepared for his side’s next fixture, a home Premier League meeting with Hull on Wednesday, the United manager revealed Martial still has some way to go if he is to regain his trust.“He has done enough to be on the bench,” said Mourinho. “He has to perform better than the others who are competing for the same positions.“His position is one where we have lots of options. Do you want me to leave Mkhitaryan out after being man of the match and playing so well as he did? I can’t.“The players pick themselves. I am just there to analyse what they do and try to be fair with them. Such a good performance, Mkhitaryan has to play tomorrow. Simple.”The Wigan victory maintained United’s interest in all four competitions in which they started the season.And despite a gruelling February ahead, in which they will play seven fixtures in all four tournaments, Mourinho insists he will not follow the example set by a number of Premier League rivals who fielded severely weakened line-ups in the FA Cup at the weekend.– ‘Mistake’ –“I don’t do it,” said Mourinho. “Even if I am the manager of a club without the same ambitions as us, especially in the FA Cup.“I did it once, in my first year in England, I understood the mistake. I understood the dimensions of my decision.“It was a period where we had to play Barcelona in the Champions League. We went direct to the League Cup final against Liverpool.“In that period we played Newcastle in the FA Cup and I threw it away. I understood the dimension. The FA Cup deserves respect.“I don’t do that. If I am changing players I do it because I have to give chances to some other players. I have to give rest to some others.“I will change players against Blackburn because I have to give players a chance. I will change but I am not going with a team with seven kids. I can’t do that. I will risk but I can’t do that.”Similarly, Mourinho claimed that he will treat the Europa League with equal seriousness as it offers the chance of Champions League football next season should United advance past Saint-Etienne in the last 32 and go on to win the trophy.“Personally, I miss the Champions League,” he said. “Every match I don’t play in the Champions League means an incredible number of matches is not going up.“I am the youngest one to be in the club of 100. Every time I don’t play I am not happy.“But obviously Manchester United is much more important than me and my individual targets.“What matters is Manchester United and as everyone knows, Manchester United is a club that belongs to the Champions League.”

Calm prevails in Europe as football transfer deadline nears

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Paris (AFP) – With Tuesday’s transfer deadline fast approaching, Europe’s major clubs have largely remained inactive this month with the exception of Manchester City, who completed the transfer of Brazilian starlet Gabriel Jesus, and Sevilla.European champions Real Madrid and city rivals Atletico Madrid were barred from signing new players under a FIFA imposed ban, while Barcelona elected to stand pat amid another fierce title battle in Spain.But Sevilla and revered sporting director Monchi actively looked to strengthen with the Andalusian club in the hunt for a first Liga crown since 1946 and through to the Champions League knockout phase.After snapping up France Under-21 defender Clement Lenglet, Sevilla plucked Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic from Inter Milan on loan while signing Argentine midfielder Walter Montoya from Rosario Central.However, there has been precious little movement elsewhere with Italy international Simone Zaza joining Juventus and Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato following the money trail by leaving Villarreal for China’s Tianjin Quanjian.Unfashionable Las Palmas pulled off a potential coup with the arrival of Paris Saint-Germain flop Jese Rodriguez, the Spanish forward returning to his home city after a difficult six months in France.In England, the arrival of Jesus at Eastlands remains the standout deal, but there has been a flurry of moves involving clubs fighting to avoid the drop and subsequent exile from the Premier League’s riches.City agreed to sign Jesus on a five-year contract in August, but the 19-year-old was immediately loaned back to Palmeiras until the end of the Brazilian season in December.– England’s top six unmoved –Title frontrunners Chelsea recalled Dutch defender Nathan Ake from Bournemouth, but the Blues have primarily offloaded players with Oscar moving to China’s Shanghai SIPG in an Asian record 60-million-euro ($63 million) deal and John Mikel Obi joining Tianjin TEDA.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he had no need to make any last-ditch signings, with 20-year-old defender Cohen Bramall, signed from non-league Hednesford Town, the Gunners’ only January arrival.“I believe that number-wise and quality-wise, we have what is required to do well,” said Wenger, with top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also standing firm in the transfer market.After their summer spending spree that included the return of Paul Pogba to Old Trafford in a world-record deal, Manchester United have made no new signings this month.Jose Mourinho instead sanctioned the departures of fringe first-team players Memphis Depay to Lyon and Morgan Schneiderlin to Everton, roughly recouping an initial 40 million euros for the pair.Second-bottom Hull City made Inter Milan centre-back Andrea Ranocchia their sixth recruit of the transfer window, joining fellow loan signings Oumar Niasse, Evandro, Omar Elabdellaoui and Lazar Markovic.Markus Henriksen has also arrived for an undisclosed fee from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, while Jake Livermore and Robert Snodgrass have left to join fellow Premier League sides West Brom and West Ham respectively.– Germans gamble on youth –German clubs have shattered Bundesliga winter transfer spending records, forking out close to 100 million euros and largely gambling on the potential of youngsters like Leon Bailey and Alexander Isak.Promising Jamaican teenager Bailey joined Bayer Leverkusen for a reported 12 million euros, while Swede Isak — dubbed the ‘next Zlatan Ibrahimovic’ — turned down Real Madrid to sign for Borussia Dortmund.France’s Dayot Upamecano swapped Red Bull Salzburg for RB Leipzig for a reported 10 million euros, yet the trio are all in their teens and untested in Europe’s top leagues.Defending champions Bayern Munich completed a double swoop for Hoffenheim pair Niklas Suele and Sebastian Rudy, who will join Carlo Ancelotti’s side at the start of next season.In Italy, Inter Milan brought in Roberto Gagliardini on loan from Atalanta and have an option to buy the midfielder for around 25 million euros.Serie A leaders Juventus picked up Venezuelan international Tomas Rincon from Genoa, while Patrice Evra returned to France after a decade abroad as he signed for Marseille.Roma loaned injury-plagued France midfielder Clement Grenier from Lyon and sent the misfiring Juan Iturbe to Torino, while Napoli picked up striker Leonardo Pavoletti from Genoa.AC Milan reinforced their attacking options with the loan arrivals of Lucas Ocampos (Marseille via Genoa) and Gerard Deulofeu (Everton) to offset the departures of M’Baye Niang (Watford) and Luiz Adriano (Spartak Moscow).Reigning French champions Paris Saint-Germain splashed out on Germany international Julian Draxler, while adding Portugal’s Goncalo Guedes for around 30 million euros, as well as 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.Dimitri Payet completed a controversial return to Marseille from West Ham for a club-record 30 million euros following a well-documented and protracted struggle with his now former employers.OM have also recruited Evra, Montpellier midfielder Morgan Sanson and Bordeaux centre-back Gregory Sertic as the 1993 Champions League winners continue their rebuilding process under new billionaire American owner Frank McCourt.

