Friday 28 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Pakistan to take on S. Africa in U-19 final today

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DUBAI (Online) - Pakistan will take on South Africa in the final of Under-19 World Cup at Dubai today (Saturday).England was edged out by Pakistan in the semi-final match. Zafar Gohar and Amad Butt started in the battle. The pair came to rescue when Pakistan were in the doldrums, chasing 205 target set by England.Pakistan chased the target and beat England by three wickets, shattering England’s dream of reaching their first U-19 WC final since 1998.On the other hand, South Africa beat Australia by 80 runs in second semi-final and marched into the final.

Siddiqui briefs PM on the dialogue process

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ISLAMABAD (Online): The co-coordinator of the government dialogue committee Irfan Siddiqui called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Friday and briefed him on the status of talks.They discussed all the matters related to on-going peace efforts.According to sources, the PM said that we are still open to the dialogue process with those who would lay down their armsHe said dialogue was the first option for the government and the military leadership, but no-one should have any misunderstanding about the capability of the armed forces, sources said.He said that the Taliban must announce ceasefire and lay down their arms if they want dialogue process to progress.

Obama 'deeply concerned' by Russian military moves in Ukraine

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama said Friday he was deeply concerned about reports of Russian military activity in Ukraine and warned there would be costs to any infringement of its sovereignty.The United States will stand with the international community in affirming that there will be costs for any military intervention in Ukraine, Obama told reporters at the White House.We are now deeply concerned by reports of military movements taken by the Russian Federation inside of Ukraine, he said.Obama recognized that Russia had interests and cultural and economic ties with Ukraine, following the ouster of the pro-Moscow government in Kiev, and also had a military facility in Crimea.But he said any violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilizing.The president did not say whether the United States had intelligence as to whether reports quoting a Ukrainian official that 2,000 Russian troops had landed in the Crimea were correct. But he warned a Russian military intervention in the post-Soviet state would represent a profound interference in matters that must be determined by the Ukranian people.

Russia sent 'several hundred' troops into Ukraine: US official

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Russia has sent several hundred troops into Ukraine's Crimea region, US defense officials said Friday, after Kiev called on Moscow to withdraw its forces from the peninsula. The comments marked the first confirmation from President Barack Obama's administration that Russia had launched an incursion into Crimea.It looks like they've moved several hundred troops there (into Crimea), a senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.The Russians had not given the US government advance notice of the action or explained its intentions since the operation was launched, officials said.But Pentagon officials stressed Washington was focused on diplomacy, and there was no serious consideration being given to any US military action.It is now in the realm of diplomacy, said a second defense official, who asked not to be named.Officials also said they were not aware of any request from Ukraine for military assistance.Military officers said so far there were no reports of any armed clash between Russian and Ukrainian troops.Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby declined to say if the Obama administration shared Ukraine's view that the Russians had staged an invasion of Crimea.We're assessing the situation, and we are not prepared to characterize it, Kirby told reporters.US officials pointed out that Washington did not intervene in a conflict in 2008 when Russia sent troops into Georgia over the disputed breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Ukraine's interim president Oleksandr Turchynov earlier accused Russian soldiers and local pro-Kremlin militia of staging raids on Crimea's main airport and another base on the southwest of the peninsula where pro-Moscow sentiments run high.AFP reporters in Crimea said dozens of men in battle fatigues and armed with Kalashnikovs encircled Simferopol airport late on Friday.Witnesses also reported seeing several armored vehicles rumble across Simferopol's main streets and at least eight cargo planes bearing the Russian tricolour flag landing at a Ukrainian military air base just north of the city on Friday evening.

