Thursday 12 September 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Syria says it joined chemical treaty on Thursday

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Syria's U.N. ambassador says that Syria has become a full member of the treaty banning the use of chemical weapons as of Thursday.Bashar Ja'afari told reporters he presented Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with the instrument of accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention.He said President Bashar Assad signed a legislative decree earlier Thursday declaring Syria's approval to join the treaty, which requires destruction of all chemical weapons.U.N. associate spokesman Farhan Haq said the secretary-general welcomes this development, noting that, as depository of the convention, he has long called for universal accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention.Given recent events, he hopes that the current talks in Geneva will lead to speedy agreement on a way forward which will be endorsed and assisted by the international community, Haq said.

US urges Egypt to lift state of emergency

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States called again Thursday on Egypts interim authorities to lift a state of emergency in force since August, which Cairo said it is extending for two months.We remain opposed, as we have from the beginning, to the state of emergency. And we urge the interim government to end it immediately, StateDepartment deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.She pressed Cairo to create an atmosphere where Egyptians on all sides can peacefully exercise their right to freedom of assembly and expression.The interim government and military must ensure due process and that any citizens arrested by police or military are referred only to civilian courts, she said.Egyptian authorities said Thursday they had extended the state of emergency that has been in force since mid-August, at a time when deadly unrest swept Egypt following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.The state of emergency was declared on August 14, the day the army -- which had installed an interim government -- dispersed two Islamist protest camps, killing hundreds of protesters.In the days following, at least 1,000 people were killed, most of them Morsi supporters.Egypts authorities have also rounded up dozens of senior leaders of Morsis Muslim Brotherhood, crippling the group and leaving it unable to rally huge crowds to protest for Morsis reinstatement.The US has never qualified the ouster as a coup, though Secretary of State John Kerry condemned last months crackdown as deplorable and has called for a return to democracy.Washington has also cancelled military exercises with Cairo and delayed the delivery of combat aircraft.However, the US government does not plan to freeze military and economic aid, worth $1.55 billion a year, although the issue is still officially under review.

3 dead as flash flooding hits parts of Colorado

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DENVER (AP) - Flash flooding in Colorado has left three people dead and is keeping search and rescue teams from reaching stranded residents.The National Weather Service has warned of an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation throughout the region. Collapsed homes and mudslides have been reported in the mountainous region.Boulder Office of Emergency Management spokeswoman Gabrielle Boerkircher says many roads are impassable.Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle says two people have died in his county.Colorado Springs spokeswoman Kim Melchor said police found a body in the water Thursday morning.National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Kleyla says a 20-foot (6-meters) wall of water was reported in a canyon north of Boulder.

Nadal leads Spain in Davis Cup World Group play-offs

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MADRID (AFP) - Fresh from winning his 13th Grand Slam title at the US Open, Rafael Nadal will lead Spain in their Davis Cup World Group play-off against Ukraine this weekend.The 27-year-old world number two, who has not played for Spain since their 2011 Davis Cup triumph against Argentina, will play on his favourite clay surface in the tie at Madrids Caja Magica.Nadal will face Sergiy Stakhovskiy in the second singles rubber on Friday, after Fernando Verdasco and Alexandr Dolgopolov meet in the first match.Elsewhere, Andy Murray will make his Davis Cup return for Great Britain in their tie against Croatia.The Wimbledon champion will face Borna Coric in the first singles rubber on Friday in Umag.Roger Federer will not feature for Switzerland in their tie against Ecuador, but world number 10 Stanislas Wawrinka, a semi-finalist at the US Open last week, will feature for the Swiss.Meanwhile, Philipp Kohlschreiber will play the opening rubber for hosts Germany in Fridays Davis Cup World Group play-off against Brazils Rogerio Dutra Silva, ranked 102 places below the German.The 29-year-old Kohlschreiber, 25th in the world, takes on the 127th-ranked Brazilian indoors on hard court in Ulm, south-west Germany, with Florian Mayer playing Thomaz Bellucci in Fridays second singles rubber.And Poland will be without their leading player, 14th-ranked Jerzy Janowicz when they face an Australia team led by Lleyton Hewitt in Warsaw.

