Sunday 1 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Kabul pulls out of security talks in Islamabad

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KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan said on Sunday it was pulling out of security talks in Islamabad in anger at cross-border attacks blamed on the Pakistan army, which it said were designed to disrupt the second round of its presidential election.In a meeting chaired by President Hamid Karzai, the National Security Council condemned increasing numbers of rocket attacks (by the) Pakistani military against the country, a statement from the presidential palace said. It said the attacks were aimed at disrupting the second round of presidential elections, due to be held on June 14.A spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defence, Mohammad Zahir Azimi, said Pakistani helicopters had crossed the border and flown over the eastern province of Kunar.Local leaders claimed that rockets fired from Pakistani territory had left six dead and around 40 injured in recent days. There was no independent verification of the claims. The National Security Council said it would raise serious concerns with Pakistan through the foreign ministry, according to the statement.In protest, Afghan security officials will not participate in a regional security summit due to take place in Islamabad on June 4. The council also took issue with the lack of reaction from the United States, describing the silence as a violation of (the) long-term strategic pact signed between the two countries.Pakistan has long been accused of interference in Afghanistan, seeking to manipulate events in its restive neighbour as part of efforts to broaden its influence in its wider competition with long-time rival India.In the 1990s, Islamabad helped nurture the rise to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan and was one of the only countries to recognise the regime, which ruled from 1996 to 2001.

President to address joint session of parliament today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - President Mamnoon Hussain will deliver his first presidential address joint-sitting of the parliament today (Monday).According to the constitutional provisions‚ the President has to address a joint session of the parliament at the beginning of the first session of the National Assembly after the general elections as well as the first sitting of the National Assembly every parliamentary year.

Tennis: Gulbis shocks Federer in Paris, Djokovic cruises

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PARIS (AFP) - Ernests Gulbis condemned Roger Federer to his worst French Open defeat in a decade on Sunday as Novak Djokovic remained calmly on course for a maiden Roland Garros title.Gulbis, the controversial Latvian, beat the fourth seeded 2009 champion 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 as Federer, 32, suffered his earliest loss in Paris since 2004 when he was demolished in the third round by Gustavo Kuerten.Victory on Sunday would have put Federer into a record 42nd Grand Slam quarter-final and 10th in a row in Paris, but 25-year-old Gulbis showed no fear as he set up a last-eight clash against Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych.He unleashed 13 aces and 53 winners with Federer undone by an uncharacteristic 59 unforced errors as he lost a five-setter at Roland Garros for the first time.I was all over the place, admitted Federer. I am disappointed not to win. I have a lot of regrets.But he did a good job of hanging around and coming back. I knew what to expect, I know how he plays. I just wish I could have played better.Gulbis, who took a controversial medical timeout at 2-5 down in the fourth set, was delighted by his win.It's the biggest win of my career, said the Latvian, whose only other Grand Slam quarter-final appearance came in Paris in 2008.It was a tough match and I'm sorry as I know that most of you wanted Roger to win.Gulbis, the 18th seed, was a break ahead in the first set at 4-2 before Federer retrieved it in the seventh game. The Latvian was also a mini-break to the good in the tiebreaker but still could not convert.After surrendering the advantage of an early break again in the second set, Gulbis was warned for breaking his racquet by stamping it into the Paris dirt.However, his pressure on Federer eventually yielded rewards in the second set tiebreak and then in a one-sided third set.Federer wasn't finished as Gulbis, as so often in his colourful career, went spectacularly off the boil with the Swiss levelling the contest by taking the fourth set.The Latvian incurred the wrath of the pro-Federer centre court crowd when he took a medical timeout to treat lower back pain at 2-5 down.I'm honest, I'm not big on medical timeouts. I don't like to take it, but I take it when it's really necessary. It probably was my third medical timeout in my life, said Gulbis who thrived on the atmosphere, upping the pace as he took a 3-0 lead in the decider.Gulbis set up two match points with his 13th ace and claimed his famous victory when Federer slapped a backhand wide.Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up who needs a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, swept into the quarter-finals with a one-sided 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 win over top home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.It was a very good match for me. I prepared well tactically with my team, said world number two Djokovic. I started with much intensity and quality and I am very happy with my game today.Eighth seed Milos Raonic became just the fourth Canadian man in history -- and first in the Open Era -- to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final when he defeated Spain's Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.Berdych made the quarter-finals for the second time with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over 10th seed John Isner who was bidding to become the first American to reach the last eight since Andre Agassi in 2003.There were quick breaks in each of the sets. That's something which really helps through all the match, especially with a guy like John, said 2010 semi-finalist Berdych.Wimbledon champion Andy Murray battled to a four-hour 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 12-10 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach the fourth round.The British seventh seed, who next faces Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco, had been level at 7-7 with the German 28th seed when the match was halted on Saturday night.When the pair reappeared, Murray squandered a match point at 9-8 but wrapped up the match in the 22nd game of the decider in a clash which featured 18 breaks of serve and 123 unforced errors.It was the longest fifth set of Murray's career and the first time he had been taken the full distance since defeating Verdasco from two sets to love down in last year's Wimbledon quarter-finals.The 30-year-old Verdasco, seeded 24, reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win over France's 12th seed Richard Gasquet.

