Wednesday 11 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Football: Brazil races towards World Cup kick-off

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Brazil scrambled towards Thursday's start of the World Cup start with yellow and green flags flowing from cars, bars and apartments but the threat of protests hung over the four-week football carnival.Even outside of the tournament, a corruption storm swirled around football's governing body FIFA ahead of the opening match between Brazil and Croatia at Sao Paulo's 61,600-capacity Corinthians Arena.The football-mad country has spent months embroiled in protests over the $11 billion cost of the extravaganza. Construction delays have also beset preparations.Workers were racing to put the finishing touches on the Corinthians Arena on the eve of the opening ceremony, installing a tarp to cover scaffolding on a footbridge between the stadium and the street.But President Dilma Rousseff insisted that all 12 World Cup stadiums are ready and that the estimated 600,000 visitors would be welcomed with open arms.Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari issued a stirring eve-of-tournament rallying cry as his team set off on their bid to win a record sixth title at home.To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived. This is our World Cup, Scolari said.But while more Brazilians are sporting the yellow jersey of star forward Neymar, discontent still rumbled with protests planned in host cities.In Sao Paulo, subway workers will vote late Wednesday on whether to resume a strike over pay that could cripple the city for the opening match.During a five-day strike last week, the city was seething with massive traffic jams and riot police used tear gas to disperse protestors.In another host city, Natal, bus drivers decided to strike ahead of Friday's Mexico-Cameroon game. US Vice President Joe Biden will be in the northeastern city on Monday to watch the United States play Ghana.Rousseff warned that her government will not tolerate a repeat of violent protests that marred last year's Confederations Cup.We will guarantee the security of Brazilians and of those who come visit us, she said in the northeastern city of Salvador on Wednesday.She used a nationally televised address Tuesday to lash out at pessimists but she acknowledged that organizing the cup took some sweating and suffering.The 12 World Cup stadiums were due to be ready by the end of December but six missed the initial deadline and eight workers died in the construction, including three in Sao Paulo.Workers could still be seen wiping seats, checking beams and installing wiring in the Corinthians Arena days before the opening match, which will be attended by a dozen world leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.At the 46,000-capacity Amazonia Arena in Manaus, there were worries about the pitch, which appeared dry in several areas, while power cables dangled in the changing rooms.Yet FIFA officials bullishly backed Brazil, with Blatter voicing confidence that Brazilians will be in a better mood once the ball gets rolling.Brazilians waited longer than in previous World Cups to decorate their streets, but fans are slowly buying more green and yellow flags, shirts, hats and wigs.Antonio Carlos Rodrigues, 63, was selling flags on a busy Sao Paulo street but said sales were down compared to 10 per day compared to 30 in previous World Cups.Brazilians are less motivated because of the demonstrations and the metro strike, Rodrigues said.The estimated $11 billion Brazil is spending on the World Cup has angered many in a country with chronically under-funded health and public services and violent crime.The rapid spread of last year's protests caught Brazilian authorities off-guard.But officials are deploying 150,000 soldiers and police along with 20,000 private security officers to thwart possible protests.Despite the off-field problems, the tournament itself promises to be a classic.Defending champions Spain are bidding to make history by becoming the first side from Europe to win a World Cup in South America.Vicente del Bosque's side have dominated international football for the past six years, winning two consecutive European championships either side of their memorable triumph at the 2010 World Cup.Brazil are hosting the tournament for the first time since 1950 when they suffered a heartbreak 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the deciding game.

