Campaign begins for Russia's presidential election

Campaign begins for Russia's presidential election

MOSCOW, Dec 18, 2017 (AFP) - Campaigning officially started on Monday for Russia's presidential election in March, in which President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win a fourth term that would keep him in power until 2024.

Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta published a resolution adopted by the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, scheduling the election for March 18.

Lawmakers had voted earlier to change the date of the March vote so that it will mark the fourth anniversary of the signing of a treaty formally annexing Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

The treaty came two days after a controversial referendum deemed illegal by the West.

Putin, who was first elected to the presidency in 2000, is widely expected to sail to victory, cementing his status as Russia's longest-serving ruler since dictator Joseph Stalin.

Putin's top critic Alexei Navalny, 41, has been barred from putting his name on the ballot because of a criminal conviction, which he says is politically motivated.

The head of Russia's Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, said she was ready to hold the vote "at the right level".

"We will control (the election) during all the stages," she said at a news conference, adding that the commission had been allocated more than $298 million for the presidential vote.

- Funds to 'cheat you' -

Writing on Twitter, Navalny, whose name Putin refuses to say publicly, told Russians the funds would be spent "to cheat you".

Navalny, who has been campaigning in far-flung Russian regions over the past year, has called on his supporters to take part in a protest on Sunday "for free elections".

He has threatened to call for a boycott of the elections if he is not allowed to take part.

Formerly a human rights ombudsman, Pamfilova was appointed the country's top election chief in March 2016 to replace the scandal-tainted official who oversaw the 2011 parliamentary election, which prompted mass protests over claims of vote rigging, the biggest challenge to Putin in his 18 years in power.

During the September 2016 parliamentary vote, the opposition accused Pamfilova of ignoring violations even when they were caught on camera.

Putin will run against a motley crew of opposition candidates, though even the Kremlin has acknowledged that none of them stand a chance against Putin.

"There are other candidates but Putin, of course, has the most chances," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this month.

"The level of support from the people that he has is inaccessible to other candidates."

One of the potential candidates is Ksenia Sobchak, a former socialite turned liberal TV presenter.

But many people suspect that she is running as a Kremlin "spoiler" candidate to split the opposition while bolstering interest in the election.

Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky, respectively the longtime leaders of Russia's Communist Party and ultraconservative LDPR, who are tolerated by the Kremlin and sit in parliament's lower house, the State Duma, have both indicated a desire to run.

Last week, Pamfilova said that 23 people had expressed their wish to run for the presidency, and that the number of candidates could grow.

But analysts say that with the result of the election a foregone conclusion, turnout could be low.

According to a study released last week by Levada, an independent pollster, 58 percent of Russians said they would vote in March, down from 75 percent in December 2007.

During his annual year-end news conference last week, Putin said he would stand for election as an independent candidate rather than with the backing of the ruling party, United Russia.

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Putin to visit Turkey to discuss Jerusalem crisis, Syria

Putin to visit Turkey to discuss Jerusalem crisis, Syria

ANKARA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- United States President Donald Trump's ground shaking announcement on Jerusalem prompted a new wave of rapprochement between Turkey and Russia, and the issue will be high on the agenda during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Ankara on Dec. 11.

The Russian leader, already scheduled to visit Egypt on Monday, will travel to Turkey on the same day for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Jerusalem crisis and the situation in Syria.Putin and Erdogan plan to discuss bilateral issues, including joint energy projects, as well as the conflict in Syria and the broader situation in the Middle East, according to the Kremlin.

JERUSALEM HIGH ON AGENDA

Sources in Ankara told Xinhua that the two leaders will discuss "the tension caused by the U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and the effects of this very wrong decision on an already volatile and vulnerable region."

"The Syrian conflict and all aspects of the Turkish-Russian bilateral relations will also be on the table," added these sources.In announcing Putin's visit to Egypt, the Kremlin said on Dec. 7 that Putin and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would discuss stability and security in the Middle East among other things.

Egypt, Turkey, and Russia have all denounced Trump's decision. Putin and Erdogan voiced "serious concern" about it in a phone conversation on Dec. 7, the Kremlin said.

Russia's major role in the war in Syria, where it has given President Bashar al-Assad's government crucial military backing, has increased its influence in the Middle East.Putin has courted closer ties with Egypt and NATO-member Turkey as well as other countries in the region in recent years.

"Because of a U.S. strategy that does not take into consideration the sensitivities of its allies, pragmatic alliances have been formed with Russia in the region, and one of them is the Russian-Turkish one," Professor Togrul Ismayil from the University of Economics and Technology told Xinhua.

The Trump announcement on Jerusalem "serves entirely the interests of Russia" in the region by even further consolidating the rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow by exacerbating U.S.-Turkey tensions, explained Ismayil.

