Friday 16 January 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Dying US inmate's last words stir questions

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An inmate executed in Oklahoma complained about the effects on his body before the lethal drugs were administered.That has prompted some to question whether he may have exaggerated his symptoms to help his fellow death row inmates case.Charles Warner was executed Thursday for an infant girls 1997 slaying. During his last words he said: It feels like acid.The comment came before any of the lethal injection drugs were administered and while he was only receiving a saline drip through an intravenous line.Warners attorney Madeline Cohen says she found the comment disturbing and confusing, but she doesnt believe Warner would exaggerate his symptoms.District Attorney Rex Duncan didnt attend Warners execution, but believes inmates would be quick to exaggerate symptoms to help their fellow inmates legal challenge.

Convicted terrorist Akramul Haq executed in Lahore

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Convicted terrorist Akramul Haq also known with alias Akram Lahori was executed on early Saturday morning at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, Dunya News reported.According to the details, Akramul Haq had opened fire at a religious gathering in the year 2001 which has resulted in killing of a civilian.The special anti-terrorism court had sentenced Akramul Haq to death after finding him guilty in 2004.Lahori was scheduled to be executed on January 8 but his execution was stayed after his family moved magistrate saying that the family of the victim had forgiven the convicted terrorist. However, the death sentence was again reinstated after the magistrate referred the matter to the anti-terrorism court.

100 terrorists present in Lahore, 33 suspects arrested: Report

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LAHORE (Daily Dunya) – A massive search operation was carried out in the provincial capital Lahore after an alert of presence of over 100 terrorists was issued. At least 33 suspected terrorists were taken into custody during this search operation including 3 members of a banned terrorist organization.According to the details, intelligence agencies had issued an alert that there are as many as 100 terrorists hiding in Lahore who can carry out attacks at any time.After Interior Ministry issued correspondence to Lahore police, as many as 30 suspects other than 3 from the banned terrorist outfit were taken into custody after search operation in areas adjoining the airport, Railway Station, Lari Adda among others.Three out of thirty three suspected terrorists belonged to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and were identified as Qari Mushtaq, Asim Umar and Jamil Muavia.Urdu version of this story appeared in Daily Dunya on January 17, 2015

Edhi ambulance service shut down in Lahore over petrol shortage

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – The fuel shortage in Lahore has turned dangerous as Edhi Foundation had to temporarily shut down its ambulance service, while only four vehicles of emergency service Rescue 1122 are functional for the entire city, Dunya News reported.According to the details, the fuel shortage has affected several cities of Punjab and Lahore is hit the worst.Saturday marks the fifth consecutive day of the petrol shortage in Lahore. The petrol was being sold at double price by some hoarders but it has now become unavailable even at that price.

Interior Ministry orders PTA to ban hate material on internet

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ISLAMABAD (Daily Dunya) – The review meeting of National Action Plan Committee chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar took place in Islamabad on Friday in which it was decided to effectively track and block hate material posted by banned organizations on the internet.It was also decided to launch crackdown against Hundi and other means of illegal money transfer.Chaudhry Nisar ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to monitor all activities of the banned organizations and to block all hate material posted online.Nisar urged to take measures to stop illegal money transfers that could potentially help the terrorists.Reportedly, Interior Minister has also asked the banks to freeze suspicious bank accounts.Urdu version of this story appeared in Daily Dunya on January 17, 2015

