Monday 25 January 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Murray hoping for no more nasty surprizes

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Andy Murray is hoping all the nasty surprises are behind him as he heads into Wednesdays quarter-final at the Australian Open in no doubt what to expect from tough Spaniard David Ferrer.The world number two was rocked by a family health emergency when his father-in-law Nigel Sears, Ana Ivanovics coach, collapsed at the tournament and was rushed to hospital on Saturday.Murray said he would have pulled out of the tournament if the news was bad about Sears, but the 58-year-old made a quick recovery and was cleared to leave hospital the next day.Adding to Murrays predicament was that his wife Kim Sears is heavily pregnant and he has said he will quit the Australian Open and rush home if she goes into labour.Against this backdrop of uncertainty the Scot has come through four rounds, including a scrappy three-setter over unorthodox Australian Bernard Tomic on Monday to set up his last-eight duel with Ferrer.Murray leads their head-to-head 12-6, and has mastered him at the last five meetings. This will be their fifth Grand Slam encounter, and the four-time Australian Open runner-up knows exactly whats coming.He works extremely hard. Hes in good shape. He fights so hard in every single match, Murray said of the intense Ferrer. Hes been rewarded for that with an unbelievably consistent career at the top of the game.Murray is perhaps relieved that he has it in his own hands to find a way to overcome Ferrer, rather than cope with off-court matters out of his control.Its been a hard, hard few days. Hopefully, it gets better the next few days, he said. I just cant believe something like that happened a few days ago. Its shocking. Nige is an unbelievably fit guy. Very, very scary.I felt quite drained, quite tired. Definitely on the court (against Tomic) I was more emotional than normal.It certainly wasnt straightforward. Im just glad that Nigels on his way home now and can be back with his family.Ferrers supreme fitness and eagerness to chase down every ball makes him a difficult opponent and Murray knows it will be a physically demanding battle if he is to progress.- Make him feel uncomfortable -=================================Meanwhile, Milos Raonic will get another chance to close the gap on the mens elite against explosive Frenchman Gael Monfils in Wednesdays other bottom-half quarter-final.The world number 14 Raonic has turned heads in Australia, beating Roger Federer in the Brisbane International final and reaching the last eight in Melbourne thanks to his first ever win over fourth-ranked Stan Wawrinka.The huge-serving Canadian, who says he has found a new calm under his coach Carlos Moya, fought back to eliminate the 2014 winner in five sets but he now faces a different challenge against the energetic Monfils.Raonic, who is looking for his first win in three meetings, knows what he has to do to overcome the 23rd-seeded Frenchman.Hes very entertaining and hes very difficult to play. He can give you complete ends of the spectrum within one game, Raonic said.So its very much of an internal match for me. I just have to take the game to him. I have to make him feel uncomfortable. Not let him get into his sort of playing comfort.If I can keep up with the efficiency moving forward, Ill have definitely some opportunities.Monfils, who cut and bruised himself with an acrobatic dive in the last round, is playing in his first Australian Open quarter-final and he has noticed a change in Raonic this year.Milos is in good form. Coming in with a win in Brisbane. As we know, a big serve, he said. Actually, I think he has improved his movement a lot, hitting big from the baseline, and has a good return.

Tennis: Serena crushes Sharapova to reach Open semis

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams destroyed Maria Sharapova for an 18th straight time Tuesday to inflict more pain on her long-time Russian rival and power into the Australian Open semi-finals.The six-time Melbourne Park champion out-muscled the fifth seed 6-4, 6-1 and will meet Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the final as she moves closer to matching Steffi Grafs Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles.

