Wednesday 14 January 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

New Zealand to bat first in 2nd Sri Lanka ODI

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HAMILTON (AFP) - New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka in Hamilton on Thursday.The Black Caps are 1-0 up in the seven-match series, which both sides are using as a warm-up for the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in February-March.New Zealand welcome back the rested Ross Taylor to the top order but are without Kane Williamson, who is nursing a sore shoulder after the three-wicket win in the opening fixture on Sunday.Batsman Grant Elliott and paceman Mitchell McClenaghan are also out of the side, with Daniel Vettori and Matt Henry coming in.Sri Lanka made just one change, with Rangana Herath replacing Shaminda Eranga.Both sides opted for two spinners on a Seddon Park wicket that Taylor said was likely to suit the slow bowlers.They normally leave a bit of grass on it, he said. Its normally one of the slowest of the lot so itll probably suit the slower bowlers and the slower balls.Teams:New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi, Dan Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Matt Henry.Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perara, Sachithra Senanayake, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath.Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZL), Ian Gould (ENG). TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG).Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).

Dollar drops after weak US retail sales report

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar fell against major currencies Wednesday after a disappointing US retail sales report sparked concerns about the economy.Sales of retail and food services dropped 0.9 percent in December from November, according to the US Commerce Department.The December drop in sales surprised analysts and sent stocks of Wal-Mart Stores, Target and other leading retailers lower due to the importance of the holiday shopping season.Its been a terrible start to 2015 for US economic data, and that trend continued today, said a note from Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX.After the retail sales figures were released at 1330 GMT, the US Dollar was slammed across the board, Vecchio said.The dollar dropped to a session low of 116.08 yen from 117.90 Tuesday before recovering somewhat. The trend was similar for greenback trades against the British pound and other currencies.But the dollar cut its losses after the Federal Reserves Beige Book, released at 1900 GMT, described the US economy as broadly improving. The US economy generated modest or moderate growth in late 2014, although lower oil prices were hitting energy-producing regions, according to the report. The Fed report did help the US dollar recover, said Kathy Lien, managing director at BK Asset Management.The reports optimistic tone reinforced the expectations that the Fed would raise interest rates in 2015, she added.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon in Honduras on anti-violence mission

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TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday began a two-day fact-finding mission in Honduras on efforts to reduce violence in the worlds deadliest country.Honduran Communications Minister Hilda Hernandez said Ban will learn details of the Alliance for Prosperity Plan, which was launched in November by Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.Known as the PAP for its initials in Spanish, the plan aims to stem migration to the U.S. and tackle unemployment, poverty and public insecurity in the three nations that make up Central Americas northern triangle.It is vital that the PAP is backed by the United Nations in financial, technical and political aspects, Hernandez said.She said officials would lobby the secretary-general about opening a local office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, something Honduras asked for in 2013.Ban was also scheduled to meet with congressional, judicial, social and human rights leaders. He is the third U.N. secretary-general to visit the country, after Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Annan.Honduras has the highest homicide rate of any nation at 85.5 killings per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with a global average of 6.7.Ban travels next to neighboring El Salvador, where he will attend the 23rd anniversary of peace accords that ended that nations civil war.

Before and After: Heartbreaking picture by 2 APS School students

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LAHORE (Web Desk) -- One of the survivors, teenager Talha Munir Paracha recreated a picture from before the massacre at Army Public School in Peshawar and posted it online, only this time two of his friends aren’t in the picture.Talha and his friend Hassan Javed Khan (in the recreated photo) both escaped the attack while their friends Rafiq Bangash and Mohammed Yassen are the ones who didn’t make it.As many as 150 people lost their lives including 132 schoolchildren in one of the deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history at Army Public School in Peshawar.