"Russia by itself has not the capability of being a major player in the Mideast, but with the alliances that it formed with key regional powers, such as Turkey and Iran, it is strengthening its game," explained this international politics expert.

RUSSIAN-TURKISH COOPERATION IN SYRIA

Russia and Turkey back different sides in the Syria war and their relations were severely strained after Turkish jets shot a Russian warplane down near the Turkish-Syrian border in 2015.

But Putin and Erdogan said they have patched things up.Meeting in Ankara in September, they said they wanted to see progress on the Turk Stream gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built in Turkey with Russian collaboration.

Thousands of Turks took to the streets due to Trump's highly controversial decision on Jerusalem, slamming the United States and Israel. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Istanbul and Ankara following the Friday prayers chanting pro-Palestinian slogans.As other Muslim nations around the world, the U.S. decision infuriated Turkey, and President Erdogan warned that it would force Ankara to cut diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.

"This could go as far as cutting our diplomatic relations with Israel. You cannot take such a step," Erdogan told on Tuesday, adding that it would create a "catastrophe."

Turkish-Israeli relations have faced serious setbacks in the past. In 2011, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador to Ankara and downgraded diplomatic relations after a raid on a ship carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza, killing 10 Turkish activists. Full diplomatic relations were not restored until 2016.

OIC MEETING IN ISTANBUL

In an effort to lead the Muslim world's reaction on Jerusalem, the Turkish president called for a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul for Dec. 13 to discuss the U.S. move regarding Jerusalem. Turkey is currently holding the presidency of this organization.However, even participants of this meeting are expected to adopt a strong worded statement, its effects would be minimal, argued experts.

Talks in Ankara between Putin and Erdogan will also focus on the Syrian conflict where the Islamic State (IS) is on the brink of collapse. Russia, along with Iran, is the key backer of Syrian President Assad.Turkey, who is Syria's neighbor, backed the rebels seeking Assad's ouster in a conflict that lingers since more than seven years.

However, Moscow and Ankara have been working together since 2016 reconciliation deal resolved a crisis caused by the shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria.

Erdogan until recently wasn't renouncing on its insistence of ousting the Syrian president, but in recent months he has considerably toned down its stance and focused mainly on opposing a Syrian Kurdish militia seen by Ankara as a terror group.

For Turkey, the People's Protection Units (YPG) is the Syrian extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), waging an armed conflict in Turkey since 1984.

But both the U.S. and Russia consider this militia as their allies on the ground in Syria. Washington has provided the fighters with arms, angering Turkey, and Russian support of the YPG strongly contrasts with Turkey's vows to clear PKK-affiliated groups from all of northern Syria, bordering Turkey.Enditem

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New Zealand bowlers enjoy 'fun' day out against Windies

New Zealand bowlers enjoy 'fun' day out against Windies


HAMILTON, New Zealand, Dec. 10 (AFP) - New Zealand enjoyed a "fun" day out as Tim Southee and Trent Boult ensured they seized command on a rain-affected day two of the second Test against the West Indies in Hamilton on Sunday.

Southee and Boult starred with bat and ball as the West Indies were left struggling 158 runs behind on the first innings with only two wickets remaining.

The tail-end batsmen boosted New Zealand to 373 in their first innings with a 61-run last wicket stand.The new ball pair then bagged four wickets between them on a benign pitch as the West Indies plummeted to 215 for eight at stumps.

Southee has two for 34 and Boult two for 67."That was good fun, in terms of the game," said Boult who smacked an unbeaten 37 off 27 balls to lift his average to 16.03."Obviously in a first innings where we want to go big and get as many on the board as we can so a combination of runs and keeping their bowlers out there and their fielders and batsmen was pretty important.

"Believe it or not I take a lot of pride in my batting. Any contribution, not just myself but the lower order, is very pivotal."But to see the West Indies run chase fall apart after they were off the field for 90 minutes because of rain came as a surprise. "There wasn't much swing, in terms of the wicket it was a bit slow ... I'll tell you for free they're not too happy losing eight wickets," Boult said.

Raymon Reifer, 22 not out at stumps in his debut Test innings, accepted it was a good batting strip and "a few of the guys will be disappointed"."Today didn't go the way we wanted it to go but we're still going to fight to try and get in a good position."

New Zealand added 87 runs at the start of the day, the bulk of them in the Boult-Southee partnership with the innings ending on Southee's dismissal.But 10 minutes later he was bowling the first over of the West Indies' reply and took the wicket of Kieran Powell without scoring.

He also had Shai Hope for 15 and pulled off a stunning catch to remove Kraigg Braithwaite, the West Indies' top scorer with 66. The 1.93-metre (6ft 4in) Southee leapt to get a hand to block an edge off Colin de Grandhomme, and then dived to get a hand under the ball just as it was about to hit the ground.