Golf: Snedeker seizes BMW Championship lead

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CHICAGO (AFP) - Brandt Snedeker fired an eight-under 63 that included a sizzling stretch of seven straight birdies on Thursday to grab a one-shot lead after one round of the BMW Championship.Snedeker defied gusty winds on the par-71 Conway Farms Golf Club course -- hosting a PGA Tour event for the first time -- and held a one-stroke lead over fellow American Zach Johnson.Johnson, a two-time winner this year, had seven birdies in a flawless seven-under 64 and was two strokes in front of world number one Tiger Woods, former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, Steve Stricker and Kevin Streelman.Reigning Masters champ Adam Scott, of Australia, posted a four-under 67, and shared seventh place with John Merrick, Ryan Moore and Nick Watney.Snedeker opened on the back nine and his run of seven straight birdies began at 13.The American came into the penultimate event in the US tours FedEx Cup playoffs ranked ninth in the standings and already in line to become the first player to return to the Tour Championship the year after winning the playoffs crown and its $10 million bonus.Swedens Henrik Stenson, who shot to the top of the playoff standings with his win at the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks ago, carded a one-over 72.Woods, who came into the week at second in the playoff race, said his score could have been better but for a trio of missed putts from within five feet -- two of them leading to bogeys.Im not exactly real happy, said Woods, who had seven birdies to go with his two bogeys. I played well and I just didnt get much out of that round.Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who won this title last year at Crooked Stick, struggled to a seven-over 78 and was tied for 66th place.His card included a triple-bogey seven at the par-four first hole -- his 10th hole of the day -- and a double-bogey five at the par-three 11th.McIlroy, who came into the tournament at 41st in the playoff standings, needs a big turnaround to reach the top 30 and advance to the Tour Championship.

Cape Verde thrown out of World Cup playoffs

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ZURICH (AP) - Cape Verde was thrown out of Africas final World Cup playoffs after FIFA ruled Thursday that the tiny island nation fielded an ineligible player in a decisive qualifying win over Tunisia.Tunisia was instead awarded a 3-0 victory by forfeit and reinstated to Africas 10-team playoffs, which will be drawn on Monday and start next month.Cape Verde, which ironically benefited from an ineligible player sanction against Equatorial Guinea earlier in group qualifying to have the chance to overtake Tunisia, was found guilty by FIFAs disciplinary committee of playing suspended defender Fernando Varela in its 2-0 win in Rades on Saturday.That saw the Cape Verdeans move ahead of then-leader Tunisia to win the group.Africas five representatives in Brazil next year will be decided in the playoffs.FIFA said Thursday that Varela was ineligible because he had not fully served a four-game ban for a red card in a qualifier in March, which was also the game Cape Verde was awarded by FIFA because of Equatorial Guineas ineligible player.Tunisia complained formally to FIFA over Varelas participation and the Cape Verdean Football Federation was stripped of the win and its playoff place and fined 6,000 Swiss francs ($6,447), FIFA said. The federation can appeal the decision.Cape Verde, a country with only half a million people, was the feel-good story of African football this year after it qualified for the African Cup for the first time in its history and surprised many by reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Ghana.However, it became the seventh country in Africas beleaguered World Cup qualifying competition to be sanctioned by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player, with Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Togo, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Gabon all also forfeiting games.The disciplinary case against Cape Verde delayed FIFAs publishing of its latest monthly world rankings, which had been expected earlier Thursday and will be used to decide which five African teams are seeded for next weeks playoff draw.Tunisia will now join Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria and Nigeria as the five seeded teams in the draw. Egypt, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Senegal and Ethiopia will be unseeded.

