Saturday 8 April 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Erdogan holds giant Istanbul rally week ahead of referendum

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ISTANBUL (AFP) - Tens of thousands packed one of Istanbuls biggest public spaces Saturday as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a giant rally seeking votes in next weeks referendum on enhancing his powers.Lambasting Turkeys enemies and taking pot shots at his opponents, Erdogan said a Yes vote in the April 16 referendum would give the country more stability and power.On April 16, do you want to say Yes to a strong Turkey? Erdogan asked the crowd, who waved a sea of red and white crescent moon Turkish flags.Do you want a great Turkey? Do you want to say Yes to stability? Will you be there Istanbul? he added, as the crowd roared back Yes.Erdogan arrived by helicopter to cheers at the vast open ground in Istanbuls Yenikapi district, on the shores of the Sea of Marmara.It was here last August that he held a mass rally calling for national solidarity in the wake of the failed July coup blamed on the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, and Erdogan clearly wanted to capture the spirit of that day.Erdogan said the likes of Gulen, who denies being behind the coup, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) wanted to see a No vote.And he charged that No voters were also against his bid to transform Turkey through modern infrastructure projects such as bridges and tunnels.They said No to the bridges. They say No to a modern Turkey, he roared, prowling around a walkway that extended from the stage like at a rock concert.- Turkey not herself without Erdogan -========================================Analysts see the referendum as tightly contested, despite the domination of the Yes campaign in the media.If approved, the new system will see the scrapping of the post of prime minister, the creation of vice presidents and the empowering of the president to appoint ministers.The changes will also allow the president to be affiliated with a party, allowing Erdogan to restore his ties with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) that he co-founded and helped sweep to power in 2002.Supporters say the new system will create an efficient US-style structure but critics argue the lack of checks-and-balances risks handing Erdogan one-man rule.Wearing headbands with Tayyip Erdogan -- commander in chief written on them and some even sporting Erdogan face masks, supporters said giving the president greater powers was essential to Turkeys development.We want Turkey to grow, we want Recep Tayyip Erdogan to remain our leader. Without him Turkey is not herself, said Yes supporter Nahil Unal.Erdogan also prompted boos by mentioning his opponent, the leader of the secular Republican Peoples Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who claimed this week that the failed putsch was a controlled coup which the government knew about in advance.Analysts say that the outcome in Turkeys largest city Istanbul -- whose diversity is fairly representative of the hugely complex country -- will be critical to the result of the referendum.The No campaign suffers from a lack of a clear figurehead and vastly fewer resources but is hoping to rally substantial numbers of secularists, Kurds and nationalists to its cause.On the other Asian side of the city across the Bosphorus, the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) held a rally pushing a No vote.Both the partys co-leaders are jailed on charges of backing the PKK, which the party argues is punishment for daring to oppose the presidential system.Senior HDP lawmaker Sirri Sureyya Onder told the rally: In this referendum our co-leaders, our MPs, our youth, our friends are facing the greatest oppression in our history.

PSP sit-in continues on third day

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The sit-in of Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) continues on third day as the party leaders have announced to extend the protests to other areas of the city as well.As per details, the party management has announced that the sit-in will now be staged at twelve different places from now onwards.It is pertinent to mention PSP chairman Mustafa Kamal and other leaders of the party are staging sit-in outside the press club for the last three days.The leaders of PSP are demanding that problems of scarcity of water, garbage, load-shedding and giving due powers to local government should be solved.

Sex offenders' gang exposed in Gujrat

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GUJRAT (Dunya News) – Suicide attempt of a class-9 student has exposed a gang on Saturday accused of blackmailing young girls after recording their objectionable videos and pictures.Reportedly, the gang comprises of three brothers named Sohail, Nouman, Sameer, their father Tariq and friends. Prime suspect in the issue has been held by police, according to the latest reports.Law enforcers have seized at least 117 video clips, over 700 pictures, a computer and a CCTV camera.Details have it that one of the suspects demanded Rs 0.1 million after he allegedly recorded raping a class-9 student.In 2015, Pakistan’s so-far biggest sex scandal was unearthed in Hussain Khanwala village of Kasur District. Hundreds of video clips revealed young victims of sexual abuse who were forced to keep quiet over the years by influential criminals.

