Wednesday 19 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Obama warns of 'consequences' over Ukraine violence

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TOLUCA (AFP) - US President Barack Obama called on Ukraine's government on Wednesday to avoid resorting to violence to deal with peaceful protesters, warning of consequences if people step over the line.Obama made his remarks during a visit to Mexico as the European Union scheduled urgent talks to mull sanctions in the wake of clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Kiev that left at least 26 people dead.The White House also warned that it was considering possible sanctions against those behind the unrest.We hold the Ukrainian government primarily responsible for making sure that it is dealing with peaceful protesters in an appropriate way, that the Ukrainian people are able to assemble and speak freely about their interests without fear of repression, Obama said.I want to be very clear as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we're going to be watching closely and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters, he said alongside Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.While helmeted demonstrators were locked in a tense standoff with riot police across burning barricades on Wednesday, Obama said the United States also expected protesters to remain peaceful.We'll be monitoring very closely the situation, recognizing that with our European partners and the international community, there will be consequences if people step over the line, the US leader said.And that includes making sure the Ukrainian military does not step into what should be a set of issues that can be resolved by civilians.The crackdown on anti-government protests by security forces on Tuesday triggered a storm of international condemnation, with the 28-nation EU bloc convening urgent talks for Thursday.The unrest was the deadliest since protests erupted in November after President Viktor Yanukovych rejected an EU pact in favor of closer ties with former master Moscow.The United States also warned of potential sanctions.We've made clear that we consider taking action against individuals who are responsible for acts of violence within Ukraine, US Deputy National Security Advisory Ben Rhodes said.We have a toolkit for doing that that includes sanctions.US senators John McCain and Chris Murphy, who visited Kiev in December, said in a joint statement that they have begun work on legislation to apply targeted sanctions.They said the punitive measures would apply on government officials and other persons who have committed, ordered, or materially supported acts of violence against peaceful citizens in Ukraine, or who are complicit in the rollback of Ukraine's democracy.US Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, said the time is now to apply sanctions against the Ukrainian government for gross human rights violations.I expect the administration with congressional support to act swiftly on this issue of critical importance, Menendez said in a statement.Obama said the United States would continue to engage with all sides in the dispute.Ultimately our interest is to make sure the Ukrainian people can express their own desires and we believe a large majority of Ukrainians are interested in an integration with Europe, he said.The Pentagon for its part called on Ukraine's army to stay out of the conflict, warning that it would have consequences with their defense ties.The Department of Defense is encouraged that the Ukrainian armed forces have not been brought into this crisis, spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters.Yanukovych replaced his army chief, Volodymyr Zamana, without providing an explanation on Wednesday.Zamana is a powerful figure lauded by the opposition for refusing to back the use of force against those who had come out on the street.On Tuesday, US Vice President Joe Biden called Yanukovych, telling him that security forces that stormed a protest camp on Kiev's Independence Square should withdraw and that the government bears special responsibility to de-escalate the situation, the White House said.

Iran nuclear talks make tentative progress

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VIENNA (AFP) - Nuclear talks towards a lasting agreement between Iran and six powers appeared to make modest progress on a second day Wednesday, with Washington saying the negotiations were constructive and useful.Iranian state media said both sides were close to agreeing a framework agreement on how negotiations would proceed in future rounds over the coming months in what promises to be a lengthy process.US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said that the Vienna talks between Iran and the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany had been constructive and useful.Negotiators discussed both process and substance, she said.Speaking to reporters, Harf declined to comment further, saying only that the talks would continue for a third day in the Austrian capital on Thursday. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the powers' chief negotiator, were expected to hold a closing news conference on Thursday morning.The parties hope to create a lasting accord out of an landmark interim deal struck in November, under which Iran agreed to freeze certain nuclear activities for six months.In exchange, the Western governments offered minor relief from a range of punishing sanctions that have cost Iran billions of dollars in lost oil revenues, as well as a promise of no new sanctions. The six-month deal expires on July 20 but can be extended, with the parties aiming to conclude negotiations and implement the final comprehensive deal by November.