Hit-and-miss Man City seek League Cup comeback

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LONDON (AFP) - Thoughts of the 2013-14 run-in will be inspiring Manchester Citys players as they attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit in Wednesdays League Cup semi-final second leg against Everton.Then, as now, City are chasing glory on four fronts and while they fell short in the Champions League and FA Cup two years ago, League Cup glory was to prove a precursor to victory in the Premier League title race.Should Everton pull off a repeat of the 0-0 draw they recorded at the Etihad Stadium two weeks ago, they will progress to a first League Cup final since 1984, but City defender Nicolas Otamendi is confident that he and his team-mates now have the measure of Roberto Martinezs men.The first leg, away at Everton, wasnt good for us and we didnt play anywhere near as well as we can, but we must think there are still 90 minutes to go and we can do it, the Argentine told the City website.Everton are a good side and didnt get to the semi-finals by luck. They travel very well and have only lost once in the league on the road all season, so we know we face a battle.I think the major factor will be home advantage. We need our fans to make plenty of noise, get behind us from the first moment and lift us when we need it.City drew 2-2 at West Ham United on Saturday, leaving them three points below league leaders Leicester City, and they have not recorded back-to-back wins in the league since mid-October.Manuel Pellegrinis side remain troublingly porous in the continued absence of Vincent Kompany, as shown by West Hams second goal, when Otamendi allowed a throw-in to bounce over him and Enner Valencia scored.But they can at least rely on Sergio Aguero to dig them out of a hole, the Argentina striker scoring twice at Upton Park to take his tally to four goals in two games.Romelu Lukakus 78th-minute header in the first leg means a draw will take Everton into the final, where either Liverpool or Stoke City await.- Thats where we are -=========================But Everton, too, are fragile, having slid to 12th in the Premier League after just one win in 10 league games.The latest setback, on Sunday, was particularly galling, a 2-1 home defeat against a Swansea City team fighting to keep their heads above water, and midfielder Gareth Barry admits that it was less than ideal preparation.The ideal world going into a game like Wednesday would be with a win, said the former City player.There is nothing better than going into games on a winning run, when you are feeling confident, but thats where we are at the moment. We have got to go into a League Cup semi-final on the back of a defeat.We focus on a huge game against Man City, and hopefully we can get the fans positive again and then return to the league.One positive for Everton against Swansea was the return of full-back Seamus Coleman after three games out with a calf injury, even if the Irishman did volley a glorious stoppage-time chance over the bar.Midfielder Muhamed Besic (hamstring) and winger Kevin Mirallas (knee) will both miss the trip to Manchester after being forced off by injury in the first half on Sunday.But captain Phil Jagielka is due to return after being rested against Swansea and Evertons fans will hope that his presence will help to settle John Stones, who has turned in some nervy performances of late.Fernandinho returned to the bench for City at West Ham after three games out with a muscular problem.But Aleksandar Kolarov (calf) has joined fellow defenders Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala (hamstring) on the sidelines, along with midfielder Samir Nasri (hamstring) and striker Wilfried Bony (calf).

US crude below $30 as price extend losses

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - US crude fell back below $30 a barrel as world oil prices extended their losses in Asia Tuesday after worries about the global supply glut returned to the fore.After plunging to 12-year lows, prices soared late last week on hopes that plans for further economic stimulus measures in the eurozone and Japan would perk up demand.But the rally fizzled out Monday on stubborn oversupply fears.At around 0215 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in March was down 58 cents, or 1.91 percent, at $29.76 and Brent crude for March was trading 50 cents, or 1.64 percent, lower at $30.00.Both contracts fell Monday.The decline is not very surprising because oil fundamentals still remain weak, said Daniel Ang, an analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore.Were looking at strong oversupply and not-so-outstanding demand, he told AFP. It is going to be very difficult to maintain higher prices.A strengthening US currency also helped depress demand for dollar-priced oil, which becomes more expensive for holders of weaker units.The dollar climbed ahead of a meeting on Thursday of US central bank policymakers, with investors looking for signs of further hikes in US interest rates.The market would like to know exactly when they could expect the next interest rate increase. Thats whats keeping the dollar very strong, Ang said.The market is also anticipating the return of Iranian oil exports, which would further add to the oversupply.A day after Western economic sanctions were lifted last week, Iran announced a major boost in oil production, with the National Iranian Oil Company saying it had ordered output to increase by 500,000 barrels per day.

