Sunday 8 September 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Putin ally wins tight Moscow polls, Navalny cries foul

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Moscow's pro-Kremlin mayor was set to win tight elections Sunday in the Russian capital, just escaping a second-round run-off after a strong challenge from protest leader Alexei Navalny, who denounced the results as falsified.Initial results showed that Sergei Sobyanin, a leading ally of President Vladimir Putin, would narrowly win in the first round with just over half the vote after Navalny unexpectedly picked up over a quarter of the ballots.In a nationwide day of local polls that may worry the Kremlin, opposition anti-drugs campaigner Yevgeny Roizman defeated the pro-Kremlin candidate in elections for Russia's fourth largest city Yekaterinburg.In Moscow, Sobyanin was winning 51.4 percent of the vote with Navalny on 27.2 percent, the Moscow election commission said in a count based on over 80 percent of polling stations reporting.But Navalny, 37, insisted he had managed to force the mayor into a second round and threatened street protests if the authorities did not acknowledge Sobyanin had polled less than 50 percent.What we are seeing now are clear falsifications, he told reporters in a late night briefing at his campaign headquarters in Moscow.We demand that a second round is held. If that is not done... we will appeal to the citizens and ask them to take to the streets of Moscow.The candidacy of Navalny -- who campaigned under the shadow of a conviction in a controversial embezzlement case -- made the race the first genuinely competitive Russian election since the heady early post-Soviet years.In a late-night rally in central Moscow attended by thousands and lit up by fireworks, Sobyanin had said he was sure of victory and congratulated himself for organising the most honest and open elections in the history of Moscow.We have something to be proud of, he told the cheering supporters.But turnout was low at 26.5 percent as of 1400 GMT, an unusually slack figure, which indicated Navalny had been far more successful at bringing out his supporters than the mayor, who ran a supremely low-key campaign.Communist candidate Ivan Melnikov was third in the partial results with just over 10.6 percent of the vote, while other contenders merely made up the numbers.

Nadal, Djokovic meet again for US Open title

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NEW YORK (AP) - The stakes are always high, the encounters always memorable.Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have built the best rivalry in tennis on a mountain of big-time matches, the likes of which theyll play Monday in the U.S. Open final.It will be the 37th meeting of their careers the most times in the Open era that any two men have played.When you are involved in these kind of matches, Nadal said, you feel special.Nadal will be going for his 13th major title, Djokovic his seventh. Nadal is seeded second, Djokovic first. This will be their third meeting in the last four years in the final in Arthur Ashe Stadium, a stretch interrupted last year when Nadal sat out with a knee injury. Nadal won the first match, in 2010, and Djokovic won the rematch in 2011. Both were tense four-setters that played a role in the winner being ranked first at years end.Its always the biggest challenge that you can have in our sport now, Djokovic said of playing Nadal. I mean, hes the ultimate competitor out there.Hes fighting for every ball and hes playing probably the best tennis that he ever played on