Sunday 28 July 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Mideast peace talks to resume today: US

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will resume long-stalled direct peace talks on Monday following six months of frenetic shuttle diplomacy by Secretary of State John Kerry.The State Department announced Sunday that the two sides had accepted invitations from Kerry to come to Washington to formally resume direct final status negotiations. In a statement, department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the initial meetings would begin Monday evening and continue Tuesday.She said Kerry had called both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday and said they agreed that the talks would serve as an opportunity to develop a procedural work plan for how the parties can proceed with the negotiations in the coming months.Both leaders have demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions that have been instrumental in getting to this point, Kerry said in the statement. We are grateful for their leadership.Kerry had announced on July 19 in Amman, Jordan, that negotiators from the two sides would be coming to Washington in a week or so after having agreed on a basis for resuming negotiations after a five-year break. However, he warned that the agreement was still being formalized.Sundays carefully worded statement offered no details of the framework for the resumption of the talks that broke down five years ago, although both sides positions are well known.The statement was released shortly after the Israeli Cabinet agreed to release 104 long-term Palestinian prisoners convicted of deadly attacks, meeting a longstanding Palestinian demand.

At least 36 killed in Italy bus crash

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ROME (AP) - A tour bus filled with Italian pilgrims plunged off a highway into a ravine in southern Italy on Sunday night and smashed into several cars that had slowed in heavy traffic, killing at least 36 people, said police and rescuers.Flashing signs near Avellino, outside Naples, had warned of slowed traffic along the stretch of the A116 autostrada, a major highway crossing southern Italy, before the crash occurred, said highway police and officials, speaking on state radio early Monday. They said the bus driver, for reasons not yet determined, appeared to have lost control of his vehicle.Hours after the crash, firefighters said that so far they had pulled out 36 bodies and 11 injured people from the mangled wreckage of the bus, which lie on side in a clearance in a wooded area near a road after smashing through a guardrail and plunging some 30 meters (100 feet) below, the Italian news agency ANSA said.State radio quoted Avellino police as saying the bus driver was among the dead.The bus looked as if it had partially split open.Motorists and their passengers whose vehicles were hit by the bus stood on the highway near their vehicles. One cars rear was completely crumpled, while another was smashed on its side. It was not immediately known if there were injuries in any of those cars.Italian news reports said the bus could hold a little more than 50 passengers and that it was almost filled on the ride back after an excursion from the southeastern Puglia area, which is popular with Catholic faithful who admire Padre Pio, a late mystic monk who was based there.Most of the passengers were from the Campania area around Naples, ANSA said.The bus dove off the highway near the town of Monteforte Irpino in Irpinia, a largely agricultural area about 60 kilometers (40 miles) inland from Naples and about 250 kilometers (160 miles) south of Rome.A reporter for Naples daily Il Mattino, Giuseppe Crimaldi, told Sky TG24 TV from the scene that some witnesses told him the bus had been going at a normal speed on the downhill stretch of the highway when it suddenly veered and started hitting cars. He said some witnesses thought they heard a noise as if the bus had blown a tire.A local prosecutor arrived at the crash scene to begin an investigation into the cause of the crash.

5 killed in helicopter crash in US

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NOXEN (Agencies) - A helicopter crash in a remote, wooded area of northeastern Pennsylvania claimed the lives of five people, state police said Sunday.The crash apparently happened Saturday night after radar and communication contact with the helicopter was lost, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The helicopter had taken off from a Binghamton, N.Y., airport with five people on board, according to the FAA.Trooper Adam Reed confirmed five people died in the crash near Noxen, Wyoming County. He said he did not have additional information on those on board but said inclement weather had hampered search efforts.State police and FAA personnel were still on the scene Sunday night, according to Reed. Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses, he said.A message left for the Wyoming County coroner was not immediately returned.The FAA said the helicopter took off from Greater Binghamton Airport in New York and was heading to Jake Arner Memorial Airport in Lehighton on Saturday night.

