Thursday 12 December 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

GSP Plus status to boost exports: Dar

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ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Finance, Muhammad Ishaq Dar here on Thursday said that the European Union has granted Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus status to Pakistan which would greatly help the country to boost its export.Addressing the concluding session of 3-day 16th Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Conference, he said that to sustain dwindling national economy, government has taken some unpopular and difficult steps. Due to these measures and prudent polices of the government economic indicators were showing positive signs where as the foreign investors confidence to invest in Pakistan was also restored.He said due to corrective measures taken by government, budget deficit has been brought down to 2.2% equal to Rs 570 billion compared to 2.9% equal to Rs 690 billion last year.The minister said revenue collection witnessed 17 percent growth adding that FBR has collected a tax revenue of Rs 792 billion as against Rs 679 billion realized by FBP up to November 2012 (last year).Ishaq Dar said that the government during the first quarter of the current financial year has released Rs 143 billion against the total allocation of Rs. 340 billion under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).The minister said that figures regarding national economy would be announced on quarterly basis and made public to know about the performance of the economy.He further said that exchange rate stability was gradually returning as exchange rate had improved during last days adding that government was determined to bring foreign exchange reserves up US$20 billion by the year 2016.The government was closely monitoring the inflation and taking steps to bring it to single digit to provide maximum relief to a common man in the country, he added.Besides, he said that government has also enhanced allocation for social safety network and was bringing about 5.5 million families in social safety net by increasing the stipend money from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 1200.The Minister said that IFC has announced trade financing facility of ($ 500 million) while Global rupee bond, Euro Bond $ 500 million would be launched and Financial Advisor (FA) in this regard would be appointed shortly.He added that the second tranche of US $137 million from Islamic Development Banks (IDB) has been received.The minister said that government was working on different power sector development projects to overcome the energy issues for rapid economic development adding that work on Nelum Jehlum Hydro Project was accelerated and expected to complete by 2016.

Energy policy step in right direction: President

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KARACHI (APP) - President Mamnoon Hussain Thursday termed the government’s energy policy a step in the right direction and said it would take some time for the situation to improve.The government had started work on various projects to cope with the energy crisis, which would take some time to complete, he said addressing a dinner hosted in his honour by S M Munir, Chairman Din Group of Industries.Mamnoon Hussain said a very talented, honest and dedicated team was serving the country under the leadership of Prime Minister.Referring to the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi, he said it was a good omen that the business community was happy over the operation. The President said next week he himself and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would review the steps taken to control law and order, and for establishing peace in Karachi.The President said the government was aware of the fact that Karachi was an economic hub and peace in the city would improve the economy.He said there were different types of problems in other parts of the country and the government was paying equal attention to settle all.President Mamnoon Hussain said the business community should extend help in promoting education in the country. Over 60 per cent of population of Pakistan comprised youths, and those, who had resources, should come forward to help promote education, he added.He also called for concerted efforts for dispensation of justice.He said peace was imperative for the country’s economic development, and the government was committed to establish lasting peace.When the present government will complete its constitutional tenure, the overall situation of the country will be much better, he said.Earlier, in his welcome address, prominent leader of the business community and Chairman Din Group of Industries S.M. Munir felicitated the President and the government on approval of GSP Plus status to Pakistan by the European Union (EU).He said the GSP Plus status would provide a duty-free access to Pakistani goods to the European markets.S M Munir appreciated that the government was working to minimise the electricity shortfall and the load-shedding of electricity would decrease in the coming days.He said the law and order situation in Karachi had improved after launching of the targeted operation.He also suggested that a fund should be established to help the policemen and the business community could help in this regard.