US, Iran hold 'substantive' talks to hasten nuclear deal

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GENEVA (AFP) - Top diplomats from Iran and the United States held substantive talks Wednesday aimed at speeding up negotiations for a nuclear deal, with US Secretary of State John Kerry heading back for a surprise new round.State Department officials said the talks with Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif had ended about 6:00 pm (1700 GMT) after about five hours.But 90 minutes later the two men suddenly held another surprise meeting at an upscale Geneva hotel, a senior State Department official said.The second meeting lasted over an hour, concluding shortly before 9:00 pm (2000 GMT), but it remained unclear what it focused on.The two men are seeking to break a stalemate which has caused them to miss two previous deadlines for a full agreement to rein in Irans suspect nuclear programme.Zarif told reporters Wednesdays talks were important.I think it will show the readiness of the two parties to move forward to speed up the process.But asked if there would be a comprehensive deal by the new July 1 deadline, he remained cautious, replying: Well see.Kerry and Zarif even moved their discussions outside at one point, leaving the hotel for a brief stroll around Geneva city centre, causing some consternation for their security teams.After the first meeting finished Wednesday, a senior State Department official said: They had substantive meetings for approximately five hours today and they discussed a broad range of issues with a small group of staff from each side.Kerry then briefed his negotiators before lower level US-Iran bilateral talks here on Thursday, ahead of Sundays discussions with the whole P51 group -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Past negotiations have stumbled reportedly over Irans insistence that it retain the right to enrich some uranium -- which can in some cases be used to make an atomic bomb -- for what it says is a peaceful civilian nuclear programme.There has also been disagreement over global sanctions, with Tehran calling for an end to an iron-clad regime which has crippled Irans economy, while the US has insisted on a temporary, gradual suspension.Negotiators have been tight-lipped about their differences and Zarif would not go into detail when asked about the thorniest matters still clouding the talks.All issues are hard until we resolve them and all issues are easy if you resolve them, he told reporters travelling with Kerry.The top US diplomat, who was accompanied to Wednesdays talks by his chief negotiators Wendy Sherman and Bill Burns, told reporters earlier this week that he hopes to accelerate the process to make greater progress.Diplomats fear time may be running out after two earlier deadlines for a deal were missed.The new Republican-controlled Congress is already considering a bill which would slap new sanctions on Iran despite attempts by the Obama administration to hold them off.Washingtons UN envoy Samantha Power warned Monday that imposing new sanctions will almost certainly end a negotiations process that has not only frozen the advance of Irans nuclear programme, but that could lead us to an understanding that would give us confidence in its exclusively peaceful nature.Zarif, who was set to meet German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin Thursday and his French counterpart Laurent Fabius in Paris Friday, has meanwhile repeatedly stressed that Iran is not seeking to obtain a nuclear weapon.He told Iranian television earlier that we have arrived at the stage where the other party must take decisions so we can go forward.New proposals must be put forward. We are ready to discuss all the issues, but we will have to see if the other side is ready, he said.Under an interim deal between world powers and Tehran in force since January 2014, Iran agreed to limit its uranium enrichment.In return, Iran received limited relief from a network of global sanctions, obtaining about $7 billion (over 8 billion euros) from more than $100 billion in oil revenues frozen in bank accounts around the world.

Cholera kills 20 in Nigeria: state official

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PORT HARCOURT (AFP) - A cholera outbreak in southern Nigerias Rivers State has killed 20 people and infected scores more, the state health commissioner, Sampson Parker, said Wednesday.Parker, a physician, said the outbreak was recorded in 11 communities in the Andoni local government (municipality) of the oil-rich state.So far, 171 cases have been recorded, with 20 deaths, in the outbreak which was reported on January 5, he said.Parker said two treatment centres had been opened in the affected communities to manage cases.Emergency drugs and rehydration fluids have been provided,, he said, adding that the outbreak has been put under control.World Health Organisation physician Sylvester Malemi said his agency would provide technical support to the state to tackle the outbreak.He advised residents of the affected areas to boil their water before drinking and maintain good hygiene.Cholera, a highly contagious intestinal infection, is transmitted by water soiled by human waste. The disease leads to diarrhoea, dehydration and death if untreated.

