Wednesday 24 July 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Spain passenger train derails, killing at least 56

Posted:

MADRID (AP) - A passenger train derailed on a high-speed stretch of track in northwestern Spain on Wednesday night, killing at least 56 people and leaving dozens injured in the countrys worst rail accident in decades, officials said.Officials gave different death tolls in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, president of the region of Galicia, said at least 35 people aboard the train were killed.Spains leading Cadena SER radio station cited the president of the Galicias main court, Miguel Angel Cadenas, at the scene saying 56 people were killed, but that could not be independently confirmed. The station said three carriages had still to be inspected by rescue workers.State-owned train operator Renfe said in a statement that 218 passengers and an unspecified number of staff were on board at the time of the accident. Renfe, which did not give a death or injury toll, said the derailment happened at 8.41 p.m. (1841 GMT) along a high-speed section that had been inaugurated just two years ago.The SER radio station cited unnamed local government officials as saying 100 people were injured but there were no details on the severity of the injuries.Feast day festivities planned in the city of Santiago de Compostela, outside of which the train derailed, were cancelled, town hall spokeswoman Maria Pardo told Spanish National television TVE.Sergio Prego, a passenger on the train, told the SER, The train was going at a very fast speed and in the curve it went off the tracks, it overturned. We were the lucky ones that were able to get out on our own feet.Victims? For sure. I have no idea but there must be an awful lot, he said.A photographer at the scene said he saw dozens of what appeared to be dead bodies being extracted from the wreck by emergency workers. TVE showed footage of what appeared to be several bodies covered by blankets alongside the tracks next to the damaged train wagons and rescue workers entering toppled carriages through broken windows.The photographer, Xabier Martinez, told The Associated Press that he also spoke to two injured train passengers who said they felt a strong vibration before the derailing.The accident occurred near the train station in Santiago de Compostela, 95 kilometers (60 miles) south of El Ferrol, the final destination. Rescue workers were also seen in the television images caring for people still inside some of the wagons.Television footage showed one wagon pointing upwards into the air with one of its ends twisted and disfigured. Another carriage that had been severed in two could be seen lying on a road near the track.The train, which belongs to the state-owned Renfe company, had started its journey in Madrid. Although it was not an AVE high speed train, it was a relatively luxurious version that uses the same track as Spains fastest expresses.It was Spains deadliest train accident in decades. In 1944, a train traveling from Madrid to Galicia crashed and killed 78 people. Another accident in 1972 left 77 dead on a track to southwestern Seville, according to Spanish news agency Europa Press.Officials at the Interior Ministry and the Adif rail infrastructure authority did not immediately answer telephone calls or return messages seeking comment. Officials with Renfe also did not immediately return messages seeking comment.King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a native of Galicia, both offered their condolences. Rajoy announced he would visit the site Thursday.

Militants kill 14 Shi'ites in northern Iraq

Posted:

TIKRIT (Reuters) - Militants shot dead 14 Shiite tanker-drivers after checking their identity papers at a makeshift roadblock on the main route leading north from the Iraqi capital late on Wednesday, police said.The killings took place near Sulaiman Pek, 160 km (100 miles) north of Baghdad, following clashes inside the town between militants and the police and army.Sunni Islamist militants have been regaining momentum in their insurgency against the Shiite-led government in recent months, invigorated by the civil war in neigbouring Syria, which has inflamed sectarian tensions in Iraq and the wider region.All the victims were Shiite tanker drivers who were coming from Baghdad to Kirkuk, Talib Mohammed, the towns mayor, told Reuters by phone.Militants blocked their way near Sulaiman Pek, checked their IDs and executed them by shooting them in the heads and chest.Earlier, gunmen ambushed a minibus in western Tikrit, 150 km (95 miles) north of the capital, shooting dead four soldiers who were travelling on the road from Baghdad to Mosul.Nine policemen were also killed when militants riding on pickup trucks opened fire of a checkpoint in Shura, 50 km (35 miles) south of Mosul, Iraqs third largest city and capital of the Sunni-dominated Nineveh province.The steady deterioration of security in Iraq was highlighted by a mass jailbreak near the capital on Sunday when around 500 convicts, including senior al Qaeda operatives, escaped after militants attacked two prisons.The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which was formed through a merger between al Qaedas Syrian and Iraqi branches, claimed responsibility for the raids and said it had freed its jailed comrades after months of preparation.One security official told Reuters on Tuesday that some of the escaped inmates were heading to Syria to join the ranks of the mainly Sunni rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, whose Alawite sect derives from Shiite Islam.Shiite fighters from Iraq have also joined the conflict on Assads side, along with Lebanese militia Hezbollah.Insurgents in Iraq have been recruiting from the countrys Sunni minority, which increasingly resents Shiite domination since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.More than 720 people have been killed in militant attacks in Iraq so far in July, according to violence monitoring group Iraq Body Count.Three roadside bombs in the volatile, ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk wounded several people and a car bomb explosion near a market in the town of Tuz Khurmato wounded three on Wednesday.

