Saturday 30 September 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

PML-N is breaking into blocks from within, claims Fawad Chaudhry

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) Fawad Chaudhry claimed that MNA’s from the ruling party are infuriated over the motion of appointing the ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as head of the PML-N again and are going to move for a forward block within the party.He said that a total of 35 Members of the National Assembly belonging to the PML-N are going to form a forward block. He also said that this mutinous move is going to take place within two weeks.He announced this while participating in a panel discussion on Tonight With Moeed Pirzada alongside Sharmeela Farooqui of the People’s party, Mian Javed Latif of the PML-N and Senator Kamil Ali Agha of the PML-Q.Mr. Chaudhry made these claims whilst discussing the various amendments that the ruling party has moved in order to restore Mian Nawaz Sharif as head of the party once again. This motion includes amendment of the party’s own constitution which states: “No person will be appointed or serve as an office bearer of the party if he/she is not qualified to be or disqualified from being elected or chosen as member of majlis shoora (Parliament)”.These amendments also include amending the RPO (Representation of the People’s Order) act 1976 and PPO (Political Parties Order) act of 2002. A National Assembly session has been called out of turn on 2ndOctober, 2017 on the 62, 63 amendments. On 3rdOctober 2017 the PML-N is hosting its presidential elections in the convention center Islamabad and on 5th of October, 2017, the former Prime Minister is expected to leave for London to tend to his ailing wife, Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.He is also set to appear before the National Accountability Bureau on 2nd October.

9th Muharram Ashura processions conclude across Pakistan

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Ashura processions on 9th of Muharram have concluded on Saturday (September 30th) in Punjab metropolis, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Islamabad among other cities.In Lahore, processions were carried out in Pandu Street of Islampura among other areas. In Karachi, the mourners proceeded towards Kharadar and concluded there.Leading procession of 9th Muharram in Rawalpindi was led by the mourners from Chitian Hatian and in Islamabad, a procession was carried out from Asna Ashri Imam Bargah.Over 6,000 police personnel were deployed in Karachi to guard the mourners while the total count of those positioned across Punjab province is over one lac.

Iraqi PM promises to defend Kurds against any attack

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqs Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday said he would defend the countrys Kurds from attack as internal and regional tensions soared over a controversial independence referendum.To our people in the Kurdistan region: we defend our Kurdish citizens as we defend all Iraqis and will not allow any attack on them, he tweeted in English.An Abadi adviser, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP that the premier was referring to either an internal or external attack.We will not allow any harm to you and we will share our loaf of bread together, Abadi said in another tweet.Iran on Saturday said it would hold a joint military exercise with Iraq on Irans border with Iraqi Kurdistan in response to Mondays illegitimate referendum.Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday also took part in a Turkish military drill close to the Iraqi frontier.Inside Iraq, Hadi al-Ameri, head of the powerful Iran-backed Badr organisation, has vowed to defend the countrys unity, warning that the poll could trigger civil war.Baghdad has demanded the annulment of Mondays non-binding referendum, which resulted in a huge yes vote, and has suspended international flights to and from the region.Washington has said it does not recognise the unilateral referendum.Turkey, Iran and Syria -- which have their own sizeable Kurdish communities -- have also rejected the vote for independence in the oil-rich region.On Saturday, Abadi explained Baghdads wish to better control all of Iraqs oil revenues.Federal government control of oil revenues is in order to pay KR employee salaries in full and so that money will not go to the corrupt, he tweeted.In 2014, after a dispute over oil exports, Baghdad suspended payments to the Kurdish region of 17 percent of Iraqs national budget.Wages, including those of Kurdish peshmerga fighters, were slashed after the end of those transfers, which were worth around $12 billion (10 billion euros) annually and made up 80 percent of the regions budget revenues.

Sharapova digs deep in China Open epic

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BEIJING (AFP) - Maria Sharapova got her revenge over Latvian 16th seed Anastasija Sevastova with a gutsy 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-6 (9/7) victory in the China Open first round on Saturday.It was the five-time Grand Slam winners first appearance since she was beaten by Sevastova at the US Open in early September and gets her stop-start return from a doping ban back on track.Sharapova, once number one but now ranked a lowly 104 in the world, is a wildcard in Beijing as she works her way back slowly from a 15-month ban for taking the banned substance meldonium.She was far from her best, making a series of unforced errors, but Sharapova dug in and saved match point during an attritional encounter lasting more than three hours in the Chinese capital.Sharapova, who has also been wrestling with injury, will take on American qualifier Jennifer Brady or fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the next round.I didnt give in, which I think is a really good sign considering its been a few weeks since I played and she was someone that I lost to in my previous match, said a relieved Sharapova.The 30-year-old said that physically and emotionally she did not have it in her when she faced Sevastova in New York in the fourth round, but feels she is getting stronger in both respects.When I saw the draw (Sevastova again), I was like, Of course, added Sharapova with a grin.Sharapova, who controversially returned to tennis in April, said she was feeling fresh and is eager to finish the season on a high.Winning is very special and when you lose its tough and you have to go on and build and work on things that didnt work out for you, she said.Asked how far she was from getting back to her peak, Sharapova declined to say: Its not really the way I think.Sevastova broke the Russian -- who had the majority of the crowd behind her -- in the seventh game of the first set to seize the early initiative.Sharapova immediately broke back for 4-4, before falling 6-5 down on her own serve when her drop shot went astray, only to strike back immediately to force a tie break.Come on the former China Open champion shouted as she wrapped up the first-set tie break.Sharapova looked set to race through the second set to book her place in round two.But her serve was suspect all match and the Latvian refused to submit.Sevastova broke Sharapova once more as the match clock hit the two-hour mark to level the encounter at one-set each, before Sharapova finally saw off her resilient opponent in an epic decider.Earlier, the second seed Simona Halep battled past the American Alison Riske in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Petrol price upwardly revised by Rs 2/litre

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Finance ministry has approved Rs 2 per litre hike in petrol price on Saturday (September 30th) taking the commulative to Rs 73.50/litre.The revised prices of petroleum products would be in effect starting from midnight tonight.Price of the high-speed diesel is revised to Rs 79.40/litre, that of light speed diesel to Rs 46/litre and that of kerosene to Rs 48/litre.Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority had recommended the ministry to hike the kerosene price by Rs 19/litre.

Nawaz to leave for London on Oct 5: sources

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to fly to London on October 5, sources privy to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz reported on Saturday (September 30th).Reportedly, the disqualified premier would fly back to his posh Mayfair residence in coming week after around a weeklong stay in Pakistan.He had landed in Islamabad this Monday and convened meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi among leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and appeared for a corruption reference hearing at an accountability court.He visited Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif in Lahore and applied for extension of his British visa at embassy of the United Kingdom.Sources have reported that the ex-premier is to see his wife, Kulsoom Nawaz after she was discharged from a London hospital this week following successful surgeries for treatment of lymph nodes cancer.She won the NA-120 by-polls held on September 17th with a margin of over 10,000 votes. The electioneering was conducted by her daughter Maryam Nawaz in her absence who among her two brothers is in London.Reports of Nawaz Sharif flying back to London had earlier surfaced this week but were denied.The party presidencyNawaz Sharif was sacked as the president of Muslim League-Nawaz following his disqualification on July 28 by the top court in a corruption reference.Accrording to the code of the election commission, the disqualified member could not lead a political party which is why Shehbaz Sharif was appointed the party president.The electoral reforms bill that was approved in the Senate earlier this month paved way for his re-appointment as the party president.A session of the National Assembly is scheduled for October 2nd to have the reforms bill approved. The session was earlier scheduled for October 4th however reportedly, the revision was made in accordance with his departure plan.Reportedly, the bill would be forwarded to the president the same day and on October 3rd (Tuesday), a meeting of top brass of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz would re-elect him as the president of the political front.

Fire in Karachi graveyard gets Sindh govt flak

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Alleged sacrilege of graves in a Karachi graveyard on Saturday (September 30th) has sparked gotten the provincial government flak after administration’s slackness caused a fire in the graveyard.Reportedly, negligence of the administration and departments concerned has turned Azeempura graveyard on Shah Faisal Road into a dump for the locals.A fire that was set to “dispose” the garbage in the graveyard affected the graves in its surroundings.While commenting on the issue, cleric Mufti Naeem criticised the government demanding an immediate action. He held the government responsible for turning the final resting places to dumps.

Imran Khan's political secretary gets cell phones, cash stolen

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(Web Desk) – Political secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan , Aun Chaudhry has complained of a dacoity in the wee hours of Saturday that devoid him of two mobile phones and Rs 60,000.A private television channel reported that Chaudhry has lodged a case in Bani Gala police station. He asserted that a burglar stole Rs 60,000 in cash and two of his mobile phones at around 03:30am on Saturday morning.Reportedly, Naeemul Haq, spokesperson for PTI chief was asleep in the immediate next room whose attention call made the burglar to run.According to Aun Chaudhry, a case has been lodged with the Bani Gala police.

