Wednesday 12 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Olympics: Volosozhar, Trankov lead Russian 1-2 in pairs

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SOCHI (AFP) - World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov claimed a second gold for themselves and the Olympic hosts on Wednesday night as they led a Russian 1-2 in pairs figure skating.Already team gold medallists they led all the way to seal the title ahead of teammates Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov with Germany's Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy taking their second Olympic bronze.Trankov, 30, fell to his knees with his fists clinched above his head and kissed the ice after their performance to the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar as Volosozhar, 27, buried her face in her hands with tears in her eyes.To chants of MOLODTSI MOLODTSI (Russian for 'Bravo guys') they restored Russia's pairs' supremacy at the Winter Games to the delight of the almost capacity crowd at the Iceberg Skating Palace. Skaters from the Soviet Union and Russia won 12 straight titles until the 2010 Vancouver Games when they failed to medal.Today was a big day for all of Russia, said Trankov, after they became the first skaters to win two figure skating gold medals at the same Games.Two of our couples have skated very well and I think everyone in our big country is pleased. It was the hardest job of our lives.We dealt with huge pressure. We already have gold in the team event, but this is the realisation of the goal and dream of our lives.Two-time winners Ludmila Belousova and Oleg Protopopov, who won the first Olympic pairs title for the former Soviet Union in 1964 at Innsbruck, were in the crowd and rose to their feet to give the pairs a standing ovation.The married pair defected to Switzerland in 1979.Despite errors with Trankov's hand touching the ice during the performance and some of their spins being out of synch, the pair extended their 4.53-point lead from the short programme to finish 18.18 points ahead of Stolbova and Klimov, who also won team gold.They scored 152.69 for the free skate and 236.86 overall.Stolbova, 21, and Klimov, 23, brought the house down with their entertaining The Addams Family which earned them 143.43 and 218.68 overall to move up to second from third after the short programme.We did everything exactly the way we were planning, said Klimov.It was very important for us to perform well at the Olympics that are in Russia. It's an once in a lifetime opportunity.Four-time world champions Savchenko and Szolkowy, who had been second after the short programme, dropped to third after both fell during their free skate to The Nutcracker.The Germans, who lost their world title to Volosozhar and Trankov last year, finished fourth in the free skate when Savchenko fell on a triple toeloop and Szolkowy on their final throw triple salchow.They scored 136.14 for 215.78 overall.Chinese veterans Pang Qing and Tong Jian, silver medallists in Vancouver, finished in fourth in their final competition before retiring.Trankov only teamed up with Volosozhar after the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.They previously competed successfully with other partners -- Volosozhar for Ukraine with Stanislav Morozov, who is now their coach, and Trankov for Russia with Maria Mukhortova.Figure skating continues on Thursday with the men's short programme.

Olympics: Sweden sink Czechs in men's hockey opener

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SOCHI (AFP) - Erik Karlsson scored two goals as Sweden defeated the Czech Republic 4-2 in the opening game of the 2014 Winter Olympics hockey tournament on Wednesday.Sweden built a 4-0 lead then allowed the Czechs to score two straight goals in the middle period before holding on in the third for the Group C preliminary round victory at the Bolshoi Ice Dome.We came out really strong in the first and controlled the pace, said Karlsson. Everybody did their job.In the other game Wednesday night, Switzerland scored with just eight seconds left in the third period to beat Latvia 1-0 at the Shayba Arena.Karlsson scored the opening goal of the 2014 men's tournament halfway through the first period while the Swedes had an extra attacker on the ice because of a delayed penalty to the Czechs.Karlsson's shot from the point beat Czech goalie Jakub Kovar who was being screened by Sweden's Daniel Alfredsson. His second goal was also partly the result of a forward parked in front of the net screening the goaltender. The first one was a great screen. The second one was a great screen as well. I just hit the spot, Karlsson said.It feels nice to contribute with a couple of goals. Sometimes you just have to be in the right spot.Henrik Zetterberg and Patrik Berglund also scored for Sweden who won the gold medal in 2006 in Turin.Jaromir Jagr and Marek Zidlicky scored for the Czechs who are coming off their worst-ever Olympic outing, finishing in seventh place at Vancouver 2010.Henrik Lundqvist was superb in goal for Sweden, stopping a total of 29 shots. The Czechs outshot Sweden 15-5 in the third period but Lundqvist closed the door.It was fun to be out there, Lundqvist said. We got a really good start. After they scored their second goal things changed but I am happy with the way we regrouped.Berglund gave the Swedes a 2-0 lead with 6:53 left in the second. Berglund skated across the blueline, chipped the puck off the boards to himself then beat Kovar with a slapshot to the blocker side.Czech coach Alois Hadamczik pulled starting goalie Kovar and replaced him with Alexander Salak after Zetterberg scored to make it 3-0 just 51 seconds into the second.Hadamczik's decision to start Kovar in the first game of the tournament ahead of Ondrej Pavelec surprised some people. Winnipeg Jets goalie Pavelec didn't even dress for Wednesday's game.Karlsson scored his second of the game to make it 4-0 just over four minutes into the second.The goaltending switch appeared to spark the Czechs as Jagr and Zidlicky scored goals less than two minutes apart in the second to cut the Swedes lead to 4-2. Zidlicky scored after taking a drop pass from Patrik Elias and Jagr's one-handed backhand shot rolled off the far post and went in.Simon Moser scored the only goal for the Swiss who hammered away at Latvian goaltender Edgars Masalskis throughout the game until they finally got the game winner in the final seconds.Moser used teammate Nino Niederreiter as a screen as his shot went off Masalski's arm and into the net.

