Sunday 6 April 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

29 rebels dead in Syria premature car bomb blast: NGO

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - At least 29 rebels died in a blast Sunday in the central Syrian city of Homs as they primed a car bomb for an attack, a monitoring group said.In the capital, meanwhile, two people were killed when mortar fire struck the Damascus Opera House, state media reported.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 29 people were killed, most or all of them believed to be rebels, in the besieged Old City of Homs when a car bomb exploded.The death toll is likely to rise because there are dozens of people missing and body parts in the area of the blast, the Britain-based group said.State news agency SANA also reported the blast, saying a car had exploded while being loaded with explosives.One activist network, the Syrian Revolution General Commission, said the blast was the result of a rocket landing on an ammunition deport in the area. The claim could not be independently confirmed.The blast took place on the outskirts of the Old City of Homs, which is under rebel control.Some 1,400 civilians were able to leave the area this year under UN supervision, but an estimated 1,500 people remain until the army siege.In the capital, SANA said two people were killed in mortar fire by rebel fighters.Two people were killed and five wounded by a mortar round that hit the Damascus Opera House near key government and military buildings on Umayyad Square, it said.The attack damaged the Opera House, which was inaugurated by President Bashar al-Assad in 2004.Mortar fire also wounded 13 people in several neighbourhoods of the capital.On Saturday, mortar rounds struck near the Russian embassy, said the Observatory.The rebel fire on Damascus comes as government forces step up a campaign to crush insurgents in its eastern suburbs, it said.On Sunday, the Observatory said five civilians, including three children, were killed in regime air strikes on the town of Douma northeast of Damascus.And additional air raids as well as fierce fighting was reported in Mleiha, southwest of the capital in Damascus province.In northern Aleppo province, the Observatory said two people, including a child, were killed in raids using explosive-packed barrels bombs, an army tactic that has caused dozens of deaths.

Egypt to try the brother of Qaeda chief Zawahiri brother

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CAIRO (AFP) - The brother of Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri will stand trial in Egypt along with 67 others on charges of forming a terrorist group, state media reported on Sunday.Mohamed al-Zawahiri was arrested last August for supporting Islamist president Mohamed Morsi who was ousted by the army in July and has now been refered to trial by the state prosecutor.Zawahiri and the other suspects are accused of having set up an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group that plotted attacks against government installations, security personnel and members of Egypt's Christian minority, state news agency MENA said.They group was seeking to spread chaos and undermine security across Egypt, it said.MENA did not say whether the group had actually carried out any attacks, nor did it give a date for the trial.

Tennis: Switzerland, Italy, France in Davis Cup semis

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PARIS (AFP) - Switzerland, Italy and France all staged thrilling comebacks on Sunday to reach the Davis Cup semi-finals.Roger Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam title winner, and Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka won their reverse singles as Switzerland beat Kazakhstan 3-2 in Geneva.In their first semi-final since 2003 they will face Italy who defeated Great Britain 3-2 in Naples.France came back from 2-0 down to see off underdogs Germany 3-2 in Nancy and will face two-time defending champions Czech Republic who crushed Japan 5-0.World number four Federer, who had never played a decisive Davis Cup rubber, cruised past world 64 Andrey Golubev 7-6 (7/6), 6-2, 6-3 for the winning point.Earlier, world number three Wawrinka beat Mikhail Kukushkin, the world 56, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to bring Switzerland level.It was a much-needed win for Wawrinka who had lost his singles opener to Golubev on Friday and then teamed with Federer in a losing doubles on Saturday.I have had two very, very difficult days, admitted Wawrinka. I take responsibility for our defeat in the doubles, I didn't do what was necessary.Federer played in the Swiss team which lost to Australia in the 2003 semi-finals, surrendering a two-sets to love lead against Lleyton Hewitt.It was one of my biggest defeats. But I learned a lot and if I have had the career I've had since that time, it was due to matches like that.Italy foiled Britain's dream of a first semi-final appearance in 33 years with a battling 3-2 quarter-final win on the Naples clay.The British were in control, leading 2-1 going into Sunday's closing two reverse singles.But world number 13 Fabio Fognini stunned Wimbledon champion Andy Murray 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 with Andreas Seppi securing the decisive point with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over James Ward.The Italians, who last appeared in the semi-finals in 1998, will now travel to Switzerland in the September 12-14 showdown.Murray's defeat to Fognini was the Scot's first Davis Cup singles loss since 2005 and it came three days after he suffered a stomach bug.He played very well today, that's for sure. He's a very good player especially on clay, said Murray.Fognini revealed he had been sick three times in the match against Murray.Of course I suffered on all three days, said the colourful Italian.I think the first day was the worst one because I was not feeling really good. Also yesterday during the doubles I started to feel something after two sets and at the end I think we were a little bit unlucky.I was really angry after the match and during the night, but this morning I woke up and said 'OK, let's go, put your face in the court like always' and I was right today.France came back from 2-0 down in the Davis Cup for the fourth time by seeing off a German team lacking their top six players.Gael Monfils secured the decisive fifth point with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 win over Peter Gojowczyk after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had earlier levelled the tie at 2-2 beating Tobias Kamke 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.It's incredible, said Monfils. This is the first time this has happened for me. I was stressed all day but now I am super happy.In Tokyo, Lukas Rosol and Jiri Vesely showed no mercy in winning Sunday's dead singles rubbers against Japan.Rosol beat Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 before left-hander Vesely swept past Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-4.Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil insisted his team were capable of capturing a first hat-trick of titles since the United States won the third of five in a row in 1970.We have won the trophy the last two years so we have confidence, he told AFP after the visitors reached the semi-finals for the fifth time in the last six years without the services of top player Tomas Berdych.

