Dunya TV

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• US House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill
• Turkish PM urges protesters to leave Gezi Park
• UN chief opposes US arms to Syrian rebels
• Iran says polls close across the country
• Federer breezes into Halle semifinals
• Murray wins to set up Tsonga semifinal at Queen's
• Petkovic beats Jankovic in Nuremberg semifinal
• Brazil begin quest for 4th Confed Cup title
• US to host key Olympic meeting in 2015
• Oil price highest since January on Syria concerns
• 91-year-old US man sets weightlifting record
• Pakistan, India set to breathe life into 'dead' game
• South Africa into CT semis after Windies tie
• Shahbaz greets Malala for receiving OFID award
• Kenya, Somalia in dispute over violent port city

US House passes sweeping $638 billion defense bill Posted: WASHINGTON (AP) - The House overwhelmingly passed a sweeping, $638 billion defense bill on Friday that would block President Barack Obama from closing the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and limit his efforts to reduce nuclear weapons.Ignoring a White House veto threat, the Republican-controlled House voted 315-108 for the legislation.The House bill containing provisions on punishment for sex-related crimes in the armed forces that the Obama administration supports as well as the detention policies that it vigorously opposes must be reconciled with a Senate version before heading to the president's desk. The Senate measure, expected to be considered later this year, costs $13 billion less than the House bill a budgetary difference that also will have to be resolved.The defense policy bill authorizes money for aircraft, weapons, ships, personnel and the war in Afghanistan in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 while blocking the Pentagon from closing domestic bases.The measure bars the Pentagon or the National Nuclear Security Agency from spending any money to implement the new START treaty with Russia that the Senate ratified in December 2010 until the defense secretary provides certain information on reducing the U.S. nuclear arsenal to Congress.Despite last-minute lobbying by Obama counterterrorism adviser Lisa Monaco, the House soundly rejected Obama's repeated pleas to shutter Guantanamo. In recent weeks, the president implored Congress to close the facility, citing its prohibitive costs and its role as a recruiting tool for extremists.A hunger strike by more than 100 of the 166 prisoners protesting their conditions and indefinite confinement has prompted the fresh calls for closure. Obama is pushing to transfer approved detainees there are 86 to their home countries and lift a ban on transfers to Yemen. Fifty-six of the 86 are from Yemen.The House voted down an amendment to close the naval detention center by Dec. 31, 2014, on a 249-174 vote. It also backed an amendment to stop the president from transferring any detainees to Yemen. That vote was 236-188.The restrictions in the House bill put it at odds with the Democratic-controlled Senate.The Senate Armed Services Committee's bill gives the Defense Department additional flexibility to transfer Guantanamo detainees to the U.S. and other countries, with the objective of closing the detention facility there.But, in a move that reflects deep divisions on Capitol Hill over Guantanamo's future, the committee did not hold votes on the provision in the bill, opting instead to have that debate when the legislation moves to the Senate floor.In its current form, the Senate committee's legislation would permit transfer of terror suspects to the U.S. if the Pentagon determines that doing so is in the interests of national security and that any public safety issues have been addressed, the committee said Friday in a statement detailing the bill's major provisions.Detainees could be moved to foreign countries if they are determined to no longer be a threat to U.S. security, the transfers are pursuant to court orders, or the individuals have been tried and acquitted, or have been convicted and completed their sentences.Transfers to third countries also could occur if the Pentagon determines the move supports U.S. national security interests and steps have been taken to substantially mitigate the risk of the detainee re-engaging in terrorist activities, the committee said.

Turkish PM urges protesters to leave Gezi Park Posted: ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he's asked a small delegation of protesters to convince hundreds of others occupying an Istanbul park to withdraw, hopefully within hours.Turkish activists leading a sit-in were considering a promise Friday by Erdogan to let the courts and a potential referendum decide the fate of an Istanbul park development project that has sparked Turkey's biggest protests in decades. The pledge was made during last-ditch negotiations after Erdogan had issued what he called a final warning to protesters.Erdogan told party members that the protesters in the park had stayed long enough.Erdogan said he had told the protest representatives: Go and speak to them ... Don't let us be forced into reverting to different measures.

