Tuesday 26 September 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Football: Ronaldo marks milestone, in-form Kane fires Spurs

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PARIS (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his 400th Real Madrid appearance as the Champions League holders defeated Borussia Dortmund 3-1, while Harry Kane grabbed a hat-trick in Tottenham Hotspurs 3-0 win at APOEL Nicosia on Tuesday.Gareth Bale struck an exquisite volley as the record 12-time European champions secured an 18th-minute lead at Signal Iduna Park, with the Welshman supplying Ronaldo for Reals second just after half-time.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang poked in Gonzalo Castros cross to give Dortmund hope, but Ronaldo rifled past Roman Burki to cement a second straight win for Real in Group H and leave the Germans still without a point.It was the first time Dortmund have lost at home to Real in seven European games while holders Madrid have now scored in 38 successive Champion League games.Ronaldo, without a goal in his last two outings following his return from a five-match domestic ban, took his Real haul to 411 on what was also his 150th career appearance in Europe.Im delighted for Ronaldo and Bale, said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.It is difficult to play in this stadium, we have never won here, so this victory was important to us, and the whole game was good for us from start to finish.England striker Kane notched his sixth hat-trick of the year -- and made it 11 goals for club and country in September -- as Spurs backed up their opening victory over Dortmund with a comfortable win in Cyprus.Mauricio Pochettinos side survived an early scare when Igor De Camargo rattled the crossbar, but Kanes clinical finish six minutes before the interval settled the visitors down.Kane converted his second on 62 minutes and sealed his treble with a terrific header five minutes later to leave Spurs level on six points alongside Real ahead of their double-header with Zidanes team.There were some good performances from players who are not regulars and a hat-trick for Harry Kane, it was a fantastic performance, said Pochettino.Kevin De Bruyne curled in a sublime 25-yard strike as Manchester City overcame spirited resistance from Shakhtar Donestk, with Raheem Sterling completing a 2-0 victory at Eastlands.Pep Guardiolas men top Group F after back-to-back wins to start the campaign, and the Premier League leaders could even afford a missed penalty from Sergio Aguero whose effort was turned away by Andriy Pyatov.Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon hit the target as Napoli registered their first win by beating a hapless Feyenoord 3-1 in Italy.Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina kept out Jens Toornstras second-half penalty, as Sofyan Amrabats stoppage-time goal was scant consolation for the Dutch champions who remain pointless.Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw away to Spartak Moscow despite a sparkling strike from Philippe Coutinho.Coutinho linked up superbly with Sadio Mane to cancel out Fernandos free-kick in the 31st minute, but Liverpool were unable to claim a winner as they recorded a second straight draw in Group E.In the Champions League group stage, the only target is to go through to the next round. Thats now possible for us. There were a lot of good things tonight, said a positive-thinking Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp.Wissam Ben Yedder fuelled Sevilla to a 3-0 victory over Maribor of Slovenia.Joaquin Correas dazzling run left the French striker with a simple tap-in for the opening goal after 27 minutes in Spain.Ben Yedder then tucked away a second before the break and rounded out his hat-trick from the penalty spot late on as Sevilla moved top of the section on four points.Porto stunned French champions Monaco with a 3-0 win in the principality in a repeat outcome of the 2004 final.Vincent Aboubakar marked his return from suspension with goals in either half before Miguel Layun pounced on some slapstick defending in the closing moments as Porto bounced back from a home loss to Besiktas.The Turkish champions top Group G with maximum points following a 2-0 success at home to newcomers RB Leipzig despite an 11-minute stoppage for floodlight failure in Istanbul.Ryan Babel slotted home after fine work from Cenk Tosun and Talisca headed in a sublime cross from Ricardo Quaresma as Besiktas picked up their first win at home in the competition since November 2007.

