Dunya TV

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• Kerry for closer ties with Pakistan
• Cop among three killed in Rawalpindi
• Islamabad: US Embassy vehicle kills motorcyclist
• Naudero: Nawaz vows to end Dako Raj
• Karachi: ST calls for shutter down strike on Feb 25
• Saudis say Syria death toll may be 90,000: Kerry
• US, UN urge Iran to ensure 'progress' at talks
• 12 police, rebels killed in Russia's Dagestan
• Somalia urges UN to lift arms embargo
• 'Blade Runner' Pistorius charged with girlfriend's murder
• Azarenka, Radwanska into quarters at Qatar Open
• Federer ousts De Bakker at ABN AMRO
• Serena on the verge of becoming oldest No 1
• Chelsea win, Liverpool lose in Europa League
• Argentine woman marries sister's killer

Kerry for closer ties with Pakistan Posted: US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday reaffirmed Washington's desire to forge closer relations and stronger co-operation with Pakistan. According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, John Kerry telephoned Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and also accepted her invitation to visit Pakistan at the earliest.Congratulating Secretary Kerry on his appointment, Hina Rabbani Khar said that she looked forward to closely working with him to further expand the relations between the two countries. Foreign Minister Khar and Secretary Kerry agreed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was in the common interest of both Pakistan and the US. They expressed satisfaction on the progress that has been made during the past few months and looked forward to more intensive engagement in this regard.

Cop among three killed in Rawalpindi Posted: According to details, police launched a search operation near Holy Family Hospital on a tip-off that some suspects are present in the area.The raiding police party came under attack by some unidentified persons when it reached the area due to which an ASI of Elite Force, Hasnain was killed on the spot while two other officials were wounded. Two civilians were also killed in the firing incident.According to police the civilians were alleged attackers who were identified as Jamshaid and Sajid. Both of them were real brothers.A heavy contingent of police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Islamabad: US Embassy vehicle kills motorcyclist Posted: According to details, two CDA employees Muzammil Shah and Shahzeb were going on their motorcycle No NK 927 near Punjab House in the jurisdiction of Police Station Secretariat when a rashly driven Land Cruiser of US Embassy bearing number RIL 3367, driven by a US official Leo Pariseau Perez, struck them, wounding them both seriously.The injured were taken to Poly Clinic Hospital where Muzammil Shah succumbed to his wounds while Shahzeb is stated to be in stable condition.Dozens of CDA workers reached Poly Clinic and staged a protest against US Embassy. The dead body of Muzammil, who was a lift operator at the Parliament Lodges, has been handed over to his heirs.According to sources, US Embassy official Leo Perez tried to escape from the scene but police brought him along with his vehicle to Police Station Secretariat.Leo Perez was later shifted to a private hospital for medical examination. The drug enforcement head of the US Embassy in Islamabad, Baron Douglas, is also present in the hospital.An FIR has been registered in the Police Station Secretariat under Section 320. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik took notice of the incident and sought report from police officials.

Naudero: Nawaz vows to end Dako Raj Posted: Addressing a big public rally in Naudero near Larkana, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif said that last five years were marred by corruption and bad governance and President Asif Ali Zardari was the man responsible for the worsening living conditions in the Sindh province.He said Zardari was responsible for the failure of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government to alleviate suffering of masses in Sind in the past five years and had done nothing to arrest the killers of Benazir Bhutto.Nawaz Sharif said those who had voted for the PPP had done so ‘out of love’, however, the province did not see any positive change. “Unemployment is at its peak in Sind and nothing has been done for education,” he said.Nawaz Sharif said he was seeing a change in the thinking of people of Sindh and with the support of people; the country would get rid of looters’ ‘Dako Raj’.