Football: Resolute Rooney determined to enjoy World Cup

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - After two forgettable experiences at previous World Cups, England talisman Wayne Rooney has vowed to enjoy himself at the 2014 tournament in Brazil regardless of the outcome.Having injured himself ahead of his maiden tournament in Germany in 2006, the Manchester United striker was sent off for stamping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho as England went out on penalties in the quarter-finals.In 2010 he went to South Africa on the back of the most prolific season of his career, but again failed to impress, snarling at a television camera after England's 0-0 group-stage draw with Algeria and drifting through the 4-1 humiliation by Germany in the last 16 like a ghost.Four years on he remains without a World Cup goal to his name, but ahead of England's opening Group D match against Italy in Manaus on Saturday, the 28-year-old is determined to relish the experience.I've learnt to enjoy this one because I haven't enjoyed the last ones, Rooney told a group of journalists at England's seaside training base in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.All of a sudden you're looking back and they've gone and I didn't enjoy it. This one, I'm going to enjoy it regardless of what happens. I'm going to make sure I take positive memories from this one.Rooney cites the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, when he burst onto the international scene, as the last tournament where he felt relaxed enough to fully express himself.In current colleagues such as 20-year-old Ross Barkley and 19-year-old Raheem Sterling, he sees glimpses of his own old fearlessness.That's the good thing about the younger lads in the squad: you can see that in them, in Ross and Raheem, said the stocky forward, who scored seven goals for England in qualifying.You can see that there's no fear with them. They'll be good players, big players for us.Rooney's explosion as an 18-year-old at Euro 2004 sparked expectations that he would develop into one of the world's greatest players, but for all his achievements with United, he continues to face criticism.His old club-mate Paul Scholes recently opined that Rooney may have already passed his peak and the former Everton striker seemed hurt that one of his idols had seen fit to question him in such a way.I'm sure he's upset a lot of people at Man United because they see me as worthy of signing a new deal at the club, so they obviously have got a different opinion to what Paul has, said Rooney, who branded the remarks very strange.But you'll have to ask him. He's been a great player at Man United, but I've never had his phone number and he's never had mine.He's probably the best player I've ever played with, so I'm not going to knock him as a player, but I don't agree with his point.Rooney was one of few United players to find form during a disastrous 2013-14 season and he feels that a pre-season pep talk with former manager David Moyes helped him rediscover some of his famous fire.He felt I had lost a bit of aggression out of my game -- which I was asked to do, by the way. He said he wanted me to find that aggression back, Rooney said of Moyes, who was sacked by United in April.I thought about it a lot. It wasn't really me. Maybe there are times when you have to try and lift the crowd with a tackle -- obviously not a stupid one, but a run back and tackle can lift the fans and even turn a game round.While Rooney has never threatened to win the Ballon d'Or, he says that unlike his former United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, a two-time winner of the award, notions of legacy do not inspire him.I'm not a player who needs that, he said.Like Cristiano Ronaldo, he has to have that and you admire him for having that. You can see how he is. He wants his moments. It's more important for me to win trophies as a team.Reminded that he won nothing with United last season, he replied with a smile: No, so hopefully I can do that now.

