Monday 29 February 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Euro falls vs Dollar as eurozone inflation goes negative

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro weakened against the dollar Monday pressured by a return of negative inflation in the eurozone, while the safe-haven yen benefited from a disappointing G20 finance meeting.The euro fell to $1.0876 around 2200 GMT from $1.0935 at the same time Friday.Consumer prices tumbled in the 19-nation currency bloc in February, pushing inflation to a negative 0.2 percent, official data showed, and intensifying pressure on the European Central Bank to announce further stimulus.The latest CPI data from the region... suggests that deflation is only strengthening the region and that ECB will likely need to expand its monetary policy to combat the conditions on the ground, said Boris Schlossberg of BK Asset Management.The eurozone inflation rates negative turn was unexpected, but an 8.0 percent dive in energy prices was largely to blame.The indication of price pressures receding into deflation territory merely confirms what weve known for several weeks now: Markets are fully committed to the belief that the ECB will cut its deposit rate by 10 basis points at its next meeting on March 10, said Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX.A meeting of the finance chiefs of the Group of 20 big economies in Shanghai ended Saturday with no major plan to address the slowdown in the global economy.Global markets reacted to the G20 statement with disappointment as officials stopped short of lending fresh support to a sputtering world economy, said Joe Manimbo of Western Union Business Solutions.Chinas central bank on Monday fixed its rate for the yuan currency at a four-week low, despite comments Friday by governor Zhou Xiaochuan that there is no basis for persistent renminbi depreciation from the perspective of fundamentals.The yuan finished lower against the greenback at 6.5520 yuan per dollar, compared with 6.5372 Friday.

Mayweather finds foes outside ring harder to tame

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Floyd Mayweather has no plans to return to the ring after hanging up his gloves undefeated last September, but he is finding opponents as a promoter more difficult to manage.That was the case Monday as reigning World Boxing Association super lightweight champion Adrien Broner stormed out of a Washington news conference to advance his April 1 title bout against Britains Mayweather-backed Ashley Theophane.(Screw) those guys. Theyre coming to dethrone me, Broner said. They are my enemy right now. Im going to beat the (hell) out of Ashley. Fight aint going four rounds. Nine minutes is too much.Im going to torture this guy.Broner, 31-2 with 23 knockouts, chattered at his English rival during a staredown for photos and took off after that without staying for questions, leaving Mayweather to try and explain how an event that began an hour late came to such a premature end.Ive said some things I regret when I was a young fighter. Ive learned, Mayweather said. To get respect you have to give respect. If you dont carry yourself in the right way, youre going to hurt yourself in the long run.Mayweather, who walked away 49-0 with 26 knockouts, made it clear a ring return is not in the cards even for a rich payday, much less for the new Olympic opportunity open now to pro fighters.Absolutely not, he said. For my body to recover from all my fights will be for the rest of my life. Im truly blessed to have been fighting for so much of my life.I had a great run. Aint no more for this body to heal but rest.Mayweather figures by the time he would be ready to try and surpass the 49-0 mark he shares with the late Hall of Fame legend Rocky Marciano, the only record in boxing I would be looking at is old age.Mayweather, who indicated he would like to become part-owner of an NBA team, said the young fighters he helps advise and promote are the ones he wants to see challenge his feats.I want these guys to break my records, Mayweather said. I was able to retire from the sport with all my faculties. I did not let the sport retire me.Theophane, nine years older than Broner at 35, is 39-6 with one draw and 11 knockouts and has won six bouts in a row to book the biggest fight of his life.Ive shown I can mix it with the best, said Theophane. This is my career-defining fight. Adrien Broner is not Floyd. He can be beaten.Age might work in his favor, the Briton said.Old is not always bad. You can be very experienced. You can be smart. Its like him being a clown and me staying calm. Being the older man means you have lived life, seen things.Among the things Theophane has seen is Mayweathers growing contentment with his role as promoter and advisor.He seems content now, Theophane said. He has mastered the script. He is 49-0. He has made lots of money. He should be applauded because now hes helping other boxers achieve their dreams.