Azhar Ali joins Pakistan's 5,000 Test club

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Consistent Pakistan middle-order batsman Azhar Ali completed 5,000 runs in the longer format during the third days play in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.The 32-year-old beceme the eighth Pakistan batsman to reach the milestone in his 61st Test, when he took a single to reach a personal score of 32.Ali made his Test debut against Australia at Lords in Pakistans neutral venue series in England in 2010 and has since been a consistent performer with the bat.He became the first century maker in a day-night Test during his epic triple hundred against the West Indies in Dubai last year.He scored 1198 runs in 11 Tests in 2016, also including a fighting double hundred against Australia at Melbourne.Younis Khan is the leading Test run-getter for Pakistan, with 10,099 runs in 118 Tests.Here is the list of Pakistan batsmen who scored 5,000 or more runs in Test cricket (under Test and runs)Younis Khan 118 10,099Javed Miandad 124 8832Inzamam-ul-Haq 119 8829Mohammad Yousuf 90 7530Salim Malik 103 5768Misbah-ul-Haq 75 5222Zaheer Abbas 78 5062Azhar Ali 61 5,000

Oxford college removes Suu Kyi portrait

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LONDON (AFP) - The Oxford University college where Aung San Suu Kyi studied said Saturday it had taken down a portrait of the Myanmar leader, a decision that follows widespread criticism of her over the Rohingya crisis.The portrait, which was on display in the main entrance of St Hughs College, has been placed in storage and was replaced on Thursday with a new painting gifted by Japanese artist Yoshihiro Takada.Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi studied at St Hughs, graduating in philosophy, politics and economics in 1967 before completing a masters in politics in 1968.We received a new painting earlier this month which will be exhibited at the main entrance for a period, the college said in a statement.The painting of Aung San Suu Kyi has meanwhile been moved to a secure location.The university did not say whether the removal was linked to the ongoing crisis in Myanmars western Rakhine State.Communal violence has torn through the state since Muslim minority Rohingya militants staged deadly attacks on police posts on August 25.An army-led fightback has left scores dead and sent around half a million Rohingya fleeing the mainly Buddhist country into neighbouring Bangladesh.The United Nations describes the situation as ethnic cleansing.The removal of the 1997 portrait by the Chinese artist Chen Yanning comes a few days before new students arrive at the college to start their courses.The portrait belonged to Suu Kyis husband, the Oxford academic Michael Aris, and was bequeathed to the college after his death in 1999.St Hughs also counts British Prime Minister Theresa May among its alumni.

Azhar, Asad steady Pakistan in first Test

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Experienced batsman Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq steadied Pakistans innings after Sri Lanka took two quick wickets on the third day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.Ali, who completed 5,000 Test runs when on 32, was on 37 while Shafiq was unbeaten on 38 as Pakistan still trail the Sri Lankan first innings total of 419 by 225 runs.Openers Shan Masood and Sami Aslam set the platform for a big total by putting together a solid 114-run opening stand after they resumed at 64 without loss.But Sri Lanka hit back by removing both openers in the space of two runs.Aslam, recalled after being dropped from the West Indies tour on disciplinary grounds earlier this year, was trapped leg-before by off-break bowler Perera. He hit four boundaries in his seventh Test half century.Two runs later Masood attempted a sweep shot off the wily Herath but missed the ball and was bowled round his legs.Both Ali and Shafiq survived confident appeals. Ali wisely reviewed a leg-before decision off Perera, but the ball hit his bat before the pad.Shafiq was given not out on a review when he was stumped off Herath on one.Ali became the eight Pakistani batsman to score 5,000 or more runs, reaching the milestone in 61st Test.

Pakistan 194-2 at tea in reply to Sri Lanka's 419

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Pakistan, replying to Sri Lankas first innings total of 419, reached 194-2 at tea on the third day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 37 and with him Asad Shafiq batting on 38 as Pakistan were still 225 behind with eigth wickets intact.Openers Shan Masood (59) and Sami Aslam (51) had put 114 for the first wicket.

Mominul keeps South Africa at bay

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POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa (AFP) - Mominul Haque made an accomplished half-century as Bangladesh kept South Africa’s bowlers at bay on the third day of thev first Test at Senwes Park on Saturday.Mominul was unbeaten on 72 as Bangladesh reached 218 for four at lunch in reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 496 for three declared.The diminutive Mominul and fellow left-hander Tamim Iqbal saw off some hostile bowling by Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada at the start of the day, with the first nine overs producing only seven runs. Both batsmen survived close leg before wicket decisions against reverse-swinging deliveries from Rabada.But 17 runs came off Rabada’s fifth over of the day, including two successive boundaries by Mominul, and South Africa’s change bowlers were unable to maintain the pressure as the Bangladesh batsmen counter-attacked.The only wicket of the morning fell to new cap Andile Phehlukwayo when Tamim, on 39, glanced an off-target delivery down the leg side and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock flung himself to his right to take a good catch.Mominul made his runs off 138 balls and hit 12 fours. He and Mahmudullah (26 not out) had added 60 runs for the fifth wicket at lunch.

Hospital allows kids to drive themselves to operating room

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A San Diego childrens hospital unveiled a collection of remote controlled luxury mini cars on Tuesday that allow its young patients to drive themselves to the operating room.The cars at the Rady Childrens Hospital are actually operated by a nurse or a doctor, and are part of a new program designed to make children more relaxed before their procedures.“The kids are having fun. The parents are seeing that theyre relaxed and that theyre happy,” said Dr. Daniela Carvalho, medical director of surgical services at the hospital.The cars were donated by the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive. Children have their pick of a BMW, Mercedes, or Lamborghini, ensuring their ride to the operating room is a luxurious one.

Two thousand Rohingya mass on Myanmar coast to join exodus

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YANGON (AFP) - More than 2,000 Rohingya have massed along Myanmar’s coast this week after trekking from inland villages in Rakhine state to join the refugee exodus to Bangladesh, state media reported Saturday.They follow more than half a million fellow Rohingya who have emptied out of northern Rakhine in a single month, fleeing an army crackdown and communal violence the UN says amounts to ethnic cleansing.The journey to Bangladesh is fraught with danger for the stateless Muslim minority, who have faced decades of systematic oppression in mainly Buddhist Myanmar.After fleeing burning villages they say were set alight by soldiers and Buddhist mobs, more than 100 Rohingya have drowned in the scramble to cross the Naf river that divides the two countries.The latest boat capsize on Thursday has left some 60 feared dead, with 23 bodies -- mainly of children -- brought to shore as dozens more remain missing.The crowds building up along Rakhine’s coast hail from the same inland area -- Buthidaung Township -- as many of those who perished in the boat tragedy.Starting on Tuesday, they left their region, claiming that they felt insecure to remain because they were now living in a sparsely populated area, as most of their relatives had left for Bangladesh, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported.More than half had gathered on a beach near Lay Yin Kwin village, the report said, with photos of women and children clustered together on the sand as security officers looked on.‘Nothing to eat’It was not clear if or how they would complete the journey to Bangladesh, where the unprecedented influx of refugees has unfurled a separate humanitarian crisis as aid groups struggle to meet their vast needs.The report said officials tried to assure the Rohingya of their safety in Myanmar but villagers said they would still like to go to Bangladesh of their own accord.Chris Lewa from the Arakan project, which closely tracks developments in Rakhine, said economic deprivation and tensions with Buddhist neighbours appear to be the main forces driving the recent movements of Rohingya out of Buthidaung, as opposed to fresh outbreaks of violence.Crucial aid deliveries have been cut off from the impoverished area since August 25, when Rohingya militant raids on police posts triggered the military backlash that plunged northern Rakhine into crisis.The majority are mostly poor who are leaving and have nothing to eat, said Lewa.The Rakhine (Buddhist) villages nearby, they are treating them very badly and because of that people are afraid to go out ... They feel they cannot get out of their village to do any livelihood.The UN has previously reported that increasingly isolated Muslim communities in Rakhine are receiving regular threats from ethnic Rakhine Buddhists to leave the area.Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing is under way and instead blames Rohingya militants for whipping up the violence, which has also displaced tens of thousands of Rakhine Buddhists and Hindus.The crisis has inflamed already blistering religious tensions and fuelled a dizzying array of claims and counterclaims from different ethnic groups.The Muslim Rohingya have been the target of especially acute hatred in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and are instead branded Bengalis -- or illegal migrants who do not belong in the Buddhist-majority country.
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Friday 29 September 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Formula One: Flying Vettel puts pressure on Hamilton

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SEPANG (AFP) - Sebastian Vettel smashed the all-time Sepang lap record Friday as Ferrari put the pressure on Lewis Hamilton before a track fault brought an early halt to Malaysian Grand Prix practice on Friday.Vettel clocked 1min 31.261sec around the 5.543-kilometre circuit on his qualifying simulation run in the second session to smash the old record of 1:32.50 set by Fernando Alonso in 2005.His Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was second, six-tenths of a second adrift.Its been a decent day, Vettel told Sky TV.The Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen were third and fourth on a frustrating day for Mercedes championship leader, Hamilton who was only sixth fastest with Valtteri Bottas seventh.Red Bull looked very fast in the mixed conditions this morning, in the damp and wet on the intermediate tyres, added Vettel.Hamilton had been on just his 10th lap of the afternoon when he took too much speed into turn eight, resulting in a sideways excursion into the gravel and a wrecked set of soft tyres.Hamilton did manage to avoid beaching the car and was able to limp back to the pits, where his mechanics removed the nose and started making frantic changes to the set-up.When he did re-emerge with 40 minutes of the session remaining his car appeared still to be handling erratically, and his first timed lap was fully 1.4 seconds down on Vettel.Fridays are when you play around and try some things, Vettel said. It looked like both Mercedes were struggling in morning and afternoon so Im pretty sure they will be fine tomorrow.Ricciardo added: I think Mercedes were quite heavy today. I dont know if its legit or theyre playing some games.The session ended 20 minutes early when Romain Grosjean hit a loose drain cover at turn 9, ripping his rear tyre apart and throwing his Haas into the barriers at around 200 kph.The Frenchman was lucky to be able to walk away but with no time to repair the offending part of the track the session was red flagged and then called off 10 minutes early.Rookie Pierre Gasly also suffered a scare when he came into the pits with huge amounts of smoke billowing from the rear of his Toro Rosso.But it turned out to be just a minor oil leak and he was soon on his way again.Earlier, the first 30 minutes of the morning practice had been lost because of heavy rain.The two Red Bulls set the pace as lap times tumbled towards the end as the track dried and drivers switched to intermediate tyres.Verstappen managed just 11 laps but his best at 1min 48.962sec was 0.757sec quicker than Ricciardo.Alonso was third, two seconds adrift of Verstappen as the Red Bulls proved untouchable in the wet.Hamilton did not bother to leave the shelter of the Mercedes garage until 30 minutes from the end of the session, and could only set the sixth fastest time, three seconds behind the leading Red Bull and eclipsed by both Ferraris.Vettel was only fifth quickest in the morning, four-tenths slower than Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.

