Saturday 30 November 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

World AIDS day today

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - World AIDS Day is being observed today (Sunday) to create awareness about AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.World closing in on Millennium Development Goal 6‚ globally the AIDS epidemic has been halted and reversed—race is on to reach universal access to HIV treatment.New HIV infections among adults and children were estimated at 2.3 million in 2012‚ a 33% reduction since 2001. New HIV infections among children have been reduced to 260 000 in 2012‚ a reduction of 52% since 2001.AIDS-related deaths have also dropped by 30% since the peak in 2005 as access to antiretroviral treatment expands.By the end of 2012‚ some 9.7 million people in low- and middle-income countries were accessing antiretroviral therapy‚ an increase of nearly 20% in just one year. In 2011‚ UN Member States agreed to a 2015 target of reaching 15 million people with HIV treatment.Despite a flattening in donor funding for HIV‚ which has remained around the same as 2008 levels‚ domestic spending on HIV has increased‚ accounting for 53% of global HIV resources in 2012. The total global resources available for HIV in 2012 was estimated at US$ 18.9 billion‚ US$ 3-5 billion short of the US$ 22-24 billion estimated to be needed annually by 2015.In 2012‚ an estimated 35.3 million [32.2 million - 38.8 million] people globally were living with HIV‚ 2.3 million [1.9 million - 2.7 million] people became newly infected with HIV‚1.6 million [1.4 million - 1.9 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses.

Blocking NATO supply will increase unemployment: Altaf

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Addressing the launching ceremony of his book, The Philosophy of Love, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said that blocking NATO supply will increase unemployment in country.Altaf Hussain said that protesting at the NATO supply routes will make poor truck drivers jobless. He asked Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to stage protest demonstration outside Prime Minister House and demand of the government and armed forces to shot down drones.The MQM chief further said that the Ameer JI, Syed Munawar Hassan should have been prosecuted under Article 6 of the Constitution for declaring Hakeem Ullah Mehsud as ‘Shaheed’.

Egypt panel begins voting on draft constitution

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CAIRO (AP) - The panel amending Egypts suspended constitution began voting Saturday on some 250 changes, the first step toward democratic rule following the July military coup that ousted the countrys president.The constitution before the 50-member committee makes drastic changes in ensuring civil liberties, fighting discrimination, criminalizing torture, protecting religious freedoms and giving lawmakers power to remove the president. Yet the draft also allows Egypts powerful military to choose its own chief and try civilians in military tribunals.The constitutional changes come amid a heavy handed crackdown on dissent thats left the country largely divided between supporters and opponents of the military that toppled Mohammed Morsi, the countrys first freely elected president.This is the path of rescue from the current condition, said Amr Moussa, the elder Egyptian statesman leading the constitutional panel. It is the transition from disturbances to stability and from economic stagnation to development.The military suspended the Islamist-drafted, voter-approved 2012 constitution in the July 3 coup that ousted Morsi. The constitutional panel, dominated by secularists, has been working on changes as part of a military-backed timeline that calls for voters to approve it. It plans for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held early next year.On Saturday, 48 panel members began voting on the changes in a session aired live on state television. Most articles passed unanimously. One issue the panel faced was how the principles of Islamic or Shariah law, already called the main source of law in Egypt, should be defined. Some feared a definition would allow for a heavier implementation of Shariah and the creation of a religious state.The panel voted to refer to Supreme Constitutional Courts limited definition of Shariahs principles. That didnt appease the Islamist representative, said panel member Kamal el-Helbawi, an independent who once belonged to Morsis Muslim Brotherhood.The panel voted for an amendment banning slavery, human trafficking and the sex trade. The panels sole Islamist party representative opposed the amendment, as some say the article restricts early marriages.The panel also voted in favor of abolishing the upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, as well as an amendment defining Egypt as a civilian government in Arabic. That term angers Islamists, who say it means secular.Among articles the panel will vote on Sunday is one allowing lawmakers to vote out an elected president and call for early elections if they have a two-thirds majority. Another allows parliament to prosecute the president for violating the rules of the constitution.A proposed change also prohibits the establishment of political parties on religious grounds, meaning the Brotherhoods Freedom and Justice party and Al-Nour, the political arm of Salafi Call movement, could be banned.Other controversial changes up for a vote include one giving the military the right to choose its own army chief, who serves as the defense minister, over a transitional period of eight years. Another gives the military the right to try civilians in front of military tribunals for a series of crimes. The tribunals are known for swift and harsh verdicts that cannot be appealed.

20 dead in air raids on Syria's Aleppo province: NGO

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BEIRUT (AFP) - At least 20 people, including seven women and a child, were killed in an aerial bombardment on Saturday of Al-Bab in Syrias Aleppo province, an NGO said.Regime helicopters dropped explosive-laden barrels on the town in the northern province causing widespread damage, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.Footage posted by activists on YouTube showed chaos in the aftermath of the attack.Clouds of dusts and smoke hung in the air, and rubble from surrounding buildings was strewn on the streets and across vehicles.Two men tried to open the door of a red pick-up truck that had been completely mangled by the blast, its ceiling caved in and an apparently dead man lying across the front seats.Another man lay on the ground, still astride his tipped-over motorbike, with his head in a pool of blood.A third man, seated in the front of a truck, was slumped against the window, with an apparently fatal head wound visible.The Syrian regime has regularly been accused by the opposition, foreign governments and rights groups of using so-called barrel bombs against civilians.The US State Department has described the weapons as incendiary bombs which contain flammable material that can be like napalm.Al-Bab, in northeastern Aleppo, has regularly been targeted by air strikes, including one on a field hospital in September that killed 11 people, according to the Observatory.

Seven dead in renewed Iraq bloodshed

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Attacks near Baghdad and north of Iraqs capital left seven people dead on Saturday, amid a protracted surge in bloodshed fuelling fears the country is slipping back into all-out sectarian war.Iraqs worst violence since 2008 has left more than 650 people dead already this month and forced authorities to appeal for international help in combatting militancy just months before a general election.No group has claimed responsibility for most of the unrest, but officials have focused on resurgent Al-Qaeda front groups emboldened by the civil war in neighbouring Syria that has given militants room to plan and carry out attacks.Violence on Saturday struck near Baghdad, as well as in and around the main northern city of Mosul and the ethnically-mixed town of Tuz Khurmatu, all areas that have been hit hard in recent months.A car bomb and two roadside bombs in towns on the outskirts of the capital killed four people, security and medical officials said.And attacks in Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital, and near Tuz Khurmatu left three more dead.More than 6,000 people have died in violence so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on security and medical officials.Security forces have trumpeted operations against militants primarily in Sunni-majority northern and western Iraq, which they say are having an impact.But diplomats and analysts say the government has not resolved the underlying problems fuelling the bloodshed, namely anger in the Sunni Arab minority over alleged mistreatment at the hands of the Shiite-led authorities.

EU urges end to Bangladesh poll violence

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union on Saturday called for an end to deadly pre-election violence in Bangladesh and said the bloc was willing to consider sending observers to the January 5 polls.EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she remained concerned about the anti-poll unrest that has killed 20 people since Monday, bringing the death toll to 50 since late October when the government first announced the date of the general elections.We urge political leaders to refrain from any actions that could spark further violence, Ashton said in a statement, pressing Bangladesh to respect human rights and democratic principles.One demonstrator was shot dead by officers Saturday and another died late Friday as police used live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters.Opposition groups led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as well as its Islamist allies are demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resign and make way for elections under a neutral caretaker government.Hasina has rejected their demand and is sticking to her January poll plans.The EU calls on the leaders of all political parties to agree on a mutually acceptable formula so as to facilitate the holding of elections which fully reflect the wishes of the people, Ashton said.The EU is ready to consider sending election observers as it did in 2008. However, this depends on the political and security situation in Bangladesh, she added.