Tennis: Petkovic wins Charleston title

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CHARLESTON (AFP) - Andrea Petkovic, who is coming back from a string of injuries in recent years, earned her first title in nearly three years Sunday with a straight-set win in the Family Circle Cup.Germany's Petkovic posted a 7-5, 6-2 win over rising star Jana Cepelova for her third WTA Tour crown and first since winning in Strasbourg in 2011. Her first title came fiver years ago in Bad Gastein.Petkovic clinched the win in the eighth game of the second set when Cepelova's forehand return sailed past the baseline.Petkovic celebrated the victory on the green clay surface by doing a shuffle dance on the court.I am excited and emotional, she said.She won 32 of 49 first serve points in the 79-minute contest which lasted almost as long as her post-match speech in which she thanked numerous people for helping her overcome some troubling injuries.She said she feels as comfortable in front of a microphone as a politician.I am almost like a politician, talking more than everyone else, said Petkovic who improved to 3-5 all-time in WTA finals.The 14th seeded Petkovic was down 4-5 in the first set and fought off a set point. She then reeled off eight straight games to seize control of the match.Petkovic has battled a myriad of injuries.I was just so relieved and proud that I've come back from all these injuries, and I never thought I would play in the finals of the big tournaments again, and so I was just proud and happy and everything just sort of came together, said Petkovic, who was ranked as high as number nine in 2011.Petkovic said she didn't expect to play in a final against the 20-year-old Cepelova, who easily knocked off world number one Serena Williams in the second round.Cepelova, who appears to be headed for a breakout season on the Tour, achieved something very few 20 year olds have been able to do. She came to Charleston alone -- without any entourage of any sort, including a coach.I want to congratulate Jana, Petkovic said. I am amazed you did this all by yourself. No coach, nobody with you.If you had said something I would have coached you but obviously you don't need it.Cepelova was seeking to become the first player since Sabine Lisicki in 2009 to claim her maiden title in Charleston.