Karachi: ST calls for shutter down strike on Feb 25 Posted: The shutter down strike call was given against the increasing incidents of target killing in Karachi. The strike call was given by Sunni Tehreek chief Sarwat Ijaz Qadri during a token hunger strike camp established in the provincial capital.Leaders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Sindh United Party Pakistan Demovratic Party, National People’s Party also attended the token hunger strike camp to show solidarity.Talking to media, Sarwat Ijaz Qadri said that government is not taking notice of their peaceful protest. He said the rulers failed to curb target killing incidents in Karachi are not serious and taking any action against terrorists. The Sunni Tehreek leader also announced to stage sit-ins on main roads of the city on February 23.

Saudis say Syria death toll may be 90,000: Kerry Posted: US Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday the death toll in Syria may have reached 90,000, citing figures given to him by his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal.I had occasion ... to speak this morning with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. The first thing he mentioned to me was in his estimate perhaps as many as 90,000 people who have been killed in Syria, Kerry told reporters.The figure is much higher than estimates given this week by UN rights chief Navi Pillay who said the death toll from the civil war was nearing 70,000.The newly appointed top US diplomat said the desperate humanitarian situation in Syria would be one of the issues topping a packed agenda for his first meeting at the State Department with UN chief Ban Ki-moon.Kerry said Wednesday after talks with Jordans Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh that Washington and Jordan could take renewed steps to urge Syrian ally Russia to bring more pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to quit.I want to learn from the secretary general what he thinks we can do... to try to change President Assads calculations, to stop the bloodshed and begin a peaceful political transition towards a democratic future, Kerry said.The vast numbers of refugees fleeing the 23-month conflict pose a huge burden for Syrias neighbors, Kerry warned.UN and US estimates say more then 750,000 people have fled the country, while a further 2.5 million are displaced internally.President Assad has the ability to be able to make the difference here by deciding to engage in a legitimate diplomatic process. He must end this killing, Kerry stressed.State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland meanwhile scotched rumors that Kerry -- who has met with Assad in the past -- was planning to visit Damascus on his first foreign trip as secretary of state, which has yet to be unveiled.The secretary of state has no intention to go to Damascus, not on this first trip and not until we are in a place where the Syrian people have gotten on the road to meeting their aspirations for a free and democratic country, Nuland said.He also has zero intention to talk to Assad.Ban meanwhile said the UN supported a proposal from Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, the head of the opposition umbrella National Coalition, who has called on the Assad regime to open a dialogue to end the bloodshed.Such a dialogue is an opportunity we should not miss, Ban said.He was speaking amid reports that a new peace plan for Syria, involving the creation of a senate to oversee a power transition, is currently making the rounds in the United Nations.Saudi daily newspaper Asharq Alawsat reported it had obtained a copy of the plan which it said had been drafted under UN supervision with members of the Syrian opposition.It foresees the creation of a 140-member senate body tasked with leading the dialogue process between the regime and the opposition during a transitional phase, said Asharq al-Awsat.Nuland also said Kerry would next week make his first major public speech on the investments President (Barack) Obama has made and that this nation needs to continue to make in a strong foreign policy.

US, UN urge Iran to ensure 'progress' at talks Posted: Top US and EU leaders urged Iran on Thursday to help ensure progress in the next round of talks over its nuclear program, even as moves to boost UN inspections of Iranian sites failed.US Secretary of State John Kerry cautioned the next negotiations, due on February 26 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, can only make progress if the Iranians come to the table determined to make and discuss real offers.And he warned as he met with UN chief Ban Ki-moon that the United States was determined not to get trapped in a delay-after-delay process.Countries that have peaceful programs do not have problems proving to people that they are peaceful, Kerry told reporters.I think it is incumbent on the Iranians to prove that they are prepared to meet our willingness... to be open to a diplomatic resolution.It took weeks of negotiations to agree on a date and venue for the next talks aimed at getting Tehran to rein in its nuclear enrichment program between the world powers, known as the P51, and Iran.Ban also expressed hope that the P51 meetings would bring fruitful progress.And EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who met with Kerry separately Thursday at the State Department, said: I always look for success... and I will do my best on behalf of the P51.It is important that we continue to track and make our efforts successful, she said.But the chief UN atomic inspector said Thursday that separate talks with Iran had failed again to agree on enhanced inspections of its nuclear program.We had discussions on the structured approach document but could not finalize the document, Herman Nackaerts of the International Atomic Energy Agency told reporters after returning from Tehran.We will work hard now to resolve the remaining differences, but time is needed to reflect on the way forward.

