A NATO airstrike killed at least 30 Afghan civilians, including women and children, today in the volatile northern province of Kunduz, officials said, after a Taliban assault there left two American soldiers dead.
	The airstrike, which occurred early today, triggered emotionally-charged protests in the provincial capital, with the victims' relatives rallying outside the governor's office while carrying the bodies of dead children.
	The carnage underscores worsening insecurity after the Taliban last month overran Kunduz city for the second time in a year, as NATO-backed Afghan forces struggle to beat back the insurgents.
	"Afghan forces and coalition troops conducted a joint operation against the Taliban insurgents," provincial spokesman Mahmood Danish told AFP. "In the bombardment 30 Afghan civilians were martyred and 25 others were wounded."
	Police spokesman Mahmoodullah Akbari gave the same toll to AFP, adding that the dead included infants aged as young as three months and other ..

NATO airstrike kills 30 Afghan civilians, officials say

PTI Automatic

A Belgian court today backed the eventual extradition to France of the suspect in a deadly attack on a Jewish museum in Brussels in 2014, prosecutors said.
	French national Mehdi Nemmouche, 31, is also suspected by Paris of being among the captors of four French journalists who were kept hostage in Syria.
	"This morning, the pre-trial chamber of the Brussels court of first degree has declared enforceable the European Arrest Warrant that had been issued by the French judicial authorities against Mehdi Nemmouche," the Belgian federal prosecutor said in a statement.
	He can be sent to France "when Belgium no longer needs him" in relation to the Jewish Museum attack in which four people were killed, a spokesman for the prosecutor told AFP.
	On May 24, 2014 a gunman opened fire in the entrance hall of the museum in the centre of the Belgian capital, killing two Israeli tourists, a French volunteer and a Belgian museum receptionist.
	Nemmouche was arrested six days later in the southern ...

Belgium backs extradition to France of Jewish museum suspect

The African Development Bank has approved the first installment of a USD 1 billion loan to Nigeria to help President Muhammadu Buhari combat a "crisis situation".
	The USD 600 million loan was the "first tranche of a USD 1 billion budget support loan" to help the West African country overcome a recession, the AfDB said in a press release.
	"We must think through innovative solutions to support our regional member countries in crisis situations like this," AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said.
	"It will help the (Nigerian) government create fiscal space to facilitate a smooth implementation of the government's budget, support fiscal and structural reforms, and improve the targeting of social sector spending," the bank said, adding that the last tranche of $400 million will be approved in 2017.
	Buhari introduced a record budget designed to stimulate growth earlier this year, but has struggled to attract funding.
	On Tuesday, the Senate rejected his plan to borrow some USD 30 billion ...

African Development Bank okays $600 million loan for Nigeria

Cambodia has become the latest country to issue a ban on commercial surrogacy after curbs on the industry in other parts of the globe sparked a local boom in the unregulated baby business.
	Surrogacy agencies started springing up in the Southeast Asian nation after former hubs like Thailand and India blocked foreigners from the services following a flurry of scandals and concerns about exploitation.
	With cheap medical costs and no laws excluding gay couples or single parents, Cambodia quickly absorbed much of the demand.
	But a government edict sent to Cambodian fertility clinics and seen by AFP today said that surrogacy was now "absolutely banned".
	The proclamation, signed by the health minister last week, asked all medical professionals to comply with the injunction, though it did not spell out a legal punishment.
	Phon Puthborey, spokesman for the Ministry of Women's Affairs, said the government was working on other regulatory schemes to prevent rights abuses in the controversial 

