Friday 28 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Pakistan to take on S. Africa in U-19 final today

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DUBAI (Online) - Pakistan will take on South Africa in the final of Under-19 World Cup at Dubai today (Saturday).England was edged out by Pakistan in the semi-final match. Zafar Gohar and Amad Butt started in the battle. The pair came to rescue when Pakistan were in the doldrums, chasing 205 target set by England.Pakistan chased the target and beat England by three wickets, shattering England’s dream of reaching their first U-19 WC final since 1998.On the other hand, South Africa beat Australia by 80 runs in second semi-final and marched into the final.

Siddiqui briefs PM on the dialogue process

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ISLAMABAD (Online): The co-coordinator of the government dialogue committee Irfan Siddiqui called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Friday and briefed him on the status of talks.They discussed all the matters related to on-going peace efforts.According to sources, the PM said that we are still open to the dialogue process with those who would lay down their armsHe said dialogue was the first option for the government and the military leadership, but no-one should have any misunderstanding about the capability of the armed forces, sources said.He said that the Taliban must announce ceasefire and lay down their arms if they want dialogue process to progress.

Obama 'deeply concerned' by Russian military moves in Ukraine

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said Friday he was deeply concerned about reports of Russian military activity in Ukraine and warned there would be costs to any infringement of its sovereignty.The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine, Obama told reporters at the White House.We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine, he said.Obama recognized that Russia had interests and cultural and economic ties with Ukraine, following the ouster of the pro-Moscow government in Kiev, and also had a military facility in Crimea.But he said any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing.The president did not say whether the United States had intelligence as to whether reports quoting a Ukrainian official that 2,000 Russian troops had landed in the Crimea were correct. But he warned a Russian military intervention in the post-Soviet state would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukranian people.

Russia sent 'several hundred' troops into Ukraine: US official

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Russia has sent several hundred troops into Ukraine's Crimea region, US defense officials said Friday, after Kiev called on Moscow to withdraw its forces from the peninsula. The comments marked the first confirmation from President Barack Obama's administration that Russia had launched an incursion into Crimea.It looks like they've moved several hundred troops there (into Crimea), a senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.The Russians had not given the US government advance notice of the action or explained its intentions since the operation was launched, officials said.But Pentagon officials stressed Washington was focused on diplomacy, and there was no serious consideration being given to any US military action.It is now in the realm of diplomacy, said a second defense official, who asked not to be named.Officials also said they were not aware of any request from Ukraine for military assistance.Military officers said so far there were no reports of any armed clash between Russian and Ukrainian troops.Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby declined to say if the Obama administration shared Ukraine's view that the Russians had staged an invasion of Crimea.We're assessing the situation, and we are not prepared to characterize it, Kirby told reporters.US officials pointed out that Washington did not intervene in a conflict in 2008 when Russia sent troops into Georgia over the disputed breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Ukraine's interim president Oleksandr Turchynov earlier accused Russian soldiers and local pro-Kremlin militia of staging raids on Crimea's main airport and another base on the southwest of the peninsula where pro-Moscow sentiments run high.AFP reporters in Crimea said dozens of men in battle fatigues and armed with Kalashnikovs encircled Simferopol airport late on Friday.Witnesses also reported seeing several armored vehicles rumble across Simferopol's main streets and at least eight cargo planes bearing the Russian tricolour flag landing at a Ukrainian military air base just north of the city on Friday evening.

