Monday 8 December 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Marchers at US Capitol protest police killings

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Protesters carrying signs bearing names of black Americans killed by police have marched outside the U.S. Capitol to demand a human rights investigation.About two dozen protesters were met by a line of police who stopped them from advancing toward the building Monday morning. The protesters stood side by side to mourn black Americans killed by police. They said they were seeking an international investigation of U.S. police violence.A number of protests have been staged around the country following recent grand jury decisions not to indict white police officers in New York and Ferguson, Missouri, over the deaths of unarmed blacks.Zoe Spencer, a Virginia State University associate professor and protest organizer, said the names and characters of victims have been dragged through the mud to justify their own murders.Shouts of Hands up, dont shoot began as protesters marched away from the Capitol but quickly changed to chants of Fists up, fight back.

6 dead after plane crashes into US home

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GAITHERSBURG (AP) - Authorities say a woman and her two young sons were at home when a private jet slammed into their house and were among six people killed in the crash in Maryland.Police say the womans two sons were a month-old infant and a 3-year-old, and their last names are Gemmell.Three people were aboard the jet when it crashed Monday into the home in Gaithersburg, a Washington suburb. The two-story, wood-frame home was gutted by the impact of the crash and ensuing blaze.Neighbors and property records identify the homes residents as Ken and Marie Gemmell.A National Transportation Safety Board team is investigating the crash.

Israeli parliament dissolves itself, sets election

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JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli lawmakers unanimously voted Monday to dissolve parliament, officially ending the legislatures term two years ahead of schedule and kicking off the countrys election campaign ahead of a March 17 nationwide vote.A week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition government dramatically disintegrated, the 120-seat Knesset voted 93-0 favor of disbanding and ending one of the shortest serving parliaments in Israeli history.Early polls show Netanyahu likely returning to power. But a growing coalition of anti-Netanyahu factions threatens to depose the longtime leader.Israels government, which took office in early 2013, had been riven by divisions from the outset over major issues facing the country. Netanyahus fractious center-right Cabinet had been bickering for weeks over the budget, a housing tax break and a bill that would enshrine into law Israels status as a Jewish state.Netanyahu is looking to secure a fourth term as premier by increasing support for his hardline Likud Party. He hopes to secure a strong majority for a national bloc that includes his traditional allies of ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, ForeignMinister Avigdor Liebermans nationalist Yisrael Beitenu faction and the hard line Jewish Home party, which is strongly linked to the West Bank settler movement. This bloc tends to take a hard line in peace talks with the Palestinians.In the last vote, the parties earned a combined 61 out of 120 seats in parliament. The majority proved too slim for Netanyahu to rule effectively and he was forced to reach out to two centrist parties, Yesh Atid and Hatnuah, to shore up his majority. Netanyahus feuds with these parties led to his decision to fire their ministers and call a new election.Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni appears to be on the brink of sealing an alliance with Isaac Herzog and his center-left Labor party. A poll published Monday showed the potential joint list surging past Likud to become the largest party in the next Knesset. But it would still likely need the support or either Lieberman or the ultra-Orthodox for Herzog to replace Netanyahu as prime minister.

Djokovic, Federer finish off IPTL's India leg

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NEW DELHI (AP) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer finished off the India leg of the International Premier Tennis League with a highly-anticipated meeting between the two stars in front of a frenzied New Delhi crowd on Monday.The one-set match between the two rivals ended in a 6-6 stalemate under the format rules, which meant Djokovics UAE Royals team came away with a 29-22 win over Federers Indian Aces.The exhibition-style tournament features five one-set matches between the two teams, with the overall score made up of the total number of games won by each side.Earlier, Federer teamed with Gael Monfils to beat Djokovic and Nenad Zimonic in doubles.Each team has both past and present stars from the mens and womens tours.