Iraq cuts Kurdistan air links with outside world

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ARBIL (AFP) - The Iraqi government cut autonomous Kurdistans direct air links with the outside world indefinitely on Friday, partially isolating the northern region after it voted a massive yes in an independence referendum.The move increases the pressure on the Iraqi Kurds amid soaring regional tensions following Mondays non-binding but deeply contentious vote.Washington on Friday said it did not recognise the unilateral referendum and urged all parties to reject the use of force and engage in dialogue.The vote and the results lack legitimacy and we continue to support a united, federal, democratic and prosperous Iraq, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement.The central government in Baghdad had ordered the halt to all foreign flights to and from the autonomous Kurdish region from 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) on Friday.Foreigners scrambled to fly out of the regions capital Arbil and its second largest city Sulaimaniyah before the ban took effect.Iraqi Kurdish transport minister Mawlud Bawa Murad told AFP at Arbil airport that the ban would negatively impact all international businesses in the Kurdistan region, in addition to all civilians, from all nations.It would negatively impact our daily life, he said. We will do our best to find a viable alternative, or succeed to bring back international flights.Arbil is a key gateway for humanitarian aid workers helping Iraqis affected by the battle against the Islamic State group (IS).Washington said earlier it would be willing to facilitate talks between the Iraqi Kurdish authorities and Baghdad to calm escalating tensions over the 92-percent yes vote.Neighbouring Turkey and Iran also strongly opposed the vote, fearing it would inflame the separatist aspirations of their own sizeable Kurdish populations.Ankara has threatened a series of measures including blocking lifeline oil exports from the region via Turkey.The Kurds, whose borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria remain open, have condemned the flight suspension as collective punishment.Iraqs Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said it was not punishment but a legal measure that would be reversed if the transport authority was transferred to Baghdad in line with the Iraqi constitution.The ban saw people, many of them foreigners, flock to Arbil airport to avoid being stranded.Iraqi Kurdistan is home to a large international community, most of whom enter on a visa issued by the regional authorities that is not recognised by the central government, so they cannot travel elsewhere in Iraq.On Friday, around 100 passengers waited eagerly for their planes in Arbil, where the last flight out was to Vienna at 4 pm.We were supposed to go back to Brazil next Saturday but we rescheduled our flight, said Isidoro Junior, a 32-year-old volunteer for an NGO providing medical assistance to Iraqis displaced by the war against IS.The director of Arbil airport, Talar Faiq Salih said humanitarian, military and diplomatic flights were excluded from the ban.Earlier, the UN humanitarian office OCHA said it was working to ensure aid could continue to reach tens of thousands of needy Iraqis.In Sulaimaniyah, foreigners and others needing to leave sped to the airport before the ban took effect, while Kurds who were abroad for business or tourism rushed home.There have been masses of people for two days, said airport spokesman Dana Mohammad Said, adding that the airport remained open for domestic flights.Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraqs highest Shiite religious authority, called for all sides to abide by the Iraqi constitution and to appeal to High Federal Court to solve the Kurdistan crisis.The latest political developments should not have a negative impact on the strong relationship between sons of the homeland, Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds and others, his representative said.On the international front, Washington said it would be prepared to help facilitate a conversation between Arbil and Baghdad.We would like to see some calm on all sides, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, noting that the US had opposed the referendum because we thought it would be destabilising.On Thursday, the spokesman for the international coalition fighting IS in Iraq and neighbouring Syria said the referendum had taken focus away from the war against the jihadists.But he said there was absolutely no effect on current military operations out of Arbil using the airport.Iraqi forces on Friday launched an assault on the northern town of Hawija, one of the last IS bastions in the country along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the border with Syria.Kurdish forces have been key allies in US-backed offensives against IS in both Syria and Iraq.

Iraq forces attack IS-held town of Hawija

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi forces Friday launched an assault on the northern town of Hawija, one of the last bastions in the country still held by the Islamic State group, which is also under attack in neighbouring Syria.The operation came a day after IS released what it said was an audio recording of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urging resistance, the first such intervention in nearly a year.The leaders of the Islamic State and its soldiers have realised that the path to... victory is to be patient and resist the infidels whatever their alliances, said the voice in the recording, whose authenticity Washington said it had no reason to doubt.Since Baghdadis previous message to his followers last November, the territory the jihadists still hold in the cross-border caliphate they proclaimed in 2014 has shrunk to a fraction of its former extent.A huge military operation has begun to liberate Hawija and its surrounding areas, the operations commander, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said in a statement.Iraqi forces launched an offensive to retake the jihadist enclave around Hawija on September 21, swiftly taking the town of Sharqat on its second day before pushing on towards Hawija itself.Yarallah said Fridays assault marked the second phase of the operation and aimed to recapture Hawija and the towns of Al-Abbasi, Riyadh and Rashad to its west, east and south.All are mainly Sunni Arab towns that have long been bastions of insurgency and were bypassed by government forces in their push north on second city Mosul last year which culminated in the jihadists defeat in their most emblematic stronghold this July.Yarallah later announced that troops had taken Al-Abbasi and raised the Iraqi flag there.He said the operation involved the army, the federal police, counterterrorism units and the Rapid Intervention Force, as well as tribal volunteers and the paramilitary Popular Mobilisation force, mainly made up of Iran-trained Shiite militia.The enclave lies east of the Tigris River and south of one of its major tributaries, the Little Zab, and troops erected pontoon bridges during the night to enable the assault to begin, Yarallah said.The Popular Mobilisation force said IS had set fire to two oil wells in the Alas field, southeast of Hawija, in a bid to provide cover and slow the advance of loyalist forces.Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the second phase of the operation to recapture the area.As we promised the sons of our country, we are going to liberate every inch of Iraqi land and crush the Daesh (IS) terrorist gangs, Abadi said.We are on the verge of a new victory to liberate the residents of these areas from those criminals.The Hawija enclave is one of just two areas of Iraq still held by IS, along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the Syrian border which is also under attack.The US-led coalition against the jihadists said Friday that at least 1,200 Iraqi security personnel were killed during the months-long operation to recapture Mosul.The international coalition against IS also said that US-led air strikes in Iraq and Syria have killed another 50 civilians, without specifying when.It said that with the latest deaths, at least 735 civilians have been unintentionally killed by coalition strikes.Further up the Euphrates Valley on the Syrian side of the border, IS is facing rival offensives by US-backed fighters and Russian-backed government forces.The jihadists launched a major counteroffensive against government forces on Thursday, killing at least 73 troops and militia in a series of attacks along their supply lines, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Most of the dead came near the desert town of Sukhna, on the main highway between the big cities of the west and the Euphrates Valley city of Deir Ezzor, the Britain-based monitoring group said.Syrian troops pushed through the desert and broke a three-year IS siege of government enclaves in Deir Ezzor earlier this month. They are now battling to retake the remaining IS posts.Further upstream, a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters is poised to capture the onetime IS bastion of Raqa, once a byword for jihadist atrocities.A top US-led coalition commander told AFP on Thursday that the jihadists were now breathing their last gasps in the city.He said the coalition was already setting its sights on another IS-held town in the Euphrates Valley -- Al-Mayadeen, between Deir Ezzor and the Iraqi border.

Trump's scandal-hit health secretary resigns

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Donald Trumps embattled health secretary was forced out of the US administration Friday, amid a scandal over his use of costly private jets for government travel.Secretary of Health and Human Services Thomas Price offered his resignation earlier today and the president accepted, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.The announcement came less than an hour after Trump told reporters that Price had not offered to resign, but that his fate would be decided later Friday.The deputy assistant secretary for health, Don Wright, will be tapped to take over for Price on an interim basis, Sanders said.For days Price has battled to keep a position he has held for less than eight months, after it emerged he had repeatedly used taxpayer funds to hire private jets.In all, Price has flown on 26 separate trips this year on private aircraft, totaling some $400,000, according to Politico.He tried to put a lid on the scandal by paying back what turned out to be a fraction of the cash spent.The trips were for government business, Prices department said, but some of the flights were to destinations where the health chief owns property, or where he met relatives.Price had also been intimately involved in Trumps failed efforts to overturn Obama-era health care reforms.With that effort now stalled in Congress, Prices replacement will have to decide whether to take measures to prop up the current system or let it fail.Republicans say Obamas reforms are unworkable. Democrats and independent experts say Republican plans would see millions or tens of millions of people lose insurance.In his resignation letter Price said it was an honor and privilege to serve in Trumps administration.I have spent forty years both as a doctor and public servant putting people first, he wrote.I regret that the recent events have created a distraction from these important objectives.Trump had earlier indicated that Prices job was hanging by a thread.I dont like the optics. Trump said. Im not happy, I can tell you, Im not happy.Trump described the former congressman as a very fine person, adding that for some cabinet secretaries it was not a problem because they have their own planes.It has been revealed that other cabinet secretaries -- including Treasurys Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt -- have also contracted private or military jets while in office.Their fate now appears to be unclear.Price is the most senior ranking official to be forced out of the administration, although hes far from the first.Since Trump became president in January, he has parted ways with his national security advisor, FBI director, chief of staff, press secretary, chief strategist and two communications directors.

