Dunya TV

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• Rescue chopper blows trapped animal
• Marijuana cannon' fires pot across border fence
• Govt approves increase in petroleum products prices
• South Africa add Abbot to ODI squad
• Bomb kills 8 Afghan police in Kunar
• PPP govt completed term because of MQM, says Altaf
• Poisonous liquor kills five in Bhakkar
• Rugby: Seven giants to clash in Moscow WC
• China plans next manned space mission for summer
• EU stocks gain from Wall Street bounce
• Iraq freed 4,000 prisoners in 2013
• South Africa mulls legalizing rhino horn trade
• New crisis looms as budget cuts hit US
• Force India names Sutil as second driver for 2013
• Spanish court overturns ban on Hijab

Rescue chopper blows trapped animal Posted: A helicopter came to the rescue of a deer stuck on a frozen lake in Canada by using the wind from the rotor blades to blow the stricken animal across the ice to safety.The deer and her fawn were stranded on thin ice in Antigonish Harbour, Nova Scotia, and clearly tiring as they attempted to make their way to shore in the slippery conditions.Whilst the young fawn did finally manage to escape the ice, its mother remained stricken.With the saltwater ice too brittle for rescuers to walk across, experienced helicopter pilot David Farrell remembered a trick he had used before.Using the wind created by the aircrafts rotor blades, Mr Farrell flew low to the ice and blew the stricken deer to safety.The pilot told the Canadian TV station CTV: As long as you can keep that deer moving along the ice, it tends to calm down. I dont know if it understands were trying to help or, I dont know whats going through its mind, but it works good.The incredible rescue was filmed by local resident Ian Waugh.it was Mr Waugh who had earlier raised the alarm when he alerted the Department of Natural Resources to the deers plight.I was waiting for all kinds of different things, but that solution I was not prepared for, and I thought, just brilliant, he told CTV.Mr Farrell later downplayed talk of his heroism in rescuing the animals.You can do it a thousand times and it shows up on camera once, and then you can appreciate what youre doing, spur of the moment. Its your job.

Marijuana cannon' fires pot across border fence Posted: Mexican police have confiscated improvised cannon that they say was used to fire packages of marijuana across a border fence into California.The makeshift cannon was made of plastic pipe and powered by compressed air sourced from an old car engine, police in the border city of Mexicali said. The device was able to fire cylinders packed with up to 30 pounds of pot.The cannon was discovered on Tuesday after U.S. officers told Mexican police that they had been confiscating a large number of drug packages that appeared to have been fired over the border, the Associated Press said.Its not the first time drug traffickers have used a cannon to transport marijuana across the border. In December, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials recovered more than 30 cans of marijuana scattered in Yuma, Ariz., near the Colorado River.According to NBC, an investigation of the area determined that the cans were fired from about 500 feet away with a pneumatic-powered cannon and that a carbon-dioxide tank was found nearby.In that case, the cannon was not found. But Mexican border police said on Tuesday that they have confiscated similar devices in recent years.

Govt approves increase in petroleum products prices Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News): The Ministry of Petroleum has approved the summary of increase in prices of petrolem products whileOGRA has issued notification in this regard which takes effect from March 1.According to OGRA notification the price of petrol has been increased by Rs 3.53 per litre.The OGRA is also going to jack up diesel by Rs 4.35 per litre, light diesel by Rs 3.93 per litre and kerosene by Rs3.75 per litre.The new prices of petroleum products for a month would be: petrol Rs106.60 per litre, high speed diesel Rs 113.54 per litre, kerosene oil Rs 106.65 per litre and price of light diesel would be Rs 98.27 per litre.

South Africa add Abbot to ODI squad Posted: CAPE TOWN: Fast bowler Kyle Abbott, who took nine wickets on his Test debut last week, has been added to South Africas squad for the one-day international series against Pakistan.Morne Morkels recovery from his hamstring injury is still a work in progress and we consider it prudent to provide extra depth to our fast bowling resources, selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a Cricket South Africa statement on Wednesday.Morkels injury also provided Abbott with an initial test squad call-up and when Jacques Kallis withdrew on the first morning, he was trust into the team.Abbotts seven for 29 in the first innings was the second best return on debut by a South African and he helped bowl his side to an innings win over Pakistan to complete a 3-0 series whitewash.The 25-year-old was already in the squad for two T20 internationals on Friday and Sunday. The five-match ODI series starts on March 10.

