Tuesday 15 August 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

US says open to talk if North Korea ready to disarm

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday, after North Koreas Kim Jong-Un postponed a threat to fire missiles towards the US territory of Guam, that Washington remains ready for talks.But the top US diplomat said it would be up to Kim when such negotiations would begin, having previously insisted Pyongyang must demonstrate that it accepts it will have to give up its nuclear program.I have no response to his decisions at all at this time, Tillerson said, when asked about Kims decision to hold off. We continue to be interested in finding ways to get to dialogue, but thats up to him.Speaking after the launch of a religious freedom report, Tillerson would not go into more detail as to how North Korea could demonstrate a commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.North Korea would have to take some very serious steps and show us that they are serious about their interest and intent in denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, Tillersons spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.It would have to do a lot more. Secretary Tillerson has talked a lot about that. Hes also said Im not negotiating my way back to the negotiating table, and North Korea knows exactly what it has to do.He has previously said Pyongyang must halt ballistic missile and nuclear tests for an unspecified amount of time before negotiations can begin on how to halt the stand-off and any threat of US military action.Earlier Tuesday, the unpredictable and isolated North Korean leader had been briefed by his missile forces on a plan for an enveloping fire at Guam, according to the Norths official KCNA news agency.But afterwards, according to KCNA, he decided to postpone the operation to watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees and not to go ahead unless the US commits more reckless actions.

Iraqi jets pound IS bastion ahead of planned ground assault

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi warplanes carried out air strikes Tuesday against Islamic State group positions in Tal Afar in preparation for a ground assault to retake the town near the Syrian border, the military said.Tal Afar is the main remaining IS stronghold in northern Iraq, after the capture by Iraqi forces in July of second city Mosul further east in a major blow to the jihadists.Preparations are under way pending instructions from the commander in chief (Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi) for the launch of the assault, said a spokesman for Iraqs Joint Operation Command (JOC).The spokesman, Yahiya Rassul, said that although the main offensive to retake Tal Afar had not yet begun, the air force was pounding jihadist positions in the town.Plans to retake Tal Afar were announced on Monday by federal police chief Lieutenant General Raed Shakir Jawdat, who said armoured and elite units were headed for the town.The units, whose number has not been specified, were regrouping in combat positions in preparation for the next battle, he said in a statement.Joining them is the Hashed al-Shaabi, a Shiite-dominated coalition of paramilitary units deployed since 2014 to halt the jihadist advance.Hashed al-Shaabi commanders met Saturday with army and police commanders to decide on the plan to free Tal Afar, spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi said.Abadi is expected to announce the launch of the ground assault but there are no indications on when it is due to start.JOC said the defence minister on Tuesday sacked his official spokesman, Brigadier Genereal Mohammed al-Khodari, for having erroneously announced the start of the operation.Khodari had told a local television by telephone that the ground assault on Tal Afar had been launched but his remarks were quickly denied by several military officials.IS jihadists overran Tal Afar in June 2014, when it had a population of around 200,000.

Falling tree kills 13 at Portugal religious festival

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LISBON (AFP) - Thirteen people were crushed to death and 49 injured Tuesday when a 200-year-old oak tree fell on them at a religious festival on the Portuguese island of Madeira, doctors said.A dozen people, four of them children, were seriously injured, Miguel Reis, chief surgeon at the hospital in Madeiras capital Funchal, told a press conference.Four of the injured are foreigners, with French, German, Dutch and Hungarian citizenship, he said.Tragedy struck at noon when the massive tree toppled into a crowd gathered near Funchal for the Lady of the Mount festival in honour of Madeiras patron saint, Mary.Amateur video posted online showed the tree smashing down, prompting panicked worshippers to flee.Catholics around the world mark Assumption Day on August 15, which according to Christian tradition marks the Virgin Marys ascent into Heaven.The festival in Madeira draws large crowds every year from the island and beyond.Worshippers had gathered to light candles in a botanical garden around five kilometres (three miles) from central Funchal.We heard a cracking sound and then the tree fell where people were lighting candles. People sitting on the benches near the fountain were also hit, witness Domingos Perestrelo told the SIC Noticias TV station.There was a big panic -- it happened in the middle of mass, around a half-hour before the start of the procession. There were a lot of people there.The fountain is surrounded by several tall trees aged a hundred years or more.Authorities have opened an investigation into what happened. The mayor of Funchal, Paulo Cafofo, said the tree had not been supported by cables because it was not considered to be at risk.A security perimeter was set up around the scene, where worried worshippers gathered waiting anxiously for news and offering help to rescue teams.Miguel Albuquerque, president of the regional government, announced three days of mourning.Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa offered his condolences to families and friends of the victims, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa arrived at the scene to show support for the bereaved.Local football team Maritimo Funchal expressed its profound sadness at the tragedy in Monte.Madeira, a popular tourist destination thanks to its dramatic coastlines and gentle climate, is the largest of several Portuguese islands in the north Atlantic Ocean.Located in a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Morocco, it is prone to floods as well as landslides -- which in February 2010 left more than 50 people dead, with Funchal badly hit.Last year the Lady of the Mount festival was cancelled due to a forest fire.Madeira has a population of more than 250,000, the vast majority of them Catholic.