Tennis: Sharapova into quarter-finals at French Open

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PARIS (AFP) - Maria Sharapova stayed on course for a second French Open title with a battling 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 fourth round win over Australia's Samantha Stosur on Sunday.Stosur, the losing finalist in Paris in 2010, the year before she won her only major to date at the US Open, dominated the first set with two breaks of serve.But seventh seed Sharapova steadied the ship to lead 2-0 at the start of the second before Stosur levelled at 2-2.The ninth game proved to be crucial as Sharapova fired down two stunning winners to break again and then held serve to level the match.The Russian, who won the French Open in 2012 to complete a sweep of all four Grand Slam titles, grabbed another break to open the decider and with the Stosur challenge visibly wilting, she turned on the power to reach her third straight quarter-final in Paris.Sharapova will next play unseeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruzu who defeated French wildcard Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-2 for a place in the semi-finals.I am so happy to be back in the quarter-finals as it is such a special tournament for me, said Sharapova.I just hope I can raise my level and play even better in the second week.

Matsuyama wins Memorial in a playoff

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DUBLIN (AP) - Hideki Matsuyama earned his first victory in America and validation as one of golf's young stars Sunday with birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff and a 10-foot par putt on the first extra to win the Memorial.In a tournament that Masters champions Bubba Watson and Adam Scott threw away on a wild back nine, Matsuyama looked certain to join them.He lost the lead by dropping three shots on two holes, and he didn't look like a winner when he pushed his drive toward the bunkers on the final hole. Lightly slamming his driver to the turf in disgust, the head broke off. Matsuyama followed with an approach to just outside 5 feet for birdie and a 3-under 69.That forced a playoff with Kevin Na, who finished his round of 64 about two hours earlier.Matsuyama chose not to replace his broken driver in the playoff, and his 3-wood went into the bunker. Na drove left into the creek and still had about 10 feet for bogey on the 18th hole in the playoff when Matsuyama made his par putt.The 22-year-old from Japan pumped his fist as the ball was a few inches from dropping.I'm really, really happy, Matsuyama said through his interpreter. It's a dream come true to win at Mr. Nicklaus' course.Matsuyama won for the sixth time in his career, all of them on the Japan Golf Tour. He had a pair of top 10s in the majors last year.Tournament host Jack Nicklaus greeted him behind the 18th green. Nicklaus spent much of the back nine in the broadcast booth, and it was a brand of golf that was unfamiliar to golf's greatest champion. The Memorial became only the latest event where proven players faltered badly.Watson, who started the final round with a one-shot lead, was still in control until a couple of wild tee shots one into deep rough on the 14th that led to bogey, and one so far right on the par-5 15th that it went over the trees and into a neighborhood, far out-of-bounds. That led to double bogey and he never recovered. Watson closed with a 72 and finished one shot out of the playoff.It's tough, Watson said, who was going for his third win of the year. I made one bad decision. If I hit 4-wood off the tee instead of driver on the par 5, we make 5 and we win by one. But I made double, so we lost by one.Scott had a share of the lead after 11 holes and was poised for his second straight PGA Tour win. But he put his tee shot into the water on the par-3 12th for double bogey, took two shots to get out of a bunker on the 14th for bogey, and then dropped another shot at the 15th when his wedge hit the pin and caromed back into the fairway. He closed with a 71 and tied for fourth with Chris Kirk (68).It's the way it goes, Scott said. You get lucky breaks and you get bad ones.Na was in the clubhouse at Muirfield Village, leaning against two pillows watching this collection of errors, even joking that he might win by sitting on a couch. He finally headed out to the range, but one swing into the water was too much to overcome.The only consolation for Na was that his runner-up finish moved him high enough in the world ranking that he will be exempt for the U.S. Open. He had planned on going through 36-hole qualifying Monday.Matsuyama was able to replace his driver because the playoff is not part of the final round. Instead, he chose to take 3-wood. It looked as if it might cost him when the shot was well back and caught the bunker. Na helped by finding the water. Matsuyama's approach hit a fan left of the green, but he played a good chip and made the most important putt of his young career.Matsuyama should rise to about No. 13 in the world ranking.A two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur he made the cut both times at the Masters as an amateur he took a different route than Ryo Ishikawa by waiting to turn pro until a year ago. Matsuyama won once as an amateur, and he won in his pro debut in Japan.He graduated from college in Japan a few weeks before the Masters.Matsuyama had experience at Muirfield Village. He played in the Presidents Cup in October, teaming with Scott in four of the matches.

