Thursday 17 August 2017

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Bahawalnagar: Breach in canal inundates villages, agricultural land

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BAHAWALNAGAR (Dunya News) – A 200-foot wide breach in Hakra Canal in Bara Sajwar Khan area near Bahawalnagar on Thursday flooded several villages and destroyed crops on hundreds of acres of agricultural land, Dunya News reported.Residents of the area started rescue work on self-help basis and are trying to plug the breach as irrigation department personnel failed to reach the spot.On the other hand, a police team reached the site of the breached and participated in rescue operation.

Faisalabad: Power looms workers end sit-in

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FAISALABAD (Dunya News) – Hundreds of power looms workers staged a sit-in in front of Deputy Commissioner Office in Faisalabad on Thursday for acceptance of their demands, causing a huge traffic jam.Deputy Commissioner, Faisalabad arranged negotiations between protesting workers and power looms owners during which four out of five demands of the workers were accepted.The power looms owners agreed to accept workers demands of increase the wages, provision of social security card, provision of EOBI card and arrangements of health and safety at the power looms. The labourers ended sit-in after acceptance of their demands and dispersed peacefully.

Azizia Steel Mills case: Counsel to appear before NAB on behalf of Sharif family

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz were summoned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to appear in NAB office in Lahore today (Friday) to record their statement in Azizia Steel Mills case.The Sharif family members will not appear before NAB today to record their statements in Azizia Steel Mills case and they will be represented by their counsel.According to NAB sources, teams have been formed to prepare four references against Sharif family on the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan.Meanwhile, NAB Rawalpindi team has obtained copy of the volume 10 of Panama Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report on Thursday for the investigation against Sharif family.NAB Rawalpindi team has delivered the copy of the volume 10 of Panama JIT report to NAB Lahore team. On the other hand, the NAB Rawalpindi team, which was investigating against Sharif family, also arrived in Lahore.On July 28, a five judge larger bench of the Supreme Court while disqualifying Nawaz Sharif under Article 62(1)( f) of the Constitution had asked NAB to file four references in the Rawalpindi accountability court within six weeks on the basis of the material collected and referred to by the JIT as well as that already available with the Federal Investigation Agency and NAB.It should be mentioned here that Nawaz Sharif had filed a review petition before the Supreme Court against his disqualification and also moved a separate application with a request to suspend the final verdict in the Panama Papers case as long as the review petition is pending.

Ton-up Cook and Root give Windies hard day's night

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Alastair Cook and captain Joe Root both scored hundreds as England dominated the West Indies in the inaugural day/night Test on English soil at Edgbaston on Thursday.England were 348 for three at stumps on the first day of what is just the fifth day/night Test worldwide.Cook was 153 not out after more than six hours at the crease. Together with Root (136), he put on 248 for the third wicketThe past and present England skippers had come together with their side faltering at 39 for two after both debutant Mark Stoneman and Tom Westley had been dismissed for eight.Dawid Malan, given a reprieve on two, was 28 not out at the close.Today was about making sure if we got into a position of strength and drive it forward, Root told Sky Sports.After the start, it felt like a one-dayer, because we got off to a flier. The atmosphere was electric and for Cooky to be 150 not out is great.Boundaries flowed throughout the day and West Indies bowling coach Roddy Estwick admitted: We didnt have one of our better days. We were poor.If you are conceding 53 boundaries in a day it shows a lack of discipline.Roots 11th fifty in successive Tests was a new England record and just one shy of South Africa star AB de Villierss mark of 12.For Cook, already Englands leading Test run-scorer and century-maker, this was his 31st hundred at this level.The West Indies, Test crickets dominant force in the 1970s and 1980s, have long struggled away from home.During the past 20 years, excluding matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, theyve won just three out of 86 Tests outside the Caribbean.They arrived in England without several star players, the legacy of a bitter dispute with West Indies administrators and the lure of the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament that is taking place at the same time as this series.Yet they still had two early wickets under sunny blue skies that promised ideal batting conditions.Left-hander Stonemans first two scoring shots in Test cricket were fours off Kemar Roach.But that was as good as it got for Stoneman, brought in after England dropped Keaton Jennings following a run of low scores during the preceding 3-1 home Test series victory against South Africa.Roach clean bowled Stoneman with a superb ball that pitched on middle stump and clipped the top of off.Westley was then lbw on review to Miguel Cummins.Cook and Root, however, repaired the damage.Just before the lunch interval left-hander Cook, completed a 74-ball fifty.After lunch, Root went to an 83 ball-fifty when a flashing cut off opposing skipper Jason Holder flew through the slips for four.Root, who made 190 against South Africa in his first match as England captain at Lords last month, pulled off-spinner Roston Chase to fine leg for a ninth boundary that saw him complete his 13th Test century in 139 balls.Cook then went to an understated but no less valuable 182-ball hundred with a single off Chase.For all the talk of what the pink ball might do and the difficulties of batting in twilight, it looked as if Englands top-order mainstays would both get through to the close.Root, however, was bowled between bat and pad by the persevering Roach.Malans edged cut off part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite then hit Jermaine Blackwood before the slip could react.The West Indies woes intensified when paceman Holder left the field with a neck injury midway through bowling an over before Cooks legside clip off fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, his 23rd four, took him to 150.

