Friday 20 November 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Karachi: 4 terrorists killed in encounter with Rangers

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, four terrorists were killed in exchange of fire in Khaiabad area near Northern bypass in Karachi on early Saturday morning, Dunya News reported.One Rangers official was also wounded in the encounter. A Rangers spokesperson informed media that the dead militants were involved in attacks on security forces.On the other hand, Karachi police during an operation in Lahore arrested two terrorists involved in the Safoora carnage. Both the arrested militants will be shifted to Karachi.Also Read: Three Rangers personnel martyred in terrorist attack in KarachiEarlier on Friday, suspected terrorists gunned down at least four Rangers personnel as they guarded a mosque in Karachi. The killers, on three motorcycles, opened fire on the paramilitary Rangers outside the Abu Hurairah mosque in Ittehad Town, a western suburb of the southern city.Officials suggested the attackers intended to target the mosque during Friday prayers.Perhaps the mosque and the affiliated madrassa (religious seminary) was the target of the terrorists, Rangers chief major general Bilal Akbar told media at the spot.But our people defied them and embraced martyrdom, he said.Also Read: Karachi: Six TTP terrorists shot dead in clash, two officers woundedThe Rangers as well as the police have been engaged in a three-year long anti-militant and crime operation in Karachi and come under attack by militants frequently.In March a suicide bomber riding on a motorcycle rammed into a Rangers patrol van, killing at four soldiers.Since January, 79 policemen have been gunned down in different parts of the city.

Tennis: Wawrinka eliminates Murray, books Federer showdown

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LONDON (AFP) - Stan Wawrinka booked a potentially feisty all-Swiss semi-final clash against Roger Federer after knocking Andy Murray out of the ATP Tour Finals with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory on Friday.Wawrinkas victory sealed second place behind group winner Rafael Nadal and the world number four will play six-time champion Federer in a rematch of last years stormy semi-final at the prestigious season-ending event at Londons O2 Arena.Federer won that meeting in three sets after saving four match points, but the game is mostly remembered for reports of a heated post-match row between the players which was allegedly sparked by Federers wife Mirka heckling Wawrinka and calling him a crybaby.Im excited to be back for the semi-finals. It was tough battle, Wawrinka said.I played a crazy match against Roger in the semi-finals last year. I will try and go and get some rest and be ready.Defending champion Novak Djokovic faces Nadal in the other semi-final earlier on Saturday.Nadal leads Djokovic 23-22 in their career head to head, while Federer has won 17 of his 20 meetings with Wawrinka.Wawrinkas progress to the last four for the third successive year denied Murray the chance to win the tournament for the first time and also left the British star uncertain if he will finish the year-end rankings in second place for the first time.He will be overhauled by Federer if the world number three wins the Tour Finals.But, having made it clear that his main priority for the rest of the season was helping Great Britain win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936, Murray is now free to concentrate on next weeks final against Belgium in Ghent. Wawrinka has enjoyed a remarkable late-career rise, winning two Grand Slam titles including this years French Open, and this was another masterful display from the 30-year-old.Forced to stave off two break points in the third game, Wawrinka weathered Murrays early storm and overpowered him with some ferocious groundstrokes to secure the first break in the eighth game.Murray responded by frustrating Wawrinka with some inspired defence before unleashing a blistering winner to break back when the Swiss served for the set.That defiant display from Murray prompted Wawrinka to fling his racquet in disgust, but the Swiss star would end the set with a happier expression as he recovered from 4-2 down to take the tie-break.Now it was Murrays turn to start showing his frustrations and his angst only increased when he carelessly dropped his serve in the first game of the second set.Wawrinka pressed home his advantage with another break for a 5-2 lead before faltering when Murray got one of the breaks back.That set the stage for a thrilling final game, with Wawrinka saving two break points before finally sealing the win.Earlier on Friday, Nadal battled to his third successive win at the Tour Finals, but his marathon 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4 victory over David Ferrer might prove a significant blow to his chances of defeating Djokovic.Despite having already booked his place in the last four, Nadal refused to conserve his energy in a meaningless match against his fellow Spaniard that came just 24 hours before his clash with world number one Djokovic.While Djokovic rested after completing his group campaign on Thursday, Nadal slugged it out with Ferrer in a draining baseline battle that lasted two hours and 37 minutes.It will take a remarkably quick recovery from Nadal if he is to end Djokovics bid for a record fourth successive Tour Finals title.Nadal is aiming to join Andre Agassi as the only men to win all four Grand Slam titles, a Olympic singles gold medal, the Davis Cup and the Tour Finals.Maybe I will be tired, but Im not worried about it, Nadal said.Lets see whats going to happen against Novak.