12 police, rebels killed in Russia's Dagestan Posted: Russian security forces tracked down and killed six rebels suspected of involvement in Thursdays suicide bombing that left four policemen dead in the restive southern province of Dagestan, officials said.An unidentified driver blew himself up after officers at the post just outside the town of Khasavyurt asked him to pull over, killing four officers and injuring another six, Russias Investigative Committee said. Police said the bomb contained 100-120 kilograms (220-265 pounds) of TNT.Security forces launched a sweep for the bombers accomplices and surrounded their hideout near the village of Mironovo in the Khasavyurt region. In the gunbattle that followed, six militant suspects and a special forces officer died, said Amir Amirov, a spokesman for the regional branch of Russias Interior Ministry.Dagestan and other provinces in Russias volatile North Caucasus have been plagued by an Islamic insurgency which spread throughout the region after two separatist wars in Chechnya. Dagestan has become the epicenter of violence, with police and other authorities frequently gunned down.

Somalia urges UN to lift arms embargo Posted: Somalias foreign minister urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to lift the 20-year-old arms embargo on the country so that its armed forces can fight off al-Qaida linked militants and consolidate peace.Fawzia Y. H. Adam, who is also deputy prime minister, said the Somali government will institute measures to ensure that armaments do not fall into the wrong hands.U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun reported to the council earlier Thursday on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons suggestion last week for a calibrated approach to the relaxation of the arms embargo.It would take into account key factors including the pressing need to support the development of Somali forces while avoiding the proliferation of uncontrolled weapons that could exacerbate the security situation, Zerihoun said.Somalia is trying to establish its first functional government after two decades of chaos since 1991, when warlords overthrew longtime dictator Siad Barre and then turned on one another. Al-Shabab rebels have been pushed out of the cities of southern and central Somalia by African Union forces, but they are not yet defeated.Adam said that getting rid of the remnants of the al-Shabab is a top priority for us.This requires strengthening the Somali Defense Forces through training, equipment and restructuring, she said.Consolidating peace in the recovered areas in southern Somalia and securing in a timely manner the necessary resources both military and financial is another priority, Adam said. The lifting of the arms embargo is a prerequisite for attaining this goal.Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has told the U.N. he wants rifles, light machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades to fight the militants and ensure peace. The African Union has backed the lifting of the arms embargo.Zerihoun said that despite several attacks by al-Shabab there is now a tangible sense of security and optimism in Mogadishu, the capital. But he said the presence of the militants still hampers freedom of movement for Somalis.He stressed that development of the security sector must be coupled with stepped up support for judicial reform and respect for human rights.

