Nearly half of Russians fear that Moscow's bombing campaign in Syria could spark World War III, a poll showed today.
	Moscow, an ally of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad,  has been staging bombing raids in Syria since September 2015.
	Forty-eight percent of Russians were concerned that "heightened tensions in relations between Russia and the West could grow into World War III," according to a poll conducted by independent pollster Levada Centre last week.
	That figure was up from 29 percent in July this year.
	Moscow's air strikes have negatively affected the way Russia is perceived internationally, 32 percent said, up from 16 percent in November.
	Nevertheless, 52 percent of Russians said they back Moscow's air strikes, while 26 percent said they opposed them.
	Asked whether Russia should continue "intervening in what is going on in Syria," 49 percent said yes, while 28 percent said no.
	Western powers and rights groups have accused Syrian and Russian forces of carrying out ...

Half of Russians fear Syria could spark WWIII: poll

PTI Automatic

Banging drums, clanging bells and performing impromptu street dances, members of Nepal's ethnic Newar community rang in the new year today in colourful style in one of the highpoints of their Diwali celebrations.
	While celebrations for the Hindu festival of lights in neigbhouring India revolve around firecrackers, Nepal's Hindu Newars mark the occasion -- known locally as Tihar -- with song and dance performances.
	The Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi is particularly worshipped in Tihar, but Nepalis also pay homage to crows, dogs and cows during the festival.
	The fourth day of Tihar, which fell on October 31 this year, also marks the start of the new year of the Newars, a culturally-rich ethnic community indigenous to the Kathmandu valley.
	Crowds clapped and cheered "Nhu Daya Bhintuna" -- meaning happy new year -- to welcome their year 1137 as hundreds of people paraded along Kathmandu's temple-studded Basantapur Durbar Square.
	"I really enjoy this gathering to celebrate our new ...

Nhu Daya Bhintuna! Nepal's Newars celebrate new year

A retired electrician who kept nearly 300 Pablo Picasso artworks in his garage for almost 40 years told a French appeal court today that the artist's widow may have wanted to keep the works hidden from his son Claude.
	Pierre Le Guennec, convicted last year along with his wife of possessing stolen goods, said that after Picasso died in April 1973, his widow had asked him to store between 15 and 17 garbage bags containing the artworks.
	"Mrs Jacqueline Picasso had problems with Claude Picasso," the 77-year-old defendant told the court in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence.
	Le Guennec said that some time later Jacqueline Picasso retrieved the bags but gave him one of them.
	The collection, whose value has not been assessed, includes drawings of women and horses, nine rare Cubist collages from the time Picasso was working with fellow French artist Georges Braque and a work from his "blue period".
	Other more intimate works include portraits of Picasso's mistress Fernande, drawings of .

Picasso's widow may have hidden artworks from son, court told

- Opener Kraigg Brathwaite needed five runs for a fighting hundred as he foiled Pakistan on the second day of the third and final Test in Sharjah on Monday.
     Brathwaite anchored the West Indian innings with a 206-ball 95 not out after they were struggling at 38-3, putting two solid stands of 83 each with Roston Chase (50) for the fifth wicket and with Shane Dowrich (47) for the sixth.
     At close skipper Jason Holder was unbeaten on six as West Indies were 244-6, just 37 runs away from Pakistan's first innings total of 281.
     This gives West Indies a good position for the first time in the series against Pakistan who are targeting a 3-0 clean sweep after winning the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai and the second by 133 runs in Abu Dhabi.
     Brathwaite batted solidly as he negotiated Pakistan's spin-cum-pace attack with full confidence, having so far hit ten boundaries.
     "There will be no butterflies," said the 23-year-old from Barbados.
     "For me helping the West ...

