Sunday 9 March 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

42 African migrants drown off Yemen coast

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ADEN (AFP) - Forty-two illegal African migrants drowned when their boat overturned off Yemen's southern coast late on Sunday, the defence ministry reported.The boat smuggling dozens of African migrants overturned off the coast of Beer Ali, in the southern Shabwa province, the ministry said in a brief statement on its news website 26sep.net.A Yemeni naval patrol in the Arabian Sea saved at least 30 others who were taken to a refugee camp in the town of Mayfaa, it said.A security official confirmed the incident to AFP but no more details were immediately available.African migrants, especially Ethiopians and Somalis fleeing poverty and unrest at home, generally slip into southern Yemen by boat before heading north towards the Saudi frontier.Some 84,000 people from Horn of Africa countries flooded into Yemen in 2012 hoping to find jobs in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

Tennis: Fourth seed Berdych crashes out of Indian Wells

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - World number five Tomas Berdych crashed out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Sunday, falling in his opening match to 53rd-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.Bautista Agut, who toppled Juan Martin del Potro en route to the round of 16 at the Australian Open, used a punishing ground game to claim another top-10 scalp, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.I played unbelievable, Bautista Agut said. I was not serving very well, I had to play my best tennis from the baseline to win the match.Berdych, an Australian Open semi-finalist who lifted the trophy in Rotterdam this year, arrived in California off a runner-up finish to Roger Federer in Dubai.The 28-year-old Czech was at a loss to explain his off-key outing.Anything I touched today was basically bad and was wrong, he said. Definitely my worst match that I had this year.He credited Bautista Agut with making the most of his chances. The Spaniard opened the third set with a service break and fought off two break points in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead.Berdych did regain the break to knot the set at 4-4, but surrendered the decisive break in the next game.Berdych said he'd felt a little off even in his warm up.I just started to feel not tight but not that crisp, like in the last couple of weeks.World number two Novak Djokovic was the top men's seed in action on Sunday, opening his bid for a third Indian Wells title with a second-round meeting with Romanian Victor Hanescu.Djokovic, who won the title in 2008 and 2011, has played sparingly this season, falling in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open to eventual champion Stanislas Wawrinka and losing in the semi-finals at Dubai to Federer.Men's sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro had been slated to open his campaign, but the Argentinian withdrew with a left wrist injury.Polish second seed Agnieszka Radwanska was the top woman in action, taking on Germany's Annika Beck in a third-round match.Former champions Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic were also playing third-round matches.

