Thursday, 24 March 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Federer calls for consistent global dope testing

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MIAMI (AFP) - Roger Federer believes tennis does not face a major doping problem but voiced concern here Thursday that drug testing protocols are not being taken seriously enough in certain parts of the world. The record 17-time Grand Slam singles champion spoke out at the ATP and WTA Miami Open, where he ends an eight-week knee injury layoff Friday.Third-ranked Federer believes there should be more consistency in the hunt for dope cheats, saying he gets tested more in his homeland than anywhere else.Ive been in Dubai for 10 years now and been tested once. Thats not OK for me, the 34-year-old Swiss said.I get tested more in Switzerland because the guy from Switzerland lives in my village. He comes to see me the day after my surgery.In certain countries, maybe the testing is not as serious as in Switzerland. I would like to see that across the board to be the same way and fair.But I think tennis is doing more and more. I really dont think there is a major problem.Tennis is doing a lot better than it has in the past. Were getting more professional. The program is getting bigger and stronger.Federer said he was shocked to learn that Russian star Maria Sharapova, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, tested positive at the Australian Open for meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agencys ban list on January 1.It was very disappointing news to say the least, Federer said.Clearly I was very surprised. I thought she was going to announce retirement or something. But it also shows the famous players can get caught in the system that seems to be working.Sharapova said she did not check updated lists to see what changes were made to the banned list for 2016.I know what I take, Federer said. You have got to be sure. Thats why I quadruple check what I take. I dont want to take any chances whatsoever.Federer said he tends to give fellow players the benefit of the doubt, but is skeptical when those who test positive plead ignorance or accident.Im naive maybe in the fact that I believe athletes, Federer said. Clearly when they get caught, you turn. You are like, I cant believe they tried to do that, forgot about it, whatever.Federer said he would like to see more to combat dope cheats, including keeping blood samples on players from every event for 10 years so updated testing methods can be used to detect violations many years later.You could be punished retroactively, said Federer. Im a big believer in that.Controversial comments by top-ranked Novak Djokovic and now-resigned Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore regarding womens tennis and equal pay with the men were not echoed by Federer.Im all for equal prize money. When I was fighting for prize money increases, especially at the Slam level, I was always very aware of the fact it would impact the womens game, he said. Im happy tennis has produced some of the greatest female athletes in the world.Federer also recalled the terrorist attacks in Paris when speaking of the recent ones in Belgium and the extra stress they add for global-traveling athletes.When you travel you always have to be aware, he said. This time I was on the other side of the world. For Paris, we were in London and we had just been in Paris. That was scary. Not that this wasnt. It sure makes you wonder when you travel.One place Federer is excited to visit for the first time is Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics in August.Olympic Games is massively important for me, Federer said. I think its going to have a very special flair, a unique flair.Federer collected a silver medal in singles at the 2012 London Olympics and gold in doubles in 2008 alongside Stan Wawrinka.

Football: Qatar win again as Hong Kong exit World Cup

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DOHA (AFP) - Qatar maintained their unbeaten qualification record for the 2018 World Cup on Thursday with a 2-0 victory which ended Hong Kongs participation in the tournament.A goal in either half in Doha -- from skipper Hasan Al-Haydos and Sebastian Soria -- ensured dominant Qatars seventh win in seven AFC Group C games. Qatar, along with South Korea, who also won on Thursday, are the only two sides with a perfect record in the second round of AFC qualification games.The Gulf country, which will host the 2022 World Cup, had already ensured progression to the third round of qualifying which will see 12 of Asias biggest teams qualify for four spots at Russia in two years time.Qatar are aiming to qualify for their first World Cup but coach Daniel Carreno, who said his team were deserved winners, refused to be drawn on which teams he would like to play in the next round.Eighty-five per cent of the game was in the opponents half, said the Uruguayan.We were very disciplined throughout the match, I think the future of the Qatari team is very good.All of the players are convinced theres something good waiting for them in the future.The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute, when Al-Haydos fired in a right-foot shot from the edge of the area.There were very few chances in the first half but the game opened up in the second as Hong Kong committed more players to attack to try and secure an unlikely victory to keep their faint qualification hopes alive. It never looked likely.Instead, Al-Haydos and fellow midfielder Rodrigo Taba, who struck a post, almost added a second for Qatar before Soria slotted home from close range in the 86th minute to secure victory for the home side.Hong Kong barely threatened, with substitute Alexander Oluwatayos second-half shot -- easily saved by Qatars Amine Lecomte -- the closest they came to scoring.It was a tame end for Hong Kong who had enjoyed a decent qualification campaign, twice avoiding defeat to rivals China and only losing to Qatar in their eight games.Hong Kongs coach Kim Pan-gon said he had no complaints about the defeat and added that Qatar were capable of qualifying for Russia.Qatar is a very strong country and could go to the World Cup, he said.The next stage they will face very strong teams but I respect Qatar football. I hope they have good luck in the final stage.Qatar travel to China next week in a game between two of footballs biggest spenders.China, second in Group C after winning 4-0 against Maldives on Thursday, must win next Tuesdays game to have any chance of keeping their qualification hopes alive.A victory in Xian on March 29 could help China progress as one of the four best losers from the second stage of qualification.However, a win for Qatar could help improve their FIFA ranking, which could give them a better draw in the third stage.