Catalans occupy polling stations ahead of contested vote

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Supporters of an independence referendum in Catalonia opposed by Madrid occupied would-be polling stations on Friday in a bid to ensure the vote goes ahead, as thousands gathered in Barcelona for the separatist camps closing campaign.In one of the biggest crises to hit Spain since democracy was restored after the death of Franco in 1975, the referendum has pitched the wealthy northeastern region against central government and sown divisions among Catalans themselves.Authorities in Madrid have instructed police to ensure no votes are cast in Sundays vote.A court on Wednesday ordered police to prevent the use of public buildings for the preparation and organisation of the referendum.But as classes ended for the day, small groups of activists, including parents with their children, on Friday peacefully occupied several schools in Barcelona where voting is scheduled to take place.I am going to sleep here, with my oldest son who is a student here, Gisela Losa, a mother of three, told AFP at Reina Vionant primary school in Barcelonas fashionable Gracia neighbourhood, where pro-independence sentiment runs high.The occupations appeared to be partly coordinated by a platform of schools open for the referendum which distributed a manual via social networks with instruction on how to occupy buildings and guarantee they are available to serve as polling stations.On Friday evening, around 10,000 supporters of the referendum gathered off Barcelonas Placa dEspanya, or Spain Square, as separatist leaders closed their campaign for the vote.In these hugely intense and hugely emotional moments, we sense that what we once thought was only a dream is within reach, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont told a cheering crowd.On Sunday, we have a date with the future.Many of them waved the Esteleda -- the separatists flag of red-and-yellow stripes with a white star on a blue chevron.But quite a different scene played out just six kilometres (3.5 miles) away in the town of LHospitalet de Llobregat.There, some 2,000 people who oppose separating from Spain rallied at a meeting called by Ciudadanos, Catalonias main opposition party.They waved Spanish and EU flags, as well as the Senyera -- the official Catalan flag of plain red-and-yellow stripes.This is a dead end, they want to destroy the state, Spain and Catalonia, said Dolores Molero, a 53-year-old secretary from Tarragona, a city further south.Madrid has repeatedly warned those who help stage a referendum which the courts have ruled unconstitutional that they face repercussions.On Friday, Spains education ministry said in a statement that school directors in Catalonia were not exempt from liability if they cooperated.But Jordi Sanchez, the president of the Catalan National Assembly, an influential pro-independence organisation, told AFP the court order said public spaces could not be used for the referendum on Sunday but it did not say anything about leisure activities today and Saturday.We have proposed that citizens organise activities, that they put in place a lot of activities to give life to these spaces which on Sunday should host the referendum.Barcelonas Joan Brassa high school, for instance, advertised a series of activities for Friday and Saturday, including movie screenings, football matches and Zumba dance fitness classes.Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull said there would be 2,315 polling stations all over the region for the vote. It was not immediately clear how many potential polling stations were being occupied.Police have for days been seizing electoral items such as ballot papers as they follow orders to stop the referendum while prosecutors ordered the closure of websites linked to the vote and the detention of key members of the team organising the referendum.Polls show the 7.5 million people of Catalonia are split on independence, but a large majority want to vote in a legitimate referendum to settle the matter.With firefighters and farmers vowing to protect polling stations, Catalonias regional police force, the Mossos dEsquadra, have warned of the risk of disruption of public order if they try to prevent people from casting ballots.In case they resist, Madrid has sent thousands of extra police officers from other forces to Catalonia -- which accounts for one fifth of Spains economy -- to help suppress the referendum it deems illegal.Central government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said he was completely certain that the Mossos would obey the law and the judges orders because they are subject to the law like everyone else.I insist that there will be no referendum, he said.Concerned, though, several European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, urged their nationals in Catalonia to exercise caution ahead of the referendum.

Soldier, two civilians martyred in Indian forces firing on LoC

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – At least one soldier and two Pakistani civilians were martyred when Indian forces resorted to unprovoked cease fire violation along Line of Control (LoC) on Friday.According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Indian forces used heavy weapons and targeted civilian population in Rakhchikri, Rawalakot along the LoC, martyring two civilians including one woman while one civilian was wounded.A Pakistan Army patrol team, assisting evacuation of civilians, also came under Indian firing resulting in the martyrdom of Naib Subedar Nadeem while three soldiers got injured.Pakistan Army troops gave a befitting response to Indian army posts which engaged civil population. There have been reports of casualties on the Indian side of the LoC, the ISPR stated.

Sheikhupura: 16 injured as bus turns turtle

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SHEIKHUPURA (Dunya News) – At least 16 passengers sustained injuries when a bus overturned at the Sheikhupura Road in Mananwala area near Sheikhupura on Friday.According to details, the ill-fated bus going to Faisalabad from Lahore turned turtle in Mananwala area near Sheikhupura when the driver tried to avoid collision with a rickshaw.Rescue teams arrived at the scene and shifted the injured to Allied Hospital in Faisalabad where condition of two wounded parsons is stated to be critical.Driver’s negligence, slack safety precautions, over-speeding and dilapidated roads are one of the main reasons of road accidents in the country whereas inexperienced drivers also flout the basic road safety rules.

Corps Commander Karachi visits Rangers Headquarters

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Shahid Baig Mirza visited the Rangers Headquarters on Friday and held a meeting with DG Rangers Sindh Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed.Rangers officials briefed Corps Commander on security arrangements chalked out by Rangers for the Muharram-ul-Haram processions and congregations in the city.Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Shahid Baig Mirza emphasized the importance of ensuring foolproof security of places of worship, congregation centres and Muharram-ul-Haram processions.

Karachi: Rangers seize MQM-London arms cache

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Rangers have seized a huge quantity of arms and ammunition allegedly belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-London) from Orangi Town area of Karachi on Friday, Dunya News reported.According to Rangers spokesman, the law enforcement agency conducted a raid on an MQM-London office situated on the back side of a public park in Orangi Town Sector Seven-C area on intelligence reports and recovered large quantity of weapons dumped in a store.The spokesman informed that the MQM-Londan had hidden arms and ammunition in the office with an intention to carry out terror acts in the metropolis. The seized weapons include one SMG, one Kalashnikov and one 22-bore rifle and hundreds of bullets.On the other hand, Rangers carried out operation in Sarjani Town and Mahmoodabad areas and arrested two accused including an MQM-London extortionist.

South Africa on top despite Elgar heartbreak

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POTCHEFSTROOM (AFP) - South Africa claimed three top-order Bangladesh wickets to take a firm grip on the second day of the first Test at Senwes Park on Friday.Bangladesh were 127 for three at the close, still trailing by 369 runs after South Africa declared their first innings on 496 for three.Dean Elgar made 199 and Hashim Amla scored 137 as South Africa batted remorselessly until tea before captain Faf du Plessis declared.The declaration caused a problem for Bangladesh because regular opener Tamim Iqbal had been off the field towards the end of South Africas innings, which meant he had to wait for 48 minutes before he could bat.Two wickets fell before Tamims enforced absence came to an end and he eventually batted at number five.It was the first time in his 52-Test career that he had not faced the first ball of an innings.Kagiso Rabada made an early breakthrough for South Africa when Imrul Kayes gloved a catch to gully in the sixth over.Morne Morkel followed up with the wicket of emergency opener Liton Das, who made a spirited 25, including two successive pulls for four off Morkel, before edging the tall fast bowler to first slip.Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim made an aggressive 44 off 57 balls but was fortunate to survive two sharp chances to Elgar at slip off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj when he was on six and 15.He eventually fell to Maharaj, caught off bat and pad at short leg.Tamim joined Mominul Haque and the two left-handers batted through to the close, unbeaten on 22 and 28 respectively, with Tamim epitomizing Bangladeshs attacking approach by dancing down the wicket to hit Maharaj for six off the last ball of the day.Opening batsman Elgar and Amla put on 215 for the second wicket as South Africa again gave Bangladesh cause to regret their decision to send the hosts in to bat.Amla became the first batsman to fall to a bowler when he slashed a wide ball from Mustafizur Rahman to backward point in the first over after lunch.The left-handed Elgar, who had gone past his previous highest Test score of 140, looked set for a double century until an attempted pull shot against Shafiul Islam looped off a top edge to short midwicket. He had batted for more than nine hours and faced 388 balls. He hit 15 fours and three sixes.Amla went to his 27th Test century in fluent style. He joined former captain Graeme Smith as the countrys second-highest century-maker, behind only Jacques Kallis, who made 45. Amla scored his runs off 200 balls with 17 fours and a six.