Kiwi quick says bouncer blows are 'part of game'

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand paceman Trent Boult on Tuesday described seeing team-mate Mitchell McClenaghan felled by a bouncer as stomach churning and scary, but insisted such deliveries are an intrinsic part of the game.McClenaghan was poleaxed during the Black Caps win over Pakistan in Wellington on Monday when an Anwar Ali delivery smashed through his helmet grille, fracturing his left eye socket.The injury revived painful memories of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes death after a ball struck his head in 2014, with Boult saying he did not want to dwell on McClenaghans injury.Its never a nice sight to see one of your team-mates down on the ground, its pretty scary, (but) its just part of the game, its been going on for years, he told reporters.Its just a shame it happened yesterday.It still churns your stomach a little bit to see stuff like that happen and its hard to talk about to be honest but weve jut got to move on, its just part of the game and its always going to happen.Boult said modern helmets did not allow the ball to pierce the grille, but McClenaghan was wearing older style headgear with a slightly larger gap.McClenaghan retired hurt and will not take part in the rest of the three-match series against Pakistan.New Zealand won the opening one-dayer by 70 runs and the second ODI will be held in Napier on Thursday.

Libya parliament rejects UN-backed unity government

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BENGHAZI (AFP) - Libyas internationally recognised parliament voted on Monday to reject a UN-backed unity government, in a major blow to international efforts to end the countrys unrest.The United Nations and Western diplomats have urged Libyans to back the unity government formed last week as a step towards ending the political chaos that has gripped the country since the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.Libya currently has two rival administrations and parliaments, with the internationally recognised authorities based in the east and a militia-backed authority holding power in Tripoli.A national unity government headed by businessman Fayez al-Sarraj and comprising 32 ministers was formed last week, but the recognised parliament needs to approve it for it to start working.We voted against endorsing the government and ask... to be presented with another government, parliamentarian Ali al-Gaydi said.Of the 104 lawmakers in attendance for the vote in eastern city Tobruk, 89 rejected the new government, he said.Parliament member Al-Saliheen Abdelnabbi said the government had been rejected because its cabinet was too large.He called for a smaller government without this high number of ministries.Fathi Abdelkarim, media adviser to parliament head Aguila Saleh, told journalists in Tobruk: Ten days were given by the House of Representatives to form a new government with less ministries.The unity government was formed under a UN-sponsored peace deal signed last month by less than half of the members of Libyas competing legislatures.The accord must also be approved by the parliament, but on Monday lawmakers voted for the removal of an article giving the unity government the power to approve top security and military positions.The parliament would hold a vote on ratifying the deal on Tuesday if the UN mission to Libya -- which has been working on the deal for more than a year -- scrapped the article, Gaydi said.Parliamentarian Fahmy Tuwaty said many lawmakers oppose the deal because of the article, which they fear will lead to powerful army chief General Khalifa Haftar losing his post.Commenting on Mondays parliamentary session, UN envoy Martin Kobler said in a statement he will pursue consultations with all parties to find a consensual solution to the contested article.Kobler said he also took note of parliaments demand for a new government and urged the House of Representatives and presidency council to take the necessary decisions as soon as possible.Both Saleh and Haftar have criticised the UN-backed accord, which calls for a two-year transition period to end with parliamentary elections.The head and members of the rival Tripoli-based General National Congress also oppose the deal.While their support is not necessary for the unity government to start operating, they could prevent it from working out of the capital.Prime minister-designate Sarraj, who has so far been operating out of Tunisia, arrived in Algeria for a visit on Monday as he continues to seek support from regional governments.There was no immediate reaction from his government to the rejection.Libya has been divided since a militia alliance including Islamists overran Tripoli in August 2014, causing the recognised administration to flee east.The Islamic State jihadist group has taken advantage of the turmoil to expand its influence in the country.In recent weeks it launched attacks from its stronghold in the city of Sirte on facilities in the oil crescent along the coast. Fears the jihadists are establishing a new bastion on Europes doorstep have added urgency to diplomatic efforts to bring together Libyas warring factions.European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini earlier this month pledged to give Libya 100 million euros ($108 million) to battle IS as soon as the unity government came to power.

