Tuesday 14 January 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Egyptians vote on new constitution in referendum

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CAIRO (Web Desk) — Egyptians trundled to the polls on Tuesday for the third referendum in three years to approve a new constitution, this time to validate the military ouster of their first fairly elected president, Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.The level of turnout will be the most closely watched measure of success for the plebiscite, widely viewed as the presidential campaign kickoff of Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, the military leader who removed Mr. Morsi.The Brotherhood, the Islamist group that dominated Egypt’s free elections and now constitutes the main opposition, is boycotting the vote as an attempt to legitimize an illegal coup.The government has declared the Brotherhood a terrorist organization, jailed its leaders, seized its assets and criminalized membership. It has shut down all sympathetic Egyptian media outlets and arrested activists for even trying to hang signs or place stickers opposing the new charter.

Floods in Brazil leaves 12 dead, 10 missed

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Twelve people were killed and 10 were missing after flash flooding triggered by heavy rain in the southern Brazilian town of Itaoca, officials said Tuesday in an updated toll.Sao Paulo states civil defense department earlier put the death toll at 10 and added that 332 people -- or about 10 percent of the towns population -- were left homeless by overflowing waters from the Palmital River.Itaoca, located 340 kilometers (210 miles) southwest of Sao Paulo, was still without power and drinking water, and 100 homes were affected, officials said.Some 50 homes were also damaged in the nearby town of Apiai, they added.Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin warned of an extremely serious situation as he toured the area Monday.And the misery is not over yet. Forecasters are predicting more rain in the area over the next few days.

Brazil sees about 50,000 road deaths per year: report

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - About 50,000 people died on Brazilian roads last year, down 10 percent from 2012, according to police estimates published Tuesday in local media.A traffic police report obtained by the O Globo daily logged 8,375 deaths or 23 per day and 103,075 injuries in 185,877 accidents on federal motorways alone in the Latin American giant.But the report estimated that the total for the country of 200 million as a whole was likely nearer 50,000 when taking all classes of roads into account.That would give Brazil a ratio of some 25 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to a European average of 10, according to a 2013 World Health Organization report.The annual number of traffic deaths in Brazil is equal to the number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War, University of Brasilia civil engineering professor Paulo Cesar Marques told O Globo.Marques credited advertising campaigns and tougher punishments for road safety violations as measures helping traffic fatalities fall 10.1 percent compared to 2012, but added Brazil still had much progress to make.Brazil has adopted UN targets stipulating it should aim to halve traffic deaths and injuries by 2020.The road deaths are similar to the number of homicides -- 47,100 in 2012 -- in one of the worlds most violent countries.Police blame excess speed, reckless overtaking, drunken-driving and the poor state of repair of many highways for the vast majority of traffic accidents.

Football: PSG reaches French League Cup semi-finals

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PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain reached the semi-finals of the French League Cup after an ultimately comfortable 3-1 victory away to Bordeaux on Tuesday evening.Javier Pastore, Adrien Rabiot and Blaise Matuidi got the goals for the reigning Ligue 1 champions, while a strike from Andre Biyogo Poko had brought Bordeaux level in the second half at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.It is the first time that PSG have reached the semi-finals of any knockout competition since the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011 and the win keeps them on course for what would be an unprecedented domestic treble.The victory was achieved despite coach Laurent Blancs decision to rest several regular starters, including Thiago Motta, Matuidi and Edinson Cavani.Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos lined-up at right-back, while Zoumana Camara, Pastore and Jeremy Menez all came into the team as PSG sought to beat Bordeaux for the third time this season.The capital club emerged victorious when the teams met in the season-opening Champions Trophy and then ran out commanding 2-0 winners in Bordeaux in the league in September.Here, Zlatan Ibrahimovic - just back from claiming the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year at the FIFA gala in Zurich - had a 40th-minute effort disallowed for offside and then fired a free-kick just wide.But the visitors still went into the interval a goal to the good after Pastore neatly converted a low ball across the area from Lucas.Blanc, who won the League Cup with Bordeaux in 2009, sent on Cavani for Ibrahimovic at the interval but the hosts were back level just three minutes after the restart.A Marco Verratti pass put Rabiot under pressure deep inside his own half and Poko pounced, dispossessing his opponent and then finishing past Salvatore Sirigu to restore parity.Home keeper Cedric Carrasso then made a decisive double intervention, saving from Menez and turning Lucas Dignes follow-up onto the post, but Paris went back in front with six minutes remaining.Pastore robbed Landry NGuemo of possession in midfield and advanced before setting up Rabiot to convert the clinching goal.Soon after, Pastore and Cavani combined to set up substitute Matuidi, who coolly finished past Carrasso, putting the final outcome beyond doubt.The remaining three-quarter-finals will be played on Wednesday, with Nantes hosting Nice, second-tier Troyes facing Evian and Lyon playing host to Marseille, who won the League Cup three years running from 2010 to 2012.

