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Thursday, January 1, 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Muzaffarabad: 11 killed as van plunges into river

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MUZAFFARABAD (Dunya News) - According to details, a passenger van travelling from Rawalpindi to Muzaffarabad fell into River Jhelum in Asgharabad area near Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, killing at least 11 people and injuring four others.Rescue teams and residents of the area shifted the dead and injured to Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences.

Karachi: 11 injured during New Year celebrations

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – At least 11 people were injured in aerial firing during New Year celebrations in different parts of Karachi on Wednesday night.Aerial firing started in different parts of the city, including New Karachi, Haidri Market, Saddar and Nazimabad as clock ticked 12:00midnight. Rescue officials shifted the injured to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Jinnah Hospital and Civil Hospital.

Lampard to stay at Man City to end of season

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MANCHESTER (AP) - Frank Lampard will carry on playing for Manchester City throughout the Premier League season, the English champions announced Wednesday night.Manchester City can confirm that it has extended Frank Lampards contract up to the end of Manchester Citys season, enabling his continued participation in both domestic and European campaigns, the club said in a statement on its website.Lampard will now be available to face Sunderland in a league match at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.The 36-year-old former England and Chelsea midfielder was on a short-term deal which was due to expire on New Years Day when he would officially become a player of MLS team New York City a sister club of Manchester City.City manager Manuel Pellegrini had made no secret of his desire to keep Lampard, who has scored six goals in 17 appearances for the club, although he has only started three league games.Lampards stay has added value with Yaya Toure set to go to the African Nations Cup, while City is also light on proven scorers with Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko both out injured.Lampard joined City in August, ostensibly to maintain fitness ahead of the 2015 Major League Soccer season, which begins in March.Halfway through the Premier League season, which ends May 24, City is in second position three points behind Jose Mourinhos Chelsea.City is also through to the knockout stage of the Champions League for the second straight year and plays Barcelona on Feb. 24 in the home leg.

Del Potro joins Cilic on Brisbane withdrawal list

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BRISBANE (AP) - Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina has withdrawn from the Brisbane International with a left wrist injury, joining another former U.S. Open champion, Marin Cilic, on the tournament sidelines.Del Potro has been off the tour since undergoing surgery in March, but had targeted Brisbane as his return. The withdrawal of the 2009 U.S. Open champion also leaves him in doubt for the Australian Open, while he appears unlikely to defend the Sydney International he won last year.Cilic, who has a right shoulder injury, announced his withdrawal Tuesday.Roger Federer, Milos Raonic, Kei Nishikori and defending Lleyton Hewitt are playing in the mens event at Brisbane, while Victoria Azarenka and Sam Stosur are among those in the womens draw.

China New Year stampede kills 35 in Shanghai: city govt

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SHANGHAI (AFP) - A stampede by New Years revellers on Shanghais historic waterfront killed 35 people and injured dozens more, the city government said early Thursday.The crush happened in a crowded square shortly before midnight as people packed the Bund area to welcome the New Year, according to a local government statement.The Bund, renowned for its pre-Chinese revolution architecture, is the former financial district of the countrys commercial hub and now a popular tourist destination, packed with high-end restaurants and expensive boutiques.The cause of the accident was under investigation, the statement said, adding city government leaders had called for every effort to care for the 42 injured.A photo on the website of the Shanghai Daily newspaper showed what appeared to be dead and injured people lying on the ground with crowds still in the background.The injured have been taken to at least three local hospitals, the Shanghai government said in a separate statement.By dawn, there was little evidence of the disaster beyond a lone police van with its lights flashing and rubbish discarded by celebrants the night before.An elderly woman doing her morning exercises on the Bund said: We offer sympathy for the dead and injured.An urban worker sweeping up debris added simply: There is nothing left.Although people have traditionally flocked to the Bund to celebrate the New Year, the district government overseeing the area has more recently hosted a performance to mark the occasion, local media reported.The site was moved to a new location on the Bund for last nights celebration, specifically due to concerns about over-crowding, after nearly 300,000 people turned out last year, the Shanghai Daily newspaper said on its website.The square where the stampede occurred is named for Chen Yi, the first mayor of the city after the Communist Party took power in 1949.Most large gatherings in China are carefully controlled by authorities but the country has seen other incidents in which overcrowding has caused panic and deaths.Last year, 14 people -- some of them children -- were killed and 10 injured in a stampede that broke out as food was being distributed at a mosque in Chinas Ningxia region.Also last year, six students were killed in a stampede at a primary school in Kunming city in the southwest after the accidental blocking of a stairway corridor.The Bund stands on the opposite bank of the Huangpu river from Pudong, the concentration of towering skyscrapers that epitomises Shanghais role at the heart of Chinas economic boom.But despite its rush to modernisation and position among Chinas most advanced cities it has not been immune from accidents and problems with urban management.In November 2010 a fire at a high-rise apartment building left 58 people dead, with some panicked residents attempting desperate jumps to safety or seeking refuge on scaffolding surrounding the structure.The disaster became a focus of public anger over how such an incident could occur in a modern city, which hosted the World Expo the same year.A preliminary investigation said welders accidentally ignited nylon netting around the 28-storey building, and five officials were later jailed, including the district head of construction, who was found guilty of abuse of power and accepting bribes and sentenced to 16 years in prison.Two Shanghai metro trains collided in September 2011, injuring 284 people and prompting fresh accusations that safety had been compromised in Chinas rush to develop its vast transport network.

