Tuesday 5 September 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

WhatsApp unveils plan to make money from businesses

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - WhatsApp said Tuesday that it is testing potentially money-making ways to be used by businesses to communicate with customers.A business version of Facebook-owned messaging application WhatsApp will be free to use at the outset, with plans to charge big businesses for certain tools in the future, according to the company.WhatsApp had yet to work out details of what it would charge, saying it was focused now on refining features with companies helping to test the application.It will be the first move by Facebook to monetize WhatsApp, which has focused primarily on growth.Weve heard stories of shopkeepers who use WhatsApp to stay in touch with hundreds of customers from a single smartphone, and from people who are unsure about whether or not a business on WhatsApp is authentic, the company said in a blog post.In the coming months, well be testing new features that aim to solve some of these challenges, and make it easier for people to communicate with the businesses they want to reach on WhatsApp.Features offered in a business version of WhatsApp will include verified accounts to assure people they are really dealing with businesses, and tools for managing text chats.Companies will also be able to create profiles providing descriptions, addresses, hours of operation and more.This is just the beginning of what we want to offer for businesses and our users, and wee excited for whats to come, said WhatsApp, which boasts more than a billion daily users.Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 in a deal valued at some $19 billion in stock and cash at the time.

Briefing on banned outfit ASP at meeting chaired by Sindh Rangers DG

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh Rangers DG Major General Muhammad Saeed chaired a high-level meeting of security officials in Karachi on Tuesday where the attendees were briefed about banned terror outfit Ansar-ul-Sharia Pakistan (ASP), the same organisation behind assassination attempt of MQM-P leader Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan.After the repeated terrorist attacks in the provincial capital by ‘educated’ terrorists, security officials including Sindh Rangers DG, CTD and intelligence agencies’ officers. They inspected the incidents revolving around terrorist attack on Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan.It was told that three terrorists were involved in the attack in which an alleged terrorist named Hassan Dawood was shot injured by police and killed when locals assaulted him. He was a lab data technician at an engineering university after graduating from NED University of Engineering and Technology.It was further briefed that the gun used in assassination attempt had previously been used in terrorist attacks on police in SITE area, Azizabad and Bahadurabad, as well as in killing of volunteers and security guards outside FBR office in Gulistan-e-Johar. It was revealed that raid on Abdul Karim Sarosh and seizure of laptops and literature proved that he is a member of ASP.Talking about the matter, briefing suggested that the whole group was totally exposed and further action through raids will take place in areas of Balochistan and Sindh.Sources revealed that the mastermind behind terrorist attack on Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan escaped owing to negligence of police officials who didn’t consider the alert issued by intelligence agencies. Inexperienced policemen were sent to arrest the mastermind, sources added.Constable Aijaz and Khalid entered Sarosh’s house and he opened fire using 9mm pistol which helped in his escape. The same 9mm pistol was used in assassination attempt of the Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader.

South Korea reach World Cup, Syria into play-offs

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HONG KONG: (AFP) - South Korea squeezed unconvincingly into their ninth straight World Cup on Tuesday, as war-torn Syria scored a stoppage-time equaliser to secure a shock spot in the Asian play-offs.South Korea ground out a 0-0 draw against Uzbekistan to lock up second place in Group A, while Omar Al Somas 93rd-minute goal gave Syria a 2-2 draw with Iran to finish third.Syrias heroics also extinguished Chinas faint hopes of reaching only their second World Cup, despite snatching a 2-1 win over 2022 hosts Qatar after Wu Leis late winner.In Group B, Australia won 2-1 against Thailand but they will be knocked out of the second automatic qualifying spot if Saudi Arabia beat Japan in the evenings final game in Jeddah.The United Arab Emirates had a slim chance of reaching the play-offs, but their dream died when they lost 1-0 to Iraq to finish fourth in Group B.

Maryam Nawaz tells PML-N voters to denounce Panama verdict on September 17

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – The sacked premiers daughter Maryam Nawaz asked supporters of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to vote for her mother Kulsoom Nawaz in NA-120 by-election on September 17 to denounce the Panama case verdict.Addressing the supporters at Krishan Nagar on Tuesday, she told PML-N voters to come out on the by-poll day. She inaugurated voters office at Abdali Chowk where a large number of followers awaited her.Maryam Nawaz was showered with rose petals when she arrived in the area while PML-N workers surrounded her car and chanted loud slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif. Due to a congested area, she had to begin the address right beside her car.“If you don’t accept Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification then come out of your houses on September 17 to cast your votes and tell that you reject Panama case verdict,” she said. The emotions ran high when she spoke that she couldn’t meet her sick mother only to run the campaign and meet the voters.

