Sunday, 31 August 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Post-mortem of Islamabad victims completed

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The post-mortem report of the three deceased, who died during clashes between police and PAT and PTI activists in front of the Parliament House on Saturday night, has been completed.The initial report revealed that two of the three PAT activists died of real bullet injuries while the third victim was drowned as he fell into a pond while running for safety to avoid teargas shelling.According to initial post-mortem report, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Rafiullah and Gulfam Adil died of bullet wounds while Naved Qamar was drowned.

Tennis: Federer shines in New York rain, Ferrer crashes

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Five-time champion Roger Federer sat out a two-hour break for torrential rain to race into the US Open fourth round on Sunday on a stormy, humid New York day which saw David Ferrer crash to defeat.Second-seeded Federer, the champion between 2004-2008, came back from a set down to defeat Spain's Marcel Granollers 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 by racing away with 20 of the last 24 games of the match which had been interrupted due to rain and the threat of lightning.Federer, bidding to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in more than 40 years, clinched his 70th win at the tournament on the back of 57 winners and 13 aces.But the 33-year-old had struggled in the first set where he slipped to 2-5 down against the world number 42 before he grasped welcome respite in the locker room to sit out the storm.It was a good match and I managed to turn it around as Marcel was on fire at the start, said Federer.The break helped me and when I came back I played some great tennis. The conditions were windy and quick at the start but when we got back it was humid and that played in my favour.Federer will face Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarter-finals.Gilles Simon sent Spanish fourth seed Ferrer crashing to his earliest US Open defeat in five years with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 win.The 26th seeded Simon capitalised on the 52 unforced errors of the 32-year-old Ferrer, a semi-finalist in 2007 and 2012, who appeared to struggle physically towards the end of their third-round clash.Simon goes on to face Marin Cilic of Croatia, who beat South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, for a place in the quarter-finals in a clash of two men who both missed the 2013 US Open.Simon was back in France for the birth of his second child while Cilic was serving out a doping ban.The wiry 29-year-old Frenchman admitted he was delighted to have got the better of Ferrer against whom he had lost five times in six meetings.He destroyed me five times before, said Simon, one of five Frenchmen to reach the third round.So I just tried to stay loose and relaxed and enjoy myself on court. But I am tired. The weather forecast said it would be cooler today but it didn't feel like it.Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2012, beat Georgian-born Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and next plays Dominic Thiem of Austria, the youngest player in the top 50 at just 20.Thiem, who turns 21 on Wednesday, reached his first Grand Slam last-16 with an impressive 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 win over left-handed serve-and-volleyer Feliciano Lopez of Spain who is 12 years his senior.It's my first US Open. I love to play at night and everything went well tonight, said Thiem.Bulgarian seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov, who had never won a match in New York in three appearances before this year, is a potential quarter-final opponent of Federer.The 23-year-old Dimitrov plays Belgium's David Goffin, the world 56, for the first time.Goffin had also never won a match in New York before this year and he comes into the event buoyed by a recent maiden title in Kitzbuhel and a quarter-final run at Winston-Salem where he had to qualify.Sunday's action also throws up an intriguing all-French clash between Davis Cup teammates Richard Gasquet, the 12th seed, and 20th-seeded Gael Monfils.Gasquet boasts a 6-4 lead over crowd favourite Monfils who celebrates his 28h birthday on Monday.Monfils has won both of their meetings this year and also claimed their only other match at the US Open in the fourth round in 2010.

Tennis: Wozniacki knocks Sharapova out of US Open

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki sent Maria Sharapova packing at the US Open on Sunday, reaching the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over the five-time Grand Slam champion.The defeat ends French Open winner Sharapova's bid to claim a second major title in a single year for the first time in her career.And for former world number one Wozniacki, it marked a return to the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2012 Australian Open.It means a lot to me, said Wozniacki, who won her 22nd WTA title in Istanbul this year, but lost in the fourth round at Wimbledon, the third round at the Australian Open and the first round at the French Open.The season for me has been a little bit up and down, added the Dane, who also had to cope with the abrupt and highly-publicized end of her engagement to golfer Rory McIlroy in May.To win today against a champion like Maria is an unbelievable feeling.In a match played in oppressively humid conditions in the swirling winds of Arthur Ashe Stadium court, Wozniacki kept her composure in the face of a second-set surge from Sharapova.After both were granted a locker room heat break before the third set, Wozniacki came out firing, pushing Sharapova into long rallies that often ended with the Russian upping her error count.She played really well in the second set. She went in and started attacking me, said Wozniacki, who found herself becoming more tentative.When we had that break, I said 'OK, win or lose I'm going to go for my shots. I'm going to go for it. This is the only chance I have to win. If I'm going to lose, at least I'm going to do it with dignity.She broke Sharapova to love in the fourth game of the third to take a 3-1 lead, stretching out a rally on break point to finally draw a backhand into the net from her foe.Energized, Wozniacki gestured to the crowd with both arms as the roars rang out. She broke Sharapova again in the final game, firing a backhand winner on match point.Wozniacki notched her third victory over Sharapova in eight career meetings, and her first since 2011.Definitely it ranks up there, Wozniacki said of the win. Maria obviously is a tough competitor.She's won here before. She won the French Open this year. Beating her here at the US Open, it's a tough task.I'm really happy to be through and have another chance to play in the next round.Wozniacki will face 13th-seeded Italian Sara Errani for a place in the semi-finals.

Football: Liverpool ease past Spurs, Arsenal held

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool reasserted their Premier League title credentials with a breezy 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, but Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at Leicester City.Raheem Sterling, Steven Gerrard and Alberto Moreno scored the goals for Liverpool at White Hart Lane to give Brendan Rodgers victory in his 100th game as manager and end Tottenham's 100 percent record.Overall our quality was exceptional. We got three goals and could have had more, said Rodgers.Mario Balotelli made his Liverpool debut after his 16 million pounds ($26.5 million, 20.1 million euros) move from AC Milan on Monday and he produced an enterprising display before being withdrawn in the 61st minute.I thought he was excellent, Rodgers said of the maverick striker.He's bought straight into our team ethic. He's trained well and has put all that background noise about him to one side. He's been brilliant.The result saw Liverpool bounce back from a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City in their previous outing and means they have now scored 12 unanswered goals in their last three encounters with Spurs.After former City striker Balotelli had tested Hugo Lloris with an early header, Liverpool went ahead in the eighth minute.Daniel Sturridge released Jordan Henderson with a ball down the right flank and the England midfielder played a low cross across the box that Sterling tucked away at the far post.Gerrard doubled the visitors' lead from the penalty spot in the 49th minute after Eric Dier had held back Joe Allen and Moreno sealed victory on the hour with a memorable first Liverpool goal.The Spanish left-back, a close-season arrival from Sevilla, dispossessed Spurs substitute Andros Townsend on halfway and surged into the box before drilling a shot into the bottom-right corner.We need to learn and improve, said Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino. Today was a very tough game for us.With Olivier Giroud sidelined by a broken tibia, Yaya Sanogo started up front for Arsenal at promoted Leicester and he played a central role in the visitors' 20th-minute opener.The French striker could not find a way past Kasper Schmeichel from Santi Cazorla's dinked pass, but Alexis Sanchez followed up to slam home his first league goal since signing from Barcelona.Arsenal's lead was to last only two minutes, however, as Jeff Schlupp motored down the left wing before delivering an inviting cross that Leonardo Ulloa powered past Wojciech Szczesny with a firm header.Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny hurt himself in a clash of heads with Schlupp when the score was still 0-0 and he made way for Calum Chambers shortly after Ulloa's goal.Leicester came closest to scoring a winner in the second half, but Ulloa clipped an effort into the side-netting after cutting inside Chambers while Szczesny produced a diving save to thwart substitute Jamie Vardy.It was tough. Leicester played very well and defended with a lot of heart, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports.Asked if he would look to bring in a replacement for Giroud before the transfer window closes on Monday night, he added: We are active in the window. We are working hard to find a solution.The result left Arsenal four points below leaders Chelsea in seventh place in the table, while Leicester moved up to 15th.In the day's other game, Aston Villa won 2-1 at home to Hull City to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign and climb to third place.Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann put the hosts two up at half-time at Villa Park, with Nikica Jelavic replying for previously unbeaten Hull in the 74th minute.Chelsea will go into the international break above Swansea City on goal difference at the top of the table after an engrossing 6-3 win at Everton on Saturday, in which new striker Diego Costa scored twice.Mame Biram Diouf claimed the only goal as Stoke City pulled off a surprise 1-0 win at Manchester City, while Angel di Maria made his debut for Manchester United in a 0-0 draw at Burnley.

Motorcycling: Imperious Marquez wins 11th race of the season

Posted:

SILVERSTONE (AFP) - Runaway world championship leader Marc Marquez made it 11 wins from 12 races this season on Sunday as he won the British MotoGP at Silverstone.The 21-year-old Spanish Honda rider -- who on Saturday claimed his 10th pole position of the campaign -- prevailed in a stunning duel with compatriot and two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha.Lorenzo's team-mate Italian legend Valentino Rossi was third in what was a record 246th MotoGP appearance while Marquez's fellow Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, who won the Czech GP last time out, was fourth.It was the third successive race Yamaha had filed the minor podium placings.Marquez has 288 points with Pedrosa, who signed a two year extension with Honda, second on 199 and Rossi, who has also committed himself for another two years to Yamaha, third on 189 while Lorenzo has 157 with six races remaining.Marquez, whose rare offday in the Czech Republic saw him finish fourth, said that he had enjoyed the tussle with Lorenzo.Honestly Jorge was much stronger than I expected, he said.When I passed him the first time I made a small mistake and he got the lead back.However, I recalled what happened last year (he finished second to Lorenzo in the same race) and I didn't want a repeat of that so I ensured once I got back in front again I wouldn't let it slip.Lorenzo, who had won the past two editions of the British race, said that he had been surprised by the performance of his bike.Marc has the power but as I have said in racing sometimes you have surprises, said the 27-year-old.Once I hit the front I rode like a demon. However, once Marc passed me towards the end of the race I was too tired to react.Rossi, who holds the all-time record in 500cc/MotoGP victories with 60, was delighted with his podium spot.I'm very happy to have my first podium spot at Silverstone (the race has only been held there since 2010), said the 35-year-old.I rode at maximum speed the last lap to hold off Dani.I had a good rhythm initially and stayed with Jorge and Marc but I burnt up my rear tyre and after that I had no chance. We must work on the bike so that in the future I can remain competitive with them. Lorenzo got a terrific start shooting into the lead ahead of Marquez, whose weakest part of his armoury has been his starts, while Pedrosa got an awful one dropping to sixth.Marquez was right on Lorenzo's shoulder going over the line with 15 laps remaining with three riders Rossi, Dovizioso and Pedrosa a little bit further back but clear of the pack.Pedrosa continued his recovery from the poor start by passing Dovizioso and pressurised Rossi, who he succeeded in getting past with 11 laps remaining and set off after the leading two who were almost three seconds clear.Lorenzo kept Marquez at bay toying with him at times forcing the younger Spaniard to go out wide and costing him ground but Pedrosa was unable to make any inroads into their lead and indeed was four seconds down with eight laps to the chequered flag.Indeed Pedrosa couldn't shake off either Rossi or Dovisioso and was passed by both of the Italians with just over seven laps remaining.The duel up front heated up considerably with five laps to go as Marquez passed Lorenzo but the Yamaha rider bit back immediately and passed Marquez almost immediately.It was a superb and engrossing contest highlighted by the exchange with three laps to go as Marquez looked to have got the better of Lorenzo on one corner only for the door to be shut on him.However, the irrepressible youngster was not to be denied and took the lead on the next corner and for once Lorenzo had no answer.