Nigeria suicide bombers kill 28, wound 82

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KANO (AFP) - Three women suicide bombers blew themselves up at the entrance to a camp for displaced people in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, killing 28 people and wounding 82, local sources said.The attack -- the latest in a string of assaults in the troubled region -- took place in the town of Mandarari, 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, said Baba Kura, a member of a vigilante force set up to fight jihadists.Three female bombers triggered their explosive outside of the IDP (internally displaced persons) camp... killing 28 people and wounding 82 others, Kura said.The first assailant blew herself up, triggering panic, Kura said.People were trying to close their shops when two other female bombers triggered their explosives, causing most of the casualties, he said.Ibrahim Liman, the head of a local anti-jihadist militia force, confirmed the details of the attack, and said that more than 80 injured had been taken to Maiduguri hospital.A source at the hospital said a huge number of patients had arrived.Northeast Nigeria is a hotbed of activity by the Boko Haram jihadist group, involving shootings, bombings and kidnappings.It launched an insurgency in 2009 that has killed about 20,000 people and displaced around 2.6 million others, creating one of the worlds biggest humanitarian crises.Nearly two million are suffering from acute malnutrition, according to UN figures.After being elected to power in 2015, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari made tackling the insurgency a priority, winning back swathes of territory and declaring that Boko Haram is technically defeated.But this year has seen a surge in attacks, including an audacious assault on an oil exploration team that killed 69 people in Borno in July, raising fears that Boko Haram is regaining strength.That attack prompted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo -- standing in for President Muhammadu Buhari who is on indefinite sick leave -- to tell the millitary to step up its response.Osinbajo issued fresh directives... to immediately scale-up their efforts and activities in Borno state... to maintain a strong, effective control of the situation, his spokesman Laolu Akandehe said.In August, however, 72 people have been killed in northeastern Nigeria, including 31 fishermen on islands in Lake Chad, according to an unofficial toll compiled from news reports.

England's Ali ready for life in the pink

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Moeen Ali is confident it will take more than a pink ball to put him off his stride during Englands inaugural day/night Test.The off-spinning all-rounder was Englands man-of-the-series after starring with both bat and ball during the recent 3-1 Test triumph at home to South Africa.Now Birmingham-born Ali returns to the citys Edgbaston ground, where he came through the youth ranks with Warwickshire before joining Midlands rivals Worcestershire, for what will also be the England teams first taste of floodlit Test cricket in a series opener against the West Indies starting on Thursday.There has been much talk about how the pink ball -- required for floodlit Tests as the players traditional clothing makes the white ball familiar from one-day internationals as unusable as the standard red -- will affect bowlers.But Ali, who hit a fifty but bowled just three overs during the day-night round of County Championship fixtures scheduled as preparation for this Test, said: Its different... it feels lighter off the bat.Sometimes you dont feel like youve hit it, and it goes; other times youve nailed it, and it doesnt, he added at an event staged by series sponsors Investec.But you get used to it ... I did by the end of the (net) session.As for bowling with a pink ball, the 30-year-old Ali, who against South Africa became the first man to take 25 wickets in a four-Test series, said: The seam is good -- its not quite as slippery. It spun, maybe because the seam is hard.Seeing it is fine. It will be interesting at twilight, but I will try not to think about it.There have been suggestions that the pink ball does not swing as much or for as long as the traditional red cricket ball.Meanwhile Dukes, the British-based manufacturer of the pink ball in use for this weeks day/night Test have also had to endure a knocking campaign from Australian rivals Kookaburra.But Dukes managing director Dilip Jadojia said much of the debate was ill-informed.One has to take many of these comments with a pinch of salt, Jadojia told Britains Press Association this weekI ask for real evidence and at this moment there is no issue with the ball, added the India-born businessman, who bought Dukes in 1987.Cricketers are nutters, and I know because I am one, but Ive also been involved in making cricket balls for 45 years.The pink ball is not an alien thing. Its just perception, opinion and psychology, he insisted.But while some are debating the validity of pink balls, others are questioning the wisdom of playing day/night Tests in England, given how much longer it takes to go dark in an English season compared to an Australian one.Ali, however, said the potential for drawing a new audience had to be considered as well.It might take time for people to get used to it, but its a great idea ... if it helps bring the crowds in.