'Blade Runner' Pistorius charged with girlfriend's murder Posted: South African police Thursday charged Olympic amputee sprint star Oscar Pistorius with the Valentines Day murder of his model girlfriend, who was shot four times with a gun registered to the popular athlete.Police played down reports suggesting the 30-year-old blonde model, Reeva Steenkamp, was mistaken for a burglar, and said she had died after suffering wounds to the head and hand in the shooting in the early hours of Thursday.Twenty-six-year-old Pistorius -- known globally as Blade Runner because of his carbon fibre prostheses -- was to spend the night in jail before appearing in court early Friday to face murder charges.The sprinter became an international celebrity during last years London Olympics, when he became the first double-amputee to compete in a Summer Games.He was publicly adored in his native South Africa, though questions had been raised about his colourful private life -- full of model girlfriends, guns and fast cars.Police were called to Pistoriuss upscale Pretoria around 4:00 am by neighbours who heard gunshots inside the gated community.Police spokeswoman Denise Beukes said the 9mm pistol used in the shooting was registered to Pistorius, who authorities have said is the only suspect in the case and who has been denied bail.His arrest has rocked South Africa, where he had been considered a hero.Obviously we are shocked, his father Henke Pistorius told AFP. He is with the police and the matter is in the hands of the authorities.Steenkamp, once a FHM cover girl, was described as the kindest, sweetest human being; an angel on earth, by Sarit Tomlins of her management agency.Authorities poured cold water on media reports that she had snuck up on her lover, suggestions that were fuelled by her tweet the day before.What do you have up your sleeve for your love tomorrow??? getexcited ValentinesDay, she wrote.We were surprised by allegations that the deceased had been perceived to be a burglar, police spokeswoman Beukes said.Police said they were talking to neighbours who heard disturbances on Wednesday evening and around the time of the shooting. There had been previous allegations of domestic disputes at Pistoriuss home.There were always rumours attracted to Oscar Pistorius, but most of them I just put down to him being a celebrity, said Kyle Wood, a 25-year-old fellow resident of the Silverlakes community.In 2009 Pistorius spent a night in jail after allegedly assaulting a 19-year-old woman at a party.Crime is a major problem in South Africa, where an estimated 1.5 million people own guns. Many residents keep weapons at home and equip their houses with electric fences and panic buttons that summon heavily armed guards within minutes.In November, Pistorius tweeted about arriving home and hearing the washing machine on and thinking its an intruder to go into full combat recon mode into the pantry waa.Last year he told a newspaper he sleeps with a pistol, machine gun, cricket bat and baseball bat for fear of burglars.He once took a reporter to a nearby shooting range with his 9mm handgun after learning that the journalist had never fired a shot.His right to have a gun was called into question by South Africas anti-firearms lobby.To be licensed as a gun owner, Pistorius would have had to seek a competency certificate that requires knowledge of gun laws and interviews with his neighbours to rule out issues around addiction, mental illness or violence.

Azarenka, Radwanska into quarters at Qatar Open Posted: Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka extended her unbeaten run in 2013 to 11 matches on Thursday, crushing Christine McHale of the United States 6-0, 6-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.Azarenka broke three times in each set on the back of her powerful forehand and dominant net play. She twice saved break points in the second set and closed it out when McHale served three of her five double faults in the last game.Azarenka has been on a roll before, winning 26 straight matches to begin 2012, but she isnt looking too far ahead. After all, the Belarusian could lose her No. 1 ranking to Serena Williams later this week despite winning her second straight title at Rod Laver Arena last month.Azarenka was joined in the last eight by Agnieszka Radwanska, former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and 2011 U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur. Radwanska beat an error-prone Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 7-6 (6), Wozniacki downed Mona Barthel of Germany 7-6 (6), 6-3 and Stosur edged out Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 7-5.The fourth-ranked Radwanska made quick work of Ivanovic, the former No. 1 from Serbia, in the first set, breaking four times amid windy conditions. Ivanovic didnt help her own cause, committing 21 unforced errors and only landing 63 percent of first serves.Wind also played havoc for Wozniacki and Barthel. The first set swung back and forth, but the Dane took control in the second set by breaking twice to lead 5-1.It wasnt great tennis out there today, the wind was a huge factor, Wozniacki said.

Federer ousts De Bakker at ABN AMRO Posted: Defending champion Roger Federer gave up just one break point as he swept aside Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4 Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.The 17-time Grand Slam champion was never seriously troubled in front of the 123rd-ranked Dutchmans home crowd at Ahoy arena.Federer set the tone early when he broke De Bakker to love in the fourth game. His only minor glitch was serving back-to-back double faults to squander two set points in the ninth game, but he hit back with two big serves to take the set.He followed it up by breaking De Bakker again in the next game, the Dutchman hitting an easy chance into the net to drop his serve.Im happy. Things are obviously pretty quick indoors, Federer said after winning in just over an hour. Thiemo can serve well and he is very talented, so it is a good victory for me.Federer now faces Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the quarterfinals.Juan Martin del Potro hit a dozen aces past Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in winning 7-6 (5), 6-3 to reach his first quarterfinal of the year.The second-seeded Argentine set up a clash against Jarkko Nieminen, who beat Matthias Bachinger of Germany 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.Marcos Baghdatis beat fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4 to also reach the last eight. The unseeded Cypriot saved three break points and broke Gasquet once to take the first set, and had few problems in the second set as he moved into a quarterfinal against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.

