Turkey will start sending foreign jihadists back to their home countries next week, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told state news agency Anadolu on Friday.
"Now we are telling you that we are going to send them back to you. We are starting this on Monday," Soylu said, referring to members of the Islamic State group (IS).
Earlier this week, Soylu said Turkey had nearly 1,200 foreign members of IS in custody, and had captured 287 during its recent operation in northern Syria.
Turkey has criticised Western countries for refusing to repatriate their citizens who left to join IS in Syria and Iraq, and stripping some of them of their citizenship.
It remains unclear whether Turkey will be able to repatriate those who have lost their citizenship.
Although under the New York Convention of 1961, it is illegal to leave someone stateless, several countries, including Britain and France, have not ratified it, and recent cases have triggered prolonged legal battles.
Britain has stripped more ...

Turkey to send foreign IS jihadists home from Monday: minister

PTI Automatic

A Russian goat named Timur whose unusual friendship with a tiger won him nationwide fame, has died, the director of the safari park where the pair lived, said Friday.
"Timur's heart stopped beating on November 5," Dmitry Mezentsev, director of a safari park outside the Pacific port of Vladivostok, told AFP.
The billy goat, believed to be around five years old, was cremated and will be buried "with full honours", his keeper Elvira Golovina said in a statement.
The goat died of natural causes but his health deteriorated following an altercation with a male Siberian tiger he unexpectedly befriended in 2015, Mezentsev said.
In a story that captivated Russia, Timur was sent to the safari park as live prey for Amur the Siberian tiger.
But the tiger did not touch the billy goat when it entered the enclosure in late 2015 because the goat did not show any fear.
The two quickly became inseparable.  Mezentsev, who studies tigers and leopards, at the time described the unlikely friendship as ...

Russian goat who made unlikely friends with tiger dies

A Hong Kong student who sustained head injuries when he fell during clashes with police died on Friday, triggering a fresh wave of outrage from the pro-democracy movement and fears of more violent unrest.
Although the precise chain of events leading to 22-year-old Alex Chow's fall are unclear and disputed, his death is the first student fatality during five months of demonstrations.
Protesters, who have made alleged police brutality one of their movement's rallying cries, responded to Chow's death with tearful vigils on Friday night and calls for fresh rallies over the weekend.
"Today we mourn the loss of a freedom fighter in Hong Kong," Joshua Wong, a prominent pro-democracy campaigner, said on Twitter.
"The atmosphere in Hong Kong is like a ticking bomb," added Lo Kin-hei, a local pro-democracy councillor and activist. "HKers don't trust the police will give us the truth." Police have repeatedly denied any allegations of wrongdoing in relation to Chow's death.
The lead officer in ...

Hong Kong student's death triggers fresh outrage

British no-frills airline EasyJet on Friday said it had bought UK take-off and landing slots that belonged to collapsed travel group Thomas Cook.
EasyJet has paid 36 million pounds (USD 46 million, 42 million euros) for 12 summer and eight winter slot pairs at London's Gatwick airport - and for seven slot pairs in total at Bristol airport in western England.
"Contractual terms have concluded and the slots have been awarded to EasyJet," the group said in a brief statement.
EasyJet said it would provide further details in the airline's full-year results statement on November 19.
Thomas Cook, whose demise in September sparked 22,000 job losses worldwide, had struggled against fierce online competition for some time and blamed Brexit uncertainty for a drop in bookings before its collapse.
Chinese conglomerate Fosun has snapped up the Thomas Cook brand for 11 million pounds, while British travel agent Hays Travel bought all 555 of the UK-wide Thomas Cook stores.

EasyJet buys Thomas Cook airport slots

German luxury carmaker Daimler plans to cut 1,100 management jobs worldwide in fresh efforts to cut costs as it grapples with expensive recalls and a slowing global market, a German newspaper reported Friday.
The cull would see the Mercedes-Benz maker slash one tenth of all senior roles in Germany alone, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote, citing an email sent to staff by the group's works council.
Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius will unveil details of the layoffs at a capital markets day in London on Thursday, it said.
According to the daily, Kallenius will also ask German workers to refrain from asking for pay hikes as the group weathers headwinds from global trade tensions, costly recalls and a massive "dieselgate" fine.
Daimler refused to comment on the "speculations", saying in a statement that it remained "in a constructive dialogue with worker representatives".  But it warned that the group needed to take action to tackle "major challenges worldwide".
Like its rivals, the Stuttgart-based 