Football: Wigan send Man City crashing in FA Cup repeat

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LONDON (AFP) - Second-tier Wigan Athletic stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup for the second season running with a shock 2-1 quarter-final victory at a disbelieving Etihad Stadium on Sunday.City, newly crowned League Cup winners, were bidding to avenge their 1-0 defeat in last season's final, but instead it was the holders -- managed by former City striker Uwe Rosler -- who advanced to a last-four date with Arsenal.Is this my greatest day in management? Probably, Rosler, who played for City between 1994 and 1998, told BT Sport.This was my chance to partially replicate what (former Wigan manager) Roberto Martinez did last season.Overall I am so delighted. I am so happy for the chairman and the players.Jordi Gomez gave Wigan the lead with a 27th-minute penalty after Martin Demichelis fouled Marc Antoine-Fortune and James Perch made it 2-0 within seconds of kick-off in the second half.Samir Nasri pulled a goal back for City with 22 minutes remaining, but the Championship side -- relegated within days of last season's final -- withstood heavy pressure from the hosts to record another famous FA Cup win.It's disappointing because we cannot be eliminated from the FA Cup at home by Wigan, said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side will bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit at Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.We must go to Barcelona and try to continue in the Champions League, although it will be difficult.It's important for a big team, when you have a setback, you have to react quickly.The Etihad was buoyant after City's 3-1 win over Sunderland in last weekend's League Cup final, but the home fans were silenced in the 27th minute when Wigan took the lead.A neat turn took Fortune past Demichelis on the Wigan left and after the Argentine brought him down, Gomez sent goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon the wrong way from the penalty spot.City's frustration was evident, with Nasri booked for kicking the ball away, and Wigan extended their lead early in the second half when Perch stole in front of Gael Clichy to tuck in a low cross from James McArthur.Pellegrini reacted by sending on James Milner, David Silva and Edin Dzeko, and the latter came within a whisker of equalising in the 64th minute with a header that hit the post.The hosts continued to push, though, and four minutes later Nasri dragged them back into the tie with a left-foot shot from outside the box that skidded into the bottom-right corner.City threw everything at Wigan in the closing stages, with Emmerson Boyce producing an extraordinary goal-line block to thwart Dzeko, but Wigan held on by the skin of their teeth.Earlier, Hull City and giant-killers Sheffield United set up an unlikely semi-final showdown after coming through their respective quarter-final ties.Hull defeated Premier League rivals Sunderland 3-0 at the KC Stadium to reach the last four for the first time since 1930, while third-tier United overcame Charlton Athletic.Hull's Sone Aluko saw a first-half penalty saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, but three goals in nine minutes from Curtis Davies, David Meyler and Matty Fryatt in the second period gave the hosts victory.I've just seen the draw and it's a great one, said Hull manager Steve Bruce, who twice won the trophy as a player with Manchester United.Sheffield United have had a wonderful run and beaten every team put in front of them.But you have got to be honest -- you want to avoid the big boys and I'm sure Sheffield United will be thinking the same having drawn us.Sheffield United continued their remarkable journey in the FA Cup by upsetting second-tier Charlton 2-0 at Bramall Lane.Managed by Nigel Clough, son of legendary former Nottingham Forest manager Brian, the Blades became the first team from the third tier to reach the last four since Wycombe Wanderers in 2001.I'm just delighted for everybody that we're going to Wembley, especially the players, said Clough, whose late father never won the tournament.To win nine games on the spin, they deserve an immense amount of credit. We hope to play a lot more big games like this in the future.Having previously accounted for Premier League sides Fulham and Aston Villa, as well as second-tier Forest, the Blades prevailed thanks to quick-fire goals from Ryan Flynn and John Brayford mid-way through the second half.

Football: Real Madrid back on top after Levante stroll

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid returned to the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his 38th goal of the season when he headed Angel di Maria's corner low past Keylor Navas after just 11 minutes.Navas then kept his side in the game with a string of fine saves, but there was nothing the Costa Rican could do when Ronaldo teed up Marcelo to curl in the second four minutes after half-time.Levante were reduced to 10 men on 63 minutes when David Navarro was shown a straight red card for a foul on Ronaldo.And the visitors' miserable evening was summed up when Nikos Karabelas' scored a spectacular own goal nine minutes from time to make it 3-0.Victory means Real now lead second-placed Atletico Madrid by three points with Barcelona a further point back in third.It is a small advantage, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves. We can only think about the next game, said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.At one point we were six points behind so right now we are in a very good position. All we can do is conitnue in this form.There is still a long way in the season to go and the objective is to get to the last game of the season in this position.Seemingly buoyed by Barca's latest setback in losing to lowly Valladolid on Saturday, Real started very brightly and Ronaldo forced Navas into his first stop after five minutes with a nicely cushioned volley that the 'keeper collected at the second attempt.The Portuguese wasn't to be denied six minutes later, though, as he rose highest to meet Di Maria's cross and power his header low into the corner.Navas then had to be quick off his line to smother efforts from Di Maria and Karim Benzema as Madrid continued to press.The pick of the saves from the Levante goalkeeper came in first-half stoppage time as he leapt to his right to turn Benzema's header from close range onto the post.Ancelotti's men did eventually get the all-important second goal four minutes after the restart when a lovely one-two between Ronaldo and Marcelo freed the Brazilian inside the area and he curled the ball into the far corner on his weaker right foot.Navas continued to frustrate Benzema moments later as he turned away the Frenchman's fiercely struck effort from the edge of the box.Levante were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Navarro's reckless challenge from behind on Ronaldo was deemed to be worthy of a straight red card by referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva.The visitors then inflicted more damage upon themselves nine minutes from time when Karabelas swept home Marcelo's cross.However, there was just one moment of worry for Real when right-back Dani Carvajal collapsed to the turf in stoppage time under no pressure from a Levante player and had to be stretchered from the field.