PM asks to bring matter of low investment in agriculture sector before CCI

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ISLAMABAD (APP): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Tuesday directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to work on a policy framework for putting inplace optimal methods for ensuring food security in the country.The Prime Minister gave the direction during a briefing to him here at the PM Office by Minister for National FoodSecurity and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan and senior officials regarding the overall outlook of agriculture sector,achievements of the ministry and challenges faced by the agriculture sector.He was briefed that presently the agriculture sector was contributing 19.5% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and around 42% labour force was employed in the sector.Agriculture in the country provided 57.5% share in the total exports and growth rate of the sector remained 3.46% in FY 2016-17, he was briefed.The Prime Minister stated that the government’s aim was sustainable growth of the agriculture sector as it was the mainstay of the national economy, a press release issued by the PM’s Media Office here said.He also directed the ministry to bring the issue of current low investment in the sector as compared to the pre-devolution scenario before the Council of Common Interests (CCI) so as to ensure allocation of greater resources to thesector by provincial governments as well as the federalgovernment.The Prime Minister said proposals to increase productivity and crop diversification, keeping in view the local demands and meeting various other challenges includingclimate change, should also be part of the framework alongwith promotion of research and development functions of variousorganisations of the ministry in line with international best practices.As a bottom line, the state must ensure a fair return to farmers for their efforts by adopting sustainable policy framework, he added. The Prime Minister said small farmers should be the focusof agriculture policy so as to provide maximum facilitation.

Imran Khan glad 'inexperienced' PTI didn't form govt in 2013

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan expressed satisfied in spite of not forming federal government after 2013 general elections, reasoning that his party was inexperienced at that time.In an interview with BBC on Tuesday, Imran Khan claimed that the local body system formed by PTI-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is the best amongst others in the country, admitting the legally enforced system for the devolution of power will take some time to be enforced practically. “We have taken such revolutionary steps (in the local body system) which have not been taken in Pakistan in the past. Even some of our MPAs and bureaucrats are opposing it,” he stated.When asked if he had formed the federal government back in 2013, he responded that he is glad PTI didn’t do so as the party was inexperienced at that time. Imran Khan added that it would have been the same case as in KP government where chief minister Pervez Khattak is the only experienced member with new people who didn’t realise anything till one year. He said, “We have learned a lot in KP government which we will apply after coming to centre when given opportunity.”Talking about the four-year performance of KP government, he lauded the effort of his team despite inexperience. PTI chief mentioned various services including enforcement of local body system, investment in education and health reforms, which he considers to be proud of.It was difficult to ensure availability of doctors in rural areas as they were only found in Peshawar earlier, he added. Imran Khan said PTI government increased the number of salaries of doctors, and improved the scale structure. Talking about health reforms, he stated that KP government raised the number of doctors from 3,000 to 10,000. He further told that a large amount of money is required to improve and restructure the building which they currently do not have.

Pakistan concerned about terrorism threat in South Asia: FO

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad expressed deep concerns over the threat of extremism and terrorism in South Asian region, highlighting the presence of terrorist organisations like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) in Afghanistan that carry out attacks against people of Pakistan.Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakariya issued a formal statement saying Pakistan is also seriously concerned about the threat posed by terrorism and extremism in the South Asian region. “Many terrorist groups based in the region, including in Afghanistan, such as the TTP and its associates like JuA have been responsible for extreme acts of violence against Pakistani people,” the press statement stated.Islamabad added that the country is also concerned at the presence of groups like Daesh, East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in the ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan as they pose a threat to peace and security in the region.Reacting to the BRICS summit joint declaration, it was clearly told that Pakistan also remains concerned at the rise of extremist ideologies and intolerance in the region encouraging social stratification and systematic targeting of minorities.

