Thursday 3 December 2015

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Dunya TV

Oil prices up as divided OPEC meets

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - Oil prices rose in Asia Friday as traders hedged their bets ahead of a meeting of the OPEC cartel whose members are divided on whether to slash production in an oversupplied global market.Analysts said however that the rise was likely to be short-lived as the Organization of the Petroleum Countries is expected to maintain current high output levels favoured by influential members Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in January was up 18 cents at $41.26 and Brent crude for January was trading 15 cents higher at $43.99 at around 0200 GMT.Both contracts had gained since a sharp fall on Wednesday that saw WTI close below $40 for the first time since late August.While oil advanced for the second day ahead of the OPEC meeting, there is really nothing much to cheer about, said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in Singapore.At an informal meeting attended by OPEC members on Thursday, Saudi Arabia is adamant that any output cuts by the group needs to be accompanied by non-OPEC producers such as Russia, he said.So the bounce in crude futures is likely to be tentative. Moreover, the WTI is still defended aggressively at the $40 mark, after closing down 4.6 percent lower on Wednesday at $39.94.Iraqs oil minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi told reporters in Vienna that nothing had been decided yet during the informal gathering ahead of Fridays meeting.OPEC, whose 12 member nations come from the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, pumps out about one third of the worlds oil.According to a survey by Bloomberg, OPEC production in November rose to 32.1 million barrels per day -- more than 2.0 million above its target.OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and other Gulf state members are defying calls to cut output despite tumbling prices in a bid to preserve market share and fend off competition from North American shale oil.Poorer OPEC members such as Venezuela and Ecuador, whose economies have been hit by the plunge in prices, are demanding a cut to the cartels overall ceiling.

Football: More FIFA officials arrested as scandal widens

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ZURICH (AFP) - The unprecedented corruption scandal engulfing FIFA widened Thursday with the arrests of two more top officials in another dramatic dawn raid at a luxury hotel in Zurich. Swiss authorities again acted on a request from the US justice department, a repeat of the sweeping arrests in May that set off the scandal which has shaken world footballs governing body to its core. The Swiss justice ministry (FOJ), said the two officials targeted were South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Juan Angel Napout, and Alfredo Hawit, head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).Hawit, a Honduran national, and Napout of Paraguay are both opposing extradition to the United States, the FOJ said. Both are suspected of taking millions of dollars in bribes in return for selling marketing rights for major regional tournaments in Latin America and World Cup qualifying matches, the Swiss Justice ministry said in a statement.The arrests were carried out at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, a favourite of FIFAs officials, and the same spot where seven top football executives were arrested in May on suspicion of involvement in tens of millions of dollars of corruption dating back decades. The New York Times, which broke the news of the fresh arrests, said Swiss authorities descended on the hotel at around 6:00 am (0500 GMT).The arrests were the latest in a series of actions targeting FIFAs senior leadership. The bodys long-time president Sepp Blatter, the subject of criminal investigation in Switzerland, has been suspended for 90-days and is facing tougher punishment by FIFAs internal ethics watchdog.The man who had been tipped to succeed him at a special election in February, European football chief Michel Platini, has also been suspended and could be hit with a lifetime ban from football by the end of the month. As the latest suspects were taken into custody, FIFAs remaining leadership met for a second day of crucial meetings and approved a reform package aimed at repairing world footballs tainted global image.The package of reforms, which included 12-year term limits in future for FIFA President, will now go before the FIFA congress to be held on February 26 for final approval. In a statement, FIFA also said it was aware of the actions taken today by the US Department of Justice. It vowed to continue to cooperate fully with the US investigation as permitted by Swiss law as well as with the investigation being led by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General. The Times cited several law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity as saying that the US Justice Department would unseal indictments in the case later on Thursday.The Swiss Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), as the ministry is known, said it had ordered Zurich police to detain the two individuals based on arrest requests submitted by the United States Department of Justice on 29 November 2015.The US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York, suspects the two of accepting bribes of millions of dollars, the FOJ statement said. Some of the offences were agreed and prepared in the USA. Payments were also processed via US banks, the FOJ further said.The FOJ said it would wait for formal transfer requests from the US for both Hawit and Napout before moving forward with a the extradition process. The arrests, and the meeting on reforms, come on the fifth anniversary of the 2010 vote that controversially awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.That decision set off a cascade of allegations of corruption and skullduggery.Before his suspension, Blatter appointed prominent sporting official Francois Carrard to come up with a set of changes aimed at overhauling FIFAs management structure.In October, Carrards reform panel proposed limiting president terms at 12 years and barring those over 74 from serving on the executive. It also suggested the pay package of top officials be published annually and independently audited.Meanwhile, a FIFA source who requested anonymity said the executive committee had been considering expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 40 in 2026, seen as part of an effort to broaden inclusion.But executive committee member Wolfgan Niersbach said the body had failed to agree on the matter, putting the decision off until a later date.

