Monday 8 February 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Dense fog: Motorway closed from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - According to details, the Motorway has been closed for all kind of traffic from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian on early Tuesday morning due to dense fog, Dunya News reported.The Motorway police have advised the drivers to use G.T Road as an alternative as visibility was dropped to zero. 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 down to zero due to Dense fog.

Death row convict executed in Bahawalpur

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BAHAWALPUR (Dunya News) - A death row prisoner was sent to the gallows at the New Central Jail Bahawalpur on early Tuesday morning, Dunya News reported.Death row convict Haider Shehzad was executed for killing a man named Muhammad Amin over a dispute. The dead body of Shehzad was handed over to his relative after the execution.

Tennis: Cilic makes winning start in Rotterdam

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ROTTERDAM (AFP) - Croatians Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig both made winning starts to the Rotterdam World Tennis tournament on Monday.Second seed Cilic, a 2014 finalist at the Ahoy stadium, left Denis Istomin without a win at the event for a third straight year, posting a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory.The 2014 US Open winner hopes to take his progress one step further after his best here two years ago when he finished runner-up to Tomas Berdych,.To win here would be a huge honour. but the tournament is tough, he said.I can only go step by step, there is no other way. But I will be pushing myself hard to try and win it.Cilic spent just over 90 minutes in firing 10 aces and breaking once from seven chances against the Uzbek coached by his mother. The seed never faced a break point.It was a tough, mental challenge, the 13th-ranked winner said. The first set was very close and the second was a mental battle.I was lucky to pull it through.Dodig, the world number 87, was coming off a first-round loss to a wild card at the Australian Open.But the Croatian whipped his game into shape during Rotterdam weekend qualifying and put his form to good use with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of seventh-seeded Benoit Paire.Paire, one of seven French players in the draw, committed well over 50 unforced errors in what was a frustrating effort.It required 90 minutes for Dodig to take revenge for a 2013 loss in Monte Carlo to the Frenchman.Paire, who has now lost his last four matches dating to mid-January, saved a match point in the tenth game of the second set and made Dodig, ranked 87th, work for the victory. The Croatian advanced on his third chance from a concluding Paire error.Jiri Vesely won an all-Czech battle in the first round as he defeated Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2.Frances Richard Gasquet takes the top seeding in the event which lost Roger Federer at short notice last week to minor knee surgery.Gasquet comes to the Netherlands with a 13th career title to hand after winning in Montpellier at the weekend.

Football: Ronaldo committed to seeing out Real contract

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MADRID (AFP) - Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at Real Madrid for at least another two years, the forward said on Monday.The 31-year-old three-time Ballon dOr winner was picking up an award as top scorer in Spain for last season from Spanish daily Marca when he made the comments.In a light-hearted interview he dampened incessant transfer rumours linking him with a switch to either big-spending Paris Saint-Germain or former club Manchester United.Im still under contract for another two years. After that, well see, said Ronaldo.What I want most of all is to stay here for several years. As for the future, youll see what happens.Ronaldo joined Real in 2009 from Manchester United, a year after winning his first Ballon dOr world player of the year trophy having helped the English giants to the 2008 Champions League crown.Two more Ballon dOrs would follow at Madrid, with whom he lifted the Champions League again in 2014.Apart from having one of the two best players in the world on their books -- Ronaldo saw the Ballon dOr revert to Lionel Messi for a record fifth time a month ago -- Real have no interest in letting any stars leave as they are banned from signing players over the next two transfer periods having broken rules regarding the signing of youth players.That punishment has temporarily been suspended, though, as world football governing body FIFA examines Reals appeal, although they are likely to reach a final decision before the transfer window opens again in the summer.