Hundreds of US troops to train Syrian rebels: Pentagon

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US military will send nearly 1,000 troops to train Syrian rebel forces as part of a long-planned effort to build up a moderate opposition to take on the Islamic State group, the Pentagon said Friday.The training will take place in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar and is expected to start in the early spring, spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told a news conference.More than 400 trainers would start deploying in the next four to six weeks, backed by a similar number of support troops that will provide help with logistics, communications and intelligence, he said.The total troop number for this mission could approach 1,000, Kirby said. It might even exceed that.About 5,400 Syrian rebels would be trained and armed in the first year of the program, with an initial group of fighters possibly ready to enter battle before the end of the year, he said.The US Congress backed legislation last month to fund the training and equipping of Iraqi forces and moderate Syrian rebels, allocating about $500 million for the Syrian effort.But President Barack Obama has been accused of moving too slowly to help the opposition while the IS group and other hardline extremists have taken on an increasingly dominant role on the battlefield.Obama, wary of having the US drawn into Syrias multi-sided civil war, had long kept the moderate rebels at arms length. But the rise of the IS group last year prompted a change in strategy, with the US president announcing plans in September to train and arm the opposition.The administration, however, has placed a priority on fighting the IS militants rather than President Bashar al-Assads regime, an emphasis that has led to disagreements with some allies, including Turkey. The Pentagon made no mention of Assad in announcing the training effort. Once trained and armed, the moderate rebels will be able to defend their own towns, eventually go on the offensive against IS jihadists, and help work towards a political solution to the countrys conflict, Kirby said.The American troops will complement a small CIA training program that is already in place but officials declined to discuss whether the military would oversee the spy agencys efforts.Two other countries also have pledged to help train the Syrian fighters, but officials did not say which governments or how many trainers they would contribute.US intelligence agencies and foreign partners are working to identify potential recruits for the training program, who will then be vetted to ensure they have no ties to the IS group or other extremists, officials said.Major General Michael Nagata, who is overseeing the US-led fight against the IS jihadists in Syria, met a range of opposition figures in Istanbul earlier this week and came away encouraged, Kirby said.But he acknowledged that identifying and vetting potential recruits for training was a difficult task that could not be accomplished quickly.Its more important, and weve said this before, that we get this right rather than get it fast. There are significant risks if you get it wrong, he said.To avoid a repeat of insider attacks that have plagued the military training mission in Afghanistan, a portion of the US troops to be deployed would focus on security for their compatriots, he said.Regrettably, we have quite a bit of experience at dealing with that particular threat, he added.In Iraq, US troops already have started training Iraqi government and Kurdish forces in the fight against the IS jihadists, with about 2,100 Americans deployed there.

Militias announce Libya truce after Geneva accord

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TRIPOLI (AFP) - An Islamist-backed militia alliance on Friday announced a ceasefire in conflict-strewn Libya, following an agreement at UN-brokered peace talks between warring factions.The militias have agreed to a ceasefire on all fronts in the North African country on condition that the other parties respect the truce, Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) said in a statement.It also pledged to open up safe passages to channel humanitarian aid, especially in Libyas besieged second city of Benghazi.The alliance, which did not take part in the first round of the Geneva talks, called on the international community to step up efforts to prevent foreign fighters from flooding into Libya.The announcement came just hours after the United Nations announced that the warring factions had agreed on a roadmap to form a unity government following two days of peace talks in Geneva.Libya has been wracked by conflict since the overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a 2011 uprising, with rival governments and powerful militias battling for control of key cities and the countrys vast oil riches.The UN special envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, had warned at the start of the Geneva talks that they were a last-ditch effort to prevent all-out chaos. The participants agreed after extensive deliberation on an agenda that includes reaching a political agreement to form a consensual national unity government and the necessary security arrangements to end the fighting, a UN statement said.They called on all the players to cease hostilities and expressed their unequivocal commitment to a united and democratic Libya governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights.They agreed to work towards the release of abducted people, providing and allowing humanitarian aid to reach affected regions, opening airports and securing land and maritime navigation.The delegates will return to Geneva for a fresh round of talks next week after consultations.The internationally-recognised government and elected parliament decamped last summer to the countrys far east after Fajr Libya seized the capital Tripoli and set up its own administration. The militia alliance also holds the third city, Misrata, and it launched a bloody offensive in December to seize control of key oil terminals but was repelled by the army.The broad agreement cobbled in Geneva also saw the factions pledge to work towards ensuring the free movement of people across the divided nation.They vowed to respect the legitimacy of state institutions, work towards the peaceful transfer of power and reject violence and terrorism.The agreement came after months of UN efforts to get the opposing sides back to the negotiating table after a single round of talks in September.A major concern in Libya is the proliferation of Islamist militias in key areas such as Benghazi.Those militias are led by the Ansar al-Sharia group, blacklisted by the United Nations for its links to Al-Qaeda.Leon had also underscored the threat of Libya becoming a hotbed of Islamist insurgency, saying it menaced North Africa, the Middle East, the Sahel and Europe, which lies on Libyas doorstep.

PM approves 'Accountability' as subject in school curriculums

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PESHAWAR (Daily Dunya) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday approved inclusion of ‘Accountability’ as subject in school curriculums so that awareness about corruption can be created among school children.The directions in this regard have been issued to higher education commissioners in provinces and education ministry.The reported purpose of inclusion of this course is to ‘save’ students from corruption by creating awareness.Urdu version of this story appeared in Daily Dunya on January 17, 2015

Terrorists can target Sheikh Rasheed and PTI rallies: Intelligence agencies

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ISLAMABAD (Daily Dunya) – The intelligence agencies on Friday issued a threat alert, informing the Interior Ministry that terrorists can potentially target Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) anti-government rallies and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed.According to reports, the correspondence that the Interior Ministry has received detailed how terrorists can target the rallies of PTI, especially in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal.The correspondence further alerted that Sheikh Rasheed could also be targetedUrdu version of this story appeared in Daily Dunya on January 17, 2015

