Saturday 1 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

TTP should select its own representatives: Imran

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) should select its own Taliban representatives for the peace talks. In a statement issued in Islamabad, he said the PTI had full faith in the 4-member committee announced by the government. He added, However we will discuss how PTI can be of further assistance to further the dialogue in our Core Committee meeting on Monday.

Syria death toll tops 136,000, future talks uncertain

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - The death toll in Syrias civil war has topped 136,000 after January saw one of the conflicts bloodiest months, an NGO said Saturday, as violence claimed yet more civilian lives.The prospects of a peaceful outcome looked dim after 10 days of talks in Geneva yielded no tangible results and the regime said it was unsure whether it would return to the negotiating table.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the death toll at the end of January was at least 136,227.The Britain-based groups director, Rami Abdel Rahman, said January was among the bloodiest months since the beginning of the conflict in March 2011.Among the dead were 47,998 civilians, including more than 7,300 children.The Observatory said the real toll could be much higher because of the extreme secrecy of rebels, jihadists and the regime about casualty figures.At the end of December the toll was 130,433, but fighting between rebels and the regime, as well as between them and jihadists, has claimed nearly 6,000 lives since then.The conflict began after a regime crackdown on peaceful anti-government demonstrations, sparking an armed uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.In addition to the dead and a much larger number of wounded, millions of people have been displaced internally and as refugees.There was no let-up in the bloodshed on Saturday, with at least 46 civilians killed by helicopter-borne barrel bombs dropped on the northern city of Aleppo, the Observatory said.Abdel Rahman told AFP that among the victims were 33 civilians in the Tareq al-Bab area alone.At least another seven people died in a double car bombing carried out by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targeting a rebel headquarters in Aleppo.Moderate and Islamist opposition fighters have been battling ISIL since early January, after accusing the group of a spate of abuses against civilians and rebels.Meanwhile, in the central province of Hama, the Observatory said at least 12 government fighters were killed around the town of Morek.

Polls open in troubled Thai election

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BANGKOK (AFP) - Voting began Sunday in Thailands troubled election but anti-government protesters forced the closure of more than 10 percent of polling stations nationwide, an Election Commission official said.Polling stations have opened, said Election Commission secretary general Puchong Nutrawong, adding protesters prevented voting across 12 southern provinces and in at least three Bangkok districts.The snap poll was called by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in an unsuccessful attempt to quell rising tensions in the nation, which has seen three months of sometimes bloody rallies aimed at toppling her government.Voting comes a day after a gunfight rattled the northern Bangkok suburb of Lak Si as government supporters and opposition demonstrators clashed leaving at least seven people injured.In Thailands southern provinces -- a stronghold of the anti-government movement -- protesters stopped post offices from distributing ballot sheets and boxes to polling stations in 42 constituencies, Puchong added.In Bangkok election authorities were unable to hold polls in at least three districts.They cannot open in Ratchathevi, Din Daeng and Lak Si districts -- which was closed last night (after the gunfight), said Ninart Chalitanon of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration told AFP.Authorities have said they would boost security around the polls, with police and soldiers on the capitals streets.But the government has so far appeared reluctant to use force against the rallies, despite declaring a state of emergency last month.Voting went ahead in Thailands remaining 65 provinces, the Election Commission said, in polls that are widely expected to return Yingluck to power after an election boycott by the main opposition Democrat Party.

46 civilians killed in Aleppo barrel bomb raids: NGO

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BEIRUT (AFP) - At least 46 civilians were killed Saturday, 33 in one neighbourhood, when Syrian regime helicopters dropped explosive-packed barrels on rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo, a monitor said.Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP at least 46 civilians died in the bombardment of eastern areas of Aleppo city with explosive barrels, among them 33 civilians in the Tareq al-Bab area.

