Thursday 9 February 2017

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Dunya TV

In call with Putin, Trump denounced Obama-era nuclear arms treaty - sources

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WASHINTON (Reuters) - In his first call as president with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump denounced a treaty that caps U.S. and Russian deployment of nuclear warheads as a bad deal for the United States, according to two U.S. officials and one former U.S. official with knowledge of the call.When Putin raised the possibility of extending the 2010 treaty, known as New START, Trump paused to ask his aides in an aside what the treaty was, these sources said.Trump then told Putin the treaty was one of several bad deals negotiated by the Obama administration, saying that New START favored Russia. Trump also talked about his own popularity, the sources said.The White House declined to comment on the details of the call. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump knew what the New START treaty is but had turned to his aides for an opinion during the call with Putin. He said the notes from the call would not have conveyed that.I would say they had a very productive call, Spicer told reporters. He added, It wasn’t like he didn’t know what was being said. He wanted an opinion on something.It has not been previously reported that Trump had conveyed his doubt about New START to Putin in the hour-long call.New START gives both countries until February 2018 to reduce their deployed strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 1,550, the lowest level in decades. It also limits deployed land- and submarine-based missiles and nuclear-capable bombers.During a debate in the 2016 presidential election, Trump said Russia had outsmarted the United States with the treaty, which he called START-Up. He asserted incorrectly then that it had allowed Russia to continue to produce nuclear warheads while the United States could not.Two Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, senators Jeanne Shaheen and Edward J. Markey, criticized Trump for deriding what they called a key nuclear arms control accord.“It’s impossible to overstate the negligence of the president of the United States not knowing basic facts about nuclear policy and arms control,” Shaheen said in a statement. New START has unquestionably made our country safer, an opinion widely shared by national security experts on both sides of the aisle.Daryl Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a Washington-based advocacy group, said: Unfortunately, Mr. Trump appears to be clueless about the value of this key nuclear risk reduction treaty and the unique dangers of nuclear weapons.Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he supported the treaty during his Senate confirmation hearings.During the hearings Tillerson said it was important for the United States to stay engaged with Russia, hold them accountable to commitments made under the New START and also ensure our accountability as well.Two of the people who described the conversation were briefed by current administration officials who read detailed notes taken during the call. One of the two was shown portions of the notes. A third source was also briefed on the call.Reuters has not reviewed the notes taken of the call, which are classified.The Kremlin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.CONCERNS OVER PHONE CALLSThe phone call with Putin has added to concerns that Trump is not adequately prepared for discussions with foreign leaders.Typically, before a telephone call with a foreign leader, a president receives a written in-depth briefing paper drafted by National Security Council staff after consultations with the relevant agencies, including the State Department, Pentagon and intelligence agencies, two former senior officials said.Just before the call, the president also usually receives an oral pre-briefing from his national security adviser and top subject-matter aide, they said.Trump did not receive a briefing from Russia experts with the NSC and intelligence agencies before the Putin call, two of the sources said. Reuters was unable to determine if Trump received a briefing from his national security adviser Michael Flynn.In the phone call, the Russian leader raised the possibility of reviving talks on a range of disputes and suggested extending New START, the sources said.New START can be extended for another five years, beyond 2021, by mutual agreement. Unless they agree to do that or negotiate new cuts, the world’s two biggest nuclear powers would be freed from the treaty’s limits, potentially setting the stage for a new arms race.New START was ratified by the U.S. Senate in December 2010 by a vote of 71 to 26. Thirteen Republican senators joined all of the Senate’s Democrats in voting for the treaty, although Republican opponents derided it as naive.The call with Putin was one of several with foreign leaders where Trump has turned to denounce deals negotiated by previous administrations on trade, acceptance of refugees and arms control.In a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump questioned an agreement reached by the Obama administration to accept 1,250 refugees now being held by Australia in offshore detention centers.