United's big guns will return against Hull says Mourinho

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Manchester (REUTERS) - Manchester United will field their strongest side at home to Hull City in the Premier League on Wednesday despite manager Jose Mourinhos concerns over their congested fixture list.Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielder Paul Pogba, goalkeeper David de Gea and fullback Antonio Valencia are all likely to return after sitting out the FA Cup fourth-round victory over second-tier Wigan Athletic on Sunday.We always play a full strength team, it depends on the way you look at it but we always try to have a strong team, Mourinho told reporters on Tuesday having last week complained about the clubs crazy fixture list.Of course, we have had some players that didnt play the last match, some players with a lot of matches played already, like Valencia, Ibra, Pogba. Some of these players with lots of matches they didnt play, but will play tomorrow.Wayne Rooney, who this month became Uniteds all-time top scorer to match his England achievement, has reportedly been offered a lucrative deal by a Chinese Super League club but Mourinho said his captain will not go anywhere this season.Asked if Rooney would be staying until the end of the season, Mourinho said: Yeah... We already lost two players (Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin) from the squad.The Portuguese coach, who also confirmed that Ashley Young will not be leaving the Old Trafford club, suggested he had already drawn up his transfer plans for the close season.Were more focused on the summer period... If you ask me do I know what I want for the next transfer window? Yes I know. Is it possible to get? Ill try, always, to be realistic, he said.United, who are still competing in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League, are sixth in the Premier League with 41 points while visitors Hull are second-bottom with 16 points.But Mourinhos side wont underestimate the Tigers, who last week ended Uniteds 17-game unbeaten run in all competitions with a 2-1 win in a League Cup semi-final, second leg. United went through 3-2 on aggregate and will face Southampton.

Enrique backs video refs as La Liga prepares testing ground

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Madrid (AFP) – Barcelona coach Luis Enrique stressed his desire for Spanish football to embrace video technology in crucial refereeing decisions on Wednesday, whilst league chiefs expect trials to take place from next season.Barca were denied a clear goal in Sunday’s controversial 1-1 draw at Real Betis when referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez failed to see the ball had crossed the Betis goal line and was unaided as, unlike Europe’s other major leagues, La Liga doesn’t have goal line technology.“I think we have to differentiate between video refereeing which means re-refereeing many things and I am not in favour of…and helping the referees with technology in key moments of the game,” said Enrique ahead of his side’s Copa del Rey semi-final, first leg at Atletico Madrid.“A ball over the line or disallowed goal or red card offence…these are the plays where the referees need help and would only lose two or three seconds to check and clarify.”La Liga president Javier Tebas has previously dismissed the use of Hawk-Eye technology used for goal line incidents in other leagues on cost grounds and believes the type of video refereeing, trialed by FIFA at December’s Club World Cup, is a cheaper and more practical resource for the future.“We have always defended the use of technology in football and in this case we believe video refereeing is the most advanced form,” Tebas said on Monday.“The cost was almost 4.5 million euros ($4.8 million). Every year there are seven or eight incidents like this and it seemed to us a fortune when there are other (technologies) in the market at a far lower cost.“In Spain we have to agree with the referees’ committee and we have already communicated to them that next year there will be trials like there are in the Bundesliga or Premier League.”And Tebas believes all the major leagues will move towards a system of video refereeing for controversial incidents by 2018 should FIFA approve.“By July 2018 if FIFA have already definitively approved it we will install (video refereeing),” added Tebas.“Given how the trials are going by July 2018 there will be video refereeing in all professional leagues.”

