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☆ I'm a chef who shops at Trader Joe's. Here are 15 things I pick up every week for my family of 3.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Fatima Khawaja | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

As a private chef and mom of a 3-year-old living in New York City, I love shopping at Trader Joe's. Jasmine rice, harrisa, butter, and bone broth are some of the stables I pick up every week. I also like to shop for salad kits, tofu, and dark-chocolate-covered pretzels at Trader Joe's. AdvertisementI'm a professional private chef. As a working mom in New York City, I'm pretty much the target audience for Trader Joe's easy snacks, ingredients, and meals, and I usually shop there once a week.

Persons: Joe's, — Organizations: Service Locations: New York City

CNN —Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, remained in disarray Thursday after unprecedented heavy rain led to airliners having to negotiate flooded runways. Delays and cancelations caused by the flooding have led to ongoing congestion at Dubai International Airport. The tarmac of Dubai International Airport was left submerged. Some residents were seen rowing canoes outside their homes, and one viral video on social media showed residents wake boarding on a flooded street in a residential area. Amr Alfiky/ReutersOther videos from social media showed water rushing through a major shopping mall and inundating the ground floor of homes.

Persons: Rula Rouhana, Mohit Mehta, ”, “, ” Mehta, Amr Alfiky, Mister Funk, Christopher Pike, Madiha Khawaja, Khawaja, Sheikh Zayed, cleanups, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al, Nahyan Organizations: CNN — Dubai International Airport, Emirates, Flydubai, “, ”, Dubai International Airport, Rula, Reuters, United Arab, Dubai International, CNN, UAE, “ Emirates, Bloomberg, Getty Images Municipal, Abu Dhabi . Schools Locations: United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Gurgaon, India, Amsterdam, UAE, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Iran, London, Sheikh, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi

When Israel established a checkpoint near the Mousas' land a decade ago, the family converted their ancestral farm into a parking lot for Palestinian workers entering Israel. But the lot has been empty since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip, and Israel, fearing more attacks, barred Palestinian workers from the West Bank from entering Israel. Before October, over 10,000 Palestinian workers crossed the checkpoint there daily, heading to Israeli construction sites and farms. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians worked in Israel and Israeli settlements before the war, according to the Israeli workers' hotline Kav LaOved. The Palestinian economy in the West Bank contracted by over a fifth in the last quarter of 2023, according to the Palestinian economic ministry.

Persons: Mohammed Mousa’s, They've, Israel, “ I've, Mousa, “, Alaa Mousa, Ahmad Srour, ”, Srour, “ We’ve, we’ve, Nidal Khawaja, Khawaja, Israel's, Bezalel Smotrich, Khalid Al, Esseily, Khalidi, Raul Sargo, Mohammed Mousa Organizations: West Bank, —, Palestinian Authority, Bank, World Bank, Palestinian Economic Ministry, Palestinian, Associated Press, Israel, Israel's Finance Ministry, Israeli Builders Association Locations: West Bank, Nilin, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, U.S, israel

Israel still occupies the West Bank, captured with Gaza in a 1967 Middle East war. More than 70 Palestinians have been killed in West Bank violence since Oct. 7 and Israel has arrested more than 800 people. Hamas cited attacks on West Bank Palestinians and arrests this year as part of its reason for attacking on Oct. 7. But the arrests have also limited West Bank violence, said Mustafa al-Khawaja, a 52-year-old anti-settlement activist. WEST BANK A COMPLEX PATCHWORKWhile Hamas tightly controls besieged Gaza, the West Bank is a complex patchwork of hillside cities, Israeli settlements and army checkpoints that split Palestinian communities.

Persons: Mohammed Torokman, Israel, Jonathan Conricus, Salah, Mowafaq Sehweel, Nizar Mughrabi, Netanyahu, Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, Mustafa al, Khawaja, Mughrabi, Mahmoud Abbas's PA, Abbas, Israel's, Fatah, Hadi al, Masri, Lior Akerman, Shin, Akerman, Ali Sawafta, John Davison, Howard Goller Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Gaza, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, Reuters, Fatah, Bank, Palestinian, UN, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, RAMALLAH, JERUSALEM, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, West Bank, Lebanese, Jerusalem