Golf: Spieth aces, Casey grabs share of Challenge lead

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NEW PROVIDENCE (AFP) - World number one Jordan Spieth aced the par-3 second hole while Englands Paul Casey fired a six-under par 66 to share the lead after round one of the Hero World Challenge.Caseys bogey-free round put him alongside Americans Jimmy Walker and Zach Johnson atop the leaderboard at the 18-man event hosted by Tiger Woods.Defending champion Spieths shot of the day left him one stroke back on 67 alongside compatriots Bubba Watson, Bill Haas and Brooks Koepka and Australian Adam Scott.Spieth, the reigning US Open and Masters champion, used a 6-iron from 172 yards for his hole-in-one and followed with a bogey-free round that included birdies at the seventh and back-to-back at the 14th and par-5 15th.Casey, who suffered two playoff losses on the US PGA Tour this season, enjoyed his tour of the Albany resort, making birdies at the par-5 third, sixth and 15th holes. He also opened and closed the back nine with birdies and added another at 13 to secure his playoff among the leaders.Its the seventh appearance at the event for Casey, who shared third in 2010 and 2011, his most recent prior starts.Walker closed the front nine with a bogey to stand at level par but made six birdies on a bogey-free back side to seize his share of the lead.Johnson, the 2013 Challenge champion, birdied three of the four par-3s -- the fifth, eighth and 17th holes -- as well as the 10th, 11th, 15th and 16th.Scott birdied the par-3 second and eagled the par-5 third then answered a bogey at the fourth with a birdie on the par-5 sixth. On the back nine, he took a bogey at 13 but responded with back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15th and closed with another birdie to stay on the leaders heels.

Golf: 10-birdie Wi tears it up in Vietnam

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HANOI (AFP) - South Koreas Charlie Wi plundered 10 birdies on his way to nine-under 62 and the first-round lead at the inaugural, $1.5-million Ho Tram Open in Vietnam on Thursday.Wi made five birdies in a row on the front nine, and another five on his way back against just one bogey as he stole the limelight from Spanish star Sergio Garcia at Vietnams richest sport event.The South Korean leads by two from the Thai pair of teenager Danthai Boonma and the experienced Thaworn Wiratchant, who both went round par-71 The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip course in 64. Americas David Lipsky sits one back on 65, alongside Malaysias Nicholas Fung and Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan.A host of others are clustered on 66, including world number 12 Garcia who put himself well in the hunt for his first title of the year.Wi bagged birdie after birdie, managing the occasionally gusty conditions on day one of the inaugural tournament.The good thing about this course is the wind is always constant so after playing a few rounds here, the players will get a feel of the course, Wi said, according to an Asian Tour statement.Garcia, the biggest name in the field, plugged six birdies against one bogey in a solid start to the event.