Don't rush Man United gem Rashford, warns Van Gaal

Posted:

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Marcus Rashfords astonishing start in senior football has given Manchester United a significant lift at a key stage of a trying season, ahead of Watfords visit on Wednesday.The 18-year-old striker has impressed in Uniteds junior sides this season, scoring three times at Under-19 level and also finding the net regularly for the Under-21 team.His breakthrough into the senior side, though, has surprised even the most optimistic of United supporters, with four goals in his first two games.Having struck twice in a Europa League win over FC Midtjylland last Thursday, Rashford followed that up with two more in Sundays 3-2 Premier League victory over Arsenal.Manager Louis van Gaal is wary of asking the Manchester-born forward to take on too much responsibility too soon, but leaving him out against Watford may well prove impossible.Even so, Van Gaal is urging caution.We have to wait and see with Marcus, he said. He has only played two matches. It is about consistency. He has to show it in the third and the fourth and the fifth game.But what he has shown in the second match is already an improvement on the first and that is special.Rashford is not the only young player to break into the United side in recent weeks.Defenders Donald Love, Regan Poole and Timothy Fosu-Mensah have also been given debuts since the beginning of February, as have midfielders James Weir and Joe Riley.To a certain degree, Van Gaals hand has been forced by a long injury list.Rashford was only given a chance because of a hamstring injury to Anthony Martial, with United short of options in attack as Wayne Rooney recovers from the knee injury that is set to keep him out until April.- Inside the managers head -===============================Fosu-Mensah, meanwhile, was thrown on against Arsenal after Marcos Rojo injured his ankle, joining a casualty list that includes Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Marouane Fellaini, among others.The emergence of so many youngsters, though, has cheered up United supporters who have had little else to shout about this season.It perhaps helps that they have come through at a time when their team has started winning again.The victory over Arsenal was their third in a row in all competitions and has reignited hopes of qualification for next seasons Champions League. United lie fifth, three points behind fourth-place Manchester City.Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores is hoping to take advantage of Uniteds gruelling schedule of six games in 19 days, as well as the clubs lengthy injury list.Sometimes when we plan for the match its like we always need to be inside of the managers head on the other team, he said.I dont know exactly how Van Gaal is thinking about the next match or what his focus will be. They have a lot of targets in this moment and play a lot of matches. For us it is an opportunity to have points.We know we are very competitive and we can go every single step to win. Now we have 37 points and we are happy.The weekend 0-0 draw with Bournemouth left Watford comfortable in 10th place and effectively ended any lingering fears that they may get dragged down the table.Flores may take advantage by resting Etienne Capoue after the midfielder was withdrawn against Bournemouth.Capoue is a very important player for us, the Spaniard said.He has played a lot of minutes this season. I felt he might be a bit tired. I felt he was not clear in the mind, he was not normal, but it is possible when a player plays a lot he is a bit tired.

Boxing: Amir Khan unconcerned by appearances in Alvarez clash

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Amir Khan says he didnt want to demand a rehydration clause for his forthcoming fight with Saul Alvarez because he wants to make the biggest possible statement in his first bout above welterweight.Former world champion Khan will fight above welterweight for the first time in his career at a catchweight of 155lbs, officially middleweight, to challenge Alvarez for the Mexicans WBC title in Las Vegas on May 7.Given the significant difference in size between challenger and champion when they appeared together in London, it appeared a risky oversight that Khan did not demand a restriction on Alvarezs weight on fight night.Alvarezs frame means there is little to stop him gaining a further 20lbs after weighing in to effectively compete at light-heavyweight and therefore leaving Khan, the underdog who turned professional as a lightweight, at an even greater disadvantage.However, the catchweight limit is only a pound over light-middleweight and fully five pounds below the official middleweight limit, meaning its practically a light-middleweight fight, which is the next division above Khans welterweight category.Alvarez has operated at light-middleweight for most of his career but won the WBC title against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto when two light-middleweights fought at the same 155lbs catchweight for a middleweight belt.Khans best chance comes in using his superior speed and mobility, but he still maintained he hadnt taken an unnecessary risk with the weight issue.I wanted to do everything naturally because when I beat him I wanted to beat him fair and square and I dont want people thinking he was too dehydrated, he was too small, he couldnt put weight on, said Khan, who hasnt fought since beating Chris Algieri in May last year.I want to beat the best Alvarez, fight the best Alvarez. The fights Ive been watching he was really hydrated, and normal, where he was happy making the weight.Yeah (we considered a clause), I spoke to Virgil (Hunter, my trainer), and Virgil is the one who said to me look, if youre happy with the fight, its a good fight for us.Hes been watching videos (of Alvarez) as well. What I have to do is stick to the game-plan. I cant make any mistakes or be a guy who loses focus or makes mistakes because I can get hurt for that.