☆ West Bank a Possible 'Third Front' for Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Persons: Ali Sawafta, John Davison, Israel, Jonathan Conricus, Salah, Mowafaq Sehweel, Nizar Mughrabi, Netanyahu, Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ismail Haniyeh, Mustafa al, Khawaja, Mughrabi, Mahmoud Abbas's PA, Abbas, Israel's, Fatah, Hadi al, Masri, Lior Akerman, Shin, Akerman, Howard Goller Organizations: West Bank, Gaza, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, Reuters, Fatah, Bank, Palestinian, UN Locations: John Davison RAMALLAH, JERUSALEM, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, West Bank, Lebanese, Ramallah, Jerusalem

☆ Bahrain activist al-Khawaja says airline denied her boarding to Manama
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja flashes a "V" sign after being released outside the Airport Police Station, in Muharraq, north of Manama September 18, 2014. Maryam al-Khawaja said she was told at a British Airways' counter at Heathrow Airport that she was not allowed to board her flight and should contact Bahraini immigration authorities. "Effectively we are being denied boarding by British Airways on behalf of the Bahraini government," she said in a video taken in British Airways' check-in area, and posted on X, formerly called Twitter. British Airways did not immediately respond to request for comment. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, also a Danish citizen, is a former president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and is serving a life sentence for his role in Bahrain's pro-democracy protests in 2011.

Persons: Maryam al, Khawaja, Hamad, Mohammed, Abdulhadi al, Maryam, General Agnes Callamard, Olive Moore, Maryam Al, Zainab, Mary Lawlor, Abduljalil, Naji Fateel, " Lawlor, Abdulhadi, Al Khalifa, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Muvija M, Emma Farge, William Maclean, Mark Potter Organizations: Police, REUTERS, Rights, British Airways, Heathrow Airport, Bahraini, Reuters, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Muharraq, Manama, Rights RIYADH, London, Gulf, Bahrain, Danish, Riyadh, Shi'ite Iran, Teheran

☆ Bahrain political prisoners reject government offer, extend hunger strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Aziz El Yaakoubi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Rights groups and families of detainees say some 800 prisoners are on hunger strike at the capital's Jau prison over what they call harsh conditions there, and they said on Thursday that the prisoners had rejected government concessions. GOVERNMENT DISPUTES NUMBER ON HUNGER STRIKEThe interior ministry said on Monday that it planned to double the daily outdoor time to two hours, increase the duration of family visits and review rates for phone calls after the hunger strike began on Aug. 7. Bahraini authorities deny targeting the political opposition and say they are protecting national security. The government disputes that 800 prisoners have joined the hunger strike, with the General Directorate of Reform and Rehabilitation (GDRR) saying in an emailed statement to Reuters that the number of detainees who have reported being on hunger strike "is 121 and at no point was it over 124". Ahmed Jaafar, another prisoner, was put in isolation after he started the hunger strike and was hospitalised on Aug. 27, his family said in a statement.

Persons: Al Khalifa, Sayed Alwadaei, Alwadaei, Maryam al, Khawaja, Abdulhadi, Ahmed Jaafar, GDRR, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Angus McDowall, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Government, Ministry, Bahrain Institute for Rights, Democracy, of, Rehabilitation, Reuters, United Nations, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Bahrain, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bahraini

Yet the final days of Imran Khan’s political career tell a contrasting tale. Khan’s supporters – some armed with sticks and stones – marched through cities, chanting slogans against the ruling dispensation. To his supporters, Khan was seen as a political martyr, someone they had vowed to defend till the very end. Analysts say Khan’s arrest following a yearlong showdown with the military sends a pointed message to the former prime minister and his supporters. “Imran Khan’s political will wasn’t strong enough to begin with from what we saw.

Persons: Imran Khan’s, Khan, Khan’s, –, ”, Arifa Noor, “, Imran Khan, Jemima Goldsmith, Patrick Durand, Sygma, Pervez Musharraf, Arif Ali, Noor, “ Imran Khan’s, Shehbaz Sharif, Aamir Qureshi, Mr, Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, Salaar Khan, Khawaja Asif, Khan won’t, “ Imran, ” Noor Organizations: CNN, Cricket, Getty, Oxford University, Movement for Justice, PML, AP, Pakistan’s, PTI, CNN Monday Locations: Pakistan, Lahore, Islamabad, British India, It’s, Melbourne, Australia, Khan, British, AFP, India, Afghanistan, United States, Gujranwala

☆ England, Australia docked WTC points and fined over slow over-rate
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Australia opener Usman Khawaja last month revealed he had approached the ICC about reducing penalties for slow over-rates in test matches after the governing body announced it had decided to soften sanctions. Khawaja said it was "really frustrating" for players to lose their match fees despite delivering entertaining matches. The hosts beat Australia by 49 runs in the fifth and final Ashes test at The Oval on Monday, securing a 2-2 series draw. Australia are third in the WTC standings, while England are placed fifth. Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pat Cummins, England's Ben Stokes, Paul Childs, Usman Khawaja, Khawaja, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Christian Radnedge Organizations: England, International Cricket Council, ICC, Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia, London, Britain, England, Manchester, Bengaluru

