US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov held face-to-face talks today for the first time since Washington halted their bilateral push for peace in Syria.
	The pair met in a Lausanne hotel shortly before they were to take part in a broader gathering with regional players to relaunch international efforts to end the Syrian war, officials said.
	After talking for 40 minutes, Kerry and Lavrov joined envoys from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Qatar to seek ideas on how to end the conflict.
	Previously, Russia and the United States had pursued a joint effort to impose a ceasefire, but this broke down when Syria's Bashar al-Assad launched an assault on rebel-held east Aleppo.
	Kerry has since accused Russian-led forces of taking part in the regime's bombing of hospitals and homes and has put an end to the bilateral track -- while still remaining in close contact with Moscow.
	Ahead of today's talks, a senior US official travelling with ...

Kerry, Lavrov meet briefly before Syria talks

PTI Automatic

The new McVatican comes with a side order of outrage.
	Plans to open a McDonald's next to Saint Peter's Square in Rome have angered cardinals, including a group of the red- hatted "Princes of the Church" who live above the proposed site.
	"It's a controversial, perverse decision to say the least," Cardinal Elio Sgreccia said in an interview with La Repubblica daily today.
	Opening a branch of the US fast-food chain in a piazza to the right of the Vatican's basilica is "by no means respectful of the architectural traditions of one of the most characteristic squares which look onto the colonnade of Saint Peters," he said.
	Sgreccia does not live in the building but was speaking on behalf of the seven cardinals who do reside above the site, which covers 538 square metres, and is being rented out by ASPA, the authority in charge of the Vatican's real estate.
	One angry cardinal has even written a letter to Pope Francis urging him to intervene against a commercial decision which would ...

Cardinals angered over Vatican McDonalds

Turkey has angrily reacted to the cancellation of a panel in Sweden about the failed July coup attempt seeking to oust the government from power, calling it a "blow" to the freedom of expression.
	The panel "July 15th - Behind the Scene of the Bloody Coup" had been planned to take place in Stockholm yesterday.
	The office of the Turkish prime minister, in a statement late yesterday, condemned the cancellation and said it was the result of "interference by some Swedish parliamentarians."
	"The cancellation of the panel planned to inform the international community on the treacherous coup attempt of July 15 against Turkey's democracy and parliamentarian system, and the prevention of Turkish journalists from making a statement contradicts with Sweden's tradition as the country with the world's oldest piece of legislation on the freedom of media," the statement said.
	The panel should have taken place in a small school of a Stockholm district. Local authorities claim they cancelled the ...

Turkey condemns cancellation of coup panel in Sweden

A week of violent clashes between rival forces in northern Somalia has killed 11 people and forced more than 50,000 to flee, the UN humanitarian agency said today.
	Tensions between the rival regions of Puntland and Galmudug soared last month after Galmudug said 13 of its soldiers were killed in a misdirected US airstrike which was supposed to be targeting Shabaab fighters.
	Galmudug immediately accused its neighbour of prompting the strike by feeding Washington false information, sparking a deadly standoff between the rival regions.
	On October 7, clashes erupted in Galkayo, a town divided between the two administrations and rival clans, with Puntland accusing Galmudug forces of staging an attack in retaliation for the US strike.
	"At least 11 people were killed and dozens wounded between October 7 and October 13," Tapiwa Gomo, Somalia spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told AFP.
	He added that a peace agreement signed on October 9 had ...

11 dead, 50,000 displaced in week of Somali bloodshed: UN

Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza could contain two previously unknown "cavities", scientists using radiography to scan the millennia-old monument said today.
	On Thursday, the antiquities ministry cautiously announced finding "two anomalies" in the pyramid built 4,500 years ago under King Khufu, with further tests to determine their function, nature and size.
	At 146 metres tall, Khufu pyramid, named after the son of pharaoh Snefru, is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
	It has three known chambers, and like other pyramids in Egypt was intended as a pharaoh's tomb.
	"We are now able to confirm the existence of a 'void' hidden behind the north face, that could have the form of at least one corridor going inside the Great Pyramid," scientists from Operation ScanPyramids said in a statement.
	Another "cavity" was discovered on the pyramid's northeast flank, said the researchers who are using radiography and 3D reconstruction for their study.
	Operation ScanPyramids ...

