Dunya TV

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• Car bombs, shooting in Iraq leave 21 dead
• Iran should take part in Syria conference: Russia
• More than 20 killed in Congo mine collapse
• Woman gets 20 years for sending money to al-Shabab
• Sharapova into Rome Open quarter-finals
• 6 stadiums ready for Confederations Cup
• Lampard signs one-year extension: Chelsea
• Saltman takes 2-shot lead at Madeira after day 1
• NASA: New pump resolves big space station leak
• Swine flu found in elephant seals off California
• Oil reverses early losses, tops $95 a barrel
• Major currencies flat amid dull US data
• Aussie bowler Tait angry over spot-fixing claims
• Peshawar: Two personnel martyred in militants attack
• New Zealand stifle England batting

Car bombs, shooting in Iraq leave 21 dead Posted: BAGHDAD (AP) - Car bombs hit Shiite neighborhoods of the Iraqi capital for the second day in a row on Thursday, part of a series of attacks across the country that left 21 people dead and raised concerns over a return to sectarian bloodshed.Baghdad police said the first blast hit a bus and taxi stop during the morning rush hour in the city's eastern Sadr City neighborhood. Nine people were killed, including a 7-year old child, and 16 were wounded in that attack, two officers said.Another car bomb hit a small market at a taxi stop in Baghdad's eastern suburb of Kamaliya, killing three civilians and wounding 14 others there, the officers said.And in the capital's northern Chikok district, two civilians were killed and 10 were wounded when a car bomb missed a police patrol that was passing through, two other police officers said.In the northern city of Mosul, a suicide attacker rammed his car into an army check point, killing two soldiers and wounding three others, another police officer said. The attack came just after a car bombing in another area of Mosul wounded two civilians, he said. Mosul is located 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.In Baghdad's southwestern neighborhood of Baiyaa, drive-by gunmen shot and killed a brother of a Sunni lawmaker and wounded two of his guards, two police officials said.Shortly after sunset, a suicide bomber set off his explosive belt near a Shiite mosque in the ethnically-mixed city of Kirkuk after he was prevented by guards from entering. Police said four people were killed and 42 were wounded in the attack that was apparently targeting a funeral inside the mosque.Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures for all the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.The spike in violence comes amid growing tensions between the Shiite-led government and Iraq's Sunni minority over what they consider second-class treatment. A bloody government crackdown on militants last month in a protest camp in the country's north fueled the latest tensions.Iraq's embattled Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday blamed sectarian tensions for the latest attacks.We have to know that today's bloodshed is the result of sectarian hatred and also the result of a stirring up of these sectarian tensions, al-Maliki said during a government-organized conference about atrocities committed under dictator Saddam Hussein.Incitement could be coming from inside or outside the country, al-Maliki added.Wednesday's attacks left 33 dead. No one has claimed responsibility, but car and suicide bombings are a hallmark of al-Qaida's Iraq branch.The spike in attacks, after a general decrease in violence, has raised fears of a return to the sectarian bloodshed that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war in 2006-2007. Shiite militias have so far been largely restrained in their reactions to such bombings.

Iran should take part in Syria conference: Russia Posted: MOSCOW (AFP) - Iran should take part in an international conference agreed by Moscow and Washington to help broker an end to the Syria conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted in an interview broadcast Thursday.Lavrov told Lebanese television that Russia believed the conference, which he and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced in Moscow last week, should include Iran, a key Syria ally, while stressing that this had not been agreed.We must not exclude such a country as Iran from this process due to geopolitical preferences. It is after all a very important outside player. But as yet there are no agreements on this subject, Lavrov was quoted as saying in a transcript published on the Russian foreign ministry's website.The interview aired Thursday on Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen channel but was filmed on Monday, according to the ministry website.Iran, which is Russia's main regional ally and backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, can play the same role as the other outside players, directly interacting and supporting one or other Syrian side in a political or other way, Lavrov said.There are obvious things: Iran has often stressed its solidarity with the Syrian government and representatives of the Iranian leadership regularly visit Damascus, he said.State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Tuesday would not rule out the possibility that Iran could be invited to join the talks in search of a political resolution to end the conflict now in its third year.In the interview, Lavrov also accused Western powers of wanting to hold narrow talks ahead of the planned conference that would set its agenda and possibly even its outcome without Syrian participation.Some of our Western colleagues (this came through also in talks with David Cameron in Sochi) have a desire to narrow the circle of outside participants and start the process with a very small group of countries, Lavrov said, referring to British Prime Minister Cameron's meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Friday.Lavrov suggested that during these talks, practically speaking, they would decide in advance the teams for the talks, the agenda and maybe even the result of the talks.This would end in a scheme dreamt up without the participation of Syrians, he warned.Russia is a traditional ally of Syria and as a veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council has blocked several bids to ramp up pressure on Assad to step down.