Football: Qatar denies World Cup bid corruption claims

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LONDON (AFP) - Qatar's 2022 football World Cup organisers vehemently denied any wrong-doing after a British newspaper alleged a top official paid more than $5 million to secure support in the bidding process.The Sunday Times said it had obtained millions of emails, documents and bank transfers relating to alleged payments made by Qatari former top football official Mohamed bin Hammam.It alleged that Bin Hammam, a former Asian Football Confederation president, used slush funds to pay cash to top football officials to win a groundswell of support for the tiny emirate's World Cup bid.He was then on the executive committee of FIFA, the sport's global governing body.Bin Hammam, who launched an abortive challenge against incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter, resigned from his FIFA and AFC posts in 2012, shortly before he was banned for life from football administration by FIFA's ethics committee.FIFA is investigating the 2010 vote that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the 2018 tournament to Russia, following previous corruption accusations.A report by Michael Garcia, a top US lawyer, is to be finalised this year.He was due to meet senior officials from the Qatar 2022 organising committee in Oman on Monday.In their response to the allegations, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said their bid upheld the highest standard of ethics and integrity.Bin Hammam played no official or unofficial role in the bid committee, they said.They said they were cooperating with Garcia and were totally confident that an objective inquiry would conclude Qatar won fairly.We vehemently deny all allegations of wrong-doing. We will take whatever steps are necessary to defend the integrity of Qatar's bid, it said in a statement.The right to host the tournament was won because it was the best bid.The allegations come just days ahead of FIFA's annual congress, to be held in Sao Paulo between June 9 and 12, where Blatter is set to announce his candidacy for a fifth four-year term.The decision to give the World Cup to Qatar, a small Gulf peninsula with little football history, provoked widespread condemnation because it will be held in the emirate's summer.Blatter said in May that it was a mistake to choose Qatar because of the summer desert heat and wants the tournament switched to the northern hemisphere winter, for the first time, to get round the problem.The Sunday Times put some of the cache of leaked documents online.The broadsheet said Bin Hammam had made payments of up to $200,000 into accounts controlled by the presidents of 30 African football associations, and hosted hospitality events in Africa at which he handed out further funds, to get backing for Qatar's bid. Bin Hammam also paid $1.6 million into bank accounts controlled by Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice-president, $450,000 of which was before the vote for the World Cup, The Sunday Times said.Warner was one of the 22 people who in 2010 decided to award Russia the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 tournament. He stood down in 2011.British media have made repeated allegations about Qatar's campaign to secure the tournament.Two months ago, The Daily Telegraph alleged that a company owned by Bin Hammam had paid money to Warner.Bin Hammam did not respond to questions from The Sunday Times and his son declined to comment on his behalf, the weekly said.The new allegations will place FIFA under fresh pressure to re-run the vote for the 2022 World Cup hosting rights.Jim Boyce from Northern Ireland, one of FIFA's eight vice-presidents, told BBC radio he would be in favour of doing so if allegations of corruption in the Qatar bid were proven.If Garcia finds wrongdoing, then Boyce said he would have absolutely no problem whatsoever if the recommendation was for a re-vote.In the original December 2010 contest to host the tournament, Qatar received 11 votes, South Korea four, the United States and Japan three each, and Australia one in the first elimination round.Qatar beat the United States by 14 votes to eight in the final round.