Badminton: Lee regains All-England Open title

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Lee Chong Wei produced one of his finest performances despite an ankle problem to regain the All-England Open title doing so with an impressively emphatic straight games win over Chen Long in Birmingham on Sunday.The world number one from Malaysia beat the titleholder from China 21-13, 21-18 -- revenge for his loss to Chen in the final last year -- for his third All-England trophy and then admitted he may not be back to try and win a fourth title.The variety of the 31-year-old's game was often mesmerising, and his focus was steely enough to resist determined second-game fight-backs by Chen from 4-10 to 9-10 and from 13-18 to 17-18 and to within the width of the net tape of getting to 18-all.Lee, however, said he may not be back - not because he is retiring but because this tournament has underlined that preserving his body for another Olympic bid has become increasingly problematic.I didn't know how well I would be able to play, but I feel very happy with what I did, Lee said.I had this injury before I came here and I just relaxed because I think it maybe my last time.I think I did my best. Now I want to go home and talk with my coach (Rashid Sidek, a former All-England finalist) and go back to doing some rehab.Chen was gracious in defeat.He played some amazing points, said Chen.I can accept winning or losing today.Earlier China won the women's singles when Wang Shixian, the fourth-seeded former All-England champion, beat Li Xuerui, the top-seeded Olympic champion, 21-19, 21-18.It was a match which never caught fire, though Wang did enough to suggest she possesses a wider range of strokes and tactics than when she won the title three years ago.Li, who sometimes walked gingerly as if she was not in the best shape, led 19-17 in the first game and 14-13 in the second, but could not press her slight advantages home.It wasn't too difficult playing a colleague because these days it happens in finals lot, said Wang.I hope we will win more matches as a team.Yu Yang's improbable rehabilitation continued in dramatic fashion also on Sunday as she and her women's doubles partner Wang Xiaoli saved a match point to complete a successful defence of their All-England Open title.Yu, who had said she was quitting after she and Wang were among those banned during the match-fixing scandal at the London Olympics, was again a bundle of renovated self-belief and forecourt energy as the top-seeded pair edged out their unseeded compatriots Ma Jin and Tang Yuanting 21-17, 18-21, 23-21.We really wanted to win again this year, said Wang.We were quite scared about coming here because we were getting challenged by all the other players, but we managed to adjust and it was really just about playing to the right level.Indonesia regained the men's doubles title after an interval of more than a decade when top-seeded Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan followed their August capture of the world title with a 21-19, 21-19 win over Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa.The Japanese pair led 16-15 in the first game and repaired a three-point deficit in the second, and were not far from becoming their country's first All-England champions since 1978.China's top-seeded mixed doubles pair of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei was beaten 21-13, 21-17 by Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir, the titleholders from Indonesia.It left China with just two titles, its smallest all-England haul for six years.

Rallying: Ogier wins Rally of Mexico

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LEON (AFP) - World champion Sebastien Ogier won the Rally of Mexico on Sunday, the third round of this year's title series.The Volkswagen Polo driver, who also won in Mexico in 2013, finished over a minute ahead of teammate Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland.Belgian driver Thierry Neuville, in a Hyundai, was third, over five minutes off the pace.It was Hyundai's first podium place.Ogier's victory was even sweeter when his win on the 8.25km power-stage, the 22nd overall of the race, gave him a maximum 28 points and allowed him to take the overall lead in the championship with a three-point edge over Latvala.Ogier had led in Mexico after the first two stages before Mads Ostberg briefly took charge in a Citroen.But once the French driver regained the lead on the seventh stage, he was never threatened especially once Ostberg had been forced to surrender his victory hopes with a broken suspension.Ogier finished with 14 of the 22 stages as he claimed an 18th career win and second of the year after the season-opening Rally of Monte Carlo.

