Wednesday 26 July 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Peace in Afghanistan essential for development in region: Aizaz

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WASHIGTON (Dunya News) - Pakistan ambassador to the United States, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, has said that Pakistans growth indicators were positive and pointing in the right direction because of the Government of Pakistans focus on economic stability and outward looking policies.Aizaz Chaudhry stated this while addressing members of the Washington-based think tank community, local and international press, and academia, at an event organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in Washington on Wednesday.He said that Pakistan Governments emphasis on building economic connectivity, best symbolized by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, had generated interest among international investors, including those from corporate America.Aizaz Chaudhry said that this economic revival had taken place at the same time that the country had successfully turned the corner in its fight against terrorism and extremism.Referring to the great human and material cost entailed in reversing the tide of terrorism when it was ascendant elsewhere in the region, Ambassador Chaudhry said that, No nation has done more in the fight against terrorism.Turning towards regional developments, Aizaz Chaudhry said Pakistan continued to support an inclusive political reconciliation process in Afghanistan as the only viable path towards obtaining lasting peace in the region and added that there is no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.Aizaz Chaudhry also identified key steps for restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan, including intra-Afghan reconciliation, robust border management, repatriation of Afghan refugees and close cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan.Aizaz Chaudhry stated that the tendency of blaming Pakistan for security incidents inside Afghanistan was unhelpful. There was evidence that militant groups, having fled from Pakistans border areas as a result of Pakistans operations, had found sanctuaries in Afghanistans ungoverned spaces from where they planned and coordinated attacks against both countries.

Siraj demands accountability of those benefited from NRO

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Siraj-ul-Haq on Wednesday called for a swift ruling from the Supreme Court of Pakistan in the Panama case.Siraj-ul-Haq also demanded accountability of former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and all beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).He appealed to the Supreme Court to announce its decision of Panama case against Sharif family at the earliest and also demanded accountability of all 450 people named in Panama Leaks.

Lahore: Police arrest 21 suspects during search operation

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Police conducted search operation in different parts of Lahore on Wednesday and arrested at least 21 suspects, Dunya News reported.According to details, search operation was conducted in various localities of Shad Bagh, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Tibbi City areas during which biometric device was used for the identification of the residents.At least 21 suspects, who failed to provide any identity documents, were arrested by police during house-to-house search in these areas. The arrested persons were shifted to police station for further investigation.

Arthur hopes international cricket to return to Pakistan

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LAHORE (AFP) - Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said Wednesday he hoped a proposed tour of the World XI to the South Asian country would bring the embattled nation a step closer to reviving international cricket.Pakistan have not hosted international cricket - barring a limited over series against Zimbabwe in 2015 - since terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.And Mondays blast in Lahore which killed 26 people has again cast doubts over the World XI tour planned for mid September this year.However, Arthur said he regretted Pakistans isolation.The isolation is being very hard on Pakistan cricket, Arthur told AFP.PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) is doing an unbelievable job in trying to resurrect international cricket. I just hope the World XI tour goes ahead and that will almost be the curtain raiser to, hopefully, get some international cricket back.Pakistan has been forced to play home matches in the United Arab Emirates.Every international match we play as a unit we are playing effectively away from home, away our own conditions and that makes it doubly difficult, he said.Look, I definitely think it affects all cricket. The first class cricketers in Pakistan are not able to see their stars playing at home and are not able to lift their standards so its a vicious circle, he added.Arthur said Pakistans Champions Trophy win in England last month will change impressions.I think Pakistan was always a destination where it was hard to come and win. I was the coach of the South African team which came here in 2007.We won the Test and one-day series and that was a massive win and achievement because not many sides had come and won in Pakistan.