Football: Messi undergoes kidney stone treatment

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MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi is undergoing treatment on kidney stones which floored the Argentina superstar at the Club World Cup in December, Barcelona announced on Monday.The five-time world Player of the Year will be submitted to various tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the development of kidney problems he suffered last December, the Spanish champions said in a statement.Messi is due back on Wednesday, when Barca face Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, with the Catalans firmly in control after the 7-0 first leg drubbing they handed Gary Nevilles team as Messi bagged a hat-trick.The five time World Player of the Year is reported to be receiving lithotripsy, a procedure involving ultrasound shock waves to break down problem kidney stones.The surgery normally lasts between three quarters of an hour and an hour with the patient requiring sedation or in some cases anaesthesia, the Mundo Deportivo newspaper reported.Messi suffered renal colic, a problem commonly caused by kidney stones, in Japan in December forcing him to miss eventual winners Barcelonas semi-final against Chinas Guangzhou Evergrande.He recovered in time to line up in the final where Barca beat Argentinas River Plate 3-0 as he scored the opening goal.

Athletics: No quick fix to crisis, says IAAF chief Coe

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TOKYO (AFP) - Beleaguered world athletics boss Sebastian Coe admitted Monday there would be no quick fix as he battles to restore public trust in the crisis-hit sport.But the 59-year-old Briton, on a visit to Japan in his capacity as chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), promised to deliver a clean platform for clean athletes.Im sure that the changes that I have in train will be, in large part, in place by end of this year, said Coe, whose first five months in charge of the sports governing IAAF have been plagued by doping and corruption scandals.As Ive said before, the journey back to trust is one of an uncertain length, but we have to make changes, he added. We have to push on with the reforms that I have been given the go-ahead with from our previous council meeting. I will report to our next council meeting in a few weeks time but, yes, those reforms are very, very important.Since taking over from Senegalese Lamine Diack last August, Coe has faced criticism after Russia was banned after being found guilty of state-sponsored doping, while a slew of top IAAF officials -- including the disgraced Diack -- have been accused of accepting bribes from drug cheats.Coe has denied a cover-up despite the conclusion of Dick Pound, chair of the World Anti-Doping Agencys independent commission, that he could not have been unaware of how widespread drug use was in athletics, having served eight years as vice president under Diack.Coe, who won back-to-back Olympic 1,500 metres gold medals at the 1980 and 1984 Games, was ultimately endorsed by Pound as the right man to repair the sports tarnished image.We have to move the debate back to one of trust and integrity, said the former British member of parliament after signing an agreement for British athletes to use training facilities in Yokohama and Kawasaki at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. One where the clean athletes know that there is no ambiguity at all in the federation about delivering a clean platform for clean athletes.Coe also rejected the idea that British athletes could be tempted to stay away from this years Rio Olympics as global health chiefs struggle to bring the mosquito-carried Zika virus under control.No, British athletes are not reluctant at all to compete in Rio, he said. We have a proud tradition of having been at every Olympic Games since 1896, winter and summer, and all the British competitors are looking forward to it.Alarm has spread over the virus since the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared Zika an international emergency, prompting concern it could have an impact on the decision of athletes to compete, particularly if the situation worsens.The current issue is one that all national Olympic committees will be dealing with, said Coe. We are speaking and working very, very closely with the organising committee and other agencies in Rio. But we are very much looking forward to being there.

Cycling: Cavendish wins 1st stage of Tour of Qatar

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DOHA (AFP) - Britains Mark Cavendish won the first stage of the Tour of Qatar on Monday ahead of Italian pair Sacha Modolo and Andrea Guardini. The former world road race champion covered the 175 kilometres from Dukhan to the Al Khor corniche in 3hrs 28.31secs, eight seconds in front of Modolo and 11 seconds ahead of Guardini.It was a first stage win of the season for Cavendish, and a first win also for his new South African Dimension Data team.It is the first stage win for Dimension Data on the World Tour and was the result of a great team performance, he said.You cant win in Qatar without a good team, it just isnt possible. I am so happy to have won this stage.Tuesdays 135 kilometre second stage around the campus of the University of Qatar will see the peloton tackle the course prepared for the world road race championships in October.The tour comprises five stages and will cover a total distance of 626.4 kilometres.Cavendish is seeking a second win in the Tour of Qatar, having been victorious in 2013.