Nigeria's Boko Haram kills 24 in two separate attacks

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MAIDUGURI (AFP) - Suspected Boko Haram militants killed 24 people in two separate attacks in northern Nigeria, eyewitnesses said on Saturday, just as the military vowed to ramp up security over Christmas.Seven fishermen were ambushed and killed in the first attack in Baga, a fishing community on Lake Chad in Borno state, one of three in the northeast of the country under emergency rule since May this year.Seventeen people died in a separate attack on Thursday, other eyewitnesses said, when gunmen in pick-up trucks torched more than 100 shops and vehicles in the Sabon Gari area of the Damboa district, 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the state capital, Maiduguri.There was no immediate confirmation of either attack from the military or local authorities.They killed seven fishermen, injured 15 others and burnt some local boats and nets used for catching fish, fisherman Ibrahim Gambo said in Maiduguri, where he had brought his brother for treatment.It was a reprisal by insurgents because the soldiers have two weeks ago clamped down on them, added another fisherman, Sheriff Bababa.They (the military) even arrested some of their members, including a leader, with the assistance of youth vigilantes.Human Rights Watch on Friday said Boko Haram fighters were carrying out reprisals on civilians in retaliation for intelligence on supposed militant activity passed to the military by civilian vigilante groups.It urged the militants to stop targeting civilians and the vigilantes to stop using minors in counter-intelligence and security operations.In Sabon Garin, villagers told reporters that the attack happened at about 11:35 pm (2235 GMT) on Thursday and those responsible were chanting Allahu Akbar (God is great) as they arrived.The violence lasted until about 4:00 am, they added.News of the attacks, which are often slow to emerge because of a communications black-out in Borno designed to disrupt militant planning, came as Nigerias military pledged to step up security in vulnerable border areas.Boko Haram, which wants to impose a strict form of Islamic law or sharia on Muslim-majority northern Nigeria, has previously launched deadly attacks on and around the Christian festival.A wave of attacks against churches and police on December 25, 2011, left 49 people dead.Nearly 200 people, including soldiers, insurgents and scores of civilians, were killed in fierce fighting between troops and Islamist insurgents in Baga in April this year.Area army spokesman Colonel Mohammed Dole said troops had been deployed to frontier villages and towns in Borno state that have been targeted while suspected Boko Haram bases were being cleared, backed by air support.

Arsenal powers 7 points clear in Premier League

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CARDIFF (AP) - Arsenal powered to a provisional seven-point lead in the Premier League after beating Cardiff 3-0 on Saturday, with Aaron Ramseys prolific season touching new heights with a double against his former club.There was more misery for Fulham at the other end of the standings, with a demoralizing 3-0 loss at fellow struggler West Ham keeping the team in the bottom three and leaving beleaguered manager Martin Jol fighting for his job.Ramsey marked his return to his boyhood club by taking his remarkable goal tally for the season to 13 in all competitions. Mathieu Flamini scored in between in the leaders 10th victory in 13 games.This is where I started my career and where everything began, and hopefully theyve seen the player they produced today, said Ramsey, arguably the Premier Leagues star player so far this season.Everton moved level on points with second-place Liverpool and third-place Chelsea, which both play Sunday. Everton, now fourth, had a crushing 4-0 home win over Stoke that was rounded off by Romelu Lukakus eighth goal in nine league games.And in-form Newcastle is just one point and provisionally one place further back after a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion secured by goals from Frenchman Yoan Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko in the teams fourth victory in a row.At the bottom, Crystal Palace dropped to last place by losing 1-0 at Norwich in Tony Pulis first match in charge of the London side.Jol acknowledged on Friday that he could be fired if he lost against West Ham at Upton Park and again at home to former club Tottenham onWednesday. The Dutchman is halfway there after this fifth straight league defeat.It is not in my hands, Jol said. If I have to worry, I was probably worried a couple of months ago because it is not one day and then the other. It is probably the last two months we have been inconsistent.Sunderland climbed off the bottom with a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in Saturdays other game.By the end of his latest goalscoring display, both Arsenal and Cardiff fans were singing Ramseys name.The midfielder left the Welsh capital to join Arsenal in 2008 as a 17-year-old hopeful and has taken his time to mature into the kind of free-scoring player that Premier League defenses just cant cope with this season.Ramsey headed in a cross from Mesut Ozil in the 29th minute to put Arsenal ahead, and finished off the victory on a counterattack in injury time. He refused to celebrate either goal.It shows you how much Aaron Ramsey has improved, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. We came here two or three years ago and he had a nightmare here in a cup game.You are always torn between being happy to score and happy you can win the game, Wenger added, but out of respect for the club where he was educated he didnt celebrate.Ozil set up Flaminis goal, too, slotting a perfectly weighted pass into the area for the France midfielder to hammer into the net in the 86th.When you play first (on a Premier League weekend), you can only do your job and see what happens after, Wenger said after Arsenals sixth win in seven away matches in the league. But if you do your job well, you can relax.Gerard Deulofeu, on his first league start, Seamus Coleman and Bryan Oviedo joined Lukaku in scoring in Evertons easy win over Stoke to stay undefeated at home in the league in 2013.While a lot of the plaudits fell once again on Lukaku, the performance of 19-year-old Deulofeu who is on loan from Barcelona also stood out after being handed his starting debut by Catalonia-born manager Roberto Martinez.It was the most satisfying individual performance that we had because he had to wait for so long to get his chance, Martinez said.Fulhams loss was West Hams gain on Saturday as goals by Mohamed Diame, Carlton Cole and Joe Cole ended the Hammers five-match winless run which had left them just above the relegation zone.It remains to be seen whether Jol keeps his job through to the Tottenham game in midweek.The manager takes all the flak really but, ultimately, the players need to take massive responsibility, Fulham midfielder Scott Parker said.He is the one that picks us and we are the ones who go out there. It is not nice being down at the bottom of the table and obviously confidence is low but I dont think it is a fact that the players are not willing to put in the hard work, because we are.

Newcastle win 4th in a row to go 5th in EPL

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NEWCASTLE (AP) - Moussa Sissokos thunderbolt fired Newcastle into the Premier Leagues top five as the Magpies beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 for a fourth successive victory.The Frenchmans 57th-minute strike from 25 yards killed off a spirited fightback by West Brom after the Baggies had responded to Yoan Gouffrans 36th-minute opener to level within eight minutes of the restart through Chris Brunts equally explosive finish.Sissokos effort ensured the Magpies collected a fourth straight league win for the first time since the closing stages of the 2011-12 season, when they went on to finish fifth.However, West Brom gave as good as it got in an end-to-end encounter in front of a crowd of almost 50,000.

Bales nets 3 in Madrid win over Valladolid

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BARCELONA (AP) - Gareth Bale scored three goals and set up a fourth to make sure Real Madrid didnt miss injured star Cristiano Ronaldo as it cruised to a 4-0 win over Valladolid in the Spanish league on Saturday.With Ronaldo out nursing a hurt hamstring for a second straight game, Bale took up the scoring duties in the 32nd minute then found Karim Benzema to make it 2-0 four minutes later.Bale got his second in the 64th and third in the 89th against Valladolids bewildered defense to give him five goals since Ronaldo was sidelined.Madrids fifth league win in a row following its loss at Barcelona lifted it three points from the defending champions and Atletico Madrid, which won 2-0 at Elche on goals by Diego Costa and Jorge Koke Resurreccion.Barcelona can reclaim sole possession of the league lead from Atletico at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.Bale, who joined Madrid on a world record 100 million euros transfer from Tottenham this summer, showed with his first hat trick for Madrid that he has certainly shaken off his injury problems from earlier this season.His adjustment period is over, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said about Bale. He has confidence, he is important to the team, and he played very well.Bale has seven goals in league play, leaving him third for Madrid behind Benzemas eight and Ronaldos 17, which lead the league. Bale also has scored twice in the Champions League.Marcelo, however, made it clear who Madrids No. 1 is.Gareth is a great player but you cant compare him with Cristiano because Cristiano is above all the rest, Marcelo said.Also, Celta Vigo came back to beat Almeria 3-1 for its first home victory at Balaidos Stadium in eight attempts this season under first-year manager Luis Enrique.With Ronaldo unavailable, Angel Di Maria started and wasted little time in controlling a clearance outside the area before rattling the bar with a left-footed shot on either side of two Sergio Ramos headers that sailed high.The overmatched Valladolid rarely managed to shift the action out of its area, and Bale found himself in perfect position to nod in a rebound of Di Marias curling effort that goalie Diego Marino parried directly to the Wales winger.Bale then picked out Benzema with a pinpoint cross to thump the ball beyond Marino and put the result beyond doubt before halftime.Bale was again aided by a poor clearance for Madrids third. This time it was defender Jesus Rueda, who knocked Marcelos cross back for Bale to fire home.But Bale wasnt finished and he started and finished off a late counterattack by charging forward to tap in Marcelos low cross.With Elche hanging tough, Atletico coach Diego Simeone sent on Raul Garcia and Adrian Lopez and the changes paid off to earn Atleticos 17th win in all competitions to go with four draws and just one loss.Atletico broke through seconds after Garcia replaced David Villa. Koke pounced on a rebound from Garcias shot that Manuel Herrera saved but failed to clear, leaving the Elche goalkeeper strewn on the turf with defender Alberto Botia and Diego Costa after they collided.Diego Costa secured the three points in the 74th by scoring from Lopezs perfectly placed chipped pass. It was Diego Costas 15th league goal this season, the second highest tally in the competition after Ronaldo.The entrance of Raul Garcia and Adrian (Lopez) gave us two bursts of creativity when the game had gotten bogged down, Simeone said. We have to keep going forward this way and remain realistic. I know its a good moment for Atleticos fans, but we are focusing on one game at a time.Celtas much-needed win lifted it three points from the relegation zone, while Almeria stayed among the bottom three. After Jesus Suso Fernandez opened for Almeria, Fabian Orellano scored one goal and set up another to lead the fightback.Real Sociedad visited Espanyol later.New world chess champion Magnus Carlsen took the honorary kickoff at Madrids Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Australia regains World Cup, beats NZ 34-2