Man United beat Southampton 2-1 in Premier League

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SOUTHAMPTON (AP) - Two clinical finishes from Robin van Persie gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory against Southampton in the Premier League on Monday, despite the visitors being pegged back for much of the game at St. Marys.Van Persie scored with Uniteds only two efforts on target to give Louis van Gaals side its fifth win a row and overtake Southampton in third place. Southampton dropped to fifth behind West Ham after its third straight loss against the teams it hopes to challenge for a top-four spot Manchester City, Arsenal and United.Van Persie punished a wasteful performance from the home side, which created enough chances to win the game comfortably.He took advantage of a defensive blunder to put United ahead after 12 minutes, and went unmarked to meet Wayne Rooneys free kick at the far post to poke in the winner after Graziano Pelle had levelled for Southampton in the 31st.I dont think we played our best football today, Van Persie said. In the end, its a fifth straight victory. Were on the way up.Uniteds opener came when Southampton captain Jose Fonte hit a poor backpass to goalkeeper Fraser Forster and Van Persie ran through, waited for Forster to dive and stroked the ball through his legs and into the far corner.But United was unable to build any momentum from its goal, as Southampton relentlessly attacked in search of an equalizer.It finally came after Marouane Fellaini gave the ball away in midfield, and Dusan Tadic initiated a quick attack. He played the ball out to Shane Long on the edge of the area, who returned it with a high cross. Tadics effort was blocked by Paddy McNair, but the ball fell to Pelle who converted from close range.Long could have put Ronald Koemans side ahead in the 34th but blasted high and wide from close range after McNair failed to clear a touch from divert a touch from Sadio Mane.Southamptons dominance was so strong that Van Gaal felt compelled to take off the struggling McNair in the 39th and replace him with Ander Herrera.But it was Southampton that continued to threaten in the second half.Tadic floated an inviting ball across the penalty area toward Long, who was only able to head straight at David De Gea.Southampton missed another chance in the 57th when the Serbia international threaded the ball into Pelle, only for the Italy striker to lift his shot over.Eventually, a chance fell Uniteds way and Van Persie punished Southampton in the 71st.Rooney whipped an inviting free kick into Southamptons area and Van Persie ran unmarked to the back post to prod in Uniteds winner.The defensive lapses, alongside an array of missed attacking chances, left Koeman fuming.We lost not to Manchester United tonight, we lost to ourselves, Koeman said. We did everything. We created chances. We did mistakes, maybe they did more mistakes but they had players who handle that type of mistake and that was the difference.

Liverpool, FC Basel meet in straight shootout

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LONDON (AP) - Liverpool and FC Basel meet in a straight shootout at Anfield Tuesday to determine which team joins Real Madrid in advancing from Group B of the Champions League.Only a win will suffice for Liverpool, whose return to Europes top competition has been a disappointment with its only points coming from matches against group minnow Ludogorets Razgrad.Basel will go through with a draw and will be buoyed by its surprising strong record against English teams that has seen the Swiss team lose just one of its last nine matches. Basel has won four straight games against Premier League opposition, including home and away against Chelsea in last seasons group stage.In the other game, group winner Madrid hosts Bulgarian champion Ludogorets, which cannot reach the last 16 but could still finish third and gain entry to the knockout stage of the Europa League.