Experts discover 'cavities' in Egypt's Great Pyramid

Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters were today advancing on the town of Dabiq to retake it from Islamic State jihadists, the Turkish president said.
	After Jarabulus and Al-Rai in Syria, "we are now advancing. Where? To Dabiq," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in televised comments in the Black Sea province of Rize.
	Turkey launched an unprecedented operation inside Syria on August 24 to cleanse its frontier from IS jihadists and Syrian Kurdish militia forces.
	In the early weeks of the operation, Jarabulus and Al-Rai were the first two major settlements to be captured from IS by Turkey-backed rebels.
	Dabiq holds symbolic importance for IS because of a Sunni prophecy that states it will be the site of an end-of-times battle between Christian forces and Muslims.
	The Syrian rebels, supported by the Turkish planes and tanks, are 2.5 kilometres from Dabiq, according to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
	"Two hours ago, the rebels started their attack to ...

Turk-backed Syria fighters advancing on IS-held Dabiq: Erdogan

President Francois Hollande invoked the spirit of national unity today as he led tributes to 86 people killed in a jihadist truck attack in Nice on Bastille Day.
	Today's ceremonies in the Riviera resort city had been postponed until a day after the three-month anniversary because of storms in the region.
	"What was attacked on July 14 was national unity," Hollande told hundreds of victims' relatives and officials invited to the ceremony.
	"It is the monstrous aim of the terrorists, to attack some in order to terrify others, to unleash violence in order to sow division... Well, I tell you, no, this evil enterprise will fail," he said.
	"In some families, three generations were swept away," Hollande said, as he described "the entire nation's compassion and solidarity" for mourning relatives.
	The July 14 attack saw a 31-year-old Tunisian extremist ram a 19-tonne truck into a crowd of 30,000 holiday revellers on the Promenade des Anglais seafront before police shot him dead.
	More than .

Hollande invokes unity at ceremony for Nice attack

A leading Syrian opposition group slammed international talks today in Lausanne aimed at ending the five-year war, as warplanes pressed fierce raids on second city Aleppo.
	Abdal Ahad Stefo, deputy head of the Istanbul-based National Coalition opposition body, told AFP the talks "will only lead to wasting more time, further procrastination, and the shedding of more Syrian blood".
	Key global players, including the top diplomats from Russia and the United States, will meet in Switzerland today for last-ditch talks aimed at ending Syria's five-year war.
	UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, Iran's chief diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif, and foreign ministers from rebel-backing countries like Qatar are also expected to attend.
	But Stefo said the meeting would fail to make any progress as no Syrians were invited.
	"The absence of Syrians from these preparatory meetings is one of the problems that has complicated and confused (the path to) a political solution," he said.
	"The common ...

Syrian opposition slams Lausanne talks as 'procrastination'

The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemeni rebels said today that one of its warplanes had "wrongly targeted" a funeral in the capital Sanaa that killed more than 140 people, and announced disciplinary proceedings.
	"Because of non-compliance with coalition rules of engagement and procedures, and the issuing of incorrect information, a coalition aircraft wrongly targeted the location, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries," an inquiry team found.
	"Appropriate action... Must be taken against those who caused the incident, and... Compensation must be offered to the families of the victims."
	The October 8 strike prompted an international outcry and strong criticism even from Saudi Arabia's closest Western allies.

Saudi-led coalition says it 'wrongly targeted' Yemen funeral

South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog has called for the prompt release of a potentially explosive report into allegations President Jacob Zuma allowed a powerful Indian business family undue political sway over him.
	Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's call came after Zuma launched last-minute court action delaying the release, saying he had not had time to respond to questions about so-called "state capture" by the Gupta family which stands accused of wielding so much power it was even able to nominate a cabinet minister.
	"I disagree with those who say the 'state capture' investigation was not urgent," Madonsela told reporters.
	"This matter has created so much fracture in the executive and in the country, it was necessary for the investigation to be done and to be done fast so that any cloud is cleared."
	The report was expected to be released yesterday, the last day in office for Madonsela, who has regularly clashed with the president.
	The Guptas - brothers Ajay, Atul and ...

S Africa watchdog calls for Zuma graft report release

Libya's UN-backed unity government has suffered a blow in its Tripoli base when a rival seized key offices in the capital and proclaimed the reinstatement of the former administration.
	The Government of National Accord (GNA) is the centrepiece of Western hopes to stem an upsurge of jihadism in the North African nation and halt people trafficking across the Mediterranean that has led to thousands of drownings.
	It was intended to replace two rival administrations, one in Tripoli and one in the eastern Cyrenaica region.
	But late yesterday the head of the former Tripoli-based Government of National Salvation, Khalifa Ghweil, proclaimed its reinstatement from the offices of a key consultative body of the GNA.
	Ghweil has never accepted the legitimacy of the UN-backed government which took control of the administration in Tripoli in April.
	He is subject to international sanctions, renewed by the European Union just last month.
	In his statement, he declared all members of the GNA ...