Karachi: Roof collapse kills two, injures five

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, roof of a dilapidated house in Neelam Colony area of Clifton in Karachi collapsed on Tuesday night, trapping several people under the debris including women and children.The rescue teams and locals of the area retrieved seven injured persons trapped under rubble and shifted them to hospital where two of them died. A woman was among the dead.The deceased were identified as Zeenat and Azeem Sadiq while Salim, Amir, Shabana, eight-year-old Danial and six-year-old Anthony were among the injured.The rescue operation was hampered as heavy machinery could not reach the spot due to narrow streets in the area. The rescue teams are still busy in locating more survivors.

Karachi: 8 accused nabbed in police operation

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Crackdown against criminal elements under National Action Plane (NAP) in Karachi continues as eight accused were apprehended in police operation in different parts of the city on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.According to details, police arrested three dacoits in injured condition after an encounter in Karimabad area. Police also arrested a thief in Tibet Centre area while two of his accomplices managed to escape.Police also nabbed two accused during an operation in New Karachi area and recovered arms from their possession. Separately, police apprehended a woman burglar and her accomplice during an operation in Khawaja Ajmer Nagri area. Police sources said that accused Azra alias Ashi and Sajid were involved in motorcycle snatching cases.

Mamnoon hosts dinner in honour of Mahmoud Abbas

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News/APP) – Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain hosted a dinner in honour of President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas at the President House on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.President Mamnoon Hussain very warmly welcomed the visiting Palestinian leader and other dignitaries on arrival at the President House.Mamnoon Hussain also showed personal possessions of the Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to visiting Palestinian leader, who evinced keen interest in them.Before the state banquet, President Mamnoon Hussain also briefed the visiting dignitary about the personal belongings of the Quaid-i-Azam.The Palestinian President also viewed a memorable portrayal of the Quaid-i-Azam with Grand Mufti Syed Amin-ul-Hussaini and extracts of Allama Iqbal’s poetry on Palestine.President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation also showed keen interest in a model of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, which was presented by late Yasir Arafat during his visit to Pakistan.Appreciating the collection of personal belongings of the Quaid-i-Azam, President Mahmoud Abbas said the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal were great leaders.

Karachi: Woman gives birth to quadruplets

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - A woman gave birth to quadruplets – three boys and a girl -- at the Jinnah Hospital in Karachi on Tuesday, Dunya News reported. Three of the newborn babies died soon after birth.A woman from Barzata Line area of Karachi gave birth to four children, including three boys and one girl, through cesarean section on Tuesday. Two boys and the girl died soon after birth while the doctors are fighting to save life of fourth baby.
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Monday 30 January 2017

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Karachi: 3 extortionists arrested for using Rangers name

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Rangers arrested a group of three members who used to extort money from people by claiming to be from Rangers, reported Dunya News.According to spokesperson of Rangers 3 members of the group, named Muhammad Attaur Rehman, Zeeshan Gul alias Captain Kamran alias DSR and Umer alias Kernal were arrested.Uniforms and arms were also recovered from them as they used to terrorise people in the area.

India announces they won't play Hockey with Pakistan

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NEW DELHI (Dunya News) - Hockey India (HI) announced on Monday that they would not play Hockey with Pakistan, until they get written apology, reported Dunya News.Pakistani players had celebrated in front of Indian supporters after beating India in the semifinal of 2014 Champions Trophy, which the home side could not digest.According to Indian media, the spokesperson of Hockey India, Dr R.P. Singh said that they would not play any series or any tournament against Pakistan until PHF apologises.