Police: Rocket kills 26 at Afghan wedding party

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KABUL (AP) - A rocket fired amid fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan soldiers killed at least 26 people at a nearby wedding party Thursday, authorities said, a grim end to a year that saw the end of the 13-year U.S.-led combat mission there.The rocket struck a house in southern Helman provinces Sangin District, where Afghan security forces have been battling insurgents in the six months since U.S. forces withdrew from the area.Police spokesman Fareed Ahmad Obaid said the rocket wounded at least 45 people. Bashir Ahmad Shakir, a provincial council member, said the death toll could be up to 30 killed with as many as 60 wounded.Abdul Haleem, a cousin of the bride who was hosting her wedding, said that nine of his children were missing after the rocket struck his house as guests waited outside for the bride to arrive.Nine children of mine are missing; I just collected body parts, he said. I dont know whether its my children or someone else.Wednesday marked the final day of the U.S. and NATOs combat mission, which began with the invasion that overthrew the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks. Al-Qaida then enjoyed safe haven in Afghanistan, where the Taliban ruled according to its own violent interpretation of Islamic law.Afghanistans own 350,000-member-strong forces officially take responsibility for security starting Thursday. The insurgency has been testing the resolve of the army and police, who officials say are holding their ground even as the number of attacks increases and casualties soar.This year was the deadliest of the war for government forces and civilians, with around 5,000 Afghan soldiers and police killed, officials have said. An estimated 10,000 civilians have been killed or wounded, the highest annual toll since the U.N. started keeping figures in 2008.In much of the south and east, government forces are facing off against the Taliban without the assistance of coalition air support or medical evacuations. They have taken heavy casualties but have thus far prevented the Taliban from seizing large swaths of territory. Interior Ministry spokesman Seddiq Seddiqi said the insurgents had failed to capture even one district.Afghan forces may also receive a boost from warming ties with neighboring Pakistan. After the school massacre in the Pakistani town of Peshawar earlier this month in which more than 140 people were killed, mainly children the two U.S. allies vowed to work together to combat insurgents on both sides of the porous border.President Ashraf Ghani, who took office in September, has said he wants to bring peace to his country after more than 30 years of continuous war. He has bolstered ties with China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as part of an effort to isolate the Taliban and bring them to the negotiating table.First Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum said Wednesday that he had reached an agreement with some 300 Taliban fighters in the northern Jawzjan province to lay down their arms.Fighting continued elsewhere in the country. In the eastern Nangahar province, gunmen shot dead a police officer and two civilians after security forces stopped their car and motorcycle, both of which carried explosives. Provincial police chief Gen. Fazel Ahmad Sherzad said police suspected that they were on their way to attack government offices.In central Uruzgan province, a police officer killed three of his fellow officers and wounded five while they ate dinner Tuesday, spokesman Dost Mohammad Nayab said. The gunman fled after the shooting and authorities had no motive for the attack.

