Sunday 6 March 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Football: Real Madrid seek European tonic to terrible season

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid return to Champions League action with the visit of Roma on Tuesday needing to book their place in their quarter-finals to keep alive a hugely disappointing season.A place in the last eight for a sixth consecutive season is well within the reach of Zinedine Zidanes men with a comfortable 2-0 first-leg lead to rely on.Yet, Madrid will have memories of this stage of the competition 12 months ago when Schalke had the 10-time champions clinging on in the final stages as the Germans won 4-3 at the Bernabeu.Reals home form this season has shown in equal measure the talent and frailties prevalent in their star-studded squad.Madrids forlorn challenge for the Spanish title owes much to defeats to rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Bernabeu.Yet, they have won 15 and drawn one of their other 16 home games, scoring 69 goals in the process.Trailing Barca by 12 points with just 10 Liga games to play and having been turfed out of the Copa del Rey after just one game for fielding an ineligible player, Madrids sole focus has turned to winning an 11th European Cup.And not without reason. On the last seven times Madrid were crowned kings of Europe they failed to win the league domestically.We are still in the Champions League. It is a competition we aspire to win and it is not a coincidence that Real Madrid is the team that have won the most European Cups, said Cristiano Ronaldo.Nothing is lost and we are going to continue working to achieve great things at the end of the season.Whether Madrid can achieve great things in the Champions League come Milan on May 28 will depend much on Ronaldo and could play a major role in the three-time World Player of the Years future at the club.Ronaldos outburst that Real would be top of the league if his teammates matched his standards didnt sit well in the Madrid dressing room or in the stands.Indeed, the Portuguese was even jeered by sections of the Real support before firing four goals in 28 minutes during Saturdays 7-1 thrashing of Celta Vigo.At 31, Real are also well aware this summer may be their last chance to recoup the near 100 million euros they paid Manchester United for his services seven years ago.Ronaldos four-goal haul against Celta took his tally to 39 in 35 games this season.Yet, his record when it matters most has been questioned during the campaign as he has failed to net against any of the top five in La Liga.He is capable of scoring four goals and there are very few people capable of doing that. That is why he is unique, said Zidane in defence of his star man.Thankfully for the Frenchman, Ronaldo has been on fire in Europe.His 12 in seven games in this seasons Champions League, including the vital opener in the Italian capital three weeks ago, has him well on course to beat the record 17 he hit to deliver Madrid their longed for 10th European Cup two years ago.Zidanes own personal highlight as a Real player came in scoring the winner in his debut season in the 2002 Champions League final.If he is to make just as glorious a start to his managerial career, Ronaldo and Real need to start producing against rivals of some merit at the Bernabeu.