10 dead as Texas prison bus plunges off highway, is hit by train

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A bus carrying 15 prison inmates and staff plunged off a Texas highway overpass and onto railway tracks below, where it was hit by a train Wednesday, killing 10 people.Two correctional officers and eight offenders have died from injuries sustained in the accident, a spokesman from the Texas Department of Corrections said in a statement, adding that five people were hurt.One staff member and four offenders have been transported to the Medical Center in Odessa and are receiving medical treatment, the statement said.Jason Clark, director of public information for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, told AFP that the accident occurred on a busy stretch of highway shortly after dawn, as the bus carried inmates from one prison facility in Abilene in western Texas to another in the city of El Paso.The bus left the roadway and made contact with the train, Clark said.Officials said they did not know what caused the bus to leave the roadway, but said that visibility at the time was poor and the roadway was slick, with temperatures hovering around freezing.The conditions were less than favorable this morning, Sergeant Gary Duesler of the Ector County Sheriffs Department told AFP.For whatever reason, whether it was for icy conditions or whatever, it went down the embankment and into the path of an oncoming train, Duesler said.Officials said the accident scene was horrific.Its as bad as you can imagine. In 32 years its as bad as anything Ive seen, Kavin Tinney, chief of a firefighter battalion, told the Odessa American newspaper.Texas prison officials, who said an investigation was underway, lamented the loss of life.Its with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of those killed and injured this morning in a tragic accident. Their loved ones will be in our thoughts and prayers, Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said in a statement.Duesler said sheriffs deputies worked to secure the scene as the investigation continued.Weve got the road closed off because its a major accident scene, he told AFP.There are some inmates that were transported to the hospital, and of course, theyre still inmates, so were providing security for them, he said.

Oil rallies from multi-year lows

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NEW YORK (AFP) - US oil prices Wednesday shot up more than five percent in a move attributed to bargain-hunting after the contract sank to a new multi-year low the prior day.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for February delivery jumped $2.59, to $48.48 a barrel, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.European benchmark Brent oil for delivery in February gained $2.10, to $48.69 a barrel, in London.Wednesdays advance came after the US contract Tuesday finished at nearly a six-year low below $46. Just so much of the bearish news has been priced in, its just overdue for a correction, said John Kilduff, founding partner at hedge fund Again Capital.Kilduff said the jump in oil was bottom feeding after a US oil inventory report earlier was squarely bearish.US oil inventories jumped 5.4 million barrels to 387.9 million, according to the US Department of Energy. Commercial stocks stand 10.7 percent above year-ago levels.Supplies of gasoline and distillate fuel also rose.Oil prices have lost more than 50 percent since June on oversupply and worries about weak global economic growth.The gain in oil came on a turbulent day for global markets that saw US and European equities slump and copper hit fresh multi-year lows. Kilduff said the pullback in commodities was broadly worrisome. There may be something greater here in terms of global demand and global economic activity that is still obscured at this point, he said.

Snooker: Northern Ireland's Allen masters Higgins

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LONDON (AFP) - Mark Allen overcame some heavy scoring from former world champion John Higgins to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Masters with a 6-4 victory over the Scotsman at Londons Alexandra Palace on Wednesday.Higgins came close to matching the feat of Hong Kongs Marco Fu, who lit up the tournament on Sunday with a maximum 147 break.But having made 120 in the ninth frame he lost position on the final yellow and saw a mid-range pot rattle the jaws before staying out of the pocket.Higgins scored 668 points in total but Allen held his nerve and emerged victorious to move into the last eight of professional snookers leading invitational event. John has done most of the scoring, Allen, whose highest break of the match was 121, told BBC television.I have a good record against him recently and I just needed to hang in there. I stayed positive and did that.I was edgy early on, like I am in any match, but I like to think Im pretty good under pressure.Victory was also an early reward for Allens decision to put himself on a diet in 2015, with the player now only taking in carbohydrates on Sundays in a bid to increase his agility round the table.Theres certain shots out there which I cant reach, Im too fat, he explained. I need to lose weight.