Resolute Brathwaite foils Pakistan in third Test

South Africa's top prosecutor today announced that fraud charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his co-accused would be dropped.
	The bombshell charges earlier this month had driven a wedge between rival camps in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, rattled the markets and led to a fall in the value of the rand.
	Shaun Abrahams said proving the charges against Gordhan would be difficult in a U-turn a day after his spokesman described as "absolute hogwash" reports that the prosecutor was dropping the fraud case.
	"I have directed the summons to be withdrawn with immediate effect," Abrahams told journalists today.
	"I foresee difficulties to prove knowledge of unlawfulness."
	Gordhan, a respected ANC veteran, was due to appear in court on Wednesday on charges dating back to 2010 over a colleague's retirement package.
	In announcing the decision, Abrahams said he believed Gordhan did not intend to break the law.
	Gordhan has claimed the charges were politically .

S Africa prosecutor drops fraud charges against Gordhan

The Central African Republic's capital was rocked by deadly overnight clashes hours before France's defence minister formally ended a military operation there today, hailing it as a "success".
	Local sources said about 10 people had been killed in a settling of scores between armed groups last night in the restive Muslim PK5 neighbourhood of the capital Bangui.
	The toll had yet to be confirmed by the UN force MINUSCA - which will be alone in facing the militia terrorising civilians now that France is ending its Sangaris operation, begun three years ago to halt mass killings in the former French colony.
	"This does not mean the end of military relations between France and the Central African Republic," French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a speech to parliament in Bangui today.
	"The French army will indeed be less visible but it will be present, active and vigilant. We're proud of Operation Sangaris, so it's out of the question to allow the gains to be put at risk," Le .

Deadly clashes in CAR as France ends military mission

Iraqi special forces neared the eastern city limits of Mosul today, tightening the noose as the offensive to retake the Islamic State group stronghold entered its third week.
	Forces from the elite Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) faced mortar fire as they pushed from the Christian town of Bartalla towards Mosul's eastern suburbs, AFP correspondents at the front said.
	As an aircraft struck a suspected IS mortar position in the distance, a convoy of Humvees sprayed gunfire across the arid plain at an industrial area held by jihadists.
	Lieutenant Colonel Muntadhar al-Shimmari said CTS had recaptured Bazwaya, one of two IS-held villages that had been standing between Iraqi forces and the eastern edges of Mosul.
	"Tonight, if everything is secured, we will be 700 metres from Mosul," Shimmari said.
	CTS forces had entered the second village, Gogjali, and were battling to retake it, Staff Lt General Abdelwahab al-Saadi, a senior CTS commander, told AFP by telephone.
	He denied reports that 

Advancing Iraqi forces near Mosul city limits

Scoreboard at tea on the third day
of the first Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka here today:
     Sri Lanka first innings 536 all out (K. Perera 110, U. Tharanga 110, K. Silva 94, G. Cremer 4-142)
     Zimbabwe first innings
	T. Mawoyo c Gunaratne b Lakmal            45
	B. Chari lbw b Herath                      5
	H. Masakadza c Karunaratne b Lakmal       33
	C. Ervine lbw b D. Perera                 12
	S. Williams c Gunaratne b Herath          10
	M. Waller lbw b D. Perera                 22
	P. Moor c D. Perera b Kumara              79
	G. Cremer not out                         62
	D. Tiripano not out                        9
	Extras: (4-b, 2-lb, 7w, 1-nb)             14
     Total: (7 wkts, 82 overs)                 291
     Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-92, 3-92, 4-111, 5-134, 6-139, 7-271
     Bowling: Lakmal 18-3-58-2, Kumara 17-2-71-1, Herath 29-4-84-2, D. Perera 15-1-49-2, Gunaratne 3-0-23-0.

