An Israeli Arab couple appeared in an Israeli court today on "terror" charges for going to Iraq with their children and joining the Islamic State group, officials said.
	It was the first known case of an entire Israeli Arab family joining up with the jihadist organisation, said a spokeswoman for the Shin Bet domestic security agency.
	Wissam, 41, and Sabreen Zbedat, 30, from the northern Israeli town of Sakhnin, flew to Romania in June 2015 with their children aged three, six and eight, the Shin Bet and Israeli police said in statements.
	From there they travelled to Turkey, Syria and on to Iraq, where IS recruited them, the authorities said.
	The police said it was Sabreen, the wife, who convinced her husband to join and he then received religious instruction and military training before going into combat.
	Wounded in the leg, he was hospitalised in the IS stronghold of Mosul where his family was staying.
	Sabreen worked at a hospital in the northern city and the children attended ...

Israeli Arab family accused of joining IS in Iraq

PTI Automatic

Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump said today that he would accept a "clear election result" next month, but reserved the right to challenge the outcome if he felt it was "questionable."
	Trump stuck firm to his unprecedented defiance of US democratic norms, telling supporters: "I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election -- if I win."
	But he went on to say: "I will accept a clear election result, but I will also reserve my right to contest and file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable result.

Trump says will only accept 'clear election result'

Supporters of Israel from across the globe marched in Jerusalem today, two days after UNESCO backed a resolution which Israel said denied Judaism's connection to the city.
	Thousands marched through the largely closed centre of Jerusalem as part of the annual Jerusalem March, an important part of the Sukkot Jewish holiday.
	Groups carried flags from dozens of countries, including the United States, Brazil and Thailand, with many visiting as part of Christian delegations.
	A large group of Chinese marchers waved their flag alongside signs saying "We stand with Israel" while a British group sang "We love you Israel, we do".
	Israelis from across the country also took part.
	Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said thousands of people attended, without giving a specific number, while 3,500 police officers were deployed across Jerusalem to protect the march and other key sites during the Sukkot festival, which lasts a week.
	Shlomo Milevsky, an Orthodox Jew watching the march, said it was ...

Thousands march in Jerusalem in support of Israel

Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank shot dead a Palestinian teenager who hurled rocks at a patrol today, the army said.
	"Rocks were hurled at the soldiers, wounding one of them lightly," a spokeswoman told AFP, adding that the soldiers first fired warning shots "and then (fired) toward the suspect resulting in his death."
	The incident occurred in the Beit Ummar area near the city of Hebron.
	The Palestinian health ministry named the dead stronethrower as Khaled Bahar, 15.
	Violence since October 2015 has killed 235 Palestinians, 36 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese national, according to an AFP count.
	Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities.
	Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
	Israeli police today defended officers who shot dead a 19-year-old Palestinian accused of trying to stab them, ...

Israeli troops shoot dead Palestinian stonethrower: army

Turkish warplanes carried out deadly strikes on US-backed militias in northern Syria, including Syrian Kurdish fighters, a monitor said today, action that is likely to raise tensions between the NATO allies.
	The army, quoted by the official news agency Anadolu, said the raids hit 18 targets north of the battered Syrian city of Aleppo, areas recently recaptured by the People's Protection Units (YPG) from the Islamic State group.
	It said the raids killed between 160 and 200 YPG militants.
	The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in Beirut, however, put the toll much lower at at least 11 fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-- a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters -- killed and 24 wounded.
	Tensions between the US and its NATO ally Turkey have heightened over Ankara's actions against the YPG, which Washington views as an effective force against IS in Syria.
	Ankara has repeatedly said it will not allow a "terror corridor" on its southern border and wants to ...

Deadly Turkish raids on US-backed Syrian Kurd fighters

Kurdish forces launched a major assault today on a town held by the Islamic State group near Mosul, opening a new front in the offensive to wrest back the jihadists' last Iraqi bastion.
	Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told an international meeting in Paris that the four-day-old offensive was "advancing faster than expected".
	France and Iraq were co-chairing the meeting on the future of Mosul, which observers have warned could raise even greater humanitarian and interconfessional challenges than the massive military operation to retake it.
	In some areas, the Iraqi advance was met by a trickle of civilians fleeing both the fighting and the jihadists who ruled them for two years, but the feared mass exodus from Mosul had yet to materialise.
	The main target of the latest Kurdish push was the town of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul. Iraqi forces also pressed assaults towards the city from the east and south.
	"The objectives are to clear a number of nearby villages and secure control of ...

