Dunya TV

---

• Smoking bad for pets: study
• Athletics: Former Olympic long jump champion dies
• Twitter acts to curb 'abusive,' 'hateful' content
• Tokyo stocks open higher on oil, Wall St gains
• Football: Kompany blow as Man City frustrated by Leicester
• US general: More troops may be needed in Afghanistan
• Hafizabad: Truck-van collision leaves two dead, three injured
• IS leader linked to Paris attacks 'mastermind' killed in Syria
• Iraq PM visits newly reconquered Ramadi
• Iranian navy test fires rockets near US carrier
• US spying on Netanyahu communications: report
• Four-way phone talks on Ukraine crisis today: Kiev
• Karachi: Families protest as doctors' alleged negligence claims 2 lives
• Football: Leicester frustrate title rivals Man City
• Football: FIFA ex-VP 'took $50,000 a month in bribes'

Smoking bad for pets: study Posted: LONDON (AFP) - Smoking is bad for pets too, the University of Glasgow said Tuesday, citing an ongoing study into the effects of second-hand smoke on dogs and cats.Research under way at the Scottish institution has found that pets living in a smoky environment have a higher risk of health problems including some animal cancers, cell damage and weight gain.Pet owners often do not think about the impact that smoking could have on their pets, said Clare Knottenbelt, professor of small animal medicine and oncology.Our findings show that exposure to smoke in the home is having a direct impact on pets.It risks ongoing cell damage, increasing weight gain after castration and has previously been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers.While dogs can take in significant amounts of smoke, the university study shows cats are even more affected.This may be due to the extensive self-grooming that cats do, as this would increase the amount of smoke (chemicals) taken in to the body, said Knottenbelt.The research so far has found that while outdoor access made little difference for cats, smoking away from them did reduce the amount taken into the body.It has found that when smokers light up fewer than 10 times a day, nicotine levels dropped significantly, but were nonetheless noticeably higher than in cats from non-smoking homes.An examination of the testicles of castrated dogs found that a gene, which acts as a marker of cell damage, was higher in dogs living in smoking homes.Dogs living with a smoker also gained more weight after neutering.The finished research paper is expected to be published in 2016.

Athletics: Former Olympic long jump champion dies Posted: WARSAW (AFP) - Former Olympic long jump champion Elzbieta Krzesinska, winner of gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games, has died at the age of 81 years, the Polish Athletics Federation announced on Tuesday.Born in Warsaw, Krzesinska set a world record in Budapest in 1956 with a jump of 6.35m. She took the Olympic gold in Melbourne that year with the same mark.Four years later at the Rome Olympics she took silver behind Soviet athlete Vera Krepkina with a jump of 6.27 m.She also won two European Championships medals.A dentist by profession, Krzesinska lived in the United States for two decades before returning to her native Poland in 2001.

Twitter acts to curb 'abusive,' 'hateful' content Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - Twitter said Tuesday it was take new steps to stem abusive behavior and hateful conduct on the global messaging platform.The move comes with social networks under pressure from the US and other governments following attacks in Paris and California to do more to weed out those plotting violence.We believe that protection from abuse and harassment is a vital part of empowering people to freely express themselves on Twitter, said Twitters director for online trust and safety, Megan Cristina.Today, as part of our continued efforts to combat abuse, were updating the Twitter Rules to clarify what we consider to be abusive behavior and hateful conduct. The updated language emphasizes that Twitter will not tolerate behavior intended to harass, intimidate, or use fear to silence another users voice.The new rules say Twitter users may not make threats of violence or promote violence, including threatening or promoting terrorism and may not incite or engage in the targeted abuse or harassment of others.The update also states that users may not promote violence against or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease.Twitter said it would ban accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards others on the basis of these categories and would also suspend multiple accounts created to evade temporary or permanent suspension.US and European officials have been pressing social media to do more following deadly attacks over the past few weeks in Paris and southern California which have been linked to supporters of the Islamic State organization.A White House statement earlier this month called for a dialogue with Silicon Valley and others on the subject, saying more should be done when the use of social medial crosses the line between communication and active terrorist plotting.The European Commission has also called for dialogue with the major social media networks. And France passed emergency measures that could shut down websites or social media accounts which encourage terrorist actions.Social media groups say they already do what they can to avoid being used to spread hate and violence, but warn that any legislation requiring them to filter or report improper activity could be counterproductive.