Dinosaur-killing impact acidified oceans: study

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PARIS (AFP) - The space rock that smashed into Earth 65 million years ago, famously wiping out the dinosaurs, unleashed acid rain that turned the ocean surface into a witches brew, researchers said Sunday.Delving into the riddle of Earths last mass extinction, Japanese scientists said the impact instantly vaporised sulphur-rich rock, creating a vast cloud of sulphur trioxide (SO3) gas.This mixed with water vapour to create sulphuric acid rain, which would have fallen to the planets surface within days, acidifying the surface levels of the ocean and killing life therein.Those species that were able to survive beneath this lethal layer eventually inherited the seas, according to the study which did not delve into the effects on land animals.Concentrated sulphuric acid rains and intense ocean acidification by SO3-rich impact vapours resulted in severe damage to the global ecosystem and were probably responsible for the extinction of many species, the study said.The great smashup is known as the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction.It occurred when an object, believed to be an asteroid some 10 kilometres (six miles) wide, whacked into the Yucatan peninsula in modern-day Mexico.It left a crater 180 kilometres (110 miles) wide, ignited a firestorm and kicked up a storm of dust that was driven around the world on high winds, according to the mainstream scenario.Between 60 and 80 percent of species on Earth were wiped out, according to fossil surveys.Large species suffered especially: dinosaurs which had roamed the land for some 165 million years, were replaced as the terrestrial kings by mammals.Much speculation has been devoted to precisely how the mass die-out happened.A common theory is that a nuclear winter occurred -- the dust pall prevented sunlight reaching the surface, causing vegetation to shrivel and die, and dooming the species that depended on them.Another, fiercely debated, idea adds acid rain to the mix.Critics say the collision was far likelier to have released sulphur dioxide (SO2) than SO3, the culprit chemical in acid rain.And, they argue, it would have lingered in the stratosphere rather than fallen back to Earth.Seeking answers, a team led by Sohsuke Ohno of the Planetary Exploration Research Centre in Chiba set up a special lab rig to replicate -- on a tiny scale -- what happened that fateful day.They used a laser beam to vaporise a strand of plastic, which released a high-speed blast of plasma and caused a tiny piece of foil, made of the heavy metal tantalum, to smash into a sample of rock.The heavy foil fragment replicated on a miniscule scale the mass of the asteroid, while the rock was of a similar makeup as the surface where the asteroid struck.The team caused collisions ranging from 13 to 25 km per second (47,000-90,000 km or 29,000-55,000 miles per hour), and analysed the gas that was released.The research, reported in the journal Nature Geoscience, showed that SO3 was by far the dominant molecule, not SO2.The team also carried out a computer simulation of larger silicate particles that would have been ejected by the impact, and found they too played a part.The articles rapidly bound with the poisonous vapour to become sulphur acid aerosols that fell to the surface.Heavily acidic waters would explain the overwhelming extinction among surface species of plankton called foraminifera.Foraminifera are single-celled creatures protected by a calcium carbonate shell, which dissolves in acidic water.The acid rain scenario also helps explain other extinction riddles, including why there was a surge in the number of ferns species after the impact. Ferns love acidic, water-logged conditions such as those described in the study.

Broad to sit out Windies T20 deciders

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BRIDGETOWN (AFP) - England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad admitted Sunday that he will sit out the rest of the West Indies tour to rest a knee injury.After his side lost Sundays opening game of a three-match T20 series by 27 runs, Broad said he wanted to be fully recovered in time for the World Twenty in Bangladesh later this month.No panic with the knee, had it a long time, tweeted Broad.The workload over the winter has got it to a point it needs treatment. 7 days should be fine.The second and third matches between West Indies and England are on Tuesday and Thursday at Bridgetowns Kensington Oval.