France, India to strengthen counter-terror cooperation

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - French President Francois Hollande vowed Monday not to weaken his resolve against terrorism as he held talks with Indias leader on security cooperation and a long-delayed defence deal.Hollande said he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to step up cooperation on counter-terrorism after deadly attacks on Paris in November that recalled the 2008 assault on Mumbai.But they failed to reach a final agreement on Indias long-delayed purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from the French company Dassault.The French president said a new video which threatens countries of the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group would only strengthen Frances resolve, which was tested by Novembers deadly attacks in Paris.These odious provocations only serve to further increase the resolve that we have, that I have, to protect French people through the decisions that I have taken... but also to hit, and hit again, this organisation that threatens us and kills our children, he said.Hollande made the comments after talks with Modi that focused on security cooperation following the Paris attacks.Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, in the customary Republic Day eve address to the nation, called for a unified global approach to tackle terrorism.Nations will never agree on everything; but the challenge today is existential. Terrorists seek to undermine order by rejecting the very basis of strategic stability, Mukherjee said.Terrorism is inspired by insane objectives, motivated by bottomless depths of hatred, he added. Modi had also spoken of his and Hollandes joint resolve to increase security cooperation, recalling a deadly raid earlier this month on an Indian military base near the Pakistan border. President Hollande and I have agreed to scale up the range of our counter-terrorism cooperation in a manner that helps us to tangibly mitigate and reduce the threat of extremism and terrorism to our societies, he said.Modi was speaking alongside the French president, whose visit had raised fresh expectations that the Rafale deal would be finalised after years of tortuous negotiations.A joint statement said the leaders welcomed the conclusion of an intergovernmental agreement on the purchase, but that some financial issues remained outstanding.A senior French official told reporters on Sunday the two sides were still haggling over the price, which experts say could reach around five billion euros ($5.6 billion).One sticking point is Delhis insistence that arms makers invest a percentage of the value of any major deal in India.Manufacturer Dassault Aviation hailed the accord Monday, saying in a statement it actively supports the French authorities in finalising a full accord within four weeks.Hollande will be chief guest at Tuesdays Republic Day parade in New Delhi, an invitation Modi extended to show solidarity after the assault on the French capital which killed 130 people.Earlier, he said the extremist threat weighed as heavily on France as on India, recently hit by the deadly attack on a military base near the border with Pakistan.The 17-minute video put out by the IS group describes the Paris attackers as lions who brought France to its knees and urges Muslims in France to rise up against the countrys leaders.It features the heads of Hollande, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and British Prime Minister David Cameron with targets superimposed on them, and purports to show nine jihadists involved in Novembers slaughter.Nothing will deter us, no threat will make France waver in the fight against terrorism, Hollande told reporters.These images only serve to discredit the perpetrators of this crime.Hollande and Modi will sit together at the annual parade, a pomp-filled spectacle of military might which includes columns of Soviet-era tanks.On Monday the atmosphere was distinctly more down-to-earth as the two leaders took the metro for their journey to the satellite city of Gurgaon.There, they were set to lay the foundation stone at the new headquarters of the International Solar Alliance, a 121-nation group launched by Modi at the recent Paris climate conference to expand affordable solar power.Hollande has expressed hope that some of the French businesses travelling with him will be at the forefront of the solar energy push.The leaders are expected to announce a pact between Frances CNES and Indias ISRO space agencies for a joint satellite dedicated to climate change research.