Formula One: Hamilton edges Rosberg in Bahrain thriller

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MANAMA (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg after a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel, taking him level with Juan Manuel Fangio on 24 career victories.Hamilton, who also won last weekend in Malaysia, finished 1.085sec ahead of Rosberg in another triumph for the Mercedes team who have won all three races this season.Sergio Perez in a Force India was third, a huge 24.067sec off the winner's time, to give his team just their second podium finish.Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, who had started in 13th place, was fourth, followed by Nico Hulkenberg in the second Force India and world champion Sebastian Vettel in the second Red Bull completing the top six.The result left Rosberg, the Australian Grand Prix winner, still on top of the world championship standings with 61 points. Hamilton has 50 with Hulkenberg in third place on 28 points.The British driver had been cruising to victory in the 900th ever grand prix with a lead of more than nine seconds when the safety car was called out on lap 42 of the 57-lap floodlit race.Rosberg, who had been on pole, then briefly slipped past the Briton but Hamilton reasserted his authority under braking despite his medium tyres lacking the grip of the German's softer options.On the final lap, Hamilton consolidated to take his first win in Bahrain after a memorable close-quarters battle.It's great to see that we have such a great following here, I am so grateful to the team for getting us up here and this is my first win here in Bahrain which is nice, said Hamilton.It was really exciting, Nico drove fantastically well, it was so fair but it was so hard to keep him behind me, I was on a real knife edge at the end but just managed to take it.Despite Rosberg's second place, the German was despondent he could not retake the lead in the closing stages.It's very disappointing. I hope to get it right next time, said Rosberg, who hit back at critics who claim the dominance of Mercedes was bad for the sport.It was anything but boring. We have the momentum now and we have to keep pushing.Perez was celebrating his first podium since leaving McLaren.It means a lot. It is a very special podium for me, said the Mexican who had been on the podium three times in his Sauber career.Hamilton had snatched the lead on the first corner from his pole-sitting teammate and gradually built a commanding lead.With the two Mercedes sprinting away, the cut and thrust of racing was behind them for the remaining podium places with teammate fighting teammate for positions which switched back and forth as the night race went on.Down the field, Ricciardo was piling the pressure on Vettel with the world champion at one stage ordered to give way to the Australian.The four-time world champion, who had started in 10th spot told his team that he had lost his DRS system.At the front, Rosberg then slipped inside Hamilton on lap 19 to briefly take the lead before the 2008 world champion reclaimed the advantage.At the halfway mark, Hamilton was seven seconds up on Rosberg and by the 40th lap, Hamilton's lead had extended to 9.5sec.But on lap 42, the safety car was called out after Pastor Maldonado's Lotus T-boned the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez who was sent into a somersault.Racing resumed four laps later with Hamilton going on to just hold off Rosberg while Ricciardo again slipped past Vettel who complained wearily over his Red Bull's lack of power.Felipe Massa in a Williams was to finish seventh, with teammate Valterri Bottas taking eighth.Fernando Alonso, a three-time winner at the track, and Kimi Raikkonen filled out the top 10 to complete a miserable day for Ferrari.McLaren's Jenson Button, racing in his 250th grand prix, had been in the top five at one stage before being forced into retirement two laps from home.

Football: Liverpool on top as Everton down Arsenal

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LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored two penalties as his side returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 win away to West Ham on Sunday.Victory, in a match where Gerrard struck from the spot either side of Guy Demel's equaliser, left Liverpool two points in front of Chelsea and four ahead of third-placed Manchester City.However, City have two games in hand over both Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool play City at Anfield next weekend.Gerrard gave the visitors the lead a minute before half-time at Upton Park after James Tomkins handled in the box as Luis Suarez played the ball forward.But there was still time before the break for the Hammers to grab a disputed equaliser.It appeared former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll had knocked the ball out of Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet's grasp, after shoving a hand in his face, before Demel stabbed home in first-half stoppage-time.The linesman flagged but, having consulted with his official, referee Anthony Taylor let the goal stand despite furious Liverpool protests.Taylor was involved in more controversy when he awarded Liverpool a second penalty from which Gerrard made it 2-1 in the 71st minute.West Ham goalkeeper Adrian came off his line to take the ball but then made contact with Jon Flanagan in his follow-through and Taylor, somewhat harshly, pointed to the spot.There were bad decisions both for and against us, said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.In all fairness the referee came out after the game and said he got it wrong for their goal.Frustrated Hammers manager Sam Allardyce added: Unfortunately we are talking about the officials and not the game. There were fouls given by the referee when he was 60 yards away, the second penalty was not a penalty, Adrian plays the ball.It looked like Andy Carroll fouled the goalkeeper for our goal but we got it. We don't want that, nobody wants that. We don't have enough quality referees.Earlier, Liverpool's Merseyside rivals Everton bolstered their hopes of Champions League football next season by moving to within a point of fourth-placed Arsenal after they beat the Gunners 3-0.Goals from Steven Naismith, Romelu Lukaku and an own-goal by Everton old boy Mikel Arteta saw the Toffees, who have a game in hand over Arsenal, record a convincing victory.It was a very good performance, Everton manager Roberto Martinez said.The most pleasing aspect had to be the manner in which we defended, our concentration and discipline off the ball, he added. Dejected Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger conceded his side had showed a lack of fight and that the manner of this defeat was a massive worry for the north London club.Was there a lack of fight? You could say that, said Wenger. It is a massive worry to lose a game like that.Naismith gave the home side a 14th minute lead when, after Lukaku's shot was kicked clear by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, he side-footed the loose ball into the net.And 20 minutes later, Martinez's side, knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal, doubled their lead. Lukaku, playing on the wing, collected the ball wide on the right, drove past Nacho Monreal and around Thomas Vermaelen before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot past Szczesny from the edge of the box.Arsenal, who are now in danger of missing out on a top four finish that would see them into next season's Champions League, tried to respond in the second half.But Wenger's visitors, whose campaign could hang on the outcome of next weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Wigan, fell further behind in the 62nd minute.Kevin Mirallas dispossessed Bacary Sagna and sprinted off towards goal before playing in Naismith, who was blocked from rounding Szczesny.But as the ball came loose Mirallas and Arteta tussled for the ball only for Arteta to get the final touch to divert it into the Gunners' net, with this defeat all but ending Arsenal's slim hopes of winning the Premier League this season.

