Thursday 25 May 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Afghan plane forced to fly back after angry MPs miss flight

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KABUL (AFP) - Supporters of two Afghan MPs who missed a domestic flight from Kabul blocked an airport runway with rocks, forcing the plane to return for the lawmakers, officials said.The Kam Air flight was abruptly forced to fly back from central Bamiyan province earlier this week, triggering uproar and ridicule on social media with many accusing the lawmakers of abusing their powers.Five people, including airport security officials, have been arrested over the illegal diversion, the interior ministry said Thursday.When the two MPs arrived at Kabul airport, the plane was on the runway and ready to take off, Humayun Stanakzai, a director of civil aviation, told AFP.The MPs got angry and called their men in Bamiyan. When the plane approached Bamiyan airport, their men were at the airport blocking the runway with rocks. The plane could not land and had to be diverted back to Kabul.The plane carrying 30 passengers had to be refuelled and took off again for Bamiyan with the two MPs on board.The lawmakers, Abdul Rahman Shaheedani and Hussain Naseri, were not immediately reachable for comment.Kam Air, a private carrier, on Wednesday said they were indefinitely suspending all flights to Bamiyan, adding that the incident could have risked the lives of the passengers and airport workers.Afghan lawmakers are regularly accused of corruption, nepotism and abusing their authority to enrich themselves.Civil aviation has been expanding rapidly in Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted from power in a US-led invasion in 2001, with several private airlines operating in the country.Flight safety remains a concern but aviation disasters are relatively rare in Afghanistan, where travel by road through vast and remote terrain is made more hazardous by the Taliban insurgency.

England's Ali still wary of South Africa

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LEEDS (AFP) - Moeen Ali insisted no one in the England camp was getting carried away after they underlined their Champions Trophy credentials with a comprehensive 72-run one-day international win over South Africa at Headingley.Wednesdays success saw England go 1-0 up in a three-match series against South Africa, top of the International Cricket Councils ODI rankings.The decisive win was all the more timely given that next week sees the start of the Champions Trophy, a tournament featuring the worlds leading eight ODI sides.Hosts England will kick things off against Bangladesh at The Oval on June 1 as they go in search of their first major 50-over title.But before then, they still have two ODIs against the Proteas, with Saturdays match at Southampton followed by a series finale at Lords on Monday.Ali, whose fluent 77 not out together with captain Eoin Morgans century laid the platform for Englands win in Leeds, said afterwards: Were only 1-0 up with two games to go, but its a great start to the summer.We were 2-0 up against them in South Africa (in 2015/16) and we lost 3-2. Theyre a very good side, and we know that.Not known as a big hitter, left-hander Ali still struck five sixes at Yorkshires headquarters.It was major return to form given he had managed just a line fifty in 28 ODI innings since his career-best 128 at the 2015 World Cup.Ali said his innings owed much to some late advice from England assistant coach Paul Farbrace.I actually wasnt batting that well in the nets, he said. I went inside with Paul Farbrace, and he knows my game quite well now.I had a chat with him, and he helped -- and I felt in a good rhythm going into this match.Ali finished things off in style with a legside pick-up six off Chris Morriss final ball of the innings.Even towards the end of my innings there were a couple I tried to slog, and I lost my shape, he explained.Then the last ball I tried to keep my shape as much as I could.Its more an instinctive way of batting, and Farby helped me a lot.Ali, who was left out of Englands preceding 2-0 series win over Ireland, made his name as a top-order batsman but now comes in much later for England.I find batting seven tough, he admitted. But Im trying to be good at it and get better at it.Alis inclusion was probably aided by the fact that all-rounder Ben Stokes was also back in the side Wednesday after a successful stint in the Indian Premier League.Stokes, however, suffered a knee injury -- having had surgery last year -- at Headingley and is now set to have a scan.But Ali believes England, who suffered an embarrassing first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup, are now much more than a one-man band in the 50-over game.Weve got the team that is capable of (winning our next seven matches), he said.

