Dunya TV

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• Congress briefed on US surveillance programs
• Narowal: Gas cylinder blast kills man, wife, their two 2 kids
• Faisalabad: Cops suspended for torturing women
• Chevron to auction rights to 2 Nigeria oil blocks
• French Anti-Doping Agency ready for Tour de France
• India beats Windies by eight wickets
• Poll shows drop in popularity of Brazil president
• Federal budget 2013-14 to be presented today
• Eight die in rain-related accidents
• Pakistan lodges protest against air space violation by Indian jets
• Egypt Opposition rejects talks offer by Morsi
• Turkey: Erdogan issues stern warning to protesters
• 3 more kids succumb to measles; Punjab death toll 157
• President vows to eradicate polio from country

Congress briefed on US surveillance programs Posted: WASHINGTON (AP) - Intelligence officials sought to convince House lawmakers in an unusual briefing that the government's years-long collection of phone records and Internet usage is necessary for protecting Americans and does not trample on their privacy rights.But the country's main civil liberties organization wasn't buying it, filing the most significant lawsuit against the sweeping phone record collection program so far. The American Civil Liberties Union and its New York chapter sued the federal government Tuesday in New York, asking a court to demand that the Obama administration end the program and purge the records it has collected.The ACLU is claiming standing as a customer of Verizon, which was identified last week as the phone company the government had ordered to turn over daily records of calls made by all its customers. The parade of FBI and intelligence officials who briefed the entire House on Tuesday was the latest attempt to soothe outrage over National Security Agency programs which collect billions of Americans' phone and Internet records. Since they were revealed last week, the programs have spurred distrust in the Obama administration from across the globe.Several key lawmakers, including Republican House Speaker John Boehner, refocused the furor Tuesday on the elusive 29-year-old former intelligence contractor who is claiming responsibility for revealing the surveillance programs to two newspapers. Boehner joined others in calling Edward Snowden a traitor.But attempts to defend the NSA systems by a leading Republican senator who supports them highlighted how confusingly intricate the programs are even to the lawmakers who follow the issue closely.Explaining the programs to reporters, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Judiciary committees, initially described how the NSA uses pattern analysis of millions of phone calls from the United States, even if those numbers have no known connection to terrorism. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has vigorously maintained that there are strict limits on the programs to prevent intruding on Americans' privacy, and senior officials quickly denied Graham's description.Graham later said he misspoke and that Clapper was right: The phone records are only accessed if there is a known connection to terrorism.House lawmakers had more questions and, in many cases, more concerns about the level of surveillance by U.S. intelligence agencies Tuesday after FBI, Justice and other intelligence officials briefed them on the two NSA programs.Really it's a debate between public safety, how far we go with public safety and protecting us from terrorist attacks versus how far we go on the other side, said Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. Congress needs to debate this issue.He said his panel and the Judiciary Committee would examine what has happened and see whether there are recommendations for the future.Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California, like many members, said he was unaware of the scope of the data collection.I did not know 1 billion records a day were coming under the control of the federal executive branch, Sherman said.One of the Senate's staunchest critics of the surveillance programs put Clapper in the crosshairs, accusing him of not being truthful in March when he asked during a Senate hearing whether the NSA collects any data on millions of Americans. Clapper said it did not. Officials generally do not discuss classified information in public settings, reserving discussion on top-secret programs for closed sessions with lawmakers where they will not be revealed to adversaries.Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said he had been dissatisfied with the NSA's answers to his questions and had given Clapper a day's advance notice prior to the hearing to prepare an answer. Not fully believing Clapper's public denial of the program, Wyden said he asked Clapper privately afterward whether he wanted to stick with a firm 'no' to the question.On Tuesday, Wyden revealed his efforts to get Clapper to tell him about the program and called for hearings to discuss the programs. He was also among a group of senators who introduced legislation to force the government to declassify opinions of a secret court that authorizes the surveillance.Clapper's spokesman did not comment on Wyden's statement. But in an interview with NBC News earlier this week, Clapper said he responded in what I thought was the most truthful or least most untruthful manner, by saying, 'No,' because the program was classified.The Senate Intelligence Committee will be briefed on the programs again Thursday. Congressional leaders and intelligence committee members have been routinely briefed about the spy programs, officials said, and Capitol Hill has at least twice renewed laws approving them. But the disclosure of their sheer scope stunned some lawmakers, shocked foreign allies from nations with strict privacy protections and emboldened civil liberties advocates who long have accused the government of being too invasive in the name of national security.On the heels of new polls showing a majority of Americans support some aspects of the spy programs, lawmakers defended the daily surveillance of billions of phone and Internet records that they said have helped make the U.S. safer in the years after the 9/11 attacks. A poll by The Washington Post and the Pew Research Center conducted over the weekend found Americans generally prioritize the government's need to investigate terrorist threats over the need to protect personal privacy.But a CBS News poll conducted June 9-10 showed that while most approve of government collection of phone records of Americans suspected of terrorist activity and Internet activities of foreigners, a majority disapproved of federal agencies collecting the phone records of ordinary Americans. Thirty percent agreed with the government's assessment that the revelation of the programs would hurt the U.S.' ability to prevent future terrorist attacks, while 57 percent said it would have no impact.Instead, ire focused on Snowden, the CIA employee-turned-NSA contractor who admitted in an online interview that he exposed the programs in an attempt to safeguard American privacy rights from government snooping. He's a traitor, Boehner said on ABC's Good Morning America. His comments echoed a growing chorus in Congress condemning Snowden's actions.Only one American, fugitive al-Qaida propaganda chief Adam Gadahn has been charged with treason since the World War II era. A law enforcement official said prosecutors were building a case against Snowden on Tuesday and had not decided what charges would be brought against him.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because there is no final decision on the charges. But it's unlikely that Snowden would be charged with treason, which carries the death penalty as a punishment, and therefore could complicate extradition from foreign countries.Snowden, who was formally fired Tuesday from his job with government contracting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, was last seen in Hong Kong. In a video interview with The Guardian newspaper, Snowden admitted to revealing the two classified NSA programs.

