Dunya TV

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• Pakistani man arrested for military espionage in Germany
• Budget proposals: Planning Commission convenes meeting
• Aisam, Roger storm into Miami ATP Masters final
• N Korea orders rockets on standby to fire at US bases
• US names Breedlove as new NATO Commander
• Iran, N Korea block UN weapons treaty
• Russia to block Syrian opposition at UN: envoy
• UN authorizes intervention force for Congo
• Sharapova reaches Sony Open final for 5th time
• Athletics: Bolt to race 150m on Copacabana beach
• Boxing: Returning Haye sets sights on Klitschkos
• Marcel Siem leads by 3 after Hassan II 1st round
• Baby gorilla thrives with US human surrogates
• Mysterious fairy circles demystified: it's termites
• Solar plane plans stops in Phoenix, Dallas, NYC

Pakistani man arrested for military espionage in Germany Posted: BERLIN (AFP) - A Pakistani man working in a German technology research centre has been arrested and detained on suspicion of military espionage, Germanys state prosecutor said Thursday.The 28-year-old employee was registered as a student at the centre where he worked in the northwestern city of Bremen.Named only as Umar R., the man is suspected of attempting to procure information about sophisticated military technologies since October, a statement from the prosecutor said.According to the news magazine Focus, which reported his arrest, Umar R. allegedly obtained illegally studies into the piloting and navigation of drones until he was caught out by a colleague.The company where the man worked develops technology for Israeli surveillance aircraft used by German troops in Afghanistan, the magazine reported.

Budget proposals: Planning Commission convenes meeting Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - According to Planning Commission, the meeting for budget proposal will be held from April 1-4 in Islamabad in which various ministries and divisions will present their development proposals.The Planning Commission will receiving the proposals from all quarters and then prepare annual development programme which will be sent to Finance Ministry for approval.

Aisam, Roger storm into Miami ATP Masters final Posted: In the semi-final match played on Thursday, Pakistan’s tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and his partner Jean-Julien Rojer of Netherlands defeated Spanish pair Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez in straight sets.Aisam and Rojer started the match in aggressive manner and won the first set 6-3. They kept the pressure on their Spanish opponents in the second set and won it 6-2.

N Korea orders rockets on standby to fire at US bases Posted: SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un orders the countrys rocket units to be on standby to attack U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific in an emergency meeting on Friday after the United States flew Stealth bombers in a show of force to Pyongyang.The Norths official KCNA news agency said Kim signed off on the orders at a midnight meeting of top generals and judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation.He finally signed the plan on technical preparations of strategic rockets of the KPA, ordering them to be standby for fire so that they may strike any time the U.S. mainland, its military bases in the operational theaters in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea.

US names Breedlove as new NATO Commander Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Thursday it was nominating Air Force General Philip Breedlove as the new NATO Supreme Commander, filling the key position a month after top general John Allen stepped aside.President Barack Obama is nominating Air Force General Philip Breedlove to serve as the new commander of our European Command, Supreme Allied Command, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters.Hagel said he met with Breedlove and found him particularly well-qualified. Breedlove, who started his career in 1977 as a pilot, took over the command of US Air Force units in Europe and Africa in July last year.Breedlove, whose nomination had been expected, would take over from Admiral James Stavridis, who has served as Supreme Commander since 2009.The position is traditionally held by an American due to the dominant US role in the alliance.Obama had earlier tapped Afghan war supremo General John Allen to take over NATO. But Obama last month accepted Allens withdrawal after the general said he would stand aside for family reasons.Allen had been embroiled in a drama, but was cleared of any wrongdoing, over emails to a Florida socialite. The probe stemmed from a sex scandal that brought down his predecessor General David Petraeus as head of the CIA.