Formula One: Renault complete takeover of Lotus

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PARIS (AFP) - Renault completed their takeover of the Lotus team on Thursday ahead of the French manufacturers return to Formula One in 2016, company boss Carlos Ghosn announced.Renault had two options: to come back at 100 percent or leave, said Renault chairman Ghosn .After a detailed study, I have decided that Renault will be in Formula 1, starting 2016, he added.The French firms return as a full team comes after the acrimonious split with Red Bull which garnered four drivers world titles in a row but ended after Renault had become angered by the Austrian teams criticism of their engines this year.In taking over Lotus, Renault are essentially buying back the team they had sold to Genii Capital in 2009 and which was renamed Lotus F1 Team for the 2012 season.Associated with the sport since 1977 Renault has two drivers and constructors titles to its name when Fernando Alonso won back to back championships in 2005-06.Ghosn, elaborating on his firms ambitions on their pitlane comeback, added: Our ambition is to win--even if it will take some time.A Renault statement added: Renault and Lotus F1 Team have known each other for 15 years and were world champions together in 2005 and 2006.It said the auto manufacturer had had uninterrupted involvement in Formula 1 for almost 40 years. In 1977, it revolutionised the championship with the introduction of turbocharging, a technique that soon became the norm in the sport, the statement read.Renault has since taken part in more than 600 grand prix, claiming 168 race wins, 12 Constructors titles and 11 Drivers crowns.Lotus have been in financial trouble all year as Genii Capital scaled back their investment in the team, resulting in unpaid bills and a cash-flow problem. They were locked out of their hospitality building over debts relating to last years race at Suzuka.It has been a dramatic fall from grace since the relatively successful 2012 and 2013 seasons in which they finished fourth in the constructors championship. They took only eighth in 2014 and after switching to Mercedes engines in 2015 finished sixth.The teams planned driver line-up for 2016 sees Briton Jolyon Palmer, son of former Formula One driver Jonathan Palmer, succeeding departing Frenchman Romain Grosjean alongside Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.

Snooker: Liang battles back to reach UK last eight

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LONDON (AFP) - Chinas Liang Wenbo staged another impressive fightback to reach the UK Championship quarter-finals with a 6-5 victory over Tom Ford on Thursday, keeping motivated by slapping himself in the face. The 28-year-old had come from 4-1 down to defeat Judd Trump in the previous round and this time he recovered from a 5-3 deficit to book his place in the last eight at The York Barbican.Liang slapped himself on the face in frustration at several crucial mistakes, but his frustration gave way to delight in the final frame when he celebrated with a roar and pump of the first.Playing to stay in the tournament in the 10th, Liang produced a timely 53 to seize the initiative only for the break to end with a poor blue to the middle that forced him to play a safety.The world number 29 struck his face and his anxiety grew as Ford raced to 27 until a black hugged the pocket instead of dropping, giving Liang an easy clearance to set up the decider.The quarter-finals beckoned as he amassed 49 before poor shot selection allowed Ford back in. The world number 52 spied his chance but missed a simple long pink and Liang made no mistake to clean up.Meanwhile, Australias Neil Robertson joined Liang in the last eight with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Scotlands Stephen Maguire.Maguire made a strong start when a break of 118 enable him to take the opening frame, only to then lose six in a row and exit the tournament.The world number 15 failed to score a point in the next three frames, with former world champion Robertson firing 126 in the second, and put up a bit more resistance in the fifth.Robertson was in full control, however, and completed the rout with a break of 113 in the decisive frame.

'GunTV' to sell firearms to US viewers

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Americans will soon be able to snap up the latest firearms from the comfort of their sofas with the launch in January of GunTV, a 24-hour shopping channel.It comes with gun violence in the United States under renewed scrutiny after Wednesdays shooting in California left 14 dead, the latest in a long line of mass shootings in the country.The new channel is being launched by an organization called Social Responsibility Network, which says it is addressing a need for education, information and safety regarding firearms commerce in America.The channel will also, it says, responsibly provide extraordinary access to purchasing the most diverse representation of firearms in the world.It will function like other home shopping channels, displaying merchandise which can be ordered by telephone or online.This 24-hour live shopping network brings to life a vast array of firearms and related consumer goods in a groundbreaking format that inextricably fuses the social responsibility message with the traditional shopping channel format, says a promotional Web page.The channel will be available to 34 million subscribers of satellite television. But instead of delivering guns directly to consumers, it will ship the items to a local firearms dealer.GunTV co-founder Valerie Castle told The Guardian newspaper that the channel would meet existing demand while offering more education and information.I dont really know that its going to put more guns on the streets, she was quoted as saying.Buyers will need to fill out forms and go through required background checks at licensed dealers before taking the firearms home.One of the dealers signing on with the channel is Sports South, described as one of the oldest and largest gun sellers in the United States.