Boult took the wickets of Shimron Hetmyer for 28 and the luckless Sunil Ambris for two.

Play was interrupted for nearly 90 minutes by rain when the West Indies were 87 for two with Brathwaite and Hope laying the foundations for a solid partnership.But when play resumed, 20 minutes after the scheduled tea break, Hope only lasted six more balls before he was gone to end a 44-run stand and put the tourists into a tailspin that saw six wickets fall in the final session.

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Palestinian president to shun Pence over Jerusalem move

Palestinian president to shun Pence over Jerusalem move


RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories, Dec 9, 2017 (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will refuse to meet US Vice President Mike Pence later this month following Washington's controversial policy shift on Jerusalem, an Abbas aide said on Saturday, as protests gripped the Palestinian territories for a third straight day.

Retaliatory Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip killed two Hamas militants before dawn, as unrest simmered over President Donald Trump's controversial declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

A total of four people have now been killed and dozens wounded since Trump announced the move, which drew criticism from every other member of the UN Security Council at an emergency meeting on Friday.

"There will be no meeting with the vice president of America in Palestine," Abbas's diplomatic adviser Majdi al-Khaldi told AFP.

"The United States has crossed all the red lines with the Jerusalem decision," he added.

Egypt's Coptic Pope Tawadros II also cancelled a meeting with Pence with the church saying it "declines to receive" him in protest at Trump's announcement which failed to take into account the "feelings of millions" of Arabs.

That decision came a day after Egypt's top Muslim cleric, Ahmed al-Tayeb who heads Al-Azhar, also scrapped plans to meet the US vice president over the "unjust and unfair American decision on Jerusalem".

There were fresh clashes on Saturday as Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank hurled stones at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds.

In the Gaza Strip, mourners vented their anger at the funerals of two people killed by Israeli troops during clashes at the border fence on Friday and the two Hamas militants killed early on Saturday.

- 'Violent riots' -

A woman was wounded by Israeli army fire during clashes at the border following one funeral attended by thousands in the Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis.

An Israeli army statement said "violent riots have erupted at approximately 20 locations" in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip" with protesters throwing rocks, petrol bombs and rolling burning tyres at troops.

It said soldiers responded with unspecified "riot dispersal means" lightly wounding three Palestinians.

In Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem police fired stun grenades to disperse Palestinian demonstrators on the main Salahedin street, an AFP cameraman said.

Israeli police said the protest was "illegal" and the Palestinian Red Crescent said 12 Palestinians were injured by shrapnel from grenades or by blows from police.

- Intifada calls -

There have been fears of a much larger escalation of violence after Hamas leader Ismail Haniya called for a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising, and analysts have been anxiously watching what happens next.

Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group both renewed that call on Saturday.

Dozens of protesters were wounded by rubber bullets or live fire in clashes in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem that followed the main weekly Muslim prayers on Friday.

Tens of thousands also protested in Muslim and Arab countries, including Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia.

Saturday's pre-dawn air strike on a base of Hamas's military wing in Nusseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, was one of several, the Israeli military said.

A statement said the air force "targeted four facilities belonging to the Hamas terror organisation" in Gaza a day after three rocket attacks from the Palestinian enclave Gaza into southern Israel.

The Hamas health ministry in Gaza said the two dead men were members of the movement's armed wing, which has fought three wars with Israel since 2008.

On Friday night, a rocket hit the southern Israeli city of Sderot although Israeli public radio said it did not explode and did not cause any casualties.

The Israeli military said that its Iron Dome air defence system intercepted an earlier rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave.

The military retaliated on Friday night with air strikes on what it said were two targets and the Gaza health ministry said 14 people were wounded, among them women and children.

A previously unknown Salafist group calling itself the Salahedin Brigades claimed responsibility for one of the attacks.

But the Israeli army said it held Hamas responsible for all attacks from territory under its control.

- US isolated -

Trump's decision drew lavish praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but has sparked a worldwide diplomatic backlash.

Five European countries on the UN Security Council insisted the new US policy was not consistent with past resolutions, including one that declares east Jerusalem to be Israeli-occupied.

The meeting was requested by eight of the 15 members of the council but was largely symbolic as no vote on a resolution was planned because the US wields veto power.

Trump said his defiant move -- making good on a 2016 presidential campaign pledge -- marked the start of a "new approach" to solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

But many analysts question how a balanced agreement can be reached by granting such a major Israeli demand before negotiations have even started.

Israel has long claimed all of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, while the Palestinians see the annexed eastern sector of the city as the capital of their future state.

Its status is the most sensitive issue in the decades-long conflict.