Golf: Spieth cruises, Day and McIlroy win at WGC Match Play

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - World number one Jordan Spieth cruised to his second WGC Match Play win of the week on Thursday, downing Frances Victor Dubuisson 5 and 4.As in his 3 and 2 triumph over Jamie Donaldson at Austin Country Club on Wednesday, Spieth got off to a quick start and never trailed.He went 3 up after birdies at the third and fifth, maintaining that cushion until his lone setback of the day, a double bogey at the par-three 11th.It proved only a hiccup, as Dubuisson failed to notch a single birdie and lost the final three holes of the contest.Been able to flight the ball nicely, Spieth said. I had one bad swing on 11, but really played solid golf.Really thought Id be five or six up at the turn, and Victor made a couple of long putts to tie the holes.But thats what he does best. Very pleased to get today done with.Spieth needs only to halve his match against Justin Thomas on Friday to advance to the knockout round of 16.World number two Jason Day also needs only to halve his final round-robin match on Friday to advance after a 5 and 3 victory over Thailands Thongchai Jaidee, while defending champion and third seed Rory McIlroy will duel Kevin Na to advance from their group after both notched two wins in the first two days.Day showed no sign of the back injury he suffered in his 3 and 2 win over Graeme McDowell a day earlier, crushing his opening drive 380 yards en route to an eagle at the first hole against Thongchai.He had five birdies in his last seven holes to pull away.Didnt really know if I was going to play today, said Day, who was careful to keep up his stretching exercises throughout the round. It was kind of up in the air ... A little pain but for the most part pretty good.McIlroy defeated Smylie Kaufman 3 and 1 in a tight match that saw each player twice hold and lose a 1 up advantage over the first 13 holes.McIlroy squared the match at the 13th and went 2 up with pars at 14 and 15. After they halved the 16th with pars, Kaufman was unable to get up and down at 17 and conceded.It was a little scary at the start of the match, McIlroy said, adding that he expected a little bit more intensity in the winner-take-all match against Na.Na opened his match against Thorbjorn Olesen with three birdies in his first nine holes en route to a 3 and 2 victory over the Dane.Ive been striking the ball very well, Na said. I havent made too many mistakes. I havent made too many bogeys. Today I was three birdies no bogeys for the first nine holes, in these conditions thats very good.As on the first two days, Fridays matches can be halved. If two more players in a group share the lead, they will play a stroke-play, hole-by-hole playoff to determine who advances.Eighth-seeded Dustin Johnson bounced back from an opening day defeat to beat Thailands Kiradech Aphibarnrat 5 and 4.Johnson birdied two of the first four holes and led after every hole.Today I drove it a little bit better, Johnson said. I holed a couple of putts, just really had a lot of putts to win holes whereas yesterday I had a lot of putts to tie.British Open champion Zach Johnson notched a big win, downing former world number one Martin Kaymer of Germany 8 and 6.Today I got up early and just never let go, said Johnson, who with his 4 and 3 victory over Marcus Fraser on Wednesday has played just 27 holes in his first two matches.