Tennis: Brilliant Federer stuns Djokovic in Dubai

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DUBAI (AFP) - Roger Federer showed an enterprising new side to his game as he beat Novak Djokovic for the first time in 18 months and ended the top seed's defence of the Dubai Open title.The record 17-time Grand Slam title winner beat the six-time major champion 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, turning the match around not only with scintillating groundstroke hitting but with some bold approaches to the net.Djokovic looked the more likely winner when he got within a point of going a break up in the fifth game of the second set, but a couple of minutes later came a short rain delay which halted his momentum.After that Federer's game rose to much higher levels, and his increasing willingness to come forward, which earned him 11 points from 17 net forays, seemed to bear the stamp of his new coach, Stefan Edberg.There was a buzz out there tonight, and I was able to enjoy myself with that crowd, five-time Dubai champion Federer said on court. For some reason I had a tough start but the crowd kept pushing me on and I played well. It's a quick court so I am always trying to be aggressive. I wish I could do Stefan's volleys, but I work with what I have.Later the 32-year-old was asked when he might be back to his best again, after a difficult 2013. I hope it's now, he said. It's all happening. Beating Novak on the hard courts here in Dubai, it's tough. This is a big step in the right direction for me. It gives me a lot of confidence.Federer also improved what he calls his transition game -- the strokes and timing which facilitate his movement to the forecourt -- and from late in the second set he generated a spell of six winning games out of seven.Djokovic may have suffered from lack of match practice -- this was only his third match since losing his Australian Open title more than five weeks ago, and although he played some great counter-hitting rallies he never looked like stopping Federer when he was on a roll.Returning at love-30 on his serve after the rain, Djokovic immediately hit a backhand drive into the net, and lost that pivotal game when he failed to land his first serve and followed it with another drive into the net.The first game of the final set saw Djokovic drop serve again with a double fault, which was also crucial, making both Federer and the crowd believe he could win.Although Djokovic did play his part in a sensational eight-minute fifth game in the final set, he could do nothing about a roaring forehand cross court pass with which Federer achieved a double break.I knew I was in a bit of trouble and not looking good at all because he has a tendency to really run with it and then play more freely on your serve and he plays very dangerous, said Federer, who had lost three matches in a row to Djokovic before Friday.So for me it was just a matter of trying to play consistent but remain aggressive. Sometimes be also overly aggressive and see if it works. When it did, it put him 17-15 up in their head-to-heads and prevented Djokovic earning a repeat of last year's final against Tomas Berdych, the world number six from the Czech Republic.Djokovic said Federer was an eventual worthy winner.Even though I was the better player and I felt I was in control for the first hour or so, that was not enough, because a few points can really decide the winner and it can change, said the world number two.Congratulations to him for coming back into the match. He deserved to win.Berdych reached the final with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber, the seventh-seeded German, earning him his 16th win in 17 matches.

Tennis: Nadal, Djokovic lead names on ITPL draft

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DUBAI (AFP) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, as well as former stars Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, lead the names saying they are prepared to take part in the planned International Tennis Premier League (ITPL).However, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova are the most notable absentees from the list of players released on Friday to participate in a 'draft' of 70 male and female players in Dubai on Sunday.The players, put into different categories according to their status and market values, will go up for auction, with the five venues -- expected to be Hong Kong, Mumbai, Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur -- competing against each other to bring the players to their city.Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray are listed as 'Icon Players' along with Stanislas Wawrinka, Agassi and Sampras, as well as women's world number one Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki.There is also a 'Past Champions' category, featuring eight former tour stars, including Pat Rafter, the former US Open champion.In addition, there are four more categories of current tour players, while a handful of doubles players will also feature in the draft for the tournament, which is likely to be staged in the traditional off-season between late November and late December.Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, Sharapova and Australian pen champion Li Na, the women's world number two, have all declined invitations.The tournament, which is the brainchild of Mahesh Bhupathi, the 12-time doubles Grand Slam champion from India, could have implications for the established men's and women's circuits, the ATP Tour and the WTA Tour, which have dominated the sport since the 1970s.Players who have often complained about the demands of the long seasons on the tour seem set to lay themselves open to charges of hypocrisy by taking part in the planned event. I think it's a fantastic concept if it happens, obviously, said Djokovic on Thursday. I hope and I believe it will.It's going to promote tennis in the Asian part of the world. That is a huge market. It's a fun concept. It lets the players enjoy themselves on court and off court together.It's something that we don't get to see that much, the team concept. It's not that easy to realise, because it's a huge programme and project. Hopefully, I'm going to try to be part of it.Federer, though, sounded more cautious.Firstly, I want to see whether it takes off or not. I know a lot of people have invested in it or are part of it.Anywhere where tennis grows is a good thing, so I hope it takes off and becomes very successful.The likelihood is of eight matches between five teams, on a home-and-away basis, each match of one set, in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles, and legends' singles.Each set will be shorter with a one-point decider at deuce and a tie-break at 5-5. It should all last about three hours, tailored for television.