Golf: Jones chips in to win title, claim Masters' spot

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HOUSTON (AFP) - Australia's Matt Jones chipped in from rough on the first playoff hole to win the PGA Tour's Houston Open title and claim the final spot in the Masters on Sunday.Jones, of Sydney, poured in a long birdie putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Matt Kuchar, then chipped in for birdie the extra hole to claim his first USPGA Tour victory.Jones fired a six-under 66 to get in 15-under-par 273.Kuchar led by one in the 18th fairway, but put his second shot in the water. He got up and down for bogey to force the extra session, closing with an even-par 72.The pair returned to the 18th hole for the playoff on the Tournament Course at Golf Club of Houston.Jones found a fairway bunker off the tee before Kuchar hit his drive right down the middle of the fairway.Jones played short of the green in the right rough. Kuchar fired his approach into a bunker right of the green.Jones' long chip landed on the green then curled into the cup for a birdie.Kuchar failed to match, as his shot from the bunker landed 10 feet short of the cup.

Athletics: Bekele wins debut marathon but misses world record

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PARIS (AFP) - Ethiopia's legendary runner Kenenisa Bekele notched up another impressive milestone in an already glittering career by winning the Paris Marathon on Sunday, his first attempt at the gruelling event. The 31-year-old 5,000m and 10,000m world record crossed the line in an event record time of 2hr 5min 04secs after negotiating a sunbathed course of 42.195km (26.22 miles) through the streets of the French capital.The previous Paris record was held by Kenya's Stanley Wiwott who clocked 2hr 05:10 in 2012. Fellow Ethiopian Limenih Getachew came home second at 2hr 06.49secs with Luka Kanda of Kenya, the 2012 Rome winner, claiming the final spot on the podium crossing the line in 2hr 08.02. It was my first marathon and I didn't have much experience, said Bekele, the triple Olympic champion. It was very tough but it was the time I expected. After 25km I pushed alone but it was very tough. added Now, I know the marathon, I can run faster than that but I have to prepare even more. I'm sure I can run a better time than that. I still have time in my career to do better but I am satisfied.Bekele emulated his great compatriot Haile Gebrselassie who also made a successful step from the track to marathon and has the third fastest time in history. Bekele made his move with about 25km to run and opened up a lead that may have been even more significant had he not struggled with what appeared to be a hamstring problem. The hamstring wasn't good after 25km. It was cramping but it's ok. I'll feel it more in the morning, explained Bekele. He missed out on the world record which is held by Kenyan Wilson Kipsang who set a mark of 2hr 3min 23secs in 2013 at Berlin. At 5km from the finish, my hamstring cramped up again and I couldn't accelerate. I think in the future, I'll do better but it's very positive.Yes, the world record is a possibility and a possibility if I can prepare for a longer time. For this marathon, I only had three months of training and that is not enough. After the 5000 and 10,000m, you have to train differently and longer to adapt to the change of rhythm. I am sure for my second marathon, I will do better and can perhaps attack the world record. Now, Im going to return a bit to the track, the 10,000m, run a few times and after I will decide what I'm going to do. I think there's a good possibility that I'll run another marathon in the autumn.In the women's race, Kenya's Flomena Cheyech dominated proceedings, winning in a time of 2hr 22:44secs as she turned in a confident showing with Ethiopia's Yebrgual Melese second at 2hr 26:21.A second Ethiopian, Ahmed Zemzem claimed third spot in 2hr 29.35. I'm very happy, the course was good, said a delighted Cheyech. I wasn't that fast but in the middle of the race, I felt confident and just told myself to keep running, she added. The victory for five-time world champion Bekele, who dominated the 5,000m and 10,000m for the best part of a decade, caps a stunning comeback from a debilitating calf injury which kept him out of competition for nearly three years.Last September, he defeated Gebrselassie and his track rival Mo Farah in his comeback race at the Great North run in England -- his half marathon debut -- outkicking Farah in a sprint for the line. Britain's Farah, who emulated Bekele when he won Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m gold at the 2012 London Games, makes his own marathon debut in London next week, but Bekele has opted not to go head to head with him in the English capital. Of course I'm going to watch the London marathon because I love to watch other races, marathon or not. I'm a marathon runner now, concluded Bekele.