More than 20 killed in Congo mine collapse Posted: KINSHASA (AP) - The government of Congo says more than 20 people have died in a collapse at a bush mine in the region of Masisi in North Kivu province. That's in the far eastern part of the country.The statement sent to reporters late Friday and signed by government spokesman Lambert Mende says the mine near the village of Rubaye collapsed Friday evening. The statement says a search is on for any possible survivors.North Kivu is rich in minerals, including coltan and gold. Illegal and unregulated bush mines dot the countryside.

Woman gets 20 years for sending money to al-Shabab Posted: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A woman convicted of conspiring to send money to the terrorist group al-Shabab in Somalia has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.Amina Farah Ali was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on 13 terror-related counts. Each count held a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.Authorities say Ali and her co-defendant, Hawo Mohamed Hassan, went door-to-door raising money in the name of charity, but routed the funds to al-Shabab. Their attorneys say the women are humanitarians who gave money to orphans, as well as to a group working to push foreign troops out of Somalia.Hassan is also being sentenced on Thursday. They are among nine people sentenced this week in the long-running federal investigations into terror recruiting and financing for al-Shabab.

Sharapova into Rome Open quarter-finals Posted: ROME (AFP) - Maria Sharapova brushed aside America's Sloane Stephens 6-2, 6-1, to reach the Rome Open quarter-finals on Thursday.She will face Italy's Sara Errani for a place in the semi-finals in a repeat of last year's French Open final which the Russian won.World number one Serena Williams also comfortably made the Rome Masters quarter-finals on Thursday with a 6-0, 6-1 mauling of Slovakia's 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova.Williams will face Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro for a spot in the semi-finals.In the men’s Roger Federer eased past Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2 to reach the Rome Masters quarter-finals.The second seed will face Poland's Jerzy Janowicz for a place in the semi-finals.

6 stadiums ready for Confederations Cup Posted: RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Ready or not, the warm-up for next year's World Cup the Confederations Cup begins in a month at six stadiums across Brazil.It will be the first major international football tournament in this vast South American country since the 1950 World Cup. Many will be watching to see if Brazil can handle this modest eight-team tournament, and then the full focus will turn to next year's 32-team World Cup.Six new or renovated stadiums are in various states of readiness for the Confederations Cup. Six additional ones will be used for next year's World Cup, and none is ready yet.Ronaldo, the former three-time FIFA player of the year and the face of the local organizing committee, said Thursday it's a certainty the stadiums will be ready.