UN chief opposes US arms to Syrian rebels Posted: UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is opposing the U.S. decision to send arms to the Syrian rebels and says there can be no certainty of chemical weapons use in Syria without an on-the-ground investigation.The U.N. chief reiterated Friday that there is no military solution to the more than two-year conflict and therefore increasing the flow of arms to either side would not be helpful.The United States announced Thursday it decided to send lethal aid to the rebels after determining it had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime used chemical weapons against opposition forces.But Ban told reporters the validity of any information on the alleged use of chemical weapons cannot be ensured without convincing evidence of the chain-of-custody.Syria refuses to allow U.N. inspectors into the country.

Iran says polls close across the country Posted: TEHRAN (AP) - Iran's Interior Ministry says voting in the country's presidential election has ended across the country.Iranians had waited on line for hours in wilting heat at some polling stations in downtown Tehran and other cities, casting ballots across the vast country from desert outposts to Gulf seaports and nomad pastures. Voting was extended by five hours to meet demand, but also as possible political stagecraft to showcase the participation.The turnout suggested liberals and others abandoned a planned boycott as the election evolved into a showdown across the Islamic Republic's political divide.

Federer breezes into Halle semifinals Posted: HALLE (AP) - Roger Federer blew past Mischa Zverev 6-0, 6-0 to reach the Gerry Weber Open semifinals on Friday, teaching a painful lesson to a player trying to serve and volley on grass, the surface best suited for such a game.Federer will play defending champion Tommy Haas, who beat him in last year's final. The German came from behind to beat Gael Monfils 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3.Hopefully, I'll do a little better than Mischa, Haas said.Second-seeded Richard Gasquet also made the last four, beating eighth-seeded Florian Mayer 6-3, 7-6 (4) to stay on course for a third title this year.Gasquet will play Mikhail Youzhny, who upset 2011 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2. Youzhny's only victory in eight previous matches against the sixth-seeded Kohlschreiber was when the German had to retire after one set in 2007.The top-seeded Federer needed only 39 minutes to record the second double bagel of his career. The first was over Gaston Gaudio at the Masters Cup in Shanghai in 2005.It's not something which is easy to do. You never go into a match aiming for that score, Federer said. I was very surprised that it happened today, especially on grass.I think it is disappointing for a serve-and-volley player to go down like this. It shows also how easy it is to hit passing shots or returns today.Zverev, a German wild card ranked No. 156, stuck to his game plan and paid the price for it.I hope he doesn't take it too badly, Federer said. I just had a pretty easy time picking up his serve and I must have made a ton of returns.While saying he would rather win 6-1, 6-2, Federer said gifting Zverev a game never crossed his mind. He said the only time he lost 6-0, 6-0 was his first match, at age 8.Zverev took his loss in stride.I'd rather lose 6-0, 6-0 to Roger in a quarterfinal than to a qualifier in the second round, Zverev said. At least there is something to talk about later.Federer is looking for his first title of the year and his sixth on the grass court at Halle, his favorite tune-up for Wimbledon. Federer has seven Wimbledon titles and will be the defending champion there. Four of his Wimbledon titles have come after triumphs in Halle. But his last title in Halle was in 2008.It's been a long time since I won here, so that title this year has the highest priority for me, said Federer, who owns a record 17 Grand Slam championships.Haas is the oldest man in the top 100, currently ranked No. 11 at age 35 and enjoying a second spring. He already has a title this year at home, in Munich.Monfils thrilled the crowd with his acrobatic, nonconventional shot-making. Once, he let a high ball bounce between his legs, twisted around and hit a smash on the turn. The smash was good but he lost the point on an error. He also dived and jumped high to hit overhead shots that pleased the crowd. The third-seeded Haas was perhaps less spectacular but more effective and simply made fewer errors.It was close, he was lucky to hit a few lines at the end, Monfils said. I play such points to win them, not just to have fun.Haas teamed with good friend Federer to play rare doubles in Halle but they lost in the first round.You always look forward to such matches. Roger is one of the greatest players of all time. It's something real special, Haas said.Mayer produced a pair of stunning diving winners but Gasquet was the steadier player and fired an ace to finish the match.It was a tough match for me because he is a good player and I lost to him last year in Wimbledon, Gasquet said. I played very solid.

