Thursday 26 October 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: 'Surprised' Federer races into 15th Basel quarter-final

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BASEL (AFP) - Roger Federer reached the Basel quarter-finals for the 15th time on Thursday when he steamrolled Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-3 as the top seed stepped up his campaign for an eighth Swiss Indoors title.Federer defeated Paire for the fifth time without a loss, mowing down the challenger in just 57 minutes in front of a sympathetic audience at the St Jakobshalle.The 36-year-old Federer, winner of his last event in Shanghai this month, is seeking an ATP-leading seventh trophy this season as he aims for the weekend final in his hometown.Im happy with how it went, Im always ready for a tougher one, Federer said. I got a good start, got rolling.I was able to put more presure on him than him on me. Ive had a good two first rounds. I thought the draw looked tough with (Francis) Tiafoe and Paire in my section. Im a little surprised, to be honest.Its not easy to win 1 and 3 indoors, this was a great start.Federer ripped through the opening set and piled on more pressure in the second after Paire took a massage treatment on his back after losing the opener.World number two Federer remained in command as he broke Paire to love in the seventh game, with the French player sending down his second double fault to drop the game.Federer made it a comfortable 5-3, with Paire sending a return well wide. The 19-time Grand Slam champion Swiss earned a match point in the ensuing game, which his opponent saved with a service winner.But Federer didnt relent, his smash setting up a second match-winner followed by an untouchable forehand down the line to end the evening.Federer will next face French seventh seed Adrian Mannarino who beat promising Canadian Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.Defending champion Marin Cilic beat Croatian compatriot Borna Coric 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in a two-hour struggle to move to 5-0 against his younger countryman.Fourth seed Juan Martin del Potro edged closer to a spot at next months ATP Finals as he dispatched French qualifier Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-4.Del Potro won the Basel title in 2012 and 2013, beating Federer in both of those finals.Im tired, but Im still winning and playing good tennis, Del Potro said. This keeps me motivated to keep going.I have good chances to go far here and also rise in the rankings.The Argentinian is 14th in the Tour Finals standings with only two weeks remaining in the race to the eight-man season-ending tournament in London.But with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka not playing for the rest of the season due to injury, the South Americans position is looking stronger and stronger.Del Potro went into the Basel tournament 470 points adrift of Pablo Carreno Busta in the final qualifying place, with 500 points on offer in Basel before the final Masters 1000 event of the season next week in Paris.He wasted little time in seeing off 93rd-ranked Benneteau, hammering 12 aces.The 29-year-old saved the lone break point he faced while breaking his opponent twice to secure a 34th win of the season.Del Potro has been on a good run of form in recent weeks, reaching the Shanghai Masters semi-finals and winning the Stockholm title last weekend.Elsewhere in the second round, Hungarian Marton Fucsovics advanced to the last eight as Argentine Leonardo Mayer quit when trailing 3-0 in the first set.

