Dunya TV

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• US condemns Attock terrorist attack
• Bangkok blast toll rises to 21, Hong Kong tourists among dead
• South Africa eye revenge for New Zealand World Cup defeat
• Sri Lanka's ruling party takes narrow vote lead
• US nuclear materials plant closed after explosives inspection
• Andersons return to 5th Test gets boost following return to practice session
• Tennis: Nadal bullish on season-ending success
• Football: Athletic Bilbao defeat Barca to win Spanish Super Cup
• Cook urges England to pile on the misery for Australia
• UN Security Council backs new Syria peace initiative
• Dollar heads higher helped by housing sector sentiment
• Drinking coffee could prevent colon cancer's return: study
• Plant from 130 million years ago is among 'first flowers': study
• Oil prices continue downward slide
• Water from India causes destruction at Ganda Singh

US condemns Attock terrorist attack Posted: WASHINGTON (Dunya News) - The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Punjab Home Minister Colonel Shuja Khanzada’s residence in Attock, which killed 20 including the home minister himself.This was stated by State Department spokesman John Kirby while briefing newsmen in Washington in Monday night.“We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims of Sunday’s violence. Such blatant disregard for human life is unacceptable and contrary to the aspirations of the Pakistani people for a secure, stable, and prosperous nation,” he added.He further said that the United States remains committed to the people of Pakistan and to the Pakistani Government’s efforts to fight terrorism. We support Pakistan’s determination to bring justice to those behind this attack and are prepared to provide assistance, if requested, to government authorities investigating this reprehensible act.

Bangkok blast toll rises to 21, Hong Kong tourists among dead Posted: BANGKOK (AFP) - The death toll from a bomb blast in the Thai capital rose to 21 on Tuesday with 123 wounded, police said, with two Hong Kong tourists among those killed in the attack on a popular religious shrine.The death toll is now 21, police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri told AFP, adding 123 people were wounded.The bomb aimed at killing as many people as possible as the shrine is crowded at around 6 to 7 pm, he said of the Monday evening attack.Authorities said earlier that the blast at the Erawan shrine in downtown Bangkok killed 10 Thais as well as at least one Chinese national and a Filipino citizen. The nationalities of the other people who died were not immediately clear.Hong Kongs immigration department said Tuesday that it had confirmed that two Hong Kong residents deceased in the incident with six others injured and sent to hospital for treatment.Chinas official Xinhua news agency said Monday that two Chinese nationals had died, while the governments of Singapore and Taiwan reported that some of their citizens were injured.The attack drew quick expressions of grief from around the world, with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons office releasing a statement saying he was shocked.

South Africa eye revenge for New Zealand World Cup defeat Posted: CENTURION (AFP) - When it was announced that South Africa and New Zealand would play a one-day international series during the South African winter, the obvious marketing angle was that it would provide a rematch of the dramatic World Cup semi-final between the two teams.New Zealand won the World Cup showdown with a six off the penultimate ball of the match in Auckland in March.The series which starts at SuperSport Park on Wednesday is, however, far from a replay. Both sides are missing key players.New Zealand, in particular, have been hit hard by injuries as well as a player management policy which sees regular captain Brendon McCullum and fast bowler Tim Southee being rested.Despite injuries ruling out Trent Boult, Corey Anderson, Ross Taylor and Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps showed in sharing a Twenty20 series, which ended on Sunday, that they are capable of mounting a strong challenge.After losing the first Twenty20 international in Durban by six wickets, New Zealand bounced back by winning the second game by 32 runs in Centurion on Sunday.Stand-in captain Kane Williamson praised the way the side had turned around their fortunes but warned they would need to improve even further going into a 50-overs series.On the evidence of the T20 games, New Zealand will need bigger contributions from their middle order batsmen after Williamson and Martin Guptill gave them good starts which were not fully capitalised on.Williamson is likely to return to his regular number three spot after opening in the short-form games.South African captain AB de Villiers, meanwhile, bemoaned his sides inability to adapt to an untypical Centurion pitch, which in winter conditions was dry and slower than usual.South Africas bowling will be strengthened by the return of fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander and leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who both missed the T20 games.But they will be without fast bowler Morne Morkel, who will join batsman JP Duminy on paternity leave.New Zealand are currently third on the International Cricket Council one-day rankings list, one point ahead of fourth-placed South Africa.Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat, meanwhile, said the experiment of playing matches in August had been successful so far, with near-capacity crowds attending the T20 matches.The groundsmen in Durban and Centurion were able to prepare good batting surfaces.At high altitude Centurion, the normally bleached winter grass was sprayed with a green dye which could not disguise the dryness of the outfield, making sliding by fielders difficult.