Trump deflects as backlash mounts over travel ban

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A defiant President Donald Trump lashed out at protesters, lawmakers and even Delta Airlines on Monday as he struggled to defuse a mounting backlash over a controversial US ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.After a weekend of chaos at airports, mass protests in major American cities and a diplomatic outcry, the embattled Republican leader went on the offensive over the temporary measure.We actually had a very good day yesterday in terms of homeland security, Trump insisted as he met with small business leaders.In remarks at the White House and on Twitter, Trump hammered Congress for not confirming his cabinet nominees and accused Capitol Hills top Democrat of shedding fake tears over immigrants detained at US airports.Trump variously tried to play down the impact of the order he signed on Friday and defended the White Houses decision not to give advance warning to border guards, diplomats and travellers.The new president also moved up a decision on his pick of Supreme Court justice to Tuesday - two days earlier than planned - as he sought to change the topic.Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, Trump claimed.Where was all the outrage from Democrats and the opposition party (the media) when our jobs were fleeing our country? Trump asked.The order - which affects nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - caused confusion among US officials and led to at least four federal court injunctions, requiring new Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly to step in.If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the bad would rush into our country during that week. A lot of bad dudes out there Trump claimed.Eltirmizy Mohamed, a 34-year-old Sudanese doctor, was travelling back to the United States when the order was rolled out.After three years training at the Atlanta Medical Centre, he was returning to Georgia to take up a full-time post, but was stopped while trying to catch a connecting flight in Qatar.I have served many homeless and poor Americans, he told AFP in Khartoum. My plans were to work in a rural area of Georgia where there are many such Americans in need of a doctor. But now Im stuck here.Trump, a property tycoon who has never previously held elected office, sees the ban as making good on a promise to subject travellers from Muslim-majority countries to extreme vetting.Around 48 per cent of Americans support a freeze on immigration from terror prone regions, even if it means turning refugees away, according to a Quinnipiac poll released on Monday.Counter-terrorism experts warn that the ban would inflame public opinion in the Middle East and make essential cooperation with governments in Muslim-majority countries more difficult, while doing little to prevent attacks.Iraqs parliament backed reciprocal restrictions if Washington does not change course.I think the order is going to make the threat worse said former CIA acting director Mike Morell, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump. Its going to be a recruitment boon for ISIS, he said, referring to the Islamic State group.Moral outrage over the ban has been amplified by criticism of the White Houses competency - a potentially much more damaging charge for Trumps reputation as CEO-in-chief.Firms from Goldman Sachs to Google voiced their concern and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell almost one per cent - below the 20,000-point threshold lauded by the president just days ago.This is not a policy we support, Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein told staff. If the order were to become or remain effective, I recognise that there is potential for disruption to the firm, and especially to some of our people and their families.I want to assure all of you that we will work to minimise such disruption to the extent we can within the law and are focused on supporting our colleagues and their families who may be affected, Blankfein added.Google also warned of the impact on staff and the potential to create barriers to bringing great talent to the US. Well continue to make our views on these issues known to leaders in Washington and elsewhere, the firm said in a statement.Starbucks said it planned to hire 10,000 refugees worldwide over the next five years, while Airbnb said it would offer free accommodation to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US.Although the White House put on a united front in public, behind the scenes, Trumps allies were quick to point blame toward influential aide Stephen Miller.Miller - the author of many of Trumps biggest speeches - is considered a hardliner on immigration and is said to have supported the ban including green card holders and dual nationals.Those provisions now look set to feature prominently in a case that could make it all the way to the Supreme Court.

US state of Washington files suit against Trump's travel ban

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The top prosecutor in the state of Washington filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging as illegal and unconstitutional President Donald Trumps travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and demanding an immediate halt to its implementation.No one is above the law - not even the president, Attorney General Bob Ferguson told a news conference. And in the courtroom, it is not the loudest voice that prevails. Its the Constitution.Fergusons lawsuit - the first of its kind - targets Trump, Homeland Security and high-ranking administration officials. It calls for key provisions of the presidents executive order on immigration to be declared illegal and unconstitutional.The complaint argues that the travel ban, which has been met with an uproar both in the United States and abroad, was separating and harming families and undermining Washingtons sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants and refugees.Several major companies in Washington state, including Amazon and Expedia, filed declarations alongside the lawsuit explaining the fallout of the executive order on their operations and employees.Never has our system of checks and balances been more important, said Washington governor Jay Inslee, who joined Ferguson at the press conference.Until Congress takes this administration to task for the obvious moral and legal injuries suffered by innocent, law-abiding people entering our country, it is up to states to protect and promote the rights of the people who reside in our borders.The suit urges the court to schedule a hearing on the matter within two weeks.On Saturday, a federal judge in New York blocked Trumps order as it pertained to certain individuals affected by the travel ban.Fergusons lawsuit is broader in scope as it seeks to invalidate entire sections of the executive order.

Austrian coalition deal includes ban on Muslim face veils

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VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria plans to ban the Muslim face veil in public places, the centrist coalition government said on Monday as it announced a package of policies aimed at countering the growing appeal of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).The FPO has topped opinion polls for months, boosted by Europes migrant crisis and the influx of large numbers of often Muslim asylum seekers, and last month its candidate came close to winning Austrias presidential election.With a parliamentary election due next year, Chancellor Christian Kern of the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPO) is trying to regain the political initiative by forging a swift agreement with his conservative coalition partner on a package of measures ranging from immigration to education.We believe in an open society that is also based on open communication. Full-body veils in public spaces stand against that and will therefore be prohibited, said the text of the coalition agreement published on Monday.The term used would apply to the Muslim burka and niqab, which cover all or most of the face. It was not immediately clear whether the ban would include other non-Muslim garments.The FPO has called for a ban on fascistic Islam and Muslim symbols comparable to an existing law that forbids Nazi symbols. Mainly Catholic Austria is home to around 600,000 Muslims in a total population of about 8.7 million.Members of the conservative Peoples Party, the junior coalition member, have pushed for tougher security and immigration measures, including the electronic tagging of former jihadists and greater use of video surveillance, which were also included in the new agreement.The SPO has focused more on measures to cut unemployment, obtaining a programme to help over-50s find work.The deal also included a reduction in social charges for employers that take on more staff and a plan to make foreign multinationals, particularly online companies, pay the same tax on advertising revenue as newspapers.Unemployment in Austria currently stands at 5.9 percent, according to EU-harmonised data.Earlier this month Kern proposed returning to a system that gave local workers priority for jobs in sectors that employ a high number of workers from poorer eastern European member states. A similar proposal was included in the agreement.That system was in place provisionally from 2004 to 2011 after many former Communist countries joined the bloc, and Kern has said he wants to push for Brussels to allow its reintroduction.Brussels is unlikely to accept such a demand because free movement of people is a key element of the EUs single market. Fear of unrestricted immigration from poorer member states was a key factor behind Britains vote last June to leave the EU.