Tennis: Nadal wins Ferrer marathon ahead of Djokovic test

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LONDON (AFP) - Rafael Nadal battled to his third successive win at the ATP Tour Finals, but his marathon 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4 victory over David Ferrer might prove a significant blow to his chances of defeating Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.Despite having already booked his place in the last four, Nadal refused to conserve his energy in a meaningless match against his fellow Spaniard that came just 24 hours before his clash with world number one Djokovic.While defending champion Djokovic rested after completing his group campaign on Thursday, Nadal slugged it out with Ferrer in a draining baseline battle that lasted two hours and 37 minutes.The sight of Nadal pushing himself to the limits against Ferrer will have made for enjoyable viewing for Djokovic, who had promised to watch the match to get a glimpse of his semi-final opponents form.It will take a remarkably quick recovery from Nadal if he is to end Djokovics bid for a record fourth successive title at the prestigious season-ending event at Londons O2 Arena.Nadal certainly has plenty of motivation to drag one last effort from his aching limbs as he attempts to end the worst year of his career on a high.Andre Agassi is the only man ever to have won all four Grand Slam titles, a Olympic singles gold medal, the Davis Cup and the Tour Finals, but he would have Nadal for company if the 29-year-old lifts the trophy on Sunday.Nadal had routed French Open champion Stan Wawrinka and world number two Andy Murray in his first two Tour Finals matches -- the first time he had beaten two top four opponents in the same tournament since 2013 -- while Ferrer had already been eliminated after losing his first two matches.Ferrers dismal career record of 23 defeats from 29 meetings with Nadal suggested more misery was in store for the 33-year-old when the former world number one raced into a 3-0 lead before most of the crowd had even settled into their seats.As quickly as he seized the initiative, Nadal let it slip from his grasp as Ferrer broke twice to win four games in a row.Nadal still had a chance to serve for the set after breaking for a 6-5 lead, but he couldnt finish the job and Ferrer eventually won it in a tie-break.Nadals response to dropping a set for the first time in this years tournament was to breeze through the second to level the match.Unable to convert five break points in a 14-minute marathon first game of the final set, Nadal found himself dragged into another prolonged struggle with the tenacious Ferrer.But there was still no sign of Nadal saving his body for the Djokovic match and his perseverance was rewarded when he broke at 4-4 to set up the win.