As Woods rebuild, a younger generation shines

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WINDEMERE (AP) - Tiger Woods appears to be on the road to recovery again, only its no longer a question of how soon before he reaches full speed.There are a lot more cars on the road now. Faster ones, too.Woods acknowledged as much before the Hero World Challenge began when he jokingly said, Father Time remains undefeated.He still has plenty of power when hes healthy and swings freely. But theres a long list of players who hit it farther.We all eventually are losing some of the things we are able to do when we were younger, Woods said. But theres other ways to go around a golf course. ... You can win at a very late age because you dont have to physically dominate anybody. You dont have to physically beat anybody. You just have to beat the golf course.Thats a recipe for winning, but not for being the best in the sport.That label belongs to 25-year-old Rory McIlroy, an undisputed title at the moment. The most consistent threat in the majors this year was 25-year-old Rickie Fowler, who played in the final group twice and finished in the top five in all of them.The latest arrival is 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, who showed off his potential not because of the fields he beat (strength or size) but because of the stamps in his passport. In three weeks in three corners of the world, Spieth finished one shot out of a playoff in Japan, won by six shots in the Australian Open against a field that included McIlroy and Adam Scott, and then overwhelmed an 18-man field of top-50 players in Florida with a 10-shot victory.One of the more telling comments after he won at Isleworth was how Spieth defined his target.In order to take it to the next level and try and win majors, Ive got to look to Rory, Spieth said. Hes the youngest guy, the one with the most success. Hes No. 1 in the world and setting the bar. Hes the one were all chasing.Woods is now part of the chase. He did not say where he would start in 2015, but heres a sobering thought: If Woods does not play better than he did at Isleworth, theres a mathematical chance hell fall out of the top 50 by March and not be eligible for the first World Golf Championship at Doral.This isnt the first time Woods has returned from an injury-induced layoff. But its the first time he is coming back from injury and retooling his swing under a new coach. This could take time, and thats something Woods doesnt have at this stage in his career. He turns 39 at the end of the month.Can he get back to where he was? Probably not.Can he get back to No. 1 in the world? Certainly. The last time he was in this position, it took five victories for Woods to climb back to No. 1, along with a mini-slump by McIlroy. Both are capable of doing that again.Woods is so popular as a golfer, and he demands so much attention, that its easy to fall into a trap of measuring his progress without considering the rest of the field.When he opened with a 77 at Isleworth, it was easy to blame that on rust because he had not faced any competition since the PGA Championship. Except that Steve Stricker had not played since the PGA and he opened with a 67.Woods made progress in the second round. He was attacking. He was making birdies. He was 4 under through 16 holes, which ordinarily would seem like a good score. Except that the guy playing alongside him, Patrick Reed, was 9 under through 16 holes.The competition has never been deeper and as it relates to Woods, younger.He is responsible for that. Most of these rising stars, if not all, grew up watching Woods destroy his competition. They learned by watching him. It was different for an older generation of players who only saw Woods when he arrived on the PGA Tour, and then didnt know what hit them.He was the best anyone had seen, Reed said. He was so much better than anyone else at the time. With me growing up and watching that, I tried to copy his mental strength and go from there.And how does one copy mental strength?Be stubborn, Reed said. Focus on what youre doing and not anyone around you. You could see it just by looking at him in the eyes. If looks could kill, he would literally kill you. Its not because hes not a good guy. He was just so focused and determined to play well. And he obviously gets it. Thats what Im trying to do.

Sebastian Coe wants independent drug-testing body

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MONACO (AP) - The allegations of systematic doping in Russia should push the IAAF to set up an independent body to handle drug-testing in track and field, Sebastian Coe said Monday.Coe, the British middle-distance great who is a vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, said the sports image has been disproportionately damaged by doping cases in a small number of countries.Coe said he has watched the German television channel ARDs documentary which alleged that doping is rife among Russian athletes and that Russian anti-doping officials routinely covered up positive tests in athletics and other sports.These are very serious allegations, he said. Its very, very difficult for our sport. The scope and scale of these allegations takes it beyond simply a competitor deciding to step beyond the moral boundary.The IAAF ethics commission is investigating the allegations and is in contact with the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee. Coe said he and other members of the IAAF council have received transcripts of the program.The IAAF currently conducts most of its testing on its own, both in and out competition, but Coe said that should change.I do think there is a very strong case now for saying that the testing procedures and the sanctioning procedures should be wholly independent, Coe said. That will free any of the conflicts that are being alleged by German television in the last few days.Coe declared his candidacy last week to become president of the IAAF. Pole vault great Sergei Bubka is also expected to run to succeed Lamine Diack, who steps down next August. Doping will surely be a key issue in the campaign.This is not in every country of the world there are 213 federations, Coe said. But you do have to say a disproportionate amount of the reputational damage is in a relatively small number of countries, and I think we have to recognize this.The French sports daily LEquipe has also raised questions about meetings in Moscow hotels in 2011 between Valentin Balakhnichev, the president of the Russian athletics federation and an IAAF council member, and Massata Papa Diack, the son of Lamine Diack.Coe said Lamine Diack is fully supportive of the IAAF inquiry.If names are in the frame, they will be subject to the investigation, Coe said. Hes certainly not curtailing the work of the ethics committee.Coe said he would be in favor of publishing the ethics committees investigation and confirmed that IAAF rules allow for Russia to be declared non-compliant if the allegations are proven.We do have a category, a status which we refer to as in good standing, Coe said. Lets just see where these reports take us.