Israel approves more than 150 new settler homes in West Bank

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israels defence ministry has approved plans to build 153 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, a spokeswoman for the Israeli settlements watchdog Peace Now said on Monday.Hagit Ofran said the plans were adopted last week, and involve small settlements in the Ariel area in the northern West Bank, the Carmel settlement in the Hebron area and the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.According to the NGO, the move marks the end of an informal construction freeze in the Palestinian territory that lasted 18 months.Peace Now said on December 28 that Israel was working to revive and extend plans for new Jewish settler homes in the contentious area of the occupied West Bank known as E1.In a report it said was based on government data obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request, the group said the housing ministry was seeking to build 55,548 units in the West Bank -- including two new settlements -- of which more than 8,300 homes would be in E1.E1 and the adjacent Maaleh Adumim settlement form an Israeli buffer east of Jerusalem that the Palestinians say would divide the West Bank and badly hurt the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.The area of Maale Adumim and E1 is one of the most sensitive areas in terms of the chances for two state solution, Peace Now wrote.For these reasons, whenever an Israeli leader tries to promote the plans in E1, the international community strongly condemns them.The United States, the United Nations and the European Union oppose all Israeli settlement building but have voiced particular concern about plans for E1.In 2013, faced with international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vetoed construction of some 1,200 homes there but Peace Now said the housing ministry had hired architects to prepare fresh blueprints.This planning, which contradicts any possible commitment to a two-state solution, continues, said last months Peace Now report, although it also added that the plans could be years from fruition.They must be approved by the minister of defence and then go through the approval process of the planning authority, the English-language report said.US-backed peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel collapsed in April 2014 amid bitter mutual recriminations.A chief grievance of the Palestinians was settlement building on land they claim for a future state.The continued settlement growth raises honest questions about Israels long-term intentions and will only make separating from the Palestinians much more difficult, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a speech in Washington on December 6.Israel seized the West Bank and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War. It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.Today, some 380,000 Israelis live in 135 West Bank settlements, with another 200,000 in east Jerusalem.

Triple suicide bombing kills 26 in north Cameroon market

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YAOUNDE (AFP) - At least 26 people were killed on Monday when three suicide bombers blew themselves up at a market in the far north of Cameroon, a region often targeted by Nigerias Boko Haram. Police said the assailants hit a local market in Bodo village near the frontier with Nigeria in one of the most deadly attacks in the Far North since 2013. An initial toll shows 29 dead and around 30 injured, a police source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity and saying the toll included the three suicide bombers.Nearly 1,200 people have been killed since 2013 when Boko Haram began attacking Cameroons Far North, an area which borders the Islamist groups stronghold in northeastern Nigeria. In total, 1,098 civilians, 67 of our soldiers and three police officials have been killed in these barbaric attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group, Communications Minister Issa Chiroma Bakary said earlier this month. In that time, officials say there have been more than 30 suicide attacks blamed on Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.This year, there have been attacks on an almost daily basis, some of which have been backed by incursions.Last week, four worshippers were killed in a suicide bombing at a mosque in the northern village of Nguetchewe, just days after a similar attack on another mosque in the Far North killed 12.In recent years, Boko Haram fighters have slipped back and forth across the frontier, often using Cameroons remote north as a rear base, acquiring arms, vehicles and supplies there.But since late November, the Cameroon army has carried out operations in several border areas aimed at weakening Nigerian jihadists active in the region, with sources saying the raids have significantly weakened Boko Harams capabilities. As a result, the insurgents have turned away from direct confrontation with the military in favour of suicide attacks, increasingly staged by women and girls.The Nigeria-based jihadists have killed at least 17,000 people and made more than 2.6 million others homeless since their six-year campaign began.Boko Haram, facing the heat of a military onslaught back home, has in the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon while continuing shooting and suicide assaults on markets, mosques and other mostly civilian targets within Nigeria itself. The group has increasingly targeted imams and traditional chiefs for their opposition to the Islamists.Cameroon has meanwhile banned the Islamic veil in a bid to pre-empt suicide bombings staged by attackers wearing the full-face veil. Along with Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Benin, Cameroon is part of a regional military force fighting the jihadists. Despite the offensives launched by the regional force, the group maintains strongholds in areas that are difficult to access, such as the Sambisa forest, the Mandara mountains and the numerous islands of Lake Chad.

