Friday 11 April 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Golf: Bubba grabs Masters lead with five-birdie streak

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AUGUSTA (AFP) - A magnificent run of five consecutive birdies on the back nine powered 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson to a three-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the 78th Masters.With a dazzling display of precision on one of golf's most intimidating layouts, the 35-year-old US left-hander fired a four-under par 68 to stand on seven-under 137 after 36 holes at Augusta National.Watson beat Louis Oosthuizen in a playoff for the green jacket to claim his first major crown but had not won again until capturing the title at Riviera two months ago. Now he has made himself the man to beat this weekend.I felt really good, Watson said. It's not science here. It's try to hit the greens and if you're hitting the greens that means you're obviously hitting your tee shots well. That's what I've done the last two days and it's worked out so far.In Masters history, there has never been a longer birdie streak before the weekend than Watson's run and only five longer ones at any stage in the event.You're so focused on what you are doing, you are not really thinking you have just had three in a row, four in a row, Watson said.It's one of those things. Everyone has had that stretch before, playing with their buddies or playing in a tournament, so it's not that big a deal when we think about it.But at the Masters, it makes it a big deal.Australian John Senden, who qualified only by winning in March at Tampa, was second on 140 after also shooting 68.Defending champion Adam Scott, the first Aussie to win a green jacket, joined Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Sweden's Jonas Blixt and American Jordan Spieth sharing third on 141.Americans Fred Couples, Jimmy Walker and Jim Furyk shared seventh on 142.Watson, who began the day one off the lead, birdied the seventh and made bogey at nine before launching his birdie run with a five-footer at the par-3 12th and followed with another from 10 feet at the par-5 13th.Watson, ranked 12th, curled in a long putt with 15 feet of break over slopes at the 14th, owning a debt to playing partner Sergio Garcia.Sergio had a chip and had to go right over my coin, basically, and I watched his ball. He checked it up and then it went straight sideways about 15 feet, and he hit it about eight inches from the hole, Watson said.Having that putt from the same line, I knew where to aim it, knew kind of what the speed was. It was a lot different than what I was thinking, and then somehow it just went in.Without Sergio's chip, I probably would have three-putted it.Watson followed with a chip to eight feet to set up a birdie at the par-5 15th and rolled his tee shot, a 9-iron from 176 yards, feet from the cup to set up a birdie at the par-3 16th.A par at 17 ended the run and a bogey at 18 dropped Watson one stroke closer to the field but his earlier heroics made him the man to catch.Watson wants to stay levelI've been lucky enough to win here, Watson said. Just got to keep my head down, same thing I've been doing the last two days, try to stay level, not too energized, not too excited.Not since Tiger Woods ran off a Masters record-tying seven in a row starting at the seventh hole of the third round on his way to a 2005 title has there been a longer birdie run at Augusta National.And not since David Toms made six in a row from the 12th in the last round in 1998 has there been such a streak on the back nine at the Masters.Senden followed his lone bogey at the fourth with six birdies in the last 14 holes to grind into second.Bjorn opened with two birdies and birdied four of the last five holes to fire a 68.Scott opened with three bogeys in five holes but battled back with three birdies in four holes starting at the 12th to fire a 72.Second-ranked Scott could join Jack Nicklaus, Woods and Nick Faldo as back-to-back Masters winners and would overtake injured world number one Woods atop the rankings with a two-way share of third this week.Anyone could make a move tomorrow with some great play, Scott said.Spieth and Blixt were the leaders among 24 Masters newcomers who were trying to become the first rookies to win since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.Only 10 of them made the cut, including Aussie Oliver Gross, the only amateur into the weekend.Only 51 of 97 starters reached the last two rounds, including expected title contenders Rory McIlroy and Jason Day on the number at four-over 148.Two reigning major champions missed the cut -- British Open champion Phil Mickelson on 149 and 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner at 154.Others finishing over the cut mark were Garcia, one-time Friday leader Marc Leishman of Australia and Ernie Els.

Garcia-Lopez upsets Paire to reach Hassan II semis

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CASABLANCA (AP) - Eighth-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain beat third-seeded Benoit Paire of France 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II.Garcia-Lopez served for the match after breaking Paire for the fifth time, but the Frenchman broke straight back to force a tiebreaker.Garcia-Lopez prevailed, however, and next faces either qualifier Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain or Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia.Also, fourth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain had nine aces as he rallied to beat Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0 in an all-Spanish match, breaking his opponent's serve six times.He next faces No.6 Federico Delbonis of Argentina, who beat Victor Hanescu 7-6 (5), 6-3, breaking the Romanian player's serve four times.