Tennis: Li Na battles through on return to action

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DOHA (AFP) - Li Na's return to action after last month's stunning Australian Open triumph proved a tough battle as she eventually prevailed in three sets over Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova in the WTA Qatar Open on Wednesday. The top-seeded Chinese player needed two and a quarter hours to overcome blustery wind and Rybarikova, the world number 32, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, which reversed the result of their only previous meeting in 2009.That was when Rybarikova denied Li a grass court title at Birmingham, England, winning the final of a Wimbledon warm-up event; five years later Li is a better and more ambitious player.When I was training with Carlos (Rodriguez, her coach) I was working mentally, you know, she said.He thinks technique is not a big problem for me, but if I cannot control myself I become a big opponent for myself.So I have changed my training on the court a lot. But also off the court.I have changed a lot.She took five games in little more than 20 minutes, but errors flowed more frequently from her racket in an up-and-down second set.During that phase Rybarikova played intelligently, tenaciously, and with variety, although she looked a little jaded in the latter stages of the final set, perhaps an aftermath of Tuesday's three-hour match with Francesca Schiavone, the former French Open champion.Li responded well to the challenge of a final set, breaking serve at once, saving a break back point in the fourth game, and maintaining only a slightly lower level of aggression but with importantly fewer errors.It was as well she did, for this was a day in which more seeds went out - two of the better known ones - making eight out of the 16 gone half way through the third day.Ana Ivanovic, the ninth-seeded former French Open champion from Serbia, lost 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 to Klara Zakopalova, the world number 34 from the Czech republic, while Samantha Stosur, the 12th-seeded former US Open champion from Australia, went down 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 against Jana Cepelova, the world number 82 from Slovakia.Neither was helped by being scheduled on outside courts where the effect of the wind was often greater.The centre court, by contrast, saw a great escape by Petra Kvitova, the third-seeded former Wimbledon champion, to win 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (9/7) against Venus Williams, the seven times former Grand Slam champion, who was producing flashes of her formidable best in the match of the tournament so far.Williams led 4-1 in the final set and would have reached 5-1, with a double break of serve, had she not unaccountably put a drop shot into the net with the court wide open.Kvitova struck the ball so resolutely that she often forced her opponent to contain and defend, but missed two match points, one when she failed to close the match out on her serve at 5-4, and another at 6-5 in the tie-break.When Williams got a match point of her own at 7-6 it looked as if she would progress but Kvitova launched an improbable forehand blast down the line and completed a memorable win two points later by forcing a forehand error from her opponent.I remembered the match I lost here last year, Kvitova said, referring to the 4-1 lead she let slip in the final set in a thrilling loss to Serena Williams.So I am really glad I came back.Later another seed departed when Caroline Wozniacki, the eighth-seeded former world number one from Denmark, lost a cold late night encounter with Yanina Wickmayer, the world number 72 from Belgium, 6-4, 7-5.

