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Friday, January 24, 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Gas pipeline blown up in Pirkoh

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DERA BUGTI (Dunya News) - Unidentified miscreants blew up a 16-inch diameter gas pipeline in Pirkoh area near Dera Bugti on Friday.The explosion suspended gas supply to a nearby gas field. Police have launched investigation.

Kidnappers seize Egypt diplomat in Libya: ministry

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TRIPOLI (AFP) - Kidnappers seized an Egyptian diplomat in the Libyan capital Tripoli on Friday, Libya's foreign ministry said. The diplomat was snatched from his house in Tripoli by an unknown group, Libyan foreign ministry spokesman Said Lassoued told AFP. Lassoued said Libyan authorities were making efforts to find the diplomat, adding reinforced security measures have been put in place around the Egyptian embassy. Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty also confirmed the report, saying an administrative adviser was kidnapped. The Egyptian embassy is in contact with the Libyan authorities, he added. A source in the mission in Tripoli told AFP that the man who was kidnapped was just an official with the embassy. He is not really a diplomat, even though he has a diplomatic passport, the source said on condition of anonymity.Meanwhile, a security official in the Libyan capital would not rule out that the kidnapping was a response to the arrest on Friday of a prominent leader of a group of ex-rebels in Egypt. Shaaban Hadeia, head of the Operations Centre of Libya's Thuwar (revolutionaries), unofficially linked to Libya's defence ministry, was arrested on Friday in the city of Alexandria on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, the source added. The presidency of Libya's parliament on Friday gave instructions to Libya's ambassador in Cairo to prepare for the immediate release of Hadeia. It also demanded Egypt explain his arrest.Since the fall of Kadhafi's regime in October 2011, Libyan authorities have shown themselves incapable of restoring order and security in the country, where deadly violence is now a common occurrence.Dozens of militia groups formed by notable ex-rebels operate outside of their control and impose their own rules in parts of the country.The situation is especially dire in the east of the country, in the cities of Derna and Benghazi, which have become bastions of radical Islamists who are accused of being behind dozens of murders and attacks targeting Western interests and the Libyan armed forces.Two Italians working for a public construction company were kidnapped last week in the east of the country. A South Korean trade representative was also released by Libyan security forces on Wednesday, three days after he was abducted by armed men in Tripoli.

Syria warring sides agree to meet in same room: UN mediator

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GENEVA (AFP) - Syria's regime and opposition have agreed to meet together in the same room for peace talks in Geneva on Saturday, UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said.I met the delegations of the opposition and the government separately yesterday (Thursday) and again today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) we expect, we have agreed, that we will meet in the same room, Brahimi told journalists.Pulled together by the United Nations, Russia and the United States, delegations from President Bashar al-Assad's regime and the opposition had been due to sit down early Friday at UN headquarters in Geneva for their first face-to-face talks.But Brahimi was unable to convince them to sit together, after the opposition insisted the regime must be prepared to discuss Assad leaving power.We knew that it was going to be difficult, complicated, Brahimi said. We never expected this to be easy -- I think the two parties understand what is at stake.The regime has threatened to withdraw from the talks should serious sessions fail to take place on Saturday, but Brahimi appeared confident no one would be immediately walking away from the talks.Both parties are going to be here tomorrow and they will be meeting. Nobody will be leaving on Saturday and nobody will be leaving on Sunday, he said, stressing that the sides had absolutely agreed to talk face-to-face. We hope that it will be a good beginning and that we will continue until the end of next week, he said, adding that at some point the parties would likely take a break from the discussions for a few days before continuing.Brahimi said the talks so far had been encouraging but said negotiations on concrete issues had not yet begun.We have not discussed the core matters yet. We hope that both parties will give concessions that will be to the benefit of the process, he said.He said both sides had agreed that the negotiations would be based on an agreement reached at the Geneva I peace conference in 2012, but acknowledged that there were some differences on the interpretation of some of its items of the document.Among the many things we hope to be able to achieve is to clarify the ambiguity on those points, he said.The Geneva I agreement calls for the creation of a transitional governing body, but it does not specifically spell out Assad's future role or lack thereof.The opposition arrived in Switzerland with a sole aim -- toppling Assad -- while the regime says any talk of removing the Syrian leader is a red line it will not cross.The regime has also stressed the Geneva communique's call to end to the violence in Syria, maintaining that the accord's main focus is reining in terrorism, something it accuses the opposition and its international backers of promoting.