Squash: El Shorbagy avenges Willstrop defeat at British Open

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KINGSTON UPON HULL (AFP) - World number one Mohamed El Shorbagy avenged his world championship disappointment by defeating his slayer James Willstrop to book a spot in the quarter-finals of the British Open on Thursday.The focussed Egyptian admitted he had been waiting for the match against Willstrop, the former world number one from England who in November had ended El Shorbagys high hopes of winning the world title for the first time.On that occasion in Washington, Willstrop caused one of the greatest ever world championship shocks in four games in the third round.Now it was four games again, 11-6, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5, though there were only a few moments when there was much doubt that El Shorbagy would settle the score.I have been waiting for this match for a long time, El Shorbagy said. Since James got back from injury (last year) we didnt see the real him. Then he took everyone by surprise - I didnt expect him to play the way he did against me.Do you know how frustrating this is? So today I was focussed from the first point.El Shorbagy also had a new plan. When he adopted his familiar style, creating a whirlwind of hitting and movement, and hustling his opponent with every shot, he was often ferocious. But surprisingly he mixed in some teasing and disrupting rallies - and it worked well.Hed obviously been thinking about this match for a long time, Willstrop said. I knew he would change something, because my squash beat his last time. It was tactical challenge, but I didnt expect him to slow it down so much.Willstrop still played well enough to ensure El Shorbagy kept his level high, though there were moments when the top seeds intensity - the quality which most of all won him the match - nearly got out of hand.Once in the second game he was warned by the referee for unacceptable behaviour - apparently a critical remark - and later, in the third, he was told to stop the comments and play squash.But El Shorbagy regained concentration in the fourth game and concluded with an emphasis suggesting he is very much the favourite to win the British Open for a second successive year.He next plays Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the fast and disciplined sixth-seeded Columbian, and he could go on to have a semi-final with his younger brother Marwan, who progessed when Saurav Ghosal of India retired after two games with an injured ankle.Womens top seed Laura Massaro also came through, though she had uncomfortable moments against unseeded Dane Line Hansen, who surged to unexpected leads of 9-7 in the first game and 10-8 in the second.But the Englishwoman responded with a calm orthodoxy, maintaining as sound a line and length as possible, dealing well with the two game points, and carving out a 11-9, 12-10, 11-3 success that earned a repeat of last years final with Camille Serme, the titleholder from France.Serme progressed more smoothly, 11-5, 11-8, 11-3, against Victoria Lust, the world number 19 from England. She did though need to pull back a 5-8 second game deficit.I was a bit nervous, Serme admitted. Really I just want to keep the same focus that I had last year.Earlier Raneem El Welily, the former world number one who has needed to rebuild her confidence after losing the top spot, showed some of her new qualities while reaching the quarter-finals.The brilliant but occasionally enigmatic Egyptian showed a steelier side as she came from behind in all three games to win 11-9, 14-12, 11-6 against Sarah-Jane Perry, the tenth-seeded Englishwoman.El Welily next plays compatriot Nouran Gohar, the 18-year-old world junior champion and a close friend.Shes also a role model for me, said Gohar with a tinge of apprehension. I cant say to her come and coach me in this match now.