Football: Arsenal held as Liverpool close on top spot

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal missed the chance to go top of the Premier League as Liverpool moved to within four points of the summit on Wednesday ahead of their FA Cup clash with the Gunners. Arsene Wenger's men were held to a goalless draw at home to champions Manchester United while Liverpool had to twice come from behind before Steven Gerrard's stoppage-time penalty sealed a 3-2 win away at bottom-of-the table Fulham.Steven Gerrard is peerless in situations like that, said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.He showed brilliant composure. It was a great result. We've had to show character to come from behind twice.Rodgers, however, remained coy about Liverpool's chances of winning a first English title since 1990 despite recently rubbishing the possibility saying it was too soon for his side.We're going to keep pushing, he said. We're chasing, other teams are still ahead of us. We need some of them to drop points.He added: We know we still have Man City and Chelsea to play at home. We'll take it game by game.Arsenal were left a point behind leaders Chelsea on a night when title rivals Manchester City saw their match at home to Sunderland postponed because of severe weather battering the north-west of England that also meant Everton's game against Crystal Palace was called off as well.In the end either side could have won 1-0, said Wenger after a match where both Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny and United counterpart David de Gea both made excellent saves. The title race is absolutely open for many teams.The draw did little for United's fading hopes of claiming a Champions League place, with David Moyes's side now 11 points adrift of the top four.I am pleased, but I wanted all three points, said Moyes.We have a lot of catching up to do. We have to win games and keep plugging away.Liverpool, fresh from their stunning 5-1 win over Arsenal at Anfield, found themselves behind in just eight minutes at Craven Cottage when Kolo Toure sliced Kieran Richardson's cross over the head of Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and into the net.But four minutes before the break, Daniel Sturridge drew Liverpool level.Gerrard's superb pass over the top of the Fulham defence released his fellow England international and the striker steered the ball past keeper Maarten Stekelenburg as he scored for the eighth successive match. Fulham went 2-1 in front when Martin Skrtel made a mess of clearing a cross into the box and Richardson scored from just a few yards out.However, Liverpool hit back in the 72nd minute when Philippe Coutinho curled a shot past Stekelenburg with the aid of a deflection off John Heitinga.And just when Fulham were about to collect a precious point, the fifth minute of injury time saw Sascha Riether bring down Sturridge in the box and Gerrard score from the ensuing penalty.Tottenham Hotspur, who looked as if they would move to within a point of fourth-placed Liverpool, remained three behind the Merseysiders despite Emmanuel Adebayor scoring twice in a crushing 4-0 win away to Newcastle.Adebayor put Spurs 1-0 up in the 19th minute at St James' Park after Newcastle keeper Tim Krul pushed Nabil Bentaleb's cross straight into his path.Adebayor was involved again when Spurs doubled their lead in the 53rd minute, Krul palming the Togo striker's shot to Paulinho, who scored from close range.Krul's night got worse eight minutes from time when he could only parry Andros Townsend's shot from the edge of the area and Adebayor slammed the rebound into the turf and over the keeper to make it 3-0 to Spurs.And before the final whistle, Nacer Chadli added a fourth goal with a stunning 25-yard strike.We've got to keep on the tail of Liverpool, said Spurs manager Tim Sherwood. They are relentless. I hope they keep on checking over their shoulders and see Spurs are still there.Elsewhere, Stoke and Swansea shared the points in a 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium after Peter Crouch's early goal for the hosts was cancelled out by Chico Flores's equaliser for the Swans.

Football: Barca through to face Real Madrid in Cup final

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona will face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on April 19 after they drew 1-1 away to Real Sociedad on Wednesday to progress 3-1 on aggregate.Lionel Messi continued his return to goalscoring form after netting twice against Sevilla on Sunday, with a fine solo run and finish to put Barca in front midway through the first-half.The hosts were then thankful to a number of saves from Enaut Zubikarai to prevent Barcelona extending their lead on the night, but the Basques got some recompense for their efforts three minutes from time when Antoine Griezmann thumpedChory Castros low cross past Jose Manuel Pinto.Barca boss Gerardo Martino was happy to have reached his first major final since taking charge at the start of the season, but said it was far too early to judge who will be favourites to lift the trophy come April.There were three objectives this year and we have managed to make the final in one of them. Now we have to try and win it, but we have complied with the demands until now, he said.It is a long way away, it is a Clasico so it always has special importance. Madrid winning last night made it even more important for us not to miss this special date.But it is hard to make a judgement because the final is still two months away. There are loads of important games between now and then for both teams and we dont know how both sides will get there in terms of form, confidence or injuries.Martino showed he wasnt prepared to rest on last weeks 2-0 win in the first leg at the Camp Nou as he named a strong side and the visitors managed to take the sting out of the game early on by dominating possession without overly threatening the Sociedad goal.However, after Zubikarai had parried a long-range effort from Dani Alves, the keeper would have been disappointed to see Messis low strike squeeze under his outstretched arm and trundle into the net.Zubikarai quickly made amends, though, as he denied Pedro Rodriguez from close range.At the other end Carlos Vela had Sociedads best chance of the first half, but, after knocking the ball past Pinto, Dani Alves was on hand to clear off the line.Barcelona continued to look the more likely to score after the break as Andres Iniesta fired just wide from the edge of the area before Zubikarai made a brilliant double save to deny Messi and Cesc Fabregas.Sociedad did though have clearer sights of goal themselves in the second period and Vela was unlucky to see his sensational curling effort come back off the underside of the bar.Zubikarai came to Sociedads rescue again 15 minutes from time when he blocked Alvess shot after the Brazilian had been played clean through on goal.And the keepers heroics were rewarded with at least a draw on the night for his side when Griezmann finished off a fine team move involving Sergio Canales and Castro to register his 17th goal of the season.