Injured Clarke returns home after Zimbabwe loss

Posted:

SYDNEY (AFP) - Captain Michael Clarke will return home Tuesday after aggravating a hamstring injury during Australia's embarrassing one-day international loss to Zimbabwe in Harare, Cricket Australia said.Clarke's sore left hamstring had kept him out of Australia's first two games of the series, which also involves South Africa, and it flared up again in the course of his 68 as Australia went down by three wickets.The Australian captain looked uncomfortable for large parts of his innings, but the injury worsened after he tweaked the hamstring completing a second run in the 40th over.Clarke continued to bat until the 43rd over, when it became clear that his difficulty running between the wickets was hampering Australia's bid for some much-needed late runs.Michael aggravated his left hamstring while batting against Zimbabwe today and will not be able to take any further part in the tri-series, Australia team physiotherapist David Beakley said Monday.Michael will return to Sydney on Tuesday to undergo scans and further assessment to determine the full extent of the injury.Zimbabwe's only previous win over the Australians was at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup, in the first ever encounter between the two sides.Sunday's defeat was a humbling experience for Australia, who misread conditions and left out leg-spinning all rounder Steve Smith, and under-estimated Zimbabwe by resting premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Chigumbura guides Zimbabwe to remarkable win over Aussies

Posted:

HARARE (AFP) - Elton Chigumbura hit an unbeaten half-century as Zimbabwe recorded a famous three-wicket victory over No. 1-ranked Australia in a one-day triangular series match in Harare on Sunday for only their second win over their opponents in 31 years.Chigumbura finished on 52 not out and shared an unbroken stand of 55 with Prosper Utseya as Zimbabwe chased down a target of 210 to win with two overs to spare.Zimbabwe's only previous win over the Australians was at Trent Bridge in the 1983 World Cup, in the first ever encounter between the two sides.Sunday's defeat was a humbling experience for Australia, who misread conditions and left out legspinning all rounder Steve Smith, and underestimated Zimbabwe by resting premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.It proved to be even costlier as inspirational captain Michael Clarke re-injured his hamstring and will fly home on Monday.At the end of the day the selectors pick the team and I try and get the best out of the players, Clarke said.That's all you can do. I think we've seen through Smithy's career that he's a pretty good player of spin bowling and he can bowl some handy leg spinners, so I think he would have been handy out there.Australia now need to beat South Africa on Tuesday to assure themselves of a place in Saturday's final.The hamstring injury had kept Clarke out of Australia's first two games, and it flared up again to force him to retire hurt on 68 as Australia limped to a total of 209 for nine.Although he returned to the crease for the final two deliveries of Australia's innings and bowled an over of spin at the death, he confirmed that he will take no further part in the tournament.Clarke's knock had held the Australian innings together as they crumbled against Zimbabwe's four spinners, who reduced the tourists to 57 for four and then 150 for seven.Australia's final total could have been even more measly had Brad Haddin not been dropped three times on his way to 49, an innings that helped the visitors put on 55 runs in the last five overs of their innings.With Clarke injured and part-timer Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell unable to stifle the Zimbabwean batsmen, it fell to Nathan Lyon to put in a matchwinning performance on a pitch that produced prodigious turn throughout the day.Although Lyon struck in his first two overs to snaffle out a promising opening partnership, and then picked up two more scalps as Zimbabwe slid from 100 for two to 106 for five, the lack of spin support ultimately proved costly.Zimbabwe had another wobble when Malcolm Waller and Donald Tiripano fell in quick succession, and at 156 for seven it looked as though they had thrown their opportunity away.But Chigumbura and Utseya steadied the ship to edge Zimbabwe closer to the target in front of a joyous crowd, before Utseya sealed the match with a six over midwicket.It was a proud moment for everyone - for Zimbabwe cricket and even for Zimbabwe because it's been more than 30 years since we beat Australia, Chigumbura said.Hopefully we can learn from this and have more success to come.

Aggression on parliament would not be tolerated: PM

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News, Web Desk) -- Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif presided over a ‎‎‘high level’ meeting on Sunday, which has decided to summon a joint parliament session on ‎Tuesday 2nd September to discuss the present political predicament, and they condemned the ‎aggression on the parliament house by protesters in Islamabad.‎PM stressed that no one would be allowed to violate the sanctity of the parliament, and neither ‎would anyone be allowed to question the supremacy of the constitution. PM also condemned the ‎attack on media employees, and gave orders for strict action against the responsible officials.‎The joint session appreciated the efforts of the Islamabad police for successfully protecting the ‎state buildings. The members present at the session mutually agreed upon furthering the process ‎of political dialogue to resolve the current political crisis.‎‎ ‎During the riot outside the parliament house, three people were killed and more than 500 people ‎were injured due to police shelling at the protesters, who were trying to encroach upon state ‎territory.

Govt plans to lodge false FIR against me: Imran

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said that Nawaz Sharif government has planned to lodge a false FIR against me and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri. Dunya News also obtained the copy of FIR.Addressing participants of Azadi March from his container in front of the Parliament House on night between Sunday and Monday, PTI chief showed the copy of the First Information Report (FIR) to his party workers Imran said that the government is planning to implicate him, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Ijaz Chaudhry, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Raheeq Abbasi in the false case under the anti-terrorism act.

SSP Junejo takes charge of Islamabad after two officers declined

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News, Web Desk) – Senior Superintendent ‎Police (SSP) operations Muhammad Ali Neokar and SSP Capt.(r) Ilyas excused themselves of ‎‎ their posts in response to government's orders to use force against protesters at Islamabad but now ‎‎SSP Traffic Asmatullah Junejo has been assigned the additional charge of SSP Islamabad.‎While addressing the press at Islamabad, SSP Junejo, who claims to have a masters degree from ‎‎America, he said that police would not use excessive force against forceful protesters as long as ‎‎they do not violate the red-zone, as demarcated by the government. He added that Islamabad ‎‎police is an independent entity and they would protect their citizens at all costs because political ‎‎forces did not control them.‎‎ Junejo stressed that the Islamabad police would not attack unarmed Pakistani citizens including ‎‎women and children at any cost but at the same time, they will not permit violation of the red ‎‎zone, because they cannot go against the government’s policy, irrespective of political malign.‎‎ The current SSP Islamabad apologized for the loss of lives and the use of excessive force by the ‎‎Islamabad Police against journalists. He added that if FIR can be registered against the Prime ‎‎Minister then it could surely be registered against anyone who tries to defame the image of the ‎‎police.‎‎ After reiterating his stance on the sanctity of the red zone, SSP Junejo vowed to protect the red ‎‎zone, as the Islamabad police is an administrative institution, and not a political body. He added ‎‎that anti-state and extremist elements were present amongst the protesters who were trying to ‎‎take advantage of the current situation in Islamabad.‎‎ Police officials decline to use force against protesters at Islamabad, SSP Neokar has taken a leave ‎‎whereas SSP Capt. (r) Ilyas also excused himself from the assignment.SSP Junejo took charge ‎‎after both the above-mentioned officials had decline the post. The sequence started after ‎‎Inspector General (IG) Police Aftab Cheema took a leave when ordained to disperse protesters ‎‎by the government. Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Khadija Tasneem also resigned from ‎‎her post in protest, reportedly.‎‎ SSP Junejo is known as a sturdy officer, as previously he was branded as ‘Dabang Khan’ when ‎‎he took charge of the situation pertaining to the Sikh protestors at Islamabad. He said that the ‎‎entire police force is united and they would abide by their constitutional duty to protect the ‎‎citizens.‎‎ On a concluding note, SSP Islamabad said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chair Imran Khan and ‎‎Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr.Tahirul Qadri were ‘Pakistani heroes’, but they should ‎‎understand our responsibility as government employees who were paid by the tax money of the ‎‎public. He added that all citizens are equal in the eyes of law, and there is no precedence set by ‎‎the government to allow protests in front of the Prime Minister house.‎‎ SSP Junejo assured that if the government allows the protesters then police would not use any ‎‎force against them. He stressed that the Islamabad police is in control of the situation ‎‎independently, and is headed by none other than the IG.

Altaf Hussain urges stakeholders to resume conclusive negotiations

Posted:

LONDON (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain said on Sunday that the stakeholders should resume the conclusive dialogue, adding that things are going towards destruction, Dunya News reported.Altaf Hussain warned of a further complex situation if prompt action not taken.MQM chief said that army’s job is not just to guard the borders but it’s also to protect lives and properties of people. He said that as per the Article 190 of constitution, Supreme Court can invite the army if the situation worsens.Altaf Hussain recommended the government to bring the change in the house in order to improve circumstances.He said Prime Minister should go to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri to get issues resolved amicably or else a third power would take action.

Corps Commanders Conference decides for democracy, against use of power

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Corps Commanders Conference headed by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General RaheelSharif on Sunday decided to continue supporting the democracy and against the use of power on protesters. It was concluded in the conference that the army had nothing to do with the attack on protesters, warning that the use of force against protesters will deteriorate the situation.The conference recommended finding political situation of the issue as soon as possible.An emergency Corps Commanders Conference was held today (Sunday) at General Head-Quarters (GHQ). Conference was held for more than three hours in which Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) General Zaheerul Islam and Principal Staff officers were also present.‘Reviewing the situation with serious concern’ military leadership expressed great concern over the current political crisis and expressed sorrow for the loss of lives in Islamabad.Pakistan Army spokesperson told that the military leadership hoped for a political resolution of the matter during the conference and recommended to solve the political crisis in a political manner and as early as possible. The corps commanders also recommended no use of power. Corps commanders opined that using force over the protesters may worsen the situation so violent means should not be adopted for resolution of the crisis.‘While reaffirming support to democracy’, military leadership vowed to keep up with the people’s aspirations, ISPR said. Armed forces are also determined to play their role in securing the country from all threats.

