Thursday 27 July 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Sharapova gets Cincinnati wildcard

Posted:

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Maria Sharapova was Thursday handed a wildcard into the Cincinnati WTA tournament, a key warm-up for the US Open, the seasons final Grand Slam which has yet to guarantee the Russian star a place.Former world number one and five-time Grand Slam title winner Sharapova is still rebuilding her career following a 15-month doping ban which ended in April.Injury then ruled her out of contention for Wimbledon where she had been due to play qualifying after French Open organisers had refused her a wildcard.The Cincinnati event, which runs from August 12-20, also granted a wildcard to Victoria Azarenka, the two-time major winner who only recently returned to the tour after maternity leave.The addition of these players add to our already strong player field, said tournament director Andre Silva.We anticipate the WTAs No. 1 ranking to be on the line during the tournament and adding players of this calibre will make the battle for the top spot even more compelling.Sharapova, 30, was champion in Cincinnati in 2011 with Azarenka taking the title two tears later.Sharapova, now ranked 173 in the world, hasnt played since being injured in Rome in May but will return next week at the Stanford tournament.The Russian star tested positive for meldonium, a heart and blood boosting drug, at the 2016 Australian Open. She said that she had taken it for several years and did not know it had been placed on the banned list at the beginning of 2016.Sharapova was issued a two-year suspension, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban on appeal.On her return to the sport in Stuttgart in April, she reached the semi-finals.However, she has relied on wildcards to play in events with many players critical of the decision to invite her against the background of her doping ban.

Tennis: Jankovic melts away in China

Posted:

BEIJING (AFP) - Former world number one Jelena Jankovic wilted in fierce heat in southeastern China, bowing out in the second round of the Jiangxi Open on Thursday in three gruelling sets. The Serb sixth seed raced into a 6-2 first-set lead against home hope and qualifier Lu Jingjing before temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius (102F) on the Nanchang hard courts began to take their toll. An ailing Jankovic, 32, called for a medical timeout in the second set as the match started to drift away from her. Lu romped the set 6-1 to level the match and kept her cool to win the decider 6-2 and earn a place in the last eight. In the quarter-finals Lu will face Nao Hibino after the Japanese progressed when third seed Kristyna Pliskova, twin sister of world number one Karolina, retired with a hand injury. The WTA tournament is wide open following the exit on Wednesday of top seed Zhang Shuai of China.

Golf: Dizzy spells hinder Kuchar as five share Canadian Open lead

Posted:

MONTREAL (AFP) - Matt Kuchars hopes of regaining his balance in the wake of a crushing British Open defeat by Jordan Spieth took a hit Thursday as dizziness hindered his opening round at the Canadian Open.The American teed off on 10 at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontario, and was four-under through 11 holes before he began to feel light-headed late in the round.After receiving medical attention he completed a one-under par 71, which left him six shots off the lead shared by Hudson Swafford, Brandon Hagy, Matt Every, Kevin Chappell and Ollie Schniederjans.Swafford rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt at the 18th to cap his seven-under 65.Its gettable, Swafford said after posting eight birdies on the rain-softened course, where thunderstorms halted play for almost two hours in the afternoon.Its about as gettable as Ive seen this golf course. The greens were perfect, so you can make some putts. I was just trying to give myself as many chances as possible.His assessment was borne out by the crowded leaderboard.Hagy also posted eight birdies with one bogey in a seven-under effort while Every had seven birdies without a bogey and Chappell had two eagles, four birdies and a bogey.Schneiderjans was the last to join the leading group with a round that included two eagles and three birdies.He wrapped up shortly before darkness halted play with more than a dozen players still on the course. They were to return Friday morning to complete the round.Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson led a group of 11 players in the clubhouse one shot off the lead on six-under 66, nabbing six birdies without a bogey.Watson played alongside Kuchar and said the Sunday duel with Spieth at Royal Birkdale followed by a trans-Atlantic trip probably took a toll on his fellow American.But hes a strong competitor and hes fighting through it, Watson said. Hell be ready to go by tomorrow and the weekend.Kuchar said he didnt think the trouble had anything to do with the quick turnaround from Royal Birkdale, where he came up three strokes short of his first major title.Ive had plenty of time to get over the travel, said Kuchar, who made a double-bogey six at the third and bogeyed his penultimate hole, the eighth. Hopefully its just something that passes real quick.Even if he does regain his equilibrium, the jammed leaderboard means there are plenty of players between Kuchar and the leaders.World number one Dustin Johnson was among 15 players in the clubhouse on five-under 67, a group that also included Englands Ian Poulter.