Tennis: Shaky Serena still Australian Open favourite

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Serena Williams remains the red-hot favourite for the Australian Open, despite some patchy form in the lead up to her campaign for a 19th career Grand Slam.Arch-rival Maria Sharapova is again expected to be the Americans main challenger, with injuries marring the preparation of other leading hopefuls including Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka.Melbourne Park has been a happy hunting ground for Williams, who claimed five of her 18 career majors at the venue -- the first way back in 2003.But the 33-year-olds most recent success Down Under was in 2010 and her erratic form in this months Hopman Cup raised fears she faces a failure similar to last year, when she crashed out in the fourth round.Always supremely confident, Williams, who will meet Belgian Alison van Uytvanck in the first round, blamed her early season troubles on fatigue and declared she can play two thousand times better.I feel like Im getting back into the groove... Im getting there, she said.Williams held on to the top ranking for the entire 2014 season, ending the year with a flourish to take the US Open and the WTA Tour Championship.Another Australian title would take her to clear second on the all-time Grand Slam winners list behind Steffi Grafs 22, having joined Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 with her win at Flushing Meadows.Williams form is reflected by the bookmakers, who have her at $3.50 to snare the title, compared to Sharapova on $6.00, Halep $7.50, Wozniacki $11.00 and Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and Eugenie Bouchard (all $13.00).World number two Sharapova scoffed at suggestions Williams was past her best.You cant say someone is on the edge of the cliff when they are number one in the world, the Russian said. She still came through and finished the season strong.Even though shes 33 years old shes still very strong and very powerful and has so much experience -- that shows when she plays on court.Sharapova, a winner at Melbourne Park in 2008, finally shrugged of a nagging shoulder injury last year to claim her fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open.There are no questions about the world number twos form after she posted a sensational come-from-behind win over Ana Ivanovic in the Brisbane International warm-up event, shaking off the cobwebs before the Australian Open.I couldnt have asked for better preparation, said the 27-year-old, who could snatch the top ranking off Williams with a second championship this month.Last years champion Li Na of China will not defend her title after retiring in September, while losing finalist Dominika Cibulkovas career has stalled since her appearance in the 2014 decider.Former world number one Azarenka is eyeing a comeback after winning back-to-back Australian titles in 2012 and 2013, only to slump to 41 in the world after a disastrous 2014 during which she struggled with depression and a string of injuries.For me, in my mind, I skipped the whole season, I was never healthy, I was never prepared, said the Belarusian, who faces a tough first-round clash against American Sloane Stephens, a semi-finalist two years ago.World number three Halep of Romania is considered the player most likely to join the Grand Slam club, but her Australian lead up has been derailed by a stomach bug picked up in China, leaving her short of match practice.Wozniacki has also struggled, with an injured wrist, while Serb Ivanovic looms as a dark horse after quietly rising to fifth in the rankings, citing a new-found maturity that has settled the nerves that once dogged her big-match appearances.It shows on and off the court that Im much more relaxed, Im much more content with myself, said the 26-year-old former world number one, who was a quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year.

Boxing: Ali out of hospital in time for 73rd birthday

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LOUISVILLE (AFP) - Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was released from hospital on Friday after receiving treatment for a severe urinary tract infection, a family spokesman said.Bob Gunnell of Louisville-based Boxcar PR said Ali was looking forward to celebrating his 73rd birthday on Saturday at home with family and friends.The Ali family greatly appreciates the outpouring of support and continued well wishes, Gunnell said in a statement.Alis hospital stay of several days this week was his second in the last month.The three-time former heavyweight world champ was released from hospital on January 7 after a two-week stay for what was then thought to be pneumonia. But doctors ultimately determined he had a urinary tract infection.Ali, an Olympic gold medalist, has suffered from Parkinsons disease for decades.In recent years, he has made fewer public appearances as Parkinsons has increasingly taken its toll.He was seen in September when he attended the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards in Louisville.He also attended his grandsons state championship football game in Las Vegas in December.Ali had a storied career as a professional boxer from 1960 to 1981.He dazzled the boxing world with slick moves in the ring and enamored the public with his wit and engaging personality.He beat George Foreman in one of the greatest fights of all time dubbed The Rumble in The Jungle, held in 1974 in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Ali also had a thrilling rivalry with heavyweight Joe Frazier that saw the two men slug it out in the ring and verbally spar out of it.Ali was rarely afraid to spark political controversy, and his heyday coincided with the US civil rights movement and the Vietnam War.He converted to Islam in 1964, changing his name from Cassius Clay. Ali refused to join the armed forces in 1967 on religious grounds.After his refusal he was convicted of draft dodging and banned from boxing for years. In 1971 the US Supreme Court overturned the conviction.It has been claimed that the punches to the head the boxing great took in the ring during his 21-year career contributed to his Parkinsons disease, although not all doctors agree.Ali has been paid dozens of tributes to his stature as a global icon, lighting the Olympic torch in 1996 and being named a UN messenger of peace in 1998.He received the highest US civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.