Some people are inviting martial law: Sirajul Haq

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Jamaat Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said on Sunday that the solution to the problem is in establishing the writ of the constitution and democracy, adding that some people are inviting the martial law, Dunya News reported.Addressing the media, Haq said that whoever is wishing for martial law is trying to push Pakistan Army into a swamp.He said that he had presented a formula of Prime Minister’s resignation to Imran Khan, adding that Jamaat would continue its efforts to get the country out of the crisis.Jamaat chief assured that the country would advance towards progress and democracy.

It's not democracy, it is monarch: Tahirul Qadri

Posted:

ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri has said that there is no democracy in the country and that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was ruling like a king. “It is not democracy, it is monarch”, said PAT chief.Speaking to the participants of ‘Revolution March’ today (Sunday) in Islamabad, Tahirul Qadri said that peaceful protests are held throughout the world but those who talk so much of democracy learn nothing from other democratic countries.Dr. Qadri said that peaceful protesters were manhandled last night by Police but PAT workers braved the brutality with great bravery. He saluted the workers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and PAT too.PAT chief said that citizens were still deprived of their rights in a free country because Pakistan has not won the freedom of Quiad-e-Azam’s dreams as yet.“Nawaz Sharif is the biggest investor of Asia”, said Qadri. He alleged that rulers’ rule is only for the sake of their own business and loot. “Mega project of corruption started when they entered politics”, Qadri said.

Some people are inviting martial law: Sirajul Haq

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Jamaat Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said on Sunday that the solution to the problem is in establishing the writ of the constitution and democracy, adding that some people are inviting the martial law, Dunya News reported.Addressing the media, Haq said that whoever is wishing for martial law is trying to push Pakistan Army into a swamp.He said that he had presented a formula of Prime Minister’s resignation to Imran Khan, adding that Jamaat would continue its efforts to get the country out of the crisis.Jamaat chief assured that the country would advance towards progress and democracy.
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, 30 August 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

India beat England by 6 wickets to win 3rd ODI

Posted:

NOTTINGHAM (AFP) - India's spinners again proved England's undoing as the tourists won the third one-day international at Trent Bridge on Saturday by six wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. World champions India, chasing a modest 228 for victory, cruised to 228 for four with seven overs to spare.Ambati Rayudu, only playing because of Rohit Sharma's tour-ending finger injury, was an ODI-best 64 not out. Together with Suresh Raina, who followed up his 100 in India's equally dominant 133-run victory in Cardiff on Wednesday with a run-a-ball 42, Rayudu put on 87 for the fourth wicket.But it was the first innings that decided the course of the match, with England dismissed for a meagre 227 after losing the toss.They were 82 without loss thanks to under-fire captain Alastair Cook (44) and Alex Hales (42).But England, as happened in Cardiff, again succumbed to spin as they lost three wickets for 15 runs in six overs to be 97 for three.Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the man-of-the-match, took three for 39, with only Jos Buttler (42), apart from Cook and Hales, passing 40 in the innings.England managed just one four in 26 overs midway through their innings and didn't hit a six until the last over.The spinners did it for us -- Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja bowled really well but also Raina's spell was important, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told Sky Sports.Rayudu bowled and batted well, he's a good player of spin and we're still looking for a number four batsman to bat through the innings, Dhoni added.For Cook it was an all-too familiar scenario.We didn't play very well, he said. We got off to another good start but, from 80-0, you expect to get more than 230.As for England's ongoing problems against spin, Cook added: It's something we're not doing very well at the moment but we've got to keep working at it.England's opening stand ended when Hales, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, top-edged a sweep off Raina's sixth ball and was caught by wicketkeeper Dhoni.Hales had also fallen to the sweep after making 40 on ODI debut in Cardiff and his exit was the cue for England to again get bogged down against spin.Rayudu took his first international wicket when he had Cook stumped down the legside by Dhoni. Cook, whom former England team-mate Graeme Swann suggested this week should quit one-day cricket because he scores too slowly, took 65 balls to get his runs on Saturday.Another Dhoni stumping, off Jadeja, saw Joe Root fall for two. Eoin Morgan (10) was also undone by spin, Ashwin turning the ball away from the left-hander and Dhoni holding the edge to complete his fourth dismissal of the innings.An ambling Ian Bell (28) was then run out by Mohit Sharma's dramatic direct hit from wide long-off.All-rounder Ben Stokes (two) added to his growing list of low scores for England when Raina held a brilliant low, one-handed, slip catch off Ashwin.Stokes's exit left England 149 for six and, unsurprisingly, the lower order could not repair the damage.Ajinkya Rahane, promoted to open in place of Rohit Sharma, showed his class with a textbook cover-driven four off James Anderson.Rahane had made 45, featuring six fours and a six, when fast bowler Steven Finn, playing his first international match in nearly a year, had him caught behind.Virat Kohli averaged just 13.4 in India's preceding 3-1 Test series defeat and was out for a duck on Wednesday.But he found his form with 40 -- his best international score of a tough tour -- before flicking Stokes straight to Tredwell at mid-on.India were now 120 for three but the rarely troubled Rayudu went on to complete an impressive fifty when he deliberately uppercut Finn for his fifth four in 63 balls.The series continues at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground on Tuesday.

Tennis: Kvitova falls, Djokovic, Murray, Serena through

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova became the fifth top 10 seed to exit the US Open in the first week when she was knocked out by Serbian world number 145 Aleksandra Krunic on Saturday.But there were no such problems for men's top seed Novak Djokovic and eighth-seeded Andy Murray, both former champions in New York, who remained on course for a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown.Five-time women's champion Serena Williams was also a comfortable winner, racking up her 75th victory at the US Open.Third seeded Kvitova lost her third round tie 6-4, 6-4 to pint-sized 21-year-old Krunic, who came through qualifying and had never won a match at a major before this year's event.Kvitova joins second seed Simona Halep, fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber, the sixth seed, and eighth-seeded Ana Ivanovic in failing to make the fourth round.The 24-year-old Kvitova dropped serve five times and committed 34 unforced errors against the 5ft 4in (1.63m) Krunic who divides her time between the pro tour and studying for a university economics degree.It was an honour to play on the same court as Petra, she's a great champion. I watched both her wins at Wimbledon, said Krunic, who next plays former world number one Victoria Azarenka, the runner-up to Williams in the last two years.Kvitova said she was taken by surprise by her opponent's poise and power.I didn't really expect how she played so well. Suddenly she just pushed the ball very hard, said the Czech.Djokovic, the 2011 champion, brushed aside America's Sam Querrey for the eighth time in nine meetings, with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win taking the world number one into the fourth round at a major for the 22nd consecutive time.Sam is big server, very powerful. But he doesn't move that well so I wanted to keep him moving around the court, mix up the pace and get as many returns as possible back, said Djokovic after an 85-minute win which was never in doubt from the time he raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set.Djokovic will next face John Isner, the last American left in the draw, if the 13th seed can beat Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.Women's top seed and double defending champion Serena Williams eased past her third successive American compatriot, Uzbekistan-born left-hander Varvara Lepchenko, 6-3, 6-3 and will tackle tough Estonian Kaia Kanepi for a quarter-final berth.I had to make some adjustments because of the wind but I got some excellent advice from my coach, said 32-year-old Williams, playing in her 15th US Open and aiming to become just the second woman after Chris Evert in the 1970s to win three New York titles in succession.My opponent played at an unbelievable level but I tried to hang in there and do what I needed to do.Murray, the 2012 champion, hit 47 winners in a 6-1, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov, the world 96, to book a seventh appearance in the fourth round.I got off to a good start and then had a cushion when he got back into the match in the third set, said 27-year-old Murray.Also going through to the last-16 for a third successive year was Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic who beat Victor Estrella Burgos, the 34-year-old tournament debutant from the Dominican Republic, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3).He will face Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori who reached the fourth round for the first time since his 2008 debut with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Leonardo Mayer of Argentina.Later Saturday, Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka, the third seed, faces Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic, the world number 92, who has never defeated a top-10 opponent in 10 attempts.

Football: Chelsea beat Everton in goalfest, City crash

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea overpowered Everton 6-3 in a remarkable game on Saturday to preserve their 100 percent record in the Premier League, after Manchester City were stunned by Stoke City.Jose Mourinho's Chelsea led 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2, but Everton kept coming back at them and it was not until Diego Costa made it 6-3 with his second goal in the last minute that the home side finally admitted defeat at an enraptured Goodison Park.Chelsea were 2-0 up inside three minutes, with Diego Costa tucking away a pass from Cesc Fabregas after only 36 seconds before Ramires teed up Branislav Ivanovic to drill a low shot past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.But Kevin Mirallas reduced the arrears with a fine header on the stroke of half-time and when Everton right-back Seamus Coleman slid an Eden Hazard cross into his own goal in the 67th minute, it heralded a flurry of five goals in 10 minutes.Two minutes later Steven Naismith hit back for the hosts to make it 3-2 and although Nemanja Matic then restored the visitors' two-goal cushion, Samuel Eto'o marked his first Everton appearance since leaving Chelsea by heading home.But Ramires gathered a pass from Matic and toed the ball past Howard to make it 5-3 and after Mirallas had hit the post, Costa exploited an error from Everton substitute Muhamed Besic to complete the scoring with a classy finish.The result left Chelsea as one of only two teams to have won their first three games, along with Swansea City, although Tottenham Hotspur can emulate them with victory over Liverpool on Sunday.If the salt and pepper of football is goals, to have nine goals in a Premier League match is fantastic ingredients, Mourinho told Sky Sports.I know Everton are a good offensive side and their movement is not easy to control, but we concede three goals -- it is too much.Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf scored a memorable solo goal as Stoke condemned defending champions Manchester City to their first defeat of the season with a shock 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.The former Manchester United forward struck in the 58th minute, picking up the ball in his own half and powering past Aleksandar Kolarov and Vincent Kompany before squeezing a shot between the legs of City goalkeeper Joe Hart.It was only the second time City had failed to score at home in 71 league matches and only their second home defeat since May 2013.It's a surprising defeat because we don't expect to lose against Stoke, but these games sometimes happen, said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.We tried from everywhere. We are not very creative, we did not find the space, and that is credit to Stoke.British-record signing Angel di Maria made his Manchester United debut earlier on Saturday, but was unable to inspire his new side to victory as they drew 0-0 at promoted Burnley.A 59.7 million pounds ($98 million, 75 million euros) acquisition from Real Madrid, Di Maria started the game and produced some probing passes and darting runs, but he could not illuminate United's path to goal against Sean Dyche's side.After a loss to Swansea, a draw at Sunderland and a 4-0 humiliation by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup, new United manager Louis van Gaal has now gone four competitive games without recording a win.We created chances, but you have to score, Van Gaal told BT Sport. A club like Manchester United has to win. We have two points from nine and that's disappointing.Swansea finished the day level on nine points with Chelsea after extending their 100 percent record by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium, where Nathan Dyer claimed a brace.Neil Warnock's second stint as Crystal Palace manager began in thrilling fashion as Wilfried Zaha marked his own return to the club by scoring a 95th-minute equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw at Newcastle United.Newcastle twice fell behind, but they looked to have secured victory in the 88th minute when Mike Williamson made it 3-2, only for Zaha -- back at Palace on loan from Manchester United -- to drill home deep into injury time.Elsewhere, a 45th-minute Charlie Austin strike saw Queens Park Rangers claim their first victory of the season in a 1-0 win over Sunderland, while Morgan Schneiderlin scored twice as Southampton came from behind to win 3-1 at West Ham United.