Golf: McIlroy, Sullivan on track in Dubai

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DUBAI (AFP) - Rory McIlroy remained on course to be crowned European number one for the third time in four years on Friday as Andy Sullivan held the halfway lead at the $8 million DP World Tour Championship.At the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, 28-year-old Sullivan scored his second successive round of six-under par 68 to lead by one shot at 12-under par 132, ahead of 23-year-old Argentinian Emiliano Grillo who surged to second place at 11-under par 133 courtesy of a tournament-best eight-under par 64.American Patrick Reed made five birdies in his last six holes for a storming finish that propelled him to third place at nine-under par 135.In the battle for the Race to Dubai, number one McIlroy opened up a slight advantage over the second placed Danny Willett after another round of four-under par 68 to move to joint fourth place at eight-under par 136, while his English rival could only add a 70 to fall two shots behind.Northern Irelands McIlroy was joined at 136 by the in-form Thai Thongchai Jaidee (67) and 2012 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (65) of South Africa.World number five Justin Rose, who is third in the Race to Dubai, moved up to seven-under par with a 67, the same as South African Branden Grace (69), who is sixth in the standings and also in with a chance to become the European number one player.Sullivan, who won the Portugal Masters last month to add to his two wins earlier in the year at Johannesburg, was being followed by an enthusiastic group of nearly 30 people from his hometown of Nuneaton, and he gave them plenty to cheer.He started by hitting his second shot to less than a foot on the first hole, and closed with a birdie putt from almost 40 feet on the 18th. In between, he made two more monster putts on the 12th and 14th holes, and also was impressive with his iron play in the bogey-free round.Sullivan said the support from his relatives and friends was key.Its massive and probably a key part of me playing well this week because they just keep going, he added. Even when you start hitting a few wayward shots, things start going, the adrenaline gets going and absolutely fantastic.Theres a lot of good guys going to be chasing me over the weekend and Im sure they are going to come at me, so for me, its just try and do what I did today, be patient and try to play my game and not worry about anyone else.Grillo, who won the Web.com Tour Championship to earn his PGA Tour card last month, before winning the Frys.com Open in his first start on the new season of the PGA Tour, was also bogey-free.Definitely a nice round, he said. I played here last year and didnt feel comfortable on the golf course, but I dont know, something changed this year. Hitting the ball very nicely. Very pleased the way I played and hopefully I can keep it going for the next few days.McIlroy, who made five birdies in his 68, said he wasnt thinking about the Race to Dubai.Im treating it like a normal event because Im just here to win and I know if I win, then everything else will take care of itself, he said. Just trying to focus on my own game and focus on myself and if I can do that, hopefully things work out the right way.Henrik Stenson, champion the last two years, had a remarkable turn around after he had ballooned to nine-over par after six holes Friday. After going five-over in his last four holes Thursday, the Swede world number six made a bogey on the first, a double on the third and a bogey on the fifth. But he then made six birdies over the next seven holes and finished with a 69 to be at two-over par 146.

Golf: Ko's late stumbles leave Jang atop Tour Championship

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NAPLES (AFP) - World number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand stumbled late to leave South Koreas Jang Ha-Na atop the leaderboard after Fridays second round of the LPGA Tour Championship.The 18-year-old Kiwi star, coming off her first major title earlier this year in France, is battling South Koreas second-ranked Park In-Bee for a host of awards in this season-ending showdown, including Player of the Year honors as well as season money and point crowns and the top ranking.Jang, a 23-year-old rookie seeking her first LPGA title after three runner-up efforts this year, fired a seven-under par 65 to finish 36 holes on 10-under 134 with Ko next on 136 after a 67. Jang birdied four of the first six holes and two of the first three on the back nine.Ko had six birdies in her first 11 holes and level with Jang until her setback at 15. Both players made bogeys at the par-3 16th as well then each birdied 17 and 18 to keep Jang ahead by two.Americans Cristie Kerr and Jennifer Song shared third on 137 after each firing 69. Another stroke back were Frances Karine Icher and Americans Brittany Lincicome and Gerina Piller.Japans Ai Miyazato, Scotlands Catriona Matthew, South Korean Kim Sei-Young and Americans Lexi Thompson and Austin Ernset shared eighth on 139.Park, coming off a win last week in Mexico, fired a 69 with six birdies and three bogeys -- the last on 18 -- to share 13th on 140.Park, who won this years Womens British Open and Womens PGA Championship, must finish at least 12th to have a chance of dethroning Ko as number one, but would need to win to do it if the teen remains among the front runners.