Motorcycling: Marquez wins thriller to record perfect six

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MUGELLO (AFP) - Spanish world champion Marc Marquez made it six wins from six races this season after claiming victory in the Italian MotoGP in thrilling style at Mugello on Sunday.The 21-year-old Honda rider, who became the first rider since Valentino Rossi in 2002 to win six successive races, edged out compatriot and two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha after an engrossing duel for over half the race.Marquez finally got the better of Lorenzo, who has had a miserable season up till this race, going into the final lap while Lorenzo's team-mate, 35-year-old Italian great Valentino Rossi, took third spot in what was his 300th Grand Prix and the 187th time he has finished on the podium.Rossi's finish was enough to see him rise to second in the standings on 97 points, though, 53 adrift of Marquez.That was the hardest race of the season so far, said Marquez, who has also started from pole position in the six races.I followed Jorge but he was so fast I had to fight to stay with him. But in the end I had enough power to pass him and this victory is very special.Lorenzo for his part was delighted to have ended a series of disappointing performances with his previous best finish a third in Argentina.I am nearly back to being at my best, said 27-year-old Lorenzo.Marc was fantastic and just had too much speed down the straights.I was able to fight with him but he was very brave and got the victory.Rossi said his chances had been ruined by selecting the wrong type of tyre in qualifying but the ever-exuberant Italian wouldn't let that ruin his day.I had a good race and I am so happy to be back on the podium at Mugello. After five years of missing out this is a very emotional moment for me, he said. For the second successive race Marquez got a poor start and was passed by Andrea Iannone, who set a new official top speed record for the MotoGP World Championship during practice on Saturday, clocking 349.6km/h (217.2 mph), and Lorenzo on the first bend.Lorenzo went to the front shortly afterwards as he powered past Iannone down the inside with 23 laps to go.However, it was Rossi who made the biggest impression powering from 10th on the grid to fourth with 21 laps to the chequered flag.Rossi, who won seven successive Grand Prix on this circuit, then got on Marquez's shoulder as the Spaniard fought out a terrific duel with Iannone.Marquez and Rossi got the better of Iannone and his Ducati with the former setting fastest laps as he ate into Lorenzo's lead.Marquez was tucked in just behind Lorenzo with 13 laps remaining and was virtually toying with his older compatriot while Rossi looked to have run out of steam and was more than a second behind the Spanish duo.The youngster finally passed Lorenzo with seven laps to go as the latter made an error under pressure and drifted into the dirt and although he tried to regain the lead immediately Marquez shut down the gap.However, Lorenzo stuck to the task and they exchanged the lead on several occasions as they fought out an enthralling to-and-fro battle with them almost coming together going out on to the circuit with four laps left as Marquez took him on the first corner only for Lorenzo to regain the lead up the inside on the next corner.Marquez passed him again but Lorenzo then produced an audacious move on the inside to again go to the front.However, Marquez did not panic and finally gained the decisive lead going out on the final lap and while Lorenzo tried valiantly to pass him, the younger rider showed maturity beyond his years to prevail and pump the air with delight on taking the flag.