Hughes remembered at 1st Australia-India test

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ADELAIDE (AP) - From the flowers that lined the Southern Plaza of Adelaide Oval to the 408 painted on the grass, Phillip Hughes was remembered and revered Tuesday by the cricketing world in a way befitting the mark he left in his short time in the sport.Hughes, who died Nov. 27 two days after being hit by a short-pitched delivery in a domestic match, was honored in a short video tribute by former Australia captain and commentator Richie Benaud before the start of the first Australia-India test.Australia players also wore No. 408 Hughes test cap number on their shirts, and there was 63 seconds of applause in his honor. Hughes, 25, had scored 63 runs when he was fatally injured at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia wins the toss and will bat in 1st test

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ADELAIDE (AP) - Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and decided to first in the first cricket test against India at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.Under sunny skies and on a perfect day for cricket, Clarke said the wicket looks fantastic, I dont think Ive ever seen a ground that looked as good as this.India, with stand-in captain Virat Kohli, decided to go with three pacemen and a legspin bowler.The test series, delayed by the death of Phillip Hughes on Nov. 27 after he was hit by a short-pitched delivery, began with a tribute to the 25-year-old batsman.First day, first wicket, well try to make good use of the new ball, said Kohli. We would have liked to bat first as well.Indias continued criticism of the Decision Review System meant the technology will not be used in the four-test series.Kohli said he doesnt see India changing its mind in the near future.Unless its 100 percent accurate I dont think (India) will change take on it. It just doesnt make sense to us sometimes, Kohli said on Monday.Some people feel that its clearly a not-out decision and theyve been given out. Or it seems like its out and guys have been given not out, and (theres) more than half a ball hitting the stumps.The DRS assists the on-field umpires by using ball-tracking technology, an infra-red imaging system and the use of directional microphones a snickometer to detect small sounds made as the ball hits the bat or pad. But both teams have to agree to use it.Lineups:Australia: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, Mitch Marsh, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron.Umpires: Marais Erasmus, South Africa, and Ian Gould, England.TV umpire: Mick Martell, Australia.Match referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand.

3 unaccounted for, 3 dead in US jet crash in home

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GAITHERSBURG, Maryland: (AP) - A small, private jet crashed into a house in Maryland on Monday, killing three people on board the plane and leaving three residents of the home unaccounted for, authorities said.Three people were on board the jet when it crashed into the home in Gaithersburg, a Washington, D.C. suburb, county Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Lohr said during a news conference.They were all killed and three residents who live at the home are unaccounted for, he said. He released no other details about the homes residents.The two-story, wood-frame home was gutted by the impact of the crash and ensuing blaze. The first floor was nearly completely blown out and smoke drifted from a gaping hole in what was left of the collapsing roof. Two adjacent homes also had significant damage, with one of them clearly having caught fire, as well.Fred Pedreira, 67, who lives near the crash site, said he had just returned home from the grocery store and was parking his car when he saw the jet and immediately knew something was wrong.This guy, when I saw him, for a fast jet with the wheels down, I said, I think hes coming in too low, Pedreira told The Associated Press. Then he was 90 degrees sideways and then he went belly-up into the house and it was a ball of fire. It was terrible.I tell you, I got goosebumps when I saw it. I said, My God, those are people in that plane, Pedreira said. I just hope nobody was in that home.Byron Valencia, 31, who also lives nearby, told The AP that he was in his kitchen when he heard a jet engine flying overhead, and then a big thump shortly after.When I opened my window, I could see smoke over the trees and I heard a small explosion, like a pop, he said. I could see the smoke rising ... Its scary.An FAA spokesman said preliminary information showed the Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100 twin-engine jet was on approach at the nearby Montgomery County Airpark. The National Transportation Safety Board was launching a team to investigate.