GM announce to pay first stock dividend since 2008

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NEW YORK (AFP) - General Motors Tuesday announced plans to begin paying a quarterly dividend for the first time since the companys 2008 government rescue.GM will begin paying a common stock dividend of 30 cents per share in March, according to a statement released after the stock markets closed.GM chief financial officer Dan Amman said in the statement that an ongoing payout was possible thanks to the companys fortress balance sheet, substantial liquidity, consistent earnings and strong cash flow.This return to shareholders is consistent with our capital priorities and is an important signal of confidence in our plans for a continuing profitable future.A GM spokesman confirmed that the dividend is the reborn companys first since its initial public offering in November 2010. The prior company suspended its dividend in July 2008.Earlier Tuesday, GM said it sold 9.71 million cars last year, a four percent gain. Sales grew seven percent in the United States and 11 percent in China, the worlds leading markets.GMs fortunes have risen in recent years after the US government took control of the automaker with a $50 billion injection in 2008 and the company exited bankruptcy restructuring in July 2009.In December, the US Treasury announced that it had sold its last shares in the company.

White House plays down President Rouhani crowing on nuclear deal

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House Tuesday dismissed an aggressive claim of victory by Irans President Hassan Rouhani over an interim nuclear deal, and attempted to face down rising domestic political pressure over the pact.Washington said Rouhanis comment that world powers were now bowing to Tehran was a symptom of domestic politics and insisted the deal, curbing aspects of Irans nuclear program in return for limited sanctions relief, hinged on its words and not its rhetoric.It is not surprising to us and nor should it be surprising to you that the Iranians are describing the agreement in a certain way towards their domestic audience, spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.It does not matter what they say, it matters what they do.Rouhanis comment, on his official Twitter account, played into complaints of hawkish members of the US Congress that the deal, due to come into force on January 20, gave too much up to Iran for too little in return.Our relationship w/ the world is based on Iranian nations interests. In Geneva agreement world powers surrendered to Iranian nations will, the tweet said.The White House is fighting a battle to prevent Congress from slapping a new round of sanctions on Iran which it says could cause the Islamic republic to walk away from the negotiating table, and eventually push Washington into a war to thwart Tehrans nuclear program.Supporters of tightened sanctions say they have at least 59 votes in the 100-seat Senate and may be heading towards the 67-vote threshold needed to override the veto that President Barack Obama has promised. There is also strong backing for new sanctions in the House of Representatives.Some lawmakers have been irked by White House warnings that voting for new sanctions could unleash a train of events that could lead to war with Iran.Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has so far declined to bring the sanctions bill to the floor, noting that 10 key Democratic committee chairs have called on him to thwart the passage of any measures that could scupper the nuclear diplomacy.Reid spoke a day after Obama publicly called on lawmakers to hold off on new sanctions to avoid disrupting his nuclear diplomacy -- taking place after more than three decades of Cold War-style antagonism between the Islamic republic and a nation it derides as the Great Satan.Lawmakers who support the bill say tough sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table and stiffer measures would increase Obamas leverage in talks between Tehran and the P51 group of world powers.The new measures target the petroleum, mining and engineering sectors of Irans economy, but supporters say they would only come into force if Tehran stops negotiating in good faith.Some lawmakers have not taken kindly to warnings from the White House that backing more sanctions was was effectively a vote for war.I think that is absolutely untrue, an irresponsible assertion, and ought to be clarified and retracted by those who have made it within the administration, said veteran Democratic congressman Steny Hoyer, who nevertheless welcomed the interim deal as a positive step.The Obama administration is also denying claims that the interim deal reached after weeks of talks in Geneva, included a secret side deal on implementation.Let me be very clear: There is no secret agreement here, said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf, adding that the terms of the agreement would be released to Congress once Washington had consulted with its partners in the talks.While the United States and Iran have held direct talks for the first time in decades during a diplomatic thaw triggered by Rouhanis election last year, the foes are still estranged on a string of other geopolitical issues.Washington on Tuesday registered a sharp protest at a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a key player in the nuclear talks, to the grave of Imad Mugniyah, a former leader of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that Mugniyah was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people, including Americans.The inhumane violence that Mugniyah perpetrated -- and that Lebanese Hezbollah continues to perpetrate in the region with Irans financial and material support -- has had profoundly destabilizing and deadly effects for Lebanon and the region, Hayden said.