US general wants thousands more troops to break Afghan stalemate

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top US commander in Afghanistan said on Thursday he needs several thousand more international troops in order to break a stalemate in the long war with Taliban insurgents, signaling the matter may soon be put before President Donald Trump.So far, Trump has offered little clarity about whether he might approve more forces for Afghanistan, where some 8,400 U.S. troops remain more than 15 years after the Islamist Taliban government was toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces.A U.S. soldier was severely wounded in fighting in Afghanistan on Thursday, the military said.Army General John Nicholson, who leads U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, acknowledged Taliban gains over the past year, when deployed U.S. forces were reduced even as security deteriorated.Nicholson said he still had enough U.S. troops to carry out counterterrorism missions against al Qaeda and other militant targets, but not enough to properly advise Afghan forces on the ground.We have a shortfall of a few thousand, Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee.He added that those forces could both be drawn from the United States and from allies. Still, any increase of several thousand troops would leave American forces in Afghanistan well below their 2011 peak of more than 100,000 troops.Nicholson noted that Trumps defense secretary, Jim Mattis, would soon speak with allies and suggested Mattis might visit Afghanistan in the coming weeks.That could help Mattis prepare his own recommendation to the Republican president, who has sharply criticized past U.S. administrations for their handling of conflicts in the Muslim world but has also pledged to eradicate militant Islamists around the globe.Trumps Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, was often criticized by Republicans in Congress for focusing too much on driving down U.S. troop numbers in an attempt to force Afghan soldiers to become more self-sufficient.For too long our strategy in Afghanistan has been: Dont lose, said Senator John McCain, who chairs the Armed Services Committee.Asked at one point whether a Trump administration might be more open to deciding on things like U.S. troop numbers based on concrete objectives and conditions on the ground, Nicholson responded: Yes, sir.

Japan's Abe arrives in US ahead of summit with Trump

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MARYLAND (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday evening ahead of a summit with US President Donald Trump.Abe is expected to propose new cabinet level US-Japan talks on trade, security and macroeconomic issues, including currencies, during their meeting on Friday, a Japanese government official involved in planning the summit said.After meeting in Washington, Abe and Trump were scheduled to travel to Palm Beach, Florida, to stay at Trumps Mar-a-Lago retreat and play golf on Saturday.The US official said any discussion on Trumps strategy towards North Koreas nuclear programme is premature but urged Pyongyang not to take provocative actions. Any such actions would help inform Trumps strategy, the official said.

Russian bombing mistake kills three Turkish soldiers in Syria

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ANKARA (Reuters) - Russian air strikes accidentally killed three Turkish soldiers during an operation against Islamic State in Syria on Thursday, the Turkish military said, highlighting the risk of unintended clashes between the numerous outside powers in a complex war.During an operation by a Russia Federation warplane against Islamic State targets in the region of the Euphrates Shield operation in Syria, a bomb accidentally hit a building used by Turkish Army units, the Turkish military said in a statement. Eleven other soldiers were wounded.The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had called Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan and expressed his condolences, blaming the incident on poor coordination between Moscow and Ankara.Besides Russia and Turkey, the foreign powers embroiled in Syrias increasingly convoluted six-year-old war include Lebanons Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed militias, and members of a U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State.Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey supports the rebels opposing him. In 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian air force jet that it said had crossed into Turkish airspace, though Moscow denied that happened.The two countries have since repaired relations, and Thursdays Kremlin statement said the two leaders had agreed to step up military coordination against Islamic State.U.S. Vice President Mike Pence expressed condolences for the Turkish losses in a call with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, in which they discussed cooperation in the fight against terrorism, Yildirims office said.Turkish-backed Syrian rebels meanwhile pursued a major offensive against the IS-held Syrian city of al-Bab, 30 km (20 miles) south of the border with Turkey. Their advances risk putting them in conflict with Syrian government forces also closing in on the city from the south.A rebel commander said fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), working with Turkish commanders, were moving forward from territory near the western gates of al-Bab, which they had stormed on Wednesday.The battles began a short while ago to complete what had been achieved yesterday, said a commander of a leading FSA group fighting in al-Bab, who requested anonymity.The capture of the town would deepen Turkeys influence in an area of northern Syria where it has created a de facto buffer zone. It launched its Euphrates Shield operation in August, backing Syrian rebels with special forces, tanks and aircraft to sweep Islamic State from its border area and stop the advance of a Kurdish militia.Al-Bab is a major economic hub for the militants and lies on a key crossroads for the region north of Aleppo. Syrias army secured a string of villages on the southern edge of the city on Thursday, state media said.The Turkish military said it had killed 44 militants in aerial and artillery strikes and clashes in northern Syria. Five Turkish soldiers were killed in the clashes, the private Turkish news agency Dogan said.