Blow to Libya unity government as rival seizes offices

Egypt's military has launched air strikes against jihadist targets in the Sinai Peninsula, the army said, after the Islamic State group killed 12 soldiers at a checkpoint.
	The northern Sinai is a stronghold of the Sunni extremists, who have killed hundreds of soldiers and police since the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
	Yesterday's attack saw mortar rounds and rockets fired at an army post west of El-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai, according to officials.
	The military said in a televised statement that its aircraft had taken off at dawn today for a reconnaissance and bombing mission that lasted several hours and was still ongoing.
	It said the strikes targeted hideouts of armed extremists involved in yesterday's assault, adding that a number of the jihadists were killed and weapons destroyed.
	The military has poured troops into the peninsula in recent years to battle the insurgency.
	IS has also targeted foreigners in Egypt and claimed ...

Egyptian air strikes hit jihadists after deadly attack

The Philippines faces what could be "the most damaging" storm this year as Typhoon Sarika headed for the archipelago's heavily-populated main island, officials said today.
	Sarika, packing maximum winds of 180 kilometres per hour, has already knocked out all power and telephone lines on the eastern island of Catanduanes, the civil defence office said.
	While the storm is not the most powerful to hit the country this year, it could cause the most damage as it will cross heavily-populated areas just north of Manila, said government weather forecaster Benison Estareja.
	"We can see from the radar that the storm is very destructive. It can destroy wooden houses, it can topple trees. It can possibly rip off roofs," he told AFP.
	"This could so far, be the most damaging typhoon this year," Estareja said.
	Sarika is forecast to hit the province of Aurora on the east coast of the main island of Luzon before dawn tomorrow, he said.
	It is expected to cross central Luzon before heading out to ..

Philippines faces 'most damaging typhoon': forecaster

Syrian pro-government forces used intense air strikes as cover for an advance in the battleground city of Aleppo ahead of fresh diplomatic talks on today to end the conflict.
	The United States and Russia, which support opposite sides in the five-year war, will meet in Switzerland to try to resurrect the peace process.
	Moscow has faced rising international criticism over its backing for President Bashar al-Assad's onslaught in divided Aleppo, including Western accusations of possible war crimes.
	Violence has continued unabated in the northern city, once Syria's commercial hub but now ravaged by Russian and regime air strikes in support of a major government offensive against rebels.
	The meeting comes after leading charities called today for a ceasefire in the battered city, issuing a joint plea "to establish a ceasefire of at least 72 hours in east Aleppo".
	"This will allow the sick and wounded to be evacuated, and for food and medical aid to enter the besieged area," said a ...

Pro-govt gains in Aleppo ahead of key Syria talks

An American NGO worker was kidnapped in the Niger town of Abalak, northeast of the capital Niamey, before being taken by his abductors to Mali, a security source told AFP.
	"It is too early to determine the identity of the kidnappers, who have returned to Mali. The authorities have put the region on maximum alert", the source said, asking not to be named.
	Niger's long, porous borders make it occasionally vulnerable to the armed violence that has rocked neighbouring states including Mali in recent years.
	Northern Mali, which fell under the control of Al-Qaeda-linked jihadi groups in 2012 before a French-led military intervention pushed them out, remains subject to attacks by jihadists.
	"At least two people were killed during an exchange of gunfire" as the hostage was being taken, the source said, without revealing the identity of the victims.
	"All roads to Mali are being monitored," the source added.
	It is the first time that a US national has been kidnapped in Niger. A US State ..

American NGO worker kidnapped in Niger: security source

Vice President Joe Biden dismissed suggestions that the White House has failed to respond to Russian meddling in the US election, cryptically stating that Washington would be sending Moscow "a message" regarding its alleged hacking.
	In an NBC interview excerpt released yesterday, Biden paused and gave a wry smile when asked why the US has not acted a week after US officials formally accused the Russian government of trying to interfere with the 2016 White House race.
	"We're sending a message" to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden said, smiling and nodding his head gently.
	"We have the capacity to do it and the message will be sent. He'll know it and it will be at the time of our choosing and under the circumstances that have the greatest impact."
	Asked whether the public will know, Biden responded tersely: "I hope not."
	Officials have in the past said any cyberattacks on important US institutions would prompt a response, which could take the form of diplomatic or economic ...