N. Korea leaders's 'traitor' uncle executed: KCNA

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SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea has executed the uncle of its leader Kim Jong-Un after a shock purge, state news agency KCNA announced early Friday, branding the once-powerful Jang Song-Thaek a traitor for all ages. Jang was executed on Thursday shortly after a special military trial, KCNA reported, after committing such a hideous crime as attempting to overthrow the state by all sorts of intrigues and despicable methods with a wild ambition to grab the supreme power of our party and state.In a viciously-worded attack, the regime accused Jang of betraying the trust of both Kim Jong-Un and his father Kim Jong-Il, saying he had received deeper trust from the younger leader in particular.Branding Jang despicable human scum... worse than a dog, the regime accused him of attempting to stand in the way of Kim Jong-Un's succession, according to KCNA.Jang, who was married to the sister of the late Kim Jong-Il, played a key role in cementing the leadership of the inexperienced Kim.But analysts say the 67-year-old's power and influence had become increasingly resented by his nephew, who is aged around 30.Jang -- seen as Kim's political regent and the country's unofficial number two -- had earlier been stripped of all posts and titles, with the regime accusing him of corruption and building a rival power base.State TV this week showed photos of Jang being dragged out of his seat at a meeting by two officers, in an extremely rare public humiliation of a figure who was then demonised as a drug-taking womaniser.South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Tuesday accused Kim Jong-Un of resorting to extreme violence to cement his leadership.North Korea is now engaged in a reign of terror while carrying out a massive purge to consolidate the power of Kim Jong-Un, she told a cabinet meeting, according to her office.The Kim family has ruled the North for six decades with an iron fist, regularly purging those showing the slightest sign of dissent. Most are executed or sent to prison camps.Analysts warn Jang's ouster -- the biggest political upheaval since Jong-Un took power -- may cause significant instability even in the world's most tightly controlled nation.

UN inspectors confirm Syria chemical attack

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.N inspectors said Thursday that chemical weapons were probably used in four locations in Syria this year in addition to the confirmed attack near Damascus in August.The report by U.N. chemical weapons experts, led by Swedish professor Ake Sellstrom, examined seven alleged chemical weapons attacks and said it lacked information to corroborate the allegations at two locations. The inspectors' limited mandate barred them from identifying whether the government or opposition fighters were responsible for any of the attacks.Sellstrom issued an initial report on Sept. 16 which concluded that evidence collected in the Ghouta area of Damascus following an Aug. 21 attack provided clear and convincing evidence that surface-to-surface rockets containing the nerve agent sarin were used. Graphic video footage showed dozens of people gasping for air and bodies lined up.Thursday's report said evidence indicated chemical weapons were probably used in Khan al Assal outside Aleppo, Jobar in Damascus' eastern suburbs, Saraqueb near Idlib in the northwest, and Ashrafiah Sahnaya in the Damascus countryside.The confirmed use of chemical weapons in Ghouta, and the threat of possible U.S. military action, led to a U.S.-Russian agreement to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons by mid-2014. The process of getting Syrian chemicals that can be used to make weapons out of the country is currently underway.The experts said they collected credible information that corroborates the allegations that chemical weapons were used in Khan al Assal on March 19, 2013 against soldiers and civilians. But the report said the release of chemical weapons at the site couldn't be independently verified because it lacked primary information on how the chemical agents were delivered and because environmental and medical samples weren't scientifically collected, preserved and analyzed.The U.N. mission said it collected evidence consistent with the probable use of chemical weapons in Jobar on Aug. 24, 2013 on a relatively small scale against soldiers. But it said it lacked information on the delivery system and the chain of custody for samples, and said therefore it could not establish the link between the victims, the alleged event and the alleged site.At Saraqueb, the inspectors said they collected evidence that suggests that chemical weapons were used ... on April 29, 2013 on a small scale, also against civilians. Again, they said they lacked information on the delivery system and the chain of custody for environmental samples and therefore couldn't link the event, the site and the deceased woman.The U.N. mission said it collected evidence that suggests that chemical weapons were used in Ashrafia Sahnaya on Aug. 25, 2013 on a small scale against soldiers. But it said it lacked primary information on delivery systems and said samples collected by the U.N. experts one week and one month after the alleged incident tested negative.The report says the U.N. investigative team was unable to make on-site visits to almost all of the sites where chemical weapons allegedly were used, mostly because of poor security conditions. Of the seven sites in the final report, the team did visit Ghouta and Jobar, but it found the Jobar site corrupted by mine-clearing activities.Sellstrom handed his final report on the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.The report was then sent to members of the U.N. Security Council. Ban said he would address the 193-member General Assembly on Friday and the council on Monday about the report's findings.