Kerry defends US foreign policy as 'more engaged than ever'

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DAVOS (AFP) - Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday hit back at criticism that the United States was retreating from the Middle East and the rest of the world.Far from disengaging, America is proud to be more engaged than ever, and, I believe, is playing as critical a role as ever in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity, and stability, he told a gathering of political and business leaders in Switzerland.Kerry highlighted US efforts to kickstart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, a push to rid Syria of its chemical weapons and a landmark deal with Iran to rein in its nuclear program.Intensive, creative and strong diplomacy requires cooperation -- and that is exactly why the United States is so engaged in the Middle East and around the world, and why we will stay so, the top US diplomat told the World Economic Forum meeting in the mountain town of Davos.As our friends and partners take courageous steps forward, they can be assured that President Obama and his administration will remain engaged for the long haul. But we will also confront these challenges with the urgency that they deserve. We dare not -- and I can assure you we will not -- miss this moment.Amid turbulence and upheaval across many Arab countries, including the war in Syria, the US administrations foreign policy in the Middle East has been heavily criticised at home and by key Gulf allies for lacking focus.

Tennis: China's Li guns for second Grand Slam title

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - China's Li Na guns for her second Grand Slam title and her first in three Australian Open finals Saturday against a player who is in some of the best form of her life.The fourth seed, who became Asia's first Grand Slam winner when she was crowned French Open champion in 2011, made the decider at Melbourne Park in 2011 and 2013, but lost both times.She is determined to go one better against 20th-seeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.I really wish I can win the title at the Australian Open, said Li, who lost to Kim Clijsters in her first Melbourne final and Victoria Azarenka last year.I think I'm ready. Same as her. I think both should be ready. After six matches, everyone has more confidence to prepare for the final.However, Li's bitter experience of already losing twice means she is taking nothing for granted.While the world number four is the clear favourite against the Slovak, who is 20 places lower in the rankings, she knows anything can happen on the day.With me and Dominika, it's 50/50. Everyone has a chance to win the title. You come to the court, just play, don't think too much.Li was a set up before losing to Clijsters in 2011, and last year she was also ahead against Azarenka but rolled her ankle twice, banging her head hard on the court the second time. In Cibulkova, nicknamed the pocket rocket, she comes up against a player who has used her power off the ground and relentless running to scurry through the draw, dropping just one set.En route she has accounted for the third, fifth, and 11th seeds in Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanksa and Simona Halep. In contrast, Li has had a relatively easy run, meeting two qualifiers and no one seeded better than 22.Li, 31, takes far more experience into the match, while Cibulkova, 24, is in her first Grand Slam decider.The Chinese star is also a crowd favourite due to both her dogged tennis and impish humour. She rose to stardom by winning the 2011 French Open, becoming Asia's first Grand Slam singles champion. Cibulkova is also aiming to write her name in the history books as the first Slovak Grand Slam singles winner, and said the key was to have the belief that she can go all the way.You need to be 100 percent. You need to be 100 percent sure you can do it. Yes, I am (sure). Even if it turns out a different way, now I know I can do it, she said.If I think of it like that, it's a final, it's big pressure. I want to enjoy it on the court. I don't want to suffer on the court, that's what I want to do.She added: It's going to be the final of a Grand Slam, so it's going to be a pretty big match. At the end of a Grand Slam, everything counts. So I think it's going to be a fight for every ball.Cibulkova, at five feet three inches (1.61m) the smallest player in the top 50, will need to overcome nerves in her first major final, as well being face-to-face with a player she has admired for years.Li is a great player, someone I really looked up to when I was a junior and I just want to go out there and enjoy it, she said.