Warner, Handscomb give momentum in second Bangladesh Test

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CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (AFP) - An unbeaten century stand between David Warner and Peter Handscomb led Australias strong reply against Bangladesh on day two of the second and final Test in Chittagong on Tuesday.The visitors were 225-2 at stumps in their first innings, trailing by 80 runs after Bangladesh were bowled out for 305.Warner was on 88 with Handscomb on 69 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.Skipper Steve Smith hit a gritty 58 off 94 balls before being bowled by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam as the visitors slipped to 98-2.The left-handed Warner and Handscomb then put on 127 to thwart the Bangladesh bowling attack, which failed to take a wicket in the final session of play.Handscomb, who recorded his fourth Test fifty in just his 10th game, took regular drinks breaks as he battled exhaustion and dehydration in the final half-hour.Really gutsy, obviously its pretty hot out there, we saw that yesterday and you have to work really hard for your runs, Australia coach Darren Lehmann told reporters....Very special day and hopefully tomorrow they can kick on, the 47-year-old former batsman addded.The swashbuckling Warner played a sedate innings, having hit just four boundaries during his 170-ball stay at the crease so far.Warner rode his luck with two reprieves. He was dropped at short leg on 52 and then Mushfiqur Rahim missed a stumping when he was on 73, with Taijul and Mehedi Hasan being the unlucky bowlers.You dont want to miss any chances do you? We missed a couple early in their innings, one of the things I do know over here is youve got to take every chance, said Lehmann.So we had a couple of let-offs which is handy for us but when we get our chance tomorrow weve got to keep making sure were scoring at a nice rate and when you come to bowl again, make sure you take all those chances.Warners opening partner Matt Renshaw departed early, dismissed by fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for four before the lunch break.The left-hander tried to tickle a sliding delivery down the leg side but wicketkeeper Rahim took a stunning catch.Warner was then involved in a 93-run second-wicket partnership with Smith as the pair steadied the innings.Smith, who registered his 21st Test half-century, was done in by an arm ball from Taijul that sneaked through the bat-pad gap to hit the middle stump.- On the back foot -Earlier, Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed seven wickets to help bowl out the hosts, who resumed the day on 253-6, in the first session.Lyon returned impressive figures of 7-94 including Rahims prized scalp for 68.I think we fell short by 100-150 runs, looking at the wicket, Bangladesh all-rounder Nasir Hossain, who scored 45, said of his teams first innings total.We are slightly on the back foot. A lot can however change in an hour in a Test match... we are not thinking about the result at this stage, Nasir added.Bangladesh lead the series 1-0 after registering their first-ever Test win against Australia last week.The home team tightened security after the visitors team bus was hit with a stone following the end of play on day one.

Malaysia summons Myanmar envoy as Rohingya crisis worsens

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia on Tuesday summoned the Myanmar ambassador in a rare diplomatic rebuke in Southeast Asia to voice its deep concern over the spiralling violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority.A fresh upsurge of violence in mainly Buddhist Myanmar has forced tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees to flee the country for neighbouring Bangladesh, sparking fears of a humanitarian crisis.The growing crisis threatens Myanmars diplomatic ties, particularly with Muslim-majority countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia and Indonesia where there is profound public anger over the treatment of the stateless Rohingya.Malaysia summoned Myanmars ambassador U Sein Oo to the foreign ministry where Kuala Lumpur registered its deep concern regarding the escalation of violence, warning that it could cause Rohingya refugees to flood into other Southeast Asian countries, a statement from the foreign office said.It would also see more people... become increasingly vulnerable to recruitment by extremists. Both have the potential to greatly impact the security and stability of the region, the foreign ministry said.It was a rare show of disapproval within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a group bound by the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of member countries.The ministry also said that Foreign Minister Anifah Aman has held telephone discussions with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts to convene a special meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Rohingya issue. The date and venue of the proposed meeting has yet to be decided.Anifah on Monday told AFP he was dissatisfied with Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyis silence on the crisis.Nearly 125,000 mostly Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh since the outbreak of violence in Myanmars Rakhine state, the United Nations said Tuesday.Bangladesh was home to around 400,000 Rohingya refugees before the latest crisis -- most of them living in already crowded camps that are struggling to cope with the influx.As of June this year, there are 59,100 Rohingya refugees registered with the UN Refugee Agency in Malaysia.While Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN convention on refugees, it has been sheltering refugees for decades.