Football: De Bruyne rocket fires Manchester City

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Kevin De Bruynes superb strike and a late Raheem Sterling goal maintained Manchester Citys impressive form in a 2-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.De Bruyne struck in the 49th minute with a magnificent 20-yard strike into the top right-hand corner of the Shakhtar goal after David Silvas run had ended with the Spaniard teeing up the opening.It was the Belgians first goal of Citys free-scoring season - a reflection of his new, deeper role under Pep Guardiola - but certainly a goal worth waiting for given its quality.Although City striker Sergio Aguero failed with a penalty, Sterlings 89th minute finish from 12 yards, after a sprint and cross from fellow substitute Bernardo Silva, spared his team-mates blushes and wrapped up the points at Eastlands.Aguero could have doubled the lead, and equalled Citys club record of 177 goals currently held by Eric Brook in the 1930s, after Leroy Sane was brought down by Ivan Ordets after 71 minutes.But Aguero hit his spot kick too close to goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov who dived smartly to his right to keep out the effort.The first half we had a few problems as we didnt make enough passes in a row, Guardiola said.The second half was much, much better. A lot of credit to my players for today.Even in that situation, at 1-0, we were stable.A game which featured eight Brazilians - five of them from Shakhtar - and just three English players predictably provided plenty of entertainment and admirable football, even if goals were hard to come by.Both sides had good opportunities to break the first half deadlock, Shakhtars best falling to the Brazilian Fred on 11 minutes as he appeared on the end of a flowing move to ghost clean through on goal, only for countryman Fernandinho to make a superb covering tackle.There was also a firm strike from Marlos who forced City goalkeeper Ederson into the games first meaningful save as he dived sharply to his right.But most of the other promising moments came from the hosts, looking unstoppable in a recent five-game spell which had seen them score 22 goals.De Bruyne, one of many of the crop of City stars in a rich vein of form, unexpectedly missed the target, shooting wide after a Gabriel Jesus pass had slipped him through.And Sane first tested Pyatov with a low shot from the edge of the area then worked his way skilfully through a couple of unconvincing challenges before rolling a shot inches wide of the far upright.As the half ended, it might have appeared that Citys record of never having experienced a goalless draw in the 37 Champions League group stage fixtures was under threat.But it took just three minutes of the second half for De Bruyne to ensure the streak would continue, a development that opened up the contest even further.Sane soon tested Pyatov with a darting run and near-post shot and it looked as if Aguero was destined to edge a goal closer the record, when Silvas breathtaking chip forward offered up a volley which the Argentinian struck directly at the keeper.There might have been more glory for De Bruyne, after another penetrating run down the left from Sane, but this time defender Ismaily managed to block his long-range effort.De Bruyne almost turned provider after 69 minutes with an enterprising run down the right and perfect cross which substitute Sterling side-footed wide on the volley.Aguero and Sane, twice, came close in the closing stages although the hosts also had to survive a strong penalty appeal from Shakhtar after the ball appeared to strike John Stones arm.

Football: Coutinho scores as Liverpool held in Moscow

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MOSCOW (AFP) - A sparkling Philippe Coutinho goal was not enough to earn Liverpool victory as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Spartak Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.Coutinho cancelled out Fernandos free-kick in the 31st minute, but Liverpools quest for a winner came to nothing, leaving them still without a win after two games in Group E.Liverpool have now gone seven matches without victory in the Champions League -- their longest such run in the competition -- and trail group leaders Sevilla by two points.The five-time champions paid the price for some wasteful finishing, substitute Daniel Sturridge and Mohamed Salah both spurning good chances to secure victory in the closing stages.On the plus side, Jurgen Klopps men looked more solid defensively than in recent weeks, but Fernandos goal raised questions about Klopps decision to bring goalkeeper Loris Karius into the team in place of Simon Mignolet.While Russian champions Spartak have gone nine games without victory in the Champions League, this was a result to warm the hearts of their vocal fans on a chilly night at Otkrytiye Arena.From a Liverpool perspective, the match was notable for the fact Coutinho started alongside Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino for the first time.With their Fab Four on the pitch, the visitors settled quickly and twice went close to taking the lead.Trent Alexander-Arnold volleyed wide from Salahs lay-off and Firmino drew an agile save from Artem Rebrov with a forceful header.But Coutinhos first telling intervention was to give away the free-kick that led to Spartaks 23rd-minute opener.The Brazilian came through the back of Aleksandr Samedov and his compatriot Fernando swept the set-piece past a flat-footed Karius from 25 yards.Liverpool have kept only two clean sheets in their 11 games to date this season.Thankfully for Liverpool, Coutinho had the good grace to atone, a sudden burst of energy seeing him swap passes with Mane on the left before placing a shot into the roof of Rebrovs net.Coutinho has scored in successive games since being brought back into the team following his unsuccessful attempt to engineer a move to Barcelona.Liverpool twice squandered chances to go ahead before the break, Firmino miscuing from Jordan Hendersons cross and then a 4 v 2 situation breaking down when Mane strayed offside.Coutinho worked Rebrov with a free-kick early in the second half, but even after the Spartak goalkeeper was forced off by injury, with Aleksandr Selikhov replacing him, the visitors could not find a path to goal.Andrei Eschenko served a reminder of Spartaks threat with a drilled effort that Karius boxed away.Klopp added Sturridge and Georginio Wijnaldum to the mix and saw teenage full-back Alexander-Arnold thrash wide with his left foot after cutting in from the right.His side procured two golden opportunities to snatch victory at the death, but Sturridge slashed a volley over from Hendersons cross and Salah could not beat Selikhov with a header from Alexander-Arnolds cross.

