Scoreboard at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium today:
     Pakistan first innings 452 (Younis Khan 127, Misbah-ul-Haq 96; S. Gabriel 5-96)
     West Indies first innings 224 (D. Bravo 43; Yasir Shah 4-86, Rahat Ali 3-45)
     Pakistan second innings (overnight 114-1)
     Sami Aslam c Hope b Gabriel           50
     Azhar Ali c Holder b Cummins          79
     Asad Shafiq not out                   58
     Younis Khan not out                   29
     Extras: (B-4, LB-3, NB-3, W-1)        11
     Total: (for two wkts in 67 overs)    227
     Fall of wicket: 1-93, 2-164.
     Bowling: Gabriel 12-2-36-1, Cummins 7-0-26-1, Brathwaite 15-2-33-0, Bishoo 20-0-77-0, Holder 7-0-22-0, Chase 6-0-26-0.

Abu Dhabi, Oct 24 (AFP) Scoreboard at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test between Pakistan and West Indies played at Sheikh Zayed Stadium today:

PTI Automatic

A small passenger aircraft crashed on takeoff at Malta's international airport today, killing all five people onboard, officials said.
	In a statement, the airport said the aircraft, a Fairchild Metroliner turboprop, was involved in an accident "upon takeoff."
	"We can confirm that the five crew on board are deceased," it said, adding that the airport was closed until further notice and an investigation was underway.
	Early media reports said the plane had been chartered by the European Union's border control agency, Frontex, for a flight to Libya.
	Frontex issued a swift denial, and the EU's foreign policy representative, Federica Mogherini, said no European official had been onboard.
	"No #EU officials involved in plane crash in #Malta. The flight was not related to any of the EU activities," said Mogherini in a tweet.

Five killed in Malta plane crash

The Islamic State group "executed" five Iraqis, including members of the security forces, during ongoing fighting in the western town of Rutba, army officers said today.
	Jihadist fighters launched an attack on Rutba, a remote but strategic town near the Jordanian border in Anbar province, early yesterday.
	They briefly seized the mayor's office before being pinned back by the security forces but were still deployed in some other neighbourhoods of the town, the officers said.
	"Daesh (IS) controls Mithaq and Intisar neighbourhoods in central Rutba," an army colonel told AFP.
	"They captured people -- civilians and policemen -- and executed them," he said. "At least five people were executed" on Sunday, the colonel said.
	Lieutenant General Ismail al-Mahalawi, head of the Operations Command for the western Anbar province, confirmed the executions but said Iraqi forces were regaining the upper hand.
	"Military units from the (army) 8th division and a brigade from Anbar Operations ...

IS 'executes' five Iraqis in western town: army

Pakistan stretched their lead over West Indies to 455 runs at lunch on the fourth day of the second Test in Abu Dhabi today.
     At the break Pakistan were 227-2 in their second innings with Asad Shafiq (58) and Younis Khan (29) at the crease as West Indian bowlers managed just one wicket in the session.
     Shafiq reached his 16th Test half century -- second of the match -- by gliding off-spinner Roston Chase to third man boundary.
     Younis, who scored 127 in the first innings, has hit just one boundary during his 54-ball stay as Pakistan will look for quick runs in the post lunch session in their bid to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
     Pakistan won the first Test by 56 runs in Dubai, a day-night affair played with the pink ball.
     Resuming at 114-1 Pakistan were unable to score quick runs as West Indian captain Jason Holder kept a tight field, with only five boundaries in the session.
     Ali, who scored a career best 302 not out in Dubai, edged 

Pakistan stretch lead in second Test

Iraq's joint operations command today denied Turkey was participating in military operations to retake the northern city of Mosul from the Islamic State group.
	"The spokesman of the Joint Operations Command denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh," a statement said, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital.
	Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters yesterday that Turkish troops stationed outside Mosul had provided support "with artillery, tanks and howitzers" following a request by Kurdish peshmerga forces.
	Thousands of peshmerga forces are currently involved in a massive push in the Bashiqa area northeast of Mosul, where Turkey has a military base.
	The forces of the autonomous Kurdish region, whose leader has close ties with Turkey, have complained recently that the US-led coalition's air support as insufficient.
	Turkey had repeatedly stated it wanted a part in the massive operation to retake Mosul, ...