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MANCHESTER (AP) - Australia reclaimed the Rugby League World Cup from New Zealand with 34-2 five-try romp on Saturday in the most one-sided final in the competitions 59-year history.Billy Slater and Brett Morris both crossed twice and Cooper Cronk added the other try as the Kangaroos produced a devastating performance to win the trophy for the 10th time in 14 editions.It is one of the best team performances I have ever been part of, said Australia captain Cameron Smith, who was sprayed with champagne by his jubilant teammates as he lifted the trophy to the backdrop of fireworks at Old Trafford.New Zealand forward Sonny Bill Williams was bidding to become the first player to win World Cups in both rugby codes but a subdued performance by the world player of the year was summed up when his pass was intercepted in the lead-up to Australias final try, a length-of-the-field score finished off by Morris in the 72nd minute.The Australians finished the tournament without having conceded a try in 404 minutes since their win over England in the opening match five weeks ago. In their five games since then, they shipped only four points in five matches, scoring 244.For Australias 30-year-olds Smith, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston, who kicked all seven of his goals, it completes the resumes of three of the modern-day rugby league greats in probably their final World Cup. And it goes a long way to making up for the 2008 final, when New Zealand stunned its fierce rival in Brisbane to claim the sports biggest prize for the first time.Five years is a long time to get another opportunity, Smith said, but a little bit of that disappointment has been taken away by this win.This was the heaviest victory in a final, eclipsing Australias 40-12 victory over the Kiwis in the same stadium in 2000.I thought their performance was pretty faultless, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney said.Australia hadnt been beaten in three years heading into the match but, crucially, New Zealand had defeated its great rival in three of the last four major finals they had met in that 2008 World Cup and in the Four Nations in 05 and 10.It quickly became apparent, though, that there would not be another upset here in a match played in front of 74,468 a record crowd for an international.Australia was sharper around the play-the-ball, made big yardage through the forwards and had a kicking game through the man-of-the-match Thurston that tormented New Zealands defense. The Kiwis werent helped by the seventh-minute withdrawal of right winger Roger Tuisava-Sheck, who sustained a suspected hairline fracture of his right shin in his first carry. Australia made a raft of incisive attacks down its left channel in Tuisava-Shecks absence, with two of their tries came down that flank.A halftime scoreline of 16-2 didnt flatter the Kangaroos. The Kiwis walked off with hands on hips, a punishing first 40 adding to the weariness after that epic semifinal victory over England last weekend.Thurston and Shaun Johnson kicked goals in the opening 16 minutes before Australias attack started making serious inroads and Thurstons perfectly judged kick was collected by the leaping Slater soaring way above Kieran Foran for the opening try in the 19th.

Alpine skiing: Gut wins women's World Cup super-G

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BEAVER CREEK (AFP) - Lara Gut won the womens alpine World Cup super-G here Saturday, her second triumph in two days continuing the Swiss racers red-hot start to the Olympic season.The 22-year-old again demonstrated her mastery of the new Raptor course built for the 2015 World Championships, clocking 1min 18.42sec to beat Austrian Elisabeth Goergl by an emphatic 0.9sec.Goergl the 2011 super-G world champion, clocked 1:19.32. Another Austrian, Anna Fenninger, was third, 0.92sec behind the winner.Guts victory came a day after she won the first downhill of the season, and shell go for a sweep of all three Beaver Creek races in Sundays giant slalom.Its two days that Im skiing so fast, she said. Theres another race tomorrow, Ill try to do it again.Gut notched the sixth World Cup victory of her career and her third this season. She opened the 2013-14 campaign with a giant slalom triumph in Soelden, Austria.It all augurs well for Guts Olympic bid in Sochi, Russia, in February, where shell be aiming to erase the bitter memory of missing the 2010 Vancouver Games recovering from a hip injury.Slovenias Tina Maze, the reigning giant slalom and overall World Cup title holder, endured another tough day, finishing 15th -- more than two seconds adrift.Liechtensteins Tina Weirather, second to Gut in Fridays downhill, failed to finish.

Ireland retain ICC World Twenty20 qualifier crown

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DUBAI (AFP) - Ireland won the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier title for the third time in four appearances with a 68-run victory over Afghanistan in Saturdays final in Dubai.The defending champions posted an impressive 225 in their innings with Trent Johnston the star, smashing a career-best 62 off just 32 balls, with four sixes and five fours.Australian-born Johnston then returned bowling figures of three for 34 to deservedly take the man-of-the-match award, but was ably supported by opener Paul Stirling, who top-scored with a 43-ball 76.Stirling and Johnston put on 64 in just over five overs for the third wicket.Earlier, captain William Porterfield with 27 and Kevin OBrien with 20 had kept the scoreboard ticking over.In reply Afghanistan managed just 157 and were bowled out in 18.5 overs.Gulbodin Naib struck 43 runs off just 19 balls and Mohammad Shahzad hit eight boundries and one six in a rapid 38, but the Asians lost their last four wickets for just 28 runs.Hamza Hotak was the pick of their bowlers claiming three for 39.In the third-fourth placed play-off Nepal beat hosts United Arab Emirates by five wickets.

England's Bell wants to bat at number three

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ALICE SPRINGS (AFP) - Englands Ian Bell said Saturday he wants to bat at number three after Jonathan Trott pulled out of Thursdays second Ashes Test against Australia in Adelaide.Im absolutely willing to go to number three, said regular number five batsman Bell, who with three centuries was the star of the last Ashes series in England.But that decision is probably out of my control.Weve got a number of options with the batting and balance of the side... but I put up my hand to go up the order.The withdrawal of regular number three batsman Trott with a stress-related illness following the first Test in Brisbane has left a hole in Englands top order.Bell and number six Joe Root are vying to slot into first-drop.And Zimbabwe-born Gary Ballance, who was man of the match during Saturdays draw in Alice Springs for his first-innings 55, is pushing for his Test debut in Adelaide in the middle order.Test offspinner Graeme Swann gained some confidence following his mauling at the hands of Australias batsmen in last weeks first Test by picking up four for 56 in the game against the Australia Chairmans XI.Test hopeful Monty Panesar claimed three for 41.Trailing one-nil in the Ashes series, England may be tempted to recall Panesar in a twin-spin attack for Adelaide.It is a possibility. Weve got that flexibility, two spinners, that he could play, Bell said.England head to Adelaide on Sunday to prepare for the second Test.