Three injured as pupil opens fire at New Mexico school

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Three people were wounded after a student opened fire at a school in New Mexico, authorities said Tuesday.The gunman began shooting at Berrendo Middle School in the town of Roswell around 7:30 am (1430 GMT) before being arrested.At this time, we can confirm that two students were injured, a boy and a girl, as well as a school staff member, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez told reporters.One male victim, 12 years old, is currently in critical condition and is in Lubbock hospital. One female victim, who is 13 years of age, is in serious condition.Martinez said the school employee quickly stopped the shooter when he walked right up to him (the gunman) and asked him to set down the firearm, which he did.He was also assisted by a state police lieutenant who was dropping off his own child, she added.The wounded school employee didnt ask for any medical care because he wanted to continue to take care of the children that were in the gym, Martinez added.New Mexico police chief Peter Kassetas said the shooter had probably acted alone.I believe we have the only individual in custody right now thats responsible for this, he said, adding that police had not yet uncovered a motive for the attack.According to early reports, the gunman burst into a school gymnasium and pulled his weapon from a bag before opening fire.The incident was the latest in a long line of US school shootings that have triggered a nationwide debate over gun control in the United States.President Barack Obama called for tighter gun ownership laws in the aftermath of the December 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 children and six adult staff members were shot dead by a heavily armed gunman.