Hama-based rebel group withdraws from Syria ceasefire

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BEIRUT (Reuters) - A rebel group fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner in northwest Syria has withdrawn from a shaky nationwide ceasefire, blaming the government and its allies for violations.Due to Russias lack of commitment as a guarantor. ..we announce that, as of today, we are not bound by this agreement, Jaish al-Ezza, a signatory to the deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, said in a statement on Sunday.The group said its decision was in response to what it described as heavy Russian bombardment of its positions and surrounding areas in Hama province.Fighting and air strikes have plagued the ceasefire between the government and rebel groups since it took effect in late December, with the combatants accusing each other of violations.After two days of negotiations in Kazakhstan last week, Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed to ensure full compliance with the fragile truce.Jaish al Ezza, which has received foreign aid from states opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, also blamed government forces and allied militia for breaching the ceasefire in Wadi Barada near Damascus.A month-long offensive against rebels in Wadi Barada ended on Sunday when the government captured the valley, where a major spring supplies most of the capitals water.The Hama-based rebel groups withdrawal from the truce could further complicate the battlefield in the insurgent-held northwestern corner of Syria, where jihadists and more moderate Islamist factions are at war with each other.The Syrian conflict pits Assads government, backed by Russia and Iran, against an array of mostly Sunni rebel groups, including some supported by Turkey, Gulf monarchies, and the United States.Despite an overall reduction in violence, more than 400 civilians have died in clashes and bombardment since the truce began, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said.

Mkhitaryan promises Manchester United fight on four fronts

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Manchester (AFP) – Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists Manchester United are taking all four competitions they are involved in seriously as they struggle to cope with a demanding fixture schedule.Jose Mourinho’s club is the only one in England still retaining an interest in a quartet of competitions — the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and the League Cup, in which they can look forward to a Wembley final against Southampton next month.Their success means United could face as many as 67 games, should they advance to the finals of the other two cup competitions, and has led Mourinho to criticise the English fixture schedule as “nonsense”.But after a weekend in which a number of Premier League teams were eliminated from the FA Cup after choosing weakened line-ups, Mkhitaryan claimed United want to succeed in every tournament.“We are taking all the competitions seriously,” he said. “For Manchester United, every cup is very important.“A trophy is a trophy. It doesn’t matter if it is the League Cup, the FA Cup or the Europa League. We want to do our best to try to win them all.”United face drop candidates Hull in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with Mourinho again likely to make sweeping changes to his team selection.The weekend FA Cup win over Wigan saw the United manager make nine changes from his previous game, a League Cup semi-final, also against Hull, and hand debuts to young substitutes Axel Tuanzebe and goalkeeper Joel Pereira.Despite the Portuguese boss having expressed concerns about the lack of depth in his squad, Mkhitaryan claimed the competition for places, and the emergence of young players at Old Trafford, was healthy.“It’s great for them to play their first game,” said the Armenian. “You know as a player that, when young players come into the squad, you have to help them and offer them some advice and I thought they both did well on what is a great experience for them.”After a tough beginning to his United career, in which Mkhitaryan did not start a league game for nearly three months, the £26 million ($32 million, 30 million euros) pre-season signing from Borussia Dortmund has emerged as a key member of Mourinho’s squad.“Since he came into the team, we and Micki himself thought he was ready,” said Mourinho.“He had a good impact immediately, then he had a break with the injury against Tottenham, and then he came back and played quite well. So we are happy with him.”England full-back Luke Shaw was handed his first start in two months against Wigan but is far from certain to retain his place when United return to league action.And Bastian Schweinsteiger, who started a game for the first time in over a year, is unlikely to be involved either despite Mourinho having confirmed that the German has been named in his squad, submitted to UEFA, for the knockout stages of the Europa LeagueMeanwhile Andy Robertson could become the latest player to leave Hull in January after Burnley launched a £10 million bid for the left-back.The Tigers have already sold Jake Livermore and Robert Snodgrass for a combined £20 million ($25 million) during this month’s transfer window, and they could now be joined by the Scotland international.Hull have been linked with Sporting Lisbon’s Dutch defender Marvin Zeegelaar as a potential replacement ahead of the January 31 transfer deadline.Robertson’s former club Dundee United are entitled to 10 percent of any profit on the 22-year-old, who moved to the KCOM Stadium for £2.85 million in 2014.Marco Silva’s side travel to Old Trafford occupying a place in the relegation zone after one victory in their last 11 league games.The Portuguese coach is desperate to hang onto the likes of Robertson after this month’s high-profile departures, and he said: “We need to sign players, not for players to leave.”