England thrash West Indies to win ODI series 4-0

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SOUTHAMPTON (AFP) - Jonny Bairstow hit an unbeaten century to lead England to a thumping nine-wicket victory over the West Indies in Southampton on Friday, in a low-key fifth and final one-day international overshadowed by the Ben Stokes scandal.Bairstow struck 141 not out as the hosts sealed the win with 12 overs to spare to complete a 4-0 series victory.The tourists, seeking to end a long sequence of defeats against England, posted 288 for six despite becoming bogged down after a thrilling Chris Gayle cameo, but it never looked enough under the floodlights in the day-night encounter.Openers Jason Roy and Bairstow started the home sides reply confidently, with Roy reaching his second consecutive half-century in the evening sunshine after his recall for the fourth match of the series, off 43 balls.Bairstow brought up his own 50 as the England openers kept the scoreboard constantly ticking over, untroubled by either pace or spin until Roy (96 in 70 balls) was trapped lbw by Miguel Cummins.But his dismissal did little to upset Englands rhythm. Joe Root batted smoothly while Bairstow steered a ball down to third man for a single to notch his second century of the series off 90 balls with 10 fours.The home side cantered past the winning post as Root finished alongside Bairstow on 46 not out, scoring the winning runs with a six.Im pretty pleased -- its nice to finish a pretty long summer with some runs and head away this winter with some confidence, said Bairstow.The nature of sport means you have to bide your time if selection doesnt go your way and when you get an opportunity, try to take it.Earlier, Gayle (40) lit up the gloom at the Ageas Bowl following a delayed start with a breathtaking brief knock under heavy late-September skies, hitting 34 runs off just six balls, all delivered by Jake Ball, including four successive sixes.But as he threatened to take the game away from England, Liam Plunkett took a fine diving catch running backwards off a slower Tom Curran delivery and the West Indies lost all momentum.Spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali established impressive control and the tourists went from the ninth over until the 31st over without scoring a single boundary.Desperately needing to step up the scoring rate to post a competitive total, Shai Hope clubbed three successive fours off ODI debutant Curran but was caught on the boundary by Sam Billings off Ball for 72 off 95 balls.Sunil Ambris (38 off 27 balls) and Ashley Nurse, with an impressive 31 off just 12 balls, gave much-needed impetus at the end of the innings as the West Indies went from 174-3 at the end of the 38th over to 288-6 at the end of the 50th over.The guys batted well but it went wrong in the bowling department. We werent anywhere near as consistent as we wanted to be, said West Indies stand-in captain Jason Mohammed.The formerly dominant West Indies, who will be forced to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, have now lost 16 of their past 17 completed ODIs against England and look a long way short of being able to compete on equal terms.Curran replaced Chris Woakes in the England team while West Indies brought in Kyle Hope and debutant Ambris for the injured Evin Lewis and captain Jason Holder, who had to return home for a funeral.England have had a good summer, but their preparations for the Ashes in Australia have been thrown into disarray with Stokes suspended after an apparent fracas outside a nightclub.England said the all-rounder would not be considered for selection by England until further notice following the emergence of a video apparently showing him fighting outside the club in the southwestern city of Bristol.Test vice-captain Stokes was included in the Ashes squad announced Wednesday, despite reportedly injuring his hand in the incident that led to his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.The 26-year-old Durham all-rounder was released without charge on Monday but remains under investigation.

Police appeal for witnesses to Stokes incident

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LONDON (AFP) - Police investigating England vice-captain Ben Stokes over allegations of causing actual bodily harm appealed for two specific witnesses to contact them regarding the incident which took place early on Monday morning.Stokes -- who was suspended by England on Thursday, a day after video footage was published by the Sun newspaper of the incident -- was released without charge on Monday but remains under investigation.The two witnessess police have called on to come forward were allegedly present prior to the fracas that took place outside a Bristol nightclub.Our enquiries into the disorder in the Queens Road/Clifton Triangle area of Bristol in the early hours of Monday are continuing, read the police statement.We believe there are two specific witnesses, both men, with information about what happened in the moments prior to the disorder who are yet to come forward and wed appeal for them to do so as soon as possible.The all-rounders participation in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia is now under threat, although he was named in Englands squad on Wednesday.Opening batsman Alex Hales, who was with 26-year-old Stokes on Sunday after playing alongside him during a win over West Indies in the third one-day international in Bristol, has also been suspended from England duty.Stokes, no stranger to off-field disciplinary problems during his career, saw his troubles pile up further on Friday with a video -- published on the Daily Express website -- in which he allegedly belittles the teenage handicapped son of former model Katie Price.Price, 39, wrote Shame him on her official Twitter account, directly in response to a newspaper report about the video.

US-led strikes claim another 50 civilian lives: coalition

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US-led air strikes in Iraq and Syria have killed another 50 civilians, the international coalition against the Islamic State group announced on Friday.With the latest deaths, at least 735 civilians have been unintentionally killed by coalition strikes, it said in a statement, without specifying when the deaths occurred.The United States began carrying out strikes against IS in Iraq in August 2014, a campaign that has since been expanded to Syria and now includes dozens of countries backing counterterrorism efforts.The strikes have played a key role in a series of successful operations to push IS back in Iraq and Syria, but have taken a deadly toll on non-combatants caught up in the fighting.Iraqi forces launched an assault on IS-held Hawijah on Friday that a top commander said marked the second phase of an operation launched earlier this month that aims to retake it and the nearby towns of Al-Abbasi, Riyadh and Rashad.All are mainly Sunni Arab towns that have long been bastions of insurgency and were bypassed by government forces in their push north on second city Mosul last year that culminated in the jihadists defeat in their most emblematic stronghold this July.In Syria, IS is facing rival offensives by US-backed fighters and Russian-backed government forces.The jihadists launched a major counteroffensive against government forces on Thursday, killing at least 73 troops and militia in a series of attacks along their supply lines, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

London: Kulsoom Nawaz discharged from hospital

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LONDON (Dunya News) – Wife of former premier Nawaz Sharif, Kulsoom Nawaz, has been discharged from the hospital after successive surgeries as she was diagnosed with throat cancer in Pakistan.She was alongside her children Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz. Also, her son-in-law Capt Safdar was present at the healthcare unit.Government officials including Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir was also there for her in London.Kulsoom Nawaz had swept NA-120 by-election from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ticket, defeating Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Yasmin Rashid by over 14,000 votes. It was earlier reported through sources that

UN agrees to send war crimes investigators to Yemen

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GENEVA (AFP) - The UN Human Rights Council agreed Friday to send war crimes investigators to Yemen, overcoming resistance from Saudi Arabia which sought to fend off an independent international probe.In a resolution adopted by consensus, the council mandated UN rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein to send a group of eminent experts to Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Huthi rebels since March 2015.The group will then carry out a comprehensive examination of all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights committed in the conflict and try to identify those responsible.Launching the probe marks a victory for a group of European states and Canada, which pushed hard for an international inquiry fully independent of the Yemeni national investigation that is supported by the Saudis.The Saudi-led coalition has been accused of bombing schools, markets, hospitals and other civilian targets in support of Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.The Iran-backed Huthi rebels have also been accused of widespread abuses, which the UN team will also probe.Saudi Arabia had for the past two years succeeded in blocking the rights chiefs call for an international inquiry.In a letter leaked to several media outlets this week, the kingdom threated economic and diplomatic retaliation against rights council members which voted for the EU/Canadian proposal.The Saudi envoy to the council, Abdulaziz Alwasil, ended up endorsing Fridays resolution, which was slightly softer than previously EU proposals.An earlier Dutch/Canadian draft asked for a Commission of Inquiry (COI) in Yemen, the UNs highest level investigation, but that call was removed from the adopted version.Countries with significant and lucrative ties to Saudi Arabia, including the United States, Britain and France, were reported to have sought a compromise between the EU and Arab camps, which were deadlocked through the week on a resolution.Turning pointA US envoy to the UN in Geneva, Theodore Allegra, said he was pleased the 47-member rights council was speaking with one voice on Yemen.British ambassador Julian Braithwaite called the resolution a significant achievement.Yemeni ambassador Ali Mohamed Saeed Majawar said his government will engage positively with the team of experts.For Human Rights Watch, which had argued forcefully for a Commission of Inquiry, Fridays result still amounted to a success.After more than two years of impunity for horrendous crimes in Yemen, today could mark a turning point, HRWs Geneva director John Fisher said in a statement.The new probe will bring an unprecedented level of scrutiny to the conduct of all parties to the Yemen war, he said.Amnesty International called the resolution a breakthrough and a victory for suffering Yemeni civilians.The conflict has killed more than 8,500 people and wounded nearly 49,000 others, according to the World Health Organization.More than 17 million Yemenis are now facing dire food shortages, and a nationwide cholera epidemic has killed more than 2,100 people since April.Cholera cases could hit 900,000 by years end, the head of the Yemen delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Alexandre Faite, told journalists earlier Friday.The situation in Yemen is often described as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
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Thursday 28 September 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

After long silence, IS says chief calls on jihadists to 'resist'