Tennis: Williams stuns Muguruza to keep year-end bid alive

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - American veteran Venus Williams kept alive her dreams of winning the WTA Finals when she knocked out second-ranked Garbine Muguruza in straight sets on Thursday.Williams, 37, defeated Muguruza 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes to become the second semi-finalist out of White Group behind world number three Karolina Pliskova, who finished top.The seven-time Grand Slam winner moved around the court crisply, showing no ill effects from Tuesdays three-hour marathon against Jelena Ostapenko, as she avenged her defeat in the Wimbledon final.Im pretty used to going home after you lose, so I knew what the stakes were, Williams told reporters after the match. Im just focused on Saturday, trying to win again.It was a tame end for Muguruza, the WTA player of the year who demolished Williams to win Wimbledon, but who faded in Singapore after a strong start.But Muguruza said she was proud of her season despite the disappointing ending.My year has been incredible and the best so far, she said.I knew here that its going to be tough, the best eight players are playing. I think she (Williams) played very good in important moments, and I made a few mistakes that I shouldnt.With both players needing to win to progress, they came out looking sharp but they also struggled to hold serve and Williams broke Muguruza five times to propel her to victory.The win means Williams, who lifted the trophy in 2008, has never failed to reach the semi-finals in five appearances at the season-ending tournament.Earlier, the already-qualified Pliskova lost in straight sets to Jelena Ostapenko in her final White Group match, and admitted it was hard to lift herself for the dead rubber.It was really tough to push myself and play my best tennis when you know youve qualified, the 25-year-old said, after she was outclassed 6-3, 6-1 in 66 minutes by the French Open champion.I havent ever been in this situation. I didnt know how I was going to feel and how she was going to play. I think she played amazing.Despite the setback, Pliskova remained confident of bouncing back in her semi-final on Saturday. I think it will now feel like a normal tournament, she said.Hopefully Ill be ready, and Im sure Im going to feel much better and play much better.Ostapenkos victory, her first in Singapore, was a consolation after a disappointing WTA Finals debut, where she was eliminated after a three-set defeat to Venus Williams on Tuesday.The Latvian said she was happy to finish the season on a high. I think I was playing quite relaxed, and I just showed my best today, Ostapenko said.Its my first time (in the WTA Finals) and hopefully there are more times I will be here.

Football: Real's reserves make Fuenlabrada pay penalty in Cup win

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid needed two second-half penalties converted by Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez to open their Copa del Rey campaign with a 2-0 last 32, first leg win at third-tier Fuenlabrada on Thursday.Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane gave most of his star names the night off with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco and Sergio Ramos among those not even included in the squad.However, Reals reserves failed to take their chance to impress in a sluggish first 45 minutes in which only Marcos Llorentes thunderous volley from outside the box tested Jordi Codina.Im happy, we scored two goals and kept a clean sheet, insisted Zidane.We had patience. We knew we could find the gap in the second-half and we did.Shorn of inspiration from open play, the visitors opened the scoring from the penalty spot when Fran Garcia pulled down Achraf Hakimi just after the hour mark and Asensio slotted home.Codina temporarily kept Fuenlabrada in the tie with two stunning saves to deny Borja Mayoral.But Reals second arrived 12 minutes from time when another pull from Paco Candela on Theo Hernandez saw him sent-off for a second yellow card and another penalty awarded to the European champions.This time Vazquez took responsiblity to leave the return leg in a months time at the Santiago Bernabeu little more than a formality.However, it wasnt a trouble free evening for Real as debutant Jesus Vallejo was shown a straight red card two minutes from time for a wild late challenge.Elsewhere, Cristobal Parralo got off to a terrible start in his first match as Deportivo la Coruna coach as the 10-man Galicians slumped to a 4-1 defeat at home to Las Palmas.Momos early double put the visitors in command before Juanfran saw two quickfire yellow cards for the hosts.Arsenal loanee Lucas Perez pulled a goal back for Deportivo, but Jonathan Calleri struck twice in the final 10 minutes to give the Canary Islanders a commanding first leg lead.Real Sociedad edged towards the last 16 thanks to Sergio Canaless brilliant free-kick to win 1-0 at Lleida.Levante got the better of Girona in a top flight tie as Emmanuel Boateng and Cheick Doukoure scored either side of half-time for a 2-0 win.And in a match delayed by floodlight failure, Tenerife held Espanyol to a 0-0 draw.