Daimler mulls slashing 1,100 senior jobs: report

An earthquake rocked northwestern Iran before dawn on Friday, killing at least five people and injuring more than 300 in crumbling and collapsed buildings.
The 5.9-magnitude quake struck at 1:17 am (local time) about 120 kilometres (75 miles) southeast of the city of Tabriz, in East Azerbaijan province, the Iranian Seismological Centre said.
Described as "moderate", the quake was eight kilometres (five miles) deep and was followed by five aftershocks.
The provincial governor, Mohammad-Reza Pourmohammadi, told Iranian media that rescue operations were underway in 41 villages, but the damage was largely concentrated in two, Varnakesh and Varzaghan.
According to the emergency services, nearly 340 people were admitted to hospital for treatment, but all but 17 were discharged by Friday noon.
Some 40 homes were levelled by the quake and over 200 head of cattle killed.  Around 100 injured residents were pulled out of the rubble of their damaged or flattened homes.
Around noon, emergency ...

Iran earthquake kills five, leaves 300 injured

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a stark warning against China and Russia on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, urging Western allies to defend hard-won freedoms.
"Western, free nations have a responsibility to deter threats to our people" from governments like China, Russia and Iran, Pompeo said, speaking just a few metres (yards) away from where the Wall ran past the German capital's world-famous Brandenburg Gate.
The US and its allies should "defend what was so hard-won... in 1989" and "recognise we are in a competition of values with unfree nations," he added.
Pompeo's visit came as Germany prepared to mark three decades since November 9, 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down, ultimately culminating in the collapse of the communist regime.
Highlighting sore spots in Washington's relationship with Berlin today, Pompeo said defending liberal democracy also means preventing "Europe's energy supplies... (from) depending on (Russian President ...

Pompeo warns against China, Russia on eve of Berlin Wall anniversary

Ruthless opening pair Aaron Finch and David Warner ran riot as Australia routed Pakistan by 10 wickets in Perth to wrap up their Twenty20 series 2-0 Friday in emphatic fashion.
After restricting the visitors to 106 for eight, Finch (52) and Warner (48) whacked five sixes and eight fours between them as they raced to the finish line without loss.
The home team won in Canberra by seven wickets, thanks to a brilliant 80 not out by Steve Smith, and were on track to also triumph in Sydney only for rain to save the visitors.
Their victory in Perth has them on an impressive eight-game winning streak in the short format as they build towards the T20 World Cup on home soil next year.
"Really proud of the boys with the way we applied ourselves in the last couple of weeks. Each time we turn up at training, we are improving ourselves and that is very important," said captain Finch.
"We are growing as a team and hopefully some big things to come."
In contrast, Pakistan are struggling and have now .

Australia crush Pakistan by 10 wickets in final T20

A mayor from Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party was arrested on Friday, accused of membership in a "terrorist organisation", according to state news agency Anadolu.
Azim Yacan, mayor of Ipekyolu in the province of Van in southeast Turkey, was arrested along with his deputy, and charged with "terrorist propaganda" and membership in the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).
Yacan is a member of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), the country's third-largest party.
The government has cracked down on the HDP in recent months over alleged links to the PKK, which has fought a bloody insurgency against the state since 1984.
Three recently-elected mayors were removed from office in August over alleged PKK ties. Three other mayors were arrested in October on similar charges.
The HDP was the only party to criticise Turkey's offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Syria last month, labelling it an "invasion".

Pro-Kurdish mayor arrested in Turkey

Counting was underway Friday in Mauritius following a strong turnout in an election to decide who will govern one of Africa's wealthiest and most stable democracies for the next five years.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth is seeking a popular mandate in the Indian Ocean nation after being installed in the top job when his father stepped down in 2017.
Electoral Commissioner Irfan Rahman said roughly three-quarters of the island's almost one million eligible voters turned out to cast their ballot in a peaceful election.  Ballots were being counted at official centres across the country, with a result expected later Friday.
Jugnauth, 57, faces two challengers who accuse the Jugnauth family of nepotism.  The prime minister asked voters to judge him on his short time in office, pointing to his record on modernising public infrastructure and economic reforms in the prosperous archipelago.
For the first time in decades, three distinct political blocs vied for power in the legislative ...

Counting begins in Mauritius election

The vocal critic that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has named to a lead role in his deadly drug war called on Friday for revamping the crackdown and ending its "senseless" killing.
Opposition leader Leni Robredo has regularly attacked Duterte's internationally condemned initiative, prompting the president to appoint her this week to a post supervising it.
Critics have warned the job to co-lead the committee overseeing the crackdown may be a trap to tarnish Robredo, but she has voiced hope that it is an opening for change.
"It's time to think about a new campaign which is more effective, but no one is dying senselessly," she said ahead of her first meeting with the body, that includes top law enforcement officials.
"I believe that in all police operations, anything can happen, but we oppose deliberate and planned killings of innocent people" added Robredo, who is vice president but was elected separately from Duterte.
Duterte rose to power in 2016 on a pledge to eliminate the ...