Iraq denies Turkey taking part in Mosul operation

Israel's air force hit a Hamas post in the Gaza Strip today after a rocket was fired from the Palestinian enclave toward Israel, the military said.
	There were no initial reports that the rocket caused any casualties.
	"A rocket was fired at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip," an army statement said, but "no rockets hit Israeli territory."
	Israeli public radio said it was believed the rocket fell short and landed within Gaza, which is run by Islamist movement Hamas.
	"In response to the attack Israel Air Force aircraft targeted a Hamas military post in the northern Gaza Strip," the army said.
	Hamas officials said there were no casualties in the attack on the post, at Beit Hanoun, near the border with Israel.
	Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza have fought three wars since 2008 and there are frequent flare-ups along the border.
	Rocket fire from Gaza usually leads to retaliatory strikes by Israel.
	Recent rocket fire from the Gaza Strip has been claimed by jihadists who ...

Israeli forces hit Gaza after rocket launch

The head of Wallonia's parliament said today it would not respect an EU ultimatum to back a massive trade deal with Canada blocked by the Belgian region.
	"It won't be possible to respect this ultimatum," Andre Antoine told RTL radio in Belgium, referring to a late-today deadline set by EU president Donald Tusk for the country to say whether it could support the pact.
	Belgium has so far been the only EU member not to sign up to the CETA trade deal, which has been seven years in the making, because French-speaking Wallonia has refused to endorse it.
	Antoine said it was important to get CETA right as it could pave the way for future trade pacts with powers such as the US and China. "We must therefore have a solid legal basis," he added.
	He also pointed to the massively complex nature of the text, saying he has "300 pages of the treaty, 1,300 pages of appendices."
	The pact known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) would link the EU market of 500 million people ...

Won't meet EU ultimatum on Canada pact: Belgium's Wallonia

A Chinese conglomerate has agreed to buy New York-listed US insurance firm Genworth Financials for USD 2.7 billion, the latest in a Chinese buying spree of foreign assets.
	China Oceanwide Holdings, the founder and key shareholder of China Minsheng Bank, offered USD 5.43 per share for all outstanding shares of Genworth in an all-cash transaction, according to a joint statement yesterday.
	There have been a flurry of overseas acquisitions this year by Chinese firms seeking better returns and industrial know-how, with targets ranging from Hollywood studio Legendary to leading German robotics firm Kuka and Swiss seed giant Syngenta.
	Genworth, founded in 1871, has nearly four million life insurance customers and also offers mortgage insurance products, according to its website.
	The offer represents a 4.22 per cent premium on its Friday closing price.
	"Genworth is an established leader in both mortgage insurance and long-term care insurance," Oceanwide chairman Lu Zhiqiang said in the ..

China firm to buy US insurance giant Genworth for USD 2.7 bn

A group of former US diplomats held closed door talks at the weekend with senior Pyongyang officials, even as international efforts gather pace to further isolate North Korea, diplomatically and economically.
	The two-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur, which was confirmed by the South Korean and US governments, was the latest in a series of unofficial talks commonly referred to as Track 2 that are closely monitored in the absence of any official contact between Washington and Pyongyang.
	In July, the North cut off its only remaining official channel of diplomatic communications with the United States in retaliation for American sanctions against its leader, Kim Jong-Un.
	The so-called "New York channel" had previously served as a key point of contact between North Korean and US diplomats at the United Nations.
	American participants at the talks in the Malaysian capital included Robert Gallucci, who had led the US negotiating team that brokered a 1994 deal with Pyongyang on freezing its ...

Unofficial US-N Korea talks held in Malaysia

Final scores of the first
cricket Test between Bangladesh and England at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium here today:
	England first innings: 293
	Bangladesh first innings: 248
	England 2nd innings: 240
	Bangladesh second innings (253-8 overnight):
	Tamim Iqbal c Ballance b Ali 9
	Imrul Kayes c Root b Rashid 43
	Mominul Haque lbw b Batty 27
	Mahmudullah lbw b Batty 17
	Shakib Al Hasan c Bairstow b Ali 24
	Mushfiqur Rahim c Ballance b Batty 39
	Sabbir Rahman not out 64
	Mehedi Hasan lbw b Broad 1
	Kamrul Islam c Ballance Broad 0
	Taijul Islam lbw b Stokes 16
	Shafiul Islam lbw b Stokes 0
	Extras: (B-9, LB-13, W-1) 23
	Total:(all out in 81.3 overs) 263
	Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-81, 3-103, 4-108, 5-140, 6-227, 7-234, 8-238, 9-263, 10-263
	Bowling: Batty 17-3-65-3, Ali 14-2-60-2, Woakes 7-3-10-0, Rashid 17-2-55-1, Broad 15-4-31-2, Stokes 11.3-3-20-2.