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Over 300 militants surrender in Pakistan: officials

Over 300 militants surrender in Pakistan: officials


ISLAMABAD, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Officials in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan said Saturday that over 300 militants and 17 of their commanders of banned organizations have laid down arms and surrendered to the government.The militants surrendered at a ceremony in Quetta, the provincial capital, they said.

Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri, told the ceremony that the law and order situation is being improved in the province. "Those who are conspiring against Pakistan will never succeed in their evil designs," he said.Earlier in Aug. 22, militants and a commander of the banned Baloch Liberation Army had surrendered to security forces.Enditem

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Islamic State is "not yet defeated": British PM

Islamic State is "not yet defeated": British PM


LONDON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday congratulated her Iraqi counterpart Haider Abadi over Islamic State (IS) victory, but warned the terrorist group is "not yet defeated".

Extremists are "still pose a threat to Iraq, including from over the Syrian border", May said in a statement issued here after the Iraqi prime minister claimed an end to the fight against the terrorist group earlier Saturday.

Abadi announced that Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Da'esh, no longer occupies significant territory in Iraq, and the fight against Islamic State was over after more than three years of combat operations."I congratulate prime minister Abadi and all Iraqis on this historic moment," May said. "This signals a new chapter towards a more peaceful, prosperous country."

"We must be clear however, that whilst Da'esh is failing, they are not yet defeated," she said. "They still pose a threat to Iraq, including from over the Syrian border."

Iraqi forces mopped up the last pockets of IS fighters from Iraq's western deserts on Saturday, securing the country's border with Syria, a step that marked the end of combat operations against the extremists.

ISIS, which stands for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, rapidly captured large territories in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate in 2014. The group controlled more than 34,000 square miles of territory from the Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad.

The campaign to eradicate the Islamic State took more than three years and about 25,000 coalition air strikes. Iraqi forces have increasingly been pushing ISIS out of the country over the past few months.

Troops last month retook the town of Rawa, one of ISIS' last footholds in the country. At that point, only pockets of ISIS resistance remained.Enditem

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Indian trooper opens fire, kills four comrades

Indian trooper opens fire, kills four comrades


NEW DELHI, Dec. 10 (AFP) - A paramilitary soldier has killed four of his comrades and injured another inside a camp in central India, an official said Sunday.

The trooper turned his gun on his fellow soldiers at around 5:00 pm local time Saturday (1130 GMT) in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh state.

The constable from India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) opened fire following a reported altercation."He fired on four of his CRPF colleagues, who died on the spot. Another one, an ASI (assistant sub-inspector), was injured in the incident," a Bijapur administrative official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A senior state police officer, Sundar Raj P., told local media late Saturday that "what happened, why he did it, under what circumstances -- these are matters that are being investigated".

He said the officer, 35-year-old Sanath Kumar, was arrested and was being interrogated.Chhattisgarh's chief minister took to Twitter to condemn the killing of the CRPF soldiers, who are deployed for counter-insurgency operations.

The state is a hotbed of a Maoist insurgency.India's security forces, often working away from home for months, have historically had a high incidence of suicides and killings linked to long hours, poor working conditions and inadequate time off.

In January, a paramilitary soldier from one of India's elite security units shot dead four of his senior officers in an apparent row over leave.

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UN envoy warns N. Korea 'miscalculation' could trigger conflict

UN envoy warns N. Korea 'miscalculation' could trigger conflict


UNITED NATIONS, United States, Dec. 10 (AFP) - A senior UN envoy warned Saturday there was a grave risk that a miscalculation could trigger conflict with North Korea as he urged Pyongyang to keep communication channels open after a rare visit to the reclusive state.

Jeffrey Feltman's trip to the North -- the first by such a high-ranking UN diplomat since 2010 -- kicked off less than a week after Pyongyang said it test-fired a new ballistic missile capable of reaching the US.

The United Nations said Feltman met North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho and Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-Kuk and they "agreed that the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today".

Noting the "urgent need to prevent miscalculations and open channels to reduce the risks of conflict," Feltman said the international community was committed to finding a peaceful solution.

Feltman, the UN's under secretary general for political affairs, also stressed the importance of full implementation of all relevant Security Council resolutions.

The UN Security Council has hit the isolated and impoverished North with a package of sanctions over its increasingly powerful missile and nuclear tests, which have rattled Washington and its regional allies South Korea and Japan.

Earlier, North Korea's state news agency KCNA said "the US policy of hostility toward the DPRK (North Korea) and its nuclear blackmail are to blame for the current tense situation on the Korean peninsula".But it added the North had agreed with the UN "to regularize communications through visits at various levels".

- 'Nuclear pre-emptive strike' -

The KCNA report did not mention any meetings with leader Kim Jong-Un, who has ramped up his impoverished nation's missile and nuclear program in recent years in order to achieve Pyongyang's stated goal of developing a warhead capable of hitting the US mainland.