Philippine drug war critic vows end to 'senseless' killing

Former UEFA president Michel Platini is taking action to obtain substantial amounts of back pay as well as a bonus and legal fees, he told AFP on Friday.
According to sources close to Platini, whose four-year suspension from football ended in October, the former France international is seeking to recoup around 7.2 million euros ($7.9 million), including 5.5 million euros in back pay.
Platini did not confirm the amounts.
"Through my lawyer, I am asking for the contractual elements to be applied," Platini said.
A triple Ballon d'Or winner, Platini was expected to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in 2016 but fell spectacularly from grace a few months earlier.
The 64-year-old was suspended by world football's governing body in 2015 over a controversial payment of two million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, $2 million) that he received from Blatter.
The payment, made in 2011 when Blatter was seeking re-election as president, was related to work carried out by Platini between 1999 ...

Ex-UEFA chief Platini taking action to recoup back pay, legal fees

Scoreboard in the third and final Twenty20 international between Australia and Pakistan on Friday in Perth:
Pakistan
I. ul-Haq c McDermott b Abbott
14
B. Azam lbw Starc
6
M. Rizwan b Starc
0
H. Sohail c Richardson b Agar
8
I. Ahmed c Starc b Richardson
45
K. Shah c Starc b Richardson
8
I. Wasim c Agar b Abbott
6
S. Khan c Finch b Richardson
1
M. Amir not out
9
M. Hasnain not out
4
Extras (lb1, w4)
5
Total (eight wickets, 20 overs)  106
Did not bat: Muhammad Musa
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Azam), 2-15 (Rizwan), 3-22 (ul-Haq), 4-54 (Sohail), 5-69 (Shah), 6-88 (Wasim), 7-92 (Ahmed), 8-92 (Shadab) Bowling: Starc 4-0-29-2, Richardson 4-0-18-3, Stanlake 4-0-19-0, Abbott 4-0-14-2, Agar 4-0-25-1.

Australia v Pakistan third T20 scoreboard

Iftikhar Ahmed offered the only resistance as Australia's dominant bowlers restricted Pakistan to 106 for eight in the third and final Twenty20 on Friday.
The home team won the last game in Canberra by seven wickets, thanks to a brilliant 80 not out from Steve Smith, putting them 1-0 up after the opening clash in Sydney was abandoned due to rain.
With the series on the line in Perth, Australian skipper Aaron Finch sent Pakistan into bat after winning the toss, believing there was enough in the wicket for his bowlers to cause problems.
His instinct proved right with Ahmed's breezy 45 the only innings of note, with Kane Richardson snaring three wickets.
Skipper Babar Azam had been the standout for his team this series, hitting two consecutive 50s. But he fell early on a fast, bouncy pitch at Perth Arena, out lbw to Mitchell Starc for six.
The Australian quick then smashed the stumps of Mohammad Rizwan next ball with a searing inswinger, leaving Pakistan in trouble at 15 for two.
Opener .

Australia restrict Pakistan to 106 for eight in final T20

Chinese online retail titan Alibaba is hoping to raise up to USD 15 billion in a Hong Kong IPO, a report said Friday, which would be the city's biggest listing for nine years.
The share sale by Asia's biggest company would also come as Hong Kong authorities battle months of sometimes violent protests that have dented the financial hub's economy and reputation.
Alibaba is looking to scoop up between USD 10 billion and USD 15 billion in the initial public offering, Bloomberg News cited unnamed sources as saying, and is looking to hold a hearing into the move -- as mandated by the Hong Kong exchange rules -- next week.
The firm declined to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.
Alibaba, which is already listed on New York's Nasdaq, had planned to list in the summer but called it off owing to the city's long-running pro-democracy demonstrations and the China-US trade war.
If realised, the USD 15 billion IPO would be the biggest since insurance giant AIA garnered USD 20.5 billion in .

Alibaba sets eyes on USD 15 bn Hong Kong listing: report

A whirlwind century by Dawid Malan in a record-breaking stand with Eoin Morgan saw England crush New Zealand in the fourth Twenty20 by 76 runs in Napier on Friday to level the series with one game remaining.
Malan was unbeaten on 103 at the close of the England innings with Morgan out in the final over for 91 as England posted an imposing 241 for three and then rolled New Zealand for 165 with 19 balls remaining.
The overwhelming victory set up a winner-takes-all finale in the fifth and final game in Auckland on Sunday.
Malan's 48-ball century was the fastest T20 hundred by an Englishman, his 182-run stand with Morgan is the highest by an England pair and the 241 total is an England record.
Morgan's 21-ball 50 is also an England record.
"The message is always the same, play aggressively and back yourself," Malan said.
"It's not very often you have days like that when every time you have a hack at one it lands safe or goes for six. It's as good as it gets."
Between them, the two ...

