Friday 31 January 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Dense fog blankets several cities of Punjab

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Dense fog Thursday continued to blanket different cities of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala and affected schedule of several international and domestic flights.The thick fog badly disrupted the schedule of national and private airlines after which the Allama Iqbal Airport had been closed. All departing flights were delayed and the incoming flights were diverted to other airports.Fog has also affected road traffic as the visibility level lowered. Motorway from Lahore to Pindi Bhatian has been closed for all kind of traffic due to low visibility. The Motorway Police have advised the drivers to drive at a low speed and keep the fog lights on.According to Met Office, the foggy spell is likely to continue for the next few days.

Peace Committee gets open mandate for talks with Taliban

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ISLAMABAD (APP): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Friday gave “open mandate” to the four member peace committee for starting negotiations with Tehrik- e- Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Advisor to Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui who is coordinator of the committee said during a press conference here that the committee was expecting that Taliban Shura would meet soon and announce a negotiation team for holding peace talks with it. “We are seriously waiting for start of a meaningful and result oriented dialogue, ”he added. The committee held its first formal 45 minute long meeting with the Prime Minister early Friday Monday. The Prime Minister set up the committee while speaking in National Assembly last Wednesday.The committee comprises PM’s Advisor on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, Major (Retd) Aamir, renowned journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai and Rustam Shah Mohmand, former Ambassador to Afghanistan and expert on Afghanistan affairs. Irfan Siddiqui told reporters that the committee would now look for a response from Taliban and is ready to meet their representatives at any place which is decided.“We do not want to waste time and want to listen to the Taliban’s stance and have them listen to ours.”Irfan Siddiqui said the Prime Minister told the committee about the efforts made by him for holding talks with Taliban to restore peace and end terrorism which has negative impact on economy and society. The Prime Minister said he would be available for meeting the committee any time. Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also present during the meeting.Later, the committee held its second meeting at Prime Minister House during which the Interior Minister informed it in detail about the efforts made by the government at different stages to begin negotiations with Taliban.The meeting then held its third meeting in the office of Advisor to Prime Minister Iran Siddiqui and took some decisions.Siddiqui said the committee is enjoying confidence of all parties in the parliament, media and all segments of the public opinion.To a question, he said he was expecting that the committee’s work will span over weeks and months and it would not take years.Expressing optimism about the prospects of talks, he said outcome of talks will rest on what the Taliban say and what is their agenda.He said the talks with Taliban would not be based on any conditions, however members of the committee understood what the Prime Minister, government and parties had been saying.Taliban have also so far did not objected over the committee or its members, he noted.In a written statement, the committee appealed to the government ministers, officials and Taliban to avoid making statements which have a negative effect on the negotiation process.Irfan Siddiqui said the committee has decided that whenever it will feel the need it will seek help of influential people from different walks of life in an effort to make the negotiation process successful.He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was fully onboard on the issue of formation of committee and Rustam Shah Mohmand had been nominated by it as its representative.He told that Governor KP also talked to him on phone and assured of his full cooperation to the committee.

UN sets sights on fresh Syria talks from February 10

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GENEVA (AFP) - The UN aims to bring Syria's warring sides back to the negotiating table from February 10, mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said Friday, despite a regime vow not to give any ground.I suggested we resume, on the basis of an agreed agenda, on February 10, Brahimi told reporters after a week of closed-door negotiations wrapped up.The delegation of the opposition agreed to this date. That of the government said they needed to consult with Damascus first.Getting the rival camps to sit down for the first time in almost three years of fighting has been seen as a triumph in itself for Brahimi, a veteran peacemakers.Progress is very slow indeed, but the sides have engaged in an acceptable manner, Brahimi said. This is a very modest beginning, but it is a beginning on which we can build.The gaps between the sides remain wide. There is no use pretending otherwise. Nevertheless, during our discussions, I observed a little bit of common ground, perhaps more than the two sides realise or recognise.As the foes sought to breach the gaping chasm between them, nearly 1,900 people perished since the start of the talks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday in a stark reminder of the situation on the ground.The Syrian regime kept a combative tone as the talks with the opposition National Coalition drew to a close.Neither in this round, nor in the next will they obtain any concessions from the Syrian delegation, Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi told pro-regime demonstrators outside the UN's European headquarters in Geneva where the talks were held.They will not get through politics what they couldn't get through force, Zohbi insisted, as the applauding 250-strong crowd waved a huge Syrian flag and brandished pictures of President Bashar al-Assad.Zohbi said his no surrender message was not only for the rebels, whom he accused of terrorism, but also for their allies in Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and anti-Assad groups in Lebanon.Asked about Zohbi's remarks, the 80-year-old Brahimi quipped: I hope he'll change his mindThe Algerian veteran mediator has suggested the talks resume on February 10.

