Tuesday 10 October 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Football: Messi hat-trick fires Argentina into World Cup

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QUITO (AFP) - Lionel Messi scored a brilliant hat-trick as Argentina sealed their place at the 2018 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Ecuador here Tuesday.Barcelona superstar Messi single-handedly rescued Argentinas World Cup hopes as the South American giants came from behind to win in Quito.Romario Ibarra had given Ecuador a shock lead after only 38 seconds but Messi struck twice inside the opening 20 minutes to give Argentina the lead before adding a third in the second half.It was a vintage display from Messi, delivering for Argentina when it mattered most to erase fears that the two-time champions might not qualify for next years finals in Russia.Argentina had got off to a disastrous start, conceding a goal in the opening minute as Ecuador took full advantage of hesitancy in the visiting sides defensive ranks.Argentina stalwart Javier Mascherano failed to deal with a speculative long ball forward from Dario Aimar, directing a headed clearance into the path of Romario Ibarra.Ibarra calmly headed to team-mate Roberto Ordones who then steered a header back to Ibarra for the Universidad Catolica midfielder.It was the worst possible start for a shell-shocked Argentina, who had kicked off chasing their first victory in the Ecuadoran capital since 2001.For a while Argentina struggled to get to grips with a vibrant Ecuador, who looked to push forward at every opportunity.But it was not long before Messi stamped his authority on proceedings, hauling his team back into the contest with a composed opening goal.The equaliser came in the 12th minute when Messi darted forward and quickly released Angel Di Maria down the left.The Paris Saint-Germain attacker duly returned the favour as Messi raced into the penalty area to poke home a low finish past Maximo Banguera.Eight minutes later and Messi had fired Argentina into the lead with another virtuoso strike.When a loose ball fell kindly to the 30-year-olds feet just outside the area, Messi accelerated past a clutch of yellow shirts and uncorked a thunderous left-foot shot which flew into the top corner.Messis double-blast galvanised Argentina, who gradually grew in confidence through the remainder of the half, carefully maintaining possession to frustrate Ecuadors hopes of regaining the initiative.Messi then completed his hat-trick with the best goal of the night in the 62nd minute.Once again finding himself in space outside the Ecuador penalty area, the diminutive maestro burst clear and lofted an exquisite chip over Banguera from just inside the box to make it 3-1.

Football: Ronaldo, Portugal lock down World Cup berth

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LISBON (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal defeated Switzerland 2-0 in Lisbon on Tuesday to earn a place at the 2018 World Cup and consign their opponents to next months play-offs.An own goal from Johan Djourou handed the European champions the lead on 41 minutes and Andre Silva netted a second before the hour as Portugal finished top of Group B ahead of Switzerland on goal difference.Switzerland, who beat Portugal 2-0 at home last year, had won all nine previous qualifiers but must overcome a two-legged play-off in November to earn a fourth straight World Cup appearance.Weve never pretended to be the best in the world, but were capable of going head to head against any opponents, said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.To lose the first qualifying match, just after our win at Euro 2016, hurt us. But we were able to respond starting with the following match.From that point I always thought we had to win all our remaining games because I was convinced the Swiss wouldnt drop any points before coming to Lisbon.Ronaldo, who was injured for the opening qualifying defeat in Basel, returned to the Portugal line-up after coming off the bench to notch the opening goal in a lacklustre 2-0 win in Andorra on Saturday.Switzerland were attempting to join defending champions Germany -- and Spain ahead of the 2010 finals -- as the only nations to complete a European World Cup qualifying campaign with a perfect record.But AC Milan striker Andre Silva forced Yann Sommer into a smart early save from his deflected shot, with the Swiss goalkeeper then forced to make a terrific stop to tip over Bernardo Silvas venomous effort.A clumsy challenge in the area on Switzerland forward Haris Seferovic by Benfica team-mate Eliseu went unpunished as the visitors made a rare foray deep into the Portuguese half.US pop star Madonna was among the crowd at the Estadio da Luz which erupted when Djourou inadvertently bundled a dangerous cross from Eliseu beyond Sommer four minutes before the break under heavy pressure from Joao Mario.Xherdan Shaqiri tried to deceive Portugal keeper Rui Patricio with an ambitious free-kick early in the second period, but Portugal doubled their advantage with a brilliant team goal on 57 minutes.Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva exchanged passes with former Monaco team-mate Joao Moutinho, threading through the return pass for an unmarked Andre Silva to steer in at the far post.Switzerland go into the play-offs as the best of the eight runners-up to advance, with Slovakia missing out as the worst of the nine second-placed sides.Vladimir Petkovics team will be among the seeded countries for the play-off draw on October 17 and could face Sweden, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Greece for a place at Russia 2018.We took a step backwards but we have to stay positive, said Petkovic. In November we will take two steps forwards.I havent had time to analyse our potential opponents, but I know they all have competitive teams.