Motorcycling: Marquez takes pole in British MotoGP

Posted:

SILVERSTONE (AFP) - Runaway world championship leader Marc Marquez secured his 10th pole position out of a possible 12 this season on Saturday as he recorded the fastest time in qualifying for the British MotoGP at Silverstone.The 21-year-old Spaniard -- who saw his bid for a record 11th successive win ended with fourth in the Czech race a fortnight ago -- will start on the front of the grid on his Honda alongside Italian Andrea Dovizioso and Spain's two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo.Marquez, who along with his brother Alex who races in the Moto3 category was watched by their father Julia from the pitlane, said that he had been cautious after a crash in morning practice.It was only a small crash but I was still careful in qualifying, said Marquez, who was recording his 46th career pole.I'm happy with the bike and hoping for a good day tomorrow (Sunday) and fighting for victory, he told BT Sport.Dovizioso, who sits in fifth position in the standings with 118 points, said that hard work by his Ducati team was starting to pay off.The team has worked really hard and I am so happy with the results. The race will be difficult but we are improving, said the Italian.Lorenzo, who will be bidding for a third successive British GP win, said he and his Yamaha team had come good in adversity.This bike is very difficult to ride, he said.We have improved it a little bit and got a good time here in difficult conditions so I have to be very satisfied. On the second row will be Aleix Esparagaro while Czech MotoGP winner and Marquez' team-mate Dani Pedrosa is on the third row with Italian legend Valentino Rossi.Marquez has 263 points after 11 races with Pedrosa, who has never won the world title in this category or the 500cc its predecessor, second on 186 and Rossi is third with 173.

Badminton: Lee into third world final, Li seals return trip

Posted:

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Malaysian world number one Lee Chong Wei secured a third straight men's singles finals appearance at the badminton world championships on Saturday while women's top seed Li Xuerui of China also advanced to the title match.Top-ranked Lee, twice a runner-up at the tournament, brushed aside young Danish hopeful Viktor Axelsen 21-9, 21-7 in front of a partisan Copenhagen crowd to move within touching distance of a first major title.Despite his advancing years Lee, who will turn 32 in October, demonstrated his enduring class with a sublime blend of blistering overheads and resolute defence to reel off 12 of the final 13 points in the first game. After that he never looked back.The Malaysian star, also a two-time Olympic singles silver medallist, then pocketed 21 of 25 points after trailing 3-0 early in the second set to complete a comprehensive victory over the 14th seed.So far things have got better each match, said Lee, who will face Chinese second seed Chen Long in Sunday's final.I can go back to resting now and prepare for tomorrow.The country will be watching and there will be more pressure on my shoulders. I will try not to think about the pressure and give a big present to my country, added Lee, who is hoping to give people back home further cause for celebration on Merdeka Day, which marks Malaysia's 1957 independence from British colonial rule.Meanwhile Chen, an Olympic bronze medallist two years ago, moved into his first world championship final after beating Indonesian fifth seed Tommy Sugiarto 21-16, 22-20 to keep alive China's hope of a seventh successive singles title.Earlier Li ended the run of Japanese dynamo and 16th seed Minatsi Mitani to seal a return to the women's singles final. World number one Li, runner-up a year ago on home soil in Guangzhou, dominated from the beginning with Mitani, sporting a heavily strapped right leg, unable to offer much resistance as Li powered to a 21-8, 21-14 victory.Mitani had claimed the scalp of defending champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the last 16 before upsetting South Korean fifth seed Sung Ji-hyun in the quarters but there were no repeat heroics this time.Backed by vocal support from the Chinese delegation Li made quick work of Mitani, likely feeling the effects of successive gruelling three-set matches, to move a step closer to adding to the Olympic crown she won at London 2012.Mitani is a very high-level player. We've played each other several times and she always fights to the last point, said Li of her battling opponent.I lost the first set in two of the last three meetings. This time my coach and I prepared very well before the match. We've watched Mitani during these world championships and came up with a good game plan and it worked, added the 23-year-old, who will play Spain's Carolina Marin for a maiden title.Ninth seed Marin, the reigning European champion, saw off Indian teenager P.V. Sindhu 21-17, 21-15 to become the first Spanish finalist in tournament history and will aim to become the first European world champion in women's singles since Denmark's Camilla Martin in 1999.I'm really excited with my game. I stuck to my plan. I have to thank my team because they analysed my opponent really well, said Marin.The most important thing is to enjoy tomorrow - it's my first final. I hope I will play several more. I'm not going to think about it but just enjoy it.

Qadri and Khan determined to protest outside PM house

Posted:

ISLAMAMBAD (Dunya News) – In an exclusive interview with Dunya News, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ‎‎(PTI) chairperson Imran Khan claimed Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif is primarily concerned with his ‎wealth only and is least bothered about democracy.‎Khan stated that the right to protest is a constitutional right and happens everywhere in the world, ‎and Prime Ministers have resigned in foreign countries wherever they were blamed but this PM would ‎never do so. He added that Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has no right to give orders like an ‎army general, and shelling at unarmed protesters is the epitome of injustice.The bullet shell and tear gas cell just fired on Azadi Bus. pic.twitter.com/e1zeu4DuN1— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 30, 2014 Meanwhile, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri in an exclusive interview with Dunya ‎News said that the government has forced the unarmed protestors to use violence ‎otherwise, they were merely protesting peacefully. He added that the police started firing live rounds ‎at the unarmed and peaceful protesters.Qadri further stated that they would continue to march towards the PM house and a peaceful sit-in ‎will be held outside it, adding that the government’s desire to arrest him would never be fulfilled.Constitution of Pakistan demands that corrupt ‘leaders’ must be kicked out of the corridors of power. AwamiPressure— Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri (@TahirulQadri) August 30, 2014

MQM announces countrywide 'Youm-e-Sog'

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain advised Prime ‎Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif that he should nominate someone else from his party as the new PM, and ‎severely condemned the use of state muscle against the protestors.‎In a press statement issued in London, Hussain said that if the government does not stop using force ‎against the protestors of the ‘Inqilabi and Azadi March’ then MQM would enter the arena as a last ‎resort.‎Hussain said that PM should leave everything aside for the good of the people, and nominate ‎someone else from his party as the new PM.‎MQM Rabta Committee announced that black flags would be hoisted and a day of mourning would be ‎organized‎.

230 injured as police clash with protesters in Islamabad

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - At least 230 people were wounded in clashes between police and protesters in Islamabad, hospital officials said Sunday, as a fortnight-long political impasse took a violent turn.The violence, which began late Saturday and continued early Sunday, broke out after around 25,000 people marched from parliament to the prime ministers house, where some attempted to remove barricades around it with cranes, an AFP reporter at the scene said. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.The protesters, led by Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahir ul Qadri, had been camped outside parliament house since August 15 demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif quit amid allegations of vote rigging.The crisis took on a new dimension earlier in the week after the government asked the powerful army to mediate, raising fears the military would use the situation to enact a soft coup and increase its dominance over civilian authorities.There are 1,600 to 2,000 trained terrorists. They have 200 women who are trained in the use of firearms and they have come with the intention of occupying state buildings, defence minister Khawaja Asif told AFP as the fighting broke out late Saturday.These are buildings that are symbols of the state, he said. Their attempts are being resisted. And we will resist these with full force.AFPs correspondent at the scene said protesters were carrying batons and sling-shots.The injured were rushed to Islamabads two main hospitals, and the number of casualties is expected to rise as clashes continue.Wasim Khawaja, spokesman for the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Islamabad, told AFP that 164 injured people have been taken to his hospital, while the Poly Clinic hospital said it had received 70 wounded so far.Condition of two of them was critical. There were more than 20 policemen among the injured, Khawaja said, with a second doctor confirming that figure. Khawaja also said most of the victims had been injured by rubber bullets, and that that 17 of them were women. Khurram Ghuman, a spokesman at Islamabads Poly Clinic hospital, told AFP: There are 20 women among them and most have been affected by tear gas, but they all are in stable condition.Demonstrations have also erupted in parts of the eastern city of Lahore and the port city of Karachi.Protesters with batons have burned tyres and blocked roads in Lahore, an AFP reporter said. Police used batons and fired tear gas to disperse the demonstrators there. The protests remained peaceful in Karachi, however.Khan and Qadri both claim that the 2013 elections which saw Prime Sharif sweep to power were massively rigged. Local and foreign observers said the polls were credible, and analysts believe the protests have been coordinated by the powerful army as a means of re-asserting its dominance over civilian authorities.Paramilitary troops and soldiers standing guard to protect the PMs house as well as other sensitive installations have not yet been called into action, despite the violence Sunday.Women and children have been prominent among both protest groups, and the rising number of casualties is set to further polarise the already embittered political atmosphere.But government officials defended the use of force. The demonstrators attacked first. They wanted to occupy the prime ministers house and stage a sit-in there, said Asif Kirmani, an aide of Sharif.Qadri, however, said the government began the violence. The march is heading to its destination, we were peaceful but government began the bloodshed, he said.Imran Khan told media during the violence that he was inside a shipping container in front of the prime ministers house. We will continue our struggle against the government, till our last breath, Khan said, calling for demonstrations across Pakistan. Qadri was in a bullet-proof car close to the scene, according television images. The government earlier struck a defiant note, issuing a statement saying that Sharif would not be stepping down.There is no question of resignation or proceeding on leave by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, nor any member from the government side has made such suggestion, the statement said.Sharif had earlier dismissed the two-week old impasse as a tiny storm that would end soon.Khan alleges the 2013 general election that swept Sharif to power in a landslide was rigged as part of a conspiracy involving the former chief justice and thousands of election commission workers.Qadri has demanded wholesale changes to Pakistans political system, and called for an interim unity government while they are implemented.The leaders have drawn thousands to the streets of Islamabad, but their call has not mobilised mass support in a country of 180 million people.