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BEIRUT (AFP) - The Islamic State group released a recording Thursday of what it says is its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, calling on jihadists under pressure in Syria and Iraq to resist their enemies.In his first alleged message in nearly a year and following reports of his possible death, the elusive jihadist leader called on his supporters to target the media centres of countries fighting his group.The United States said it was verifying the recording, but also that it had no reason to doubt its authenticity.The leaders of the Islamic State and its soldiers have realised that the path to... victory is to be patient and resist the infidels whatever their alliances, Baghdadi allegedly said in the recording.It was not clear when the message, released by the IS-affiliated Al-Furqan media group, was recorded.In it, he lashed out at infidel nations headed by America, Russia and Iran who, along with their allies, have inflicted losses on the jihadists during separate offensives against IS in Syria and Iraq.We will remain, we will resist and be patient... We will not give in, he said, a day after Iraqi forces defeated IS fighters who had seized areas in a surprise offensive around Ramadi west of Baghdad.The apparent IS leader called on soldiers of the caliphate to pursue their jihad, or holy war, and attacks.He urged his followers to target the media centres of the infidels, without providing further details.The voice said to belong to Baghdadi listed his groups defeats, referring to blood spilt in Mosul, Ramadi, Sirte, Raqa and Hama.IS lost Ramadi in February 2016, Libyas Sirte in December last year, and Iraqs second city Mosul in July.In Syria, the group is facing ongoing offensives in its former de facto Syrian capital of Raqa and in the central province of Hama.A US intelligence community source said they were examining the audio message.We are aware of the audio tape purported to be of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and are taking steps to examine it, the source said in a statement.While we have no reason to doubt its authenticity, we do not have verification at this point.Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told AFP: I have no information about this recording.Thursdays was the first audio message said to be of Baghdadi since November 2016, when he spoke in a defiant tone in urging his supporters to defend the city of Mosul against a massive operation by Iraqi forces.That recording, also released by Al-Furqan, was a rare sign of life from Baghdadi.In July, Moscow said it was struggling to confirm if Baghdadi was dead or alive, a month after reporting his possible demise in a May air strike near the IS one-time stronghold of Raqa in Syria.With a $25 million US bounty on his head, Iraq-born Baghdadi has successfully avoided an intense effort to seek him out for six years or more.Rumours have abounded about Baghdadis health and movements, but his whereabouts have largely remained unclear.On September 1, a senior US general said Baghdadi was probably still alive and likely hiding in the Euphrates River valley stretching from Syria to Iraq.A US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance and Russian-backed government forces are waging rival offensives against IS territory on either side of the Euphrates River in Syrias Deir Ezzor province.In Iraq, US-backed Iraqi forces are pressing their battle to retake the northern city of Hawija and a section of the Euphrates near the border with Syria.Shortly after the jihadists swept across swathes of Iraq in June 2014, Baghdadi appeared before thousands of faithful at Mosuls Great mosque of Al-Nuri to urge Muslims around the world to join his caliphate straddling Syria and Iraq.The jihadists have since lost vast territory in both countries.But US counterterrorism chief Nick Rasmussen warned on Wednesday the global threat posed by IS had not been diminished by its battlefield defeats in Iraq and Syria.He said, using an alternative acronym for IS, there was not, in fact, a direct link between ISIS battlefield position in Iraq and Syria and the groups capacity to inspire external attacks.Baghdadis group has claimed its members were behind deadly attacks carried out worldwide, including in Paris, London and Barcelona.Wednesdays operation near the Iraqi city of Ramadi was likely to have been an attempt to divert the security forces from an offensive they launched last week against the jihadists last two footholds in Iraq.

Erdogan, Putin agree joint push to end Syria war

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ANKARA (AFP) - President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan Thursday agreed to step efforts to bring peace to Syria, with the Russian leader declaring the right conditions now existed to end the over six-year civil war.After late night talks at Erdogans presidential palace in Ankara, Putin and Erdogan agreed to push for the creation of a de-escalation zone in Syrias key northern province of Idlib, currently controlled by jihadists.Despite being on opposite sides of the conflict, Russia and Turkey have been working together intensely since a 2016 reconciliation deal ended a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian war plane over Syria.Moscow and Ankara have proposed at peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana the creation of four de-escalation zones in Syria to be patrolled by military observers, but the one in Idlib is by far the most significant.Erdogan said the pair agreed to pursue more intensely the implementation of a de-escalation zone in Idlib, in comments echoed by Putin.Putin said the work to implement the agreements made at the Astana peace talks has not been easy but the sides had already succeeded in having a positive result.De-facto, the necessary conditions have been created for the end of the fratricidal war in Syria, the final defeat of terrorists and the return of Syrians to a peaceful life and their homes, said Putin.While parts of Syria, notably Aleppo province, have calmed considerably in the last months, Idlib remains the scene of heavy fighting.According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 135 civilians have been killed since September 19 in Russian and regime strikes in Idlib and Hama province, as well as 168 jihadists and rebels.Russia and Turkey would work with the aim of deepening the coordination of our joint activity to solve the Syria crisis, Putin added.Russia, along with Iran, is the key backer of President Bashar al-Assad and Moscows military intervention inside Syria is widely seen as tipping the balance in the conflict. Turkey, however, has backed the rebels seeking Assads ouster.Although Turkeys policy is officially unchanged, Ankara has notably cooled its rhetoric against the Damascus regime since its cooperation with Russia began to heat up.Putin and Erdogan also hailed improving economic bilateral cooperation, with Russian tourists returning to Turkey and the two countries working on a Black Sea gas pipeline.Turkey, a NATO member, has also signed a deal reportedly worth $2 billion (1.7 billion euros) to buy S-400 air defence systems from Russia, a move that has shocked its allies in the alliance.In contrast to the poisonous personal attacks that followed the November 2015 shooting down of a Russian plane by Turkish forces, Erdogan repeatedly referred to the Kremlin chief as my dear friend Putin.Yet analysts say that while both countries share an interest in seeking to discomfort the West by showing off close cooperation, their relationship falls well short of a sincere strategic alliance.Russia and Turkey have a record of struggling to overcome a regional rivalry that goes back to the Ottoman Empire and the Romanov dynasty.Relations between Turkey and Russia may appear to be friendly, but they are loaded with contradictions and set to remain unstable in the near term, Pavel Baev and Kemal Kirisci of the Brookings Institution wrote in a study this month.The Russian stance on Mondays non-binding independence referendum in Iraqs Kurdistan region is also troubling for Turkey, for whom opposing Kurdish statehood is a cornerstone of foreign policy due to its own Kurdish minority.The Russian foreign ministry said Wednesday that while Moscow supports the territorial integrity of Iraq, it views the Kurds national aspirations with respect.At the press conference, Erdogan again derided the referendum as illegitimate and said Iraqi Kurdistans leaders had to be stopped from making more grave mistakes.Putin however did not echo Erdogans language, saying curtly they had discussed the issue in detail and the position of Moscow had been set out in the foreign ministry statement.Russia has been trying to abstain from taking a clear stance on the issue and Turkey may be wanting to get some assurances and explanations, Timur Akhmetov, Ankara-based Turkey expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, told AFP.

US presses for more Iran nuclear inspections

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United States pressed Thursday for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to carry out more nuclear inspections in Iran, warning that failure to do so would make the nuclear deal with Tehran an empty promise.US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said that some countries were trying to shield Iran from more inspections by the IAEA, which is charged with verifying Tehrans compliance with the 2015 nuclear accord.Without inspections, the Iran deal is an empty promise, she said in a statement.Haleys push for more inspections comes just 15 days before Trump must certify to the US Congress whether Iran is in compliance with the agreement.If the Iran nuclear deal is to have any meaning, the parties must have a common understanding of its terms, Haley said in a statement.Iranian officials have already said they will refuse to allow inspections at military sites, even though the IAEA says there must be no distinction between military and non-military sites.Now it appears that some countries are attempting to shield Iran from even more inspections.Although she named no countries, diplomatic sources said she was referring to Russia.Ten days ago, the head of the Iranian nuclear program, Ali Akbar Salehi, accused Washington of sabotaging the agreement and called on IAEA to resist Washingtons unacceptable demands.He took particular aim at Haley, who he said had made unjustifiable demands regarding the verification of the nuclear accord. Those demands included IAEA inspections of Iranian military sites.The United States has recently multiplied its attacks on the accord, which Trump had vowed to scrap last year during the US presidential campaign.At a debate Wednesday organized by the Asia Society, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, warning that a US withdrawal from the accord would be a strategic mistake.The US needs to show it is a reliable partner, he said.He also defended Irans role in Syria and Iraq as justified by the need to defend populations threatened by terrorist organizations.Irans missile development programs also were needed, he said, to protect the Iranian people at a time when other countries in the region, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are making massive arms purchases.The Iranian nuclear accord, signed in July 2015 by Iran and six world powers -- Germany, China, the United States, France, Britain and Russia -- puts Irans nuclear installations under strict surveillance.The accords aim is to guarantee that Irans nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, in exchange for a gradual easing of international sanctions.

UN chief to Myanmar: end military ops, open humanitarian access

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres decried the humanitarian nightmare faced by Myanmars Rohingya on Thursday and demanded that the government end military operations and open humanitarian access to its conflict-wracked western region.The situation has spiraled into the worlds fastest developing refugee emergency, a humanitarian and human rights nightmare, Guterres said in a speech to the UN Security Council.More than 500,000 Rohingya refugees have flooded into neighboring Bangladesh. The exodus came after attacks by Rohingya militants on security posts prompted a Myanmar military crackdown last month.The UN has received bone-chilling accounts of refugees being subject to excessive violence and serious violations of human rights, including indiscriminate firing of weapons, the use of landmines against civilians and sexual violence, Guterres told the public session of the council.This is unacceptable and must end immediately, he added.Myanmars military has been accused of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims.Guterres called on Myanmar to halt military operations, allow unfettered access for humanitarian aid, and the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of the refugees to their areas of origin.The reality on the ground demands action -- swift action -- to protect people, alleviate suffering, prevent further instability, address the roots of the situation and forge, at long last, a durable solution, he said.The UN chief noted that the systemic violence could cause unrest to spill into the central part of Myanmars Rakhine state, threatening 250,000 Muslims with displacement.Guterres said a donors conference would be held on October 9, without specifying the location.