Halep and Wozniacki out at Wuhan Open, Muguruza sails through

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WUHAN (AFP) - Simona Halep was defeated 6-2, 6-1 by Russias Daria Kasatkina on Tuesday at a tumultuous Wuhan Open that has seen two thirds of the top seeds tumble out in the first two rounds. The world number two headed for the exit along with Dane Caroline Wozniacki, ranked six, who crashed out 7-5, 6-3 to Maria Sakkari of Greece.They followed fellow seeds Johanna Konta, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Petra Kvitova among others, who all suffered surprise defeats on Monday. But it was not all bad news for the sports top players as Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, world number one, triumphed against Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko, sailing into the third round with a 6-4, 6-4 victory. Halep begun her second-round match strongly and immediately broke her opponent. But she was later let down by her service game, managing to convert just 12 percent of her second serves.The 25-year-old Romanian was competing in her first match since the opening round of the US Open when she lost to Maria Sharapova.I didnt play for a month. Its tough to come back and to play matches... Maybe it was a mistake that I didnt play, but I needed rest after the US season, she said after the match.What I saw after the US Open was that my serve is too soft for the big players, so thats why I decided to work on it more, she added.Meanwhile Wozniacki, seeded four, was upset by Sakkari, ranked 80 in the world, who grabbed her first win over a top 20 player.The defeat came after Wozniacki, who finished as year-end world number one in 2010 and 2011, won her third Pan Pacific Open in Japan last week, capturing her first title of the year. She had previously lost six finals.In other matches, Karolina Pliskova triumphed over Chinas second-ranked player Zhang Shuai after a tense three-set battle.The 25-year-old Czech overpowered Zhang 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in just over two hours, breaking an unlucky streak for the competitions top seeds at the China tournament.Pliskova, seeded three, has never lost a match against Zhang and once again showed she had the measure of her Chinese opponent, who had been on a high after winning the Guangzhou Open last week.She will now face another home crowd favourite, Wang Qiang, the first-ever Chinese player to reach the third round at Wuhan.Elsewhere, Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, seeded eight, triumphed over Czech player Barbora Strycova 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded nine, defeated German Julia Gorges 7-5, 7-5.

Golf: Mickelson brings wealth of experience to 12th Presidents Cup

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JERSEY CITY (AFP) - As Phil Mickelson prepped for his 12th straight Presidents Cup appearance this week, US teammate Justin Thomas could only marvel.I was one (year old) when he played his first one, which is really crazy to think, the 24-year-old Thomas, the newly crowned FedEx Cup champion who figures to be one of the stars of the show in his Presidents Cup debut at Liberty National Golf Club, said on Tuesday.The United States will be out to continue whats become a lopsided rivalry against the International team in the biennial match play competition.Mickelson played in the events debut in 1994 and has been a fixture ever since as the USA racked up nine wins and a tie with just one defeat to the Internationals.Combined with his Ryder Cup appearances against Europe, Mickelson will be representing the United States for a 23rd straight time.Hes won 23 Presidents Cup matches with 16 defeats and 12 draws. He has a chance this week to pass Tiger Woods record of 24 Presidents Cup match wins.Its one of the things Im most proud of, to continue to be a part of this, five-time major winner Mickelson said. One of the things I cherish the most are these events.This year Mickelson needed a captains pick by Steve Stricker to join the squad.Stricker said he discussed it with his assistant captains and other players, who were all in favor of Lefty.Mickelson hasnt won a tournament since his 2013 British Open triumph at Muirfield.But he tied for sixth at the Dell Technologies Championship, second event in the US PGA Tours FedEx Cup playoffs, and his wealth of experience with the nerve-wracking team match play format is invaluable.Phil brings a lot of wisdom, said teammate Rickie Fowler, who like Thomas has a hard time taking in Mickelsons span of sustained excellence.Hes just good, Fowler said. Hes great with understanding what its like being on the team, pairings, how guys can match up, how theyre performing out there ... hes definitely a guy that guys look to as well as all of our captains.Mickelsons experience could be especially valuable in a US team that features six rookies.Thomas and fellow 24-year-old Jordan Spieth are reckoned to be the players most likely to carry the US standard into the future in team competition.But theyll face an uphill battle matching Mickelsons record for appearances.I think its going to become harder and harder for players to play at the top level for long periods of time, said Australian Adam Scott, who will be making his eighth Presidents Cup appearance for the Internationals.Youre just seeing more and more young guys really performing high and less guys over 40 able to maintain golf at the top level, Scott added. It doesnt mean that you cant win big tournaments past 40, but to stay at the top week in, week out, it seemingly is getting tougher. A record like that may never be touched.Mickelson isnt so sure.I think that it will be done, he said, because theres so many talented players that I believe will have the longevity.But right now, its something Im really proud of.