Kerry warns Syria of consequences on chemical weapons

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BERLIN (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad he could face consequences for failing to live up to international agreements on removing his chemical weapons stockpile.Kerry told reporters ahead of talks in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel that Damascus was not complying with a US-Russian agreed timetable for shipping out the arsenal.We now know that the Assad regime is not moving as rapidly as it promised to move the chemical weapons out of Syria, he said.I would remind Bashar al-Assad that the agreement that we reached in New York with the (UN) Security Council makes it clear that if there are issues of non-compliance, they will be referred to the Security Council for Chapter 7 compliance purposes.The United States and Russia agreed a deal last September to eliminate Syrias chemical weapons.The accord included a commitment to imposing measures under Chapter 7 within the UN Security Council, referring to a UN article which sets out possible sanctions including the threat of military force.The agreement was brokered as a way to avert US missile strikes that Washington threatened after a chemical attack near Damascus that the US and other Western governments blamed on the regime.Kerry said Syria must respect a global, legal, international obligation it made.Our hope is that Syria will move rapidly to live up to its obligations, Kerry said.He said the civil war in the country was destabilising the entire region.The world is witnessing human catastrophe unfolding in front of our eyes every single day, he said.The worlds chemical watchdog said Wednesday that Damascus had handed over less than five percent of the most dangerous chemicals in its armoury.The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons based in The Hague called Friday for Syria to pick up the pace in shipping out the stockpile.Just two small shipments of chemicals have so far left the Syrian port of Latakia, accounting for less than four percent of the countrys declared arsenal of most dangerous chemicals, the US government said this week.Around 700 tonnes of chemicals were supposed to have left Syria by December 31, putting the ambitious disarmament project weeks behind schedule.

Formula One: Alonso fastest as Mercedes pile on the miles

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JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA (AFP) - Ferraris Fernando Alonso gave the home fans something to cheer about on Friday as he was fastest on the fourth and final morning of pre-season testing in Jerez, southern Spain.In wet conditions following heavy overnight rain, the Spaniard posted a best time of 1min 35.334secs from 55 laps.Germanys Nico Rosberg was second fastest as he continued to give the Mercedes W05 a thorough workout, completing 91 laps in little over three hours to take the teams overall count past 250 for the week.McLarens Kevin Magnussen also built on his impressive start as, after going fastest on his first run with the team on Thursday afternoon, he was down in third after getting another 43 laps under his belt.However, there was no end in sight to reigning double world champions Red Bulls issues as Australian Daniel Ricciardo could only manage seven laps early in the day to take their tally to the week to just 21.The problems at Red Bull have been reflected across all the teams using Renault engines as Toro Rosso and Caterham have also struggled this week, whilst Lotus didnt even make it to Jerez due to delays in delivering their car for the new season.Japanese driver Kamui Kobyashi did, though, manage to get through 42 laps in his first experience of driving the Caterham as he returns to the sport after a year out in 2013.