Football: France pass test to clinch World Cup spot

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PARIS (AFP) - France clinched qualification for the World Cup thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Belarus on Tuesday.Didier Deschampss side successfully completed their tricky challenge of beating Bulgaria and Belarus in their final two qualifiers.The victory meant they avoided the tension of the playoffs that they had to endure to reach the last two finals.But although they top Group A, Deschampss team were less than convincing at the Stade de France as already-eliminated Belarus repeatedly penetrated their rearguard.Deschamps started with Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann and the aerial threat of Giroud, and Griezmann eased nerves in the 27th minute, producing a confident low finish from Blaise Matuidis smart pass.Six minutes later, Griezmann intercepted a weak pass out of the Belarus defence and fed Giroud, who shrugged off two defenders to bundle in his 28th international goal.But the French defensive pairing then went to sleep, allowing Belarus to reduce the gap when the lively Anton Saroka swept past Hugo Lloris a minute before half-time.Saroka gave France another jolt when he shot just wide in the 64th minute, but he was narrowly offside.Paris Saint-Germain starlet Kylian Mbappe was introduced in the second half to inject pace and fresh ideas, but with the seconds ticking down to the final whistle, it was Saroka again who slid a shot just wide from close range.

Football: Netherlands fail to reach World Cup finals

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AMSTERDAM (AFP) - The Netherlands failed to reach the 2018 World Cup finals as they could only beat Sweden 2-0 on Tuesday when they needed an unlikely 7-0 victory.Elimination is fresh humiliation for the nation that reached the 2010 World Cup final and the semi-finals four years later, after they also missed out on Euro 2016 qualification.Netherlands captain Arjen Robben signalled the end of his international career on Tuesday after his country failed to reach the 2018 World Cup finals despite a 2-0 win over Sweden.The Bayern Munich star signed off by scoring both goals in Amsterdam as the Dutch fell well short of the unlikely 7-0 win they needed to make the play-offs after a desperately disappointing qualifying campaign.The 33-year-old Robben scored 37 times in 96 appearances for the Netherlands and helped them reach the 2010 World Cup final where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra-time.The Dutch also progressed to the last four at the 2014 finals before losing to Argentina on penalties.Fourteen years, its beautiful, magnificent even, said Robben, who made his international debut against Portugal in April 2003.I will always remember the 2010 World Cup and 2014. Those are my best memories. During those two competitions we formed a real team.