Sri Lanka's ruling party takes narrow vote lead Posted: COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankas ruling party took a narrow lead in parliamentary elections where former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse is attempting to pull off a comeback, early results showed Tuesday.Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes United National Party was leading in 10 electoral districts while Rajapakses United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was ahead in nine, official results showed.The remaining three districts were dominated by a minority Tamil party, officials said, adding that no party was set to secure an absolute majority of 113 seats in the 225-member parliament following Mondays election.Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he expected the release of the final party positions by midday Tuesday, while individual votes garnered by candidates would be known later.Results so far were disappointing for Rajapakse who expressed confidence Monday that he could return to power as Sri Lankas prime minister just months after he was toppled as president.The election commissioner Deshapriya said the vote, called a year ahead of schedule by President Maithripala Sirisena who ousted the veteran leader in January, had been one of the most peaceful in Sri Lankas history.Since his surprise victory over his former mentor, Sirisena has struggled to impose his authority over his UPFA party and was powerless to prevent Rajapakse from standing as one of its candidates.He has threatened to invoke his executive powers to prevent his combative predecessor from becoming prime minister, but Rajapakse had hoped that a strong showing would force Sirisena to back down.

US nuclear materials plant closed after explosives inspection Posted: MIAMI (AFP) - A South Carolina nuclear material processing plant was locked down for several hours Monday after authorities inspected potential explosive residue.Precautions were taken after bomb dogs and electronic scans indicated possible explosive residue on a delivery truck, the Savannah River Site nuclear reservation said in a statement.But an offsite law enforcement investigation has found no explosive residue or device on the truck that was inspected this afternoon at the Savannah River Site, near Aiken, the plant said in a Facebook posting.South Carolina and Georgia law enforcement agencies were assisting site security contractor Centerra.The massive facility, which does waste processing, is owned by the US Department of Energy.

Andersons return to 5th Test gets boost following return to practice session Posted: LONDON (AFP) - England pace bowler James Anderson could feature in the fifth Ashes Test against Australia after returning to practise on Monday. Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, suffered a side strain on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston and was immediately ruled out of the fourth Test, in which the hosts secured the Ashes. The 33-year-old will be assessed on Tuesday and Wednesday before a decision is taken over his potential participation at The Oval.The England camp has made no secret of its ambition to win the fifth and final Test, which begins on Thursday, to ensure a 4-1 series victory and continue the progress made since a dismal World Cup campaign. Anderson, who has taken 10 wickets in the series so far, said at the time of the injury: “It’s a bit sore, I felt something on one of the deliveries.“It could be a number of things. It was on my 33rd birthday, after 12 years of professional cricket – that might have something to do with it. Injuries happen to fast bowlers. I’ve been very fortunate in the last few years that I’ve not had many so you’ve just got to take it on the chin. Hopefully I can come back stronger.”