Golf: McIlroy holds on to lead in Dubai

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DUBAI (AFP) - Rory McIlroy endured a frustrating day on the greens at the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday, but he still reached the tournaments halfway stage with a one-stroke lead.The Ulsterman struggled off the tees early on in his second round, but by the turn he had briefly eased three strokes clear of the field, only for his putting woes and a charge by rising US star Brooks Koepka to keep him in check.McIlroy had a 70 to stand at 11-under 133, with Koepka, a year younger than McIlroy at 23, equalling the days best round of 65 to get to 10 under.It was a round that could have been much better. Still, shooting a couple under par and finishing with a nice birdie the way I did.Im leading the golf tournament. Ive been in this position before and Ive gone on to win, McIlroy said.Three strokes off the pace on eight under came Damien McGrane (70) of Ireland, Englishman Danny Willett (65) and Julien Quesne of France (70).Defending champion Stephen Gallacher of Scotland (71) and European number one Henrik Stenson of Sweden (67) were among those on seven under.It was another disappointing day for Tiger Woods, who struggled with the putter all the way en route to a 73, which left him eight shots adrift of playing partner McIlroy and well down the field.Looking to make it two wins and a second place in his last three tournaments, McIlroy had the luxury of taking the morning off watching to see whether anyone could overhaul him after his stunning nine-under 63 on Thursday.Several challengers came and went, especially McGrane, Willett and Italian Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari.But no-one was able to dislodge McIlroy from the lead.For a brief moment it looked like he would do that all by himself as he started his second round with three wayward drives.He dropped one at the first, but scrambled to save par at the second, and a superb bunker shot at the par-five third gave him a birdie as he got back to nine under.Watched by wife-to-be, tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, McIlroy then birdied the fifth and the seventh to increase his lead at the top to three shots.But just when it looked like he was about to clamp a serious stranglehold on a tournament which was his first triumph as a professional in 2009, McIlroy let it briefly slip - missing a two-footer for par at the 13th and erring off the tee at the 16th.Koepka, who opted to play on the European Tour Challenger circuit after graduating from his US college in May, 2012, was flawless with seven bogeys in his 65.It reminds me a lot of American courses, the Floridian said. Its weird, its a course set up for a drawer and I fade the ball. So its a little tougher for me, but Ive been playing well so I cant complain.Woods, playing in his second tournament of the year after missing the final cut at Torrey Pines last week, never looked like getting fully into his stride, despite an encouraging birdie at the third.Bogeys at six and nine set him back and from there on in he was unable to get any momentum going in a tournament he has twice won.I just didnt hit it close enough. Didnt hit it well. Struggled with it and had a bad warm-up as well, and just one of those days, he said.World number three Stenson moved ominously up the leaderboard as he recovered from a horror start to Thursdays opening round when he was three over after just five holes.The big Swede had five birdies in his 67 that hoisted him up the leaderboard at seven under on a course he knows as well as anyone.Ive played a lot of golf around here and you know where to go and where not to. Theres not too many courses I know better that the Majlis, he said.Three-time former winner Ernie Els was also in better nick with a 70, but at level par for the tournament, the South African was just outside the projected cut mark.

Oil prices drop after US-inspired rally

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LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices fell Friday on profit-taking, after hitting the highest levels of the year on data showing the US economy grew more than expected in the fourth quarter.New Yorks main contract West Texas Intermediate for delivery in March fell 35 cents to $97.88 a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for March stood at $107.22 a barrel in London morning trade, down 73 cents from Thursdays closing level.Trade was light with most Asian markets closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.Prices had jumped on Thursday after the US Commerce Department said the worlds number one economy -- and biggest crude consumer -- expanded 3.2 percent in October-December.That was much better than the 3.0 percent predicted by analysts.Adding to the upbeat data was a 3.3-percent rise in consumer spending, which is a crucial driver of growth in the United States, suggesting demand for crude could pick up.Akio Shibata, president of Japans National Resource Research Institute, said oil prices will likely remain at relatively high levels for some time to come as demand will grow on the backdrop of a strong US economy.

Government withdraws appeal against PCB chief

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ISLAMABAD (AFP) - The legal saga dogging Pakistani cricket administration took a fresh turn on Friday as the government withdrew its challenge to the reinstatement of the games ousted chief.Earlier this month an appeal court restored Zaka Ashraf as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, eight months after another court had thrown him out over election irregularities.The government challenged his reinstatement in the Supreme Court but withdrew its appeal on Friday.Irfanullah Khan, a government lawyer, said Fridays move came after judges indicated the government had the power to replace Ashraf if they wished, without the need for a court ruling.We have withdrawn our appeal against Ashrafs reinstatement, Khan told AFP.As per law the government can exercise its powers (to appoint a new chairman) without prejudicing the orders of the Islamabad high court.Ashrafs suspension in May last year triggered a slew of legal hearings and appeals.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed veteran journalist Najam Sethi as PCB chairman but he too fell foul of the courts, with another judgment severely curtailing his powers.Critics said the turmoil was damaging the game at a time when Pakistani cricket needs strong leadership as it tries to persuade foreign teams to tour again after a long hiatus over security fears.Ashrafs lawyer Karim Kundi, however, ruled out his clients removal.Under the PCB constitution, the patron can only remove Ashraf on three counts: one that there are financial irregularities in the board, two that the PCB has become dysfunctional and third that there are sufficient evidence to back the first two causes, Kundi told AFP.The PCB has suffered regular bouts of institutional uproar since its inception in 1948.