MacGill declines Bangladesh spin coaching job

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DHAKA (AFP) - Former Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has turned down a Bangladesh offer to join the side ahead of two-Test series against his home country, a senior cricket official said on Thursday.Bangladesh were hoping to get some inside knowledge from MacGill, who took 208 wickets in 44 Tests for Australia, before the crucial home series against Steven Smiths team beginning later this month.MacGill was expected to join another Australian, Mark ONeill, on the Bangladesh backroom staff for the tour by the world number four-ranked nation.You know that our president (Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan) already cleared it that Stuart MacGill was our first choice as spin bowling coach, BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury said.(But) for some of his personal reasons he cannot join the team at the moment, Chowdhury told reporters at a press briefing in Dhaka.We will now go for our second or third option. We hope within a day or two we will be able to tell something about this, he said.Bangladesh have been without a spin bowling coach since the BCB sacked Sri Lankan Ruwan Kalpage, who failed to report for duty following a deadly Islamist extremist attack at a posh Dhaka cafe in July last year.Bangladesh, who offered MacGill a short-term deal for three months, were looking to build on a year in which they recorded their maiden Test wins over England and Sri Lanka before reaching the Champions Trophy semi-final in June.Australia are due to arrive in the Bangladeshi capital on Friday for their first Test series in the South Asian nation since 2006.The first Test against Australia is at Dhakas Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from August 27. The second starts in Chittagong on September 4.Australia were to play two Tests in Bangladesh in October 2015 but the tour was cancelled after a wave of attacks by Islamist extremists in the Muslim-majority nation.

Lyth hits third highest T20 score of 161

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LONDON (AFP) - Adam Lyth hit the third highest score in Twenty20 cricket on Thursday when he smashed 161 playing for Yorkshire against Northamptonshire in the English county tournament.Lyths score was only 14 short of the world record held by Chris Gayle of the West Indies set in the Indian Premier League in 2013 and just one shy of the second best made by Hamilton Masakadza in the Zimbabwe domestic event in 2016.Lyth hammered seven sixes and 20 fours in his 73-ball innings to surpass Brendon McCullums previous English county best of 158 not out in 2015.Yorkshire ended on 260 for four -- just short of the world record made by Australia who piled up 263-3 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in September 2016.Im really happy with that, Lyth told Sky Sports.Its nice to get off to a good start and keep going. Hopefully now the bowlers can do their job and hopefully we can qualify.

PM Abbasi seeks amelioration of Pakistan Railways

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Railways Minister Saad Rafiq today, according to statement released by the spokesperson of Prime Minister House.The Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq informed PM Abbasi regarding the performace of Pakistan in the last four years (2013-17).Saad Rafiq highlighted the improved conditions and better performance of Pakistan Railways over the period of four years.Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi appreciated the level of positive returns indicated in financial statements and the overall improvement in the physical condition of the trains.PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi emphasized the importance of infrastructure and service delivery associated with the Pakistan Railways which would prove to be positive impetus to the social and economic progress in the country.PM Abbasi directed the Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafiq to increase the pace of railways projects and approved plans in order uplift the situation of Pakistan railway system.