Israel's defence minister apologises to Kerry over diatribe

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israels Minister of Defence Moshe Yaalon apologised Tuesday to US Secretary of State John Kerry after he accused the American of having an obsession with Middle East peace, sparking a furious diplomatic row between the two allies.The White House had described Defence Minister Moshe Yaalons initial comments as offensive, in a mark of the degree of outrage in Washington at the latest public spat between the two countries, which follows a major row over Iran policy.However, in a statement, a contrite Yaalon said: Israel and the United States share a common goal to advance the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians led by Secretary Kerry.We appreciate Secretary Kerrys many efforts towards thats end..The defence minister had no intention to cause any offence to the secretary, and he apologises if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister.In private conversations with Israeli and American officials, revealed by the top-selling Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, Yaalon was quoted as expressing the hope that Kerry, who has made 10 trips to Israel since March, would end his peace push and focus his energies elsewhere.The American plan for security arrangements that was shown to us isnt worth the paper it was written on, Yaalon was quoted as saying, accusing Kerry of being naive.Secretary of State John Kerry -- who arrived here determined, and who operates from an incomprehensible obsession and a sense of messianism -- cant teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians, Yaalon reportedly said.The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be.His comments provoked fury in Washington causing fresh tension between the governments of President Barack Obama and of Netanyahu.US President Barack Obamas spokesman Jay Carney said Yaalons remarks if accurate, are offensive and inappropriate, especially in the light of everything Secretary Kerry is doing to support Israels security needs.Secretary Kerry and his team have been working nonstop in their efforts to promote a secure peace for Israel because of the deep concern the United States has and the deep commitment the United States has for and to Israels future and the Israeli people, Carney said.To question Secretary Kerrys motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defence minister of a close ally.Put this rightA State Department official called on Netanyahu to publicly disavow his ministers comments.We expect the prime minister to put this right by expressing publicly his disagreement with the statements against Secretary Kerry, the official told AFP.Speaking earlier in the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu had chided Yaalon for the personal nature of his criticism of Kerry, although he did not take issue with his comments about US policy.Even when we have disagreements with the United States, it is about the matter at hand and not about the person, Netanyahu said.Kerry coaxed Israelis and Palestinians back into direct negotiations last summer and has since shuttled tirelessly between the two leaderships in a bid to keep the talks alive.His proposals include a security plan for the border between a future Palestinian state and neighbouring Jordan, involving high-tech equipment to enable Israel to reduce or end its troop presence on the ground, Israeli media say.Yaalons remarks came on the back of a US-Israeli spat over a landmark deal Washington and other world powers reached with Iran in November on its controversial nuclear programme.Israel publicly opposed the plan, which will see limited relief for Tehran from Western sanctions in exchange for rolling back parts of its civil nuclear programme, describing it as a disaster and a gift to its biggest foe.Israel has also been at loggerheads with its US ally over its drive to expand its settlements in the occupied West Bank, including annexed Arab east Jerusalem, even while the peace talks with the Palestinians that Kerry helped relaunch are under way.Just last week, Israel unveiled plans to build another 1,800 new settler homes, hot on the heels of Kerrys latest visit.A senior US official on Tuesday reiterated Washingtons opposition to settlement building, which it has called illegitimate.

NADRA chief was not forced to resign: spokesman

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Interior Ministry spokesperson has rejected media impression that Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik resigned due to the pressure.National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Tariq Malik resigned from his office on January 10.According to sources, Tariq Malik sent his resignation to the Prime Minister House and mentioned in it that he served honestly and with dedication and was tendering his resignation in the best interest of the organization.The sources added that Tariq Malik was under extreme pressure by the Ministry of InteriorTariq Malik joined National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) as information technology (IT) professional in 2008. He also served as deputy chairman of NADRA.He was appointed as NADRA chairman in 2012 but the Ministry of Interior sacked him on December 2, 2013. Malik moved Islamabad High Court (IHC) against his removal and the court restored him.According to sources, vote verification issue during general elections 2013 was the main reason behind Tariq Malik s removal. He was also under pressure regarding vote verification process in NA-118 constituency of Lahore.Pakistan Muslim Leagu-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Malik Riaz Hussain was declared successful in NA-118, whereas, his opponent Hamid Zaman from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) had filed a request to the election tribunal to verify the votes.Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) summoned the NADRA chairman on December 31 after initiating an inquiry against him.Tariq Malik was asked to file his reply about the allegations of irregularities in NADRA under his administration but he did not appear before the inquiry committee and termed it as part of smear campaign against him.The FIA had started probing about the interior ministry’s show-cause notice and charge-sheet prepared by the audit authorities.Interior ministry, in the last week of December, had issued a four-page show-cause notice to Tariq Malik, levelling against him charges of concealing the facts, misuse of official powers and financial irregularities.Malik had said the issue of his sacking was being heard in the Islamabad High Court, but the interior minister chose to level “baseless allegations” at a press conference.On December 12, Malik had insisted that no rules were violated upon his assumption of office, dismissing a government claim that his appointment was illegal.The Supreme Court (SC) had directed Islamabad High Court (IHC) on December 10 to settle the case in a month.Forwarding the government’s request challenging the reinstatement, the apex court had also ordered the IHC to make a decision regarding its stay order in 15 days. The opposition parties had also united against the government’s decision of sacking Tariq Malik.According to sources, an audit team had prepared a charge sheet against the NADRA chief on the wishes of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.The sources further said that Tariq Malik stated in the letter that he was quitting the office due to personal reasons.On the other hand, on January 13 Islamabad High Court declared the appointment of National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman Tariq Malik as per law and announced that government s notification regarding his dismissal stands null and void.IHC judge, Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi announced the decision on petitions pertaining to the appointment and dismissal of Tariq Malik as NADRA chairman.“After coming back from vacations I learnt there have been a lot of changes,” Justice Qureshi stated, referring to Malik’s resignation.

