Thursday 3 August 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Taliban suicide bomber kills NATO soldier in Afghanistan

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KABUL (AFP) - A Taliban suicide bomber attacked a convoy of foreign forces in Afghanistan late Thursday, killing one NATO soldier and wounding six other personnel, in the latest blow to the international coalition in the war-torn country.The deadly attack near Bagram Airbase comes at the peak of the Taliban summer fighting season and just a day after the insurgent group killed two US soldiers in the restive southern province of Kandahar.One Resolute Support Soldier was killed and six personnel (five troops and one interpreter) were wounded Thursday evening when their patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber, Nato said in a statement referring to the name of its Afghan mission.The patrol was conducting a partnered mission with the Afghan National Army when a personnel-borne IED (improvised explosive device) detonated, in Qarabagh district in Kabul province.The RS personnel who were wounded are being treated at the U.S. military hospital at Bagram Airfield. All of the wounded are listed in stable condition, it added.The nationality of the dead soldier and injured was not immediately known but Qarabagh district is located near Bagram Airbase, the largest American base in Afghanistan, around 50 kilometres north of the capital Kabul.The Taliban quickly claimed the attack on social media and in Whatsapp messages to journalists.Civilians were also reported to have been wounded in the nighttime attack.Afghanistan explosion in Qarabagh district, 12 wounded brought to our Kabul hospital so far, tweeted an Italian-run hospital in the capital which specialises in dealing with victims of bombings.The attack came after two US soldiers died on Wednesday when a Taliban suicide bomber rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into a convoy of foreign forces in the big poppy-growing region of Kandahar.NATO forces ended their more than a decade-long combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of 2014.Since then Afghan troops and police, beset by soaring casualties, have struggled to beat back the resurgent Taliban, while facing the growing menace of the Islamic State group.The Taliban have been ramping up their campaign against beleaguered government forces, underscoring rising insecurity in the country during the summer fighting season, when the warmer weather tends to spur an increase in militant attacks.Early last month a US soldier was killed and two others wounded in an attack in Kandahars neighbouring Helmand province while conducting operations against the Taliban.The attacks come as United States President Donald Trump weighs sending more American troops to Afghanistan nearly 16 years after the US invasion to topple the Taliban regime. US troops in Afghanistan now number about 8,400, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago. They mainly serve as trainers and advisers.American military commanders in Afghanistan have requested thousands of extra boots on the ground and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is believed to be close to presenting a new US military strategy for Afghanistan to Trump.

UN chief to make first visit to Israel, Palestinian territories

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will pay his first visit since taking the UN helm to Israel and the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, at the end of the month, diplomats said Thursday.The UN chief will hold talks with Israeli leaders, travel to Ramallah to meet Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and to the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations runs a major Palestinian aid program, during the three-day visit beginning August 28.Israels UN Ambassador Danny Danon said the visit will allow Guterres to build a relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also hold meetings with the Israeli president and defense minister.We are very happy about this visit, Danon told AFP.Its a great opportunity for the secretary general to experience Israel, to meet the leaders of Israel and to understand the challenges that Israel faces day-in and day-out.Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour described the upcoming visit as very important, indicating that it signaled a stronger UN focus on the plight of Palestinians.The UN has been involved since its inception with the question of Palestine and will remain involved until the question is resolved in all its aspects on the basis of international law, he told AFP by email.The visit comes as diplomatic efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks appear deadlocked.Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, is experienced. He has been to Israel in the past. He knows the complexity of the issues. He is not someone who comes to our region and has no clue about what is happening, said Danon.The Israeli government will discuss strengthening the mission of the UN interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said Danon, following a series of skirmishes along the UN-monitored demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon.Relations between the United Nations and Israel have been tense over the expansion of Jewish settlements, which the world body has condemned as illegal.Since taking over from Ban Ki-moon on January 1, Guterres has been cautious in his approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, partly in response to US accusations that the United Nations was biased against Israel.In March, the UN chief demanded that a report by a UN body be withdrawn after it accused Israel of imposing an apartheid system on the Palestinians.Guterres had initially distanced himself from the report, but the United States insisted that it be withdrawn altogether.During the recent flareup of violence in Jerusalem, Guterres called for de-escalation and respect for the status quo at holy sites after Israel installed metal detectors at the Haram al-Sharif mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Blaze rips through Dubai skyscraper 'The Torch'