Yemen suicide bomber kills 33 at Shiite celebration

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SANAA (AFP) - A suicide bomber dressed as a woman killed 33 people in central Yemen on Wednesday when he blew himself up at a celebration by Shiite militia supporters, medical and security sources said.Dozens of people were also wounded in the attack in the mainly Sunni city of Ibb, held by the Huthi Shiite militia, the medics said, warning that the death toll was likely to rise.Yemen has been dogged by instability since an uprising forced longtime strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power in 2012, with Huthi rebels and Al-Qaeda seeking to fill the power vacuum.Among those wounded in Wednesdays attack was Ibb governor Yahya al-Aryani, who was attending the Huthi commemoration of the Prophet Mohammeds birthday, a medic said.A security source told AFP the bomber had been wearing a womans black abaya and veil when he detonated his suicide belt.Another bomb was discovered at the entrance to the events venue, the source added.The United States, allied with Yemen in fighting militants, strongly condemns the attack, a State Department spokesman said.We will continue to stand with the government of Yemen and the Yemeni people to counter the shared threat posed by violent extremists, added Jeff Rathke, the spokesman.Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemen branch of the jihadist organisation, has pledged to fight the Huthis, who overran the capital Sanaa unopposed in September and have since advanced into mainly Sunni districts such as Ibb.AQAP military chief Qassem al-Rimi vowed in November to carry out fierce attacks against the Shiite militia, and several deadly bombings targeting Huthis have been claimed by the jihadist group.Al-Qaeda has also carried out a spate of attacks against the security forces from its strongholds in the south and east in recent weeks.In the southern province of Shabwa on Wednesday, unidentified gunmen killed police officer Colonel Mohamed al-Nessi near the provincial capital Ataq before fleeing, a police source said.There was no immediate claim for the shooting but last weekend AQAP claimed an attempt to assassinate a top general in an ambush that killed two soldiers and wounded 11. In a second incident, AQAP said its gunmen opened fire on an army colonel in central Baida city, killing him instantly.And on Tuesday unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed an army officer in the southern port city of Aden.AQAP is considered by the United States to be the global jihadist networks most dangerous branch and its attacks on security forces challenge Yemens longtime role as an ally in Washingtons fight against extremists.Its proximity to oil-rich Saudi Arabia and key shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden have also raised fears that it could become a failed state similar to Somalia.The US slapped sanctions on former president Saleh in November for allegedly supporting the Huthi advance. It also blacklisted two Shiite rebel commanders, Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim and Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi, for engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, or stability of Yemen.

US 'strongly opposes' Palestinian ICC membership

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Wednesday it strongly opposes a request from the Palestinian Authority to join the International Criminal Court, fearing this will further delay peace talks with Israel.It would be counterproductive and would do nothing to further the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a sovereign and independent state, the State Department said.Earlier, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas had signed requests for his authority to join 20 international conventions, including that governing the worlds top criminal court, a step on the road to statehood.Washington supports the Palestinians quest for a state, but sides with its ally Israel insisting that they not take unilateral steps in this direction before reaching a peace deal with their neighbor.It will badly damage the atmosphere with the very people with whom they ultimately need to make peace, the US statement said.As weve said before, the United States continues to strongly oppose actions -- by both parties -- that undermine trust and create doubts about their commitment to a negotiated peace. Our position has not changed. Such actions only push the parties further apart.The Palestinians hope ICC membership will pave the way for war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials for their actions in the occupied territories.The Hague-based court prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Israel has warned that joining the court could also expose Palestinians to prosecution.

Dubai lights up 2015 with light and sound extravaganza

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DUBAI (AFP) - Dubai celebrated the New Year with a light and sound extravaganza at midnight Wednesday at the Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest tower.The 828-metre (2,716-foot) tower was lit up with different-coloured panels as the clock counted down to 2015.Lasers flashed through the skies over Downtown, the chic district surrounding Burj Khalifa, accompanied by music and dancing fountains at the foot of the tower, to the delight of a large crowd.