Tennis: Marathon men Djokovic, Murray set-up Davis Cup blockbuster

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PARIS (AFP) - Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray spent almost 10 hours on court between them on Sunday as they steered Serbia and Great Britain into a blockbuster Davis Cup quarter-final showdown.World number one Djokovic needed four hours and 57 minutes to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to pull Serbia level at 2-2 with Kazakhstan in Belgrade.Viktor Troicki then beat world number 200 Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to put 2010 champions Serbia into a July 15-17 quarter-final with defending champions Great Britain.Djokovic hit 19 aces and 37 winners but committed 94 unforced errors in his epic win over Kukushkin.This was one of the most difficult matches in my career both physically and mentally, said 28-year-old Djokovic, who again was feeling the effects of a shoulder twinge.World number two Murray needed four hours 55 minutes in Birmingham to defeat Kei Nishikori 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 in another epic duel as his side took an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Japan.Murray had seemed set for a comfortable afternoon against sixth-ranked Nishikori by taking the first two sets against a player he had defeated five times in six previous encounters.But Nishikori battled and was even a break to the good in the deciding set before Murray stormed back for victory.The crowd helped for sure. I was struggling a little at the end of the third and a little bit throughout the fourth, said Murray, who had been looking at the prospect of losing from two sets up for the first time in 11 years.There were long rallies, he was pushing me quite far off the baseline. I was trying to keep the points short but in the fifth I had to grit my teeth, fight hard and I managed to get the win.Murray hit 10 aces and 40 winners but suffered 97 unforced errors in the gruelling encounter.Murray, 28, who won his singles opener on Friday and teamed up with brother Jamie to claim Saturdays doubles, was playing for the first time in five weeks after taking time off to be with wife Kim and baby daughter Sophia.Thank you for all the support today, tweeted Nishikori. Sorry we could not win. It was a big battle. We keep working to improve.In Melbourne, record 32-time winners United States wrapped up a 3-1 win over Australia but the result was overshadowed by a bitter row between fiery Aussie teammates Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios.Tomic challenged the commitment of Kyrgios to the Davis Cup after his team-mates withdrawal from the Kooyong tie with illness and back trouble.John Isner was too strong for Tomic, winning 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) to deliver the Americans a quarter-final clash against Croatia.Yet there was controversy during the match when Tomic was overheard during a changeover questioning Kyrgioss absence from the tie.While in conversation with team captain Lleyton Hewitt, television microphones caught Tomic muttering: Nicks sitting down in Canberra. Bullshit hes sick.Tomic was also heard saying thats twice hes done it, in possible reference to Kyrgioss withdrawal from the tie against the Czech Republic last year.Croatia, the 2005 champions, needed a final rubber to defeat last years runners-up Belgium in Liege when 19-year-old Borna Coric swept past Kimmer Coppejans 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-2.David Goffin had brought Belgium level at 2-2 by seeing off former US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.Italy, the 1976 champions, had already made sure of their last-eight place on Saturday against 2014 winners Switzerland, playing without Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka, in Pesaro.They completed a 5-0 rout on Sunday and will face Argentina for a semi-final spot.Argentina, runners-up three times since 2006, beat World Group debutants Poland in Gdansk when Leonardo Mayer defeated Michal Przysiezny 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-3 in the first of the reverse singles.The remaining quarter-final will see France, who swamped Canada 5-0, take on 2012 and 2013 champions the Czech Republic, who defeated Germany 3-2 in Hanover.Lukas Rosol sealed the deciding rubber, needing just 98 minutes to beat teenager Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.Earlier, Philipp Kohlschreiber had levelled the tie after Tomas Berdych retired injured after losing the first two sets 6-3, 7-5.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan dies at 94