Cambodia bans booming commercial surrogacy industry

South African President Jacob Zuma today faced increasing calls to resign after a damaging probe unearthed further evidence of alleged corruption at the top of the ANC government.
	The country's anti-graft watchdog ordered a judicial inquiry into possible criminal activity in Zuma's relationship with the Guptas, a wealthy Indian family accused of wielding undue political influence.
	Zuma, 74, has weathered a series of major scandals since coming to power in 2009, but rapidly declining support for the African National Congress (ANC) party has threatened his presidency.
	Fears have grown that South Africa has thrown away the optimistic legacy of Nelson Mandela's post-apartheid era -- with Zuma's alleged misconduct at the heart of public discontent.
	"The mood of the people has become more and more angry," said a statement from Save South Africa, a new umbrella group of anti-apartheid veterans, civil activists, business leaders and churches.
	"(The ANC) must stop putting the interests of 

S Africa graft probe piles pressure on Zuma

Air France-KLM said today it will launch an assault on the competition with the creation of a long and medium-haul subsidiary, aimed at taking business from Gulf-based rivals.
	"The Air France-KLM Group's ambition is to regain the offensive to return to a leadership position in the global air transport industry," it said in a statement.
	The new airline will operate in "ultra-competitive" markets which have so far been loss-making for the group, or where routes have been closed down.
	"This new company will constitute the Group's response to the Gulf State airlines which are developing at low production costs on key markets where Air France-KLM is pursuing its growth ambition," it said.
	The airline, which "will not be low cost", is to launch medium-haul flights towards the end of next year, and long- haul services in the summer of 2018, it said.
	By 2020, it is to feature 10 long-haul aircraft, with around a third of operations focused on newly-created routes.
	The new airline is ...

Air France to fight off Gulf rivals with new airline

EU Commissioner Guenther Oettinger today apologised for derogatory remarks about Chinese people, whom he dubbed "slitty eyes" in a speech last month.
	"I can now see that the words I used have created bad feelings and may even have hurt people. This was not my intention and I would like to apologise for any remark that was not as respectful as it should have been," Oettinger said in a statement.
	China voiced its disdain yesterday over his remarks, saying they revealed "a baffling sense of superiority entrenched in some Western politicians".
	A video that emerged on YouTube showed Oettinger addressing a German business audience using the words "slitty eyes" and "chiselers" to refer to Chinese people.
	Germany's Oettinger, commissioner for the EU digital economy who was last week named to take on the budget portfolio as well, went on to make disparaging remarks about women, gay marriage and Belgian politicians.
	In today's statement, he did not refer to any specific remarks and said ...

EU's Oettinger apologises for derogatory China remarks

At least 110 people are feared drowned off Libya after a migrant shipwreck, the UN's refugee agency said today, quoting survivor testimony.
	"A vessel will around 140 people on board overturned Wednesday just a few hours after setting off from Libya, throwing everyone into the water. Only 29 people survived," UNHCR spokesperson Carlotta Sami said.

At least 110 feared dead in migrant shipwreck off Libya: UNHCR

At least 110 feared dead in migrant shipwreck off Libya:

West Indies secured their first victory since May 2015 as opener Kraigg Brathwaite capped a brilliant match with an unbeaten half-century in the third cricket Test against Pakistan, here today.
	Brathwaite, who carried his bat in the first innings with 142 not out, was again unbeaten on 60 as the West Indies passed their 153-run target without further loss  after beginning the fifth day on 114 for 5.
	Shane Dowrich, who also finished with 60 not out, edged Mohammad Amir towards third man for a boundary as West Indies reached 154 for 5.
	Pakistan won the three-match series 2-1 after winning the first Test in Dubai by 56 runs and the second by 133 runs in Abu Dhabi.
	Brathwaite and Dowrich needed just 7.5 overs to score the 39 runs required.
	Brathwaite signalled his intent by driving fast bowler Wahab Riaz's first ball of the day to cover for four.
	Dowrich soon got in on the act when he pulled leg-spinner Yasir Shah to the boundary to reduce the target to 29.
	Brathwaite pushed Riaz ..

Brathwaite stars as Windies end Test win drought

At least 30 Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed in a NATO airstrike today in the volatile northern province of Kunduz, officials said.
	"Afghan forces and coalition troops conducted a joint operation against the Taliban insurgents. In the bombardment 30 Afghan civilians were martyred and 25 others were wounded," provincial spokesman Mahmood Danish said.