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DUBAI (AFP) - Panicked residents fled one of the tallest towers in Dubai early Friday after a fire ripped through it, the second blaze to hit the skyscraper in as many years.Authorities said no casualties were reported from the blaze which erupted in the middle to upper floors of The Torch, once the tallest residential development in the world.The tower was the scene of a 2015 inferno that caused extensive damage to its luxury flats and triggered an evacuation of nearby blocks in the Marina neighbourhood.Dubai authorities later said the fire had been put out. There was no immediate indication of what caused the blaze.Images published by Dubai Civil Defence showed The Torch after the flames were brought under control: lights were still on in some lower floors, but the middle to upper section appeared to be completely burned out.In January Dubai announced tougher rules to minimise fire risks after a series of tower blazes in the modern emirate mostly due to flammable material used in cladding, a covering or coating used on the side of the buildings.On New Years Eve 2015 a fire broke out in a luxury hotel, injuring 16 people hours before a fireworks display nearby.In November 2015, fire engulfed three residential blocks in central Dubai and led to services on a metro line being suspended, although no one was hurt.

Karachi: Target killer among 28 arrested in police crackdown

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - KARACHI (Dunya News) – Crackdown against criminal elements continues in Karachi as 28 persons, including a target killer, were taken into custody during police operation in different parts of the city on Thursday, Dunya News reported.According to details, police launched an operation against criminal element in Pakistan Bazaar area of Orangi Town. A heavy contingent of police cordoned off the area and carried out house-to-house search during which 27 suspects were arrested.Police also recovered stolen motorcycles, narcotics and arms from the arrested persons.On the other hand, police conducted a raid in Qasba Colony and arrested target killer Shoaib. Police sources said that Shoaib was involved in several cases of target killing.

Technical fault in transmission line plunges Quetta into darkness

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QUETTA (Dunya News) – According to Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) spokesperson, electricity supply to provincial capital Quetta and six other districts of Balochostan including Mastung, Chaghi, Noshki, Masheen, Sibbi and Qila Abdullah stopped due to a technical fault developed in the 220KV Ooch-Sibbi-Quetta transmission line on Thursday.The tchnical fault in transmission line plunged the provincial capital Quetta and six other districts into darkness.The QESCO spokesperson further said that repair work is underway and the power supply will be restored soon. He also informed that the provincial capital is being provided electricity from alternative sources.

Mehrabpur: Blaze at mini petrol pump injures one

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MEHRABPUR (Dunya News) – According to details, fire broke out at a mini petrol pump situated near Railway crossing in Mehrabpure on Thursday which also engulfed three other shops.Petrol and diesel worth lakhs of rupees was burnt while three other shops were also destroyed in the blaze.Police and fire brigade failed to reach the spot despite repeated calls from the residents of the area. A 15-year-old boy was injured in the inferno and was shifted to Hyderabad in critical condition.

New federal cabinet finalised, to be sworn in today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The central leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) during a consultative meeting in Government House, Murree on Thursday finalized the members of new federal cabinet, Dunya News reported.Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has approved the new federal cabinet which will be sworn in today (Friday) in Islamabad. President Mamnoon Hussain will administer the oath.According to details, Khawaja Asif will be foreign minister, Ahsan Iqbal will be appointed as interior minister while Khurram Dastagir will be defence minister in Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi cabinet.Ishaq Dar and Marriyum Aurangzeb will be finance minister and information minister respectively in the new federal cabinet. Mushahid Ullah Khan will be the Environment Minister.According to reliable sources, some new faces are also being introduced in the cabinet. Talal Chaudhry will be Minister of State for Interior while Pervez Malik will be appointed as State Minister for Commerce.Meanwhile, Danial Aziz, Abdur Rehman Kanju and Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry will be swearing in as state ministers.Khawaja Saad Rafique, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sardar Yousuf and ministers of Nawaz Sharif cabinet will retain their portfolios.