Cycling: Colombian Nairo Quintana wins Giro d'Italia

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MILAN (AFP) - Nairo Quintana became the first Colombian winner of the Giro d'Italia as Slovenian Luka Mezgec won Sunday's 21st and final stage.Movistar's Quintana, who was second at last year's Tour de France, headed a Colombian one-two with Rigoberto Uran finishing second and 23-year-old Italian Fabio Aru, the revelation of the race, third.Mezgec of Giant-Shimano, beat Italian Giacomo Nizzolo and Tyler Farrar of the USA in the sprint finish at the end of the 172km stage from Gemona to Trieste.Quintana, widely regarded as the best climber in the world, totally dominated the final week of the race having initially seemed out of sorts in the first couple of weeks when first Australian Cadel Evans, the 2011 Tour de France winner, and then Uran, who was also second last year, took the race by the scruff of the neck.But Quintana made his move on Tuesday's 16th stage over 139km from Ponte di Legno to Val-Martello, despite being so cold that he couldn't feel his hands and team-mate Gorka Izagirre had to feed him on the descent of the Gavia mountain.That stage began in freezing conditions with walls of snow around the riders but Quintana not only resisted the elements but rode away from his rivals to win the stage and take the leader's pink jersey off Uran.It's a Giro in which I've suffered, more than anyone could imagine, said Quintana.I had physical problems, I wasn't at 100 percent, I must have been at 60 percent of my full potential.The descent of the Gavias (was the toughest point). I was frozen, tired. Izaguirre fed me. That's what allowed me to continue, and to win.Three days later he extended his lead and consolidated the feeling it was his tour to win when he triumphed in the 19th stage mountain time-trial.And even on Saturday's climb up the infamous Monte Zoncolan, none of Quintana's overall GC rivals could take time out of him and the race was won.Quintana, who will miss July's Tour de France as Movistar pin their hopes on veteran Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, said this result proves he will be the man to back for the 2015 Grand Boucle.In this Giro I've learnt to overcome adversity and to manage a team over three weeks, to be a leader, he said.Uran, who movved into pink when winning the 12th stage individual time-trial, admitted he had been beaten by the better man.I thought I could win the Giro. I believed after the (stage 12) time-trial but I've never been able to see it through in the Grand Tours, he admitted.Sunday's mostly flat final stage was always going to be about a bunch sprint finish despite a brave breakaway from Canada's Svein Tuft and Dane Lars Bak that lasted around 35km but was hauled in before the final 10km.Thereafter the sprinters' teams controlled the pace of the peloton to ensure it ended in a bunch scramble.Frenchman Nacer Bouhanni, the leader of the points competition, was the favourite having won three stages earlier in the race but when it came to the final sprint, he didn't have the legs and had to settle for fourth.Cannondale and Team Sky had done a lot of the pace-setting in the run-in but neither of their sprinters, Italian Elia Viviani and Briton Ben Swift respectively, managed to figure in the challenge for victory.Nizzolo's Trek team controlled the last couple of kilometres but when it came down to it, Mezgec had the stronger legs.

WIndies board removes NZ test match from Guyana

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GEORGETOWN (AP) - Guyana has lost the third test between the West Indies and New Zealand due to a dispute over who controls cricket in the South American country.The teams were scheduled to play the final test at the Providence Stadium, Georgetown, from June 26 to 30. However, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said in a statement late Saturday that it will move the game because of a bill recently passed by parliament in Guyana.The Antigua-based WICB, which is the umbrella body for cricket in the Caribbean, said the bill gives government too much control over the administration of the game in Guyana.No alternative venue has been named.

DG Khan: Bridegroom arrested in connection with aerial firing

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DG KHAN (Dunya News) – Police took the groom named Farhan Ali along with two of his uncles into custody and booked them under charges of aerial firing. The wedding attendees reached the police station all the drumming and dancing on the beat, pleading the innocence of the groom, Dunya News reported.Groom’s relatives said that those who were involved in the aerial firing incident ran away from the occasion but police, without paying attention to the witnesses, booked the groom and locked him in the station.The relatives then protested by drumming and dancing to the beat all the way to the police station.

2nd marriage row: Woman feared to have killed herself, 2 girls

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – A woman suspected by police to be angry at her husband for second marriage allegedly committed suicide after killing two daughters. Police have taken the widower into custody, Dunya News reported.According to reports, bodies of a woman and her two girls were recovered from a house in Rawalpindi. Police feared that the woman may have killed her daughters and committed suicide afterwards. Police also took the widower in custody.The bodies of 30-year-old Robina, 9-year-old Rida and 6-year-old Memona were recovered from a house within boundaries of Civil Lines Police Station.The girls were shot dead whereas the body of the mother was hanging from the fan. Police and rescue teams arrived at the sight to collect evidences. According to the initial theory, the woman allegedly killed herself after killing her two daughters.

Karachi: 1 die in grenade attack, another 2 gunned down

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – In latest development to extortion related crimes, one man died as grenade explosive was thrown at a local restaurant here on Sunday. In another incident, at least two fell victim to the targeted killing, Dunya News reported.The extortion related crimes are still not curbed despite the targeted operation going on for several months. Extortionists keep demanding extortion money of several lakh rupees and lack of payment results in grenade explosions and firing on traders.An unidentified man attacked a local restaurant at a prominent spot of the city Tariq Road when the owner failed to pay the extortion money of several lakh rupees.This explosion resulted in killing of one man and injury of at least two individuals.The traders have complained that the extortionists keep asking for money fearlessly and nothing seems to be stopping them.According to police, the actions against extortionists are being taken upon the complaints from the traders and businessmen, adding that the situation will be controlled soon.In another incident that occurred near North Karachi Power House Chowrangi, unidentified persons opened fire at a vehicle that resulted in killing of two individuals. Police identified the deceased as Hafeezuddin and Abdul Ghaffar.One of the deceased Abdul Ghaffar was allegedly involved in murder of KMC’s Deputy Director Land Muhammad Ishaq.According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Central, investigation to arrest the suspects is underway.In another incident that took place at Orangi Town’s area Gulshan Bahar, one man was injured as a result of firing of an unidentified man.