Boxing: Joshua wants to be undisputed world champion in 2018

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CARDIFF (AFP) - Anthony Joshua hopes a successful fourth title defence in Cardiff on Saturday will keep him on course to achieve his goal of becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion in 2018.Not every fight can be career-defining and Cameroons France-based Carlos Takam, Joshuas opponent at the Principality Stadium, is hardly one of the biggest stars in the heavyweight division over which British boxer Joshua currently rules.Takam, 36, was only drafted in at 12 days notice after Joshuas original opponent Kubrat Pulev, of Bulgaria, pulled out with a shoulder injury. He has three defeats in a 39-fight record and this will be his first world-title fight.But it seems not to matter who is in the other corner when Joshua fights in the UK -- fans will still turn up. Promoter Eddie Hearn claims a crowd of over 70,000 will take their seats at the Principality, the home of the Wales rugby union team.Victory for Joshua, 28, both the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion, will see him return to fighting the divisions big names after his thrilling 11th round stoppage of Ukraines Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 at Wembley in April.Beating Klitschko, who reigned for a decade, was the highlight of 2012 Olympic champion Joshuas four-year professional career.There could be more epic encounters next year, with Hearn hoping Joshua can box three times in 2018 with the aim being to win the other two world title belts held by New Zealands Joseph Parker, the World Boxing Organisation champion, and American Deontay Wilder, who defends his World Boxing Council crown against Haitis Bermane Stiverne on November 4.We could fight Parker in February or March, so you have the WBO and then its only one more, Hearn told reporters. Weve only boxed twice this year, which has worked out OK because the Klitschko fight was huge.But ideally, March, April, summer then December. That would be nice. In a perfect world, two of the three fights would be for the additional belts. In any order.On hearing Hearns plans for him, a laughing Joshua said: So actually, I think well be fighting Parker and Wilder in 2018.Keeping all four versions of the world title intact is a difficult job due to the different obligations from the rival world governing bodies.We want to become undisputed heavyweight champion and then probably we will have to vacate the belts, said Hearn.Joshua has yet to fight outside of the UK and has stopped all 19 of his professional opponents.One world title unification fight that could happen in the UK in 2018 would be against Parker, who made a second title defence against Englands Hughie Fury on points last month.The Titans didnt clash, so it didnt create a good, entertaining fight, especially for a heavyweight championship fight, nut the good thing is hes still champion and it still bubbles in the background for me, said Joshua.On the undercard, Joshuas former victim Dillian Whyte can put himself in the frame for a shot at the WBC version of the world title next year.Whyte, who moved to London from Jamaica as a child, was knocked out by Joshua in December 2012 but is ranked No 3 by the WBC.Meanwhile Irelands Katie Tayor, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, can win a world title in her seventh professional fight when she takes on Argentinas Anahi Sanchez for the WBA lightweight belt.Also on the bill, Englands Kal Yafai makes a second defence of his WBA world super-flyweight title against Japans Sho Ishida in a clash of two unbeaten boxers.

Tillerson calls Myanmar army chief over Rohingya crisis

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Mynmars army chief Thursday to help end the violence in Rakhine state that has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee.In a phone call with Min Aung Hlaing, Tillerson expressed concern about the continuing humanitarian crisis and reported atrocities in Rakhine, according to a statement by State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.The Secretary urged Burmas security forces to support the government in ending the violence in Rakhine state and allowing the safe return home of those displaced during this crisis, especially the large numbers of ethnic Rohingya, she added, using Myanmars former name.More than 600,000 members of the minority Muslim group have fled across the border into Bangladesh in an intensifying crisis that began in late August.Militant attacks on Myanmar security forces in Rakhine sparked a major army crackdown on the group, who are labelled illegal Bengali immigrants by most Burmese.Tillerson, who paid a visit to Myanmars giant neighbor India earlier this week, urged the military in his phone call to facilitate humanitarian aid for those who have been diplaced.He also told the army to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure a thorough, independent investigation into all allegations of human rights abuses and violations and to ensure accountability, said the statement.Washington announced on Monday it was pushing for targeted sanctions against officers from the Mynanmar army involved in violence while withdrawing invitations to senior members of the security forces to visit the US, and ending travel waivers.The move came after Tillerson had said the US holds Myanmars military leadership accountable for the refugee crisis, drawing a distinction with Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government.Tillerson warned last week the world wont stand and be witness to the atrocities that have been reported, adding that the military must be disciplined and restrained.Min Aung Hlaing has consistently defended his forces against accusations of having committed atrocities.One-sided statements and accusations against Myanmar and security members over the terror attacks of extremist Bengalis in the west of Rakhine State are totally untrue, he said in a post on his Facebook page Tuesday.Supporters say Rohingyas have been systematically deprived of basic rights over decades in majority Buddhist Myanmar.In the latest crackdown, Myanmars security forces have fired indiscriminately on unarmed civilians, including children, and committed widespread sexual violence, according to UN investigators.