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Nancy Reagan, devoted wife and trusted confidante to late president Ronald Reagan who became the most ardent guardian of his legacy, died on Sunday, aged 94.The former first lady, who suffered heart failure at her home in Los Angeles, will be buried next to her husband at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, her spokeswoman Joanne Drake said.Late in life, Reagan earned praise for many of the very qualities that saw her savaged by critics during Ronald Reagans two White House terms from 1981-1989 -- her fierce protectiveness and outsized influence on the president.Perceived as regal and cold, she was feared by White House aides who often found themselves butting heads with her over policy and personnel appointments.She made her own mark as first lady with her signature Just Say No drug awareness campaign, launched in 1982.But after she left the White House, as she nursed Reagan through his ten-year descent into Alzheimers disease until his death in 2004, America softened its view of the former movie starlet.Fiercely loyalWarm tributes noting Nancy Reagans steadfast dedication to her husband poured in, with President Barack Obama and wife Michelle calling her a proud example.We remain grateful for Nancy Reagans life, thankful for her guidance, and prayerful that she and her beloved husband are together again, the Obamas said in a statement.Former first lady Barbara Bush said she was totally devoted to President Reagan, and we take comfort that they will be reunited once more.Mrs Reagan was fiercely loyal to her beloved husband, and that devotion was matched only by her devotion to our country, said her son, former president George W Bush.Her influence on the White House was complete and lasting.Former California governor and action movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger described her as one of my heroes who served as first lady with unbelievable power, class and grace.President Reagan is viewed as something of a patron saint of conservatives and the patriarch of the modern Republican Party, and the diminutive former first lady has wielded considerable political power as a succession of presidential hopefuls have sought her endorsement.Born Anne Frances Robbins in New York on July 6, 1921 -- and given the name Nancy by her mother, Edith Robbins --Reagans car salesman father left the family when she was young.Edith toured the country as an actress, marrying prominent neurosurgeon Loyal Davis, and settling the family in Chicago.Inspired by her mother, Nancy worked as an actress on stage and in film and television, and met Ronald Reagan while under contract with MGM.Love storyThey married in 1952 after Reagan divorced his first wife, actress Jane Wyman, beginning a marriage that has been described as a love story to rival any that the couple acted out on the silver screen.The pair, who wrote passionate love letters to each other over the decades, had two children: Patti, born in 1952 and Ron, born in 1958.She made 11 films in all, including three after her marriage, appearing alongside her husband just once, in her last role in Hellcats of the Navy (1956).When Reagan went into California politics in the 1960s, Nancy recast herself as the ultimate political wife and confidante, serving as his first lady there from 1967-1975.Only months after he took office as US president in 1981, Reagan narrowly survived an assassination attempt that spurred Nancy to take a keener role as her husbands protector, strictly controlling access to the president.She sometimes set out to influence decision-making indirectly by taking her case to people her husband trusted. Other times, her role took on a bizarre twist as she consulted astrologers to guide administration policy.DragonWhen she gets her hackles up, she can be a dragon, said former Reagan chief of staff Howard Baker, appointed after Nancy Reagan engineered the firing of his predecessor, Don Regan.In a 1988 interview, Nancy said she was forced to exert her influence because her husband was poorly served by his aides, especially during the Iran-contra scandal that tarnished his reputation.To the public, Nancy Reagan became best known for her glamorous designer clothes, Hollywood friends and reported social climbing, as well as her Just Say No anti-drug campaign.Behind closed doors, her actions were much more important.Nancy wasnt popular and she operated under cover, usually through a surrogate, columnist Eleanor Clift wrote years ago in The Washington Post.Clift said Nancys instinct for moderation drew her into debates over everything from social policy to US-Soviet relations as she tried to protect her husband from right-wing influence.After the Reagans left the White House in 1989, tell-all books by Regan and especially an unauthorized biography by Kitty Kelley, cast Nancy Reagan in an unflattering light, even alleging an affair with Frank Sinatra.But in 1994 she played a key role in her husbands widely-praised disclosure that he had Alzheimers and became a vocal campaigner for awareness of the disease.Ronnies long journey has finally taken him to a distant place where I can no longer reach him, a rueful Nancy Reagan would later say at an Alzheimers fundraiser.

Tennis: Sharapova set for 'major announcement' Monday

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Former world number one Maria Sharapova has scheduled a news conference Monday in Los Angeles to make a major announcement, raising questions about her tennis future after months of nagging injuries.The 28-year-old Russian has played in only three WTA Tour events over the past eight months and has not taken to the court competitively since losing to Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January.Sharapova, ranked seventh, withdrew from the upcoming event at Indian Wells due to a left forearm injury.She missed last years US Open because of a right leg injury that curtailed her tournament schedule for the remainder of the 2015 campaign.Sharapova is involved in several business ventures off the court, notably her Sugarpova candy line, and won a silver medal for Russia at the 2012 London Olympics.She has won 35 career WTA titles and is among 10 women who owns a career Grand Slam. She won the 2004 Wimbledon crown, the 2006 US Open title, the 2008 Australian Open and the 2012 and 2014 French Opens.But in between her success, she has often been plagued by injury, notably long running problems with her shoulder.

Tennis: Patience pays as Svitolina wins Malaysia Open

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Elina Svitolina shrugged off a dropped first set and lengthy rain delays to defeat Eugenie Bouchard for the Malaysian Open title on Sunday.The win is the fourth WTA title for the Ukrainian world number 19, who won 6-7(5) 6-4, 7-5 over Bouchard, of Canada.The third set was hit by intermittent suspensions of more than two hours due to Kuala Lumpurs tropical rains.Down early in the set, the sixth-seeded Bouchard managed to claw back into a tie at 5-5, but once play resumed for good the second seed Svitolina put the contest away.It was Svitolinas third victory in as many meetings with Bouchard and her first since winning the WTA Marrakech in May of last year.Bouchard, however, took another step toward regaining her form after a rough season last year.She rose to as high as world number five in late 2014, with a series of solid Grand Slam showings under her belt.But her form dropped off in 2015, and she slipped in the locker room at the US Open in September, suffering a concussion.Forced to pull out of the tournament, she missed three months of play, but has shown signs lately of getting back on track.The doubles competition was won by the Varatchaya Wongteanchai of Thailand and Yang Zhaoxuan of China, who beat the Chinese duo of Liang Chen and Wang Yafan, 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.