Clashes in Nigeria leave 25 dead

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MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) - In attacks and reprisals between an Islamic militant group and vigilantes, at least 25 civilians were killed in northeast Nigeria, a vigilante group said Sunday.It was the first attack with major fatalities reported since dozens of students were killed earlier this month in attacks blamed on Boko Haram, the militant group whose name means Western education is forbidden.Nigerias military has said the situation has been brought under control since thousands of troops were moved into the region after the government imposed a state of emergency on May 14 and conceded that extremists were controlling towns and villages in the northeast of Nigeria, Africas most populous nation and its largest oil producer.Mixed messages since then have the military claiming control and intermittent attacks by the extremists.Vigilante leader Aliko Musa said Sunday that his group stormed villages over the weekend to hunt Boko Haram members. He said they retaliated with big fire power and that five vigilantes and 20 civilians mostly fishermen and traders were killed.Lt. Haruna Muhammed Sani of Nigerias military said 20 civilians and one vigilante were killed in the violence.There was no way to confirm either account in an area in which the military has cut cellphone and Internet connections.

Japan beat South Korea 2-1 to win East Asian Cup

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SEOUL (AP) - Yoichiro Kakitani scored both goals, including the winner in stoppage time, as Japan beat South Korea 2-1 to win its first East Asian Cup title on Sunday.Kakitani gave Japan the lead in the 25th minute, receiving a pass from Toshihiro Aoyama and beating South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong for his second goal of the tournament.The hosts leveled in the 33rd on Yun Il-loks strike from the top of the area past Japan keeper Shusaku Nishikawa.Kakitani scored again in the first minute of stoppage time, picking up a loose ball after an impressive save by Jung.This was a very important win for us, said Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, whose team came entirely from the domestic J-League. The players did a fantastic job.Japan finished the tournament with seven points, two ahead of China, which beat Australia 4-3 earlier in the day.Yu Dabao scored five minutes into the game for defending champion China but Australia equalized through Aaron Mooys long-range effort in the 30th.China regained the advantage in the 56th on a goal by Sun Ke and widened the lead to 4-1 through two quick goals from Yang Xu and Wu Lei.Substitutes Adam Taggart and Mitchell Duke responded for Australia, which finished the tournament winless.

Football: Germany win women's European Championship

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SOLNA (AFP) - Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saved two penalties to help Germany win a record sixth consecutive womens European Championship with a 1-0 success against Norway in Solna on Sunday.Substitute Anja Mittag scored the only goal just a few minutes after being introduced from the bench at the beginning of the second period but the true star of the show was Angerer.She deflected Trine Ronnings first half spot-kick away with her knee before thwarting Solveig Gulbrandsen from 12 yards in the second period.Those two crucial stops meant Mittags close range tap-in from a pinpoint cross from Celia Okoyino da Mbabi was enough to help the Germans avenge a shock group stage defeat by the same opponents.Of course its a great feeling, especially as many didnt expect us to win this title, Germany coach Silvia Neid told uefa.com, reserving special praise for her heroine keeper.I met Nadine Angerer in November and we had a long conversation. We said that fitness is important if you want to be a good goalkeeper and we both agreed on that.We met again in February and she had worked hard during the winter break. You could see that she was much better when it came to her ability to jump and physical flexibility.This tournament and this match are the reward for the hard work she did during the winter break.Germany have now won eight of the 11 womens Euro events and have not failed to lift the trophy since Norway triumphed in 1993.It was a richly deserved victory as Leonie Maier hit the bar with a looping header in the opening minutes and near the end Nadine Kessler bobbled a scuffed effort against the base of the upright.They dominated throughout but Norway had their chances, not least from the penalty spot.In the first half Catherine Dekkerhus crumpled to the turf under Okoyino da Mbabis challenge but Ronning couldnt find the net.Caroline Hansen was the next to hit the ground after seemingly minimal contact in the second period but again Angerer proved equal to Gulbrandsens penalty.Norway had the ball in the net soon after but Ada Hegerberg had strayed a yard offside when slotting home Maren Mjeldes cross from the right.It was the fourth time twice previous winners Norway had lost to Germany in the final after defeats in 1989 (to West Germany), 1991 and 2005.Norway boss Even Pellerud refused to single anyone out over the missed spot-kicks.This is not the time to blame anyone or think too much about (the missed penalties). Sometimes you score, sometimes you dont, said the 60-year-old.Norwegian defender Maren Mjelde sought to take the positives out of the painful loss.We have done a really good job in this tournament. We made it to the final - we hoped for gold, now its silver. Now Im really disappointed, but tomorrow, when we think about it, everybody will be glad and satisfied with what we have done here. This was a good start to something good.