PM Nawaz real hero of development projects: Shehbaz Sharif

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SAHIWAL (Dunya News) – Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the real hero behind development projects in Pakistan.He affirmed the existing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will eliminate the darkness of power outages. While addressing to the people in Sahiwal Coal Power Project inauguration, he criticised political rivals and accused them of delaying China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by seven months.Shehbaz Sharif claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping could not continue with his Pakistan visit due to sit-ins by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in the capital city.In his address, he told China doesn’t want our schools and hospitals suffering from power outages. “PM Nawaz took steps to resolve issues,” he added.Talking about the project, he said Chinese engineers broke their own record by completing the plant within a short duration. “The project was completed in 22 months in China,” he said.Related:PM inaugurates first unit of Sahiwal Coal Power Project

Late Junaid Jamshed's son blessed with baby girl

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(Web Desk) – Son of late televangelist Junaid Jamshed, Taimoor has been blessed with a baby girl on Thursday.Junaid Jamsheds son has been blessed with a baby girl junaidjamshed son blessed babygirl dunyanews girl daughterA post shared by Dunya News (@dunyanews.tv) on May 25, 2017 at 3:58am PDT The father took to social media to share picture of the newborn.Late Jamshed died last year in December in a plane crash near Havelian while on way to Islamabad from Chitral with his wife. Jamsheds death came as a shock to the nation as he was revered by multiple sections of the society.PK-661 flight of Pakistan International Airline went down crashing near Havelian claiming lives of all 48 persons onboard includingDistrict Coordination Officer (DCO) of Chitral.

Champions Trophy: Kohli hopeful of proving point in England

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LONDON (AFP) - India captain Virat Kohli admitted Thursday that he needs to prove his superstar status to English crowds at the Champions Trophy after his powers deserted him on his last visit to the country.Kohli has a staggering average of over 90 in one-day cricket in the last 12 months and is fourth on the list for most centuries in the 50-over format with 27.But the 28-year-old struggled in England three years ago, averaging under 20 across five Test matches.If you talk about the longer format of the game then I did not do well here three years ago, said Kohli.I was not able to contribute to the team and I want to succeed, although not to prove a point. It motivates me further to come back and do better.For me it is a game of cricket. From then to now, I have shown I am strong mentally. England brings a lot for challenges for a batsmen and I want to overcome them personally for my satisfaction at the end of my career. From that point of view, it is exciting for me.Kohlis India won the last edition of the Champions Trophy, also played in England, in 2013, defeating the hosts by just five runs in a final reduced to 20 overs a side due to rain.Kohli played a key role, ending the truncated game with a top score of 43.The 2017 eight-nation Champions Trophy gets under way on June 1 and runs until June 18.India are in the same group as bitter rivals Pakistan, against whom they open their campaign at Edgbaston on June 4, Sri Lanka and South Africa.India have not played a 50-over match since beating England 2-1 on home ground in January.I am very excited to be playing as captain in my first major ICC competition, added Kohli.As far as the team goes, we won last time because our fast bowlers did very well, our spinners were strong and our opening batsman did well. They were the main three factors.This year the team is a lot fitter, the cricketers are a lot more mature because that was a very young group four years ago.Kohli may be the star of the team, but old stagers Yuvraj Singh and former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni still have major roles to play.We needed to strengthen our lower middle order contribution. Too much burden was on MS (Dhoni), said Kohli.He was not able to express himself. But now we are balanced, we have good fast bowlers, depth in batting and the series against England sealed it for us.We are in a good head-space going into this tournament.

Indian BSF arrests Pakistani man who crossed Wagah Border

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has refused to hand over the Pakistani man who mistakenly crossed the Wagah Border in Lahore during the traditional flag-lowering ceremony.20-year-old Pakistani national named Abdullah came to witness the traditional parade. He crossed the border at a time when people were arriving in the stadium to watch soldiers from Pakistan and India carry out flag-lowering ceremony.The Swat-born man had come alone to attend the parade, according to initial investigation. From his actions, it is being assumed that he is mentally ill.Rangers sources stated that some soldiers tried to stop the young man but he suddenly jumped across the zero line and illegally entered the Indian territory.