Yemeni rebel missile shot down near Mecca: Arab coalition

Posted:

RIYADH (AFP) - A ballistic missile fired by Yemeni rebels was shot down late Thursday close to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, a month before the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Islams holiest site, the Arab military coalition fighting in Yemen said.The missile was intercepted 69 kilometres (43 miles) south of the city in western Saudi Arabia, the coalition said in a statement, calling it a desperate attempt by Shiite Huthi rebels to disrupt Hajj, which begins at the end of August.Occasional ballistic missile attacks, as well as more frequent short-range rocket fire over the southern border, have in the past been conducted after coalition air strikes against the rebels in Yemen.It is not the first time rebels have fired in the direction of Mecca.In October they launched one of their longest-range strikes against Saudi Arabia, firing a ballistic missile that was brought down near the holy city, an attack condemned by Riyadhs Gulf allies.But the new attack is thought to pose a threat ahead of Hajj, when some two million faithful from across the world will visit the site.The Huthi rebels and their allies, former members of Yemens security forces linked to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, began retaliatory attacks against the kingdom two years ago.The Saudi-lead coalition intervened in the country in March 2015 to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who says the rebels are supported by its regional arch-rival Iran.

Iran in 'successful' test of satellite-launch rocket

Posted:

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran on Thursday successfully tested a satellite-launch rocket, days after warning Washington of a response to new US sanctions over the Islamic republics ballistic missile programme, state television said.It said the launch vehicle, named Simorgh after a bird in Iranian mythology, was capable of propelling a satellite weighing 250 kilograms (550 pounds) to an altitude of 500 kilometres (300 miles) above earth.The launch marked the official inauguration of Irans Imam Khomeini space centre, named after the late founder of the Islamic republic, built for sending satellites into space, the television said.State television broadcast footage of the takeoff from the space centre in eastern Irans Semnan province, the site of past such launches.The centre, whose exact location was not disclosed, is on an immense site used for the preparation, launch, control and guidance of all satellite launch vehicles, said the defence ministry which is in charge of Irans space programme.We can do it, read a slogan on the rocket.Western states suspect Iran of developing the technology capable of launching long-range ballistic missiles with conventional or nuclear payloads, a charge denied by Tehran which insists its space programme has purely peaceful aims.Irans four other launches of domestically produced satellites since 2009 have all sparked condemnation in the West.Hours after Irans latest announcement, the United States called the launch an act that undermined regional stability and said it appeared to violate UN Security Council resolutions.We consider that to be continued ballistic missile development, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters. We consider this to be provocative action.Nauert added that if confirmed, the test could be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.Tensions have mounted between Washington and Tehran, which severed diplomatic ties after Irans 1979 Islamic revolution, since US President Donald Trump took office six months ago.President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Iran would respond in kind to any breach by the United States of a 2015 nuclear deal after the House of Representatives passed a new sanctions bill.If the enemy steps over part of the agreement, we will do the same, and if they step over the entire deal, we will do the same too, Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting.The Iranian parliaments national security and foreign affairs committee said it would hold an extraordinary session on Saturday to discuss its formal response.The parliament voted earlier this month to fast-track a bill introduced in June that would increase funds for Irans missile programme and Revolutionary Guards.We must always develop our defence capability and we will strengthen our defensive weapons regardless of the opinion of others, Rouhani said.The US House passed a new sanctions bill on Tuesday targeting the Revolutionary Guards over its missile programme.As part of its space programme, Iran has also sent two capsules into space, the first in February 2010 carrying a rat, tortoises and insects, and the other in January 2013 when a monkey was sent into space and returned to earth safely, according to official media.

Qatar accuses Gulf states of 'stubbornness', wants UN to help

Posted:

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Qatars foreign minister on Thursday accused Gulf neighbors and Egypt of stubbornness in their ongoing diplomatic dispute and said the United Nations should step in to help resolve the crisis.Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York to discuss tensions after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5.The four countries accuse Qatar of backing extremism and have imposed sanctions against Doha in what the foreign minister said was a serious violation of international law.There is a role for the Security Council and for the General Assembly and all the United Nations mechanisms, because of course the violations have continued, the foreign minister told reporters after his meeting with Guterres.We are seeing from the other side of the conflict this stubbornness without even taking any forthcoming step to solve this problem, he said.Last month Al-Thani met with several Security Council members to lobby for support, but the council and Guterres have repeatedly stressed that a solution should be found among regional partners.Kuwait has been trying to mediate the crisis and several top Western diplomats have toured the region to try to defuse the row, including US Secretary of States Rex Tillerson.This is the right place where we have to start to seek all our options in order to find a legal solution, said the foreign minister.Qatar has already stated more than ten times that we want to solve this issue by dialogue, and we are not willing to escalate, and they need to retreat from all their illegal actions, he said.The crisis between the regional allies is the worst to hit the Gulf in decades.On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and its allies unveiled a terrorist blacklist of 18 organizations and individuals suspected of links to Islamist extremism tied to Qatar.The countries have demanded that Qatar break its longstanding ties with the Muslim Brotherhood -- blacklisted as a terror group by the four governments, although not by the international community.They also demanded that it close broadcasting giant Al-Jazeera and a Turkish military base, and fall in line with Saudi-led policy in the region, particularly towards Iran.Qatar has dismissed the demands as a violation of its sovereignty and has received significant support from its ally Turkey.

Putin says Russia will respond to 'insolence' of US sanctions

Posted:

SAVONLINNA (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow will ultimately have to respond to sanctions imposed by the United States that he condemned as insolent towards Russia.We are behaving in a very restrained and patient way, but at some moment we will need to respond, Putin said at a news conference after talks with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto.He complained that its impossible to endlessly tolerate this kind of insolence towards our country, referring to tougher US sanctions that were backed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.This practice is unacceptable -- it destroys internatioanl relations and international law, Putin said of sanctions.Nevertheless he did not give any detail on what Russias response could be, saying simply: we will see, adding that he had not seen the final version of the US sanctions bill.The US legislation is aimed at punishing the Kremlin for allegedly meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, and Russias annexation of Crimea.It is expected to be passed by the Senate, after which US President Donald Trump will face the tricky choice of whether to veto the legislation.The Russian strongman criticised the probe into Russian meddling in the US presidential election, saying that he does not see this as an investigation.Instead he said, the probe bears witness to a rise in anti-Russian hysteria in Washington.At the same time he said he regretted Russias worsening relations with the United States.In answer to your question on whether I regret the worsening of relations with the US, I can give a direct answer: of course, we do regret it very much, he told a journalist.Its a great pity that Russian-US relations are being sacrificed to resolve questions of domestic politics, Putin said, specifying that in this case, it is the battle between President Trump and his political opponents.The two countries acting in agreement could solve very acute problems much more effectively that concern the people both of Russia and the US, Putin said, specifying the settlement of acute international crises (and) the fight with terrorism.He said he hoped todays state of affairs will end at some point and we will move on to a new quality of relations, we will strengthen them and build them up in the interests of the peoples of the US and Russia.

Islamabad: Security beefed up ahead of Panama case verdict

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Authorities in the federal capital Islamabad have made special arrangement for the Supreme Court, which is going to announce Panama case verdict today (Friday).According to a police spokesman, special contingents of Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and police will be deployed inside and outside the Supreme Court premises for the security purpose.He also informed that entry in the court premises would only be allowed through passes, which were being issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.Even journalists who regularly cover Supreme Court proceedings will be allowed to enter with passes while no unauthorised person will be allowed to enter the capital’s Red Zone.

Panama case verdict: PTI calls off protests

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has taken back its announcement to hold symbolic protests in various cities across the country to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.The decision to call off protests came right after media reported that Panama case verdict will be announced today (Friday). The original 5-member bench including Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar Ahmed will announce the decision at 11:30 am today.PTI leaders had previously announced that they will arrange protest camps ib different cities across the country from today. Their aim was to force PM Nawaz resign before the Supreme Court gives its final verdict.Meanwhile, several PTI leaders have claimed that the press conference of Chaudhry Nisar on Thursday has damaged the ruling PML-N as he announced to resign the day SC announces Panama case verdict.