☆ The Ashes: ‘Spirit of cricket’ called into question after fiery confrontation between Australian players and fans results in suspensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The incident, whilst not against the laws of cricket, divided many as to whether it went against the spirit of cricket, including many inside Lord’s. The Long Room is one of sport’s most unique settings; a room filled with MCC members through which players of both teams have to travel to reach the playing area from their respective dressing rooms. MCC members celebrate after a ball is hit for six over the head of Australia bowler Mitchell Starc. “MCC condemns the behavior witnessed and once again we re-iterate our apology to Cricket Australia. Khawaja walks through the MCC members gate at Lord's.

Persons: it’s, ”, Jonny Bairstow, Bairstow, Alex Carey, Carey, Ryan Pierse, “, Usman Khawaja, Matt Renshaw, unreservedly, Mitchell Starc, Matt Impey, Pat Cummins, Cummins, ” Lord’s, Khawaja Organizations: CNN, The Marylebone Cricket Club, MCC, England, Cricket Australia, Australian, ” Australia Locations: England, Australia, Edgbaston, Lord's

☆ Post-Ashes beers off as England coach McCullum incensed by Bairstow stumping
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Hugh Lawson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The dismissal triggered long and loud booing from the Lord's crowd and saw Australian players verbally abused by MCC members in the stadium's usually staid Long Room. With England eventually losing by 43 runs to trail 2-0 in the five-test series, McCullum made it clear the stumping had strained relations. 'NO SNEAKINESS'Disgruntled MCC members verbally abused Australia players as they walked through the pavilion at the lunch interval, prompting opener Usman Khawaja to remonstrate with several of them. You see Jonny (Bairstow) do it all the time, he did it on day one to David Warner, he did it in 2019 to Steve (Smith)," Cummins told reporters. England captain Ben Stokes was keen to move on from the incident but added he would not want to win in such a fashion at the end of an over.

Persons: Alex Carey, Jonny Bairstow, Matthew Childs LONDON, Brendon McCullum, Jonny, Alex Carey underarmed, Bairstow, McCullum, you've, might've, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lankan, Kumar Sangakkara, Paul Collingwood, Daniel Vettori, Usman Khawaja, Khawaja, Pat Cummins, David Warner, Steve, Smith, Cummins, Carey, Ben Stokes, Hugh Lawson, Ian Ransom, Toby Davis, Peter Rutherford Organizations: England, Australia, MCC, BBC, New Zealand, Collingwood, Thomson Locations: Australia, London, Britain, Christchurch, Sri, New, England, Melbourne

☆ Cummins the hero as Australia edge England in Ashes thriller
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Unflappable Australia opening batsman Usman Khawaja had earlier kept his team on course for victory with a gritty innings to edge the visitors towards the target. But in a barn-storming match full of momentum shifts, the pendulum swung England's way when Khawaja was bowled by England skipper Ben Stokes for 65. When Joe Root held a caught and bowled chance to remove Alex Carey, England seemed to be close to victory. But Cummins refused to buckle, hitting Root's off-spin for two sixes in one over as England delayed taking the new ball. England had Australia in a straight-jacket with Khawaja and Travis Head unable to score.

Persons: Australia's Usman Khawaja, Cameron, Paul Childs BIRMINGHAM, Pat Cummins, Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Harry Brook, Usman Khawaja, Khawaja, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Alex Carey, Root's, Lyon, Stokes, Scott Bolan, Broad, Steve Smith, Jonny Bairstow, Travis, Moeen Ali, Root, Cameron Green, Green, Ollie Robinson, Carey, Martyn Herman, Christian Radnedge, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: England, Edgbaston, Cummins, Australia, Thomson Locations: Edgbaston, Birmingham, Britain, England, Australia, Lord's, Lyon

☆ Key building block of life found on ocean world orbiting Saturn
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A key chemical building block of life has been found on Saturn’s moon Enceladus. An ocean exists beneath the thick, icy surface of Enceladus, and plumes of material regularly release from geysers at the moon’s south pole. “Previous geochemical models were divided on the question of whether Enceladus’ ocean contains significant quantities of phosphates at all,” Postberg said. “This key ingredient could be abundant enough to potentially support life in Enceladus’ ocean; this is a stunning discovery for astrobiology.”Some of the additional ocean world moons around Jupiter and Saturn include Europa, Titan and Ganymede. Although the building blocks of life and conditions for habitability exist on Enceladus, no actual life has been detected yet.