Dunya News celebrates 5th anniversary today

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – After launching its broadcast services in 2008, Dunya News is celebrating its 5th anniversary today.Dunya News project was initiated in 2006 but it launched its broadcast services in 2008. Within short period of time Dunya News has secured a position among the top three channels of the country.In order to achieve the goal of timely and impartial reporting of news Dunya News established 12 bureau offices and a network of hundreds of reporters across the world. Dunya News covers all important national and international events along with sports, cricket, weird, science and technology news.
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Friday 29 November 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Difa-e-Pakistan Council holds anti-drone protest in several cities

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Protest rallies were held on Friday in various cities against the U.S. drone strikes on the appeal of Difa-e-Pakistan Council. (DPC).Addressing a protest rally in Lahore, Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed said that the enemies of the country will continue their conspiracies until the government shows strong resistance to anti-Pakistan elements.In Faisalabad, Sunni Tehreek staged a protest demonstration against U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan. The participants were carrying banners and placards and shouted anti-America slogans.In Multan, Shehri Mahaz and Jamat-ud-Dawa held joint protest against drone strikes and shouted slogans against US government.Difa-e-Pakistan Council also staged protest rally in Peshawar. The participants chanted slogans against the U.S. drone attacks and demanded of the federal government to block NATO supplies.Addressing the gathering, leaders of Difa-e-Pakistan Council said that the protest sit-ins would be held across the country if the federal government failed to take steps to stop drones attacks on Pakistan’s territory.

Afghanistan into World T20 qualifier final

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DUBAI (AFP) - Afghanistan booked their berth in a third consecutive ICC World Twenty20 qualifier final after defeating Nepal by seven wickets in the first semi-final at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.In Saturdays final, Afghanistan will play the winner of the second semi-final featuring Ireland and the United Arab Emirates.Man of the match Samiullah Shenwari helped Afghanistan chase down a modest 90-run target inside 15 overs, bagging three wickets and then scoring 24 not out.It is very exciting especially for me and my teammates; were in the final for a third time, so were all happy, said Shenwari, who claimed three wickets for 19 runs and featured in a run out as Nepal were restricted to 90 for eight.I think we have been doing well in all the departments. I am happy and lucky to be part of the Afghanistan team.Shenwari (24 not out), who is one of four players to have claimed a five-for in this tournament, put on a 69-run partnership with Nawroz Mangal (48).Shenwari was still at the crease when Gulbodin Naib (12 not out) struck a six to seal a seven-wicket victory with 5.4 overs to spare. Nepals Avinash Karn (two for 17) was the main wicket-taker.Elsewhere, the Netherlands secured fifth spot in the tournament after defeating Hong Kong by seven wickets at Abu Dhabi Oval, thanks to a 22-ball 44 from opener Ben Cooper, and Scotlands Richie Berrington hit an unbeaten 70 to guide his side to a five-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea to earn seventh spot.Also on Saturday, Nepal will face the loser of the second semi-final in the battle for third position.Hong Kong and the Netherlands secured the last two qualifying spots for next years ICC World Twenty20 finals in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Spanish court frees child rapist, killer

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MADRID (AFP) - A Spanish court Friday ordered the immediate release of a man who raped and killed three children, cutting his prison time by 10 years in line with a European human rights ruling.The killer, Miguel Ricart, was the latest convict to benefit from an October 21 ruling by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights.The Strasbourg court said Spain had acted illegally by retroactively cutting short the years of remission that an ETA prisoner had earned from good behaviour.Dozens of ETA members and other violent convicts in a similar situation then demanded their release under the same European court ruling.Ricart raped and killed young girls Miriam, Toni and Desiree in 1992 in the eastern Valencia region, a crime that shocked the country. The outlook for his return to society is not favourable, prisons director Angel Yuste warned this week.But on Friday, a court in Valencia ordered his release because of the European court ruling. The cabinetmaker was condemned to 170 years in jail in 1997 although he actually faced a maximum of 30 years behind bars under Spanish law.Under a new Spanish judicial policy introduced in 2006, Ricarts years of remission were subtracted from his full 170-year sentence instead of being deducted from the maximum 30 years of prison time, as was the previous practice.The new judicial policy was ruled illegal by the Strasbourg court because it violated the principle that a prisoners sentence cannot be increased retroactively.

Illegal SIMs should be blocked, orders Supreme Court of Pakistan

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KARACHI (Web Desk) - Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered that a task force comprising representatives from cellular companies, police, IB, FIA, ISI, MI and FBR be constituted under Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) chairman to block illegal mobile phone SIMs.A 5-member bench of SC headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued these orders during the course of hearing of implementation of court’s decision in Karachi violence case here in Karachi registry Friday.Chairman PTA Ismail Shah gave presentation to SC during the course of hearing on blocking illegal SIMS on multi media.Shah said that activating more than two SIMs on one mobile or IMEI number will not be allowed in one day. More than five SIMs will not be allowed to be activated on one national identity card. In first phase service providers will identify the customers holding more than 10 SIMs. Importing mobile phone without IMEI number will not be allowed.Cooperation from customs authorities is needed to curb import of mobile phones without IMEI numbers, he said. He further said final recommendations will be evolved till December, 17.The court ordered that task force should work out final recommendations till December, 17 and present report thereof to it.CJP remarked “task force report will be reviewed again during next hearing after three weeks. He inquired the machines by means of which non operational SIMs are activated have come from where and how.Chairman PTA said these machines have been recovered from illegal service providers and Karachi police chief IG Shahid Hayat has recovered 20 such machines during targeted operation.The hearing of the case has been adjourned for 3 weeks.

Nawaz Sharif withdraws hike in medicine prices

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - On the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, notification regarding increase in prices of medicines has been withdrawn.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday took strict notice of increase in the prices of medicines and directed the authorities concerned to bring the medicine prices back to the previous level.Earlier, the federal ministry of health issued a notification increasing prices of around 11,000 medicines of varied nature by 2 to 15 percent with immediate effect. However, the prices of life-saving drugs were not increased.A senior officer of Ministry of Health Services said that due to the price issue some medicines were not available in the market and people were facing serious problems.In a statement today‚ the PM stated that increase in the prices of medicines is not acceptable and it should be withdrawn immediately.

Rana Sanaullah says no missing person is in Punjab govt custody

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LAHORE (Web Desk) – Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has said no one from missing persons was not in the custody of provincial government and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).Talking to the media here on Friday, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the issue of illegal SIMs was very serious and that these SIMs were used in terrible acts of terrorism.He said innocent people would not be charged in Rawalpindi incident, adding culprits would be brought to book.Rana further said schedule of local bodies elections in Punjab would be issued on December 09.The Law Minister strongly criticized on PTI Chairman Imran Khan over closure of NATO supply and shooting down drones.To a question, he said Prime Minister had constitutional right to appoint Army Chief and hailed the appointment of new army chief General Raheel Sharif.Earlier, Minister for Defense Khawaja Asif said seven hundred and thirty eight missing persons have been located in the last four months. He said the remaining missing persons will also be traced shortly. He said it will take months and weeks to resolve this issue and not years.

Fazlur Rehman demands ban on unnecessary use of loudspeakers

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Ameer Maulana Fazlur Rehman has demanded ban on unnecessary use of loudspeakers.Addressing a news conference here on Friday after a meeting ‘Unity among Ummah’ over the issue of Rawalpindi carnage, the JUI-F chief said that loudspeakers should be used according to need as there unnecessary use was also a cause of concern for residents of neighbourhoods.Fazlur Rehman told reporters that the accused arrested for their alleged involvement in attacking Mosques and Imambargahs had confessed to their crime.The JUI-F chief also called for the implementation of laws to avoid such incidents. “All existing laws should be implemented. If the government implements these laws, sectarian conflicts can be prevented.”He further said that only transferring of officials after incidents like the Rawalpindi tragedy was not a solution to the problem.

LPG price goes up by Rs 46/kg

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - LPG price has been increased by Rs 46 per kilo, with household cylinder getting expensive at Rs 541 and the commercial cylinder dearer at Rs 2082.LPG distributors’ Association Chairman Irfan Khokhar lambasted the fresh increase by LPG companies without the permission and clearing by OGRA, demanded Prime Minister and OGRA (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) to take notice of this outrage.According to market sources, LPG and other fuel prices are linked with Saudi Aramco prices in Pakistan. The Saudi Aramco contract price of the commodity with the start of November has touched $900 per ton from $840 per ton, while local producers have not matched the local prices with the Saudi Aramco prices and retained at $840 per ton on the instruction of the federal government.Local production stands at 1,300 tons per day, while local LPG marketing companies are purchasing the commodity from producers at Rs 104,000 per ton including all taxes, LPG marketing companies are supplying the commodity to retailers at Rs 120,000 per ton while retailers are selling at around Rs 160,000 per ton.This shows that LPG retailers are earning Rs 40 on per kg, while marketing companies are charging Rs 16 per kg including transposition and other expenditure.