Chittagong, Oct 24 (AFP) Final scores of the first

Ben Stokes took the last two Bangladesh wickets in three balls as England won a thrilling first cricket Test by 22 runs in Chittagong today, depriving their hosts of an historic victory.
	Bangladesh, needing 33 runs for what would have been their first win over England in nine attempts, added 10 runs to their overnight total and were all out for 263 after 20 minutes of play.
     Sabbir Rahman, the overnight half-centurion, was left stranded on 64 as the allrounder Stokes dismissed the other two batsmen in his second over.
	Stokes had Taijul Islam lbw for 16 following a successful review after umpire Kumar Dharmasena initially turned down a muted appeal.
     Two balls later it was the turn for Bangladesh to ask for a review as Dharmasena declared the number 11 batsman Shafiul Islam out lbw for a duck.
     The replay again came to England's favour as Hawk-Eye indicated that the ball was hitting off stump, meaning the umpire's initial decision stood.
     It brought an end to a ...

Stokes seals thrilling win for England

Migrants began arriving early today at official meeting points set by French authorities as part of the full evacuation of the Calais "Jungle" camp, according to a journalist at the scene.
	Men and women carrying suitcases and bundles of possessions gathered in front of a warehouse which is serving as the main headquarters of the operation in which some 6,000 to 8,000 migrants will be moved to reception centres across the country, an AFP journalist said.
	A queue of around 60 people already stretched in front of the closed doors of the operational headquarters, under the glow of streetlights.
	Dozens of riot police vehicles and other trucks carrying equipment had earlier set off in the direction of the operation centre, the correspondent saw.
	France's government has billed the enormous operation to clear the camp as "humanitarian".
	It will allow the closure of the largest shanty town in France, which has grown up over the last 18 months, filled with refugees - mostly from ...

Migrants start evacuating Calais 'Jungle' camp

British banker Rurik Jutting who is accused of murdering two Indonesian women in his upscale Hong Kong apartment filmed the attacks on his iPhone, a court heard today, the first day of his trial.
	Jutting, 31, had earlier today pleaded "not guilty" to two counts of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
	The prosecution rejected the lesser plea and jury selection began.
	As judge Michael Stuart-Moore briefed the jury pool at the High Court, he warned them of the graphic nature of the evidence.
	He said that Jutting "recorded on his iPhone much of what he did to those people", and described the footage as "very shocking indeed".
	Seneng Mujiasih and Sumarti Ningsih, both in their 20s, were found dead in Jutting's flat in the early hours of November 1, 2014, after he called police to the scene.
	Mujiasih was found naked and with knife wounds to her legs and buttocks, while the decaying body of Ningsih was found hours later in a ...

British murder accused 'filmed victims' in Hong Kong

Defending champion Lewis Hamilton kept alive his bid for a fourth world title when he claimed his first victory in six races at the United States Grand Prix and a 50th career win.
	The Briton yesterday produced a flawless drive from pole position to finish almost five seconds ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg.
	"This has always been a good hunting ground for me. I love being in the USA. I'm proud of the team's effort this weekend," said Hamilton.
	Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished third for Red Bull and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel came home fourth for Ferrari after team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had been forced into a bizarre retirement when he left the pits with a loose rear wheel.
     But it was again all about the Mercedes rivals and Hamilton trimmed Rosberg's championship lead from 33 points to 26 with three races remaining, but he knows that even if he wins them all the German can take his crown by finishing second in each one.
     ...

50-up Hamilton keeps title bid alive with US win

Edin Dzeko took his Serie A scoring lead to eight goals in nine games as Roma outclassed Palermo 4-1 to reclaim second spot and move to within two points off leaders Juventus.
	Roma had dropped to third after AC Milan stunned champions Juventus 1-0 on Saturday when teenaged midfielder Manuel Locatelli beat Gianluigi Buffon with a second-half scorcher.
	But yesterday Luciano Spalletti's men had no problem joining fellow scudetto hopefuls in capitalising on Juve's rare slip, the Giallorossi wowing fans with a well-oiled attacking performance that kept them firmly in the title chase.
     "You have to be prepared to seize the day, climb on board and secure the right result as we did tonight," said Spalletti.
	"But if anyone had a great result, it was Milan. They have the tools, beginning with their coach (Vincenzo Montella) to be able to challenge in this championship and they showed it."
     Juventus remain top but their second defeat of the campaign, after a 2-1 reverse to Inter Milan 

Dzeko still on top as Roma, Milan nudge Juventus

Real Madrid took advantage of Atletico Madrid's first defeat of the season at Sevilla to move to the top of La Liga as Alvaro Morata struck a late winner to secure a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.
     Steven N'Zonzi struck Sevilla's winner 17 minutes from time to seal a 1-0 win at a soggy Sanchez Pizjuan yesterday.
	Real lead Sevilla by a point and Barcelona and Villarreal by two at the top of the table.
	Atletico, who started the weekend top, slip to fifth, three points back on their city rivals.
	"We are not going to have easy matches and we will have to fight until the end," said Real boss Zinedine Zidane.
	"That is the message I transmit to my players and today we believed and didn't give up in the difficult moments."
	Madrid couldn't have hoped for a better start when Enric Saborit's slip allowed Isco to tee up Karim Benzema for a simple finish after just seven minutes.
	However, Real's defensive deficiencies surfaced once more when Athletic levelled in scrappy fashion as Javier .