Report: Pakistani vessels at Iranian naval drill

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TEHRAN (AP) - Iran's official news agency is reporting that Pakistani naval vessels have arrived at the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas for an upcoming naval maneuver.The report Sunday by IRNA quoted Iranian Rear Adm. Shahram Irani as saying the fleet will have presence in the maneuver that will began on Tuesday east of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil supply passes.The report said Pakistani vessels include a warship, a submarine and a logistics vessel.The report did not say whether it would be joint drill, nor did it elaborate on its scale or duration. It said the Pakistani fleet will leave after four days.In the past, regional countries have had a presence at similar Iranian maneuvers as observers.

Libya rebels to lift blockades of 2 oil terminals: agency

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BENGHAZI (AFP) - Rebels seeking regional autonomy agreed Sunday to allow the reopening of two of four oil terminals in eastern Libya that they have blockaded since July, official news agency Lana reported.It said the announcement of a deal to reopen Zueitina and Al-Hariga terminals was made in Zueitina in the presence of government members and rebel chief Ibrahim Jodhran.The two sides have set a target of two to four weeks for a reopening of the other two terminals under blockade, at Ras Lanouf and Al-Sidra.Tripoli says the nine-month blockade of the export terminals has cost Libya more than $14 billion in lost oil revenues.The prospect of a return of Libyan oil to the market, after the blockade slashed exports from 1.5 million barrels a day to just 250,000, prompted a sharp dip in world prices on Thursday, before a rebound.With negotiations making progress, Libyan authorities on Monday released three rebels who had been detained on a tanker loaded with oil illegally loaded at one of the blockaded ports.Tripoli authorities deny there had been any direct talks with the rebels, insisting that negotiations had been conducted through intermediaries from the region's powerful tribes.Neither side gave any details of the agreement under discussion.But a source close to the negotiations said the rebels were demanding a referendum on restoring the autonomy that the eastern Cyrenaica region enjoyed for the first 12 years after Libyan independence in 1951.They were also demanding full back pay for their men, who were employed as security guards at the oil terminals before launching their blockade.The eastern oil terminals were a key battleground in the NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, changing hands several times before the rebels finally captured them.The source said that the talks were serious and that, if they bore fruit, it was proposed that the export terminal be the first to reopen.The head of the rebels' self-declared regional government, Jodhran, has said he decided to seek a solution through dialogue to cut short foreign intervention.A Western diplomat in Tripoli said the rebels were trying to find a way out of the crisis they created with an abortive oil export attempt last month that prompted the intervention of the US Navy and a March 19 UN Security Council resolution outlawing all unauthorised Libyan oil exports.

Sri Lanka celebrates biggest win in 18 years

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COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lanka fans at home burst firecrackers and danced on the streets as the national team won the World Twenty20 title beating India by six wickets in Dhaka on Sunday.Instant celebrations broke out at cricket grounds and public parks in the capital Colombo as well as in suburban towns where thousands of fans watched the game on giant television screens.President Mahinda Rajapakse telephoned the Sri Lankan team in Dhaka to congratulate them for their biggest cricket win since the 1996 World Cup, his office said.A short while ago, the President spoke to the team and officials and congratulated them, an official said.Motorists took to the streets tooting their horns and waved the national Lion flag to celebrate what many saw as a historic win bringing back memories of 1996 when Arjuna Ranatunga brought home the 50-over World Cup.Congratulations Sri Lanka, said President Rajapakses legislator son, Namal Rajapakse. Well played boys. Good game.Sri Lanka went into the game with the offer of a million dollar bonus if they shed their reputation as chokers in the final against India.The cash-strapped Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board had said it would treble the money it had previously promised if the team returned home from Bangladesh with the trophy.The Executive Committee of SLC which met at an emergency meeting this morning and decided to offer $1.5 million (including the original fee of $500,000) to the national team players in the event that they win the final, the board said in a statement.Sri Lanka were the beaten finalists last time round when they lost to the West Indies even though they were the tournament hosts. They have also been beaten in the final of the last two 50-over World Cups.Sri Lankan fans heaped praise on Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the stalwart duo who will retire from the shortest form of the game, for their final performance.Sangakkara, the veteran left-hander knocked a 35-ball 52 not out in his last Twenty20 match to guide Sri Lankas chase of a modest 131-run target in 17.5 overs at a packed Shere Bangla stadium.As Thisara Perera hit Ravichandran Ashwin for a winning boundary to seal the win, finishing with 21 not out, fans at home shouted in joy and motorists kept on toothing their horns.Sri Lanka Cricket officials said the national team was due back Colombo on Tuesday, but they could be flown out earlier to celebrate at home on Monday.

