Saturday 3 May 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Berdych to face Berlocq in Portugal final

Posted:

OEIRAS (AFP) - Czech Tomas Berdych will put his top seeding on the line Sunday when he plays Carlos Berlocq the final of the Portugal Open.World number six Berdych lived up to his billing with a 6-2, 6-2 hammering of Romanian Victor Hanescu while Argentine Berlocq beat Spanish qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.Berdych, playing on a wild card, will compete in his third final of the season after Rotterdam and Dubai while the 61st-ranked Berlocq is entering only the third final of his career (1-1).The first step is there, I'm in the final, said Berdych. Now it would be really great to win this title.It's always a pleasure to be competing at the end of a week. Every final counts and I'm really looking forward to this one.Berdych needed just 72 minutes to defeat Hanescu in a match which he made it all look easy after struggling in the previous round.The top seed won with five aces and four breaks of serve in a straightforward effort which put him into a 22nd career final and bidding for his ninth trophy.The victory also gives Berdych a 2-0 lead in the series after defeating Hanescu in the Wimbledon second round six years ago. The loss denied Hanescu his 200th career victory on the ATP.I finally found the way I want to play, said Berdych. This is how I want to prepare on the clay.I need (tough) days like yesterday to work through, it's important to fight out of tough situations. That's why I'm here. I want to improve my clay game this week and I'm managing to put my game together.Berdych, who lost early in Monte Carlo, dominated in the opening set, sweeping it in half an hour. He moved out to 3-0 in the second, with Hanescu ending a streak of three broken service games to hold for 1-3.But Berdych kept up the pressure, firing an ace for a 5-2 lead and breaking his opponent a game later to complete the win.The Czech improved to 24-5 on the season. He spent 2013 as the only member of the top 10 not to win a title but lifted the Rotterdam trophy in February, his first title in 16 months.He is playing Portugal for the first time since 2005, when he lost in the opening round as a teenager.Berlocq's attacking game produced 21 errors from Gimeno-Traver, who saved a set point in the 54-minute opener. But his Argentine opponent got a 2-1 lead in the second set and never let go, breaking two more times on the way to the win.Berdych holds a comfortable 3-0 margin over Berlocq and has beaten the South American twice on clay.

Tennis: Klizan stuns Haas in Munich semis

Posted:

BERLIN (AFP) - Title-holder Tommy Haas crashed out of the Munich ATP tournament semi-finals on Saturday as the 36-year-old suffered a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan.Germany's Haas, the defending Munich champion and former world number two, had few answers as he lost to Klizan in just over an hour, labouring in near-freezing temperatures and missed the chance to reach the Munich final for the third time.That was a bitter day for me. I don't know if that was my last time in Munich, admitted Haas, who hopes to compete in the ATP Madrid tournament next week.In Sunday's final, the 24-year-old Klizan, ranked 111 in the world, will face top seed Fabio Fognini after the Italian's 6-3, 6-1 win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff in the other semi-final.Fognini, ranked 13th in the world, is chasing his third straight tournament win in Germany after the clay-court specialist won both the Hamburg and Stuttgart ATP titles last year.It was a difficult match, but I am happy because I am in the final on my debut here, said Fognini.It'll be tough, I know Martin, he plays well and although I have beaten him the past few times, I will have to be careful as a final is a special match.Klizan has reached his second ATP final after losing in Barranquilla, Colombia at the end of March.Conditions were very tough today, but it was the same for both of us, said Klizan after beating Haas.I think I am playing very good tennis now, it will be a very tough match in the final, but I will try to play good tennis and enjoy it.