Feltman's visit also came after the United States and South Korea launched their biggest-ever joint air exercise.

Pyongyang reiterated its view that these manoeuvres were a provocation, accusing the drills of "revealing its intention to mount a surprise nuclear pre-emptive strike against the DPRK".

The Chinese foreign ministry on Saturday published a speech from earlier in the week by foreign minister Wang Yi in which he warned that the Korean Peninsula "remains deeply entrenched in a vicious cycle of demonstrations of strength and confrontation."

"The outlook is not optimistic," Beijing's top diplomat added.Fears of a catastrophic conflict with the nuclear-armed regime have spiked as Kim and Donald Trump have taunted each other in recent months, with the US President pejoratively dubbing his rival "Little Rocket Man" and a "sick puppy".

Kim has called the 71-year-old president a "dotard", meaning a weak or senile old man -- an insult that was renewed Saturday as the North condemned Trump for recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"Considering the fact that the mentally deranged dotard openly called for a total destruction of a sovereign state at the UN, this action is not so surprising", KCNA quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying.

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Iraqi PM declares 'end of war against IS' in Iraq

Iraqi PM declares 'end of war against IS' in Iraq


BAGHDAD, Dec. 10 (AFP) - Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday declared victory in a three-year war by Iraqi forces to expel the Islamic State jihadist group that at its height endangered Iraq's very existence.

"Our forces are in complete control of the Iraqi-Syrian border and I therefore announce the end of the war against Daesh (IS)," Abadi told a conference in Baghdad."Our enemy wanted to kill our civilisation, but we have won through our unity and our determination. We have triumphed in little time," he said, hailing Iraq's "heroic armed forces".

As the authorities announced a public holiday on Sunday "to celebrate the victory", Abadi said in a speech at the defence ministry that Iraq's next battle would be to defeat the scourge of corruption.

IS seized vast areas north and west of Baghdad in a lightning offensive in 2014. With Iraq's army and police retreating in disarray at the time, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, spiritual leader of the country's majority Shiites, called for a general mobilisation, leading to the formation of Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units.Iraq's fightback was also launched with the backing of an air campaign waged by a US-led coalition, recapturing town after town from the clutches of the jihadists in fierce urban warfare.

The US State Department hailed the end of the jihadists' "vile occupation" but cautioned that the fight was not over."The United States joins the Government of Iraq in stressing that Iraq's liberation does not mean the fight against terrorism, and even against ISIS (IS), in Iraq is over," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

The coalition, meanwhile, tweeted, using an Arabic acronym for IS: "Congratulations to the government of Iraq and the Iraqi security forces on the liberation of all Daesh-held populated areas in Iraq."

Hisham al-Hashemi, an expert on jihadist groups, warned that IS still posed a threat by retaining arms caches in uninhabited desert zones. Iraq's close ally Iran already declared victory over IS last month, as the jihadists clung to just a few remaining scraps of territory.

But Abadi said at the time he would not follow suit until the desert on the border with Syria had been cleared.The jihadists' defeat is a massive turnaround for an organisation that in 2014 ruled over seven million people in a territory as big as Italy encompassing large parts of Syria and nearly a third of Iraq.

On the Syrian side of the border, IS is under massive pressure too.On Thursday, Russia's defence ministry said its mission in support of the Syrian regime to oust IS had been "accomplished" and the country was "completely liberated".

In the border region, pro-government forces and US-backed Kurdish-led forces are conducting operations to clear IS fighters from the countryside north of the Euphrates valley after ousting them from all Syrian towns.

However the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Saturday said IS fighters had managed to seize territory in Syira's Idlib province after clashes with rival jihadists, four years after being expelled from the region.

- IS retains capacity -

The head of Iraq's Joint Operations Command set up to fight IS, General Abdel Amir Yarallah, gave an update on Saturday to announce that the desert valley of Al-Jazira was under the control of Iraqi troops and the Hashed all the way from Nineveh province in the north to Anbar in the west.

Federal forces "now control the border with Syria from Al-Walid border crossing to that of Rabia", covering a distance of 435 kilometres (270 miles), he said. Despite the victory announcements, experts have warned that IS retains the capacity as an insurgent group to carry out high-casualty bomb attacks using sleeper cells. Abadi's victory announcement came the same day as Iraqi forces said they killed 10 IS members in a tunnel near the northern city of Kirkuk and recovered armaments.

IS also retains natural hideouts in the deep gorges of Wadi Hauran, Iraq's longest valley stretching from the Saudi border up to the Euphrates River and the frontiers with Syria and Jordan.The fightback in Iraq kicked off with the "liberation" of Tikrit, north of Baghdad, that had been under IS control for nearly 10 months.