Tennis: Rampant Wozniacki blasts past slumping Bouchard

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HONG KONG (AFP) - In-form Caroline Wozniacki started the defence of her WTA Hong Kong Open title in rampant style by blowing away Eugenie Bouchard 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday.Wozniacki, seeded three and a recent winner of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, dominated the first-round match as Bouchard was forced into a cascade of errors.Wozniacki never looked remotely in trouble against the former golden girl of tennis, breaking her serve almost at will, and cruising to victory in only 58 minutes.It was a great start, Wozniacki told reporters.I feel like I played pretty well, tried to stay aggressive and tried to make her feel pressured and it worked, added the world number six.She never gave me a chance tonight, said a crestfallen Bouchard.For the Canadian, once the poster girl for the future of womens tennis, it was another chastening defeat as the 23-year-old rides the crest of the biggest slump of her young career.It seems a world away from Bouchards breakthrough season of 2014 when her easy-going personality and media friendly appearances were lapped up after she made the Wimbledon final and semi-finals at the Australian and French Opens while soaring to fourth in the world.Three years on, her career is in freefall and she languishes at 78th having had just one run to a quarter-final in 2017, on the Madrid clay in early May.Since a second-round exit at the French Open at the end of May, she has won just two matches on tour and it was easy to see why as she crumbled again.I really dont want to look back at previous years, said a disappointed Bouchard.I need to look forward and try to get better than I am now.Second seed Venus Williams raced through her opening match 6-2, 6-2 against Japans Risa Ozaki in just 74 minutes.It was an ideal way for Williams to shake off any rust in her first outing since losing to Sloane Stephens in the US Open semi-final a month ago.Williams punctuated the performance with some trademark power winners and sent down seven aces to overwhelm the world number 95.Four weeks goes by pretty fast and the first match is never perfect, said Williams, who dropped her own serve twice.It was a hard-fought match despite the score and it was a great way to start.Williams, 37 but seemingly ageless, has enjoyed a magnificent season, reaching two Grand Slam finals to qualify for the WTA Tour Finals in Singapore for the first time since 2009.The second seed faces another Japanese opponent in Naomi Osaka in the second round after she overcame Chilean qualifier Alexa Guarachi 7-5, 6-4.Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland swept past local wildcard Zhang Ling 6-1, 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting with former US Open champion Sam Stosur.Ive known Sam for many years, although we didnt play for a while. I think its going to be a really good match, Radwanska said.Number one seed Elina Svitolina came through a tough examination against Zarina Dyas, eventually triumphing 6-4, 7-6 in one hour and 43 minutes.The Ukrainian world number four trailed 3-0 to the player from Kazakhstan before reeling off five games in a row with a succession of forehand winners and closing out the first set 6-4.Sporting a heavily strapped left thigh, Svitolina twice failed to serve out for the match in the second set at 5-4 and 6-5 before securing the tiebreak.Fifth seed Elena Vesnina of Russia suffered the only upset of the first round when she was stunned 6-3, 6-4 by Thailands world number 130 Luksika Kumkhum.

Erdogan steps up US row with ambassador boycott

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ISTANBUL (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Tuesday that Turkish officials will boycott the US ambassador, deepening one of the worst rifts in decades between the NATO allies.Erdogan said Turkey no longer regarded outgoing envoy John Bass as the US representative to Turkey after American missions in the country stopped issuing visas.The dispute erupted last week when Turkey arrested a Turkish employee of the American consulate on suspicion of links to the group blamed for last years failed coup.In response, the United States stopped issuing visitor visas from its missions in Turkey, prompting Turkish missions to hit back with a tit-for-tat step of their own.We have not agreed and are not agreeing to this ambassador making farewell visits with ministers, the parliament speaker and myself, Erdogan said.We do not see him as the representative of the United States in Turkey, he added, speaking at a news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.Bass is shortly to leave Turkey after being named the US envoy to Afghanistan and it is traditional for outgoing envoys to make valedictory visits to top officials.And, although Bass is in Turkey for only a few more days, it is unprecedented in the history of Turkish-US relations for Ankara to no longer recognise Washingtons ambassador.Erdogan said the arrest of the consulate staffer, based on evidence found by the police, shows something is going on at the Istanbul consulate.The US should evaluate one thing: how did those agents leak into the consulate? Erdogan said.Some Turkish officials have long alleged a US hand in the coup attempt on July 15 last year, which Ankara blames on the US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen.Washington has dismissed claims it was involved as a ludicrous conspiracy theory, and on Tuesday it said it has seen no evidence linking its Turkish employees to a plot.These actions were are deeply disturbing to us, State Department spokesman Heather Nauert said in Washington, urging Turkey to allow the detained men access to lawyers.We have not seen any evidence that indicates that our staff members were involved in what the government is accusing them of doing, she said.On Monday, Turkish prosecutors summoned another local employee working at the American consulate in Istanbul, the Anadolu news agency said.The man is reportedly in hiding at the consulate but the Turkish authorities on Monday detained his wife and his son, and on Tuesday detained his daughter.In March, a Turkish employee at the US consulate in the southern city of Adana was arrested on charges of supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).Turkish officials had expressed hope of a new page in Ankara-Washington relations under President Donald Trump after bickering in the last months of Barack Obamas term.So far, Erdogan has been careful not to take aim at Trump during the dispute, putting the blame squarely on Bass.He said that if the order to suspend visa issuance came from Bass, then the US administration should not keep him here one more minute.They need to ask him, How can you break relations between the United States and Turkey, who gave you this authority? he demanded.But Nauert responded that Bass had been operating with the full authority of the US government.Hes one of the best ambassadors that we have out there. Proud to have him serving in Turkey and looking forward to having him in his next post, she said.This was coordinated with the State Department. It was coordinated with the White House and coordinated with the NSC, she said, referring to the National Security Council.Turkish pro-government media have rounded on the United States, with the Yeni Safak daily describing the US as not an ally but an enemy.Ties have also frayed over the refusal of the United States to extradite Gulen, and its support for Kurdish militias in Syria.Meanwhile, American pastor Andrew Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, has been held since October 2016 on charges of being a member of Gulens group.Erdogan suggested last month Turkey could release him in exchange for Gulen but the US, which treats extraditions as a judicial matter, has shown no interest in the idea.Ankara is also angry over the US arrest of Mehmet Hakan Atilla, deputy chief executive at state lender Halkbank, and Iranian-Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab.