hard courts.Both players are seeking their second major title of the year: Djokovic won the Australian Open and Nadal won the French.Nadal leads the overall series 21-15, though Djokovic has an 11-6 edge on hard courts.Fittingly for a match with these sort of stakes, the U.S. Open has built in a planned day of rest for the men, abandoning the tradition of playing the semifinals and final back-to-back over the weekend. Its a nod to the intensely physical nature of the modern game and to the desires of the players, who complained loudly about such a quick turnaround at the tail end of the years final Grand Slam.I like to finish the tournaments on Sunday, not on Monday, Nadal said. But talking about fair, for sure its a more fair finish on Monday, having one day off between the semifinals and final.The day off will certainly help Djokovic, who grinded through a 4-hour, 9-minute five-set win over Stanislas Wawrinka in the semifinals, while Nadal dispatched Richard Gasquet in three, losing his first and only service game of the tournament.But is it enough rest for the world No. 1, who will keep that ranking at least for the time being regardless of Mondays result?In July at Wimbledon, Djokovic played 4 hours, 43 minutes in a five-set semifinal win over Juan Martin del Potro, while Andy Murray won his semifinal in four sets. When they returned two days later for the final, Djokovic was clearly not his usual self. He rushed points, tried finishing many of them at the net, which isnt his strong suit, and paid the price a three-set loss to Murray.Hard court is my most successful surface, Djokovic said. This is where I can say I feel most comfortable and confident. Hopefully, I can perform better than I did in the Wimbledon final and maybe get a chance to win a trophy.While Djokovic has the most wins on tour this year on the hard courts (31), Nadal is undefeated a perfect 21-0. Its an amazing statistic, especially for a man who missed seven months with knee problems between 2012 and 2013. He won the French Open on clay, his favorite surface, then made a stunning first-round exit at Wimbledon. That loss to 135th-ranked Steve Darcis at the All England Club marks the only tournament of the 13 Nadal has entered this year in which he didnt make the final.He lost three matches this year, Djokovic said. With no doubt, hes the best player in the moment this year, no question about it.This will be their sixth meeting in a Grand Slam final.In addition to the split at Flushing Meadows, theyve met once each at the other three Grand Slams.Included in those matches was their five-set Australian Open masterpiece in 2012 that went 5 hours, 53 minutes, a record for a Grand Slam final.Later that year, they had a four-set final at the French Open that stretched over two days because of the rain.This year, Nadal pulled out a 9-7 win in the fifth set of a semifinal at Roland Garros, denying Djokovic a chance at the closing leg of the career Grand Slam he most dearly wanted to honor his one-time coach, Jelena Gencic, who died earlier during the tournament.Their only meeting this year on a hard court came in a U.S. Open tuneup in Montreal, where Nadal won the best-of-3-sets match in a third-set tiebreaker.Indeed, these are always memorable affairs, though Nadal acknowledged with a laugh that hed rather be playing someone else.In the end, we have to be honest, no? he said. Talking about a final, Id want to play against a player that I have more chances to win. But I play against him. Ive played against him a lot of times. Always, weve played very exciting matches.