Murray wins to set up Tsonga semifinal at Queen's Posted: LONDON (AP) - Two-time former champion Andy Murray reached the semifinals at Queen's Club after overcoming a solid challenge from Benjamin Becker of Germany to win 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Friday.The top-seeded Briton served eight aces without committing a double-fault, and broke twice in each set. He also dropped serve three times in the match, but dominated the tiebreaker by winning the first six points.Murray will play fourth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a repeat of the 2011 final. The Frenchman ended the run of 112th-ranked American Denis Kudla, winning 6-3, 6-2.Kudla was facing only the second top-10 opponent of his career. A break to lead 2-0 set Tsonga on his way to, and he broke twice in the second set to close out the match in just 53 minutes.It will be a big step up and also a really big test for me because he's been playing some great tennis the last couple of months, Murray said of Tsonga. He's one of the best in the world on this surface. I have had some tough matches with him on grass before, so tomorrow will be the same.The second semifinal will be between defending champion Marin Cilic and four-time winner Lleyton Hewitt.The fifth-seeded Cilic beat No. 2 Tomas Berdych 7-5, 7-6 (4), and Hewitt reached his first semifinal in 11 months by upsetting No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.Hewitt took a 4-2 lead with a backhand winner after del Potro struck consecutive double-faults, and hit a backhand volley to break again for the set.Del Potro sped to a 4-0 lead in winning the second set. In the decider, Hewitt broke del Potro at love to earn a 3-1 lead and broke again at 5-2 with a volley winner.Cilic was under pressure in both sets. He faced a break point at 4-4 but Berdych netted his return, and Cilic failed to convert two set points at 5-4 before Berdych made a forehand error on a third break point at 6-5.In the second set, Berdych held one break point at 2-2 and another at 4-4, but Cilic once again held off the threat before claiming victory in the tiebreaker.

Petkovic beats Jankovic in Nuremberg semifinal Posted: NUREMBERG (AP) - Andrea Petkovic reached her first WTA final since October 2011 when she upset top-seeded Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-3 in the inaugural Nurnberger Versicherungscup on Friday.Petkovic and Jankovic both got wild-card invitations into the clay-court tournament. Petkovic was once in the top 10 but the German missed months of action through various injuries and has dropped to 103rd. Jankovic is a former No. 1 who is No. 16.In Saturday's final, Petkovic will play either Simona Halep or Lucie Safarova.Petkovic dropped her serve early in the match but recovered to take the first set.Serving for the match, Petkovic fell into a 0-40 hole, only to see the Serb produce error after error and end the match with a backhand that sailed wide.

Brazil begin quest for 4th Confed Cup title Posted: BRASILIA (AP) - Two-time defending champion Brazil faces Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on Saturday, hoping to get off to a good start in the World Cup warm-up tournament and live up to the sky-high expectations of demanding home fans.It will be the first major competition for Brazil since the return of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, and a victory in the opener will be crucial to gain the support of home fans who have been criticizing and jeering the national team following a series of poor results.Brazil hasn't won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.

US to host key Olympic meeting in 2015 Posted: LAUSANNE (AP) - The United States will host a major Olympic meeting in 2015, a boost to a potential U.S. bid for the 2024 Summer Games.Washington D.C. was chosen Friday to host the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees, which represents more than 200 national bodies.The announcement came at ANOC's current annual meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, following a pitch from U.S. Olympic Committee head Larry Probst.USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said the dates for the 2015 meeting have not yet been set.The U.S. last hosted the ANOC assembly in 1994 in Atlanta, ahead of the 1996 Olympics in the same city. The U.S. hasn't hosted the Summer Games since then.New York failed in a bid for the 2012 Olympics, and Chicago was unsuccessful for 2016.The USOC, which has worked hard to improve its international standing, is currently considering a bid for 2024.USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said this week the committee was in discussions with about 10 potential cities, hoping to narrow the list to two or three by December. The USOC has until late 2014 to decide whether to bid.The IOC will choose the 2024 host city in 2017.