Samuels leads West Indies to 27-run victory

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BRIDGETOWN (AFP) - West Indies returned to winning ways in the shortest variety, defeating England by 27 runs in the first T20 International of a three-match series at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown on Sunday.Marlon Samuels, the star when the Caribbean side defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the last World T20 in Colombo 17 months ago, led the home teams effort with an unbeaten 69 as the West Indies totalled a competitive 170 for three.Samuels finished off a good afternoons work in front of a celebratory full house with two wickets to seal the man of the match award.Wrist-spinner Samuel Badree put the tourists on the back foot early on with three wickets and although all-rounders Tim Bresnan (47 not out) and Ravi Bopara (42) made useful contributions, England were always struggling to keep up with the required rate and were restricted to 143 for nine.We didnt get going today but thats something that can happen in Twenty20 cricket, especially when youre chasing a decent score, said England captain Stuart Broad.Its certainly not something to panic about.Broad did suggest however that he is likely to miss the remaining two matches of the series on Tuesday and Thursday because of tendonitis in his knee.For the West Indies, the celebrations over a victory that sends a message to all challengers for their World T20 title inBangladesh later in the month would have been tempered by concerns over the fitness of ace spinners Sunil Narine and Badree.Narine only bowled two overs and left the field after jarring his right knee trying to make a save on the boundary while Badree, who claimed three for 17 off his allotted four overs, injured the fingers of his bowling hand attempting to take a return catch just before completing his spell.Hell be going for a scan this evening so hopefully hell be okay, said West Indies captain Darren Sammy in commenting on Narines injury.Were already without Kieron Pollard so we cant afford to lose another key player so close to the World Cup.Injury has also limited Chris Gayles appearances for the West Indies over the past two months, but he returned on Sunday, contributing a typically robust 43.However, it was his opening partner Dwayne Smith who stole the show at the very start, hoisting the first delivery of the match off Broad out of the ground and taking 19 runs off that opening over.Smith eventually was first to go for 27, one of two wickets for Bopara who, together with the spinner James Tredwell, were Englands best bowlers.Samuels 46-ball innings (10 fours, 1 six) was not without moments of good fortune.Missed on 37 by a leaping Eoin Morgan at backward-point off Broad, he had even greater luck when Tredwell dropped a straightforward chance at extra-cover off Jade Dernbach at the start of the 18th over.As if to rub salt in England wounds, the Jamaican right-hander smashed the next five deliveries for boundaries.

South Africa, Australia 1st T20 game washed out

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PORT ELIZABETH (AFP) - The first Twenty20 international between South Africa and Australia at St Georges Park was abandoned because of rain without a ball bowled on Sunday.Rain fell steadily for most of the day, although at one stage the covers were removed and the pitch was rolled while match officials and some team members looked on. But a heavy shower ended any chance of play.The three-match series provides both teams with an opportunity to prepare for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh later this month.The second match is scheduled for Durban on Wednesday and the final match is in Centurion on Friday.

Shariah of shrine bombers not acceptable: Altaf Hussain

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain warned on Sunday that lack of right strategy to curb terrorism can have severe consequences, adding that everyone has to put their efforts to bring positive change, Dunya News reported.Addressing Sufiya Yakjehti (Sufis Solidarity) Conference via telephone in Lahore, he said that terrorism is a national issue adding that a consensus and correct decision-making is vital to address the issue.Altaf Hussain said that one has to bring change in themselves in order to bring change in the country. Everyone has to strive for a positive change, he said, adding that he wants to see Pakistan prosper.MQM Chief warned of consequences if right way to handle terrorism is not adopted. He said that his heart bleeds to see country’s situation adding that Pakistan is going through a crucial phase.Altaf Hussain said that innocent people are bombed and spoke of a number of examples of terrorism in the country including attack on teenaged Malala Yousafzai, killing of 23-year-old female lawyer in Islamabad court attack, and attack on armed forces among others.Islam means peace, security and love but people are being oppressed in the name of Islam, he said adding that killing of a single human being is like killing the whole of humanity according to Islam.No Pakistani wants Pakistan’s constitution to be against Islamic principles and jurisprudence, he added.Altaf Hussain said that it’s one thing not to have a law according to Shariah and another to form a brand new Sharia to suit own agendas. No Shariah permits bombing shrines of elders, he said.MQM Chief said that terrorists’ Shariah tells them to blow shrines and that no one wants the Shariah interpretation of those who bomb places of worship.Earlier, MQM senior leader Farooq Sattar had said that so called torchbearers of religion are misguiding people adding that militants want to damage Pakistan’s outlook worldwide.Addressing media after reviewing ‘Sufiyah Yakjehti Conference’ (Sufi Solidarity Conference) arrangements, Farooq Sattar said that militants want to destroy Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan which represents moderate and civilized social state worldwide.He said that aims of such militant conspirators will be buried after MQM’s Sufi conference adding that the aim is to introduce peaceful Sufi image of the country to the world.