Serena beats Azarenka for 5th US Open, 17th Slam

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NEW YORK (AP) - Fussing with her skirt and flubbing her shots, Serena Williams was troubled in the U.S. Open final by the swirling air and the strong play of Victoria Azarenka.After one miss, Williams declared, I cant play in this wind. After blowing a big second-set lead, Williams chucked her racket toward the sideline, and it bounced back onto the court.In the end, Williams pulled herself together, as she usually does when it matters the most. Facing her only test of the past two weeks, the No. 1-seeded Williams overcame No. 2 Azarenka 7-5, 6-7 (6), 6-1 on Sunday for a fifth championship at Flushing Meadows and second in a row.Williams, who turns 32 on Sept. 26, raised her Grand Slam singles title count to 17, the sixth-most in history and one shy of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. Williams collected a $3.6 million prize, including a $1 million bonus for producing the best results during the North American summer hard-court circuit leading up to the U.S. Open.Helped by nine aces, one at 126 mph, Williams improved to 67-4 with a career-best nine titles in 2013. Since a first-round exit at the 2012 French Open, Williams is 98-5 with 14 titles, winning four of the past six Grand Slam tournaments.Vikas such a great opponent, such a great fighter, Williams said, and thats why shes been able to win multiple Grand Slams. Thats why it was never over until match point.Yes, this one did not come easily, even though it appeared to be nearly over when Williams went ahead by two breaks at 4-1 in the second set. Williams served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 only to have the gutsy Azarenka break each time.This was a rematch of last years final, also won by Williams in three sets, and two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka provided another challenge with her big swings off both wings.It is a tough loss, but to be in the final and play against the best player who deserves to win today its incredible, said Azarenka, who is from Belarus.I gave it all today. We showed our hearts. We fought hard.Four times, Azarenka was only two points from taking the opening set. At one such moment, with Williams serving at deuce after a double-fault, she was called for a foot fault, erasing what would have been a 121 mph ace. There was another foot-fault call in the second set, too. They brought back memories of the Americans loss to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 semifinals, when Williams was docked a point, and later fined, for a tirade against a line judge over a foot-fault call.There was no such outburst directed at officials this time, although there was that racket toss. After the call in the matchs 10th game, Williams simply put a hand to her face, composed herself, and won the point with a down-the-line backhand she celebrated with a fist pump, some foot stomping and a yell of Come onWilliams wound up holding there with a 104 mph ace, part of what seemed to be a match-altering stretch. She won five consecutive games and 16 of 18 points to take the first set and go up a break in the second.Her lead grew to 4-1 in the second set, before Azarenka made things competitive again. Azarenka is responsible for two of Williams four losses this season. And entering Sunday, Azarenka was 31-1 on hard courts this season, and she showed why for portions of the final, playing far better than she had in her preceding six matches in New York.But she simply could not keep pace with Williams, who eventually adjusted to her opponent and the wind that topped 15 mph. Williams put aside her issues to finish with a 36-17 edge in winners.The first time Williams served for the championship, at 5-4, Azarenka hit a cross-court forehand winner for break point, then forced a backhand long.Williams came right back to break for a 6-5 edge. But on her second chance to serve it out, she double-faulted to get broken for the fourth time Sunday.A year ago, they played the first three-set womens final in New York since 1995. And they went the distance again, a total of 2 hours, 45 minutes, because Azarenka was superior in the tiebreaker.When it came time to close the deal, Williams shined. She has six of the eight winners in the third set, forced Azarenka into 15 miscues, and soon enough, was hopping up and down after finishing with a service winner.Azarenka faltered late, the way she did when losing the last four games in the 2012 final. She hit two of her seven double-faults while getting broken to 3-1 in the third set, then could only watch as Williams hit a pair of aces in the next game.No. 1-seeded Novak Djokovic faces No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the mens final Monday. Its the first time since 1996 that both U.S. Open singles finals are 1-vs.-2 matchups.On Sunday, with former President Bill Clinton among the announced crowd of 23,584 in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Williams older sister Venus in a front-row seat, the fans were largely cheering for the American.I definitely felt the love, Williams said, so thank you all so much for the support.The breeze was clearly a factor at the outset.Williams would catch her service tosses. She would try to stop her skirt from flapping around. And, most importantly, she would be caught off-guard by the balls that danced oddly. Six of the first 16 points ended with unforced errors by Williams, which allowed Azarenka to go ahead 2-1.Looking hesitant at times, Williams did not show the same dominance she had while dropping only 16 games during six straight-set victories through the semifinals. And while she did go ahead, Azarenka made things interesting with a hard-hitting comeback.Wasnt quite enough.Williams equaled Steffi Graf with five U.S. Open titles, one behind Everts record of six in the Open era, which began in 1968. Williams never had won two consecutive U.S. Opens, but now she has, adding to the trophies she earned in New York in 1999 at age 17 then 2002 and 2008.Those go alongside five from Wimbledon, five from the Australian Open, and two from the French Open, which she won this year.Williams also became the first woman to surpass $9 million in prize money in a single season, while topping $50 million for her career.