Karachi: Close aide of MQM-London chief arrested

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The law enforcement agencies carried out an operation in Federal-B Area of Karachi on Tuesday and arrested an accused named Wasim Belgium.Sources said that Wasim Belgium was a close aide of MQM-London chief and was involved on money laundering cases. Sources further informed that Wasim Belgium was MQM sector in charge and returned to Pakistan a few days ago. He used to transfer money to London from Karachi.On the other hand, police conducted an operation in Gulberg area and arrested two accused Adnan and Shakeel. According to SP Gulberg, the arrested accused were wanted in several cases of street crime.

Accused involved in Youhanabad tragedy died in jail

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Accused involved in burning alive two youth, Hafiz Nadeem and Babar, in Youhanabad died in mysterious condition during prison on Tuesday.According to jail police officials, accused Indrayas Ghulam’s condition deteriorated on Tuesday upon which he was shifted to hospital where he died.The jail officials have sent the body to mortuary for autopsy and launched an investigation.

Lahore: Preparations for PAT sit-in in full swing

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Preparations for Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to stage a sit-in at the Istanbul Chowk on Mall Road today (Wednesday) were in full swing, Dunya News reportrd.Earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday barred PAT from making arrangements for a sit-in at Mall Road. But PAT is still optimistic about staging a sit-in.The central spokesperson of PAT, Noorullah Siddiqui, while talking to media on Tuesday night said that the court has not yet given any verdict about sit-in and added that PAT will satisfy the court today in this regard. He said that staging a protest is the constitutional right of everyone.He further said that the heirs of martyrs of Model Town are staging this sit-in at the Mall Road not the Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

Azadi Train gets warm welcome in Lahore

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan Railways Special Azadi Train which started a 15-day long countrywide tour from Margalla Station, Islamabad on August 12 reached Lahore on Tuesday.A large number of people were present at the Lahore Railway Station to welcome the Azadi Train.Azadi Train has been prepared by Pakistan Railways at Carriage Factory Islamabad and consists of six floats and five galleries. The main objectives for running the Azadi Train were to highlight the aspects of Freedom Movement, sacrifices of Armed Forces for the defence of the country, besides culture and heritage of all the regions.Azadi Train would cover about 4,000 kilometres long journey in 15 days which started from Margalla Station, Islamabad on August 12 would be culminated at Karachi on August 25.After a two-night stay in Lahore, the train will leave for Multan via Raiwind and after staying for a night or two at various stations including Khanewal and Sukkur will culminate its journey on August 25.

Lahore: Four suspects arrested in police search operation

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Police conducted search operation in different parts of Lahore on Tuesday night and arrested at least four suspects, Dunya News reported.According to details the search operation was carried out in localities of Garden Town and Ichhra during while police searched hotels, guest houses, hostels and flats situated in these areas.Police also used biometric device for the verification of the residents during search operation and arrested at least four suspects who failed to produce any identity document. The arrested persons were shifted to police station for further investigation.On the other hand, at least 11 accused were taken into custody during police crackdown against illegal weapons in the border area of Batapur near Lahore.Police sources said that huge quantity of illegal weapons was recovered from the arrested persons. Police have also registered case against them.