Kiryienka wins Vuelta 18th stage, Nibali maintans lead

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PENA CABARGA (AP) - Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus broke away before a final grueling ascent to win the 18th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Thursday, while overall leader Vincenzo Nibali saw his advantage over Christopher Horner cut to three seconds with three days to go.Kiryienka finished the 186.5-kilometer (116-mile) route starting in Burgos and passing over four major climbs before a final uphill push to Pena Cabarga in nearly five hours. Four more riders slowly pedaled over the finish line before the group of favorites arrived.The 41-year-old Horner used an impressive burst to pull away from Nibali over the final 200 meters where the slope reached 20 degrees, gaining 25 seconds on his rival.Well see what happens from here to Madrid, said Nibali. With what Horner has shown us, it will be difficult to withstand his attacks. But I will try to do so with everything I have.This was the first of three decisive mountain stages in northern Spain before the grand tours traditional finish in the Spanish capital on Sunday.After parting the raucous crowds encouraging him up the narrow mountain road, Kiryienka had time to zip up his Sky team jersey and blow a kiss as he crossed the finish line.Five years ago I was second in a stage at the Vuelta, and I really wanted to win a stage here, said Kiryienka. I also really wanted to give something back to my team after they had believed so much in me this year.Nibali maintained the red leaders maillot for another day, but Horner looked to be the fresher rider heading into the final days of the race.After Horner neutralized an attack by Joaquim Rodriguez and two more of his Katusha teammates, the veteran American rider for RadioShack-Leopard surged up the mountain with his backside never touching the bicycle seat.Nibali, the Giro dItalia winner, also lost time to Rodriguez and fellow challenger Alejandro Valverde. After Horner, Valverde is 1:09 off Nibalis pace and Rodriguez is 2:24 back.Horner set an incredible pace, said Nibali. He left us all behind and took time from me, Valverde and Purito (Rodriguez). Its unbelievable what he is doing at his age.

Oil rises 1 percent on doubt for Syria solution

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NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil rose 1 percent Thursday as doubts persisted about a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Syria.U.S. benchmark oil for October delivery gained $1.04 to close $108.60 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil rose as high as $109.16 earlier.Oil fell $3.14 a barrel on Monday and Tuesday, the result of diplomatic efforts to avoid a U.S. strike against Syria. The U.S. has threatened military action against President Bashar Assad, whom the U.S. says is responsible for a deadly chemical weapons attack against civilians.On Thursday, there was more skepticism about whether Syria and its ally Russia could agree with the U.S. on a plan for Assad's government to turn over its chemical weapons. Already there was disagreement over how soon the Syrians needed to start accounting for their stockpiles.We feel that a diplomatic solution acceptable to all parties will prove elusive and that the possibility of some form of US military strike will gradually be increasing going forward, wrote Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associated, in a note to clients.Syria is not a major oil producer, but oil traders say the possibility of a wider conflict could interrupt production and shipping routes in the Middle East and cause prices to rise.Brent, the benchmark for international crudes, was up $1.32 to $112.82 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Dollar advances on weak European data

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NEW YORK CITY (AFP) - The dollar Thursday rose slightly against the euro following a weak report on European industrial production.Near 2100 GMT Thursday, the euro traded at $1.3298, down from $1.3309 Wednesday.The dollar bought 99.47 yen, down from 99.87 yen.The euro also fell against the yen, trading at 132.33 from 132.92.The dollar had declined against major currencies the last couple of days as the safe-haven appeal of the greenback faded with the diminishing prospects for a US military strike on Syria.On Thursday, the dollar advanced against the euro after eurozone industrial output fell by 1.5 percent in July compared with June.European Central Bank President Mario Draghi also gave a cautious outlook on the European economy, calling the recent signs of recovery still very, very green.Investors keenly await a report Friday on US retail sales. A strong report could bolster the case for an immediate move by the US Federal Reserve to scale back its bond-buying program.Unfortunately it would be wishful thinking to expect the data to be so weak or strong that it would make or break the Feds decision, said BK Asset Management managing director Kathy Lien.In all likelihood, retail sales continued to grow in the month of August, albeit a sluggish pace that will leave the central bank with a very tough decision next week.The British pound slipped to $1.5803 from $1.5814.The dollar-Swiss franc traded at 0.9306 compared with 0.9302.