Vettel wins Italian GP to close in on 4th title

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MONZA (AP) - Sebastian Vettels rivals have all but conceded the Formula One title after the German driver recorded his sixth victory of the season with a resilient performance to win the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday.While Vettels win at the Belgian GP two weeks ago was clinical, he was forced to overcome a difficult start from pole position and gearbox trouble to beat Ferraris Fernando Alonso and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.The heartbeat was a bit higher in the car and also the pit wall, because we didnt know what was going on, Vettel said about the gearbox problem. I tried to pace myself a little bit more and control the gaps.Before the race, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali gave Alonso two races the next is Singapore in two weeks time to close the gap before the team switches its focus to developing next years car.Alonso is 53 points behind Vettel with seven races to go and the Spaniard already sounds like hes given up. Lewis Hamilton is a massive 81 points back in third with only 175 available.We didnt close the gap in the championship, which is obviously the goal, Alonso said. We dont have enough races and we dont have the speed now to win consecutive races.Nevertheless, Alonso drove well from fifth on the grid.Its a fantastic feeling here in Monza. The fourth year I have driven for Ferrari, the fourth time on the podium, he said. Every year its something amazing, something unique.Vettel locked his tires on the first turn as the Ferrari of Felipe Massa pressured him from behind, but after that the German consolidated his advantage to beat Alonso by 5.4 seconds and Webber by 6.3.This is the best podium of season, Im very proud, Vettel said. We had problems with the gearboxes at the end, but I was OK because I had a good cushion.Monza is the home race for Ferrari fans and there were loud jeers when Vettel was on the podium.You can hear the difference when you dont win here in a red suit but it means you have done well and beaten the red men (of Ferrari), Vettel said.The more booing we get the better weve done today. I dont blame the people to be honest, its in their genes. They love Ferrari.It was Vettels third career win at Monza his first was with Toro Rosso in 2008 and then Red Bull in 2011 his sixth of the season and 32nd overall, moving him level with Alonsos total wins.He was more emotional than usual, shaking his head vigorously in celebration and letting out his trademark high-pitched whoop as he celebrated his third win in the past four races, then pumping his fist several times as he walked up the podium steps.Massa finished fourth ahead of German drivers Nico Hulkenberg a seasons best for Sauber and Nico Rosberg, who was sixth on a poor day for Mercedes.There was light rainfall before the race, but the sunshine returned as Vettel started from pole for the 40th in his career and first since the Canadian GP in June.Roared on by thousands of flag-waving tifosi, Ferrari had a point to prove and Alonso brilliantly overtook Webber on the outside and then zoomed ahead of Massa.After 10 of 53 laps, Vettel led Alonso by about five seconds, but engineers told him that his front right tire had taken some damage on turn 1 and Alonso began to make up time.Vettel pitted on lap 24, switching from medium to hard tires, followed shortly by Webber and Massa, but Alonso stayed out until lap 28 as leading drivers chose a one-stop strategy.In his last ever European race before he retires from F1 at the end of the season, Webber got his first ever podium at Monza.Good battle with Fernando, the Australian said. Last time in Monza, so thank you very much.Briton Paul di Restas race lasted a few seconds after he sustained damage to the front left tire of his Force India car. He appeared to hit the back of Romain Grosjeans Lotus and stewards were investigating the incident.Hamilton started from 12th after his worst qualifying performance this campaign and finished ninth, while Kimi Raikkonen placed 11th and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne also abandoned.

US win Walker Cup, routing Britain and Ireland

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SOUTHAMPTON (AP) - Nathan Smith won the deciding point in the United States 17-9 victory over Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup on Sunday, beating Englands Nathan Kimsey 4 and 3 in the fifth singles match at historic National Golf Links of America.The United States, ahead 8-4 entering the final day in the biennial amateur event, split the four morning foursomes matches and won seven of the 10 afternoon singles matches.The U.S. leads the series 35-8-1. In 2011, Britain and Ireland won 14-12 at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland.The 35-year-old Smith, a four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion from Pittsburgh, won the par-3 13th and par-4 14th with pars and ended the match with a halve for bogey on the par-4 15th.Alabama teammates Bobby Wyatt and Justin Thomas, 45-year-old Todd White, Californias Michael Kim, Oklahoma States Jordan Niebrugge and Stanfords Patrick Rodgers also won singles matches.Englands Matthew Fitzpatrick and Callum Shinkwin and Irelands Kevin Phelan won their singles matches. Fitzpatrick, a freshman at Northwestern, is the U.S. Amateur champion.The event, first played in 1922 at National Golf Links, is named in honor of former USGA President George Herbert Walker President George H.W. Bushs grandfather and President George W. Bushs great-grandfather. George W. Bush attended the matches.