Football: Man City go top, Fulham and Cardiff go down

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City claimed top spot in the Premier League and took a significant step towards the title by coming from behind to edge Everton 3-2 on Saturday.Ross Barkley's stunner put hosts Everton ahead in the 11th minute, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and a brace from Edin Dzeko secured victory for Manuel Pellegrini's side despite Romelu Lukaku reducing the arrears.City now lead previous leaders Liverpool on goal difference -- 59 to 50 -- and will therefore be practically assured of winning the title if they win their two remaining games.Chelsea and Liverpool each have opportunities to take over at the summit over the next two days, but if City beat Aston Villa on Wednesday and win at home to West Ham United next weekend, they are unlikely to be caught.Everton's defeat, meanwhile, means that Arsenal are guaranteed to finish at least as high as fourth, guaranteeing them a place in next season's Champions League play-offs.It was a really, really big step, City manager Pellegrini told Sky Sports.We won and that is important. The pressure is maybe too high to play your best football. It is not easy to recover from a goal down, but we did.The worst thing we can do is think that we have won the Premier League. We have to try thinking from tomorrow about the game against Aston Villa and then we will see what happens.Everton's fans were in the uncomfortable position of knowing that victory for their side would hand the title initiative to their city rivals Liverpool, but Barkley's strike was a goal that demanded to be celebrated.After Steven Naismaith rolled Leighton Baines's pass into his path, the 20-year-old England midfielder looked up and arced a magnificent first-time shot into the top-right corner from 25 yards.Aguero equalised just 11 minutes later, however, rattling home at the near post from Yaya Toure's pass, and although he was then forced off with an apparent groin injury, City powered on.Dzeko put the visitors in front in the 43rd minute with an imperious header from a James Milner cross and after Joe Hart had saved from Naismith early in the second half, the Bosnian stabbed home Samir Nasri's centre to make it 3-1.Lukaku's 65th-minute diving header brought Everton back into the game, but City survived a nail-biting last half an hour -- Hart notably saving from substitute Gerard Deulofeu -- to close on the title.Meanwhile, Fulham and Cardiff City were both relegated after defeats in their penultimate games of the season left them unable to reach safety.Fulham's 13-year run in the English top flight was ended by a 4-1 defeat at Stoke City, while Cardiff went straight back down to the Championship following a 3-0 loss at Newcastle United.Both teams' fates were sealed by fourth-bottom Sunderland's unexpected 1-0 win at Manchester United, which took Gus Poyet's side four points above Fulham and five points clear of bottom club Cardiff.Peter Odemwingie, Marko Arnautovic, Oussama Assaidi and Jonathan Walters scored the goals that accounted for Fulham at the Britannia Stadium, with Kieran Richardson replying in vain for the visitors.I've never been relegated until today, said Fulham manager Felix Magath. I feel very sad. I have to apologise for not managing the situation. The club asked me to come. I tried.Goals from Newcastle trio Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy and Steven Taylor sent Cardiff back to the second tier just a year after their promotion from the Championship.The realisation that we're down is one of the most bitter disappointments of both mine and many of the players' careers, said Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.Sunderland will effectively be safe if third-bottom Norwich City lose at Chelsea on Sunday after Sebastian Larsson's 30th-minute goal at Old Trafford condemned United to their 12th league defeat of the season.I feel flat. The players were flat and I don't know why, said interim United manager Ryan Giggs, whose side have lost seven home league games for the first time since they were relegated to the old Division Two in 1974.We've had a problem at home all season. It's not been good enough.United's defeat means that Tottenham Hotspur need only a point to secure sixth place, and with it Europa League qualification, despite having lost 2-0 at West Ham United earlier in the day.Elsewhere, Andreas Weimann scored twice as Aston Villa won 3-1 at home to FA Cup finalists Hull City, while Southampton striker Rickie Lambert claimed a 93rd-minute winner in a 1-0 victory at Swansea City.

