Tuesday 20 August 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

5 believed dead after boat sinks in Indian Ocean

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SYDNEY (AP) - Five people were believed to have drowned after a boat carrying more than 100 suspected asylum seekers sank in the remote Indian Ocean.The boat sank on Tuesday about 220 kilometers (140 miles) north of Christmas Island, where Australia operates a detention camp for asylum seekers. An Australian navy ship hurried to the scene and found upon arrival the partially submerged boat and passengers struggling in the water.Rescuers plucked 106 people to safety, but five other passengers remained unaccounted for and are believed to have drowned, the Customs and Border Protection agency said in a statement.The search was called off Tuesday night.Christmas Island, located 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of Jakarta, Indonesia, is a popular destination for asylum seekers who crowd into rickety boats at Indonesian ports and pay smugglers to take them to Australian shores. Hundreds have died while attempting the journey in recent years.Australia is trying to discourage such risky journeys and announced last month it would no longer accept asylum seekers who arrive by boat. Instead, it is evaluating their claims and resettling verified refugees in Papua New Guinea or the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru.The rescue came as government officials from 13 countries met Tuesday in Jakarta to discuss ways to better cooperate on the asylum seeker issue and stop people smugglers. In a final declaration, they agreed to review visa policies, enhance coordination and exchange information to deny entry and cancel the visas of smugglers and traffickers.It said the countries of origin, transit and destination are committed to working together to develop an early warning system and share information and intelligence among diplomatic, immigration, border and law enforcement officers.We are taking every possible step we can to disrupt their networks, and make those who are responsible accountable for their actions, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.Representatives from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand attended the meeting. Iran was invited but did not attend.

Kvitova advances, Kerber upset at New Haven Open

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NEW HAVEN (AP) - Defending champion Petra Kvitova recovered from a set and a break down to beat Annika Beck 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the New Haven Open on Tuesday.The third-seeded Kvitova dropped the first set and was broken in the first game of the second before staging the comeback in a match that was delayed due to rain on Monday.I wasn't great, for sure, the 2011 Wimbledon champion said. I wasn't feeling very well. I wasn't positive during the game and then I had to fight and try to come back in the match.Beck entered the draw as a lucky loser when Poland's Urszula Radwanska withdrew Monday.While Kvitova narrowly survived, No. 2-seeded Angelique Kerber lost her second-round match 6-2, 6-4 to Russia's Elena Vesnina.The German, ranked 10th in the world, was making her first appearance in New Haven after drawing a first-round bye.Vesnina, a 2009 finalist, won the first three games to take control of the first set and converted six service breaks in the match. Kerber hit a forehand just wide on match point and threw her racket in disgust. The call was upheld after a challenge.Vesnina, seeking her third singles title this year, said the win over a top-10 opponent bodes well for her heading into next week's U.S. Open.Maybe it's just my time to play good, she said.Kerber, who lost in the third round in Cincinnati and the second round in Toronto, had hoped to get in a couple more hard-court matches to improve her game before the Open.It's, of course, not easy to lose a match like this when you are not feeling so good and you couldn't find your rhythm, she said. Next week is a big tournament, but I will try to go on the court tomorrow and work and try to improve my game more. I will try to take my rhythm back.Vesnina will face Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. Zakopalova upset eighth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova in the first round before beating 19-year-old Monica Puig 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday.Her recent strong play earned her the 32nd and final seed next week at Flushing Meadows.I have never passed the first round at the U.S. Open, she said. So, my goal is to play a good first round there and then we'll see.Former top-ranked singles player Martina Hingis and Daniela Hantuchova lost in a first-round doubles match 6-3, 6-1 to Cara Black and Vania King.It was their fourth tournament together since Hingis announced her comeback, and the Swiss star said she is not planning to expand her return to singles play.I have always said that I don't want to play singles anymore, for sure, she said. And after tonight, it's definitely 200 percent, no way. Because, you just have to be so hungry.