Cricket: Australia too strong for England to take T20 series

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Australia continued Englands miserable tour with an emphatic eight-wicket victory to claim the Twenty20 series with a match to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.England only posted 130 for nine after winning the toss and the home side coasted to victory with 5.1 overs left at 131 for two.Skipper George Bailey clubbed an unbeaten 60 off just 28 balls with three sixes and seven fours, while opener Cameron White continued his magnificent series with 57 not out off 45 balls.England will finish their troubled tour of Australia in Sydney on Sunday in the final dead rubber T20 game after losing the Ashes 5-0 and the one-day series 4-1.Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was named man-of-the-match with career-best T20 figures of four for 30 in Englands innings, including two wickets with his last two balls.Australia outplayed us fantastically today. They held length pretty well and we didnt react to that and the two needless run-outs hurt us in the middle which cost us getting a decent score, England skipper Stuart Broad said.We need to get some momentum from somewhere. Its been a long tour, its been a long 100 days in Australia and it would be nice to finish with a win.We have not (win) a series over here which is heart-breaking for Team England, but we can finish on a high before we fly two hours later.Australian captain Bailey said his sides bowlers had set up the win.Bailey paid credit to Hazlewood and also 20-year-old leg-spinner James Muirhead (1-17 off 4 overs).James Muirhead bowled absolutely beautifully, Bailey said.White posted his second successive half-century in his first T20 International series since October 2012 in a follow-up to his 75 in Wednesdays opening T20 match in Hobart.England won the toss and batted but struggled on a slow-paced pitch, with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler topscoring with 22 off 27 balls.Opener Michael Lumb was out for 18 in the fourth over, caught at mid-on, and Luke Wright fell for a duck in the following over after recalled veteran Brad Hodge took a great catch at cover.Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc held a difficult chance at third man to remove Alex Hales for 16, as Hazlewood claimed his second victim.England lost four wickets in four overs when the 39-year-old Hodge threw the stumps down from cover to beat the dive of Eoin Morgan (six).Australias fielding was at its athletic best when Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket threw to the bowlers end to run out Joe Root for 18 at 63 for five.Muirhead enticed Ravi Bopara (six) to slog/sweep a catch to the leg-side boundary, and Nathan Coulter-Nile trapped Buttler leg before wicket 96 for seven.Muirhead and Starc (1-19), in his first international game for the summer, were economical.Tailenders Tim Bresnan (18) and Broad (18 not out) added a 34-run partnership for the eighth wicket.Hazlewood bowled Bresnan and James Tredwell (0) with the last two deliveries of the innings.

Cricket: India fail again against Black Caps

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - A Ross Taylor-inspired New Zealand crushed India by 87 runs in the fifth and final one-day international in Wellington on Friday to extend the tourists' miserable run against the Black Caps.India could manage only 216 in reply to New Zealand's 303 for five, slumping to a 4-0 series loss despite a battling 82 from Virat Kohli.Veteran batsman Taylor blazed his second successive century to set India the imposing run chase before seamer Matt Henry skittled the world champions' top order in a dream debut, claiming four for 38.The result completes New Zealand's best one-day winning streak against India in 33 years and provides a huge psychological boost ahead of a two-Test series next month.Meanwhile, India's failure to perform against modest opposition has seen them ousted from top spot in the one-day rankings by Australia, and will raise questions about their form away from home ahead of next year's World Cup.Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the result was disappointing but showed opposition teams were targeting India because of their recent success.It's a phase that we're going through but what will be crucial is what kind of solutions we have got, how we plan to get out of it, he said, adding that he was determined to stay positive despite the defeat.Taylor, fresh from an unbeaten 112 in the fourth match, laid the foundations for victory with a commanding 102, receiving able support from Kane Williamson (88), who has posted a half-century in every match of the series.Dhoni urged his pacemen to use their brains after losing the fourth match on Tuesday, and the new-ball pair of Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar initially responded to the challenge.Shami began with two maidens, while Kumar showed improved accuracy as the New Zealanders were restricted to just 10 runs in the first five overs.The hard work paid off when Jesse Ryder (17) snicked an outside edge from Kumar to Ajinkya Rahane at gully and Martin Guptill was out for 16 after hitting the ball straight to Shami, who took the chance after a nervous juggle.That brought the in-form partnership of Williamson and Taylor together and they immediately lifted the glacial run rate, scoring more boundaries in their first three overs at the crease than New Zealand managed in the previous 12.They brought up their third century partnership of the series in 108 balls, with Williamson reaching his fifth consecutive 50 in the 30th over.Taylor notched his own half century a few balls later as the pressure India had painstakingly built early in the innings dissipated.Williamson departed on 88 when he sliced a Varun Aaron delivery to Rahane at point and was replaced by Brendon McCullum, who provided a useful 23 off 18 balls before he was caught at cover trying to drive Kohli.Taylor brought up his 10th ODI century after 105 balls with a boundary hit through mid-wicket, but was out next ball attempting to belt Shami over the boundary.Jimmy Neesham contributed an unbeaten 34 off 19 balls to take New Zealand past 300, a mark that India's batsmen reached only once in the series.India's top order again threw away their wickets cheaply, with Rohit Sharma dismissed for four by Kyle Mills and Henry coaxing an edge from Shikhar Dhawan (9) in his second over of international cricket.The Canterbury seamer then followed up by trapping Rahane lbw for two and had Ambati Rayudu caught at gully for 20.India's run chase effectively ended when Kohli holed out charging Nathan McCullum in the 37th over, with skipper Dhoni (47) the only other batsman to fire.