2015 to be year of prosperous, terror free Pakistan: President, PM

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ISLAMABAD (Online): President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have conveyed their profound good wishes to the nation on commencement of 2015 with the belief that it will augur well for Pakistan.In their message on the advent of New Year, President Mamnoon Hussain and PM Nawaz Sharif expressed the hope that upcoming 2015 will surely bear witness to the fact that we have decisively turned a page in our history and have embarked upon our national journey afresh with the resolve to overcome the divisive hazards of extremism and terrorism. The dawn of 2015 will surely make us candidly reflect on the year gone by with a view to analyze the high points and shortcomings we experienced in our national life. The tidings of the New Year will instill in us the prudence to fine tune tenets of our national existence and imbue them with spirit of tolerance and fortitude.Prime Minister said that he is sure Pakistani nation is resilient enough to make the best of circumstances and make them productive. He said that Pakistan is finally heading towards achieving not too distant goal of social harmony and economic development. “My belief is underpinned by the universally acknowledged fact that Pakistanis have the necessary wherewithal to successfully tread the road leading to prosperity and well being,” he said. He said that the present government is dedicatedly oriented to provide well laid out means for Pakistanis to build upon their well deserved future plans. It is my earnest wish that the good tidings of New Year usher in a groundswell of selfless national unity, emphatic appreciation of national imperatives and amiable understanding of national motives.He resolved to resolutely pursue the national programmes the government has solemnly undertaken and steadfastly vouch to deliver upon all the plans my government stands for. “With the sanguine hope that the nation will make the best of the New Year I wish you all a very Happy New Year” the prime minister concluded.

Dollar ends strong year vs euro, yen

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar strengthened Wednesday, capping a powerful year of gains against other major currencies as the US economy proved to be a bright spot in a dimming global economy.The Dollar Index ended the year 11 percent higher against a basket of rival currencies.The expectation that the Federal Reserve will tighten near-zero interest rates next year, a lure for investors seeking higher returns, marked a sharp contrast with the easing track set out by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan to counter a stalling eurozone and recession in Japan.The impressive rally for the greenback, which really only began around the middle of this year, has been fueled by a divergence in the policy outlook for the Federal Reserve, which is expected to raise US borrowing costs around the middle of 2015, and most other major central banks, that are expected to either remain on hold or ease monetary conditions further in the months ahead, said Omer Esiner, chief market analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange.The prospect of an improving economy and higher borrowing cost has been and should remain a pillar of the dollars broad-based strength.In thin trade Wednesday, on the eve of the New Years holiday, the euro dropped to $1.2097 around 2200 GMT, from $1.2154 at the same time Tuesday, hitting its lowest level since July 2012.Over the year, the euro has tumbled about 12 percent against the greenback, its worst year since 2005 when it shed 12.6 percent.Neal Gilbert of Forex.com noted that the euro fell even though the US jobless claims data showed a larger increase in claims last week than expected.The success of the USD and the failure of the EUR throughout 2014 has been a long running and blatantly obvious story that has dominated the currency world, Gilbert said in a research note.After nearly ascending the 1.40 mountain very early in the year, the EUR/USD has done nothing but taken a beating since.

Oil rout marks steepest annual dive since 2008

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The oil market further weakened Wednesday, closing a year that packed the steepest fall in prices since the 2008 financial crisis as a global supply glut lockstepped with slowing economies.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February delivery fell 85 cents to finish at $53.27 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its lowest close since May 1, 2009.The international benchmark, Brent North Sea crude for February delivery, settled 57 cents lower at $57.33 in London.WTI lost 46 percent of its value this year and Brent was down 48 percent, with most of the freefall happening since June, when prices were above $100.Rising US and Canadian oil production has contributed to ample global supplies at a time of slowing growth in China, the worlds largest energy consumer, and other emerging-market economies, a recession in Japan and a near-stall in the 18-nation eurozone.A decision last month by OPEC, which supplies about a third of the worlds oil, to leave output unchanged despite the price plunge also rattled the market, adding further pressure on prices.And the dollars long-running rally, making greenback-priced oil more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies, has played a role in undermining the market, analysts said.Economic news released in the United States and China echoed the years themes of oversupply and economic slowdowns.Though US crude oil stockpiles fell last week by 1.8 million barrels, that was a negligible drop compared with the prior weeks surge. Supplies in the worlds largest crude consumer remained well above average for this time of year, and were up 6.9 percent from a year ago.US crude production, at more than nine million barrels per day, is at the highest level in more than 30 years.The final reading of HSBCs purchasing managers index for the manufacturing sector in China fell to a seven-month low in December of 49.6, showing a contraction in activity. A reading above 50 indicates growth.James Williams, an energy expert at WTRG Economics, predicted that oil prices could continue fall throughout the first quarter next year.Early spring is the lowest for oil demand seasonally, so prices could continue to fall maybe another $10, but from that point I expect prices to rise, particularly in the second half, depending on the world economy, he said.Daniel Ang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, also pointed to expectations for a price rebound in 2015. He said the global supply glut could likely be alleviated by current low oil prices affecting existing shale oil rigs, causing them to shut off, keeping US crude oil production in check.In 2015, we believe that crude demand would be linked to how China, Japan and the eurozone perform. If we start to see the situation for these countries improve, a reversal from the demand side could happen, Ang added.