Tennis: Serena withstands fightback to advance at Miami

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MIAMI (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams was forced to regroup but launched her bid for a ninth Miami Open crown Thursday by defeating US compatriot Christina McHale 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.Three-time defending champion Williams had the match on her racquet before having to withstand a fightback from her 23-year-old rival and taking two hours and seven minutes to reach the third round.She just started playing better, the kind of tennis shes never played before, said Williams. I made a few mistakes and then I had to pull myself back together.I feel like I was just playing, but its all right. Im back now and Im going.Top seed Williams, who watched tournaments at the combined WTA and ATP hardcourt event as a child, will next face Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, who ousted Australian Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-3.Williams fired 13 aces and 36 winners with 43 unforced errors while McHale responded with seven aces and 26 winners against 31 unforced errors.Asked if she took McHale too lightly, Williams replied, I dont underestimate anyone.Williams, whose back-to-back finals losses at the Australian Open and Indian Wells were her first since 2004, served for the match in the 10th game of the second set but netted a backhand to surrender a break.McHale held and won the first three points of the 12th game off Williams serve. The 34-year-old pulled back two but swatted a forehand wide to force a third set.She definitely started fighting back, Williams said. And shes clearly capable of playing great tennis.McHale denied Williams on three break points to hold the first game of the final set but Williams broke in the third and smashed a backhand service return winner to break again in the seventh game.Williams had to fight off two break points in the final game, saving one with her 12th ace and the other with a service winner, and she blasted her 13th ace on match point to finally advance.After answering a few questions, Williams told reporters, I just really dont want to be here. I feel like Ive been doing press every day. Thats enough, and ended her session.Kvitova, Watson advanceTwo-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova reached the third round with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over 83rd-ranked American Irina Falconi.I served pretty well, the Czech eighth seed said. She played better in the second set and thats what made it tougher. Its always a little bit tricky when its someone you have never played before.Kvitova next faces Russian 30th seed Ekaterina Makarova, who ousted Ukraines Lesia Tsurenko 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.British wildcard Heather Watson ousted US 20th seed Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-0. She faces Belgiums Yanina Wickmayer in the third round.Uzbek Denis Istomin rallied to beat Croatias Borna Coric 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 to book a Saturday matchup with British second seed Andy Murray, who won their only two matches back in 2013.Spanish fifth seed Rafael Nadal will open Saturday against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who rallied past Argentinas Leonardo Mayer 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori plays his second-round match against French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who downed Czech Lukas Rosol 7-5, 6-4.Japanese qualifier Tatsuma Ito beat Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to book a second-round match with another Frenchman, 16th seed Gael Monfils.Federer returns on FridayRoger Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam singles champion, will return Friday from an eight-week layoff for left knee surgery against Argentinas Juan Martin Del Potro, himself in only his third event back from a lengthy layoff after left wrist surgery.The Swiss star has a 15-5 career edge on Del Potro but the South American won their biggest matchup in the 2009 US Open final.World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, seeking his third Miami crown in a row and sixth overall, begins his title quest Friday against Britains 87th-ranked Kyle Edmund.Djokovic won last week at Indian Wells after taking his 11th Grand Slam title in January at the Australian Open.

Will introduce law against forceful religious conversions: Bilawal

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UMERKOT (Dunya News) – Pakistan Peoples Party chairman (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Friday stated that they will introduce law against forceful religious conversion in the country. He added that there cannot be a separate Pakistan for former President Pervez Musharraf and slain former Prime Minister (PM) Benazir Bhutto.Bilawal earlier arrived in Umerkot to participate with the minority Hindu community in their traditional Holi festival.Addressing the gathering in an emotional tone, Bilawal stated that PPP does not want that there should be a separate Pakistan for men, women, rich or poor.Bilawal added that Pakistan cannot progress without the support of its minorities.The PPP chairman criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan. He also lambasted Punjab government over Women Protection Bill.Meanwhile PPP workers scuffled as soon as the address ended. Some take banner while others ran off with Bilawal’s photos.