Election Commission of Pakistan postpones Sindh LB polls schedule

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has delayed the announcement of the schedule to hold local bodies (LB) polls in Sindh.The ECP had to announce the schedule today (Friday), however, the commissioned deferred the decision as Sindh government could not provide important documents pertaining to local bodies polls.On Thursday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) deferred Local Bodies (LB) polls schedule for Punjab.As per details, the ECP was to issue election schedule in respect of Punjab and Sindh on November 29 (Friday), but no formalities including issuance of notification on delimitation were met by government of Punjab.Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had accepted the new schedule for local bodies polls proposed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the petition in this regard.In a letter forwarded to SC registrar, theECP had suggested that local government elections in Punjab should be held on January 30, 2014, Sindh 18 January and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in February.The commission also proposed that elections in cantonment boards of all the provinces should be held in February. However, polls would be conducted in Balochistan as per schedule on December 7.Later, the apex court directed the Election Commission of Pakistan and provincial governments to decide the dates for the local bodies’ elections through mutual consultations.Meanwhile‚ the ECP cancelled the previous schedule for local bodies’ polls in Sindh and Punjab.The court allowed the ECP to announce a schedule for the election as per its proposal. After which, the ECP is now likely to formally announce a new schedule for all four provinces.According to the schedule proposed by the election commission‚ the local bodies polls in Punjab could be held on January 30 next year‚ and in Sindh on January 18.The Election Commission of Pakistan‚ in its letter‚ further stated that the polls in Balochistan are being arranged on December 7.

Army chief Raheel Sharif appoints Lt. Gen. Ishtiaq Nadeem as CGS

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Lieutenant General Ishfaq Nadeedm Ahmad has been appointed as new Chief of General Staff (CGS) of Pakistan Army.ISPR said that before his promotion to the rank of Lt Gen, he was Director General Military Operations (DG MO) for over two years.Ishfaq Nadeedm has commanded a strike infantry division and led successful military operation in Swat. He has also been chief of staff of a strike corps.Before, Ishtiaq Nadeem, Lt General Rashad Mahmood was CGS who has been promoted to the office of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).Lt. Gen. Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad had taken part in Swat Operation and played active role in clearing the area from clutches of the terrorists. He had also served as Chief of Staff of a strike Corps.

NATO apologises for Afghan air strike that 'killed child'

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KABUL (AFP) - US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan on Friday apologised for an air strike that President Hamid Karzai said killed a two-year-old boy, as acrimony deepened over a deal to allow US troops to stay in the country after 2014.Civilian casualties have been one of the most sensitive issues of the 12-year military intervention in Afghanistan, and Karzai warned that the latest incident threatened the proposed bilateral security agreement (BSA) with Washington.An official from NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said that force commander General Joseph Dunford quickly called President Karzai and expressed deep regrets for the incident.We did not target or strike a house. The information that we have shows that the air strike hit the road, the ISAF official said. Unfortunately, the civilian victims were in the vicinity of the strike.Dunford told Karzai he was committed to a joint investigation into the attack, which ISAF said targeted a Taliban commander involved in operations against Afghan security forces in the southern province of Helmand.Karzai, whose troubled relationship with the US erupted again in public last week over the security deal negotiations, has often used civilian deaths caused by NATO to berate the international coalition for its failures in Afghanistan.Karzai strongly condemns the air strike by NATO forces on a house which killed one child and wounded two women, a statement from his office said.This attack shows American forces are not respecting Afghan lives... As long as unilateral acts and atrocities continue by American forces on our people, we won't sign this BSA.The strike was launched from an unmanned drone and hit the village of Faqiran in Helmand on Thursday morning, the statement said.ISAF said that the strike targeted an insurgent riding a motorbike but did not confirm that a drone was involved.Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi further stoked tensions by saying that President Barack Obama had broken a recent promise to respect the sanctity and dignity of Afghan civilians in the same manner as US citizens.That is how the US respects the sanctity and dignity of homes in the US, bombing a residence for an individual? Faizi said in an email to AFP.It is just another example of not fulfilling the commitments of the past.Karzai, who is due to step down ahead of presidential elections in April, has been stalling over the security pact that would see some US troops to remain in Afghanistan after next year for training and counter-terror missions.About 75,000 NATO combat troops still deployed in Afghanistan are due to withdraw by the end of 2014 after fighting the Taliban since the Islamists were forced from power in 2001.Helmand provincial spokesman Omar Zwak told AFP that Thursday's air strike had killed a child called Rafiullah and that a second drone attack killed the targeted commander.The US has stressed that the BSA cannot be delayed further as NATO combat forces plan their withdrawal, and warned that vital international aid was at risk due to the extended postponements.Karzai last week refused to sign the BSA promptly despite a loya jirga assembly that he convened voting for him to do so, and he has since raised new conditions with US negotiators -- provoking frustration in Washington.We very much welcome the conclusions of the loya jirga, US ambassador James Cunningham said on Wednesday in the western Afghan city of Herat.We have a good agreement and we're prepared to sign it in the near future.A similar US deal with Iraq collapsed in 2011 leading to a complete US troop pull-out and the country is now in the grip of savage sectarian violence.Analysts say Karzai is keen to secure a reputation as a strong nationalist leader who stood up to foreign powers before he leaves office, even at the risk of alienating Afghanistan's biggest aid donor.

Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to protest against price hike on Dec 22

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has said that the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has failed to control price hike and an end to US drone strikes in Tribal areas of Pakistan.Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, Imran Khan said that those who blame PTI of backing Taliban, have themselves become servants of the US.Criticising the PML-N government, Imran Khan said PML-N came into power after striking a deal with the US.He said that Information Minister of Pakistan Pervaiz Rashid was behaving like spokesperson of the US State Department.The PTI chief said that the US would not leave Afghanistan even after NATO forces pullout and it would UAV program for 10 years.Slamming the economic planning of the government, the PTI chief said that government of Sharif brothers was introducing schemes for the benefit of tax evaders that would increase burden of taxes on salaried class.He said that investors would not come to Pakistan until peace is not restored in the country.He said that the black money could not bring peace in the country even if it was filtered through different schemes.Imran said that his party will hold a protest against inflation and price hike on December 22.Imran Khan said that they blocked NATO supplies in accordance with the unanimous resolutions, as per Peshawar High Court decision.He further said that they do not want to fight with the US, but they want to liberate this country from the claws of US slavery.The PTI chief condemned recent drone strike in Miranshah and said that it had become obvious that the US wanted to sabotage peace process in Pakistan.Earlier, Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, Shireen Mazari issued a strong condemnation of the drone attack in Miranshah last night.In a statement, Shireen Mazari said it showed once again that the US has nothing but contempt for Pakistans leadership as it continues to assume these leaders will pay mere lip service to demands of stopping drones when in reality they remain subservient to the US.

Iraq police find bodies of 18 Sunnis; bombs kill 4

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BAGHDAD (AP) - Police found the corpses of 18 Sunni men Friday shot near a town just north of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said, hours after they were abducted by gunmen wearing military uniforms.Such killings are reminiscent of Iraqs worst days of sectarian warfare in 2006 and 2007, when both Shiite and Sunni Muslim death squads roamed the streets and took people from their homes.Police said the abducted men were killed by gunshots to the head. Authorities found the bodies early Friday in farmland near the Sunni town of Mishahda, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Baghdad. Gunmen in four cars snatched the men, who included two army officers and the towns mayor, from their houses late Thursday.A Baghdad morgue official confirmed receiving the 18 bodies. He said that all the relatives who came forward to claim the bodies were Sunnis.Earlier this week, police found 13 bodies in areas around Baghdad.These recent killings show that the fears by many Iraqis that their country is heading to darker days similar to 2006-2007 are true and that the wounds of the past are not healed yet, Baghdad-based political analyst Hadi Jalo said. If the government does not take effective measures to stop the sectarian tension and security deterioration, I think that we should expect more such killings.Later Friday afternoon, a bomb went off inside a sheep market in Baghdads southeastern suburb of Nahrawan, killing three and wounding six, police said. And in the western Abu Ghraib suburb, a roadside bomb killed one and wounded five others, authorities said.Two medical officials confirmed the causality figures in the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.Violence has been on the rise in Iraq in recent months since a deadly security crackdown in April on a Sunni protest camp north of Baghdad. More than 5,500 people have been killed since.