Qatari paid millions for World Cup bid support: report

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LONDON (AFP) - A former top Qatari football official paid more than $5 million to get support for the tiny emirates controversial campaign to host the 2022 World Cup, a British newspaper alleged Sunday.The Sunday Times said it had obtained millions of emails, documents and bank transfers relating to alleged payments made by Mohamed bin Hammam, who was then on the executive committee of FIFA, the sports global governing body.It alleged that Bin Hammam, who is also a former Asian Football Confederation president, used slush funds to pay cash to top football officials to win a groundswell of support for Qatars World Cup bid.Bin Hammam, who launched an abortive challenge against incumbent FIFA president Sepp Blatter, resigned from his FIFA and AFC posts in 2012, shortly before he was banned for life from football administration by FIFAs ethics committee.FIFA is investigating the 2010 vote that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar and the 2018 tournament to Russia, following previous corruption accusations.A report by FIFA chief investigator Michael Garcia, a top US lawyer, is to be finalised this year.He is due to meet senior officials from the Qatar 2022 organising committee in Oman on Monday. But that meeting may now have to be postponed in light of The Sunday Times revelations.FIFA and Qatar are already under pressure because the 2022 event will be held in the searing heat of the Qatar summer. FIFAs president wants the tournament held in the northern hemisphere winter, for the first time, due to the problem.British media have made repeated allegations about the Qatar campaign to secure the tournament however.The Sunday Times put some of the cache of leaked documents online.The broadsheet said Bin Hammam had made payments of up to $200,000 into accounts controlled by the presidents of 30 African football associations, and hosted hospitality events in Africa at which he handed out further funds, to get backing for Qatars bid.Bin Hammam also paid $1.6 million into bank accounts controlled by Jack Warner, the former FIFA vice-president, $450,000 of which was before the vote for the World Cup, The Sunday Times said.Warner was one of the 22 people who in 2010 decided to award Russia the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 tournament. He stood down in 2011.- Backing for re-vote -The latest allegations come two months after British newspaper The Daily Telegraph alleged that a company owned by Bin Hammam had paid money to Warner.Bin Hammam did not respond to questions from The Sunday Times and his son declined to comment on his behalf, the newspaper said.It quoted the Qatari committee behind the World Cup bid as denying that Bin Hammam played any secret role in their campaign, or had any knowledge of the alleged payments.There was no immediate response from the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy when contacted by AFP.The decision to give the World Cup to Qatar, a country with little football history, provoked widespread condemnation particularly over health concerns for leading players forced to play in the desert nations stifling summer heat.Blatter said in May that it was a mistake to choose Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup due to the countrys sweltering summertime climate.The new allegations will place FIFA under fresh pressure to re-run the vote for the 2022 World Cup, which was held in conjunction with the vote for the 2018 tournament.Jim Boyce from Northern Ireland, one of FIFAs eight vice-presidents, said he would be in favour of doing so if allegations of corruption in the Qatar bid were proven.We feel that any evidence whatsoever that people involved were bribed to do a certain vote, all that evidence should go to Michael Garcia, he told BBC radio.If Garcia finds wrongdoing, then Boyce said he would have absolutely no problem whatsoever if the recommendation was for a re-vote.In the original December 2010 contest to host the tournament, Qatar received 11 votes, South Korea four, the United States and Japan three each, and Australia one in the first elimination round.Qatar beat the United States by 14 votes to eight in the final round.

MWM holds rally against targeted killing

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – A rally to protest against sectarian targeted killing was organized by Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) in Karachi on Sunday, Dunya News reported.The rally started at Numaish area and ended at Supreme Court Registry due to the closure of roads leading to the Chief Minister House. The participants have staged a sit-in protest outside the Supreme Court Registry which is still continued.The rally was against the sectarian targeted killing, lack of arrests and government’s alleged insensitivity. The rally dubbed ‘Labbaik Ya Hussain (AS) March’ was led by Allama Amin Shaheedi and Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi.A huge number of people including women and children participated in the march rally.The participants walked towards the Supreme Court Karachi Registry because the roads leading to Chief Minister House were closed.MWM leaders said while addressing the participants of the rally that Karachi has become a safe haven for terrorists, adding that youngsters, doctors and other professionals are killed after getting handpicked.They said that despite all the violent attempts, the government and law enforcement has been acting as silent spectators.They said that today’s rally is just a beginning and that if the series of murder is not stopped and murderers are not arrested then MWM will march to Islamabad.