Saudi Arabia allows women to drive, in historic move

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RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi King Salman on Tuesday ordered that women be allowed to drive from next June, in a historic decision that makes the ultra-conservative kingdom the last country in the world to permit women behind the wheel.The longstanding driving ban was seen globally as a symbol of repression of women in the Gulf kingdom and comes after a years-long resistance from female activists.The decision, which risks riling religious conservatives, is part of Saudi Arabias ambitious reform push aimed at adapting to a post-oil era and improving its battered global reputation for its human rights record.King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud has issued decree authorising the issuance of drivers licences for women in the kingdom, Saudi state TV said.The decree will take effect in June 2018.Saudi Arabia will use the preparatory period until then to expand licensing facilities and develop the infrastructure to accommodate millions of new drivers, the announcement added.Conservative clerics in Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy ruled according to sharia law, have justified the ban over the years, arguing that it would lead to promiscuity. One of them claimed that driving harmed womens ovaries.Many womens rights activists were jailed over the years for defiantly flouting the ban.The shock announcement was met with a mix of euphoria and disbelief.A glorious day. Cant hold back my tears, tweeted Saudi shura council member Latifah Alshaalan. Congratulations to the women of my homeland.Activist Manal al-Sharif, who led the 2011 Women2Drive protest movement, tweeted: Today, the last country on earth to allow women to drive... we did it.It is a testimony to the bravery of women activists who have been campaigning for years that... Saudi Arabia has finally relented and decided to permit women to drive, Amnesty International said.Saudi Arabia has some of the worlds tightest restrictions on women.Under the countrys guardianship system, a male family member -- normally the father, husband or brother -- must grant permission for a womans study, travel and other activities.It was unclear whether women will require their guardians permission to apply for a driving licence.After Tuesdays historic announcement, the hashtags I am my own guardian and Saudi Women Can Drive began gaining traction on social media, while many openly lampooned conservatives who long favoured the ban.One Saudi woman tweeted a picture of three women in a convertible going shopping, with the message: Us soon.The policy could socially liberate women -- heavily reliant on foreign drivers and ride sharing apps -- and also boost the economy at a time of low oil prices by increasing their participation in the workforce, experts say.The announcement follows a dazzling gender-mixed celebration of Saudi national day at the weekend, the first of its kind, which aimed to spotlight the kingdoms reform drive despite a backlash from religious conservatives.Men and women danced in the streets to drums and thumping electronic music, in scenes that are a stunning anomaly in a country known for its tight gender segregation and an austere vision of Islam.Women were also allowed into a sports stadium -- previously a male-only arena -- to watch a musical concert, a move that chimes with the governments Vision 2030 plan for social and economic reform.With more than half the country aged under 25, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kings son and the architect of Vision 2030, is seen as catering to the aspiration of the youth with measures that include promoting women empowerment.The US State Department hailed the new policy as a great step in the right direction, echoing a similar comment from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.Tuesdays announcement comes at a crucial time for Saudi Arabia.The OPEC kingpin is in a battle for regional influence with arch-rival Iran, bogged down in a controversial military intervention in neighbouring Yemen and at loggerheads with fellow US Gulf ally Qatar.Allowing women to drive is the biggest PR win that Saudi Arabia -- and Prince Mohammed -- could have in a single swoop, said Jane Kinninmont, a research fellow at Londons Chatham House.Prince Mohammed is set to be the first millennial to occupy the throne, although the timing of his ascension remains unknown.Already viewed as the de facto ruler controlling all the major levers of government, from defence to the economy, the heir apparent is seen as stamping out traces of internal dissent before any formal transfer of power from his 81-year-old father.His gambit to loosen social restrictions, which had so far not translated into more political and civil rights, seeks to push criticism over a recent political crackdown out of the public eye, some analysts say.Authorities this month arrested more than two dozen people, including influential clerics and activists, in what critics decried as a coordinated crackdown.