Catalan leaders sign independence declaration but put it on hold

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Catalan leaders signed a declaration of independence from Spain on Tuesday but immediately put it on hold and called for talks with Madrid on the countrys worst political crisis in decades.As Spain headed into the unknown, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was to chair an emergency cabinet meeting early Wednesday to discuss the central governments response.In a speech to regional lawmakers in Barcelona that drew both praise and criticism from separatists, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said he had accepted the mandate of the people for Catalonia to become an independent republic following a banned referendum on October 1.But the 54-year-old asked the Catalan parliament to suspend the effects of the independence declaration to initiate dialogue in the coming weeks.Rajoy has vowed to use everything in his power to prevent independence and has refused to rule out imposing direct rule over the semi-autonomous region -- an unprecedented move many fear could lead to unrest.He has called the cabinet meeting for 0700 GMT Wednesday.Political leaders in Catalonia, Spain and Europe have come out against secession, concerned over the countrys biggest upheaval since its transition to democracy in the 1970s.Puigdemont and his allies signed an independence declaration outside the parliament chamber, but he then suspended it and again called for dialogue, a regional government spokesman told AFP.Deputy prime minister Soraya Saenza de Santamaria told reporters shortly after the signing that Puigdemont was a person who doesnt know where he is, where hes going or with whom he wants to go.EU nations are watching developments closely amid concern that any Catalan move to break away from Madrid could put further pressure on the bloc still dealing with the fallout from Britains shock decision to leave.Reaction was mixed among those who had hoped to witness a historic moment for a region that remains deeply divided over independence.Merce Hernandez, a 35-year-old architect, said: I am very emotional, this is a historic day. Im satisfied.But in Barcelonas trendy Gracia neighbourhood, resident Maria Rosa Bertran said she was against a delayed secession.I find it even worse because it is suffering a longer agony, indecision and uncertainty is the worst thing that can happen to us, she told AFP.Police deployed en masse around the regional parliament ahead of Puigdemonts address, blocking public access to a park that houses the building as crowds watched the session on giant screens, waving Catalan flags and some brandishing signs reading democracy.At stake is the future of a region of 7.5 million people deeply divided over independence, one of Spains economic powerhouses whose drive to break away has raised concern for stability in the European Union.EU President Donald Tusk had earlier urged Puigdemont against making a decision that would make dialogue impossible.But the Catalan president says the result of the independence referendum that was held in defiance of a Spanish court ban justified splitting from Madrid.Around 90 percent of those who cast ballots voted for independence but the poll was poorly monitored and many Catalans opposed to secession boycotted what Madrid branded an illegal plebiscite.Spain had sought to prevent the referendum from taking place by seizing ballot boxes and arresting a number of organisers, and police used rubber bullets and batons against voters on the day, triggering concern at home and abroad.On Monday, Ada Colau, the popular mayor of Barcelona, warned that a unilateral declaration of independence would put social cohesion at risk.Pro-unity and pro-independence supporters have staged mass rallies in Barcelona over the past week, highlighting divisions in Catalonia.Puigdemonts regional government allies, the far-left CUP, lamented a missed opportunity for independence.We believed that today was the day to solemnly declare a Catalan republic, and we probably missed an opportunity, said party lawmaker Anna Gabriel.The crisis has also caused deep uncertainty for businesses in one of the wealthiest regions in the eurozones fourth largest economy.Spains stock market shed nearly 1.0 percent ahead of Tuesdays parliamentary session and a string of companies have already moved their legal headquarters -- but not their employees -- from Catalonia to other parts of the country.The companies have left, the banks are gone, we are all going to see what will happen, said Barcelona resident Bertran.Publishing house Planeta was the latest to announce a move to Madrid after Puigdemonts speech.Demands for independence in Catalonia, which has its own language and cultural traditions, date back centuries.But a 2010 move by Spains Constitutional Court to water down a statute that gave Catalonia additional powers, combined with a deep economic meltdown in Spain, sparked a surge in support for independence.