Security forces in firing line as Iraq attacks kill 12

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Attacks mainly targeting members of Iraqs security forces in areas north of Baghdad killed 12 people on Wednesday, officials said.Security forces, often plagued by shortcomings such as a lack of discipline and training, are frequently targeted by militants, as the country suffers its worst violence in years.Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in a village north of Baquba, killing three soldiers and wounding three more, while a bomb targeted a police major generals convoy near Tuz Khurmatu, killing two of his guards and wounding three.Two more roadside bombs exploded in Tuz Khurmatu, killing two brothers and wounding 18 people, while a soldier was killed by a magnetic sticky bomb on his vehicle in Tikrit.In Mosul, two civilians died in clashes between soldiers and gunmen who attacked their checkpoint, and two more soldiers were killed in another checkpoint attack in the northern city.Violence in Iraq has reached a level not seen since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a period of brutal sectarian killings that left tens of thousands dead.All of one city and parts of another to the west of Baghdad have been held by anti-government fighters for weeks.It is the first time they have exercised such open control in major cities since the height of the insurgency that followed the 2003 US-led invasion.Violence in Iraq has killed more than 520 people so far this month and over 1,500 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.It took just five days for this months death toll to surpass the 246 people killed in all of February last year.

Warplanes strike militants posts in Mir Ali

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MIR ALI (Dunya News) - Pakistani military aircraft have bombed suspected militants hideouts in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan on early Thursday morning.According to sources, PAF jets targeted three different hideouts of a group of outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The sources further said that the attacks were carried out on the basis of credible intelligence information.The number of dead or injured is not yet known.

PML-F General Secretary resigns

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) Secretary General Imtiaz Sheikh has resigned from his post after developing differences with some leaders of the party.Imtiaz Sheikh has sent his resignation to party chief Pir Pagara. According to sources, Pir Pagara has rejected Imtiaz Sheikh’s resignation.

Islamabad: 12 foreign women arrested

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted a raid in Sector F-10 area of Islamabad and arrested 12 women belonging to Central Asian countries.According to sources, the arrested women were living in Islamabad illegally and were involved in mmoral activities.

Ireland stun World T20 champions WIndies

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KINGSTON (AFP) - Ireland added to their list of giant-killing victories with a six-wicket win over World Twenty20 champions West Indies in the first T20 international at Jamaicas Sabina Park on Wednesday.It was at the Kingston venue where Ireland dramatically defeated Pakistan in a St Patricks Day 50-over World Cup match back in 2007.And seven years on from that success, Ireland -- the leading non-Test cricket nation -- upset one of the sports big boys once again, with former England batsman Ed Joyce making a decisive 40 not out.After the West Indies won the toss and batted, a good all-round Ireland effort in the field saw the hosts restricted to 116 for eight in their 20 overs.Tim Murtagh, Alex Cusack and Kevin OBrien took two wickets apiece, with Cusack capturing the prize scalp of dangerman Chris Gayle for a meagre innings top score of 18.Ireland, coached by former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons, collapsed to 37 for three in reply.But a stand of 58 between Joyce, captain of English county side Sussex, and Andrew Porter steadied the innings.Joyces runs came off 49 balls, and it was left to Kevin OBrien -- just one of two survivors from the Ireland team that beat Pakistan at Sabina Park in 2007 -- to hit the winning runs as the men in green got home on 117 for four with five balls to spare.West Indies and Ireland meet again over 20 overs at Sabina Park on Friday before contesting a one-off one-day international at the same ground on Sunday.Next month sees the West Indies defend their global title at the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh -- a tournament where Irelands first match is a St Patricks Day clash against Zimbabwe on March 17.