Rallying: Al-Attiyah closes on second Dakar win with fourth stage victory

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SALTA (AFP) - Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar won his fourth stage in the Dakar Rally in Argentina on Wednesday, the ninth win in 10 days for Mini, as he closed in on a second title.In the motorcycle division, Joan Barreda of Spain rode his Honda to a third stage win, with defending champion Marc Coma extending his overall lead to nearly eight minutes with three days to go. After crossing the Andes from Calama to Chile, the mammoth 859km stage, 371km timed to Salta, saw Al-Attiyah extend his overall lead to more than 28 minutes on South African Giniel de Villiers, in a Toyota, the 2009 race winner. Spaniard Nani Roma, the defending champion and winner of the ninth stage on Tuesday, was close to abandoning after seriously damaging his Mini at the 193km mark. Barradas chances of overall victory in the motorcycle race were shattered when he lost more than four hours with mechanical problems on the stage to Iquique, Chile, on Monday. But he had better luck on the run to Salta and crossed the line more than 90sec ahead of KTMs Coma and nearly two minutes in front of Portugals Ruben Faria. Four-time champion Coma added nearly two minutes to his advantage over his closest rival in the overall standings, Honda rider Paulo Goncalves of Portugal, who only came home fifth on the stage. Should Spains Coma be crowned champion at the end of the race on Saturday in Buenos Aires, it will be the 14th straight triumph for Austrian constructor KTM.

Ajmal clears unofficial bowling action test

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KARACHI (AFP) - Suspended Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal on Wednesday claimed to have cleared a private bowling action test, but it remains uncertain whether he will feature in this years World Cup.The private test was conducted in a laboratory in Edgbaston in England and Ajmal now needs to clear an official reassessment in an International Cricket Council (ICC) accredited laboratory in Chennai, India on January 24.The 37-year-old was suspended over illegal bowling action in September last year and last month withdrew from the World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand in February-March.His withdrawal came after remedial work carried out under former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to alter his bowling action fell short.Ajmal said he is confident he can clear the official test after success in the private assessment.I cleared the private test, Ajmal told AFP. The tests were conducted in Edgbaston and all my deliveries including the doosra (his trademark swing) were within 15 degrees.Under the ICC rules all bowlers are allowed to straighten their bowling arm by 15 degrees, beyond which the action is deemed illegal.Ajmals first assessment in August last year revealed his arm extension went to 43 degrees.Ajmal, however, remained unsure whether he would be able to feature in the World Cup or not.Look, I want to be as confident in my bowling as I was before (suspension) and want to be effective, so (whether) I can still play the World Cup or cannot play, remains to be seen.I want to do what is best for my country and for my team.Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan on Tuesday ruled out Ajmals participation in the World Cup, saying it was too late to consider it.Ajmal was included in the preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup, but after his withdrawal was dropped from the 15-man party announced last week.However, under the ICC rules all teams can replace a player before the February 7 deadline, a week before the World Cup starts.Pakistan team will play its first match against title-holders India in Adelaide on February 15.

Van Wyk saves South Africa's honour in Twenty20 series

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DURBAN (AFP) - Stand-in wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk hit a maiden international century to set up a 69-run consolation win for South Africa in the third and final Twenty20 international against the West Indies at Kingsmead, Durban, on Wednesday.Van Wyk, 35, who was recalled to the South African team because of an injury to Quinton de Kock, scored 114 not out off 70 balls with seven sixes and nine fours.South Africa made 195 for three after being sent in.The West Indies, who had already clinched the series by winning the first two matches, were bowled out for 126 in 19 overs.With the West Indies holding aun unassailable lead in the series, both sides made several changes.Notable absentees were West Indian Chris Gayle, man of the match in the first two games, because of a back injury and South African captain Faf du Plessis, who was being rested ahead of a one-day series.Big-hitting David Miller was also missing because of back spasms.Chasing a challenging target on a pitch which offered more to the bowlers than at the Wanderers when they succeeded with a world record run chase, the West Indies succumbed to a series of over-ambitious shots.Lendl Simmons, in his only match of the series, hit 49 off 31 balls but the next highest score was Kieron Pollards 20 not out.Medium-pacer David Wiese, mixing up his pace and lengths shrewdly, took five for 23.West Indian captain Darren Sammy said he was delighted with the attitude of the players during the series.I commend the way the boys played this series. Today we wanted to win but well take a series win, said Sammy.Justin Ontong, who took over as South African captain for de Plessis, said the players had been determined to prevent a whitewash.We wanted it more. We let ourselves down in the first two games. We were hungry tonight, said OIntong.Van Wyk was named man of the match and Gayle, who hit 77 off 31 balls and 90 off 41 balls in the first two matches, was named man of the series.