The operations have involved both Tehran, through Iranian-trained Shiite militias in the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition, and Washington as head of the anti-jihadist coalition.The western cities of Ramadi and Fallujah followed in 2016 before the turning point of the recapture of Iraq's second city of Mosul in July this year after a nine-month offensive led by a 30,000-strong federal force. Abadi said the battle for Mosul that left the city in ruins and thousands of its residents displaced marked the end of the jihadists' "caliphate".

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NATIONAL NEWS : Nepal

NATIONAL NEWS

FNJ needs to assume more responsibilities: Minister Basnet

            Kathmandu, Sept 3: Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet has said that the Federation of Nepali Journalists needs to assume additional responsibilities in fully implementing the working journalists act.

            Speaking at a programme organised in honour of the newly elected office-bearers of FNJ by the National Society of Democratic Print Media here today, he said the ministry is ready to work together with all stakeholders in fully implementing the act. Referring to the issue of proportionate distribution of public welfare advertisements, the Communications Minister said the government is of the policy to encourage small and medium investments, while streamlining the larger ones. 

            He also disclosed that the ministry was working to implementation the formation order to establish the mass media academy named after former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

            Sharing that journalist accidental insurance has been forwarded for the physical safety of journalists, Minister Basnet suggested that media should disseminate news and information in a disciplined way.

            Similarly, former President of FNJ and senior journalist Harihar Birahi called for establishment of a Mass Media Foundation for the capacity building of journalists.

            Likewise, FNJ President Govinda Acharya expressed the commitment to move ahead with a common agenda after holding necessary discussion with all for the rights of working journalists.

            Various persons including Society Chairman Damodar Prasad Dawadi, President of Nepal Press Union, Badri Sigdel, former President of Press Union and Executive Chairman of Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Kul Chandra Wagle, FNJ Vice-President Bipul Pokharel, among others stressed that the government should come up with a plan to protect the small-investment newspapers. RSS (Photo available)

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29-       UML shall emerge victorious in upcoming federal, province polls, Oli claims

            Chitwan, Sept. 3: CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli has claimed that his party would form a majority government in all seven provinces and federal level in the upcoming federal and province polls.

-: 14 :-

            Addressing a meeting of the party's student wing in Chitwan today, Oli went on to claim that his party would emerge the largest party in the province no. 2 as well. Saying that groupism against UML were rife, Oli added that such act would not cause any harm to UML.

            The former Prime Minister also said that the country move ahead towards peace, better governance, harmony and prosperity after the elections.

            UML leader Rabindra Adhikari, party's Chitwan district committee chairman Krishna Bhakta Pokharel, All Nepal National Free Student's Union chair Nabina Lama and others expressed their opinions during the programme.

            A total of 500 representatives, 100 observers and 100 volunteers are participating in the three-day-long event. RSS

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30-       Besishahar-Chame road section obstructed

            Besishahar (Lamjung), Sept 3: Landslide has obstructed Besishahar-Chame road section from Saturday night.

            According to Chief of Police Post, Khudi, Assistant Sub Inspector Hari Bahadur Thapa, the road section was obstructed after land slide took place at Arkhale of Marsyangdi rural municipality. 

            There was no possibility of bringing the road section into operation soon as it would take time to remove the landslide debris, said police. People heading towards Manang have been stranded due to obstruction of road section.

           

            Similarly, passengers from northern part of Lamjung—Taghring and Ghermu have been facing problems due to this. RSS

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31-       Supports of all needed to hold polls in free and fair manner, Home Minister

            Janakpurdham, Sept. 3: Home Minister Janardan Sharma has said that the polls environment in the province no. 2 for the third phase of local level polls scheduled for September 18 has become better due to participation of all political parties.

            Minister Sharma also said that support and participation of all was expected to conclude the polls in a free and fair manner.

            Minister Sharma said so while speaking at the two-day security management programme organized in Janakpurdham by targeting the September 18 local level polls in the Province No. 2.

            During the programme, Regional Administrator, Inspectors General of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Nepal, Chief of National Investigation Department, Major General of Nepal Army and Chief District Officers of eight districts were present at the meeting that concluded on Sunday.

-: 15 :-

            Spokesperson of the Home Ministry Ram Krishna Subedi, Major General of Nepal Army Dev Kumar Subedi, Chief Investigation Director of NID Dilip Kumar Regmi, IG of Nepal Police Prakash Arya and IG of APF, Nepal Singha Bahadur Shrestha also expressed their opinions on security provision and threats during the seminar chaired by Home Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi. RSS

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32-       Vote to one that understand our hardship, says voters in Siraha

            (Raju Biswakarma)

            Lahan, Sept 3: Voters in Siraha are looking forward to exercise their franchise in the September 18 local level election in favour of those candidates who are pro-development, social workers and understand their hardship.