Football: Infantino 'bought' FIFA votes, claims Zamparini - report

Posted:

MILAN (AFP) - Outspoken Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has courted controversy by claiming Gianni Infantino bought votes on his way to being elected president of FIFA.Infantino was voted world footballs new chief on Friday, the 45-year-old Swiss-Italian lawyer ending Sepp Blatters controversial 18 years in charge.Although Infantino has pledged to restore the battered image of FIFA, and despite his victory being widely applauded by key figures in the game, Zamparini cast doubt on whether the election process was fully transparent.He claims doubts remain over the rise to power of the second-in-command at European footballs ruling body UEFA. The system doesnt change and the new president of FIFA, the chief of bureaucrats, was part of it all before, Zamparini is quoted as saying in a video clip on www.mediagol.it.If he got elected, its only because he bought more votes than the sheikh (Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa).Blatters chequered history as chief of world football saw FIFA become embroiled in several cases of vote-buying corruption.Infantino won last weeks election in the second round with 115 votes, from Asian football chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who received 88 votes.Zamparini has built a reputation for speaking his mind since taking over the Sicily-based Serie A club in 2002, as well as firing coaches who fail to bring immediate success to the club.He admitted his comments were likely to court controversy, but said he welcomed any future sanction.I hope they suspend me for saying that: for me it would be an honour.

Tennis: Canada decimated by Davis Cup double blow

Posted:

MONTREAL (AFP) - Canadas chances in their upcoming Davis Cup clash with France have suffered a severe blow after Milos Raonic and Daniel Nestor were ruled out with injuries, Tennis Canada confirmed on Monday.Raonic, the world number 13, has been sidelined by an adductor tear suffered at the Australian Open. Doubles stalwart Nestor withdrew from the team to travel to Guadeloupe for personal reasons, a statement said. I am deeply saddened to not be able to join my team for the Davis Cup tie in Guadeloupe, said Raonic. Davis Cup has always been and will continue to be a priority in my schedule. My body at this moment does not allow me to compete as the muscular tear I sustained in Australia has not completely healed. Nestor, meanwhile, will miss a Davis Cup tie for only the second time in 15 years. Im disappointed that I cant be there with the team this week, said Nestor. The last few years weve come a long way and weve had some good opportunities to do well at Davis Cup and its definitely frustrating that we havent been able to field our top team and maximize our potential due to some of the injuries and unforeseen circumstances that have arisen.Im wishing the team the best of luck this weekend and will be looking forward to rejoining them for the next one. Canada captain Martin Laurendeau will name two replacement players at a later date. This weeks tie is taking place on outdoor clay at the Velodrome Amedee Detraux in Guadeloupe from March 4-6.

Syria ceasefire holding 'by and large' despite 'incidents': UN chief

Posted:

GENEVA (AFP) - The UN chief said Monday a fragile Syria ceasefire was holding by and large despite incidents of fighting at the weekend, as a UN-backed taskforce was set to meet to evaluate accusations of breaches.As of now I can tell you that by and large the cessation of hostilities is holding even though we have experienced some incidents, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Geneva. The taskforce monitoring the truce is now trying to make sure that this does not spread any further and that this cessation of hostilities can continue.That taskforce would meet at 3:00 pm (1400 GMT), the top UN envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told AFP. Ban said he had received a letter from a main Syrian opposition group expressing concern about violations but said containing them was the key, in part, to ensure continued delivery of humanitarian aid to besieged Syrians. It is absolutely important, crucial that the parties keep their promise to hold off from fighting, Ban said, adding that the hope was to see the truce extended beyond two weeks. The tenuous ceasefire, negotiated by Washington and Moscow and backed by the UN, entered its third day on Monday despite reports of violations on both sides.The special international task force co-chaired by the United States and Russia last met on Saturday, just hours after the cessation of hostilities began.It is one of several mechanisms in place to oversee and deal with violations of the agreement, which does not apply to territory held by the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.A range of operation centres around the world are collecting information on infringements, de Mistura told reporters overnight to Saturday as the ceasefire began.The halt in hostilities is expected to allow aid workers to deliver assistance to an extra 154,000 people living in besieged areas over the next five days. De Mistura aims to relaunch stalled peace negotiations next Monday if the ceasefire lasts and more aid is delivered.On Monday, the UN envoy said he remained optimistic that talks can begin on March 7 as planned but of course it will depend how the ceasefire, the cessation of hostilities holds, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Syria truce task force meets as aid deliveries start