Truck bomb in Syria's Aleppo kills 23, including fighters: monitor

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BEIRUT (AFP) - At least 23 people, most of them from the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group, were killed by a truck suicide bomber in Syrias Aleppo city on Monday, a monitor said.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 19 fighters from the group and four civilians were killed in the blast in the Sukari district of the city.The attack hit an Ahrar al-Sham checkpoint at the entrance to a security complex belonging to the group.The Observatory said several prisoners being held by Ahrar al-Sham at a facility in the complex were also believed to have been killed, but it had no immediate toll.The blast destroyed three buildings, and people were still missing under the rubble, the monitor added.It was unclear who was responsible for the blast, but Ahrar al-Sham has been targeted by assassinations in the past.In September 2014, most of its top leadership was wiped out in a devastating explosion at its headquarters in Idlib province that killed nearly 50 people.And more recently, the group has seen several of its commanders among a string of Islamist rebels killed in mysterious targeted killings.The attacks have not been claimed, and suspicion has fallen on either the regime or the Islamic State group, which considers all forces that have not pledged allegiance to it to be rivals.Ahrar al-Sham is one of Syrias most powerful rebel groups, and is a leading member of the Army of Conquest alliance that controls Idlib province along with Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

Syria peace talks delayed until Friday: UN envoy

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GENEVA (AFP) - Talks aimed at ending Syrias brutal war will begin in Geneva on Friday, the UN mediator said, after a delay over who will represent the countrys fractious opposition.Negotiations had been scheduled to open on Monday, but UN envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters in Geneva a stalemate over the makeup of the delegations had forced the date back.He said he expected to be able to send invitations to the delegates on Tuesday, but declined to say who would be asked to attend, only saying the list would be as inclusive as possible.The talks are part of a UN-backed plan agreed last year that envisaged negotiations, followed by the creation of a transitional government, a new constitution and elections within 18 months.The United States and Russia have been piling on pressure for the talks to get under way, but disagreement over who should represent the opposition have made it difficult to get started, De Mistura said.The so-called proximity talks are scheduled to last six months, with the first round lasting between two and three weeks, he said, adding he expected to do a lot of shuttling between the sides.We are all feeling... the time has come to try hard to produce an outcome, De Mistura said.The renewed efforts to end Syrias war, which has killed more than 260,000 people and displaced half the countrys population, come as the conflict approaches its fifth year.Seeking broad ceasefireOn Monday, at least 23 people, most of them from the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group, were killed by a truck suicide bomber in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.The Britain-based monitor also said 16 people including 11 Islamist fighters had been killed Monday in ballistic missile fire in Syrias northwestern Idlib province.De Mistura said that the first priority would be to try to secure a broad ceasefire and space to deliver humanitarian aid to suffering Syrians.He explained that he was moving forward cautiously to avoid a repeat of the failure seen when the UN last tried to put the sides together.The so-called Geneva 2 talks in early 2014 saw De Misturas predecessor Lakhdar Brahimi host high-profile but fruitless meetings in the Swiss cities of Montreux and Geneva.Ive been very much aware of the danger of what happened in Geneva 2, he said, adding that he wanted to make sure that when and if we start, we start at least on the right foot.This is not Geneva 3. This is leading to what we hope will be a Geneva success story if we are able to push it forward, he added.A statement from Russias foreign ministry said US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had called on De Mistura to set a start date as quickly as possible, underscoring the growing urgency among global powers to end the crisis.Last month, several key opposition bodies, including rebel groups, formed a coalition known as the High Negotiations Committee to participate in the mooted talks.But the coalition excludes Syrias main Kurdish party and a range of other opposition figures.Moscow has sought to have some of those excluded participate in the talks either within a broad opposition delegation, or in a second opposition delegation to the negotiations.But the High Negotiations Committee accuses regime ally Russia of trying to stack the opposition delegation with figures close to the regime, and has threatened to boycott the talks if other opposition representatives are invited.Over the weekend, Kerry meanwhile met members of the Committee in Saudi Arabia to urge them to participate, warning the opposition risked losing friends if it boycotted, committee member Fuad Aliko told AFP.Aliko said it would take a final decision on whether to attend the talks in a meeting on Tuesday.Extremist threat growsThe renewed efforts to end Syrias war comes amid global angst over the rise of the brutal Islamic State group and an unprecedented influx of migrants into Europe last year.On Monday, Europols chief warned IS had developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large-scale terrorist attacks on a global stage -- with a particular focus in Europe.In November, IS claimed responsibility for the deadly November 13 Paris attacks that left 130 people dead and 350 others wounded.Despite the ramped-up efforts to end Syrias war, hopes for the talks remain modest.In addition to the oppositions disarray, analysts say Syrias regime has been emboldened by Russias military intervention.Moscow began air strikes in Syria on September 30, saying it was targeting IS and other terrorist groups.Opposition forces and activists accuse it of focusing on moderate and extremist rebels, and of killing civilians, an allegation Moscow dismisses as absurd.