Oil price highest since January on Syria concerns Posted: NEW YORK (AP) - Oil rose to the highest level since January amid concerns about a possible escalation in Syrias civil war.U.S. benchmark oil for July delivery rose $1.16 to close at $97.85 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil finished the week with a gain of $1.82 a barrel, or 1.9 percent.President Barack Obamas decision, revealed Thursday, to provide weapons to rebels fighting the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad came after the White House said it had convincing evidence that Assads regime which has been supported by Russia, Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah had used chemical weapons against the opposition.The Middle East is a key source of crude oil and important transit routes cross the region, so conflicts which threaten disruptions in crude production or supply usually push oil prices higher.The possibility of unrest spreading into larger oil-producing regions such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq induced some buying Friday, said Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates. However, he said, the current large amount of unused OPEC productive capacity provides a sizable cushion against any temporary loss of supply from countries other than Saudi Arabia.Oils closing price was the highest since Jan. 30. But U.S. stock markets fell following lackluster reports on consumer confidence and industrial production. Among other commodities, gold and silver rose, while the prices for industrial metals dropped.Meanwhile Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, rose 98 cents to end at $105.93 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

91-year-old US man sets weightlifting record Posted: PHOENIX (AP) - A 91-year-old Arizona weightlifter didn't just break a world record for the bench press, he powered through it by 52 pounds (23.5 kilograms).Sy Perlis set the record by benching 187.2 pounds (85 kilograms) at the National Bench Push-Pull Press and Dead Lift Championships on Saturday in Phoenix.The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/1984ic8) reports that the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters previous record in the 90-and-over age division was 135 pounds (61 kilograms) and had stood since 2005.Perlis took up weightlifting when he was 60 but didn't enter his first championship competition until five years ago.I got a lot of satisfaction out of it, and it made me feel good, and it was good for me, the suburban Phoenix resident said.When he competed in the division for 85- to 89-year-olds, Perlis won the state title in 2009 and world title in 2010 and 2011 in the 181-pound (82-kilogram) weight category.Association President Gus Rethwisch said Perlis is an inspiration.We've had a lot of lifters in their middle 80s, late 80s and occasionally we get one 90 and over, but they've never inspired people (like Perlis has), Rethwisch said.Chhanda Dutta, chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch of the National Institute on Aging, said it's a common misconception that exercise is unsafe for older people.The risk of leading a sedentary lifestyle is much greater than anything related to exercise, Dutta said. I think it's important for people to realize that age alone doesn't determine the intensity of your workout.Perlis said his doctor knows he participates in the sport and has told him, If you can do it, do it.His five-day-a-week training routine includes cardiovascular exercise and weightlifting.

Pakistan, India set to breathe life into 'dead' game Posted: BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Pakistan and India clash in a Champions Trophy match in Edgbaston on Saturday that promises high-voltage action despite the academic nature of the contest.What was expected to be the marquee battle of the eight-nation tournament -- tickets for the match were sold out within hours of going on sale last November -- has been reduced to a dead rubber.World Cup champions India are already through to the semi-finals after winning both group B matches so far, while Pakistan have crashed out of the race with two successive defeats.But sporting contests between the arch-rivals are never irrelevant for players and millions of fans across the globe as heroes turn villains -- or vice-versa -- depending on the result.As India look to smoothen rough edges ahead of the semi-finals, Pakistan will play for pride hoping to build on the 2-1 series success in India in December-January.I don't think the Indian team has ever played a dead game, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, referring to the huge fan following his side enjoys. The match is also important to improve in the areas we want to.Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore added: It's an important match. It's certainly not a dead game for us and we will look to give our best.Pakistan were let down by poor batting, having been bowled out for 170 by the West Indies and then dismissed for 167 by a depleted South African attack missing frontline strike bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.Skipper Misbah-ul Haq and Nasir Jamshed were the only batsmen to offer resistance in the two games, which put the hard-working bowlers under additional pressure.Misbah, who top-scored with an unbeaten 96 and 55 in both matches, conceded the batting failure cost his side dearly.There are a lot of positives to take from this tournament, he said. We bowled and fielded very well, but the batting has not been good. The batsmen are much better than what they have done here.Misbah, whose side was taunted by fans after the loss to South Africa, insisted the team were still very motivated to perform well against India.When a team plays the way we have, criticism is bound to come, he said. Supporters are like that. They also praise you when you do well.We must now play to our potential against India. We should not go back empty-handed.India, meanwhile, justified their number one ranking in one-day cricket with two impressive performances against South Africa and the West Indies.They piled up 331-7 against the Proteas to win by 26 runs on a flat Cardiff pitch, and then restricted the West Indies to 233-9 at the Oval to win by eight wickets.Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan shone with superb back-to-back centuries, making 114 off 94 balls against South Africa and an unbeaten 102 against the West Indies.It was the third successive international century for the moustache-twirling 27-year-old from Delhi, who scored a spectacular 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his Test debut in March.India have also been well-served by Rohit Sharma, who partnered Dhawan for two century stands at the top of the order, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whose five wickets laid low the West Indies.