Football: Wenger seeks solace after Arsenal's injury woes

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger will attempt to get Arsenals Premier League title challenge back on track against Sunderland on Saturday after enduring another week of criticism about the clubs injury record.Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla became the two latest names to be added to a lengthy injury list and will be missing when the rejuvenated Black Cats visit the Emirates Stadium.The pair were injured in last weekends draw at Norwich, a result that prevented Wengers side moving level on points with the top two Manchester City and Leicester.Sanchezs injury drew particular attention with the Gunners manager having admitted the forward had felt his hamstring in the week preceding the trip to Carrow Road and Wenger has yet to discover how long the Chile international will be out for.The length of Cazorlas absence after suffering a knee injury at Norwich is similarly unknown and with French midfielder Francis Coquelin having only recently been ruled out for three months with a knee problem, Wenger admits it has been a testing month.Yes (Im glad November is over) because in the last couple of weeks we lost Francis, Alexis and Santi - basically three players in two games, he said.That is of course too much, but hopefully we now have Theo (Walcott) not too far away, and (Laurent) Koscielny coming back too.Wenger, though, hopes adversity will bring the best out of his players.I believe first of all its always a disappointment to lose the players at an important moment of the season, he said.But on the other hand, its a great challenge to take for the team and a great opportunity to show that we are ready for a fight and we can deal with it.We prepared ourselves to go through periods like that and Im convinced the players are ready.We have gone through a little bit of a bad spell in recent games, but we are two points off the top.The great opportunity for us is that, despite that bad spell, we are very close.Thats why its important that we keep our confidence high and our determination high, and start winning again.Under threatLeft-back Kieran Gibbs has returned from a calf problem and could be joined in the squad by Koscielny and Walcott.However Jack Wilshere (broken leg), Danny Welbeck (knee), Mikel Arteta (calf) and Tomas Rosicky (knee) remain sidelined along with Cazorla and Sanchez.The trip south represents the start of a daunting December for Sunderland, whose recent improvement is under threat as they also face meetings with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.They must start their difficult month without former England striker Jermain Defoe, who suffered a hamstring injury as they beat Stoke last Saturday.Duncan Watmore, their exciting 21-year-old forward, replaced Defoe during the game and scored their second goal.He is not guaranteed to start against the Gunners because Fabio Borini is back to full fitness and in the reckoning.But manager Sam Allardyce has been impressed by Watmore.Its nice to see a young man burst on the scene and show excellent ability. Thats a massive bonus which I did not expect when I came here, he said.The victory over Stoke came after a win at Crystal Palace and Allardyce said: It was massively important to get those two wins going into this month, which is very difficult.They have given us the belief we can fight out way out of this problem that we have.Its the start and there is a long way to go, but the confidence gained from those wins gives us an opportunity to upset the big boys.Now we have a very difficult game at Arsenal, but well go with a plan.The plan is certain to involve a repeat of the 3-5-2 formation employed in their last three games, although the players involved will change.