Football: Podolski double sends Arsenal into FA Cup last 16

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LONDON (AFP) - Lukas Podolski struck twice as Arsenal eased into the FA Cup fifth round with a comfortable 4-0 victory over League One side Coventry at the Emirates Stadium on Friday.With 54 league places separating the two clubs, an upset was unlikely and late goals from substitutes Olivier Giroud -- his 13th of the season -- and Santi Cazorla confirmed Arsenal's superiority.Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had spoken of his determination to add to his haul of four FA Cup successes in the build-up to the game.Arsenal's last triumph in the competition came in 2005 when they beat Manchester United in the final, the last time the north London club won silverware of note.And Wenger's intention to avoid any risk of a shock was reflected in his team selection with Germany's Mesut Ozil, the club's record signing, included in a strong starting line-up.It soon became clear the Premier League leaders would prove too hot to handle for their third tier opponents.While the Gunners have spent much of the campaign fending off challengers at the head of the top flight, Coventry started the season with a 10-point penalty after falling into administration and forced to play their home games at Northampton Town, 31 miles away.The way they have overcome the odds to climb to within 10 points off the League One play-offs has drawn praise for the efforts of the players and manager Steven Pressley.But while this meeting provided the 1987 FA Cup winners with a taste of what life used to be like before the club's decline, it was never going to deliver a place in the next round.Arsenal dominated from the opening moments, moving the ball around freely and giving a clear signal this would be a long evening for the visitors.Jack Wilshere had already fired wide and Podolski missed a glaring opportunity by firing over from six yards before the German found the target to give Arsenal a 13th minute lead.This time the forward showed much more composure, collecting a pass from Ozil and rounding Coventry goalkeeper Joe Murphy before slotting home left-footed.The visitors' response was impressive with skipper Carl Baker drawing a fine save from Lukas Fabianski with a long range effort four minutes later.But it was largely one-way traffic and there was little surprise when the Gunners doubled their lead in the 28th minute.Serge Gnabry whipped in a corner from the left towards Nicklas Bendtner, who was allowed to flick on towards the unmarked Podolski who headed home from close range.The concern for Coventry was that they would find themselves on the end of a rout, but Pressley's side managed to see out the remainder of the half without conceding again.Coventry returned for the second half showing much more purpose and twice threatened to force their way back into the game early in the second half through Leon Clarke.The striker initially found his way behind the Arsenal defence but his angled shot was denied by Fabianski then minutes later, Clarke saw a right foot effort bounce to safety off the post with the keeper beaten.That was enough to remind Arsenal there was still work to be done and while Wenger's side soon regained control of the game.That allowed Wenger the opportunity to hand a debut to highly rated midfielder Gedion Zelalem, the 16-year-old Germany international, midway through the second half.Giroud then added a third goal after appearing as a late replacement for Podolski, sweeping home in the 85th minute from Kieran Gibbs' low cross.And Cazorla followed up a Murphy save to make it four in the final minute of normal time.