Football: Ten-man Napoli win violence-marred Cup final

Posted:

ROME (AFP) - Ten-man Napoli overcame dramatic scenes prior to kick-off at the Olympic Stadium to claim their second Italian Cup trophy in three years thanks to a 3-1 win over Fiorentina on Saturday.Scenes of violence marred the lead-up to the final with unconfirmed reports that at least four fans had been taken to hospital when gun shots were fired in the capital as violence broke out.Incredible scenes inside the stadium ensued as hard-line ultra fans of Napoli, many of whom threw rocket flares towards the pitch, ordered the Serie A giants not to play after rumours spread that one of their supporters had been shot.Following discussions between Napoli captain Marek Hamsik and a reported ultra leader, the match eventually kicked off 45 minutes later than scheduled.Fiorentina keeper Neto was given the all-clear despite suffering a finger injury last week while Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi made his return on the bench following his recent recovery from a knee injury.With no designated striker, Fiorentina started, on paper at least, with a disadvantage which became apparent inside 16 minutes when Lorenzo Insigne gave Napoli a 2-0 lead, his first a sublime curling shot which crept inside Netos far post after Hamsiks superb lay-off.Fiorentinas defence was almost caught unawares soon after, with Borja Valero clearing Gonzalo Higuains attempted tap-in from a corner off the line.Higuain was denied again moments later when he latched on to Insignes ball only to see his drive inch wide of Netos far post.Napoli clearly had the momentum and were rewarded on 16 minutes when Insigne trailed in late to meet a cross from Higuain after his run down the right, the Italian beating Neto with a shot which deflected off Nenad Tomovic.Napoli looked to be in total control, but took their eye off the ball to allow Fiorentina to reduce arrears just before the half hour.A long ball from midfield was flicked on by forward Josip Ilicic into the path of Juan Vargas, and as the Napoli defence waited for an offside flag that failed to materialise Vargas pounced to beat a static Pepe Reina.Fiorentina spurned the chance for a quick second when Valero opted to pass back to Joaquin while in a good shooting position while at the other end Higuain broke through only to see his drive collected by Neto.Alberto Aquilani had the ball in the bet on the stroke of half-time after volleying a free kick past Reina, but it was ruled offside.Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella replaced Manuel Pasqual with Matias Fernandez shortly after the restart while Rafael Benitez added firepower with Dries Mertens replacing Hamsik.Mertens should have done better with Insignes cutback on 69 minutes but saw his attempt blocked.Moments later a tiring Higuain came off in place of Goran Pandev and, after Fernandez tested Reina with a drive which the keeper tipped over, Rossi replaced Joaquin.Pandev should have extended Napolis lead moments later when he ran on to a through ball but Neto came out to block in timely fashion.Fiorentina were given a boost with a little over 10 minutes to play when midfielder Gokhan Inler saw red after being cautioned for a second time for a foul on behind on Ilicic.La Viola should have made advantage count but with five minutes left to play Ilicics attempted chip over the onrushing Reina was wide of the keepers post.Fiorentina laid seige to Napolis goal, but in injury time Mertens finished off a great Napoli counter to seal their fifth Cup and second since 2012.

Golf: Mickelson charges into hunt but Holmes takes lead

Posted:

CHARLOTTE (AFP) - Reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson charged into contention but it was J.B. Holmes who grabbed the lead after Saturday's third round of the US PGA Wells Fargo Championship.World number nine Mickelson, a five-time major champion, fired a nine-under par 63, one shot off the course record at Quail Hollow, to stand third on 11-under 205 after 54 holes.This was a really good day from start to finish, Mickelson said. I drove the ball well, my irons were solid, my short game was on and I made a lot of putts.Mickelson's front-nine 29 was the lowest start in tournament history.Holmes sank a 21-foot chip shot at the 18th hole to cap a round of 66 and take the lead on 203 with Martin Flores, seeking his first PGA title, taking a bogey at 18 to stand second on 204.It has been clicking this week, Holmes said. The last few weeks I have been driving the ball great. I'm hitting my irons well and putting well too.Holmes, who had been playing on a medical exemption, won enough money last month to secure his spot on tour for the remainder of the year.It was nice to get that off my back, Holmes said. I wasn't pressuring myself but it was nice to get that off my back.Tomorrow I'm going to go out there, try to stay pleasant, enjoy the walk and enjoy the ride as long as I can.Holmes, who has battled back following brain surgery in 2011, birdied the par-3 second and par-5 fifth, and added birdies at seven and eight before closing the front nine with a bogey. He answered with birdies at the par-5 10th and 15th and closed the a flourish for the lead.Holmes won his only two PGA titles at Phoenix in 2006 and 2008.The course record of 62 was set by Rory McIlroy in 2010 and matched Friday by Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge, who was Mickelson's playing partner on Saturday.Mickelson began a run of four birdies in a row at the par-4 third hole, including a 29-foot birdie putt at the par-4 fourth and a 38-foot birdie putt at the par-3 sixth.Capitalizing on the good shots, the iron shots, they are big momentum putts that carry on to the next holes, said Mickelson of his long birdie efforts.They got me ahead of the round. There are holes you can take advantage of but the other holes are tough.The 43-year-old left-hander followed with a 13-foot eagle putt at the par-5 seventh and a two-foot birdie at the par-4 eighth on his way to a front-side 29.A nine-foot birdie at the par-3 13th and a four-foot birdie at the par-5 15th pushed Mickelson to the top of the leaderboard while most of the overall leaders were just getting started.Mickelson found a bunker at 18 but escaped with a three-foot par putt to finish off his best round of the year.To be able to salvage par was a big plus, Mickelson said. It's going to be a good day tomorrow.Mickelson seeks his 43rd PGA title, a win list that includes the 2004, 2006 and 2010 Masters, the 2005 PGA Championship and last year's British Open.He will attempt to complete a career grand slam by winning next month's US Open at Pinehurst, where he managed one of his record six runner-up finishes in the event back in 1999, when Mickelson finished second to the late Payne Stewart.

Motorcycling: Marquez storms to Spanish GP pole in record time

Posted:

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA (AFP) - Reigning world champion Marc Marquez continued his MotoGP domination on Saturday at Jerez to secure his fourth straight pole in track record time for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.The Spaniard's time of 1min 38.120sec broke compatriot Jorge Lorenzo's previous record from 2008 by 0.069 of a second and in doing so relegated the Yamaha star to second place on the grid.Marquez has a commanding lead in the championship standings having won all three races so far this season in Qatar, the United States and Argentina.And the 21-year-old thanked his team for a new strategy using three different sets of tyres for helping him keep his run going.We used a new strategy and on the last run the tyres worked very well, he said.We are performing at a good level and we are prepared to fight for the win, although I think here everything will be tighter and we will need to really push ourselves. It will be a great race.Despite losing out on pole and another record to Marquez, Lorenzo was also happy to be moving in the right direction after a difficult start to the season which saw him have to retire from the season opener Qatar and finish down in 10th in the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin last month.I am happy, we managed to register some good times and I am comfortable on the bike.Second place is good for tomorrow because we are more or less where we were in Argentina and possibly even a bit better.Being on the first row is ideal for what will be a very long and physically demanding race.Last year's winner in Jerez, Dani Pedrosa, was back in third and admitted that his Honda teammate Marquez was too good.Being on the first row is always important. We tried to do our best in qualifying, but Marc is always very quick over one lap.Six-time world champion Valentino Rossi leads the second row of the grid in fourth ahead of Spaniard Aleix Espargaro and fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso.Finland's Miko Kallio took pole in the Moto2 category ahead of Sandro Cortese and Luis Salom.Kallio lies second in the championship standings, 28 points off leader Esteve Rabat, but will have a great chance to cut that gap as the Spaniard could only qualify in sixth.Another Spaniard Maverick Vinales, who won the second race of the season in the United States and lies just behind Kallio in the standings, also struggled and will start from eighth.Moto3 world championship leader Jack Miller will also lead from the front on Sunday after claiming pole.The Australian finished over half a second ahead of Italy's Niccolo Antonelli and Spaniard Alex Rins in a time of 1min 46.173sec to claim just his third ever career pole.Having won in Doha and Austin in the opening two races of the season, Miller, riding a KTM, was only third in Argentina last time out as Romano Fenati moved into second place in the overall standings.However, he will be confident of extending his 17-point lead as Fenati qualified down in 10th and Efren Vazquez, currently third in the title race, also starts on the third row of the grid in seventh.