Posted:

DAMASCUS (AFP) - Aid workers on Monday made the first delivery of desperately needed assistance since the start of Syrias fragile ceasefire, as an international task force met to try to bolster the truce.The task force co-chaired by Moscow and Washington held talks in Geneva to evaluate allegations of a range of breaches, said the United Nations which mediated the three-day-old ceasefire.At the weekend, key regime backer Russia traded accusations with the main opposition grouping, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), over truce violations. On Monday, Russia said seven violations were recorded in the past 24 hours.However, the ceasefire between government troops and opposition forces is on the whole being observed, said General Sergei Kuralenko, tasked with monitoring the truce for Moscow, quoted in a defence ministry statement.The HNC reported two alleged violations by regime forces in Daraa, southern Syria, and two by Russian warplanes in the central province of Hama.The White House said it was not surprised by reports the ceasefire had been breached, but indicated it was too early to call it a failure.We are aware that there have been some reports of violations, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.We did anticipate that there would be reports of violations and that we would encounter some potholes on the road to implementing this successfully.Saying the international contact group would seek to verify dozens of reported breeches, the White House said: We remain committed to this process. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said earlier his government would be vigilant about (the truces) concrete application. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said there have been some incidents but the ceasefire was generally holding.As of now I can tell you that by and large the cessation of hostilities is holding even though we have experienced some incidents, he said.And in an encouraging sign, aid workers began the first aid delivery since the deal came into effect, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said.Twenty trucks carrying blankets and hygiene supplies entered rebel-held Moadamiyet al-Sham, encircled by government forces, and another 31 were to follow later.UN humanitarian coordinator Yacoub El Hillo said he hoped the relative calm would allow aid to be distributed to 154,000 besieged people over the next five days.And the UNs food agency said unprecedented pledges meant it could fully fund food aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt throughout the year.Pressure was building to relieve civilians under siege after the UNs human rights chief said thousands could die of hunger.The deliberate starvation of people is unequivocally forbidden as a weapon of warfare. By extension, so are sieges, Zeid Raad Al Hussein said, warning that thousands of people risk starving to death.The flow of much-needed assistance could also create a more favourable backdrop for peace talks that collapsed in acrimony in early February. UN envoy Steffan de Mistura aims to relaunch negotiations on March 7 if the ceasefire lasts and more aid is delivered.The oppositions HNC on Sunday described the ceasefire as positive but lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations and foreign governments about breaches.We have violations here and there, but in general it is a lot better than before and people are comfortable, said spokesman Salem al-Meslet. An HNC letter to Ban accused the Syrian regime and its allies of committing two dozen truce violations that had killed 29 people. The ceasefire does not apply to territory held by the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.Turkish armed forces on Monday fired 50 to 60 shells on IS positions in Aleppo province, local media reported. Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the truce is in place in one third of Syria, not all over.Now theres no ceasefire all over Syria. Attacks are unfortunately continuing here and there. Russia, which has waged a five-month bombing campaign to support President Bashar al-Assad, on Sunday accused moderate rebels and jihadists of nine ceasefire violations.In Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported some rebel rocket fire on government-held neighbourhoods but no casualties.Our teachers used to forbid us from going out to the school yard because of the air strikes but today we went out and played, said Ranim, a 10-year-old pupil in the school of the rebel-held neighbourhood of Bustan al-Qasr.The Observatory reported nine Russian air strikes on a town in the central province of Hama but had no immediate word on casualties.It said seven civilians were killed in Russian strikes Sunday on a town in Aleppo province where Al-Nusra has a presence.There has also been no let-up in the US-led air campaign targeting IS since the truce took effect.The coalition said on Sunday it carried out 12 strikes against the jihadists in Syria, four of them around the town of Tal Abyad on the Turkish border where IS has been trying to regain territory from US-backed Kurdish forces.