US House votes to block Obama immigration plan

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US House on Wednesday defied President Barack Obama by adopting Republican measures blocking his controversial immigration reform efforts, but the bill is unlikely to survive in its current form.Lawmakers voted 236 to 191 to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September 30, the end of fiscal year 2015.But the bill included several amendments torpedoing the plan Obama unveiled last November, which authorized the administration to provide work permits for millions of undocumented workers.One amendment would also freeze the program Obama launched in 2012 that shields certain undocumented minors from deportation. Another prioritizes expulsions among certain categories of undocumented criminal offenders.We do not take this action lightly, but simply there is no alternative, House Speaker John Boehner said.This executive overreach is an affront to the rule of law and to the constitution itself.Some 11.3 million people were living illegally in the United States as of March 2013, the Pew Research Center estimated.The last comprehensive immigration reform by US lawmakers dates back to 1986.Since then, all attempts at major revisions have failed, most recently in 2013 amid conservative opposition.Democratic lawmakers, labor unions and rights groups have complained bitterly about the obstruction, but they let loose Wednesday over what they believe is a misguided Republican focus on deportations.It makes no sense to divert Homeland Security measures to hunt down and deport such individuals, the large Service Employees International Union argued.The White House has promised a presidential veto of the amended legislation, which has virtually no chance of passing the Senate where Democrats have a blocking minority.Republicans have only been in control for a week and already they are picking an unnecessary political fight that risks shutting down the Department of Homeland Security and endangering our security, said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.Republicans should stop playing games and pass a clean bill to fund(DHS).The House action sets up a showdown between newly empowered congressional Republicans and Obama.Congress has until February 27 to formalize funding for DHS, which oversees border security, immigration and customs, and the Secret Service tasked with protecting the president.Democrats used the example of last weeks deadly Paris attacks to denounce the Republican tactics.Homeland security is the last thing in this body that should be subject to a political compromise. Not after the attacks on France, not after 9/11 when we pledged to keep the American people safe, Democrat Steve Israel told the House.

COAS meets David Cameron

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday has met British Prime Minister (PM) David Cameron during his three-day visit to Britain.According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting resolved to share intelligence reports and increase cooperation to counter terrorism. The meeting also resolved to stop the funding of banned organisations and foreign anti-Pakistan powers.Earlier, General Sharif had reached Britain and met the British political and military leadership.According to the details, the COAS discussed matters of mutual interest and the situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. General Sharif met British chief of defense and national security adviser. The meeting discussed matters relating bilateral relations, combined military training courses and strengthening of defense cooperation between the two countries.Moreover, few agreements are also likely to be signed between both the countries during the COAS’s visit to Britain.

Two weeks of road adventure, Thrilling Dakar Rally amazes audience

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LAHORE (Web Desk) – Two weeks ago, the most thrilling car competition name Dakar Rally started in Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia. 500 competitors competed in rally including drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles and quad bikes. The rally is currently on stage nine between Iquique and Calama, Chile. KTM rider Jordi Viladoms of Spain drives during the first stage of the Dakar Rally 2015 from Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina - ReutersPeugeot driver Carlos Sainz of Spain drives during the first stage of the Dakar Rally 2015 from Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina - ReutersDakar Rally director Etienne Lavigne (L) and a doctor give medical assistance to a rider during the 2nd stage of the Dakar Rally 2015 - ReutersKTM rider Jakub Przygonski of Poland rides during the 2nd stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Villa Carlos Paz to San Juan, Argentina - ReutersToyota driver Alejandro Yacopini of Argentina drives during the 2nd stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Villa Carlos Paz to San Juan, Argentina - ReutersRenault driver Emiliano Spataro of Argentina drives during the 3rd stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from San Juan to Chilecito, Argentina - ReutersKTM rider Marc Coma of Spain drives during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Chilecito to Copiapo - ReutersPeugeot driver Stephane Peterhansel of France drives during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Chilecito to Copiapo - ReutersToyota driver Leeroy Poulter of South Africa drives during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Chilecito to Copiapo - ReutersKTM rider Ruben Faria of Portugal rides during the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally 2015 - ReutersMini driver Nani Roma of Spain drives during the 5th stage of the Dakar Rally 2015 - ReutersMini driver Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar drives during the 5th stage of the Dakar Rally 2015, from Copiapo to Antofagasta - Reuters
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