Lampard signs one-year extension: Chelsea Posted: LONDON (AFP) - Frank Lampard signed a one-year contract extension with Chelsea on Thursday and then admitted he had considered quitting the club.After months of speculation over his future, the 34-year-old had dropped a hint on Wednesday night following the club's 2-1 Europa League final success against Benfica that a new deal was imminent.And fans did not have to wait long to find out the club's all-time record goalscorer will be staying on for a 13th season at Stamford Bridge.We've been talking for ages and even though it went on for quite a period it was always amicable, he said.I want to thank (Chelsea owner) Mr (Roman) Abramovich for everything he's done in making the dream a reality.I love this club, the staff, the players and especially the supporters, who have treated me fantastically since the day I arrived.Lampard had always been keen to remain with the Blues, but the longer the talks went on without a resolution the more he started to consider if he might have to leave.From January onwards I was allowed to look at my other options, and it wasn't cut and dried. I don't want to get into all the behind-the-scenes stuff but I was in a position where I was looking at other options and that could have become a reality, Lampard told Sky Sports News.But at the same time I wanted to get my head down and try to show here that I could play and contribute and that I was fit enough.As you get older you start to think about the time to walk away or when you might be told to walk away actually.But I love it here. I've got a great association with the club and with the fans. I live locally. It is my life here and that's what I didn't want to change.I want that to continue for as long as possible. I signed for a year extension; I'd love to be part of the next few years of Chelsea developing. The fresh young players that we've seen come in this year are only going to get better and integrate better into the team.If I can help that happen on the pitch and off the pitch I'd be really happy.The news rounded off an incredible week for Lampard, who on Saturday broke Bobby Tambling's 43-year-old Chelsea scoring record when his double at Aston Villa took him to 203 club goals.

Saltman takes 2-shot lead at Madeira after day 1 Posted: SANTO ANTONIO DA SERRA (AP) - Lloyd Saltman of Scotland carded an 8-under 64 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Madeira Islands Open on Thursday.Saltman was the first golfer off the morning tee and matched his best round ever by hitting birdies on four of his first five holes. He finished with nine birdies on the Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra course to go with just one bogey.I'm very pleased with my round, Saltman said. It wasn't easy out there today, with the wind swirling and getting very strong at certain points.I have put myself in a great position and I'm here to win. I've been working very hard trying to get my game as good as I can and it's nice to see the work paying off.England's Richard Bland ended two shots behind, with Mark Tullo, Craig Lee, and Joakim Lagergren all a shot further back.

NASA: New pump resolves big space station leak Posted: CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) - An impromptu spacewalk over the weekend seems to have fixed a big ammonia leak at the International Space Station, NASA said Thursday.The gusher erupted a week ago, prompting the hastiest repair job ever by residents of the orbiting lab. Spacewalking astronauts replaced a suspect ammonia pump on Saturday, just two days after the trouble arose.NASA is now calling the old, removed pump Mr. Leaky, said flight controller Anthony Vareha.Right now, we're feeling pretty good. We definitely got the big leak, Vareha said in a NASA broadcast from Mission Control in Houston.Vareha said engineers don't know whether the pump replacement also took care of a smaller leak that has plagued the system for years. It will take at least a couple months of monitoring to know the full status.Ammonia is used as a coolant in the space station's radiator system.The leak forced one of the station's seven power channels to go offline. NASA hopes to resume normal operations early next week, following computer software updates.One of the spacewalkers, NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn, is now back on Earth. He returned this week aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule, ending a five-month mission.The other spacewalker, Christopher Cassidy, a recent arrival, spent Thursday chatting with three of the actors and a writer-producer of the newest Star Trek movie, Star Trek into Darkness. The film was beamed up to the space station a few days before its U.S. opening in theaters Thursday.Cassidy watched the first half-hour of the movie while he was exercising Thursday morning and offered a stellar review.I was riveted as you're racing through the woods and jumping off cliffs, he told the actors. I won't spoil the rest of the movie for anybody who hasn't seen it. But pretty cool scenes.