Jerusalem: Palestinian family evicted from home of 50 years

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(AFP) - Israeli police on Tuesday evicted a Palestinian family from the east Jerusalem home in which they lived for over half a century, making way for Israelis who had been deemed the legal occupants.Plans for the eviction had been criticised by the European Union, United Nations and various Western governments, though not the United States.Fahamiya Shamasneh, 75, told AFP police arrived unannounced before dawn and forced her out of the house along with her husband Ayoub, 84, their son and his family. The couple had lived in the house in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of east Jerusalem near the historic Old City for 53 years.An AFP journalist saw young Jewish men moving into the building after the family were escorted out.It is the hardest day, Fahamiya Shamasneh said tearfully on the street after being evicted. She said she was heating milk for her grandchildren when they knocked on the door and said open its the police. They took us out and threw us outside.What greater injustice is there than this? Maybe we will sleep in the street.The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said it would seek to support the family financially to find another home.The Shamasnehs had for years been fighting a court battle against Jewish claimants who said the building was their family property, which they fled when east Jerusalem was occupied by Jordanian troops in the 1948 war that led to the creation of the Jewish state. Under Israeli law, if Jews can prove their families lived in east Jerusalem homes before the 1948 war they can demand that Israels general custodian office release the property and return their ownership rights.During that war, thousands of Jews fled Jerusalem as Jordanian-led Arab forces seized the city, while hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled from land that was later to become Israel.No such law exists for Palestinians who lost their land.Dangerous trendThe Shamasnehs say they had paid 250 shekels ($70) a month to the general custodian since 1967, an arrangement used by the settlers side as proof that the family acknowledged its status as tenants.In 2013 the Israeli Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Jewish claimants.Tuesdays eviction was the first in the neighbourhood since 2009, according to Israeli anti-occupation group Peace Now.Israel sees Jerusalem as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians want the eastern sector as their future capital. Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community. Around 200,000 Israeli Jews now live in east Jerusalem in settlement homes considered illegal under international law.Scott Anderson, head of UNRWAs West Bank operations, said such expulsions made peace between Israelis and Palestinians harder to achieve. We all support the two-state solution and a negotiated peace process. The expansion of settlements is not helpful to that end, he told AFP.Peace Now says the house is part of a larger process of establishing settlements in Sheikh Jarrah.The eviction of the Shamasneh family, who resided in the house since 1964, is not only brutal but it is also indicating a dangerous trend that could threaten a future compromise in Jerusalem, the Israeli NGO said in a statement.Arye King, director at the Israel Land Fund and a de facto spokesman for much Jewish settlement growth in Jerusalem, told AFP last month he wanted the area to go back to being a Jewish neighbourhood.It is happening slowly, slowly, he said.

NAB chairman rejects petition to freeze assets of Sharif family and Ishaq Dar

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has decided against freezing the assets of Sharif family and Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar in an executive order issued on Tuesday.A local had earlier submitted the petition to freeze all assets held by Sharif family and Ishaq Dar. NAB chairperson dismissed the petition, and decided to send the matter to the accountability court. Also, the plea to name members of Sharif family as well as Ishaq Dar in Exit Control List (ECL) was rejected.Qamar Zaman has decided that both matters will be resolved by NAB court. NAB was tasked by Supreme Court to open references against Sharif family and Ishaq Dar in Panama case verdict ruled.The matter of freezing assets held by Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, Hassan Nawaz and Ishaq Dar, and naming them in ECL will be decided by the NAB accountability court.Meanwhile, Prosecution wing of NAB has prepared four references against Ishaq Dar and Sharif family. These references will be filed in accountability court after the approval from executive board.

Rohingya Muslims crisis: Adjournment motions submitted in NA, Senate

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) submitted adjournment motion in National Assembly against the butchering of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.The matter was raised by PPP lawmaker and leader of the lower house, Khurshid Shah, apart from Naveed Qamar, Shazia Marri and other members of the opposition party. They submitted a signature adjournment motion in National Assembly claiming that racial genocide of Rohingya Muslim minority is being carried out by armed forces while whole world including global powers have shown criminal silence. They demanded to stop the normal working and consider the matter which is being raised immediately.Another adjournment motion was submitted in Senate after the Rohingya crisis was raised by Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). MQM leader Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh and JUI-F member Maulana Hafiz Hamdullah submitted their separate petitions in Senate to hold a debate on the matter by adjourning normal working of the upper house.A resolution, condemning brutal killing of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State, was presented in Punjab Assembly on Tuesday in which the provincial lawmakers strongly denounced the unrest that claimed lives of more than 400 people with thousands escaping to Bangladesh. Similar resolution was submitted in Sindh Assembly.According to the United Nations, at least 87,000, mostly Rohingya refugees, had arrived in Bangladesh since the latest eruption of violence and around 20,000 more were massed on the border waiting to cross.