Iran, N Korea block UN weapons treaty Posted: UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Iran and North Korea blocked agreement Thursday on the first treaty over the $80 billion a year conventional arms trade, forcing last-ditch talks to save the UN-brokered accord.Diplomats from the two isolated states raised flags of objection on the last day of the final session of the seven-year-old negotiating process, just as the conference chairman was about to declare the treaty sealed.Syria also protested over the final treaty text but said it would not block the accord, which has been at the center of intense diplomatic efforts to get the United States, Russia, China and other major arms producers to agree.The draft treaty would cover tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, as well as small arms and light arms.The UN estimates that 500,000 people are killed in armed violence each year and rights groups blame the uncontrolled flow of weapons for many of the deaths.Iran and North Korea said there were too many restrictions, however.The inherent right of states to self-defense, to defend against aggression and preserve its territorial integrity is not addressed, Irans UN Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee told the conference.A North Korean diplomat said the proposed treaty was a risky draft which can be politically manipulated by major arms exporters. He also complained that it undermined the rights of arms importers.Conference chairman Peter Woolcott of Australia had been just about to bring the gavel down to announce the accord when the two states acted. Woolcott suspended the meeting for behind-the-scenes talks.If there is no accord by 0400 GMT on Friday, the whole negotiations will collapse. A previous attempt to agree on an accord in July also ended in failure and the UN General Assembly ruled that this would be the last attempt.But supporters of the treaty could seek a vote next week in the full General Assembly. A two-thirds majority of the 193 members would be required for adoption.The treaty, if passed, would be the most important weapons accord since the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.The UN General Assembly passed a vote in 2006 calling for a treaty on the unregulated trade in conventional weapons.The draft negotiated since would aim to force countries to assess whether the sale of a weapon could be used for genocide, war crimes or by terrorists or organized crime gangs.Woolcott handed out what he called a take it or leave it text to UN states on Wednesday and gave them 24 hours to consider their response.Diplomats said they did not expect the major arms producers to block the treaty.The United States opposes ammunition coming under the full controls imposed by the treaty. Ammunition has, however, been left in an annex that does not impose compulsory monitoring of trade in bullets, for which the United States is the biggest producer.Some diplomats said Russia could still refuse to sign the accord, which could weaken its application.Moscow believes the text is not strong enough on arms trafficking and that it should explicitly mention non-state actors, such as the Syrian and Chechen rebels, said one European negotiator.China and Russia also had concerns about the reporting of arms sales.The latest text says that reports may exclude commercially sensitive or national security information.

Russia to block Syrian opposition at UN: envoy Posted: UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Russia said Thursday it will strongly oppose any bid to give Syrias UN seat to the rebel coalition fighting President Bashar al-Assad.Russias UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said recognizing the Syrian National Council would undercut the standing of the UN.Churkin reaffirmed Russias condemnation of the Arab League for naming the coalition as the legitimate government and said the League was now playing a negative role in the two-year-old Syrian conflict.The Arab League on Tuesday recognized the coalition and diplomats say Arab nations are now planning a campaign to give Syrias place at the 193-member United Nations to the opposition.No formal move is expected however before the new UN General Assembly year starts in September. Russia, Assads main international backer, is a current member of the General Assemblys credentials committee, which would make a recommendation to the full assembly on Syrias membership.We will oppose it very strongly, but you know I dont think it is going to happen, Churkin told reporters.He said most UN states are responsible members, noting: They value this institution, they understand that if something of the sort were to happen, that would really undercut the standing of the United Nations.You do not simply seat opposition groups who have gone through no proper process of legitimization and say well now they are the representatives of Syria, Churkin added.I think that this kind of a motion would not find very much support in the United Nations. And I think most of the countries are smart enough to understand that if they were to go down that road they themselves might be the target of such manipulation in the future, he added.The Russian ambassador said the Arab League move had undercut the efforts of UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and damages the Leagues standing.In fact they are begining to act more and more as a negative rather than a positive force, he said.Russia has repeatedly blocked UN Security Council efforts to increase pressure on Assad over the conflict, which the UN says has left more than 70,000 dead.

UN authorizes intervention force for Congo Posted: UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The UN Security Council has authorized a new intervention brigade for Congo with an unprecedented mandate to take military action against rebel groups to help bring peace to the countrys conflict-wracked east.The resolution, which the council adopted unanimously, gives the brigade a mandate to carry out offensive operations alone or with Congolese army troops to neutralize and disarm armed groups.The intervention brigade is unprecedented in U.N. peacekeeping because of its offensive mandate.But the resolution states clearly that it would be established for one year on an exceptional basis and without creating a precedent to the principles of U.N. peacekeeping.