Ranatunga slams Sri Lanka board over whitewash

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COLOMBO (AFP) - Former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga blamed Sri Lankas cricket board Tuesday for the squads crushing three-Test series whitewash on home soil against India.Ranatunga said Sri Lankas XI could not be faulted for the humiliating 3-0 drubbing described by skipper Dinesh Chandimal as the worst series of his career, but squared the blame entirely with management.Sri Lanka cricket is going through the worst period, Ranatunga told reporters in Colombo.You cant blame only the players, they are demoralised. It is the fault of the management.The comprehensive series defeat compounded woes for a side beset by injury woes and leadership changes.Ranatunga renewed calls for Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala to be sacked, and urged the International Cricket Council to investigate management at the board.Last week, Ranatunga, 53, told AFP there was no proper discipline in the national side, which has suffered a string of humiliating home defeats in recent months.We dont have selectors with a backbone, Ranatunga said, referring to the panel headed by Sanath Jayasuriya, a former teammate of Ranatungas 1996 World Cup-winning side.Ranatunga has accused Sumathipala of involvement in gambling -- a charge which would preclude him from a board position at Sri Lanka Cricket -- and urged the ICC to investigate. Sumathipala has vehemently denied the allegations.Sumathipala told AFP last week that Ranatunga was leading a smear campaign against him in a bid to wrest leadership of the board for himself.Every time the game is affected at the middle, Sri Lanka cricketers are not performing to the expectation, we hear this kind of noise coming from the same quarter, Sumathipala said.Since retiring from the game, Ranatunga has entered politics and was an unelected cricket administrator in 2008.Last month he demanded an investigation into Sri Lankas 2011 World Cup loss to India, which was marred by allegations of match-fixing.

Woakes eyes England return at Edgbaston

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Chris Woakes is desperate to put weeks of injury frustration behind him by making an England return on his Edgbaston home ground later this week.The Warwickshire all-rounder had become a mainstay in all three international formats, but a side strain suffered barely two overs into Englands Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at The Oval in June kept him out of action for 11 weeks.Now the 28-year-old hopes to force his way back into national service when Edgbaston hosts Englands inaugural day/night Test, a series opener against the West Indies, starting Thursday.But during Englands recent 3-1 home series win over South Africa, Woakess place as third seamer went to Middlesexs Toby Roland-Jones, who took eight wickets on debut at The Oval.Since his injury, Woakes has managed one first-class match.His five-wicket haul and a second innings fifty during Warwickshires 190-run First Division County Championship win over Middlesex at Lords led to an England recall.Both Woakes and Roland-Jones are in Englands 13-man squad for the first of a three-Test series against the West Indies, with the pair seemingly vying for the same spot.When youre injured theres always someone knocking on the door ready to take your place, Woakes told reporters at Birminghams Edgbaston on Tuesday.When you get injured thats frustrating for you and you have to prove yourself again.I hope I have done enough to show that Im ready, and fingers crossed I do play.Born and bred in Birmingham, Woakes expects the crowd to be in full voice for a landmark fixture.Whenever you play at Edgbaston its always brilliant, Woakes said.The atmosphere will be fantastic, and it will be exciting for the players to be involved with that.One of those who is set to be involved is debutant Mark Stoneman.The Surrey left-hander will be the 12th batsman tried as an England opening partner for Alastair Cook since former captain Andrew Strauss retired five years ago.With a tour of Australia on the horizon, Woakes wished Stoneman well by saying: It is the last Test series before the Ashes, and I hope he can come in score some runs for himself and for the team.I have played a lot against Mark and I have always found him difficult to bowl to.He hits the bad ball for four -- which is always frustrating for a bowler -- and hes in good form.