NATO's costly new HQ hit by Trump barb

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - NATO revealed its new $1.2 billion headquarters in Brussels with pomp and ceremony Thursday under the watchful eye of Donald Trump who could not resist a barb over the cost.To the sound of a military flypast and a marching band the alliance proudly took possession of the curved glass and steel building meant to symbolise a new unified future.But the US president was in belligerent mood as he unveiled a 9/11 memorial outside the building, accusing allies of hitching a free ride on the US taxpayer for years.I never asked once what the new NATO headquarters cost. I refuse to do that but it is beautiful, Trump said, leaving many bemused as to whether he was being humorous or not.Two years behind schedule, the futuristic structure of eight interlinked wings stands hunkered into the ground of a former Belgian airfield bombed by both sides in World War II.It replaces the alliances current drab 1960s HQ, a warren of prefab office units that was only meant to be temporary but has been used for half a century.This new NATO base is meant to be a symbol of a rock-solid, transatlantic alliance ready for the future after keeping the peace in Europe for the past 70 years.A 21st century headquarters for a 21st century alliance, NATO trumpets on its website.21st century problemsWith 21st century problems, it might have added -- the opening date has been repeatedly pushed back from 2015 due to funding and technical problems.Officials will not actually move into the building until late this year due to problems with the computer system.During a tour this week, alliance officials were keen to show off their new home, festooned with banners carrying the WeAreNATO catch-phraseThe main entrance is flanked by two memorials, to 9/11 and a section of the Berlin Wall to mark the end of the Cold War which German Chancellor Angela Merkel unveiled.The Sept. 11 2001 memorial is a potent reminder of what we are here for, a NATO official said, recalling that 9/11 was the only occasion so far that an ally -- the United States -- had invoked the alliances core Article 5 all for one, one for all collective defence commitment.The buildings centre piece is the Agora, recalling the market place of ancient Greek cities such as Athens where citizens met and mingled to discuss freely the issues of the day in the first democracies.Officials described the Agora as Cathedral-like and that is true of the dimensions -- 32 metres high (104 feet), 45 metres wide and 240 metres long, all glass elevators and exposed grey steel struts over a mottled grey floor.The glass in the building symbolises transparency, so that everything can be seen by the public, a NATO official said.The figures are impressive.The new building will be home to 1,500 personnel from member delegations, 1,700 international military and civilian staff, plus 600 workers from NATO agencies and up to a 1,000 visitors a day.There are 72,000 square metres of glass, 250,000 square metres of floor space.Each long wing is 188 metres with seven floors getting progressively smaller the higher you go. Each short wing is 90 metres long.It takes 15 to 20 minutes to walk from the end of the furthest long wing to the other side of the building, a NATO official said. That is the same as in the old building, he added.Seen from above, the wings are interlocked like the fingers of two hands, symbolising allied unity and cooperation, NATO says.Russian media however tartly compared the shape to the double lightning symbol of Nazi Germanys notorious SS.Shades of greyThe building is all shades of grey, broken up by blond wood pannelling at reception desk areas and the only dash of colour seemingly being the lime-green of the bathroom doors.It is all strictly functional and utilitarian but that seems very much the message the building is meant to convey -- a no-nonsense approach to the serious business of defence.Officials were reluctant to discuss security features for obvious reasons, but the glass is reinforced, security multi-faceted and there are enough back-up systems to keep the building running in most circumstances.There are however no bunkers, they insisted.

Ex-PM of Greece hurt in car blast: state TV

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ATHENS (AFP) - Greek former prime minister Lucas Papademos was hurt Thursday when an explosive device went off inside his car in Athens, state TV said.State TV ERT said Papademos had chest and leg wounds and trouble breathing, but his life was not in danger.Two of his guards were lightly hurt, ERT said.We are shocked. I wish to condemn this heinous act, media minister Nikos Pappas told the station.ERT said Papademos, prime minister from 2011 to 2012, had been targeted by a letter bomb.A police source said a number of people had been hurt but could not say if Papademos himself was in the car at the time of the blast.Papademos, 69, a former Bank of Greece governor, was in an armoured car, ERT said.He headed an interim coalition government at the height of Greeces fiscal crisis that in 2012 negotiated a massive write-down of the countrys privately-held debt.There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.In March, Greek anarchist group Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei mailed a letter bomb that injured a secretary at the International Monetary Fund in Paris.The Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei had earlier claimed responsibility for an explosive device, also sent from Greece, that was discovered by the police at the offices of German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.The group, which is considered a terror organisation by Washington, sent letter bombs to foreign embassies in Greece and to European leaders in 2010.