Lahore: Police arrest 4 for gambling on India Vs Bangladesh

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Police on Sunday arrested 4 suspects charged with gambling on the India Vs Bangladesh Asia Cup 2016 final cricket match.According to the police, suspect Nadeem residing in a house in Akram park area was gambling on the match with the help of his friends. Police raided the house and caught the felons red handed.Cash, laptops, mobile phones and other equipment have been recovered from the suspects. Police have registered a case against the suspects.

Football: Mata off as Man Utd lose, Benteke saves Liverpool

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LONDON (AFP) - Juan Mata was sent off as Manchester Uniteds hopes of Champions League qualification were dealt a serious setback in a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.The Spaniard received two quick-fire bookings mid-way through the first half, for blocking a free-kick and then taking a swipe at Darren Fletcher, and West Brom made their numerical advantage count in the 66th minute when Salomon Rondon netted his fourth goal in six Premier League games.It ended Uniteds recent revival of four straight wins and left Louis van Gaals side in sixth place, three points below the Champions League berths having played a game more than fourth-place Manchester City.We have played 60 minutes with 10 against 11 and this is the fifth match in 14 days, so its very difficult to play against 11 players, said United manager Van Gaal, who branded Matas first booking stupid.Thats the reason that we lost this game.United are now in danger of being caught by forthcoming Europa League opponents Liverpool, who are three points behind them with a game in hand following a last-gasp 2-1 win at Crystal Palace.Its a big blow because these kind of matches, you have to win, Van Gaal added.Asked what United require from their final nine league games to finish in the top four, the Dutchman replied: 27 points.Mata was shown his first yellow card in the 24th minute at The Hawthorns for blocking Fletchers free-kick and saw red two minutes later for clumsily swinging his foot at the former United midfielder.Craig Dawson almost put West Brom in front immediately, only for his ambitious 25-yard lob to fall inches wide of the left-hand post.Having survived until half-time, United started the second half strongly and threatened through young forwards Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.But West Brom claimed the points when Venezuelan striker Rondon gathered Sebastien Pocognolis drilled left-wing cross before slamming home left-footed to lift Tony Puliss men 15 points clear of the bottom three.The most important thing is the next game, said Pulis, whose side are now one point shy of the 40-point mark traditionally synonymous with survival.As youve seen this year, results have been off the radar. Lets get 40 points. I think thats definitely safe.Earlier, substitute Christian Benteke won and scored a 96th-minute penalty as 10-man Liverpool came from behind to win 2-1 at Palace.Joe Ledleys 48th-minute strike and Liverpool midfielder James Milners second-half dismissal for two bookable offences looked to have set Palace on course for a first win in 12 league matches.But a slip by Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy gifted Roberto Firmino a 72nd-minute equaliser, before Damien Delaneys rash challenge on Benteke enabled the Belgium striker to net the winner from the spot.You can try (to make changes), but the rest is passion, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told Sky Sports at Selhurst Park.Football is like this. You make a plan at the end, but the lads did great. This is the third league win in a row. I cant believe how it feels -- really good, a big moment for us.Liverpool climbed two places to seventh after recording a third successive league win for the first time in a year.Palace manager Alan Pardew, whose side are without a league win in 2016, criticised referee Andre Marriners decision to award Benteke a penalty.Delaney pulled out of a sliding challenge on Benteke inside the box, but the Irishman had already gone to ground and replays showed that his right knee had clipped the Belgians left foot.(Benteke) is looking for it. Our player is pulling out of it, said Pardew whose team side remain nine points above the relegation zone.If the linesman gives it for the touch of the knee in the last minute, I think it is harsh.