Kerry says US, Russia to push Syria political transition

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MOSCOW (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russias President Vladimir Putin agreed on Thursday to intensify the drive for a political settlement in Syria but remained divided over Bashar al-Assads future.After four hours of talks at the Kremlin, Kerry said the United States and Russia had found common ground on the Syrian peace process and on taking the fight to the Islamic State jihadist group.Before the meeting, US officials had suggested he would sound out the Russian leader about pressuring his ally Assad to step aside as part of the political solution, but afterwards little of this was said.Kerry noted that Putin had begun to withdraw the Russian forces that had been sent to shore up Assads rule, and had renewed Russias commitment to the political process under way at UN-mediated peace talks in Geneva.Russia will have to speak for itself as what its going to choose to do in order to help Mr Assad make the right decisions, but we agreed today... that we will try to accelerate the effort to move the political process forward, he said. We agreed on a target schedule for establishing a framework for a political transition and also a draft constitution, and the target is August, Kerry said at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the talks.Lavrov told journalists that Moscow and Washington would now step up efforts to get the Syrian regime and opposition to hold direct talks in Geneva, where a round of negotiations that saw a United Nations mediator shuttle between the delegations concluded on Thursday.As the immediate task we have agreed to push for the soonest start of direct talks between the government delegation and the whole spectrum of the opposition, Lavrov said, calling for a transitional governance structure in the war-torn country.Putin did not attend the final news conference, but he had unexpectedly warm words for the United States role in Syria at the start of the Kremlin encounter.We understand that what we have managed to achieve on Syria has only been possible thanks to the constructive position of the political leadership in the US, the position of President Obama, Putin said.Kerry said the two sides were looking to bolster the month-old ceasefire between Assads forces and the opposition hammered out by Putin and Barack Obama.We agreed today to build on recent gains to take immediate steps to reinforce the cessation of hostilities, Kerry said, adding this included steps to end the use of any indiscriminate weapons, to halt attempts by either side to seize new territory and to finalise a common understanding for how this cessation can be institutionalised.We agreed that the regime and the opposition need to begin releasing detainees, he added.Lavrov told Kerry that diplomatic efforts had been focused on creating a balance of interests among all sides involved in the Syrian crisis, including Moscow and Washington.But US officials fear the Syrian opposition will drop out of UN-mediated peace talks in Geneva unless Russias ally Assad agrees to step down as part of a political transition.Putin has stood by Assad, and even sent Russian warplanes to fight to protect his regime and strike the Islamic State, which has seized territory in the east of the country.But Moscows partial withdrawal of its forces from Syria has created what Washington believes is an opportunity to press for a change of stance on the regime.What were looking for, and what weve been looking for, for a long time is how are we going to transition away from Assads leadership, a senior US official told reporters.In Geneva, opposition negotiators confirmed that they are counting on Russia to keep the pressure on the regime.After the latest round of talks with UN mediator Staffan de Mistura, opposition spokesman Bassma Kodmani said: This is a unique moment, a precious moment and we hope Russia will seize this moment and use its leverage. And de Mistura said Thursday that the UN was aiming to restart Syria peace talks on April 9.Ties between Russia and the US have been at their lowest point since the Cold War amid fury over the Kremlins meddling in Ukraine. Kerry insisted Washington was not backing down on the crisis. Kerry said Ukraines territory still includes the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed two years ago, as well as disputed rebel-held areas in the east of the country.He also said that he had raised the issue of freeing Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko after she was sentenced this week to 22 years in jail over the killing of two Russian journalists following what the West has condemned as a politically motivated sham trial.

Syria peace talks pause without concrete progress

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GENEVA (AFP) - A round of Syria peace talks concluded Thursday with both sides agreeing on some key principles but without making any concrete advances towards a political solution, the UN mediator said.Staffan de Mistura, the UNs special envoy for Syria, voiced optimism that the two weeks spent mainly trying to pin down which key principles the warring sides could agree upon would enable them to quickly get down to discussing the thorny issue of political transition when they return to Geneva next month, around April 9.Next time, we put the principles aside and we look now (to) the political process, he told reporters, hailing a far more positive atmosphere than during a previous aborted round that collapsed in early February.There were no breakdowns, no walkouts, said De Mistura, who has since March 14 been shuttling between the government and opposition delegations in the so-called proximity talks.The main opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) also said Thursday the negotiations over the last two weeks had laid the basis for substantive talks next month.But HNC spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani warned that any real progress depended on Russia pressuring the government. This is a unique moment, a precious moment and we hope Russia will seize this moment and use its leverage, Kodmani said. Without this leverage on the regime we have little hope that anything will happen.US Secretary of State John Kerry, whose government backs the HNC, was in Moscow on Thursday to see if President Vladimir Putin can be persuaded to support an end to Syrian President Bashar al-Assads rule. Assads fate remains a key obstacle, with the government stubbornly insisting any discussion of him leaving is excluded and the opposition saying any talk of allowing him to stay is absolutely unacceptable.De Mistura described the Kerry-Putin meeting as crucial, and not by coincidence, coming the day the Geneva talks go into recess. Putin has stood by Assad, and even sent Russian warplanes to fight to protect his regime and strike the extremist Islamic State group, which has seized territory in the east of the country. But Moscow recently announced a partial withdrawal of its forces from Syria, creating what Washington believes is an opportunity to press for a change of stance on the regime.A fragile truce that has held since February 27 has meanwhile raised hopes for an end to the five-year Syrian conflict that has killed more than 270,000 people and forced millions to flee their homes.But trying to move the Geneva discussions towards the vital issue of political transition is no easy feat.In a bid to get the parties on the same page, the mediator said he had presented them with a list of 12 broad principles, including that Syrias sovereignty must be respected and terrorism must be rejected, which they had agreed on.As for the next round of talks in Geneva, De Mistura acknowledged the start date remained fluid, but that he aimed to resume around April 9.He thus disregarded a regime request that negotiations not resume until after parliamentary elections set for April 13, but stressed that delegates who preferred to show up in mid-April were also warmly welcome.One of the great things about proximity talks is that they are dramatically flexible, he said, highlighting that with indirect negotiations, participants can arrive at different times.