Kerry to meet Syrian rebel leader at UN

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with the new leader of the Syrian opposition at the UN this week, as US plans to boost military aid to the rebels gain steam.Kerry will meet newly-elected Syrian opposition chief Ahmad Jarba on Thursday afternoon at the United Nations in New York, on the sidelines of a Security Council meeting.The secretary plans to meet with... president Jarba and other members of the coalition, including Michel Kilo and Burhan Ghalioun, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.They will discuss the current situation in Syria, how to support a process of political dialogue and the Geneva conference, and ways to bolster our assistance to local communities.It will be Kerrys first meeting with Jarba since he was elected head of the Syrian National Coalition on July 6.Kerry will seek to convey the US commitment to continuing to help strengthen the opposition, Psaki said.Jarba met on Tuesday with French leaders and said he called for total political support, diplomatic support, humanitarian emergency aid and military and other aid.Jarba was accompanied in Paris by the Free Syrian Army chief General Selim Idriss, who said the opposition was working with our European and American friends to obtain technical, medical and humanitarian assistance and, we hope, also weapons and ammunition.Idriss repeated his complaint that the rebels did not have enough weapons as they battle the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.The United States is currently providing humanitarian and non-lethal military aid to rebel groups but has said it will significantly expand the scope and scale of its military assistance.President Barack Obamas plan to provide vetted Syrian rebels with weapons and strategic military aid appears to have gained traction in Congress after lawmakers said a consensus had been reached to accept the proposals.House Intelligence Committee chairman Mike Rogers said they had agreed to the plan despite very strong concerns about the strength of the administrations plans in Syria and its chances for success.But the details have been kept secret, and it remains unclear precisely what extra aid Washington intends to give the rebels.

UN condemns flow of arms in Somalia and Eritrea

Posted:

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The UN Security Council is condemning the flow of weapons and ammunition to and through Somalia and Eritrea in violation of arms embargoes against both countries.A resolution adopted unanimously by the council on Wednesday reaffirmed the arms embargoes on Somalia and Eritrea but gave a green light for Somalia to import some military equipment for its security forces.It barred the security forces from bringing in heavy equipment including surface-to-air missiles, anti-tank and night vision weapons and large mortars, guns, howitzers and cannons without prior approval from the council committee monitoring sanctions against Somalia.The council expressed deep concern at reporting of continuing violations of a ban on exporting charcoal from Somalia and underscored its willingness to take action against those who violate it.

At least 95 died in Guinea ethnic violence: government

Posted:

CONAKRY (AFP) - At least 95 people died and around 100 more were wounded in ethnic violence last week in Guinea, a government spokesman said Wednesday, revising higher a previous toll of 58.At the last count, there were at least 95 dead and around 100 wounded in three days of clashes that broke out suddenly on July 15, Albert Damantang Camara told reporters.The violence began when Guerze tribesmen, who form the majority population in the southern forest region where the unrest took place, beat up three ethnic Konianke in the town of Koule.Two of the victims later died of their wounds, leading to reprisals, according to the police.Fighting then spread to the provincial capital NZerekore, 570 kilometres (350 miles) southeast of Conakry, leaving several homes, churches and mosques damaged or destroyed.By Wednesday, clashes had also reached the town of Beyla, with rival sides using machetes, sticks, axes, stones and firearms.There were 131 arrests made during the unrest, said Camara, who added that calm has returned and normal activities have resumed for the past few days.Communal violence is common in the region, near the border with Liberia, where clashes between the two tribes regularly break out over religious and other grievances.The indigenous Guerze are mostly Christian or animist, while the Konianke -- seen as newcomers -- are Muslims.