Football: Kroos missile destroys 10-man Arsenal

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LONDON (AFP) - Bayern Munich are in pole position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after a sublime strike from Toni Kroos inspired the holders 2-0 win against 10-man Arsenal on Wednesday.Pep Guardiolas side rode their luck in a dramatic last 16 first leg clash at the Emirates Stadium, but their class eventually told as Kroos produced his moment of magic and Thomas Mueller bagged the killer second goal in the closing stages.Bayern survived an early penalty miss from Arsenals Mesut Ozil and a squandered spot-kick of their own by David Alaba.But Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had been sent off in the incident that led to Bayerns penalty and the visitors eventually capitalised on their numerical superiority through Germany midfielders Kroos and Mueller.Bayern will be expected to finish the job in the second leg on March 11, but Arsenal can take heart from their 2-0 win in Munich at the same stage last season, even if that result wasnt enough to stop Arsene Wengers team bowing out on away goals.Everything went against us. We should have been 3-0 up before they got a sniff in the game, Wenger said.We had more problems in the second half with 10 men because they have very good players.Guardiola added: Arsenal were much better than us for the first 20 minutes. After the red card for their goalkeeper it was another game.It is difficult when you see nine defenders in the box. But we controlled this situation, played with patience and found the goals.Bayern swaggered into north London widely acclaimed as firm favourites to win both the tie and eventually the competition itself to cap another majestic campaign.But Arsenal tore into Bayern with a relish that seemed to shock the Germans and quickly carved out two decent chances, with first Yaya Sanogo and then Santi Cazorla denied by Manuel Neuer.Arsenals frenzied start had clearly rattled the visitors and they should have been ahead in the ninth minute.Jack Wilshere slipped a perfectly-weighted pass behind the Bayern defence and Ozil took a touch before cleverly clipping the ball inside Jerome Boateng, wrong-footing the centre-back who responded by clumsily stretching out his leg and sending the Germany midfielder crashing to the turf.Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded the penalty, but Ozil has been in poor form of late and he appeared hesitant before sending a tame effort straight down the middle which his childhood friend Neuer kept out with a fine one-handed save.With Bayern labouring, Boateng, booked after conceding the penalty, was fortunate to escape a second yellow card following a heavy challenge on Wilshere.But Guardiolas men gradually recovered their equilibrium and should have taken the lead in the 40th minute.Arjen Robben played a simple pass to Kroos and he burst into the penalty area for the chipped return ball without being tracked by the statuesque Arsenal rearguard.Robbens first touch took the ball past Szczesny, who caught the Dutch international with his leg, conceding a penalty and in the process earning a red card, the 100th of Wengers 18-year reign.After a long delay, Lukasz Fabianski came on as the replacement goalkeeper and Austrian left-back Alaba, perhaps put off by the stoppage, hit a poor penalty which clipped a post and bounced wide.Bayerns inconsistent first half prompted a tactical reshuffle at the break, with Guardiola sending on Rafinha for Boateng and moving Javi Martinez to central defence, allowing right-back Philipp Lahm to move in midfield and dictate the tempo.The changes worked wonders and Mario Goetze and Robben tested Fabianski before the Germans broke the deadlock in the 54th minute.With Arsenal defending too deep, Lahm was under no pressure as he teed up Kroos and the midfielder, in space on the edge of the penalty area, curled a sumptuous first-time shot into the roof of the net.Substitute Mueller appealed in vain for another penalty following Laurent Koscielnys trip, but he picked himself up to deliver the knockout blow in the 88th minute.Timing his run to meet Lahms cross, Mueller found space in the centre of Arsenals defence and directed a diving header past the exposed Fabianski.

Football: Atletico Madrid beat AC Milan

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MILAN (AFP) - Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa headed home late on to seal a 1-0 win over AC Milan on Wednesday and give a huge boost to the Spaniards' hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.Milan had kept Diego Simeone's side on a tight leash throughout a thrilling encounter at the San Siro, but after missing three golden chances to take a first-half lead, the hosts were stunned in the 83rd minute when Costa rose to head inside Christian Abbiati's near post following a corner.Atletico, currently joint top of the Spanish top flight, will now fancy their chances of qualifying for the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1997 when the sides meet at the Vicente Calderon in a fortnight.The visitors started crisply, stringing passes together with apparent ease and Costa holding off challenges to give Milan an early reminder of their current form.However Los Colchoneros failed to build on that momentum and, after weathering the early storm, Clarence Seedorf's side found their feet to go on and hit the woodwork three times in an enthralling opening half.Milan sniffed the opener when Adel Taarabt's ball was put through for Kaka only for the Brazilian to send a curling left-footed strike off Thibaut Courtois's crossbar.Minutes later Taarabt's cross was met by Kaka, but Courtois performed heroics down low to palm the former Real Madrid man's precision header off the post.Tempers flared when Emiliano Insua put in a crunching tackle on Mattia De Sciglio and, after both sets of players clashed, the Argentine was shown a yellow card.De Sciglio tried to play on, but soon hobbled off to be replaced by Ignazio Abate.Atletico had few clear chances in the opening period, while Milan proved dangerous on the counter, just as Simeone had predicted, and they came close again on the half-hour when Balotelli's backheel found Kaka, whose latest effort skimmed the bar on its way over. Atletico started strongly after the interval and on 52 minutes Costa was allowed space at the back post to attempt a bicycle kick when a cross was whipped in at the back post, but his effort was off target.Kaka then sidestepped a challenge on the edge of the area but sent a tame shot wide.Balotelli was coming in for some punishment and, before being replaced by Giampaolo Pazzini, he had a number of free-kick attempts.One, on 65 minutes, was deflected out for a corner, from which Michael Essien sent a glancing header wide of Courtois's upright.Atletico had the momentum in the closing stages and, on 75 minutes, Costa did well to hold off his marker and set up Raul Garcia, whose drive from 20 metres was blocked down low by Abbiati.Seedorf replaced Balotelli with Pazzini on 77 minutes but by then a tiring Milan had little left to offer.The visitors pressed and, after a first-time Garcia effort had just missed the target, they made the difference from a corner, which Abate inadvertently headed towards the back post where Costa met it with a powerful header of his own.