California professor apologizes for setting fires

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SANTA ANA, California (AP) - A California professor who set fires at his late son's high school, a school administrator's home and a park apologized for his actions and says he lost himself in grief after the boy committed suicide.Rainer Reinscheid pleaded with a judge for a lenient sentence Tuesday in an Orange County courtroom. The University of California, Irvine professor pleaded guilty to six counts of arson, three counts of attempted arson and resisting or obstructing an officer.Reinscheid's 14-year-old son hanged himself last year after he was disciplined by a school administrator for allegedly stealing from the school store. Reinscheid's private emails described a graphic plan to attack the boy's school.

US reopens US Embassy in Yemen

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department says the U.S. Embassy in Yemen, one of 19 embassies and consulates closed earlier this month because of a terrorist threat, has reopened to provide limited public services.Most American employees at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen were ordered to leave the country because of the threat, which emanated from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.On Aug. 11, the U.S. reopened 18 of the 19 embassies and consulates that were closed for about two weeks in the Middle East and Africa, but the one in Yemen remained closed.The reopening on Sunday coincided with announcements that Britain and Germany were also reopening their embassies in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

By-election campaign ends

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Electioneering for by-elections to be held on Thursday comes to an end at 12.00 tonight.By-elections will be held on forty two seats of national and provincial assemblies.Election Commission of Pakistan has completed arrangements for the conduct of the polls.Seven thousand six hundred and six polling stations have been established for the by-elections. Of these‚ 3‚080 have been declared normal‚ 2‚686 sensitive and 1‚840 highly sensitive.Troops will be deployed inside and outside of highly sensitive polling stations.The commission has directed the Returning Officers directed to send unofficial results via fax immediately after the vote count and official results by using the computerized result management system.On the other hand, lection Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also readied a security plan in connection with the by-elections with public holiday announced for August 22 in 33 districts.

ECP postpones elections in NA-25

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN (Dunya News) - Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday suspended elections on national assembly seat in NA-25.According to sources, the election has been suspended due to security reasons.The election has been suspended on the basis of reports issued by the administration that predicted threats of terrorism on election day.JUI-F chief Maulana Fazal-Ur-Rehman had evacuated this seat.Son of Maulana Fazal-Ur-Rehman, Asad Mehmood and Dawar Kundi were the major contestants from there.

Children to have Linkedin profiles

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LONDON (Web Desk) - Childrens profiles will have default settings making less of their personal information publicly visible, with more prominent links to safety information.Support requests from child members will also be dealt with separately.The decision comes the day after the social-networking site for professionals launched University Pages, allowing higher education institutions to set up profiles.Dr Bernie Hogan, of the Oxford Internet Institute, said the development, which takes effect on 12 September, would help children differentiate between the public profile they want for employment [and] the personal profile they share on Facebook with their friends and family.I am personally opposed to employers intruding on Facebook pages while screening candidates, he said.The risk of unintended discrimination is very high.But Dr Hogan also warned children could become a nuisance to Linkedins 225 million existing members if they used the site to play games or set up profiles with false names.You cant get employed under a fake name, he said.New York University, the University of Michigan and French business school Insead have already set up Linkedin profiles.University Pages will be especially valuable for students making their first big decision about where to attend college, Linkedins head of universities Christina Allen said in a blog post.

Two missing persons from Balochistan found dead in Karachi

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KARACHI (Online) - Tortured bodies of two youths hailing from Balochistan were found on the outskirts of Karachi on Tuesday.Police said the deceased were identified as Ramzan Baloch and Ghafoor Baloch, residents of Turbat area of restive Balochistan province.The bodies which police said bore torture signs were recovered from Northern Bypass in Surjani Town neighborhood of Karachi.Officials said the youths had been missing from their area for last few months.