Response to question on Panamagate reported out of context: DG ISPR

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that the response to question asked regards to Panamagate case in London was reported incomplete and out of the context.Response to question on Panama in UK reported incomplete/out of context, said the DG ISPR, in a tweet on Saturday.Army, like every Pakistani awaits a decision based on justice and merit, Gen Ghafoor added.Response to Q on Panama in UK reported incomplete / out of context. Army, like every Pakistani awaits a decision based on justice and merit.— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) April 8, 2017

FO condemns Indian firing across LoC

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria on Saturday condemned the indiscriminate firing by Indian forces across the Line of Control (LoC).He let it be known that the Indian troops had once again violated the ceasefire.Earlier, Indian forces resorted to indiscriminate firing across the Line of Control, resulting in two civilians getting injured.The Indian border forces yet again violated the ceasefire as they targeted civilian population in Tender sectoralong the LoC.The two civilians who were severely injured in the indiscriminate firing were identified as Sania and Nasir.The international community should take notice of the indiscriminate firing on residential areas and also targeting innocent civilians in the process, Nafees Zakaria added.He went to say that such kinds of actions are extremely dangerous for regional peace.On the other hand, the foreign office spokesperson also confirmed that Col (retd) Zahir Habib has been missing in Nepal.He let it be known that the matter had been raised with the Nepalese government and that the Pakistan embassy in Nepal is also in contact with the t Nepalese government.

Thailand tennis team to travel to Pakistan in September

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LAHORE (Web Desk) - Thailands national tennis team will travel to Pakistan in September to play the final of Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II.Pakistan got a walkover against Hong Kong earlier this month due to security reasons. International Tennis Federation (ITF) had declared Pakistan safe but Hong Kong Tennis Federation had reservations.Pakistan had hosted Iran in February this year, in the first round tie. It was first Davis Cup tie in Pakistan since 2005, when Chinese Taipei had visited Lahore.Thailand defeated Philippines 3-0 in the semifinal as they won both singles matches and doubles match. Pakistan had defeated the Thai side in 1998 and 2005 in Pakistan whereas Thailand won in 2004 and 2014.Pakistan is undefeated in Davis Cup ties at home since 1998. The strong pair of Aisam-ul-Haq and Aqeel Khan have won numerous ties for Pakistan.

Imam-e-Kaaba visits parliament

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Imam-e-Kaaba Muhammad Salih Bin Ibrahim paid a visit to the parliament on Saturday and prayed for prosperity of the ummah and progress of Pakistan.Deputy Speaker, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Khurshid Shah, State Minister for Capital Development Authority, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and members of the parliament welcomed the honourable guest.The Imam led Asar prayers in parliament’s mosque and prayed for prosperity of Muslim ummah.Following the activity, he convened a meeting with the deputy speaker in his chamber and said that international conspiracy is being hatched to destroy Muslim ummah.He said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are guardians of the ummah which is why the two countries have been affected by terrorism the most. He said that the alliance of 24 countries does not aim to target a country or protect it but the purpose is peace in the world and protection of the Muslim ummah.The ‘Islamic world’ has complete faith in Pakistan which is why the leader of the alliance is from Pakistan, he added.

France defeat Britain to reach Davis Cup semis

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ROUEN (AFP) - France reached their fifth Davis Cup semi-finals in eight years on Saturday when Nicolas Mahut and Julien Benneteau defeated Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot for an unassailable 3-0 lead over Britain.Their 7-6 (9/7), 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 win in the doubles rubber followed Lucas Pouille and Jeremy Chardy taking the opening singles on Friday in Rouen.France will face either Serbia or Spain in the semi-finals in September.

Tennis: Sania Mirza quits partnership with Barbora

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(Web Desk) – Sania Mirza has ended her partnership with tennis pro Barbora Strycova who hails from Czech Republic, Espn reported on Friday.Mirza is now to team up with Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan for clay court season. The season is to begin with Madrid Open from May 6th.New partner of the 30-year-old Indian star ranked 13 in individual doubles and won US Open women’s doubles and Wimbledon in 2010.Shvedova is 5’11” and plays right-handed.Since Barbora is resting this week, Sania formed a temporary partnership with another Czech player Andrea Hlavackova. The two will play Family Circle cup in Charleston.Barbora formed a partnership with Mirza last year ahead of the US Open. Before that, Sania was paired with Martina Hingis.According to the experts, Mirza and Strycova enjoyed a successful partnership. Although the two ended their US Open journey in the quarterfinals, the pair went o to win a title in Tokyo and an appearance in Wuhan.At the start of this year, Sania was the top ranked player in individual doubles in WTA but now stands seventh.