Tennis: Injured Sharapova pulls out of Canadian event

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TORONTO (AFP) - World number two Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the WTA Rogers Cup hardcourt event in Toronto next month because of a nagging left hip injury, organizers said on Sunday.Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Sharapova, a 2009 runner-up at the Canadian event that starts August 5, has not played since losing to Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito in the second round at Wimbledon in late June.I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to play in Toronto next week as its one of the best and most important tournaments of the year, Sharapova said.I was looking forward to making a healthy return to the courts in front of my Canadian fans but unfortunately Im just not recovered yet.That leaves Sharapova only two events, at Cincinnati and New Haven, to use as hardcourt tuneups before the start of the US Open, the years final Grand Slam tournament.Maria is one of the fan favourites here in Toronto and we are certainly going to miss her, tournament director Karl Hale said.

John Isner wins Atlanta Open

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ATLANTA (AP) - Top-seeded John Isner won the Atlanta Open on Sunday, beating second-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) in the tallest final in ATP history.The 6-foot-10 Isner, who lost in the Atlanta final in 2010 and 11 to fellow American Mardy Fish, won his seventh career title. Anderson is 6-foot-8.Isner rallied to win two tiebreakers, pushing his ATP-best tiebreaker record to 27-6.All three sets were played on serve, and Anderson lost serve only once in four matches.In the third tiebreaker, however, Isner scored off Andersons first, third, fourth and fifth serves to win 7-2. The last point came when Anderson sent a backhand into the net.Isner will move up from his world rank of 22 and likely pass Sam Querry (20) as the top American. Isner is 6-3 against Anderson, who began the tournament ranked No. 21.Isner earned $98,700, and Anderson took home $52,000.

Sun cruises to gold in 1st pool event at worlds

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BARCELONA (AP) - Sun Yang never really exerted himself until he got out of the pool.After winning the 400-metre freestyle Sunday night by a massive 3.23 seconds, the 1.98-meter (6-foot-6) Chinese swimmer flexed to show off his stomach muscles, giant arms and huge shoulders.In the opening pool event of the world championships, the Olympic champion had no challengers.Sun touched in 3 minutes, 41.59 seconds, about three body-lengths ahead of Kosuke Hagino of Japan, who won what was really a race for second.The 18-year-old Hagino edged out Connor Jaeger of the United States by 0.03 seconds for silver.

Earthquakes trigger undersea methane reservoirs: study

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PARIS (AFP) - Earthquakes can rip open sub-sea pockets of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, according to a study by German and Swiss scientists published on Sunday.Quake-caused methane should be added to the list of heat-trapping carbon emissions that affect the worlds climate system, although the scale of this contribution remains unclear, they said.The evidence comes from cores of sediment drilled from the bed of the northern Arabian Sea during a research trip by marine scientists in 2007.One of the cores has now been found to contain methane hydrates -- a solid ice-like crystalline structure of methane and water -- only 1.6 metres (5.2 feet) below the sea floor.Also uncovered were telltale signatures from water between sediment grains, and concentrations of a mineral called barite.Together, these suggested that methane had surged up through the sea bed in recent decades.We started going through the literature and found that a major earthquake had occurred close by, in 1945, said David Fischer from the MARUM Institute at the University of Bremen.Based on several indicators, we postulated that the earthquake led to a fracturing of the sediments, releasing the gas that had been trapped below the hydrates into the ocean.Their search names the culprit as an 8.1-magnitude quake, the biggest ever detected in the northern Arabian Sea.It ruptured a shallow gas reservoir at a location called Nascent Ridge, according to their paper, appearing in the journal Nature Geoscience.Over a likely period of decades, around 7.4 million cubic metres (261 million cubic feet) of methane -- equivalent roughly to 10 large natural-gas tankers -- belched to the surface, the authors calculate.This estimate is conservative, they stress, adding that there could well be other sites in the area that were breached by the quake.Greenhouse gases have both natural and man-made sources.Identified natural sources include volcanic eruptions, which disgorge heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) as well as cooling sulphur dioxide particles, and methane from land and thawing permafrost.The biggest human source is CO2, from the burning of coal, gas and oil, and methane caused by deforestation and agriculture.Methane has become a rising concern in the global warming equation because it is 25 times more effective than CO2 in trapping solar heat, although it is also shorter-lived.According to estimates published last week in Nature, the leakage of 50 billion tonnes of methane from the thawing shoreline of the East Siberian Sea -- part of the Arctic Ocean, which is one of the Earths hot spots for warming -- would inflict costs almost as big as the worlds entire economic output.