Persons: ”, Frank Postberg, ” Postberg, Fabian Klenner, “, Postberg, Christopher Glein, Cassini, Linda Spilker, Spilker, ” Spilker, ” Glein, ” “, Nozair Khawaja, Mikhail Zolotov, Zolotov Organizations: CNN, Cassini, NASA, JPL, Space Science, Freie Universität, ATP, University of Washington, Southwest Research Institute, Clipper, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Freie Universität Berlin, Arizona State University Locations: Freie Universität Berlin, San Antonio , Texas, Europa, Pasadena , California

☆ Rahane helps India hang tough against Australia onslaught
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Pritha Sarkar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Australia will be eager to tighten their grip on the match as they lead India by 196 runs, with Usman Khawaja batting on 13 along with Marnus Labuschagne on eight. While Thakur lived dangerously, Rahane went about rescuing India's hopes with his mix of delectable shot selection in the 109-run partnership for the seventh wicket. While he fell 11 runs short of scoring a century in the second over after lunch, the 35-year-old crossed 5000 test runs during his 129-ball knock which included 11 fours and a six. Following Rahane's departure, Thakur steered India past the follow-on target before bringing up his 50 with a sumptuous four. Blinking rapidly, he hurriedly grabbed his bat to make his way to the crease and made sure Australia reached tea without losing any further wickets.

Persons: Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Scott Boland, Srikar, Bharat, Thakur, Cummins, Cameron Green, Rahane, India's, Alex Carey, Rohit Sharma's, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Labuschagne, David Warner, napping, Warner, Pritha Sarkar, Ken Ferris, Toby Davis Organizations: India, Australia, DRS, Cummins, ICC, WTC, Thomson Locations: India, Australia, London

☆ Warner misses out on fifty, Australia 73-2 in WTC final v India
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

After Usman Khawaja fell for a duck, Warner shared a 69-run stand with Marnus Labuschagne, who reached 26 not out, to steady the innings. Shardul Thakur dismissed Warner for 43 in the penultimate over before lunch. Earlier, India did not have to wait long for a breakthrough after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and inserted Australia on a grassy wicket. After a quiet opening hour, Warner cut loose and hit Umesh Yadav for four fours, including three in a row, in an over. Shardul Thakur had two lbw appeals against Labuschagne turned down and India reviewed both decisions but could not get them reversed.

Persons: David Warner, Paul Childs, Usman Khawaja, Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Shardul Thakur, Steve Smith, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Khawaja, Siraj, nestling, Umesh Yadav, Labuschagne, Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Amlan Chakraborty, Christian Radnedge, Ed Osmond Organizations: Cricket, ICC, Paul Childs LONDON, India, The, KS, Warner, Thomson Locations: Australia, India, London, Britain, India's, New Delhi

☆ Tel Aviv Shooting Leaves Three Israelis Wounded as Hamas Claims Gunman as Member
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A member of an Israeli security unit worked the shooting scene in central Tel Aviv. A Palestinian gunman Thursday night shot three Israelis in downtown Tel Aviv, Israeli authorities said, amid one of the deadliest periods of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in recent years. The assailant was shot and killed by police officers and armed civilians at the scene, Israeli police commissioner Kobi Shabtai said. Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, claimed the shooter, 23-year-old Muataz Khawaja, as a member of the organization’s armed wing.

The area, part of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, is a hotbed for fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella organisation of Sunni Islamist groups. A TTP spokesman, Muhammad Khurasani, told Reuters its main target was Pakistan's military, but the police were standing in the way. "Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa pays a greater price for that" because of its exposure to the Islamist militants, he said. The TTP ended the ceasefire in November 2022, and regrouped militants restarted attacks in Pakistan soon after. Reporting by Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam and Jibran Ahmad in Bara, Pakistan; additional reporting by Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan; editing by David Crawshaw.

☆ Australia drop Head, Murphy debuts against India in Nagpur
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NAGPUR, India, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Australia dropped middle-order batter Travis Head and handed uncapped off-spinner Todd Murphy his debut for the opening test against India in Nagpur on Thursday. Touring captain Pat Cummins won an important toss and elected to bat in spin-friendly conditions at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. "We know we're going to have to tweak a few things to how we play in Australia, can't wait." For India, Suryakumar Yadav, the top-ranked Twenty20 batter, will make his test debut alongside wicketkeeper KS Bharat. India captain Rohit Sharma said they too would have preferred to bat first.