PSV out, Swansea through in Europa League

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LONDON (AP) - PSV Eindhoven's dismal season reached a new low on Thursday by losing 1-0 at home to Chornomorets Odesa to become the biggest name to crash out of the Europa League.However, English Premier League side Swansea survived a defeat to St. Gallen to advance to the last 32, joining Chornomorets, NK Maribor and Maccabi Tel Aviv in reaching the knockout stage after the final round of group matches.Two more places were up for grabs in the late kickoffs, with Dynamo Kiev needing at least a draw against Rapid Vienna to progress from Group G.PSV is a former European champion and winner of the UEFA Cup the pre-cursor to the Europa League but has fallen on hard times and is languishingin 10th place in the Netherlands' Eredivisie after Saturday's 6-2 humbling by Vitesse Arnhem.Phillip Cocu's side has also exited the Dutch Cup and is now out of Europe thanks to Franck Dja Djedje's 59th-minute goal for Chornomorets, which plays in Ukraine. PSV is without a victory in more than two months.Chornomorets qualified from Group B with Ludogorets Razgrad.Swansea lost 1-0 at St. Gallen, with Marco Mathys scoring the winner, but advanced as the runner-up in Group A because Kuban Krasnodar only drew 1-1 at Valencia, which had already sealed top spot.England will have two teams in the last 32 because Tottenham has already qualified, but Wigan failed to join them after losing 2-1 at Maribor, which climbed to second place in Group D above Zulte Wagerem on goal difference. Zulte lost 2-0 at home to Rubin Kazan.Maccabi Tel Aviv sealed runner-up spot in Group F courtesy of a 1-0 home win over Bordeaux.Fiorentina went through as the unbeaten Group F winner after a 2-1 win against FC Dnipro.Juventus, Ajax, Benfica, Napoli, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Viktoria Plzen and Basel dropped down into the Europa League after finishing third in their Champions League groups. The draw for the 32 takes place on Monday.

Tennis: Nadal wins Prague charity poker event

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PRAGUE (AFP) - Rafael Nadal showed he was not tired of dethroning world number one players when he saw off Daniel Negreanu to win a charity poker tournament in Prague on Thursday.The 100,000-euro ($137,000) tournament was the first-ever live poker event for the 27-year-old Spaniard, who had stripped Serbia's Novak Djokovic of the world's top spot in tennis this year. Nadal has been a fervent poker player since a knee injury sidelined him from his day job last year, but had so far only played in online poker tournaments.I had fun. I had a great experience here playing with friends, playing for a good cause, for charity, Nadal said after the game.The next thing I know is that tomorrow morning I will be on court at 9am practicing tennis.Besides Negreanu, the world number one poker player, Nadal beat Italian downhill star Alberto Tomba, past football legends Ronaldo and Andriy Shevchenko, and finally Dutch field hockey champion Fatima Moreira de Melo in the heads-up.My life is still tennis, playing poker I have fun. I am learning, but at the same time I try to ... be competitive, Nadal told reporters before the tournament.Like tennis, poker is a competition, you need to control your emotions, you need to be focused all the time.You need to have self-control, you have to wait for your moment, he said.Nadal made a blistering return to tennis since his career-threatening knee injury, winning 10 titles -- including the French and US Opens -- and closing out the 2013 season at the top spot of ATP rankings.

Football: Messi departure impossible, says Barca chief

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MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi will be going nowhere as long as Sandro Rosell is in charge at Barcelona, the Catalans' president said Thursday.As long as I'm president of Barca, everything will be done that is possible and even impossible so that Messi stays at the club, said Rosell at an event to present a partnership with American electronics giant Intel.It is extremely difficult, not to say impossible, that Messi will leave the club.Four-time Ballon D'Or winner Messi is currently injured and out of action until January.He is under contract until 2018, which will take him almost up to his 31st birthday. But speculation about Messi's future was sparked on Tuesday by Barca's economic vice-president Javier Faus's assertion that they did not need to renegotiate his contract.Why? His contract was only renegotiated six months ago, said Faus in an interview with Rac1 radio station.According to media claims in Spain, Messi has a 250 million euro ($344m) buy-out clause, although teams that could afford that are few and far between.The rumours about a possible renegotiation seem to stem from a question of salaries.Cristiano Ronaldo signed a new contract at Real Madrid in September allegedly making him the highest paid player in Spain, according to Sports newspaper Marca, on 17 million euros a season, with Messi supposedly being paid only 16 million euros, according to Forbes magazine.