London, Paris dismiss IS video as EU police warn of more attacks

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PARIS (AFP) - France and Britain on Monday dismissed a video showing extremists preparing for the Paris attacks in Islamic State territory, as the European police agency warned of more large-scale terrorist attacks.Analysts said the 17-minute propaganda video showed a high level of coordination and planning ahead of the November 13 attacks in which Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Paris nightspots, killing 130 people.Entitled Kill wherever you find them, the video features four Belgians, three French citizens and two Iraqis who took part in the assault. They all died on the night, or in a police raid days later.The video, produced by ISs Al-Hayat Media Centre, shows television news footage from the night of the attacks, as well as clips of the assailants delivering their final messages in French and Arabic.They call on Muslims living in Europe to carry out lone-wolf attacks and, in particular, threaten Britain.Images of French President Francois Hollande and British Prime Minister David Cameron are also used, both with targets superimposed on them.Referring to the 70-nation coalition fighting IS, purported attack ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud warns that the more you wage war against the Islamic State, the more it will expand... for we are terrorists.But Hollande, who is on a visit to India, dismissed the threats.Nothing will deter us, no threat will make France waver in the fight against terrorism, he told reporters.And Camerons office said the video showed an appalling terrorist group thats clearly in decline and in retreat.In a report released on Monday, the European police agency Europol warned IS was planning more attacks on soft targets in the EU.Europol chief Rob Wainwright said IS had developed a new combat style capability to carry out a campaign of large-scale terrorist attacks on a global stage -- with a particular focus in Europe.Incredible level of planningThe video confirms for the first time that IS trained attackers and sent them to carry out an assault in the West. Until now, the group has mostly focused on using propaganda to inspire supporters from afar to strike.Seven men in military fatigues are shown outdoors, in what appears to be a desert setting, with victims whom they later shoot or behead, while another is seen carrying out target practice.Abaaoud, who was killed in a police raid after the attack, is the only one speaking indoors. He is identified by his battlefield name Abu Umar al-Baljiki, as are the other men.The video portrays an incredible level of planning and integration of the IS propoganda apparatus from a very early stage of planning, said Charlie Winter, a researcher at Georgia State University who monitors extremist propaganda.These executions would have taken place months ago... it shows a high degree of patience, he told AFP.Raffaello Pantucci of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London said the planning behind the video specifically highlights how this was a plot that was directed by core IS.With French and Arabic songs playing in the background, the video calls for the murder of Westerners, lyrically chanting the names of the Paris streets Charonne and Voltaire where attacks took place.It also praises Amedy Coulibaly, who killed four hostages at a Jewish supermarket in January 2015, two days after the Kouachi brothers staged a deadly attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine, killing 12.Iraqis at the stadium?It is still not clear how many people were involved in the assault on Paris in which seven assailants blew themselves up or were shot dead by police.Two men who blew themselves up outside the national stadium and were found with fake Syrian passports, have not yet been identified and are believed to be the two Iraqis shown in the video.Abaaoud, thought to have previously fought in Syria, was killed in a shootout with French police days after the attacks, alongside another man seen in the IS video, who blew himself up.Winter said the stark difference between Abaaouds appearance in a small room and that of the other men -- carrying out scripted atrocities with a microphone attached to their lapel -- could be interpreted as a sign that he was not meant to die or be detected by security forces.