Quebec mosque suspect charged with murdering six people

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QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) - A French-Canadian university student was the sole suspect in a shooting at a Quebec City mosque and was charged with the premeditated murder of six people, Canadian authorities said on Monday (Jan 30), in what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a terrorist attack.Court documents identified the gunman in the attack on Sunday evening prayers as Alexandre Bissonnette. He was also charged with five counts of attempted murder, according to court papers.Among the six men killed were a butcher, a university professor, a pharmacist and an accountant, according to police and Canadian media.Police declined to discuss possible motives for the shooting at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. They consider this a lone wolf situation, a Canadian source familiar with the situation said.In Washington, US government security experts were leaning to the view that the gunman most likely was motivated by hatred for Muslims, a US government source familiar with official reporting said.A man of Moroccan descent who had also been arrested was now considered a witness, although his nationality was not immediately known, the Canadian source said.Trudeau, who has made a point of welcoming refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, told parliament in Ottawa: Make no mistake, this was a terrorist attack.He added a personal message to Canadas one million Muslims:Know that we value you. You enrich our shared country in immeasurable ways. It is your home. Last nights horrible crime against the Muslim community was an act of terror committed against Canada and against all Canadians. We will grieve with you. We will defend you. We will love you. And we will stand with you.Sombre parliamentarians observed a moment of silence. Trudeau was scheduled to visit Quebec City later on Monday.The attack was out of character for Quebec City, a city of just over 500,000 which reported just two murders in all of 2015. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, where gun control laws are stricter than in the United States.In addition to the six killed, five people were critically injured and 12 were treated for minor injuries, a spokeswoman for the Quebec City University Hospital said.Federal Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told reporters in Ottawa there was no change to the national terrorism threat level from medium because there is no information known to the government of Canada that would lead to a change at this time.US President Donald Trump called Trudeau to express his condolences and offered to provide any assistance as needed, said Trudeau spokesman Cameron Ahmad.Over the weekend, Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, his response to an executive order by Trump on Friday to halt the US refugee programme and to temporarily bar citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.Trumps action, which the president said was not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe, was widely condemned in the United States and abroad as targeting Muslims.On Monday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the Quebec shooting was a terrible reminder of why we must remain vigilant, and why the president is taking steps to be proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to our nations safety and security.A father of four, the owner of a halal butcher near the mosque, was among those killed, said Pamela Sakinah El-hayet, a friend of one of the people at the mosque.The mosque concierge was killed, as was Ahmed Youness, a 21-year-old student, El-hayet told Reuters. One of El-hayet’s friends, Youness’ roommate, was in the mosque at the time of the shooting. He was unharmed, she said, but in total shock.Ali Assafiri, a student at Universite Laval, said he had been running late for the evening prayers at the mosque, near the university in the Quebec City area. When he arrived, the mosque had been transformed by police into a crime scene.Everyone was in shock, Assafiri said by phone. It was chaos.Universite Laval is the oldest French-language university in North America, with 42,500 students.Vigils were planned for Montreal and Quebec City, the provincial capital, as well as in Edmonton. There was an outpouring of support for the mosque on social media.Last nights shooting, targeting people of faith during their worship and prayer, is a deplorable attack on all Canadians and our most deeply-held values, said Joe Gunn, executive director of Citizens for Public Justice, a group of Canadian Christians, churches and other religious congregations.Incidents of Islamophobia have increased in Quebec in recent years. The face-covering, or niqab, became an issue in the 2015 Canadian federal election, especially in Quebec, where the majority of the population supported a ban on it at citizenship ceremonies.

Football: Fernandinho return can fortify Manchester City

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London (AFP) – Kevin De Bruyne believes Fernandinho’s return from suspension will provide the foundation for Manchester City to get their spluttering Premier League campaign back on track at West Ham on Wednesday.Pep Guardiola’s side have dropped out of the top four and trail leaders Chelsea by 12 points after winning just one of their last four league games.Guardiola wrote off City’s titles hopes during that unexpected slump, but a comfortable 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday was a much needed tonic and De Bruyne anticipates the return of Brazil midfielder Fernandinho will be even more significant.Fernandinho has served a four-match ban after receiving his third red card in six games in a win against Burnley on January 2.During Fernandinho’s absence, City looked alarmingly vulnerable and were thrashed 4-0 at Everton in Guardiola’s heaviest league defeat as a manager.But the 31-year-old is expected to return to the starting line-up at the London Stadium, with De Bruyne predicting an upturn in City’s fortunes.“Obviously we’ve missed him,” De Bruyne said. “He’s been an important player throughout his time at City.“He plays a pivotal role for us in midfield and helps keep everything organised, plus he’s also very good on the ball.“Now he’s served his ban and is available for us again, so it’s a big boost for the team because he’s missed seven games this season through suspension.“If you get a red card in England you’re banned for three or sometimes four games which is unbelievable, but there’s not much you can do about it. I think one game is enough but those are the rules, I suppose.“I think Ferna’s one of the best holding midfielders I’ve ever played with. We are very lucky to have him.”Fifth placed City are two points adrift of the top four and find themselves in a battle just to secure a Champions League spot after being widely tipped as likely champions following a blistering start to the season.However, De Bruyne is confident City can put together a long winning streak as they face Swansea, Bournemouth, Sunderland and Stoke after the Hammers clash.“Hopefully we can beat West Ham on Wednesday and then put a bit of a run together in the coming weeks,” he said.“I think we’re playing much better than we did last season. We played so well against Tottenham but only got a point.“That’s how it’d been going for us this year, so it’s a little bit frustrating. The important thing is we are creating chances so the goals will come.”City return to east London less than a month after thrashing West Ham 5-0 in the FA Cup third round.That chastening experience should ensure West Ham are fully motivated to make amends in their first match since the sale of star midfielder Dimitri Payet.Payet was granted his wish to return to his former club Marseille after several weeks of rancour over his attempt to engineer the transfer.Hammers fans were furious with Payet, but Slaven Bilic’s side coped admirably, defeating Palace and Middlesbrough without the France international to climb into mid-table.“We now look forward to building on our recent good run of form with five league wins in the last seven matches as we focus on continuing our rise up the Premier League table,” West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said.Bilic plans to replace Payet with Scotland midfielder Robert Snodgrass, who is in line to make his debut after training with his new team-mates for the first time on Monday following his transfer from Hull.Jose Fonte, the Portugal central defender signed from Southampton, could also make his debut.