IS-claimed blast kills at least 24 in Iraq

Posted:

BAQUBA (AFP) - A suicide bomber struck a funeral procession northeast of Baghdad Monday, killing at least 24 people, including militia commanders, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group, officials said.The blast in Muqdadiyah, which also wounded dozens of people, threatens to spark another round of revenge attacks against Sunnis in the area, like those carried out after bombings in January.The latest attack targeted a funeral for a well-known Shiite member of the Beni Tamim, one of the main tribes in Diyala province, where Muqdadiyah is located.Sadiq al-Husseini, the head of the Diyala province security committee, said that a commander from Asaib Ahl al-Haq and another from Badr -- two powerful Shiite militias -- were killed in the blast.Officials in the province appealed for calm in the aftermath of the attack.Muqdadiyah residents should join hands to get out of the current crisis, said Ali al-Tamimi, the head of the Muqdadiyah district council.And Diyala Governor Muthanna al-Tamimi said that: Muqdadiyah will not fall into the trap of sectarian strife promoted by some politicians.The Islamic State jihadist group claimed the attack in an online statement, saying a suicide bomber who detonated an explosive belt targeted a gathering of militiamen in Muqdadiyah.It listed the names of some who were allegedly killed.Suicide bombings are a tactic almost exclusively employed in Iraq by IS, a Sunni extremist group that overran swathes of the country in 2014.The Muqdadiyah attack came a day after bombings in a Shiite area of northern Baghdad killed at least 39 people and wounded at least 76, the deadliest attacks in the capital so far this year.IS said in an online statement that two of its suicide bombers carried out the Baghdad attacks.IS also claimed an attack at a cafe in Muqdadiyah that killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens in January, after which revenge attacks targeted Sunni properties in the area.Human Rights Watch said Shiite militiamen abducted and killed civilians in the Muqdadiyah area after the attack, in addition to burning homes and mosques.Amnesty International also said that militiamen destroyed Sunni mosques, shops and homes following the January attack, and that authorities subsequently turned a blind eye to this shocking rampage.The death of militia leaders in the Monday bombing increases the odds of another round of revenge attacks in the area.Iraq turned to Shiite militia forces in 2014 to help counter an IS onslaught that overran large areas north and west of Baghdad, and they have played a key role in halting the jihadist advance and later pushing them back.But they have also carried out repeated abuses during the conflict that ultimately feed mistrust of the government and are harmful to Baghdads efforts to reassert and maintain control in recaptured areas.Diyala province was declared liberated from IS in late January 2015, but ending their open control of populated areas has not brought an end to attacks by the jihadists.

Iran's Rouhani secures more moderate parliament

Posted:

TEHRAN (AFP) - Irans President Hassan Rouhani secured his goal of a more moderate parliament Monday after elections saw hardliners soundly trumped by reformists and conservatives lose seats as voters implicitly backed the government.Final results showed the vote being split three ways between Rouhanis reformist and moderate allies, conservatives and independents, a result that gives the president more leverage to bring about domestic change.No single group had a decisive share of parliaments 290 seats from Fridays voting, but tallies suggested the pragmatic Rouhani would be able to muster support from key backers and create a working majority.The outcome signalled strong public support for last years nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, an agreement steered by Rouhani which saw the lifting of sanctions in January after years of economic hurt.Kudos to the history-making nation of Iran. Lets open a new chapter based on domestic talents & global opportunities, the president wrote on Twitter soon after the last results were read out on state television.Fridays second election -- for the clerical Assembly of Experts -- also produced symbolic gains for Rouhani and his closest allies.Two renowned hardline ayatollahs lost their seats on the 88-member assembly, a powerful committee that monitors supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis work and will pick the 76-year-olds successor if he dies during its eight-year term.In contrast, 15 of 16 candidates from the list for the assembly headed by Rouhani and his veteran political backer Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a two-term former president, were resoundingly voted in.Rafsanjani came first and Rouhani third. A push by their supporters, largely on social media, helped eject current assembly chair Mohammad Yazdi and the ultraconservative Mohammad Taghi Mesbah-Yazdi, formerly a close adviser to ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, another hardliner.The most dramatic change, however, was the resurgence of the reformists, a political camp largely silenced after a disputed election in 2009 saw Ahmadinejad re-elected.That vote was followed by bloody street protests in which dozens of people were killed in what is widely considered the Islamic republics darkest hour.Reformists swept the capital, and in an electoral first did so without requiring a second round of voting in any of the 30 seats they secured.After campaigning as the List of Hope, a slate of reformist politicians who support the government will regain significant power in parliament and are likely to push for social, cultural and political reforms.Reformists stayed away from parliamentary elections four years ago in protest at Ahmadinejads earlier victory, with defeated candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who remain under house arrest, having alleged that the vote for the presidency was rigged.While conservatives were wiped out in Tehran they retained some seats in other cities and enjoyed strong support in rural areas.The main conservative list secured 103 MPs, reformists and moderates from the List of Hope 95, and Independents 14, while five seats went to minorities and four to candidates with no single affiliation.Some 69 constituencies had no clear winner, meaning a second round run-off will be needed in a field that has more conservatives than reformists and moderates.But many of the conservatives already elected are moderates who backed Rouhani on the nuclear deal. Acutely aware of the publics shifting mood and tacit approval of openness toward the West, they are likely to support him again.Such a spirit of cooperation came from Ali Larijani, a conservative and parliaments current speaker, who described the election as eye-catching and said a new page had been opened for the country.Larijanis political heft was crucial to the nuclear deal being approved by MPs as he spoke up for Rouhanis government at key moments during the more than two years of negotiations that led to the accord.The election results represent a reaction against radicals from voters, Amir Mohebbian, a Tehran-based analyst with close links to politicians of all hues, told AFP.But mistakes by the conservatives who supported radicals during the campaign were also to blame for their losses, he said.The elections were seen as a crucial indicator of the future direction Iranians want for their country, 37 years after revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini founded the Islamic republic.From a population of almost 80 million -- 60 percent of which is no older than 30 -- 62 percent of 55 million eligible voters cast ballots.Khamenei himself stressed their importance ahead of the elections, urging the electorate to participate in both polls.Although Rouhani secured the nuclear agreement last July, ending a 13-year standoff over Irans atomic ambitions, and sanctions were lifted last month he has so far been unable to deliver significant domestic reform.Support from reformists in the next parliament should make that easier, but the resurgent group is also likely to pressure the president for change and concrete progress on long-avoided difficult issues such as demands to free political prisoners, which could lead to conflict with conservatives.