Ramazan 2017 to begin in Saudi Arabia, UAE on May 27

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(Web Desk) – Saudi Arabia has announced on Thursday that Ramazan 2017 will begin in the country from May 27 onwards. The first fasting day will be on the weekend (Saturday) in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries.Similarly, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated in these regions on June 25, which is a subject to moon sighting on the last day of Ramadan. Following the beginning of the holy month, authorities in the Middle Eastern countries have shortened the working hours and altered the timings to accommodate Muslims who will be fasting.UAE moon-sighting committee had failed to sight the Ramazan Moon on Thursday afternoon. Reportedly, many school kids will take examinations during the month while school hours will be lessened.Over 1.5 billion Muslims globally will practice fasting during the holy month in which they will abstain from drinking eating, smoking and offer prayers. Like Middle East, Ramazan 2017 will start from Saturday May 27 in most of the Western world including United States, UK and Europe.

Britain to send more troops to Afghanistan: govt source

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BRUSSELS (AFP) - Britain is ready to send more non-combat troops to Afghanistan as part of NATO efforts to help Kabul tackle an intensifying Taliban insurgency, a government source said Thursday.The UK is prepared to increase its contribution to troops in a non-combat role to demonstrate our continued support for the NATO mission in Afghanistan, the source said.Britain currently has around 500 troops in Afghanistan involved in training and mentoring local forces there. NATOs combat mission in Afghanistan formally ended in 2014.

Oil producers extend output cuts into 2018

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VIENNA (AFP) - Oil producers within and outside OPEC agreed on Thursday to extend output cuts into 2018 to ease a global supply glut and support prices.We considered various scenarios from six to nine to 12 months and we even considered options for higher cuts, Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Khaled al-Falih said after a meeting of 24 countries at OPEC headquarters in Vienna.All indications are solid that a nine-month extension is the optimum, and should bring us to within the five-year average of inventories by the end of the year, Falih, who co-chaired the meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, told reporters.Late last year the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and 11 other nations including Russia agreed to cut production by 1.8 million barrels per day.The aim was to reduce the massive oil inventories that had helped push down the price of oil from over $100 per barrel in 2014 to close to $25 in early 2016.While low prices were welcome news to firms and to consumers filling up their cars, they blew a hole in the finances of oil-producing nations, even rich Gulf countries, to say nothing of stricken Venezuela.Since December Brent crude, the global benchmark, has recovered to as high as $60 per barrel from about $46, although it has dipped below $50 several times.The pact, a dramatic policy turnaround for OPEC that even had regional arch rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran see eye to eye, was due to expire on June 30.Last week Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC Russia, the biggest of the 24 -- and who also are anything but best friends -- backed an extension by nine months until March 31, 2018.Shale revengePreviously, OPECs strategy was to keep pumping at full tilt in order to flood the market and make life difficult for the Americans, who need a higher price to make money.This pushed scores of US firms out of business. But with the recent rise, many have returned to the market with a vengeance, and output is nearing record levels.Despite the slow reduction of the global glut, as well as the prospect of rising output from Libya and Nigeria, Falih said that he was not worried.Shale is a important variable but we dont believe it is going to significantly derail or affect what we are doing, he said.But the market was disappointed oil producers did not decide on steeper cuts to output.The price of Brent plunged more than $2 per barrel after the announcement to $51.66 while West Texas Intermediate shed $1.82 at $49.54. Market analysts had expected a drop in the price after the deal was announced as many traders take their profits.Chris Beauchamp, market analyst at online trading firm IG, called Falihs belief that greater reductions are not needed quaint.Alexandre Andlauer from equity research firm Alphavalue called OPECs strategy old-fashioned.Falih said given that there are many variables, a steering committee of OPEC and non-OPEC members will watch developments closely and recommend if needed any interventions or adjustments to the accord.Irans Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said that the goal at the moment was a price of $55-60 per barrel, saying this was good for both shale and conventional producers.