Schoolchildren among 14 killed by Indonesia volcano eruption

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KARO (AFP) - Fourteen people, including four schoolchildren, were killed Saturday after they were engulfed in scorching ash clouds spat out by Indonesias Mount Sinabung in its biggest eruption in recent days, officials said.Dark, searing clouds rolling down the mountain left apocalyptic scenes of ash-covered bodies scattered by a roadside in Sukameriah village, just 2.7 kilometres (1.7 miles) from the volcanos crater, an AFP witness who helped with the evacuation said.Officials fear there could be more fatalities from Saturdays eruptions, but due to the high potential of lethal heat clouds spewing from the mountain, a search and rescue mission has been grounded, officials said.We suspect there are more victims but we cannot recover them because the victims are in the path of the hot (ash) clouds, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.All 14 bodies have been identified. Four of them were high school students on a sightseeing trip to the volcano on the western island of Sumatra, he added.The bodies were in a state where, even though their skin did not peel, their faces were swollen and the tongues were sticking out, an AFP reporter on the ground said.Three other people -- a father and his son who wanted to pay respects at the graves of their relatives, and a man who came to the village to check his long-abandoned house -- were also trapped and injured by the deadly clouds, Karo district official Johnson Tarigan told AFP.He said the three were in the intensive care unit of a local hospital.Thirty thousand people have been evacuated from the area since the volcano started erupting in September.But some residents had returned home on Friday following advice from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation that houses outside the five-kilometre radius from the mountain were safe.The volcano erupted again on Saturday morning, sending hot rocks and ash up 2,000 metres (16,00 feet) into the air, blanketing the surrounding countryside with grey dust, said volcanologist Kristianto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.Sukameriah village is located in the red zone, where human activities are strictly banned, but locals often trespassed the restricted area to check on their houses and belongings as well as their crops, officials said.Nugroho said the evacuation will resume on Sunday.Mount Sinabung is one of 129 active volcanoes in Indonesia that straddle major tectonic fault lines, known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.It had been quiet for around 400 years until it rumbled back to life in 2010, and again in September last year.In August 2013, five people were killed and hundreds evacuated when a volcano on a small island in East Nusa Tenggara province erupted.The countrys most active volcano, Mount Merapi in central Java, killed more than 350 people in a series of eruptions in 2010.

Tennis: France, Swiss, Germany into Davis Cup quarter-finals

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PARIS (AFP) - France, Switzerland and Germany all advanced to the Davis Cup World Group quarter-finals on Saturday as Spain and Serbia crashed out of the 114-year-old competition.France took an unassailable 3-0 lead over Australia, with Germany seeing off Spain, minus world number one Rafael Nadal, and Switzerland beat 2010 winners and last year's finalists Serbia by the same scoreline.But the Czech Republic will have to wait until Sunday to keep their quest for a third consecutive title on track as they lead the Netherlands 2-1 at Ostrava.On clay in Mouilleron-le-Captif, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga clinched the vital rubber for France with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 7-5 success over Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt.We played a super doubles match, said Tsonga. It wasn't unusual because we played all the junior competitions together.We've know each other for ten years and we obviously dream of lifting the trophy together.France were sitting pretty overnight after Gasquet beat Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-2, before Tsonga ousted Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).France's reward was a last eight clash with Germany, who took an unbeatable 3-0 lead over five-time former champions Spain in Frankfurt earlier Saturday.That quarter-final is scheduled for April 4-6.Tommy Haas and Philipp Kohlschreiber needed nearly three and a half hours to seal a 7-6(7/5), 6-7(9/11), 7-6(9/7), 6-3 over Spain's Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero.Kohlschreiber and Florian Mayer had given the hosts a 2-0 overnight lead.Switzerland's all important point was delivered by the pairing of Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lanmer, who saw off Nenad Zimonjic and Filip Krajinovic 6-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-6 (7/2), 6-2.The Swiss took control of the tie in Novi Sad on Friday when Roger Federer, yet to add the Davis Cup trophy to his array of silverware, and freshly crowned Australian champion Stanislas Wawrinka, won both of their singles.Federer, a last-minute addition to the Swiss team, won through 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 against 268th-ranked Ilija Bozoljac on the hard court surface in Novi Sad.Serbia were weakened by the absence of star turns Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic.Tired from his exploits in the heat of Melbourne Wawrinka then stepped up to battle past 102nd ranked Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7).It was a great team effort and I couldn't be happier, said Swiss captain Severin Luthi.We will most probably let Roger Federer and Stanislaw Wawrinka rest tomorrow in the dead rubbers.Serbian counterpart Bogdan Obradovic said: It was a tough weekend for us because we missed our best players and I hope to have them back for the September playoff, because we will need our strongest team to stay in the top tier.The Swiss will meet either Kazakhstan or Belgium who are playing in Astana with the hosts leading 2-1.On the hardcourt of the CEZ Arena in the eastern city of Ostrava, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek handed the defending champions the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead after winning the doubles rubber.The Czechs however needed three hours and 57 minutes to beat Robin Haase and Jean-Julien Rojer 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4).Berdych and Stepanek, who led the Czech Republic to Davis Cup titles in 2012 and 2013, have won the 15th of their 16 Davis Cup doubles rubbers together.I have the best partner in the world, said Stepanek.We have a great chemistry between each other and we always back each other up.In Mar del Plata, Italy lead hosts Argentina 2-1 after Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli beat Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in a four-hour marathon.Japan lead last year's semi-finalists Canada 2-1 in Tokyo after a fired-up Kei Nishikori propelled the hosts to a doubles win as they bid for a quarter-final place for the first time since the 16-nation elite group format was introduced in 1981.