Football: Blatter ready for new term as FIFA boss

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Sepp Blatter is ready to seek a new term as FIFA's president, he announced Wednesday, ignoring calls from top European officials to stand down as controversy engulfs football's governing body.I'm ready to accompany you in the future, the 78-year-old Blatter told the FIFA congress in Sao Paulo on the eve of the start of the World Cup.The FIFA leader was helped by a congress vote not to consider age-limits on top officials.Isolated boos could be heard among the applause as Blatter said that conditions were good for him to seek a fifth term next year. But he has a strong chance of victory in the election to be held at the FIFA congress in Zurich in May next year.My mandate will finish next year... but my mission is not finished, he said in his closing address. Together we will build the new FIFA, together we have the foundations to do things.Blatter added: Congress, you will decide who will take this proud institution forward. It's your decision to do so. But I will tell you, I'm ready to accompany you in the future, for the game for the world.Because it's your decision congress, if you want to go with me, he said, exiting to clapping and Brazilian music.Blatter has dropped heavy hints in past months that he will be a candidate again even though he said when he won in 2011 that it would be his last term.His announcement is likely to vex European delegates who this week called for him to stand down next year.Blatter has long been a controversial figure and FIFA, which oversees a multi-billion dollar industry, has never been far from scandal.Just prior to the World Cup, Britain's Sunday Times has published a series of reports alleging that millions of dollars in bribes were paid to help Qatar secure the 2022 edition.Blatter succeeded scandal-plagued Brazilian Joao Havelange in 1998. Under his stewardship, football's revenues have mushroomed with huge amounts from television rights and sponsorship.But it has also attracted controversy, the latest of which is the media reports that a former head of Qatari football paid more than five million dollars in bribges to win support for the Gulf state's 2022 World Cup bid. Qatar has denied any wrongdoing and Blatter has said the corruption allegations are racist. But the scandal has still tainted the buildup to the start of the Brazil World Cup on Thursday.The colourful Blatter lived up to his eccentric image when he danced on stage at the congress and even suggested an inter-planetary version of the World Cup.Blatter was given a standing ovation by African and Asian confederations when he went to their meetings in Sao Paulo this week.The Swiss enjoys strong support among the African and Asian blocs, who owing to their size constitute a powerful voting force within FIFA.But he had a poor reception when he went to the European conferderation, UEFA, where some delegates called for him not to stand down.Lord David Triesman, a former head of England's Football Association, said Wednesday that FIFA was like a mafia family with Blatter its Don Corleone.Just before his announcement, the congress voted down proposals to consider limits on age and the number of terms for FIFA officials.And Blatter also announced disbursements of $750,000 to member associations, on top of $7 million to each of the world body's six regional confederations.

Tennis: Nishikori advances, Federer and Nadal in the wings

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HALLE WESTFALEN (AFP) - Japan's Kei Nishikori ended French interest at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle on Wednesday as he overpowered Gael Monfils 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. The number four seed, who dropped to world number 12 following his first round exit at the French Open, will next play American Steve Johnson or Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili for a place in the quarter-finals. Monfils, who has a poor record on grass, blamed his dislike for the surface on the defeat in just under 90 minutes. I'm not good on grass. I give it my best and grit my teeth but it's not natural for me, said the last Frenchman to be eliminated from the German-hosted tournament. I'm going to see how I wake up tomorrow, he added, when asked about the rest of the grass court season and a potential withdrawal from Wimbledon.In other second round matches, Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, who fell in five sets against Andy Murray in the fourth round at Roland Garros, advanced easily with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert while Colombian Alejandro Falla knocked out Dutchman Robin Hasse 7-6 (7/1), 6-4. Kohlschreiber, the 2011 Halle champion who has won four of his five ATP titles in Germany, could play world number one and recently crowned French Open champion Rafael Nadal or Germany's Dustin Brown in the quarter-finals. There was an upset when Canadian third seed Milos Raonic was bundled out 6-4, 6-4 against German wildcard Peter Gojowczyk, ranked 120 in the world.Raonic reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros before losing to Novak Djokovic.Nadal, who has a 50-13 winning record on grass and won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, has never been past the quarter-finals at the Gerry Weber Open as he gears up for his third attempt at a tournament dominated by Roger Federer. The Swiss 17-time Grand Slam winner, is chasing his seventh title at Halle and reached the doubles' quarter-finals on Wednesday with compatriot Marco Chiudinelli, courtesy of a walkover over German Martin Emmrich and Italian Andreas Seppi. He takes on Portugal's Joao Sousa, ranked world number 47, on Thursday in his first singles' match. It's an interesting period because I have my title to defend here, and actually at Wimbledon, I don't have anything to defend, said Federer.But I have to prove myself somehow. So, actually it's the kind of the wrong way round for me, because usually the pressure in Wimbledon is much bigger because of the points and because you want to play well.But this year, I might go to Wimbledon a bit more relaxed. The pressure here is quite big, because I want to play well. The draw at the Gerry Weber Open is tough.Therefore it's not easy to target the title. But to me it's obvious why I'm here. I want to capture the title and play well. So, that's absolutely my priority.Canadian third seed Milos Raonic is in action later on Wednesday as he takes on German wildcard Peter Gojowczyk, ranked 120 in the world.