Supreme Court to announce Panama case verdict today

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Supreme Court of Pakistan will announce its verdict in the Panama Papers leaks case involving Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family today (Friday), Dunya News reported.The five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan will announce the decision at 11.30 am in courtroom No 1.The decision had been reserved on July 21 after the three-member executionary bench comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Ejaz Afzal and Justice Ijaz ul-Hassan heard the arguments of both the parties on Joint Investigation Team and reserved the decision.The decision will be announced by the original 5-member bench comprising the 3-member executionary bench along with Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Gulzar.On April 20, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had announced Panama Leaks case decision comprising 540 pages, saying that the court issued a split ruling calling for a JIT. Two of the five judges went further, branding Sharif dishonest and saying he should be disqualified, but they were outnumbered.The court formed six-member inquiry team that included Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Additional Director General Wajid Zia, Military Intelligence’s Brig Kamran Khurshid, National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Director Irfan Naeem Mangi, State Bank of Pakistan’s Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) Executive Director Bilal Rasool and Inter-Services Intelligence’s Brig Muhammad Nauman Saeed.The JIT members during the seven-week period interrogated eight members of Sharif family including Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, daughter Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law Captain Safdar, cousin Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and brother-in-law Ishaq Dar and submitted its report on July 10.As the six-member JIT submitted its final report before SC on July 10, a three member bench comprising Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan then heard the case for five days during which counsel of the petitioners and respondents presented their arguments on different aspects of the JIT report.Here is a look at how the events unfolded after the formation of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) by Supreme Court on April 20, 2017.Panama Papers had published a leak of documents belonging to Mossack Fonseca, a law firm in April 2016 creating uproar in Pakistan among other countries. The leak was studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and stated names of incumbent as well as former leaders of the world who owned shell companies.PM Nawaz was not named in the leak but his two sons and daughter were.Opposition parties in Pakistan saw offshore companies owned by daughter and two sons of PM Nawaz as means to either stash wealth in foreign accounts or purchase assets abroad, launder money out of Pakistan and evade taxes.The top court took up the case in October last year on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami head Siraj-ul-Haq and Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and PPP leaders will go to the apex court to hear the verdict.According to reports, State Minister for Information, Marriyum Aurangzeb will also go to the Supreme Court.Meanwhile, Islamabad Police have chalked out foolproof security arrangements. Large contingents of police and Rangers will be deployed inside and outside the Supreme Court premises on the occasion for security purpose.

Philander at the double as Cook defies South Africa

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Vernon Philander again proved a thorn in Englands side as Alastair Cook eyed a hundred against South Africa in the third Test on Thursday.England were 171 for four at stumps, having won the toss, with 31 of the scheduled 90 overs lost to bad weather on the opening day of the 100th Test at The Oval.Pace bowling all-rounder Philander had superb figures of two wickets for 17 runs in 12 overs, including five maidens, despite a stomach bug.That followed his man-of-the-match display with both bat and ball in South Africas crushing 340-run victory in the second Test at Trent Bridge last week -- a result that left the four-match series level at 1-1.I thought he bowled so well, returning South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada told reporters.Going off the field, I asked him for a few pointers. He is a really skillful bowler, especially in these conditions. He makes it look really simple.Former England captain Cook was 82 not out at Thursdays close.Already Englands leading Test run-scorer, the left-handed opener spent more than four-and-a-half hours at the crease to be in sight of his 31st century at this level.Ben Stokes was 21 not out, having so far put on 51 for the fifth wicket with Cook.Earlier, Tom Westley marked his Test debut with a promising 25 in Englands troublesome number three position and put on 52 with Cook, his Essex team-mate and mentor.Its something you dream about as a boy, wanting to play Test cricket for England, Westley told Sky Sports.It was familiar territory for me, batting with Cooky -- having done so at Essex for so many years -- and was quite calming.Cooky batted superbly today in tough conditions, added the 28-year-old right-hander.England had been heavily criticised by several former captains for a lack of resolve at Trent Bridge, where they were twice bowled out cheaply and folded for 133 in their second innings.Although the overcast conditions and green-tinged pitch promised to assist quick bowlers, England captain Joe Root opted to bat first after winning the toss, just as South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis had done in a similar situation in Nottingham.Root may also have wanted to show confidence in his under-fire batsmen.But it was not long before England lost their first wicket.Keaton Jennings, battling to retain his place, was repeatedly beaten outside off stump by Philander and the South Africa-born opener eventually edged the seamer low to Dean Elgar at third slip for a nine-ball nought.Westley, one of three England debutants, walked out at 12 for one, having been picked after a finger injury ruled out the struggling Gary Ballance.He got off the mark with a neat legside four off fast bowler Morne Morkel.Westley, who earlier this season scored a hundred against South Africa for the second-string England Lions, also drove spinner Keshav Maharaj for two boundaries in an over.England were 62 for one at lunch, with Cook 34 not out.Westley, however, had added just one to his score when, four balls after the break, his 89-minute innings ended when he nicked a curving Chris Morris delivery to du Plessis at second slip.Star batsman Root then made 29 before he edged an excellent Philander ball that cut off the seam and was brilliantly caught one-handed by diving wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.Rabada, banned from the second Test for swearing at Stokes in the series opener at Lords, then got in on the act.The 22-year-old rising star produced a superb inswinging yorker that knocked Dawid Malan, another of Englands debutants, off his feet before crashing into middle stump.Middlesex left-hander Malan, born in London but brought up in South Africa, was out for one.Rabadas joy was obvious but he insisted hed learnt his lesson.Its really simple: dont swear, but just be yourself, he said.I dont have any bad intentions. We talk off the field, myself and Stokes and the other players.I dont think Ill stop the way Im playing, Ill just follow the rules, Rabada added.