Boxing: Pacquiao, Bradley make weight for grudge match

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LAS VEGAS (AFP) - Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley made the weight Friday for a welterweight world title rematch that has both fighters aiming to lay the ghost of their polarizing first contest.California's Desert Storm Bradley seized the World Boxing Organization belt from the Philippine icon with a narrow split decision that many believed the American didn't deserve in June 2012.Although Pacquiao took the defeat in stride, he suffered a brutal knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in his next fight, and is out to prove his subsequent lopsided decision over Brandon Rios marked the start of another illustrious chapter in his storied career.Pacquiao, 35, weighed in at 145 pounds (65.77 kg), to the cheers of an adoring crowd in a corner of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.He struck a pose on the scales as Philippine flags waved, while Bradley looked shocked to be greeted with boos.Bradley, who has twice defended the title he snatched from Pacquiao, tipped the scale at 145.5 pounds.Pacquiao, a congressman beloved in his homeland, brings a record of 55-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts to the bout.Bradley boasts a record of 31-0 with 12 knockouts, but despite his unbeaten status and champion's belt, he has taken second billing to Pacquiao in this fight.Both fighters will make $6 million (4.3 million euros) from the fight, according to official documents filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but charismatic promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao is guaranteed $20 million once all the revenues are in.Bradley says he doesn't care. He knows Pacquiao is the bigger name, but he says Pacman is on the down slope of a professional career that stretches back to 1995.I think he may lack fire, the dogged American said. His motivation is not there. He's been at the top for a very long time. He has over 60 fights in the ring with all the best. Maybe this is one fight too late for him.

Motorcycling: Marquez dominates MotoGP practice

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AUSTIN (AFP) - World Champion Marc Marquez dominated practice on Friday for the Grand Prix of the Americas, signalling his intent for Sunday in his return to the site of his first MotoGP win.The 21-year-old Spaniard -- whose victory in Austin last year made him the youngest rider to win a MotoGP race and launched him on his precocious championship charge -- ended the second free practice of the day with a 1.005sec margin over Andrea Dovizioso, with Dani Pedrosa third-fastest.After topping the first practice with a time of 2min 04.704sec, Marquez set the day's best time in the afternoon of 2min 03.490sec.He established himself as the favorite to repeat his pole position of last year in Saturday's qualifying.Honda's Marquez posted his best Friday time on a hard tyre and was less than 0.5sec from his own pole record set on a medium tyre in 2013.Ducati's Dovizioso led the rest of the pack, using a softer tyre. Marquez's Honda teammate Pedrosa was 1.133sec off the leader's pace.Italy's Andrea Iannone of Pramac Racing posted the fourth-fastest time.The best of the Yamaha riders was nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who is eager to improve on a disappointing sixth-place finish here last year. Rossi trailed Marquez by 1.3sec.

Contador keeps Basque lead, Swift wins 5th stage

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MARKINA-XEMEIN (AP) - Alberto Contador protected his lead of the Tour of Basque Country before the decisive time trial, while Ben Swift of England won Friday's fifth stage.Swift edged a small group of riders at the finish line to claim the 160-kilometer (99-mile) leg featuring five categorized mountain climbs from Eibar to Markina-Xemein in just under four hours.This was one of my best days, said Swift, who rides for Team Sky. It was really hard, but the legs felt very good. I liked my chances doing into that sprint.Alejandro Valverde, who is second overall, also finished second in the stage, a wheel-length behind Swift. Contador, a five-time Grand Tour winner, finished in the leading group to make sure he didn't lose any of his 12-second lead.Contador will be seeking his third Tour of Basque Country title when the 54th edition of the six-day race in northern Spain concludes on Saturday with a 25.9-kilometer (16-mile) time trial to and from Beasain.Valverde launched an attack with less than 10 kilometers to go, but Contador stayed pegged to his nearest challenger as they sailed down a long downhill stretch before being caught by the pack.I had to try it, even though we knew it was going to be tough, Valverde said. It will be a hard time trial, especially if there is more wind against us like today.Contador described his two-man battles with Valverde throughout the race as the two Spaniards playing cat and mouse.I will treat (tomorrow's time trial) as if we had the same time, Contador said. It is true I have a 12-second advantage, but I still think it is a very open race.