            The voters are making up their mind as aspirants and possible candidates area reaching to the people's door steps seeking their vote. Leaders of the NC, CPN-UML, CPN-MC, RJP and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal are adopting various ways to convince voters to vote for them.

           

            Tea shops, rest places, paan shops and chowks of the district have now become popular locations for election talks and debates. Many are expressing their support in favour of those who can bring development including health and education and those who have contributed to the society.

            They are looking forward to choose those who have remained active in politics and made contribution to the society, rather than those who have become candidates for petty personal interests.

            Voters of Siraha, who are longed for peace and development after suffering from to armed conflict and other geographical adversities, said that they would make the capable candidate victorious as they now want development and prosperity. 

            Pratham Chaudhary of Lahan Municipality-18 said that now voters should think seriously to make only the capable candidate victorious in the election. 

            He said, "There will be development and good governance in the villages only if we make such candidate, who works for development and knows the pain of people, win the election." 

            Similarly, Mahendra Bishwokarma of Mirchaiya Municipality said, "The person who becomes a candidate for some personal interest cannot fulfill the dreams of people. So I will vote to a candidate who has contributed in politics and social service." 

            Saburi Sada of Lahan Municipality-19, who is happy for getting opportunity to elect representatives at local-level after 20 years, said that in past election, candidates used to win the election after distributing money to poor voters but time has changed now.

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             Sada said they will make the candidate victorious in the election who works for the uplift of poor farmers, women, Muslim and Dalit communities. 

There are 331,596 voters in the district which has 8 municipalities and nine rural municipalities. RSS

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33-       No need to go abroad for job, NRB Governor

            Palpa, Sept. 3: Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Dr Chiranjibi Nepal has said that country would be prosperous through entrepreneurship instead of youths going for overseas jobs.

            Inaugurating a branch of Citizens Bank International at Raina Devi Chhahara Rural Municipality in Palpa on Sunday, the Governor said that self-employment in the country by doing something is a better idea as opportunities for income are galore in the country itself.

            He said that investment of banks and financial institutions in agriculture, industry and business would help ensure economic progress and urged all to quit the thought of going abroad and working for others.

            Dr Nepal said that the country offers great opportunities to those working at home. "Take loans from banks for business and enterprises. There is a better opportunity in the country itself," he added. RSS

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34-       Surya Kiran XII joint military exercise begins

            Kathmandu, Sept 3: Nepal-India joint military exercise Surya Kiran XII began at Nepali Army Battle School at Saljhandi in Rupandehi from Sunday.

            Mid-Western Division Chief, Major General Rajendra Karki inaugurated the exercise.  Lieutenant Colonel Jayendra KC from Nepali Army and Colonel Lalit Mohan Mishra from Indian Army have been leading the joint military exercise.

            Some 600 army personnel from Nepal and India are participating in the exercise that will conclude on September 16.

            The exercise initiated from 2067 BS is alternatively conducted in Nepal and India every year.  According to the NA Directorate of Public Relations, the exercise formally incorporates the issues including anti-terrorism and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management.

            Army personnel of both the countries also share their theoretical, practical and special experiences during the military exercise.  RSS

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35-       EC seeks info about secretaries' foreign junket

            Kathmandu, Sept 3: The Election Commission has urged the government to clarify within two days the facts behind the reports of 10 secretaries and 14 joint-secretaries of the government going on a foreign tour.

            The information has been sought from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, according to EC spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal. It may be noted that the Commission had decided to put a stop on foreign visits by government officials unless it is to represent the state at the UN, SAARC, and other international and regional forums. The prohibition was made in the election code of conduct issued in view of the election to the provincial assembly and House of Representatives in coming November.

            Meanwhile, the Commission has drawn the attention of NC central member Dr Shekhar Koirala for violating the election code of conduct by wearing caps and t-shirts bearing his party symbol in course of the election campaigning. It has urged the leader to abide by and cause to abide by completely the election code of conduct in the days to come. RSS

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36-       Communications Minister Basnet asks Press Council to make newspaper categorization transparent

            Kathmandu, Sept 3: Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, has directed the Press Council Nepal to make newspaper categorization transparent.

            Minister Basnet issued such directives to Press Council authorities in course of carrying out an onsite visit of the Council on Sunday. On the occasion, he also asked to make the distribution of press pass by the Department of Information systematic.

           

            Also the Spokesperson of the government, Minister Basnet said, "Media should be made disciplined. Action should be taken against wrong doers and those who do good things should be awarded."

            Similarly, officiating Chairperson of the Council Kishor Shrestha clarified that the newspapers were categorized in a transparent manner to end the 'copy paste'  journalism increasing as of late.