Football: Maradona revisited as Napoli savour top spot

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MILAN (AFP) - Fond memories of Diego Maradonas enduring spell in Italys top flight have resurfaced as Napoli savour their place at the top of Serie A after 25 years ahead of Sundays trip to Bologna.The year was 1990 and Maradona, who had helped Napoli to their first league title three years earlier, was in his pomp as Napoli strode towards their second and last scudetto.Unbeknown to fans, it would be the last time Napoli sat top of the Italian league table for 25 years -- a wait that ended Monday when Gonzalo Higuain struck twice in a 2-1 win over 10-man title rivals Inter Milan.Napoli sit top with a lead of one point on Inter, two on Fiorentina, four on Roma and seven on resurgent champions Juventus. As most of their rivals may have noticed already, Napolis return has not been by chance.After some early wobbles, Maurizio Sarris men arguably boast the most potent attacking game in the league and, along with Inter (nine goals) have Serie As stingiest defence.The Azzurri sit firmly among the favourites to end Juventuss four-year reign, but 25 years after Maradonas Napoli reign was ended by a positive test for cocaine in the wake of the 1990 World Cup, Higuain remains modest.We deserve to be where we are but now we have to make the most of it, said Higuain after Mondays game, where he milked the applause of near hysterical fans at the San Paolo.But we have to get used to suffering: I dont know any teams that are successful and dont know how to suffer.Asked about Napolis title hopes, Higuain said: Dreaming isnt forbidden. But we will continue to take it game by game.Napolis return has added spice to an already intriguing battle for Serie A supremacy.Inter will go top on Saturday with a home win against Genoa, although Roberto Mancinis men will have taken note of the visitors renaissance following the recent appointment of former Parma handler Roberto Donadoni.Yet Mancini, who won seven titles including three consecutive league crowns in his former spell in charge (2004-2008), gave a firm indication of Inters ambitions this season earlier this week.Asked if his side, last crowned champions in 2010, would settle for second place, he told Corriere dello Sport: No. Its difficult for any athlete to settle for second.We can target the title because believing in yourself costs nothing and dreaming is the most beautiful thing you can do. Inter has a great history and tradition that enables us to be competitive right until the end.Fiorentinas title charge has slipped in the past fortnight with La Viola drawing their past two outings, at home to Empoli and away to Sassuolo, but Paulo Sousas men are only two points adrift ahead of the visit of Udinese.Sousa blamed his sides last draw on fatigue following Fiorentinas Europa League commitments and he would be forgiven for hoping Udinese, 3-1 winners over Atalanta in the Italian Cup fourth round on Wednesday, suffer the same fate on Sunday.Elsewhere, AC Milan will look to follow their 4-1 drubbing of Sampdoria with an similarly impressive score away to Carpi in Sundays late game.On-form striker MBaye Niang hit a brace for the Rossoneri and was on target again for Sinisa Mihajlovics side when they beat Serie B side Crotone 3-1 in extra-time in the Italian Cup.Winless Verona, meanwhile, welcome Empoli a week after dropping to rock bottom and days after appointing Luigi Del Neri as the replacement to sacked Andrea Mandorlini.Sundays 3-2 loss to Frosinone left Verona with a mere six points out of a possible total of 42.Champions Juventus travel to Lazio on Friday looking for a fifth consecutive win that could cost under-fire home coach Stefano Pioli his job.Fixtures (GMT)FridayLazio v Juventus (1845)SaturdayTorino v Roma (1300), Inter Milan v Genoa (1845)SundayBologna v Napoli (1030), Atalanta v Palermo, Fiorentina v Udinese, Frosinone v Chievo, Verona v Empoli (all 1300), Sampdoria v Sassuolo (1600), Carpi v AC Milan (1845)

Football: FIFA scandal deepens with 16 indicted for corruption

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The multi-million dollar corruption scandal engulfing FIFA widened Thursday with 16 people indicted by US justice officials who pledged an unremitting crackdown on an outrageous betrayal of trust.The latest dramatic twist in a long-running saga began with a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel where Swiss authorities arrested South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) president Juan Angel Napout, and Alfredo Hawit, head of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF).Hours later, the two appeared on a list released in Washington of 16 men -- all from the same two confederations -- indicted on charges of corruption.They included Ricardo Teixeira, the former head of the Brazilian Football Confederation and a former FIFA vice-president; Ariel Alvarado, a Panamanian who sits on FIFAs disciplinary committee; and Rafael Callejas, president of Honduras 1990-1994 and former head of the Honduran football federation.The message should be clear to every culpable individual who remains in the shadows, hoping to evade our investigation: You will not wait us out. You will not escape our focus, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said.Lynch also revealed that eight other people indicted since authorities launched an earlier wave of FIFA raids in Switzerland in May had now pleaded guilty.Among those were Jeffrey Webb, a former FIFA vice president and head of CONCACAF, who has admitted racketeering and money laundering.As part of his plea deal, he has agreed to forfeit more than $6.7 million in assets.Webb and banned former CONCACAF chief Jack Warner, who was indicted earlier, were also accused of siphoning off cash intended for disaster relief, according to the new indictment.Hawit, a Honduran national, and Napout of Paraguay are both opposing extradition to the United States, the Swiss justice ministry (FOJ) said.Both are suspected of taking millions of dollars in bribes in return for selling marketing rights for regional tournaments and World Cup qualifying matches, the FOJ said.Epicentre of graftHawits predecessor in charge of football in Honduras insisted that he had done nothing wrong.He assured and guaranteed that he was not involved in anything illicit, Callejas said.FIFAs remaining leadership approved a series of measures aimed at improving transparency and curbing the authority of the bodys much-maligned executive committee, which has emerged as an epicentre of graft.The measures include a 12-year term limit for FIFAs president and other senior leaders, public disclosure of compensation for top officials and a pledge to include more women in senior positions.They must be approved at a meeting of FIFAs 209-member associations in February, when a replacement will also be chosen for the organisations suspended president Sepp Blatter, who is the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation.The head of the reform effort, Francois Carrard, told journalists that the measures offered FIFA an opportunity to renew itself.Acting president Issa Hayatou, also implicated in previous corruption allegations, said Thursdays arrests underscore the need to establish a complete programme of reforms.Despite the pledges for change, outsiders, including major corporate sponsors, may remain sceptical of whether FIFA is capable of fixing itself.The arrests were carried out at the five-star Baur au Lac hotel, a favourite of FIFAs officials, and the same spot where seven football executives were arrested in May on charges of corruption dating back decades.Blatter has been suspended for 90-days and is facing tougher punishment by FIFAs ethics watchdog.Millions of dollarsThe man who had been tipped to succeed him, European football chief Michel Platini, has also been suspended over taking a $2 million payment and could be hit with a lifetime ban from football by the end of the month.Aside from term limits, a full restructuring of the executive committee was approved.Both Hawit and Napout sit on the executive committee, although their arrests may trigger swift suspensions by the ethics committee.The Swiss justice ministry said the two had been arrested following requests from the United States issued on November 29.Prosecutors in New York suspect the two of accepting bribes of millions of dollars, the FOJ statement said.The arrests, and the meeting on reforms, came on the fifth anniversary of the 2010 vote that controversially awarded the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.Before his suspension, Blatter tipped Carrard to lead a reform drive, after the Swiss lawyer had been widely praised for cleaning up a rotten International Olympic Committee more than a decade ago.Carrard told reporters that the panel had scrapped an idea for a 74-year age limit for senior officials, calling it arbitrary.But in a surprise move, his panel proposed expanding the World Cup from 32 teams to 40 in 2026 to broaden inclusion at the worlds premier sports event, although it was not immediately clear how that would aid anti-corruption efforts.The plan has not yet been approved by the executive committee and remains under review.Carrard and Hayatou faced tough questions as to whether FIFA insiders could be part of the effort to clean up their act.I am aware that the road will be difficult, Carrard said, but stressed that if you want to achieve reform it must also be carried out from within.