Malaysian authorities say missing plane may have turned back

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) -- Malaysia on Sunday said a missing airliner carrying 239 people may have inexplicably turned back, as authorities launched a terror probe into the plane's sudden disappearance, investigating suspect passengers who boarded with stolen passports.The United States sent the FBI to investigate after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished from radar early Saturday somewhere at sea between Malaysia and Vietnam, but stressed there was no evidence of terrorism yet.Indications that the plane may have deviated from its route only compounded the anxiety of relatives, many of them Chinese, desperate for news of their loved ones.There is a distinct possibility the airplane did a turn-back, deviating from the course, said Malaysia's air force chief, General Rodzali Daud, citing radar data.But Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said the Boeing 777's systems would have set off alarm bells.When there is an air turn-back the pilot would be unable to proceed as planned, he said, adding authorities were quite puzzled over the situation.Malaysian authorities have expanded their search for wreckage to the country's west coast after initially concentrating to the east in the South China Sea.A total of 40 ships and 34 aircraft from an array of Southeast Asian countries, China and the US were involved in the hunt, with two Australian surveillance aircraft due to join in.An AFP photographer on board a Vietnamese military aircraft saw what appeared to be oil slicks in the sea off the country's coast and dozens of ships searching the area.Some of the ships could be seen sailing parallel to each other in an apparently coordinated search. It was not clear which countries the ships belonged to.However, as darkness fell on day two of the international effort, there were no confirmed reports of any wreckage being found.After it emerged that two people boarded the flight with stolen European passports, Malaysia's transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he was looking at four suspect passengers in all. He said authorities were examining CCTV footage of the two with fake passports.We have managed to get visuals of them, he said, adding that Malaysia was liaising with other countries' intelligence agencies on the findings. He gave no more details.Airport security reviewHe also confirmed the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was dispatching personnel to Malaysia.At the same time our own intelligence has been activated, and of course, the counter-terrorism units... from all the relevant countries have been informed, Hishammuddin said, refusing to rule out the possibility of a hijack.A Malaysian civil aviation official said authorities still so far believe only two passengers had used stolen passports.Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted by The Star newspaper saying the government would review and enhance airport security protocols, if needed.If necessary, because we still do not know the cause of the incident, he was quoted as saying.Flight MH370 had relayed no indications of distress, and weather at the time was said to be stable. Malaysia's national carrier and the Boeing 777-200 model used on the route are known for their solid safety records.Technical advisers from Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration are en route to Asia to help with the probe.In a statement, Boeing offered its deepest concern to the families of the missing.The flight vanished about an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. A total of 153 Chinese nationals were on board, and relatives camping out at Beijing's main international airport bemoaned the lack of news Sunday. The airline company didn't contact me, it was a friend, a middle-aged woman surnamed Nan told reporters, holding back tears. Her brother-in-law was on the flight.I can't understand the airline company. They should have contacted the families first thing. Relatives join searchMalaysia Airlines (MAS) insisted it was doing its best to keep relatives in China informed given the confusion over the plane's fate, and was preparing to fly some of them to Malaysia on Monday to be closer to the search-and-rescue operation.Vietnamese Rear Admiral Ngo Van Phat told AFP he had no information on an assertion by another Vietnamese officer that boats had been sent to investigate an object floating in the South China Sea.Two European names -- Christian Kozel, an Austrian, and Luigi Maraldi of Italy -- were listed on the passenger manifest but neither man boarded the plane, officials said. Both had their passports stolen in Thailand over the past two years.China Southern Airlines, which has a code-share agreement with MAS, listed one Italian and one Austrian among its ticketed passengers on the flight. There were no other passengers of those nationalities listed on the MAS manifest.Meanwhile, a Chinese national whose passport number was listed on the manifest did not board the plane and was still in China, the country's state media reported, adding that the actual passport was never stolen.In Washington, a US administration official said authorities were aware of the passports issue but had not determined a nexus to terrorism yet.The flight carried 227 passengers and 12 crew. A US semiconductor company based in Texas said 20 of its employees were on the flight -- a dozen from Malaysia and eight from China.