30 Afghan civilians killed in Kunduz NATO airstrike: officials

Scoreboard at the end of the fifth
day of the third cricket Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Sharjah stadium, here today:
	Pakistan 1st innings: 281
	West Indies 1st innings: 337
     Pakistan 2nd innings: 208
	West Indies 2nd innings (overnight 114-5):
	K Brathwaite not out                60
	L Johnson lbw b Shah                12
	D Bravo c Ahmed b Shah               3
	M Samuels c Babar b Shah            10
	J Blackwood b Riaz                   4
	R Chase c Nawaz b Riaz               2
	S Dowrich not out                   60
	Extras: (LB-2, NB-1)                 3
	Total: (for 5 wkts in 43.5 overs)  154
     Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-35, 3-57, 4-63, 5-67
	Bowling: Amir 9.5-0-43-0, Riaz 12-0-46-2, Shah 15-4-40-3, Babar 3-1-3-0, Nawaz 4-0-20-0.

Sharjah, Nov 3 (AFP) Scoreboard at the end of the fifth

Scoreboard at stumps on the first day
of the first cricket Test between Australia and South Africa at the WACA Ground here today.
	Australia first innings:
	D Warner not out 73
	S Marsh not out 29
	Extras: (NB-3) 3
	Total: (no wickets in 21 overs) 105
	Bowling: Steyn 6-2-34-0, Philander 7-1-26-0, Rabada 6-0-29-0, Maharaj 2-0-16-0
     South Africa first innings:
	S Cook c M. Marsh b Starc         0
	D Elgar c Nevill b Hazlewood     12
	H Amla c Smith b Hazlewood        0
	JP Duminy c Nevill b Siddle      11
	F du Plessis c Voges b Starc     37
	T Bavuma c S Marsh b Lyon        51
	Q de Kock c S Marsh b Hazlewood  84
	V Philander b Starc              10
	K Maharaj c Warner b Lyon        16
	K Rabada not out                 11
	D Steyn b Starc                   4
	Extras: (B-4, W-2)                6
	Total: (all out in 63.4 overs)  242
	Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-20, 4-32, 5-81, 6-152, 7-175, 8-223, 9-227, 10-242
	Bowling: Starc 18.4-4-71-4, Hazlewood 17-2-70-3, Siddle 12-3-36-1, M ...

Perth, Nov 3 (AFP) Scoreboard at stumps on the first day

A failed review capped a miserable day for South Africa on the opening day of their first cricket Test against Australia at the WACA Ground, here today.
     After fast bowler Mitchell Starc returned in style with four wickets to help Australia dismiss South Africa for 242, the visitors were denied the crucial wicket of David Warner in bizarre circumstances late in the day.
	Seamer Vernon Philander believed he had trapped Warner LBW for 17 with the Australian total on just 19, but umpire Aleem Dar dismissed the appeal.
	The South Africans called for a review, only for replays to show it was a front foot no-ball by Philander.
	Their frustration was exacerbated when further replays revealed it would have been out had Philander not overstepped.
	At stumps on the first day it was shaping as a costly error by Philander as the reprieve helped the free-hitting Warner get through to the close to cap a tremendous day for the home side.
	Australia was in a commanding position at 105 without ...

Four-star Starc leaves South Africa reeling

The world's nations must urgently ramp up commitments to cut planet-warming carbon emissions to avoid "human tragedy", the United Nations warned today.
	As they stand, these commitments - which do not kick in until 2020 - would still allow average global temperatures to climb as high as 3.4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, a recipe for massive climate damage, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its annual "Emissions Gap" report.
	"If we don't start taking additional action now, beginning with the upcoming climate meeting in Marrakesh, we will grieve over the avoidable human tragedy," said UNEP head Erik Solheim.
	UN climate negotiators from 196 countries - tasked with implementing the landmark Paris climate pact entering into force tomorrow - gather in the Moroccan city next week.
	"The growing number of climate refugees hit by hunger, poverty, illness and conflict will be a constant reminder of our failure to deliver," Solheim said in a statement.
	The UNEP report ..