Bomb kills 8 Afghan police in Kunar Posted: ASAD ABAD (AFP) - The blast in Dangam district in the troubled province bordering Pakistan hit a vehicle carrying four police officers who earlier escaped a separate roadside bomb and were being transported for treatment for wounds sustained in that attack, Dangam district Governor Hamish Gulab Shinwari told AFP.The four wounded policemen were put on a passing civilian vehicle by colleagues to get to a nearby clinic, but the vehicle struck another land mine laid by the Taliban, Shinwari said.Eight police officers and two civilians inside the vehicle were killed, he said.The incident and toll was confirmed by provincial Governor Fazlullah Wahidi, who said a woman on the vehicle was also seriously injured in the blast.Unfortunately eight of our policemen and two civilian have been martyred and one woman critically injured in the incident, Wahidi told AFP.No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but both officials blamed Taliban militants for the attack.Roadside bombs are the favourite weapons of Taliban Islamists fighting to oust the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai. Taliban indiscriminately place explosives to kill and hurt civilians.The deadly blast in Kunar also comes a day after a Taliban attack left at least 16 people including ten policemen dead at an Afghan police checkpost in eastern Ghazni province.The United States and NATO have around 100,000 troops in Afghanistan but the vast majority will leave next year, with an estimated 352,000 NATO-trained Afghan police and soldiers taking over.Taliban militants have stepped up their fight against Afghan troops as the countrys forces are increasingly taking over security responsibility from US-led NATO troops.

PPP govt completed term because of MQM, says Altaf Posted: KARACHI: In his telephonic address to labour conference Thursday MQM Chief Altaf Hussain said Hazara community was being killed mercilessly and government was a helpless spectator.Situation in Sindh and Balochistan is clear to everyone, he said.Altaf alleged that no action is taken in Karachi despite specific information by the intelligence, adding people feel some sense of security after operation by the Rangers.Singing of national anthem in Balochistan is a risk, he said.He said MQM had always sided with PPP in difficult times; adding PPP government would have collapsed if MQM had withdrawn its support earlier.Altaf said Ishratul Ebad had resigned from office at the call of his conscience.“No power in the world can finish MQM and our desire for peace should not be considered as our weakness,” he said.

Poisonous liquor kills five in Bhakkar Posted: DARYA KHAN (Dunya Khan):- The shameful incident occurred at Mehar Abad Colony in the area of Farooqabad, Tehsil Darya Khan where at least five persons died while six others got unconscious and were rushed to hospital where their condition is reportedly critical.Having information, the police have started investigation into the matter.

Rugby: Seven giants to clash in Moscow WC Posted: MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia on Thursday unveiled the draw for what is set to be a fiercely-contested Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, with holders Wales to clash with sevens specialists Fiji in the group stages.Perennial favourites New Zealand should have few problems safely negotiating their Pool D against the United States, Canada and Georgia in the June tournament, which will be played just three years before rugby sevens becomes an Olympic sport.The six mens groups will also pit France against Australia in Pool A and hosts Russia in a tough Pool B against Japan, Scotland and heavyweights South Africa.In the womens competition, holders Australia will have to negotiate their way through an intriguing group containing South Africa, China and Ireland. Russia have been drawn in possibly the toughest of the womens groups with England, France and Japan.International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Bernard Lapasset said that the June 28-30 event would capture the hearts of millions with one of the worlds most exciting sporting spectacles.The World Cup will be the last edition before rugby sevens becomes a full Olympic sport at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where a host of top stars are expected to turn to the shorter version of the game.Hosting the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia is integral to a push by the IRB expand the appeal of rugby to new regions, away from its traditional heartlands.The tournament, by far the biggest rugby event ever hosted by Russia, will be played at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, the centrepiece of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the expected venue of the football World Cup final in 2018.The competition will also give a huge boost to rugby in Russia, whose sporting traditions give it great potential to become a big power but where the game is only just starting to make waves.The inclusion of rugby sevens into the Olympic Games will undoubtedly have an effect on the development of rugby in Russia and around the world, Russias Deputy Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, a former Olympic champion in fencing, said at the ceremony.Wales were the shock winners of the last edition of the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai in 2009, when the four favourites were knocked out in the quarter-finals -- one of the attractions of the shortened version of rugby.Fiji, winners of the Sevens World Cup in 1997 and 2005, will always be fair bet given the importance they stake on sevens, but Waisale Serevi, for many the greatest sevens player ever, said there were no longer any guarantees in a sport where the gaps between the teams have become ever narrower.As well as the established northern hemisphere six nations and southern hemisphere four nations, sevens brings a host of countries less seen in 15-aside with Kenya in particular becoming a global force in recent years.One side hoping to spring a surprise will be the Philippines, a country that will not only be making its first appearance in a rugby World Cup but a world cup in any team sport.Kenya and the Philippines have been drawn together in a potentially exciting group that also includes Zimbabwe and Samoa. England, meanwhile, have been drawn in a group with Argentina and lesser-fancied Portugal and Hong Kong.

