Tuesday 25 March 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Facebook takes 2 billion dive into virtual reality

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Facebook on Tuesday announced a $2 billion deal to buy a startup behind virtual reality headgear that promises to let people truly dive into their friends lives.Facebook co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg said that the acquisition of Oculus was a long-term bet that making the social networks offerings more immersive would pay off in the future.People will build a model of a place far away and you will just go see it; it is just like teleporting, Zuckerberg said.I do think gaming is a start, he said in a conference call, referring to the Oculus headsets original design focus.For now, Facebook is going to use its resources to make Oculus headgear affordable and ubiquitous, according to Zuckerberg.The California-based social network does not intend to become a hardware company, but Zuckerberg said it is open to people using the virtual reality devices for immersive shopping experiences at Facebook.Facebook plans to build on Oculus technology, developing th virtual reality headset for other areas such as communications, education, and entertainment.Oculus shareholders will receive $400 million in cash and 23.1 million Facebook shares in the deal.Facebook called Oculus, launched in 2012, the leader in immersive virtual reality technology with a strong following among developers.The company has already garnered more than 75,000 orders for the $350 Oculus Rift headset development kits.While the applications for virtual reality technology beyond gaming are in their nascent stages, several industries are already experimenting with the technology, Facebook said.Mobile is the platform of today, and now were also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow, Zuckerberg said in a statement.Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate.Oculuss headset earned raves from numerous reviewers at the annual global technology fair CES in Las Vegas in January.Buying it puts Facebook, the social networking leader, in competition with Oculus rival Sony for development of advanced virtual reality headsets.Facebook said Oculus will maintain its headquarters in Irvine, California, and continue developing the Rift platform.Word of the deal stymied some analysts, who noted that the people hot to get hands on Oculus headsets have been hardcore video game players.Its a cool technology, said Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.I just dont know why Facebook wants it, unless they are having incredible Google envy. It has nothing to do with social networking.The acquisition comes just weeks after Facebook made a deal to buy fast-growing mobile messaging service WhatsApp for more than $19 billion in cash and stock, expanding its global footprint.WhatsApp is a cross-platform mobile software program which allows users to exchange messages without having to pay telecom charges.The WhatsApp buy is Facebooks biggest acquisition and comes less than two years after Zuckerbergs firm raised $16 billion in the richest tech sector public stock offering.

North Korea test-fires two medium-range missiles

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SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea test-fired two medium-range missiles Wednesday, as US President Barack Obama hosted a landmark Japan-South Korea summit and pledged unwavering commitment to Tokyo and Seoul in the face of Pyongyangs nuclear threat.South Koreas defence ministry said both ballistic missiles flew 650 kilometres (400 miles) into the Sea of Japan, upping the ante after a series of shorter-range launches by the North in recent weeks.Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said the speed and range suggested they were Rodong-class missiles with a maximum range of between 1,000-1,500 kilometres.This missile is capable of hitting not only most of Japan but also Russia and China. So it is a fairly dangerous missile, Kim said, adding they appeared to have been fired from mobile launchers near Pyongyang.UN Security Council resolutions prohibit North Korea from conducting any ballistic missile tests.North Korea last tested a Rodong missile, also known as Nodong, in July 2009, following UN condemnation of its second nuclear test in May of the same year.Kim said the tests were clearly timed to coincide with the summit in the Hague between Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.The North is boasting its military capability to grab the attention of the international community, Kim said.He added that Seoul and Washington would consider taking the issue to the United Nations.- No signs of nuclear test -Warning that North Korea could be building up towards a major provocation, Kim said the South was closely monitoring the situation, but added here were no signs of Pyongyang preparing an imminent nuclear test.Over the past four weeks, North Korea has conducted multiple launches of short-range Scud missiles and rockets to coincide with the annual joint military drills South Korea is conducting with the United States.South Korea condemned the Scud launches as a reckless provocation but stopped short of calling for UN sanctions, given the short range and a recent easing of North-South tensions.The North Korean military had defended the tests as ordinary military practice.Wednesdays trilateral summit in the Hague came as Obama sought to help repair strained ties between two of the United States closest Asian allies and key partners in the effort to curb North Koreas nuclear programme.Over the last five years, close cooperation between the three countries succeeded in changing the game with North Korea, Obama said.Our trilateral cooperation has sent a strong signal to Pyongyang that its provocations and threats will be met with a unified response, he added.Relations between Tokyo and Seoul are at their lowest ebb in years, mired in emotive issues linked to Japans 1910-45 colonial rule and a territorial dispute, as well as Japans use of South Korean comfort women as sex slaves in wartime brothels.Washington has placed a priority on improving those ties, fearful that an open rift would undermine the three countries united stance against North Koreas nuclear ambitions.- Calibrated tests -Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the tests were a carefully calibrated show of force aimed at the leaders in The Hague.Yang noted that previous Rodong tests had been launched from North Koreas east coast, and that firing them from near Pyongyang had curtailed their reach into the Sea of Japan.If they had gone closer to Japan, that could have created a serious political backlash, not only from Japan but also possibly Russia, Yang said.Its a clear violation of UN resolutions, but the North is willing to risk sanctions to showcase its capabilities and press the US, Japan and the South to resume six-party talks, he added.The six party negotiations on the Norths nuclear programme -- also involving China, Russia and the North -- were suspended in 2009.Seoul and Washington have refused to consider a resumption until North Korea makes a tangible commitment to denuclearisation.South Koreas military exercises with the United States, which will wind up next month, are an annual source of North-South tension, with Pyongyang denouncing them as rehearsals for invasion.Last year they coincided with an unusually sharp and protracted surge in military tensions that saw North Korea issuing apocalyptic threats of pre-emptive nuclear strikes.By contrast, this years drills began as relations between Seoul and Pyongyang were enjoying something of a thaw.They overlapped with the end of the first reunion for more than three years of families divided by the Korean War -- an event that raised hopes of greater cross-border cooperation.