Karadzic guilty of genocide, jailed for 40 years

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THE HAGUE (AFP) - Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was found guilty Thursday of genocide and sentenced to 40 years in jail over the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II.UN war crimes judges said Karadzic, the most high-profile figure convicted over the wars that tore Yugoslavia apart, bore criminal responsibility for murder and persecution during the 1992-95 Bosnian conflict.Judge O-Gon Kwon pronounced Karadzic guilty of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and nine other charges including extermination, deportations and hostage-taking in a verdict issued more than two decades after he was first indicted.UN chief Ban Ki-moon hailed it has a historic day for justice. What is important is that a sentence has been passed against a terrible political ideology, agreed Bakir Izetbegovic, the Muslim member and chairman of Bosnias tripartite presidency.This is the most important verdict since Nuremberg.But relatives of the victims voiced disappointment, saying Karadzic should have been given a life sentence. In what will be a blow to thousands of victims, Karadzic was acquitted of a second count of genocide.The court in The Hague said it did not have enough evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that genocide had been committed in seven Bosnian towns and villages over two decades ago.After former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic died while on trial in 2006, the last high-ranking official of the top leadership to face judgement will be notorious Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic, The Butcher of Bosnia whose verdict is due next year.The Karadzic case is also likely to drag on for years, as his legal advisor said he would appeal the verdict issued by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.The fervently nationalist leader was found guilty for his role in the Bosnian war that claimed more than 100,000 lives and displaced 2.2 million others.The 70-year-old listened stony-faced as Kwon said it was clear Karadzic bore individual criminal responsibility for murder, persecution as well as the hostage-taking of UN peacekeepers.Karadzic was at the apex of political, governmental and military structures of the Bosnian Serb leadership and at the forefront of developing and promoting its ideologies, Kwon said.A long-time fugitive from justice until his arrest on a Belgrade bus in 2008, Karadzic, a one-time psychiatrist with a trademark bouffant hairdo, was found guilty of genocide for his role in the Srebrenica massacre in eastern Bosnia.Almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered and their bodies dumped in mass graves by Bosnian Serb forces who brushed aside Dutch UN peacekeepers in the supposedly safe area.The massacre was the worst bloodshed on European soil since World War II.There was a clear intent to kill every able-bodied Bosnian male from Srebrenica, Kwon said, and the operation was intended to destroy the Bosnian Muslims in the UN-protected enclave.ICTY chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz welcomed the verdict, saying: Justice has been done.Thousands came here to tell their stories and courageously confront their tormentors. Today with this conviction that trust has been honoured, he said in a statement.But Karadzics lawyer Peter Robinson said his client was disappointed and astonished.He feels that he was convicted on inference instead of evidence and will appeal the judgement, Robinson said outside the tribunal.In Srebrenica, relatives of the men murdered there slammed the sentence.He killed so many children and will perhaps live long enough to regain freedom, said Bida Smajlovic, 63, who lost her brother.There was also disappointment among demonstrators who had gathered outside the court from early morning.I was hoping for a life sentence, said Adil Draganovic, 63, who was held captive in a Bosnian Serb concentration camp.But then again 40 years is as good as a life sentence for him, he told AFP.The hearing, attended by more than 200 journalists and over 100 diplomats and observers, took place amid tight security.Karadzic was also found guilty of being behind the 44-month siege of Sarajevo in which 10,000 civilians died in a relentless campaign of sniping and shelling.During the trial, which opened in 2009 and ended in October 2014 after an exhausting 497 days in the courtroom, some 115,000 pages of documentary evidence were presented along with 586 witnesses.In an unexpected drama before the verdict, the former spokeswoman for ex-chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte was arrested at the tribunal by UN guards. Florence Hartmann had been convicted of contempt and sentenced to seven days in jail for revealing confidential court details in a 2007 book.