NAB joins hands with students to thwart corruption

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LAHORE (WebDesk) The National Accountability Bureau has decided to join hands with students in attempt to thwart corruption. More than 1 lac students will act as vanguard for the Bureau in the campaign for the eradication of corruption.The anti-corruption department has launched a Character Building Society Database Management System. A inaugural ceremony was held in this regard in University of Engineering and Technology (UET) during which a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was signed between NAB, UET, Government College University (GCU) and Virtual University (VU).Speaking on the occasion, Chairman NAB stated that the university students will assist the Bureau in the anti-corruption awareness program.During the ceremony, students presented various speeches highlighting the adverse effects of corruption on the society and played anthems to stimulate the significance of the youth in a society.

CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif visits University of London during UK visit

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LONDON (Dunya News) – Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Shahbaz Sharif Friday visited the University of London during his visit to the UK. CM Punjab met with the university’s Vice Chancellor and other education experts during the visit.Speaking to the media after the meeting, CM Shahbaz Stated that his visit to the university had been very succesful. He stated that a detailed discussion was held with different British departments. He added that the idea of reaping benefits from the experiences of the British department regarding School Leadership program was also agreed upon during the meeting. CM Punjab stated that this will aid in the development of education in Punjab.CM Shahbaz also stated that a Memorendum Of Understanding (MOU) had also been signed with a British institute which will provide better facilities to the youth for training in areas of skill development. He further added that this will open up new job opportunities for skilled and talented youngsters in the international market.CM Shahbaz also requested support in the education department from the Vice Chancellor of the university during the meeting.CM Shahbaz was briefed on the international operation of the university. CM Punjab left for UK earlier his week on an official visit. The minister has been scheduled to meet important British leaders and head of different departments.CM will discuss the policies to fortify the bilateral ties with United Kingdom (UK) while he will also meet the Pakistanis living abroad.Shahbaz Sharif stated that UK and Pakistan are still enjoying friendly and economic relations. He said that his visit will further strengthen the associations with the British government.