Tennis: Brilliant Federer stuns Djokovic in Dubai

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DUBAI (AFP) - Roger Federer showed an enterprising new side to his game as he beat Novak Djokovic for the first time in 18 months and ended the top seed's defence of the Dubai Open title.The record 17-time Grand Slam title winner beat the six-time major champion 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, turning the match around not only with scintillating groundstroke hitting but with some bold approaches to the net.Djokovic looked the more likely winner when he got within a point of going a break up in the fifth game of the second set, but a couple of minutes later came a short rain delay which halted his momentum.After that Federer's game rose to much higher levels, and his increasing willingness to come forward, which earned him 11 points from 17 net forays, seemed to bear the stamp of his new coach, Stefan Edberg.There was a buzz out there tonight, and I was able to enjoy myself with that crowd, five-time Dubai champion Federer said on court. For some reason I had a tough start but the crowd kept pushing me on and I played well. It's a quick court so I am always trying to be aggressive. I wish I could do Stefan's volleys, but I work with what I have.Later the 32-year-old was asked when he might be back to his best again, after a difficult 2013. I hope it's now, he said. It's all happening. Beating Novak on the hard courts here in Dubai, it's tough. This is a big step in the right direction for me. It gives me a lot of confidence.Federer also improved what he calls his transition game -- the strokes and timing which facilitate his movement to the forecourt -- and from late in the second set he generated a spell of six winning games out of seven.Djokovic may have suffered from lack of match practice -- this was only his third match since losing his Australian Open title more than five weeks ago, and although he played some great counter-hitting rallies he never looked like stopping Federer when he was on a roll.Returning at love-30 on his serve after the rain, Djokovic immediately hit a backhand drive into the net, and lost that pivotal game when he failed to land his first serve and followed it with another drive into the net.The first game of the final set saw Djokovic drop serve again with a double fault, which was also crucial, making both Federer and the crowd believe he could win.Although Djokovic did play his part in a sensational eight-minute fifth game in the final set, he could do nothing about a roaring forehand cross court pass with which Federer achieved a double break.I knew I was in a bit of trouble and not looking good at all because he has a tendency to really run with it and then play more freely on your serve and he plays very dangerous, said Federer, who had lost three matches in a row to Djokovic before Friday.So for me it was just a matter of trying to play consistent but remain aggressive. Sometimes be also overly aggressive and see if it works. When it did, it put him 17-15 up in their head-to-heads and prevented Djokovic earning a repeat of last year's final against Tomas Berdych, the world number six from the Czech Republic.Djokovic said Federer was an eventual worthy winner.Even though I was the better player and I felt I was in control for the first hour or so, that was not enough, because a few points can really decide the winner and it can change, said the world number two.Congratulations to him for coming back into the match. He deserved to win.Berdych reached the final with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber, the seventh-seeded German, earning him his 16th win in 17 matches.

Tennis: Nadal, Djokovic lead names on ITPL draft

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DUBAI (AFP) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, as well as former stars Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, lead the names saying they are prepared to take part in the planned International Tennis Premier League (ITPL).However, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova are the most notable absentees from the list of players released on Friday to participate in a 'draft' of 70 male and female players in Dubai on Sunday.The players, put into different categories according to their status and market values, will go up for auction, with the five venues -- expected to be Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur -- competing against each other to bring the players to their city.Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray are listed as 'Icon Players' along with Stanislas Wawrinka, Agassi and Sampras, as well as women's world number one Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki.There is also a 'Past Champions' category, featuring eight former tour stars, including Pat Rafter, the former US Open champion.In addition, there are four more categories of current tour players, while a handful of doubles players will also feature in the draft for the tournament, which is likely to be staged in the traditional off-season between late November and late December.Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, Sharapova and Australian pen champion Li Na, the women's world number two, have all declined invitations.The tournament, which is the brainchild of Mahesh Bhupathi, the 12-time doubles Grand Slam champion from India, could have implications for the established men's and women's circuits, the ATP Tour and the WTA Tour, which have dominated the sport since the 1970s.Players who have often complained about the demands of the long seasons on the tour seem set to lay themselves open to charges of hypocrisy by taking part in the planned event. I think it's a fantastic concept if it happens, obviously, said Djokovic on Thursday. I hope and I believe it will.It's going to promote tennis in the Asian part of the world. That is a huge market. It's a fun concept. It lets the players enjoy themselves on court and off court together.It's something that we don't get to see that much, the team concept. It's not that easy to realise, because it's a huge programme and project. Hopefully, I'm going to try to be part of it.Federer, though, sounded more cautious.Firstly, I want to see whether it takes off or not. I know a lot of people have invested in it or are part of it.Anywhere where tennis grows is a good thing, so I hope it takes off and becomes very successful.The likelihood is of eight matches between five teams, on a home-and-away basis, each match of one set, in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles, and legends' singles.Each set will be shorter with a one-point decider at deuce and a tie-break at 5-5. It should all last about three hours, tailored for television.