Strains building up for China property market

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BEIJING (AFP) - After years of boom that have seen prices rocket, the prospect of a bust is looming over Chinas vast property sector, with authorities hoping to avoid a meltdown that could send shock waves through the worlds second-biggest economy.Housing was doled out by the state when Communist-style collectivism dominated economic management. But in the past two decades that has given way to market-oriented principles as Chinas economy has opened.New home prices have soared, more than quadrupling in Beijing and Shanghai since 2003, and more than doubling in the country as a whole, according to a report by Jeremy Stevens, Beijing-based Asia economist at South Africas Standard Bank.The increases have been a key source of wealth for Chinas rising middle classes, and a major driver of the economy.Now some -- including individuals who have made fortunes -- foresee imminent disaster.I think Chinese property is the Titanic about to crash into the iceberg right in front of it, Pan Shiyi, billionaire chairman of commercial developer SOHO China, said at a forum, China Business News reported last week.At the same time, surging prices have driven homes beyond the reach of many ordinary Chinese, stoking resentment and inequality.The Peoples Bank of China, the central bank, last month asked domestic lenders to give first-time home buyers priority in mortgage lending, which analysts saw as aimed at boosting home purchases amid oversupply.Observers and analysts concur that problems are rife and cannot be ignored by authorities, lest economic growth take a hit.Real estate is nearly 20 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) in China so if that sector has a problem you definitely have a problem, Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, told AFP.Definitely a real estate bubble bursting is bad news.- Negative outlook -Home prices in major Chinese cities posted their first monthly decline in nearly two years in May, an independent survey showed Saturday, providing new evidence the once red-hot market is losing steam.The average price of a new home in 100 major cities declined by 0.32 percent from April to 10,978 yuan ($1,758) per square metre ($164 per square foot), according to the China Index Academy (CIA), the first fall since June 2012.Year on year, new home cost growth slowed for a fifth straight month, rising 7.84 percent, though prices fell in 31 of the 100 cities.The results mask huge variety, however, as some of the countrys largest cities are still maintaining double-digit gains. Beijing prices rose 22.39 percent year-on-year in May.Barclays economist Chang Jian said in a report that the risks of a disorderly adjustment are real and rising, given factors including expectations of falling prices, financial trouble among developers, heavily-indebted local governments and a weak financial system.Moodys Investors Service downgraded its outlook for Chinese property to negative from stable, citing an expected significant slowdown in residential property sales growth, high inventories and weaker liquidity over the next year, along with lower expectations for the economy.- Ghost cities -There is so far little concern a domestic real-estate meltdown could trigger panic in the broader global economy and banking system such as during the sub-prime crisis in the United States, as Chinas heavily regulated financial system and property market remain relatively isolated.The housing trouble, however, comes at a sensitive time as Chinas leaders want to shift the countrys growth model to one where private spending, rather than public-sponsored investment, drives expansion.Wang Tao, a Hong Kong-based economist at UBS, said the government still has many levers to pull to stabilise construction and support economic growth.We do not expect a sudden collapse of property prices or a financial or balance-of-payment crisis, as seen often in emerging economies, she wrote in a report.But the consequences of a property bust could still be painful.Standard Banks Stevens said that over the last three years the vast majority of Chinas middle class wealth increase has come from their home values, meaning they are now more vulnerable to a price correction.Chinas government has been trying to contain property values through measures such as restrictions on purchases of second and third homes, higher minimum down-payments and taxes in some cities on multiple and non-locally owned homes.But it is a fine line to tread, as local authorities make much of their income from land sales to developers, so curbing property development can slow economic growth in Chinas regions.The downside to unhindered development can be seen in Chinas so-called ghost cities, urban areas scattered throughout the country and characterised by new and largely empty apartment blocks.Unfortunately, housing is one of the few sectors that the Chinese government has not mastered its control over, Societe Generale economist Yao Wei said in a report.Adding everything together, the aggregate exposure of Chinas financial system to the property market is likely to be as much as 80 percent of GDP, she added.This is not a sector that can go terribly wrong if China wants to avoid a hard landing.
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