Dozens of PTI, PAT protesters arrested

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Police have arrested more than 100 protesters when Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) activists marched towards Prime Minister’s house.A government spokesperson has confirmed that the area around Cabinet Division and PM House has been evacuated. Spokesperson also said that dozens of people have been arrested.Hundreds of people were injured in clashes between police and opposition protesters with the toll expected to rise as fighting continues. More than 50 injured, most of them have rubber bullet injuries, were brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences hospital.A spokesman for the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital while talking to Dunya News said that five of the injured received real bullet wounds.

DI Khan:Gang-rape victim sets herself on fire after not getting justice

Posted:

DERAGHAZIKHAN (Dunya News) – A gang-rape victim set herself on fire in Shakir Town after she did ‎not get any justice from the authorities.‎The police arrested the victim and her mother instead of registering a case against the sex offenders. ‎The victim’s brother had to get them released through a bailiff.‎‎ The girl set herself on fire by sprinkling petrol on herself.

Imran Khan calls for nationwide protests

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chair Imran Khan has issued a nationwide ‎call for protests all over Pakistan, and they would shutdown Pakistan as a show of their political power.‎Imran Khan appealed to PTI workers, they should come on the streets to protests against the non-‎democratic actions by the government.‎Previously, Khan had called upon its protestors to protests outside the Prime Minister house where he ‎would announce the future course of action.‎In an interview with Dunya News, Khan said that the right to protests is our constitutional right, ‎whereas Americans have always protested in front of the White House for decades.

PTI stages protests in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Karachi

Posted:

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers on Saturday led protests in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan to show solidarity with the ‘Azadi March’ protesters who have staged a sit-in in Islamabad for seventeen days, Dunya News reported.According to the details, the party workers chanted slogans against the government while carrying party flags in hands. They also danced to the beat of the celebratory drum.The demonstrators held a rally from Teen Talwar area to Clifton which disturbed the flow of traffic.A large contingent of police remained deployed at the site. The protesters kept shouting slogans against the government.A separate rally of the series took place in Lahore outside Punjab Assembly upon direction of PTI chief Imran Khan. A large number of demonstrators participated in the protest and the flow of traffic on the Mall Road remained suspended for a while.A large number of women and children were among the participants. The participants danced on the beats of party anthems.The demonstration continued in Faisalabad as well where the sit-in protest was staged at Katcheri Chowk. The demonstration heavily disturbed the flow of traffic on surrounding roads.The participants led the rally from Katcheri Bazar to Clock Tower.Another rally took place in Multan which was led by PTI workers starting at Major Jahanzaib Shaheed Chowk. Workers kept chanting anti-government slogans and danced on the beat of party anthems.

Chaudhry Nisar arrives in Red Zone

Posted:

ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News, Web Desk) - Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has arrived in Red Zone to examine the situation.Speaking to the media on this occasion, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the protesters wanted to occupy the sensitive buildings and the police had to secure the buildings.I and the police officers have taken oath of allegiance to Pakistan, said Nisar. He said that protesters wanted to occupy PM House.

Dozens injured as police use teargas, rubber bullets to disperse marchers

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – At least sixty five people were reportedly injured as the police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse Azadi and Inqilab march protesters as they move towards the Prime Minister House.According to the Polyclinic Hospital, out of the 65 injured, 5 are media personnel and 4 are policemen.Reportedly, the protesters are carrying sticks and are advancing towards the Prime Minister House.Evidence suggests marchers were armed, claims Khawaja AsifDefence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that protesters will be dealt with an iron hand. He said that the state institutions could not be left on peoples mercy. He said that the issue could no more be resolved through talks.Police used rubber bullets and tear-gas shells at the protesters to disperse the crowd. 6 prople got injured in the incident.Protesters pelted stones at the police in return. It was also reported that two of the officials got injured being hit by rubber bullets.Chaudhry Nisar arrives in Red ZoneInterior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has arrived in Red Zone to examine the situation.Speaking to the media on this occasion, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that the protesters wanted to occupy the sensitive buildings and the police had to secure the buildings.I and the police officers have taken oath of allegiance to Pakistan, said Nisar. He said that protesters wanted to occupy PM House.Peaceful sit-in to move outside PM House: Tahirul QadriPakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahirul Qadri has said that the ‘peaceful’ sit-in by PAT will now be shifted now to PM House.PAT chief said that the protesters will now demonstrate great patience for seventeen days and now, showing their exemplary peace, they will move forward and will stage the sit-in outside Prime Minister’s House.While announcing the shift on the sit-in outside PM House, Dr. Tahirul Qadri prayed for the safety and success of the sit-in. He said that Pakistan Muslim League (Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Hamid Raza Khan were only at the sit-in for the poor.“I am peaceful. I stand for peace, patience, democracy, anti-terrorism and anti-violence”, said Tahirul Qadri.Following the directions, participants of the sit-in started to march towards Prime Minister House.Government sources had earlier claimed, according to Dunya News, that if the marchers will not be stopped with force.Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had visited Red Zone and had examined the security situation of the area near PM House and Parliament House.Imran Khan directs protestors to move towards PM HousePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Saturday told the ‘Azadi March’ participants to ‘step ahead’ and move the sit-in protest towards the Prime Minister House, Dunya News reported.Addressing the participants of the sit-in in Islamabad, Khan told the marchers to step ahead, adding that the male members of the sit-in will lead while the female members will follow.He said he is a democratic person and that it is people’s right to protest outside the rulers’ residence. He cited his protests outside British Prime Minister’s house and the ones outside the White House as examples.Directing his address towards PTI president Javed Hashmi, Khan said he tried to keep the team together just like a captain does. He assured Hashmi he would never do anything to harm democracy and democratic system.Earlier, PTI chief said that they had requested the prime minister to step down from the premiership for as long as the investigation continues.Imran Khan questioned isn’t the democracy in jeopardy when the PM lies on the floor of the parliament?Any nation can accept any sort of a prime minister but a liar, he said.The Sharif dynasty has vested their money abroad and urged the people of Pakistan to bring their money to the country, he added.Khan insisted and invited all the people to come and join him for the sit-in for the sake of their ‘own future’.Government spokesperson confirms arrest of several peopleGovernment spokesperson has confirmed that the area around Cabinet Division and PM House has been evacuated. Spokesperson also said that several people have been arrested.

Tear gas shelling, Kh Asif says attackers will be dealt with iron hand

Posted:

ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – As the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) protesters tried to enter Prime Minister House, police has started firing tear-gas shells at the protesters.According to Dunya News reporter, some of the PAT protesters attempted to remove the containers outside the PM House and enter the building. Responding to the attack on PM House, police started tear-gas shelling.Inspector General Police Islamabad has ordered the police to arrest the protesters who attempt to enter the PM House. Several of the protesters got injured because of the incident.Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that protesters will be dealt with an iron hand. He said that the state institutions could not be left on people's mercy. He said that the issue could no more be resolved through talks.Police used rubber bullets and tear-gas shells at the protesters to disperse the crowd. 6 prople got injured in the incident.Protesters pelted stones at the police in return. It was also reported that two of the officials got injured being hit by rubber bullets.
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, 29 August 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Syria refugees top 3 million, US has no strategy 'yet'

Posted:

DAMASCUS (AFP) - The number of refugees from the Syria conflict now tops three million, the UN said Friday, as US President Barack Obama admitted he has no strategy to tackle advancing jihadists.In Geneva, UN refugee agency chief Antonio Guterres said Syria had become the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era after a million people joined the exodus in the past year alone.They have fled the war-wracked country where Islamic State (IS) jihadists have sown panic with atrocities and executions, including of scores of Syrian soldiers and a US journalist this month alone.The scale of the crisis facing the international community deepened after rival Islamists led by Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, seized 43 Fijian UN peacekeepers on the Golan Heights.The latest information we have is that they are safe and I can say now that the negotiations for their release have already begun, Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said in a statement.The militants also surrounded 75 Filipino peacekeepers, sparking a tense standoff for the UN mission that has monitored a Syrian-Israeli armistice on the strategic plateau for decades.Dampening prospects of imminent air strikes in Syria, Obama said he was still developing a comprehensive plan to defeat IS, which has overrun large swathes of neighbours Iraq and Syria.We don't have a strategy yet, Obama said, adding however that he was sending Secretary of State John Kerry to the Middle East to build regional support against IS.The Syria war has killed some 191,000 people since March 2011 but has taken on a new dimension as IS unleashed a brutality that has shocked the world.Britain announced Friday that it has raised the terror level to severe because of concern that jihadists in Syria and Iraq were planning attacks on the West. British Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters there was no doubt in my mind that IS had its sights set on targets in Europe.The White House spokesman said the United States had no plans to follow suit.Washington has launched air strikes in Iraq that have helped Kurdish forces claw back some territory lost to a renewed jihadist offensive earlier this month.This has infuriated the jihadists who posted grisly video footage Thursday of their execution of a Kurdish fighter.The video also shows other captive Kurds warning that they risk the same fate if such cooperation continues, the SITE Intelligence Group monitoring service said.The footage follows a jihadist video showing scores of bodies in the desert that IS boasted were Syrian soldiers it captured and killed.The jihadists have also carried out a spate of executions of civilians from religious minorities in northern Iraq.On Friday, Iraqi aircraft struck jihadists besieging the Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli for more than two months, as government forces readied an offensive, officers said.Amerli residents are in grave danger both because of their Shiite faith, which jihadists consider heresy, and their resistance to the militants, which has drawn harsh retribution elsewhere.Whole communities that had lived for generations in northern Iraq are being forced to flee or face death just for their religious beliefs, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Friday.His comment came as the International Organisation for Migration said that over 1.6 million Iraqis have been displaced this year, more than 850,000 this month alone.Many of their loved ones were killed or abducted by IS forces. Groups of people were reportedly forced by IS to jump off mountain cliffs, while others were taken away to an uncertain fate, said the IOM emergency coordinator for Iraq, Brian Kelly.A UN-mandated probe has charged that public executions, amputations, lashings and mock crucifixions have become commonplace in jihadist-controlled areas of Syria.As Fiji's premier announced that negotiations were under way to free 43 of his countrymen captured in Syria, Manila said its citizens besieged by rebels were ready to use deadly force to defend themselves.The UN peacekeepers from Fiji were forced to surrender their weapons and were taken hostage, but the 75 Filipino blue helmets held their ground and refused to disarm, the Philippine defence department said.The UN Security Council demanded the unconditional and immediate release of the peacekeepers.Twice last year peacekeepers were detained before being released.Meanwhile, Hollywood star and goodwill ambassador for the UN refugee agency Angelina Jolie made a plea for the end of Syria's three-and-a-half war.Three million refugees is not just another statistic. It is a searing indictment of our collective failure to end the war in Syria, she said.On the ground, regime forces blasted Damascus's eastern district of Jubar on Friday as they sought to retake the strategic rebel-held sector.

