Tuesday 28 February 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tokyo stocks open higher ahead of Trump address

Posted:

TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened higher Wednesday on the back of a weaker yen while investors waited for US President Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress.The dollar rose to 113.15 yen from 112.75 yen in New York on Tuesday afternoon, lifting exporters as a cheaper yen increases their profitability.The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.41 percent, or 78.20 points, to 19,197.19 in early trade, while the Topix index of all first-section shares was up 0.38 percent, or 5.77 points, at 1,541.09.While the weaker yen supported the market, eyes were on Trumps address, which is set to begin at around 0200 GMT.Trump has said he will boost military spending, while cutting back on social spending programmes.The market is also looking for details on a tax-cut plan, which Trump has described as phenomenal and the promise of which has propelled US stocks to record highs since the presidential election.Markets will be closely watching the speech to to see whether legs are starting to develop on his visionary statements of increased infrastructure spending and tax, Tapas Strickland, an economist at National Australia Bank, wrote in a commentary.Overnight moves suggest markets have already judged that Trump will be again long on vision, but short on detail.London, Frankfurt and Paris finished with small gains on Tuesday, while US stocks retreated, with the Dow at last declining after notching 12 straight record closes.In Tokyo trading, Toyota rose 1.55 percent to 6,464 yen while Sony gained 1.49 percent to 3,530 yen.SoftBank increased 1.88 percent to 8,520 yen after announcing a fresh $1.7 billion investment in US satellite telecom firms OneWeb and Intelsat, which plan to merge.The investment will give SoftBank, which in December announced it was injecting $1 billion in OneWeb, a 39.9 percent voting stake in the combined company plus additional non-voting shares.

Iraqi civilians flee fighting, privation in west Mosul

Posted:

SOUTH OF MOSUL (AFP) - Hundreds of civilians fled through the desert Tuesday to escape fighting and privation in Mosul, joining thousands of others who left their homes amid dire conditions in the citys west.Iraqi forces launched a major push on February 19 to recapture the west of Mosul from the Islamic State jihadist group, retaking the airport and then advancing north.Security forces reached the southernmost of Mosuls five damaged or destroyed bridges across the Tigris River on Monday, a step that could allow troops to extend a floating bridge between the citys east and west sides.But even if Iraqi forces link the recaptured east bank with the west, tough fighting still lies ahead, and civilians will be caught in the middle.So far today (Tuesday), we have around 300 displaced people -- men and women and children, Brigadier General Salman Hashem of the Counter-Terrorism Service told AFP.There are more coming. Theyre stopped at a checkpoint when they arrive and separated. The men are searched and then checked against a database, Hashem said.Twenty-three men were pulled aside for additional investigation after their names were flagged in the database, he said.Those fleeing the city have faced dire conditions.Theyre coming to us after days without food, Hashem said.While the men are taken to be checked, the women and children sit on sheets on the dusty ground, and security forces bring them water, food and condensed milk.Eighteen-year-old Baidaa, wearing a ragged black scarf and holding her young daughter, said she and her family had fled early on Tuesday.We left at five oclock this morning. We started running and then we walked the rest of the way. We had to run because we were afraid of fire from (IS), Baidaa said.They trapped us and they didnt want us to leave, she said of the jihadists.Her two children did not understand whats happening, they just followed us. They were so afraid of the firing from the fighting.According to the ministry of displacement and migration, at least 16,000 people have been displaced since the battle for west Mosul began -- a small fraction of the areas total population.There is serious concern for the 750,000 trapped in the densely populated western sector, with conditions worsening daily, according to reports and testimonies from those who have managed to escape, Hala Jaber of the International Organization for Migration said in a statement.Those still in Mosul have to face ISs strict rule along with a lack of basic goods and the danger from the fighting.Women had to cover up, you couldnt walk in the street without a guardian. The rules were very harsh and food was very expensive -- we could only afford to eat rice and bread, Baidaa said.Fawzia Mohammed, a mother of 16 who also fled on Tuesday, said she and her family were trapped in their homes with little to eat.The last days were terrible. We were trapped inside by the fighting, we had no food, she said.The women were forced (by IS) to cover their faces, or stay at home. But that was okay -- the worst was the violence, lashings, executions, cutting people, Mohammed said.One man who arrived with his wife and elderly mother asked Iraqi forces for medicine, but there was none on hand.My mother is old, she has diabetes, we dont have any medicine for her, he said.IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by air strikes and other support from a US-led coalition have since regained much of the territory they lost.Iraqi forces launched a massive operation to retake Mosul on October 17, recapturing the east bank about three months later and then setting their sights on its smaller but more densely populated west side.

Eleven Afghan police killed in 'insider attack'

Posted:

KANDAHAR (AFP) - An Afghan policeman linked to the Taliban shot dead 11 of his colleagues at a checkpoint in the southern province of Helmand, officials said Tuesday, in the latest so-called insider attack.The incident occurred late Monday while the policemen were sleeping in their barracks in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, as the Taliban escalate a deadly winter campaign of violence.Bloodied corpses of the policemen were strewn around the checkpoint, many of them shot from close range, witnesses said, in a setback for Afghan forces before what is expected to be another fierce spring fighting season.A policeman affiliated to the Taliban shot 11 of his colleagues, killing all of them, a provincial official told AFP, declining to be named.He then fled the area, taking all the ammunition and firearms with him, he said, adding that police had launched a search for the Taliban infiltrator.The Boost government hospital in Lashkar Gah had received the bodies of the 11 policemen, a health official told AFP.Taliban insurgents, who control vast swathes of the opium-ravaged province, claimed responsibility for the killings.So-called insider attacks -- when Afghan soldiers and police turn their guns on their colleagues or on international troops -- have been a major problem during the more than 15-year-long war. Such attacks have sapped morale and caused deep mistrust within security ranks.In a similar incident last September, two Afghan soldiers with suspected Taliban links killed at least 12 of their comrades as they slept in the volatile northern province of Kunduz. Afghan security forces are battling a resurgent Taliban amid record casualties and mass desertions.For years Helmand was the centrepiece of the Western military intervention in Afghanistan, only for it to slip deeper into a quagmire of instability.The Taliban effectively control or contest 10 of the 14 districts in Helmand, the deadliest province for British and US troops over the past decade and blighted by a huge opium harvest that helps fund the insurgency.Lashkar Gah -- one of the last government-held enclaves in Helmand -- also risks falling to the Talibans repeated ferocious assaults. The intensified fighting in the province last year forced thousands to flee to the city from outlying districts.Repeated bids to launch peace negotiations with the Taliban have failed and an intense new fighting season is expected to kick off in the spring.The Pentagon this year said it will deploy some 300 US Marines this spring to Helmand.NATO officially ended its combat mission in December 2014, but US forces were granted greater powers last June to strike at the insurgents as Washington vowed a more aggressive campaign.The US Marines will assist a NATO-led mission to train Afghan forces, in the latest sign that foreign forces are increasingly being drawn back into the worsening conflict.

Football: Everton boss Koeman open to Rooney return

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Everton manager Ronald Koeman paved the way Tuesday for Wayne Rooneys return to the club of his youth by saying he would make the side stronger.Last week Rooney said he was staying with Manchester United following persistent speculation he could make a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.But doubts still surround the long-term club future of the 31-year-old Rooney, the England national sides record goal-scorer, and Koeman appears ready to try to bring him back to Liverpool-based Everton.I believe that Wayne Rooney is still playing at a high level, Koeman told Sky Sports.I think he made a good choice to stay at Manchester United and in the Premier League because he has still two or three years in front of him to play on a high level, the former Dutch international added.What will happen at the end of the season? I dont know but in my opinion he is one of the players who can make Everton more stronger.Its all about what the player likes, what Manchester United needs to do, and we are not involved in that project.But every player that we at Everton think can make the team stronger is welcome to Everton.- Class apart -=================Steve Walsh, Evertons director of football, endorsed Koemans comments, adding: Wayne Rooney is one of the greatest players that has ever played the game in England and for us not to be interested would be wrong.He started his career here and if the opportunity arose that he could come back and it sat well with everyone it is something we would consider.He is a class apart, he sees things, and all the things that have been said about Wayne are true. He comes into that category of being one of Englands greatest ever players, so why wouldnt we be interested?But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Wayne is contracted to Manchester United and made a decision to continue to play for them.Lets wait and see what happens in the future.Rooney, born in Liverpool, joined Everton as a nine-year-old and made his senior debut aged 16 on the opening day of the 2002/03 season against Tottenham Hotspur.Six weeks later, Rooney became Evertons youngest scorer with two goals against Wrexham in the League Cup.Rooney catapulted to national attention when he scored his first Premier League goal -- a last-minute winner against Arsenal -- five days before his 17th birthday.The 18-year-old Rooney left Everton to join United in a 27 million ($34 million/32 million euros) move in 2004.He has since won five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with United and become the clubs record goal-scorer.Speculation about his Old Trafford future has intensified since Rooney ceased to be a first-team regular under manager Jose Mourinho. That was heightened when he was left on the bench for Sundays League Cup final win against Southampton at Wembley.