Ireland want Bracewell replacement by November

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Ireland chiefs say they hope to hire a successor to departing head coach John Bracewell by November.Bracewell is set to leave at the end of his two-year contract in December, only six months after Ireland were granted full-member Test status alongside Afghanistan.The New Zealander took over from Phil Simmons after the 2015 World Cup and, despite a mixed record over the past year, the International Cricket Council rewarded Ireland with Test status in June.Ireland tour the United Arab Emirates in November and performance director Richard Holdsworth intends to find Bracewells replacement by then to give the new man time to assess his squad.We will be conducting a global search in an effort to make certain we get the right candidate for the head coach role, Holdsworth said on Thursday.We hope to have the successful applicant in place for the tour to the UAE in late November, so they can take over the reins from John at the conclusion of the ICC InterContinental Cup game against Scotland.Were looking for a coach with a broad spectrum of skills and ambitious plans as to how they will build further success for Irish cricket.

Hillary to explain 'What Happened' in new book

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Defeated Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton promises to let her guard down and explain what happened in her shock electoral defeat to Donald Trump, including the mistakes she made, in a book to published in September.Publishers Simon and Schuster revealed Thursday that the previously unnamed tome would be entitled What Happened and would be the former secretary of states most personal memoir yet.In the past, for reasons I try to explain, Ive often felt I had to be careful in public, like I was up on a wire without a net. Now Im letting my guard down, writes Clinton in the introduction.Her publishers said the book would reveal what Clinton thought and felt during the bruising 2016 campaign that saw her make history as the first US woman to win the presidential nomination from a major party.It will describe what it was like to run against Trump, the mistakes she made, how she has coped with a shocking and devastating loss, and how she found the strength to pick herself back up, they said in an announcement ahead of the September 12 release date.Clinton would take the reader inside the intense personal experience of an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rules, Simon and Schuster added.The tome will also see Clinton double down on her belief that Russian interference cost her the White House.Clinton has repeatedly blamed her loss on Russian cyberattacks and has alleged that associates of Trump likely had a hand in the effort.She also says then-FBI director James Comey dealt her campaign a severe blow when -- just days before the November election -- he briefly revisited an inquiry into the scandal over her use of private email while at the State Department.Hillary shows just how dangerous the forces are that shaped the outcome, and why Americans need to understand them to protect our values and our democracy in the future, Simon and Schuster said.Trump has recently revived a campaign-era rallying cry that his former rival be prosecuted, setting off alarm bells in Washington and sparking accusations that he is seeking to divert attention from the widening probe into his campaigns alleged ties with Russia.Clinton is the author of five previous books, most recently Hard Choices published in 2014, as well as An Invitation to the White House and It Takes a Village, all published by Simon and Schuster.

Clashes as Palestinians end boycott of Jerusalem holy site

Posted:

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Clashes erupted between Israeli police and Palestinians at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site Thursday as thousands of Muslim worshippers entered to end a boycott of the compound over new Israeli security measures.An AFP correspondent witnessed the clashes break out shortly after the worshippers entered.The Palestinian Red Crescent reported around 100 people wounded both inside the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and in the immediate area.Outside, clashes in one area erupted when a group of policemen walked in the middle of a crowd. Palestinians threw plastic bottles and Israeli forces fired stun grenades.Israeli police said stones were thrown at officers inside the compound.Upon the entry of worshippers into the Temple Mount compound, some began throwing stones at officers, during which some stones fell into the Western Wall plaza, Israeli police said in a statement, referring to the Jewish holy site below the compound.A police force at the site pushed back those disrupting the orders using riot dispersal means. An officer was hit by a stone on his head. He was treated at the site.Thousands of worshippers earlier streamed into the compound for afternoon prayers for the first time in two weeks, ending a boycott after Israel removed controversial new security measures, installed after a July 14 attack killed two policemen.The site includes the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock.Some cried as they entered while others shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest). Some brought their children in what was initially a celebratory atmosphere.Muslims had in previous days refused to enter the compound and prayed in the streets outside after Israel installed the new security measures.Palestinians viewed the move as Israel asserting further control over the site.Israeli authorities said the measures, including metal detectors, were needed because the July 14 attackers smuggled guns into the compound and emerged from it to attack the officers.For evening prayers later Thursday following the clashes, it appeared Israeli police were allowing people to leave the compound, but not enter through at least one main gate.A few dozen people were attempting to pray outside.- Warnings over Friday prayers -Deadly unrest erupted in the days after the new measures were introduced, with clashes breaking out around the compound and in the occupied West Bank, leaving five Palestinians dead.A Palestinian also broke into a home in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and stabbed four Israelis, killing three of them.On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the death penalty for the 19-year-old Palestinian.There are concerns that Fridays main weekly Muslim prayers -- which typically draw thousands to Al-Aqsa -- will lead to further clashes.After intensive international diplomacy, Israel removed the metal detectors Tuesday.Newly installed railings and scaffolding where cameras were previously mounted were also removed early Thursday.Police said Thursday morning that all new security measures had been taken away.The removal was seen as a defeat for Netanyahu, who had ordered the new security measures and was forced to backtrack after warnings the unrest could spiral out of control.It represented a rare victory for Palestinians, who remained united in their boycott.In the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, crowds of Palestinians gathered at the entrance of the site to celebrate, with whistling and constant horns from cars.Firas Abasi said he felt like crying over the victory.For 12 days no one has slept, no one has done anything except the Al-Aqsa mosque, he said.- Smart cameras? -Israeli officials had said they were to replace the new security measures with advanced technologies -- widely believed to be smart cameras with facial recognition technology.It was not immediately clear if Israel would stick to reported plans to install smart cameras in Jerusalems Old City, where cameras are already widespread.Jordan is the custodian of Muslim holy sites at the compound, and King Abdullah II had called on Netanyahu to remove the security measures.Information Minister Mohammad al-Momani Thursday welcomed their removal, calling it an essential step towards calm.Jordans king also called Thursday for an Israeli security guard at Israels embassy in Amman to face trial over the killing of two Jordanians on Sunday, threatening a fresh crisis in relations.The guard shot dead a 17-year-old Jordanian who attacked him with a screwdriver, according to Israeli officials. Another Jordanian was also killed, apparently by accident.The guard was allowed to return to Israel Monday after a deal said to involve the holy site, but Netanyahus embrace of the guard as a hero angered Jordanian officials.The head of the Arab League warned Thursday that Israeli attempts to control the Jerusalem site by force risked igniting a religious war.The holy compound lies in east Jerusalem, seized by Israel in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community.The third-holiest site for Muslims and the most sacred for Jews, it is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has served as a rallying cry for Palestinians.In 2000, a visit to the compound by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon helped ignite the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

Experts weigh in Panama case verdict

Posted:

(Web Desk) - With the most-anticipated Panama case verdict from Supreme Court on July 28, various politicians and journalists have made their points whether the premier would be disqualified or not. Dunya News asked several experts that what will be the consequences of Panama decision, here are their answers:Kamran Khan highlighted there is a possibility that Nawaz Sharif will get a chance to make Supreme Court reconsider the case.Former Supreme Court judge Nasir Aslam Zahid said the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) should at least get one chance of appeal. He strongly opposed the notion of a full and final decision. He said this is the very reason the top court doesn’t rule final verdict as it eliminates the possibility of an appeal.VIDEO:Legal aspects of Panama case verdictFormer Law Minister Iftikhar Gillani said a proper trial is required to decide whether a politician is honest or not where he will get a proper chance.Legal expert Abid Hussain Manto asked where the accused will appeal if the top court rules against him, highlighting the need to determine the consequences of the verdict.Asma Jahangir stressed that these are political decisions which should be dealt this way. “You will have to apply the verdict on everyone else as well, no one considers the disqualification of former PM Yousaf Gilani as appropriate now,” she added. Jahangir fears that institutions will be destroyed and lack trust if PM Nawaz is disqualified. She said, “Such decisions should always be reviewed.”VIDEO:If verdict goes against PML-N, they must ask for review: Asma JahangirMoeed Pirzada said PM Nawaz had important meeting in the Maldives and he has returned with a decisive mindset. PM has realised that the the matter cannot be settled and he will initiate a crisis to politically capitalize the verdict, Pirzada believes.VIDEO:Is PM going to take decision about army?
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)