Did Comet ISON survive? Scientists see tiny hope

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STOCKHOLM (AP) - A comet that gained an earthly following because of its bright tail visible from space was initially declared dead after essentially grazing the sun. Now, there is a silver of hope that Comet ISON may have survived.New images, basically faint smudges on a screen, being analyzed Friday showed a streak of light moving away from the sun that some said could indicate it wasnt game over just yet.It certainly appears as if there is an object there that is emitting material, said Alan Fitzsimmons, an astronomer at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.Basically a dirty snowball from the fringes of the solar system, scientists had pronounced Comet ISON dead when it came within 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) of the sun Thursday.Some sky gazers speculated early on that it might become the comet of the century because of its brightness, although expectations dimmed over time.But it wouldnt be all bad news if the 4.5-billion-year-old space rock broke up into pieces, because some scientists say they might be able to study them and learn more about comets.The European Space Agency, which had declared ISONs death on Twitter late Thursday, was backtracking early Friday, saying the comet continues to surprise.Comet ISON was first spotted by a Russian telescope in September last year, and became something of celestial flash in the pan this week for its vivid tail, visible by the naked eye, and compelling backstory of impending doom.The comet was two-thirds of a mile wide as it got within 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) of the sun, which in space terms basically means grazing it.NASA solar physicist Alex Young said Thursday the comet had been expected to show up in images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft at around noon eastern time (1700 GMT), but almost four hours later there was no sign of it whatsoever.Images from other spacecraft showed a light streak continuing past the sun, but Young said that was most likely a trail of dust continuing in the comets trajectory.However, instead of fading, that trail appeared to get brighter Friday, suggesting that at least some small fraction of ISON has remained in one piece, U.S. Navy solar researcher Karl Battams wrote on his blog. He cautioned that even if there is a solid nucleus, it may not survive for long.Two years ago, a smaller comet, Lovejoy, grazed the sun and survived, but fell apart a couple of days later.This is what makes science interesting, said Fitzsimmons, who specializes in comets and asteroids. If we knew what was going to happen, it wouldnt be interesting.ISONs slingshot toward the sun left astronomers puzzled and excited at the same time.Made up of loosely packed ice and dirt, the space rock came from the Oort cloud, an area of comets and debris on the fringes of the solar system.

China sends fighters to ID flights by US and Japan

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BEIJING (AP) - China launched two fighter planes Friday to investigate flights by a dozen U.S. and Japanese reconnaissance and military planes in its newly established maritime air defense zone over the East China Sea, state media said.The state-run China News quoted Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Shen Jinke as saying the Chinese fighter jets identified and monitored the two U.S. and 10 Japanese aircraft during their flights through the zone early Friday, but made no mention of any further action.China announced last week that all aircraft entering the zone, a maritime area between China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, must notify Chinese authorities beforehand, and that it would take unspecified defensive measures against those that dont comply. Neighboring countries and the U.S. have said they will not honor the new zone and have criticized the move, saying it unnecessarily raises tensions.It was the first time China said it sent military planes into the zone on the same day as foreign military flights since proclaiming the zone on Nov. 23.The United States and other countries have warned that the new zone could boost chances for miscalculations, accidents and conflicts, though analysts believe Beijings move is not intended to spark any aerial confrontations but rather a long-term strategy to solidify claims to disputed territory by simply marking the area as its own.The zone is seen primarily as Chinas latest bid to bolster its claim over a string of uninhabited Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Beijing has been ratcheting up its sovereignty claims since Tokyos nationalization of the islands last year.There are questions whether China has the technical ability to fully enforce the zone due to a shortage of early warning radar aircraft and in-flight refueling capability.
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Thursday 28 November 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Weapon cache blast, attack kill 13 in Libya

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TRIPOLI (AP) - Libyan security officials say an explosion at a weapon cache in a southern air base and an attack on checkpoint in an eastern city have killed 13 people.The officials said that the two incidents took place Thursday. In the southern town of Barek al-Shati, they said a storeroom housing tank ammunition at an air base exploded, killing 10 and wounding 20. It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion.One official said a group of looters were trying to smuggle the ammunition out at the time of the blast.In Benghazi, officials said gunmen attacked a checkpoint manned by marines, killing three and wounding three.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists.

World's oldest bank to be 'profoundly different' by 2017

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MILAN (AFP) - The board of troubled Italian lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena -- the worlds oldest bank -- Thursday approved a restructuring plan which it said will create a profoundly different bank by 2017.The plan, which includes significant job and branch cuts and the sale of small subsidiaries, had been given the green light on Wednesday by the European Commission.The scheme envisages a drop in the number of branches from 2,750 in 2012 to 2,200 by 2017 and the number of employees is expected to be cut from 31,000 at the end of 2011 to 23,000 by the end of the period.The lender also hopes to boost its internet use, increasing the number of web customers from a current 1.0 percent to 10 percent, it said in a statement.The bank said it aimed to cut costs by 713 million euros ($969 million) from 2012, and is aiming for a net profit of 900 million euros in 2017.It confirmed borrowed funds would be repaid to the European Central Bank by the deadline in 2015.

Austria: 20 players questioned over match-fixing

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VIENNA (AP) - Criminal investigators say 20 current and former footballers in Austria have been interrogated for their alleged involvement in fixing at least 17 league matches, including nine in the countrys top-flight division, since 2004.Investigators said Thursday house searches were conducted in Vienna, Lower-Austria, Carinthia and Salzburg.All first-division games under suspicion include either Kapfenberg or Groedig, both former clubs of Dominique Taboga, who was arrested Wednesday for his alleged attempt to manipulate games after he claimed former international Sanel Kuljic had talked him into match-fixing to settle a personal debt.Without identifying the players questioned, investigators say they obtained a list with 26 footballers names on it from two Albanian men, who were arrested last week for allegedly coordinating the fixing.

At least seven killed in quake near Irans nuclear plant

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TEHRAN (AFP) - A 5.7 magnitude earthquake on the Gulf coast near Irans sole nuclear power plant killed seven people and injured 30 on Thursday, emergency response chief Hassan Qadami told state media.So far, there are seven dead and 30 injured receiving hospital treatment, the official IRNA news agency quoted Qadami as saying.

Wasim Akram to receive award on diabetes fight

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LAHORE (AFP) - Popular Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram Thursday said he will receive the first-ever young leaders award in sports for his fight against diabetes in a congress in Melbourne.The 47-year-old, renowned for his left-arm pace bowling, has been fighting against the disease since 1997.I have fought against diabetes because of my discipline and hard work and the young leaders award will be a just reward for my discipline, Wasim told AFP.Wasim will get the award during the World Diabetes Congress to be held in Melbourne, Australia from December 2-6.The International Diabetic Foundation will be organising the congress.Wasim, who took 414 Tests and 502 one-day wickets, will also deliver lecture to help create awareness on diabetes.There is a need to create an awareness about diabetes because a lot of people dont know about it and think that its not curable, said Wasim, declared player of the match in Pakistans World Cup win against England in Australia in 1992.According to the World Health Organisation statement of 2011 around 12.9 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in Pakistan.Wasim said he will also give coaching on how to deal with the disease.I will give lectures and will coach people on how to cure the disease through exercise and balanced diet and share my experiences with those afflicted with the disease, said Wasim.Wasim married Australian Shaniera Thompson in August this year -- his second wife after his first died in October 2009.