Golf: McIlroy clings to Honda Classic clubhouse lead

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PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) - Rory McIlroy held a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Brendon de Jonge during Friday's second round of the US PGA Honda Classic while top-ranked Tiger Woods struggled to make the cut.McIlroy held his nerve after two early birdies to finish with a flourish, firing a four-under par 66 that left the 24-year-old world number eight from Northern Ireland on 11-under 129 through 36 holes at PGA National.Zimbabwe's De Jonge fired a 64 but a closing bogey kept him from a share of the midway lead, leaving him on 130 at the $6 million event with players still on the back nine.American Russell Henley was third in the clubhouse on 132 with England's Lee Westwood and Scotsman Russell Knox another shot back with Welshman Jamie Donaldson and American Ryan Palmer on 134 through 36 holes.Woods, a 14-time major champion who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, was clinging to the cutline on the number at level par for the event, one-under for the day, through 15 holes.Woods, who opened with a 71, needed to snap a streak of five rounds at par or worse at PGA National to reach the weekend.McIlroy teed off on the back nine and found the right rough off the 11th tee on his way to a bogey. Going over the 12th green led to another bogey.But McIlroy turned around the day with a five-foot birdie putt at the 16th and a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th.It was a sign of maturity, McIlroy said. I didn't panic. I didn't try to do anything differently. I tried to keep doing everything that I had been doing.On his second nine, McIlroy ran off three birdies in a row starting at the par-5 third, where he left a 53-foot eagle putt inches short for a tap-in birdie.

Formula One: Perez on top in Bahrain, Red Bull recover

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MANAMA (AFP) - Force India's Sergio Perez topped the time charts for the second successive day of pre-season Formula One testing on Friday as world champions Red Bull finally found some pace.Perez clocked 1min 35.570sec off a marathon 108 laps with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso just behind on 1:35.634 off 122 laps.But Red Bull's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was third-fastest with a best time of 1:35.743 having completed 66 laps, almost twice as many as Thursday's problem-plagued session.It went a lot better today, said Ricciardo, who was a despondent seventh on Thursday.In the afternoon we did some good stuff. We had a go on the soft tyre, which was nice, to see how the car responds with a bit more grip. We also did one long run at the end, which was very important, just to see how the car is behaving with the tyres. A big improvement everywhere over yesterday and a much more optimistic outlook now I think. We still have a lot to learn and understand, but we're making progress and the past two days have been a big step in the right direction.Ricciardo has now completed his winter testing with world champion Sebastian Vettel to take over the driving duties on Saturday and Sunday before the teams head for Australia and the March 16 Melbourne opener.Felipe Massa in the Williams was fourth-fastest on Friday with Jenson Button in a McLaren fifth and Marussia's Jules Bianchi a surprise sixth-fastest.Mercedes endured a difficult day even though Lewis Hamilton managed 89 laps, with a best time of 1:39.041 for seventh spot.Hamilton had to cut short his afternoon session after the car developed gearbox trouble.Like every team, we're encountering problems every day and we've still got some work to do in terms of both reliability and speed, said Hamilton.There are no specific problem areas, just lots of different things we need to improve. It's important to get as much mileage under our belts as we can and just as important to discover any problems before we get to Melbourne. It might be frustrating at times but finding them at this stage is actually a positive. We really don't know where anyone stands right now.Today was a fairly average day but I've got one more to go before we get to Melbourne, so hopefully that will be a bit more productive.

'Dead' man wakes up in US funeral home: report

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A 78-year-old American man who was declared dead and taken to a funeral home dramatically woke up as he was about to be embalmed, US media reported Friday.Walter Williams was registered dead on Wednesday evening after medics failed to find his pulse. He was transported to the Porters and Sons Funeral Home in Lexington, Mississippi.However, a few hours later when workers were about to prepare his corpse they noticed Williams moving in his body bag.He was not dead, long story short, funeral home manager Byron Porter told local television station WAPT, noting that he had never seen anything like it before.Williams's daughter, Martha Lewis, said: I don't know how much longer he's going to grace us and bless us with his presence, but hallelujah, we thank him right now, right nowA local coroner said Williams' pacemaker may have stopped working and then started up again.

'World's longest aircraft' unveiled in Britain

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LONDON (AFP) - An airship-type vehicle billed by its makers as the world's longest aircraft currently in operation was unveiled in Britain on Friday.The Airlander, which was originally developed for the US military, is 300 feet (91 metres) long, according its British maker Hybrid Air Vehicles.The environmentally friendly helium-filled behemoth is designed to stay airborne for up to three weeks and can carry up to 60 tonnes, the company said.It was shown off on Friday in a giant hangar in Cardington, central England, where great British airships of the past were built, including the ill-fated R101.The R101 crashed in 1930 on its maiden voyage, killing 48 passenger and crew.The new craft is longer than the current record holder, the Russian Antonov An-225, which is 84 metres long, and the Boeing 747-8, at 76 metres long.But it is dwarfed by airships of the past such as the German zeppelin the Hindenburg, which was 244 metres long. Filled with hydrogen, the Hindenburg famously crashed in the United States in 1937, killing 36 people.The Airlander is essentially three streamlined airship-type bodies merged into one with wings and rotary engines.It was built for the US military but the latter cancelled the contract after it was delivered.Its makers, who have received a 2.5 million pounds ($4.1 million, 3.0 million euro) British government grant, now say they intend to build hundreds of the aircraft.British Business Secretary Vince Cable said the innovative craft has the potential to lead the world in its field.