At least 160 killed in clashes on Myanmar-China border: army

Posted:

NAYPYIDAW (AFP) - At least 160 people have died in three months of clashes between the military and ethnic armed groups in Myanmars Shan state, a senior army official said Tuesday, amid efforts to revive flagging peace talks.More than 20,000 people have been displaced since fighting between the army and several armed ethnic groups erupted near the border with China in late November.The unrest has rippled across the northern state of Shan and into neighbouring Kachin, hampering a push by Aung San Suu Kyis government to end the countrys decades-long borderland conflicts.Military offensives that had been rumbling since mid-2016 intensified after several armed groups, together known as the Northern Alliance, launched a major attack in northern Shan. The army responded with heavy artillery and air strikes.Experts say the fighting in the frontier areas is at its most intense since the 1980s.That has prompted the UN to warn of a humanitarian crisis building in conflict areas, particularly in Kachin where some 100,000 people have been displaced since 2011.Giving the armys first comprehensive toll from the clashes, the chief of the general staff said 74 soldiers, 15 police, 13 government militia fighters and 13 civilians have been killed.We have 45 dead bodies of enemies and arrested four, General Mya Tun Oo told reporters in the capital, Naypyidaw, speculating hundreds more rebels may have died in the violence. The toll comes as Myanmars government prepares for a second round of peace talks, currently slated for March. The negotiations have repeatedly been pushed back because of political deadlock with armed groups. Suu Kyi wants to broaden a ceasefire signed with some of Myanmars myriad ethnic insurgent groups in 2015 and known as the NCA.The most recent negotiations were delayed after the powerful China-backed United Wa State Army (UWSA) militia held its own summit with non-signatories to the deal.After that meeting attendees signed a statement rejecting the NCA.Instead they called for an immediate halt to military offensives in ethnic areas and for the UN and China to be involved in the new talks.They have also backed the UWSAs calls for Myanmars major ethnic groups to be granted more control over their territories and resources. The NCA is not fair, a spokesman for the powerful Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which attended the talks, told AFP. The armys vision is not what the ethnic groups want. The KIA is among several groups which are set to hold talks with Suu Kyi this week in the capital to try to break the deadlock.IHS Jane security analyst Tony Davis said the recent fighting has lent credibility to the UWSA, also known as the Wa, in peace negotiations.The Wa-backed Northern Alliance... has effectively dismissed the governments NCA-centred peace process, which despite Western advice and lavish funding has never gained any real traction, he said.

Zidane hopes Jese fulfils potential, but doesn't haunt Real

Posted:

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hopes Jese Rodriguez rediscovers the form that once made him the star of Madrids academy, but only after his return to the Santiago Bernabeu with Las Palmas on Wednesday.Jese left Madrid for French champions Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal in August for a reported 25 million euros ($26.8 million).However, he scored just twice in 14 appearances and quickly fell down the pecking order for PSGs Spanish coach Unai Emery before joining home town club Las Palmas on loan in January.I like him a lot as a player and a person, and I hope that from Thursday it goes well for him at Las Palmas, Zidane said on Tuesday.When the Canary Islanders pushed the boat out to bring the 24-year-old forward back to La Liga at the end of January, qualifying for Europe was the aim.Instead, Las Palmas have lost all four games to Granada, Sevilla, Malaga and Real Sociedad since signing Jese to slip to 12th and cap his miserable season for far.A move away from Real was supposed to relaunch his career after the devastating effect of a cruciate knee ligament injury that cut short his breakthrough season in 2013/14 when Zidane was Madrids assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti.At the time Jese was one of the brightest young talents in world football with goals against Barcelona, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal that campaign putting him on the verge of a call-up to Spains 2014 World Cup squad.Despite going onto to make 94 appearances in all for Madrid, his career at the Bernabeu never recovered as he lived in the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and was also ultimately usurped by the likes of Lucas Vazquez for first team opportunities.He is a high quality Spanish player who has always shown enormous potential, added Zidane.It didnt go as he would have wanted at PSG, maybe he did not have all the minutes to show what he could do.I wish him is all the best from Thursday, and hope that he regains his form because he is a great player.Substitutes Isco and Alvaro Morata made a huge impact as Real came from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 3-2 on Sunday and could be rewarded with a start on Wednesday as Zidane promised to rotate his squad once more.Gareth Bale started the Real fightback by scoring on his first start for three months and the Welshman has been included in Zidanes 19-man squad despite suffering a knock late on at the Ceramic Stadium.

Putin says new Syria sanctions would hamper peace talks

Posted:

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said Moscow opposed any new sanctions against the Syrian leadership as they would undermine peace efforts to end the countrys protracted war.Russia and the United States are headed for a clash at the UN Security Council as Moscow prepares to veto a draft resolution that would impose sanctions on its ally Damascus.In terms of sanctions against the Syrian leadership, I think that now they are completely inappropriate, Putin said at a press conference in Kyrgyzstan.This would not help the negotiation process but would only interfere or undermine confidence, Putin said, adding that Russia will not support any new sanctions in relation to Syria.The UN Security Council will vote Tuesday on the text drafted by the United States, Britain and France that would punish 11 Syrians and 10 entities linked to chemical attacks in 2014 and 2015.Russia has vowed to use its veto to block the measure, which would be the seventh time that Moscow has resorted to its veto power to shield the regime of Bashar al-Assad.A fresh round of UN-led peace talks aimed at ending the Syrian conflict are currently struggling to get off the ground in Geneva.Putin -- whose military intervention in Syria helped turn the tables in favour of Assad -- lamented that the negotiations in Switzerland are not going as smoothly as hoped.Russias delegation looks set to meet the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main opposition group, in Geneva on Wednesday, with the Assad opponents urging Moscow to step up pressure on Damascus.

Trump to promise tough immigration laws, 'historic' tax reform

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Donald Trump will use a maiden prime-time speech to Congress to flesh out his policy agenda Tuesday, promising tougher immigration enforcement and historic tax reform.By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone, he is expected to say, according to excerpts released by the White House.Our economic team is developing historic tax reform that will reduce the tax rate on our companies so they can compete and thrive anywhere, he will also say.At the same time, we will provide massive tax relief for the middle class.He will also call on Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare -- referring to his predecessors landmark healthcare reform, which expanded coverage by to around 20 million people.Trump is expected to advocate reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time provide better healthcare.The speech is an opportunity for Trump to frame the big bold choices of his administration.Some 44 percent of Americans think Trump is doing a good job, according to the RealClearPolitics poll average, a historic low for modern presidents after a month in office.Trump is also likely to use the pomp and tradition-filled occasion to reconnect with blue collar voters, who made his presidency possible.

Football: Guardiola rules out Hart return

Posted:

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Pep Guardiola has indicated that England goalkeeper Joe Harts Manchester City career is over, regardless of how well he performs at Torino.Hart has impressed in Serie A since his arrival on a seasons loan in August, having been frozen out by Guardiola.The City manager decided on his arrival at the club last July that Hart was not suited to a possession-based style of football.Claudio Bravo was brought in from Barcelona as Harts replacement, but the Chile international has been unconvincing, losing his place to Willy Caballero, the veteran back-up goalkeeper, in recent weeks.Yet asked if there was any chance of Hart coming back, Guardiola shook his head and said: Im so happy with Willy and Claudio.Guardiola has made clear that he would be content to go forward with Bravo and Caballero as his two goalkeepers next season.It would mean sorting out a new contract for the Argentine, 35, whose current agreement runs out in June.There are five, six players out of contract but they know the situation. Of course there is a risk, maybe they can sign a contract for another club and we have to accept that. But we are going to decide in the last months of the season, Guardiola said.On the possibility of signing another goalkeeper this summer, Guardiola added: I will decide about that at the end of the season. I trust a lot in both and well decide - not just about the goalkeepers, the midfielders, wingers, strikers, full-backs. We are going to decide at the end of the season.Asked if he might go into next season with just Bravo and Caballero as his senior goalkeepers, Guardiola replied: Yes.Guardiola agreed a three-year contract before taking over at City in July, and has the support of Sheikh Mansour, the clubs owner, to continue beyond that.The manager received that message when he met the owner during Citys recent warm weather training break in Abu Dhabi.- Significant challenge -=========================Citys manager has begun the process of trying to remodel the club as one who can challenge to win the Champions League on a regular basis, while also bringing through the finest young talent via their academy.However, he has acknowledged that adjusting to English football has been a significant challenge, as he faces the possibility of ending a season without a trophy for the first time in his managerial career.Winning the Premier League this season looks unlikely, with City in third place, 11 points behind leaders Chelsea, although there is still the possibility of success in cup competitions.Guardiolas meeting with Citys billionaire owner was their first; the manager came away with the belief that he has a clear mandate to pursue long-term success.He said: He knows and I know that it all depends on the results. He would like that I stay here for a long, long, long, long time. But of course it depends on the results.If not, they would say: What happened? What can we do? What do we need to improve? Thats the process. To finish the process, they are going to help us.Guardiola won 21 trophies in seven years as a manager before arriving at City, but is aware that winning the Premier League was not enough to save his predecessors Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini from the sack when they failed to build on that success.We didnt speak about targets. They will be happy if we win. I know we have to win but Ive handled that in the past and I will in the present, he said.We spoke about private lives, families, the club. What my impression is after six months, half-a-year here.