China plans next manned space mission for summer Posted: BEIJING (AP) - The countrys manned space program released a statement Thursday saying the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft would take flight sometime between June and August.It will deliver its crew to the Tiangong 1, where they will conduct further tests of the stations docking system and its systems for supporting life and carrying out scientific work.Two Chinese spacecraft, one of them manned, have docked with Tiangong 1 since it was launched in September 2011.The station is to be replaced with a permanent space station around 2020 that will weigh about 60 tons, slightly smaller than NASAs Skylab of the 1970s and about one-sixth the size of the 16-nation International Space Station.

EU stocks gain from Wall Street bounce Posted: LONDON (AFP) - European equity markets mostly rose after Wall Street hit five-year peaks on bright data and upbeat comment from the heads of the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, dealers said.Londons benchmark FTSE 100 index of leading companies added 0.40 percent to 6,351.11 points and in Paris the CAC 40 won 0.42 percent to 3,707.12.Frankfurts DAX 30 index gained 0.82 percent to 7,738.16 points, aided also by official data which showed that Germanys jobless total fell to its lowest level in five months in February.Milans FTSE Mib index dipped 0.02 percent to 15,822.40 points amid ongoing political deadlock in Italy after inconclusive elections that had sparked a fierce sell-off earlier in the week.In foreign exchange activity, the euro fell to $1.3118, down from $1.3136 late in New York on Wednesday. Gold prices declined to $1,590.95 an ounce on the London Bullion Market from $1,604.25 Wednesday.In Wall Street action overnight, the Dow index jumped 1.26 percent to end at its highest level since October 2007, sparking another raft of gains in Asian trading.Sentiment rose also on upbeat US economic data and after European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi soothed concerns over the eurozone outlook.The comments, which came after Bernanke declared that Fed easing measures would stay in place, came as relief to markets after Italys poll deadlock raised fears of a return to Europes debt crisis.Wall Street was boosted also by news that US pending home sales rebounded sharply in January to the highest level in almost three years.Durable goods orders in January, excluding volatile aircraft, surged 1.9 percent, with gains particularly strong in capital goods, suggesting business confidence in the economy in upcoming months.European investors meanwhile pored over a raft of company results in Thursday trade.Royal Bank of Scotland shares sank 4.30 percent to 331.87 pence after the group logged its fifth successive annual loss on the back of compensation payouts, Libor rate-rigging fines and a vast accounting charge.Losses after tax widened to 5.97 billion ($9.05 billion, 6.89 billion euros) in 2012, when the bank was rocked by a series of scandals. That compared with a shortfall of 1.997 billion in 2011.Meanwhile, International Airlines Group shares soared 7.62 percent to 238.60 pence, despite the company posting an annual net loss of 943 million euros ($1.24 billion) on financial woes at Spanish wing Iberia and a high fuel bill.Across in Frankfurt, German pharmaceuticals giant Bayer saw its share price surge 2.55 percent to 75.74 euros after expressing optimism for the current financial year, but also revealed that profits had fallen slightly in 2012.On the downside, Deutsche Telekom sank 1.32 percent to 8.12 euros after it announced that massive writedowns in the United States pushed it into a net loss of 5.255 billion euros ($6.9 billion) in 2012.

Iraq freed 4,000 prisoners in 2013 Posted: BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq has freed 4,000 prisoners since the beginning of 2013, Deputy Prime Minister Hussein al-Shahristani said Thursday, in an apparent bid to placate protesters in Sunni areas of the country.Demands of the protesters, who have been demonstrating for weeks, include the release of prisoners they say have been wrongfully detained, and the ouster of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.Shahristani gave the figures at a ceremony marking the release on Thursday of 160 prisoners, and said that some freed prisoners can request compensation if they were not guilty of a crime.Najeh Ali Shimmar, one of the 160 prisoners, told AFP he had been detained for almost 10 years without trial and is now looking forward to freedom.I am living a dream, and I wont believe this until I get outside the walls, said the 50-year-old father of two daughters.Shimmar said he was arrested in October 2003 by US forces for violating a curfew in Madain, south of Baghdad.After two years, American forces handed me over to Iraqi forces, who accused him of carrying out three murders during a time when he could not have done so, as he was jailed, he said.Investigating officers did not take my case to the judge for eight years. Even the judge was shocked when he saw me after all this period, and decided to release me immediately, he said.I have been the target of a major injustice.Commenting on similar cases, Shahristani said that the judiciary is now cooperating with us to end the cases and is easing procedures.