Badminton: Lee ousts rival Chen in Hong Kong quarter-final

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HONG KONG (AFP) - Badminton great Lee Chong Wei beat world number one Chen Long for the second time in a row to secure his place in the final four of the Hong Kong Open on Friday.The quarter-final meet between the long-standing rivals was something of a grudge match after Lee downed the Chinese player to take the title at the China Open last week.The former world number one will now face giant-slayer Angus Ng in the semi-finals. The young Hong Konger stunned the home crowd when he beat badminton legend Lin Dan in the second round, and took down Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan in the quarter-finals for a place in the final four.Chen -- who has won seven titles this year -- had the upper hand in the first set.But a late surge by Lee at the end of the second set took the marathon match into a third that went the Malaysians way after 85 minutes 13-21, 21-19, 21-15.Lee is on a winning streak after taking back-to-back titles in China and France as he made a strong return following an eight-month doping ban earlier this year, but he admitted the pressure would be on him as he stepped on court Saturday to face Ng.It is always nothing to loose and I always want to beat the opponent. I think tomorrow the pressure is on my side but I just enjoy the semi-final, Lee said.Overnight hometown hero Ng took three sets to beat Chou 21-17, 15-21, 21-15 and to make it to his first ever semi-final at a Super Series tournament.Unseeded Indonesian teenager Ginting Anthony downed fellow qualifier Kazumasa Sakai of Japan for a place in the final four.He will meet Chinas Tian Houwei who overcame compatriot Wang Zhengming. Wang managed the first upset of the tournament when he dismissed Danish world number two Jan O Jorgensen in the opening round.On the womens side, world champion Carolina Marin brushed off Thailands Porntip Buranaprasertsuk to book her place in the semi-finals.The Spanish player had her sights firmly set on her sixth big title of the year as she dismissed the Thai 21-12, 21-13 in 42 minutes, despite some impressive lunges for the shuttlecock by Porntip.Marin has had a strong year, winning the world title in August and shooting up the rankings to number one after starting the year ranked eighth.I am very happy with my performance because last week I lost against Wang Shixian, it wasnt a good game for me, said Marin, referring to the Chinese world number six.But I changed my (mindset) because I want to get the title here.Marin will play former world number one Wang Yihan of China in the final four, while Thailands Ratchanok Intanon -- who was the youngest ever world champion when she took the title in 2013 -- faces Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

PPP senior leader Makhdoom Ameen Fahim dies in Karachi

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Makhdoom Amin Faheem passed away in Karachi on Saturday early morning after a long illness. He was suffering from blood cancer, reported Dunya News.According to the details, Makhdoom Ameen Fahim had been abroad for the last several months for cancer treatment and had recently returned back to Pakistan. After his return to Karachi, he was admitted to a private hospital where he was under treatment for last few weeks.Makhdoom was senior vice chairman of the PPP and member of the National Assembly from Hala (NA-218). He was the spiritual head of the Sarwari Jamaat. He was born in Hala city of Sindh on 4th August, 1939. He passed his matriculation exam in 1957 while graduated from Sindh University in 1961. He participated in general election of 1970 on PPP ticket and got elected as member of National Assembly from Thatha. He won all the elections of 1977, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2013, which is a record.Also read:Ailing Amin Faheem reaches KarachiAiling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim accompanied by his son Jamil-uz-Zaman reached Karachi from Dubai on early Monday morning.Amin Fahim was in Dubai for cancer treatment. He was brought to Karachi in a special air ambulance on his wish to spend a few days with his family and friends in Pakistan.Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Waqar Mehdi, and Amin Fahim’s son Rafiq-uz-Zaman were present at the airport to welcome him.Makhdoom Amin Fahim was shifted to a private hospital in Karachi. He will stay there for a few days after which he is scheduled to fly to England for further treatment.

Oil prices dip as US crude stockpiles increase

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NEW YORK (Agencies) - Oil prices dipped Friday in a market burdened by a persistent oversupply of crude.At about 1300 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in December was trading down 37 cents at $40.17 a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for January delivery dipped two cents to $44.16 compared with Thursdays close.WTI briefly fell below $40 in US trade Thursday before recovering to close above that level.WTI once again came under pressure, dipping below key $40 before recovering slightly, as US crude stockpiles continued to increase, keeping inventories over 100 million barrels above the five-year average, said Bernard Aw, a strategist at traders IG Markets.He said the market would be watching if oil prices at near $40 will boost oil demand as expected by some crude producing nations.Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have so far resisted pressure to slash lofty output levels to ease the oversupply and prevent a further slide in oil prices.Key OPEC members led by Saudi Arabia prefer to maintain market share by keeping output high amid competition from non-OPEC producers like the United States.A stronger dollar, bolstered by expectations of a raise in US interest rates next month, is also helping push oil prices lower.The commodity is traded in the US currency so a strong dollar typically dampens demand and prices by making oil more expensive to holders of weaker units.

Draghi talk sends euro lower

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro ceded ground back to the dollar Friday after a one-day burst of energy, with European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi pledging action again to boost eurozone inflation.Draghi said Friday that the bank will do what we must to lift inflation as quickly as possible, in a new sign it could boost its anti-deflation defenses.He warned that inflation was stubbornly way below the target of 2 percent even though the bank has deployed a 1.1 trillion euros ($1.2 trillion) scheme to help lift consumer prices.That sent the euro back down to $1.0641 after spending one day above the $1.07 line.With the Paris attacks and todays comments from Draghi, more stimulus next month is certain, said Kathy Lien of BK Asset management.Draghi confirmed that the downside risks have increased in recent months and said the central bank cannot be relaxed about low core inflation.