Football: Messi double keeps Barca record rolling

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MADRID (AFP) - A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona tightened their grip on the La Liga title race with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Eibar on Sunday to open up an 11-point lead at the top.Munir El Haddadi tapped home the opener from Luis Suarezs cross before Messi doubled Barcas advantage with a brilliant individual effort just before half-time.Messi doubled his tally from the penalty spot before Suarez lashed home the fourth six minutes from time.Barcas 11th consecutive league win also stretches their record unbeaten run to 36 games.Atletico Madrid can close the gap at the top to eight points when they visit Gary Nevilles Valencia later on Sunday.Real Madrid remain 12 points adrift of Barca in third despite Cristiano Ronaldos four-goal show in a 7-1 demolition of Celta Vigo on Saturday.It is evident we are well-positioned in the league, but there are plenty of points to play for and meetings with direct rivals to come, said Barca boss Luis Enrique.I am very happy to see the team evolve and improve without ever losing their ambition.The European champions were without the suspended Neymar, who made the most of his free weekend to return to his native Brazil.However, El Haddadi made the most of his rare chance to start with a simple finish at the back post eight minutes in after Messis brilliant pass had played in Suarez behind the Eibar defence.Suarez was surpassed by Ronaldo in the fight to be La Ligas top scorer and the Uruguayan look determined to hit back early on, but fluffed his lines with just Abel Riesgo to beat two minutes later.El Haddadi should have teed up Suarez for a tap-in from another Messi through ball midway through the half, but the youngster overhit his pass and the ball slipped just wide.Eibar then enjoyed a concerted period of pressure and were desperately unlucky not to level when Borja Bastons cross hit Sergio Busquets and flew inches past the far post.Yet, just when Eibar looked the most likely to score, Messi killed the game as a contest as he intercepted the ball in midfield and drove towards the Eibar goal before firing into the far corner for his 20th league goal of the season.The second half was far shorter on goalmouth action, but there was time for Messi to put Barcas recent troubles from the penalty spot behind him when Ivan Ramis blocked the Argentines cross with his hand.Messi took responsibility after Suarez had missed from the spot against Rayo Vallecano in midweek and coolly dispatched the penalty for his 35th goal of the season.And Suarez finally got the goal he craved to move back to within one of Ronaldo in the scoring charts with a brilliant nutmeg of Capa before smashing the ball into the far corner.That goal also took Suarez, Messi and Neymars combined tally for the season to 100.

Golf: Scott goes back-to-back, captures WGC Doral crown

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MIAMI (AFP) - Adam Scott made two double bogeys in the first five holes then roared back with six birdies over the next nine to fire a final-round 69 and claim the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship.The 35-year-old Australian, whose lone major crown came at the 2013 Masters, won in back-to-back weeks after capturing the nearby PGA Honda Classic last Sunday.Scott, who was second to US star Bubba Watson at Riviera two weeks ago, took his 29th worldwide triumph and 13th US PGA event victory with a 72-hole total of 12-under 276 to edge two-time Masters champion Watson by a single shot at Dorals Blue Monster course.Scott said Sunday he feels like when he is playing his best he cannot lose.I feel that is where my game has been the past couple of weeks and Id like to keep it there the next few weeks, Scott said. To win back-to-back weeks feels great. I hope to keep it going.Northern Irelands Rory McIlroy and Englands Danny Willett shared third on 278 with 45-year-old, five-time major winner Phil Micklelson fifth on 279 after a closing two-under 70.Scott, expected to rise three spots to sixth in the world rankings, has had to adapt a conventional putting style after a ban started in January on the anchored-style putting he used for many years.But Scott appears to have shaken off the switchover, having bounced back from a quadruple bogey to win last weekend and double bogeys at the third and fifth holes on Sunday for impressive titles.Ive used my experience to my advantage the last couple of weeks, Scott said. I know even though you dont want quads and doubles you still have a chance. I was able to play through it.After his early stumble, Scott bounced back with his birdie binge, including three in a row to begin the back nine and another at 14 after he put his approach three feet from the cup and made the birdie putt to reach 12-under.That put Scott two ahead of Willett, Watson and Mickelson, who had birdied 16 after putting his approach two feet from the pin.Willett blasted his tee shot at the par-4 16th into a greenside bunker then blasted out to four feet and made the putt to reach 11-under, trimming Scotts lead to one.And Watson followed with a nine-foot birdie putt at 17 to reach 11-under as well, adding to the tension on Scott.But Willett found the water at 18 to end his threat while Watson managed par to reach the clubhouse one shot down with Scott at the 18th tee.It was very difficult, Watson said. This is the Blue Monster. They want it tough like this. It was a tough test.There was drama to come. The Aussies second shot from behind a tree barely cleared the water, the ball clinging to the Bermuda rough on a slope, and Scott needing to get up and down for the victory.I thought the wind was strong enough but I hit it so well I flew the hazard and I was lucky enough to get it to stay there, Scott said.Scott made the most of his good fortune, pitching to six feet and making the putt for the par and all-but sealing the triumph.McIlroy needed to power a shot 188 yards through palm trees into the cup to match him with an eagle but put his shot into a bunker to end the last threat.