Sharapova reaches Sony Open final for 5th time Posted: MIAMI (AP) - Four-time runner-up Maria Sharapova advanced to another Key Biscayne final by beating Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday at the Sony Open.With a victory Saturday, the No. 3-seeded Sharapova would plug one of the few holes in her resume. She completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open last year but has never won the Miami tournament.It would mean so much to me, the Russian said. I absolutely love this city. Its the first city I landed in when I came to the United States as a little girl.Sharapovas opponent in the final will be the winner of Thursday nights match between five-time champion Serena Williams and defending champ Agnieszka Radwanska.On a sunny, mild afternoon, Sharapova won the first 10 points against the No. 22-seeded Jankovic and hardly let up from there. Sharapova committed only 10 unforced errors from the baseline in 88 points while breaking serve six times.Jankovic was playing for the second time in under 18 hours, and she was repeatedly a step late trying to reach Sharapovas shots.The rout came 24 hours after Sharapovas sloppy quarterfinal win over Sara Errani, when she had 57 unforced errors, including 13 double-faults. She double-faulted only three times against Jankovic.I just really thought I needed to step it up from my last match and play a little better, she said. I was really happy with the way I focused.Sharapova lost the Miami final to Kim Clijsters in 2005, Svetlana Kuznetsova in 06, Victoria Azarenka in 11 and Radwanska last year.Sharapova took the Indian Wells title two weeks ago and has won 22 consecutive sets, a career best, while winning 11 matches in a row. Shes bidding to become the third woman to win Indian Wells and Key Biscayne in the same year. Steffi Graf did it in 1994 and 1996, and Clijsters won both in 2005.

Athletics: Bolt to race 150m on Copacabana beach Posted: RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Usain Bolt, the two-time reigning Olympic champion over 100 and 200m, will bid to better his world record over the rarely-raced distance of 150 metres on Rio de Janeiros famed Copacabana beach on Sunday.The Jamaican sprint star set the world best of 14.35sec over 150m at an exhibition race in Manchester in 2009, and will again race on a track laid over one of the worlds most iconic sandy beaches.It will be my first speed event of the season, said the 26-year-old, who last year claimed an unprecendented second treble gold sprint showing at the London Olympics.Ive already had the chance to run on a track laid in the street (in Manchester) but itll be interesting to run at Copacabana.Bolt will race against Antiguan training mate Daniel Bailey, Ecuadors Alex Quinonez and a Brazilian athlete, in a well-timed publicity boost for Rio de Janeiro, host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics.Bolt played down fears over the Joao Havelange stadium, home to the Botafogo football club and due to host the track and field competition during the 2016 Games.The stadium was indefinitely closed this week because of roof problems.The Olympic Games are in three years. That gives you enough time to solve everything. This type of problem happens the world over.Turning to his goals for the 2016 Games, Bolt ruled out participating in the long jump while saying he would aim to compete in the 100, 200 and 4x100m relay.Im very big and it could hurt my knees, he said of the long jump.While organisers laid on a daytime trip to a Brazilian favela (slum) for Bolt to meet disadvantaged children, the Jamaicans plans for his time in Rio lay elsewhere.I know a lot of things about Brazil, but the thing I know most about are the beaches and the girls on the beaches, he said.But Ive never had the time to go there, and I also want to go to a nightclub.

Boxing: Returning Haye sets sights on Klitschkos Posted: LONDON (AFP) - One-time WBA heavyweight champion David Haye announced his comeback from retirement on Thursday and declared that he is still gunning for the scalps of the Klitschko brothers.The 32-year-old Londoner, who announced his return at a press conference in his home city, is scheduled to fight an as yet unnamed opponent in Manchester on June 29.Haye also expects to fight again later in 2013, in order to become the mandatory contender for a bout with either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko next year.Instead of sitting around and waiting another year, I want to get back in there, Haye said.Im happy to be back. A year is long enough time to wait for someone to phone you.Hayes last fight saw him defeat fellow British heavyweight Dereck Chisora at Londons Upton Park stadium last July.Wladimir Klitschko beat Haye in Hamburg in 2011 to add the WBA title to his IBF and WBO crowns, while elder brother Vitali is the reigning WBC champion.I want that heavyweight title back, Haye said.I was hoping Vitali would be a man of his word and fight me after I did what he and his team wanted me to do and beat Dereck Chisora.We have been sitting around, waiting for the phone to ring but that hasnt happened. We have sent some emails but they have fallen on deaf ears.Hayes trainer, Adam Booth, said talks were ongoing to find the right opponent for his fighters comeback fight in June.David will fight an opponent who I am yet to secure, but who will be highly ranked, said Booth.He wants to fight twice this year against highly ranked contenders to put himself in an unavoidable position to be the mandatory contender to one of the brothers. He is not waiting anymore. He is fighting his way into position.Vitali is not sure to fight again as he is said to be weighing up the possibility of retiring and pursuing a career in politics while Wladimir defends against Francesco Pianeta next.