At least 36 dead in bombing raids in eastern Syria: monitor

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BEIRUT (AFP) - At least 36 people were killed Friday in air strikes by Russian and Syrian jets on Islamic State-controlled Deir Ezzor province, a monitor said, describing them as the heaviest in the region since the start of the war.At least 36 people were killed and dozens more injured in more than 70 raids carried out by Russian and Syrian planes against several districts in Deir Ezzor, Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group told AFP.He described the raids, which targeted several large cities and smaller towns in the province and three oil fields, as the worst bombardment of the region since the start of the uprising in 2011.The province and most of the provincial capital is held by Islamic State militants, with the exception of the military airport and a few areas controlled by the regime.The US-led coalition fighting IS said Monday it had destroyed 116 fuel trucks used by the jihadists in eastern Syria, in one of the largest raids in weeks.IS reportedly makes millions of dollars in revenue from oil fields under its control, and the coalition has regularly targeted oil infrastructure held by the group.An investigation by British newspaper The Financial Times last month estimated the jihadists reap some $1.5 million a day from oil, based on the price of $45 a barrel.Russia, which is also stepping up its own air campaign against IS, on Friday unleashed cruise missiles from warships in the Caspian Sea at targets across Syria for only the second time since it started bombings in September.Moscow fired 18 missiles from ships in its Caspian Sea fleet at seven targets in the Raqa, Idlib and Aleppo provinces, defence minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Putin to meet Ayatollah Khamenei during Iran visit Monday: Kremlin

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a visit to Tehran Monday, the Kremlin said, as Moscow goes on a diplomatic push over the Syria conflict. Talks with Irans leadership will focus on issues in bilateral relations, including atomic energy, oil and gas and military-technical cooperation, Putins top foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said Friday, with the Russian president also set to meet his counterpart Hassan Rouhani. After the visit to Tehran -- Putins first there since 2007 -- the Russian leader will host Jordanian King Abdullah II on Tuesday and French leader Francois Hollande on Thursday in Russia.Russia and Iran are both militarily backing forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Moscow flying a bombing campaign and Iran believed to command thousands of troops on the ground.Putin has stepped up his push for a broader coalition of countries to fight Islamic State jihadists in Syria after confirming this week the bombing of a Russian passenger jet over Egypt and following last weeks bloody attacks in Paris. The Kremlin strongman is also looking to strengthen business ties with Iran as Russian firms eye lucrative opportunities after the landmark nuclear deal that Tehran struck with world powers in July. French leader Hollande -- whose country is part of a separate US-led coalition bombing IS -- has also called for international powers to join forces to battle the jihadists in the wake of the Paris attacks.But divisions remain over what if any role Assad would play in the fight against IS, with Moscow and Tehran seeing his forces as central to defeating IS while the US and its allies want him gone. Ahead of the visit to Moscow the French president will visit Washington. We see this as a continuation of attempts to form the widest possible anti-terror coalition, Ushakov told journalists.The Kremlin also confirmed that Putin will take part in a key climate conference in Paris on November 30 and will meet Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on the sidelines of the event. Despite earlier reports in the Russian press that Putin could host the Saudi Arabias King Salman in Russia for a meeting soon, Ushakov said that the two sides were eyeing a possible date next year after the leaders spoke at the G20 summit in Turkey.