Ebola death toll rises to 7,890: WHO

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GENEVA (AFP) - The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in west Africa has risen to 7,890 out of 20,171 cases recorded, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.Since the previous toll published on Monday, the first confirmed case of Ebola has been diagnosed in Britain.Almost all the deaths and cases have been recorded in the three west African countries worst hit by the outbreak: Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.Those apart, six have died in Mali, one in the United States and eight in Nigeria, which was declared Ebola-free in October.Spain and Senegal, which have both been declared free of Ebola, had one case each, but no deaths.- Sierra Leone - Sierra Leone, which has overtaken Liberia as the country with the most infections, counted 9,446 cases and 2,758 deaths on December 28.- Liberia - Liberia, long the hardest-hit country, has seen a clear decrease in transmission over the past month.As of December 28, the country had recorded 8,018 cases and 3,423 deaths.- Guinea - In Guinea, where the outbreak started a year ago, 2,707 Ebola cases and 1,708 deaths were recorded.- Healthcare workers - Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, is spread only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person showing symptoms such as fever or vomiting.People caring for the sick or handling the bodies of people infected with Ebola are especially exposed.As of December 28, a total of 678 healthcare workers were known to have contracted the virus, and 382 of them had died, WHO said.

Shoaib Malik voices World Cup hopes

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KARACHI (AFP) - Discarded former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik Wednesday said he wanted to play in next years World Cup, but needed clarity on his role and must be told what is expected of him.The 32-year-old played the last of his 216 one-day internationals in June 2013, but was included in Pakistans 30-man preliminary squad for the upcoming tournament.Pakistans selection committee is likely to announce the final 15-man squad on January 7 after watching some of the probables in the Pentangular Cup competition, which started in Karachi on Wednesday.Australia and New Zealand co-host the World Cup from February 14 to March 29.Malik said he wanted to play for Pakistan.The World Cup is a big event and every cricketer wants to play in it, he told media. It was portrayed that I dont want to play, I was frustrated over being left out but I always wanted to play.Malik said he is not happy with the selection process.I have a problem with the system because we cricketers want clarity (on selection) and want to know what is expected of us and how many matches we are going to play because it increases confidence when a player knows how many matches he is going to play.He continued: I am of the opinion that players who know the conditions of Australia and New Zealand can play well there.Malik is also due to play for Hobart Hurricanes in Australias ongoing Big Bash Twenty20 league. I am waiting for my visa and if I get it I will leave for Australia, but if I get clarity on my selection I can leave any league for Pakistan.Malik termed Australia, South Africa and India favourites for World Cup.I want to see Pakistan win but lately Pakistans combination is disturbed because of Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez being suspended over illegal bowling action, so in my opinion Australia, South Africa and India are top teams for the mega event, he predicted.

Airstrikes kill 23 militants in North Waziristan

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PESHAWAR (AFP) - At least 23 militants were killed on Wednesday when Pakistani fighter jets bombed their hideouts in the countrys trouble northwest bordering Afghanistan, military said.The attacks also destroyed four militant hideouts in Shawal, in the North Waziristan tribal district, where the military has been mounting an offensive against Taliban strongholds since June. The Pakistan military said in a statement late Wednesday that 23 terrorists were killed and four hideouts were destroyed through effective and precise aerial strikes in Shawal. It was not possible to independently verify the casualties as journalists are banned from visiting the far-flung mountainous area during the ongoing offensive, but a local security official confirmed the airstrikes.The army has intensified its offensive after the massacre of 150 people, 134 of them children, in a school in Peshawar in December, a carnage which Pakistan described as its own mini 9/11 and a game-changer in the fight against extremism.The Pakistani military says it has killed more than 1,700 militants so far in its heavy offensive in the tribal zone, with 126 soldiers having lost their lives.

Posted by IMRAN ALI SOOMRO (DARVESH) at 1/01/2015 08:20:00 AM

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