Football: Real Sociedad fail to leapfrog Atletico Madrid

Posted:

MADRID (AFP) - Real Sociedad missed the chance to leapfrog Atletico Madrid into fourth in La Liga as Pedro Leons 93rd-minute equaliser snatched a 2-2 draw for Eibar in a controversial Basque derby on Tuesday.Juanmis header opened the scoring for Sociedad, but he was booked for showing a t-shirt honouring Pablo Raez.Raez, who like Juanmi is from Malaga, recently died at the age of just 20 from leukaemia and was famous for his fundraising campaigns via social media.Gonzalo Escalante headed Eibar level before half time before referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco took centre stage early in the second half.Firstly he harshly sent off Eibars Florian Lejeune for two bookable offences.And Juanmis first booking came back to haunt him as he was also dismissed shortly after for a second yellow card.Eibar coach Jose Luis Mendilibar was also sent to the stands after Carlos Vela converted a soft penalty to put Sociedad back in front.However, Eibar maintained their own push for European qualification when Leons low drive squeezed under Geronimo Rulli with the last kick of the game to move them level with sixth-placed Villarreal on 39 points.Sociedad are tied with Atletico on 45 points but Diego Simeones men have a game in hand, away to Deportivo la Coruna on Thursday.

Barack, Michelle Obama sign bumper book deal

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Barack and Michelle Obama have signed a deal to publish their memoirs with New York-based Penguin Random House, in a coveted contract reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.Americas first African American president is already the author of two memoirs and a childrens book. He has frequently declared himself to have a writers sensibility and has said he does not want to write a conventional blow-by-blow account of his time in the White House.Michelle Obamas memoir is likely to be just as eagerly anticipated.A descendant of slaves, she became the first African American first lady and garnered high approval ratings -- to the point where she was arguably one of the countrys most respected and popular women.Penguin Random House said in a statement it has acquired world publication rights for two books, to be written by president and Mrs Obama respectively.The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but bidding for the high-profile double book deal topped $60 million, a record sum for US presidential memoirs, according to the Financial Times.Until now, the record for a US presidential memoir was $15 million paid for Bill Clintons My Life, released in 2004. George W. Bush received $10 million for Decision Points in 2010.Hillary Clinton reportedly received a $14 million advance for Hard Choices, her account of her time as secretary of state under Obama.The Obama deal was negotiated by Washington super-lawyer Robert Barnett, who represented both the Clintons and Bush.As part of the agreement, the company will donate one million books in the Obama familys name to First Book, a charity, Penguin said.We are very much looking forward to working together with President and Mrs Obama to make each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance, said Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle.The Obamas took a long vacation after Donald Trump was sworn in as president on January 20, and the former president has stuck by a pledge to keep a low public profile unless events threatening what he called Americas core values warranted that he speak out.He did just that in January, just days after Trump enacted his ban on travelers from seven mostly Muslim countries, and on all refugees. Obama expressed support for protests that sprang up nationwide against the now-suspended Trump travel ban.Whereas US presidents tend to leave town after leaving the White House, the Obamas are settling into a rented mansion in Washingtons posh Kalorama district until their younger daughter Sasha finishes high school. Their eldest daughter Malia will be attending Harvard in the fall.Another new neighbor in Kalorama is Trumps daughter Ivanka, who has rented a house along with her husband Jared Kushner and their three children, near the Obamas.

Dollar firms on Fed rate hike talk, eyes on Trump

Posted:

HONG KONG (AFP) - The dollar firmed in Asia on Wednesday after two top Federal Reserve officials suggested US interest rates could rise as soon as this month, while traders await a key speech by Donald Trump to Congress.The greenbacks rally provided fresh impetus for Tokyo stocks, but regional equity markets were subdued despite forecast-beating readings on Chinese factory activity and Australian growth.Early focus is on Washington, where President Trump is due to address both houses of Congress, with investors hoping he will provide details of his economic plans.World markets have surged since his November election win on expectations his plans for infrastructure spending and tax cuts will fire the worlds top economy. However, his lack of clarity has led to some uncertainty, while there are also concerns that his first few weeks in office have been enveloped with controversy that has caused division in the country.Some believe its a chance to reset, some hope for inclusiveness, but traders just hope for an expansion and clarification of the plans and timing around the administrations tax and infrastructure plan, said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader.In early exchanges the Nikkei in Tokyo was up 0.9 percent as the dollar strengthened against the yen, helping exporters. Investors shifted into the US unit after New York Fed President William Dudley said there was a strong case for borrowing costs to rise, while his San Francisco counterpart John Williams expects such a move to get serious consideration when the bank meets this month. The comments come as Fed boss Janet Yellen prepares to speak Friday.However, other markets were reticent to move before Trumps speech, with Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei and Wellington all flat.There was little early reaction to Chinese figures showing manufacturing activity grew more than expected last month. The improvement in the purchasing managers index follows a series of upbeat readings from Beijing that suggest the worlds number two economy may have turned a corner after years of slowing growth.Sydney was down 0.1 percent as traders brushed off news Australian growth hit 1.1 percent in the October-December quarter, averting a technical recession of two straight quarters of contraction, thanks to a pick-up in exports and household spending.

South Africa bat in fourth New Zealand ODI

Posted:

HAMILTON (AFP) - South Africa won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth one-day international against New Zealand in Hamilton on Wednesday.The Proteas lead the five-match series 2-1 and can wrap it up with a win at Seddon Park, where they claimed a tight four-wicket victory in the first one-dayer.The pitch in that fixture was a raging turner and South African captain AB de Villiers said while he did not expect the same movement this time, it should prove spin-friendly late in the day-nighter.I think itll play best in the afternoon then maybe get a bit slow in the evening and turn a bit, he said.South Africa made only one change from the last match, with Chris Morris coming in for an injured Andile Phehlukwayo.New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said he would also have opted to bat first but the Black Caps hoped to exploit any early movement by playing two specialist spinners.He said Jeetan Patel would join fellow tweaker Mitchell Santner, replacing paceman Lockie Ferguson. The Black Caps also strengthened their batting line-up, welcoming back opener Martin Guptill from injury and calling up wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi to replace Tom Latham.New Zealand are looking to extend a run of eight home ODI series unbeaten.After losing the opening fixture, they bounced back for a six-run win in game two but were thrashed by 159 runs in the third.Teams:New Zealand: Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (capt), Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult.South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (capt), JP Duminy, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir.Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS), Wayne Knights (NZL). Third umpire: Joel Wilson (WIS).Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).

Firing incident claims one life in Karachi

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, dacoits opened fire during a robbery attempt in Jamshaid Quarters area of Karachi on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding two others.Police sources said that the deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Nadeem while Rashid and Waqar sustained injuries. Sources further said that the firing incident occurred at a petrol pump at the Jahangir Road.Police have shifted the injured to a nearby hospital. Police have also registered a case and started investigation.

Karachi: Gang war accused nabbed during Rangers raid

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Rangers conducted a raid in Agra Taj Colony of Lyari on Tuesday and arrested an operative of Kachi Rabita Committee group of Lyari gang war, Dunya News reported.The arrested gang war accused was identified as Ramzan alias Patel. According to Rangers spokesman, one 7mm rifle, two 222 rifles, two pistals, one 22-bore rifle, five fake passports, foreign currency and 1320 bullets were recovered from his house.Rangers sources said that the ammunition was stored in the house to be used in acts of terrorism in the city.
Posted by at No comments:

Monday 27 February 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

UN to vote today on Syria sanctions despite Russia veto pledge

Posted:

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on Tuesday on a bid by Western powers to ban the supply of helicopters to the Syrian government and to blacklist Syrian military commanders over accusations of toxic gas attacks, despite a pledge by Russia to veto the move.The Security Council showdown - pitting Syrian ally Russia against the United States, France, Britain and others - comes amid U.N.-led peace talks between the warring Syrian parties in Geneva, which began last week.A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, France, Russia, Britain or China to be adopted.Russia has vetoed six Security Council resolutions on Syria since the conflict started in 2011. China joined Moscow in vetoing five resolutions. It was unclear how Beijing planned to vote on Tuesday.Britain and France first circulated the draft resolution to the 15-member council in late December in response to the results of an investigation by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).The international inquiry found Syrian government forces were responsible for three chlorine gas attacks and that Islamic State militants had used mustard gas.British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said on Monday that the Security Council needed to send a strong, clear message that the international community means business on preventing the use of these abhorrent weapons.Chlorines use as a weapon is banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria joined in 2013. If inhaled, chlorine gas turns to hydrochloric acid in the lungs and can kill by burning lungs and drowning victims in body fluids.Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government has denied its forces have used chemical weapons. Russia has questioned the results of the U.N./OPCW inquiry and long said there was not enough proof for the Security Council to take any action.Russias Deputy U.N. Ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, told reporters on Friday that Moscow would veto the draft resolution.The draft text seeks to ban the sale or supply of helicopters to the Syrian government because the U.N./OPCW inquiry found Syrian government forces had used helicopters to drop barrel bombs containing chlorine gas.The draft resolution also proposes targeted sanctions - a travel ban and asset freeze - on 11 Syrian military commanders and officials, as well as on 10 government and related entities accused of developing and producing chemical weapons and the missiles to deliver them.