Biden: We're sending a message' to Putin

Fourteen years ago Azhar Ali came on as a substitute fielder to see Inzamam-ul-Haq score an epic triple hundred in Lahore and wished he could emulate the legendary Pakistan batsman in future.
     On Friday Ali notched his own with an unbeaten 302 against West Indies in the second ever day-night Test in Dubai to join a select league of batsmen.
     But what distinguishes the 31-year-old from the rest of the triple centurions is that he became the first batsman in day-night Test cricket to achieve the landmark.
     "I still remember I was sent to the ground as a substitute fielder on the day when Inzamam scored that epic triple century," said Ali of Inzamam's 329 against New Zealand in Lahore in May 2002.
     "Now I have my own and it's a great achievement for which I am proud and can't explain my feelings. It is something which I will remember my whole life," said Ali whose innings guided Pakistan to an imperious 579-3 declared.
     His was the fourth triple hundred by a Pakistani 

Azhar's journey from sub to triple centurion

At least 14 pro-government fighters were killed in clashes with the Islamic State group in the jihadists' former Libya bastion of Sirte, a medical source said.
	"Fighting today began at 9am (0700 GMT) and the toll to now is 13 dead and 25-30 wounded," hospital official Abdellatif Abdel Ali said yesterday.
	One fighter, who was shot, later died after being operated upon.
	Ali said the majority of those killed were shot in the head by sniper fire.
	Forces allied with Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) have cornered IS fighters in Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli, since launching an offensive on May 12.
	After a pause in fighting on Thursday, pro-GNA fighters resumed the battle against IS holdouts in a seaside residential district of Sirte.
	At least three US air strikes hit IS positions yesterday, an AFP journalist in the city said.
	A pro-government forces commander told AFP that IS snipers were slowing the anti-jihadist advance.
	"These gunmen are ..

14 dead as pro-govt fighters squeeze IS in Libya's Sirte

Scores at close on the second day of the first day-night Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Dubai stadium today:
	Pakistan, first innings (overnight 279-1)
	   Sami Aslam b Chase                        90
	   Azhar Ali not out                        302
	   Asad Shafiq c and b Bishoo                67
	   Babar Azam c Holder b Bishoo              69
	   Misbah-ul-Haq not out                     29
	   Extras: (b1, lb9, nb11, w1)               22
	   Total: (for three wkts; 155.3 overs dec) 579
	   To bat: Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan
	   Fall of wickets: 1-215 (Aslam), 2-352 (Shafiq), 3-517 (Azam)
	   Bowling: Gabriel 22-3-99-0 (10nb), Cummins 25-2-99-0 (1w), Holder 25-4-73-0, Brathwaite 14-2-56-0, Bishoo 35-4-125-2, Chase 33-2-109-1, Blackwood 1.3-0-8-0
	   West Indies Ist innings
	   K. Brathwaite not out                     32
	   L. Johnson lbw b Shah                     15
	   D. Bravo not out                          ...

Cricket: Pak v West Indies first Test scoreboard

Opener Azhar Ali smashed a maiden triple hundred to put Pakistan firmly in control against the West Indies in the first day-night Test in Dubai today.
	Ali's epic unbeaten 302 guided Pakistan to 579-3 declared before the West Indies closed the second day on 69-1, still needing another 311 to avoid the follow-on with opener Kraigg Brathwaite (32) and Darren Bravo, on 14 not out, fighting at the crease.
	They lost Leon Johnson leg-before in leg-spinner Yasir Shah's second over for 15 but negotiated the pace-cum-spin attack well for 22 overs.
	It was Ali who stole the limelight in this second ever day-night Test with a career-best score that was spread over 645 minutes of dominating batting, albeit on a flat Dubai stadium pitch.
	It is only the third Test triple century against the West Indies, after Andy Sandham of England and late Pakistan great Hanif Mohammad, making Pakistan's 400th Test, and his own 50th, a memorable occasion.
	In all Ali smashed 23 boundaries and two sixes and put .

Cricket: Pakistan dominate day-night Test after Azhar's 302

Twitter shares nose-dived today after the Financial Times reported a top suitor walked away, making it likely the one-to-many messaging service will be left to fly solo.
	Salesforce.Com has ruled out bidding for Twitter, with chief executive Marc Benioff quoted as telling the financial daily that "we've walked away" because it wasn't a proper fit.
	Twitter shares were down more than six percent to USD 16.68 in early afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
	The tumble came a week after Twitter shares went into a tailspin due to reports that the list of promising suitors was dwindling,  with Disney, Apple and Google parent Alphabet not planning any merger moves.
	Salesforce was seen as the most likely remaining contender. Twitter was believed to still be interested in a merger, but the prospects of a match have seemingly grown dim.
	After falling to its lowest point ever earlier this year, Twitter shares were boosted recently on hopes the company will gain traction or a make a 

AFP

AFP

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