Pakistan economy grows beyond targets

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KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan recorded five percent growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the central bank said Friday, beating its target and almost doubling the figure for the same period last year.The State Bank of Pakistan data for the early months of the financial year began in July, 2013 said GDP grew by 5.0 percent, compared with only 2.9 percent in the first quarter of the last fiscal year.Nuclear-armed Pakistan, plagued by a bloody, destabilising Islamist insurgency and chronic power shortages, has struggled to energise its economy in recent years.Growth has bumped along well below the level experts say is needed to absorb new entrants to the workforce from Pakistan's growing, youthful population.Since the macroeconomic indicators were favourable at the start of the year, the increase in real GDP growth in fiscal year 2014 was discernible, the bank said.Pakistan's economists had set a growth target for the current financial year of 4.4 percent, and the central bank in earlier reports had forecast growth of four percent.The upbeat first quarter performance came on the back of good performances by the industrial and services sectors, the report said.However the bank warned that inflation swelled to 8.1 percent in the first quarter compared with 5.6 percent in the corresponding period last year.The IMF approved a $6.7 billion bailout loan package for Pakistan in September last year to help the country achieve economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector.The fund also observed that Pakistan's economy was picking up.

Dollar's weakness boosts oil prices

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NEW YORK (AFP) - New Yorks main contract, West Texas Intermediate for April delivery, rose to $102.59 a barrel, a modest increase of 19 cents from Thursdays close.In London trade, Brent North Sea crude for April added 11 cents to settle at $109.07 a barrel.On the last day of trade in February, WTI gained 5.2 percent over the month and Brent increased 2.3 percent.After opening in negative territory, oil prices pushed into the green as the dollar eased against other major currencies.It was the dollar that slightly lifted commodities, said Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks and Opinion. A weaker greenback tends to lift demand for dollar-priced crude oil by making it relatively cheaper.The US Department of Commerce cut its fourth-quarter growth estimate for the worlds largest crude-oil consumer to 2.4 percent, from an initial reading of 3.2 percent.Though the downgrade was a bit steeper than expected, analysts said the picture of moderate growth was little changed.Markets also kept an eye on Chinas yuan, which tumbled to an eight-month low against the US dollar, sparking concerns about the weaker purchasing power of China, the worlds largest energy consumer.Despite Brents slight gain Friday, Commerzbank analysts predicted it was due for a fall losses due to plentiful supply, the imminent end of winter in the northern hemisphere and reduced crude oil processing by refineries while maintenance work is carried out.We believe that Brent will continue to fall further towards the middle of the trading corridor of $100-110 per barrel over the next few weeks, they said in a research note.Investors were also watching tumultuous events in Ukraine, where the ousted pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, insisted Friday he had not been overthrown. The new pro-Europe authorities, meanwhile, said there was an armed invasion of Ukraines volatile Crimean peninsula by Russian troops.JPMorgan Commodities Research analysts noted that Ukraine is neither a major oil producer nor oil consumer.But Ukraine is a vitally important transit country for Russian energy exports: more than 70 percent of Russias gas and oil flows to Europe pass through its territory. In turn, Europe is the buyer for nearly 90 percent of Russias oil exports.