Frantic search as Nicaragua mine collapse traps 20

Posted:

MANAGUA (AFP) - Rescue teams in Nicaragua were scrambling frantically Friday to reach at least 20 workers trapped deep underground for more than 24 hours after a cave-in at an unlicensed gold mine.Two workers buried near the surface managed to dig their way out after the collapse early Thursday in the remote village of El Comal in northeastern Nicaragua, according to the local disaster prevention committee.But another 20 are marooned in the mine shaft 800 meters (2,600 feet) underground, said presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo, after being briefed by officials coordinating the desperate rescue effort.There had been 28 guiriseros, or informal gold miners, working in the shaft when the mouth of the mine caved in because of a landslide triggered by heavy downpours.Authorities said they were trying to confirm whether any miners had died, noting that the incident happened in a hard-to-reach area with poor communication.Supposedly there are dead but that is not confirmed, said local disaster official Martha Lagos.A local TV station had showed what appeared to be the body of a dead miner being recovered.Police, soldiers and other miners were taking part in the operation, using rescue dogs to help locate the victims.You can hear that there are people alive because we heard voices, Lagos earlier told the website 19 Digital.The accident happened at an artisanal mine near the town of Bonanza, which is perched on the side of a hill, in a region that is home to Nicaragua's biggest gold mines.Desperate relatives initially tried to dig through to the trapped miners but the land was too unstable, news reports said.Word of the collapse only emerged late Thursday because the site is so remote, Lagos said.President Daniel Ortega is following the rescue operation and has suspended an event Saturday to inaugurate a new bridge, his spokeswoman said.Business has boomed over the past decade for Nicaragua's guiriseros as the price of gold has risen from less than $400 an ounce to more than $1,200.They descend into old shafts that have been abandoned by conventional mining companies and look for remaining gold or dig even deeper to find new veins.But the work can be perilous.The scene of Thursday's collapse is very high-risk and only they know the site because as the superficial veins of gold run out, they have to dig deeper and deeper in underground tunnels, said Lagos.Informal gold mining is the main source of employment in Bonanza, where officials estimate there are 6,000 guiriseros.Many of them have migrated there from other parts of the country in a modern-day gold rush.Bonanza's population has jumped in the past decade from around 8,000 people to 40,000, said Lagos.Locals can earn $1,500 to $3,000 a month selling gold to foreign mining companies -- a relative fortune in Nicaragua.Some informal miners work independently, while others are organized into officially authorized cooperatives.Bonanza forms one point of the Central American country's so-called mining triangle in the remote Autonomous North Atlantic Region.The latest accident comes four years after 33 workers were trapped deep inside Chile's San Jose copper and gold mine for more than two months, a drama that captured worldwide attention.It took rescuers 17 days to drill a small shaft to establish contact, and more than two months of painstaking effort to open a passage wide enough to pull them out one by one.

George Galloway badly injured in street attack

Posted:

LONDON (Agencies) - Respect MP George Galloway was taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw on Friday night after being attacked in the street.Police arrested a British man over the incident, which is believed to have been prompted by comments Galloway has made about Israel in past weeks.The 60-year-old was posing for pictures in Notting Hill, London, on Friday evening when a man lashed out at him, his spokesman said. Galloway gave a statement to police after a man aged 39 was arrested.George was posing for pictures with people and this guy just attacked him, leapt on him and started punching him, his spokesman said.It appears to be connected with his comments about Israel because the guy was shouting about the Holocaust. George is badly bruised but OK. He has bruising to his head and face and is in pretty bad shape.Police said Galloway was badly injured and was being treated in a London hospital, but was in a stable condition. The arrested man remains in custody.Last week, the MP was interviewed by police under caution after he was accused of inciting racial hatred by declaring his constituency, Bradford West, an Israel-free zone.In a speech he gave in Leeds on 2 August he said: We dont want any Israeli goods; we dont want any Israeli services; we dont want any Israeli academics coming to the university or the college; we dont even want any Israeli tourists to come to Bradford, even if any of them had thought of doing so.Galloway called the police investigation into him a monumental – and monumentally expensive – waste of police time.

Tennis: Halep, Kerber toppled, valiant Venus falls at US Open

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - The US Open women's draw was blown open Friday as world number two Simona Halep, sixth seed Angelique Kerber and two-time champion Venus Williams tumbled out of the third round.Two players at opposite ends of the tennis age spectrum authored the upsets of the day.Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, a former phenom now a 32-year-old veteran who had to fight through qualifying, shocked second-seeded Halep, the French Open runner-up, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.And 17-year-old Swiss Belinda Bencic toppled Germany's Kerber 6-1, 7-5.The reward for the 121st-ranked Lucic-Baroni is a fourth-round meeting with 13th-seeded Italian Sara Errani, who thwarted Williams 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (7/5).It's incredible, amazing, I feel goofy, said Lucic-Baroni, who reached a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time since making it to the 1999 Wimbledon semi-finals as a 17-year-old.Her life went into freefall after she revealed she was abused by her father, Marinko, and in recent seasons her career has been a struggle to support herself, train and find a way to re-establish herself on tour.Every painful moment has been worth it, said Lucic-Baroni, who rallied from 2-5 down to steal the first set then dominated in the second -- sealing the match with back-to-back aces.I knew what I had to do and I was able to do it, said Lucic-Baroni, who broke down in tears later reflecting on her journey. I worked so hard for this.Bencic, the 2013 Wimbledon and French Open junior champion, now ranked 58th in the world, earned a meeting with former world number one Jelena Jankovic for a place in the quarter-finals.After dropping the lopsided first set, Kerber appeared poised to knot the match, but she couldn't convert three set points.Bencic, coached by former Swiss great Martina Hingis' mother Melanie Molitor, seized her chance.It's amazing that after last year I played juniors here, and this year I'm in the fourth round, Bencic said. So it's incredible.The last Grand Slam of the year has now lost four of it's top 10 women's seeds, after the second-round departures of Agnieszka Radwanska and Ana Ivanovic.Former champion and fifth seed Maria Sharapova was trying to buck the upset trend later Friday when she took on big-hitting German Sabine Lisicki under the floodlights on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.Before that, men's second seed Roger Federer was to resume his quest for a sixth US Open title against big-serving Australian Sam Groth.Errani's triumph over 19th-seeded Williams wasn't strictly speaking an upset, but the 13th-seeded Italian had to dig deep to notch her first career victory over the American after three defeats.I know that was a really tough match, even if I won the first set 6-0 she's an amazing player, Errani said.And as she expected, five-time Grand Slam champion Williams battled back, racing through the second set to set up a third that turned into a slugfest.Williams twice came back from a break down in the third, then broke Errani to serve for the match at 5-3.She couldn't hang on, however, surrendering her serve as they battled to the tiebreaker, in which Errani took a 5-2 lead only for Williams to battle back to 5-5 before at last succumbing.Errani was infected by the electric atmosphere in the Ashe stadium, even though she knew the frantic fans were for her opponent.To go 5-all in the tiebreak I heard the crowd, she said. Never hear the crowd like that strong. I was shaking for the crowd. Was unbelievable good. I think I will remember forever that moment.China's Peng Shuai, showing no sign of a let-down after her second-round win over Radwanska, dispatched another seeded player in number 28 Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-3.Ninth-seeded Jankovic, whose only Grand Slam final appearance was a runner-up finish at Flushing Meadows in 2008, was never in danger in a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Sweden's Johanna Larsson.The surprises on the women's side overshadowed men's second-round action.Fourth-seeded David Ferrer reached the third round without lifting his racquet when unpredictable Aussie Bernard Tomic withdrew with a hip injury.Wimbledon semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria continued his best-ever US Open with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Dudi Sela, improving his career record against the Israeli to 3-0.Croatia's 14th-seeded Marin Cilic, 18th seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 19th seed Feliciano Lopez and 20th seed Gael Monfils all advanced on cue.Cilic belted 37 winners in a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-4 victory over qualifier Illya Marchenko to set up a meeting with Anderson, who knocked out Jerzy Janowicz 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. The two last met in the ATP Delray Beach final, where Cilic grabbed one of his two titles of 2014.

Football: Dortmund survive late scare to beat Augsburg

Posted:

BERLIN (AFP) - Borussia Dortmund bounced back from defeat on the opening day of the Bundesliga season to run out 3-2 winners at Augsburg on Friday with Marco Reus, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Adrian Ramos all on target.Jurgen Klopp's side needed to survive a late scare at the SGL Arena, however, as Augsburg trimmed back a three-goal deficit before the final whistle ended their hopes of completing a remarkable comeback.Dortmund were beaten 2-0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday after conceding the opening goal with just nine seconds played, the result putting a dampener on their hopes of seriously challenging Bayern Munich for the title.In Bavaria, Klopp brought goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and centre-back Neven Subotic back into his starting line-up, while summer signing Ciro Immobile was dropped to the bench at the expense of Kevin Grosskreutz.And Dortmund were almost out of sight after scoring twice in the opening quarter of an hour.First, Reus played a one-two with Grosskreutz and beat Marwin Hitz in goal with a lovely finish, and then a Reus corner from the right was headed home by Greek defender Papastathopoulos.Colombian striker Ramos, a summer buy from Hertha Berlin, came off the bench in the 73rd minute and scored his first goal for his new club five minutes later, tapping home after Hitz had parried out Henrikh Mkhitaryan's shot.Augsburg, who lost 2-0 at Hoffenheim on the opening weekend, reduced the arrears in the 82nd minute through burly Argentine striker Raul Bobadilla and his fellow substitute Tim Matavz headed in another goal with a minute remaining, but it proved too little, too late for Markus Weinzierl's side.Champions Bayern Munich go to Gelsenkirchen to face Schalke 04 on Saturday evening in the pick of the weekend's matches.