Kh Asif asks Antonio Guterres to take notice of violations in held Kashmir

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif asked United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to take notice of the ongoing humanitarian violations by Indian forces in held Kashmir.He condemned the loss of innocent lives in the occupied valley, saying civilians are targeted by Indian forces. He pointed out that it is an Indian attempt to make the territory a Muslim minority region.Human rights violations and torturing Hurriyat leaders is worth condemnation, he added. Asif vowed that Pakistan will continue its diplomatic, political and moral support for the right to self-determination of Kashmiris. He paid a tribute to Kashmiris who bear great loss of life and valuables to achieve peace and freedom.He argued that Kashmir issue should be resolved according to UN resolutions, and Indian forces cannot put a lid on the freedom struggle by subjecting Kashmiris to atrocities.

Alibaba profit nearly doubles on robust revenues

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SHANGHAI (AFP) - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said Thursday its net profit almost doubled in the latest quarter on the back of solid revenue growth in its core shopping business and in cloud computing.Alibaba, which has made billionaire founder Jack Ma one of Chinas richest men and a global e-commerce icon, has seen its New York-listed shares soar 80 percent since last December on perennially robust earnings.In New York trade, Alibaba shares leapt another 4.7 percent to $167.00 in late morning trade.With those shares at all-time highs, the companys market worth has been fast approaching that of industry leader Amazon.Alibaba said net income in the quarter which ended June 30 was 14.7 billion yuan ($2.2 billion), a year-on-year increase of 94 percent.Alibaba thoroughly dominates e-commerce in China mainly through its Taobao platform, and its continued strong earnings performances have underlined the strength of the sector even as the countrys broader economic growth has slowed.We had a great quarter, executive vice chairman Joseph Tsai told a conference call.Tsai said the results were strong because we sowed the seeds years ago by investing in technology, by investing in innovation, by investing in people and by being bold with vision that nobody thought was possible.He added that the Alibaba Economy is self-reinforcing and it is as strong as ever.Overall revenues in the quarter rose 56 percent to 50.2 billion yuan, beating the $7.2 billion average of analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.The performance also beat the 45-49 percent increase for the quarter that the company itself forecast back in June.Revenue from its core commerce offerings grew 58 percent in the quarter to 43.0 billion yuan, while cloud computing revenue jumped 96 percent to 2.4 billion yuan, it said in an earnings statement.- The platform economy -Alibabas Taobao platform is estimated to hold more than 90 percent of the consumer-to-consumer market, while its Tmall is believed to handle over half of business-to-consumer transactions.Chief executive Daniel Zhang called the results a clear reflection of the tremendous appeal and potential of Alibabas platform economy.The company said mobile monthly active users on its China retail market places grew to 529 million in June, an increase of 22 million over March of this year.Zhang said the large number of users gives us a very good chance to understand more about customers, then gives us the chance to innovate in the retail format.With its e-commerce operations unassailable at home, Alibaba has sought to extend its shopping dominance by investing in a string of Chinese bricks-and-mortar retailers.But the company, based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, also has poured money into cloud computing, digital media and entertainment as its seeks to build up new revenue streams.Revenue from digital media and entertainment operations increased 30 percent 4.0 billion.Alibaba said it also was laying the foundation for long-term growth in its international operations, largely through the Southeast Asian e-commerce platform Lazada. Alibaba raised its stake in Lazada to 83 percent in the quarter.International revenues reached 2.6 billion yuan in the latest quarter, up 136 percent year-on-year.