Never proposed Ayesha Gulalai for marriage: Naeem-ul-Haque

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Naeem-ul-Haque has said that he never proposed Ayesha Gulalai for marriage.Naeem-ul-Haque was responding to Ayesha Gulalai’s new revelation in an interview to a private TV channel on Thursday. During the interview Ayesha Gulalai said that Naeem-ul-Haque had also sent her text messages. Naeem-ul-Haque in his text message had stated, I am alone and want to marry, claimed Gulalai.Responding to Gulalai interview, Naeem-ul-Haque said that discussion about marriage does not mean that I proposed Ayesha Gulalai for marriage.“There was no marriage proposal as such to Ayesha Gulalai as she herself said in Asma Shirazi show just a discussion,” Naeem-ul-Haque tweeted.In another tweet he said, “Should I apologise for discussing marriage with Ayesha Gulalai? No I dont think so. Nothing wrong with that.”

Du Plessis hopes for Old Trafford 'home comfort'

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is determined to make a big play at an Old Trafford ground he knows well when his side go in search of a series-levelling win in the fourth Test against England.The Proteas head into the series finale, which starts on Friday, 2-1 down with one to play after a 239-run loss at The Oval.This upcoming Test has added meaning for du Plessis as it was during his time with Old Trafford-based county side Lancashire nearly a decade ago that saw the now 33-year-old batsman rekindle his desire for international cricket.Im very very thankful for my time at Lancashire, I really enjoyed it, it played a big role in my journey to where I am today, du Plessis told reporters at Old Trafford on Thursday.Its really good to be back. Im really motivated to make a big play in the next five days, insisted du Plessis, who was also an overseas professional with Lancashire League club Ramsbottom.With rain falling from typically leaden Manchester skies, du Plessis joked: Its good to see the weather is exactly the same as I left it.As was the case at The Oval, conditions for the fourth Test are set to be overcast.It means runs will be at a premium, with South Africa knowing a repeat of their first-innings 175 at The Oval will all but scupper their hopes of squaring the series.When it is like that, there is more in it for the bowlers, du Plessis said. The ball does swing here and move around and we expect that, we have to deal with that.South Africa were hampered severely when Vernon Philander was unable to bowl his full quota of overs at The Oval after being struck down by a mystery stomach virus.The accurate seamer has overcome the bug but is now struggling with a back problem.Vernon will go through a fitness test today (Thursday), said du Plessis. He has a tight back. He should be OK.Vernon at 100 percent fit means we can look at playing three seamers and play seven batters.Vernon at 90 percent doesnt mean you can play three seamers because you dont want to be in a position where you have a seamer break down and then you only have two, because that is basically the Test match over right there, he added.Du Plessis, who missed South Africas 211-run defeat in the first Test at Lords following the birth of his first child, has yet to hit top form this series with a highest score of 63 in the second Test at Trent Bridge -- a match the Proteas won by a huge 340-run margin.But having been out for just one and nought at The Oval, he said: Im extremely hungry to make a play for the team in what is a big Test match.This has been a campaign of hugely fluctuating fortunes and du Plessis would regard a drawn series as a decent result for his side.England are a very good team at home, and to draw a series against them at home would be a hugely important thing for us, he said.South Africa have won 13 of their past 19 Test series away from home, drawing five and losing just one -- in India in 2015/16.Du Plessis said it was a remarkable run in an era where so many sides struggle to win Tests on the road, adding: Weve got a proud record away from home, something that I believe is not spoken enough about.