Swine flu found in elephant seals off California Posted: DAVIS (AP) - Researchers have detected swine flu in elephant seals off the Central California coast, saying it was the first time a human pandemic strain has been found in marine mammals.However, none of the animals showed clinical signs of the illness.A University of California, Davis study found the seals contracted the H1N1 virus in 2010, as the pandemic caused by the virus was winding down in humans, the Contra Costa Times (http://bit.ly/16keoIU ) reported Wednesday.The influenza virus commonly crosses species barriers, and it wasn't the first time a marine mammal has been found to carry a human strain, UC Davis professor Tracey Goldstein told the newspaper. However, until now researchers had never found a human pandemic strain in marine mammals, Goldstein said.Researchers still aren't sure exactly how the seals contracted the virus but said it's unlikely it came from direct contact with people. The researchers raised the possibility that seabirds may have passed on the virus.The data suggest the animals were exposed when they were at sea, or coming into the nearshore environment, Goldstein said.UC Davis wildlife biologists swabbed the noses of 72 elephant seals over the course of two years at Ano Nuevo State Reserve in San Mateo County and Piedras Blancas in San Simeon. The animals were sampled before and after their annual spring foraging trip to Alaskan waters.The animals tested clean before departure, but two came back bearing the virus in 2010, the newspaper said. A year later, 16 elephant seal pups had blood tests showing they had been exposed to the virus.Goldstein said the presence of H1N1 in seals is not a cause for alarm.It's just a general reminder to people who work with animals to make sure that they protect themselves, she said.The study was published Wednesday in the online journal PLOS ONE.The 2009 H1N1 outbreak started a global pandemic that killed as many as half a million people.

Oil reverses early losses, tops $95 a barrel Posted: NEW YORK (AP) - Oil followed a familiar pattern Thursday, moving higher despite some less-than-stellar economic reports.Benchmark oil for June delivery rose 86 cents to close at $95.16 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after falling as low as $93.23. Trading Wednesday was similar, when oil finished with a gain of 9 cents.Applications for U.S. unemployment aid rose last week by 32,000 to a seasonally adjusted 360,000, the highest in 6 weeks, the Labor Department said. A report on housing was neutral, with housing starts dropping, but permits rising.Both oil and stock traders have lately shrugged off signs of sluggish economic growth, because the data suggest that the Federal Reserve will keep pumping money into financial markets.Much of the institutional oil trading community continues to associate strong equities with continued loose monetary policies that should, in turn, be supporting asset classes such as oil, said Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates, in a note to clients.At the pump, the average price for a gallon of gasoline reached $3.60 for the first time in more than a month. Gas has risen 9 cents so far in May as Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer driving season, approaches.Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, rose 28 cents to finish at $103.78 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Major currencies flat amid dull US data Posted: NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar, euro and yen traded broadly flat Thursday, despite fresh data signaling Japan's exit from recession and US numbers that underscored that underscored weaknesses in the US economy.At 2200 GMT, the euro was at $1.2886, compared to $1.2884 late Wednesday.The dollar was at 102.22 yen compared to 102.23 yen, while the euro was unchanged at 131.72 yen.The yen failed to hold onto early gains that followed official data in Tokyo showing Japan's economy exited from recession in the first quarter, expanding 0.9 percent from the previous quarter.The data was seen by some observers as an early mark of success for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's bid to stimulate the long-stagnant economy with a policy prescription of big government spending and aggressive central bank easing.The dollar also held firm despite a disappointing sharp rise in new claims for unemployment insurance, a fall in consumer prices and a drop in new home sales last month, suggesting a lull in the housing recovery.Risk markets took a bit of sojourn from their normal modus operandi today by mixing up reactions to some rather disappointing news releases, said Neal Gilbert of FX360.The British pound did show some strength, gaining to $1.5277 from $1.5230; the dollar was flat against the Swiss franc at 0.9647 francs.

Aussie bowler Tait angry over spot-fixing claims Posted: SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait has strongly denied any link to the arrest of three Indian teammates allegedly involved in spot-fixing during an Indian domestic Twenty20 cricket tournament.Test player Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and fellow bowlers Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were all arrested Thursday, Indian police said, adding that 11 bookmakers were also detained in connection with the inquiry.The three cricketers play for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, as does former Test star Tait.Tait's name circulated in social media, on radio and a number of websites along with the three Indians, but he has robustly denied any wrongdoing in a statement.I'm bewildered, I'm angry and I'm upset at the false suggestions I've been involved in any wrongdoing, he said in the statement late Thursday.While I welcome the recent statements from police clearing me of any involvement, for a few hours I was deeply distressed by the rumours that were rapidly circulating about me, most of which were aired in the social media space.Not only were they without foundation, they highlight the danger of a medium that deals with innuendo rather than fact, the result of which has brought my name into question, he added.At no stage in my career have I engaged in spot or match fixing and I'm in discussions with my manager and legal representatives to examine how this episode unfolded and any further action I may take.Spot-fixing is an illegal activity where a specific part of a game, but not the outcome, is fixed.Sreesanth, who has played 27 Tests for India, is alleged to have been paid four million rupees ($75,000) to give away around 14 runs in an over while playing for the Royals against the Kings XI Punjab on May 9.Chavan also allegedly agreed to give away the same number of runs in a match on Wednesday night against the Mumbai Indians in exchange for six million rupees ($110,000), police said.A third player, Chandila, was believed to have been paid two million rupees ($36,000), for giving away a set number of runs in a match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Pune Warriors, police claim.