President Mamnoon urges French magazine to apologise over blasphemous caricatures

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ISLAMABAD (Daily Dunya) – President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain on Friday condemned the French magazine Charlie Hebdo for publishing blasphemous caricatures and urged it to apologise.He said freedom of expression does not mean to insult holy personalities of any faith to ‘mentally torture’ followers of that faith.Reacting on French magazine’s publishing of insulting caricatures, President Mamnoon said that limit of freedom of expression ends where it starts violating others’ freedom.He said Muslims respect all religions with open hearts and that their belief isn’t complete until they believe in all prophets and revealed books.Mamnoon said that Muslims can’t even think of insulting any religion’s leader, let alone any prophet, adding that he wants no one to be permitted to insult Prophet of Islam (PBUH).He said it is also the demand of globalisation that any act that hurts other people’s sentiments must be avoided.Urdu version of this story appeared in Daily Dunya on January 17, 2015

Snooker: Allen into Masters semi-finals

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LONDON (AFP) - Northern Irelands Mark Allen won through to the semi-finals of the Masters tournament with a 6-4 win over Englands Joe Perry at Londons Alexandra Palace on Friday.Allen managed just one break of more than 50 in a lacklustre match where Perry came from 3-1 down to level the match with breaks of 50 and 68.Perry squared the match again with a break of 67 before Allen won the final two frames.Allen will face either Scotlands Stephen Maguire or Englands Shaun Murphy in the last four.

Euro slides below $1.15 ahead of ECB meeting

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro fell Friday against the dollar on growing expectation that the European Central Bank will launch stimulus next week to jump-start the ailing eurozone economy.The euro fell below $1.15 for the first time since November 2003, before recovering to trade at $1.1566 around 2200 GMT. Late Thursday the shared European currency traded at $1.1623.Official European Union data reported Friday further fueled speculation that the ECB will announce a large asset-purchase program after its monetary policy meeting Thursday to counter the risk of deflation in the 19-nation currency bloc.Eurostat confirmed prior data showing that eurozone inflation fell into negative territory in December, with consumer prices down 0.2 percent. On a year-over-year basis, inflation was the weakest since September 2009, at 0.8 percent well below the ECBs target of close to 2.0 percent.Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management said in a market note that the question that everyone is now asking is whether the euro will turn into another big loser like oil and copper or a big winner that will save funds at the brink of collapse after the Swiss National Bank removed its cap on the francs rate with the euro.Smart investors wont wait that long for an answer because since June, the euro has fallen more than 15 percent against the US dollar with approximately half of those losses incurred over the past four weeks.The SNB scrapped its three-year bid to stop the franc from strengthening, allowing it to soar by 30 percent before it eased back to a 16 percent gain against the euro.On Friday, the euro was down a further 0.9 percent, at 0.9948, in late trade.With arguably the biggest bull in the euro market no longer supporting price, no wonder EUR-crosses have collapsed in the wake of the SNBs latest decision, said Christopher Vecchio of DailyFX.

Cairns enters not guilty plea

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LONDON (AFP) - Former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of perjury and to perverting the course of justice in a match-fixing libel action.Cairns faces the allegations in light of being awarded 90,000 pounds (118,000 euros, $136,000) in damages after he sued Lalit Modi, founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, over an accusation of match-fixing made on Twitter in January 2010.The 44-year-old appeared before the Old Bailey in London to enter a not guilty plea to a charge of perjury and to perverting the course of justice by inducing fellow former New Zealand player Lou Vincent to provide a false witness statement during a Skype internet call.Alongside him in the dock was barrister Andrew Fitch-Holland, who denied one count of perverting the course of justice.The pair stood side by side and spoke only to confirm their names and enter not guilty pleas to the charges as they were read out before the senior judge, Mr Justice Sweeney.The judge adjourned the case for a pre-trial hearing on a date to be fixed in July ahead of a four-week trial fixed to take place at Southwark Crown Court on October 5.Cairns and Fitch-Holland were granted continued unconditional bail.In 2007 and 2008, Cairns captained the Chandigarh Lions in three competitions in the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which flourished briefly before the ascendancy of the IPL.The allegation made by Modi related to the second and third of these competitions, between March and April 2008 and October and November that year.
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