Du Plessis aims for Australia repeat against England

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LONDON (AFP) - South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes his side could be on the verge of another impressive away series win if they maintain their recent form against England.The Proteas head into Thursdays third Test at The Oval all square at 1-1 in a four-match series following a thumping 340-run win in the second Test at Trent Bridge last week.South Africa have a proud away Test record. In their past 19 series theyve won 13, drawn five and lost just one -- in India in 2015/16.Their record under du Plessis is excellent, with just one defeat in 12 Tests when the 33-year-old batsman has been their captain.Du Plessiss successes as a Test skipper include the Proteas 2-1 series win in Australia in 2016/17, with the hosts lone win coming when South Africa were already 2-0 up.The situation felt very similar, du Plessis told reporters at The Oval on Wednesday ahead of what will be the 100th Test staged on the south London ground.Last weeks defeat saw England subjected to some scathing media criticism, particularly from several of their own former captains, and du Plessis said it had been a similar story when South Africa were in Australia.There was quite a bit of press against the Australian cricket team, and then we stepped our game up even more in the second Test, he recalled.Then after that, it was a free-for-all -- and you could see the Australian team were feeling a bit of pressure.Du Plessis wants his side, bolstered by the return of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada -- banned from the second Test at Trent Bridge after swearing at Ben Stokes during Englands win in the series opener at Lords -- to turn the screw even further at The Oval.I see it as a nice thing for us to be in as the opposition.All teams dont want to feel the pressure, and you do feel the pressure when you dont play your best cricket -- thats part of the game.As for Rabada, du Plessis said: I assume hell be raring to get that ball in his hand.England will field at least two debutants on Thursday in Essex batsman Tom Westley and Middlesex fast-medium bowler Toby Roland-Jones.Westley made a century for the second-string England Lions against South Africa at Worcester a few weeks ago -- a match where both du Plessis and key paceman Vernon Philander were absent.Well done to him for getting a hundred, but I can promise you the intensity of a warm-up game versus a Test match... he will play against a different attack tomorrow, said du Plessis of the challenge awaiting Englands new No 3.Du Plessis has won plaudits for his clear-sighted leadership since taking charge during the 2016 home series against New Zealand, with South Africa then having slid down the Test rankings.But now they are second in the standings, with only India above them.In his time as skipper du Plessis has addressed contentious issues such as racial transformation head on, with the teams run of Test success the best answer to critics of the policy.When I took over it was at a time of real darkness as a Test team, du Plessis recalled.I had a vision of where I wanted us to go and a blueprint for getting there. But getting there doesnt always happen -- you have to be patient.Luckily things worked out a lot quicker than I thought they would.We won every series that we played in, and it was a good year for the team and my captaincy. As a young captain its important to find your own style of captaincy.If you know you have the right people on board and the right processes hopefully the results will come.

Roland-Jones to make England Test debut

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LONDON (AFP) - Middlesex paceman Toby Roland-Jones will make his England Test debut against South Africa on Thursday after Mark Wood was ruled out with injury.Durham fast bowler Wood missed Wednesdays final training session for the third Test with an ongoing heel problem that had troubled him in Englands 340-run defeat by South Africa in the second Test, a result that saw the Proteas level the four-match series at 1-1.Wood is not 100 percent fit so hes going to miss out this week and Toby Roland-Jones comes in for a debut, England captain Joe Root told a press conference on Wednesday ahead of the clash at The Oval.Roland-Joness Middlesex colleague Steven Finn, a veteran of 36 Tests, has been called up as stand by in the event of any further injuries to Englands pace attack.The 29-year-old Roland-Jones has twice been included in Test squads for matches at his Lords home ground but will now make his debut in the five-day game on the other side of Londons River Thames at Surreys headquarters.Roland-Jones did, however, make his one-day international debut against South Africa at Lords in May, taking one for 34 in a match England lost by seven wickets.He played a key role in helping Middlesex win last seasons County Championship and his Test call is a reward for several years of consistent performance in the English first-class game.Toby has been, in the lead up to the other games, really good in practice and he has obviously had a fine couple of years and it is a very exciting time, as it is for anyone who makes their Test debut, Root said Wednesday.Im really excited for him and Im sure hes desperate to show everyone what he can do with the red ball for England.Woods career has been blighted by injuries, with a succession of ankle problems restricting the 27-year-old to just 10 Tests since his debut against New Zealand in 2015.Root, however, was confident the worst was behind Wood amid fears the bowler may be excessively injury-prone.I dont think its a concern, it is the nature of how he throws himself into his work, the Yorkshireman explained.I think he is learning about his body all the time and I cant see him missing out too much longer, Root added.England will now field at least two debutants in what will be the 100th Test ever staged at The Oval, with Essex batsman Tom Westley previously selected in place of injured number three Gary Ballance.And they may include a third if Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan, born in London but brought up in South Africa, is included instead of left-arm spinner Liam Dawson.Englands top-order was twice dismissed cheaply at Trent Bridge, including for a mere 133 in their second innings.That led to Malans call-up, with the 29-year-old having already made a match-winning 78 for against South Africa during his Twenty20 international debut at Cardiff last month.England already have a frontline spinner in Moeen Ali, a better batsman than Dawson.Root said a decision on whether to play Malan or Dawson would wait until Thursday morning.Ill have a look at the wicket tomorrow and decide what is happening then, he said.Several former England captains criticised Roots men for the way they were bowled out twice inside 100 overs at Nottingham.I think they are entitled to their opinions, said the 26-year-old star batsman.Obviously we were not good enough, theres no point hiding behind it or making excuses, but most importantly it is about the attitude we show this week and that we bounce back from that, he added.