Karachi: 8 accused arrested during Rangers, police operations

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Rangers and police conducted operations in different parts of Karachi on Monday and arrested eight accused, including a terrorist of a banned outfit.According to details, police conducted an operation in Manghupir area and arrested a terrorist in injured condition after an encounter while two of his accomplices managed to escape from the scene. Police sources said that the arrested terrorist belonged to Tehrik-e-Taliban Abid Machar Group and was involved in bomb attacks on Rangers and police personnel. Police also recovered hand grenades and other ammunition from him.Police also conducted an operation in Azizabad area and arrested three accused including two dacoits. Police informed that the arrested persons were wanted in several cases of robberies and other crimes.On the other hand, Rangers conducted an operation in Khada Market in Lyari and arrested three gang war accused. Rangers spokesman said that the arrested persons belonged to Wasiullah Lakho group.

UN special representative arrives today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News): UN Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will reach Pakistan on a three-day visit today (Tuesday).During her visit, the Queen will have meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain besides other engagements with a range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors.During her meetings with various leaders, Queen Maxima will take up issues of marginalized communities to bring them into the net of inclusiveness to take them from the cesspool of poverty and poor quality of life.

India regulator deals blow to Facebook in Internet row

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indias telecom regulator on Monday dealt a blow to Facebooks plans to offer free mobile Internet through its controversial Free Basics service, by outlawing differential pricing for data packages.Facebook has suffered a fierce backlash in India from net neutrality advocates. They say that because Free Basics only allows access to selected websites, albeit free, it violates the principle that the entire Internet should be available to everyone on equal terms.Responding to the decision, Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the worlds biggest social network still sees value in the programWhile were disappointed with todays decision, I want to personally communicate that we are committed to keep working to break down barriers to connectivity in India and around the world, Zuckerberg said on his Facebook page.Connecting India is an important goal we wont give up on, because more than a billion people in India dont have access to the Internet.While not ruling explicitly on net neutrality, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) decided not to allow what it called discriminatory pricing for different data platforms or content.The regulators ruling suggests that Free Basics, which was aimed mainly at millions of people in Indias poor rural areas, will not be allowed to continue in its current form.Today we have come out with a regulation which essentially mandates that no service provider shall charge differential pricing on the basis of application, platforms or websites or sources, Ram Sewak Sharma, chairman of TRAI, told reporters.Anything on the Internet cannot be differentially priced, thats the broad point weve made in the regulation and thats where it stands, he said.On a visit to New Delhi in October, Zuckerberg spoke of his desire to help the next billion -- the approximate number of Indians without the Internet -- get online.The technology giant had mounted a campaign via newspapers and text messages in India, asking people to lobby the regulator not to bar Free Basics. Indias 1.2 billion people make it a vitally important market for Facebook, which is still locked out of China.Critics of Free Basics, which had been suspended while the regulators consultation was continuing, include many of Indias leading technology entrepreneurs, with activists describing it as a poor Internet for poor people.The TRAIs ruling was a clear victory for net neutrality advocates, who seek to prevent companies from restricting access to the Internet, with the regulator saying it had been guided by the principles of net neutrality.It added that it sought to ensure that consumers get unhindered and non-discriminatory access to the Internet.There may be exemptions to the ruling allowing for free or cheaper data packages in case of emergencies, TRAI said, adding that the policy may be reviewed every two years or sooner.A spokesman for mobile operator Reliance Communications, Facebooks partner for Free Basics, declined to comment.