Football: FIFA threaten to ban Nigeria over disputed elections

Posted:

ABUJA (AFP) - World football governing body FIFA has warned Nigeria could be banned by Tuesday if an elected executive committee led by Chris Giwa does not vacate the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) office by midnight Monday.In a letter dated Friday, August 29 and signed by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valke, FIFA warned Giwa and his executives to stop parading themselves as NFF officials.FIFA said they do not recognise the executives election from Tuesday, although the global footballing body said that it appears the ministry of sports has recognised them.We will not recognise the outcome of the above mentioned elections and should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on Monday 1 September 2014, we will bring the case to the appropriate FIFA body for sanctions, which may include the suspension of the NFF, read the letter addressed to NFF secretary general Musa Amadu.Giwa and his executives took office on Wednesday and the following day paid a courtesy call to sports minister Tammy Danagogo, who promptly endorsed their election.The immediate consequence of a FIFA ban on Nigeria would be the African champions forfeiting two 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers fixed for September 6 against Congo in Calabar and September 10 against South Africa in Cape Town.The crisis caused by the purported election has meant league matches will not be played across the country as scheduled this weekend after referees, club managers and players announced a boycott until the situation is resolved.Two months ago, Nigeria was suspended by FIFA following direct government interference in the running of the game in the country when a court sacked the elected NFF executive committee led by Aminu Maigari and the sports minister appointed a civil servant to head the NFF.In Fridays letter, FIFA accepted the decision of the majority congress where 39 of the 44 members resolved at an ad hoc general assembly for executive committee elections to now take place on September 4.

Badminton: Rampant Lee rolls on, Sindhu makes history

Posted:

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - Top-ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia continued his charge towards an elusive first world championship title by coasting into the semi-finals of the men's singles in Copenhagen on Friday while rising Indian star P.V. Sindhu won through to the last four of the women's draw.Lee, twice a runner-up at the world event, displayed his class by shredding apart Chinese sixth seed Wang Zhengming to record a comprehensive 21-8, 21-11 victory.The Malaysian aligned impeccable defence with ruthless efficiency as he capitalised on the opportunities that came his way to make light work of his opponent, a former world junior champion, and stay on course for a title showdown with China's world number two Chen Long.I used yesterday to prepare for the game today and everything went to plan, said Lee, who was rarely tested in his last-16 clash with Ireland's Scott Evans on Thursday.It's true I tried to shorten the points and avoid long rallies. That was the plan. Now I'm just looking forward to tomorrow (Saturday), added the top seed, who will face Danish 14th seed Viktor Axelsen, a 21-14, 21-14 winner over Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen, for a place in the final.Earlier Chen clawed his way past South Korean seventh seed Son Wan-ho 21-14, 12-21, 21-17 to keep China firmly in contention to win a seventh consecutive singles title.In the third game when I was 11-9 down I had to change things, said Chen, whose last title came at January's Korea Open.During that time it was dangerous. If I play the way I was I do think I can lose. But I told myself I can't give up because maybe the condition of my opponent also changes.I was confident once I got it to 14-all though.Chen will play fifth seed Tommy Sugiarto in the semis after the Indonesian laboured his way past 37th-ranked Dutchman Eric Pang 22-20, 21-19.Indian teenager P.V. Sindhu made history as she stunned China's All-England champion Wang Shixian 19-21, 21-19, 21-15 to reach the last four and become the first player from her country to win multiple world championship medals.Sindhu, who doesn't turn 20 until next July, won bronze a year ago in Guangzhou and is guaranteed at least bronze in Denmark after disposing of second seed Wang in an 85-minute marathon.I'm very happy. It was a really long match, said the 11th seed, who saved three match points in the previous round against South Korea's Bae Yeon-ju. I was trailing 16-12 in the second set and made a very good comeback. I played really well and I hope to go much further, added Sindhu, who will face Carolina Marin next after the European champion assured Spain of a first ever world championship medal by defeating Taiwanese eighth seed Tai Tzu-ying 19-21, 21-19, 21-11.World number one Li Xuerui reached the semi-finals after her stroke play proved too much for the other leading Indian, seventh seed Saina Nehwal.China's Li, seeking to avenge her painful defeat in the 2013 final, swept past Saina 21-15, 21-15 to move a step closer to adding to the Olympic crown she won at London 2012.The first set was pretty comfortable. In the second set some of my tactics weren't well executed and that allowed Saina to get close, but I eventually adjusted and pulled (the victory) off, said the 23-year-old, who will face Japan's Minatsu Mitani for a shot at the title.That was after 16th seed Mitani, conquerer of defending champion Ratchanok Intanon in the last 16, caused another upset as she rallied to edge South Korean fifth seed Sung Ji-hyun 9-21, 21-18, 22-20.

Oil prices rise on positive US data, Ukraine crisis

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Global oil prices rose Friday as solid data lifted prospects for demand in the United States and tensions escalated between Ukraine and major energy producer Russia.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery pushed higher for the fourth straight day, leaping $1.41 to $95.96 a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for October added 73 cents to settle at $103.19 a barrel in London trade.Despite the gains, oil prices finished lower for the month, with the WTI losing 2.3 percent and Brent down 2.7 percent.A series of mostly encouraging data on the US economy this week appeared to signal more potential demand in the world's largest oil consumer.The government's upward revision of gross domestic product growth in the second quarter, to an annual rate of 4.2 percent from the prior estimate of 4.0 percent blew the socks off people... all of a sudden it smells like gasoline demand, said Phil Flynn of Price Futures Group.Strong GDP data in the United States is a sharp contrast to the economic struggles in Europe that are only going to get worse if there are more sanctions on Russia.The United States has said it is weighing new sanctions against Russia because of its involvement in Ukraine, where pro-Kremlin separatists have been fighting against Kiev's rule since April. NATO warned Russia on Friday over what it described as a blatant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty after the West accused Moscow of direct involvement in the escalating conflict.Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied Moscow is fueling the conflict or putting any troops on the ground in the former Soviet state.

Solid US data lifts dollar vs. euro, yen

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar rose against the euro and the yen Friday as traders appeared to look past a disappointing US consumer spending report to focus on mostly brighter economic data.A small, unexpected fall in US consumer spending in July -- the first drop in six months -- made little impression on the market. US data has been mostly upbeat this week, in contrast to persistent weakness in the eurozone economy.The US dollar is seeing long-term sentiment start to build as economic data has improved considerably over the past few weeks, said Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX.The euro sank to its lowest level in almost a year -- $1.3134 -- after weak eurozone inflation data raised speculation about whether the European Central Bank would take fresh easing steps at its monetary policy meeting next Thursday.Eurozone annual inflation slowed to 0.3 percent in August, official data showed, raising concerns about deflation risk.The ECB is focused on stopping disinflation and trying to convince us all that deflation is not a threat. But this downshift in inflation clearly is not good news for the ECB or for its no-deflation-risk argument, said Robert Brusca, chief economist at FAO Economics.Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management said that the ECB's meeting could even trump the impact of Friday's US jobs report in its impact on the euro/dollar trade.In no way shape or form is the ECB ready to roll out quantitative easing, but given recent economic reports, particularly from Germany, the case for additional stimulus is growing, she said.

Pakistan to face Sri Lanka in 3rd ODI today

Posted:

DAMBULLA (Agencies) - Sri Lanka and Pakistan clash in the third and final One-Day International (ODI) at Dambulla on Saturday. The game is set to be the series decider with the both teams winning a game each so far.The hosts beat Pakistan in the second One-Day International (ODI) by 77 runs at Hambantota. It looked all bleak for the Lankans when Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez took Pakistan to a commanding position after losing an early wicket. But they pulled things back in no time and went on to win the second ODI by a considerable margin.The Sri Lankan pacers are not in song at the moment as they were not much of help in this series so far. Lasith Malinga looks wayward as he has struggled to get his line and length, being the spearhead of the Lankan pace attack. Nuwan Kulasekara too did not have much of an impact on the Pakistani batsmen either. It was the spinners who did their job for the hosts in the second ODI.Rangana Herath and Seekkuge Prasanna came in handy with their orthodox spin and took wickets at crucial moments. Sri Lankan openers have left them in a spot of bother as they failed abjectly in the series so far. Their middle order cannot be questioned when they have the likes of the mighty trio Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews. If one fails the other delivers. Mathews and Jayawardene have rescued the Lankan innings twice in this series and they both have been in good form, which can trouble the Pakistanis at any moment in the match Thisara Perera was adjudged the man of the match for the second ODI as he came up with an all-round performance.Pakistan’s middle-order conundrum continues to bother them as they have failed miserably in both the matches, including their skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq. Umar Akmal, considered to be one of the natural stroke-makers in the game, failed when he was required to deliver. The run rate is definitely a matter of concern for the Pakistani middle-order. They cannot expect Fawad Alam and Sohaib Maqsood to finish things off in every game. The experienced Younis Khan was not available for the second game as he flew back to Pakistan to attend the funeral of his nephew. Sharjeel Khan stepped in his place and opened the innings along with Shehzad, but failed to leave a mark.Pakistan definitely missed the presence of their spin maestro, Saeed Ajmal in both the ODIs. Misbah, in fact said it in the post-match presentation that they missed Ajmal in the kind of the track they played at Hambantota. The pacers have been patchy. Wahab Riaz has been the pick of their seamers. Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan have struggled to get their basics correct.Both the teams have enough reinforcements to make it into a classic final. The fans can only hope that rains will not hamper the classic final between these two Asian cricketing giants.