Golf: Fowler upsets Poulter at WGC Match Play

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MARANA (AFP) - Englands Ian Poulter became the first major upset at the $9 million World Golf Championships Match Play Championship, losing to American Rickie Fowler 2 and 1 on Wednesday.Poulter, who won the Match Play crown in 2010, reached the semi-finals last year before losing to Hunter Mahan.But the world number 15 crashed out in the first round this year at the hands of Fowler, who birdied to win the fourth and took the par-3 sixth and par-four seventh with pars to lead early on 3-up.Fowler, a 14th seed in the quarter of the draw topped by Northern Irelands Rory McIlroy, advanced to a second-round match against the hottest player on the US PGA Tour, fellow American Jimmy Walker.Walker, seeded sixth, eliminated South African 11th seed Branden Grace 5 and 4.Walker has won three PGA titles already this season, capturing the 2013-2014 opener at the Frys.com Open, adding the Sony Open in Hawaii last month and taking the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am just 10 days ago.

Oil prices hit new 2014 peaks

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices hit their highest levels so far this year on Wednesday on the back of US winter weather and more turmoil in oil exporters Venezuela, South Sudan and Nigeria.US prices also got a boost from the release of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's end-January policy meeting, which showed the central bank relatively bullish on the economy and a growing minority advocating early policy tightening. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in March, surged to a four-month high at $103.31 a barrel, up 88 cents from Tuesday.Brent North Sea crude for April added one cent to $110.47, its highest point since the start of 2014.US prices were helped by expectations of falls in US crude and fuel stockpiles due to continued harsh winter weather across much of the country. Last week's stockpiles data will be released on Thursday, delayed one day by Monday's holiday.Brent crude held above $110 a barrel, underpinned by geopolitical concerns in Africa and Venezuela, while US oil touched its highest in four months as stockpiles are forecast to fall on winter demand and new pipeline capacity, wrote Investec oil analysts in a note to clients.Renewed conflict in oil-producing South Sudan has also given support to Brent prices. Two months of fighting has raised concerns about the stability of the country.More buying pressure was likely, too, after the leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists threatened attacks in Nigeria's oil region.You will in coming days see your refinery bombed, Abubakar Shekau warned in a video obtained by AFP late Wednesday.Venezuela meanwhile braced for another day of protests Wednesday with jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez expected to appear in court to hear charges blaming him for a deadly episode of street violence.It was the culmination of two weeks of tension-filled protests in the oil-rich country, led by students angry over the jailing of demonstrators and a litany of other grievances against the leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dollar firms against euro after Fed minutes