Spy Pollard released after 30 years in US jail

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BUTNER (AFP) - Jonathan Pollard, a Jewish American spy who passed US secrets to Israel, was freed Friday after nearly 30 years in jail -- ending a punishment deemed disproportionate by the Jewish state, where some see Pollard as a national hero.But within hours of Pollards release from a federal prison in North Carolina, his lawyers announced a legal challenge to the conditions of his five-year probationary period, calling it vindictive and cruel. The Texas-born Pollard was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995, and his family has said he wants to settle in Israel. His whereabouts Friday were not known.A US Navy intelligence analyst when he was caught passing sensitive security documents to Israel, Pollard is seen by some Israelis as a national hero. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed his release.After three long and difficult decades, Jonathan is at last reunited with his family, Netanyahu said.The Pollard case has been a major bone of contention between Israel and the United States, with successive US presidents starting with Ronald Reagan refusing Israeli demands for Pollards release.Two New York-based lawyers for the 61-year-old Pollard, Jacques Semmelman and Eliot Lauer, vowed to contest the conditions of his probation as unreasonable and unlawful.They specifically argued against a requirement for GPS monitoring of his person and monitoring of his computer use at home and work, which they called career-impairing. He is also subject to curfew and travel restrictions.His lawyers have indicated that he has been promised a job and a place to live in the New York area.The lawyers said Pollard had been a model prisoner and that there was no reason to fear he might commit acts of violence or reveal further US intelligence that by now, in any case, would be so outdated as to be meaningless.But President Obamas deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said that the president does not have any plans to alter the terms of his parole.Pollards release came almost exactly 30 years after his arrest on November 21, 1985. A US court jailed Pollard for life in 1987 after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government.Over the years Israeli right-wing activists have sought to turn Pollard into an icon, a fierce defender of Israeli security, even when it meant spying on Israels closest ally.In the United States, however, Pentagon and CIA officials are still reeling with anger from the classified defense documents that Pollard leaked.In a sign of the cases sensitivity, Netanyahu had asked his ministers to refrain from claiming victory upon Pollards release, local media reported.The release allows Pollard, who became very religious behind bars, to observe the Jewish Sabbath starting at sundown Friday. While in prison, he married Esther Zeitz, a Canadian Jew who campaigned for his release.As a Navy analyst with an advanced security clearance, Pollard had access to top secret information.Pollard made contact in June 1984 with an Israeli colonel, Aviem Sella, who was studying in New York, and offered to provide him with classified information. He soon began supplying a stream of intelligence, reportedly thousands of documents. Pollard is also alleged to have passed classified information to South Africa, and to have given his then wife Anne documents on China for use in her personal business.Washington accused Pollard of seriously damaging US interests during the Cold War. He claimed only to have passed information vital to Israels security that the Americans had withheld, but security experts feared sensitive information might have reached Soviet hands. He told investigators he was asked to obtain US information on Arab nuclear programs and Arab exotic weaponry, a since declassified CIA document said.Israels October 1985 raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organisations Tunis headquarters that killed some 60 people was planned with information from Pollard, according to CIA documents declassified in 2012.His work also contributed to the Israeli assassination of the PLOs second-in-command, Khalil al-Wazir, or Abu Jihad, in 1988.There is speculation that the July announcement of Pollards release, just days after the West and Iran struck a nuclear deal, was meant as a conciliatory gesture towards Israel, which vehemently opposes the accord.Some, however, argue otherwise.The parole after 30 years was expected by many, even without the Iran deal. It may help the strained US-Israeli relations after the Iran deal, but I think this was not the decisive cause for the release, Michael Brenner, director of the Center for Israel Studies at American University, told AFP.

UN unanimously approves 'all necessary measures' to fight IS

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Friday authorized countries to take all necessary measures to fight the Islamic State group in a resolution that won unanimous backing a week after the Paris attacks.The French-drafted measure calls on all UN member states to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist attacks committed by IS and other extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda.French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius welcomed the adoption and said in a statement that the resolution showed the worlds resolve to confront IS jihadists.It is now important for all countries to commit themselves in a concrete manner to this fight, either through military action, the search for political solutions or the battle against terrorist financing, said Fabius.The resolution does not provide any legal basis for military action and does not invoke chapter seven of the UN charter that authorizes the use of force.But French diplomats maintain that it will provide important international political support to the anti-IS campaign that has been ramped up since the attacks in Paris a week ago.The resolution calls on member states that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law... on the territory under the control of ISIL, also known as Daesh, in Syria and Iraq.- Global threat -Describing IS as a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security, the resolution calls for sanctions and urges countries to step up efforts to cut off the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria.The 28-year-old ringleader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian of Moroccan origin, is believed to have traveled to Syria to join IS and be trained as an operative in Europe.The resolution unequivocally condemns in the strongest terms the horrifying terrorist attacks in Paris and in Beirut, and also mentions violence in Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt this year.France put forward the resolution to the 15-member council on Thursday and sought quick approval to buttress international resolve to defeat the jihadists from their bases of operation in Syria and Iraq.The vote came exactly a week after coordinated attacks claimed by IS targeted a packed concert hall, football stadium, bars and restaurants in Paris, killing 130 people and wounded hundreds.Two weeks earlier, a Russian airliner was downed by a bomb, killing all 224 people on board, in a separate attack that IS claims was carried out using explosives packed in a can of Schweppes soft drink.Terrorism fears were running high on Friday following an attack on a luxury hotel in Mali, but there was no confirmation of a link to IS jihadists in that rampage.France has been pounding IS targets in Syria since September, invoking the right to self-defense contained in article 51 of the UN charter, but Russia began air strikes after receiving a request from Damascus for assistance.