As US cleans up, it's exporting more pollution

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GARDI SUGDUP, Panama: (AP) - Heat-trapping pollution released into the atmosphere from rising exports of U.S. gasoline and diesel dwarfs the cuts made from fuel efficiency standards and other efforts to reduce global warming in the United States, according to a new Associated Press investigation.Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. has reduced more carbon pollution from energy than any other nation, about 475 million tons between 2008 and 2013, according to U.S. Energy Department data. Less than one-fifth of that amount came from burning less gasoline and diesel fuel.Yet the U.S. is sending more fuel than ever to other parts of the world, where efforts to address resulting pollution are just getting underway, if advancing at all. U.S. exports of gasoline and diesel released roughly 1 billion tons of carbon pollution into the atmosphere elsewhere during the same period, according to APs analysis.This fossil fuel trade has helped President Barack Obama meet political goals to curb carbon dioxide at home, by taking it off Americas pollution balance sheet. But that does not necessarily help the planet.Despite efforts by the U.S. and others, pollution linked to global warming is still rising worldwide.In Panama, imports of diesel and gasoline from the U.S. have nearly quadrupled since 2008.Panama is the largest recipient of diesel fuel dirtier and more carbon-laden than would be allowed in the U.S., in part because the fuel is used in cars and trucks that do not have the same efficiency standards and are not regularly inspected and maintained, the APs investigation found.Panamas requirement that drivers test emissions, including for carbon dioxide, are almost completely ignored.Its a false image, said Onel Masardule of the Indigenous Peoples Biocultural Climate Change Assessment Initiative, a Peru-based environmental group. In reality, the U.S is still contaminating.Obama has overseen a domestic boom in oil and natural gas production and ordered the biggest increases in fuel economy in history.Thats helped the U.S. reduce oil imports, create jobs, boost exports and shrink the trade deficit.But for global warming, fuel exports mean that, at the very least, the administration is making a smaller dent than it claims.This is their hidden success story that they would like to keep hidden, said Kevin Book, a Washington-based energy analyst and a member of the National Petroleum Council, a federal advisory group in the U.S.It has done a lot to improve our balance of trade standing, but it is not the most climate-friendly way to do it. There is no way to avoid that there is a bigger emissions impact when you have more to combust, Book said.There is no clear accounting of what Americas growth as a fossil-fuel powerhouse is doing to the global-warming picture. U.S. projects that increase energy exports could be considered, such as huge terminals planned for the West Coast to send more coal abroad for power plants. Trade agreements could factor in the implications of energy trade on global warming. But no trade pacts negotiated by the White House mention it.The White House said it is working to strengthen environmental provisions in trade agreements and lower tariffs on technologies that ultimately will reduce emissions abroad.It also says that exports do not add more carbon to the atmosphere because they replace fuel that would come from someplace else.Other experts dispute that. They note that when energy is plentiful and reasonably priced, as is the case with American oil, it tends to increase demand.Panama has long been an important player in the global energy trade because of the Panama Canal. It soon will be a bigger conduit when a $5.2 billion, third set of locks is completed next year allowing tankers full of U.S. liquefied natural gas and, potentially, crude oil to transit. The country also is expanding trade zones which allow for duty-free imports and export of gasoline and diesel.Still, Panama says it contributes no carbon dioxide to the atmosphere because its sizable forests absorb more carbon than it releases from vehicle tailpipes and deforestation. Forests owned by the Guna people in the northeast parts of the country are some of the most pristine and help Panama reduce carbon pollution naturally.Those forests are being eyed for carbon credits, a system by which countries or companies reduce their carbon footprints by paying to ensure forests are protected.The Guna are skeptical. They say forests are sacred sanctuaries that shouldnt come with a price.When we speak about trees, we talk about our brothers and sisters, said Jorge Andreve, director for Panamas environmental agency in the Guna Yala region. You cant put a T-shirt with a dollar sign on a tree, when you dont own that tree.