15 dead as wildfires torch California wine country

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SANTA ROSA (AFP) - Firefighters battled wildfires in Californias wine region on Tuesday as the death toll rose to 15 and thousands were left homeless in neighborhoods reduced to ashes.The homes are gone, they are like dust, said Jack Dixon, a personal trainer who lives in Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 in Sonoma County. It is just like we were nuked.Dixon told AFP that his own neighborhood was spared when the fire miraculously changed direction but many others were not so fortunate.I am surrounded by devastation and feel lucky it didnt happen to me, Dixon said.US President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in California, freeing up federal funding and resources to help fight the 17 large wildfires in the western state.Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in eight counties -- including wine-producing Napa and Sonoma -- and said thousands of firefighters had been deployed to fight the blazes.Nine deaths were reported in Sonoma County, three in Mendocino County, two in Napa County and one in Yuba County and the governor said emergency responders anticipate the number of fatalities could grow.Among the dead were a couple aged 99 and 100-years-old from Napa who had been married for 75 years, KTVU-TV said. They were unable to evacuate their home in time.The Sonoma County Sheriffs Department said on its Facebook page it had received reports of 200 missing people.Forty-five had been located and the department said it was confident that many of the rest would be found safe.About 25,000 people have been evacuated in Sonoma County alone, the department said, and 5,000 have sought refuge in shelters.The fires have torched more than 115,000 acres (46,500 hectares) and destroyed over 2,000 homes and businesses, according to the authorities.The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said 17 large fires were continuing to burn on Tuesday.The winds that fanned these fires Sunday night and Monday morning have decreased significantly, but local winds and dry conditions continue to pose a challenge, Cal Fire said.With the decrease in the winds combined with cooler weather, firefighters made good progress overnight, it added.Governor Brown said the devastation and disruption caused by these fires is extraordinary.Thousands have been made homeless.Much of the worst damage was in Santa Rosa, the county seat of Sonoma County, and could be seen from US Route 101, the north-south highway which runs from California through Oregon to Washington state.The Sonoma County Hilton perched on a hill overlooking 101 was a smoldering ruin of charred wood and twisted metal, as was the nearby Fountaingrove Inn.An enormous K-Mart store was entirely destroyed with only a couple of blackened walls still standing.Among the wineries which reportedly suffered damage were William Hill Estate Winery in Napa, Signorello Vineyards, Stags Leap and Chimney Rock.Maureen Fairchild, a nurse, was working at a hospital in Marin County where some of the evacuees were brought.I was working in a memory-impaired unit, Fairchild told AFP. We had all these people who were already confused and now they were in an unfamiliar place with all this frenzy going on around them.Kris Hammar, who lives in Santa Rosa on the edge of a mandatory evacuation zone, had not yet evacuated but was monitoring maps, wind direction, and fire updates to see if she and her family should bolt.The fire is close, very close, Hammer said. Everything is in the car, and we are checking constantly to see if anything has changed.Troy Newton, 46, a Sonoma County sheriffs detective, was among those who fled Santa Rosa.Newton told The Los Angeles Times he was returning home when he saw a growing red snake of fire.I ran into my house and told my wife to get our four-year-old boy ready to leave, Newton said, before raising the alarm for around 40 neighbors.It was boom, boom, boom. Ring the door bell. Boom, boom -- until someone inside got the message, he said.Pacific Gas & Electric said more than 196,000 customers had initially lost electricity although half had had their power restored.Governor Brown in April declared the official end of the states drought that lasted more than five years.But California is still dealing with the Santa Ana winds, a meteorological phenomenon which brings dry winds down from the high mountains east of the coastal areas -- a recipe for perfect wildfire conditions.Forest fires are common in the western United States during dry, hot summer months.Last month, a massive fire described as the biggest in the history of Los Angeles forced hundreds to evacuate their homes.

Ahsan Iqbal reaches United States on three-day visit

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal reached United States on Tuesday to participate in the annual session of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.During his three-day official visit, Ahsan Iqbal will raise the matter of United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis’ recent statement against China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and conduct meetings with leaders of different countries on the sidelines of the session.The purpose of these meetings will be to take the world leaders into confidence regarding CPEC, and to seek their support in anti-drugs operation.Sources have further revealed that the interior minister will also give lectures on the role of CPEC at School of Advanced International Studies and Johns Hopkins University.