Tokyo stocks open higher on oil, Wall St gains Posted: TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo stocks started the years final trading session on a positive note Wednesday, following a strong lead from Wall Street and after a rise in oil prices.The benchmark Nikkei 225 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 0.47 percent, or 88.60 points, to 19,070.83 in opening deals, while the broader Topix index of all first-section shares climbed 0.45 percent, or 6.89 points, to 1,550.28. Japanese financial markets will be closed on Thursday for a public holiday.

Football: Kompany blow as Man City frustrated by Leicester Posted: LEICESTER (AFP) - Manchester City could be without captain Vincent Kompany for up to four weeks with the calf injury that kept him out of Tuesdays goalless draw at Leicester.Manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed that the Belgian centre-back faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines after limping off during the 4-1 Boxing Day win against Sunderland.Kompany had made his comeback as a substitute against the Black Cats after six weeks out with another calf injury and he watched the draw with the Foxes from the stands at the King Power Stadium.Vincent has an injury, a second degree of his calf, Pellegrini said.Its not the same injury, the same calf but in a different part. I am not a doctor but normally a muscle injury of less than three or four weeks is very difficult, especially in the calf.We hope that he can recover as soon as he can but its very important until we solve this to defend the way we did in this game.Pellegrinis side moved to within three points of leaders Arsenal with a point at Leicester while the home side went level on points with the Gunners at the seasons halfway point.But Manchester City are now without a win in six away games in the Premier League - a record that has prevented them building fully on their flying start to the season.They dominated long spells of the first half against Leicester but were unable to find a goal and found themselves forced back by the home side after the break.Pellegrini said: I dont divide games that we play into home and away.We have a season and its important to have the amount of points you need to win the title.We need to win but we are the best team at home.In the second half of the season we will keep improving and if you ask me if Im happy, I say yes because we are near the top of the table.We had more possession and attempts than Leicester and did more to win the game, but if you cant win its important not to lose.We were very solid and defended well against a difficult team.Im not happy but Im not disappointed either because we played well but didnt score.- Unbelievable -==================Leicester will end 2015 with a share of the Premier League lead after entering the year at the bottom of the table.They are just one point away from manager Claudio Ranieris initial target of 40 points with their supporters beginning to dream of a genuine title challenge.The Italian said: What we are doing is unbelievable. The first half of the season is magnificent and I dont have words to say how happy I am.The Premier League this season is strange.The bigger teams should be able to stay away from us but we are there and we would love to stay there.I know its not our position but we will fight for it.Were the basement and the other teams are a villa with a swimming pool. Its not easy for us but we want to fight with everybody.Its a miracle what were doing. Id love this to continue but its not easy. I can only say well done to our players and our fans are unbelievable, they support us and they push us.2015 was fantastic for Leicester and I hope 2016 can be better.

US general: More troops may be needed in Afghanistan Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - The top US and NATO military commander in Afghanistan may seek additional American troops to help local forces as they struggle to contain the Taliban insurgency, USA Today reported Tuesday.General John Campbells interview with the newspaper comes as the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated in the second half of 2015, with an increase in insurgent attacks and higher casualties among both Taliban and national forces.Already, President Barack Obama has backtracked on a pledge to pull out all but 1,000 troops, and in October he announced that 9,800 US forces would remain in Afghanistan until the end of 2016.Campbell told USA today he would ask the Obama administration to keep that higher number of troops in country as long as possible and suggested he might call for more US personnel.If I dont believe that we can accomplish the train, advise and assist and the (counter-terrorism) missions, then I owe it to the senior leadership to come back and say, Heres what I need. If thats more people, its more people, Campbell told the newspaper.The 9,800 US troops are scheduled to be drawn down to 5,500 by January 1, 2017.My intent would be to keep as much as I could, for as long as I could, Campbell said.This month marks a year since the US and NATO-led mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan operation, with allied nations assisting in training and equipping local forces to tackle Taliban and other groups.The Taliban have already dealt some stinging blows to Afghan forces, including a short-lived takeover of the northern city of Kunduz.

Hafizabad: Truck-van collision leaves two dead, three injured Posted: HAFIZABAD (Dunya News) – A collision between a passenger van and a truck in Hafizabad on early Wednesday morning killed at least two people while three others sustained injuries, Dunya News reported.According to details a speeding van collided with a truck near Vanke Tarrar village in the outskirts of Hafizabad, killing two people on the spot and injuring three others.Rescue teams reached the spot after the accident and shifted the dead and injured to Jalalpur Bhattian Hospital.