            President of Federation of Nepali Journalists and Council Member, Govinda Acharya, pointed out the need of restructuring the press council to meet the federal structure of the country. RSS

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37-       Test of Balach-Attariya transmission grid

            Darchula, Sept. 3: The test of Balach-Attariya 132 KV Transmission Line for Chameliya Hydropower Project being constructed in Shailyashishar Municipality-1 has begun from Sunday.

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            The test of the transmission line and sub-station was started. Project Chief Ajay Kumar Dahal said that test of equipments of the main and sub-station of the project was initiated and it would continue for 15 days.

            The team of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Korean contractor and consultants, engineers and other technicians marked the beginning of the test from Attariya of Kailali district.

            The project of 30 megawatt was proposed to complete the power generation with the investment of Rs 8.5 billion in the initial phase in 2007 but the total budget estimate is expected to cross Rs 15.6 billion until the project completion.

            So far, a total of Rs 14.5 billion has been spent. The project is expected to generate the electricity within three months, project officials said. RSS

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38-       PM Deuba directs to develop DPR in Nepal's favour

            Kathmandu, Sept 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has directed the concerned authorities to develop the detail project report of the Pancheswar Multi-purpose Project in the interest of the nation.

            Talking to the representatives of stakeholder bodies at his office in Singha Durbar today, the Prime Minister directed them to develop the DPR with the burden of cost as per the utility of the project, according to his media expert Govinda Pariyar. "Its been 21 years that the Pancheswar project began but there is no achievement as yet, Deuba said, 'Now agree on the DPR of the project in a way to benefit Nepal.'

            It may be noted that an agreement had been reached during the PM Deuba's recent India visit to complete the DPR of Pancheswar within a month. Accordingly, a two-day discussion involving experts of the two countries is taking place in New Delhi, India from Tuesday.

            Deuba has also stressed on continuing with Government of Nepal's position on investment of 37 per cent by Nepal and 63 per cent by India in the project.

            At the meeting, Joint Secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Madhav Belbase briefed about the project, its DPR and Nepal and India's position on it so far. DPM and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Energy Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Irrigation Minister Sanjaya Gautam, the Chief Secretary and secretaries of different concerned ministries, office-bearers of the Pancheswar Authority and the expert group members were present in the meeting, according to media expert Pariyar. RSS

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39-       Chinese company to invest Rs 36.75 billion in cement factory

            Kathmandu, Sept. 3: The Investment Board of Nepal and Hongshi-Shivam Cement signed a project investment agreement on Sunday for the development of a mega cement factory in Nepal.

            As per the agreement, the Chinese company will make an investment of Rs 36.75 billion to set up a cement factory in Nawalparasi district, Chief Executive Officer of Board Maha Prasad Adhikari said.

            Adhikari and Director/General Manager of Hongshi Shivam Cement Lai Weipeng signed the agreement in the presence of Nepal's Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Ambassador of China to Nepal Yu Hong.

            The project, a joint partnership between Hong Kong Red Lion Cement No. 3 Ltd, a subsidiary unit of Hongshi Group from China and Shivam Holdings, consisting representatives from various business groups in Nepal, has planned to produce 6000 tons of cement per day.

            The company will provide high quality cement to the local market's demand and also create competition for quality of cement production in Nepal.

            Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Karki said the realization of the investment has sent a positive message in terms of overall business climate in Nepal. He also expressed commitment to providing necessary support on behalf of the government.

            Likewise, CEO Adhikari said the agreement proved that Nepal has truly become an attractive investment opportunity for foreign investors.

            On the occasion, Director/General Manager of Hongshi Shivam Cement Private Limited Lai Weipeng thanked the IBN for its support to bring the project to this stage. RSS

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40-       Economic prosperity top priority of government: PM Deuba

            Kathmandu, Sept 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that economic prosperity of the country is the top priority of the government.

            Inaugurating the West Bengal Tourism and Trade Fair here on Sunday on the occasion of 70^th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-India Friendship, Prime Minister Deuba said economic prosperity could be achieved by utilizing the abundant resources available in the country.

            He said that there is opportunity of investment in energy and tourism sectors, saying environment conducive for investment has been created as political stability has been established in the country and the constitution is now in the phase of implementation.

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            PM Deuba expressed the belief that discussion held among stakeholders including with the Indian Prime Minister during his recent India visit would help promote trade and attract foreign investment into Nepal

            Similarly, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Bhawani Rana, said that environment of investment has been created as the constitution is in phase of implementation and political stability has been established in the country.  

            The fair jointly organsied by Nepal Tourism Board, FNCCI, Indian Embassy in Nepal and West Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry will run till September 5. RSS

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Time:23:00

Editors : Manoj Karki, Mahendra Subedi & Abhilasha Pokharel

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