UN report blames gas attack on Syrian regime

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - United Nations investigators blamed a sarin gas massacre on Bashar al-Assads regime on Thursday, as the United States renewed its warning that he has no role in Syrias future.The expert panels report and tough remarks by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson overshadowed the announcement that UN-sponsored peace talks will resume next month.More than 87 people died on April 4 this year when sarin gas projectiles were fired into Khan Sheikhun, a rebel-held town in the Idlib province of northwestern Syria.Grim images of dead and dying victims, including young children, in the aftermath of the attack provoked global outrage and a US cruise missile strike on a regime air base.Syria and its ally Russia had suggested that a rebel weapon may have detonated on the ground but the UN panel confirmed Western intelligence reports that blamed the regime.The panel is confident that the Syrian Arab Republic is responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Sheikhun on 4 April 2017, the report, seen by AFP, says.The report will increase pressure on Assads regime just as Washington, in the wake of battlefield victories against the Islamic State group, renews calls for him to step down.Secretary of State Rex Tillersons comments to reporters came during a visit to Geneva in which he met UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is trying to convene a new round of peace talks next month.The secretary said US policy has not changed, but his remarks represented tougher language from an administration that had previously said Assads fate is not a priority.We do not believe there is a future for the Assad regime, the Assad family, Tillerson said.I think Ive said it on a number of occasions. The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end, and the only issue is how should that be brought about.Russia, which is running a parallel peace process with Iran and Turkey in a series of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana, reacted coolly to Tillersons remarks.I think we should not pre-empt any future for anybody, said Moscows UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, who on Tuesday had vetoed a US attempt to extend the gas attack probe.De Mistura hopes to convene an eighth round of Syrian peace talks between Assads regime and an opposition coalition in Geneva from November 28.These will be focused on drafting a new constitution and holding UN-supervised elections in a country devastated by several overlapping bloody civil conflicts.Assads regime has been saved by Russian and Iranian military intervention and he insists that he will not stand down in the face of what he regards as terrorist rebels.But Western capitals, the opposition and many of Syrias Arab neighbors hold Assads forces responsible for the bulk of the 330,000 people who have died in the conflict.In addition to chemical weapons attacks against his own people, his government is accused of overseeing the large-scale torture and murder of civilian detainees.The previous US administration often said that Assads days were numbered, but then president Barack Obama decided not to use force to punish his chemical weapons attacks.His successor, President Donald Trump, did order one missile strike on a Syrian air base in response to a chemical attack.But US policy has otherwise focused solely on the defeat of the Islamic State jihadist group, driving it out of its last bastions in eastern Syrias Euphrates valley.Tillerson said, however, that he hopes a way to oust Assad will emerge as part of De Misturas UN-mediated talks.He argued that the UN Security Council resolution setting up the peace process already contains a procedure to hold elections that Washington does not think Assad can win.The only thing that changed is when this administration came into office, we took a view that it is not a prerequisite that Assad go before that process starts, rather the mechanism by which Assad departs will likely emerge from that process, he said.Earlier, De Mistura had told the UN Security Council that with the defeat of the Islamic State, the Syrian peace process had reached a moment of truth.We need to get the parties into real negotiations, the envoy said.Seven rounds of talks have achieved only incremental progress toward a political deal, with negotiations deadlocked over Assads fate.The opposition insists any settlement must provide for a transition away from Assads rule but, as government forces make gains, there is little likelihood of a breakthrough.