Mainly dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during weekend

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Mainly dry weather is expected in most parts of the country during the weekend. According to Synoptic Situation, continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country, reported Dunya News.According to the Meteorology department, cold and partly cloudy weather is likely in the most hilly areas including earthquake affected areas of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.Read More:Rain, snowfall in quake-hit areas cause troubles for victimsIntermittent rain and snowfall in most parts of the country on Friday have welcomed the winter season however, the Lowari Top is still closed for every kind of traffic.The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) office has predicted drizzling in Peshawar and Mardan while scattered rain-thunderstorm with snowfall over hills is also expected in next 24 hours.Meanwhile, the victims of October 26 earthquake and its subsequent aftershocks, who have been living out in the open, are facing additional problems due to rain and snowfall in upper parts of Pakistan as heavy downpour and snowstorm are still underway in Gilgit Chilas and Diamir.Also Read: Rain, snowfall add to woes of earthquake victimsThe administration has failed to reopen the Lowari Top that was closed for traffic yesterday.On the other hand, several connecting roads in Skardu and Ghanche have been shut down to avoid any mishap. PMD office has further forecasted snowfall in Kashmir that may affect the rescue operation badly.Separately, dark clouds have surrounded the plain areas including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad with light fog.Also Read: Rain, snowfall turn weather chilly in upper parts of PakistanSpokesman of PMD-Office informed that a westerly wave has entered Pakistan on Sunday evening. Under the influence of this weather system rain/thunderstorm is expected at scattered places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir and at isolated places of Zhob, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sargodha divisions and Islamabad.

NASA calls on SpaceX to send astronauts to ISS

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MIAMI (AFP) - SpaceX received orders Friday from the US space agency to send astronauts to the International Space Station in the coming years, helping restore US access to space, NASA said.The announcement was a formal step in a process that began earlier this year when Boeing was given the nod by NASA to send crew to the orbiting outpost by late 2017.Both Boeing and SpaceX have received billions in seed money from NASA to restore American access to the ISS, after the US space shuttle program was retired in 2011.The announcement of $4.2 billion for Boeing and $2.6 billion for SpaceX was made in September 2014.Boeing announced in January that it would be the first, sending a piloted mission aboard its CST-100 Starliner capsule by late 2017.However, in Fridays announcement, NASA said that determination of which company will fly its mission to the station first will be made at a later time. SpaceX is already flying cargo missions to the ISS, and is working on a crew version of its Dragon capsule to carry astronauts.The announcement marked the second in a series of four guaranteed orders NASA will make under the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contracts, the US space agency said.The Boeing Company of Houston received its first crew mission order in May.Kathy Lueders, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said it is important to have at least two healthy and robust capabilities from US companies to deliver crew and critical scientific experiments from American soil to the space station throughout its lifespan.The ISS is expected to remain operational until 2024.Since the shuttle program ended in 2011, the worlds astronauts have relied on Russias Soyuz capsules for transport at a pice of some $70 million per seat.The authority to proceed with Dragons first operational crew mission is a significant milestone in the Commercial Crew Program and a great source of pride for the entire SpaceX team, said Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating office of SpaceX. When Crew Dragon takes NASA astronauts to the space station in 2017, they will be riding in one of the safest, most reliable spacecraft ever flown. Were honored to be developing this capability for NASA and our country.
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