Geniez wins 15th Vuelta stage, Nibali keeps lead

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PEYRAGUDES (AP) - Alexandre Geniez won the grueling 15th stage of the Spanish Vuelta ending with a summit finish in his home country of France, while Vincenzo Nibali fended off his rivals attacks to maintain the overall lead on Sunday.Geniez broke away on a solo escape before the last of four category-one climbs to claim the 225-kilometer (140-mile) stage starting in the principality of Andorra, passing through Spanish territory, and finishing at the Peyragudes summit.Geniez, riding for FDJ.FR, crossed the finish line in 6 hours, 20 minutes.Nibali, the Giro dItalia winner, showed his good form by responding to attacks by Alejandro Valverde, Joaquim Rodriguez, and Christopher Horner.

Wrestling back into Olympics

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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Wrestling will be at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics after all as they completed a remarkable seven-month journey in Buenos Aires on Sunday by being voted back onto the Olympic sports roster by International Olympic Committee (IOC) members.Wrestling, which is one of the rare sports to have transcended the ancient and modern Olympics, is very popular in Japan so Tokyos victory on Saturday to host the Games bolstered their standing as favourites to win.In the event it took just one round as wrestling received 49 of the 95 votes cast.The joint bid of baseball/softball was second with 24 votes and squash received 22.The result sees wrestling assured of appearing at both the 2020 edition and the 2024 Summer Olympics.It marks a huge turnaround in fortunes for wrestling which was dropped from the Olympic programme in February this year by the 15-person IOC Executive Board.It sparked uproar, probably surprising several of the board members, with even bitter political enemies such as Iran and the United States seeing their wrestlers join forces to plead for it to be restored.The same board then gave it a second chance when they put it on the three-sport shortlist -- after presentations by eight sports at the end of May -- to be considered by the entire IOC membership in Buenos Aires.It would be an understatement to say that today is the most important day in the 3,000 years of our existence, said wrestling federation president Nenad Lalovic at the presentation.We have made mistakes and we have learnt from them.Despite some questions regarding alleged corruption within the sport, Lalovic was left beaming after the announcement by IOC President Jacques Rogge.With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference, said Lalovic, who was not a wrestler himself but whose son represented Serbia at international level.I assure each of you that our modernisation will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be.For baseball/softball -- who had among others Antonio Castro the son of the long-time Cuban leader Fidel in their presentation team -- it represents another blow after being voted off the Games programme starting with the 2012 London edition.For squash too there was huge disappointment that a journey which started 10 years ago -- seeing them top the vote in 2005 but fail to get the required two-thirds majority and then fail again in 2009 -- still has some distance to go before they perhaps achieve their ultimate goal.Todays decision is heart-breaking for the millions of squash players around the world, particularly given the 10-year journey we have been on to join the Olympic Games Sports Programme, said squash federation president Narayana Ramachandran.There had been a potentially awkward moment at the beginning of proceedings on Sunday.Veteran Canadian IOC member Dick Pound argued perhaps it would be best to postpone the decision and look at it again in Sochi during the Winter Olympics next February.However, Pound found little support from his fellow members and Rogge, who trounced the Canadian in the presidential election in 2001, put him firmly in his place.Thank you for your proposition but it is fair to say we should acknowledge that we asked eight federations originally to bid, they have incurred costs and three of them will appear later, Rogge said.We should respect our decisions. When we took this one in Guatemala (2007) it was a unanimous decision with no abstentions, I emphasise this particularly there were no abstentions.