Iraq forces advance in 'last den' of IS jihadists

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HABBANIYAH (AFP) - Iraqi forces on Thursday recaptured from the Islamic State group several military bases and villages as they launched a push to wipe out remnants of the jihadists self-styled caliphate in the country.The start of the keenly awaited offensive that the US-led coalition fighting IS has dubbed the last big fight of the campaign came even as Iraqi troops launched a new operation against the Kurds.There had been fears the bitter dispute that has raged between the Baghdad government and Iraqi Kurdish leaders since they held a referendum for independence last month would hamper the battle against IS.On Thursday the UN Security Council urged leaders from Iraq and the Kurdish autonomous region to set a timetable for talks to end the crisis.Iraqi forces pressed ahead with a threatened drive up the Euphrates valley towards the Syrian border in a bid to retake two Sunni Arab towns renowned as hotbeds of insurgency ever since the US-led invasion of 2003.The heroic legions are advancing into the last den of terrorism in Iraq to liberate Al-Qaim, Rawa and the surrounding villages and hamlets, Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said in a statement from neighbouring Iran where he is on a state visit.They will all return to the arms of the motherland thanks to the determination and endurance of our fighting heroes, he added.The people of IS have no choice but to die or surrender.Regional operations commander General Qassem al-Mohammedi told AFP the forces were advancing on four fronts -- from the east, southeast, north and south.Units of the federal police and the elite Counter-Terrorism Service as well as the paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force were supporting the army, he said.They retook military bases southeast of Al-Qaim, including the key army base of the region and an airbase which the fleeing jihadists had abandoned, as well as half a dozen villages in the area, military sources said.Iraqi forces have recaptured more than 90 percent of the territory IS seized in the country in 2014, pushing the jihadists in a small stretch of the Euphrates valley.Crucially for an offensive in an overwhelmingly Sunni Arab region, Sunni tribal volunteers in the Hashed battled alongside the Iran-trained Shiite militias that are its mainstay, and two of them were killed on Thursday, military sources said.The US-led coalition said it had carried out some 15 strikes on IS targets in and around Al-Qaim and the town of Albu Kamal on the Syrian side of the border.Al-Qaim has been a bastion of Sunni Arab insurgency for years.US troops carried out repeated operations with names like Matador and Steel Curtain in 2005 to flush out Al-Qaeda jihadists.Coalition commanders are convinced Al-Qaim will be ISs last stand.On the Syrian side of the border, Russian-backed government forces have been pushing down the Euphrates valley while US-backed Kurdish and Arab fighters have been attacking the jihadists from their stronghold in the north.The launch of the offensive against ISs last Iraqi redoubt comes with federal troops and militia engaged in an operation to reassert central government control over thousands of square kilometres (miles) of territory long disputed with the Kurds.Loss of the territory has dealt a crippling blow to the finances of the autonomous Kurdish region, and on Wednesday its leaders said they were ready to freeze the outcome of the September 25 independence referendum.But Abadi dismissed the offer, saying it did not go far enough.We will accept nothing but the annulment of the referendum and respect for the constitution, he said.Abadi, whose stock has been massively boosted by the military successes, received a fresh show of support for his fight against IS and the Kurds from his allies in Iran during a visit to Tehran.The backing came as Iraqi forces launched a new assault on Kurdish fighters in the disputed oil-rich Zummar area of Nineveh province, Kurdish authorities said.An AFP correspondent reported heavy artillery exchanges as Kurdish forces put up fierce resistance.Sources on the Kurdish side said the peshmerga fighters had destroyed three tanks and six armoured vehicles belonging to the Iraqi forces.Thursdays assault was close to the route of a strategic oil export pipeline linking the Kirkuk fields retaken from the Kurds with the Turkish port of Ceyhan that fell into disuse during ISs lightning sweep through northern and western Iraq in 2014.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Abadi he was ready to provide any kind of support to allow the operation of the pipeline.The course of the defunct pipeline passes through the town of Faysh Khabur, near where the borders of Iraq, Turkey and Syria meet, in territory which lies undisputedly inside the autonomous Kurdish region.Meanwhile the US-led coalition said on Thursday that its air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria over the past three years have killed unintentionally at least 786 civilians.