Golf: McIlroy clings to Honda Classic clubhouse lead

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PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) - Rory McIlroy held a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Brendon de Jonge during Friday's second round of the US PGA Honda Classic while top-ranked Tiger Woods struggled to make the cut.McIlroy held his nerve after two early birdies to finish with a flourish, firing a four-under par 66 that left the 24-year-old world number eight from Northern Ireland on 11-under 129 through 36 holes at PGA National.Zimbabwe's De Jonge fired a 64 but a closing bogey kept him from a share of the midway lead, leaving him on 130 at the $6 million event with players still on the back nine.American Russell Henley was third in the clubhouse on 132 with England's Lee Westwood and Scotsman Russell Knox another shot back with Welshman Jamie Donaldson and American Ryan Palmer on 134 through 36 holes.Woods, a 14-time major champion who has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, was clinging to the cutline on the number at level par for the event, one-under for the day, through 15 holes.Woods, who opened with a 71, needed to snap a streak of five rounds at par or worse at PGA National to reach the weekend.McIlroy teed off on the back nine and found the right rough off the 11th tee on his way to a bogey. Going over the 12th green led to another bogey.But McIlroy turned around the day with a five-foot birdie putt at the 16th and a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-5 18th.It was a sign of maturity, McIlroy said. I didn't panic. I didn't try to do anything differently. I tried to keep doing everything that I had been doing.On his second nine, McIlroy ran off three birdies in a row starting at the par-5 third, where he left a 53-foot eagle putt inches short for a tap-in birdie.

Formula One: Perez on top in Bahrain, Red Bull recover

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MANAMA (AFP) - Force India's Sergio Perez topped the time charts for the second successive day of pre-season Formula One testing on Friday as world champions Red Bull finally found some pace.Perez clocked 1min 35.570sec off a marathon 108 laps with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso just behind on 1:35.634 off 122 laps.But Red Bull's Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was third-fastest with a best time of 1:35.743 having completed 66 laps, almost twice as many as Thursday's problem-plagued session.It went a lot better today, said Ricciardo, who was a despondent seventh on Thursday.In the afternoon we did some good stuff. We had a go on the soft tyre, which was nice, to see how the car responds with a bit more grip. We also did one long run at the end, which was very important, just to see how the car is behaving with the tyres. A big improvement everywhere over yesterday and a much more optimistic outlook now I think. We still have a lot to learn and understand, but we're making progress and the past two days have been a big step in the right direction.Ricciardo has now completed his winter testing with world champion Sebastian Vettel to take over the driving duties on Saturday and Sunday before the teams head for Australia and the March 16 Melbourne opener.Felipe Massa in the Williams was fourth-fastest on Friday with Jenson Button in a McLaren fifth and Marussia's Jules Bianchi a surprise sixth-fastest.Mercedes endured a difficult day even though Lewis Hamilton managed 89 laps, with a best time of 1:39.041 for seventh spot.Hamilton had to cut short his afternoon session after the car developed gearbox trouble.Like every team, we're encountering problems every day and we've still got some work to do in terms of both reliability and speed, said Hamilton.There are no specific problem areas, just lots of different things we need to improve. It's important to get as much mileage under our belts as we can and just as important to discover any problems before we get to Melbourne. It might be frustrating at times but finding them at this stage is actually a positive. We really don't know where anyone stands right now.Today was a fairly average day but I've got one more to go before we get to Melbourne, so hopefully that will be a bit more productive.