15 dead boat carrying Rohingya families capsized off Bangladesh

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COXS BAZAR (AFP) - At least 15 people drowned and scores are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya families capsized off Bangladesh Thursday, as UN chief Antonio Guterres exhorted Myanmars leaders to end the refugees nightmare.The growing Rohingya refugee crisis prompted the UN Security Council to hold a rare public meeting on Myanmar, with the US slamming the country for trying to cleanse the country of an ethnic minority while Beijing and Moscow backed the Myanmar authorities.More than half a million Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh in the last month, after the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar launched vicious operations against Rohingya rebels.Witnesses and survivors said the vessel that overturned Thursday was just meters from the coast in rough waters, after it was lashed by torrential rain and high winds.Local police inspector Moahmmed Kai-Kislu told AFP 15 bodies including at least 10 children and four women had so far washed ashore, and there were fears the number could still rise.They drowned before our eyes. Minutes later, the waves washed the bodies to the beach, said Mohammad Sohel, a local shopkeeper.Seven of the UNs 15-member Security Council voted to hold the bodys first public meeting on Myanmar since 2009, though they failed to arrive at a joint resolution.Guterres urged authorities to halt military operations and open humanitarian access to its conflict-wracked western region.The situation has spiraled into the worlds fastest developing refugee emergency, a humanitarian and human rights nightmare, he said, while calling for those displaced from the conflict to be allowed to return home.The UN chief noted that the systemic violence could cause unrest to spill into the central part of Myanmars Rakhine state, threatening 250,000 Muslims with displacement.A donors conference would be held on October 9, he said.Some of the strongest criticism came from US envoy Nikki Haley, who said: We cannot be afraid to call the actions of the Burmese authorities what they appear to be: a brutal, sustained campaign to cleanse the country of an ethnic minority.And it should shame senior Burmese leaders who have sacrificed so much for an open, democratic Burma, she added, in what appeared to be a rebuke to the countrys Nobel Peace Prize-winning leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose reputation as a human rights champion has been left battered by the crisis.Burma is an alternative name for Myanmar.Haley warned: We must now consider action against Burmese security forces who are implicated in abuses and stoking hatred among their fellow citizens.But Myanmar received strong support from close ally China as well Russia.The international community must be aware of the difficulties faced by the Burmese government, be patient and provide its assistance, Chinese envoy Wu Haitao said.We must be very careful when we talk about ethnic cleansing and genocide, added Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, shifting the blame toward Rohingya militants for burning villages.Myanmars representative U Thaung Tun insisted there was No ethnic cleaning, no genocide in Myanmar, while Bangladeshi ambassador Masud Bin Momen called for the creation of safe zones within Myanmar to allow refugees to return home.The latest drowning tragedy comes after a series of deadly accidents as desperate refugees surge across the two countries shared border.The International Organization for Migration, which is leading the relief effort, told AFP one survivor said the boat sank as it tried to dock at a place that was out of sight of security forces.Its a very sad story. There were a hundred Rohingya on board when it sank, IOM spokesperson Hala Jaber told AFP.One distraught survivor told AFP that his wife and one of their children had been killed when the ship sank.The boat hit something underground as it came close to the beach. Then it overturned, said Nurus Salam, who had set off set off for Bangladesh from a coastal village in Myanmar late Wednesday with his family.The UNs refugee agency (UNHCR) said 27 survivors had been located so far, including eight women and seven children.The exodus began on August 25 when attacks by Rohingya militants on security posts prompted a Myanmar military crackdown.It has created a humanitarian crisis as the government and aid agencies struggle to provide food, clean water and shelter.Those who have made it to Bangladesh have brought with them harrowing accounts of murder and villages torched by Myanmar soldiers and mobs of ethnic Rakhine, who are Buddhists.Rakhine, long a cauldron of ethnic and religious tensions, has been scarred by seething animosity since severe bloodshed erupted across the state in 2012.The Rohingyas, the worlds largest stateless group, are treated as foreigners in Myanmar.

Russian group spent $274,000 on Twitter ads during US election

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Russian media group with links to the Moscow government spent $274,000 in 2016 on Twitter ads which may have been used to try to influence the US election, the social media firm said Thursday.Twitter said it shared data with congressional investigators about ads from Russia Today, which is suspected of spreading disinformation during the 2016 election campaign.A blog post by Twitter said its vice president for public policy, Colin Crowell, met with staff Thursday from two congressional panels investigating Russian interference in the election process.This is an ongoing process and we will continue to collaborate with investigators, the statement said.Twitter said it examined efforts by foreign agents to interfere with the election after Facebook indicated it found 450 accounts which appeared to have been used for this purpose.Of the roughly 450 accounts that Facebook recently shared as a part of their review, we concluded that 22 had corresponding accounts on Twitter, the statement said.All of those identified accounts had already been or immediately were suspended from Twitter for breaking our rules, most for violating our prohibitions against spam.The statement added that Russia Today, which was named in January in a US intelligence report on election interference, spent at least $274,100 in 2016 for 1,823 tweet ads or promotions which definitely or potentially targeted the US market.These campaigns were directed at followers of mainstream media and primarily promoted RT Tweets regarding news stories, the statement added.We are concerned about violations of our terms of service and US law with respect to interference in the exercise of voting rights, the statement said.During the 2016 election, we removed tweets that were attempting to suppress or otherwise interfere with the exercise of voting rights, including the right to have a vote counted, by circulating intentionally misleading information.Twitter said some of the ads, or promoted tweets, aimed to deceive voters by telling them they could text to vote, which has no basis in fact.We have not found accounts associated with this activity to have obvious Russian origin but some of the accounts appear to have been automated, the statement said.We have shared examples of the content of these removed Tweets with congressional investigators.

Karachi: Initial report of knife attacks on women prepared

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The initial report of knife attacks on women in Gulistan Johar area of Karachi has been prepared which reveals that all the victims were attacked from behind, Dunya News reported.Police sources informed that the accused used paper cutter in all attacks instead of knife or dagger. Police further said that it looks that the accused does not want to kill his victims.Police have also revealed that the accused attacked four women with his left hand and one woman with his right hand.Police also informed that not a single injured woman personally lodged complaint and added that the victims are also not ready to undergo a medical test which is hindering the investigation.

Khuhro terms DG NAB Sindh remarks against MPAs as insult to parliament

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Senior Sindh Minister for Food and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmed Khuhro while presiding over Standing Committee meeting in Karachi on Thursday said that he wanted the give a chance to Director General (DG) of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sindh, Altaf Bawani, to clear his position but he did not appear in the meeting despite receiving the notice.The Standing Committee expressed its serious displeasure over the non-appearance of Altaf Bawani, who was summoned for explanation of his controversial remarks against the lawmakers.The Committee declared DG NAB as guilty of not appearing before the Committee and giving statement against the lawmakers to the media. The Committee unanimously found that DG NAB, Sindh has doubted the intention of lawmakers and has thus committed insult to the Sindh Assembly.The Committee also decided that action should be taken against DG NAB, Sindh under the rule.

Karachi: Police, Rangers chalk out security plan for Muharram processions

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Police and Rangers have finalized security plan for Muharram processions and congregations on 8, 9 and 10 Muharram-ul-Haram in Karachi, Dunya News reported on Thursday.According to details, the main congregation centre, Nishtar Park, has been divided into nine sectors while the main route of Muharram procession, M.A. Jinnah Road has been divided into 23 sub-sectors. All the 287 entry points to M.A. Jinnah road will remain sealed.Police officials and sniper squads will be deployed at the 124 buildings from Nishtar Park to M.A. Jinnah Road. The main congregations and Muharram processions will start after getting clearance from bomb disposal squad.It was further revealed that walkthrough gates and physical search parties have also been made part to the security plan. Five special teams with the names of Eagle and Tiger have also been formed for the security of the Muharram processions.Emergency will remain in forces in six hospitals of the city, including Jinnah Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, during 8, 9 and 10 Muharram-ul-Haram.On the other hand, pictures of more than 500 sensitive places on the route of Muharram procession have been obtained with the assistance of intelligence agencies and Special Branch. Meanwhile, different organizations and scouts will also provide help to law enforcement agencies in the security arrangements.