Tennis: Bryans keep US alive against Britain

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SAN DIEGO (AFP) - Bob and Mike Bryan kept America alive in their Davis Cup World Group first-round tie against Great Britain on Saturday with a four-set doubles win over Colin Fleming and Dominic Inglot.With world number six Andy Murray -- originally slated for doubles duty -- taking the day off, the Bryan brothers defeated Fleming and Murray's replacement Inglot 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to pull the Americans within 1-2 in the best-of-five match tie.Even if Murray had played, the Bryans would have been heavily favored. The twin brothers have won 15 men's doubles Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal and three World Tour Finals crowns. Saturday's win on the red clay court set up at Petco Park -- home of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres -- was their 21st Davis Cup triumph as a team.While they kept Great Britain from clinching victory, the visitors need only to win one of Sunday's two singles matches to advance.Fleming and Inglot didn't get a whiff of a chance against the Bryans' serve in the first two sets. The Americans raced through the opening frame, then gained the only break they needed in the second in the penultimate game.The Britons made their first break opportunity count to take a 4-2 lead in the third set, then fended off a break point in the next game to keep the advantage and go on to force a fourth set.The Bryans were quick to re-establish their authority, breaking Inglot's serve in the second game and rolling to victory in one hour and 51 minutes.Reigning Wimbledon champion Murray will get the first chance to close it out when he takes on leading American Sam Querrey.Mike Bryan said he had every confidence Querrey could keep the tie alive until the final rubber.We still believe, he said. I think we can come out here tomorrow and get one on the board and see what happens in the fifth match.James Ward, who won 10 of the last 11 games in a dramatic five-set fight-back over Querrey on Friday, is scheduled to take on Donald Young in the fifth and final singles rubber.Young, playing in his first Davis Cup tie as a replacement for injured John Isner, was overwhelmed by Murray in straight sets on Friday.Murray is still recovering from back surgery he underwent in September. Although he needed only 98 minutes to get past Young on Friday, British captain Leon Smith opted to rest him for the doubles and send him fresh into battle against Querrey.

Football: First joy as Libya crowned CHAN champions

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CAPE TOWN (AFP) - Libya won their first continental tournament Saturday after beating Ghana in the African Nations Championship 4-3 on penalties when their final ended 0-0 after extra time.Excellent goalkeeping by the Mediterranean Knights' Muhammad Nashnoush and a poorly-aimed attempt that went wide from Ghana's Joshua Tijane clinched the victory following a lacklustre game.A fast-paced start raised expectations of an energetic clash, but play slowed after the first 15 minutes and failed to recover.The match ended goalless after extra time, mirroring the result from both semi-finals.The best goal opportunities appeared in extra time, when play picked up as both teams frantically tried to score in the quarter-full 64,000-seater Cape Town stadium.Having come on the pitch late in the second half, Libya's star scorer Abdelsalam Omar failed to add to his two earlier goals in the tournament.He came within a hair's breadth of hitting home 16 minutes into extra time, but his header in front of the box went straight into keeper Stephen Adam's hands.South Africa's Bernard Parker was the highest scorer with four goals, though the hosts fell out in the group stages.Black Stars goalkeeper Adams shone during the game with daring saves, but was left dumbfounded when it was most important in the penalty shootouts.Here Nashnoush dealt a psychological blow to the West African side by blocking their first two attempts.Ahmed El Trbi scored Libya's sixth spot-kick with Joshua Tijani missing his for Ghana.Libya become the second champions of the tournament, which is reserved for home-based players from around the continent, joining Democratic Republic of Congo who won the inaugural edition in 2009.Earlier the evening Nigeria beat Zimbabwe 1-0 for third place.