Oil rises after China posts record crude imports

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices climbed Wednesday after upbeat Chinese trade data raised hopes for stronger demand from the world's largest energy consumer.The main US futures contract, West Texas Intermediate for March delivery, advanced 43 cents to $100.37 a barrel,the highest close since October.Earlier WTI hit an intraday peak of $101.38, a level last seen in mid-October. The European benchmark contract, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in March, settled at $108.79 a barrel, picking up 11 cents from Tuesday's close.The oil market was lifted by better-than-expected Chinese trade data that followed a spate of disappointing reports suggesting weakness in the second-largest economy.China's trade surplus surged in January, with exports jumping 10.6 percent and imports 10.0 percent.China imported a record 6.63 million barrels of crude oil per day in January, up 5.2 percent from December.The figures point to surprisingly robust oil demand in China, which should allay concerns that the dynamism of demand is weakening, Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said.Meanwhile US crude inventories rose by 3.3 million barrels, slightly more than expected, in the week ended February 7.But supplies at the Oklahoma Cushing storage hub fell by 2.7 million barrels, after a drop of 1.5 million during the prior week.The market just yawned about the overall crude build and instead focused on other elements of the report, said Bart Melek of TD Securities.It is all about Cushing today, Melek said. Melek tied the fall of Cushing supplies to the opening two weeks ago of a new pipeline taking oil from the depot to Gulf Coast refineries.A buildup of supplies at Cushing before the pipeline started had put downward pressure on WTI prices.We are seeing the bottleneck between Cushing and the Gulf Coast being mitigated/alleviated, he said.

Dollar mixed, pound firms after brighter BoE outlook

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar Wednesday traded higher against the euro and lower against the pound, which benefited from the Bank of England's upgrade of Britain's economic growth forecasts and tweaked policy guidance.The yen firmed, pushing both the dollar and the euro lower.Around 2200 GMT, the euro bought $1.3593, down from $1.3638 late Tuesday.The dollar fell against the Japanese currency, trading at 102.50 yen compared with 102.64 yen. The euro dropped to 139.33 yen from 139.99. Both currencies swooned against the British pound. Sterling bought $1.6593, up from $1.6451. The euro fell to 0.8191 pound from 0.8287.With no US economic data released today, there was very little consistency in the performance of the greenback, said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.Lien said the pound was in high demand and traded higher against all the major currencies after the Bank of England on Wednesday ramped up its economic growth forecasts -- to 3.4 percent for 2014 -- but vowed to keep interest rates low, dropping the 7.0 percent unemployment rate threshold earlier suggested for a rate hike.We believe there's further room to the upside, Lien said. From a fundamental perspective, investors are pleased to see the central bank accepting its mistake of tying monetary policy to a specific level of unemployment.The dollar picked up against the Swiss currency, buying 0.9004 Swiss franc compared with 0.8983 franc Tuesday.