Wenger won't make deadline day moves

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger believes Arsenals squad strength means he has no need to make any last-ditch signings in the January transfer window.The Gunners, who thrashed top-flight rivals Southampton 5-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, are second in the Premier League.A sign of their strength in depth was that veteran French manager Wenger, in charge of Arsenal since September 1996, was able to make several changes to his starting line-up against the Saints.Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick against his former club, with Danny Welbeck adding the Gunners other two goals as Wenger rested the likes of Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.Those four players are all set to return for Tuesdays league match against Watford, where Arsenal will look to close an eight-point gap to leaders Chelsea.Wenger, who will be serving the second of a four-match touchline ban against the Hornets at the Emirates, told Arsenal fans not to expect any new arrivals between now and Tuesdays 2300 GMT transfer deadline.Its not only to buy players, you have to have a need in your squad first of all, said Wenger. I believe that number-wise and quality-wise, we have what is required to do well.Now its down to us to perform and to produce with the quality of our focus, the quality of our ambition and desire to produce the performance in every single game.The only player Arsenal have brought in during the transfer window is 20-year-old defender Cohen Bramall, who joined from non-league Hednesford Town for £40 000.And Wenger forecast there would be few moves elsewhere before the transfer window shut.(It will be) very quiet. On our front, we have a big squad, he said. We are not in need of buying.On a general front it has been very quiet. That shows that there are not many players available who can strengthen English teams.It also shows that all the teams in England, especially the big teams, have big squads. Thats why not a lot happened.Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has been linked with a move to north London side Arsenal but only because he is French, said Wenger.And maybe there are some noises that he would leave Madrid, but as I just told you, there is no need for us to buy any strikers, he added.In the summer window? Thats not my worry at the moment. My worry is the next game against Watford.

Baba Masaba who married 130 women dies aged 93

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BIDA (Agencies) - Mohammed Bello Abubakar, known as Baba Masaba, who married 130 women and had at least 203 children dies aged 93 at his home in central Nigerian city of Bida.Nigeria’s Daily Trust newspaper reported that while he had 86 wives in 2008 -- when he was at the centre of media attention -- the number had risen to 130 at the time of his death.The BBC reported in 2008 that Mr Abubakar had at least 170 children, but the Daily Trust said that he left behind 203 children.The wives the BBC spoke to in 2008 said they met Mr Abubakar when they went to him to seek help for various illnesses, which they say he cured.

Football: Conte wants Chelsea to deal Liverpool blow

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LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants his Premier League leaders to inflict the hard hit of defeat upon Liverpool when the sides meet at Anfield on Tuesday (Jan 31).Contes men are currently 10 points in front of Liverpool, who have won just once in eight games in all competitions this month.While accepting that there will be 15 league games for both clubs after Tuesdays match, Conte believes a Chelsea win would deal a huge blow to the title hopes of a Liverpool side who won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in September - one of just the Blues three league defeats so far this term.It could be a hard hit mentally for them (if Liverpool lose to Chelsea), said Conte on Monday.Its important to win this type of game, increase your confidence, take three points from a rival, added Conte, who took charge after coaching his native Italy at last years European Championship.I hope to change the result if you compare the first game and the first part of the season.Chelseas loss to Liverpool was compounded with a defeat by London rivals Arsenal - the Blues visitors at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.Arsenal are currently Chelseas closest title challengers, with Arsene Wengers men presently eight points off top spot in second place.Its a very important week, but also I know after two of these games we have 14 games to finish the championship, said Conte. The results are important, but the championship doesnt finish after these two games.Having let Chelsea play with a back four at the start of his time with the west London club, defeat by Arsenal led Conte to revert to his favoured 3-4-3 formation.Chelsea then embarked upon a 13-match winning streak in the Premier League which only ended at Tottenham Hotspur, another London side, on Jan 4.Honestly, I think we are a different team, not Liverpool. I think that we grew a lot, Conte said.After the game (against Liverpool) I said today we faced a great team, a really great team, but today we are not a team. Only through work we can improve to become a team. I think it happened.We grew a lot and for this reason now we are top of the table.Its incredible this, because its not easy to have two defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal and to find the strength to start and to arrive top of the table and to have 13 wins in a row.