Football: Man United big guns misfire at Stoke

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LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United's new-look line-up crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City on Saturday as they squandered another opportunity to make up ground on the Premier League's top four.United fielded Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and record signing Juan Mata in their starting XI for the first time, but an eighth defeat of the campaign left the champions six points below the Champions League places.On an afternoon of howling wind at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke took a 38th-minute lead when Charlie Adam's 35-yard free-kick took a huge deflection off Michael Carrick that wrong-footed goalkeeper David de Gea.United had already lost Jonny Evans to injury by that point and they then saw Evans's centre-back partner Phil Jones stretchered off after an aerial collision with Jon Walters.United equalised two minutes into the second half, Van Persie finishing adroitly from Mata's deft pass, only for Adam to restore Stoke's lead five minutes later with a glorious shot into the top-right corner.The visitors piled on the pressure in stoppage time, but to no avail, with Tom Cleverley blazing a shot over the crossbar after Asmir Begovic had palmed a free-kick from Rooney onto the post.I don't know what we have to do to win, said United manager David Moyes, whose side remain in seventh place in the table.I thought we were extremely unlucky. We played well in difficult conditions, but we have lost to one wicked deflection and one worldy.But we should have been out of sight with the amount of opportunities we had today and we only have ourselves to blame.It was Stoke's first win over United since December 1984 and left them in 11th place in the table.To a man, we were fantastic, said manager Mark Hughes, the former United striker.We got a little bit of luck with the first goal, which we have felt we haven't had in recent months, but throughout the game, every one of my players put heart and soul into what we were trying to do.With top-four teams Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool not in action, Everton were the only side who fully capitalised on the opportunity to close on the Champions League positions.Thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool in mid-week, Everton fell 1-0 down at home to Aston Villa when Leandro Bacuna finished off a slick counter-attack in the 34th minute.However, Steven Naismith came off the bench to score a 74th-minute equaliser before Kevin Mirallas's sublime late free-kick secured a 2-1 win that left Roberto Martinez's side a point behind Liverpool in fifth place.Tottenham Hotspur were unable to follow Everton's lead after being held to a 1-1 draw at Hull City that saw them slip to sixth.Spurs, crushed 5-1 by City on Wednesday, had to settle for a point at the KC Stadium after Paulinho's smart 61st-minute finish cancelled out Shane Long's first Hull goal in the first half.Sunderland leapt up the table to 14th place after prevailing 3-0 against derby rivals Newcastle United at St James' Park for the second season running.Fabio Borini's penalty gave Sunderland the lead in the 19th minute and Adam Johnson tapped in his seventh goal in seven games four minutes later before Jack Colback sealed victory with a late strike.West Ham United also recorded a potentially important victory, weathering the dismissal of striker Andy Carroll to overcome Swansea City 2-0 at Upton Park, although they remained in the bottom three.Carroll created both of Kevin Nolan's first-half goals for West Ham, but he was sent off in the 58th minute after catching Swansea centre-back Chico Flores with a flailing arm.West Ham manager Sam Allardyce later revealed that the club would appeal against the decision.If we're going to red-card people for that, then we might as well stop playing and I might as well retire, he said.Cardiff City's new signings Wilfried Zaha and Kenwyne Jones made an instant impact as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side climbed off the foot of the table by coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Norwich City.Robert Snodgrass put Norwich ahead in the fifth minute, but on-loan Manchester United winger Zaha created a 49th-minute equaliser for Craig Bellamy before Jones smashed in the winner a minute later.Fulham slumped to last place after losing 3-0 at home to Southampton, who scored all their goals in the final half an hour through England internationals Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez.