Peshawar: Two personnel martyred in militants attack Posted: PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - According to detail, militants attacked a vehicle in Matni killing two security personnel and injuring one.Meanwhile, exchange of firing between police and the militants left for police officials injured who were later shifted to hospital.Police and security forces cordoned off the area and started search operation against the terrorists.

New Zealand stifle England batting Posted: LONDON (AFP) - New Zealand took charge of the first Test at Lords on Thursday, reducing England to 160 for four when rain forced an early close to the first day.England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and batted but his side rarely got out of first gear in the face of some accurate bowling by the tourists.Trent Boult was the pick of the attack, removing both Cook and Jonathan Trott after lunch on his way to an economical return of two wickets for 29 runs in 17 overs.Fellow left-arm seamer Neil Wagner then dismissed Ian Bell for 31 in the final session.When rain forced an early close, the inexperienced Yorkshire duo of Joe Root (25 not out) and Jonathan Bairstow (three not out) were at the crease.Englands plight would have been worse had not Jonathan Trott, who made a painstaking 39, been dropped by Bruce Martin off his own bowling when on nought.New Zealand bowled 30 maidens in 80 overs on Thursday -- a testament to their accuracy and the inability of an England top-order missing the injured Kevin Pietersen to hit them out of their stride.Although blue skies overhead on a sunny day promised ideal conditions for batting, an outfield relaid after the Olympic archery tournament at Lords last year prevented several well-struck shots getting to the boundary.England got off to a slow start after Cook won the toss with only two boundaries in the morning session.Nevertheless, Cook and fellow opener Nick Compton were rarely troubled until the introduction of Bruce Martin, the sole specialist spinner in the side after he was preferred to Doug Bracewell.New Zealand reeled off four consecutive maidens, including one from Martin before the left-armer floated a delivery up to Compton who, trying to hit inside out, miscued and was well caught off the edge by Tim Southee, running back at point for 16.And 43 for one should have become 48 for two when the 33-year-old Martin, in only his fourth Test and first outside New Zealand, had Trott driving early but dropped the caught and bowled chance.At lunch, England were 56 for one with left-hander Cook 30 not out and Trott unbeaten on four.Cook was still on his interval score when he survived an lbw appeal from Boult.But Boult had his revenge soon afterwards when Cook, on 32, edged defensively at a full length ball and wicket-keeper BJ Watling took a low diving catch to leave England 67 for two.Trott -- who took 18 balls to get off the mark -- exited shortly before tea when he edged Boult and third slip Dean Brownlie, diving in front of second slip, held an excellent catch.Trotts 39 took him 96 balls, with England 112 for three.Bell, a Warwickshire colleague of Trott, was even more becalmed, his 31 taking 133 balls. His innings ended when he followed a delivery slanted across him from Wagner and was caught behind.England made just one change from the side that drew the third Test against New Zealand at Auckland in March, with Graeme Swann, fit after an elbow injury, replacing fellow spinner Monty Panesar.New Zealand were unchanged, having come desperately close to taking the match and series in Auckland only for England to cling on to a draw with one wicket left thanks mainly to wicket-keeper Matt Priors unbeaten hundred.This is the first of a two-match series which concludes with the second Test at Headingley starting a week on Friday.

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