Snooker: Selby sees off Robertson to reach world final

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Mark Selby held his nerve to beat Australia's Neil Robertson 17-15 in a hard-fought World Championship semi-final on Saturday.Selby now faces two-time defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, bidding for a sixth world title in total, in a best of 35-frame final that gets underway at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in northern England on Sunday.It took Selby, a losing finalist against John Higgins seven years ago, some 12 hours to defeat 2010 world champion Robertson whereas O'Sullivan had already given himself a day off by easing past Barry Hawkins 17-7 on Friday.Heading into Saturday's final session Selby and Robertson were all square at 12-12.Left-hander Robertson went 13-13 up only for Selby to win four of the next five frames, with breaks of 79, 77 and 54 taking him to within sight of victory.However, Robertson kept Selby waiting with a break of 108 -- his 10th century of the tournament extending the Melbourne-born cueman's record of hundreds in a professional tour season to 103.But thoughts the match might go to a deciding frame evaporated soon afterwards when Selby made a break of 74 to set up an all-English final with O'Sullivan.That's got to be up there with the standard of any semi-final that's ever been played here, Robertson said after a defeat that saw him relinquish the world number one ranking to Ding Junhui, despite the Chinese player's first round loss in Sheffield.Mark's played the best I've seen him play. He played some fantastic stuff.However, Robertson was unsure if Selby could now claim a maiden world title given O'Sullivan's record in world finals.He just doesn't lose finals, Robertson said, before adding: If Mark can play the way he did against me -- Ronnie is more clinical than me so it'll be interesting to see how the match pans out -- then he's got every chance of competing with him.So much depends on how much rest Mark can get.Selby, well aware of the dangers of fatigue, insisted: I don't feel too bad at the moment. I'm sure I won't sleep because of all the adrenaline but I'm going to go out there in the final and enjoy it.Ronnie's a genius and doesn't fear anyone. He's played some great snooker in patches and he's missed a few balls and people haven't punished him. I know I'll get my chances, but it's a matter of whether I take them or not.O'Sullivan, speaking earlier this week, hailed Selby's battling qualities.Mark's the toughest competitor on tour, said O'Sullivan.He can take the game at his pace and if you step up the pace he's a player who is a predator and he can score heavily as well.O'Sullivan would match Steve Davis and Ray Reardon's mark of six world titles were he to defeat Selby in a final that will be played to a finish on Monday.Victory would leave 'The Rocket' only one short of Stephen Hendry's modern era record of seven world titles. The Scot was the last player to win three successive world titles, achieving five in a row between 1992-96.I'm just buzzing to be playing and enjoying it, O'Sullivan said after his win over Hawkins.To get to three finals in a row having already won two -- if you'd have told me that three years ago it would've never entered my thoughts I could do it. I've still got one more match to play so I can't afford to get all excited, O'Sullivan insisted.

Rallies in support of army, ISI continue

Posted:

LAHORE (Dunya News) – The series of demonstrations in solidarity with Pakistan Army continued on Saturday. Demonstrators say they will fail conspiracies against Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Dunya News reported.Jamaat-ud-Dawah held a rally from Islamabad’s I-8 sector to national press club. Jamaat-ud-Dawah leaders said that Pakistan Army’s sacrifices for country’s defence are unmatched.They said that those who are hostile about Pakistan are enemy of the country and those who create misconceptions about ISI are propagandists.The participants chanted slogans in support of armed forces.Another rally was held at Chungi Chowk in Loralai and another one started at Barkhan area that passed by various highways and turned into a massive rally after reaching Hospital Chowk.Children were carrying banners and placards where pro-army and pro-ISI slogans were printed.Another rally took place in Okara where social and welfare organizations along with members of civil society participated and showed solidarity with Pakistan army.