Marcel Siem leads by 3 after Hassan II 1st round Posted: AGADIR (AP) - Marcel Siem of Germany holed two eagles to shoot an 8-under 64 Thursday and lead by three strokes after the opening round of the Hassan II Trophy.The French Open champion also made five birdies on the Golf du Palais Royal course, finishing eagle, birdie on the last two holes in better afternoon conditions following a windy morning.The 72nd-ranked Siem needs to enter the top 50 by Sunday to earn his first invitation to the Masters from April 11-14.Alvaro Velasco of Spain is second after making four birdies on the back nine for a 67.English trio David Horsey, Graeme Storm and Simon Wakefield each shot 68.It was one of those days when you go out there on a really tough golf course and the wind is blowing 20-30 miles per hour, and you really dont expect to finish on 4 under, Wakefield said.Horsey, the 2011 champion, and Wakefield had six birdies each. Storm holed an eagle on No. 17 before bogeying the last hole.Obviously I had the win here two years ago and I do feed off a lot of those good feelings from that, Horsey said. It is a great golf course that is different to what we usually play with a lot of run-offs and raised greens.Defending champion Michael Hoey of Northern had a 74, including a double-bogey on No. 7.

Baby gorilla thrives with US human surrogates Posted: CINCINNATI (AP) - A baby gorilla being raised temporarily by human surrogate parents is doing well learning to roll over, sit up and getting ready to walk on all fours.Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden primate specialists say Gladys is in good health and is developing and growing quickly with loving care from 10 humans imitating a gorilla mom's behavior.Her human caregivers are starting to focus on preparing her for a transition to a new gorilla family. They have been showing her to other gorillas and letting them touch her.The Cincinnati Enquirer (http://cin.ci/WYwKZK ) reports that zoo specialists think she will be ready within a few months.She was born Jan. 29 at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, to a first-time mother who showed little maternal instinct.

Mysterious fairy circles demystified: it's termites Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - They appear in the desert in southwest Africa and persist for decades: so-called fairy circles, or puzzling rings of grass with a barren center.Now a new study, published Thursday in the US journal Science, purports to end the enigma and explain just what is going on: its the work of termites.The fairy circles, which can stretch up to around 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter, are especially common in Namibia, where the indigenous Himba people attribute them to divine intervention.Among scientists, the termite theory had been proposed previously but put aside for a lack of evidence.But botanist Norbert Juergens of Germanys University of Hamburg plunged into the investigation and has offered convincing evidence that the critters behind fairy circles are likely a particular termite species called Psammotermes.By studying a strip of desert 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) long, stretching from mid-Angola down to northern South Africa, Juergens determined that these termites were the only organisms consistently present when the circles were in the earliest stages of forming.The researcher observed that the termites feed off the roots of perennial grasses, effectively wiping out the plant life nearby.But the bare patch is then able to hold on to moisture better, because the rain water is not used and evaporated by plants.That helps the termites -- and the vegetation around the edge of the circle -- thrive, even during the dry season.The result is an ecosystem, engineered by termites, transformed from a desert into a grassland, Juergens explained.

Solar plane plans stops in Phoenix, Dallas, NYC Posted: MOUNTAIN VIEW (AP) - A solar-powered plane that has wowed aviation fans in Europe is set to travel across the United States with stops in Phoenix, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and New York.The Swiss creators of Solar Impulse announced the planes itinerary at a news conference at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, on Thursday.The plane is expected to be ready to leave from the San Francisco Bay area on May 1, although organizers said the actual departure will depend on weather.Each of the stops will last a week to 10 days.The Solar Impulse is powered by about 12,000 photovoltaic cells that allow it to fly without jet fuel.It has the wing span of a commercial airplane but the weight of the average family car, making it vulnerable to bad weather.

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