BRICS joint declaration a proof of failed foreign policy: Khurshid Shah

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah reacted to the BRICS Summit 2017 declaration in which concerns were raised over ‘Pakistan-based’ terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Haqqani network.Talking to media on Tuesday, PPP leader said BRICS Summit declaration is a proof of failed foreign policy, stressing that the country is not even able to convince allied states. Pakistan is declared a state-sponsor of terrorism despite sacrifices, he added. Earlier,Minister for Defence Khurram Dastgir had also defended Pakistan by rejecting the declaration released by member countries at the BRICS Summit. He asserted that there are no ‘safe havens’ for terrorists in the country.Khurshid Shah suggested a strong foreign policy, giving example of India who is ‘progressing due to better foreign policy’. He recalled that that his party repeatedly advised PML-N government to appoint a foreign minister.Talking about the salary increase given to state employees, he said PPP-led coalition government gave them 125% raise in salaries, criticising that the existing government only gave 42% increase in salaries to the workers. “Problems arose due to failed policies of rulers. PPP is bringing development projects for prosperity. It is the duty of state to provide quality education to its people,” he concluded.

Maldives suspends trade ties with Myanmar over Rohingya Muslims crisis

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(Web Desk/AFP) – The Maldives has announced to suspend all trade activities and relations with Myanmar, said the Maldivian government.Foreign Ministry of the Maldives issued a formal protest against the butchering of innocent Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. “(We are) deeply concerned by the recent cycle of violence that resulted the death of dozens of Rohingya Muslims and displacing several thousands,” the ministry stated. It demanded the United Nations (UN) to investigate the brutality with the Muslim minority in Myanmar.According to the UN, over 123,600 Rohingya Muslims, including women and children, escaped to Bangladesh to save their lives. A number of these minority members died on the way due to various incidents. As many as 2,600 houses were burnt by the hostile groups in Muslim-majority areas of Myanmar. A number of countries have already registered their protest against the brutality of Myanmar armed forces. Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Malaysia and several other countries criticised Myanmar government over their criminal silence.Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai and mainly Muslim countries in Asia led a growing chorus of criticism aimed at Myanmar and its civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi over the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority. Resolutions were passed today in provincial assemblies of Pakistan condemning brutal killing of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.Moreover,Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also condemned escalating human rights violations targeting the Rohingya Muslim minority during a phone call with Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Rallies were carried out in Muslim countries against the persecution of the Rohingya minority.

Hajj success paved way for peace talks with Saudi Arabia: Iran

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TEHRAN, Sept 5, 2017 (AFP) - Iran thanked Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for its handling of the annual hajj pilgrimage, saying it opened the way for negotiations between the regional rivals.We thank Saudi Arabia... for adopting a new approach in dealing with Iranian pilgrims, said Ali Ghazi-Askar, the head of the hajj organisation in Tehran, according to the state broadcaster.Some 86,000 Iranian pilgrims took part last week in the hajj. They were unable to attend in 2016 after talks collapsed over security concerns.Iran had been highly critical of Saudi Arabias organisation efforts in the wake of a stampede during the 2015 hajj that killed up to 2,300 people, including hundreds of Iranians.There are always differences arising among countries but the important thing is for the parties to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation, said Ghazi-Askar, according to the ISNA news agency.Right now, after holding a successful hajj, it is a good time for both parties to negotiate to resolve their bilateral issues in other fields.The two countries severed diplomatic relations after Iranians stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran in January 2016 in response to Riyadhs execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif remained circumspect, however, saying he had yet to see a clear prospect for change in the relationship.If such a development occurs in the Saudis mentality, it will definitely be a positive development and will be met with Irans positive reaction, he told Khabar Online newspaper.
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