Pentagon presents new anti-IS plan to Trump

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Pentagon presented the White House with possible new battle plans Monday to defeat the Islamic State group, after President Donald Trump demanded top brass find additional ways to destroy the jihadists.A pillar of Trumps campaign was to quicken the fight against IS, which despite losing thousands of fighters still controls parts of northern Syria and Iraq, and he berated Barack Obamas administration for taking too long to do so.Trump had claimed to have a secret plan to defeat the brutal extremists, but never disclosed what this might be. He repeatedly pledged to bomb the hell out of them and even threatened to kill family members of suspected IS fighters.Shortly after taking office, the new president gave the Pentagon 30 days to review progress to date and develop a comprehensive plan to totally obliterate IS.A US-led coalition has been bombing the jihadists in Iraq and Syria since late summer 2014, while also deploying Western commandos to train and advise local forces.The initial draft of the review is now complete, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis presented the findings to Trumps top national security advisors.The options outlined in the classified document are preliminary and need to be further refined, said Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis.It is about the rapid defeat of ISIS, Davis said.Were going to continue to have a dialogue with our chain of command going forward and developing this plan.The proposals will likely outline the possibility of sending more US troops to the Middle East and could see the Pentagon taking a more aggressive stance in other key areas.This is not about Syria and Iraq, its about a trans-regional threat, General Joe Dunford, who chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Washington audience last week.In this particular case, were talking about ISIS, but its also Al-Qaeda and other groups that present a trans-regional threat.Dunford stressed the importance of renewed military action coming alongside diplomatic and political efforts.All of us who have participated in these conflicts over the last 15 years realize that anything we do on the ground has to be in the context of political objectives or its not going to be successful, Dunford said.The review includes input from across the government, including its spy agencies, State Department and Department of Homeland Security.Since the coalition effort to defeat IS began, the jihadists have lost much of the ground they once held, and tens of thousands have been killed in air strikes and ground combat.In Iraq, they are clinging to the last parts of their former bastion Mosul as Iraqi security forces backed by Western air power push them from the city.The fight is more complex in civil war-torn Syria, where Russia is conducting its own air campaign to prop up President Bashar al-Assad.A key question is whether America will arm Syrian Kurdish forces to lead the fight to retake Raqa -- a move sure to infuriate ally Turkey, which considers the Kurdish fighters terrorists -- or whether the United States should send in more combat troops.Currently, only about 500 US troops are in Syria, mostly special operations forces working behind the frontlines to train local Kurdish and Syrian Arab fighters.Because Obama was elected in 2008 on the promise of ending US conflicts in the Middle East, he was loath to put US forces in combat.The anti-IS review is also a significant first test for the relationship between Trump and Mattis.Trump has so far given the Pentagon chief broad leeway on shaping US military policy, even though the retired Marine Corps general has pushed back against much of Trumps more blustery rhetoric, including his professed support of torture and claim that America should seize Iraqs oil.

Syria opposition seeks Russian clarity at Geneva talks

Posted:

GENEVA (Reuters) - The main opposition group at Syrian peace talks in Geneva wants to meet Russian envoys to discuss what it says are Moscows broken ceasefire promises, a move diplomats say aims to put pressure on the Russian-backed Syrian government delegation.Russia has sought to revive diplomacy since its air force helped the Syrian army and allied militias defeat rebels in Aleppo in December, President Bashar al-Assads biggest victory in six years of war.Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, a weekend of bombings and air strikes in Syria has rattled the talks that began in Geneva last week.The Russians did not fulfil a ceasefire agreement despite the promises from the highest levels of the Russian delegation, Mohammed Alloush, a negotiator and member of the Jaish al-Islam rebel group, told Reuters.After a two-hour meeting with U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura, the head of the opposition delegation Nasr al-Hariri said he had submitted two documents protesting against the grim humanitarian situation and violations of the ceasefire.Hariri said he believed Moscow was shifting its stance but that he wanted to see constructive support on Tuesday.He pressed for practical support that manifests itself in backing for the political process and the demands of the Syrian people by putting pressure on the (Syrian) regime to engage seriously in this process.Two diplomats said an eventual meeting was likely to include Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and Middle East director Sergei Vershinin.Russia, Turkey and Iran have sponsored parallel talks, in the Kazakh capital Astana, where they reinforced the ceasefire. It paved the way for a resumption of U.N.-led mediations after a 10-month hiatus.Ahead of Thursdays opening ceremony, Moscow had called for the government to silence the skies, but violence has continued and the warring sides have traded blame while appearing no closer to actual negotiations.De Mistura said a militant attack in Homs on Saturday was a deliberate attempt to wreck the talks.The opposition wants to see the Russians to tell them to put pressure on the government or else this process will lead nowhere, said a Western diplomat.He said the Syrian government chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafaris refusal to discuss anything beyond countering terrorism at a weekend meeting with de Mistura was a clear indication that Damascus was not committed.De Mistura, who is treading carefully to keep the talks alive, has so far talked to the two sides separately as he tries to forge an understanding of how to proceed in future rounds.He wants to get the two sides to accept an agenda that would be based on Security Council resolution 2254, focusing initially on a new constitution, U.N.-supervised elections and accountable governance.Russia and the United States were the prime movers behind the last peace talks, which halted as the war heated up. The United States is now taking a diplomatic back seat, leaving Moscow as the main power broker.

Trump meets China's top diplomat amid tensions

Posted:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump held his first face-to-face meeting with a member of Chinas leadership on Monday at a time of tensions between Washington and Beijing, and the White House said the Chinese visit was a chance to discuss shared security interests.State Councillor Yang Jiechi, Chinas top diplomat, was taken to see Trump briefly after talks with new US National Security advisor, H.R. McMaster, and Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.After the meeting ended, I believe the state councillor was taken (and) had an opportunity to say hi to the president before he left, Spicer told a regular briefing.This was an opportunity to begin that conversation and talk to them on shared interests of national security,” he said of the meetings with Yang.Yang, who outranks Chinas foreign minister, is the first top Chinese official to visit the White House since Trump took office on Jan 20.His visit to Washington followed a phone call between Yang and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week, during which the two affirmed the importance of a constructive US-China relationship.It was the latest step by the worlds two largest economies to try to put relations back on an even keel after a rocky start following Trumps election victory.Trump has been a strong critic of Beijing, accusing China of unfair trade policies, criticising its island building in the strategic South China Sea, and accusing it of not doing enough to constrain its neighbour North Korea.Trump incensed Beijing in December by talking to the president of Taiwan and saying the United States did not have to stick to the one China policy, under which Washington acknowledges the Chinese position that there is only one China, of which Taiwan is a part.Trump later agreed in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping to honour the one China policy in a diplomatic boost for Beijing, which vehemently opposes criticism of its claim to self-ruled Taiwan.Chinas state news agency Xinhua quoted a researcher at a government-backed Chinese think tank as saying a discussion of when and where Trump and Xi would meet first would be on the top of the agenda during Yangs visit.In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Trump pressed China to do more to rein in North Koreas nuclear and missile programmes, saying Beijing could resolve the issue very easily if it wanted to.China dismissed Trumps remarks on Friday saying the crux of the matter was a dispute between Washington and Pyongyang.China has repeatedly called for a return to negotiations between Pyongyang and world powers.Plans for renewed contacts with North Korea in the United States were cancelled last week after the US State Department denied a visa for the top envoy from Pyongyang, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Asian markets rise, dollar holds gains ahead of Trump speech

Posted:

HONG KONG (AFP) - Tokyo led a rebound in Asian markets Tuesday as the dollar held on to the previous days gains while investors keenly await Donald Trumps speech to a joint session of Congress.Ahead of the much-anticipated address later Tuesday the new US president hinted he would make a big announcement on infrastructure policy, raising hopes he will deliver on a key campaign promise.Traders will also be looking for detail on tax reform -- another major pledge -- which this month he said would be phenomenal.Global markets and the dollar have surged since Trumps election win in November on expectations his planned measures will fire the US economy and fuel inflation, forcing the Federal Reserve to lift interest rates.While analysts say there is a worry the advance may have gone too far and investors are beginning to row back, with the dollar feeling the pinch, Trumps speech is growing in importance.President Trumps big address naturally has attracted a lot of anticipation in markets. There is a strong chance that it could be the catalyst for the next leg higher for the US dollar, bonds and stocks, Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader, said in a note.But there is also room for disappointment.The dollar got a shot in the arm Monday when the head of the Dallas Fed Robert Kaplan said he thought borrowing costs should be lifted sooner rather than later.His comments fuelled speculation the Fed could hike as soon as next month and come days before the central banks head, Janet Yellen, and her deputy Stanley Fischer are due to talk at the end of the week.The greenbacks improvement from Mondays levels around 112 yen provided support to Japans exporters, helping the Nikkei end the morning 0.7 percent higher.The gain came despite Japan logging its first fall in factory output for six months, which highlighted the ongoing struggle the countrys leaders face in trying to turn around the worlds number three economy.Hong Kong edged up 0.1 percent after a three-day losing streak and Shanghai added 0.3 percent. Sydney gained 0.5 percent, Seoul was 0.3 percent higher and Wellington put on 0.5 percent.The gains follow yet a 12th successive record close on Wall Street, with constructors benefiting from an expected surge in spending by the Trump administration.- Key figures around 0230 GMT -=================================Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 19,238.74 (break)Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 23,937.91Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,237.88Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0583 from $1.0587Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2434 from $1.2440Dollar/yen: DOWN at 112.60 yen from 112.70 yenOil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 10 cents at $54.15Oil - Brent North Sea: UP six cents at $55.99 per barrelNew York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 20,843.19 (close)London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 7,253.00 (close)

Football: Cup is not a side issue for Manchester City, says Fernandinho

Posted:

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho insists the FA Cup remains a priority for his side despite their bid to advance in the Champions League.Last weeks thrilling 5-3 victory over French side Monaco has left Pep Guardiolas side in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals in a competition in which the coach has excelled throughout his career.But before the return leg, City must face second tier side Huddersfield Town in an FA Cup fifth round replay, with a place in the last eight of that competition at stake.And Fernandinho insists City are keen to add to their five successes in the FA Cup, the last one coming under Roberto Mancinis leadership six years ago.If we win we are in the quarter-finals and after that we can be at Wembley, Fernandinho told the clubs website.Its extremely important because the FA Cup its a beautiful competition and we want to go as far as possible.The support of our fans in the FA Cup will be very important. For us the aim is to be in the final.City flew to Abu Dhabi for a spell of warm weather training immediately after the Monaco victory, returning to Manchester on Monday.- Looking so confident -==========================Guardiola is likely to rest key players, ahead of Sundays Premier League visit to bottom side Sunderland, for the replay although, given the depth in his squad, City are certain to field a strong line-up.Fernandinho, 31, has proved particularly important for Guardiola this season as he has rotated his squad with the Brazilian used in a number of positions, including both full-backs spots as well as a variety of midfield roles.No matter what position I play, the aim is always to have possession of the ball, create supremacy, to allow the team to feel that we have more players in the midfield -- to help create more passes and chances, he said.I dont know what position I will be playing from now on. I will try to play as often as possible as a midfielder, but for me the most important is the teams victory and try to achieve a good position on the Premier League table.Huddersfield remain in contention for automatic promotion from the Championship, despite a weekend draw at Barnsley.Manager David Wagner has also been rotating his squad and is likely to do so again for the visit to Premier League opponents.We are looking so confident and so strong at the minute that I am not concerned about the fact that we have another match, said the German, who was assistant to his close friend Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund.Its another opportunity to test ourselves against a very good opponent.The players who came in for the first match gained a lot of confidence from the performance. They are very hungry to play again and show that they deserve a chance.We are not concerned about the number of matches. We played Tuesday when Barnsley were at home lying on the sofa, yet we were the team pushing right to the end to try and win it.It was good to see how we were fitness wise. It was a strong performance from the whole group and there is a really positive feeling in the dressing room.

13th ECO summit to be held in Islamabad tomorrow

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The 13th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit would be held in Islamabad tomorrow (Tuesday), reported Dunya News.There would be fool proof security as more than 6000 security personnel would be on duty. All the offices in Islamabad and Rawalpindi would be closed after 1 pm on 28 February and would remain closed on 1 March.Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan chaired a meeting in which it was decided that there will be two VIP routes for the guests and a bomb disposal squad would clear the route for them from airport to red zone.Rangers personnel would also look after the security situation in the area. The Kashmir highway would be closed for general public till night of 1 March for security reasons.Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, presidents of Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Prime Ministers Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan will represent their countries at the ECO summit.

Ex-Test players to develop young Aussie talent

Posted:

SYDNEY (AFP) - Former Test stars Ryan Harris and Matthew Elliott were Tuesday appointed to nurture young Australian talent, with the pairs first assignment an under-19 series against Sri Lanka.Fast bowler Harris and batsman Elliott beat off competition from 38 other applicants to be picked as high performance coaches at the National Cricket Centre, entrusted with developing the countrys future stars.We have undertaken a thorough process to find the best coaches to mentor Australias emerging talent and we are extremely excited to have both Matthew and Ryan joining, said Cricket Australia executive general manager Pat Howard.Both have come through the Cricket Australia coaching pathway ... and have a strong understanding of the challenges that lie ahead in developing Australian cricketers to be ready for first-class and international cricket.Former high performance coach Graeme Hick has since been appointed as the Australia team batting coach, while the second coaching role is newly created.The pair start work next week. Their first assignment will be leading Australias under-19 side in a home series against Sri Lanka in April, with Elliott to coach the team and Harris his assistant.

Karachi: Two terrorists among seven accused arrested

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Police conducted an operation in SITE Area on Monday and arrested two terrorists of a banned outfit, Dunya News reported.The arrested terrorists were identified as Sahibzada and Usman. Two hand grenades and other ammunition was also recovered from their possession. Police sources said that the arrested terrorists were operatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan-Swat and members of Yasir Swati group.Police also arrested three accused during operation in Gabol Town area and recovered arms, one motorcycle and cash from them. Separately, two street criminals were taken into custody during operation in Soldier Bazar.On the other hand, some unidentified persons opened fire and killed 19-year-old Jahanzeb in Baldia Raeesgoth area.

Karachi: 148 Afghan nationals rounded up in crackdown

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Police arrested at least 148 Afghan nationals, residing illegally in Karachi, during a massive crackdown against foreigners in different parts of the city on Monday, Dunya News reported. The crackdown was launched on the directives of Inspector General (IG) Sindh.At least 59 Afghan nationals were taken into custody during an operation in Karachi East. One Afghan national and 35 other suspects were apprehended from Karachi South.Police also detained 88 Afghan nationals from Karachi West. Case under Foreign Act has been registered against the arrested Afghan nationals.

Shujaabad: Landlord tortures farmers family

Posted:

SHUJAABAD (Dunya News) – According to details, an influential landlord along with his seven armed accomplices entered the house of a poor farmer, Imam Bakhsh, in Wazirwala area of Shujaabad on Monday.The landlord and his armed accomplices stormed into the house of Imam Bakhsh and subjected his family members to torture after spraying red chilies in their eyes. Two women, Nasreen and Safia, were wounded in the attack and were shifted to Civil Hospital.According to Imam Bakhsh, the landlord wanted to buy his house and on refusal demolished the boundary wall of the house to occupy it forcefully.The armed attacker escaped from the scene when police arrived. The residents of the area staged a protest against the landlord and demanded his arrest. The SHO of the concerned police station has said that stern action would be taken against the culprits.

'Panama Papers' media consortium becomes independent

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The investigative reporting alliance known for uncovering the massive Panama Papers scandal has become an independent entity, a move that may help it expand globally, the group said Monday.The Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has been spun off the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity, according to statements from both organizations.The ICIJ gained notoriety last year by publishing leaked documents from Panama that linked some of the worlds most powerful leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, British prime minister David Cameron and others to unreported offshore companies.As of February 24, ICIJ is a fully independent nonprofit news organization, still headquartered in Washington and still committed to doing the best cross-border investigative reporting in the world, its statement said.We believe this new structure will allow us to extend our global reach and impact even farther and build on the lessons weve learned and the successes weve enjoyed.The statement added that investigative journalism remains an important endeavor and that today, more than ever, some stories are too big, too complex and too global to be tackled by lone-wolf investigative reporters or even individual news organizations.The centers in-house staff totals less than 15, but works with nearly 200 affiliated journalists from more than 60 countries, and on occasion with journalists from other news organizations.We are fortunate to be living in a golden era of information that can empower and strengthen investigative journalism, the statement said.We believe investigative reporting ought to be taking better advantage of technology and the new abundance of information. Despite all the problems that mainstream journalism faces these days, we see this as a time of opportunity.The New York Times reported last year that the ICIJ was being constrained by a financial squeeze at the Center for Public Integrity.CPI was founded in 1989 and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for its report on how doctors and lawyers, working at the behest of the coal industry, helped defeat the benefits claims of miners suffering from black lung disease.

Hales called up to England tour after rapid recovery

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - England opener Alex Hales should play a role after all in Englands tour of the West Indies after earning a call-up only a month after he had been omitted because of a right hand fracture.The 28-year-old Nottinghamshire batsman -- who has 11 Tests and 40 One Day Internationals under his belt -- suffered the injury during Januarys disastrous tour of India.However, having been left out when the original squad was announced on January 27th he has been summoned after a scan confirmed he has sufficiently recovered although he will still have to undergo rehab when he gets to the West Indies to ensure he is fully fit.Hales, who last year made Englands highest individual ODI score -- 171 against Pakistan at his Trent Bridge home ground -- will rejoin his international team-mates three days before the first match in Antigua on March 3.Hales tweeted: Antigua tomorrow. Cant wait to get back amongst itAlex Hales arrives tomorrow evening local time, the ECB confirmed. He will continue his rehab with us until the medical and coaching teams deem he is fit enough to join the squad officially.England are due to play a three match ODI series against the West Indians, two games in Antigua and one in Barbados.

SpaceX to send two tourists around Moon in 2018

Posted:

MIAMI (AFP) - SpaceX said Monday two private citizens have paid money to be sent around the Moon late next year, in what would mark the furthest humans have ever traveled to deep space.The United States has not sent astronauts to the Moon since NASAs Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s.We are excited to announce that SpaceX has been approached to fly two private citizens on a trip around the moon late next year, said a statement by CEO Elon Musk.This presents an opportunity for humans to return to deep space for the first time in 45 years and they will travel faster and further into the solar system than any before them.The tourists, who were not named, have already paid a significant deposit, Musks statement added.Health tests and training are to begin later this year.Other flight teams have also expressed strong interest and we expect more to follow. Additional information will be released about the flight teams, contingent upon their approval and confirmation of the health and fitness test results, Musk said.The tourists will ride aboard the California-based companys Crew Dragon capsule, which is scheduled for its first unmanned test flight later this year.It is based on the design currently used to send cargo to the International Space Station, with upgrades to allow for human transport.The capsule will launch atop SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket, which is scheduled for its first test flight this summer.The rocket will be the most powerful vehicle to reach orbit after the Saturn V moon rocket, Musk said.At five million pounds of liftoff thrust, Falcon Heavy is two-thirds the thrust of Saturn V and more than double the thrust of the next largest launch vehicle currently flying.