ADB to support Diamer Bhasha Dam

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - The Asian Development Bank is on board and supportive of the construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam and now we moved ahead to find a way to structure it as we are already looking at various models in this regard”, say Xiaoyu Zhao.Vice President (Operations-1) Asian Development Bank Xiaoyu Zhao stated this during a meeting with Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.Xiaoyu Zhao said that ADB is appreciative of the bold steps taken by the present government for reviving the economy specially for successfully clearing the circular debt which was crucial for bringing in new investors and financing in the energy sector.Xiaoyu said that he was gratified to learn that the new government has zero tolerance for corruption and it is committed to transparency and that this message would reap rich dividends for Pakistan.The Vice President ADB said that time has come to begin a new relationship with Pakistan and reverse the present trend of negative inflows.The Vice President also assured that the bank will soon release $430 million for income support programme as it shares the policy of the present government to support the poor sections of the society.The Vice President ADB also said that the bank is committed to TAPI which will encourage energy connectivity in the region.Senator Ishaq Dar apprised the Vice President ADB that 1700MW were added to the national grid after clearance of circular debt. We are working to check leakages, reduce line losses and eradicate theft as a part of our energy policy.Dilating on the future plans at hand for construction of new power plants. He said that the Nandipur Project having a capacity ranging from 425 to 525MWs, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project of 969MW, Karachi Coastal Projects of 2017MW are under various stages of implementation.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Finance Minister said, hs recently inaugurated Pakistan Power Park in Gadani where ten coal-fire thermal power plants would be installed.The government has already acquired 1800 acres of land and intends to acquire the remaining 3200 acres for the park shortly. A jetty is also being constructed so that import of coal for these plants can be facilitated.A lot of interest is being shown by foreign and local investors to set up thermal power plants in Pakistan including Chinese and other foreign investors.Senator Ishaq Dar said that our present focus and priority is on the construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam and we would like to fast track this project.The Finance Minister informed the Vice President ADB that during his recent visit to Karachi Stock Exchange he has discussed the possibility of raising capital for infrastructure projects and was encouraged to learn that the markets had substantial appetite.Senator Ishaq Dar said that Asian Development Bank’s contribution as a development partner of Pakistan has been phenomenal.

Pak, Thai PMs agree to bolster trade partnership

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ISLAMABAD (Agencies) - The Premiers of Pakistan and Thailand have agreed to further consolidate and expand their partnership in different fields and enhance cooperation in regional and multilateral framework.This was stated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and her Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra at a joint press stakes out following their talks in Islamabad on Tuesday.Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan desires to comprehensively upgrade its relationship with Thailand in all areas of cooperation. This is a critical component of Pakistans vision East Asia that complements Thailands Look-West Policy.He said during their talks the two countries had comprehensive discussion on a wide range of issues and there was convergence of views on important bilateral and international issues.PM Nawaz Sharif said their talks covered significant areas including collaboration in the fields of trade‚ culture‚ infrastructure development‚ science and technology‚ defence‚ education and tourism. Regional as well as international issues of mutual interests also came under discussion.Mian Nawaz Sharif said we are satisfied with the progress made in recent years in critical areas of economic and defence. The two sides discussed ways and means to building a strong economic partnership. The two sides noted that the bilateral trade crossed one billion dollars in 2011 and have agreed to double it over the next five years.The Prime Minister said Pakistan has invited Thai businessmen to invest in Pakistan in various sectors including infrastructure development‚ energy‚ water and power‚ food processing‚ packaging‚ jems and jewellery as well as tourism and hospitality.Pakistan and Thailand on Tuesday signed one agreement and two Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) for increasing cooperation in economic and diplomatic fields.The agreement pertained to exemption of visa for diplomatic staff of the two countries while the MoUs related to establishment of Joint Business Council and Joint Trade Company.The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Thailand.

PTA orders removal of illegal mobile jammers

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - In view of service problems faced by consumers, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has asked all the users of illegal jammers to remove the unauthorized devices immediately else action will be initiated against violator.According to a statement issued here on Tuesday it said that jammers are installed in public and private places across Pakistan are causing problem in cellular mobile networks and their Quality of Service. Those jammers seriously impact the service quality and resultantly increase the dissatisfied customers and complaints.PTA has directed all the users of all illegal jammers to remove their devices else action would be taken according to the Pakistan Telecom (Re-Organization) Act 1996.It may be mentioned that Government of Pakistan has issued a Policy under which an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted having secretariat in Ministry of IT (MoIT) with mandate to authorize the use of jammers and disabler devices in the context of national security. Installation of jamming devices /disablers without permission is illegal.PTA as a regulator is vigilant and taking measures to stop this unlawful activity. In this connection PTA has warned all those involved in selling or installing of jammers to stop such unlawful activities, otherwise strict action will be initiated against them as per the law.PTA also carries out extensive field surveys to identify illegal/unauthorized users of frequency spectrum and coordinates for its vacation from them.For persistent unauthorized users, PTA and FIA conduct joint raids for vacation and seizure of wireless equipment. PTA has removed around 60 jammers across Pakistan during current year to ensure interference free spectrum for the telecom operators.Use of jammer without permission is illegal. The individuals or institutions must get No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before installation of such devices in order to ensure interference free spectrum for legitimate licensee and improved service quality.