BCCI asks Indian govt to grant permission for Pakistan series

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NEW DELHI (Dunya News) – Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wrote a letter to the Indian government asking permission for bilateral series with Pakistan.While media talk, BCCI Joint Secretary Amitabh Chaudhry verified the reports and said the board asked Indian government to grant permission for Pakistan series in accordance with the MoU signed in 2014.He mentioned Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent legal notice to BCCI for not obeying the MoU. Amitabh Chaudhry revealed that the BCCI members would soon meet PCB officials to resolve the matter, adding it was decided in the agreement that both countries will initiate a dialogue if bilateral series becomes impossible.The meeting between PCB and BCCI officials will be held under the same clause. It is up to the pending go ahead from Indian authorities whether India and Pakistan can play series or not.VIDEO: Indian board asks permission from govt for Pakistan series

Mumbai boy murders mother, scripts note with her blood

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(Web Desk) – Son of an Indian police official murdered his mother at family’s residence in Mumbai’s suburban Santa Cruzand scripted a message on tiled floor daring his cop father to catch him.Reportedly, the boy scored over 90 percent in board exams and after that he did not remain interested in studies calling for the family to push him.The note scripted on the floor reads: “Tired of her catch me & hang me.”Details have it that father of the youth returned to his Prabhat Colony home one night and found the door locked resultantly, he telephoned both his son and wife but could not reach either.He waited in building’s watchman’s post for his family to return from a late night movie that he thought would be the case.However, at 02:00am he found the keys near a shoerack and opened the door only to find his wife’s body in a pool of blood and a note by its side.

Electricity provision duty of provincial govt: Sindh Governor

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair said on Thursday the provision of education, health, water and electricity is the responsibility of the provincial government.While addressing to the traders at The Federation of Pakistan Chambers Of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) in Karachi, Sindh Governor lashed out at the Sindh government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). He said other provinces are not capable of fully utilising the provincial funds for development like Punjab.He highlighted the critical situation of the country’s trade hub saying, “Karachi is near destruction.”While criticising the PPP government in Sindh, he stated that provision of education, health, clean water and electricity was the duty of provincial government, adding that political rivals made fun of Lahore’s Metro Bus Project but did nothing for the poor transportation system of Karachi.He said he had already requested the federal government to improve infrastructure of the province to ensure prosperity.

ICC panel calls for T20 TV umpire, backs Test world championship

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LONDON (AFP) - A top international cricket committee on Thursday called for TV referrals to be used in T20 internationals and gave high level backing to a Test world championship.In addition, umpires will be allowed to send off players for misconduct, bat sizes will be restricted for the first time and run out rules changed from October 1 if the recommendations are approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executives committee.The ICC cricket committee, headed by outgoing India coach Anil Kumble and several former star players made the recommendations after a two-day meeting at Lords in London on Tuesday and Wednesday.The so-called Decision Review System (DRS) -- where a TV umpire makes a call on decisions taken on the field -- is already used in Tests and one-day internationals.The cricket committee said it should be extended to T20 internationals.The committee said teams will not lose a review, in any game, when an lbw decision comes back from the TV umpire.At the moment, teams can call for one review in each innings in one day games and two for every 80 overs bowled in Test matches.The committee said that if the new lbw measure is applied, the 80 over rule would be ended for Tests.The committee gave strong backing to the five-day game, expressing unanimous support for a Test world championship, and called it crucial for the future of international cricket.It also reiterated its support for the game getting an Olympic place.Giving more authority to umpires to battle misconduct, the committee said football-style sendings off should be used for serious violence and other offences during play.It recommended the use of instant replays to help umpires signal no balls.The panel suggested introducing restrictions on the thickness and depth of bats and said a batsman will be deemed to have made his or her ground when a bat bounces after being grounded behind the crease by a running or diving batsman.It also backed a two-year trial of concussion substitutes after Australia urged the ICC to introduce them after opening batsman Matt Renshaw was ruled out of the Pakistan Test in January, suffering twin blows on his helmet while fielding close-in.The panel includes former stars like Indias Rahul Dravid, former England captain Andrew Strauss, Sri Lankas Mahela Jayawardene and current Australia coach Darren Lehmann.The meeting was held ahead of the Champions Trophy which begins on June 1 with hosts England taking on Bangladesh in the opener.
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