Morata winner sends Real top, Atletico beaten

British Prime Minister Theresa May will today meet the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in London, where she will face calls for each region to vote on the government's Brexit plans.
	The meeting will see Britain's decision to leave the EU take centre stage, ahead of the formal negotiations with Brussels which are expected to begin next year.
	May will meet with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh FM Carwyn Jones and Northern Irish FM Arlene Foster and her deputy Martin McGuinness.
	Sturgeon, leader of the secessionist Scottish National Party, has been the most vocal of the first ministers since the June 23 vote. Earlier this month she called for a fresh referendum on Scottish independence if Scotland's interests are not protected in the Brexit negotiations.
	While England and Wales voted to leave the EU, a majority in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the bloc.
	In a letter to May ahead of the meeting, Sturgeon called for each of the ..

Britsh PM seeks to unite first ministers over Brexit plans

Venezuela's opposition-majority legislature declared that President Nicolas Maduro's government had committed a coup d'etat by blocking a referendum on removing him from power, vowing mass protests and international pressure.
	Furious over the electoral authorities' decision to suspend the process of organizing a recall vote, opposition lawmakers yesterday passed a resolution declaring "the breakdown of constitutional order" and "a coup d'etat committed by the Nicolas Maduro regime."
	In an emergency session on the economic and political crisis gripping the South American oil giant, lawmakers called on Venezuelans to "actively defend" the constitution and declared they would ask the international community to "activate mechanisms" to restore democracy.
	"A continual coup d'etat has been perpetrated in Venezuela, culminating in the decision to rob us of a recall referendum. We're here to officially declare the regrettable and painful rupture of the constitution," said majority leader ..

Venezuelan congress declares 'coup' by Maduro govt

Clashes and air strikes shook the Syrian city of Aleppo, leaving three civilians dead as heavy fighting resumed after the end of a three-day ceasefire declared by government ally Russia.
	The unilateral ceasefire ended yesterday without any evacuations by the UN, which had hoped to bring wounded civilians out of the rebel-held east and deliver aid after weeks of government bombardment and a three-month siege.
	The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said strikes and artillery fire hit eastern districts after heavy clashes overnight along the front line dividing the city's government-held west from the east.
	The Britain-based Observatory said at least three civilians including a woman and a child were killed in rocket strikes targeting a rebel-held area, warning that with several people wounded the death toll could rise.
	Yesterday, the Observatory reported the first air strikes since Moscow announced a temporary halt in the Syrian army's Russian-backed offensive to recapture the east 

Fighting shakes Aleppo as ceasefire expires

Qatar announced three days of national mourning after the former Emir Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani, who was deposed in a palace coup, died aged 84.
	The former ruler, the grandfather of the current Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, died yesterday, according to an official statement from the royal palace.
	During his time as leader from 1972 to 1995, he oversaw the transformation of modern-day Qatar into an energy-rich country -- where the phenomenal wealth from gas an oil exports transformed the tiny Gulf state.
	"His highness father Emir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani passed away on the evening of Sunday October 23, 2016, at the age of 84 years," read the official statement.
	"His highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has ordered public mourning across the country for three days."
	No further details were given about the circumstances of his death.
	Among the first officials to respond to the news in Doha was the Australian ambassador to Qatar Axel Wabenhorst, who tweeted his ...

Qatar's former emir dies aged 84

Nigerian troops have thwarted an attempted hijack of a vessel in the restive Niger Delta and separately arrested five pipeline vandals, a spokesman said today.
	"Troops of Operation Base 2 repelled a hijack of a vessel (MT VAJARA) by heavily armed bandits in Ramos River, around Agge area of Delta state," Lieutenant Commander Thomas Otuji said in a statement.
	He said the pirates were repelled last week after a fierce exchange of fire with government troops.
	Ship hijackings have become more frequent since President Muhammadu Buhari last year announced he was winding down an amnesty to former militants in the oil-rich Niger delta region.
	Otuji also said five people were arrested on October 17 and 18 near oil wellheads around the port city of Warri.
	"Five suspected vandals were arrested and they confessed to their plan to vandalise the wellheads," he said, adding that two boats were recovered during the operation.
	He said the military was committed to making the entire Niger Delta ...

AFP

AFP

Page 1376 - Afp