Property dispute claims five lives including father, 3 sons in Lahore

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LAHORE (Web Desk) - At least five people including father, three sons were killed over property ownership dispute in Lahore's Harbanspura area on Tuesday night.As per details, Umer’s son-in-law Jehangir, who had love-married the former’s daughter a while ago, called the shots, which killed his in-laws.The tragic incident came to pass during the proceedings of a Panchayat, called to settle a dispute over the ownership of Umer’s house, which Jehangir and his wife had somehow tricked the proprietor into transferring in their name.According to eyewitnesses, Jehangir showed up at the Panchayat with four armed men, who opened fire at Umer and sons wounding them fatally.The four of them were rushed to Shalamar Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.As per latest reports, Kashif, a relative, who was siding with Jehangir, became the victim of friendly fire. Jehangir’s gunmen accidentally shot and seriously injured him. He died in Services Hospital.Police have started investigation.

Foreign hand in Karachi's bloodshed: Spy Agencies

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s spy agencies have revealed that a foreign hand along with political backing is the cause of bloodshed in Karachi, warning that situation will worsen upon America’s exit from Afghanistan, Dunya News reported.Security agencies have pointed towards the involvement of foreign agencies in Karachi’s years old unrest.Reportedly, Defence minister while briefing National Assembly’s standing committee for defence, said that activities of foreign agencies in Pakistan is a reality. The session was also told that militants have political backing in Karachi.Defence ministry officials also warned that United States (US) exit from Afghanistan this year can deteriorate situation in Pakistan especially Karachi.Officials emphasized that more anti-terrorism steps are inevitable. They told that the matters of US-Pak relations and Coalition support fund are being proceeding.Committee agreed on the point that all political parties will have to play a role for the success of ongoing operation in Karachi.

Israeli minister Shalom questioned over 1999 sexual offence

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom, tipped as a possible presidential candidate, was questioned by police Tuesday over what media said were suspicions of a 1999 sexual offence.He was questioned for two hours by the national unit of the Israeli police which deals with cases involving officials, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP.Without specifying the nature of the allegations, Rosenfeld said they were related to an old case that took place more than 15 years, and he gave his version.Since Monday, the media have been reporting that Shalom has been accused of sexual assault by a former female employee.The reports say the woman has filed a complaint against Shalom, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party.Speaking anonymously, she told army radio that, in 1999, then science minister Shalom had called her to deliver documents to a Jerusalem hotel room where he was staying and that she had found him naked.She said Shalom then forced her to perform oral sex on him.Shalom, now 55, has been expected to run in a June 14 presidential election to succeed Shimon Peres, and was about to announce his candidature, according to local media.He appears to be immune from prosecution under an Israeli statute of limitations, since the incident dates back more than 10 years.But police are keeping the investigation open, as more women are coming forward with similar accusations, army radio said.Gila Gamliel, a Likud MP close to Shalom, told the radio the ministers entourage rejected the allegations, suggesting they were part of a smear campaign ahead of the presidential election.Former president Moshe Katsav began a seven-year jail sentence in December 2011 after being convicted on two counts of rape and other sexual offences.