Football: United agree club record 37m pound deal for Mata

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LONDON (AFP) - Manchester United on Friday confirmed they have agreed a club record deal to sign Spanish midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea.United's reported 37 million pound (44.5 million euros) move for Mata will be completed subject to the 25-year-old passing a medical and negotiating personal terms with the Premier League champions.The transfer would shatter United's previous record fee of 30.75 million pound paid to sign Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham in 2008.Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Chelsea Football Club for the transfer of Juan Mata for a club-record fee, United said in a statement.The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course.Mata is expected to have his medical on Saturday and, unless there are any hitches, he should make his United debut in Tuesday's Premier League clash against Cardiff at Old Trafford.United manager David Moyes desperately needed a high-profile signing to lift the gloom after a miserable start to his reign as Alex Ferguson's successor.Since replacing Ferguson in July, Moyes has seen United fall 14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, while they also crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round against Swansea and suffered an embarrassing League Cup semi-final loss to Sunderland in midweek.Moyes had been keen to land a quality midfielder since arriving from Everton and he made failed bids for several top stars, including Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas, before the last transfer window shut in September.His swoop for Mata should add much-needed creativity and intelligence to United's midfield, although the champions also need a more aggressive ball-winner in the mold of former Old Trafford great Roy Keane.Mata, who cost Chelsea 23.5 million pound from Valencia in 2011, became available after falling out of favour with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.He won Chelsea's player of the year award for the last two season and has 32 caps for Spain, but failed to impress Mourinho.He was repeatedly left on the bench and even when he cracked Mourinho's line-up he was replaced in nine of his 13 Premier League starts this season.Mourinho has given Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian the main attacking roles and the Portuguese coach conceded Chelsea's system does not suit Mata, who reportedly asked to leave after being substituted during a match at Southampton earlier this month.It had seemed the deal might be delayed while Chelsea tied up their move for Basel's Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, but Mata has been given the green light to quit Stamford Bridge.It's what he wants, Mourinho earlier on Friday before United confirmed the deal.It's what he asked us to accept. Chelsea Football Club is proud to act this way, in an open way, in a human way.The offer, compared with what the club paid two years ago (when Mata signed from Valencia), was fantastic.If Manchester United pay their record for a player it's because they know exactly what they want. They are convinced he's going to be important for them.Keen to preserve his place in Spain's World Cup squad, Mata has jumped at the opportunity to help revive United's fortunes.His signing also underlines the determination of United's owners, the Glazer family, to back Moyes after growing criticism of the Scot's torrid start at Old Trafford.Former United captain Bryan Robson believes Mata's arrival is a step in the right direction.It's what everybody has been talking about for a couple of seasons now, Robson told Sky Sports News.Michael Carrick has been very consistent but everybody else has struggled to stamp their authority in there.I still feel it's an area we need to strengthen but it's only David Moyes and his staff who can make those decisions.But new signings, especially when they're top class, can give an injection of enthusiasm within the squad.

Football: Barcelona reveal Neymar deal, deny lies

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MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona's new boss declared Friday the club had never lied as he revealed for the first time financial details of a disputed 57.1-million-euro ($78 million) signing of Brazilian star Neymar, a deal that helped to topple his predecessor.We never lied, 50-year-old club president, Josep Maria Bartomeu told his first news conference.A day after former president Sandro Rosell resigned because of a judicial wrangle over the Neymar deal, Bartomeu said the player's father had given permission for previously confidential details of the transfer to be made public.The Neymar transfer cost 57.1 million euros, plus a 2-million-euro bonus if the 21-year-old international makes the finals of the FIFA World Player of Year award, footballing business manager Raul Sanllehi told the news conference.In addition, Neymar gets an annual salary of 11.3 million euros to be paid over five years, he said.Barcelona said the Brazilian was drawn not by money but by the lure of the club and its star, Lionel Messi.The player decided to come to Barca with a lower offer than he could have obtained from other clubs because he was very excited to come, Sanllehi said.Barcelona said the entire deal cost 86.2 million euros: 57.1 million euros for the transfer, 10 million euros in a signing bonus, 2.7 million euros in commissions, 4.0 million in marketing, 2.5 million for Neymar's foundation and 9.9 million euros in scouting and collaborative deals.Barcelona's new boss said Neymar's father agreed to let the club reveal the figures because he believed the scandal over the signing was unfair.He repeated that many people have not forgiven his son Neymar Junior for coming to Barcelona rather than going to other teams and accepting more generous offers, Bartomeu said.Rosell resigned Thursday, a day after a judge agreed to hear a case made against him by one of the club's own members for alleged misappropriation of funds in the deal which brought Neymar to the Camp Nou last year.Rosell had routinely insisted that Neymar cost the club 57.1 million euros but refused to divulge details on confidentiality grounds.That led club member Jordi Cases to launch the case against Rosell last month for not informing the club's members as 40 million euros of the fee was supposedly paid to Neymar family firm N&N.The club were subsequently asked to submit the contracts that sealed the player's arrival in Catalonia, as well as Barca's financial accounts for the past three years.And the judge, Pablo Ruz, decided that the documentation handed over reveals sufficient elements for an investigation to go ahead.Barcelona's break down of the 57.1 million euros transfer cost showed 40 million euros went to the Neymar family firm N&N, and 17.1 million euros was devoted to the transfer from Santos FC.Neymar's salary amounted to a total of 56.7 million euros over five years and was comprised of a total 10 million-euro signing bonus, a 44-million-euro salary and a commission of 2.7 million euros.