Tharparkar famine: PMLN considers judicial inquiry to probe negligence angle

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) leader and member national assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday that Prime Minister is considering forming a judicial inquiry to probe possible negligence behind starvation related deaths, Dunya News reported.Dispatching relief goods for Tharparkar famine affectees from Lahore, Hamza Shahbaz said that suspending a handful of officers by Sindh government is not enough adding that the Tharparkar deaths have put whole humanity to shame.Criticizing Sindh government, he said that Sindh government was busy in celebrations and festivities and that what happened meanwhile is nothing short of tragedy.He urged Sindh government to fulfill its moral obligation by carrying a thorough investigation.Earlier, at least five more children died of malnutrition and famine in Chachro tehsil of Tharparkar district in Sindh.Chachro is among those areas of Tharparkar where the Sindh government hasn’t started relief operation. Dozens of children are admitted to public and private hospitals of the district.Several prominent members of the Sindh government have visited the famine-hit areas but relief activities are still facing delay due to which the affectees are forced to relocate.Meanwhile, Pakistan army and Rangers are reportedly carrying out relief operation in several areas of Tharparkar.Rangers have sent 16 trucks of edible items that will be distributed among 2500 families.The army has also setup medical camps in famine-hit Tharparkar where medical aid is being provided to affectees.

Saving planet goes from video game to real-world craze

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (AFP) - It is the peak of the Cold War, a secret agent has launched nuclear weapons and a small team of sleuths has one hour to prevent the end of the world.The team has a single clue: a coded message left in a typewriter by a secret agent.With 60 minutes ticking down on the large electronic wall clock, they must unravel dozens of codes, clues and leads to discover the keys that can stop the blast.Escape Room -- the real-life adaptation of a classic 1980s video game -- is a new craze popping up around the world.Having already made its mark in London, Paris and Bangkok, games are being organised in some unlikely spots around central Europe, including the picturesque Danube city of Novi Sad in Serbia where it has reached the number three spot for things to do on travel website Trip Advisor.This is a complex game that requires ability, intelligence, education and team work, much more than the online version, said Boban Melkus, a 36-year-old high school teacher who set up the game in Novi Sad.Melkus and his wife Nina began offering the game in December in a rented apartment. Teams pay 4,000 dinars (35 euros, $45) to play in one of two rooms that have been given a Cold War makeover.- 'We saved the world' -========================There are old-fashioned telephones that act as hotlines to Berlin, Madrid, Athens; a decades-old typewriter, and walls plastered with military maps and photos of Cold War-era leaders.The business was profitable from the very first day, even though they only put a small ad on their Facebook page, said Melkus.We have two rooms: players can save the world from a nuclear catastrophe or rob a bank, Melkus explains.He says players can get their money back if they are not satisfied, but so far, nobody has asked for it.We even had a team from a computer games company, but it was difficult for them and they only just saved the world, joked Nina.It attracts all ages -- from 15 to 60 -- but fans of the former computer game in their 30s and 40s are the most common, she added.Zorica Ljubicic, a 53-year old clerk who had no experience with the virtual version, came out beaming with satisfaction after she and two friends averted the apocalypse.This was such good fun -- everything was so exciting, we saved the worldHer friend Zarko said their team skills were key to their success.Next we will rob a bank, she said.- Team-building -=================The game was first transferred from the virtual to the real world in Asia, appearing in Bangkok under a variety of names including ClueQuest and HintHunt.The Melkus couple first played it in Budapest in Hungary, where it has seriously caught on, with over 40 companies organising the game in more than 100 rooms around the city.The couple plans to take the game next to the Serbian capital Belgrade, as well as Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland.It's become a popular team-building event for businesses -- in contrast to the original version of the game which was a purely solo affair.Here, you are nothing without a team, Nina said.Building on this part of the business, the Meldeks have even engaged the services of a psychologist to make a profile of each player based on their response to the puzzle.