Guinness: World's smallest dog is in Puerto Rico

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SAN JUAN (AP) - Puerto Rico can now boast it is home to the worlds smallest dog at least when it comes to height.The brown Chihuahua named Miracle Milly is shorter than a soup can, standing at 3.8 inches (9.65 centimeters) tall when measured from backbone to paw, Guinness World Records announced Thursday.She is nearly 2 years old, weighs roughly 1 pound (half a kilogram) and is known for often sticking out her tiny tongue when someone takes her picture.She knows how to pose, owner Vanesa Semler told The Associated Press.Miracle Milly dethroned Boo Boo, a long-haired Chihuahua from Kentucky that stands 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) tall.Guinness also has a second category for worlds smallest dog when measured by length. That title is held by Heaven Sent Brandy, a Chihuahua in Largo, Florida, that measures 6 inches (15.24 centimeters) long.When she was born, Miracle Milly weighed less than an ounce and fit in a teaspoon, Semler said. Her mouth was too tiny to nurse from her mother, so Semler gave her milk every two hours through an eyedropper.She slept in a dolls crib next to Semlers bed, growing stronger as the months passed.The Chihuahua now sleeps in a babys crib and will eat nothing but food cooked by humans.She really likes salmon and chicken, Semler said, noting that she eats four times a day.Miracle Milly is close to her two sisters, both which are of normal size, but she prefers the company of people.She does not understand that she is a dog, Semler said. She thinks shes a kid.She doesnt bark and likes playing with the plants in Semlers backyard. If there are birds to chase, even better.If shes playing inside, she gravitates toward Paco, a yellow Chihuahua plush toy twice her size. The stuffed animal is among dozens lining her crib.We give her a new toy almost every week, Semler said. She likes to cuddle with them.Miracle Milly is one of 10 Chihuahuas that Semler owns, and is easily the most popular.People are amazed when they see her because she is so small, Semler said. And she has a big personality. People love her.