Serena on the verge of becoming oldest No 1 Posted: Serena Williams is one win away from becoming the oldest top-ranked womens player after sweeping aside Urszula Radwanska 6-0, 6-3 Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.If the 31-year-old Williams reaches the semifinals by beating seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova she will return to No. 1 for the first time in 2 ½ years. Chris Evert held the top ranking in 1985 while just shy of her 31st birthday.Its awesome, Williams said. Since I didnt do the youngest, I figure Ill do the oldest.If Williams doesnt make the last four, then Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka can keep top spot by reaching the final. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova can pass both players if she wins the tournament and Williams and Azarenka lose their next matches.Williams, a 15-time Grand Slam winner, was joined in the last eight by Azarenka, former No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Sharapova plus 2011 U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur and Agnieszka Radwanska.Azarenka extended her unbeaten run in 2013 to 11 matches by thrashing Christine McHale of the United States 6-0, 6-0, Wozniacki downed Mona Barthel of Germany 7-6 (6), 6-3, and Sharapova got past Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3. Stosur edged out Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 7-5, and Radwanska beat an error-prone Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 7-6 (6).On the back of her potent first serve, Williams broke Radwanska, the sister of Agnieszka, three times in the first set. The second set was tighter but the American clinched the match when her opponent hit a return wide.It was very windy but I felt good out there. It was very tough conditions, said Williams, who hurt her ankle and back at the Australian Open.

Chelsea win, Liverpool lose in Europa League Posted: After the ignominy of a premature demise from the Champions League as defending champion, Chelseas quest to win the Europa League began by gaining a slender advantage at Sparta Prague on Thursday.On another miserable night for striker Fernando Torres it required substitute Oscar to clinch a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the last-32 match.But there was only gloom for another former winner of Europes most illustrious club competition. Five-time European Cup champion Liverpool lost 2-0 at Zenit St. Petersburg to mirror its struggles in the Premier League in which it sits in ninth place.In the Czech capital, Chelseas breakthrough came after manager Rafa Benitez replaced Juan Mata with Oscar.And the Brazilians first involvement in the match ended with a goal in the 82nd minute after playing a one-two with Eden Hazard.In December, Chelsea became the first Champions League winners to exit the competition in the group stage.There has been little domestic respite for the London club, which is third in the Premier League, out of the League Cup and facing an FA Cup fourth-round replay against third-tier club Brentford on Sunday.The Europa League is Liverpools last chance of glory this season and now needs to overturn a 2-0 deficit next Thursday at Anfield.

Argentine woman marries sister's killer Posted: No one from the family of 22-year-old bride Edith Casas attended the Valentines Day civil ceremony in the town of Pico Truncado.Afterwards, a group of around 20 people threw rocks and eggs at groom Victor Cingolani, who is serving a 13-year sentence for killing the sister, a fashion model named Johana, in 2010.Cingolani was out on a day pass to get married and escorted by prison guards and riot police.I want to start a family with Victor because I love him. He is innocent, the bride said before the ceremony.The wedding had been planned for December but a judge blocked it, pending a psychiatric evaluation of Edith Casas at the request of her mother.But Judge Marcelina Orellana ultimately let the nuptials go ahead, ruling there was no evidence that the bride had any psychiatric disorder.The father was disconsolate.For me, they are both dead. Johana is with God and Edith with the devil, said Valentin Casas.

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