Russia conducts ballistic missile tests

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia conducted several ballistic missile tests on Thursday from land, air and sea as part of its strategic nuclear programme, the Defence ministry announced.A Topol intercontinental ballistic missile was fired from the Plesetsk testing ground in the northwest of the country and three ballistic missiles were launched by two nuclear missile submarines (SSBNs), two from the Okhotsk Sea, north of Japan, and one from the Barents Sea, in the Arctic Ocean.Russian military forces have carried out an exercise to manage its strategic nuclear forces, the ministry said in a statement.Strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95MC and Tu-22M3 also took off from several Russian air bases and launched cruise missiles at ground-based targets in Kamchatka, eastern Russia, in the Komi Republic, in the north, and on Russian military terrain in Kazakhstan.All objectives of the training have been successfully completed, the statement said.In early September, Russia carried out joint military exercises with Belarus on NATOs eastern flank, causing concern in Poland and the Baltic states due to the size of the drills and doubts over Moscows intentions.On Thursday, NATO members challenged Russia over discrepancies concerning the number of troops involved and the figures officially announced by Moscow.There is a discrepancy between what Russia briefed before the exercise... and the actual numbers and the scale and the scope of the exercise, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC).

Catalonia on uncertain footing as elections ruled out

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Madrid was poised Friday to seize control of Catalonia after the regions secessionist leader opted not to call regional elections, which had been seen as a way to ease Spains worst political crisis in decades.Carles Puigdemonts decision placed the region of 7.5 million people on an uncertain footing a day before lawmakers are due to approve measures to depose Catalonias leaders and take over its institutions, police, purse, and public broadcaster to stop an independence drive.Under pressure from all sides, after thousands of independence supporters staged a protest in Barcelona, Puigdemont said he had been willing to call elections but received no guarantees from Madrid to make this possible.In a televised address, looking weary, he instead passed the buck to the regional parliament, which met Thursday evening, to determine the consequences of Madrids looming power grab.Separatist lawmakers hold an absolute majority in the Catalan parliament, and many expect that a vote on declaring independence may make its way to the floor on Friday.The central government stood firm, insisting it was fulfilling a legal obligation, a democratic obligation and a political obligation, in its response to Catalonia holding an unlawful and unregulated independence referendum on October 1.The main responsibility of a government, of any democratic government, is to respect the law and ensure it is respected, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria told senators in the Spanish capital after Puigdemonts speech.In the Catalan legislature, opposition lawmakers pleaded with Puigdemont to find a solution to the standoff closely watched by a European Union wary of nationalist and secessionist sentiment, particularly after Britains dramatic decision to leave the bloc.You still have time to return to legality and call elections, Ines Arrimadas, regional leader of the anti-independence Ciudadanos party, said in parliament.Miquel Iceta, who heads up the Socialist party in Catalonia, insisted: You could go to the Senate tomorrow. I offer to accompany you. If you want to ask for and offer political dialogue, I will be at your side.Separatists, however, called for a push to independence to honour the mandate of the Catalan people in the referendum on October 1.The Spanish senate, in which Prime Minister Mariano Rajoys Popular Party holds a majority, is scheduled to approve the power seizure on Friday.This will effectively leave Puigdemont and his team out in the cold from Saturday, but is likely to anger many Catalans who, while divided on independence, treasure their autonomy.Puigdemont warned such a move would escalate the crisis.Catalan authorities had reported a 90-percent Yes vote in the independence poll.But only about 43 percent of eligible voters -- some 2.3 million -- turned out, with many anti-secessionists staying away, and others prevented from voting by Spanish police.The mood in Barcelona on Thursday was mixed, as many wished for elections to ease the crisis, while others wanted independence now.Were impatient to see the proclamation of the Catalan republic, Natalia Torres, 19, said at a pro-secession student rally in Barcelona.Manuel Herrera, a 61-year-old parking attendant, however, would have preferred an election.I want to stay in Spain so that more companies dont leave, he said, sitting on a scooter, smoking a cigarette, a coffee in hand.Fears for Catalonias economy have increased as uncertainty persists over the independence drive, with some 1,600 companies already having moved their legal headquarters out of the region.Catalonias business minister Santi Vila resigned Thursday in disagreement with Puigdemonts failure to call elections.Catalans are fiercely protective of their language, culture and autonomy -- restored after the 1939-75 dictatorship of Francisco Franco.Spains Economy Minister Luis de Guindos acknowledged Thursday there could be resistance to officials sent from Madrid to administer Catalonia in the event of a takeover, and urged cooperation from civil servants.Observers fear the standoff will spark unrest in the region, where industry bodies say tourist bookings are already on the decline.