US crude oil rises on prospects for gasoline demand

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NEW YORK (AFP) - US crude oil prices closed higher Friday, lifted by market hopes for stronger demand in the United States ahead of the nation's summer holiday driving season.But traders kept a cautious eye on the situation in Libya, where the government's deal with rebels lifting their blockades of oil terminals would allow Libyan oil to return to the market.New York's main contract West Texas Intermediate for delivery in May closed at $103.74 a barrel, a gain of 34 cents from Thursday.Brent North Sea crude for May fell 13 cents to settle at $107.33 a barrel in London.Several factors were making the market bullish about the prospects of higher US crude oil demand in the coming weeks and months, said independent analyst Andy Lipow.Demand appeared set to increase because gasoline stockpiles have dropped sharply in recent weeks, making for tighter inventory shortly before Americans take to the roads in droves in the warmer weather.As refiners exit maintenance season, the utilisation rate is bound to pick up as the demand for gasoline grows in the summer, supporting prices, Lipow said.Adding a bump-up to positive US market sentiment was a better-than-expected increase in US consumer confidence in April reported by the University of Michigan. Confidence hit a nine-month high in the world's largest crude-oil consumer.Relatively good employment reports and improved income gains are assisting in pushing consumer mood higher. However, (gasoline) pump prices have been creeping up and food inflation is a big downer from many households that live paycheck to paycheck, said Chris Christopher at IHS Global Insight. Analysts were waiting to see whether Libyan oil terminals would reopen as agreed by the government and rebels.Traders are skeptical because we have seen a series of announcements. Traders will wait until we see these ports reopen and exports resumed, Lipow said.The seizure by rebels of four eastern oil terminals in July in pursuit of their campaign for restored autonomy for the eastern Cyrenaica region slashed output from 1.5 million barrels per day to just 250,000 bpd.OPEC Secretary General Abdullah el-Badri projected that Libya's oil exports would quadruple from current levels and hit 1.0 million barrels per day by mid-June after rebels ended a blockade of two terminals. Blockades on two other terminals remain in place pending a new agreement.

Dollar steadies ahead of Yellen appearances next week

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar stabilized Friday against other currencies as investors looked ahead to fresh comment next week from US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.Near 2200 GMT, the euro traded at $1.3882, down slightly from the $1.3888 Thursday.The dollar bought 101.65 yen, up from 101.55 of the Japanese currency.The euro traded at 141.11 yen compared with 141.04.The dollar tumbled the last two days after minutes from the Fed's March policy meeting released Wednesday suggested there was still little chance the Fed would significantly move up its timetable for raising benchmark interest rates.Most analysts expect such a move in late 2015.Kathy Lien, managing director for BK Asset Management, said the dollar remains pressured although selling subsided at the week's close.She said a shift in the Fed's stance could shake things up.If FOMC officials change the conversation from low rates for long to a rate hike in mid 2015, investors could be willing to buy dollars cautiously, Lien said. But if the Fed's goal is to prevent yields from rising sharply as they reduce asset purchases, why would they risk saying anything that could shock the Treasury market?Still, Lien will be watching public appearances by Yellen next week in Atlanta and New York, along with Monday's release of retail sales data.Among other currencies, the pound declined to $1.6733 from $1.6781 Thursday.The dollar slipped to 0.8758 Swiss franc from 0.8762.

ECP issues women politicians' gold ownership list

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the list detailing assets in terms of gold owned by women politicians, Dunya News reported on Saturday.According to reports, top five women politicians own over 1200 Tola gold.Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Firdous Ashiq Awan tops the list with 755 tola gold that is worth over 3 crore, 77 lakh rupees.Second in the list is Pakistan Muslim League Quaid’s (PMLQ) Kashmala Tariq who owns a total of 200 tola gold.Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Khushbakht Shujaat is at the third number owning 130 tola gold.Fourth in the list is PPP’s Hina Rabbani Khar with 77 tola total gold.And fifth in the list is State Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman who owns 60 tola gold.