Disqualified person as party head: JI submits new bill in Senate

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has submitted a new bill in the Senate Secretariat on Tuesday which states that how a person disqualified by the court can head a political party. Therefore, this law has to be changed.JI chief said that he has submitted a bill in Senate against the law passed by the parliament recently that allows a disqualified person to become a party head.The Upper House of the Parliament on September 22 had passed the controversial Electoral Reforms Bill, 2017, paving the way for the disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to get re-elected as party chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Want to make ideal judiciary in Punjab: CJ LHC

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Mansoor Ali Shah while addressing a ceremony in Rawalpindi on Tuesday expressed the hope to make an ideal judiciary in Punjab only then the people will give examples of Punjab courts throughout the country.He said that judges should work with complete freedom so that they could discharge their duties with honesty and hard work and announce their decision without any fear or favour.He also urged the wives to the district judges to look after the health of their husbands and encourage then to take part in sports. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said that he himself do yoga exercises to remain fit.

Pakistan, China enjoy exemplary friendship: Marriyum Aurangzeb

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan is proud of the exemplary, sincere and time-tested friendship with China.Marriyum Aurangzeb said this while talking to the Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong who made a farewell call on her here Tuesday. She said that Pak-China friendship was integrated and inculcated in the heart and soul of the people of Pakistan and further strengthened by the close bonds of love forged between the people of both countries.Marriyum Aurangzeb further said that the relations between Pakistan and China were based on mutual trust, deep harmony, love and respect between the people of both countries. She reiterated that the relations between the two countries were aptly described as being deeper than ocean and higher than HimalayaAcknowledging CPEC’s role in promoting regional prosperity and its impact on Pakistan’s economy, she informed the Chinese envoy that the government of Pakistan was contemplating to make CPEC as part of educational curriculum and case study.Speaking on the occasion, Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong said that the economy of Pakistan had improved a lot and CPEC would give further impetus to it.He informed the Minister that 90 development projects had already been initiated under it. He said that one belt-one road initiative was a win-win situation for all as it would create myriad of opportunities which would benefit the entire region.

South African T20 league postponed until 2018

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - South Africas planned T20 Global League has been postponed for a year, which could leave a raft of players seeking compensation.The decision was taken at a joint Cricket South Africa and T20 Global League board tele-conference.The South African Cricketers Association expressed concern and disappointment at the decision and called for an independent review into the reasons for the postponement, as well as calling for recompense for affected players.Tuesdays announcement came just four days after CSA president Chris Nenzani told media that the league would go ahead but was expected to lose money for the first two seasons - and 12 days after a shock announcement that CSA and chief executive Haroon Lorgat, the chief negotiator for the league, had parted ways.The league, planned as South Africas answer to the Indian Premier League and Australias Big Bash League, was due to start on November 3. It is now planned for November 2018.Nenzani and acting chief executive Thabang Moroe admitted at a media briefing on Friday that no broadcast deal or title sponsorship was in place.The CSA statement on Tuesday quoted Moroe as saying: We have not come to this decision lightly. Having discussed it with all our stakeholders, including the franchise owners, we believe that the interest of the league should be our first priority. We have re-assessed our strategy and believe that postponing the first edition of the T20 Global League to next year will serve us well.Several international stars, including Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan, had been signed up for the league, along with all South Africas leading players. It was not immediately clear how the postponement would affect the players contracts.Moroe later said at a press conference that it would have been reckless for CSA to go ahead. The model we developed and had agreed with owners cannot work because there is very little time to deliver the league without any guarantees. To deliver this league I would need to dip into CSA coffers and that I cant do.The late postponement could land CSA with legal challenges, not least from players but possibly from some owners. Moroe acknowledged that not all franchise owners were happy with the postponement.Tony Irish, chief executive of the South African Cricketers Association, said the postponement would have a very significant impact on 144 local and overseas players who had signed contracts or been drafted to play in the eight-team league.Irish said his organisation would be looking at all implications of the postponement for players, including what compensation should be paid to them. He said some players had turned down other opportunities in order to commit to the league.Irish said other stakeholders, including franchises, coaches and stadium owners, were also affected. He called for an independent review into what had caused the postponement.The postponement leaves a big hole in South Africas cricket season. Because of the Global League, no domestic or international cricket was planned for November and most of December. CSA are now likely to bring forward their own domestic T20 competition, which is also without a sponsor.