Klopp at low ebb as Chelsea come to town

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London (AFP) – Viewed as Premier League leaders Chelsea’s closest rivals a month ago, Liverpool confront Antonio Conte’s side at Anfield on Tuesday with their season on the brink of total collapse.Brimming with energy as 2016 drew to a close, Liverpool have looked a spent force in 2017, their only win in eight games arriving in an FA Cup replay at fourth-tier minnows Plymouth Argyle.Last week brought two cup exits in four days, a League Cup semi-final loss to Southampton followed by embarrassment at the hands of second-tier Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fourth round.“We spoke about confidence a few months ago and I said it’s a little flower. If something bounces on it, then it’s away,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.“Obviously that happened, kind of, but it’s not that we play without confidence. I can see a lot of moments when we really still believe in our skills and all that stuff.“So we don’t have to make it too big, but it’s not that difficult. It’s not that I say there’s no chance until Tuesday to make a real turn.“Somebody asked me a second ago if this is the lowest point of my Liverpool time until now. I don’t know. But if it is, it’s the perfect point to turn because it’s not possible to go lower.”After Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on New Year’s Eve, Klopp suggested it must have been “annoying” for Chelsea to still see his side in their rear-view mirror despite a run of 13 straight wins.But a month on, the gap between the clubs has grown from six points to 10 and Liverpool have slipped from second place to fourth, title dreams replaced by fears about slipping out of the top four.If there was any consolation for Klopp after Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Wolves, it was that he had selected a weakened side featuring three teenagers.But Chelsea manager Conte made nine changes for his team’s home game against Brentford — currently three places above Wolves in the Championship — and still saw them run out 4-0 winners.Chelsea are a different side to the one beaten 2-1 by Liverpool in September, when Branislav Ivanovic and the now departed Oscar started in the 4-2-3-1 system Conte inherited from Jose Mourinho.The west London club have won 15 from 16 league games since Conte’s switch to a back three, but for all Liverpool’s January blues, the Italian believes they remain a dangerous foe.“To win away against Liverpool is never easy,” he said.“We have only two days to prepare. When we played against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, we lost the game, the only game we have lost here.“It’s important to understand the real value of this team. It’s a really tough game, an important game. After this game there will be 15 games to finish the season.“Liverpool are a team who can fight until the end to win the title. Only through work can dreams happen.“For us to stay on top of the league is a dream. If you remember our start, now we are doing very well.”Cesar Azpilicueta and Pedro Rodriguez are the only players likely to retain their places from the win over Brentford, with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa among those in line to return.Liverpool have doubts over right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who has missed two games with an abdominal injury, and his England team-mate Adam Lallana.Lallana missed the Wolves game after requiring stitches in a leg wound he sustained during the 1-0 League Cup semi-final second-leg defeat by Southampton last Wednesday.Sadio Mane, badly missed of late, is available after squandering the decisive penalty as Senegal lost to Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, but he may not return in time to feature.

Football: West Ham hit out as Payet heads to Marseille

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LONDON, Jan 30, 2017 (AFP) - France international Dimitri Payets long drawn out transfer saga ended on Sunday as Premier League side West Ham agreed to sell him to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille for a reported 25 million (29.3m euros, $31.3m).The 29-year-old -- who starred for the Hammers last season scoring 12 goals -- had effectively gone on strike at the beginning of the month.He said he would not play for the club again and his and his wifes priority was a return to France and his former club.Having turned down two earlier bids -- reported to be 19m and 20m -- West Ham changed their tune with the higher offer and also having signed Scotland international Robert Snodgrass from Hull.West Ham United can confirm that a 25m fee has today been agreed for the transfer of Dimitri Payet to Olympique de Marseille, tweeted the club on their Twitter page.West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan expressed his disappointment at Payet and said the club would like to have made an example of him.The Club would like to place on record its sincere disappointment that Dimitri Payet did not show the same commitment and respect to West Ham United that the Club and fans showed him, Sullivan said in a statement.To be frank, my Board and I would have preferred for him to have stayed in order to make an example of him, as no player is bigger than the club.Payet joined West Ham from Marseille for 10 million in 2015 and only last February signed a new 125,000 a week five-and-a-half-year contract.Payet stunned West Ham boss Slaven Bilic earlier this month when he admitted he wanted to leave during the January transfer window and refused to play in their match against Crystal Palace.Were going home, Payet tweeted alongside a photo of a small private plane with its door open.Payet, who also starred for France in last years Euro 2016 championships where they lost to Portugal in the final, had been demoted to train with the Under-23 side as he was frozen out by Bilic and his team-mates after his refusal to play.He was erased from their WhatsApp team conversations and excluded from team dinners and had also attracted the ire of the fans.His photograph outside the ground had to be guarded by a steward at home matches and the fans normal laudatory chant of him was replaced by more abusive terms.

Nadal left out of Spain Davis Cup squad

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MADRID (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has been left out of Spains Davis Cup squad for their World Group first-round match against Croatia this weekend due to fatigue.The world number six lost in five sets to old rival Roger Federer in the Australian Open final on Sunday.Rafas wear and tear in the last month has been very significant, Spain Davis Cup captain Conchita Martinez told the Spanish Tennis Federation website on Monday.He needs time to recover from his efforts and Im certain that he will accompany us in the next rounds.Spain have called up Feliciano Lopez as Nadals replacement for the first-round tie against last years runners-up Croatia.Lopez joins Roberto Bautista Agut, Pablo Carreno and Marc Lopez in the team for the match in Osijek, Croatia from Feb. 3-5.
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