Tennis: Stosur returns to winning ways at Edgbaston

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Australian second seed Samantha Stosur began her quest to win the Edgbaston WTA grasscourt event with victory on Wednesday as she tried to put the memory of her French Open disappointment behind her.Stosur was one set up against eventual champion Maria Sharapova on the red clay of Paris before losing 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 to the Russian in a fourth round match at Roland Garros.But there were no such slip-ups on the grass courts of Birmingham in this Wimbledon warm-up event as Stosur started off with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over American Christina McHale.Stosur, who had a bye in the first round, will next play fellow Australian Casey Dellacqua, who defeated Varvara Lepchenko 6-4 6-3.Meanwhile 43-year-old Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm proved too strong for the seeded Monica Puig, the veteran edging a close encounter 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7). But Sloane Stephens and Kirtsen Flipkens, seeded third and fourth respectively, both won in straight sets.Rising star Stephens saw off former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-4 while Flipkens, a surprise Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, was a 6-3 6-2 winner over Camila Giorgi.But fifth seed Lucie Safarova bowed out losing 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to in Czech compatriot Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.She will next meet lucky loser Timea Babos, who continued her run by overpowering 11th seed Madison Keys 6-2, 6-1.Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak, following her win over British number one Heather Watson, ended home interest in the tournament with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Johanna Konta.

Charity inspired by Prince Charles honours Pakistan's Mahmood

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LONDON (AFP) - Pakistan cricketer Azhar Mahmood has been honoured by a leading Anglo-Asian charity set up at the suggestion of Britain's Prince Charles.All-rounder Mahmood has become an official ambassador of the British Asian Trust, the first Pakistani cricketer to be given such an appointment.He joins fellow cricketers in India's Rahul Dravid and Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan in supporting the work of the Trust, which was set up at the suggestion of Prince Charles -- the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and heir to the British throne -- in 2007 to help disadvantaged people across South Asia. Supporting charitable projects has always been important to me, wherever I have played, said Mahmood in a statement.But it is through the British Asian Trust that I am looking forward to getting involved in the very best work being done across South Asia, tackling the most difficult issues, and achieving incredible things, added Mahmood, who has played for team right across the sub-continent.Since its creation, the Trust has supporting 30 'high impact' charities facilitating access to livelihoods, education and health and reckons to have touched the lives of over a million people. The Trust also has a long standing association with cricket having been launched through the Future Friendship Cup between India and Pakistan in July 2007.Hitan Mehta, the Trust's executive director, said: We are delighted to welcome Azhar Mahmood to the British Asian Trust family. He is one of the finest all-round cricketers of his generation, having achieved great success both internationally and at county level here in the UK. Azhar joins as a unique ambassador having played across South Asia and his support for the Trust's work will be invaluable.The 39-year-old Mahmood, who has appeared for teams across the sub-continent, is currently based in London where he plays for Surrey. He played 21 Tests for Pakistan, scoring 900 runs and taking 39 wickets, as well as featuring in 143 One-Day Internationals (ODI), scoring 1,521 runs and taking 123 wickets between 1996 and 2007.A hard-hitting batsman and canny seam bowler, Mahmood has since become one of a select group of truly globetrotting 'freelance' cricketers playing in a variety of Twenty20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League, Australia's Big Bash League, the Bangladesh League and the Caribbean Premier League.Among the teams Mahmood has represented are the Auckland Aces, Barbados Tridents, Barisal Burners, Dhaka Gladiators, Kings XI Punjab and Kent.