IS leader linked to Paris attacks 'mastermind' killed in Syria Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - An Islamic State leader with direct ties to the alleged mastermind of the Paris attacks was among 10 of the groups higher-ups killed in Syria and Iraq this month, the Pentagon said Tuesday.The US military says such strikes are helping to weaken the jihadist group, which captured large parts of Iraq and Syria last year but has recently seen significant setbacks including this weeks loss of Ramadi in Iraq.Baghdad-based US military spokesman Colonel Steve Warren told reporters that French national Charaffe el Mouadan was killed in a US-led coalition air strike on December 24. Mouadan had been plotting further attacks against the West, Warren said, without giving additional details.He was a Syrian-based ISIL member with a direct link to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the Paris attacks cell leader, Warren said in a video call, using an alternative acronym for the IS group.Abaaoud was killed in a police raid in northern Paris five days after the November 13 attacks that left 130 people dead and hundreds more wounded in a series of coordinated suicide attacks and shootings across the French capital.A French law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP there was no immediate evidence showing Mouadan was involved in the Paris attacks.But the official said Mouadan had been close to Samy Amimour, one of the suicide bombers who attacked the Bataclan music venue.Mouadan, 26, was the son of Morocco-born parents and the last of eight children. He grew up in the Paris suburbs, and was arrested in October 2012 while preparing to leave with Amimour and a third man, Samir Bouabout, for either Yemen or Afghanistan, a source close to the investigation told AFP.Though the men faced criminal charges, they were nonetheless set free, and within a year had found their way to Syria.The source said a witness at the Bataclan heard one of the attackers ask whether a fellow assailant was going to call a certain Souleymane. Souleymane was the name Mouadan used on Twitter and in Syria, but its a common name and French investigators arent sure whether the attacker was referring to Mouadan.The United States has since August 2014 led an international coalition attacking the IS group in Iraq and Syria. France started bombing Syria in the wake of the Paris attacks, but Warren would not say if France was involved in the strike against Mouadan.Among the other leaders killed this month was Abdel Kader Hakim, an external operations facilitator who was killed in Mosul, Iraq on December 26. Warren said Hakim was a veteran fighter and forgery specialist who had links to the Paris attack network, but he did not give additional details. His death removes an important facilitator with many connections in Europe, Warren said.And on December 10, Siful Haque Sujan, a Bangladeshi man who was educated in Britain and was allegedly an IS hacker, was killed near the IS stronghold of Raqa in Syria.After months of preparations, the Iraqi military declared the city of Ramadi liberated from the IS group on Monday after clinching a landmark victory against the jihadists.Warren said that part of the success in Ramadi and other areas was due to the killing of IS leaders.Were striking at the head of this snake, he said, while cautioning that its still got fangs.The Pentagon listed the other slain IS leaders as: -- Rawand Dilsher Taher, an external operations facilitator, who was killed near Raqa.-- Khalil Ahmad Ali al-Wais, the IS emir of Kirkuk province in Iraq. -- Abu Anas, a roadside bomb expert who was killed near Kirkuk. -- Yunis Khalash, ISs deputy financial emir in Mosul.-- Mithaq Najim, ISs deputy emir in Kirkuk Province.-- Akram Muhammad Saad Faris, an IS commander and executioner, in Tal Afar, Iraq.-- Tashin al-Hayali, an external operations facilitator, who was killed near Mosul in Iraq.

Iraq PM visits newly reconquered Ramadi Posted: RAMADI (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday visited Ramadi, a day after federal forces announced the liberation of the city from the Islamic State group, clinching a landmark victory.Abadi arrived by helicopter in the battle-scarred city, which lies around 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Baghdad and is the capital of the province of Anbar, an AFP correspondent reported.The premier vowed Monday, after counter-terrorism forces raised the flag above the key government complex in Ramadi, to rid the whole country of IS by the end of 2016.It is customary for the premier to visit newly reconquered cities but he was likely to feel particularly vindicated by the victory in Ramadi, which government forces had lost in May.Abadi was criticised at home for not resorting to the powerful Tehran-backed Shiite militia groups that played a key role in retaking other cities such as Tikrit and Baiji and instead coordinating with the US-led coalition.