Football: Real fight back to draw at Lyon

Posted:

PARIS (AFP) - Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti saw his side come back from two goals down on his return to France on Wednesday as they held Lyon to a 2-2 draw at Stade Gerland.Ancelotti, who quit Paris Saint-Germain after winning the French title in his first season, fielded a strong line-up including Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, Germanys Mesut Ozil and former Lyon star Karim Benzema.The two teams know each other well after crossing swords in the Champions League 10 times since 2005 with spoils shared at three wins apiece and produced an entertaining evening of pre-season football in front of a packed house.Midfield youngster Clement Grenier gave the partisan crowd a fair return for their money after just 20 minutes with a spectacular goal from distance that flew under the bar and past Diego Lopez.Argentine Lisandro Lopez, who has been at the centre of transfer rumours in recent weeks, then gave the seven-time champions a cushion with a close range finish before Real began their comeback with 11 minutes remaining.Spanish under-21 international Alvaro Borja converted a penalty before Real levelled through new signing Casemillo of Brazil with just six minutes left.

Fognini, Klizan at Croatia Open quarterfinals

Posted:

UMAG (AP) - Third-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy and sixth-seeded Martin Klizan of Slovenia advanced to the quarterfinals of the Croatia Open on Wednesday.Fognini defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 7-5, 6-3, while Klizan rallied to beat Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3).Fognini made several unforced errors at the start of the match to hand de Bakker a 5-1 lead, but then won nine consecutive games to take control.Fognini earned his 11th consecutive singles victory, after winning titles in Stuttgart and Hamburg.I was not consistent at the beginning, obviously I did not play great tennis, but after 10 matches in a row in two weeks it could be expected, Fognini said.I started slow, then I started to fight for every point.Klizan was up 4-1 in the third set, then failed to serve out the match at 6-5 before clinching the win in the tiebreaker.Mayer jumped out to a 4-1 lead at the start, but Klizan won 10 out of 12 games after dropping the first set.

Veteran cyclist O'Grady admits doping in '98 Tour

Posted:

MELBOURNE (AP) - Veteran Australian cyclist Stuart OGrady has admitted to doping during the scandal-plagued 1998 Tour de France.OGrady, a six-time Olympian and a stage winner on the Tour, announced his retirement after finishing his 17th Tour earlier this week. He admitted Thursday he had used erythropoietin (EPO) for two weeks before the 1998 race, and said he had acquired it himself without the knowledge of his team.A French inquiry into doping in sport implicated dozens of cyclists for suspicious tests, uncovering evidence that 1998 champion Marco Pantani and runner-up Jan Ulrich used EPO to fuel their performances.OGrady told News Corp Australia that you win Olympics, Paris-Roubaix and now all of that is going to be tainted by this action and I wish it could be changed but it cant.OGrady won the mens Madison at the 2004 Olympics together with Graeme Brown.

Romashina wins another gold in synchro swimming

Posted:

BARCELONA (AP) - Svetlana Romashina has won her third gold medal of the Barcelona world championships, winning the synchronized swimming solo.Romashina easily took the top spot with 97.340 points, increasing her career haul to 13 world championship golds dating to 2005. Chinas Huang Xuechen won silver with 95.720, while Spains Ona Carbonell took bronze before the home crowd at the Palau Sant Jordi with 94.290.Romashina added to her wins in the solo technical, where the top three were exactly the same, and the duet technical teaming with Svetlana Kolesnichenko. Russia has won the first four synchronized events at these world championships and is heavily favored to duplicate its sweep of the golds in Shanghai two years ago.China has taken three silver medals, while Spain has a silver and three bronzes.

Weak China data, falling US stocks push oil lower

Posted:

NEW YORK (AP) - Weak manufacturing data from China and falling U.S. stock markets pushed oil to its biggest one-day decline in five weeks Wednesday.Benchmark crude for September delivery dropped $1.84, or 1.7 percent, to close at $105.39 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That's the biggest percentage decline since June 21.Another decline in U.S. supplies failed to give oil a jolt. U.S. crude oil inventories declined by 2.6 million barrels, bringing the four-week drop to nearly 30 million barrels. Still, at 364.2 million barrels, the nation's oil supply is in the upper half of the average range for this time of year. And gasoline supplies remain above year-ago levels, according to the Energy Department.Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates, said that supplies of oil and refined products remain high, and fundamentals don't support current prices.It is becoming increasingly difficult to construct a bullish argument that would support triple-digit crude pricing in either key benchmark, Ritterbusch said in a note to clients. He was referring to West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for the U.S. crude, and Brent, the benchmark for international crudes.Brent crude, traded on the ICE Futures exchange in London, fell $1.23 to finish at $107.19 a barrel.An HSBC survey released Wednesday showed China's manufacturing at an 11-month low this month, a disappointing performance that puts pressure on Chinese leaders to reverse a deepening slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.A further slowdown in the manufacturing sector added to investor unease ... putting further pressure on labor markets and reinforcing the pessimistic outlook for demand growth in China, said a note from Sucden Financial Research in London.China also impacted U.S. stock markets. Besides the manufacturing data, China's slowing economy dragged down earnings at Caterpillar, the world's largest construction equipment company. Shares of Caterpillar, a component of both the Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard & Poor's 500 index, dropped 2.7 percent.