Athletics: Kenyan First Lady to run for charity at London Marathon

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NAIROBI (AFP) - Margaret Kenyatta, the wife of Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta will compete in the London marathon in April in a bid to raise money for local charity, her office said.The Kenyan First Lady will join other celebrities in the April 13 race to create awareness on health issues facing Kenyan women and children.To prepare for the event, Mrs Kenyatta has been training near her residence at State House in Nairobi, with former London marathon winner, Douglas Wakiihuri taking her through the paces.She will test her race abilities when she competes in a half marathon in Nairobi on March 9, in a race she hopes to encourage other First Ladies in Africa to take part.The London marathon has attracted a strong line-up of elite athletes from Kenya, including the womens defending champion Priscah Jeptoo.

Oil prices mixed amid China, currency concerns

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Global crude-oil prices finished in mixed fashion Friday amid markets unnerved by weak Chinese economic data and worries about global energy demand, especially in emerging markets.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in March, the benchmark US futures contract, shed 68 cents to close at $96.64 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.In London trade, Europes main contract, Brent North Sea crude for March, rose 30 cents to $107.88 a barrel.Markets were under pressure from jitters over growth prospects in China, the largest energy consumer, after the HSBC reported earlier this week that Chinese manufacturing contracted in January.The weak manufacturing data not only is lowering demand expectations from China but seems to be putting a pall on emerging markets around the globe, said Phil Flynn of Price Futures Group.The Turkish lira continued to plunge, hitting a record low against the dollar Friday despite a massive central bank intervention the prior day. Russias ruble hit a record low against the euro and sank against the dollar to a nearly five-year low. Argentinas peso crashed 11 percent Thursday, its biggest drop since 2002.Wall Street stocks shed about two percent Friday, in the wake of sharp equity losses in Europe.Despite pockets of geopolitical tension rising up across the globe, from explosions in Egypt, ongoing protests (against anti-protest laws) in Ukraine, a failing cease-fire in South Sudan and Syrian peace talks breaking down, crude is being swept up by the wave of bearishness in broader markets, Matt Smith of Daily Distillation said in a research note.A loss of confidence sees a flight from risk in emerging markets, which ripples through to currencies, bonds, developed nations and commodities.