IS under pressure as troops advance on Palmyra, Mosul

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian troops on Thursday entered the ancient city of Palmyra and Iraqi forces launched an offensive against Mosul as pressure mounted on key strongholds of the Islamic State jihadist group.US Secretary of State John Kerry was meanwhile holding talks in Moscow to push for peace efforts in Syria, from where IS has claimed attacks on the West including this weeks bombings in Brussels.In Geneva, the United Nations envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said he was aiming to restart peace talks on April 9.Backed by Russian warplanes and allied militia on the ground, the Syrian army advanced into Palmyra after launching a desert offensive early this month, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.The defence ministry in Moscow said Russian aircraft carried out 146 strikes on terrorist targets in the Palmyra area between Wednesday and last Sunday.A total of 320 terrorists were killed, it said, adding that six command posts, five tanks, two ammunition dumps and 15 vehicles were among the targets eliminated.News agencies in Moscow said later that a Russian special forces officer was killed while directing air strikes near Palmyra.IS overran Palmyra -- known as the Pearl of the Desert -- last May and it has since blown up UNESCO-listed temples and looted relics that dated back thousands of years.Regime forces have entered the Hayy al-Gharf neighbourhood in the southwest of Palmyra. They are advancing very slowly because of mines planted by IS, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding troops were also advancing from the north.A Syrian military source said the army had entered Palmyra from the northwest after seizing control of part of the historic Valley of the Tombs.The clashes, which are ongoing, are fierce, he told AFP.Syrias antiquities chief Maamoun Abdelkarim hailed the imminent recapture of Palmyra, vowing to rebuild monuments the jihadists destroyed.I am so happy that the liberation is imminent... and that the nightmare is nearly over, before it is too late, before the total destruction of the ancient city, he said.I think this 10-month period has been the worst of our lives.IS had earlier urged civilians to flee the city, where about 15,000 of its 70,000 original residents remained after the jihadist takeover.Palmyras recapture would be a major strategic and symbolic victory for President Bashar al-Assad, since whoever holds it also controls the vast desert extending from central Syria to the Iraqi border.Across the border, Iraqi forces announced the start of an offensive to retake the second city of Mosul, ISs main hub in Iraq.The army and the Popular Mobilisation paramilitary force have begun the first phase of conquest operations in the northern Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital, Iraqs joint operations command said.It said four villages had been taken between the town of Qayyarah, which is held by IS, and Makhmur, where US-backed Iraqi forces have been massing.Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi congratulated the fighters for launching the operation to retake Nineveh and achieving their first success with the recapture of some villages.The army did not say how long this phase of the operation was expected to take and Iraqi forces still look far from being in a position to take the city itself.Experts have warned any battle to retake Mosul would be difficult, given the significant number of jihadists and civilians in the city and the time IS has had to prepare defences.In Moscow, Kerry was to see if President Vladimir Putin could be convinced to support an end to Assads rule in Syria.We... have some ideas about how we can together, most effectively, make progress even deeper and begin the very serious political process of transition, Kerry told Putin. Tuesdays bombings in Brussels underscore the urgency of fighting IS and other extremist organisations, he added.The Moscow meetings came as UN envoy de Mistura met the government delegation to Geneva, on the final day in the current round of indirect peace negotiations.Syrias main opposition said the talks laid the basis for substantive negotiations next month, but warned any real progress depended on Russia pressuring the government.This is a unique moment, a precious moment and we hope Russia will seize this moment and use its leverage, High Negotiations Committee spokeswoman Bassma Kodmani said.Assads future has been a key obstacle in the latest talks, with the government insisting any discussion of him leaving is excluded and the opposition saying any talk of allowing him to stay is absolutely unacceptable.