Pakistan beat West Indies, seal T20 series 2-0

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KINGSTOWN (AFP) - Pakistan held off a desperate late surge by the West Indies to take the second and final Twenty20 international by 11 runs at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent on Sunday.In restricting the hosts to 124 for nine in reply to their total of 135 for seven, the tourists took the series 2-0 and moved up to second in the international rankings behind Sri Lanka.West Indies, the world T20 champions, dropped to fourth in what was yet another setback following hard on the heels of the 3-1 loss to the Pakistanis in the preceding one-day international series.It was a tough tour and credit must be given to everyone associated with the squad for the success that we have enjoyed here, said a delighted Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez, who also played a key role with the ball in dismissing the dangerous but out-of-form Chris Gayle cheaply for the second time in two days.When we saw the pitch, we knew, with our four spinners, that any total of 135-140 would have given us a chance, and so it worked out.An unbeaten 46 by man of the match Umar Akmal and 44 from opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad paced Pakistan to a total that was always going to be challenging on a slow, turning surface ideally suited to the sub-continental team.Spinners Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree shared five wickets for the West Indies in what would prove to be an ominous precursor of the task the home side had to face in the quest to get a share of the honours.After looking dead and buried at 17 for four though, the Caribbean side fought back through the middle of their innings thanks to a battling top score of 35 from Dwayne Bravo and an aggressive 28 from Sunil Narine.However it was Kieron Pollard who brought the match back to life in a pivotal 17th over bowled by Zulfiqar Babar that featured spectacular hitting before the left-arm spinner effectively decided the fate of the match with two wickets in two balls.Pollard launched two mighty sixes and drilled two fours off the first four deliveries, further enlivening an already boisterous crowd as they sensed the possibility of a miraculous victory.But Zulfiqar held his nerve and the big-hitters attack could not be sustained.He sliced a catch to deep cover and off the next delivery, Bravo also swung hopefully to be snared at wide long-off.After his sensational debut in the first match on Saturday when he took three wickets and then hit a six to win the match off the final ball, Zulfiqar was the deserving man of the series as he also contributed useful scores of 14 and 11, both unbeaten, in the two matches.Any flickering hope that the West Indies had of getting to the target was effectively extinguished in the next over, although there was still more drama.Captain Darren Sammy heaved at Saeed Ajmal and skied a straightforward catch that was floored in a collision between the bowler and the advancing wicketkeeper Akmal.His luck ran out three balls later when attempting again to clear the boundary and Shahid Afridi took the catch at long-off.When Asian teams come to the Caribbean, maybe we shouldnt be giving them these types of wickets, said a disappointed Sammy in reflecting on the pitches not only for the T20s but also for the preceding ODIs in Guyana and St Lucia.It suited them more than it helped us. At the end of the day though, they played the better cricket.Tino Best blasted a couple of sixes that still kept the West Indian faithful hoping against hope.But left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir, whose early burst accounted for Johnson Charles and Marlon Samuels to catches at the wicket, ensured that Pakistan did not completely fall apart in the final over of the match.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said they were extremely concerned over British media reports that their ODI series with the West Indies was being investigated for alleged suspicious betting patterns.The Mail on Sunday raised the allegations over claims of wrongdoing in the series which Pakistan won 3-1 with one game tied.The PCB is obviously extremely concerned at the recent allegations of fixing reported in the media with regard to recently concluded ODI series between Pakistan and West Indies, an official told cricinfo.comThe PCB maintains zero tolerance towards corruption in the game but investigations in this matter falls within the purview of the ICCs Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.The PCB is in contact with the ICC on this issue and understands that the ICC will be issuing a media release soon.