Harare, Oct 31 (AFP) Scoreboard at tea on the third day

Scoreboard at close on the second
day of the third and final Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Sharjah stadium on Monday:
	   Pakistan first innings (overnight 255-8)
	   Sami Aslam c Holder b Bishoo               74
	   Azhar Ali c Brathwaite b Gabriel            0
	   Asad Shafiq lbw b Gabriel                   0
	   Younis Khan c Johnson b Chase              51
	   Misbah-ul-Haq c Dowrich b Bishoo           53
	   Sarfraz Ahmed b Gabriel                    51
	   Mohammad Nawaz st Dowrich b Bishoo          6
	   Wahab Riaz lbw b Bishoo                     4
	   Yasir Shah b Joseph                        12
	   Mohammad Amir b Joseph                     20
	   Zulfiqar Babar not out                      1
	   Extras: (lb4, nb4, w1)                      9
	   Total: (all out; 90.5 overs)              281
	   Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-107, 4-150, 5-230, 6-242, 7-248, 8-248, 9-280
	   Bowling: Gabriel 21-1-67-3 (2nb), Joseph 16.5-5-57-2 (2nb, 1w), Holder 12-4-29-0, Chase ...

Sharjah, Oct 31 (AFP) Scoreboard at close on the second

Half-centuries from Zimbabwe batsmen Peter Moor and Graeme Cremer kept Sri Lanka at bay, but the hosts were nevertheless on track for a significant first-innings lead on day three of the first Test at Harare Sports Club today.
     Having seen Zimbabwe lose five wickets for 47 runs on the third morning as they replied to Sri Lanka's 537 all out, Moor and Cremer put on 132 for the seventh wicket to stabilise the innings.
     Although Moor succumbed to a short ball from debutant Lahiru Kumara to depart for 79 in the afternoon session, Cremer batted on to reach a career-best 62 not out as Zimbabwe went to tea on 291 for seven.
	Zimbabwe's collapse in the morning owed more to a series of rash strokes than trying conditions or outstanding bowling, as they resumed on a promising 88 for one.
	Opener Tino Mawoyo started the trend when he pulled a short ball from Suranga Lakmal straight to the man in the deep to depart for 45, and two overs later Hamilton Masakadza prodded forward to edge ...

Zimbabwe rally after collapse

Iraqi heritage sites targeted in a campaign of destruction by the Islamic State group are again at risk during the operation to retake Mosul from the jihadists.
	IS vandalised the Mosul museum after overrunning the city in 2014 and attacked sites including the ancient cities of Hatra and Nimrud, posting videos lauding the destruction online.
	As Iraqi forces close in on Mosul, the jihadists' last main bastion in the country, officials say IS has fighters deployed at or near archaeological sites.
	"Our information indicates that (IS) has a presence in the archaeological sites," Ahmed al-Assadi, the spokesman for the Hashed al-Shaabi, an umbrella organisation for pro-government paramilitary forces, told AFP.
	The Hashed al-Shaabi, the most powerful groups in which are Iran-backed Shiite militias, launched an operation Saturday that could see it advance through IS-held areas in Nineveh province that are home to some of Iraq's most famed historical sites.
	"We expect (IS) will try to lure 

Iraqi heritage sites again at risk in Mosul operation

The Gulf state of Kuwait, under financial stress due to low oil prices, plans to end all forms of public subsidies by 2020, a report published today said.
	A committee set up by the finance ministry to review all public subsidies said it plans to gradually reduce subsidies until it ends them completely by 2020, according to the report published by Al-Qabas newspaper.
	Public subsidies and social aid are estimated in the current fiscal year's budget at over USD 3 billion, about five percent of projected spending.
	The oil-rich emirate has already lifted subsidies on diesel and kerosene which are being priced according to international oil price.
	In September, Kuwait partially lifted subsidies on petrol sparking a political crisis that led to the dissolution of parliament and calls for new elections.
	The government had also secured the backing of the parliament before it was dissolved to raise electricity and water prices paid by foreign residents and businesses, but exempted Kuwait ..