Sampras sad over 'sad decline' of men's Tennis in US

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NEW DELHI: (AFP) - American legend Pete Sampras lamented Monday the decline of US mens tennis, saying he didnt know anyone capable of breaking into the top ranks for his home country.Fourteen-time Grand Slam winner Sampras blamed the increasingly global and competitive nature of top-level tennis, saying it would take time before American men were dominant again.We havent had anyone at the top for a long time now, Sampras told reporters at the International Premier Tennis League in New Delhi. It takes time to get American tennis back to where it was, said Sampras who dominated the game, along with compatriot Andre Agassi, before retiring in 2002. The game has become so international. Players are playing all around the world. The world is getting hungrier and we (the US) are just not producing young kids with potential.Hopefully its just a phase and doesnt last too long (to return to the top).Sampras, who retired at the age of 32, predicted the three big names of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal would continue to dominate next season. Novak Djokovic is the obvious choice. Roger is very motivated to get to number one. Rafa is uncertain with his health but I feel like once hes healthy hell be in the mix, he said.But the 43-year-old said Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, ranked 11 in the world, was one to watch. Grigor is someone that I think is ready to make that next step. Hes showing signs but I think he just needs to learn how to win but hes got the talent. I still see those three guys dominating. I see guys threatening them but when push comes to shove, I think youll see those three guys in the second week of majors, in the semifinals and finals. Its going to be an interesting year but I still see Novak, Roger and Rafa being the cream of the crop.Sampras lost his opening match on Sunday to fellow veteran Australias Pat Rafter in the third leg of the new IPTL in Delhi.Sampras said he had now recovered from his jet lag, after flying in from the US, and was hopeful of winning his matches for the Indian Aces.The team competition features a quickfire format, with one-set matches hurried along by a 20-second serve clock.

Eurozone extends Greek bailout for 2 months

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FRANKFURT, Germany: (AP) - European finance ministers on Monday gave bailed-out Greece a two-month extension of its financial lifeline as they argue about whether Athens should impose more budget austerity to meet conditions for the last installment of aid.Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the group of finance ministers from countries that use the euro, said after the meeting in Brussels that the group would say yes to a request from Greece to push its current bailout deal into next year.Greeces current bailout program was slated to run out at the end of the year and the country was to switch to a standby credit line with less onerous conditions. But its latest budget has failed to pass muster with international creditors. That means Greece hasnt been able to pass the final review of its compliance with its rescue package and tap the last bailout loan installment of 1.8 billion euros ($2.2 billion).Greece was rescued from a financial and economic crisis with the help of 240 billion euros ($297 billion) in loans from other eurozone governments and the International Monetary Fund. The country also defaulted on government bonds.Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is eager to reach the end of the aid program as the country recovers economically because the loans came with politically unpopular conditions.Greece has had to restrain government spending and raise taxes to try to reduce debt. Samaras said the European Commission and IMF argue that the countrys current budget has a 1.7 billion euro hole that must be filled with more cuts a position Samaras rejects.Samaras faces the possibility of new elections next year where he would compete against the left-wing Syriza party, which has denounced the bailout deal.

Govt to file case against PTI regarding Faisalabad situation

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LAHORE (Web Desk) – The government on Monday has decided to register a case in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers for supporting politics of violence and creating a dreadful situation in Faisalabad.Punjab Interior Minister Colonel (r) Shuja Khanzada chaired a meeting in which this was decided.According to the sources, as many as 70 CCTV cameras have recorded footages of almost all the incidents that happened today in the city.National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have been contacted by the government for identification of the PTI workers and other people responsible for violence.The government has established a control room at the Lahore Civil Secretariat to monitor the Faisalabad’s situation.Moreover, officials of Interior Department have been assigned emergency duties at the control room.The Cabinet Committee’s high-ranked meeting was joined by Provincial Minister Bilal Yaseen, Punjab Police Inspector General (IG), Home Secretary and others.
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