Kurds attack IS-held town as Mosul battle rages

Scattered clashes between rebels and pro-government forces undermined a fragile ceasefire in Yemen today as global pressure intensified for a lasting truce in a country where millions are homeless and hungry.
	At least 11 people were killed on the first day of the UN-brokered ceasefire, despite all parties insisting they will pause the fighting.
	The truce, for an initial period of three days, took effect shortly before midnight yesterday to allow sorely needed aid deliveries.
	A Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in March 2015 to support the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after Huthi rebels overran much of the impoverished country on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
	Saudi Arabia and Washington accuse Iran of arming the insurgents allied with forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, charges Tehran denies, and the conflict has stoked tensions between the rival Middle East powers.
	The coalition and Hadi both vowed to abide by the ceasefire despite ...

Sporadic fighting strains fragile Yemen truce

Shares of eBay plunged while American Express rallied following earnings reports, as US stocks treaded water today in early trading.
	Online marketplace eBay fell nearly 10 per cent on disappointment over its sales outlook for the key holiday quarter.
	Meanwhile, American Express jumped 8.9 per cent as it lifted its full-year forecast following better-than-expected third quarter net profits.
	The mixed earnings came as the European Central Bank kept rates on hold, as expected, while ECB President Mario Draghi dismissed talk of winding down the bank's massive stimulus program, which he said was not discussed by policymakers.
	About 45 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 18,229.77, up 0.2 per cent.
	The broad-based S&P 500 rose less than 0.1 per cent to 2,144.38, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.1 per cent to 5,243,51.
	Dow member Verizon dropped 21 per cent as third-quarter net income fell 10.2 per cent to USD 3.8 billion as it cited the ...

AmEx, eBay go in opposite directions; US stocks flat

The UN today warned anew of a deteriorating crisis of displacement in Afghanistan as the conflict escalates, imploring the government and international donors to step up support especially for a "lost generation" of children.
	More than 323,000 Afghans were internally displaced across the country in the first 10 months of this year, according to UN agencies, in a continuation of an upward trend over the last four years.
	"Warnings by humanitarian partners suggest that many more IDPs could be displaced by the end of the year, yet attention and resources allocated to their needs seem to be waning rather than increasing," UN special rapporteur Chaloka Beyani said in Kabul.
	"The displacement picture in Afghanistan is changing as the conflict evolves and intensifies.
	"Displacement is becoming more protracted for more people as the security situation has led many to make the difficult decision not to return to their homes."
	Beyani called on the Afghan government and its international ...

UN warns of displacement crisis in Afghanistan

Lebanon's former prime minister Saad Hariri today endorsed the presidential bid of political rival Michel Aoun, paving the way for the ex-army chief to take the top post.
	"I announce today before you my decision to endorse the candidacy of general Michel Aoun for the presidency of the republic," Hariri said.
	He described his decision as necessary to "protect Lebanon, protect the (political) system, protect the state and protect the Lebanese people."
	The key endorsement looks likely to end a void in Lebanon's presidency that has lasted since May 2014, with the country's deeply divided parliament unable to agree a successor to Michel Sleiman.
	The endorsement comes as a surprise, with speculation that it is the result of a deal that will allow Hariri to return as prime minister.
	Hariri, a Sunni Muslim whose party leads a Western- and Saudi-backed political bloc, had fiercely opposed Aoun's candidacy.
	Aoun is allied with the Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and has 

Lebanon's Aoun set for presidency after key endorsement

Theresa May vowed today that Britain will play a full part in the European Union until it leaves, as the bloc's president promised the prime minister's first EU summit would be a "nest of doves".
	The Conservative leader will use the meeting in Brussels to update EU counterparts on her plan to start formal exit talks by the end of March, paving the way for Britain to leave the bloc by early 2019.
	But as she arrived to take the seat formerly occupied by David Cameron, she made clear Brexit was not the only issue on the table, calling for a "robust and united" EU response to Russia's "atrocities" in Syria.
	"The UK is leaving the EU but we will continue to play a full role until we leave and we'll be a strong and dependable partner after we've left," she told reporters.
	May was excluded from last month's summit of 27 leaders in Bratislava, but EU president Donald Tusk played down speculation that the two day meeting in Brussels would be a frosty affair.
	"Some media described her ...