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar edged up against the euro Wednesday after the minutes of the Federal Reserve's January meeting revealed some policy makers were pushing to raise interest rates.The euro ticked lower, buying $1.3734 around 2300 GMT, down from $1.3756 late Tuesday.Both the dollar and the euro dipped against the Japanese currency. The dollar fetched 102.31 yen, down from 102.34 yen. The common European currency fell to 140.51 yen from 140.82.The minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting of January 28-29 showed the central bank's policy makers were generally upbeat about the US economy, shrugging off fresh turmoil in emerging markets and judging that poor December employment numbers were mainly weather-related.The FOMC agreed for the second time in two months to proceed with cutting its massive bond-buying program, which it has used to hold interest rates low to stimulate investment and jobs growth.The policymakers cut the monthly stimulus by $10 billion to $65 billion and pledged further measured reductions at future meetings, as long as economic conditions remained satisfactory.A few members saw it appropriate to raise the Fed's key interest rate relatively soon, the minutes said, amid rising market expectations of faster economic growth and rising rates even as inflation remains very low.The policy makers also discussed changing their forward guidance on the Fed's first interest rate hike but the minutes showed no consensus on how that would be done. The Fed has an unemployment rate threshold of 6.5 percent, a hair away from January's 6.6 percent jobless rate.The FOMC minutes contained very little surprises, said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.There's a very good chance the Fed will follow in the Bank of England's footsteps and drop their unemployment rate threshold next month at the March 18-19 FOMC meeting, she said. Michael Gapen of Barclays said that although the minutes are somewhat stale because the meeting occurred before the weak January employment report and softening incoming data, FOMC communications continue to suggest the bar for altering the taper path remains high. Consequently, the outlook for $10 billion reductions in bond purchases at each of the remaining Fed meetings this year remains largely intact. As such, these minutes should prove at least somewhat supportive for the US dollar.The dollar was unchanged against the pound, which bought $1.6680.The greenback rose to 0.8886 Swiss franc from 0.8880 the prior day.

Malala urges support to educate Syria refugee children

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AMMAN (AFP) - Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban, urged the world on Wednesday to help Syrian refugee children receive a proper education.There are still so many girls and children who cannot go to school, Malala said as she visited a school in northern Jordan's Zaatari refugee camp.I think the whole community outside, the international community, should help these children, she said in a video posted on the website of the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.They (the children) say they want to get an education because they want a bright future and all have dreams. Someone wants to become a doctor, someone wants to become an engineer and someone wants to become a journalist.Zaatari, near the border with Syria, is home to more than 100,000 Syrian refugees -- more than half of them children.Malala's visit was very important to me because she is a girl who faced a lot of difficulties at an early age in her society. So she is interested in education because education is the most important thing, said 16-year-old Maisun, a Syrian girl who accompanied Malala on her visit.Malala, 16, who last year was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize which Nelson Mandela won, talked to Syrian schoolchildren and attended classes.Having Malala here is really key to highlight... that we need to offer as many opportunities as we can for children to access formal schools, to access informal education and get the psychological support that the need now before they become adults, Toby Ficker, a UNICEF communication specialist, said in the video.According to the United Nations, 80 schools in Jordan hold classes for Syrians in the afternoons, leaving 25 percent of the nearly 140,000 Syrian school-aged children across the kingdom not in classes.The Malala Fund is already teaming up with Save the Children to build a new school and expand an existing one for the refugees in Jordan, home to more than 500,000 Syrians who have fled the war in their country.Malala, who now lives in Britain following extensive medical treatment, was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012 over her outspoken views on education for girls in her home region of northwest Pakistan.Amman has said it will award Malala the King Hussein Leadership Prize for her courage and continued efforts to challenge ignorance and injustice and oppression of women.

Housing on Mars is 'haraam': UAE Grand Mufti

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ABU DHABHI (Dunya News/Web Desk) – The Islamic Affairs authority of UAE comprising muftis has issued a fatwa against building homes on Mars.The decree is issued as response in the wake of upcoming planned space mission termed Mars One that aims to settle a permanent human colony on Mars in 2023. “Such a one-way journey poses a real risk to life, and that can never be justified in Islam,” the committee said, adding “There is a possibility that an individual who travels to planet Mars may not be able to remain alive there, and is more vulnerable to death.”The ruling said that such a mission is akin to committing suicide and therefore not good enough reason for a righteous person to risk their lives.“Protecting life against all possible dangers and keeping it safe is an issue agreed upon by all religions and is clearly stipulated in verse 4/29 of the Holy Quran: Do not kill yourselves or one another. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful,” the fatwa quoted.Presided by Professor Dr Farooq Hamada, the committee stated “...Holy Quran in which Allah says: There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant. (Indeed) He has enumerated them and counted them a (full) counting.”Islamic researcher Dr Shaikh Mohammed Al Ashmawy also added, “Almighty Allah said in verse 2/195 in the Holy Quran: Do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction.”Many Muslims including Arabs are reportedly amongst the volunteer applicants worldwide wishing to participate in the Dutch-sponsored one-way trip to Mars planet, as the gigantic project was announced early last year.

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