Migrants try to storm Greece-Macedonia border fence

Posted:

IDOMENI (AFP) - Hundreds of refugees on Monday tried to break through a border fence into Macedonia from Greece, where more than 7,000 people are stranded, as anger mounts over barriers to entry imposed on migrants flooding into Europe.In a sign of deepening divisions within Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel lashed out at Austria and Balkan states for introducing tight limits on migrant entries, leaving Greece with a growing bottleneck as refugee boats continue to arrive from Turkey.And Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov warned that once Austria reaches its cap of a maximum 37,500 migrants transiting through this year, the refugee route through the Balkans will have to close.At Idomeni on the frontier, Macedonian police fired tear gas as some 300 migrants forced their way through a Greek police cordon and raced towards a railway track between the two countries.Open the borders they shouted as a group of men used a metal signpost to bring down a section of barbed wire fencing, prompting police to fire volleys of tear gas and block them from crossing.At least 30 people, many of them children, requested first aid in the stampede that ensued, the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said. Authorities said a Macedonian policeman had also been hurt and had to be hospitalised.The protest occurred several hours after Macedonia allowed just 300 Syrians and Iraqis to cross.With Austria and Balkan states capping the numbers of migrants entering their soil, there has been a swift build-up along the Greece-Macedonia border with Athens warning that the number of people trapped could reach up to 70,000 by next month.The UNs rights chief criticised a rising roar of xenophobia towards migrants.To keep building higher walls against the flight of these desperate people is an act of cruelty and a delusion, Zeid Raad Al Hussein said.Amnesty International criticised the situation at Idomeni, branding it the result of a shameful spate of discriminatory border closures.As the bottleneck showed little sign of easing, Merkel slammed the restrictions and pointed the finger at Austria, whose clampdown on February 19 triggered a domino effect in the Balkans.Greece must not be allowed to plunge into chaos, she said.The spate of border closures was sparked by Austrias announcement it would accept no more than 80 asylum claims per day and that a maximum of 3,200 migrants would be allowed to transit through daily.EU members Slovenia and Croatia, along with Serbia and Macedonia, swiftly responded to the clampdown further up the migrant route by imposing a limit of 580 migrants entering per day.Because Austria decided on a limit of 80 per day, and not one more, we have reached todays situation, Merkel told public broadcaster ARD on Sunday.When one insists on his border, the other suffers. Thats not my Europe.Macedonias President Ivanov told German news website Spiegel Online that once Austrias limit of 37,500 entries this year is reached, the Balkan route will have to close.When Austria reaches its limit, it will happen, he said.Asked when that might occur, he replied perhaps right at this moment, although the Austrian interior ministry said only around 12,000 people had passed through its territory so far this year.The European Commission said late Monday it will this week propose using funds usually earmarked for catastrophes outside the bloc to provide aid to EU countries affected by the migrant crisis.On the ground, thousands continued to mass on Greeces northern border with Macedonia, where the Idomeni camp is designed to accomodate up to 1,500 people but is sheltering more than 7,000.Austria hit back quickly at criticism of its crackdown, describing it as absurd.We dont have to take criticism from anyone on any side, Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner told the Austria Press Agency.Apparently for some, the European solution (to the crisis) is for all (migrants) to mass in Austria, she said. In Athens, ministers held an emergency meeting on how to handle the crisis.With facilities in the capital nearing breaking point and hundreds of people continuing to arrive at the port of Piraeus, authorities hastily opened two indoor facilities -- one of them at a baseball stadium disused since the Athens 2004 Olympics -- to shelter another 2,000 migrants.In France meanwhile, clashes broke out as authorities began bulldozing half of the Jungle migrant camp in the port city of Calais where thousands of migrants hope to sneak aboard lorries and ferries to Britain.Belgium has turned back 619 migrants at the French border since reinstating border checks, a police spokesman told AFP.