Tennis: Nadal bullish on season-ending success Posted: CINCINNATI (AFP) - The ever-positive Rafael Nadal remains a total tennis optimist as he begins his final preparation for the US Open, with the Spanish world number eight insisting that he is working constantly turn this season into a success.The 14-times Grand Slam winner is competing this week at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters, which he won in 2013, the last time that he played.After an injury absence which basically took him out of the last half of the 2014 season, the 29-year-old has been fighting all year to make improvements to a ranking which dropped to tenth after he failed to win a tenth Roland Garros title in June.The last part of the season is important. I want to finish feeling better than when I started, said the eighth seed. This is an important week for me.Nadal arrived in the Midwest after losing a Montreal quarter-final to Japans Kei Nishikori, who withdrew from the American tournament with a hip muscle problem which should be right for the US Open starting in a fortnight.I played OK in Montreal, but every week is a different test - a different story. Im working more than ever to change the dynamic, said Nadal.With a two-hour rain interruption slowing a full days schedule Ivo Karlovic still found time to produce the first upset of the week as the Croatian hammered 35 aces in a 6-4, 6-7 (1/7), 6-3 defeat of French 10th seed Gilles Simon.Former top 10 American Mardy Fish began winding up his Cincinnati career with a defeat of Serb Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-2.Fish, who has suffered from a heart-scare problem and full-fledged anxiety attacks, will end his time on court at the US Open after dealing with his worries since 2012.I was a little surprised at my level, I hadnt practised a ton or (practised) particularly well for a little while. I was struggling with my serve, said the winner, 2010 finalist against six-time champion Roger Federer.Fish moved into a second-round challenge with third seed and world number two Andy Murray, who comes to Cincinnati after his Montreal title at the weekend over Novak Djokovic.Hes pretty fantastic so far, hes won a ton of matches, Fish said of the Scot. Hes won more matches than anyone this year, so hell be tough.Australian Bernard Tomic reached the second round over Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-3 while Joao Sousa of Portugal beat Germanys Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.In the womens draw, veteran Venus Williams and young compatriot Coco Vandeweghe both notched wins over Kazakh opposition.The 35-year-old Williams came back after the rain interruption to finish off Zarina Diyas 7-6 (8/6), 6-4., while Vandeweghe beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-2.

Football: Athletic Bilbao defeat Barca to win Spanish Super Cup Posted: MADRID (AFP) - Athletic Bilbao claimed their first trophy in 31 years as they drew 1-1 with 10-man Barcelona to win the Spanish Super Cup 5-1 on aggregate on Monday.Lionel Messi had given the European champions -- who trailed 4-0 from the first leg -- a glimmer of hope with the opener two minutes before half-time.However, any realistic hope Barca had of pulling off a monumental comeback disappeared when Gerard Pique was shown a straight red card for dissent 10 minutes into the second-half.And Aritz Aduriz exploited the space left by the Spanish international defenders dismissal to follow up his hat-trick in the first leg with the crucial away goal midway through the second-half.For us to win a title is the best thing that can happen to us, Aduriz told Spanish TV station Telecinco.Apart from the birth of my daughter this is the happiest day of my life.Defeat ends Barcelonas hopes of matching the club record set by Pep Guardiolas side in 2009 of winning six trophies in a calendar year.They wont have long to wait for a chance at revenge, though, as the two sides square off once more in their opening game of the La Liga season on Sunday in Bilbao.It is a tie of two games and in the first they were clear victors, said Barca captain Andres Iniesta.Today we tried everything. Possibly we needed another goal in the first-half so that they would have more doubts.I think very few teams have won six titles. Very few have won three or four, we will go for the fifth and until December we have an interesting first part of the season ahead of us.Barcelona boss Luis Enrique had made six changes to the side that was thrashed at the new San Mames on Friday with a host of first-team regulars coming back into the side.The hosts started on the front foot as Luis Suarez saw a shot deflected just over before Piques effort came back off the crossbar.Yet, Athletics mass ranks of defence were comfortably keeping Enriques men at bay and the visitors even had a great chance to put the tie to bed when Javier Eraso skipped past Javier Mascherano before firing into the side-netting rather than squaring for Aduriz to apply a simple finish.Barca finally found a way through thanks to a brilliant move as Suarez headed down for Messi who controlled the ball on his chest before sweeping home.Claudio Bravo kept Barcelonas hopes alive early in the second period with saves from Markel Susaeta and Aduriz, but the Chileans good work was undone when Pique was sent-off for something he said to the referees assistant after he failed to flag Aduriz offside.To their credit Barca didnt give up as Pedro Rodriguez, Ivan Rakitic and Suarez all fired off target with fine chances to reduce the deficit to two goals.However, Athletic struck the final blow when Aduriz was given acres of space to latch onto Erasos flick-on and he slotted into an empty net at the second attempt after Bravo had saved his first effort.Both sides ended the game with 10 men as Athletic substitute Kike Sola also saw a straight red for a late challenge on Javier Mascherano.