South Africa beat Zimbabwe despite Utseya hat-trick

Posted:

HARARE (AFP) - Prosper Utseya became just the second Zimbabwean to take a hat-trick in a one-day international but South Africa still pulled off a 61-run victory in Friday's triangular series clash.Utseya sparked a remarkable collapse as he claimed the wickets of Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller with consecutive deliveries before finishing with career-best figures of 5 for 36.However a last-wicket partnership of 36 between Aaron Phangiso and Imran Tahir carried South Africa to a total of 231, which proved more than enough when Ryan McLaren and Dale Steyn took three wickets apiece to bowl Zimbabwe out for 170 in 38.3 overs.South Africa had been cruising at 142 without loss in the 25th over after being put in to bat when Utseya turned the innings on its head, with Hashim Amla the first to go as he was stumped for 66 off the offspinner's bowling.De Kock departed for 76 in Utseya's next over before Rossouw and Miller fell first ball, sparking wild celebrations as the 29-year-old Utseya joined Eddo Brandes on the list of Zimbabweans with an ODI hat-trick.At the time I was bowling a lot slower because I knew that I was on top and I had, I think, four guys around the bat, said Utseya.When JP Duminy was trapped lbw by Utseya in the 31st over of the innings, South Africa had lost five wickets for 13 runs in 39 balls, with Utseya making the most of the considerable turn on offer by taking all five.Fellow offspinner John Nyumbu got in on the act thereafter, dismissing Faf du Plessis, Ryan McLaren and Dale Steyn, before Phangiso and Tahir carried the Proteas to a more respectable total.I wouldn't say I was confident that it was enough because I do think we were 50 or 60 runs short, said Hashim Amla, who captained South Africa in the absence of an ill AB de Villiers.But with these sort of totals you have to make it defendable.Zimbabwe twice threatened to pull off what would have been a memorable upset.After Tino Mawoyo was run out in the third over, Sikandar Raza Butt and Hamilton Masakadza played a series of adventurous shots against the fast bowlers before Phangiso bowled Masakadza and Tahir removed Raza for 35.Then Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller looked comfortable as they added 46 for the fifth wicket, only for Steyn to break the partnership when he had Waller caught at deep square-leg off a top edge.McLaren went on to dismiss Williams for 46 and pick up a couple of lower-order wickets, while Steyn grabbed the wickets of Elton Chigumbura and Brian Vitori.Had we scored 300 or 350 and won the game, the intensity in the field wouldn't have been as good, said Amla.So in the context of the game, we take a lot of confidence from that.

Hales eager to forge Cook partnership

Posted:

NOTTINGHAM (AFP) - Alex Hales said Friday he was looking forward to establishing a one-day international opening partnership with Alastair Cook despite all the calls for the England captain to quit limited overs cricket.Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann, labelled a so-called friend by Cook earlier in the week, reiterated Friday his calls for the skipper to quit one-day internationals.Englands 133-run defeat by world champions India in the second of a five-match one-day series in Cardiff on Wednesday led tall-rounder great Ian Botham to write off the teams chances at next years World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.One consolation for England was that Hales marked his ODI debut by top-scoring for the team with 40 and sharing a fifty stand with Cook.Everyones entitled to their opinion but the guys in the dressing-room are 100 percent behind Alastair, said Nottinghamshire batsman Hales at his Trent Bridge home ground, where the third of a five-match one-day series with India takes place on Saturday.If you look at his record in one-day cricket its a pretty good one, said Hales of Cook, who has a one-day strike rate of nearly 80 in ODI cricket.All the guys are backing him to lead from the front as we look to bounce back in this series.Hales added: Weve just played one game and we got off to a pretty good start with a fifty partnership. Hes a very technically sound guy and hes the right guy at the top of the order. If we both play our natural games, I hope that partnership will come together nicely, said Hales, who has a strike rate of nearly 100 in domestic limited overs cricket.Haless previous England appearance at Trent Bridge saw him score 99 in a Twenty20 international against the West Indies two years ago.Hales, who scored Englands first century in crickets shortest format against Sri Lanka at the World Twenty20 in March, said he was looking forward to representing his country again in Nottingham.Im expecting a very good wicket. Usually the one-day wickets we play on here at Notts are outstanding batting tracks and Im expecting a high-scoring game.Asked about the mood in the England camp after Wednesdays crushing defeat, the 25-year-old Hales said: Were not hiding from the fact it was a poor team performance all round.But we spoke about it, wiped the slate clean.Reflecting on his first experience of facing Indias attack, Hales said: They were just very cunning. Once I got past 30, they were one step ahead of me. So its up to me to put that right, and have that game smartness heading into tomorrow (Saturday).They set smart fields, had a guy at gully a lot of the time to stop that easy one down to third man.The 6ft 5in Haless call-up to Englands 50 overs per side team has capped a notable recovery for the powerful batsman, who started the season on-loan at Worcestershire after averaging jut 13.94 in the first-class County Championship for Nottinghamshire last season.Its a dream come true and all the better particularly after how last season went in first-class cricket, said Hales.Ive had to work really hard to show people I can be more than just aTwenty20 slogger.And with Australia-born Sam Robsons position as Cooks opening partner in Test cricket being called into question, Hales said he still had ambitions to play five-day cricket for England.Its always been my dream to play Test cricket, he said. Im ready to work hard and earn that spot, I hope.Hales added he had been encouraged by the Test performances of several attacking opening batsmen. David Warner, Chris Gayle, Virender Sehwag, those guys are attacking opening batsmen.I think there is space for it. But its going to come with a lot of hard technical work, and thats up to me.

PAT postpones final decision on PTIs request

Posted:

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has delayed his final decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s request.Addressing to participants of ‘Inqilab March’, Dr Tahirul Qadri said that the enemy (government) wanted to divide PTI and PAT. He said that PTI and PAT were standing with each other until the fulfillment of their demands.Qadri ordered his followers not to leave the protest venue without his permission. He hoped that all the issues would be resolved till Saturday evening.PAT chief also urged workers’ of PAT, PML-Q, PML-Awami, and other allies to participate PTI sit-ins, starting from today (Saturday) in four cities of the countries.Earlier, PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged PAT workers to show patience and wait for one day more.While addressing to ‘Inqilab March’ participants, Qureshi said, “We are here to request you on behalf of Imran Khan to show little patience and wait for some more time.”

Britain raises terror threat level on Iraq, Syria fears

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Britain raised its terror threat risk level to severe on Friday because of fears over the situation in Iraq and Syria, meaning an attack is thought to be highly likely.The move following the killing of US journalist James Foley, apparently by a man speaking with an English accent who belonged to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).While there was no intelligence to suggest that an attack was imminent, Prime Minister David Cameron said there was no doubt in my mind that IS had its sights set on targets in Europe.What we are facing in Iraq now with ISIL (IS) is a greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before, he told a press conference just after the threat level was raised.We are facing a terrorist organisation not being based in a country but seeking to establish and then expand its own terrorist state.The increase in the threat level comes ahead of a NATO summit being hosted by Camerons government in Wales from next Thursday.The threat level is now at the second highest level out of five possible categories and is at its highest since July 2011.Cameron said he was to give a statement to parliament on Monday about planned new laws cracking down on British would-be jihadists.These include removing passports more easily from people suspected of wanting to travel to fight in Iraq and Syria or returning from there.- Fears over Syria-bound fighters -IS posted a video last week in which a masked militant with a London accent is seen executing Foley, who had been missing since his capture in northern Syria in 2012.There is growing concern in Camerons government that, as well as travelling to fight abroad, British passport holders heading to Iraq and Syria could return to commit attacks on British soil.More than 500 Britons have travelled to Syria or Iraq to fight with jihadists in the last few years, according to the intelligence services.Ministers are also under pressure to step up action to prevent the radicalisation of young Muslims in Britain.Anti-terrorism police this week urged Britons to identify aspiring terrorists among family members, friends and neighbours.British police made 69 arrests in the first half of 2014 on suspicion of offences including travelling abroad for terrorist training, preparing acts of terrorism and fundraising for terrorist activity.Police said they would be increasing the number of visible patrols as well as implementing other unspecified security measures from Friday.Britain has ruled out sending ground troops into Iraq to combat the threat from jihadists, but it is sending equipment including ammunition from third party countries to Kurdish peshmerga fighters.Cameron spoke a year to the day since losing a vote in parliament on British military action in Syria after a chemical weapons attack.Analysts say the memory of that damaging defeat is part of the reason why Britain has been hesitant to involve its military more closely in northern Iraq.

Germany sounds Ukraine alarm as EU mulls next move

Posted:

MILAN (AFP) - Germany warned Friday that the Ukraine crisis was spiralling out of control, as European Union foreign ministers grappled with how to respond to what some termed a Russian invasion.The situation in Ukraine is entering a new dimension, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters on the sidelines of talks with his EU counterparts in Milan.All our hopes of de-escalation have been disappointed and the situation is showing signs that it is now out of control.The foreign ministers were meeting on the eve of a summit of EU leaders which will consider further sanctions against Moscow and steps to support Ukraine in the hope of heading off a direct confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian troops.That prospect has begun to look like an explosive possibility following NATOs announcement this week that 1,000 Russian troops are fighting alongside pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine -- a depiction of events that is disputed by the Kremlin.Acknowledging that international sanctions approved to date have had little impact on Russian President Vladimir Putin, most of the ministers appeared to regard further measures as inevitable, although it was unclear whether Saturdays summit would approve new steps immediately or simply instruct officials in Brussels to prepare them.Swedens Carl Bildt said Russia had to be sent a clear message that its incursions into its neighbours territory were unacceptable.This is the second invasion of Ukraine in a year. We have to call a spade a spade and stop playing around, Bildt said.Echoing a recurring theme in Milan, Bildts Danish counterpart Martin Lidegaard said the EU now needed to rethink its entire relationship with Russia.We think it calls for a reaction that Russia is now with troops on Ukrainian ground, Lidegaard said.In the short term we have to look at further sanctions and in the longer term we have to look at measures to reduce our energy dependency on Russia.His comments came as Russias energy minister warned that the crisis in Ukraine could lead to a disruption of Russian gas supplies to Western Europe this winter -- an outcome that would have serious implications for a number of EU states.Dutch minister Fran Timmermans admitted it was not certain if the EU leaders would be able to agree on new sanctions. Im not sure but this (the presence of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine) cannot remain unanswered, he said.- Polish apples -The strongest calls for tough action came from EU states that were once communist satellites of the Soviet Union.Lithuanias Linas Linkevicus urged EU leaders to consider all possible support to the Ukrainian government, including the provision of military material.We are not talking about sending soldiers and, by the way, Ukraine is not asking for that, he stressed.His Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet added: There has been no real impact of sanctions. Noone likes it but we have to move forward with further measures.Radoslaw Sikorski said Poland would be looking to its EU partners for proposals to stop Putin making further encroachments and to save Ukraine in its current form, describing in a tweet the situation as war.The Polish minister distributed a basket of his countrys apples -- now banned from Russia as part of Moscows counter-sanctions against the West -- to reporters.President Putin says they are poisonous, he said. I can assure you they are delicious -- if you want to show what you think of his (Putins) policies, eat a Polish apple
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)