2nd ODI: Australia beat England by 88 runs

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Australia beat England by 88 runs to win the second one-day international at Manchesters Old Trafford on Sunday.Victory saw Australia go 1-0 up in the five-match series following Fridays washed-out opener in Leeds.Australia made 315 for seven after losing the toss, captain Michael Clarke top-scoring with 105 and sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 155 with vice-captain George Bailey (82).England slumped to nine for two and despite fifties from Jos Buttler (75), Kevin Pietersen (60) and stand-in skipper Eoin Morgan (54) were dismissed for 227 with 34 balls to spare.The series continues at Edgbaston on Wednesday.Michael Clarke led from the front with a century as Australia overwhelmed England by 88 runs in the second one-day international at Old Trafford on Sunday.Victory saw Australia take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series following Fridays washout in Leeds.Australia captain Clarkes 105, only his eighth hundred in 229 matches at this level, was the cornerstone of a total of 315 for seven and came on the same ground where he made 187 in the drawn third Test against England last month.Man-of-the-match Clarke received good support from vice-captain George Bailey (82) in a fifth-wicket stand of 155 as Australia made their highest one-day international score against England in England, surpassing their 302 for six at Nottinghams Trent Bridge in 2009.England, having only twice before made more than 300 to win an ODI, slumped to nine for two as Mitchell Johnson took two wickets in three deliveries and were dismissed for 227 with 34 balls to spare.Earlier, Ashes-winners England -- resting James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann ahead of the return series Down Under starting in November -- appeared to be at least one bowler light.But former Ireland paceman Boyd Rankin checked Australias progress with two wickets in two balls including that of Clarke in an innings where off-spinner James Tredwells eight overs cost an expensive 60 runs.England, after winning the toss, needed just four balls to reduce Australia to nought for one when fast bowler Steven Finn had Shaun Marsh edging to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.Bailey lofted Tredwell straight for six before completing a 47-ball fifty -- and raising a century partnership too -- with his third six, off seam-bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes (none for 66).But Bailey fell when he pulled medium-pacer Ravi Bopara to Tredwell at short fine leg.Clarkes 14 fours included several well-struck drives, cuts and pulls.Yet his 102-ball innings ended in ugly fashion, when he edged a swipe off Rankin to Buttler.England, in the absence of rested opening duo Alastair Cook, their regular captain, and Ian Bell, entrusted first-wicket duties to Kevin Pietersen and Michael Carberry.But Carberry had made just four when he cut left-arm fast bowler Johnson straight to Clarke at backward point.Johnson then produced a brute of a rising delivery that Jonathan Trott could only nick to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade as he went for nought.And when Joe Root was clean bowled by James Faulkner, Johnsons fellow left-arm paceman, England were 38 for three.Stand-in captain Eoin Morgan walked out, having rescued England from an even worse position of 25 for three with an unbeaten century in a six-wicket win against his native Ireland in Malahide on Tuesday.Pietersen, one of three changes to the team that played Ireland, swept leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed for six.But he exited for a 66-ball 60 after driving medium-pacer Watson to Faulkner at short extra-cover.And 97 for four became 103 for five when Bopara, who like Morgan also scored an unbeaten hundred against Ireland, was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Adam Voges.When left-hander Morgan holed out for 54 off Clint McKay (three for 47), Englands already fading hopes of victory went with him at 154 for six.Buttler made 75 off 65 balls, his maiden fifty in 16 ODIs, but he never threatened to alter the result, merely Australias winning margin.The series continues at Birminghams Edgbaston ground on Wednesday.

Fazl backs option of talks with militants

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Charsadah (Online) - The Ameer of JUI-F Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman has said that the government took the right step by adopting the option of talks with the terroristsTalking to Online on Sunday he said that JUI -F would fully cooperate the government for rooting out the prevailing wave of terrorism from the country. He said that his party had get passed the resolution from the parliament in 2008 against terrorism, after that it also constituted a grand jirga in APC just to establish peace in Pakistan.He said that when PML-N was in opposition, it always talked about the negotiations. Now when they are in the government, they did the right thing by choosing the way of talks.To a question, he said that USA is making excuses for the attack on Syria. The assaults on Iraq and Libya were absolutely unjustified as America, at that time, crafted the reason of using of chemical weapon by them, latter which proved bogus. Now USA is levelling same kind of charges against Syria, which is totally baseless.He said that even the people in USA do not want that their country would go into another war. On the other hand the people in Syria are already on the roads against the war. There are some differences between Syria and Saudi Arabia.The political leadership of any country should neither become the arms of foreign forces nor they should interfere in the affairs of any other country.. The people of any country should be given an opportunity to decide about their destiny.He said that withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan would leave deep impact on the Afghanistan and Pakistan.He said that now he would not comment any more on PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan and KP government as he had already uttered about this.