Iraq PM, Kurdish chief in war of words over independence vote

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ARBIL (AFP) - Kurdish leader Massud Barzani and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi engaged in a war of words Tuesday a day after the Kurds staged an independence referendum in their autonomous region.Abadi said in Baghdad, a staunch opponent of the Kurdish move, that he would not negotiate on the back of the referendum result -- expected to be a resounding yes.But in Kurdish regional capital Arbil, Barzani in a televised address urged the Iraqi premier not to close the door to dialogue because it is dialogue that will solve problems.We assure the international community of our willingness to engage in dialogue with Baghdad, he said.The referendum is not to delimit the border (between Kurdistan and Iraq), nor to impose it de facto, Barzani added.The Kurdish referendum went ahead despite both Iraqi and international opposition.The vote is non-binding and will not lead automatically to independence, but is seen by the Kurds as a major step towards a long-cherished dream of statehood.Abadi was not in a negotiating mood Tuesday.He said he would ban international flights to and from Kurdistan in three days unless its airports at Arbil and Sulaimaniyah were placed under his governments control.Iraqi Airways and carriers including from Germany, Iran, Jordan and Turkey currently operate regular flights there.Abadi ruled out negotiations on the back of the referendum result.We will not abandon the unity and sovereignty of Iraq because this is a national duty, he said.The government will impose its authority in accordance with the constitution. We remain engaged in talks, but we will not negotiate on the basis of the referendum.In the Kurdish areas, the result is not in doubt, with people expecting a big yes to independence.In Arbil, a night of fireworks, flag-waving and dancing followed Mondays vote.We made a Kurdish state today, Arbil resident Ahmad told AFP.Were Kurdish people, were not Arab, were not Persian, were no one else... Were Kurds and well remain Kurds forever.Polling was peaceful, but increased tensions between Iraqs Kurds and their neighbours raised fears of unrest.Abadi had declared before the vote he would take necessary measures to protect Iraqi unity, and he was due to meet parliament members on Wednesday.Lawmakers passed a resolution Monday to send troops to disputed areas where the referendum took place, but there have been no signs of a deployment yet.Analysts say Baghdad was unlikely to seek a confrontation now, especially as Iraqi forces continue battling the Islamic State group in its final bastions.Turkey, concerned the vote could stoke the separatist ambitions of its own sizeable Kurdish population, repeatedly condemned the referendum.On Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Iraqs Kurds risked sparking an ethnic war.If Barzani and the Kurdistan Regional Government do not go back on this mistake as soon as possible, they will go down in history with the shame of having dragged the region into an ethnic and sectarian war, he said.Erdogan had warned on Monday that Turkey would shut its border with Iraqi Kurdistan and threatened to block key exports from the region through Turkey.Erdogan even suggested the possibility of a cross-border incursion similar to the one Turkey carried out against IS and Kurdish fighters in Syria.Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday were seen taking part in Turkish military exercises launched last week in the southern province of Sirnak near the Iraqi border.Mondays vote took place across the three northern provinces of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan -- Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk -- and in disputed border zones such as the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.A curfew was lifted early Tuesday on parts of Kirkuk city, where it had been imposed on the centre and non-Kurdish neighbourhoods over fears of unrest.Officials reported that turnout for the referendum was 72 percent, with 3.3 million of the 4.58 million registered voters taking part.Participation was only 50 percent in Sulaimaniyah province, the home base of political forces opposed to Barzani.His opponents have accused Barzani of seeking to empower himself through the vote, and said he should have accepted a UN-backed plan to postpone the referendum in favour of negotiations with Baghdad.The United Nations and United States had urged Barzani to cancel or postpone the vote, with Washington especially concerned it could hamper the fight against IS in which Kurdish peshmerga forces have been vital.Issam al-Fayli, a political science professor at Baghdad University, said he did not expect any immediate confrontations.There will be some minor incidents but the crisis should in the end remain under control, he said.Iran, which like Turkey has a large and restless Kurdish population, also opposed the referendum.Ali Akbar Velayati, chief foreign policy adviser to Irans supreme leader, said after the vote it would sow political chaos in the region.Left without a state of their own when the borders of the Middle East were redrawn after World War I, the Kurds see themselves as the worlds largest stateless people.The non-Arab ethnic group number between 25 and 35 million spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria.