'Dead' man wakes up in US funeral home: report

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A 78-year-old American man who was declared dead and taken to a funeral home dramatically woke up as he was about to be embalmed, US media reported Friday.Walter Williams was registered dead on Wednesday evening after medics failed to find his pulse. He was transported to the Porters and Sons Funeral Home in Lexington, Mississippi.However, a few hours later when workers were about to prepare his corpse they noticed Williams moving in his body bag.He was not dead, long story short, funeral home manager Byron Porter told local television station WAPT, noting that he had never seen anything like it before.Williams's daughter, Martha Lewis, said: I don't know how much longer he's going to grace us and bless us with his presence, but hallelujah, we thank him right now, right nowA local coroner said Williams' pacemaker may have stopped working and then started up again.

'World's longest aircraft' unveiled in Britain

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LONDON (AFP) - An airship-type vehicle billed by its makers as the world's longest aircraft currently in operation was unveiled in Britain on Friday.The Airlander, which was originally developed for the US military, is 300 feet (91 metres) long, according its British maker Hybrid Air Vehicles.The environmentally friendly helium-filled behemoth is designed to stay airborne for up to three weeks and can carry up to 60 tonnes, the company said.It was shown off on Friday in a giant hangar in Cardington, central England, where great British airships of the past were built, including the ill-fated R101.The R101 crashed in 1930 on its maiden voyage, killing 48 passenger and crew.The new craft is longer than the current record holder, the Russian Antonov An-225, which is 84 metres long, and the Boeing 747-8, at 76 metres long.But it is dwarfed by airships of the past such as the German zeppelin the Hindenburg, which was 244 metres long. Filled with hydrogen, the Hindenburg famously crashed in the United States in 1937, killing 36 people.The Airlander is essentially three streamlined airship-type bodies merged into one with wings and rotary engines.It was built for the US military but the latter cancelled the contract after it was delivered.Its makers, who have received a 2.5 million pounds ($4.1 million, 3.0 million euro) British government grant, now say they intend to build hundreds of the aircraft.British Business Secretary Vince Cable said the innovative craft has the potential to lead the world in its field.

Pakistan economy grows beyond targets

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KARACHI (AFP) - Pakistan recorded five percent growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the central bank said Friday, beating its target and almost doubling the figure for the same period last year.The State Bank of Pakistan data for the early months of the financial year began in July, 2013 said GDP grew by 5.0 percent, compared with only 2.9 percent in the first quarter of the last fiscal year.Nuclear-armed Pakistan, plagued by a bloody, destabilising Islamist insurgency and chronic power shortages, has struggled to energise its economy in recent years.Growth has bumped along well below the level experts say is needed to absorb new entrants to the workforce from Pakistan's growing, youthful population.Since the macroeconomic indicators were favourable at the start of the year, the increase in real GDP growth in fiscal year 2014 was discernible, the bank said.Pakistan's economists had set a growth target for the current financial year of 4.4 percent, and the central bank in earlier reports had forecast growth of four percent.The upbeat first quarter performance came on the back of good performances by the industrial and services sectors, the report said.However the bank warned that inflation swelled to 8.1 percent in the first quarter compared with 5.6 percent in the corresponding period last year.The IMF approved a $6.7 billion bailout loan package for Pakistan in September last year to help the country achieve economic reforms, particularly in its troubled energy sector.The fund also observed that Pakistan's economy was picking up.