Karachi: 10-year-old domestic worker jumps off 6th floor to avoid torture

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KARACHI: (Dunya News) – A 10-year-old domestic worker has reportedly jumped off 6th floor of the building as he attempted to escape day-long torture, Dunya News reported. According to co-worker, 10-year-old Harish was accused of stealing 1 lac rupees by the household of one Dr Munir who took him upstairs and allegedly tortured him all day.Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s Member Provincial Assembly Kurram Sherzaman reportedly rushed the child to hospital where he remains in a critical condition. Dunya News also reported lack of response from the local police on the incident, following which, Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad has taken notice and has sought Inspector General (IG) Sindh to submit the report of the incident. Dr Munir has been arrested by Police and the suspect claims that they only scolded the child upon which he jumped off.Talking to Dunya News, human rights activist Farzana Bari said that lack of response from law enforcing authorities to prevent such incidents is the reason that the households continue to employ and torture the underage domestic workers without the fear of being brought to justice.Dr Munir and his daughter have reportedly misbehaved with PTI MPA for taking the child to hospital and with Dunya News reporter for trying to take their accounts on the incident.Earlier today, a similar incident took place in Multan where a woman traffic police warden, along with her son reportedly tortured a 10-year-old domestic worker Waheed after accusing him of stealing an iPhone from the house.Incidents of deadly violence on child domestic workers are on the rise and according to police estimates, many such incidents go unreported.

Eid Milad un Nabi observed across the country, mobile services restored

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LAHORE/KARACHI/ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: (Dunya News) - Eid Milad-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) celebrations were held across the country today (Tuesday) with religious reverence and fervor renewing the pledge to follow teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).At least 290 processions were carried out in Karachi which joined the central procession at Nishtar Park.In Lahore, the central procession started at Railway Station after Zuhur prayers where participants marched towards its destination Data Durbar while reciting verses and blessings on the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Participants of the procession were sprayed with rose water.Procession in federal capital was initiated at G7 area, whereas Rawalpindi procession started at Jamia Masjid Qadeemi.Throughout these processions, faithful participants recited prayers and sent peace and blessings to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).Major cities including Karachi were at high alert for security situation owing to which aerial monitoring through helicopter was also carried out. Also as an additional security measure, mobile phone service remained suspended in major cities throughout the day and restoration began in the evening.The day started with special prayers for development, safety, peace, unity and brotherhood amongst the followers of Holy Prophet (PBUH). Special security arrangements were made to maintain law and order across the country on the occasion of 12th Rabi-ul-Awal.All major government and private buildings, residential and commercial plazas, markets, mosques, roundabouts and even houses were tastefully decorated with illuminations and glitters.Processions and public gatherings were held in different parts of the country, while faithful actively participated in the programs organized by different local, religious and social organizations. Recitation of Naats/Nasheeds and the Holy Quran, along with competitions were held throughout the day in almost every nook and corner of the country to revive the spirit of Islam and offer respect to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).Earlier today, cakes consisting of thousands of pounds were cut in cities of Gujranwala and Faisalabad and was distributed among the participants of processions.Special security arrangements were made in the federal capital Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and other cities and towns across the country to avoid any untoward incident. Participants of the gatherings were frisk-searched by security personnel to avoid any unwanted incident.Eid Milad un Nabi is a centuries old tradition and is observed with religious fervor especially in Indo-Pak subcontinent, where decorations consisting of illumination and glitters make an irresistible sight.