Collingwood joins England coaching staff

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LONDON (AFP) - Former Test batsman Paul Collingwood will join Englands coaching staff for their upcoming tour of the West Indies and the subsequent World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Wednesday.Collingwood, still an active player as captain of county champions Durham, recently impressed as a coach by helping guide Scotland to the finals of next years World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.Renowned as one of the best fielders of his generation, the 37-year-old Collingwood will be given leave from his Durham duties to replace England assistant coach and fielding specialist Richard Halsall in the Caribbean and Bangladesh.Collingwood played 68 Tests, 197 one-day internationals and 35 Twenty20 internationals and was Englands captain when they won their first International Cricket Council (ICC) global title -- the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.I am delighted that Paul has agreed to join the England coaching staff for the trips to the West Indies and Bangladesh, said Paul Downton, Englands managing director of cricket, in an ECB statement.He was an outstanding performer for England and proved himself to be a successful captain in Twenty20 cricket and the county game.We are looking forward to the enthusiastic approach Paul brings to all the teams that he has been involved with over the years, former England wicket-keeper Downton added.More recently he has also demonstrated his growing coaching potential by helping mastermind Scotlands victory in the ICC World Cup qualifier in New Zealand - a result which guaranteed Scotland a place in the ICC World Cup finals for the first time since 2007.Ashley Giles, Englands limited overs coach, played international cricket alongside Collingwood and was glad to have the Durham stalwart on his staff for both the one-day series in the West Indies and the World Twenty20.Colly will add great energy and a winning T20 pedigree to the tour party. We are really looking forward to his involvement, Giles said.England are currently without an overall head coach after Andy Flower quit as team director following the humiliating 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.

US preparing to repatriate comatose Pakistani student

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MINNEAPOLIS (Dunya News) - Pakistani exchange student -- fighting for his life in coma at a US hospital -- is being sent home as his visa expiration date is fast approaching. Pakistan Consulate’s request for visa extension on humanitarian ground has also been rejected.Shahzeb Bajwa who hails from Faisalabad has been studying in US as exchange student and was critically injured in a car crash on November 13, 2013. Shahzeb was reportedly talking when taken to hospital but then chocked on blood which caused a heart attack and severe brain unresponsiveness.Shahzeb has been comatose for three months and doctors treating him are reportedly unable to predict the time of recovery.Pakistan exchange student’s visa is due to expire on February 28 due to which the hospital is insisting to send him home for the continuation of treatment saying the visa extension will not be possible.Addressing media, Shahzeb’s brother Shahraiz Bajwa said that hospital administration are making them sign the discharge papers but the family is reluctant because of lack of facilities available back home and the impact a 24-hour flight can have on Shahzeb’s health.Associated Press (AP) has quoted Shahzeb’s brother saying:If we take him back to Pakistan this is certainly pushing him toward death, we dont want him to die in a miserable condition in a third-world country. Its better if he stays here. According to Dunya News reports, US authorities have rejected the request of Pakistani consulate in Chicago for an extension of the visa on humanitarian grounds. The US foreign office is reportedly making the travel arrangement for the coma patient. Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam has said that Pakistani consulate is doing everything it can to facilitate Shahzeb’s treatment.

MQM announces countrywide protests from Thursday

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KARACHI (Dunya News): Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has announced country wide strikes to protest missing party workers. The 24-hour ultimatum has lapsed and the party has announced starting the first phase of protests from senate tomorrow (Thursday).Earlier, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar telephoned Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad and assured to address MQM’s concerns over ongoing targeted operation in Karachi.It merits mentioning here that MQM had given a 24-hour ultimatum to the government to recover missing party workers on Tuesday.Addressing media personnel here on Tuesday, MQM member Wasim Akhtar said that some police officers are openly conducting state terrorism and that citizens are fed up of carrying dead bodies every day.Raabta committee member Ameen ul Haq had said that there will be ‘damadam mast qalandar’ if workers not recovered within 24 hours.Earlier, funeral prayers of the mother of MQM’s missing worker Mohammad Ali were offered in which a large number of party workers and officials participated.It is pertinent to mention here that MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday pleaded to the Army Chief General Raheel Sharif for justice for MQM and ‘migrant populace’ saying that the Army is responsible not only for defending land but also its inhabitants. He had alleged that the former president Asif Ali Zardari didn’t respond upon contacting repeatedly. State institutions are subjecting MQM workers to the ‘third degree’ torture, he said while pleading the chief justice to take notice of extrajudicial killings of party workers. MQM Chief also claimed that police, rangers and other law enforcing institutions are involved in killing party workers. Police cannot torture party workers without consent of Sindh government, he added.