South Africa mulls legalizing rhino horn trade Posted: CAPE TOWN (AFP) - The environment minister said Thursday that South Africa is exploring the legal trade of rhino horn to counter a poaching bloodbath that has surged despite tighter security controls.We are investigating, minister Edna Molewa told AFP, saying cabinet had mandated the ministry to look into the matter.The trade is banned internationally but it has been punted as a possible tool against the insatiable Asian demand for horn that is fuelling the slaughter.So far this year, 128 rhinos have been lost after a record 668 animals were killed last year.No proposal has been introduced by South Africa to lift the ban at next months meeting of the UN wildlife trade regulator CITES in Bangkok.But Molewa said the discussions at the meeting will help guide South Africas position.The reality of the matter is rhino horn is being poached in South Africa right now, she told a media briefing.Theres a moratorium on trade in South Africa but they still get it out of South Africa. So we are saying lets look at other mechanisms.Rhino horn brought in about $60,000 (46,000 euro) per kilogramme, while a live animal cost just over half of that.A study into rhino management had raised the unbanning of the trade and the commercial farming of rhinos, as a possibility.With the worlds biggest rhino population of around 20,500 animals, officials fear that the poaching kill-rate will one day outpace the number of baby rhinos being born.So far the mortality rate has not yet surpassed the maternity rate or the birth rate, but we are watching that, said Fundisile Mketani, a senior official in the department.South Africa has beefed up security controls, including sending an unmanned drone and soldiers into the world famous Kruger National Park.

New crisis looms as budget cuts hit US Posted: WASHINGTON (AP) - Billions of dollars in harsh budget cuts are hitting the US government on Friday, and officials are conceding that last-minute moves by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to soften the blow are doomed.President Barack Obama is meeting congressional leaders of both parties as the $85 billion in spending cuts kick in, after no apparent negotiations between the administration and lawmakers in recent weeks to avoid them.Fridays meeting, the first face-to-face one since Obama was sworn in for his second term in January, essentially looks past the cuts to the next looming fiscal crisis: a possible government shutdown at the end of March.In Washingtons stormy partisan atmosphere, the annual ritual of passing agency spending bills collapsed entirely last year, and Congress must act by March 27 to prevent the partial shutdown.Economists and lawmakers alike agree that the cuts, the potential shutdown and the countrys series of fiscal crises overall are hurting the countrys shaky comeback from the Great Recession, and the effects will be felt around the world.Both political parties have said the cuts of 5 percent to domestic agencies and 8 percent to the military could inflict major damage to government programs and the economy at large.Obama, speaking to a group of business executives Wednesday night, said the cuts would be a tumble downward for the economy, though he acknowledged it could takes weeks before many Americans feel the full impact of the budget shrinking.White House spokesman Jay Carney said Fridays talks are designed to be a constructive discussion about how to keep the deep spending cuts from having harmful consequences.The spending cuts to defense and other programs had been designed to be so ugly that Washington would be forced to avoid them and come up with a better way to tackle the countrys $11.7 trillion debt. But the warring sides in Washington have spent this week assigning blame rather than seeking a way out.There is breathing room, however, for political settlement if Fridays deadline comes and goes. Many of the cuts to hit the Defense Department and other federal agencies would come in later years and could be partially offset by cuts in programs that are wasteful or behind schedule.But the need to keep the governments doors open and lights on or else suffer the first government shutdown since 1996 is immediate, and it requires the Republican-dominated House and the Democratic-controlled Senate to agree.In the latest session of Congress, the least productive since World War II, they rarely have.Republicans are planning for a vote next week on a bill to fund the day-to-day operations of the government through the Sept. 30 end of the 2013 fiscal year while keeping the new $85 billion in cuts in place.The Republican plan would award the Pentagon and the Veterans Administration with their line-by-line budgets, for a more targeted rather than indiscriminate batch of military cuts, but it would deny domestic agencies the same treatment.And that has whipped up opposition from Democratic senators. Domestic agencies would see their budgets frozen almost exactly as they are, which would mean no money for new initiatives such as cybersecurity or for routine increases for programs such as low-income housing.Were not going to do that, said Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat. Of course not.

Force India names Sutil as second driver for 2013 Posted: BARCELONA (AP) - Sutil rejoins pilot Paul Di Resta after both drove for Force India in 2011.The 30-year-old Sutil competed with Jules Bianchi through the first two preseason tests for the right to take the place of Nico Hulkenberg, after his offseason move to Sauber.Sutil will continue preseason testing for Force India on Friday and Saturday at the Catalunya Circuit near Barcelona.He says, Im delighted to be back in Formula One, especially with a team I know so well.

Spanish court overturns ban on Hijab Posted: MADRID (AP):-According to the Spanish court, it infringes religious liberties.In 2010, Lleida, in the northeastern region of Catalonia, became the first Spanish town to impose such a ban. It was temporarily suspended by a regional court following an appeal by a Muslim association but then later upheld.Spains Supreme Court on Thursday accepted a second appeal and said the city was not entitled to order such a ban.It said that in line with Spanish and European rulings, such a prohibition must be based on a law, which does not exist in Spain at present.The Lleida ban was largely symbolic since only about 3 percent of its population is Muslim and very few wear such garments.

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