Army must be accepted as institution whole heartedly: Ch Shujaat

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PMLQ) Chief Chaudhry Shujaat said on Sunday that the army must be taken as a serious institution whole heartedly in order to stop its way from interfering in politics, Dunya News reported. Not holding local bodies’ polls is also a constitutional violation that constitutes treason, he said.Addressing media in Lahore, he asked whether constitutional amendments can stop army from interfering in politics.Army doesn’t ask anyone when they have to come, he said. The army only needs a jeep and two trucks in order to take country’s political control, he added.According to Dunya News sources, he said that the army should be taken as a serious institution instead of private servants if government wants to stop army’s way of entering mainstream politics.He further said that President Mamnoon’s statement about granting general pardon to Pervez Musharraf in case he’s awarded death penalty, before court’s verdict, comes under contempt of court.

Experts decode germs' DNA to fight food poisoning

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Chances are youve heard of mapping genes to diagnose rare diseases, predict your risk of cancer and tell your ancestry.But to uncover food poisonings?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is beginning a program to outsmart food outbreaks by routinely decoding the bugs DNA.First up is listeria, bacteria especially dangerous to pregnant women.Federal and state officials are sequencing the genomes of all the listeria infections diagnosed in the U.S. this year, along with samples found in tainted foods or factories.Its the first time the technology has been used for routine disease surveillance looking for people with matching strains who may have gotten sick from the same source.

Japan pushes to build hi-tech power plants abroad

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TOKYO (AFP) - Two Japanese companies have agreed deals to develop advanced coal-fired power plants in Malaysia and Myanmar as part of a government drive to export energy efficiency technology to emerging markets, a report said Sunday.The Japanese government is seeking to promote the export of ultra-supercritical (USC) pressure technology power plants to meet expected growing demand in emerging economies, the Nikkei business daily said.USC power plants are the most efficient in the world, generating hotter, higher-pressure steam than conventional units resulting in significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions, Nikkei said.Japanese trading firm Mitsui has agreed to oversee the construction and operation of a plant in Malaysia with two USC generators that can each produce one million kilowatts of energy, the daily said.Mitsui, partnering with government-affiliated infrastructure group 1Malaysia Development Berhad, is expected to sign a formal contract with the Malaysian government by this summer, Nikkei said.The project is valued at about 360 billion yen (about $3.48 billion) and come online in 2018.Under the plan, Toshiba will deliver steam turbines to the plant to be built in Jimah, south of Kuala Lumpur, while Japanese heavy equipment maker IHI will provide boilers, Nikkei said.In addition, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking has reached a deal to extend loans for a 260 billion yen USC power generation project in Myanmar, the daily said.Japanese heavy machinery makers will take part in the construction of the plant with an output of 1.28 million kilowatts in cooperation with Thai engineering firm Toyo-Thai Corporation Public Co., it said.The two companies will start the construction by the end of the year and aim to start the plant in 2018.

Iran approves bill on Iran-Pakistan security pact

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TEHRAN (Web Desk) – The Iranian legislators on Sunday approved general terms of a bill that would pave the way for Iran and Pakistan to enhance security cooperation.According to Iranian news agency, the parliament passed the bill with 187 votes in favor, 14 votes against and 6 abstentions.The bill on Iran-Pakistan Security pact had earlier been adopted by the Iranian Council of Ministers and submitted to the parliament on March 31, 2013.The bill contains a single article and 11 clauses in which the areas of cooperation, working methods, costs, the responsible ministries and other issues relating to the security pact are included.In February 2013, Iran and Pakistan signed the security pact with the aim of boosting anti-terror cooperation.The agreement, which was signed in Tehran between the Iranian Interior Minister and his Pakistani counterpart, was intended to take strict measures to combat terrorism, human and drug trafficking.
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