FIFA waits to find out 'scale of damage' at venue

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SAO PAULO (AP) - World soccer governing body FIFA said it was assessing the extent of damage to the stadium hosting the 2014 World Cup opener as officials inspected the grounds Thursday to determine what may have caused the deadly accident, just weeks before all stadiums for one of the biggest events in world sports were scheduled to be completed.Two workers were killed Wednesday when a crane collapsed and a 500-ton metal structure toppled over part of the stadium in Sao Paulo, aggravating already urgent worries that Brazil wont be ready for soccers showcase event next year.FIFA wants all 12 World Cup stadiums ready by the end of December, and Brazilian news reports have cited unnamed workers as blaming the rush to finish the Arena Corinthians for the decision to raise the last missing piece of roofing on Wednesday, despite several days of heavy rains that softened the earth around the stadium.The hypothesis that the rain-soaked ground might have ceded under the weight of the equipment is one of three main lines of investigation, said Brazilian media reports. Human error and a problem with the crane are the other hypotheses.In the wake of Wednesdays accident, it looked increasingly likely that FIFA will have no choice but to accept the Sao Paulo venue after its original December deadline. Brazilian officials have halted work on the stadium at least until Monday, and could decide to freeze further work for weeks or even months. Such a decision would come as a blow to FIFA since the governing body has said repeatedly stressed it has no Plan B for next years World Cup particularly since nearly 1 million tickets to the matches have already been sold.It is too premature to make any detailed assessment on the situation of the Corinthians Arena as we are still awaiting the technical report to be able to evaluate the scale of the damage, FIFA said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. We will be able to provide an update earliest next week following the FIFA Organizing Committee of the FIFA World Cup.The accident comes days ahead of next weeks high-profile World Cup draw in the resort city of Costa do Sauipe to be attended by FIFA officials and other top names in world soccer.Work at the Corinthians Arena was advanced but all activities have been halted at least until Monday to give workers a three-day mourning period. Workers who showed up at the site on Thursday were turned back by security guards.Load operator Sergio Almeida told the AP he believed the crane operator might not have followed proper procedures.The crane operator moved the piece about 50 meters and then left for lunch. Someone must have told him to do that because you arent supposed to move the crane with the piece on it, said 23-year-old Almeida. It was the last one. But it kept swinging. He tried to right it, but when he saw what was going to happen, he jumped.A sequence of photos released by the sports daily Lance showed the metal structure going down and the crane falling just moments later after not sustaining the weight.Constructor Odebrecht said it would not immediately comment on unsourced reports by local media saying that there had been a previous warning about the stability of the ground underneath the crane. Odebrecht has said the model of the crane is one of the most advanced in the world and can sustain loads three times heavier than the metal structure that it was carrying.Besides the Corinthians stadium, Odebrecht is also involved in the construction of the new Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador and the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. It also renovated Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium, home of the final.Former Corinthians President Andres Sanchez said Wednesday that the accident didnt cause any major structural damage, but added that getting the stadium delivered on time was the least of the clubs concern.I dont want to know about FIFA right now; we are worried about the families of the victims, he said.Ricardo Trade, CEO of the local World Cup organizing committee, said only local authorities would determine if there is a need to suspend construction, but he didnt believe this is going to cause delays with the World Cup opener nearly seven months away on June 12.FIFA released a statement on Wednesday saying that the safety of workers is the top priority for footballs governing body. The stadium was about 94 percent finished before Wednesdays accident. The metal structure that collapsed cut through the stadiums outer walls, destroying part of the outside of the building and slamming into a giant LED panel that runs across the facade.The newspaper Estado de S. Paulo said public prosecutors had previously pointed to 50 irregularities at the venue, including some related to emergency drills.World Cup preparations have been plagued by setbacks including cost overruns, stadium delays, accidents, labor strife and huge street protests in the run-up to the June tournament, once envisioned as a coming-out party for South Americas largest nation, which is also scheduled to host the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.Wednesdays werent the first fatalities at 2014 World Cup stadiums. Three workers have died in accidents at three construction sites over the past two years, and one stadium had work halted for nearly a week this year because of safety concerns.The web portal R7 reported Thursday that 23 construction workers were killed in on-site accidents and another 132 were injured over the past five years in the city of Sao Paulo alone. The report said it had compiled statistics from the municipal health ministry.

Indian magazine chief quits over sex case handling

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - The managing editor of Indian investigative magazine Tehelka quit Thursday after coming under fire over her handling of allegations that the publications founder sexually assaulted a reporter.In an email to staff, Shoma Chaudhury denied being part of a cover-up to protect Tehelkas founder and editor Tarun Tejpal who is under investigation over claims he sexually assaulted the woman twice in a hotel in the holiday state of Goa.However Chaudhury, who announced last week that Tejpal was standing aside for six months over what he has described as a bad lapse of judgement, acknowledged that she could have done many things differently.The alleged victim, who has since resigned from the English-language monthly magazine, first made the allegations against Tejpal in a detailed email to Chaudhury.As a result of whats transpired over the past few days my integrity has repeatedly been questioned by people from our fraternity and, in fact, by the public at large, Chaudhury wrote in her mail which has been seen by AFP.I do not want questions raised about my integrity to tarnish the image of Tehelka, which it has done in the past week. Therefore, I resign as Managing Editor with immediate effect, she added.Scores of supporters from Indias opposition BJP party, which regards the magazine as biased, held a noisy protest outside Chaudhurys home and demanded her arrest.She did not stand up in support of her woman colleague and for the past one week she has been trying to suppress the complaint and facts in the case, shouted senior BJP leader Vijay Jolly.He squirted paint outside her gate and defaced her nameplate, replacing her name with the word accused which was painted in black.Police escorted Chaudhury away as the protesters tried to enter her home, leading former BJP president Nikhil Gadkari to try to distance the party from the protest amid criticism in the local media.You may escape today but young men and women of Delhi will get you, warned Jolly.Chaudhurys resignation comes three days after the alleged victim also quit the magazine, saying she had come under pressure from Tejpals family to drop her allegations.Tejpal, 50, who was due to be questioned by Goa police Thursday, said he would reach the western Indian state only Saturday, an officer said in state capital Panaji.The resort state police said they would announce their next course of action in a news conference later Thursday.Tehelka has garnered a reputation for hard-hitting investigations on corruption as well as sexual violence against women and gender inequality, and was hailed for its reporting of a deadly gang-rape in New Delhi last December.The Tehelka scandal has dominated the Indian news agenda for the last week, with rivals accusing the magazine of hypocrisy.

England court overturns bail of Italian mafia boss

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LONDON (AFP) - Englands High Court on Thursday overturned a decision to grant bail to an Italian mafia boss who was arrested in London after two decades on the run.Domenico Rancadore is wanted in Italy to serve a seven-year jail term for his role in the Sicilian mafia and authorities are seeking his extradition.The High Court decision was postponed from Wednesday when the 64-year-old former fugitive was taken to hospital with heart problems.Judge John Goldring said it was clear that Rancadore had heart trouble, which should be borne in mind.But there was a real risk -- indeed a very real risk -- that he would abscond if granted bail, he said.In my view this appeal should be allowed and Mr Rancadore remanded in custody.A review hearing is listed for December 16 at Westminster Magistrates Court, with the extradition hearing scheduled for February 20-21 at the central London court.Known in the mafia as The Professor, Rancadore had been on Romes list of most dangerous criminals.He had been living in a modest suburban house in west London under the name of Marc Skinner, with his English wife and children, when he was arrested on August 8 this year.He was granted bail at Westminster Magistrates on Monday. However, he was not released after prosecutors issued notice to lodge an appeal.Prosecutors told an earlier court hearing in August that Rancadore was a leader in a gang that spread terror on the Italian island of Sicily, systematically murdering anybody who did not comply with the will of the members of the organisation.Rancadore was convicted in his absence of Mafia links in Italy after he went on the run and moved to Britain in 1993.

2015 Tour starts with short time trial in Utrecht

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PARIS (AP) - The 2015 Tour de France will begin with a short time trial around the Dutch city of Utrecht.Organizers say the race will begin on July 4 with a 13.7-kilometer (8.5-mile) race against the clock. Utrecht will also host the start of the second stage, but no further details were given.Utrecht is the sixth Dutch city to stage the Grand Depart of cyclings marquee race. Amsterdam was the first in 1954, followed by Scheveningen (1973), Leiden (1978), s-Hertogenbosch (1996) and Rotterdam (2010).