UK PM seeks to calm Brexit fears in EU 'nest of doves'

British lawmakers today approved a motion recommending billionaire tycoon Philip Green be stripped of his knighthood following the collapse of department store chain BHS, which cost 11,000 jobs.
	MPs in the House of Commons unanimously backed the non-binding motion that Green's knighthood be "cancelled and annulled" after a debate in which they accused Green of stripping BHS assets.
	When it collapsed in June, BHS had debts totalling more than 1.3 billion pounds including a 571-million pound deficit in its pension fund.
	MPs earlier called on Green to "urgently" address the shortfalls in a pension fund of 20,000 former employees.
	BHS, which sold clothing and homeware, failed to keep pace with traditional rivals such as Marks & Spencer and online giants like Amazon, resulting in a major loss of market share.
	The 88-year-old company had 163 stores and 74 franchise operations across 18 countries.
	Green bought BHS in 2000 for 200 million pounds and sold it in 2015 for 1 pound to ...

British MPs recommend retail tycoon Green lose knighthood

Global wine production this year is expected to be among the lowest for 20 years, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine said today.
	Production is likely to reach 259 million hectolitres - a decrease of 5 per cent compared with 2015 - which ranks among the three poorest years since 2000, according to the OIV's early estimates revealed at a Paris press conference.
	But it said country production figures were "highly contrasting" and blamed the topsy-turvy picture on "climatic events".
	Italy confirmed its place as the leading world producer with 48.8 hectolitres, having knocked France off the top spot in 2015.
	France came in second with 41.9 million hectolitres in 2016, following a sharp fall of 12 per cent.
	Of the top three producing nations, the OIV expects only Spain to show growth in 2016, with a one-percent year-on-year rise to 37.8 million hectolitres.
	The United States is fourth with 22.5 million hectolitres, a rise of 2 per cent, and Australia is the world's ...

Wine production to fall worldwide in 2016: industry body

Europe's second attempt at reaching the Mars surface appeared in peril today as initial analysis suggested a lander dubbed "Schiaparelli", a test-run for a future rover, may have plummeted to its demise.
	While holding out faint hope, ground controllers said it seemed the paddling pool-sized lander's parachute may have been discarded too early, and its fall-breaking thrusters switched off too soon.
	Schiaparelli fell silent seconds before its scheduled touchdown, while its mothership Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) entered Mars' orbit as planned -- part of a joint European-Russian quest for evidence of life on the Red Planet, past or present.
	"We are not in a position yet to determine the dynamic condition at which the lander touched the ground," European Space Agency (ESA) head of solar and planetary missions Andrea Accomazzo told a webcast press briefing at mission control in Darmstadt, Germany.
	Further analysis must be done of some 600 megabytes of data Schiaparelli sent home before its .

Did Europe's Mars lander survive? Time will tell: ESA

One of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit the Philippines killed at least eight people today as ferocious gales and landslides destroyed tens of thousands of homes.
	Super Typhoon Haima struck late last night with winds similar to those of catastrophic Haiyan in 2013, which was then the strongest storm to strike the disaster-prone Southeast Asian archipelago and claimed more than 7,350 lives.
	Haima then roared across mountain and farming communities of the northern regions of the main island of Luzon overnight, causing widespread destruction and killing at least eight people, authorities said.
	"We were frightened because of the strong winds. There was no power, no help coming," Jovy Dalupan, 20, told AFP as she sheltered at nightfall on the side of a highway in San Pablo, a badly damaged town of 20,000 people in Isabela province.
	Dalupan, her two young daughters and husband, were forced to flee to the highway along with their neighbours during the height of the storm when their 

Super typhoon kills at least eight in Philippines

World Cup 2022 host Qatar, long criticised over the treatment of its vast migrant workforce, has decided to establish a panel to oversee labour disputes, state media reported today.
	The ministry of administrative development, labour and social affairs will set up the committee, with a judge at its head. Two ministry officials will also sit on the panel, under a cabinet decision.
	"The committee is charged with settling all disputes related to the provisions of the labour law or a work contract in a period not exceeding three weeks," a statement on the Qatar News Agency said.
	An appeals committee, also headed by a judge, will be established as well.
	The cabinet's decision taken at its weekly meeting yesterday is the latest labour reform announced by Qatar.
	The government has introduced a three-month amnesty - that expires in December - for illegal undocumented workers in Qatar to leave the Gulf country.
	And at the end of this year, Doha is expected to announce long-awaited changes 