Oil prices rise on US inventories, Iraq turmoil

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices finished somewhat higher Wednesday following an unexpectedly large decline in US crude supplies and worsening turmoil in Iraq. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for July delivery edged higher by five cents to $104.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.In London, European benchmark Brent oil for July delivery advanced 43 cents to $109.95 a barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange.The gains followed a weekly oil-inventory report by the US Department of Energy which showed crude stocks fell 2.6 million barrels, more than the 1.7 million forecast by analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswire.The report also showed a 200,000 barrel decline at a widely watched US oil-trading hub in Cushing, Oklahoma.Analysts kept watch on oil producer Iraq, where militants that had claimed the city of Mosul Monday seized the city of Tikrit Tuesday in a lightning jihadist offensive that swept closer to Baghdad.The assault by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has driven some 500,000 people from their homes and spurred pledges from both the US and Iran for more aid to Iraq.The oil market has so far not reacted strongly to the Iraq violence because traders are probably saying this is far from the oil sector, said Michael Lynch, president of consultancy Strategic Energy & Economic Research.But there is potential for serious political instability in the country, Lynch added.As expected, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which pumps out about one third of the world's oil, agreed to maintain its oil production ceiling at 30 million barrels per day. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said he was very happy with the oil market. US oil prices have traded above $100 a barrel for most of the last two months.

Euro slips vs. dollar, pound firms on good jobs data

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro slipped slightly against the dollar Wednesday, continuing a downward move after last week's European Central Bank easing, while the pound firmed after good British jobs data.Investors now see the single currency as an increasingly cheap currency to borrow and sell in favor of higher returning assets abroad, said Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in a market note.Meanwhile, the pound improved after official data showed further improvement in the British labor market.Britain reported its unemployment rate fell to 6.6 percent, the lowest level in more than five years, from 6.8 percent.The number of unemployed dropped to 2.16 million people.The British economy is the strongest in the developed world in 2014, and today's release of various April and May labor data suggest momentum should continue through mid-year, said Christopher Vecchio of DailyFX.The British pound remains an appealing target for traders perhaps banking on tighter central bank policy over the course of 2014.

New Zealand defeat West Indies in first Test

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KINGSTON (AP) - Debutant off-spinner Mark Craig took 4-97 and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi added 3-42 as New Zealand completed victory against the West Indies by 186 runs late on day four Wednesday of the opening cricket test.The West Indies, set an improbable 403 to win, was bowled out for 216 with just two balls remaining in the day.There was some late resistance from last man Shane Shillingford, who slammed the second fastest fifty in test history, off 25 balls, and ended 53 not out. The right-hander slammed three fours and five sixes. He and Sulieman Benn (25) added 82 for the last wicket.Captain Denesh Ramdin earlier contributed 34.Craig completed match figures of 8-188, the best by a New Zealander on debut, and was named man of the match at Sabina Park.I'm on top of the world and pretty speechless right now, Craig said. There was a lot of turn out there. It was a lot of fun. To get the win was very special.Also, pacer Tim Southee took 2-32, starting the rout by claiming both openers, and completed excellent match figures of 6-51.Earlier, New Zealand stretched its overnight 14-2 in the second innings to 156-8 declared on the back of opener Tom Latham's 73, his second half century of the match. Latham, in only his second test, hit eight fours off 181 balls in four hours.BJ Watling contributed a busy 22 not out off 31 balls.Jerome Taylor took 3-29 and fellow seamer Kemar Roach took 2-12 to lead the West Indies' attack. Offspinner Shane Shillingford took 2-39.Latham and Jimmy Neesham (20) repaired the early damage caused by Taylor and Roach, lifting New Zealand from 55-5 in a sixth-wicket stand of 63 either side of lunch.Captain Brendon McCullum declared to give the hosts half an hour to bat until tea, and Southee ripped out the top two.Kieran Powell fell for a duck as he clipped his fourth ball to short midwicket.Fellow left-hander Chris Gayle lasted long enough to become the eighth West Indian to pass 7,000 test runs but could not continue much further. The Jamaican, in his 100th test, eventually feathered a leaden-footed defensive stroke to wicketkeeper Watling after scoring 10.Southee's double strike moved him above left-arm seamer Richard Collinge into eighth spot among leading wicket-takers in tests for New Zealand (with 118).The touring spinners took over in the final session, ripping through the brittle middle order of the hosts.Craig's first scalp was Kirk Edwards, caught at backward short leg. Later, he claimed Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels in the same over as West Indies collapsed to 54-5.Sodhi removed the veteran Shiv Chanderpaul (24) as he was ruled leg before wicket padding up to a big-spinning leg break.Ramdin and the lower order rallied, with Shillingford and Benn briefly lifting the mood of the small crowd with their stroke-filled association.New Zealand opted to take the extra half hour to try and force a win inside four days and just managed to do it with two balls remaining when part-time offspinner Kane Williamson got Benn to edge to gloveman Watling, who snared his fifth catch.The second test in the three-match series begins in Trinidad on Monday.