Iraq violence claims 19 lives

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Violence across Iraq killed 19 people on Tuesday, including eight who died in an attack on an army patrol, amid Iraqs worst protracted period of unrest since 2008.The bloodshed comes just weeks before Iraq is due to hold its first national vote since 2010, though the poll was thrown into disarray earlier Tuesday when the entire electoral commission resigned over political interference.The surge of unrest in recent months has been principally driven by anger in the Sunni Arab minority, which alleges mistreatment by the Shiite-led government and security forces, as well as by the civil war in neighbouring Syria.In Tuesdays deadliest attack, militants opened fire on an army patrol in Tarmiyah, just north of the capital, security and medical officials said.Eight people were killed, including seven soldiers. Another 14, of whom 10 were soldiers, were wounded.Tarmiyah is a primarily Sunni Arab town 45 kilometres (30 miles) from Baghdad that is frequently hit by deadly violence, ranging from shootings to massive bombings.Attacks elsewhere in the country, all in predominantly Sunni areas, killed 11 people.In Baghdad, a car bomb near a mosque in the Saidiyah neighbourhood killed three people and wounded eight others.Gun attacks and explosions in and around the restive cities of Baquba, Mosul and Tikrit -- all north of the capital -- left eight others dead. Among them were three policemen and a woman working in the office of Prime Minister Nuri al-Malikis political coalition.No group has claimed responsibility for most of the recent rise in bloodshed, but Sunni militants, including those linked to the powerful Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant jihadist group, are typically blamed.More than 400 people have been killed so far this month and upwards of 2,100 since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on reports from security and medical sources.Analysts and diplomats have called for the Shiite-led authorities to do more to reach out to the disaffected Sunni minority in a bid to reduce support for militancy, but with the April 30 election looming, political leaders have been loath to be seen to compromise.

32pc children deprived of schools in Pakistan: Report

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Educational Atlas indexing 2013 education year reveals a startling 32 percent of children aged 5 to 9 are deprived of schools. The atlas also reveals that 17 percent of country’s primary schools are based in single rooms, Dunya News reported.World Food Programme and Educational Planning’s report is a startling testimony to Pakistan’s deteriorating educational sector. The index reveals that the number of teachers is lowest in primary schools. Even three teachers per school on an average are not available, the report says.The report also reveals that 8 percent of schools don’t even have buildings or anywhere to house the school; whereas 35 percent of students have buildings for name sake but without four-wall boundaries.37 percent schools do not have toilet and sanitary facilities. 45 percent schools do not have electricity, the report continues.It is also stated in the report that parents are reluctant to send their children to public schools because of lack of facilities and concentration.The report recommends taking revolutionary steps on emergency basis.

Crime rate would drop by 70-80pc if illegal sims blocked: Shahid Hayat

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Karachi’s Additional Inspector General (IG) Shahid Hayat said on Tuesday that illegal sim cards have to be stopped in order to curb crime, while admitting the increase in mobile snatching incidents in the city, Dunya News reported.Addressing industrialists and traders in Karachi, Hayat said 180 extortionists and 70 kidnappers have been taken into custody thus far adding that traders have to stand by government in order to curb extortion.People don’t come to file cases against extortion, he said, adding that curbing illegal sims will control crime rate by up to 80 percent. He said that actions are being taken to curb street crimes and that next target is to prosecute and secure convictions for the arrested suspects.He admitted that the mobile snatching incidents have increased in the city and that the goals of increase in police strength and bringing down crime rate are being set. Incidents of street crimes and militancy are on the rise in Karachi even after government launched a full-fledged targeted operation against militants and criminals.

RugbyU: Scoctland's Cross to join London Irish

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LONDON (AFP) - Scotland tighthead prop Geoff Cross will play for London Irish next season, the English Premiership club announced Tuesday.The 31-year old will join from Edinburgh on a two-year deal having scored six tries in 130 appearances for the Scottish capital side.Cross has so far won 28 Scotland caps and featured during the recent Six Nations Championship.It is great to have a player of Geoffs talent and experience joining our squad next season, said London Irish rugby director Brian Smith.He is a genuine international tighthead who has performed exceptionally well in the recent Six Nations Championship.We will have plenty of competition in the front row next season that will only benefit the squad, the former Australia and Ireland international added.Cross, a qualified medical doctor, added: Moving down to London Irish is a fantastic opportunity for me. Having met with Brian, discussed the vision of the club and seen the new training facility it was clear to see the intent the club has moving forward.Leaving Edinburgh was a difficult decision and I will leave with many fond memories, however I am excited to be moving to Sunbury and look forward to the challenge ahead.

Water buffaloes escape Sydney film set, race down busy street

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SYDNEY (Reuters) - Two water buffaloes startled residents of an inner-Sydney suburb on Tuesday morning, as they pelted 2 km (1.2 miles) down a city street past disbelieving pedestrians, while car drivers scurried to get out of the way.Eyewitnesses told local media the buffaloes looked agitated, having escaped from a city park where an advertisement was being filmed.I was just waiting for the bus and instead of a bus, two random buffalo ran past, Abril Felman, said by a student at the University of Sydney campus nearby.Firefighters rounded up the animals and live-tweeted the operation, saying they used ladders and firefighting gear to corral the animals into a makeshift pen, until handlers from the film set took them away.We were all standing back, we were all going Thats really random, Felman said.Its a very diverse community that lives there, she added. Its not strange to see people dressed up in costumes running around at night. Its a bit of a free-spirited bohemian culture.