Sri Lanka's Gunaratne out of India Test series

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GALLE (AFP) - Sri Lankas Asela Gunaratne is certain to miss the rest of the three-Test series against India after suffering a multiple fracture of his thumb while fielding on Wednesdays opening day of the first game.The all-rounder was to undergo surgery in Colombo later Wednesday after being rushed from Galle where an X-ray confirmed a serious injury.Most probably he will miss a minimum of four weeks. We will know in the next 48 hours about the time frame, Sri Lankas cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha told reporters.He has fractures in three places. As soon as we saw the X-rays we knew it was very serious and we rushed him to Colombo.(Its) tough to lose one of our main players. We are down with ten players against the worlds number one team. He was our in-form batsman.Gunaratne, 31, sustained the injury in the first session of the Test while trying to take a catch off Indias Shikhar Dhawan at second slip.Gunaratne dived to his left but the ball hit him on the thumb before spilling on to the ground. He left the field clutching his wrist. Dhawan went on to score a career-best 190 and help India finish the day on 399-3.Gunaratne hit an unbeaten 80 in Sri Lankas record fourth-innings chase against Zimbabwe last week.

Heart rate study tests emotional impact of Shakespeare

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STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, United Kingdom (AFP) - In a world where on-screen violence has become commonplace, Britains Royal Shakespeare Company is turning to science to discover whether the playwright can still make our hearts race more than 400 years on.The renowned theatre company has started measuring the pulse of audience members as they are confronted by some of the most harrowing scenes ever written by Shakespeare in the Roman tragedy Titus Andronicus.The play, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593, is a tale of murderous revenge and savagery.In one scene, a bloodied Lavinia writhes on stage after rapists cut off her hands and tongue.Audience members have been known to pass out or vomit at the plays shocking cruelty during performances.Becky Loftus, head of audience insight at the RSC, is spearheading the innovative study to measure reactions to the English Renaissance writers work.Its notoriously Shakespeares bloodiest play... It can be quite polarising because of the amount of violence in it, Loftus told AFP.Are we inured to violence now because of things like (TV show) Game of Thrones? she said.The comparative study is being carried out in the theatre and at a live-streaming of the play in a cinema in Stratford -- the town in central England where Shakespeare was born in 1564.Some people feel that its never as good to be in the cinema, because you dont get the effect of being in the room and having people act in front of you.But then some people say that being in the cinema is like having the best seat in the house and you get the closer view, Loftus said.Many participants in the study, including 60-year-old scientist Sharon Faulkner, said they were more engaged in the theatre.It appeals to all of your senses. Rather than just visual and hearing, there are the smells. So I think its much more real, she said.- Basic human instinct -At a light-hearted briefing before the performance, one group of participants talked about how they were feeling and were asked to take some deep breaths in their theatre seats before the opening scene.Faulkner and fellow volunteer Jamie Megson said theatregoers can be passionate about a performance but are usually unaware of their pulses, as black heart rate monitors were strapped to their wrists.You get lost in the action of the play, so its hard to say whether its been more intense in certain moments than others, said 27-year-old Megson, an English teacher.Although the full results from the study are not expected until later this year, an initial analysis showed heart rates rising as audience members become aware a moment of violence may be imminent.The biggest reaction is the fight or flight -- basic human instinct, said Pippa Bailey from Ipsos Mori, a research firm that is helping to conduct the study.When something happens you either stay and you fight or you run when the adrenaline comes, she said.Participants are monitored during the performance and afterwards take part in an exit interview.Were doing voice recordings where we will analyse that to see peoples emotional engagement in what theyre saying by looking at both the choice of words and the sentiment in their voice, Bailey said.The RSC has previously relied on questionnaires to try and understand the impact of their productions.Megson said he was more affected by the interaction between characters, such as when Lavinias uncle takes her to her father Titus after the brutal attack, than moments of extreme violence such as severed heads being brought on stage.Its the acting thats the more shocking element, the emotions that theyre showing thats the more intense element, more than the gore and shock factor, he said.