Elgar bats through first day as South Africa dominate

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POTCHEFSTROOM (AFP) - Opener Dean Elgar batted through the opening day for an unbeaten century as South Africa piled on the runs against Bangladesh at Senwes Park on Thursday.Elgar made 128 not out, his ninth Test century, and put on 196 for the first wicket with debutant Aiden Markram, who was run out for 97 as the Proteas closed on 298 for one.Hashim Amla was unbeaten on 68 after he and Elgar added 102 for the second wicket.Home captain Faf du Plessis could not hide his surprise after his Bangladesh opposite number Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first.South Africa made full use of what may prove to be a misguided decision by Rahim.Du Plessis said at the toss he was very surprised by Rahims decision. It looks a little bit dry. I definitely would have batted. It looks a really good pitch and I expect it to spin later on.There was none of the early life that Rahim had hoped would assist his three seam bowlers.His only specialist spinner, Mehidy Hasan, was brought in as early as the sixth over.The pitch played easily all day, although the dry nature of the surface was shown by some balls which kept low. Bangladesh soon settled for defensive fields and they were able to keep the scoring rate under control.Bangladesh batsman Sabbir Rahman effectively admitted that his team may have made the wrong call.Normally in South Africa there is grass and bounce on the pitch, so were surprised that it was more like a Bangladesh wicket, he said.It wasnt bouncy, it was a flat pitch. Hopefully on the second day we can come back and try to contain them. Hopefully the pitch will be best for batting from the second day.None of the seamers looked threatening and Hasan ended up bowling 36 overs, including two with the second new ball, conceding 101 runs. Three part-time spinners shared another eight overs.Elgar and Markram were largely untroubled as they ticked off several milestones.Markram, 22, who captained South Africa to the 2014 Under-19 World Cup title, was Elgars fourth opening partner of the year and together they posted South Africas first half-century start in 16 innings before converting it into three figures shortly after lunch, the first century opening stand since December.Their partnership was the highest first-wicket stand for South Africa since Graeme Smith and current batting coach Neil McKenzie put on 204 against England at Lords in 2008.Markram made 97 off 152 balls, with 13 fours, before there was a mix-up when both players were approaching their centuries in what proved to be the last over before tea.Elgar, on 99, played a ball from Hasan towards backward point. Elgar took a couple of steps outside his crease and Markram set off for a run. But he was sent back and stranded well short of his ground as Mominul Haques throw reached Hasan.Two balls later, Elgar reached his century off 176 deliveries.Markram, who said he was more than happy with the 97, added the most important thing was that the team was in a good position.He said the South Africans were surprised at being sent in: Weve seen the pitch is getting a touch lower and slower so we were pleasantly surprised to get first use of it.South Africa fielded a second new cap in all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, who together with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, was a team-mate of Markram in the Under-19 side.

Markram run out three short of century on debut

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POTCHEFSTROOM (AFP) - Aiden Markram was run out three runs short of a century on Test debut after he and Dean Elgar put on 196 for South Africas first wicket on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Senwes Park on Thursday.South Africa were 198 for one at tea after being sent in to bat, with Elgar unbeaten on 101.Markram, 22, was largely untroubled as he made 97 off 152 balls before a mix-up when both players were approaching their centuries in what proved to be the last over before tea.Elgar, on 99, played a ball from Mehidy Hasan towards backward point. Markram set off for a run but was sent back and stranded well short of his ground as Mominul Haques throw reach Hasan. Markram hit 13 boundaries.Two balls later Elgar reached his ninth Test century off 176 balls with seven fours and two sixes.South African captain Faf du Plessis said he was very surprised when Bangladeshs Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and decided to bowl. Du Plessis said conditions looked ideal for batting, with a dry pitch likely to help spin bowlers later in the match.The left-handed Elgar and right-handed Markram both looked comfortable against a bowling attack which included three seam bowlers and a lone specialist spin bowler in off-spinner Hasan, who came on to bowl after only five overs.Markram, who captained South Africa to the 2014 Under-19 World Cup title, was Elgars fourth opening partner of the year and together they posted South Africas first half-century start in 16 innings before converting it into three figures shortly after lunch.South Africa fielded a second new cap in all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, who together with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, was a team-mate of Markram in the Under-19 side.

Warner ton helps Australia break India winning streak

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BANGALORE (AFP) - Opener David Warner hit a sparkling century in his 100th one-day international to help Australia down India by 21 runs and pull off a consolation win on Thursday.Warners blazing 124 and his 231-run opening stand with Aaron Finch, who made 94, guided the visitors to 334-5 in the fourth game of the five-match series in Bangalore.The hosts, who lead the series 3-1, faltered in their chase to end on 313-8 despite three half-centuries including a gritty 67 off 69 balls from Kedar Jadhav.Fast bowlers Kane Richardson and Nathan Coulter-Nile shared five wickets between them to snap Indias winning streak of nine ODI games.I thought we were a little bit too wide with the new ball, could have been straighter, but the bowlers pulled it back nicely towards the back end, said skipper Steve Smith.Nice to sit up there and watch Warner do his thing. His ODI form in the last two years has been unbelievable. He continues to grow and get better as a player which is what were after, Smith said of his star opener.Virat Kohlis India began its reply on a positive note as openers Rohit Sharma, who hit 65, and Ajinkya Rahane, who made 53, put together a 106-run stand.Rahane registered a hat-trick of half-centuries and in the next over Sharma hit two big sixes off leg-spinner Adam Zampa to bring up his fifty in style.Richardson broke the century stand after sending Rahane trudging back to the pavilion.Sharma tried to keep the momentum going with Kohli for company but a big mix-up between the two batsmen got him run out.It was Smiths spectacular stop at backward point that got Sharma stranded with Kohli at the strikers end. Kohli was soon bowled by Coulter-Nile for 21.Hardik Pandya, who scored 41, put on a determined 78-run partnership with Jadhav to keep the chase afloat but it became difficult to keep pace with the mounting run-rate.Jadhav, smashing 7 fours and a six, also got going with Manish Pandey, who scored 33, to put on 61 runs for the fifth wicket, but his wicket took the wheels off the chase.Earlier electing to bat, the left-right batting pair of Warner and Finch pulverised the Indian bowlers attack in the first 35 overs.Warner, who received the man of the match award, hit 12 fours and four sixes. It was his 14th ODI century since making his debut at Hobart in 2009.The batsman got to his milestone with a boundary off part-time spinner Jadhav, jumping for joy as the runs were marked up. He later fell to Jadhavs off-spin and walked off to a standing ovation.Finch, who missed out on his second successive century, soon followed his partner after getting caught at mid-on off paceman Umesh Yadav.Warner and Finch were spectacular. Really paced the innings nicely. Set us up to get 330. 300 wouldnt have been enough. Nice to defend and get a win, said Smith.Yadav, who returned figures of 4-71, got the prized scalp of Smith to bag his 100th ODI wicket. The visitors lost three wickets in just 15 deliveries.But Travis Head and Peter Handscomb forged a 63-run fourth-wicket partnership to halt the Indian fightback with some intelligent batting.Handscomb made a 30-ball 43, laced with three fours and a six, before being bowled by Yadav. Head made an effective 29.Australia were really good today. With the bat, their intent was really good. They pulled things back nicely in the field. We didnt play so bad, but they were better on the day, said Kohli.The final match is scheduled for Sunday in Nagpur before the action shifts to the three-match twenty20 series starting October 7.

Lorgat quits as Cricket South Africa boss

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Cricket South Africa chief executive (CE) Haroon Lorgat has quit his post with immediate effect following a breakdown with the organisations board, CSA president Chris Nenzani announced on Thursday.We recently tried on a few occasions to remedy the situation between Mr Lorgat and the board, but we have not been successful in finding a satisfactory resolution, said Nenzani.The Board unanimously felt that it was in the best interest of the organisation that we agreed to a mutual separation agreement with Mr Lorgat.Nenzani did not go into details about the breakdown in relations but it has been reported in local media that there were concerns about Lorgats role in the setting-up of a new Twenty20 tournament, the Global T20 league, which is due to start in November.According to the CSA statement, Lorgat said: It is most unfortunate that we must part ways in this manner, but it is the best way forward for CSA.CSA vice-president Thabang Moroe will take over as acting chief executive.Lorgat, 57, was appointed chief executive of CSA in 2013, initially on a three-year contract. His contract was extended until July 2019.A chartered accountant and former first-class cricketer, Lorgat was treasurer of the then United Cricket Board of South Africa and was convener of the South African selectors before being appointed as chief executive of the International Cricket Council, a position he held from 2008 to 2012.During his tenure at the ICC, he clashed with the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India over arrangements for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, hosted by India. The BCCI tried to persuade their South African counterparts not to appoint Lorgat and a breakdown in relations led to India threatening to call off a 2013/14 tour of South Africa. A drastically curtailed tour eventually took place.Lorgat has been the main driver behind the Global T20 League, which will consist of eight teams, including leading South African and international players. Seven of the franchise owners are from Asia, including Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. No television deal has yet been announced.

Mohammed to lead West Indies in England finale

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SOUTHAMPTON (AFP) - Jason Mohammed will take over as captain of West Indies in the fifth and final one-day international against England in Southampton, it was announced Thursday.Cricket West Indies said middle-order batsman Mohammed would stand in for regular skipper Jason Holder, who is missing the last match of the tour after returning home to Barbados for the funeral of his uncle, Derrick Garrett, a local sports administrator.Carlos Brathwaite has been added to the squad for the match. A veteran of 23 ODIs, he is also the West Indies Twenty20 international captain and led the side to victory over England at Chester-le-Street in the lone Twenty20 international of the tour earlier this month.Brathwaite, 29, is still best known for hitting four successive sixes in a last over from Ben Stokes that saw West Indies beat England in last years World Twenty20 final in Kolkata.But there will be no 50-over reunion with Stokes on Friday after England announced that the English all-rounder had been suspended from international matches until further notice after a video emerged apparently showing him fighting outside a Bristol nightclub.Test vice-captain Stokes was included in Englands Ashes squad announced Wednesday, despite a hand injury said to have taken place during an incident that led to his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm.The 26-year-old was released without charge on Monday but remains under investigation.Both Stokes and opening batsman Alex Hales, who has also been suspended from international duty, were not included in the England side that won a rain-affected fourth ODI at The Oval on Wednesday to give the hosts an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.The tour also saw England beat West Indies 2-1 in a three-match Test campaign, although the visitors did upset the form-book to win the second Test at Headingley.

Mother better: Maryam; Nawaz not coming to London now: Hussain

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LONDON: (Dunya News) – Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif has on Thursday said in a video message that her mother Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was feeling better.Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz told that his father did not plan to come to London just now. Hussain Nawaz told that Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was walked today.Maryam said that she’d repeatedly visit the hospital till Kulsoom Nawaz was back home. Doctors also checked former PM’s wife today.
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