'Govt started media campaign to show fake development projects'

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday expressed that the current government has started a media campaign to show fake development projects.He let it be known that PML-N has started attacking PPP leaders and workers inside Punjab.Bilawal professed that that Pakistan Peoples Party will strive to make Pakistan strong and keep on fighting for the ideology.He went on to say that the current government has taken 35 percent loan the total country’s debt only in the current tenure.Bilawal expressed that Rs 13 trillion was taken during the last 67 years and on the contrary, Rs 5 trillion alone was taken by the current government.

Some political parties befooling masses: Ch Nisar

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday expressed that some political parties have chosen the way of befooling the masses.He let be known while talking to elected representatives, party leaders and other respectable of the Wah Cantt.The interior minister professed that politics is being used as a shield to hide personal interests, corruption and incompatibility.He went to say that those who are using politics as a source of corruption are extremely dangerous for both politics and democracy as neither these people are loyal neither to any party nor to masses’ interests.Chaudhry Nisar expressed that the past government have left heaps of problems for us and nobody tried to solve the problems in the past.He commented that the current government faced the challenges gallantly while solving majority of the problems.

Karachi under grip of water scarcity

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Water scarcity dogged the economic capital as locals have been badly irked by problem intensified in the metropolis.The residents of Altaf Hussain Town have revealed that they don’t have access to water as water board is not in a mood to solve the matter.In addition, illegal connections have been taken from 48 inch main water pipe in Korangi cross.It has also been reported that thousands of galleons are also being wasted daily as water board is not able to cope up with the wastage of water.The daily need of the city is far more than the current availability of 55 crore galleons that amount to 40 percent of the total water consumption.Sources revealed that tanker mafia is benefitting out of the whole matter as they are selling water to locals at exorbitant rates.

Suspect device found in deadly Stockholm attack truck

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Swedish police found a suspect device in the truck that ploughed into a Stockholm crowd killing four in Europes latest such terror attack, officials said Saturday.The alleged driver, who is in custody, is a 39-year-old man from Uzbekistan who was already known to Swedish police, authorities said.We have found a device in the vehicle that doesnt belong there ... A technical examination is ongoing, we cant go into what it is right now ... whether its a bomb or a flammable device, police chief Dan Eliasson told reporters.Intelligence agency chief Anders Thornberg added that the Uzbek suspect has appeared in our intelligence gathering in the past.There is nothing to indicate that weve got the wrong man. On the contrary, the suspicions have strengthened, Eliasson added.Flags flew at half-mast across Stockholm on Saturday as the city slowly returned to normal a day after the attack.A stolen beer truck ploughed into a crowd of people at the corner of the bustling Ahlens department store and the Drottninggatan pedestrian street on Friday afternoon, above ground from Stockholms central subway station.Fifteen people were injured, nine of whom remained in hospital on Saturday.Latest attack in EuropeIt was the third terror attack in Europe in two weeks, coming on the heels of assaults in London and St. Petersburg, although there has been no immediate claim of responsibility.Previous attacks using vehicles have occurred in London, Berlin and the southern French city of Nice, all of them claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS).Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who said Sweden will hold a minutes silence on Monday in memory of the victims, has beefed up Swedens border controls.Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what were going to do. So terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never, Lofven said.City streets were empty early Saturday, slowly filling as the day wore on as things began to return to normal -- apart from a heavy police presence, a rare scene in this normally tranquil country.A swelling crowd milled by the security barrier erected around the scene, many placing flowers on the ground or in the security fence.Swedens Crown Princess Victoria, 39, was one of those laying down a bouquet, wiping tears from her cheek.I feel an incredible sadness, an emptiness, she told reporters. But she said: Society has demonstrated enormous strength and we stand together against this.Suspected driver in custodyThe suspected driver was detained on Friday in Marsta, a suburb north of Stockholm. According to several media outlets, he is an IS supporter.Intelligence agency Sapo said meanwhile it was hunting for possible accomplices or networks that may have been involved in the attack.Witnesses described scenes of terror and panic on Friday.A massive truck starts driving ... and mangles everything and just drives over exactly everything, eyewitness Rikard Gauffin told AFP.It was so terrible and there were bodies lying everywhere... it was really terrifying, he added.The truck was towed away in the early hours of Saturday.It was expectedAn attack on Stockholm was just a matter of time, the head of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defence College, Magnus Ranstorp, told AFP.It was pretty expected, the police and intelligence agency have practised for this several times the past year... We just didnt know when it was going to happen, he said.Fridays attack was the latest in a string of assaults with vehicles in Europe.The deadliest came last year in France on the July 14 Bastille Day national holiday, when a man rammed a truck into a crowd in the Mediterranean resort of Nice, killing 86 people.In December, a man hijacked a truck and slammed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.In London last month, Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old convert to Islam, killed five people when he drove a car at high speed into pedestrians before launching a frenzied knife attack on a policeman guarding parliament.In 2014, IS called for attacks on citizens of Western countries and gave instructions on how they could be carried out without military equipment, using rocks or knives, or by running people over in vehicles.Fridays attack was the second terror attack in Stockholm.In December 2010, a suicide bomber blew himself up, also on the Drottninggatan pedestrian street, lightly injuring several passersby.