US general calls for review of relationship with Pakistan

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top US commander in Afghanistan said on Thursday that there was a need for a holistic review of the relationship with Pakistan, potentially opening the door for a new approach to one of Americas most vexing alliances.Experts said the remarks by Army General John Nicholson, who leads U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, could signal a harsher policy toward Pakistan under President Donald Trumps administration.However, they warned that such an approach could be a high-risk strategy that could threaten the long-term stability of the region.Our complex relationship with Pakistan is best assessed through a holistic review, Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee.He added that ties with Pakistan would be a priority in his discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and the White House, which has given little details on its strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.The United States has cut both military and economic aid to Pakistan sharply in recent years, reflecting mounting frustration among a growing number of officials with the countrys support for the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan.The tools that will get Pakistan to hurt so badly, that it would want to do what the U.S. is asking, is a very high-risk proposition in terms of what happens within Pakistan, said Moeed Yusuf, the associate vice president of the Asia Center at the United States Institute of Peace.Yusuf said the review would likely lead to a harsher U.S. policy toward Pakistan and could include looking at reducing the level of economic assistance and military support, increasing the number of drone strikes along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and sanctions against Pakistani individuals.U.S. policy makers, deep down inside, they realize Pakistan is more important than Afghanistan in the long term, Yusuf said.A report released earlier this week from the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, called for a new U.S. approach to Pakistan with the Trump administration making it more and more costly for Pakistani leaders to employ a strategy of supporting terrorist proxies to achieve regional strategic goals.Nicholsons comments on Pakistan come as Afghan government forces control no more than two-thirds of national territory, and have struggled to contain the Taliban insurgency since the bulk of NATO soldiers withdrew at the end of 2014.

Lahore: 8 wounded in accident at Raiwind Road

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – According to details, collision between two vehicles at the Raiwind Road in Lahore on Thursday night left eight people injured, Dunya News reported.The eye-witnesses said that the two vehicles collided as both the drivers lost control due to over-speeding.Rescue teams reached the spot after the accident and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital where condition of three wounded persons is stated to be critical.

Gujranwala: Mother abandons baby girl at Civil Hospital

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GUJRANWALA (Dunya News) – A woman left her five-month-old baby girl at the children ward of the Civil Hospital Gujranwala and fled away, Dunya News reported.The hospital administration informed police when the woman didn’t return after more than 12 hours. The medical staff at the hospital also informed that the woman used a fake name and address at the time of baby’s admission at the hospital.Doctors attending the abandoned child said that she is doing well after the treatment. Police have started investigation to find the heirs of the child.

Cold and dry weather likely in most parts of country

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted dry and cold weather in most parts of the country during the next 24 hours, Dunya News reported.According to PMD, weather in most parts of the country remained cold and dry in the past 24 hours. However, rain with snowfall over the hills occurred at isolated places in Malakand, Hazara divisions, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Parachinar remained the coldest city in the country with -09°C temperature.