Karachi: 4 accused arrested during police operations

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, police apprehended two accused, Shah Nawaz alias Shani and Abdul Qayyum, in injured condition after an encounter in Pakistan Bazar area of Orangi Town after an encounter.Police have also recovered arms and a motorcycle from their possession.Police also conducted an operation in Ittehad Town area and arrested an accused named Abdul Razzaq Patel alias Chotu. In a separate operation, police arrested a dacoit named Naved Alam from Saadi Town area. Police have also recovered arms and looted money from him.On the other hand, some unidentified persons opened fire at a car in Korangi No 5 and shot dead an activist of a political party. The deceased was identified as Abdur Rasheed Mirani.

US hails 'honour killing' Oscar film at Pakistan talks

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry kicked off a round of strategic talks with Pakistan on Monday by hailing a documentary film credited with changing attitudes to so-called honour killings.A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness won the Academy Award for best documentary short Sunday at the Oscars ceremony, and was on Kerrys mind as he opened the annual US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue.Welcoming Pakistani Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz to the State Department for what he said would be frank and very important talks on development, nuclear arms and security, the top US diplomat turned to the movie.This film told the remarkable story of a very courageous young woman who survived an attempt at an honour killing by her father and her uncle, Kerry told the assembled diplomats from both countries.And yet even more remarkable was that after the initial screening Prime Minister Sharif pledged to change laws that allow such barbaric practices and murders, he added.And that is a sign of how a great work of cinema can shine light on a subject on real world challenges and it can actually promote positive change.Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently after the film screened in the conservative country, which has been plagued by violent religious extremism.The film follows 19-year-old Saba, who was beaten, shot, dumped in a burlap sack and thrown into a river to be left for dead after she attempted to escape her family and marry a man.After meeting 37-year-old journalist and filmmaker Chinoy in Islamabad, Sharif issued a statement vowing to rid Pakistan of this evil by bringing in appropriate legislation.After their opening remarks, the officials went into a closed session to discuss cooperation in the energy sector, the fight against Islamist extremist groups and nuclear safety and non-proliferation in the light of Pakistans tense relations with India.

Dense fog blankets parts of Punjab

Posted:

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Dense fog blanketed large parts of the Punjab province on early Tuesday morning. Motorway has been closed for all kind of traffic from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian as visibility was dropped to zero.The Motorway police have advised the drivers to use G.T Road as an alternative. The Motorway police have also advised the drivers to switch on fog lights while driving at very slow speed.The Motorway police have also requested the people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travelling as visibility was very low due to heavy fog.

Pillion riding banned in Karachi for 4 days

Posted:

KARACHI (Dunya News) - Sindh Home Department has imposed a four-day ban on pillion riding in Karachi to maintain law and order situation in the city, Dunya News reported.The pillion riding ban took effect from 12:00 midnight today and will remain in force till March 4. Women, people with disabilities, elderly people, journalists and children under the age of 12 are exempt from the ban.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)