Only bill-payers will get electricity: Abid Sher Ali

Posted:

FAISALABAD (Dunya News) – Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) decided on Saturday to double loadshedding period in areas where electricity theft is on the rise. The new formula was also approved by State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, Dunya News reported.FESCO’s session took place here under supervision of Abid Sher Ali in which it was decided that Faisalabad’s electricity feeders in the areas where electricity theft surpasses 30% will face the double loadshedding.After Abid Sher Ali’s approval, FESCO officials started working on the new schedule. Federal minister said while addressing the session that only those will get electricity from now on who can pay for it.

MQM welcomes Rangers' statement

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Coordination Committee, Saturday, welcomed statement of Rangers officials regarding investigation of extrajudicial killings of MQM workers, Dunya News reported.Coordination committee appealed for honest and impartial investigation.A day into MQM’s 72-hour ultimatum, investigation committee summoned Station House Officers (SHOs) and investigating officers of concerned police stations.Second session of Inspector General (IG) Sindh Iqbal Mehmood’s special investigation committee to probe MQM’s workers’ target killing took place here under supervision of Deputy IG East Munir Sheikh.The participants reviewed progress of the ongoing investigation. The next session is expected to take place on Monday.Earlier, Rangers spokesperson said that MQM’s concerns are being taken seriously.Rangers back every right and lawful demand of the political parties, the spokespersons said.He said that Rangers work within limits of the law and strict action will be taken if anyone found involved in extra-judicial killings.MQM Raabta Committee has given a 72-hour ultimatum to the government for recovery of its missing workers. MQM also demanded military and judicial inquiry of extrajudicial murders of party workers.MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar warned government, while giving 72-hour ultimatum that MQM will take to streets and national highways of Sindh if missing party workers are not recovered.Sattar demanded an investigation commission under supervision of Corps Commander Karachi and an unbiased monitoring committee to observe and oversee the ongoing operation in Karachi.He said that if any of MQM workers is involved in any criminal activity then they should be presented to court after proper indictment.

Firecracker factory fire claims 15 lives in India

Posted:

NEW DELHI (AFP) - A massive blaze broke out in a firecracker factory Saturday in central India, killing at least 15 people, local media said.CNN-IBN and other television stations reported that the fire began as people were working at the manufacturing plant in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh state.The reports said more than a dozen people had suffered injuries and were in hospital.CNN-IBN television said that the death toll was expected to rise.No further details were immediately available.Many Indian cracker factories are makeshift, sometimes even in people's homes, and they often employ children.There are fatal accidents nearly every year as people toil in congested, unsafe conditions.Factories start producing crackers months before the nation's biggest Hindu festival, Diwali, or Festival of Lights, when people set off fireworks in celebration.Diwali falls in either October or November each year, depending on the cycle of the moon.

Former warlord Gul Agha Sherzai joins Abdullah in Afghan election

Posted:

KABUL (AFP) - A former Afghan warlord nicknamed “the bulldozer” joined front-runner Abdullah Abdullah’s presidential campaign on Saturday, as deal-making hots up before the decisive run-off vote next month.Gul Agha Sherzai, from Kandahar, won less than 2% of the vote in the April 5 election, but is seen as able to deliver some support from Pashtuns, Afghanistan’s largest ethnic group.Abdullah, whose support is strongest in Tajik ethnic areas, came first by a large margin in the election, though he fell short of the 50% threshold needed for outright victory, according to preliminary results.“I, as a representative of my team, join Dr Abdullah’s team to bring security and welfare to the people of Afghanistan,” Sherzai told a press conference with Abdullah.“We have joined together for the country and the people.”Sherzai, a former governor of Kandahar and Nangarhar provinces, earned his nickname “the bulldozer” for pushing though major road and infrastructure projects – as well as for his forceful personality.Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani will compete in a head-to-head election scheduled for June 7.The eventual winner will lead Afghanistan into a new era as US-led Nato combat troops end their 13-year war against the militant insurgency that erupted after President Hamid Karzai took power in 2001.“We are proud of joining together, we were in touch from the very beginning,” Abdullah said. “We have a long way ahead of us, we will use every opportunity for any alliances.”Preliminary results released a week ago showed Abdullah secured 44.9% of the first-round vote, with Ghani on 31.5%.Another expensive, and potentially violent, election could be avoided by negotiations in the coming weeks, but both Abdullah and Ghani have dismissed talk of a power-sharing deal.