New Zealand look to wrap up India ODI series

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - Fired-up New Zealand are confident they can secure a third successive victory against powerful India in Auckland on Saturday and wrap up the one-day international series with two matches to spare.The tourists arrived in New Zealand top of the world rankings but were beaten by 24 runs in the series opener in Napier and went down by 15 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in Hamilton.The back-to-back losses have cost India their top ranking -- taken by Australia -- while a win for New Zealand in Auckland would lift the hosts above the West Indies and into seventh place.Thats two of the best team performances weve had for a long time and to back it up game after game is what good sides do.They perform consistently and thats where were aiming to be, said senior bowler Tim Southee.Weve showed glimpses in the past but we needed consistency. Its not just individuals standing up, its everyone standing up at different times. Thats the sign of a good side, not relying on the same people every game.The New Zealand blueprint calls for the team to go into the final 15 overs with seven wickets in hand.It means Jesse Ryder and Martin Guptill can charge at the start of the innings, leaving Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to consolidate before unleashing the big-hitting Corey Anderson, Brendon McCullum and Luke Ronchi.The bowlers have a licence to attack, and while it may cost them runs it does produce wickets, particularly with Indias senior batsmen struggling against short-pitched deliveries.Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said his side will not shelve the troublesome hook shot and suggested that in Wednesdays second game in Hamilton, the lack of a good start to the innings from openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma cost his team.The openers should have carried on for a bit longer, played a few more shots and scored a few more runs, he said.Virat Kohli, coming in at first wicket down, is the danger man for India, with scores of 123 and 78 in the first two games.Hes one of the best, if not the best one-day player going around. In the first two games he adapted to conditions quickly and we know weve got our work cut out, said Southee.Taylor issued a simple tweet on how the New Zealanders felt about the Indian star: Anyone got any ideas on how to get Kohli out before he gets to 50?

Cracker blasts rock Sindh's various cities

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KARACHI: (Dunya News) – Various cities of Sindh including Karachi were rocked with cracker explosions, Friday, a day before Sindh Muttahida Mahaz’s strike against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s statements. Around 48 cracker explosions were heard however no one was harmed.Unidentified men threw crackers at a cooking center in Nagan Chowrangi; explosion resulted in a sense of fear and insecurity in the area. Police and Rangers personnel rushed to the site and cordoned off the area for investigation. Two homemade devices exploded at a shopping center at Qayyumabad Bridge. No loss was reported.A total of 5 cracker explosions took place at Qazi Abdul Qayyum Road, Haider Chowk and Kohinoor Chowk when bike riders passed by the areas throwing the explosives.Another 7 cracker explosions took place at Post office, Tehsildar office, Station Road, Resham Gali and Phatak Stop in Dadu resulting shattering of windows of Circuit House.In Khairpur, a total of 4 cracker explosives were thrown at Civic center, Khaki Shah Bridge and Luqman Phatak, no harm was reported.In various areas of Larkana and Ranipur, 10 cracker explosions took place. Another cracker explosion took place at a railway track in Aladino village in Mehrabpur, however the railway track remained undamaged.A number of cracker explosions inflicted sense of fear among citizens in Kotri, Kandyaro, Jamshoro, Thal and Halia.Meanwhile nationalist movement Sindh Muttahida Mahaz has given the call for a province-wide call for strike against MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s statements about division of Sindh.

Sextuplets born at hospital in Bannu

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BANNU: (Dunya News) – A woman belonging to North Waziristan has given birth to six children in a single pregnancy at a private hospital; four of them are girls and two boys, all are well and healthy. According to the doctors, the mother and newly born children normal and healthy; however they are shifted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Bannu for further care and observation.

FC, Police present 17 terror suspects before media

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QUETTA: (Dunya News) – As part of joint search operation carried by police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel across various areas of Mastung, at least 17 terrorist suspects were captured and presented before media. Another encounter between security forces and militants of a banned separatist outfit is underway for the past 9 hours.Colonel Muhammad Azam of Frontier Corps (FC) briefed the media saying a massive search operation was carried jointly at various areas of Mastung including Dareen Garh, Kanak, Babari, Kandhawa, Umerabad, Nawazan, Besham, Koshak, Dolai and Kali Nihal on the direction of Balochistan provincial government.Forces have surrounded the area with the help of check posts installed at entry and exit points of the area. At least 350 FC personnel have participated in the operation that is being carried out with the help of 2 helicopters and armors among other weapons.According to Col. Azam, targeted operations across various areas, commissioned by the provincial government will continue. At least 90 suspects were arrested in the search operation carried today, out of which, 73 were released after questioning and preliminary investigation whereas the remaining 17 were booked under terrorism charges and presented before media. Meanwhile, according to security sources, militants attacked the security forces at Washbud area of Panjgor injuring three personnel following which the FC officials carried a search operation and surrounded the militants. The encounter between the security personnel and militants is underway for the past 9 hours the damage of which is still unclear.After consultation with the federal government, Balochistan provincial government had ordered a massive operation against the miscreants in Quetta. At least 29 were killed in a suicide attack on Hazara community on Tuesday. The bereaved families protested for at least 38 hours refusing to bury the dead. Following the development, the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Information Minister Pervez Rasheed reached Quetta on the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and assured of the adequate operation against the perpetrators.