Cook ready for fresh start with England

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LONDON (AFP) - England captain Alastair Cook is set to face an intriguing examination of his leadership skills when a new-look side take the field against Sri Lanka in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lords on Thursday.Following their 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, England are set to field three debutants in Australia-born opener Sam Robson, Barbados-born all-rounder Chris Jordan and Moeen Ali, the batsman and off-spinner who, although of Pakistani descent, was born in Birmingham in the English Midlands.Meanwhile the fall-out caused by Jonathan Trotts stress-related illness and Kevin Pietersens banishment has led to Gary Ballance, on the back of one Test, being promoted to number three with the experienced Ian Bell taking over from Pietersen at four.Add in the possibility that England are set to recall fast bowler Liam Plunkett after a seven-year absence and have brought back wicketkeeper Matt Prior, despite concerns over an Achilles injury, and its easy to see how Cook, together with returning coach Peter Moores, has his hands full even before hes considered the strengths of the Sri Lanka side.However, Cook said Wednesday: Its been a pretty heavy load for every England captain. There are always different challenges.Nevertheless, he added: It feels like a fresh start. Im a pretty open guy, and people have had pretty good chats with me.They can walk up to me, rather than me walking up to them. All the newcomers will want to prove they are international players, and they deserve to be here.Ive been impressed by these guys coming into the dressing room.The series starts in the shadow of the Mankad run out of England one-day wicketkeeper Jos Buttler but, for all the furore, Cook said he still respected Sri Lanka.They are incredibly competitive. I think they have always punched above their weight. Its in their character, Cook explained.Cook said all-rounder Ben Stokes, coming back from injury, had been left out because hes only bowled 30 odd overs, and when he bowled he was a bit rusty.Yet he was happy to go with Prior, who was dropped during the Ashes, despite Australia great Shane Warne saying Wednesday that England had missed a trick in not giving a Test debut to Buttler.Ive no doubt Jos is an exceptional talent who will play Test cricket for England, said Cook.But weve got a guy in Matt Prior who averages over 40 in his Test career.Hes an outstanding batsman who had a tough six months. Im backing his ability at the moment, and the quality we know hes got.As for Plunkett, resurgent after moving from Durham to Yorkshire, Cook said: I think he understands how to get the best out of himself -- he looks a different guy around the camp from the one I met in 2006.Hes really relaxed, matured... and certainly knows his cricket.Hes seen the other side. Life isnt that bad if you arent in the England side, but he just wants to prove how good he is.

10 killed in fresh drone strike in Miranshah

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MIRANSHAH (Dunya News) – According to details, at least five unmanned aircrafts fired eight missiles on four compounds and a van in village Dande Darpa Khel near Miranshah area of North Waziristan on early Thursday morning, killing ten people.It is the second drone strike in the area within six hours.Sources have informed that five drone aircrafts are still flying over the area, creating hurdles in rescue work. Earlier, US drone strike in Dargah Mandi village in North Waziristan on Wednesday night killed six people.The US drone programme is a source of extreme tension between the two countries.Islamabad has repeatedly denounced drone attacks on its tribal areas as counterproductive to the overall fight against terror, and that such unilateral actions violate the country’s sovereignty and provoke militancy.Human rights activists have also condemned drone strikes for the high number of civilian casualties. The Obama administration claims drones are important in taking out Al Qaeda linked militants.