Cook urges England to pile on the misery for Australia Posted: LONDON (AFP) - Stuart Broad on Monday revealed that England captain Alastair Cook has urged his side to pile on the misery for beleaguered Australia in the final Ashes Test this week.Cooks men wrapped up the Ashes with a victory in the fourth Test that put them 3-1 up in the five-match series.But, ahead of the start of the finale at The Oval on Thursday, England pace bowler Broad said Cook called every England player last Tuesday in a bid to cement the burning desire to complete a 4-1 rout of Australia.Securing Englands biggest Ashes series margin of victory since Mike Brearley led them to a 5-1 success in 1978-79 would be the perfect way to avenge their 5-0 loss down under in 2013-14.Cooky called us all on Tuesday, to say: Lets make sure we turn up knowing that were in a battle and that we want to start again, Because Ive got a burning desire for this to be 4-1, Broad said.Certainly those of us involved in that 5-0 loss (in 2013-14) feel that determination to make this a good week.Australia are ruthless when they get on top. We want that same tag. No one wants us to be an enjoyable team to play against, and we want to hammer that home.I was not surprised that he called because he has been so switched on for the past eight months.We were in the middle of our little week off and he was sat on his farm thinking about it, wanting to make sure everyone was on the money.Cook this week said he considered quitting as skipper during the first Test against the West Indies in April, shortly after being replaced as captain of the one-day side.But he was persuaded to stay and has reaped the rewards during a memorable Ashes series.Broad was quick to salute Cooks influence and especially his ability to end the divide between past and present England players.He believes Cook has bridged the gap that had prohibited ex-England stars handing out hints and tips to the current generation.Broad, whose eight for 15 was the stand-out performance of the Ashes-clinching Nottingham Test, says he had rarely spoken to the likes of Ian Botham during his England career until Cook found a way to get the old guard involved.He (Cook) admitted after Trent Bridge that his stubbornness sometimes got the better of him, Broad said.He has been talking a lot more to ex-players about captaincy and learning from people.I think we went through a period as a team when we wouldnt speak to any of our ex-players and it was like us versus them.This new open theory, started by (former coach Peter) Moores and with (director Andrew) Strauss carrying it on, has helped.Go to (Michael) Vaughan in the morning and say What do you reckon here? He tells you - and that can set your mind at rest.And the way Beefy has been coming over and encouraging people - Id played for six or seven years and never really spoken to Beefy.Now he is coming over to the team and going, Come on, boys, lets get this done today. That gives you a huge lift.