Golf: Gallacher storms into Dubai lead

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DUBAI (AFP) - Stephen Gallacher produced one of the finest back nines in the history of the European Tour on Saturday to stand on the verge of becoming the first player to successfully defend the Dubai Desert Classic.The 39-year-old Scot was doing nothing very much with seven straight pars and a bogey when he suddenly went on the rampage.From the ninth, Gallacher nailed an eagle and eight birdies in 10 holes. His nine-under 28 on the back nine equalled the European Tour record.By the time he had finished, he was three clear of the field, although tournament favourite Rory McIlroy eased that back to two strokes by the end of the day.The Ulsterman, who led after the first two rounds, had a steady 69, with rising US player Brooks Koepka (70) and Danish hope Thorbjorn Olesen (65) four strokes off the pace on 12 under.A further stroke back came a trio consisting of Englishman Robert Rock, Italian Edoardo Molinari and Finn Roope Kakko, all of whom had 68s.Asked to explain what had gotten into him heading for the ninth tee, Gallacher said he had no idea.I struggled at the start to be honest. The first three holes a bit ropey, first four holes actually a bit ropey, he said.And then bogeyed eight and I thought, oh well, because I wasnt feeling in sorts, but then I hit a beautiful drive and seven-iron to nine to about three-foot and from then on in, I just never missed a shot.You just try and stay patient. You never know in this game. You could birdie the first five and you could birdie the last five. Thats the beauty of it.Prior to Gallachers all-out assault on the Majlis course, it had looked like a day for the twenty-somethings as McIlroy (24) and Koepka (23) went head-to-head in the final pairing with Olesen (24) closing in fast on them.McIlroy bogeyed the first for the second straight day, but bounced back with an eagle at the third and, while he was unable to reproduce the fireworks he showed in the first round, he looked comfortable all day.He produced a rock-solid two-under back nine, with birdies on 10 and 17, to edge to within two strokes of Gallacher, who he will partner in Sundays final pairing.McIlroy, who has been suffering from a stomach upset, said that Gallachers gallop had been phenomenal.I didnt know that he was 10 under for the last 10 holes. Thats some golf right there.But I feel like I can catch him tomorrow. I dont really want to focus on what he is doing - just try to focus on my own thing.On the back of some inspired putting, Koepka briefly nudged ahead of the Northern Irishman, but bogeys at 12, 14 and 15 pulled him back into a tie for third with Olesen.Tiger Woods hopes of winning the Dubai Desert Classic for a record-equalling third time were all but smashed after he carded a third round of 70.It was an improved performance compared to the day before for the world number one, but he was left trailing way down the field with no chance of closing the gap.Wasted a lot of opportunities out there, said Woods of his round.I only hit a couple of bad shots, missed a ton of putts and just threw away a lot of shots.Woods missed the cut in his first tournament of the year at Torrey Pines last week and admits that he is struggling to get his game together after a long winter break.

Umar Akmal released on bail

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan star cricketer Umar Akmal was released on a surety bail from an unnamed senior police official on late Saturday after being detained by Punjab Police for alleged assault of a traffic warden.Akmal left for his home with elder brother Kamran on a surety bail from an unnamed senior police official.Earlier, police registered the case against Umar and detained him for several hours for allegedly slapping a traffic warden after violating a traffic signal in Lahore.Inquiry officer Zahid Nawaz said Akmal was accused of tearing the uniform of one of the sergeants on duty and slapping him as three police officials tried to stop the batsmans car when he ignored a traffic signal.Umar Akmal claimed the sergeant first grabbed his shirt, but I have minutely done the inquiry and no such thing happened, Nawaz said. He resisted when three wardens (sergeants) tried to stop him. ... He even manhandled the warden and tore his shirt.Akmal informed the media that he went to the police station to lodge a complaint against the sergeant, but he was detained.I had first moved the application (against the sergeant) and they have registered a case against me, Akmal said.

ODI rout fires up New Zealand for India Tests

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - A fired up New Zealand on Saturday turned their sights towards the upcoming two Tests against India, bursting with confidence after exceeding expectations by dominating the one-day series.The first Test starts in Auckland next Thursday, with New Zealand already plotting to continue the barrage of short-pitched deliveries which the Indian batsmen struggled to contend with in the ODIs.Even in our wildest dreams we didnt think we could win 4-0 against such a quality side, coach Mike Hesson said.We know its a different format (Tests), and therell be a few new guys, but well definitely take some confidence into the Tests.The gulf between the two sides on the world rankings table may be vast but New Zealand showed it mattered little as they wrapped up the one-day series with an emphatic 87-run victory in the final match in Wellington on Friday.In the process India, whose best performance was to tie the third match, dropped from first to second in the rankings while New Zealand raised their standing from a modest eighth to seventh.It is a similar margin at Test level where India are number two with New Zealand in eighth place, but Hesson said his players proved in the ODIs that was no barrier.Its all very well having plans but you need quality players to execute them and we certainly saw that. It was as good as it gets really from a coachs point of view, he said.A number of different players stood up throughout the series at key times, he added, singling out the imperious form of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor who will reprise their roles at three and four in the Test batting line up.Williamson became the fourth New Zealander to score a half-century in five consecutive ODIs, while Taylor produced back-to-back centuries for only the fourth time by a New Zealander in a one-day series.New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum hailed his sides ruthless streak with short-pitched bowling, built on the blueprint of bowling coach Shane Bond, and warned India there would be no let up in the Tests.Its something thats Shanes pretty hot on, McCullum said. Hes keen to see our guys hostile and aggressive with ball in hand and its certainly a tactic well look to employ in the Test seriesBut Indias repeated failures trying to handle the sort-pitched delivery did not mean they would abandon the hook shot, according to captain Mahendara Singh Dhoni, who wants his batsmen to take a positive approach into the Tests.At times they (New Zealand) bowled really well but at the same time we have to back ourselves to play the shots, the kind of cricket, that were known for, he said.You may lose a few games but its also important to see the kind of attitude you bring and try to play aggressive cricket.Even if you get out you get out. Whats important is to have a positive intent right from the start.