Another drone strike in Miranshah, casualties feared

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MIRANSHAH (Dunya News) – According to preliminary information, at least five unmanned aircrafts fired eight missiles on four compounds in village Dande Darpa Khel near Miranshah area of North Waziristan on early Thursday morning. Casualties are feared in the fresh attack.It is the second drone strike in the area within six hours.Sources have informed that five drone aircrafts are still flying over the area, spreading fear among the residents. The US drone programme is a source of extreme tension between the two countries.Washington says it needs to send drones after dangerous militants because the Pakistani government refuses to engage them militarily.Pakistan charges that the drone strikes are a violation of its sovereignty.

Younis Khan to return to A category

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Former captain Younis Khan’s anger seem to have done the trick as he was reinstated to his old position in Category A from Category B. The announcement was made by chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi, Dunya News reported.Earlier, in its central contract announcement, PCB had demoted former captain Younis Khan while Junaid Khan had been added to the A category.31 players were included in the central contract, out of which, 5 were in A category, 4 in B, 6 in C and 16 players in D category.The players comprised A category include Misbah-ul-Haq, Muhammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Junaid Khan and Saeed Ajmal.Younis Khan was demoted to B category from A whereas Junaid Khan was moved up to the A category from B.Category B now comprises Umar Akmal, Umar Gul and Ahmed Shahzad.The C category includes Adnan Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafique, Azhar Ali, Khurram Manzoor and Abdul Rehman.The D category comprises Suhaib Maqsood, Sarfraz Ahmed, Bilawal Bhatti, Sharjeel Khan, Zulfiqar Babar, Fawad Alam, Ahsaan Adil, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Raza Hasan, Umar Ameen, Haris Suhail, Rahat Ali, Shan Masood, Muhammad Talha and Anwar Ali.

Tahirul Qadri asks army to takeover Islamabad airport's security upon his arrival

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) -- Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri said on Wednesday that he is returning to Islamabad on 23 June, and that he fears for his life. He urged Pakistan Army to takeover Islamabad Airport’s security upon his arrival. He said he’s registering First Information Report (FIR) in advance, adding that the government will be responsible if anything happens to him, Dunya News reported.“If anyone caused harm to me or PAT leaders, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Railway Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, State Minister for Water & Power Abid Sher Ali, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and Information Minister Pervez Rasheed will be held responsible.”The government will be responsible for any damage if it tried to stop me from coming to Pakistan, he warned. He accused that incumbent rulers are real heads of the terrorists. Some terrorist groups are controlled by the government.Tahirul Qadri announced he will reach Islamabad airport on June 23.Expressing dissatisfaction over the government, he urged army leadership to take up airport security into their hands. He clarified that he believes in the constitution but opposes current system.Revolution is the only solution of Pakistan’s problems, he said.

Int'l Airlines' confidence boosted after Karachi airport attack thwarted: DG CAA

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Director General (DG) Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Mohammad Yousaf said on Wednesday that the confidence of international airlines operating in Pakistan has boosted after terrorists had to face defeat at Karachi International Airport. He said that all airports of the country are safe and that a separate committee has been formed to probe the attack, Dunya News reported.Talking exclusively to Dunya News Karachi Bureau Chief Rehan Hashmi, Yousaf said that the runway was secured minutes after the attack, adding that the forces defeated the terrorists in their aims by thwarting the attack.He said that the international airlines operating in Pakistan feel more confident as the aims of the terrorists were crushed.Yousaf said that all airports are safe, adding that the security arrangements at Karachi airport are being improved.
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