'Meteorite' kills man in south India, authorities say

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CHENNAI (AFP) - Indian authorities say a falling object that killed a bus driver and injured three others was a meteorite. If proven, it would be the first such death in recorded history.Experts said other explanations were possible for the incident Saturday in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.The impact of the object left a five-foot-deep crater in the ground, according to the Times of India, and shattered window panes in a nearby building, killing the driver who was walking past. The object weighed only 11 grammes, the newspaper added, about as heavy as a AAA battery. Images in local media showed a blueish rock, which Tamil Nadus Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram described as a meteorite -- although scientists say this has not yet been proved. A meteorite fell at a private engineering college... and claimed the life of a college bus driver, said the chief minister in a statement late Sunday, expressing shock at the news.S. P. Rajaguru, assistant professor at the Indian Astrophysics Institute in Bangalore, said the rock could be a meteorite but further tests were needed.If proven it would be the first meteorite death of a human in recorded history, he said.Most of the meteors never reach the earth surface as they completely vaporise in the atmosphere, he told AFP by phone.Hitting the Earth surface is very rare and there have been no deaths in recorded history. Rajaguru said the missile could be debris from a rocket or a space shuttle.Meteors are particles of dust and rock that usually burn up as they pass through the Earths atmosphere.Those that do not burn up completely, surviving the fall to Earth, are known as meteorites.

Oil tumbles after Saudi-Venezuela talks, WTI below $30

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Crude oil prices slid lower Monday, pushing US oil below $30 a barrel, after weekend talks between OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and Venezuela dashed hopes for a reduction in production.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for March delivery sank $1.20 (3.9 percent) to $29.69 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.In London, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April, the European benchmark, finished at $32.88 a barrel, down $1.18 (3.5 percent) from Friday.The meeting between Venezuela and Saudi oil ministers appeared to be a washout as Saudi Arabia continued to show unwillingness to support an emergency OPEC meeting on low prices, said Tim Evans of Citi Futures.This sets the bar for success at about the lowest level imaginable, in our view, and leaves the market facing ongoing physical oversupply, Evans said.OPEC, the 13-nation cartel in which Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer, has refused to cut output as it looks to maintain market share in the face of competition from US shale.In late January, speculation that Russia and OPEC could meet to discuss production cuts lent short-lived support to prices.So far what we see are meetings with no result, said James Williams of WTRG Economics. Its probably going to be mid-year until we see anything that looks like a bullish market.James Hughes, analyst at traders GKFX, noted that the market was in a holding pattern awaiting supply-side news.Hughes noted that $30 will be an important level for the next few months, if continued falls below the level are met by heavy buying.The worry is that investors are just catching their breath until a further move lower continues.

Dollar mostly lower, yen rises as investors seek haven

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar was mostly lower Monday as investors sought the safety of the Japanese currency amid sharp losses on US and European equity markets.Investors sent stocks tumbling in part due to concerns about the global economic slowdown. The yen, a traditional haven in times of market turmoil, rose at one point to its highest level against the dollar, at 115.18 yen, since November 2014.Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management said that 115 is long viewed as the line in the sand for the BoJ (Bank of Japan).Not only has this level held for the past year but with the yen appreciating almost 300 pips since they went to negative rates, the central bank will not be happy with the recent rise in the currency, she said. Chinas announcement Sunday that its foreign exchange reserves had fallen by almost $100 billion in January to their lowest level in more than three years was not as bad as analysts expected. But it cast further doubt on how much longer Beijing can defend the yuan from falling.The Chinese markets are closed this week for the Lunar New Year holiday. On Monday, the yuan was at 6.5685 per dollar, slightly stronger than Friday.Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to appear Wednesday and Thursday in Congress to discuss the economy and monetary policy. Markets are waiting to see what she indicates about how fast the Fed will lift rates following its first rate hike in December after more than nine years.The widespread expectation is that shes going to do what the Fed has been doing of recent, which is to stick to the idea of more rate hikes throughout this year while also alluding to keeping a watchful eye on global developments, said James Stanley, currency analyst at DailyFX.