Rallying: Latvala wins in Mexico to open 2016 account

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LEON (AFP) - Finlands Jari-Matti Latvala clinched his maiden Rally of Mexico title on Sunday as well as his first points of the season, finishing ahead of Volkswagen teammate and world champion Sebastien Ogier.Latvala had gone pointless in the seasons first two rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden, which were won by Ogier, but he dominated in Mexico, winning 11 of the 21 stages.Ogier finished one minute and five seconds behind with Spains Dani Sordo in a Hyundai finishing third, more than two and a half minutes off the pace.Its a superb feeling. The start of this years championship was so complicated that I didnt feel well mentally, said Latvala.So its even more welcome that I can win this race where I have rarely shone.Ogier had virtually surrendered victory on Saturday, claiming that he and his teammate were taking part in different events.The Frenchmans frustration wasnt helped by having to start stages from the front of the pack and, as a result, acting as a sweeper on the Mexican races notoriously dusty tracks.It was a very good rally as I have said already. I couldnt have done better, said Ogier.The triple world champion still leads the standings with 77 points with Norwegian duo Mads Ostberg (39 points) and Andreas Mikkelsen (33) in second and third respectively.

Karachi: Security guards' attempt at robbing bank thwarted by partner

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Two security guards attempt at robbing a bank on Sunday was thwarted by their partner, in North Nazimabad area of Karachi. The fellow security guard opened fire as two others attempted to break into the bank. Both security guards fled the scene upon firing.According to the police, 2 security guards attempted to break a door inside ATM machine area. Hearing the break in, a security guard posted inside the bank resisted the attempt. Police say the security guards who broke in also opened fire and then fled.Police further stated that the record of both security personnel is being checked and the suspects will be apprehended soon.

Mustafa Kamal demands action against MQM by govt. on prior evidence

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Former Mayor Karachi and former leader Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Mustafa Kamal on Sunday refused to go to a committee and provide documentary evidence of his accusations against MQM to the government, instead demanding that action be conducted against the party on documentary evidence that has been collected previously. He stated that MQM party chief Altaf Hussain should come clean and admit to his party workers that he works for Indian intelligence agency RAW.In a talk with Dunya News during the program “Mahaz”, Kamal stated that Hussain did not care for any party workers death. He stated that on one hand, Hussain is called as the leader of the oppressed and on the other he speaks about picking up weapons.On a question that whether if MQM leaders Raza Haroon, Anees Advocate, Faisal Sabzwari and Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad will be joining him, Kamal light heartedly stated that please don’t ruin people’s lives by calling out names.Answering another question, the former Mayor stated that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had his own opinions due to which he did not want to discuss this topic. He stated that he does not want to go to the committee however.

Sukkur: Two dacoits killed during police encounter

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SUKKUR (Dunya News) – Two dacoits were killed late Sunday night during a police encounter in Kandhera area of Rohri district, Sukkur. According to the police, the exterminated robbers were wanted for kidnapping, murder and other serious crimes.The suspects opened fire upon seeing the police. The felons were killed during an exchange of fire. Meanwhile the accomplices of the suspects managed to escape using the cover of the night.The killed suspects have been identified as Waji Shah and Ali Somro.Inspector-General (IG) Sindh has announced a reward of Rs. 500,000 for the police team responsible for gunning down the felons.