Karachi most dangerous mega city: FP

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KARACHI (Web Desk) - US publication ‘Foreign Policy Magazine’ has declared Karachi as the most dangerous mega city in the world.According to the publication, the murder ratio in Karachi is 25 percent higher than any other mega city of the world.The publication adds that from 2000-10 the population of the city grew by 80 percent. The population explosion which took place in the city over the decade is more than the entire population of New York City.It was during this ten year period that millions of Pakistanis fled from the country’s northwest due to terrorism and settled in Karachi.The report states that gangs with political affiliations have been operating in the improvised areas of the city and are involved in extortion and land grabbing.In recent times, there has been an emergence of the Taliban in areas such as Manghopir and it is from these areas that they plan bank robberies, kidnappings and other criminal activities.Insurgencies in Balochistan and other areas of the country along with the Afghan War have opened Karachi’s ports to narcotics and weapons smuggling.Clashes which last for days between rival gangs or between gangs and the police have become the norm in the city.It is under these circumstances that Karachi has become the most dangerous mega city in the world with the highest homicide rate per 100,000 people.The report further adds that during 2011 there were 202 murders in Mumbai compared to 1,723 in Karachi. 2,000 people were reported to have been killed in Karachi during 2012.

11 shot dead in Guatemala liquor store

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GUATEMALA CITY (AFP) - At least 11 people were killed and another 15 injured in an armed standoff at a liquor store in Guatemala, rescue officials said.Rescue workers who responded to the scene found victims dead in hiding places, in the stores bathrooms, and in the alleys by the store, Sergio Vasquez, spokesman for the volunteer firefighters told local media.They arrived at the liquor store in the village of San Jose Nacahuil, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) north of the capital, after getting an emergency call and a person with a calm voice indicated there were several injured, Vaszquez said.An investigation is underway to determine the cause of, and who was behind, the carnage.Guatemala has seen a wave of violence that has left more than 6,000 people dead a year -- one of the highest murder rates in Latin America.Officials estimate as many as half the violent deaths are associated with drug trafficking and the battle between gangs or maras.

Police challenges Prince for walking Buckingham Palace garden

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LONDON (AFP) - Britains Prince Andrew said Sunday he had received an apology from police after jittery royal protection officers challenged him in the gardens of Buckingham Palace as they stepped up security following a break-in.Police confirmed that two armed officers approached the Duke of York, the third child of Queen Elizabeth II, as he took an evening stroll on Wednesday at the monarchs official London residence.I am grateful for their apology and look forward to a safe walk in the garden in the future, Andrew said in a statement.The police have a difficult job to do balancing security for the royal family and deterring intruders, and sometimes they get it wrong.Londons Metropolitan Police denied a newspaper report that the officers had pointed guns at the 53-year-old duke, who is fifth in line to the British throne, and shouted at him to get down on the ground.On Wednesday, 4 September at approximately 1800 hours (1700 GMT) two uniformed officers approached a man in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to verify his identity, the spokesman said.The man was satisfactorily identified. No weapons were drawn and no force was used.Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the incident.Prince Andrew is the ex-husband of Sarah Ferguson, whom he married in 1986, and they have two children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.Two days earlier, a man was arrested inside the palace in a major security breach. He had scaled a fence to get into the building in central London.He was arrested for burglary, trespass and criminal damage, while a second man was arrested outside the palace on suspicion of conspiracy to commit burglary.Police said no members of the royal family were in the palace at the time.The 87-year-old queen is currently on holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.The break-in represented one of the most serious security breaches at the palace since 1982 when unemployed Michael Fagan got inside the queens private chambers while she was in bed.Fagan spent 10 minutes talking to the queen after climbing over the palace walls and up a drainpipe before she was able to raise the alarm.