Iranian navy test fires rockets near US carrier Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Iranian navy test fired several rockets near three Western warships including the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier last week, a US military official said Tuesday.Though the rockets were not fired toward any ship, their proximity to the warships -- and several commercial vessels -- sparked concern.We look at this firing so close to the ships as highly provocative, said the military official, who was not immediately authorized to be named.The official confirmed details of an NBC News report that said one rocket came within about 1,500 yards (meters) of the USS Truman as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.A French frigate and the USS Bulkeley destroyer were also in the area.The incident took place on December 26, shortly after the Iranian navy had announced via radio it was about to conduct a live-fire exercise and warned ships to steer clear.The official said the unguided rockets were fired from an Iranian navy fast inshore attack craft that was in Omani waters. The Western vessels did not need to take evasive action, the official said.

US spying on Netanyahu communications: report Posted: WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States continues to spy on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus communications despite promising to curtail the hacking of its allies, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.Contacted by AFP, the White House did not deny the report, which cites several serving and former US officials, but stressed the importance of its ongoing close ties with Israel.The Israeli embassy refused to comment.Two years ago, after rogue intelligence contractor Edward Snowden revealed the vast extent of the National Security Agencys online surveillance, President Barack Obama promised to limit spying on US allies.Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel had been embarrassed by the revelation that her cellphone had been monitored and other allies expressed private concerns about the breadth of NSA monitoring.But, according to Journal report, Obama decided there was a compelling national security purpose in continuing to monitor some leaders, including Netanyahu and Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The US administration decided not to remove or disable the cyber-implants it had secreted on foreign communications systems, as they would be hard to replace.Instead, the report says, Obama ordered that some of the hacked systems used by close allies would not be routinely monitored by the NSA, while others would continue to be mined for intel.Going dark on Bibi? Of course we wouldnt do that, one senior US official told the Journal, speaking on condition of anonymity.In Netanyahus case, Washington was concerned that Israel was itself monitoring US negotiations with Iran and might try to derail the effort to reach a deal on Tehrans nuclear program.

Four-way phone talks on Ukraine crisis today: Kiev Posted: KIEV (AFP) - The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France will hold a conference call Wednesday to assess implementation of a peace accord in pro-Russian eastern Ukraine, the government in Kiev said Tuesday.The phone call will bring together Ukrainian, Russian and French presidents Petro Poroshenko, Vladimir Putin and Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.Poroshenko conferred with Merkel on Tuesday to coordinate positions, his office said in a statement.The two also discussed the implementation status of the Minsk agreement, a peace deal brokered in the Belarussian capital by France and Germany with Ukraine and Russia, it said.Poroshenkos office also said pro-Russian rebels increasingly violate the truce and engage in provocations in an industrial region approximately the size of Wales that is home to about 3.5 million people and the centre of the splintered nations coal and steel wealth.The German chancellory did not confirm Tuesdays phone conversation between Kiev and Berlin, but Foreign Minister Walter Steinmeier urged the two fighting sides to respect the ceasefire in the conflict zones, in the interests of the people. His ministry said in a statement that many important questions remain unanswered, adding that in the coming year we will continue to support with all of our strength the implementation of the Minsk measures. Last week Ukraine and pro-Russian insurgents reached a New Year truce agreement in another effort to stop the violence in the war-scarred ex-Soviet state. A September 1 truce agreement significantly calmed deadly exchanges of artillery and missile fire along a 30-kilometre-wide (19-mile-wide) buffer zone separating rebel-run territory from the rest of Ukraine.But a new upsurge in violence that began two weeks ago threatened the September deal.The Minsk process will continue in 2016 and will hopefully be better than this year, Oleksandr Turchynov, the head of Ukraines Security and Defence Council, said Tuesday. The United Nations estimates that more than 9,000 people -- most of them civilians -- have died since the rebel revolt began in April 2014.

Karachi: Families protest as doctors' alleged negligence claims 2 lives Posted: KARACHI (Dunya News) – Families of patients severely protested against doctors in Karachi’s Civil hospital as alleged negligence by the medical experts claimed the lives of 2 patients.According to the details, 18 year old Danish and 50 year old Amina were brought to the emergency room of the hospital, where both patients expired during treatment.Families of the deceased protested that their loved ones lost their lives due to administration of a wrong injection and apparent negligence of the doctors.The families of the departed severely demonstrated against the doctors and administration of the hospital.Rangers arrived at the scene and arranged a discussion between the families and the administration. Relatives of the deceased patients stopped the demonstrations after assurance by the Rangers of looking into the matter.Administration of the hospital refuted the families’ claims and said that the patients were given immediate treatment and their deaths were not out of negligence.