Indian state leader resigns in potential boost for Modi

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - The leader of Indias eastern Bihar state resigned from his post on Wednesday in a surprise move widely expected to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modis grip on power.Nitish Kumar, the popular chief minister of one of Indias most populous and impoverished states, told journalists that it had become impossible for him to run the government in an alliance with a regional party led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, a controversial populist.My resignation has been accepted. The governor has asked me to continue till other arrangements are made, Kumar said.Modis right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the main opposition in the state and observers predict that it could now form the next Bihar government in an alliance with Kumars party.Yadav -- a former Bihar chief minister -- was earlier banished from Indias lower house in 2013 after he was convicted of defrauding a scheme to help farmers.

PHOTOS: PM attends 52nd Independence Day ceremony of Maldives as chief guest

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MALE (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the 52nd Independence Day celebrations of the Republic of Maldives as chief guest on Wednesday. He is on a three-day official visit to the Island country.A number of talented performers participated in the Independence Day ceremony where regional dance was also presented. PM Nawaz stood with the Maldives President Abdulla Yameen as the parade and march-past were put together.The event was hosted at the national football stadium where PM Nawaz was given special honour. The show started after the national anthem of Maldives was played.Loud cheer of the crowd praised regional performers while both PM Nawaz and President Yameen remained seated side-by-side. They exchanged words on various issues of mutual concern.PHOTOS: Independence Day celebrations in the Maldives

Op Radd-ul-Fasaad: 21 suspects arrested from Punjab

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RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Joint operations and raids were conducted by Punjab Rangers, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), police and intelligence agencies throughout Punjab resulting in the apprehension of 21 terrorist suspects.According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), search operation was carried out in Punjab during the last 24 hours after the tragic Lahore blast near Arfa Software Technology Park at Ferozepur Road.The security forces arrested terrorists belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat (TTS), unregistered Afghan locals and criminal gangs in an extension of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. A kidnapper gang was taken into custody during the massive security operation.It was notified that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa had given special directions to the forces to intensify operations in the province, especially around Lahore. As a result, snap checking was conducted in different areas of the provincial capital.