TTP recommends 5 members in govt's negotiation committee

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PESHAWAR (Web Desk): Banned outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has recommended the government to include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Chief Imran Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, Mufti Kifayatullah of JUI-F, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Professor Ibrahim of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in the government’s negotiation committee.According reports, the TTP Majlis-e-Shura has constituted a nine-member political Shura headed by Qari Shakil to negotiate with the government.Media reports said that meeting of Taliban ‘Shura’ headed by Sheikh Khalid held on Saturday.“No objections have been raised over the names of the government’s committee members despite having reservations, Taliban informed media.Talking to private TV channel, Prof. Ibrahim said that he was offered by the Taliban Spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid and Qari Shakilur Rehman. “I will play my role for the sake of peace in country”, he said. He added that party Ameer had allowed him for playing role in talk process.Khateeb Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz and Maulana Samiul Haq also confirmed the new reports that they have accepted the offer of Taliban to participate in peace talks. Meanwhile, PTI has called its Core Committee meeting will decided tomorrow (Monday) about the offer for becoming part of peace talks committee. And Mufti Kifayatullah did not give confirmation for acceptance of Taliban’s offer.

Colourful Sindh Festival opens at Mohenjodaro

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MOHENJODARO (Dunya News): Sindh Festival to highlight cultural heritage at an international level has officially begin with a lavish opening ceremony in Mohenjodaro.The participants consist of approximately 500 notable personalities including former President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Asifa Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Hina Rabbani Khar, provincial ministers and various leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party.An 80 feet wide stage is set with the historical stupa in the background.Various historical symbols are illuminated extravagantly. Prior to the ceremony, Bilawal Bhutto and Qaim Ali Shah oversaw the arrangements and made the final checks.Talking to media, Bilawal said that the purpose of Sindh Festival is to promote Sindh’s cultural heritage and that this festival is a historic and revolutionary step. Strict security measures have been taken for the occasion.

Iraq criticizes Kurds over oil 'grey area'

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqs top minister responsible for energy affairs on Saturday criticized the autonomous Kurdish regions push towards exporting oil independently of Baghdad, calling it a grey area lacking in transparency.Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristanis remarks are the latest salvo in a long-running row between the central government and the northern Kurdish region over energy sales and, by extension, the extent of federalism in Iraq.The most prominent challenge is that we have not reached a national agreement to extract and market oil from all of Iraqs territory, Shahristani said in a speech in Baghdad at an event looking at the past decade for Iraqs energy industry.The situation with the Kurdistan region is still stuck. This file is not resolved, in spite of some progress having been made. We hope it will end soon.Shahristani continued: We have a grey area -- we do not know how much oil the region is extracting, what price they are selling at, and where the revenue goes.Baghdad argues that all oil sales must be overseen by the central government, and regards any independent exports as tantamount to smuggling.US Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Kurdish President Massud Barzani by telephone Friday to discuss reaching an agreement with the central government on oil sales.The vice president and President Barzani both confirmed the need for close cooperation between the Kurdistan regional government and the Iraqi government to reach agreement on a way forward on the matter of energy exports and revenue sharing, the White House said.Iraq has threatened to boycott Turkish companies and cancel contracts after the Kurdish region last month announced its first shipment of crude sent directly to Turkey, without passing through pipelines controlled by Baghdad, had gone on sale, with more expected to follow.Kurdistan, which enjoys a high level of autonomy from Baghdad and has its own security forces, government and flag, has also drawn Baghdads ire for signing contracts with foreign energy firms without its approval.In addition to disputes over natural resources, the long-standing ambition of Kurdish leaders to incorporate other historically Kurdish-majority areas into their autonomous region, against Baghdads strong opposition, is another major point of contention.Diplomats and officials say the disputes are one of the biggest long-term threats to Iraqs stability
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