Golf: Rain disrupts Nelson Mandela Championship

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DURBAN (AFP) - Heavy rain again badly disrupted the Nelson Mandela Championship in Durban on Thursday with only four hours and 23 minutes of play possible before the field was called in for the day.A seven-hour delay due to rain marked Wednesday's first day, at the end of which Daniel Brooks was in the lead with an eight under par 62.That round remained ahead by the end of Thursday's play although South African Oliver Bekker did advance to six under through 14 holes to join French pair Edouard Dubois and Romain Wattel in third. Fellow Frenchman Francois Calmels was second after a 63.Bekker, who turned 29 on Wednesday, said: You just keep your head down and grind. There's nothing you can do about it. If you can get past the mental battle and accept that it's the same for everyone, then I think you've already beaten half of the field.I'm actually happy with the delay, to be honest. The weather is brutal out there at the moment and I've got a couple of tough holes coming up, so hopefully it clears up and those holes become a little easier when I go back out.The first round will resume at the crack of dawn on Friday with the second round due to start shortly afterwards.

Oil little changed as demand concerns linger

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NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices barely budged Thursday, as concern about weak demand for gasoline and diesel fuel offset solid retail sales data in the U.S.Benchmark U.S. oil for January delivery rose 6 cents to close $97.50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.The market was buoyed somewhat after the Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.7 percent in November. It was the biggest gain in five months and suggested consumer spending would increase during the winter season.But there was lingering concern about fuel demand a day after the Energy Department said gasoline and distillate supplies increased last week more than three times what analysts were expecting.Markets will be looking for fresh direction from next week's policy meeting of the Federal Reserve. There are increasing expectations that the Fed will start to cut back its monetary stimulus which has helped push investors to commodities like oil in search of profits outpacing low bonds yields.In other markets, Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, was down 74 cents at $108.96 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Dollar regains ground on euro, yen

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar rebounded slightly against other major currencies as US bond yields turned higher on rising expectations of a Federal Reserve taper of its stimulus program next week.Although many analysts said the move could be put off for another month, solid data on US retail sales for November added to the picture of a stronger US economy, raising the chances of an initial cutback to the $85 billion a month bond buying program.At 2200 GMT the euro was at $1.3752, down from $1.3785 late Wednesday. The dollar rose to 103.36 yen from 102.40 yen, and the British pound fell to $1.6350 from $1.6374.The euro also gained on the Japanese currency, to 142.15 yen from 141.19. US retail sales rose a slightly better-than-expected 0.7 percent in November, a key month that kicks off the important year-end holiday shopping season.That helped send the yield on the 10-year US Treasury to 2.88 percent from 2.84 percent Wednesday; the 30-year rose to 3.90 percent from 3.88 percent.All of this price is consistent with increased expectations for Fed tapering, said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.The Federal Reserve holds its final policy meeting of the year next Tuesday and Wednesday, with all eyes waiting to see if it judges the economy strong enough to cut back the stimulus.The dollar also rose against the Swiss franc, to 0.8892 Swiss franc from 0.8863 franc.

Pakistan drop batsmen Jamshed, Amin for SL series

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ISLAMABAD (AP) - Batsmen Nasir Jamshed and Umar Amin were dropped by Pakistan on Thursday for the five-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka starting in the United Arab Emirates next week.Both left-handed batsmen featured in Pakistans first bilateral ODI series victory against South Africa just over two weeks ago, when they defeated the Proteas 2-1.Jamshed tallied 26 runs in two matches while Amin figured in only one ODI, scoring 25.The selectors included opening batsman Sharjeel Khan, who made his international debut against Afghanistan in a Twenty20 international last Sunday.He also scored 34 against Sri Lanka in Pakistans narrow three-wicket win in a T20 at Dubai on Wednesday.The team also included Pakistans rising fast bowlers, Anwar Ali and Bilawal Bhatti, who played key roles in the series win against South Africa.Pakistan will be without injured fast bowler Mohammad Irfan after the 2.16-meter (7-foot-1) paceman injured a hip while bowling against South Africa in a T20 in UAE last month. Irfan also missed the tour to South Africa and is highly unlikely to be part of the squad for the three tests against Sri Lanka later this month.Sharjah hosts the first ODI on Wednesday, and the third on Dec. 22. The second will be at Dubai on Dec. 20 before both teams compete in back-to-back ODIs at Abu Dhabi on Dec. 25 and 27.The test series begins in Dubai from Dec. 31.Pakistan ODI squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood, Haris Sohail, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali, Sohail Tanvir, Bilawal Bhatti.