Hollande sees common ground with pope on global issues

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VATICAN CITY (AFP) - President Francois Hollande spoke of convergence on international issues after talks with Pope Francis Friday amid a swirling scandal over the French leaders love life and divisions in France over hot-button issues like abortion and euthanasia.An embattled Hollande shook hands with a glum-looking Francis at the start of the private audience, after which the Vatican said the two had discussed constructive cooperation for the common good.Family, bioethics and the respect of religious communities were among the issues addressed, the Vatican said in a statement.Hollande, who hailed the popes radiant personality, said there had been convergence on the big international issues.The 59-year-old said he and Francis had the same concern about the status of Christian minorities in the Middle East, and the risk of an interreligious conflict in the Central African Republic.The Vatican said Hollande and Francis had also discussed international issues including poverty, development, immigration and the environment.Hollande said he had asked the pope for the Vatican to receive Syrias main opposition coalition, as the first talks between Syrias warring sides in Switzerland on Friday got off to a rough start.The Geneva II conference should be aimed at transition. We need to do everything to stop the fighting and dispatch humanitarian aid, Hollande said.Hollande has previously said that the pope, a great moral authority, could help find a political solution to Syrias devastating civil war.After the talks, an emotional pontiff warmly clasped hands with freed French priest Georges Vandenbeusch, who was held hostage in Cameroon in November and travelled to the Vatican with Hollande.Security measures for Hollandes visit were stepped up following the explosion just hours before of a small bomb packed with nails and lead pellets, which damaged cars and smashed windows near a French church in Rome.Police bomb disposal experts were called out again later on Friday after receiving an anonymous phone call about a device placed under the famous colonnade on St Peters Square, which turned out to be a false alarm.Hollandes visit has been overshadowed by the fall-out from revelations of a two-year tryst with 41-year-old actress Julie Gayet.His official partner, Valerie Trierweiler -- for whom he left fellow Socialist politician Segolene Royal, the mother of his four children -- has spent the week holed up in a presidential residence in Versailles near Paris.Critics say Hollandes colourful love life has distracted him from tackling pressing national issues such as the economic crisis.Difficult time in his private lifePlagued by low popularity, the French president hopes to reconcile with a Catholic electorate largely hostile to his policies.Hollande sees the visit as a chance to send a strong message of dialogue and attention to Catholics, an advisor said at a briefing ahead of the trip.But he admitted: Hollandes trip has clearly come at a difficult time in his private life.Hollande may be hoping some of the popes popularity rubs off on him.His diplomatic overture will be made no easier by lawmakers decision this week to greenlight a change in the countrys abortion laws, effectively making it easier for a woman to terminate a pregnancy.Anger among staunch Catholics has also been fuelled by plans for the legalisation of assisted suicide -- with French bishops speaking out to condemn a topic Hollande promised to support in his electoral campaign.Relations between part of the electorate and the government soured notably last year when France legalised gay weddings, despite hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets to hold huge protests.Some 110,000 frustrated Catholics have signed a petition calling on the congenial Francis to get tough and raise their concerns with Hollande.Although the pope, 77, has called for mercy toward gays, divorced people and women who have abortions, Vatican experts say Francis is a conservative at heart.He has denounced abortions as a frightful symptom of todays throw-away culture, and on Wednesday he tweeted his support for US Catholics taking part in the annual anti-abortion March for Life in Washington.
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