IS suicide truck bomb kills 47 south of Baghdad

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HILLA (AFP) - A suicide truck bomb attack claimed by the Islamic State group killed 47 people at a crowded checkpoint south of Baghdad Sunday, the deadliest such attack in Iraq this year.The massive blast completely destroyed the checkpoint manned by security forces guarding the northern entrance to Hilla, an area that had recently been spared such attacks.The suicide bomber used an explosives-laden truck, at a time when there was dense traffic, Faleh al-Radhi, the head of the security committee at Babil provincial council, said.A doctor at Hilla hospital put the number of people killed by the blast at 47, including around 20 members of the security forces, and said at least 72 people were also wounded.Radhi and police officers confirmed the casualty toll, the heaviest from any car bomb attack in Iraq this year.The blast went off at around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT), a time of day when vehicles are usually bumper-to-bumper, waiting to be checked by security personnel.An AFP photographer at the scene said that there was almost nothing left of the checkpoint.He said one distraught man was asking rescuers, survivors and journalists to help him retrieve the body of his baby child from under the mangled wreckage of a car.When I got to the scene, there were people whose clothes were still on fire, they were screaming, said Hamza Kadhem, a 35-year-old labourer who was near when the blast went off.The doctor at Hilla hospital said at least 11 of the wounded were in a very serious condition.Mohammed Jamal, a 27-year-old civil servant, was sitting in traffic when the explosion ripped through the lines of vehicles.My car windows just shattered with the blast, he told AFP from the emergency ward.After that, I cant remember much, I was lost in this chaos and found myself at Hilla hospital, Im not sure how, he said.Karim Sahi, 35, a taxi driver reached by phone, was also close to the checkpoint.When we heard the blast, we rushed to the scene. There were bodies everywhere, people running in all directions, some just froze there, screaming, he said.A March 2014 suicide bombing at the same checkpoint outside Hilla, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the capital, killed 50 people and wounded more than 150.The Islamic State group has not had fixed positions south of Baghdad since security forces and allied militias began their fightback against the jihadists in late 2014.When Iraqi forces began their counter-offensive against IS, securing the Shiite shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala, south of Baghdad, was a priority.The jihadist group has since been losing territory in Iraq. In the most recent operation, Iraqi forces have been retaking areas west of the city of Samarra and are continuing to advance.In the cities IS retains control over, internal tension appears to be on the rise and the lack of supplies is taking its toll.Observers have warned that, as its self-proclaimed caliphate shrinks towards extinction, IS will likely revert to its old guerrilla tactics and ramp up suicide car bomb attacks on civilian targets.The Rafidha (a derogatory term for Shiites) must understand that the battle has just begun and that the worst is yet to come, IS said as it claimed Sundays bombing.The attack on Hilla checkpoint was one of the deadliest bombings since a suicide explosion killed nearly 100 people in Diyala province, north of Baghdad, in July 2015.

'Calmest day' in Syria since ceasefire: monitor

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Regions of Syria covered by a UN-brokered ceasefire Sunday enjoyed the calmest day since the truce started, a monitor said, as Moscow and Washington cautioned against any delay in resuming peace talks.Sunday was the calmest day since the ceasefire came into effect on February 27, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP.He said the exceptions were dozens of rockets fired by Al-Nusra Front, a jihadist group excluded from the truce, and other rebel factions at Kurdish forces in the far north of the city of Aleppo.The violence killed at least nine people, the Observatory said in an updated toll, based on reports that it receives from a wide network of sources on the ground.Heavy bombardment also struck territory held by Al-Nusra and the Islamic State group, another jihadist faction not covered by the truce.Abdel Rahman said the average number of civilian deaths a day has fallen by 90 percent since the ceasefire came into force nine days ago, with an 80 percent decline among soldiers and rebel forces.In Moscow, the defence ministry reported 15 ceasefire violations during the previous 24 hours, compared with nine on Saturday and 27 the day before.Four people were wounded in shelling by unidentified forces of residential areas and loyalist positions in the Damascus area, it said.UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has said that peace talks between rebels and the Syrian regime are to resume on March 10.Russias foreign ministry said US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a telephone call on Sunday welcomed the sharp decline in violence and warned against any delay in starting the process of negotiations.Since the failure of a first round of peace talks in 2014, the main sticking point in the negotiations has been the fate of Syrias President Bashar al-Assad.He has refused to step down since peaceful protests in early 2011 developed into a multi-faceted war that has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions more.
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