Ross Brawn to step down from Mercedes position

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PARIS (AFP) - Ross Brawn will step down from his position as Mercedes team principal at the end of the year, the German Formula One outfit confirmed on Thursday, ending months of speculation.The 59-year-old is one of the longest-serving figures in modern Formula One but it remains unclear whether he will retire from the sport or join another stable such as Ferrari in 2014 or McLaren-Honda in 2015.The English engineer largely contributed to the seven world titles won by Germanys Michael Schumacher at Benetton and then Ferrari.He then joined Honda F1 as team principal in 2007, buying out the team and renaming it Brawn GP, going on to win the world constructors championship and drivers title double in 2009 with Jenson Button.Runners-up in the world constructors championship this year behind Red Bull, Mercedes will now be run by joint executive directors - Austrian Toto Wolff in charge of business and Irelands Paddy Lowe overseeing the technical side.The most important consideration in my decision to step down from the role as team principal was to ensure that the timing was right for the team in order to ensure its future success, said Brawn, who will formally leave the team on December 31.The succession planning process that we have implemented during this year means we are now ready to conduct the transition from my current responsibilities to a new leadership team composed of Toto and Paddy.

Somalia appoints Bashir Isse Ali as central bank chief

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MOGADISHU (AFP) - Somalia appointed a temporary governor for the central bank Thursday, the third official in just over a year designated to head an institution mired by corruption allegations.Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said the cabinet had approved the appointment as interim governor of Bashir Isse Ali, who has already served in the post under past governments. The appointment also comes amid political infighting between the president and prime minister.After two decades of civil war our financial institutions were not fit for purpose, Shirdon said in a statement. It will be up to Mr. Ali, alongside our international partners, to continue to implement the programme of reforms that are needed in our financial institutions.In September, Abdusalam Omer stepped down as governor amid accusations by United Nations experts that the bank had become a slush fund for political leaders with millions of dollars siphoned out, claims that were dismissed by the government.Earlier this month his successor Yussur Abrar resigned complaining she had been pressured to sign off on corrupt deals, claims the government also denied.The government, which took power in August 2012, was the first to be given global recognition since the collapse of the hardline regime in 1991, and billions in foreign aid has since been poured in.Widely praised as it took power, the government is now split with the prime minister facing a confidence vote in parliament this week after he resisted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamuds demand that he resign.The precise cause of the power struggle is unclear, but politicians have pointed to wrangling over alleged corruption, personal loyalties as well as Somalias complex clan politics, where each community expects to be represented in the corridors of power.Sources close to the office of the prime minister claimed the president had barred all central bank signatories -- including Shirdon -- from withdrawing cash amid widespread allegations of graft.Ali, who studied in the US and Nairobi, headed the central bank between 2006-10 under the notoriously corrupt previous administration.He also served as deputy-governor under the hardline rule of Siad Barre, who was toppled in 1991, as Somalia descended in all-out civil war.

German court jails woman who killed her three children

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LANDSHUT (AFP) - A German court Thursday jailed for 14 years a mother who killed three of her children, a young daughter and twin babies, in a forest before a failed suicide attempt.The mentally unstable 39-year-old mother, a bakery saleswoman identified only as Bianca T., first strangled her six-year-old daughter, then smothered the four-month-old twins.The woman acted in the throes of desperation after the twins father committed himself to a psychiatric ward for depression and she could not convince him to return home.In harrowing testimony, the court heard how the terrified six-year-old, Anna-Lea, had struggled and pleaded for her life, saying Mama, I dont want to die, not today, maybe tomorrow.After the attacks on November 13 last year, the woman intended to take her own life and headed, with the childrens bodies in her car, straight for a carpark to jump off the roof, having sent her partner text messages about the killings.The man called police who then spotted the woman in her car, leading to a high-speed chase. The woman deliberately crashed in a suicide attempt but walked away almost unscathed from the wreck, the court in Landshut, southern Germany, was told.After her arrest, the mother confessed, claiming to have smothered the twins -- a boy and a girl named Fabian and Lisa -- but an autopsy later found both had also suffered fractured skulls and the boy broken limbs.Anna-Lea and Fabian were declared dead in hospital, where surgeons attempted to save the life of Lisa before she too died of her injuries.Im sorry, Im so sorry, the woman said in tears in court, testifying that she had acted without a clear motive.I committed these acts, I know... But its as if it wasnt me. Its like I was outside of myself, said the woman, who has had a total of six children from three fathers.Prosecutors had demanded a sentence of 14 years and six months on murder and manslaughter charges for the woman, and the defence 13 years.

Lazio fan arrested in Poland

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WARSAW (AFP) - Polish police on Thursday arrested a large group of Lazio supporters prior to a Europa League game between the Italian side and Legia Warsaw, said an AFP journalist at the scene.Stones were thrown at police who were escorting the supporters towards the stadium, a police spokesman told AFP.Police then used force to arrest the supporters, numbering several dozen, with around 30 police vans involved in the operation.The trouble came after 17 Lazio fans were arrested following a fight outside a hotel in the Polish capital on Wednesday evening.Lazio need a win in the match at the Wojska Polskiego stadium to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League, while Legia are already eliminated.

Hong Kong, Netherlands qualify for World T20 finals

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DUBAI (AFP) - Hong Kong and the Netherlands secured the last two qualifying spots for next years ICC World Twenty20 finals in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.With a 29 run defeat of Papua New Guinea, Hong Hong secured their first ever appearance on the global stage, while the Dutch, who beat Scotland, make their return after missing out on the last two tournaments.Hong Kong, with captain Jamie Atkinson a frustrated spectator nursing a broken thumb, did it the hard way, overcoming a disastrous start.Recovering from 19 for four inside four overs they went on to post 137 for nine, bowling out Papua New Guinea for 108 with five balls remaining.A delighted Hong Kong vice-captain Waqas Barqat said: I have no words. It will be the first time Hong Kong will play in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament.I think the whole team was really keen to qualify and go to Bangladesh.Even after losing four wickets early on, the guys had self-belief and we did it, he said.Later at the Zayed Cricket Stadium the Netherlands defeated Scotland by eight wickets with 13 balls to spare.Hong Kong and the Dutch join already qualified Ireland, Afghanistan, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates at the March 16-April 6 finals in Bangladesh.2014 World Twenty20 qualifying resultsHong Kong 137-9, 20 overs (Babar Hayat 48; Pipi Raho 3-22, Willie Gavera 3-23) v Papua New Guinea 108 all out, 19.1 overs (Charles Amini 30; Munir Dar 3-26)Result: Hong Kong won by 29 runsItaly 130-9, 20 overs (Carl Sandri 34, Damian Crowley 32) v Namibia 105 all out, 19.4 overs (Gareth Berg 3-12)Result: Italy won by 25 runsScotland 147-6, 20 overs (Matt Machan 61, Michael Leask 58) v Netherlands 149-2, 17.5 overs (Wesley Barresi 75 not out, Ben Cooper 40, Michael Swart 30 not out)Result: Netherlands won by eight wickets

Pope wants closer look at Vatican's finance reform

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VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Thursday named his top assistant to look into the work of two commissions of inquiry he set up last summer to investigate the finances of the troubled Vatican bank and Holy See administration.A Vatican statement said papal secretary Monsignor Alfred Xuereb will be Francis delegate, keeping his eye on the committees and keeping him informed in collaboration with the secretariat of state on their working procedures and possible initiatives.The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the aim was purely to smooth communication between the pope and the commissions as they intensify their work ahead of meetings between the pope and his eight cardinal advisers.But the move appears to create a new filter between the commissions and the pope that could raise questions about their independence: Originally, these experts were supposed to report directly to the pope and present him with recommendations.Thursdays statement suggests the Maltese-born Xuereb and the Vaticans powerful secretariat of state will be the popes main points of reference for the work of the independent commissions.Francis first named a study committee for the Vatican bank in June to help clean up the scandal-marred institution that has been the subject of money-laundering investigations by Italian prosecutors.He named another commission in July to look into the Holy Sees full financial picture to try to provide greater transparency and cut down on waste.The Holy Sees financial problems were revealed publicly last year with the leaks of papal correspondence by the butler of then-Pope Benedict XVI, which then later appeared in a blockbuster book.The documents exposed the petty turf battles among Vatican bureaucrats, allegations of corruption in the awarding of Vatican contracts and enormous fiscal waste, including the 550,000 euros ($720,115) spent by the Holy See in 2009 for its Christmas Nativity scene in St. Peters Square.
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