In setback for Trump, judges reject travel ban

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump suffered a legal blow on Thursday when a federal appeals court refused to reinstate his executive order temporarily banning people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that the Trump administration failed to offer any evidence that national security concerns justified immediately restoring the ban, which he launched two weeks ago.Shortly after the court issued its 29-page ruling, Trump tweeted: SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE He told reporters his administration ultimately would win the case and dismissed the ruling as political.The 9th Circuit ruling, upholding last Friday’s decision by U.S. District Judge James Robart to suspend the order, does not resolve the lawsuit. It relates only to whether to lift an emergency halt to Trump’s order put in place by a lower court.Trump, a Republican who took office on Jan. 20, faces long odds in getting the ban restored while litigation over his executive order proceeds. To ultimately win, the Justice Department will have to present evidence that people from those countries represent a domestic threat, legal experts said.In its ruling on Thursday, the 9th Circuit said the government had so far failed to show that any person from the seven countries had perpetrated a terrorist attack in the United States.Trump’s Jan. 27 order, the most divisive action of his young presidency, sparked protests and chaos at U.S. and overseas airports on the weekend after it was issued. It was challenged by the states of Washington and Minnesota, which argued it violated constitutional protections against religious discrimination.The Justice Department, which spoke for the administration at oral argument on Tuesday, said it was reviewing Thursday’s decision and considering its options.Asked about Trump’s tweet, Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said: We have seen him in court twice, and we’re two for two.Trump says his executive order aims to head off attacks by Islamist militants. He has voiced frustration at the legal challenge to his order, calling Robart a so-called judge whose ridiculous opinion essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country.The 9th Circuit judges said more legal arguments would be needed to decide the actual fate of Trump’s order.While the court said it could not decide whether the order discriminated against a particular religion until the case had been “fully briefed, it added that the states had presented evidence of “numerous statements” by the president “about his intent to implement a ‘Muslim ban.’”The administration argued that the courts do not have access to the same classified information about threats to the country that the president does. The judges countered that “courts regularly receive classified information under seal.”The three judges said the states had shown that even temporary reinstatement of the ban would cause harm.FINAL OUTCOME ‘NOT CERTAIN’Curbing entry to the United States as a national security measure was a central premise of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, originally proposed as a temporary ban on all Muslims.U.S. presidents have in the past claimed sweeping powers to fight terrorism, but the 9th Circuit on Thursday wrote that courts have the authority to review whether the president violated the Constitution.Two of the three 9th Circuit judges were appointees of former Democratic Presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, and one was appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush.The government has 14 days to ask the 9th Circuit to have a larger panel of judges review the decision en banc, or appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will likely determine the case’s final outcome.But it would need five of the eight justices to vote in favor of suspending the travel ban during litigation. That is likely to be a tall order as the court is evenly divided 4-4 between liberals and conservatives, meaning the administration would need to win over at least one of the liberal justices.Senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News: It’s an interim ruling and we’re fully confident that now that we will get our day in court and have an opportunity to argue this on the merits we will prevail.Asked if the administration would go to the Supreme Court, she said: “I can’t comment on that. ... He will be conferring with the lawyers and make that decision.”The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said Trump’s policies still pose a threat to communities of color, religious minorities, women, and others.Democrats, the minority party in Congress, celebrated.This Administration’s recklessness has already done significant harm to families, and undermined our fight against terror, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said in an emailed statement.But Tom Fitton from the conservative group Judicial Watch said on Twitter: The Ninth Circuit ruling is a dangerous example of judicial overreach.

Murray to return to Davis Cup action against France

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LONDON (Reuters) - Britains world number one Andy Murray will play against France in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in April after missing the first-round victory against Canada last weekend.The tie against Canada was tricky, Murray, who was surprisingly beaten by Germanys Mischa Zverev in the fourth round of the Australian Open, told Sky Sports.I needed to have a break, I was definitely tired when I got back from Australia and my body was pretty pleased I took some time off. But away to France, after Miami, Im into the swing of things and Ive had enough rest.Murray was instrumental in Britain winning the Davis Cup in 2015 when he won all 11 rubbers in four rounds.In Murrays absence Britain beat Canada 3-2 last weekend while France defeated Japan 4-1.The two nations met at the same stage in 2015 with Britain winning at home on grass at Queens Club.France are likely to choose clay for the tie.

Nadal pulls out of Rotterdam Open to rest

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MADRID (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from next weeks Rotterdam Open after being advised by doctors to rest, he said on Thursday.The Spanish world number six, who lost in five sets to old rival Roger Federer in the Australian Open final last month, was left out of Spains Davis Cup squad for their World Group first-round tie against Croatia last weekend due to fatigue.I am very sorry to announce I wont be able to play in Rotterdam next week, Nadal said on Twitter.After last years absence from some tournaments, I started this season well and made a significant effort during the Australian swing, he added.Its because of this that my doctors have strongly advised me to take it easy and give enough rest to my body before competing again to avoid further injuries. I fully understand that the Dutch fans will be disappointed.A wrist injury cut short Nadals season in 2016.

Football: Red-card Suarez to miss Spanish Cup final

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona striker Luis Suarez will miss the Spanish Cup final after picking up a two-match tournament ban for his sending off and subsequent refusal to go to the dressing rooms in a tense semi-final with Atletico Madrid in midweek.The Uruguayan picked up a second yellow card for elbowing in a heated semi-final second leg.He took way too long to leave the pitch and then when he did he hung out in the tunnel instead of going to the changing rooms, the Spanish Federation explained when giving Suarez a two-game ban instead of one.Suarez scored the goal that gave Barca a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou on Tuesday to secure a 3-2 aggregate win.The defending champions now play Alaves on May 27 in their fourth straight final. Suarez will miss that game as well as the opening tie in next seasons Spanish Cup.