Trump ignores pleas to calm North Korea tensions

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Donald Trump on Tuesday accused North Korea of torturing a captive US student beyond belief, spurning pleas from allies and foes in east Asia to tone down his warlike rhetoric.Trump urged nations to isolate the North Korean menace as his administration introduced new sanctions and warned that its nuclear weapons and missile development threaten the entire word with unthinkable loss of life.The comments, in the White House Rose Garden, came after the US Treasury announced sanctions on eight North Korean banks and 26 executives.Earlier, for the first time, Trump also publicly accused Pyongyang of abusing the late 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, an allegation likely to heighten tensions between the two nuclear powers.Last June the Ohio native was sent home in a coma after more than a year in prison in North Korea. He died a few days later.Aides say Trump was personally shocked and angered by Warmbiers death, and that the government suspects mistreatment.But the US president had stopped short of publicly accusing the regime of torture, a move that would raise expectations of a tough response, escalate tensions and could complicate any future releases.Since June, the United States and North Korea have traded military moves and bombastic insults in a stand-off over Kim Jong-Uns nuclear and ballistic weapons programs.After seeing Warmbiers parents on television Tuesday morning, Trump cast previous concerns aside.Otto was tortured beyond belief by North Korea, he said in an early morning tweet.The missive came just hours after South Korea -- whose densely-populated capital Seoul is just 35 miles from the demilitarized zone dividing the Korean peninsula -- asked its US ally to take the heat out of the situation.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha visited Washington to warn it was imperative to prevent further escalation of tensions or any kind of accidental military clashes which can quickly go out of control.Similarly, China, the Norths neighbor and only major ally, warned Tuesday that any conflict would have no winners.Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said rhetorical sparring will only increase the risk of confrontation and reduce the room for policy maneuver.US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, visiting India, stressed that Washington wants a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis.US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Joe Dunford said tensions were political rather than military.While the political space is clearly very charged right now, we havent seen a change in the posture of North Korean forces. We watch that very carefully, he said.Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un traded barbs in the wake of the Norths sixth nuclear bomb and multiple missile tests.Pyongyang says it needs the weapons to defend itself against the threat of a US invasion.Alarm over Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs dominated the gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, amid fears the heated rhetoric could accidentally trigger a war.In his UN address last week, Trump delivered the blunt threat to totally destroy North Korea if provoked, deriding leader Kim Jong-Un as Rocket Man.Kim hit back with a personal attack of his own, branding Trump mentally deranged and a dotard and warning he would pay dearly.The Norths Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho on Monday called a press conference to hit back at a US bomber mission near the Norths coastline and a slew of bombastic warnings from the American president.Taking umbrage at Trumps weekend tweet that North Koreas leadership wont be around much longer if it keeps up its threats, Ri told reporters the international community hoped that a war of words would not turn into real actions.However, last weekend, Trump claimed our leadership would not be around much longer, said Ri, who attended this years UN General Assembly session. He declared a war on our country.The White House said Ris interpretation of Trumps saber-rattling as absurd.Fears of a clash were sharpened after US bombers flew off the coast of North Korea on Saturday -- going further north of the demilitarized zone than any US aircraft has flown this century.Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to take counter-measures including the right to shoot down US strategic bombers even when they are not yet inside the airspace border of our country, Ri said.The question of who wont be around much longer will be answered then.A Pentagon spokesman stressed the bombers flew in international airspace and had every right to do so.South Korean intelligence said that, while Pyongyang did not appear to have picked up the presence of the US warplanes over the weekend, it had since bolstered its coastal defenses.North Korea relocated its warplanes and strengthened defenses along the east coast, said Lee Cheol-Woo, the chief of the National Assemblys intelligence committee.

Senate Republicans pull plug on latest Obamacare repeal bid

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Senate Republicans abandoned their latest plan to dismantle Obamacare Tuesday when it became clear that President Donald Trumps party did not have the votes, assuring the 2010 health reforms survive for the foreseeable future.Grim-faced lawmakers, who had hoped to hold the vote this week, made the announcement shortly after a Republican luncheon in which senators discussed the impasse, and possible future paths forward for their efforts to repeal and replace Barack Obamas landmark 2010 health care reforms.Weve made the decision that since we dont have the votes we will postpone that vote, Senator Bill Cassidy, one of the bills main authors, told reporters.Republicans had scrambled to pass health care reform before a September 30 deadline, using special rules that would have allowed them to avoid a Democratic filibuster and pass the bill with a simple majority.Republicans, who hold 52 seats in the 100-member chamber, could afford just two defectors. But three, including most recently Senator Susan Collins, have declared their opposition.Am I disappointed? Absolutely, Cassidy said.The collapse, yet again, of an effort to fulfill one of Trumps primary campaign pledges is sure to be an embarrassment to the White House, which has seen several Obamacare repeal and replace bills crash and burn this year.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the party, still searching for a first major legislative victory under the Trump administration, will now turn to another Trump priority.Where we go from here is tax reform, he said.Despite the latest collapse, Senator Lindsey Graham insisted the effort to sink Obamacare -- and fulfill a seven-year Republican promise -- was alive and kicking.Were coming back to this after taxes, Graham said. Theres plenty of fight left in us.But Democrats immediately claimed victory, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer saying that with the failure of the Graham-Cassidy bill, the health care of millions has been protected and preserved.The Republican plan had aimed to replace the Affordable Care Act with a system of block grants to states.It would make sweeping changes and cuts to Medicaid, with experts projecting a staggering $1 trillion plus in cuts between 2020 and 2036 to the federal health program for the poor and the disabled, which has been expanded under Obamacare.Compounding the problem for the bill, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released a preliminary analysis of the new legislation Monday, and projected that it would leave millions fewer people with comprehensive health insurance.With the latest repeal failure, Democrats swiftly said they wanted to restart stalled bipartisan talks aimed at boosting the existing health care system.GrahamCassidy is officially dead, Senator Martin Heinrich tweeted. Its time to get to work, hold hearings & find bipartisan ways to improve our HealthCare system.Democrats have said the first task at hand is to stabilize the Obamacare insurance markets. At issue are the billions of dollars in federal reimbursements to insurance companies for covering millions of low-income Americans under Obamacare.Trump in the past has threatened to suspend the so-called cost-sharing reductions as a way to speed Obamacares demise.Republican Senator Lamar Alexander and Democratic Senator Patty Murray have led efforts to craft a bipartisan plan to stabilize the insurance markets. Their talks broke down as Republican leader pushed for a vote on Graham-Cassidy, but Murray said she is ready to resume them on a moments notice.Making sure that the president made the payments that he can right now... is the single most important thing to do over the next several years to stabilize the marketplace, which will reduce the premiums for everyone, she said.