Arab League calls for 'de-escalation' in Syria

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CAIRO (AFP) - Arab League chief Ahmed Abu Gheit warned Saturday against a dangerous escalation in Syria after a US missile strike on a Syrian airbase following an alleged regime chemical attack.The Arab League rejects regional and international powers attempts to politick over the corpses of Syrians or at the cost of its sovereignty, he told reporters.Therefore we demand that all should retreat from this dangerous escalation we are monitoring, said the secretary general of the 22-member Arab bloc based in Cairo.Early on Friday morning, the US military fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at Shayrat air field in response to a suspected chemical attack this week widely blamed on the Damascus regime.A Syrian military source told AFP that Syrias armed forces were warned about possible US military action hours before the strike took place.Abul Gheit condemned the chemical attack, for which the regime has denied responsibility, saying the perpetrators must be held accountable one day.

Dalai Lama accuses Beijing of fooling its people

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TAWANG TOWN (AFP) - The Dalai Lama on Saturday accused China of spreading false information about his trip to a monastery near Indias border that drew protests from Beijing which claims the Himalayan area as its territory.People have the wrong information, the 81-year-old monk told reporters in Arunachal Pradeshs Tawang where he took shelter on his flight from Tibet decades ago.I wish one Chinese official would accompany me while Im visiting here, what Im doing, what Im saying. They should know the reality.Beijing this week lodged an official protest with the Indian ambassador, accusing New Delhi of arranging a platform for the Dalai Lama to hold anti-China and separatist activities.After addressing devotees at the monastery, considered one of the holiest sites in Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama fired back at Beijing, accusing the countrys communist officials of misleading its people over the nature of his visit.The 1.3-4 billion Chinese people have every right to know the reality.... They only have one-sided information and wrong information is morally wrong, theyre fooling their own people.The Indian government has insisted the trip is purely religious and pointed out that the Dalai Lama has been to Tawang before, accusing China of creating an artificial controversy.But some analysts say New Delhi has adopted a firmer approach to China since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014 and invited the head of the India-based Tibetan government-in-exile to attend his swearing-in ceremony.The Dalai Lama has always been welcome to travel wherever he wants in India. But this government has been a bit firmer on issues of sovereignty, said Jayadeva Ranade, head of the Delhi-based Centre for China Analysis and Strategy.Huge crowds, at least 20,000 by some estimates, turned out to hear the monks nearly three-hour religious discourse.Reincarnation concernsNew Delhi is currently pushing to expand its infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh, building new roads and conducting a feasibility study for a railway.India and China fought a border war in 1962 over the region, which has a large ethnic Tibetan population.En route to Arunachal, the Dalai Lama was reunited with the Indian border guard who escorted him into the country after he fled his native Tibet following a failed uprising nearly 60 years ago.Speaking to reporters a few days later, the Dalai Lama said the meeting had been very emotional, bringing back memories of his dramatic flight across the Himalayas disguised as a soldier.Ranade said the visit to Tawang -- birthplace of an earlier incarnation of the Dalai Lama -- had also raised Chinese concerns over the ageing monks succession.The Dalai Lama has stated that his reincarnation may be found outside Chinese Tibet, and Arunachal, with its rich Tibetan culture, is an obvious contender.Under Tibetan Buddhist tradition, senior monks identify a young boy who shows signs he is a reincarnation of a late leader.But Chinas officially atheist Communist rulers maintain that they have the sole authority to decide reincarnation.The Chinese reaction has been very elevated, theyve been using tough language, Ranade told AFP. This indicates Chinese anxiety about the reincarnation.
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