Nigeria market blast leaves 17 dead

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MAIDUGURI (AFP) - At least 17 people were killed on Tuesday when an explosion ripped through a busy market in a mostly Muslim city in northeast Nigeria on a public holiday marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.From our preliminary reports, we have 17 dead and at least five injured from the blast in the post office area in Maiduguri, the police chief for Borno state, Lawan Tanko, told AFP.Tanko warned that toll could rise as casualties were taken from the bustling market to medical centres for treatment. These figures are likely to change by the time we get full reports from our men in the field, he said.Initial reports suggested the blast was caused by a car bomb or a suicide bomber but there was no immediate confirmation from the authorities.The bomb was detonated in the midst of a large crowd of traders while a truck carrying firewood was passing by, said Tanko.The explosion happened at about 1:30 pm (1230 GMT) in a part of the city hit previously by militants from the outlawed Islamist group Boko Haram.An explosive device concealed in a sack was abandoned near a butchers stall by unknown persons around Kasuwar Jagwal, which hosts meat and grocery stalls, said trader Buba Adam Kolo.Kolo said he saw 20 people lying lifeless on the ground after the blast but added he could not tell whether they were dead or injured.Another trader, who gave his name as Musa Abba, said: I cant say if there are any deaths but its possible because it happened during peak hours.The explosion caused panic in the city, which like most of the rest of northern Nigeria is majority Muslim and was celebrating Eid Milad un Nabi.Everybody was running to save themselves, said Kolo, while other eyewitnesses described the scene as pandemonium.A police officer, who asked not be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the impact of the blast could be felt three kilometres (nearly two miles) away.We heard the explosion from the police station. The market has closed and traders are trekking back home in large numbers and they are passing by our police station.We are very much on alert.City is spiritual home of Boko HaramMaiduguri was the scene of a brazen Boko Haram raid on December 2 last year, when the insurgents burnt aircraft, seized weapons and razed buildings at military bases in the city.Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed five at a village market some 22 kilometres from Maiduguri on Sunday, burning cars, shops and tents storing grain in a deadly rampage.Maiduguri is considered the spiritual home of Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates from Hausa as Western education is sin.The group, considered an international terrorist organisation by the United States, aims to impose a harsh form of Islamic law, sharia, across the country.Thousands of people have died in deadly violence since 2009, both in militant attacks on schools and churches and as a result of the military response to the violence.Attacks in urban centres such as Maiduguri, which is the capital of Borno state, have become rarer, as counter-insurgency operations have forced fighters out into remoter, rural areas.Mobile phone networks have been largely switched off in Maiduguri since a state of emergency was imposed in May last year in a bid to prevent militants from planning attacks.