Qatar to set up labour dispute panel

Scores at stumps on the opening
day of the first Test between Bangladesh and England at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Thursday:
     England first innings
     A. Cook b Shakib 4
     B. Duckett b Mehedi 14
     J. Root c Sabbir b Mehedi 40
     G. Ballance lbw b Mehedi 1
     M. Ali c Rahim b Mehedi 68
     B. Stokes b Shakib 18
     J. Bairstow b Mehedi 52
     C. Woakes not out 36
     A. Rashid not out 5
     Extras (b14, lb4, w2) 20
     Total (seven wickets, 92 overs) 258
     Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Duckett), 2-18 (Cook), 3-21 (Ballance), 4-83 (Root), 5-106 (Stokes), 6-194 (Moeen) , 7-237 ( Bairstow).
     Bowling (to date): Shafiul 9-1-33-0, Mehedi 33-6-64-5, Kamrul 8-0-41-0 (w2), Shakib 19-6-46-2, Taijul 17-8-28-0, Sabbir 3-0-11-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-17-0, Mominul 1-1-0-0.

Chittagong, Oct 20 (AFP) Scores at stumps on the opening

Senior batsman Younis Khan wants India and Pakistan to set aside their strained relations and resume five-day matches as both are giants of the game.
     "It's my wish to play a Test in Pakistan again, play against India and against all top teams," Younis told reporters in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
     "India and Pakistan are two giants of cricket -- one number one and the other number two -- so whatever the situation between the two nations it must be forgotten and cricket should be played, people want to watch them play."
     There has been no Test cricket between the two nations since 2007. Bilateral cricket ties were severed in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which New Delhi blamed on militants based in Pakistan.
     Pakistan did tour India in December 2012-January 2013 for a short limited over series but that failed to revive full ties, including Tests.
     The two countries have come close to war since last month's attacks on a military base in Indian-administered ...

Younis wants India, Pakistan to resume Tests

Teenage debutant Mehedi Hasan claimed five wickets for 64 runs to stun England's top order and give Bangladesh the upper hand in the first Test in Chittagong on Thursday.
     Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow scored half-centuries each as England reached 258-7 at stumps on the first day, after skipper Alastair Cook elected to bat first at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium.
     Moeen survived five reviews on his way to smashing 68 runs and Bairstow made 52 as England steadied against some superb bowling from Bangladesh's spinners to post a respectable score.
     Chris Woakes was 36 not out and Adil Rashid unbeaten on five.
     Experienced left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan finished the day with 2-46 to complement the 18-year-old Mehedi, who became the seventh Bangladeshi bowler to take five wickets in his Test debut.
     Mehedi, named player of the tournament at the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, made an immediate impression, bowling Ben Duckett for 14 before trapping Gary ...

Bangladesh debutant teenager puts England in a spin

European Union countries have recorded a surge in citizenship applications from Britons in the wake of the country's vote to leave the bloc, figures gathered by the Guardian newspaper showed today.
	More than 2,800 Britons applied for citizenship in the 18 countries who provided data during the first eight months of 2016 - a 250 per cent increase on the same period in 2015.
	Denmark recorded the sharpest post-referendum spike, noting a tenfold increase in applications from 30 to 300.
	Italy, Ireland and Sweden also reported a sharp rise in applications following the June 23 vote, which has thrown into severe doubt the ability of Britons to move freely between European Union nations.
	Applicant Ravi Bhatiani, who has been living in Brussels for nine years, told the Guardian that Brexit was the prime driver behind the spike.
	"I started the application process on 24 June, the day after the EU referendum," he said.
	"As soon as there was a risk to the freedom of movement and therefore a .

Post-Brexit spike in EU citizenship applications by Britons

Spain's Constitutional Court today cancelled a ban on bullfighting in the region of Catalonia, in what is likely to exacerbate tensions between animal activists and fans of the centuries-old tradition.
	In a statement, the court argued that bullfighting was classified as part of Spain's heritage, and therefore a decision whether to ban it pertained to the central government and not to semi-autonomous regions like Catalonia.
	It said it had declared the ban "unconstitutional and void."
	Catalonia's regional parliament voted in 2010 to ban bullfighting from January 1, 2012 after animal rights groups managed to garner 180,000 signatures for a petition demanding the debate.
	It was the first region in mainland Spain to ban the tradition, although the Canary Islands abolished bullfighting in 1991.
	Critics at the time argued that more than an animal rights issue, the ban was also politically-motivated in a region with its own language, a fierce sense of identity and a desire to seek ...

AFP

AFP

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