Warner lauds Behrendorff after big T20 win against India

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GUWAHATI (AFP) - Australia skipper David Warner hailed Jason Behrendorff after the left-arm quick powered Australia to an eight-wicket series-levelling win over India in the second Twenty20 international on Tuesday.Behrendorff, playing his second match after making his debut in Ranchi last week, claimed four wickets to bowl out India for 118 before the visitors chased down the total with 27 balls to spare.Moises Henriques, who hit 62 after being promoted to number three, and Travis Head, who made 48, put together an unbeaten 109-run partnership to keep the three-match series alive.Credit to our bowlers, they took early wickets. And obviously Dorff bowling there and taking four for in his first real spell for us was fantastic, Warner said.He has got the height, the bounce, he comes from Perth, got a bit of swing and he has got right attitude which is key, Warner added.Australia lost a couple of early wickets including Warner for two, but the 119-run target proved too little for the Indian bowlers to put pressure on the new batsmen.The right-left batting combination of Henriques and Head played sensible cricket to deny the hosts any further chance of creating trouble.Henriques hit four fours and four sixes during his 46-ball knock while Head also attacked the Indian wrist spinners with some good footwork.Sending Henriques early was something I spoke about. Hes been effective with Sunrisers (Hyderabad) as well, and he came and showed his experience, Warner said of his Indian Premier League teammate.In the beginning, the pitch was softish, quite like an English wicket. But if you got through the new ball, you could score, he said of the Barsapara Satdium that hosted its first international game.But it was Behrendorffs left-arm pace that set up the match for Australia after the lanky bowler returned impressive figures of 4-21.The 27-year-old Behrendorff rattled the Indian top-order, reducing them to 27-4 after getting opener Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli, for nought, in the first over of the innings.Kedar Jadhav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made 13, then tried to stem the rot during their 33-run partnership but leg-spinner Adam Zampa broke through the duos defences.Zampa got Dhoni stumped on a classic leg-spinner and then bowled Jadhav with the googly.Hardik Pandya hit a 23-ball 25 to take India across the 100-run mark, which had seemed tough at 70-7, but the batsmans dismissal saw the innings fold on the last ball.Pacemen Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andre Tye and Marcus Stoinis took a wicket each.Not the performance we wished for. Australia were much better on the day. We were not good enough with the bat, said Kohli.Indeed, I thought the ball to Rohit was very good. His line and length was very tight. He made us think. Credit to him for hitting the right areas. He definitely had a top class day today, Kohli said in praise of Behrendorff.The final game will be played in Hyderabad on Friday.

Behrendorff helps Australia level T20 series

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GUWAHATI (AFP) - Fast bowler Jason Behrendorff led an inspired bowling effort to help Australia down India by eight wickets in the second Twenty20 international and level the series in Guwahati on Tuesday.Behrendorff, playing his second match after making his debut in Ranchi last week, claimed four wickets to bowl out India for 118 before the visitors chased down the total with 27 balls to spare.Moises Henriques, who hit 62 after being promoted to number three, and Travis Head, who made 48, put together an unbeaten 109-run partnership to keep the three-match series alive.Australia lost two early wickets including skipper David Warner, but the 119-run target proved too little for the Indian bowlers to put pressure on the new batsmen.The right-left batting combination of Henriques and Head played sensible cricket to deny the hosts any further chance of creating trouble.Henriques hit four fours and four sixes during his 46-ball knock while Head also attacked the Indian wrist spinners with some good footwork.Pacemen Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bhumrah took a wicket each while left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav went wicketless for his 46 runs.But it was Behrendorffs left-arm pace that set up the match for Australia after the lanky bowler returned impressive figures of 4-21.The 27-year-old Behrendorff rattled the Indian top-order, reducing them to 27-4 after getting opener Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli, for nought, in the first over of the innings.Kedar Jadhav and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made 13, then tried to stem the rot during their 33-run partnership but leg-spinner Adam Zampa broke through the duos defences.Zampa got Dhoni stumped on a classic leg-spinner and then bowled Jadhav with the googly.Hardik Pandya hit a 23-ball 25 to take India across the 100-run mark, which had seemed tough at 70-7, but the batsmans dismissal saw the innings fold on the last ball.Pacemen Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andre Tye and Marcus Stoinis took a wicket each.The final game will be played in Hyderabad on Friday.
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