19 killed in bomb, rocket attacks in North Waziristan

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ISLAMABAD (Agencies) - At least 19 militants were killed in two separate incidents of bombing and gunfight in Pakistan's restive tribal areas Friday, local security officials said, the latest clashes in almost a week of infighting between rival Taliban factions.A total of 62 people have been killed in the violence which erupted on Sunday between supporters of commander Khan Said Sajna and followers of the late Hakimullah Mehsud group in troubled North Waziristan.Both factions are part of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) umbrella group, which has been waging a bloody seven-year insurgency against the state.Six militants were killed when their vehicle was blown up with an remote control bomb in the Shawal area (45 kilometres west of Miranshah) of the restless tribal belt.In another separate incident in Shawal town, 10 insurgents were killed in clashes when members of the Sajna group came under rocket attack in their car, a local intelligence official told AFP.Militant sources also confirmed the clash and casualties.The feud began after Sajna, a senior commander, was rejected for the TTP leadership following the killing of then-leader Mehsud last November, militants say.The TTP has long been riven by infighting.Sajna had been seen as a strong candidate to become TTP chief following Mehsud's death.But the movement's ruling council at the last minute elected Mullah Fazlullah, who hails from Swat and is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.Separately, Sher Amanullah, a commander of the Haqqani militant network, was killed along with two others when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle near the town of Datta Khel, intelligence and militant sources said.Amanullah is said to be a close associate of Mullah Sangeen Zadran, who was blacklisted as a terrorist by the United Nations and United States and was killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan in September last year.The Pakistani government began negotiations through intermediaries with the TTP in February to try to end its insurgency.The militant group has demanded the release of what they call non-combatant prisoners and the establishment of a peace zone from which security forces would be barred.A bomb attack at a market in Islamabad on Wednesday killed 24 people, though the TTP denied responsibility.

UN criticises Brunei over new Islamic law

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GENEVA (AFP) - The UN human rights office on Friday criticised Bruneis planned introduction of the death penalty for a raft of new offences, as part of a shift to harsh Islamic punishments in the oil-rich sultanate.We are deeply concerned about the revised penal code in Brunei Darussalam, due to come into force later this month, which stipulates the death penalty for numerous offences, said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights.He told reporters these offences include rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital sexual relations for Muslims, but also crimes such as robbery and murder.The death sentence could also be imposed for defamation of Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), insulting any verses of the Quran and Hadith, blasphemy, and declaring oneself a prophet or non-Muslim, he said.Application of the death penalty for such a broad range of offences contravenes international law, he added.Brunei has not carried out any executions since 1957, but Colville said that rather than adding new capital crimes to its books, the sultanate should be working to abolish the death penalty outright.Bruneis all-powerful Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, announced last October that the country would phase in Islamic sharia law punishments such as flogging and death by stoning.The new criminal code, expected to enter into force on April 22, also introduces stoning to death as the specific method of execution for rape, adultery, sodomy and extramarital sexual relations.Colville said that international law classified stoning as torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, meaning it is banned under global human rights treaties.UN studies have shown that women are more likely to be sentenced to death by stoning, due to entrenched discrimination and stereotyping in the justice system, he noted.Criminalising consensual sex between adults, let alone applying the death penalty for it, breaches a series of rights, while the new code also violates freedom of religion, opinion and expression, Colville added.Brunei practices a more conservative form of Islam than neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia, banning the sale and public consumption of alcohol and closely restricting other religions.The sultan has advocated the strengthening of Islam in the country, against what he calls potentially harmful outside influences, recently calling his Islamic monarchy a firewall against globalisation.Officials have previously said sharia cases would require an extremely high burden of proof and judges would have wide discretion applying it.

Qaim takes notice of target killing incidents in Karachi

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday summoned Inspector Genral (IG) Sindh Police and expressed annoyance over worsening law and order situation in the city.The CM directed the IG to take stern action against miscreants and make arrangement to restore law and order in the city.He directed that those involved in the target killing should be brought to justice.Meanwhile, the Sindh CM called a meeting on Saturday to review law and order situation in the city.Heads of law enforcement agencies and authorities concerned would participate in the meeting.Earlier, another incident of firing claimed one more life as a lawyer was shot dead on Jehangir Road in Karachi.According to police, three gunmen riding a motorcycle targeted Advocate Ghulam Haider as he was heading back to his home after work. Haider, 45, was shot thrice in his head, causing his instant death.The dead body was shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities.The deceased had been working as Additional Director at the office of federal ombudsman and was also a part-time lawyer.On Thursday, the vice president of PML-N’s lawyers’ wing Syed Waqar Shah was killed in a firing incident in Karachi.