East Germany sold prisoners blood to the West: report

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BERLIN (AFP) - The former East German communist regime forced prisoners to donate blood for sale to the West and make goods for many companies across the Cold War frontier, media reported Tuesday.Among customers in the West were not just furniture maker Ikea, as previously reported, but also discount supermarket chain Aldi, auto giant Volkswagen and other firms, said a TV report.The new revelations from the 1970s and 80s were to be screened by public broadcaster ARD later Tuesday, based on a historians review of files of East Germanys Stasi secret police and interviews.The German Democratic Republic (GDR), desperate for hard currency, sold the prisoners blood through a Swiss middleman to the Red Cross branch of the southern German state of Bavaria, said the report.Former GDR health official Rudolf Uhlig told the programme that prison visits were well worth the effort... because every time we had 60-70 blood donors, and that was a pretty good success.The Bavarian Red Cross confirmed to the Report Mainz programme that it bought GDR blood in the 1980s, voicing deep regret, but said it was unclear whether it was then aware the blood came from prisoners.Stasi files indicated that the inmates were given no choice, citing an informants report that nurses once refused to cooperate as they realised the poor prisoners... were surely all compelled.Historian Tobias Wunschik told the programme that it was part of the logic of the system... that you not only exploited prisoners labour but... also physically took their blood and sold it in the West.Wunschik, who led the state-commissioned study, also said hundreds of Western firms, more than previously known, bought goods from the GDR, a German-speaking, geographically close low-wage country.In many cases this included goods made by prison labour, Wunschik was quoted as saying, estimating the annual trade in jailhouse products was worth at least 200 million deutschmarks (100 million euros today).Supermarket chain Aldi told the programme that at the time it sourced womens stockings from an East German company, but said it did not know the manufacturer employed female prison labour.Volkswagen bought auto parts partially made under similar conditions but the auto giant also told the programme it did not know at the time prison labour was involved.The Commissioner for Stasi Records, Roland Jahn, demanded German companies now open their archives to help clear up past wrongs, saying: Those who did business with the dictatorship could never be certain under which conditions the products were made .

Four tortured bodies found in Nowshera

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NOWSHERA (Dunya News) – At least four tortured bodies have been recovered in Nowshera on Tuesday.According to police, all the four victims had been shot dead and their bodies were dumped near the river bank on the outskirts Nowshera town.All the bodies have been shifted the bodies to district headquarters hospital for medic-legal formalities.They said the deceased, who could not be identified, might have been kidnapped before being killed.

European markets retreat

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LONDON (AFP) - European stock markets fell on Tuesday as traders digested regional economic data awaiting key figures out of the US and after indices slid across Asia and on Wall Street.Turkey was a focus of attention. The lira sank to a record low of three lira to the euro, as the country remained embroiled in a deep political crisis.Londons FTSE 100 index of top companies fell 0.24 percent to stand at 6,741.04 points amid official data showing Britains annual inflation rate had fallen to 2.0 percent, reaching the lowest level for more than four years.In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 lost 0.60 percent to 9,452.83 points and in Paris the CAC 40 shed 0.50 percent to 4,242.15 in midday deals compared with Mondays closing values.Eurozone industrial output rebounded sharply in November, offering some reassurance that a modest recovery remains on track after heavy falls in October, official data showed on Tuesday.Spanish banks debt to the European Central Bank plunged further in December, data showed Tuesday, a sign of healthier credit conditions for the bailed-out sector.Madrids IBEX 35 stocks index was down 0.41 percent at 10,323 points.All major European indices are on the lower side, losing ground on the back of poor performance in the US and Asia, said Varengold Bank analyst Anita Paluch.In foreign exchange trading, the euro edged up to $1.3671 from $1.3670 late on Monday in New York.The European single currency fell to 83.33 British pence from 83.41 pence Monday. The British pound rose to 1.6404 from $1.6367.Gold prices slipped to $1,248.76 an ounce from $1,257 Monday on the London Bullion Market.Asian markets mostly suffered a sell-off on Tuesday after heavy losses on Wall Street a day earlier fuelled by worse-than-expected US jobs figures.The US economy added 74,000 jobs in December, well below the consensus estimate of 197,000, official data showed last Friday, fuelling speculation the Federal Reserve would delay a further reduction in its stimulus programme, a negative for the dollar.Theres plenty for investors to focus on in the lead up to the opening bell on Wall Street, with US retail sales data being released for December, and (banks) JP Morgan and Wells Fargo reporting fourth-quarter earnings, said market analyst Craig Erlam at Alpari traders.Both of these will be followed very closely by investors, with the former potential providing clues about the pace of Fed tapering and the latter telling us whether the economy can stand on its own two legs.
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