Judge spares Spanish princess a walk to fraud hearing

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MADRID (AFP) - A Spanish judge ruled Friday that King Juan Carlos youngest daughter Cristina may drive to court for a fraud hearing, rather than endure a walk under the gaze of the worlds media.It is not clear, however, if the 48-year-old Cristina will take advantage of the ruling, issued strictly on security grounds, when she heads to the Palma de Mallorca court on the morning of February 8.Judge Juan Castros decision, which is in line with police advice, allows the princess to drive all the way to the court rather than walking the last steps from the main street to the door of the court.Cristina will be the first direct member of the Spanish royal family in modern times to face court as a suspect when she answers the summons in a scandal that has plunged the royals into crisis.Lawyers defending the princess, known as the Infanta, insist she is innocent of accusations of tax fraud and money-laundering.The case is linked to the business affairs of Cristinas husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin, who is himself under investigation for alleged embezzlement of public funds.Cristina has been made a formal suspect in the case, but neither she nor Urdangarin have so far been charged with any crime.Urdangarin has testified twice at the court in the past two years. Despite a court ruling allowing him to drive to the entrance, he chose each time to walk the final steps, in the same way as any other suspect.The fraud scandal has been a major blow to the royal familys prestige.King Juan Carlos, 76, had long been respected for helping guide Spain to democracy after the death in 1975 of General Francisco Franco.But the fraud case, as well as outrage over a luxury African elephant hunting safari he took in 2012 as his subjects suffered in a recession, have damaged his reputation.

Lahore Basant: Kite-flying ban reinstated

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LAHORE: (Dunya News) – Punjab government has resolved to again place a ban on flying kites in Lahore owing to the reports of usage of chemical threads. Other activities of Basant Festival will take place as announced at Changa Manga forest in Lahore.Earlier this month, Punjab government had announced to hold Basant festival at Changa Manga forest in Lahore from February 21 till March 5; formal notification in this regard had already been issued.Punjab government had also assigned the task to make necessary arrangements in this regard to DCO Kasur, directing him to submit a report after making an observation of the arrangements afterwards.Authorities had been directed not to allow kite flying activities anywhere else. The government source also warned of the strict action against the culprits violating the law.Notification said that other cultural festivals will also take place during those dates.Muslim League(N) leader Hamza Shahbaz had hinted the lifting of ban on Basant during the inauguration of Punjab Youth Festival last month. Week before that, Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto had announced revival of Basant and kite flying through ‘Sindh Festival’.Kite flying has been banned in the province for the past four years; the ban was mainly the result of accidents linked to the thread used for flying kites. Hundreds have died in Basant related accidents in the past decade, in the years when kite flying was allowed.