UN Security Council backs new Syria peace initiative Posted: UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday backed a new push for peace talks in Syria in a measure adopted by Damascus ally Russia and the other 14 member states.It was the first time in two years that the council agreed a political statement on Syria and French Deputy Ambassador Alexis Lamek hailed the newfound unity as historic.Venezuela, which has friendly relations with Syria, disassociated itself from parts of the statement, which called for a political transition to end the four-year war.Caracas envoy Rafael Ramirez said the council was setting a very dangerous precedent by supporting a plan that he said violated Syrias right to self-determination.The 16-point statement drafted by France had been under negotiation since UN envoy Staffan de Mistura presented his new approach for peace talks to the council last month.The peace initiative, set to begin in September, would set up four working groups to address safety and protection, counterterrorism, political and legal issues and reconstruction.The adoption came amid a flurry of diplomatic activity by Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Iran to try to advance prospects for ending the war that has left at least 240,000 dead.The council demanded all sides work for an end to the war by launching a Syrian-led political process leading to a political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.The peace process includes the establishment of an inclusive transitional governing body with full executive powers, which shall be formed on the basis of mutual consent while ensuring continuity of governmental institutions.The statement made no specific mention of President Bashar al-Assads future, but Western governments have made clear that a transition would involve his exit from power, at some point in time.The council expressed grave alarm that the Syria crisis has become the largest humanitarian emergency crisis in the world today, with some 12 million Syrians forced to flee their homes.The statement was adopted a day after Syrian government air strikes on a rebel-held town near Damascus killed at least 96 people in one of the bloodiest regime attacks in the war.The French envoy stressed that progress on defining a new government for Syria would bolster the campaign against Islamic State militants who have gained territory in Syria over the past year.We will not defeat Daesh without an organized transition in Syria, said Lamek, using the Arabic name for Islamic State.Russia has recently floated a plan to enlist the Damascus regime in the campaign against Islamic State jihadists but this was rejected by Saudi Arabia, a key member of the US-led coalition fighting IS.The council requested that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon report back to the council on the next phase of consultations led by his envoy within 90 days.

Dollar heads higher helped by housing sector sentiment Posted: NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar headed higher Monday, notching its third straight gain versus the euro, helped by improving confidence in the US housing sector.The greenback rose to $1.1078 per euro, and to 124.41 yen, the latter hit only slightly by Mondays data showing that the Japanese economy contracted 0.4 percent in the second quarter.The dollar, which also improved to $1.5586 per pound, gained strength as the construction sentiment index of the US National Association of Home Builders rose to a new high since the recession ended in 2009. In addition, the separate Empire State Manufacturing Survey, covering business in the New York area, showed an improvement in medium-term expectations for the economy even if the views of current conditions fell.With Europe essentially flat-lining and Asia now experiencing negative year-over-year growth, the US remains the only region in the world that shows any growth at all, said Boris Schlossberg of BK Asset Management.The Chinese yuan remained in a holding pattern at about 6.3949 per dollar, virtually unchanged from Thursday, after the August 10 shock devaluation and the Bank of Chinas announcement it was loosening its controls on the currencys trading range.

Drinking coffee could prevent colon cancer's return: study Posted: MIAMI (AFP) - Drinking four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily may significantly reduce the chance that colon cancer will return in patients who were diagnosed with stage III of the disease, a study said Monday.The study involved about 1,000 patients, all of whom had undergone surgery and chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer.Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston found that the greatest benefit was seen in those who drank four or more cups of coffee a day, for about 460 milligrams of caffeine.These patients were 42 percent less likely to have their cancer return than non-coffee drinkers, and were 33 percent less likely to die from cancer or any other cause, said the study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.Those who drank two to three cups of coffee daily experienced a more modest benefit, while little protection was associated with one cup or less.The researchers found the lowered risks of recurrence and death were specifically tied to the caffeine in coffee rather than other coffee components.Stage III disease means that the colon cancer has been found in the lymph nodes near the original tumor site, but not elsewhere in the body.Lead author Charles Fuchs, director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Dana-Farber, said these patients have about a 35 percent chance of the cancer coming back after treatment.Most recurrences happen within five years of treatment.We found that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of the cancer coming back and a significantly greater survival and chance of a cure, Fuchs said in a statement announcing the studys findings.Other studies have suggested that coffee may have a protective effect against postmenopausal breast cancer, melanoma, liver cancer and advanced prostate cancer.More study is needed to confirm the studys finding of the link between coffee and preventing colon cancers return.If you are a coffee drinker and are being treated for colon cancer, dont stop, Fuchs said. But if youre not a coffee drinker and wondering whether to start, you should first discuss it with your physician.