Kuwait plans to end subsidies by 2020: report

Lebanon's parliament today elected former general Michel Aoun president, ending a vacuum and political stalemate of more than two years.
	After four rounds of voting, including two unexpected repeat votes, Aoun won support from 83 lawmakers, easily clearing the 50-per cent-plus-one majority required.
	The final tally included 36 blank votes and eight void ballots.
	Aoun, 81, failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to win a first round of voting, and a second round was repeated twice after the number of votes exceeded the 127 MPs present in the session.
	But the former army chief's victory had been all but assured after two longstanding political rivals offered him their support.
	Aoun's election ends a vacancy for the post since May 2014, when his predecessor Michel Sleiman's mandate ended.
	The country's deeply divided political powers were repeatedly unable to reach consensus on a candidate for president, a post reserved in Lebanon for a Maronite Christian and elected by 

Lebanon's Aoun elected president, ending power vacuum

Scorecard at tea on the second day of the third and final Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Sharjah stadium.
	   Pakistan Ist innings (overnight 255-8)
	   Sami Aslam c Holder b Bishoo               74
	   Azhar Ali c Brathwaite b Gabriel            0
	   Asad Shafiq lbw b Gabriel                   0
	   Younis Khan c Johnson b Chase              51
	   Misbah-ul-Haq c Dowrich b Bishoo           53
	   Sarfraz Ahmed b Gabriel                    51
	   Mohammad Nawaz st Dowrich b Bishoo          6
	   Wahab Riaz lbw b Bishoo                     4
	   Yasir Shah b Joseph                        12
	   Mohammad Amir b Joseph                     20
	   Zulfiqar Babar not out                      1
	   Extras: (lb4, nb4, w1)                      9
	   Total: (all out; 90.5 overs)              281
	   Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-107, 4-150, 5-230, 6-242, 7-248, 8-248, 9-280
	   Bowling: Gabriel 21-1-67-3 (2nb), Joseph 16.5-5-57-2 (2nb, 1w), Holder 12-4-29-0, Chase 20-5-47-1, Bishoo ..

Sharjah, Oct  31 (AFP) Scorecard at tea on the second day of the third and final Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Sharjah stadium.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite scored a half century to lead West Indies's fightback after losing three early wickets on the second day of the third and final Test against Pakistan on Monday.
     West Indies had reached 141 for 4 at tea as they added 103 runs in the post-lunch session after struggling at 38 for 3, having lost the key wickets of Darren Bravo (11) and Marlon Samuels for no score.
     At the break, Brathwaite was on 55 and Roston Chase 43 not out, the pair adding 73 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket stand.
     West Indies trail Pakistan's first innings total of 281 by 140 runs with six wickets intact. Pakistan managed just one wicket in the second session with Jermaine Blackwood caught at gully off fast bowler Mohammad Amir for 23.
     Since then Chase and Brathwaite defied Pakistan's spin-cum-pace attack on a Sharjah stadium pitch which is still good for batting.
     Brathwaite took a single off spinner Mohammad Nawaz to complete his 12th Test fifty, having so far hit ..

Brathwaite leads West Indies fightback

Iraq's forces resumed their advance on the Islamic State group's bastion of Mosul today, aiming to position themselves a few hundred metres from the city's eastern limits.
	A senior officer with the elite Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) told AFP reporters outside the recently retaken town of Bartalla that only two villages remained on the road to Mosul.
	"The target is to retake Bazwaya and Gogjali, the last two villages before Mosul," a lieutenant colonel said.
	"If we manage that, we'll only be a few hundred metres (yards) from Mosul," he said.
	As an aircraft struck a suspected IS mortar position in the distance, the officer's convoy of Humvees sprayed gunfire across the arid plain toward an industrial area still held by jihadists.
	The Joint Operations Command coordinating Iraq's war on IS said CTS and army forces launched a drive "to advance toward the left bank of the city of Mosul from three axes."
	Mosul is split down the middle by the Tigris River. Iraqis refer to the eastern 

Iraqi forces move toward east Mosul

A suicide bomber today detonated his explosives in a gathering of tribal elders in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least six people in the latest direct assault on civilians.
	No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province which is a hotbed of Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
	The blast occurred as tribal elders gathered at the residence of the former district governor to seek aid for war-displaced families, as Afghan forces step up anti-IS operations in the province.
	"Six civilians were killed and six others were wounded in the suicide attack on a gathering of elders in Jalalabad," provincial spokesman Ataullah Khogyani told AFP.
	A police spokesman confirmed the toll, adding the wounded had been taken to hospital.
	Taliban insurgents are active in Nangarhar, but the province also faces an emerging threat from loyalists of the Syria-headquartered Islamic State group, which is making gradual inroads in Afghanistan - challenging .