Sollecito picked up near Italy border after murder verdict

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FLORENCE (AFP) - Raffaele Sollecito, convicted with former lover Amanda Knox of the grizzly murder of a British student, has been picked up by police near the Italian border and has surrendered his passport.Police tracked him to a hotel in Venzone, a town in northeast Italy near the Austrian and Slovenian borders, just hours after an appeal court in Florence sentenced him to 25 years in prison, a source at the police station in the nearby city of Udine told AFP.Police went to find him in his hotel and he followed them willingly back to the police station, the source said.He is still there now. He is not under arrest. He has to hand over his passport, which can be a lengthy process, he added.Sollecito was reportedly staying with his girlfriend Greta Menegaldo, who comes from the city of Treviso according to Italian media reports -- over 150 kilometres from Venzone.The 29-year-old had been ordered to surrender his passport and driving license by the court, which said it considered him a flight risk after upholding his conviction on Thursday evening for the murder of Meredith Kercher, stabbed to death in 2007.Dressed in a blue sailor jacket and wearing sepia-coloured aviator sunglasses, Sollecito had attended a court hearing earlier on Thursday, but was not present for the verdict and was reported to have already left Florence.Knox and Sollecito were first convicted of the murder in 2009, then acquitted in 2011 on appeal.The supreme court last year ordered a re-trial, leading to the guilty verdicts issued on Thursday.

Twitter buys patents, seals licensing pact with IBM

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(Reuters) - Twitter Inc has bought 900 patents and signed a cross-licensing agreement with IBM, making peace with Big Blue and bulking up on its intellectual property portfolio as it takes on larger rivals Google and Facebook.The agreement announced on Friday comes after International Business Machines Corp accused Twitter in November - on the eve of its high-profile initial public offering - of infringing three of its patents. At the time, it underscored how few patents the six-year-old social media company possessed in relation to more established rivals.A cross-licensing agreement will help safeguard Twitter against similar claims in the future.IBM is one of the industrys largest research spenders and stockpilers of intellectual property, a consistent leader in U.S. patent filings and the owner of some 41,000 patents.Twitter is following on the heels of Facebook, which itself faced similar claims before its own 2012 IPO. The worlds largest social network has since gone on a patent-buying spree, acquiring intellectual property from tech bellwethers, including Microsoft Corp and IBM.This acquisition of patents from IBM and licensing agreement provide us with greater intellectual property protection and give us freedom of action to innovate on behalf of all those who use our service, Ben Lee, Twitters legal director, said in a joint statement with IBM on Friday.

Google's strength in advertising to drive growth: analysts

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(Reuters) - Google Inc looks set to extend its leadership in online advertising as it sharpens its focus on its core business, analysts said after strong ad sales helped the No. 1 search company report stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue.Googles shares, which closed at $1,135 ahead of the results announcement on Thursday, opened about 3 percent higher after at least 12 brokerages raised their price targets on the stock to as much as $1,400.Broker Canaccord Genuity raised its target price by $370 to $1,370, noting that Googles website revenue growth accelerated to 22.1 percent in the fourth quarter, the third consecutive quarter of faster growth.Canaccord and others also said the sale of Googles loss-making Motorola handset unit to Chinas Lenovo Group Ltd would help it focus on its core internet business and boost margins.Citi Investment Research, which raised its target price to $1,350 from $1,190 and maintained a buy rating, said Googles report demonstrated the companys continued business momentum.Goldman Sachs noted that the quarter was the second out of the last nine that net ad revenue had beaten the average estimate. Goldman raised its price target to $1,200 from $1,125.Google, whose shares were trading at $750 this time last year, said it benefited from strong demand from brand marketers and retailers in the quarter.In coming quarters, we expect improvement in cost-per-click (CPC) trends as Product Listing Ads and AdWords Enhanced Campaigns lift CPCs, UBS Securities analyst Eric Sheridan, who raised his target by $50 to $1,350, wrote in a note to clients.CPC refers to the price advertisers pay Google each time a user clicks on their ad.In the past year, Google has changed the way advertisers run campaigns on its website, offering the same ads simultaneously on PCs and mobile devices.RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney, who raised his price target to $1,400 from $1,300, said Google had positioned itself well to take advantage of most of the major trends in consumer internet through organic investments and acquisitions.Googles recent acquisitions include artificial intelligence company DeepMind Technologies and smart thermostat and smoke alarm-maker Nest Labs.Google also bought a stake in Taiwan displaymaker Himax Technologies, bringing it closer to producing a commercial version of its Google Glass eyewear.Google shares were up 1.8 percent at $1,158 in early trading on the Nasdaq.
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