ADB to provide $900 million loan for Jamshoro coal powered project

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Asian Development bank will provide nine hundred million dollars to Pakistan to complete Jamshoro coal powered project.An agreement to this effect was signed in Islamabad on Wednesday by Secretary Economic Affairs Division Nargis Sethi and the ADB Country Director.Under the agreement‚ the bank will assist Pakistan to complete two units of 660 megawatt each at Jamshoro power plant which will generate electricity through imported coal.Two more agreements were signed on the occasion regarding infrastructure development in Pakistan.Speaking on the occasion‚ Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the government is taking concrete measures to generate cheap electricity to overcome power crisis in the minimum possible time.He said various furnace oil power projects are being converted to coal based plants including establishment of Gaddani Coal Power Park.

No compromise on women's rights amid Taliban talks: Senate

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Senate has approved a resolution stating that there will be no compromise on rights of minorities and women during talks with Taliban. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has said that Shariah based on sticks and burqas is not acceptable.Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bukhari presided the session and during the break for questions, ANP’s Haji Adeel questioned under what law 29 Taliban have been handed over to Afghanistan.Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Babar Ghauri said that the Shariah of sticks and burqas is not acceptable in Pakistan.Raza Rabbani said that Imran Khan has attributed to the Prime Minister of saying that there are only 40% success chances of operation against Taliban adding that this will weaken the morale of armed forces.Aitzaz Ahsan said that the Prime Minister should explain his statement to the senate. Raja Zafarul Haq said that Imran Khan’s statement should be investigated. Afrasyab Khattak said that the circus of negotiations is going on for a few weeks questioning what kind of negotiation is this where blood is also being shed.The house unanimously approved Nasreen Jalil’s resolution about protection of the rights of minorities and women during the talks with Taliban. The resolution also said that abuse of Jirga system against women must be stopped.Haji Adeel brought the motion against taping of phones of ministers and politicians by agencies.

ECNEC approves projects worth Rs 324 billion

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - A meeting of Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar held here on Wednesday.The meeting approved ten development projects of social sector coasting more than three hundred and twenty-four billion rupees.The ECNEC approved Jamshoro Power Project worth Rs 254 billion.Meanwhile, projects related to agriculture‚ education and training‚ health and nutrition‚ energy and water sectors were also approved in the meeting.The amount allocated for the projects included, Rs 9.12 billion for development of agriculture sector in Sindh, Rs 22.85 billion for health workers and health services project, Rs 3.14 for teachers training program, Rs 4.5 billion for nutrition program in Sindh, Rs 4 billion for Quaid-e-Azam solar park project, Rs 17.30 for installation of distribution lines in Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO).

Investigating officer seeks cancellation of Umar Akmal's driving license

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Investigating Officer Imdad Hussain filed a petition to Chief Traffic Officer Sohail Chaudhry seeking cancellation of cricketer Umar Akmal’s driving license.In the petition, the Investigating Officer stated that Umar Akmal seems to be unable to obey the traffic laws while driving and considers himself above the law. Following the petition, CTO Lahore has formed a committee under supervision of senior officials who will decide on the matter of cancellation of license and of retaking of driving test.Cricketer Umar Akmal was arrested by the on February 1st for allegedly brawling and manhandling traffic warden. Akmal had denied all charges and was subsequently released on bail with a pending trial.

H$M to open first Indian store in 2014

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Swedish fashion giant H&M said Wednesday it will open its first Indian store in 2014, taking advantage of the opening-up of the giant Asian market to foreign retailers.We have now received the written confirmation that we can open stores by ourselves in India, H&M spokesman Haakon Anderson told AFP.The Swedish company did not provide many details about the first shop other than it planned as a flagship store.As we are looking at many different cities and locations, we cant as of yet announce exactly where and when we will open the first store, Anderson added.In April last year, the Indian government confirmed that H&M had applied to make a 100 million euro ($131 million) investment to open up to 50 shops in the country.We will of course, as we proceed, open more stores in India, whether this year or next year, Anderson said.Since the country relaxed in 2012 its legislation to allow foreign retailers to open fully-owned subsidiaries in the country, many international firms have shown great interest in India, Asias third-largest market.We are very excited to open our first store in India, chief executive Karl-Johan Person said in a statement.It is one of the most exciting countries in the world right now, with so much potential.H&M is also preparing its first openings in 2014 in Australia and the Philippines, and has announced strong expansions in China and the United States.The Swedish firm has currently around 3,100 stores in 53 markets worldwide and battles for dominance in the global fashion industry with Spanish competitor Indicted, which owns Zara.
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