MP attack case gets new angle as 3 eyewitnesses contact police

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The investigation into the Military Police (MP) attack case has gotten a new angle as 3 eyewitnesses of the incident contacted the police. Police have now started preparing a rough sketch of the attackers with the help of the eyewitnesses.MP in Karachi was earlier attacked by unknown assailants as they opened fire on a MP vehicle during which two personnel were martyred.Police officials say that the armed men did not use their mobile phone before or after the attack.Director General (DG) Rangers Sindh Major Bilal Akbar has stated that the culprits of the attack will soon be apprehended. He further added that they will not terrorists to reorganize in the Karachi. On the other hand the DG Rangers also stated that a fool proof security arrangement had been setup for the upcoming Local Government (LG) polls in Karachi and citizens should come out and cast their votes without any fear of an attack.A 9-member committee headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Dr Jameel was formed earlier to probe the attack on the Military Police during a high level meeting in Karachi of the law enforcement institutions.Read Further:9-member committee formed to probe attack on Military PoliceThe committee includes Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) West, SSP Investigation South, SSP South, SSP Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and SSP City and has been delegated the task of identifying and arresting the terrorists. It has started the investigation process from the clues obtained through the CCTV footages and images and will report on the developments on daily basis.As per notification, the committee will remain functional until the suspects are arrested. The committee’s head is authorized to seek help from anyone in Karachi range.Prior to this, Intelligence agencies had also detained two suspects in a raid near Cantonment Station.Read Further:Intelligence agencies detain two suspects in Karachi MP attack caseEarlier on December 1, two unidentified armed men opened fire on a Military Police (MP) vehicle near Tibet Centre on MA Jinnah Road that claimed lives of two personnel.Late constable Rashid and lance naik Arshad were laid to rest in their native areas. The funeral prayers of the two were offered at PNS Shifa on Tuesday night which was attended by Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Zakaullah, Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar and other officials.PM Nawaz has offered condolences to the families of martyrs and has taken notice of the incident in addition to ordering immediate arrest of the attackers.

Karachi: Fights erupt in city as election frenzy reaches fever pitch

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Fights erupted all over city as the election frenzy for the upcoming Local Government (LG) polls reached fever pitch. Tensions soared when workers of two opposing parties came face to face in Karachi’s Baloch Colony. A brawl ensued during which batons and sticks were blatantly used against one other. The scuffle was quickly dispelled and the gathering disbanded as police arrived at the scene however.Meanwhile, an election camp of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was also attacked near Gul Plaza. A worker of PPP was injured in the attack while equipment in the camp was also vandalized.Election campaigns for the third and final phase of Local Government (LG) polls concluded on Friday. The municipal elections will be held in 12 districts of Punjab and 6 districts of Sindh including Karachi. Polling will be held today (Saturday), 5th of December.Read Further:Election campaign ends for third phase of LG polls in Punjab, SindhThe elections will be conducted in Punjab’s areas of Rawalpindi, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Narowal, Khushab, Jhang, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Layyah. On the other hand in Sindh, Karachi of campaigns concluded in six districts.

Election campaign ends for third phase of LG polls in Punjab, Sindh

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Election campaigns for the third and final phase of Local Government (LG) polls in 12 districts of Punjab and 6 districts of Sindh including Karachi ended on Friday. Polling for the LG elections will be held today (Saturday), 5thof December, as candidates and their supporters made all out attempts to secure voters for the polling.Time granted for LB elections campaigning expired tonight in Rawalpindi, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Narowal, Khushab, Jhang, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan and Layyah. On the other hand in Sindh, Karachi of campaigns concluded in six districts.A fierce competition will once again be seen between Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Punjab while candidates of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PTI will battle it out in Karachi.Rhetoric of big promises and claims dominated the election campaigns of the political parties once again as each candidate tried to convince people to cast their vote for them. Supporters were seen chanting slogans and dancing on the streets to back their nominated candidates.The nomination papers of 37,532 candidates were approved by the election commission earlier. However, 5,164 candidates had withdrawn from candidacy leaving 31,848 contenders in the field. Number of registered voters in Sindh’s metropolis is 7,082,319.On the whole, at least 18 candidates have won unopposed which include 15 of district councils and three of Municipal Corporation.Meanwhile in Karachi, locals will be electing their candidates after as many as twelve years.Rallies were also earlier conducted by PTI chairman Imran Khan and JI chief Siraj-ul-Haq in Sindh’s capital Karachi.MQM has announced that it will start a campaign for an empowered electoral system after 5th of December.Earlier in the Islamabad LB polls, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led the charts while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured second position. The ruling party had secured 21 seats while PTI had managed to win 16 of the seats.
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