UN Security Council moves to confront Myanmar crisis

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on Tuesday to discuss the violence in Myanmar, moving to step up its response to the exodus of 480,000 Rohingya Muslims in what has been condemned as ethnic cleansing.The meeting will set the stage for a public session of the top UN body on Thursday, during which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to brief on the crisis and China, along with other council members, will deliver remarks.International alarm is growing over the fate of the Rohingya who have been fleeing an army campaign in Rakhine state that the United Nations says has included killings, rape and the torching of villages.The military operation followed attacks on August 25 by Rohingya militants on police posts.British Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Allen said the council must send a clear message to the authorities of Myanmar that the violence needs to stop.Humanitarian aid must be allowed in Rakhine state and the status of the Rohingya, who are stateless in Myanmar, must be addressed, he said.French Ambassador Francois Delattre said he was pushing for a strong and united response from the council to pile pressure on authorities in Myanmar.China, a supporter of Myanmars former junta, backed a council statement earlier this month calling for an end to the violence, but the exodus has continued.Rights groups, which have accused the council of dragging its feet on Myanmar, are calling for urgent action to address what they have denounced as crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.The council urgently needs to consider an arms embargo against the Burmese military and targeted sanctions against those responsible for the criminal campaign against the Rohingya, said Human Rights Watchs UN director Lou Charbonneau.We hope the secretary-general will drive home the importance of urgent action now by the council, he said.France, which takes over the council presidency in October, has invited former UN chief Kofi Annan to brief next week on his recent report which advocates citizenship for the Rohingya.Myanmars de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has disappointed human rights groups who had campaigned for her freedom during the Nobel Peace Prize winners 15 years under house arrest by a military junta.The council meeting will measure the level of support Suu Kyi still enjoys with Western allies after her nationwide address last week failed to quell the outrage.

Macron says Britain could have a place in 'reformed' EU

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PARIS (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Britain, which is engaged in a fourth round of divorce talks with the European Union, could still have a place in a rebooted EU.Setting out his vision for a more efficient, multi-speed EU in a key speech in Paris, Macron said: In a union refocused on its unwavering values and an efficient market, in a few years, if it wants, the United Kingdom could find its place.Choosing his words with care, Macron said he had deliberately avoided talking about Brexit because he could not imagine that Britain would not want to be part of a new-look EU.In this reformed and simplified EU that Im proposing, I cannot imagine that the United Kingdom could not find its place, he said, without making it clear whether he was suggesting Britain could reverse its decision -- or rejoin the union at a later stage.At his first meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May after his election in May, Macron had already suggested that Britain could row back on its referendum decision to quit the 28-member bloc.Of course, the door is always open as long as the negotiations on Brexit have not finished, he said, in remarks that were seen as encouraging by those Britons who voted to stay in the EU.But Macron also stressed at the time that the British people had taken a sovereign decision to leave and that once the negotiations started, it will be more and more difficult to go backwards.On Tuesday, he reiterated his call for a multi-speed Europe, where groups of willing countries would move ahead on integration projects, leaving refuseniks behind.Europe is already multi-speed. We shouldnt be afraid to say this and to want it, he said.He also spoke in favour of further enlargement to the east, saying Balkan states should be brought into the fold so they dont turn their backs on Europe.