West Indies collapse under lightning Boult

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand seamer Trent Boult produced career best figures of 6-40 when he wrapped up the West Indies tail in a fiery 14-ball spell at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Friday.The West Indies were all out for 193 in reply to New Zealand's first innings 441, and have been forced to follow on to save the second Test.After the West Indies resumed the morning at 158-4, they lost six wickets for 33 runs, with Boult claiming five dismissals to go with the key scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul he took the previous day.Only Marlon Samuels (60) and Kirk Edwards (55) produced any resistance.Boult, a 24-year-old left-arm seamer, has taken 63 wickets at 28.00 in his 19-Test career, with his previous best figures being 6-68 against England earlier this year.The West Indies were also forced to follow on in the first Test in Dunedin last week and fought back in their second innings to salvage a draw.

Bravo to lead Windies ODI squad against New Zealand

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WELLINGTON (AFP) - All-rounder Dwayne Bravo will lead the West Indies limited overs squad named Friday for a series of five one-day internationals against New Zealand starting later this month.However big-hitting opener Chris Gayle, who has missed the current Test series against New Zealand following a hamstring injury, remains unavailable, as does all-rounder Kieron Pollard who has a knee injury.The lineup includes nine members of the squad currently in the middle of a three-Test series against New Zealand. The squad for two Twenty20 matches next month will be named later.ODI squad: Dwayne Bravo (capt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Sunil Narine, Kieran Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons.

Windies star Gayle shrugs off three car crashes

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KINGSTON (AFP) - West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle revealed Thursday that he had come through three car crashes in quick succession.The big-hitting 34-year-old batsman, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, said the triple misfortune had befallen him since he returned from the tour of India three weeks ago.Since home I've been in 3 Car accidents... None Major - Luckily I'm ok and well. It could have been worst. GiveThanks, Gayle wrote on Twitter.Gayle's hamstring injury forced him to miss West Indies' ongoing tour of New Zealand.

Gruesome gift that keeps on giving: $200 to sponsor museum skulls

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(Reuters) - A Philadelphia museum has the perfect holiday gift idea for the person who has everything, including a love of science and a dark sense of humor.A $200 donation buys the preservation of one of 139 skulls dating back to the 19th century in a collection at the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.Subtle vibrations from footsteps of museum patrons have caused the skulls, which have been on continuous display for more than 100 years, to lose or crack their teeth, said curator Anna Dhody.They need help, she said. They need saving.Money raised through the Save Our Skulls campaign will be used to build better mounts.The skulls were amassed by 19th-century Viennese scientist Josef Hyrtl to debunk the study of phrenology, the belief that the shape of a skull determines a person's moral caliber and that different races are actually different species.By collecting predominantly Caucasian skulls, he showed the vast degree of variation, Dhody said.In doing so, she said, he was able to prove that sweeping statements based on skull shape were not accurate. For that he was forced into early retirement.Hyrtl's skulls were collected by means that today would be considered unethical, including employing body snatchers who stole them from graves, according to historical documents.They came from a wide geographic area, including Egypt, the Balkans, Germany and what is now Italy. He sold them to the museum in 1874.Donors can choose a specific skull to sponsor from a list on the museum's website. Still available is the one from Stef Milanovic, a 24-year-old who died while imprisoned in a fortress.In exchange, donors or their loved ones receive a photograph of the sponsored skull, a plaque, and their name shown next to the display for 12 months.The museum, initially designed for medical students, is now open to the general public. Visitors can see an extensive collection of 19th-century medical oddities, including a massive human colon.Besides its historical significance, the Hyrtl collection has contemporary uses. Scans of the skulls appear in research databases used for medical purposes, identify human remains and aid in designing bicycle helmets, Dhody said.
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