'Terrorist' van hits pedestrians in Barcelona, death toll reaches 13

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BARCELONA (AFP) - A driver deliberately smashed a van into a crowd on Barcelonas most popular street on Thursday, killing at least thirteen person before fleeing to a nearby bar.Officers in Spains second-largest city said the ramming on the popular Las Ramblas boulevard was a terrorist attack and a police source said one suspect had left the scene and was holed up in a bar.Regional interior minister Joaquin Forn said that at least one person had been killed and 32 others were wounded, warning however that the toll could rise.A local government source earlier said two people had died.Vehicles have been used in several terror attacks in Europe in recent years, including a jihadist massacre that claimed 86 lives in the French Riviera city of Nice.The famous Las Ramblas is one of Barcelonas busiest streets, lined with shops and restaurants and normally thronged with tourists and street performers until well into the night.Police said there had been a huge collision between a van and pedestrians on the thoroughfare and a police source said officers were seeking a total of two suspects.- Bodies on the floor -Xavi Perez, who works in a sports shop near the site of the attack, described a scene of carnage.When it happened I ran out and saw the damage, he told AFP. There were bodies on the floor with people crowding round them. People were crying. There were lots of foreigners.Witness Aamer Anwar told Britains Sky News television that he was walking down Las Ramblas, which he described as jam-packed with tourists.All of a sudden, I just sort of heard a crashing noise and the whole street just started to run, screaming. I saw a woman right next to me screaming for her kids.Police were very, very quickly there, police officers with guns, batons, everywhere. Then the whole street started getting pushed back.Mini stampedeSpain had so far been spared the kind of extremist violence that rocked nearby France, Belgium and Germany.But it was hit by what is still Europes deadliest jihadist attack in March 2004, when bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid, killing 191 people in an attack claimed by Al Qaeda-inspired extremists.Ethan Spibey, a charity director on holiday in the city, said he and several others had locked themselves in a nearby church after Thursdays van ramming.All of a sudden it was real kind of chaos... people just started running screaming, he told Sky. There was kind of a mini stampede.It seems like a lot of people have taken refuge in shops and local cafes.The United States offered its assistance to Spain and was providing consular assistance to Americans in Barcelona.Terrorists around the world should know -- the United States and our allies are resolved to find you and bring you to justice, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters in Washington.- String of vehicle attacks -The Nice onslaught in July last year and other similar attacks including the carnage in Paris 2015 were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.In another deadly vehicle attack in December, 12 people were killed when a man driving a truck ploughed into a crowd at a Berlin Christmas market.Spain has emerged as a potential target for jihadists, with extremist websites mentioning it for historical reasons, since much of its territory was once under Muslim rule.Generally, authorities in Spain -- the worlds third largest tourism destination -- remain discreet on the terror threat.But they publicise every arrest of alleged jihadists, most of them detained for propaganda, recruitment for extremist groups or glorifying terrorism.According to the interior ministry, more than 180 jihadist terrorists have been arrested since June 2015 when Spain raised the terror alert level to four out of a maximum of five, in domestic and foreign operations.

Impression of conflict with every army chief incorrect: Nawaz Sharif

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif claimed that the impression regarding his conflict with all army chiefs is incorrect as some of the heads of armed forces have had good ties with him.In an interview, he told he disagrees with anyone who doesn’t hold supremacy of law, adding that it is not just his responsible to avoid confrontation between institutions. “I will not allow violation of sanctity of votes and keep struggle for it,” he said.Recalling Turkey’s failed military coup, he demanded supremacy of public mandate. Ex-PM said everyone should avoid confrontation between institutions as it is the responsibility of all entities.He claimed to never deviate from constitution, slamming the military dictators who destroyed the country including Pervez Musharraf. “When Musharraf imposed martial law only a few generals were with him while the rest were with me and didn’t even know that martial law has been imposed,” he recalled.Nawaz Sharif argued that it is important to direct the country towards certain goals, highlighting the importance of the sanctity of public mandate. He vowed to keep struggle for the aforementioned cause. Nawaz claimed to not running the campaign to be elected as the premier again.On questions regarding PTI Chairman Imran Khan, he said it is better not to respond to his concerns. Nawaz Sharif said he didn’t ask for anything from ex-President Asif Ali Zardari. Expressing interest in Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani’s plan to hold inter-institutional dialogue, he said it is the need of hour.