'Nisar was excluded after a consultative meeting, needs explanation'

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Spokesperson for the interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has revealed that the minister was excluded and not made part of consultative meetings after he voiced his stance on key issues.The spokesperson cleared that the impression that Nisar was annoyed with the party leadership and that the senior members of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are making efforts for reconciliation was wrong.However he added that he was excluded by the party after he offered his viewpoint in one of the consultative meetings, and needed an explanation off the federally ruling party for that.He said that the interior minister needs an explanation off the party over the seclusion he was subjected to.Earlier today, Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, finance minister Ishaq Dar and railways minister Saad Rafique met Chaudhry Nisar to clear the air within the spheres of PML-N.In a meeting at Punjab House in the capital, the top-tier of the ruling party attempted to allegedly mend the ties and reverse the damage.The sole purpose of the gathering, sources reported that was to listen to his concerns so that he could end his ‘rift’ with the party leadership.Statement of the spokesperson has come in after Nisar announced to address a press conference twice before but could not address the issue. Once out of an ailment and on Monday due to a suicide blast in Lahore that claimed 26 lives and left over 50 injured.He refrained from indulging in a political talk on Monday and expressed grief on the loss of lives in Lahore. However, the minister said that he would hold a press conference to address the issue soon.

Abducted Pakistani diplomats recovered in Afghanistan

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ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Two Pakistani diplomats who were abducted in Afghanistan last month have been safely recovered in a security operation Wednesday, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said.The two diplomatic officials of the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jalalabad who were abducted while travelling from Jalalabad to Torkham on 16 June 2017 have been safely recovered today in Afghanistan, the ministry said in a statement.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani phoned Pakistans Charge dAffaires in Kabul to inform that the Afghan security forces had recovered the two Pakistani officials in a security operation, the statement said.The pair had been handed over to Pakistani embassy in Kabul and would be flown home soon, it added.Relations between the neighbours have soured over claims that Pakistan secretly supports insurgents trying to topple the Afghan government.Afghan officials frequently accuse Pakistan of supporting the Taliban and providing sanctuary for the guerrillas on its soil in hopes of maintaining influence in Afghanistan.The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until they were toppled by a US-led invasion in 2001. They have battled the Kabul government and its foreign allies ever since.

Khan like vulture: Khawaja Asif

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(Web Desk) – Defence minister Khawaja Asif has termed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan a vulture who is waiting someone to hunt and satiate his hunger for power.In a couple of messages posted on social media, the minister claimed that Khan had sued him for alleged libel some years back as he had accused him of laundering $7 million pocketed in name of charity for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Hospital (SKMTH).Asif stated that he laundered the money with help of the director of SKMTH.He accused Khan of dodging the case by not coming to the court. “IK like vulture, what he couldn’t get in 2013, awaits someone to hunt and satiate his hunger for power, that not happening, he will starve and wither IA,” he wrote on Twitter.

Police arrest Multan panchayat for ordering rape of alleged rapist's sister

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MULTAN (AFP) - Fourteen members of a Pakistani village council have been arrested for ordering the rape of a teenage girl as punishment for a rape committed by her brother, police said Wednesday.The incident occurred earlier this month in the neighbourhood of Raja Ram in Muzaffarabad, a suburb of the central city of Multan, investigators told AFP.A jirga (village council) had ordered the rape of a 16-year-old girl as punishment, as her brother had raped a 12-year-old, said Allah Baksh, a local police official.He said the village council was approached by a man who complained that his 12-year-old sister had been raped by their cousin.The council then ordered the complainant to rape the sister of the accused in return, Baksh said -- an order which was duly carried out.The allegations were confirmed by Rashid Taheem, the police officer heading the investigation.Both the parties had filed cases of rape against each other at the local police station after the incident that happened last week, he told AFP.We have arrested 14 people of the village council so far, he said, adding that the main accused -- the man who raped the 12-year-old -- was still at large.Jirgas, or village councils formed of local elders, are a traditional means of settling disputes in Pakistans rural areas, where courts and lawyers are not always accessible or trusted.But such councils are illegal and have been under fire for their controversial decisions, especially regarding women.A jirga was involved in one of South Asias most infamous cases of sexual violence against women when, in 2002, it ordered the gang rape of a woman called Mukhtar Mai after her brother was falsely accused of rape.Mai made the unusual decision to defy her rapists and take them to court. Her attackers walked free but she went on to become a high-profile womens rights activist.Her story inspired an opera, Thumbprint, which opened in New York in 2014 and premiered in Los Angeles last month.
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