NASA: Voyager 1 probe has left the solar system

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LOS ANGELES (AP) - Voyager 1 has crossed a new frontier, becoming the first spacecraft ever to leave the solar system, NASA said Thursday.Thirty-six years after it was launched from Earth on a tour of the outer planets, the plutonium-powered probe is more than 11 1/2 billion miles (18.51 billion kilometers) from the sun, cruising through interstellar space the vast, cold emptiness between the stars, the space agency said.Voyager 1 actually made its exit more than a year ago, according to NASA. But its not as if theres a dotted boundary line or a signpost out there, and it was not until recently that scientists with the space agency had enough evidence to say that the probe had finally plowed through the hot plasma bubble surrounding the planets and escaped the suns influence.While some scientists remain unconvinced, NASA celebrated with a news conference featuring the theme from Star Trek.We got there, said mission chief scientist Ed Stone of the California Institute of Technology, adding that the spacecraft was setting sail in the cosmic seas between the stars.While Voyager 1 may have left the solar system as most people understand it, it still has hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years to go before bidding adieu to the last icy bodies that make up our neighborhood.Voyager 1 will now study exotic particles and other phenomena in a never-before-explored part of the universe littered with ancient star explosions and radio the data back to Earth, where the Voyager team awaits the starships discoveries.The interstellar ambassador also carries a gold-plated disc containing multicultural greetings, songs and photos, just in case it bumps into an intelligent species.Voyager 1s odyssey began in 1977 when the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, were launched on a tour of the gas giant planets of the solar system.After beaming back dazzling postcard views of Jupiters giant red spot and Saturns shimmering rings, Voyager 2 hopscotched to Uranus and Neptune. Meanwhile, Voyager 1 used Saturn as a gravitational slingshot to power itself past Pluto.Voyager 1, which is about the size of a subcompact car, carries instruments that study magnetic fields, cosmic rays and solar wind.Last year, scientists monitoring Voyager 1 noticed strange happenings that suggested the spacecraft had broken through: Charged particles streaming from the sun suddenly vanished. At the same time, there was a spike in galactic cosmic rays bursting in from the outside.Since there was no detectable change in the direction of the magnetic field lines, the team assumed the far-flung craft was still in the heliosphere, or the vast bubble of charged particles around the sun.The Voyager team patiently waited for a change in magnetic field direction thought to be the telltale sign of a cosmic border crossing. But in the meantime, a chance solar eruption caused the space around Voyager 1 to echo like a bell last spring and provided the scientists with the data they needed, convincing them the boundary had been crossed in August of last year.With the new data, it took us 10 seconds to realize we were in interstellar space, said Don Gurnett, a Voyager scientist at the University of Iowa who led the new research, published online in the journal Science.The new observations are fascinating, but its premature to judge, said Lennard Fisk, a space science professor at the University of Michigan and former NASA associate administrator who was not part of the team. Can we wait a little while longer? Maybe this picture will clear up the farther we go.Fisk was bothered by the absence of a change in magnetic field direction.Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell said he would like to see more data and Voyager 1 solidly outside for a while.Voyager 2 trails behind at 9 1/2 billion miles (15.29 billion kilometers) from the sun. It may take another three years before Voyager 2 joins its twin on the other side. Eventually, the Voyagers will run out of nuclear fuel and will have to power down their instruments, perhaps by 2025.

Dell shareholders approve $24.8B buyout offer

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TEXAS (AP) - Dell Inc. will end its quarter-century history as a publicly traded company and try to engineer a turnaround away from the prying eyes of Wall Street following shareholders' approval Thursday of a $24.8 billion buyout offer from the company's founder.At the end of a shareholders meeting Thursday, Dell officials said that based on preliminary results, there were enough votes in favor of CEO Michael Dell's buyout proposal. The company did not immediately announce the tally.This is a great outcome for our customers and our company, Michael Dell, the company's chairman, CEO and founder, said in a conference call with investors.Like other PC makers, Dell Inc. has been hit hard in recent years as consumers shift their buying habits away from traditional desktops and laptops and toward tablets and other mobile devices.Michael Dell said the buyout marks the first step in a multi-year transformation that will involve Dell Inc. going back to its roots and focusing on the entrepreneurial spirit that the company was originally built on.Dell started selling PCs out of his dorm room while he was still a freshman at the University of Texas. His company went public four years later.As a private company, Dell will have the flexibility it needs to make investments it needs to without the limitations and scrutiny that come with being a public company, he said.Last month, Dell reported a 72 percent drop in profit for its most recent quarter, as the company cut prices to shore up computer sales. Dell's stock has plunged by more than 40 percent since Michael Dell returned for a second stint as CEO in 2007. In afternoon trading Thursday, Dell shares were unchanged at $13.85.Michael Dell, who made his offer with an investment group led by Silver Lake Partners, maintains that turning around the company will involve a painful realignment that is likely to trim its earnings for another year or two. As a result, he believes, the turnaround will be easier to pull off away from Wall Street and its fixation on short-term results.Michael Dell was present for Thursday's meeting, which lasted about 15 minutes. About 100 people were in attendance, though few appeared to be rank-and-file shareholders. The meeting ended with light applause after the approval was announced.The deal is expected to be completed before the current quarter ends on Nov. 1. The company will continue to be based in Round Rock, Texas.Critics of the offer said it undervalued the company. The vote was delayed three times as a result of the opposition.Before the last delay, Michael Dell and Silver Lake agreed to pay a special dividend of 13 cents per share to supplement a bid that had already been raised from $13.65 per share to $13.75 per share.Despite the enhanced offer, activist investor Carl Icahn and investment fund Southeastern Asset Management continued to contend that the company was worth more than what was being offered.Icahn dropped his opposition on Monday, saying that while he still opposed the sale, it would be almost impossible to defeat the offer in Thursday's vote.