Trump, the businessman president, loses CEO support

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The honeymoon is definitely over.In June, optimism among American CEOs was at a three-year high on hopes that US President Donald Trump would succeed in implementing his pro-growth agenda, including tax cuts.But this week, Trump has lost support from four executives who left an advisory panel on manufacturing over his response to a violent white supremacist rally in Virginia -- a sign that big business is disenchanted with the billionaire leader.Scott Paul, the president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, on Tuesday added his name to a list of defectors that also includes the heads of Merck Pharmaceutical, Under Armour and Intel.Its the right thing to do, Paul said on Twitter.Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, fired back.For every CEO that drops out of the Manufacturing Council, I have many to take their place, he tweeted.Grandstanders should not have gone on. JOBSBut there was a definite feeling that other shoes were ready to drop.CEOs quit Trumps Panel: Whos Next? asked a headline on Bloomberg News television.- To leave or not to leave? -In the early days of Trumps presidency, which began in January, all the signs from big business were positive.The Manhattan real estate tycoon-turned-world leader ran as a friend of the business community who pledged to enact tax cuts, streamline regulations and take other steps to boost growth in the worlds biggest economy.The Business Roundtables CEO Economic Outlook Index published in June, which measures corporate spending and hiring plans over the next six months, rose to 93.9 for the second quarter, the highest since the same period of 2014.I know the vast majority of (CEOs) believe that really positive tax reform remains more than possible, Business Roundtable president Joshua Bolten told reporters.Of course, Trumps business agenda has faced other obstacles during his six months in office, and it was not clear that a downward turn in his popularity among blue-chip industry leaders would hinder his progress.But executives are certainly facing a tough choice on whether to stay in the camp of a president with overall low approval ratings -- but a passionate following among a majority of Republican voters and tax plans they favor.For some, the choice was clear.After this weekend, I am not sure what it would take to get these CEOs to resign, former Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, a Democrat, wrote in a Washington Post commentary.Demonizing ethnic groups? That has happened. Renouncing international agreements that have supported business interests? That has happened. Personal profiteering from the presidency? Also happened. Failure to deliver on ballyhooed promises? That has happened as well.Activists are aggressive on both sides on the issue.The anti-Trump Grabyourwallet -- which boycotts companies that sell Trump products -- regularly prods its 62,300 Twitter followers to email companies that still have CEOs on White House panels.On the conservative side, groups like the National Center for Public Policy have lambasted executives for criticizing Trump.Last year, PepsiCo faced a brief boycott after chief executive Indra Nooyi publicly rued the election result shortly after Trump won last November. She later joined a White House advisory panel.This week, Nooyi and other several prominent executives, including JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon, condemned the racism in Charlottesville -- but signaled no plans to exit White House advisory panels.By stepping down, theyre making a non-partisan group more partisan, said Charles Elson, an expert at the University of Delaware in corporate governance.By stepping down, they lose the influence they could have.

Suzie Bates makes history by first century in Women's Super League

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LONDON (AFP) - New Zealand captain Suzie Bates struck the first hundred in English female crickets Twenty20 Super League on Tuesday.Bates unbeaten 119 laid the platform for reigning champions Southern Vipers overwhelming 46-run win away to Loughborough Lightning at Derby.The opener, dropped on 39, struck 15 fours and four sixes, facing just 72 deliveries, as the Vipers made 180 for two -- the highest total in the competition so far.Her innings topped the previous best of 91 made by South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk for Loughborough against Surrey last year.As if that was not enough, Bates then took three wickets for a mere 15 runs, including bowling Loughborough captain Georgia Elwiss, for 32, as the hosts collapsed to 134 all out.

Karachi: Informer of Afghan intelligence killed in Mangho Pir

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - The two terrorist killed yesterday during encounter of Counter Terrorism Department ( CTD ) have been identified. The wanted person, Abdul Jabbar,was in contact with NDS, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency. Abdul Jabbar received cooperation and funding from NDS to spread terrorism in Pakistan.SSP CTD said that the area of Mangho Pir was sealed after an intelligence tip-off was received. The terrorists opened fire after they were signaled as warning to stop at the blockade. In return fire from the security agencies, Abdul Jabbar alias Leghari and his aider, Danyal, were killed. One of the terrorist managed to escape.The weapons of the terrorists were seized. The forensic audit of the weapons revealed that the same weapon was used for the murder of Sub-Inspector Riaz in Baldia area.SSP CTD Omar Shahid claimed that some members of the terror gang were arrested, a week ago. He said that arrest led to discovery that Abdul Jabbar was the head of TTP Mufti Shakir group in Karachi and was provided with explosives and jackets for his terror mission.Jabbar was designated to carry out attacks on Police buildings, religious sites and ‘Jamaat-khaana.’ The intelligence report revealed that the culprit had planned to target Police training center and officials.
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