Pak-Afghan borders to get bio-metric systems

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PESHAWAR (Online) - A bio-metric system, ostensibly to check the illegal inflow of Afghan nationals into Pakistan has been installed at Pak-Afghan border.A second bio-metric would soon follow at the Bajuar Agency entrance, while such bio-metric systems are already operational at the Nation’s airports.The provincial government had requested for installing such bio-metric systems at border areas, resulting in first such system being operational in FATA region.The system would also help check any terrorists and proclaimed offenders.Pakistan and Afghanistan have be accusing each other of cross border firing and influx of militants from the two sides.

Pakistanis continue demos against Egypt killings

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KARACHI (Agencies) - Protests against killing of Egypt’s Brotherhood supporters continue in Pakistan as a large rally took onto streets in Karachi, the largest city of the country.Hundreds of activists of Pakistan’s main religious political party, the Jamaat-e-Islami took to the streets on Tuesday to denounce the killing of Egyptian people by the country’s security forces.JI chief Manawar Hassan lead the protest rally on one of main road of Karachi city, hundreds of people participated in Tuesday rally.The demonstrations were mostly organised by Islamic political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami which has ideological links to the Brotherhood.JI activists marched with banners and placards chanting anti-US slogans as well as support for Morsi.Protestors also chanted slogans against the Egyptian Army for what they called a massacre.They also accused Egyptian Army’s western and Arab backers for the unrest.In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rallies were held few days back in various cities, including the main city Peshawar, while protest rallies had been organized in country’s capital Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sukkar, Hyderabad, Quetta, Sibbi, Gawadar and other cities and towns of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.The Pakistani lawmakers also denounced the Egyptian military’s brutalities against their own people.Pakistan has already voiced its concerns over the recent developments in Egypt.Given the fact that Pakistan has suffered from numerous extra-constitutional interventions in the past, officials have released a statement to voice Islamabad’s opposition to Mohamed Morsis ouster by the army in Egypt and to call for the immediate restoration of democratic rule in the country.The lower house of parliament and foreign ministry expressed dismay and deep concern over the use of force against unarmed civilians and urged all sides to show restraint.