The most stunning cars at Frankfurt Auto Show

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FRANKFURT (AP) - Maybe we cant buy but we can look. The best thing about an auto show is the chance to gawk at and sit in cars most people cant afford. The show opens to the public Saturday and runs through Sept. 22; admission is 13 euros during the week, 15 euros on weekends.FERRARI 458 SPECIALE: Should you need to accelerate to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) in 3 seconds flat and go twice as fast again in another 6.1 seconds, this is your car. The Speciale, flaunting Ferraris most powerful V-8 engine ever, has spoilers that swing out to increase downdraft and keep it pinned to the road above 93 mph. Top speed is above 202 mph. Ferrari is also proud of how quickly it can stop: in 400 feet (122 meters), from 124 mph. With its dipped hood, the 458 Speciale is slighter and less muscular-looking than the typical Ferrari. At Frankfurt, it was shown in Ferrari red, with a blue-and-white racing stripe that traces the hood, roof and trunk of the car. The price in Italy starts at 238,000 euros ($315,000).ASTON MARTIN CC100: The first thing youll need to drive this racer is a helmet and a sunny day. Modeled on the 1950s DBR1 race car, the CC100 has no windscreen, no roof and cutouts in the sides. The 100 stands for Aston Martins 100th anniversary and is embossed on the cars long, elegant hood, just like a racing number. It looks ready for the track, but its entirely street-legal. The V-12 engine can go from rest to 62 mph in a little over four seconds. Top speed: 180 mph.BUGATTI VEYRON 16.4 GRAND SPORT: Bugatti declared this the worlds fastest roadster after it reached a speed of 408.84 kph (254.04 mph) on a German test track. The 16-cylinder engine, visible in the back of the car, packs 1,200 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 2.6 seconds. At Frankfurt, the car was shown with two different exteriors: one aluminum-clad, for 1.96 million euros ($2.6 million), and one black carbon fiber, for 2.28 million euros.LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP 570-4 SQUADRA CORSE: A street version of the companys Super Trofeo racing machine, the low-slung Squadra Corse shows its pedigree with an aerodynamic rear spoiler to keep it on the road at high speed. It has the same V-10 engine as the race car. Step on the gas and it spits out an intimidating roar. 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 3.4 seconds, top speed 320 kph (200 mph). On sale for anyone with 191,100 euros ($254,300) to spare, not including tax.ROLLS-ROYCE CELESTIAL PHANTOM: This special edition is meant to commemorate the 10th anniversary of production at the companys Goodwood plant in England. So the ceiling lights up with the exact pattern of the night sky on Jan. 1, 2003, astronomically verified. The interior is made with different fine leathers, a wool carpet, and door compartments smoothly lined with cashmere. A beverage cooler keeps the champagne cold in back, and the clock in the partition between you and your chauffeur has four diamonds in it.SMART FOURJOY CONCEPT: No roof, no doors, no back window but a place to hang a skateboard on top. This whimsical, not-for-sale design study from Daimler AGs Smart is intended to introduce design elements for a future forfour four-seat model. The company says the forfour expected next year will in fact have doors and a more conventional look, though the concept cars front and rear end likely reflect the eventual production model.PORSCHE 918 SPYDER: Porsche calls it the supercar of the future: a plug-in hybrid with a monstrous 887 horsepower from a V-8 internal combustion racing engine and two electric motors. Drive carefully and it can get mileage of up to 3.0 liters per 100 kilometers, or 72 miles per gallon. Or, go zero to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in a blazing 2.8 seconds. Your choice. 768,026 euros in Germany including sales tax ($1.02 million).BENTLEY GT V8 S: This smoothly contoured coupe with a big grille was presented in dazzling white at Frankfurt. Its 4.0 liter, twin-turbocharged V8 puts out 528 horsepower for an exhilarating but still smooth luxury ride. The car has a little bit more power, a little bit more performance for fans of the luxury brand, says Kevin Rose, Bentleys marketing director. Theres a convertible version. Theyre taking orders for early next year: In the US: $194,600 coupe, $214,000 convertible; in Britain 139,000 pounds coupe, 152,900 pound convertible, including sales tax.