Narowal: Gas cylinder blast kills man, wife, their two 2 kids Posted: NAROWAL (Dunya News) - A gas cylinder exploded when a gas cylinder blew up in their house located in Zafarwal tehsil of Narowal, killing a man, his wife and two daughters.According to rescue sources, a fire broke out following the explosion that took place due to leakage in a gas cylinder at a three-story house in Zafarwal Chowk, resultantly four people of a family killed.

Faisalabad: Cops suspended for torturing women Posted: FAISALABAD (Dunya News) – At least five personnel of Elite Force have been suspended on the charge that they forced into the houses of citizens and tortured the women.According to police spokesman, the suspended policemen include Babar Masih, Tauseef Ahmed, Abid Hussain. The SSP Admin will look into the matter.On Tuesday, during a protest against electricity loadsheding in Faisalabad, police entered the houses of protesters and manhandled their women.On the other hand, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also took notice and sought a report of the incident.

Chevron to auction rights to 2 Nigeria oil blocks Posted: LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - Chevron Corp. says it wants to auction off its rights to two offshore oil fields in Nigeria.In a statement Tuesday, the San Ramon, California-based oil firm identified the two blocks as being offshore the coast of Nigeria's Bayelsa state in the country's oil-rich southern delta.Chevron has a 40 percent interest in the stakes, with the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. holding the majority 60 percent. The sites are near the offshore field where Chevron had a gas rig exploded in January 2012, killing two workers.The potential sell-off, which would need to get Nigerian government approval, comes as other foreign oil companies operating in the West African nation have begun selling off some of their stakes amid uncertainty about regulations in the country.

French Anti-Doping Agency ready for Tour de France Posted: PARIS (AP) - The French Anti-Doping Agency hopes it will have the support of cycling's governing body to store blood and urine samples from Tour de France riders for eight years.Bruno Genevois, the head of French agency AFLD, says the budget for doping tests at the upcoming Tour is at least as much as for last year. He says Tour organizers have agreed to pay half the costs.In its annual report released on Tuesday, AFLD said 214 blood and urine samples were collected during the 2012 Tour.The agency and cycling body UCI have often clashed in the past. But in late April they reached an agreement to cooperate and test riders on the Tour, which runs from June 29-July 21.

India beats Windies by eight wickets Posted: LONDON (AP) - India became the first team through to the Champions Trophy semifinals by beating West Indies by eight wickets on Tuesday following a second consecutive hundred from Shikhar Dhawan and Ravindra Jadejas first ODI five-wicket haul.After Jadeja captured 5-36 to limit West Indies to 233-9, a total inflated by Darren Sammys late batting heroics in hitting 56 from 35 balls and a more measured 60 from Johnson Charles, India swept to 236-2 with 10.5 overs to spare at The Oval.Having scored 114 in Indias 26-run win over South Africa last Thursday, Dhawan made 102 not out with 10 boundaries and a six from 107 balls.The result eliminated Pakistan and ensured the winner of Fridays match between West Indies and South Africa also qualifies from Group B.