Golf: Willett takes route 66 in Malaysia

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Reigning US Masters champion Danny Willett shot a six-under-par 66 for his best round this year to lie three strokes behind Scotlands Marc Warren at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia on Thursday.Willett was tied third with five others on the leaderboard including Malaysias Arie Irawan and American Peter Uihlein, while Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai came in second place, two shots behind Warren.Willett started the year by missing out on the Abu Dhabi Championship cut and finished a lowly 54th at the Dubai Desert Classic which he had won in 2016.It was good, its always nice to get out early when youre in Malaysia, said Willett, ranked number 15 in the world.It was still roasting hot this morning but the wind stays calm for the first hour or so and allows you to get some shots in there nice and close. The wind picked up a bit towards the end and it plays a little trickier around here.Warren was on fire despite the sweltering heat and humidity at Kuala Lumpurs Saujana Golf & Country Club, dropping in seven birdies and an eagle for a 63.I got off to a really nice start, six under for the first nine holes. Once the wind picked up on the back nine it was just a case of staying solid and hitting the greens, said Warren.Phachara, whose name means diamond in Thai, could not believe he managed a 65, thanks to eight birdies.I didnt think I could shoot seven under. This course is a tough course. One or two under would be good and if I can make the cut, Ill be happy, said the 17-year-old.

Referee mishap at Nitro Series leaves headliner Bolt fuming

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MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The second instalment of the Nitro Athletics Series ended in farce in Melbourne on Thursday, with a referee error that initially awarded the Australia team top ranking for the night by mistake, leaving headline athlete Usain Bolt fuming.In the final 4x100 metres relay event at Lakeside Stadium, Australia were disqualified for a botched baton change and Bolts All-Stars won the race comfortably. But the hosts were erroneously awarded points that left them at the top of the table at the expense of the Jamaicans team.The mishap was eventually corrected, awarding the night to the All-Stars, but not before the live broadcast of the event had finished and most of the crowd of 6,500 spectators, including IAAF President Sebastian Coe, had filed out of the stadium.Bolt, who ran the third leg of the relay, was incredulous.(Its) because it’s Australia. It’s biased Bolt yelled at trackside officials before the result was corrected. I’m going to protest that - it makes no sense.I don’t know what happened. I thought if you were DQ’d you’d be out (of the race) for sure or even lose some points but you can’t not lose any points, he said.Organisers said the error lay with an Australian referee.Bolt was paid a seven-figure appearance fee to commit to all three meetings of the series in Melbourne this month and given a stake in the company running the event.The series opening night last Saturday was hailed as a success, with solid television ratings and a decent crowd. But the organisers may hope to move on quickly from the second.The scoring problem followed confusion during the womens mile elimination race, which saw one of the runners leave the track in error, wrongly believing she had been knocked out for crossing the line last behind the other runners.Adding to the confusion, New Zealander Camille Buscomb, running for the All-Stars, ran back on to the track to re-join the race which was won by Australias Heidi See.Eight-times Olympic gold medallist Bolt, in his farewell season, has run only in the relays in the opening two nights of the series, but he held out the possibility he might run in the 150 metres sprint in the series finale on Saturday.Ill probably have to double up depending on how this meeting goes, he said.Im not in the best of shape, but the more I run the better I feel. For me Im just taking it a month at a time, trying to enjoy that its my last season. Im not trying to overthink anything or trying to stress myself.

Football: British MPs vote 'no confidence' in English FA

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LONDON (AFP) - British lawmakers passed a motion of no confidence in the Football Association on Thursday after calls for the government to pass legislation forcing Englands governing body to reform.Damian Collins from the ruling Conservative party tabled the motion and told the House of Commons in London the government should intervene to shake up the FA because turkeys wont vote for Christmas.But although members of parliament passed the vote, which is non-binding, sports minister Tracey Crouch said it was premature.Crouch has given the FA until April to overhaul its board and council or risk losing around £30 million (US$37.5 million) in funding.FA chairman Greg Clarke has vowed to step down if the government is not satisfied with his efforts to drive through reform.In a statement released after Thursdays debate, which was only attended by around 20 ministers, he said: I watched the debate and respect the opinions of the MPs.As previously stated, we remain committed to reforming governance at the FA to the agreed timescale of the (sports) minister.Five former senior FA executives have criticised the organisation for failing to self-reform.David Bernstein, David Davies, Greg Dyke, Alex Horne and David Triesman said the FA was outdated, held back by elderly white men and unable to counter the power of the Premier League.Any direct intervention by the British parliament would be likely to attract the attention of world governing body FIFA, which forbids national governments from interfering with the governance of the game.
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