Plant from 130 million years ago is among 'first flowers': study Posted: MIAMI (AFP) - An ancient plant that grew underwater in what is modern day Europe, had no petals and bore one single seed may have been the worlds first known flowering plant, a study said Monday.More than 1,000 fossils of the plant, called Montsechia vidalii, were pored over for the new study, which seems to oust a Chinese plant that has also been considered among the first.A first flower is technically a myth, like the first human, said paleobotanist David Dilcher, lead author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal.But based on this new analysis, we know now that Montsechia is contemporaneous, if not more ancient, than Archaefructus (sinensis), a similar aquatic plant found in China.Scientists have known about Montsechia vidalii for a long time. Its fossils were first discovered more than a century ago in the limestone deposits of the Iberian Range in central Spain and in the Montsec Range of the Pyrenees.But Dilcher said many of the fossils were misinterpreted, because Montsechia possesses no obvious flower parts, such as petals or nectar-producing structures for attracting insects, and lives out its entire life cycle under water.The plant, which may have looked like seaweed that grew in freshwater, contains a single seed, which is the defining characteristic of a flowering plant, or angiosperm.Dilcher said the seed is borne upside down.The stems and leaf structures of the plants were coaxed from stone by applying hydrochloric acid on a drop-by-drop basis, said the study.The specimens were then examined under a stereomicroscope, light microscope and scanning electron microscope.They date to 125-130 million years ago, around the same time as dinosaurs such as the iguanodon and brachiosaurus roamed the Earth, the study added.The reinterpretation of these fossils provides a fascinating new perspective on a major mystery in plant biology, said Donald Les, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Connecticut, who authored a commentary on the discovery in the same journal. Davids work is truly an important contribution to the continued quest to unravel the evolutionary and ecological events that accompanied the rise of flowering plants to global prominence.

Oil prices continue downward slide Posted: NEW YORK (AFP) - Crude oil prices fell Monday, deepening a long slide as traders expect US production will remain strong, adding to abundant global supplies.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery closed at $41.87 a barrel, down 63 cents from Fridays settlement after a technical modest rebound Friday.In London, Brent North Sea crude for October, the international benchmark, fell 45 cents to $48.74 a barrel in its first day of trade.Oil prices are starting the new week of trading with further losses after ending last week down for the seventh consecutive week -- the longest losing streak since the beginning of the year, said Commerzbank analysts in a research note.The WTI contract has lost more than 30 percent in the past two months, bringing it to the lowest level in about six and a half years.WTI was under pressure after Baker Hughes data showed Friday that the number of rigs drilling for US oil increased last week, the sixth rise in seven weeks.Phil Flynn of Price Futures Group said the increase in the rig count spurred a fear that US production isnt going to fall amid high output, putting downward pressure on prices.Ted Sloup of iiTrader.com said the WTI trading session had been expected to have more fireworks at the expiration of the September contract, but its actually been very quiet.Sloup said the market has more or less stalled around $42 a barrel. Theres a nice wall of support in a market that he called way oversold.The conditions are there for a big rally but you cant discount the fact that this market is extremely bearish, he added.Tim Evans of Citi Futures noted that a firmer US dollar, after Japan reported Monday that its economy contracted in the second quarter, may have contributed to the weight on the market.A stronger greenback makes dollar-priced crude oil relatively more expensive, tending to dampen demand.

Water from India causes destruction at Ganda Singh Posted: KASUR (Dunya News) – Height of water in Sutlej River has reached 20 feet on Monday as flood water enters villages. Thousands of acres have flooded under water, reported Dunya News on Monday.61 thousand cusec rally has come passed through Ganda Singh. Water has passed through villages of Nagar, Rang Wala, Ratnay Wala Thati, Basti Bhanga, Basti Qeema Wala and Kamalpura along with various others.People have started helping themselves as no government aid is visible. District government has established a relief camp at Talwar post.In Khanpur dam, water levels have risen dangerously high at 9 thousand cusec feet. Spillway has been opened to allow the excess water to pass.Medium- level flood has come in Kalabagh, Chasma and Taunsa areas.

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