Scientists find faulty gene link to allergies

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US scientists said Wednesday they have found a genetic link to allergies, which also exists in people with connective tissue disorders.The findings in the journal Science Translational Medicine show that a single genetic pathway may open the door to conditions such as asthma, food allergies and eczema.The culprit appears to be mutations that lead to abnormal signals from a protein called transforming growth factor-beta, or TGF-beta. When its signaling goes awry, it unleashes a cascade of events that culminates in the development of allergies, said lead author Pamela Frischmeyer-Guerrerio, an immunologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.Researchers examined a group of 58 children with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), a connective tissue disorder that can cause an enlarged aorta and lead to aneurysm and is similar to Marfan syndrome. Researchers noticed years ago that patients with LDS were predisposed to higher allergy rates than the general population.LDS patients also have unusually high levels of the antibody IgE, which is a driver of allergic responses, and high counts of white blood cells known as eosinophils that are involved in allergic reactions.Researchers found that the children's immune cells also had abnormally high levels of a protein called SMAD, a known transmitter of TGF-beta signaling, said the study.Among patients treated with a blood pressure drug known as losartan, this protein was reduced, suggesting the drug may offer a pathway to treating allergies.It also signaled that heightened TGF-beta signaling was the root of the allergic response.Disruption in TGF-beta signaling does not simply nudge immune cells to misbehave but appears to singlehandedly unlock the very chain reaction that eventually leads to allergic disease, said senior investigator Harry Dietz, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.The researchers are currently investigating losartan's effects on allergic symptoms in animals.

Misbah guides Pakistan to 3-1 series win

Posted:

GROS ISLET (AP) - Captain Misbah-ul-Haq led Pakistan to a four-wicket victory over West Indies with yet another calm and composed half century in the fifth and final one-day international on Wednesday to clinch the series 3-1.Misbah hit 63 off 93 balls with five fours and a six for his fourth half century of the series, and opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad scored a valuable 64 off 100 balls to guide Pakistan to 243-6 after West Indies made 242-7.The Pakistan captain featured in two productive partnerships by adding 66 runs with Umar Akmal (33) for the fifth wicket stand after steadying the innings with 59-run partnership with Shehzad.West Indies, after being put into bat, was indebted to captain Dwayne Bravo for a rapid 48 with Marlon Samuels (45) and opening batsman Johnson Charles (43) also making useful contributions.Pretty satisfying, said a smiling Misbah, who was dismissed with the scores leveled before Saeed Ajmal scampered home with the winning run. A win is always good, especially after the losses in South Africa series and Champions Trophy.Coming into the series, Pakistan lost all its three group matches in the Champions Trophy in England including a defeat against the West Indies and before that it lost 3-2 in South Africa.West Indies was scratchy in the field with Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels exhibiting some ordinary fielding efforts and giving away boundaries, but it came close to dismissing Misbah when the Pakistan captain was on 49.Fast bowler Tino Best (3-48), playing his first match of the series, and the rest of the West Indies players were convinced that Misbah had gloved the leg side catch at the total of 190-4, but he was adjudged not out by television umpire Steve Davis.The matches could have gone either way, even today a few key decisions went against us, Bravo said. Those key decisions at crucial times cost us.Pakistan started off its run-chase in style when the opening pair of Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed (23) put on the first half century stand of the series by adding 51 runs off 65 balls.Best, who was expensive in his first three overs that cost him 25 runs, came back strongly with three wickets for 23 runs, but Misbahs calmness in the end saw Pakistan through.Misbah farmed the strike with Shehzad before Akmal cut loose with three successive boundaries off fast bowler Jason Holder.Earlier, Bravos knock off 27 balls included five fours and three sixes after Pakistan fast bowlers Junaid Khan (3-48) and Mohammad Irfan (2-34) had mopped up the top order and restricted West Indies to 170-6 in the 45th over.But Bravo dominated a 53-run seventh wicket stand with former captain Sammy (29 not out) to give West Indies some hope.Samuels (45) and opening batsman Johnson Charles (43) also made useful contributions, but Chris Gayles disappointing series ended when he was brilliantly snapped up for 21 by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal with his right hand over his head.Pakistan will now play two Twenty20s against West Indies at St. Vincent over the weekend.