Ton-up Taylor makes Ashes case

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LONDON (AFP) - James Taylor underlined his England credentials with an unbeaten century for Sussex against Australia on the final day of the tour match at Hove.Taylors dominant innings of 121 was perfectly timed just hours after learning he had been included in the England squad for the third Ashes Test as cover for the injured Kevin Pietersen.The Nottinghamshire batsman, who guested in the game for Sussex following a request from the England and Wales Cricket Board, proved he is ready to play at Old Trafford on Thursday if Pietersen doesnt recover from a calf injury.Taylor spent more than five and a half hours at the crease and was the mainstay of the Sussex innings as they scored 368 for seven from their 100 overs, a lead of two runs.He needed a slice of luck to reach his 16th first-class century when he was dropped by Ashton Agar running back from mid-on when he had scored 90.Taylor eventually brought up his century by driving Nathan Lyon through the covers for four just before lunch.Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc enhanced his prospects of playing at Old Trafford by ripping out the leg stump of Chris Jordan for 47 in an impressive spell.Ed Cowan then made an unbeaten 77 as Australia, missing several of their regular Test players including captain Michael Clarke, reached 152 for two in their second innings when the teams shook hands with 16 overs still to go.Usman Khawaja was promoted to open the batting for Australia in their second innings, but missed his chance to spend some much-needed time in the middle as he was dismissed for just one.Phil Hughes followed up his 84 from the first innings by making 38 before being dismissed by Lewis Hatchett for the second time in the match when he was trapped lbw.Hughes put on 85 for the second wicket with Cowan, who made his second half-century of the game with an unbeaten 77, while Matthew Wade avoided a pair by scoring 30 not out.Australia trail England 2-0 and will be unable to regain the Ashes if they fail to win at Old Trafford.

India crush Zimbabwe to claim series victory

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HARARE, Harare Province, July 28, 2013 (AFP) - India wrapped up their one-day series against Zimbabwe at the first opportunity on Sunday, as they beat the hosts by seven wickets in the third ODI at Harare Sports Club.After bowling Zimbabwe out for 183, with legspinner Amit Mishra claiming figures of 4 for 47, India needed just 35.3 overs to pass their target as captain Virat Kohlis half-century saw them home.Kohli finished unbeaten on 68, having adapted perfectly to the slower pace of the wicket in a measured 88-ball innings.Although Zimbabwe dismissed opener Rohit Sharma cheaply for the third time in the series, Shikhar Dhawan struck 35 from 32 balls to provide India with a solid base.After Dhawan fell to Tendai Chatara, Kohli constructed a patient 64-run stand with Ambati Rayudu that made the outcome of both the game and the series clear.While Rayudu was unable to see the job through, falling caught and bowled to Brian Vitori for 33, Kohli added the remaining 53 runs required with Suresh Raina, who finished on 28 not out.Sean Williamss 45 was the highest score in a tame batting display by Zimbabwe, who lost both of their openers in the first seven deliveries of the innings and were bowled out in 46 overs.Although Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor put on 65 for the third wicket, there were no other partnerships to speak of as the Zimbabweans put in another tame showing.Taylor was out for 23 when he chipped Jaydev Unadkat to mid-off, while Amit Mishra picked up Masakadza, who made 38, and Malcolm Waller with successive deliveries.Williams did his best to revive the innings with a fluid 53-ball knock, but then ran himself out as he attempted an unlikely second run.Zimbabwes final total was boosted by a wag of the tail as Tendai Chatara made 23 and Brian Vitori scored 17, before Amit Mishra dismissed both players to wrap up the innings.The final two matches of the series will be played in Bulawayo on August 1 and 3.

Two-headed turtle at Texas zoo has Facebook page

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) -A two-headed turtle born last month at the San Antonio Zoo has become so popular that she has her own Facebook page.Zoo officials say the Texas cooter, named Thelma and Louise for the female duo in the 1991 Oscar-winning movie, has been doing well.Spokeswoman Debbie Rios-Vanskike (van SKYKE) says the turtle eats and swims, and added that the two heads named Louise Left and Thelma Right get along.The Facebook page on Sunday showed photos of the quirky reptile and imaginary conversations between the two heads.The turtle hatched June 18. The animal is on display at the zoos Friedrich Aquarium.

Four killed in North Waziristan drone strike

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NORTH WAZIRISTAN (Dunya News) – Reports says a US drone Sunday targeted a compound in Zao Narai area of tehsil Shawal.The compound was completely destroyed and four people were reported dead as a result of two missiles fired by the drone.The dead persons could not be identified immediately.Last week the United States had announced that it would drastically scaled back the number of drone attacks against militants in PakistanThe CIA has been instructed to be more cautious with its attacks, limiting them to high-value targets and dropping the practice of so-called signature strikes’’ - hitting larger groups of suspected militants.Senior American officials said the US had scaled back the number of attacks and tightened up its targeting criteria as a concession to the Pakistani army.Pakistan has been regularly lodging protest over such attacks with the United States, terming the attacks as violation of country’s sovereignty.16 drone strikes have taken place in Pakistan so far in 2013.
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