Malan, Morgan blast England to overwhelming win over New Zealand

An Albanian boy taken by his mother to join the Islamic State group in Syria returned to his home in Italy on Friday, in the first such operation coordinated with Damascus.
"Little Alvin Berisha has arrived at Fiumicino (Rome) airport where he was reunited with his father and sister," Italian police said in a statement.
The Italian public has been avidly following the story of 11-year-old Alvin, who was born in Italy to Albanian parents, since it emerged last month he was living in a Kurdish-held camp in northeastern Syria.
The Albanian boy's mother was killed in fighting, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
A media report aired in October showed the emotional reunion between the boy and his father in the Al-Hol camp housing thousands of family members of suspected IS fighters.
An IFRC spokesman said on Thursday that an Albanian boy was on his way back from Al-Hol to his father in Italy.
"This started five years ago with the ...

IS-linked Albanian child arrives home to Italy from Syria camp

Tokyo Olympics organisers said Friday they will put around a million more tickets for the 2020 Games on sale this month, with seats up for grabs at the boxing for the first time.
But tickets for the Olympic marathon, which is controversially being shifted from Tokyo to the northern city of Sapporo over heat fears, will not be on offer.
The second online lottery, restricted to residents of Japan, will run from November 13 to 26 and will be the last time tickets are offered exclusively for residents of the host nation.
Additional rounds of sales will begin in the spring.
The lottery will for the first time include tickets for boxing, which came close to being excluded from the Games after its governing body was suspended from organising the sport's competition at the Olympics.
Tickets will not be available however for the marathon as organisers work out how to handle ticketing after shifting the race to Sapporo.
Some tickets for the event were sold before the move was announced, and ...

Million more Tokyo 2020 tickets going on sale in new lottery

Martial-arts film star Jackie Chan's planned visit to Vietnam for a charity has been cancelled following an online backlash related to Beijing's expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea.
The Hong Kong-born actor was set to visit Hanoi on November 10 to support Operation Smile, a charity that gives free surgery to children with facial disfigurements.
But the plans were scrapped after thousands of angry Facebook users flooded the charity's official page when his visit was announced last week.
Some of their comments claimed Chan had spoken in support of China's so-called nine-dash line -- its historic justification for its territorial claims in the resource-rich sea.
However, Chan has not explicitly expressed public support for the controversial maritime assertion.
Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei all have competing claims in the waterway that overlap with China's -- long a source of tension in the region.
Issuing a mea culpa Friday for failing "to predict ...

Jackie Chan's trip to Vietnam cancelled over China sea row

Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan pummelled the New Zealand attack in a record-breaking 182-run stand as England posted an imposing 241 for three batting first in the fourth Twenty20 international in Napier on Friday.
Malan was 103 not out at the close with Morgan falling in the final over for 91 as he tried to plunder the boundary to join his partner on three figures.
The pair posted the highest third-wicket partnership by any side in a T20 international and the 241 is England's highest total.
Malan faced only 48 deliveries for his century, easily eclipsing the previous record of 60 balls by Alex Hale.
His 103 included six sixes and nine fours while Morgan cracked seven sixes and seven fours.
Malan, in full flight, took 28 off one Ish Sodhi over with three sixes, two fours and a two and reached his maiden century pulling Trent Boult over the square-leg boundary.
It was a vital innings for England who trail 2-1 in the series and need a win in Napier to take the series into a decider in ...

Century-maker Malan lifts England to record 241 in 4th NZ T20

Once-sworn enemies in Bougainville's cruel decade-long civil war are holding a series of reconciliation ceremonies, hoping shared tears and apologies can bury the past ahead of a landmark vote on the region's independence from Papua New Guinea.
Former separatist fighters and PNG military are meeting face-to-face, trying to come to terms with a conflict that left up to 20,000 people dead in the bloodiest fighting the South Pacific witnessed since World War II.
Until a 1997 truce, George Diva was a fighter with the pro-independence Bougainville Revolutionary Army.
Now a 50-year-old, he still carries deep scars on his chest from a battle that left him unable to work. But he is adamant reconciliation is the only way the next generation can enjoy a brighter future.
"We had enough loss, sorrow and pain," he told AFP during a reconciliation ceremony this week on the neighbouring island of New Britain, where he fled.
"We don't want to fight any more."
Tens of thousands like him were displaced 

AFP

AFP

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