Twitter tests expanding tweet limit to 280 characters

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Twitter announced Tuesday a test project allowing tweets to be expanded to 280 characters -- double the existing limit -- in the latest effort to boost flagging growth at the social network.San Francisco-based Twitter said the new system, a major shift for the messaging platform known for its 140-character tweets, aims to address a major cause of frustration for many users.A small group of users will see the new limits before Twitter decides on rolling out the changes more broadly.Trying to cram your thoughts into a tweet -- weve all been there, and its a pain, product manager Aliza Rosen and software enginer Ikuhiro Ihara said in a blog post.Were doing something new: were going to try out a longer limit, 280 characters, in languages impacted by cramming.Twitter planned to leave the old limit in place for tweets in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean because internal data showed written characters in those languages packed plenty into the alloted space.Our research shows us that the character limit is a major cause of frustration for people tweeting in English, but it is not for those tweeting in Japanese, Rosen and Ihara said.Also, in all markets, when people dont have to cram their thoughts into 140 characters and actually have some to spare, we see more people tweeting.Twitter, which became a public company in 2013, has never reported a profit even though it has built a loyal base of celebrities, journalists and political figures, including prolific tweeter US President Donald Trump.In its most recent quarter, Twitter reported its base of monthly active users was unchanged at 328 million compared to the first three months of the year and up just five percent from a year earlier.Its growth has failed to keep pace with the social network leader Facebook, which has some two billion users, and Facebook-owned Instagram, with 800 million.Were hoping fewer tweets run into the character limit, which should make it easier for everyone to tweet, Rosen and Ihara said in the blog post.We understand since many of you have been Tweeting for years, there may be an emotional attachment to 140 characters... But we tried this, saw the power of what it will do, and fell in love with this new, still brief, constraint.Twitter has been seeking to draw in users by offering more video including live streaming of sporting events, aiming to broaden its appeal.The messaging platform reported a net loss of $116 million in the second quarter, slightly wider than its $107 million loss a year ago.

Bangladesh face in-form South African batsmen

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POTCHEFSTROOM (AFP) - History and the form of South Africas leading batsmen are against Bangladesh in the first Test starting Thursday at Senwes Park in northwestern university town Potchefstroom.Bangladesh have lost all four previous Tests in South Africa by an innings, despite winning the toss on all four occasions.In their favour, though, is improved form since their previous tour in 2008/09 and a Potchefstroom pitch less likely to help South Africas formidable fast bowlers than other surfaces in the host country.Although it has generally favoured batsmen, there was surprising assistance for slow bowlers in a Twenty20 tournament earlier this month, a repeat of which would suit Bangladeshs spin-strong attack.Even so, the odds seemed loaded in South Africas favour.Bangladesh did not suggest themselves as world-beaters in a low-key draw against a largely inexperienced Invitation team in Benoni near Johannesburg last week, while South Africas top batsmen were feasting in four-day franchise matches.Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn and new cap Aiden Markram all scored centuries, captain Faf du Plessis made 96 and Quinton de Kock hit a half-century.Temba Bavuma was the exception, making 25 and 0.South Africas Test stars were playing domestic first-class cricket at the insistence of new head coach, former West Indies player Ottis Gibson, some for the first time in several seasons.The form of the batsmen was encouraging after they struggled in a low-scoring series defeat in England this year.South Africas frontline bowlers were less successful, however.Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada failed to take a wicket in 38 overs, Duanne Olivier took three in the first innings and none in 31 overs in the second innings and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took just one wicket in 39 overs.Only Morne Morkel enjoyed some success, taking five wickets across two innings.In the absence of leading all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was granted a break from Test cricket, Bangladesh will look to their two most experienced remaining players, captain Mushfiqur Rahim and opener Tamim Iqbal, to provide substance to their batting.Tamim played a minimal role in the warm-up match because of a thigh muscle strain but has been passed fit for Potchefstroom.Shakib has also been a mainstay of Bangladeshs bowling attack, which looks short of experience without him.Only slow left-armer Taijul Islam, with 54, has taken more than 50 Test wickets.Two young bowlers, left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, 22, and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan, 19, are likely to be key figures for the tourists.Squads:South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Theunis de Bruyn, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo.Coach: Ottis Gibson (WIS).Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt/wkt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Liton Das (wkt), Mehidy Hasan, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy.Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha (SRI).Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Bruce Oxenford (AUS).TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI).Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).

Radd-ul-Fasaad: Cache of weapons recovered from Khyber Agency

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad continues all across the country against the anti-state elements. A huge cache of weapons was recovered in the intelligence based operations carried out by security forces in different parts of Khyber Agency on Tuesday.According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the security forces carried out operations in Qamar Khel, Baz Garhi and Bara areas of Khyber Agency and recovered large quantity of weapons.Sources said that light machine guns, hand grenades, mortar shells, RPG-7 and other kinds of rockets and mines were recovered during the operation in these areas.

Karachi: Blaze at garments factory causes huge loss

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Fire broke out at the third floor of a garments factory situated in New Karachi Industrial Area of Karachi on Tuesday which completely destroyed valuables worth millions of rupees.According to chief fire officer Tehseen Sidiqui, a timely action by the fire brigade prevented the blaze to spread to the other parts of the factory. The blaze was brought under control after three-hour effort.No loss of life was reported in the incident. At least eight fire tenders, two bowers and one snorkel took part on the rescue operation which continued for three hours.
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