Kashmiris to observe Black Day today

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SRINAGAR (Dunya News) - Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and all across the world will observe Black Day today (Friday) to reiterate their pledge to continue the liberation struggle against India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.The call for the observance of the black day has been given by Hurriyet leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Gilani, Shabbir Ahmed Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik.It was on this day in 1947 when Indian troops invaded Jammu and Kashmir and occupied it in total violation of the Partition Plan and against the aspirations of Kashmiris.Kashmiris will mark this day with complete shutdown in the occupied territory and and will take out rallies in the world capitals. Call for the shutdown has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik and supported by other pro-freedom organizations and High Court Bar Association.

Islamabad: Two killed as heavy bike hits traffic barrier

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Two youngsters were killed when their heavy bike hit a concrete traffic barrier in Blue Area in Islamabad on Thursday night, Dunya News reported.According to eye-witnesses, the accident occurred due to over-speeding. The accident was so severe that the bike caught fire. Both the youngsters riding on the heavy bike died on the spot.Concrete barriers were placed on the road to block the traffic. Police have shifted the bodies of the deceased to hospital and started investigation.

'Result Transmission System' experiment was a success: EC

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza has congratulated the concerned staff on the success of Result Transmission System (RTS) used during NA-4-Peshawar by-election for announcement of poll result.He said that the result from the first polling station was announced through mobile at 6:00 on Thursday. He further said that all media groups followed the Election Commission for announcement of polling result.Chief Election Commissioner congratulated the Election Commission team operating the Result Transmission System during NA-4 by-election and added that this system will ensure transparency and impartiality in elections results.He further said that this system will boost the confidence of the masses as well as the candidates contesting the election. It is pertinent to mention here that the system was experimented as a pilot project in PS 114 Sindh bye-elections.

Sindh government to move SC against IG Sindh

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Sindh government has decided to move Supreme Court for the removal of IG Sindh A.D. Khawaja from his post, Dunya News reported.Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved an appeal prepared by former law minister Farooq H. Naik after consultation with the party leadership.Sources said that Chief Secretary Sindh and Secretary Interior will file two separate appeals in the Supreme Court against the verdict of Sindh High Court (SHC).The SHC in its decision had allowed A.D. Khawaja to work as IG Sindh and also barred the Sindh government from interfering in IG Sindh.The court had also empowered A.D. Khawaja to appoint and transfer DIG level officers. He was also empowered to remove officers from their posts who violated orders.The Sindh government will also appeal Supreme Court to revoke Sindh High Court verdict.