☆ Australia's Khawaja flies out to India after visa approved
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MELBOURNE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Australia opener Usman Khawaja will join his test team mates in India later on Thursday following a delayed approval of his visa, Cricket Australia said. Pakistan-born Khawaja, named Australia's test player of the year this week, was the only member of the squad unable to travel and missed a flight on Wednesday because of the visa delay. read moreA Cricket Australia spokesperson on Thursday confirmed Khawaja's visa had been approved overnight and he was on a morning flight from Melbourne to Bengaluru. He spent the night at an airport hotel in Melbourne after parting with team mates, local media said. Khawaja has previously had a visa problem travelling to India when he tried to enter the country in 2011 for the now-defunct T20 Champions League.

☆ South Africa dig in after Australian declaration
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

His decision left the unfortunate Usman Khawaja stranded five runs short of his maiden test double century on 195 not out. Khawaja's tally was 164 more runs than Dean Elgar had managed in four innings in the series so far and the South Africa captain continued his poor run of form by gloving a short Josh Hazlewood delivery behind for 15. South Africa survived the remainder of the early pace offensive but Sarel Erwee followed his opening partner back to the dressing room for 18 when he left a Nathan Lyon delivery that clipped the side of his off stump. Heinrich Klaasen departed for two in the next over to give Cummins his first wicket as the Australian bowlers continued their series-long domination of the South African batsmen. Matt Renshaw was earlier welcomed back into the Australian dressing room after being isolated from his team mates following a positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday.

☆ Rain delays start of day four in Sydney, outlook brighter
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The start of the fourth day of the third test between Australia and South Africa was delayed by light rain on Saturday but the outlook looked bright for some play at the Sydney Cricket Ground. No action was possible on Friday as heavy rains swept in from the Pacific Ocean but the forecast for the remainder of Saturday predicts only light showers. Australia have already locked up the series after comprehensive victories in Brisbane and Melbourne but need to win the final test to be certain of qualifying for this year's World Test Championship final. The hosts are set to resume their first innings on Saturday 475-4 with Usman Khawaja 195 not out and closing on his maiden test double century. Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pakistan to shut malls, markets early in energy saving plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Pakistan's government has ordered all malls and markets to close by 8:30 p.m. among other measures in a new energy conservation plan, the defence minister said on Tuesday, as the country grapples with an economic crisis. Khawaja Asif told journalists the cabinet-approved measures to shut markets, including restaurants, aimed to save the cash-strapped country about 62 billion Pakistani rupees ($273 million). Pakistan's total liquid foreign exchange reserves stood at $11.7 billion - $5.8 billion with the central bank - as of late last month, having fallen 50% in 2022. Asif said the energy conservation plan also included banning the production of energy inefficient bulbs and fans from February and July respectively. ($1 = 226.7500 Pakistani rupees)Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

One hostage, a security official, died during the raid , he said. The army spokesman's comments provided the first detailed official account of the standoff, in which two security personnel were killed when the militants first took over the compound, and two commandoes killed in the ensuing raid. Later other militants at the centre broke into a storeroom where confiscated weapons had been stored. STANDOFFAfter talks failed to resolve a two-day standoff, army commandos stormed the centre on Tuesday. Earlier, residents said they heard explosions coming from the vicinity of the centre on Tuesday as helicopters hovered overhead.

Pakistani Taliban militants detained at the centre had snatched interrogators' weapons and taken them captive on Sunday. Asif did not say how many militants were killed or how many hostages they had held. Residents said they heard explosions coming from the vicinity of the centre on Tuesday as helicopters hovered overhead. The army operations forced the militants and their leaders to flee to neighbouring Afghan districts. There, Islamabad says, they set up training centres to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan, a charge Afghan authorities deny.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Pakistan on Thursday named Lieutenant-General Asim Munir as chief of the army, an organisation that plays an extraordinarily influential role in the governance of the nuclear-armed nation. Munir, who was also Pakistan's chief spy, will take over from outgoing General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retires later this month after a six-year term, the defence ministry said. "It is based on merit, law and as per constitution," Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told reporters after announcing the Munir as the new chief. On Wednesday, outgoing army chief Bajwa said the military would have no role in national politics in the future, rejecting as "fake and false" Khan's claims that a U.S.-backed conspiracy topped his government. Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Neil Fullick and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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