World T20: South Africa fined for slow over-rate

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CHITTAGONG (AFP) - South Africa were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during their hard fought win over New Zealand in Chittagong, the International Cricket Council said Tuesday.The Proteas edged out New Zealand by two runs in a last-ball finish to their Super-10 World Twenty20 match but the ICC found they took more time than the stipulated period to bowl their 20 overs.The ICC match referee Javagal Srinath of India imposed the fines after Faf du Plessis side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration, said an ICC release.Under ICC rules players are fined 10 percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.As such, du Plessis was fined 40 percent of his match fee, while his players received 20 percent fines.If du Plessis is found guilty of one more minor over-rate offence in T20 internationals over the next 12 months, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the ICC code of conduct.South Africa next play the Netherlands in their next group one match in Chittagong on Thursday.The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The final will be played in Dhaka on April 6.

Bangladesh banned from waving rivals' flags

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DHAKA (AFP) - The Bangladeshi hosts of crickets World Twenty20 threatened to ban local supporters Tuesday from stadiums if they are seen carrying the flags of any of the other teams competing in the tournament.The order came after an outcry over images of locals waving Pakistani flags during the recently concluded Asia Cup, also held in Bangladesh.Bangladesh was part of Pakistan before the 1971 war of independence in which it says three million people were killed -- most at the hands of the army of the Islamic republic and its allied militias.A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman said the board had issued a directive after it noticed that some local fans were flying foreign flags flouting the countrys flag rules.Weve received instruction in this regard, the spokesman said.As such weve ordered security officials and guards to make sure Bangladesh fans cannot carry or fly flags of foreign nations in the stadiums.The BCB order came on the eve of Bangladeshs 44th Independence Day celebrations, marking the day when the nation went to war against Pakistan.

SC objects Musharraf's plea seeks trial by military court

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Supreme Court Registrar Office Tuesday raised objections over the petition filed by former President Pervez Musharraf seeking transfer of high treason case from Special Court to military court.Musharraf filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the Special Court’s Feb 21 decision of going ahead with the high treason trial against him instead of referring it to a military court.The Special Court, headed by Justice Faisal Arab of the Sindh High Court, had dismissed Mr Musharraf’s application seeking trial by a military court under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952.The rejection was earlier challenged in the Islamabad High Court which on March 19 ruled that only the Supreme Court had the jurisdiction to decide the matter.The petition in the apex court was filed by Gen Musharraf’s lawyers Sharifuddin Pirzada, Dr Khalid Ranjha, Anwar Mansoor Khan and Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif.

Iraq's election commissioners resign over interference

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - All of Iraqs election commissioners presented their resignations to parliament Tuesday in a collective protest over political and judicial interference in upcoming legislative polls, sources told AFP.The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) commissioners were in particular frustrated with judicial decisions to bar candidates from taking part in the April 30 elections, the sources said.We presented our resignations because of interference, an IHEC commissioner told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.An aide to another commissioner confirmed the news.A diplomatic source said, meanwhile, the commissioners quit over judicial and political interference.They are very frustrated with this electoral judicial panel... excluding candidates, while IHEC has not excluded anybody, the source said on condition of anonymity.They are very unhappy with judicial interference, with political interference, the source said.The resignations still have to be approved by parliament, the diplomatic source added.

KSE closes higher, rupee weakens

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(Reuters) - Pakistans main stock exchange closed higher on Tuesday, with the benchmark 100-share index of the Karachi Stock Exchange rising 1.06 percent, or 278.73 points to 26,670.14.Engro Fertilizer, which relies on cheap gas to make its product, closed against its upper limit after the governments decision to maintain current gas prices, said dealer Samar Iqbal at Topline Securities.Engro Fertilizer Ltd rose 4.98 percent to 59.40 rupees while Oil and Gas Development Co Ltd was up 1.19 percent to 250.01 rupees.The rupee weakened slightly at 97.85/97.90 against the dollar compared to Mondays close of 97.75/97.80.The slight dip was in contrast to a trend of increasing strength following Saudi Arabias gift of $1.5 billion to refresh Pakistans depleted reserves.On Monday, International Monetary Fund agreed to waive conditions for financial reforms to release the third tranche of around US$555 million. Pakistan also required a waiver for the previous two disbursements.Overnight rates in the money market fell to 8.25 percent from Mondays close of 8.75 percent.
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