Deeper carbon cuts needed to avoid climate tragedy: UN

A snowballing political scandal moved closer to embattled South Korean President Park Geun-Hye today, with her newly nominated prime minister warning she could face a probe, hours after prosecutors detained a former presidential aide.
	Ahn Jong-Beom was taken into custody late yesterday over suspicions he helped Park's friend Choi Soon-Sil coerce companies into donating large sums to dubious non-profit foundations that she then used for personal gains, Yonhap said.
	Ahn, who was dismissed on Sunday, is the second person to be taken into emergency detention after Choi was held Monday for questioning in the influence-peddling scandal.
	Park is scrambling to deflect rising public anger over suggestions that Choi - the daughter of a shadowy religious figure - vetted presidential speeches, had access to classified documents, and used her influence for personal enrichment.
	"Everyone including the president is equal before the law," new prime minister nominee Kim Byong-Joon declared at a ...

S Korean president risks probe, new PM nominee warns

30 Afghan civilians killed in Kunduz airstrike:

China and Russia will invest up to USD 20 billion to develop a long-haul wide-bodied jet, reports today and a company statement said, as Beijing seeks to challenge leading Western manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.
	The hugely ambitious plan was first agreed between the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), whose products include the Sukhoi Superjet 100, in June when Russian President Vladimir Putin met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
	COMAC said in a statement that the joint venture, to be set up in Shanghai this year, will develop a 280-seat wide-body plane with a range of 12,000 kilometres.
	That would put it in direct competition with Boeing's 787 and the Airbus A350.
	The project is worth between USD 13 billion and USD 20 billion, with each side contributing half, China's state-run Global Times newspaper today quoted UAC president Yury Slyusar as saying.
	"COMAC has outstanding technology and designs and we ..

China, Russia to invest 'up to $20 bn' in long-haul jet:report

An influential leader of the Philippines' decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency voiced support today for peace efforts after rebellion charges against him were suspended and he held a surprise meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.
	Moro National Liberation Front founder Nur Misuari was flown on a government-commissioned plane more than 900 kilometres from his southern jungle stronghold to Manila for the meeting with Duterte at the presidential palace.
	"I came here to thank him for restoring my freedom, if only partially," Misuari said.
	"Should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, you can count on us."
	Misuari, 77, had been in hiding since his forces allegedly launched attacks on civilians in the southern city of Zamboanga in 2013, leading to a three-week battle against the military that claimed about 200 lives.
	The government of Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino, filed rebellion charges against Misuari, but he was able to remain on his southern island ...

Philippine Muslim rebel leader meets Duterte

Leading Sunni political figure Saad Hariri was named as Lebanon's new prime minister today, the office of President Michel Aoun announced.
	"After the necessary parliamentary consultations... The president has entrusted Saad Hariri with the formation of a government," said a statement read by the president's chief of staff Antoine Choukeir.

Saad Hariri named Lebanon's new prime minister: presidency

Just days before America votes for its next president, Donald Trump has drawn yet another unlikely international endorsement with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen joining a colourful coterie of foreign leaders backing the real estate mogul to win.
	Hun Sen, an authoritarian premier who leans heavily on bombast and brash statements, said today he "really wanted" Trump to clinch next week's US presidential poll, extolling the billionaire Republican's potential as a global peacemaker.
	"Frankly speaking, I really want Trump to win," Hun Sen said in a speech to hundreds of police cadets in the capital Phnom Penh.
	"If Trump wins, the world might change and the situation would become better because Trump is a businessman, and as businessman, Trump will not want war," he added.
	Hun Sen, whose 31-year rule over Cambodia has been marred by accusations of rampant rights abuses, added that a Trump presidency may help heal deeply strained ties between the United States and Russia.
	"But if Trump ...

AFP

AFP

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