Pakistan clears Sialkot of match fixing

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KARACHI (AFP) - Investigators cleared Pakistans Sialkot team of match-fixing Friday citing insufficient evidence to support the allegations.The Sialkot Stallions, led by former national captain Shoaib Malik, had been accused of fixing a recent match against the Karachi Dolphins.The case was investigated by a three-man team from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which submitted its report on Friday.A PCB statement said that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations of unfair play.In case of new evidence the matter should be re-examined, it added.The allegations were raised by former Pakistan batsman and cricket commentator Basit Ali following the Faysal Bank T20 Cup match in Rawalpindi on February 11, in which Sialkot were bowled out for 91 and lost by six wickets.Sialkot had already qualified for the semi-final stages of the high-profile competition while the Karachi outfit had been ousted.The PCB statement said the investigation had included hearings with Basit, players from Sialkot, the teams staff and match officials.Basit openly criticised the match in television commentary which led to a protest by Sialkot players.It is not the first time Sialkot have been accused -- Malik was banned for one Test and fined 75 percent of his match fee after admitting to deliberately throwing a match in the first edition of the national Twenty20 in 2005.Match fixing has long haunted Pakistan cricket.Former captain Salim Malik and paceman Ata-ur Rehman were banned for life after a match fixing inquiry in 2000.Australian players Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May alleged Malik, then Pakistan captain, offered them bribes to underperform during their tour of Pakistan in 1995.Former captains Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul Haq were among six players fined by the same inquiry in 2000.Three Pakistani players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- were banned for a minimum of five years on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistans tour of England in 2010.Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is also serving a life ban for spot-fixing during a county match in England in 2009.

Lumb becomes second Englishman to hit debut ton

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NORTH SOUND (AFP) - Michael Lumb became only the second Englishman to make a century on his one-day international debut when he reached three figures against the West Indies on Friday.Lumb, 34, reached his century off 109 balls having hit seven fours and two sixes as England took control of the first match in the three-game series.South African-born opener Lumb becomes the just the ninth man to hit a century on debut and the second English player after Dennis Amiss in 1972.

West Indies beat England by 15 runs in first ODI

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NORTH SOUND (AFP) - West Indies defeated England by 15 runs in the first one-day international on Friday after the visitors squandered an excellent platform that had put them in position to take the lead in the three-match series.Replying to the home sides competitive total of 269 for six, England were restricted to 254 for six after cruising along merrily at 180 for two in the 37th over.Michael Lumbs fluent 106 on ODI debut, only the second England player after Dennis Amiss to achieve the feat, and an opening partnership of 96 with fellow first-timer Moeen Ali (44), seemed to ensure that most of the hard work was done in pursuit of a morale-boosting victory following the harrowing tour of Australia.But just as in the West Indies innings, when the home side plundered 116 runs off the last ten overs, England lost their way in the home stretch, losing four wickets for 31 runs.If you look at both innings, we were brilliant for 40 overs and then struggled, said England captain Stuart Broad.I wouldnt look too much at the batting. It was the last ten overs with the ball that really hurt us.Much of that English discomfort in the field in the final stages of the West Indies innings was caused by Darren Sammy.Coming to the crease after the fall of Lendl Simmons for 65 and a 108-run partnership with skipper Dwayne Bravo, the hosts were still labouring to get any momentum at 153 for five in the 40th over.But the former captain changed all that, bludgeoning his way to 61 off just 36 balls with five fours and four sixes as he and the man who replaced him at the helm cashed in on Broads decision to return to the fast-medium bowlers at the end of the innings.Bravos unbeaten 87 off 91 balls (4 fours, 1 six) was also entertaining, the pair carting the England bowling to all parts of the huge Sir Vivian Richards ground in taking 116 runs off the hapless bowlers before Sammy fell to Tim Bresnan off the final ball.Despite taking three wickets, Bresman and fellow fast-medium bowler, Barbadian-born Chris Jordan, conceded 135 runs off a combined 19 overs.That was in stark contrast to the economy and effectiveness of the slow bowling trio of James Tredwell, Ali and Joe Root.They exploited the helpful conditions in the early going -- Root opened the bowling with Broad -- so successfully that the West Indies were almost in ruins at 45 for four.Lumb, a member of Englands World Twenty20-winning squad in the Caribbean in 2010, also took a liking to the faster stuff offered by the West Indies at the start of the run-chase.In his first senior international match, Ali was also at ease and the pair of left-handers were on the verge of a century opening stand when Dwayne Smith removed Ali to a catch at long-on.Luke Wright fell cheaply but Root kept England ahead of the game, seeing Lumb to the three-figure landmark off 117 balls with seven fours and two sixes before the 34-year-old South African-born batsman gave Bravo a comfortable catch at cover off Ravi Rampaul.That proved to be the turning point with the West Indies able to build pressure and take more wickets as the captain turned to his spinning trump-card.We back our bowling group to defend 250-plus anytime, said Bravo.Sunil Narine had five overs to bowl and those were key, and we had Ravi Rampaul still to come as our best finishing bowler.Narines mesmerising variations were too much for England to handle in the pressure situation, and reduced to 211 for six in the 43rd over, there were to be no heroics from Ravi Bopara in his 100th ODI or Bresnan to give England anything like a glimmer of hope at the end.
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