Root has faith in 'level-headed' Jennings

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - England captain Joe Root believes Keaton Jenningss calm approach will stand him in good stead as he battles to come through a tricky period in his fledgling Test career.The opener made a century on his England debut against India at Mumbai in December.But his subsequent nine Test innings have yielded just one fifty.Jennings has found life particularly tough during the ongoing Test series at home to his native South Africa, with two ducks in six innings.But he heads into Fridays fourth Test at Old Trafford having made a morale-boosting 48 in difficult conditions during the second innings of Englands 239-run win over South Africa at The Oval that left the hosts 2-1 up with one to play.It was a timely knock with the 25-year-old under pressure for his place ahead of Englands Ashes tour of Australia.But at the very least the son of Ray Jennings, South Africas isolation era wicket-keeper and later a caretaker national coach, appears to have retained his place at Old Trafford.Hes a very level-headed guy, hes got a very strong character and throughout hes been very much the same in the way hes approached his training and in each game as well, Root said of Jennings at Old Trafford on Thursday.Its great to see someone so light of experience be very mature and go about it in the right way, added Root of Jennings, qualified for England through his mother and via residence.The way he played in that second innings was extremely great to see, Im pleased that hes been able to get a score and hopefully thatll lead into some more runs this week.Johannesburg-born and raised Jennings is averaging just a touch over 15 against the Proteas, with his technique coming under severe analysis from several pundits.Its tough, and thats why its called Test cricket, it can be a very hard thing to break into, said Root.You come from county cricket where theres not a huge amount of exposure to the media and external scrutiny -- and you have to get your head around it pretty quickly, the star batsman added.It is a test of character, its a test of skill.Part of that test this series has been facing bowlers of the calibre of accurate seamer Vernon Philander, whom the Proteas hope will be fully fit after he was laid low with a mystery stomach illness at The Oval.Hes a world-class bowler and puts the ball in good areas, said Root of Philander.Throughout this series there have been surfaces that have been more bowler-friendly and he obviously poses a big threat to us and we dont take him lightly.We will make sure we do our homework on him if you like and we are fully prepared for all the challenges the whole attack brings.I think its wrong to single out individuals -- you know on any given day any one of those guys can put in good performances.Heavy rain in Manchester had made assessing pitch conditions difficult, with heat lamps used to dry sections of the outfield.But Root, one match away from victory in his first series as England captain, said: Theres been a lot of chat about the weather around, but most importantly all we need to focus on is making sure we look to win this game.But the bad weather meant Root felt unable to reveal if England would stick with the same XI.It (the wicket) was under-prepared and a lot can change in the next 24 hours, so well make a judgement on the side tomorrow (Friday).

Bangladesh breaths easy as Australia ends pay dispute

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DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as Australia ended its protracted pay dispute with their cricket board, ensuring Steve Smiths side can visit later this month for a long-awaited tour.Australia were due to arrive in Dhaka on August 18 for their first Test series in Bangladesh since 2006 but a row between players and management had cast doubt over the tour.But the bruising dispute was resolved Thursday as players and management agreed to a new in-principle deal, ensuring upcoming series against Bangladesh, India and England can go ahead.Its great news for Bangladesh. Definitely we are very happy to see the problem has resolved, Bangladesh Cricket Board head Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP.Their next commitment is in Bangladesh. Now after the dispute is resolved, we can look forward to hosting them.The bad-tempered stand-off had been rumbling for months, rattling the game and badly straining the players relationship with the sports governing body.Some 230 cricketers had been unemployed since the end of June when their contracts expired, putting this months Test tour to Bangladesh under serious threat.Bangladeshi authorities grew increasingly anxious as the spat dragged on, especially when a home series against Pakistan slated for July-August was cancelled.Australia was scheduled to play two Tests in Bangladesh in late 2015 but the tour was cancelled after a wave of attacks by Islamist extremists in the Muslim-majority nation.Bangladeshs first Test against Australia will be held at Dhakas Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from August 27. The second starts in Chittagong on September 4.