PM directs to launch schemes for youth, downtrodden

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Thursday, directed officials concerned to initiate programmes and schemes targeting lower strata of society and educated youth at the earliest.While chairing a meeting here at PM’s Office, he said that promises made during election campaign with the youth and low-income groups of society would be fulfilledThe meeting was told that both the Prime Minister’s Micro finance scheme and Prime Minister’s Scheme for Small Business Loans would be directed towards the poor sections of society.It is through these schemes that small loans will be given to the poor for business and this they would have to repay in a period of 5 to 7 years. The meeting was further told that almost 100000 people would benefit from this scheme.Under the Youth Training Programme, qualified youth, both from the public and private sector universities and colleges, would be selected for the internship programme. The Prime Minister emphasized for the inclusion of qualified youth from FATA and Balochistan in this programme.Under the Youth Skills Development Programme, skills would be imparted to the youth of the country which would help them in obtaining better jobs.Besides, the Prime Minister directed to initiate the Prime Minister’s laptop scheme at the federal level.The Prime Minister also directed that a scheme for poor students by the name of Prime Minister’s Scheme for Reimbursement of Fee for Less-privileged be initiated so that no one remains without education because of cost involved in education.He also directed to initiate low-cost housing programme and further directed that preference be given to those sections of society which are poor and low-income.The PM directed that in order to ensure transparency, merit and fair play, independent experts and relevant professionals be included in the committees tasked to execute these schemes.

Gomal Zam Dam inaugurated in South Waziristan

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SOUTH WAZIRISTAN (Dunya News) - Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif says the government is working day and night to overcome electricity shortfall.Inaugurating Gomal Zam Dam in South Waziristan‚ he said the project completed at a cost of 22 billion rupees‚ will produce 17.4 megawatt electricity.He said the project will cultivate thousands acres of barren land.Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif and State Minister Abid Sher Ali inaugurated the Dam.Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Engineer Shaukatullah and US Ambassador Richard Olson were also present on the occasion.Meanwhile‚ in an interview‚ Khawaja Asif said the government will overcome power shortage before the next elections. He said modern technology and smart meters will be introduced to overcome power pilferage.To a question‚ Khawaja Asif said 2500 megawatt electricity can be saved through early closures of markets.He said increase of water in Mangla Dam will help enhance electricity generation.The multi-purpose Gomal Zam Dam is Pakistan’s first roller compact concrete (RCC) dam. It will not only irrigate 163,000 acres barren land of Tank district and Kulachi tehsil of D.I.Khan, but will also generate 17.4 MW of low-cost hydel power.According to a report by the Planning Commission, D.I. Khan and Tank are among the 25 poorest districts of the country. The agricultural land either remains ‘barani’ (rain-fed) or the farmers are dependent on indigenous irrigation system known as ‘rod kohi’ (hill torrent).But the commencement of the project will help store the water for irrigation, mitigate floods, and provide the employment opportunities for youth and also bolster the income of poor segments of society.Chinese engineers working on the Gomal Dam in South Waziristan had suspended operations after their engineers were killed in a militant kidnapping in 2004.Later, the contract was given to Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).
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