Poll shows drop in popularity of Brazil president Posted: BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) - A new poll shows that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseffs popularity has dipped slightly but remains strong enough to get her re-elected in 2014.The National Transport Confederation poll released Tuesday shows that Rousseff enjoys the support of 73.7 percent of the electorate compared to the 75.7 percent registered in its previous poll conducted July 2012. The MDA polling institute conducted the survey for the confederation, which traditionally has sponsored these polls.The confederations president Clesio Andrade says the drop in Rousseffs popularity rating is due to slow economic growth and rising inflation.The poll surveyed 2,010 people on June 1 and 5 and had a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points.

Federal budget 2013-14 to be presented today Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal budget for the next fiscal year will be presented in the National Assembly today (Wednesday). Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will lay budget proposals before the House.Earlier‚ these budget proposals will be put for approval by the federal cabinet at its special meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.A number of proposals are expected to be presented to resolve energy crisis‚ reduce government expenditure‚ and fiscal deficit and steps to revive national economy and enhance revenue collection.

Eight die in rain-related accidents Posted: LAHORE (Dunya News) - A seven-year-old child died and four others sustained injuries when wall of a house collapsed in Shadbagh area of Lahore. The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment.Roof of a house collapsed in Manga Mandi killing 60-year-old Zeenat, 17-year-old Ayesha and 6-year-old Iqra.Meanwhile, a man namely Jamshed died as he received an electric shock due to rain at Khokhar Road.

Pakistan lodges protest against air space violation by Indian jets Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The Foreign Ministry summoned Deputy High Commissioner of India, Gopal Baghly and recorded the protest.Ministry of Foreign Affairs has conveyed serious concern to the Indian High Commission over the air space violation by two Indian high speed (fighter) aircraft that had intruded 4 kilometers into the Head Sulemanki area at 1040 hours. The aircraft stayed in Pakistani air space for about two minutes.According to the spokesman of Foreign Office, Pakistan considers air space violation as a contravention of the 1991 agreement between the two countries on Prevention of Air Space Violations and for Permitting over Flights and Landings by Military Aircraft.The Government of Pakistan calls upon India to respect all existing agreements and CBMs.

Egypt Opposition rejects talks offer by Morsi Posted: CAIRO (AP) - Egypts largest opposition grouping said Tuesday that calls by the president for national reconciliation talks come too late, as activists geared up for a street protest campaign at the end of the month to demand his ouster.President Mohammed Morsi made the call during a fiery speech Monday over Ethiopias plans to build a dam on the Blue Nile, a project Cairo claims would jeopardize the flow of the Nile River through Egypt and cause a critical water shortage.In the speech, Morsi urged Egyptians to unite in a common stand, saying he was ready to meet anyone to serve the nations interest to consolidate the countrys internal front in the face of external dangers.Critics accuse Morsi of using the Nile dam issue to whip up nationalist fervor and undercut the oppositions push for his ouster.Such a call is simply lip service on Morsis part and tasteless public relations, said Khaled Dawoud, spokesman of the National Salvation Front, the main opposition coalition. It is rather too late after Morsi failed to hold a single serious dialogue in his year in office, Dawoud said.Several opposition parties have boycotted Morsis earlier efforts at talks, accusing the president of making unilateral decisions that have further polarized society.Tensions are rising ahead of June 30, when Morsi marks one year as Egypts first freely elected president. He came to power in the aftermath of the 2011 uprising that toppled his autocratic predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.The opposition has called for mass demonstrations to mark the anniversary.The spokesman of Egypts presidency, Omar Amer, said that the presidency respects freedom of speech and that it is its duty to protect protesters if they are peaceful. He said no special measures will be taken June 30.Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim told police officers on Tuesday that security forces will not enter into confrontations with protesters.He said that the presidential palace, the planned focal point of protests, will be protected by the Republican Guard forces whose mission is to protect the president. Police will not be deployed there, unlike previous protests at the palace.Clashes between security forces and protesters over the last two years have left scores dead.Morsi has substantial opposition from within the police force. Earlier this year, police officers held a nationwide strike demanding that Morsi not use them against the opposition.They denounced what they call the Brotherhoodization of the police, by appointing Muslim Brotherhood backers to key posts. The Brotherhood, Egypts most powerful political group, is Morsis movement.Some police also charge he has failed to crack down hard enough on militant groups in the Sinai Peninsula.The Monday funeral of a counterterrorism officer killed by militants there turned into a protest, with policemen chanting for Morsis downfall.Liberal and secular-minded groups accuse Morsi of not fulfilling his promises to foster an inclusive political process, instead allowing Islamists and his Brotherhood party to monopolize power.The Brotherhood charges the opposition with trying to unseat Morsi through street violence instead of through the ballot box, insisting their detractors lack grass-roots support.More recently, hundreds of Egyptian writers, artists, film makers, and Opera House staffers continued their occupation outside the Culture Ministers office.They are calling for his resignation and criticizing his dismissal of top officials, including the head of the Opera House who had been in the post for less than two years.The minister, Alaa Abdel-Aziz, says the ministry needs new blood and an overhaul after decades of corruption under Mubarak. The protesters claim that Abdel-Aziz is pursuing a cleansing of anti-Brotherhood officials.Experts estimate that Egypt could lose as much as 20 percent of its Nile water in the three to five years needed for Ethiopia to fill a massive reservoir.In Mondays speech, Morsi said Egypt was not calling for war but is willing to confront any threats to its water security.If it loses one drop, our blood is the alternative, he said to a noisy crowd of largely Islamist supporters.