Football: Late Belotti brace stuns Fiorentina

Posted:

MILAN (AFP) - Italy striker Andrea Belotti made amends for missing a second-half penalty for Torino with a late brace that secured a share of the points in a 2-2 draw at Fiorentina in Serie A Monday.In a clash helpful to both sides chances of qualifying for Europe next season, Fiorentina raced to a two-goal lead before half-time after Riccardo Saponara, in the eighth minute and Nikola Kalinic, with a 38th minute header, beat Joe Hart in the Torino net. Hart was otherwise heroic in a one-sided first half that saw the England keeper save at the feet of Kalinic then Borja Valero in the opening minutes, then deny Cristian Tello later on as the hosts piled on the pressure.Those stops proved crucial in a more balanced second half, in which Fiorentina added to their current woes by throwing away a two-goal lead for the second game in succession.When Carlos Salcedo fouled Lucas Boye, Torino were handed a lifeline, only for Belotti to sky his spot kick just after the hour.But the Italy front man was soon performing his trademark rooster celebration -- running away with his hand to his head imitating a rooters crown -- after reducing arrears only three minutes later by firing a loose ball in the area past Ciprian Tatarusanu.Five minutes from the end, Belotti was left unmarked at the back post to collect Daniele Basellis cross past the Fiorentina keeper to claim his 19th goal of the campaign, pulling level with leader Edin Dzeko of Roma.Fiorentina, who were whistled off the park by unhappy fans at the Artemio Franchi, remain in eighth place at six points behind AC Milan, who sit 19 points off leaders Juventus.Torino are ninth, five points adrift of Fiorentina.Juventus, aiming for a record sixth consecutive scudetto, boast a seven-point lead over second-placed Roma, who saw Radja Nainggolan hit a spectacular brace in a 3-1 win at Inter Milan on Sunday to keep the title race alive.The win was all the more important after Napolis title bid was dented by a 2-0 defeat at home to Atalanta on Saturday which left Maurizio Sarris men in third place, 12 points off the pace.Atalanta are fourth, one point ahead of Lazio and three ahead of Inter.
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday 26 February 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

All eyes on Trump for landmark address to Congress

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Donald Trump will have a chance to breathe new momentum into his month-old presidency in an address to Congress Tuesday night, but he will need to strike the right tone -- far from his score-settling tweets at foes of all stripes.For his maiden address to the American body politic -- the House of Representatives and Senate but also his own cabinet and the assembled Supreme Court justices -- the Republican leader will lay out his legislative priorities in a setting a far cry from the charged-up rallies of which he is so fond.After the dark pitch of Trumps inauguration speech on January 20, the virulence of his attacks on the media and his disconcerting first solo press conference earlier this month, the tenor of the presidents speech to millions of Americans will be closely watched.The White House said the theme of the address would be the renewal of the American spirit.I think this is an opportunity for him to lay out a very positive vision for the nation and to really let America know where we can go and how we can get there, and the potential that we have as a nation, said the presidents spokesman Sean Spicer.From securing US borders to modernizing its infrastructure or slashing environmental regulations, the major themes of his first weeks in office are expected to loom large.According to Trumps incoming Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, so will the question of economic reforms.The president is very, very focused on us getting back to sustained, long-term economic growth... and were going to start with tax reform, he said on Fox News.The Trump administration is betting on a sustained annual growth rate of at least three percent, a target seen by many economists as highly optimistic.On paper, US Republicans are in an enviable position: for the first time since 2006, the Grand Old Party controls both chambers of Congress as well as the White House.But relations between the partys lawmakers and their billionaire president are complicated.Many are uncomfortable about some of his proposals -- in particular his economic isolationism -- but also with his personality and style in office.Im not a fan of the daily tweets, was the understated assessment given mid-February by Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate.Nevertheless, the huge majority of the partys lawmakers -- their eyes set on driving through a major series of conservative reforms -- are taking care not to cross the new occupant of the White House.The central question in the coming weeks and months will be how much autonomy they can wield when it comes to drawing up legislation on tax and health care reform.Trumps evolving popularity among voters will also be monitored intently by lawmakers on Capitol Hill as the country moves toward the 2018 mid-term elections.According to an NBC/WSJ poll released Sunday, only 44 percent of Americans approve of Trumps performance as president -- against 48 percent who disapprove -- a record low for an incoming leader who could normally expect a post-election boost.But the same poll also shows that Trump maintains a solid core of support: for instance, 82 percent of Republicans say his suspended travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations was needed to combat terrorism.Tuesday will kick off with the broadcast of an interview of Trump by the conservative morning show Fox & Friends -- the most honest in the presidents own words.A few hours before his first solemn address to the nation, in a venue loaded with history, the 45th US president may seize the occasion to renew his attacks on the rest of the media whose dishonesty he has denounced with a virulence that grows stronger by the day.

UN envoy sets out framework for sputtering Syria talks

Posted:

GENEVA (AFP) - Several more rounds of Syrian peace talks will be needed to reach any accord, the UN envoy bidding to kickstart the sputtering process has told the rival sides, setting out three key discussion areas.In a paper given to both sides, and seen by AFP Sunday, he said that by the end of the current session we would have a deeper shared understanding of how we can proceed in future rounds in discussing each area.Syrian regime and opposition negotiators are in Geneva for a fourth round of UN-sponsored talks, but they have been overshadowed by deadly attacks on the ground. The talks could last until March 5, a couple of days longer than originally scheduled, according to an opposition source. The first full day of talks was Friday.On Saturday, suicide attacks in Syrias third city Homs killed dozens of people, leading the Damascus envoy to Geneva to demand that all opposition negotiators condemn the assault or be considered accomplices of terrorism.In the paper handed out in Geneva by UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, he identified the three baskets of issues to be discussed as governance, constitution and elections, I have asked you to be ready to engage in a continuous and inclusive process over the weeks and months ahead. If we are to succeed, we will need several rounds of talks, obviously, he wrote in an introduction.So far there have been no face-to-face talks between the two sides, with the UN envoy meeting each delegation separately, as in the three previous rounds the last of which was in April 2016.Nevertheless I shall remain open throughout bilateral sessions during these initial talks to all possibilities for direct engagement and negotiations between the sides, de Mistura wrote.He set out a series of ground rules for the talks, including to respect the others who are present in these proceedings. No one has the right to question the legitimacy of others, he wrote.He said he plans to spend an initial day bilaterally on each of the three main areas, followed by another day on each issue. It is clear that any progress on any basket is welcome. It is equally clear that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.I would hope that by the end of this round we would have a deeper shared understanding of how we can proceed in future rounds in discussing each issue basket.

Iraq forces in west Mosul aim for key bridge

Posted:

MOSUL (AFP) - Iraqi forces battled jihadists in west Mosul on Sunday, aiming to build a floating bridge across the Tigris to establish an important supply route linked to the recaptured east bank.A week into a major push on the western side of the city, where an estimated 2,000 holdout jihadists and 750,000 civilians are trapped, government forces made steady progress.But after relatively easy gains on the citys outskirts, they encountered increasingly stiff resistance from the Islamic State group (IS) defending its emblematic stronghold.We had an important operation this morning to move towards the bridge, Colonel Falah al-Wabdan of the interior ministrys Rapid Response units that have spearheaded the breach into west Mosul told AFP in the Jawsaq neighbourhood.We have moved past a large berm constructed by Daesh (IS) with tunnels underneath, he said, adding that the area was heavily mined and his forces had killed 44 jihadists on Sunday alone.Wabdan was referring to what is known as the fourth bridge, the southernmost of five bridges -- all of which are damaged and unusable -- across the Tigris River that divides the northern Iraqi city.Government forces retook the east bank from IS a month ago, completing a key phase in an offensive on Mosul that began on October 17 and has involved tens of thousands of fighters.Wabdan said that securing the bank area near the fourth bridge would allow engineering units to extend a ribbon bridge to the other side and further pile pressure on the jihadists.It is very important because if we take it, engineering units... will be able to throw a bridge across from the left bank so we can move supplies and ammunition from the battle field, he said.Bridging operations under fire are complex and perilous, but Iraqi forces have been trained by the US military and successfully used that strategy before in the fight against IS.A ribbon bridge assembled with US assistance over the Euphrates River was considered a turning point in the battle that eventually saw Iraqi forces retake the western stronghold of Ramadi from the jihadists a year ago.Rapid Response was confident it could reach the bridge on Sunday but IS was fighting back with suicide car bombs, roadside bombs, snipers and weaponised drones.The elite Counter-Terrorism Service that has done most of the fighting against IS in Mosul so far entered the western neighbourhood of Al-Maamun on Friday.Troops from the US-led coalition assisting Iraq in its efforts to claw back the swathes of territory it lost to IS in 2014 have stepped up their involvement on the ground in recent weeks.They are officially deployed in Iraq as trainers and advisers, but have increasingly been drawn into combat and been more visible than ever on the front lines since the push on west Mosul was launched on February 19.The western side of the city is a little smaller than the east but more densely populated and home to some areas considered traditional jihadist strongholds.It includes the Old City, where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made his only public appearance and proclaimed a caliphate in July 2014, and several of Mosuls key landmarks.Around three quarters of a million people are virtually besieged there, in some cases used as human shields by the IS fighters preparing to defend their last major bastion in the country.With the battle to retake western Mosul now in its second week, we are extremely concerned about the 800,000 or so still trapped in some of the most dire conditions, Karl Schembri, spokesman for the Norwegian Refugee Council, told AFP.Food supplies have dwindled as fast as costs have soared, leaving many on barely a meal a day.Were hearing reports of people eating bird feed inside western Mosul as they cannot afford the skyrocketing prices, Schembri said.Residents and medical workers say that the combined effect of malnutrition and the shortage of drugs is starting to kill the weakest.The United Nations has planned for an exodus of at least 250,000 people from west Mosul, but in the absence of humanitarian corridors only a few hundred have been able to flee so far.Around 160,000 are currently displaced as a result of the first phase of the Mosul operation. Iraq has a population of more than three million people who have been displaced by the IS conflict.