Proposal to play World Twenty20 matches on neutral venue: Pakistan

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LAHORE (AFP) - Pakistans cricket chief Monday said a proposal was given to play their World Twenty20 matches on neutral venues next month in the event that Islamabad does not allow the team to tour India.India host the ICC World Twenty20 from March 8 to April 3 but Pakistans participation is subject to government clearance as there are specific threats, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan said.We have told the ICC (International Cricket Council) now and before as well, the decision (to tour India) is with the government and it will consider if there is a specific Pakistan oriented security threat, Khan told media.Khan said a proposal was given during the ICC Board meeting in Dubai last week.Someone in the ICC meeting said that if there are doubts over extremists (at Pakistan matches) we are ready to play at neutral venues in case our government does not give the permission to tour India, said Khan.Neighbours Pakistan and India share a volatile relationship. There was a thaw recently as Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif briefly met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of a climate change meeting in Paris late last year.That was followed by a surprise visit by Modi to Lahore to attend Sharifs birthday and a family gathering.But last months attacks on an Indian air base in Pathankot derailed the peace process leading to the cancellation of talks between the foreign secretaries.Khan said there have been incidents recently which suggested that there are indeed Pakistan-specific threats.They are not general threats, like Australia had in Bangladesh and they did not send their team for the Under-19 World Cup, Khan said.Australia withdrew from the January-February Junior World Cup over security fears.PCB could hold a meeting with the BCCI officials in Mumbai (the BCCI office was the scene of protests by Shiv Sena activists in October 2015), Pakistan singer Ghulam Alis concerts could not be staged twice over threats and before that a book launch for Khursheed Kasuri (the former Pakistani foreign secretary) was disturbed, said Khan of the recent events in India last year.Khan said a 500-plus Pakistan contingent featuring in the South Asian Federation (SA) Games in Guwhati was different from a cricketing event.There are more chances of attacks on cricketers than on swimmers and players of other games.If the decision is negative then maybe the ICC will say that our matches should be held on neutral venues in Sri Lanka or United Arab Emirates.

Sammy feels for cricket-starved Pakistan fans

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DUBAI (AFP) - West Indies Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy Monday said he felt sad for Pakistan cricket fans who are deprived of watching international stars on home grounds due to security fears in the country.Pakistan have been facing international cricket hiatus since March 2009 terrorists attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus -- which killed eight people and injured seven visiting players -- led to suspension of all international matches.That hiatus was briefly broken when Zimbabwe played a short limited over series in Pakistan in May-June last year but that does not guarantee series with bigger teams like India, Australia and England.West Indies have not played a series with Pakistan since their 2006 tour to that country.West Indies are due to play two Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s in September-October this year but that too is likely to be played on neutral venues in United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan have been playing their home matches since 2009.Sammy said it was up to the West Indies Cricket Board to decide where the series will be played but he certainly feels sad for Pakistan fans.Well, to be honest, these decisions are never ours its the government and the cricket body to decide but what I could tell you is that the fans of Pakistan cricket have been missing some good international cricket. We as cricketers get to play in front of our home fans and that is something Pakistan have not had an opportunity to do, to play in front of their own people for a while, said Sammy who is playing Pakistan Super League here.Its sad but hopefully things could get resolved and every territory could get a chance of playing cricket before their own crowds, said Sammy who is playing alongside Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi for Peshawar franchise.Asked whether any Pakistan player has invited him to their country, Sammy said: We dont really talk about it, they have been on the road for a long time with Dubai is home base for them. I think every cricketer wants to play at home but its not our decision, its the administration that decides that so I dont know.Sammy said he was enjoying the company of Pakistan cricketers.I just enjoy cricket on the whole, to share the dressing room with Afridi, (Wahab) Riaz and (Kamran) Akmal its a pleasure and playing is an honour.Five teams are competing in the Twenty20 league which will end on February 23.
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