Turkey: Erdogan issues stern warning to protesters Posted: Istanbul (BBC) - He vowed to end the demonstrations after police cleared Istanbuls Taksim Square, the focal point of unrest for nearly two weeks.Police used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets, causing many to flee the square into adjoining Gezi Park.The unrest began after a crackdown on an environmental protest over Gezi Parks redevelopment.The protests then widened, with demonstrators accusing Mr Erdogans government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.The prime minister defended the police intervention on Tuesday, saying that an environmental movement had been hijacked by people who wanted to harm Turkey.Looking out at Taksim Square, I can see the clouds of tear gas that have covered the centre of Turkeys biggest city for much of the morning.Police trucks have been spewing arcs of water cannon against the protesters, some of whom have responded with chunks of stone and petrol bombs.The authorities claim this is an attempt to clear the square of banners, tents and flags scattered across it since the protest movement began 12 days ago. They say they will not enter the park that adjoins Taksim, the development of which first sparked the unrest.The prime minister had called a meeting with protest leaders tomorrow. That announcement was seen as an olive branch - a potential diplomatic means to break the deadlock. But those talks may now be thrown into jeopardy by the strongest police action in Istanbul in over a week.In a televised speech to members of parliament from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) that was frequently interrupted by applause, he asked: They say the prime minister is rough. So what was going to happen? Were we going to kneel down in front of these [people]?If you call this roughness, Im sorry, but this Tayyip Erdogan wont change.He also appeared to contradict Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, who had earlier said the police had no intention of breaking up the protest in Gezi Park.To those who... are at Taksim and elsewhere taking part in the demonstrations with sincere feelings: I call on you to leave those places and to end these incidents and I send you my love.But for those who want to continue with the incidents I say: Its over. As of now we have no tolerance for them.Not only will we end the actions, we will be at the necks of the provocateurs and terrorists and no-one will get away with it, he continued.I am sorry but Gezi Park is for taking promenades, not for occupation.Skirmishes between police and protesters in Taksim Square continued on Wednesday afternoon, reaching the edge of the park.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says protesters actions have infringed on other peoples freedomNot long ago we heard loud explosions and before that there was a rain of gas bombs falling on to civilians, one protester, Cem Ozen, told the BBC.Weve seen many civilians being carried to makeshift medical points. Some people were wounded in the head.

3 more kids succumb to measles; Punjab death toll 157 Posted: LAHORE (Web Desk) - Three more children died of measles in Lahore on Tuesday, taking the overall death toll in Punjab to 157.Two children died at Mayo Hospital while the third child succumbed to the disease in Jinnah Hospital.On the other hand, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has warned that it would initiate action against Chief Minister and Health Minister of Punjab if more children died due to the measles.Justice Khalid Mahmood said that children are dying on daily basis, but the Health Department is engaged in formalities. He said the court should now be told how many children were saved by the Health Department.The judge remarked that it is now time for the new government to stop distributing sweets and start work practically.

President vows to eradicate polio from country Posted: ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday reaffirmed his resolve to eradicate polio from the society.He was talking to the representative of Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, Dr Waqar Ajmal here.The President thanked the foundation over supporting Pakistan in anti polio drive and assured that the polio eradication campaign would be continued. He regretted about the attacks on polio workers and reiterated to continue anti polio drive across the country.Zardari reminded that eradication of polio remained first priority of the last government.Ambassador of Pakistan for anti polio drive, Asifa Zardari and Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho were also present on the occasion.

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