'Ring of fire' eclipse delights Africa, South America

Posted:

SARMIENTO (AFP) - Stargazers applauded as they were plunged into darkness Sunday when the moon passed in front of the sun in a spectacular ring of fire eclipse.Astronomers and enthusiasts in Argentina were among the first to see the so-called annular eclipse as it crossed South America shortly after 1200 GMT, on course for Africa.Staring up through special telescopes, protective glasses or homemade cardboard pinhole devices, they watched the Sun all but disappear briefly as the Moon crossed its path.The eclipse was most visible in a 100-kilometer (62-mile) band across Chile, Argentina, Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Around 300 stargazers gathered in a remote spot near the southern city of Sarmiento, the point in Argentina where the eclipse left just a bright ring in the dark sky.Several onlookers blew notes on erkes, long traditional South American horns.I have already seen six annular eclipses and each one was different, said Josep Masalles Roman, an enthusiast who came all the way from Barcelona in Spain.The spectacle passed on to Angola south of the town of Benguela, then Zambia and DR Congo just before the Sun set.In Angolas capital Luanda, few seemed aware of the unusual event in the skies above, but those with forewarning got a glimpse of the eclipse for around 15 minutes from 1630 GMT.Its the first time that Ive witnessed this phenomenon -- Im completely happy, said stargazer Providencia Luzolo. Its just I didnt manage to see it that well as it hurt my eyes.An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Moon and Sun line up.But even when perfectly aligned, the Moon is too far from Earth to completely block out the Sun, creating instead the impression of a fiery ring.Terry Moseley of the Irish Astronomical Association warned that viewers should not observe the eclipse with the naked eye.According to the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA), such eclipses can be safely observed using a basic pinhole projector.Punch a tiny hole in a piece of paper with a sharp pencil, hold it into the Sun, and project the image onto a second sheet.The gaps between tree leaves make for a similar effect on the ground, says the ASSA website, calling this the coolest and safest way to watch a solar eclipse.As about 90 percent of the Sun is covered, youll notice a distinct drop in temperature and brightness, and a change in the quality of the light which is hard to describe, Moseley told AFP.Locals in the province of Chubut around Sarmiento said they noted changes in the height of the tide and animals acting unusually.Experts say that as the day darkens, birds and animals enter a night-time routine, thinking sunset is nigh.At the height of the eclipse the Moon is right in the middle of the Sun, leaving a perfect ring of light around the edge.It takes about two hours for the Moon to move across the face of the Sun, but the ring of fire peak lasts a mere minute.Starting in the southeast Pacific Ocean at sunrise, the eclipse passed over southern Chile then Argentina before sweeping over the South Atlantic.At sea, the eclipse peak was to last 44 seconds and only be visible to any ships that happen to be in the right place at the right time, said Moseley.

Famine-hit South Sudanese eat weeds and water lilies to survive

Posted:

JUBA (Reuters) - Like thousands of other South Sudanese families caught up in famine, Sara Dit and her 10 children are hiding from marauding gunmen in the swamps and islands of the river Nile.The refuge has a steep price: families cannot farm crops or earn money to buy food. They eat water lily roots and the occasional fish. Dits family have not eaten for days.Last week the United Nations declared that parts of South Sudan are experiencing famine, the first time the world has faced such a catastrophe in six years. Some 5.5 million people, nearly half the population, will not have a reliable source of food by July.The disaster is largely man-made. Oil-rich South Sudan, the worlds youngest nation, plunged into civil war in 2013, after President Salva Kiir fired his deputy Riek Machar. Since then, fighting has fractured the country along ethnic lines, inflation topped 800 percent last year and war and drought have paralyzed agriculture.Dit and her children are among more than 100,000 people that the United Nations says face imminent starvation in the counties of Leer and Mayendit in greater Unity state, which borders Sudan.The children are sick but what can I do? There are no hospitals near us and we cant move far from where we are hiding. My older children go fishing but we cant get enough because we dont have tools, Dit told Reuters on Saturday, cradling her four-year-old son in a temporary nutrition clinic set up by UNICEF, the U.N. agency dedicated to children.Staff said her son will die without immediate help.Nyaluat Chol, a mother of six, said her family had survived on water lilies and palm fruit for the past year.We have been running from fighting for a long time. We settled in the island because its much better there. But we cant leave to go buy food. We eat the weeds floating on the river, sometimes we get fish, the 31-year-old said.The women were among a crowd of 20,000 people that emerged from the swamps and assembled at the rebel-held village of Thonyor, in Leer county, when they heard the United Nations was registering people for emergency rations.Some families received fishing nets and rods from aid workers to keep them going until food arrived.It was the U.N.s first trip to Thonyor in a year. Many parts of the country are inaccessible due to fighting. Others are just very remote. South Sudan, the size of Texas, has only 200 km (120 miles) of paved roads, nearly six years after independence from neighboring Sudan.What weve seen is a lot of people coming from the islands, said George Fominyen, a spokesman for the World Food Programme. They have been living on water lilies, they have been living on roots, from weeds in the Nile, at most they eat once in a day.County commissioner Majiel Nhial said when villagers received food aid last year, they were attacked. Men in uniform looted and burnt their homes, he said.We lost all our properties, cows and our houses were looted. We were attacked, women were raped and girls abducted, he said.

Eight drown after boat capsizes in southern India

Posted:

CHENNAI (AFP) - At least eight domestic tourists drowned and 17 others were rescued after a boat carrying them capsized on Sunday in southern India, local media reported. The accident occurred near the port city of Tuticorin, around 530 kilometres (330 miles) from Chennai, the capital of southern Tamil Nadu state.I do not know how many tourists were travelling in the boat. Eight people have drowned and 17 others have been rescued and hospitalised, Tuticorin district collector M. Ravi Kumar told the Press Trust of India.Police have detained a boat operator for questioning, while the local administration has ordered a probe amid fears that the death toll could increase. Police said the tourists apparently paid a boat operator around $2 for a joyride on Sunday evening. The vessel later capsized in rough seas. Boating in the sea for joyrides is strictly prohibited in these areas, district police superintendant Ashwin M. Kotnish, who visited the accident site, told AFP. Boat accidents are common in India, mainly because of overcrowding, poor maintenance, lax regulations and the lack of life jackets and other safety equipment. Around 26 people died last month when an overcrowded wooden boat capsized in the Ganges river in eastern Bihar state. More than 100 people lost their lives in 2012 in Assam when a boat sank in the Brahmaputra river during a storm.

Football: Goal-crazy PSG hammer Marseille

Posted:

PARIS (AFP) - Edinson Cavani bagged his 35th goal of a spectacular season as Paris Saint Germain swept aside Marseille 5-1 on Sunday in Le Classique to move second in Ligue 1.The reigning French champions are three points behind prolific league leaders Monaco and level with Nice, but go second thanks to a better goal difference in what has become a three-way tussle for the title.A Stade Velodrome record 65,252 packed into the stands in the hopes of seeing a Marseille side buoyed by fresh investment and the return of Dimitri Payet derail their old rivals title charge.But the vociferous home fans were silenced after just six minutes when skipper Thiago Silva rose to powerfully nod the ball back across goal and fellow Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed home unchallenged.Payet, who forced his way out of West Ham in the winter transfer window for 30 million euros ($32m), had Marseilles first real chance when he flashed a long-distance strike just wide on the quarter hour.A minute later however it was 2-0 when the Argentine attacking midfielder Javier Pastore -- recalled after injury at the expense of Julian Draxler -- cleverly dinked the ball through to Cavani, who poked in past the advancing Yohann Pele in the home goal to continue his deadly form in front of goal.It was the Uruguayan predators 35th goal in all competitions this term and 26th in the league.Cavani might have had a second on 23 minutes as PSG dominated, but he miscued his scissor kick over with the goal gaping.The second half was more of the same and it was 3-0 on 50 minutes when another Brazilian, Lucas Moura, profited from poor defending to prod in from close range.Blaise Matuidi claimed the assist but it was Pastore, back in boss Unai Emerys starting XI and back to fitness, who provided a classy touch on the way.Emery replaced Pastore with Draxler early in the second half and just after the hour the German international made it 4-0, firing in first time after a pinpoint Thomas Meunier cross.Marseille grabbed a 70th-minute consolation through Rod Fanni, before Matuidi made it a rout with the goal of the night, steering the ball into the top corner from just outside the box.The heavy defeat leaves Marseille in seventh.Earlier, Manchester United flop Memphis Depay struck twice as Lyon, a distant fourth, smashed Metz 5-0.Nerveless Fabinho chipped in a late penalty as Monaco beat Guingamp 2-1 away on Saturday to move clear at the top.Nice were also winners, but they made hard work of it too, coming from behind to beat Montpellier 2-1 on Friday.