Football: Leicester frustrate title rivals Man City Posted: LEICESTER (AFP) - Manchester City were frustrated again on the road as Leicester bounced back from defeat at Liverpool with a 0-0 draw that maintained their surprise Premier League title challenge.Leicester had to withstand a barrage of first-half pressure from their visitors but they held firm for the point that took them level with Arsenal at the top of the table.The Foxes grew in confidence after half-time and could have snatched another major scalp in their extraordinary season.Manchester City are without a win in six Premier League away games but boss Manuel Pellegrini will take heart from a dominant performance before half-time.Leicester abandoned their normal 4-4-2 system and started with Gokhan Inler as an extra midfielder alongside NGolo Kante and the returning Danny Drinkwater, who was back from a hamstring injury.Shinji Okazaki and Andy King were the men to make way while City brought back Sergio Aguero in place of Wilfried Bony.The visitors made all of the early running and exploited their hosts repeatedly down the flanks.Pellegrinis men wasted several decent crossing opportunities before Leicester almost struck a blow against the run of play.Inler was fouled 25 yards from goal and Christian Fuchs free-kick was headed over by Robert Huth.But Manchester City were the more likely scorers and the should have made the breakthrough when Raheem Sterling burst down the right and squared for Kevin De Bruyne.He hit a firm shot but it was pushed away solidly by Kasper Schmeichel in the home goal.Leicester had been pinned back in their own half with striker Jamie Vardy isolated for lengthy spells.But Riyad Mahrez, his goalscoring partner in crime, nearly made the most of a slip by Nicolas Otamendi and tried a curling shot from an angle that dipped just over.Manchester City came again, however, and Schmeichel came to the rescue once more when he pushed away a decent shot from Sterling.The pair were engaged in a personal battle and Schmeichel succeeded again on 32 minutes when he pushed a left-footed effort by Sterling over the bar.After withstanding waves of pressure, Leicester should twice have led in the 40th minute.First Fuchs cross from the left eluded Marc Albrighton at the far post by inches.Then Fernandinho gifted possession to Jamie Vardy, who exchanged passes with Drinkwater on the edge of the box before blasting over.Aguero should have given the visitors the lead a minute into the second half when he arrived at the near post to meet a De Bruyne cross.But Leicester, who had squandered possession cheaply, were reprieved when the Argentine sent a cheeky chip over the crossbar.Albrighton sent a shot into the side netting from a tough angle after a smart pass by Mahrez as Ranieris men grew in confidence.But they almost fell behind when Otamendi met a corner from De Bruyne with a firm header that forced Schmeichel into another good save.With momentum behind them, Leicester sent on Leonardo Ulloa for Inler as they went on the attack.It almost paid off instantly as Ulloas decoy run allowed Vardy to collect Drinkwaters pass, but he shot straight at Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal.Late on Hart had to make a good, flying save to keep out a thunderous shot from Fuchs following a short corner by the Foxes.

Football: FIFA ex-VP 'took $50,000 a month in bribes' Posted: MONTEVIDEO (AFP) - Fallen FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo received $50,000 a month in improper payments from sports marketing companies, authorities in his native Uruguay alleged Tuesday in an indictment.The 83-year-old ex-football boss, one of seven top FIFA officials arrested at a Zurich luxury hotel in May, received hefty sums each month to ensure two firms retained their exclusive rights to various South American tournaments, said the indictment published by a Uruguayan court.Figueredo, who was extradited from Switzerland to Uruguay last week, faces charges of fraud and money laundering, and is currently in jail pending trial.Detailing their case against him, prosecutors said records showed Figueredo received not only a monthly salary of $40,000 as president of South American football confederation CONMEBOL, but also $50,000 a month in bribes, which he invested in Uruguayan real estate.The indictment said the sources of the illicit cash included Argentine firms Full Play and Torneos y Competencias, both of which are in the cross-hairs of the US investigation that unleashed the corruption scandal roiling world football.Figueredo used ploys and deceit to the detriment of Uruguayan clubs and professional footballers, said the indictment.These ploys aimed to maintain the status quo that had reigned for years at CONMEBOL and which resulted in avoiding new offers and/or companies for the sale of television rights to the different tournaments.Figueredo faces two to 15 years in prison if convicted.The head of the Uruguayan Football Association from 1997 to 2006, Figueredo became CONMEBOL president in 2013.CONMEBOLs last three presidents have all been arrested in the scandal, plunging the South American confederation into crisis.In all, 25 current or former top football officials have been indicted in the US investigation, leaving FIFAs reputation in tatters.The world football governing body banned disgraced president Sepp Blatter last week for eight years over ethics violations.

You are subscribed to email updates from Dunya TV. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States