Court orders filing of case against Mir Shakil, Amir Mir

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Islamabad Additional Session Judge ordered, Saturday to file cases against Geo/Jang Group’s owner Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and prominent journalist Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir over allegedly conspiring against national defence institutions, Dunya News reported.Additional Session Judge Jehangir Awan ordered registration of cases against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and Amir Mir over the petition filed by a citizen named Arshad Mehmood Bhatti.The petition moves that Geo News did a media trial of national defence institutions following the attack on Hamid Mir as part of a conspiracy. The petitioner maintained that police is bound to register a report against any such incident.The petition sought filing of cases against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and Amir Mir.Private TV channel Geo News landed itself into controversy on April 19 in its coverage following the attack on prominent journalist Hamid Mir.The attack was reported on every national TV channel including Dunya News within minutes of attack; however, Geo News distinguished itself in coverage by airing Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir’s allegations over DG of national institution. Geo News allegedly took it to task to repeatedly malign and defame DG ISI by flashing his picture on the breaking news broadcast for at least eight hours.The channel backtracked by terming the allegations as Hamid Mir’s brother’s own statement and not of the channel’s.Amir Mir claimed during the broadcast that Hamid Mir had informed him that DG ISI Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam is to be blamed if he was attacked.

Six killed, 19 missing as Bangladesh ferry capsizes

Posted:

DHAKA (AFP) - Six people were dead and at least 19 others were missing after a ferry capsized Saturday when it was caught in a storm in the south of Bangladesh, a government official said.The ferry, MV Shatil, sank in the middle of a river near Kalagasia, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of the capital Dhaka.About a dozen passengers survived by swimming ashore. Survivors told us another 25 people were in the ferry when it sank, district government administrator Kazi Sayemuzzamanhe told AFP.Local people have so far recovered six bodies, the official added.A salvage vessel was headed to the spot to lift the sunken boat, he said.Ferry accidents are common in Bangladesh, which is criss-crossed with more than 100 rivers.Most of the accidents occur during the storm season between April and June.Experts blame poorly maintained vessels and overcrowding for most of the tragedies.

Geo News seeks Fazlur Rehman's assistance for damage control

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Major (r) Aamir, Saleem Safi and Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir met Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday and reportedly sought his involvement in Geo News’s damage control efforts following backlash of alleged campaign against Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Dunya News reported.Geo’s representatives reportedly asked Fazlur Rehman to play a political role to counter Imran Khan.According to reports, the meeting took place in parliament lodges and lasted at least 2 hours 15 minutes.Fazlur Rehman was appealed to play his role and cooperate with Geo News to calm the waters with state institutions and to counter Imran Khan through a political role.It is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan on Friday boycotted Geo/Jang Group after accusing it of aiding in election rigging.Private TV channel Geo News landed itself into controversy on April 19 in its coverage following the attack on prominent journalist Hamid Mir.The attack was reported on every national TV channel including Dunya News within minutes of attack; however, Geo News distinguished itself in coverage by airing Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir’s allegations over DG of national institution. Geo News allegedly took it to task to repeatedly malign and defame DG ISI by flashing his picture on the breaking news broadcast for at least eight hours.The channel backtracked by terming the allegations as Hamid Mir’s brother’s own statement and not of the channel’s.Amir Mir claimed during the broadcast that Hamid Mir had informed him that DG ISI Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam is to be blamed if he was attacked.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)