Suicide bomber kills six civilians in east Afghanistan

Spain's conservative leader Mariano Rajoy was sworn in today for a second term as prime minister at a ceremony attended by King Felipe VI, bringing a close to ten months of political limbo.
	"I swear to faithfully fulfil the obligations of prime minister and to show loyalty to the king," Rajoy said with his hand on the Spanish constitution.
	In a ceremony that was broadcast live on national television, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) was then greeted by Felipe VI, who came to the throne in June 2014.
	Rajoy is set to spend the next three days forming a new cabinet for his minority government, after a 10-month deadlock.
	Still it was clear that he would be faced with unprecedented opposition as the country grapples with painful economic reforms and resurgent Catalan separatism.
	When the PP ruled from 2011 to 2015, it enjoyed an absolute majority in parliament.
	Now, it must govern with 137 of 350 MPs, meaning that it will have to negotiate with the upstart centrist ..

Spain's Rajoy sworn in as prime minister

A cargo plane carrying four crew members went missing today during a short flight in mountainous eastern Indonesia, authorities said, the latest blow to the country's beleaguered aviation sector.
	The Caribou plane lost contact with air traffic control during what was supposed to be a flight of around half an hour in remote Papua province, the transport ministry said.
	The ministry said in a statement the aircraft, operated by logistics and transport company Alfa Trans and owned by local authorities, set off from the city of Timika at 7:57 am (local time) and was headed to Ilaga, a farming community nestled amid mountains.
	The plane contacted air traffic control in Ilaga at 8:23 am saying that it was due to land in a few minutes but never arrived. Officials say the aircraft sent an emergency signal from an area between two mountain passes.
	"The plane was being used to transport cargo belonging to Puncak district administration and is owned by the Puncak district government," said ...

Cargo plane carrying four missing in eastern Indonesia

A Turkish court has ordered the detention of the two mayors of Diyarbakir, the largest city in the predominantly Kurdish southeast of the country, accusing them of "terrorist" activities linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
	Gultan Kisanak and Firat Anli, jointly elected in 2014, were yesterday accused of "belonging to an armed terrorist organisation" and providing "logistical support to an armed terrorist organisation", according to a statement by the court in Diyarbakir.
	Their detention comes five days after they were taken into police custody Tuesday evening, which sparked an outbreak of violence in the southeast.
	Ayla Akat Ata, a former lawmaker from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which Kisanak and Anli belong to, was also detained last night.
	The moves come at a tense time, with multiple arrests and suspensions of local officials accused of links to the PKK and the closure of a dozen pro-Kurdish media ordered by official decree Saturday night.
	Three ...

Turkey detains Diyarbakir mayors on 'terrorism' links

Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the first Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka here today:
     Sri Lanka first innings 536 all out (K. Perera 110, U. Tharanga 110, K. Silva 94, G. Cremer 4-142)
     Zimbabwe first innings
	T. Mawoyo c Gunaratne b Lakmal           45
	B. Chari lbw b Herath                     5
	H. Masakadza c Karunaratne b Lakmal      33
	C. Ervine lbw b D. Perera                12
	S. Williams c Gunaratne b Herath         10
	M. Waller lbw b D. Perera                22
	P. Moor not out                          25
	G. Cremer not out                        10
	Extras: (4-b, 1-lb, 7-w)                 12
     Total: (6 wkts, 52 overs)                174
     Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-92, 3-92, 4-111, 5-134, 6-139
     Bowling: Lakmal 14-2-31-2, Kumara 10-1-50-0, Herath 19-3-63-2, D. Perera 9-1-25-2.

AFP

AFP

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