West Indies name T20 squad to face Pakistan

Posted:

GROS INLET (AFP) - World champions West Indies have retained 10 members of the squad that lifted the World Twenty20 title last October in Sri Lanka for the weekends back-to-back T20 Internationals against Pakistan in St Vincent.From the 13-member party in St Lucia for the last three one-Day internationals of the five-match series, batsman Devon Smith along with fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Jason Holder have been omitted.Taking their places at the Arnos Vale Stadium are tearaway pacer Shannon Gabriel, spinner Samuel Badree and all-rounder Christopher Barnwell.Darren Sammy returns to the role of captain with new ODI skipper Dwayne Bravo remaining as a member of the side.West Indies have been unbeaten in T20 internationals since defeating Sri Lanka in the world final in Colombo.Squad: D. Sammy (captain), C. Gayle, J. Charles, D.M. Bravo, M. Samuels, L. Simmons, K. Pollard, D.J. Bravo, C. Barnwell, S. Narine, T. Best, S. Badree, S. Gabriel.

Taufel calls for umpire 'succession planning'

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Former Test umpire Simon Taufel has called for more countries to produce leading officials in a bid to boost succession planning while admitting technology poses a double edge for decision-makers.The Australian, who retired from umpiring after the World Twenty20 in October, was speaking Wednesday while delivering the 13th MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lords, said the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia highlights one significant challenge -- that of succession planning.England and Australia between them provide eight members of the International Cricket Councils 12-strong panel of elite umpires.That means only four men -- Pakistans Aleem Dar, Sri Lankas Kumar Dharmasena, South Africas Marais Erasmus and New Zealands Tony Hill -- are currently eligible to officiate in the Ashes, with the current five-match series set to be followed by another five Tests in Australia starting later this year.Taufel added: The neutrality guidelines mean that eight of the 12 Elite Panel umpires are not eligible to officiate (in the Ashes).We have a real need to encourage and support the other Test playing countries to invest more resources in this area. This representation trend by two countries needs more competition from the others, said Taufel, now the ICCs umpire training and performance manager.Umpiring is everyones business, everyone seems to have an opinion on it but we need to alter the mindset and have all the countries investing more in the future of match officiating.England lead the Ashes 2-0 but both the first two Tests have featured controversial incidents regarding the use of the Decision Review System (DRS).While the likes of former Australia captain Ian Chappell have said DRS should be solely in the hands of the umpires, with player reviews a thing of the past, Taufel was coy over whether any changes should be made.The technology genie has been let out of the bottle and its not going to go back in.I would simply advocate that we look at ways to be as pragmatic as possible so we can get more correct decisions and deliver more justice, said Taufel.I do have an important message on this topic though as it is often asked, what is your view on the DRS? Im not sure that this is the right question.Perhaps we should be asking are we using technology in the best way to serve the players, supporters, umpires and values of our game?No matter what system of technology review/referral we implement in our game, it will not be perfect or 100 percent.There are trade-offs and compromises with every system adopted.Today, everyone umpires the game by watching television. The invasive nature of this broadcasting has a double edge to it -- it does put more pressure on players and umpires.Not too much now happens on a cricket field that is not captured by a camera, a microphone or piece of technology. This has the ability to bring out the best in the game and also the worst.

Victim paints picture of robber

Posted:

ESSEX (Web Desk) - An artist who had a brush with a criminal is hoping a watercolor picture she made will put the suspect behind bars.Serena OConnor, an art teacher in Essex, England, was recently shopping at her local grocery store when a man asked for directions. The next day she discovered her debit card had been stolen from her handbag during the encounter, the Daily Mail reported.OConnor was able to cancel the card before she lost any money.She then reported the crime to the police, but not before painting a colorful photo of the man she believes robbed her.I do portraits so I tend to scrutinize people’s faces and take in a lot of detail, O’Connor, 51, told the Metro. It only took me about 45 minutes. It’s not my best work, but it might just be helpful.If OConnors artistic eye is any indication, the suspect has a swarthy complexion, a mustache and a sad forlorn look about him. Oh, and he was a wearing a yellow-and-red polo shirt with a blue collar.Alex Swinborne, the detective investigating the case, said its the first time a crime victim painted such an elaborate picture of a suspect.The victim is a portrait artist and has produced a very good image which will hopefully help us track him down, he said, according to the Irish Independent. I would urge anyone who recognizes him to call police.So far, OConnor has found more admirers for the painting than Swinbourne has found suspects.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)