Australia out to avoid worst Ashes loss in England

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LONDON (AP) -Having started the Ashes series trying to produce an upset, Australias cricketers will end it trying to avoid gaining a place in the record books for the wrong reasons.Another collapse at The Oval in the fifth and final test, which starts Wednesday, would leave the tourists as the first Australia side to lose four matches in a series in England.A 4-0 margin would equal the Ashes campaign in 1978-79 as its worst. That team, captained by Graham Yallop and neutered by defections to Kerry Packers World Series, was beaten 5-1 on home soil.And, according to Australia vice captain Brad Haddin, a 3-0 deficit is a fair reflection of the teams performance going into the final test.We just havent been good enough in the big moments, Haddin said. England deserve to be where they are, 3-0 up. So its up to us to see if we can build a little bit on the good things weve done and put it all together over five days and not just in patches.Although outclassed in the second test at Lords, Australia has otherwise been fairly competitive throughout the series.The tourists came close to a thrilling win in the first test at Trent Bridge when their last-wicket pairing fell 15 runs short, and they also enjoyed the better of the rain-affected third test at Old Trafford that was drawn.But their failings were epitomized by the fourth test at Chester-Le-Street, where they were on top for most of the match only to collapse in the final hour to a 74-run defeat.Careers are at stake now, according to coach Darren Lehmann. And a glance at the statistics shows why.Of the batsmen, only captain Michael Clarke (49.52), Chris Rogers (43) and David Warner (30) have averaged above 30.After averaging just 19, Usman Khawajas position in the top order was the most vulnerable, and he has been dropped to enable allrounder James Faulkner to make his test debut.The only other change is Mitchell Starc, whose eight wickets in the series have come at an average of 27, being recalled in place of seam bowler Jackson Bird.Without singling out either Khawaja or Bird for criticism, Clarke said Tuesday that performance levels had prompted the selectors to act.You have to perform as a player _ if you dont theres always a chance that you can be dropped, Clarke said. Thats the life we live playing sport at the top level.The bowling has been more respectable than the batting in England especially Ryan Harris, whose 20 wickets at 19.25 is the best average of any specialist bowler in the series.Lehmann, though, must envy Englands strength in depth.With the focus already on the return series in Australia later this year, England may decide to rest James Anderson following his reduced impact since his match-winning performance in the first test.Injuries to Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan mean recalls to the squad for Steven Finn, who was dropped after a disappointing first test, and Chris Tremlett, who hasnt played for England in 19 months due to injuries.Im dying to get an opportunity at some point, Tremlett said. England are aware what I can do, but it probably depends on conditions which way they go. I hope Ill be the guy playing in Tim Bresnans spot.Bresnan was selected with one eye on his abilities as a lower-order batsman. If Englands selectors opt to replace like with like, allrounder Chris Woakes could make his test debut.The wild card is spinner Simon Kerrigan, who was surprised by his selection.It all felt a bit surreal to be honest, Kerrigan said. Hopefully I can impress over the next couple of days and be ready if they choose two spinners.Thats unlikely given Englands traditional reluctance to play with more than one slow bowler, but Kerrigan is now the first reserve for Graeme Swann.

Turkey says Israel behind Morsis ouster

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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkeys prime minister on Tuesday accused Israel of being behind the ouster of Egypts Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, offering as the only evidence for his claim a statement by a Jewish French intellectual during a meeting with an Israeli official.In the nationally televised speech, Recep Tayyip Erdogan also took a swipe at Muslim nations, accusing them of betraying Egypt by supporting the countrys military-backed new leaders.The evidence Erdogan gave for the alleged Israeli involvement was a meeting in France before elections in Egypt in 2011 between an Israeli justice minister and an unnamed intellectual whom he quoted as saying the Muslim Brotherhood would not be in power even if it wins elections.What is said about Egypt? That democracy is not the ballot box. Who is behind this? Israel is. We have the evidence in our hands, Erdogan said in a televised address to officials from his Islamic-rooted, ruling party. Thats exactly what happened.An aide later told The Associated Press that the evidence Erdogan was referring to was a video available on the Internet of a press conference by Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and French philosopher and author Bernard-Henri Levy.The official said that as far as he knew, that was the only evidence of the claim. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with government rules that bar him from speaking to reporters without prior authorization.A video of the two, dating back to 2011, shows Levy saying: If the Muslim Brotherhood arrives in Egypt, I will not say democracy wants it, so let democracy progress. Democracy is not only elections, it is also values.Pressed further as to whether he would urge Egypts military to intervene against the Muslim Brotherhood, Levy says: I will urge the prevention of them coming to power, but by all sorts of means.Levy could not immediately be reached for comment.In Israel, the countrys Foreign Ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, said Erdogans comments did not merit a response.This is a statement well worth not commenting on, he said.Erdogan criticized Muslim nations for not denouncing Morsis ouster, saying: Today, despite the betrayal of brothers, no one will be able to prevent the Egyptian people from taking over the administration of Egypt.A day earlier, Turkish leaders had strongly criticized the Turkish secretary general of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, accusing him of inaction over events in Egypt and suggesting he should resign.Erdogan has been a strong backer of Morsi as an example of a democratically elected Islamic leader and has become one of the biggest critics of a July 3 coup that ousted Morsi from power.Turkey and Egypt recalled their ambassadors last week as relations worsened.The Turkish leader has drawn parallel between Morsis ouster and a series of anti-government protests in Turkey in June that he has blamed on an international conspiracy to topple his democratically elected government through illegal means.Turkeys deputy prime minister, Besir Atalay, said soon after the protests that the Jewish diaspora was involved in the protests but later retracted the statement, saying he was misunderstood.
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