Football: Zidane hails impact subs in Madrid comeback

Posted:

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hailed the impact of Isco and Alvaro Morata off the bench as the European champions came from 2-0 down at Villarreal on Sunday to win 3-2.Morata completed the comeback after Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo had hauled Madrid level to ensure Zidanes men move back ahead of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.Real hold a one-point lead over their title rivals, who won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, but also have a game in hand.They deserve (to play) more for sure, Zidane said of the Spanish international duo.The did very well, they changed the game. In any case we will need every player between now and the end of the season.They are all up for it. It is a long season, but this shows that everyone is ready when they are called upon.With everything that happened today it was vitally important to get the three points.Real had suffered just their second league defeat of the season at Valencia in midweek.And Zidanes men looked well on course to suffer another reversal when Villarreal struck twice in six minutes early in the second-half through Manu Trigueros and Cedric Bakambu.However, Zidane reacted immediately by introducing Isco for the more defensively minded Casemiro.Having been outplayed for the opening hour, Madrid forced Villarreal onto the back foot and were rewarded when Bales header halved the arrears 25 minutes from time.Ronaldo then smashed home a controversial penalty after Villarreal captain Bruno Soriano was harshly adjudged to have handled inside his own box.And the comeback was complete when Morata, who only replaced Karim Benzema 13 minutes from time, powered home Marcelos cross six minutes later.At 2-0 down you have to change something, added Zidane.It worked out well for us. It allowed us to camp much more in their half.Bale was making his first start for three months and was forced to play almost the full 90 minutes given the circumstances before hobbling off to be replaced by Lucas Vazquez a minute from time.However, Zidane said the Welshman suffered just a knock and should be fine to feature against Las Palmas on Wednesday.Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo was not so fortunate as he appears to have suffered a fourth cruciate knee ligament injury of his career.Asenjo, who has presided over La Ligas best defence, went down after turning Benzemas header to safety midway through the first-half.Asenjo seems to have torn his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his left knee. Its a real shame, said Villarreal coach Fran Escriba.His absence proved vital as back-up keeper Andres Fernandez let Moratas header slip under his body for the winner.Escriba had to watch that goal from the stands after being dismissed from the touchline for taking his protests over the penalty too far.The match was over for us after the penalty, added Escriba.We lost our focus.

Multan: Three dacoits killed in police encounter

Posted:

MULTAN (Dunya News) - At least three dacoits were killed in an alleged police encounter in Jalalpur area near Multan on Sunday, Dunya News reported.According to details, police from Makhdom Rashid Police Station were taking two under-custody dacoits to Jalalpur for recovery of looted goods when their accomplices opened fire at the police party. The under-custody dacoits, Nadeem and Bilal, were killed by the firing of their own accomplices.Police also returned the fire as a result one more dacoit was killed while two other managed to escape from the scene.Police have shifted the bodies of the dacoits to Nishtar Hospital, Multan for autopsy while started a search operation to arrest other dacoits.

Karachi: 10 accused nabbed during police operation

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Crackdown against criminal elements continues in Karachi under National Action Plan (NAP) as police arrested 10 more accused during operation in different parts of the city on Monday, Dunya News reported.According to details, police arrested two dacoits after an encounter in Orangi Town. Police sources said that dacoits were looting residents in Orangi Town when a police party reached there. Dacoits opened fire at the police party. Police returned the fire after which two dacoits were taken into custody.Police conducted an operation in SITE Area and arrested a street criminal. Police sources said that a stolen motorcycle and arms were also recovered from him.Police also carried out an operation in Orangi Town and arrested five accused. Police sources said that the arrested persons were involved in several cases of street crime. Separately, police also apprehended a proclaimed offender from Baldia Town while a drug peddler was taken into custody from Musharraf Colony.

Two bogies of Bolan Express derailed near Sehwan

Posted:

SEHWAN SHARIF (Dunya News) - Bolan Express, going to Karachi from Peshawar, escaped a major disaster when its two bogies were derailed near Sehwan Sharif in the early hours of Monday, Dunya News reported. No loss of life was reported in the accident.The accident disrupted train service at the track and Khushal Express, going to Quetta from Karachi, was stopped at the Sun Railway Station. The passengers faced difficulties due to cold weather and darkness.According to Pakistan Railway sources, rescue teams have been dispatched to clear the railway track.

Pacquiao to fight Amir Khan in 'super fight'

Posted:

LONDON (Reuters) - Multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to fight Britains Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan on April 23, both boxers said on Sunday.The 38-year-old Pacquiao had said four days ago that he and Khans management were in discussions for the fight, despite an earlier announcement the Filipinos next bout would be against Australias Jeff Horn in Brisbane.Pacquiao, however, had said that Horn was one of many possible opponents.Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted, Pacquiao tweeted.The 30-year-old Khan, who won silver as a lightweight at the Athens Olympics, has not fought since last May when he moved up two weight classes to fight middleweight Canelo Alvarez.The much bigger Mexican proved too powerful and the Briton was knocked out in the sixth round and he is likely to drop back to welterweight to fight Pacquiao, who holds the World Boxing Organisation title at the weight.My team and I have agreed terms with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight, Khan said on his Twitter page.Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title last November against American Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas with an unanimous decision.No venue for the fight was announced.

Real battle back to win at Villarreal and stay top of La Liga

Posted:

MADRID (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale both scored as Real Madrid staged a remarkable late comeback from two goals down to win 3-2 at Villarreal and stay top of La Liga on Sunday.Substitute Alvaro Morata got the winner in the 83rd minute to complete a 19-minute turnaround that keeps Zinedine Zidanes side on course for their first La Liga triumph since 2012.Real are top on 55 points, one ahead of Barcelona who beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, and three clear of Sevilla, while Zidanes side have a game in hand on both of their title rivals.Villarreals Manu Trigueros lashed home from inside the area to put the hosts ahead five minutes after the break and Cedric Bakambu doubled the lead in the 57th with a fine finish past Keylor Navas, though he was fortunate not to be ruled offside.Real looked destined for a second loss in a week on the east coast after Wednesdays 2-1 reverse at Valencia but Bale, making his first start since November, headed a goal back in the 64th before Ronaldo levelled with a penalty 10 minutes later.Morata then headed Marcelos cross under Villarreals substitute goalkeeper Andres Fernandez, who had replaced first choice Sergio Asenjo when he sustained a muscle injury after making a stunning save to deny Karim Benzema.

Tennis: Murray says fully fit for Dubai ATP

Posted:

DUBAI (AFP) - Andy Murray leads a trio of Grand Slam champions into the Dubai Tennis Championships, their first matches since the Australian Open, with the Scot now fully fit after a bout of shingles.The world number one revealed on Sunday that he had consulted doctors in London earlier this month about the painful skin condition upon his return following a fourth-round Melbourne loss to Mischa Zverev. Im fine now, Ive been training flat-out for the past few weeks, Murray said in Dubai after light rain interrupted preparations for the tournament starting Monday.He said he had had to go easy for a little while.I didnt notice anything anyway until I got back from Australia.Murray, 29, the top seed, begins his campaign in the Gulf against Tunisian Malek Jaziri in the first round. Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland is seeded second with compatriot and seven-time champion Roger Federer third.I know him fairly well but Ive never trained with him, hes very talented with big forehand, Murray said of Jaziri.Murray, losing finalist to Federer five years ago here, is competing in the emirate for the first time since 2015, when he lost a quarter-final to Borna Coric. Defending champion Wawrinka is on the way back from injury which kept him from the Rotterdam indoor event earlier this month. Federer will be testing himself with back-to-back matches after his historic Australian Open title. This is a little bit of the unknown, the 35-year-old Swiss said. Ive said its going to take me until April to know exactly where I stand and see if I feel my best. Im still a work in progress, lets see how my body will react. My recent weeks in the Swiss Alps means Im fresh again.Wawrinka takes on Damir Dzumhur while Federer opens against Frenchman Benoit Paire, whom he has defeated three times but last played four years ago.Frances Gael Monfils will make the quick-change from Marseille indoors to take part as fourth seed, ahead of Czech Tomas Berdych and Spains sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut, crowned Chennai champion in January.

Tennis: Sock takes Delray Beach title as injured Raonic withdraws

Posted:

MIAMI (AFP) - Jack Sock claimed his second ATP title of 2017 on Sunday as top-seeded Milos Raonic withdrew before the Delray Beach Open final with a torn hamstring.Canadas Raonic, ranked fourth in the world, was playing his first tournament since suffering his fourth adductor muscle injury in 12 months at the Australian Open in January.Raonic told the Tennis Channel he was hurt in a semi-final win over former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro on Saturday night.I didnt think much of it, Raonic said. I thought it was just tightness from the match, but this morning I woke up unable to walk properly and did quite extensive treatment with my team.We came down to the conclusion that it was a slight tear of the hamstring in my right leg.Sock, who added a second title of the year to the one he lifted in Auckland in January, called it very unfortunate.Weve had a lot of good battles and I was looking forward to the challenge, added Sock, who claimed a third career ATP title and is projected to reach a career-high 18 in the world rankings on Monday.Id be a little more excited and full of energy if I had gone out and won it on court, but on the flip side, a title is a title.Sock said that Raonic notified him personally about the withdrawal shortly before he was to warm up for the match.He said he was surprised after seeing Raonic defeat former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the semi-finals on Saturday night.Im sure Milos would have loved to play, but youve got to look ahead with some big tournaments coming up, Sock said.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)