Hundreds in Bucharest protest against stray dogs

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BUCHAREST (AFP) - Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Bucharest Sunday to urge authorities to clear Romanias streets of stray dogs, after a four-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pack of strays.We are not sadists and our goal is not to see dogs put to sleep, but authorities must adopt legislation, in keeping with European standards, to solve the issue, Anca Porneala, one of the organisers, told AFP.Between 40,000 and 60,000 stray dogs live on the streets of Bucharest, most of them fed and looked after by animal lovers.The death of the child after he was repeatedly bitten by stray dogs near a park in the capital on Monday, prompted Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu to call a referendum on October 6 asking voters if they were in favour of putting down the strays.Protesters called on Oprescu to end the problem once and for all.Before he was elected he promised to handle this problem, but he hasnt done anything since, Elena Marin, a pensioner, said.It is unacceptable that a child is bitten to death by stray dogs in a European capital, said Ion Kivu, a 33-year-old actor.I love animals, I have a dog and a cat, but I want my son to be safe when he walks the street, he added.Lawmakers in 2011 adopted a bill allowing stray dogs to be killed but the Constitutional Court blocked it last year.Lawmakers are set to discuss the bill again next week.

Sudan woman offers herself for flogging

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KHARTOUM (AFP) - A Sudanese woman says she is prepared to be flogged to defend the right to leave her hair uncovered in defiance of a Taliban-like law.Amira Osman Hamed faces a possible whipping if convicted at a trial which could come on September 19.Under Sudanese law her hair -- and that of all women -- is supposed to be covered with a hijab. But Hamed, 35, refuses to wear one.Her case has drawn support from civil rights activists and is the latest to highlight Sudans series of laws governing morality which took effect after the 1989 Islamist-backed coup by President Omar al-Bashir.They want us to be like Taliban women, Hamed said in an interview with AFP, referring to the fundamentalist militant movement in Afghanistan.She is charged under Article 152 which prohibits indecent clothing.Activists say the vaguely worded law leaves women subject to police harassment and disproportionately targets the poor in an effort to maintain public order.This public order law changed Sudanese women from victims to criminals, says Hamed, a divorced computer engineer who runs her own company.This law is targeting the dignity of Sudanese people.Hamed said she was visiting a government office in Jebel Aulia, just outside Khartoum, on August 27 when a policeman aggressively told her to cover her head.He said, You are not Sudanese. What is your religion?Im Sudanese. Im Muslim, and Im not going to cover my head, Hamed replied.Her dark hair, tinged golden, is braided tight against her scalp with a flare of curls at the back.Hamed said she was detained for a few hours, charged, and then bailed.At her first court appearance on September 1, when the case was delayed until later this month, about 100 women and some men gathered to support her.Many of the protesting women had their heads uncovered, as did Hamed who says she has never, ever worn a hijab.There are many (who) wear it because they are afraid, not because they want to wear it, she said, speaking at her familys home and dressed in blue jeans which could get her into trouble if she went outside.Hamed was charged in 2002 for wearing trousers but a lawyer helped her get off with only a fine, rather than a flogging.Most women do not have the benefit of legal assistance and are too ashamed to tell their families about their arrest under the morality law, leaving them at the mercy of the court and vulnerable to sexual harassment by police, she says.Daily, Sudanese women are flogged in the court under this law.In 2009, the case of journalist Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein led to a global outcry and spotlighted womens rights in Sudan.Hussein was fined for wearing slacks in public but she refused to pay. She spent one day behind bars until the Sudanese Journalists Union paid the fine on her behalf.Others rounded up with her in a restaurant were flogged.You are a slut. You want guys to sleep with you. Thats why you are wearing like this, another woman, who has been detained twice in Khartoum, remembers police telling her.This was very humiliating, said the woman, a professional worker who asked to be identified only as Rania.

Two killed, several hurt in Quetta blast

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QUETTA (Dunya News) - At least two people were killed and five others injured in a blast near grid station at Saryab Road.According to police, two persons were killed and several are hurt in the blast.Police and security forces cordoned off the area after the blast while the injured were shifted to hospital.Police said, the explosive material planted on a bicycle was exploded with the help of a remote-controlled device.It is to mention here that blast occurred at a time when the government is going to hold All Parties Conference on Monday on the issue of terrorism in the country.
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