Independence Day celebrations reject MQM-London: Farooq Sattar

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – The leader of MQM-Pakistan Dr Farooq Sattar has ‘hit two birds with one stone’ through his statement in which he lashed out at MQM-London leader Altaf Hussain and also criticized Pak Sar Zameen Party (PSP) leader Mustafa Kamal.Farooq Sattar said that the event of disregarding the national flag of Pakistan at hands of MQM-London led the Muhajir community to firmly express its allegiance to the country as they responded by celebrating Pakistan’s Independence day with utmost fervor.Farooq Sattar lambasted the anti-national role of MQM-London faction, which had announced to observe Black Day on 14th August i.e. when the whole country celebrates the independence day of Pakistan. Farooq Sattar expressed his anger by saying that the reply of Muhajir community is ‘commencement of war’ against MQM-London. He highlighted the fact that there exists only one MQM and he, himself, is its convener.Dr Farooq Sattar said that PSP leader Mustafa Kamal wants to remove him from the mainstream politics. He also opposed the PPP’s decision to revoke NAB ordinace (1999) and welcomed the decision of Sindh High Court. MQM-Pakistan leader said that movement against corruption will be launched throughout Pakistan.

Supreme Court orders deferment of PP-4 Gojar Khan by-election

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The apex court ordered the deferment of by-elections to be held in PP-4 Gojar Khan for an indefinite period of time. The Supreme Court maintained the decision to disqualify Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, the candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).The apex court announced the decision on basis of unconfirmed academic degrees of the PML-N contestant and sought the academic record of Shaukat Aziz Bhatti from the Higher Education Comission (HEC) in order to establish the credibility of the documents produced in the court. Three member bench led by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said that stakeholder should base their argument upon established facts. The petitioner’s lawyer said that court has authourity to proceed with the confirmation regarding the originality of diploma certificates. Chief Justice remarked that the documents dating back to 2007 state that Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) is the academic qualification of Shaukat Aziz Bhatti.The Supreme Court ordered the deferment of elections till the investigation of academic record does not reach any conclusion and also issued a notice to the Attorney General for assistance in following the investigation process.

Qatar welcomes Saudi 'political' decision to open border for hajj

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - The Qatari foreign minister on Thursday welcomed Saudi Arabias decision to reopen the two countries border to Muslim pilgrims -- while lashing out at Riyadhs politicisation of religious freedoms.Regardless of the manner in which pilgrims from Qatar or living in Qatar were banned from the pilgrimage, which was politically motivated, and the manner in which they were subsequently permitted to make the pilgrimage, which was also politicised and which was announced with other goals in mind... the government of Qatar welcomes the decision and will respond positively, Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told a press conference in Stockholm.What matters to us is the bottom line, which is that our citizens now have a way to attend the hajj (pilgrimage), and we uphold our demand that hajj be spared politicisation and remain separate from our political issues, Sheikh Mohammed said.Saudi Arabia has announced it would open the Salwa border crossing to Qatari pilgrims for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Mohamed and Islams holiest site, in the west of the kingdom.The crossing had been sealed off for more than two months as a diplomatic crisis between the Saudi and Qatari governments has seen severe restrictions on travel imposed on citizens across the region.On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt announced a cut in ties with Qatar, recalled ambassadors and sealed off borders and airspace to the emirate over allegations Doha backed Islamist extremists and was too close to Shiite Iran.Qatar has denied the allegations.Riyadhs decision to reopen the border came hours after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Wednesday with Qatari envoy Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani, a member of the ruling dynasty in Doha.The Qatari foreign minister, however, said Sheikh Abdullah had acted on a personal initiative by meeting the crown prince in the Saudi city of Jeddah and not on behalf of the Doha government.Doha has consistently accused Riyadh of politicising the hajj and jeopardising the pilgrimage to Mecca.

POF to provide jobs to hockey players: PHF

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ISLAMABAD (APP): Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)Thursday said the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Wah would provide jobs to hockey players and officials.Talking to APP, PHF Secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Sr claimed that according to latest developments, the POF would provide jobs to 18 hockey players and two officials in the days to come.“The POF is making its own hockey team therefore, it has decided to provide jobs to players,” he said.He said the negotiation regarding jobs for players were also underway with departments including Fauji Foundation, Pakistan Television (PTV), Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd. (ZTBL) and Sui Northern GasPipelines Limited (SNGPL).“The PHF is doing all-out efforts in promoting the game and encouraging the players by providing jobs in order to make their livelihood.” he said.
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