Hasan stars as Pakistan upstage Sri Lanka

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Medium pacer Hasan Ali finished with a career best bowling to once again anchor Pakistans convincing seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.Hasan, who took 14 wickets in Pakistans preceding 5-0 whitewash of the one-day series, took 3-23 in 3.3 overs as Pakistan skittled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 102 in 18.3 overs.Only Seekkuge Prasanna (23 not out) and debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) put some resistance against a varied Pakistan bowling attack.Pakistan did lose Fakhar Zaman (six), Babar Azam (one) and Ahmed Shehzad (22) but were seen through to the target by Shoaib Malik 42 not out and Mohammad Hafeez 25 not out with 16 balls to spare.That gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Malik hit four boundaries in his 31-ball knock while Hafeezs 23-ball innings had three hits to the ropes as the pair added 39 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand.It was again Pakistans bowling which led them to victory.Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals after looking to build the innings at 51-2 in the ninth over. But they lost their last eight wickets for another 51 runs and were bowled out for their second lowest Twenty20 total against Pakistan.All six Pakistan bowlers took wickets with spinner Mohammad Hafeez (2-10) and pacer Usman Shinwari (2-24) supplementing Hasan to the best effect.Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed praised his bowling.The basic aim is to get wickets and that we are doing, said Ahmed, whose team has now bowled the oppositions all out for the 23rd time -- the most by any team in all Twenty20 cricket.It was a complete team effort and we are doing everything well, said Ahmed, who now has ten wins in 12 Twenty20 internationas as captain.Sri Lankan skipper Thisara Perera admitted his team was undone by Pakistans superior bowling.If we look back we didnt score runs so we have to put a good total on the board to win, full marks to Pakistans bowling which is one of the best in the world at the moment, said Perera, captaining Sri Lanka for the first time.Sent into bat, Sri Lanka lost Dilshan Munaweera for nought off the third ball of the first over while Dashun Gunathilaka made 11-ball 18 with three boundaries.Samarawickrama and Ashan Priyanjan (12) had added 22 for the third wicket but wicket started to fall in cluster and Sri Lanka could never recover.Just like in one-day series, Hasan was at his best in taking wickets, removing Sachith Pathirana (four), Isuru Udana (nought) and Vikum Sanjaya (four) to improve on his previous best of 3-49 against the West Indies in Dubai last year.Perera made six. It was left to Prasanna to hit two sixes in his run-a-ball 23 to get past 100-mark.The second match is also in Abu Dhbai on Friday before the teams fly to Lahore for the last match on Sunday.

Phehlukwayo strikes key blow as South Africa beat Bangladesh

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BLOEMFONTEIN (AFP) - All-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo made a key breakthrough to stop Bangladeshs most threatening challenge on their tour of South Africa in the first Twenty20 international at Mangaung Oval on Thursday.South Africa won by 20 runs after scoring 195 for four but opening batsman Soumya Sarkar went on a ferocious assault at the start of the Bangladesh innings before falling to Phehlukwayo for 47.Bangladesh the lost momentum and finished with 175 for nine.We knew they would come out with guns blazing, said stand-in South African captain JP Duminy.But the guys stayed calm and backed their skills and their variations.Sarkar and Imrul Kayes put on 43 off 25 balls for the first wicket and although the tourists lost two wickets they were still in with a chance with the total 92 for two when Phelukwayo struck with the first ball of the tenth over.Phehlukwayo successfully sought a review after Sarkar was initially given not out after being struck on the pads after a 31-ball innings during which he hit five fours and two sixes.Phehlukwayo also claimed the wicket of Mahmudullah in a four-over stint in which he conceded only 25 runs.South Africa had two key partnerships. Quinton de Kock (59) and man of the match AB de Villiers, who made 49 off 27 balls, put on 79 off 51 balls for the second wicket before Farhaan Behardien (36 not out) and David Miller (25 not out) thrashed an unbeaten 62 off the last five overs.Bangladesh fought back in the middle overs. Rubel Hossain bowled an outstanding 15th over in which he conceded only three runs and took the wicket of De Kock.Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan took the first two wickets and conceded a respectable 31 runs in his four overs.We pulled it back in the middle overs but the last five overs cost us the game, said Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan. Then we made a great start but didnt capitalise. For the first ten overs we were right in there.The sides meet in the second and final Twenty20 international in Potchefstroom on Sunday with Bangladesh hoping to end a streak in which they lost two Tests and three one-day internationals before Thursdays match.
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