South Africa into CT semis after Windies tie Posted: CARDIFF (AP) - South Africa squeezed into the semifinals of the Champions Trophy and eliminated West Indies after their make-or-break Group B match finished as a tie on the Duckworth/Lewis method when rain brought an early end to play.Needing a victory to go through, the West Indies were on target to win as they chased 231 off a maximum 31 overs when Kieron Pollard was caught in the deep to put the team on 190-6 after 26.1 overs. With the rain coming down harder, the umpires immediately took the players off and the match was later abandoned, leaving West Indies agonizingly short.The teams shared a point from the match but South Africa has a superior net run rate over the three games and progresses to the last four with group winner India.Had Pollard stroked a single instead of getting himself out, West Indies would have still been in a tournament they won on English soil in 2004 because they were ahead of the D/L par score for five wickets down. Instead, he holed out to Dale Steyn off Ryan McLaren's short ball and his team crashed out.Chris Gayle (36 off 27 balls) and Marlon Samuels (48 off 38 balls) led West Indies' charge in attempting to keep up with a required run rate of nearly 7.5 an over.Steyn, back from a side strain, took 2-33 in six overs.Earlier, opener Colin Ingram top-scored for South Africa with 73 after the start had been delayed at Sophia Gardens because of steady rain. He moved to a half-century off just 46 deliveries.AB de Villiers, the world's top-ranked ODI batsmen, weighed in with 37 and David Miller made 38 off 29 balls in a late salvo that included three sixes.

Shahbaz greets Malala for receiving OFID award Posted: LAHORE (Online): Chief Minister, Punjab Shahbaz Sharif Friday felicitated Malala Yousufzai for receiving OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) award.In a statement issued here on Friday, Shahbaz Sharif said that Malala Yousufzai is a brave and proud daughter of nation, adding that she served for the promotion of education magnificently in such a young age.Appreciating Malala’s services for education, Shahbaz Sharif said that daughters like her, were the assets of the country and whole the nation was proud of her.It is pertinent to mention here that Chairman of the Ministerial Council of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Yousef Hussain Kamal, Friday awarded Malala Yousafzai with the 2013 OFID Annual Award for Development in appreciation of her fearless struggle to uphold the right of girls and women in the Swat Valley of Pakistan to receive an education.The award was presented at the 34th Annual Session of the Ministerial Council of OFID, the award was accepted by Ziauddin Yousafazai on behalf of his daughter.

Kenya, Somalia in dispute over violent port city Posted: MOGADISHU (AP) - The al-Qaida-linked militants in Somalia who once controlled the southern port city of Kismayo are gone, but now a fight for control of the city has broken out.At the heart of the divide is Kenyas desire for a friendly buffer zone near its border with Somalia, one of the main reasons Kenya sent troops to Somalia to fight al-Shabab militants in late 2011.Ahmed Madobe is the key power broker around Kismayo. Supported by Kenya, Madobe formed a local administration and named himself president without the approval of the Somali government. Adding to the chaos, four other clan leaders also declared themselves president.Clan violence has left at least 10 people dead in recent days, drawing concern from the United Nations Security Council.

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