N. Korean leader claims solid-fuel rocket success

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SEOUL (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has claimed an historic advance in the countrys nuclear strike capability with the successful test of a solid-fuel rocket engine, state media said Thursday.The announcement came as South Korean President Park Geun-Hye ordered the military to strengthen readiness in the wake of multiple North Korean threats to launch nuclear and conventional missile attacks.Tensions have been soaring on the divided Korean peninsula since the North carried out its fourth nuclear test on January 6, followed a month later by a long-range rocket launch that was widely seen as a disguised ballistic missile test.Angered by ongoing large-scale South Korea-US military drills, Pyongyang has ramped up the rhetoric in recent weeks, maintaining a daily barrage of bellicose warnings aimed at Seoul and Washington.The solid-fuel test was personally monitored by Kim, who said it would allow for a major upgrade of the Norths missile delivery systems that would strike great horror and terror into the hearts of our enemies, the state-run KCNA news agency said.Solid-fuel missiles would have distinct advantages -- including greater mobility and the ability to launch within minutes -- over Pyongyangs current, largely liquid-fuelled inventory.The North is already understood to use solid fuel for its short-range, road-mobile ballistic missiles, but not for medium-range or untested long-range missiles.According to KCNA, the solid-fuel test was of a large output engine and included separation testing.This is an historic and unforgettable day, Kim was quoted as saying.In recent weeks, North Korea has also claimed to have miniaturised a thermo-nuclear warhead that can fit on a ballistic missile, and the successful test of re-entry technology that would allow the warhead -- when carried on a long-range missile -- to survive atmospheric re-entry.Experts say the claims are likely a mix of fact and exaggeration.However, there is a consensus that North Korea has made strong and steady progress towards its goal of developing an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that can accurately deliver a nuclear bomb as far as the continental United States.We view this as North Koreas attempt to showcase its progress in nuclear and missile developments domestically and internationally, said South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun.On Wednesday, Pyongyang had focused its ire on South Koreas Park, saying its artillery units stood ready to turn her office into a sea of flames and ashes.The presidential Blue House in Seoul responded Thursday, condemning what it described as a direct provocation to our nation as well as the president.Park ordered the South Korean military to stand ready to respond swiftly and effectively to any reckless provocations, the Blue House said in a statement.

Lahore: 3 dead as fire engulfs circus near Minar-e-Pakistan

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – 3 people were killed late Friday night as fire engulfed a circus named Farzand circus near Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore. The 3 individuals were said to be employees of the circus. All 3 lost their lives by electrocution while attempting to extinguish the flames.According to the details, dead bodies of the 3 employees Ilyas, Zafar and Ramzan, who lost their lives, were shifted to the mortuary of Mayo hospital.Another injured employee was also shifted to the hospital whose condition is being said to be in critical condtion.All 3 employees belonged to Bahawalpur.Rescue teams arrived at the scene and managed to put out the raging blaze in time.Police conducted a search operation and cleared the area. 2 relatives of the killed employees reached Tibi city police station and have submitted a request for registering a case against the administration of Farzand circus.

Charsadda: Swift action by police, alleged terrorist arrested

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CHARSADDA (Dunya News) – Swift action was conducted by police as they apprehended an alleged terrorist from Charsadda. Material linked to a banned outfit was found from the alleged suspect while ammunition was also recovered.According to the police, action was conducted by police at bus stand in Charsadda during which an alleged terrorist was arrested. Two hand grenades and a pistol were recovered from suspect Sahib Gul.Police claim that a letter head and stamp belonging to an outlawed outfit was also found from the suspect.Initial investigation revealed that the alleged terrorist used the recovered letter head in terrorist activities.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to reach Islamabad today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani will arrive here in Islamabad today (Friday) on a two-day official visit to Pakistan. This will be Rouhanis first visit to Pakistan as the President of Iran.The Iranian President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials and businessmen.The Iranian President is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, which is significant after lifting of sanctions on Iran that has opened new avenues for enhancing economic interaction.During his stay in Pakistan, Rouhani will hold meetings with his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. According to a Foreign Office statement, the leaders of both the countries will have an exchange of views on strengthening bilateral relations. Cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual concern will also be discussed during the meetings.

Karachi: Police, Rangers apprehend 13 suspects including 3 terrorists

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Police and Rangers late Friday night apprehended 13 suspects including 3 terrorists of a banned outfit during a clash with the felons in various area of the city. Ammunition and explosives material were also recovered from the terrorists.According to the details, 3 injured terrorists were arrested after exchange of fire in Manhgopir area. The caputrued terrorists were involoved in numerous acts of sabotage.Police arrested a wanted street crime suspect and robber, Hussain Ali, from Mehmoodabad area.Meanhwile Rangers nabbed 4 felons from Hub area.Weapons were recovered from the suspects.Rangers also arrested 5 gang war operatives and recovered ammunition during a raid in Purana Golimar area. According to the Rangers Spokesperson, arrested suspects were involved in various offences.
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