Pujara, Rahane centuries put India in control

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COLOMBO (AFP) - Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane hit centuries as India took opening day honours on 344-3 at stumps against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo on Thursday.Pujara (128) and Rahane (103) put on an unbeaten 211-run partnership for the fourth wicket to thwart Sri Lankan bowlers who struck two crucial blows in the afternoon session.The in-form Pujara registered his 13th Test century in his landmark 50th game as Rahane fired his ninth Test hundred.The visitors, who lead the three-match series 1-0, wobbled slightly when Lokesh Rahul went for 57 and skipper Virat Kohli followed for 13 soon after lunch.Rahul, who scored his eighth Test fifty despite only just recovering from a virus, was run out in a mix-up with Pujara.I was disappointed because I have been away from the game so long and I didnt want to get out at all, he told reporters at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.He said knowing the team was waiting for his return post recovery made a big difference and I came back with a lot more confidence.The pitch was on the slower side and would turn as the Test went on, he added.Veteran left-arm spinner spinner Rangana Herath sent Kohli trudging back to the pavilion with a tossed-up delivery that got the edge of the captains bat and went to slip.Pujara and Rahane ground out the runs to deny Dinesh Chandimals side any more wickets during the day.Pujara, who scored 153 in the first innings of the opening Test, hit 10 fours and a six.Rahane also tackled the spinners with aplomb, using his feet to great effect during his 168-ball stay at the crease so far.Sri Lankas interim coach Nic Pothas praised Rahane for his gritty knock but conceded the squad didnt maintain pressure on the worlds top Test team.Rahane came and played very well. From that point onwards we didnt perhaps execute as well as we had done up to that point, said the former South Africa player.We just released the pressure a little bit. That was the turning session. India got momentum back. This is the day one and its Test match cricket. Its about how you bounce back.In the morning session, off-spinner Dilruwan Perera had Shikhar Dhawan trapped lbw for 35 after the tourists elected to bat first.Debutant left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was still searching for his first Test scalp as paceman Nuwan Pradeep had to leave the field due to a suspected pulled hamstring.The hosts need at least a draw to stay alive in the series.

Sana Mir steps down as women's captain

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Lahore (Dunya News) - Sana Mir has announced to step down from captaincy, saying she cannot work under the current setup of PCB.She expressed her disappointment at the behaviour of PCB’s women wing. It all started when a report by team coach Sabih Azhar, leaked in media, blamed Sana Mir for the loss of Womens World Cup 2017, labelling her as ‘self-obsessed’.Mir confirmed that her coordination with team coach Sabih Azhar was not smooth as she insisted on playing the Diana Baig considering her sublime form. “I want to make it clear I dont intend to continue in the future with the current setup of the Women’s Wing in any capacity. Having said that I would still be sharing a detailed report with all of you to improve womens cricket once I get back by the end of August InshaAllah,”she wrote on her Facebook page.Sana also highlighted the cricketing reasons for Pakistan’s poor performance in the ICC Womens World Cup, admitting that Pakistan should have won at least four of the matches. Sana has led Pakistan in 72 ODIs, winning 26 of them.The ex-skipper also brushed aside the impression that she was self-centered saying that media can ask any player about her attitude towards junior. Pakistan’s women team failed to win any match in last month’s ICC women world cup in England. “My coordination with the coach suffered when I insisted on playing Diana Baig, who was in absolutely great form. That was our major disagreement. Diana is talented and was in great form in the WWC 2017,” she said.“No one can have a 100% record but its disheartening to see a coach maligning the senior players who have been giving confidence and guidance to youngsters for so long,” Sana Mir said as she expressed her disappointment.

Karachi: Child recovered, alleged murderer of five arrested

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Police conducted a joint operation in the provincial capital on Thursday where they recovered an abducted child and arrested alleged murderer of five persons belonging to the same family.A boy named Bilal was abducted recently and kidnappers demanded Rs 1 million from family.Anti-violent crime cell and special investigation unit conducted a joint operation and recovered the child from Mominabad.In another operation, Police CIA arrested a man alleged of five murders from Sindh. Sources told suspect Ali had killed five persons from the same family during 2009 in Sukkur. He was arrested with narcotics worth Rs 1 million near Landhi Dawood Chowrangi.Sindh Rangers conducted search operations in Karachi where they arrested a total of seven suspects which include three alleged terrorists belonging from MQM-London. Rangers spokesperson told weapons and drugs were recovered from them.

Nisar to actively run party matters, distance himself from ministry: sources

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, ex-Interior Minister and close aide to Nawaz Sharif, has decided to pursue ab important role to run party affairs and distance himself from any position in the government, according to sources.The first task is to organise the welcome of Nawaz Sharif’s campaign as he leaves Islamabad for Lahore. Sources claimed that Nisar met the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers from Rawalpindi divisionin provincial and federal level.It was also stated that Maryam Nawaz, daughter of Nawaz Sharif, will handle the social media campaign of Nawaz Sharif. Nisar will also play a role in Nawaz Sharif’s decision-making for future plans.
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