Putin takes economic gamble with Crimea swoop

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia is facing a prolonged period of low growth due to a failure to implement reform, is suffering from disturbing capital flight and the ruble is coming under sustained market pressure.So is it really the best time for President Vladimir Putin to launch an audacious bid to incorporate the Ukrainian region of Crimea into Russia within a matter of weeks?Economists say that the swoop on Crimea carries huge economic risks for Putin, who faces retaliation from the West, increased pressure on the already-embattled ruble and yet more haemorrhaging of foreign capital from jittery investors.The Russian strongman, who has not ruled out standing for re-election in 2018, has clearly put the political gain of grabbing Crimea before the short-term health of the Russian economy in the hope the damage will not be lasting.But economists say such logic may be flawed and Russia's economic performance going forward will in any case make a mockery of its status as a member of the BRICS group of top emerging markets along with Brazil, India, China and South Africa.- Russia can't afford cold war -================================The crisis in Ukraine has increased the risks to Russia's already weakening economy presented by currency depreciation and capital flight, analysts at ratings agency Fitch said.Capital flight could accelerate, particularly if the threat of economic and financial sanctions increased.Russia's growth was a measly 1.3 percent in 2013, with its economy suffering from a longstanding failure to implement reforms needed to wean it off an addiction to oil and gas income.According to the economy ministry, private sector capital outflows have already reached $17 billion so far this year alone.These factors and general nerves over emerging markets have put the ruble under sustained pressure.But on Monday it suffered an all out assault, falling to record lows in value against the dollar and euro after Putin won approval from parliament for a de-facto invasion of Ukraine.In that single day, the central bank spent over $11 billion propping up its currency, some five times more than any other intervention by the Russian central bank in its history.Capital flight, uncertainty and the higher interest rates needed to support the ruble will take their toll on Russia, said economists at Berenberg Bank in London, cutting their growth forecast for Russia to zero in 2014.Like the Soviet Union in the 1980s, Russia cannot afford a cold war, they said.It said while other top emerging markets were taking measures to reform, Russia is in effect ejecting itself from the BRICS.- No appetite for sanctions -=============================Taken aback by the swiftness of Putin's reaction to Ukraine's turmoil, the West is planning retaliation but the Kremlin chief may be calculating that the bark is worse than the bite.The EU is beset by divisions, with nations like Germany, Netherlands and Italy -- which have the most economic interests in Russia -- said to be opposing the toughest action. Former Soviet states like Lithuania are much more hawkish.Europe imports one third of its gas from Russia and Moscow needs the hard currency from the energy sales for its own budget so sheer self-interest could block the most extreme scenarios.But Russia's gas champion Gazprom upped the stakes in Friday by threating Ukraine with a repeat of the 2009 crisis over unpaid gas debts which saw much of Europe deprived of Russian gas supplies.Russia's bet on using the gas weapon is working, said daily business newspaper Vedomosti.Analysts at Citi said: Despite sharp criticism of the Russian move, there is clearly no appetite in Europe or the US for either a military confrontation with Moscow or meaningful economic sanctions.- Europe to reduce dependence -===============================The risk for Russia, at least on the currency markets, is cushioned by the fact the central bank still has immense forex reserves -- which stood at $493.4 billion on February 21.The Russian central bank is run by Elvira Nabiullina, a former economy minister who commands respect in the markets.The same could not be said however of Kremlin economic aide Sergei Glazyev whose apocalyptic view of global economics as a fight to the death between Russia and the West causes alarm.He blithely warned this week that Russia would reduce to zero its economic dependence on the United States and emerge the stronger for it.But the Vedomosti warned that the crisis would only make Europe more determined to look for other sources of gas, especially with the United States thinking of exporting LNG for the first time.In the mid-term it is going to be a task for Europe to reduce its dependence on Russian gas, it said. But for now it has nothing to replace Gazprom with.
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