APOTOA, Goods transporters declare strike to be observed from 30th Jan

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owner Association (APOTOA) and goods transporters on Tuesday have declared an indefinite strike to be observed from 30th of January for the acceptance of their demands.APOTOA declared the strike due to the conflict on rent prices with petroleum companies and National Highway Authority (NHA) while goods transporters announced the shutdown in protest of the rise in income tax rates.A joint framework for protest against the grievances has been developed by both organizations.According to the leaders of both organizations, an indefinite strike will be started unless their demands were not met within 72 hours.Both groups will hold a demonstration in the afternoon today (Tuesday) for their demands.

Tennis: 18th time lucky? Sharapova takes aim at Serena streak

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Maria Sharapova will take aim at her 17-match losing streak against Serena Williams on Tuesday as she bids to torpedo the American world number ones title defence in the Australian Open quarter-finals.Sharapova has not beaten Williams, holder of 21 Grand Slam titles, since 2004, meaning its high time the Russian fifth seed pulled one back in their head to head.Youre always trying to -- always trying to improve. I got myself into the quarter-final of a Grand Slam, said Sharapova, who has five major titles of her own.There is no reason I shouldnt be looking to improve and to getting my game in a better position than any other previous round. Its only going to be tougher, especially against Serena.The signs are not brilliant for Sharapova, as Williams has played her way into the tournament and has looked increasingly impressive in each match.I just feel like Im really confident in my game right now, not against her or against any other opponent, Im just really looking at me right now, Williams said, after thrashing Margarita Gasparyan in the last round.And I feel like if I can just continue to play well, then it could be good. But every match is new. You know, she (Sharapova) always brings in something new and something special. Shes very consistent as well.In the mens draw, top seed Novak Djokovic is up against Kei Nishikori, the Japanese world number seven who stunned the Serb to reach the 2014 US Open final.Djokovic is smarting after his five-set struggle against Gilles Simon, in which he dished out 100 unforced errors, and he will be keen to assert himself against an opponent who has won two of their last four matches.Elsewhere Roger Federer takes on an increasingly confident world number six Tomas Berdych, who fancies his chances of an upset as he tries to reach his third Melbourne Park semi-final in a row.Its Roger, so its always going to be a huge challenge to play him. Its the quarter-final of a Slam, Berdych said. Yeah, I like it. I like my chances. Im just looking forward to that match.Elsewhere on the womens side, Agnieszka Radwanska will start as favourite when she takes on Spains Carla Suarez for a place in the last four.

Tennis: Petra Kvitova separates from coach David Kotyza

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PARIS (AFP) - Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has announced that she has split from her long-term coach David Kotyza.The 25-year-old Czech had been working with Kotyza for more than seven years, but after a poor start to the year she has decided to try something new.In a statement Kvitova said: I felt that my career needed a fresh, strong impetus and a change.I agreed with David to end our collaboration in a personal meeting.On her Facebook page, the world number seven looked back on the time with her compatriot: We had a great run together, two Wimbledons, 17 titles and enjoyed many laughs.I would like to thank David for the many things that he taught me both on and off the court, and I wish him all the very best for the future.Seeded sixth for the Australian Open, Kvitova suffered a shock second round defeat to Australian world number 39 Daria Gavrilova in straight sets at Melbourne Park.Earlier this month she also retired when a set down to unheralded Chinese player Zheng Saisai in Shenzhen.There is no doubt that the powerful left-hander possesses plenty of potential, to which her triumphs at SW19 attest. Inconsistency has been her downfall at many Grand Slam tournaments. Her Wimbledon title in 2014 is the only time that she has reached the semi-finals at a major in her last 15 attempts.Kvitova, who played in all four of the Czech Republics recent Fed Cup triumphs, has said that she will not be appointing a new coach until February.For now she will focus on her countrys Fed Cup defence, starting with the first round match against a Romania team which will be without the unavailable Simona Halep in Cluj. The next Grand Slam tournament is the French Open in May, where Kvitova has only reached the last eight once.
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