Foreign reserves cross $ 10b, says FM Dar

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WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said that foreign reserves have crossed ten billion dollar mark.Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said this during his meeting with US Deputy Secretary Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin in Washington and briefed her about Pakistan economic recovery plan.The minister noted that fiscal deficit is well below the target, inflation is down to single digit, and foreign reserves have crossed ten billion dollar mark. The Finance Minister said stock market is booming and has reached the 29,000 mark.He said the government has taken bold reforms in energy sector to overcome energy shortage.He said the government cleared circular debt and added 1,700 MW electricity to the national system, which resulted in growth in large scale manufacturing.The deputy secretary congratulated finance minister on a very successful launch of the Eurobond and appreciated strong economic recovery plan.

Another lawyer shot dead in Karachi

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KARACHI (Web Desk) - Another incident of firing claimed one more life as a lawyer was shot dead on Jehangir Road in Karachi on Friday.According to police, three gunmen riding a motorcycle targeted Advocate Ghulam Haider as he was heading back to his home after work. Haider, 45, was shot thrice in his head, causing his instant death. The dead body was shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities. The deceased had been working as Additional Director at the office of federal ombudsman and was also a part-time lawyer.On Thursday,the vice president of PML-N’s lawyers’ wing Syed Waqar Shah was killed in a firing incident in Karachi.According to details, unidentified gunmen opened firing on a car in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, killing advocate Syed Waqar Shah on spot.The police collected seven shells of 9MM pistol from the site. According to witnesses, four armed men attacked the vehicle of Syed Waqar.Following the news, the lawyers’ fraternity boycotted court proceedings in the troubled metropolis.

Mind your tongue, don't take advantage of relationship with PM, KP CM tells Abid Sher Ali

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Pervez Khattak lashed out at state minister for water and power on Friday, saying that Abid Sher Ali should mind his tongue and rid Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of bribes instead of leveling allegations against Pakhtuns, Dunya News reported.According to reports, a verbal war has started between state minister Abid Sher Ali and chief ministers of provincial governments after federal government shut down ten feeders supplying electricity to the province following accusations of electricity theft.Pervez Khattak said that Abid Sher Ali should mind his tongue. He also said that State minister should not take advantage of personal relationship with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.Khattak also said that thieves and looters will be confronted at every level, adding that Abid Sher Ali should rid WAPDA of bribes and corruption instead of leveling allegations.Shaukat Yousafzai said that Abid Sher Ali’s meter doesn’t work, referring to Sher Ali’s mental state.Yousafzai also said that Prime Minister’s silence over discriminatory attitude is meaningful. He also said that if Abid Sher Ali’s meter worked, he wouldn’t see any electricity thieves.Earlier, Abid Sher Ali shut down ten feeders supplying electricity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province – a move he had warned about earlier.Addressing media, he had said that line losses in thirty feeders of PESCO have increased. He said that a hundred percent increase in electricity was observed in Warsek.Sher Ali urged the provincial government to open its eyes regarding the matter, warning that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s feeders will be shut down if electricity theft is not curbed.Abid Sher Ali has reportedly been cracking down against electricity theft since becoming the minister. He often comes under fire for naming Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial governments in electricity theft scandals.

South Korean PM Chung Hongwon to reach Pakistan on Sunday

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hongwon will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday on a four-day official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.This will be the first visit by a South Korean Prime Minister to Pakistan since establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1983.During his stay, the distinguished guest will meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif followed by delegation level talks.He will also call on President Mamnoon Hussain.He will be the chief guest at the 'Korea Pakistan Investment Cooperation Forum' jointly organized by Board of Investment Pakistan and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency on April 14.Chung Hongwon will also meet Korean community and visit Shakkar Parian to plant a sapling. He will also visit National Monument in Islamabad.Many Korean companies are investing in Pakistan in areas of chemical industry, hydel, thermal power and infrastructure projects etc.The visit will be of special significance as it will give new impetus to the existing friendly relations between the two countries.
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