Dollar's weakness boosts oil prices

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NEW YORK (AFP) - New Yorks main contract, West Texas Intermediate for April delivery, rose to $102.59 a barrel, a modest increase of 19 cents from Thursdays close.In London trade, Brent North Sea crude for April added 11 cents to settle at $109.07 a barrel.On the last day of trade in February, WTI gained 5.2 percent over the month and Brent increased 2.3 percent.After opening in negative territory, oil prices pushed into the green as the dollar eased against other major currencies.It was the dollar that slightly lifted commodities, said Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks and Opinion. A weaker greenback tends to lift demand for dollar-priced crude oil by making it relatively cheaper.The US Department of Commerce cut its fourth-quarter growth estimate for the worlds largest crude-oil consumer to 2.4 percent, from an initial reading of 3.2 percent.Though the downgrade was a bit steeper than expected, analysts said the picture of moderate growth was little changed.Markets also kept an eye on Chinas yuan, which tumbled to an eight-month low against the US dollar, sparking concerns about the weaker purchasing power of China, the worlds largest energy consumer.Despite Brents slight gain Friday, Commerzbank analysts predicted it was due for a fall losses due to plentiful supply, the imminent end of winter in the northern hemisphere and reduced crude oil processing by refineries while maintenance work is carried out.We believe that Brent will continue to fall further towards the middle of the trading corridor of $100-110 per barrel over the next few weeks, they said in a research note.Investors were also watching tumultuous events in Ukraine, where the ousted pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, insisted Friday he had not been overthrown. The new pro-Europe authorities, meanwhile, said there was an armed invasion of Ukraines volatile Crimean peninsula by Russian troops.JPMorgan Commodities Research analysts noted that Ukraine is neither a major oil producer nor oil consumer.But Ukraine is a vitally important transit country for Russian energy exports: more than 70 percent of Russias gas and oil flows to Europe pass through its territory. In turn, Europe is the buyer for nearly 90 percent of Russias oil exports.

Pakistan clears Sialkot of match fixing

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KARACHI (AFP) - Investigators cleared Pakistans Sialkot team of match-fixing Friday citing insufficient evidence to support the allegations.The Sialkot Stallions, led by former national captain Shoaib Malik, had been accused of fixing a recent match against the Karachi Dolphins.The case was investigated by a three-man team from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which submitted its report on Friday.A PCB statement said that there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations of unfair play.In case of new evidence the matter should be re-examined, it added.The allegations were raised by former Pakistan batsman and cricket commentator Basit Ali following the Faysal Bank T20 Cup match in Rawalpindi on February 11, in which Sialkot were bowled out for 91 and lost by six wickets.Sialkot had already qualified for the semi-final stages of the high-profile competition while the Karachi outfit had been ousted.The PCB statement said the investigation had included hearings with Basit, players from Sialkot, the teams staff and match officials.Basit openly criticised the match in television commentary which led to a protest by Sialkot players.It is not the first time Sialkot have been accused -- Malik was banned for one Test and fined 75 percent of his match fee after admitting to deliberately throwing a match in the first edition of the national Twenty20 in 2005.Match fixing has long haunted Pakistan cricket.Former captain Salim Malik and paceman Ata-ur Rehman were banned for life after a match fixing inquiry in 2000.Australian players Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May alleged Malik, then Pakistan captain, offered them bribes to underperform during their tour of Pakistan in 1995.Former captains Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul Haq were among six players fined by the same inquiry in 2000.Three Pakistani players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer -- were banned for a minimum of five years on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistans tour of England in 2010.Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria is also serving a life ban for spot-fixing during a county match in England in 2009.

Lumb becomes second Englishman to hit debut ton

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NORTH SOUND (AFP) - Michael Lumb became only the second Englishman to make a century on his one-day international debut when he reached three figures against the West Indies on Friday.Lumb, 34, reached his century off 109 balls having hit seven fours and two sixes as England took control of the first match in the three-game series.South African-born opener Lumb becomes the just the ninth man to hit a century on debut and the second English player after Dennis Amiss in 1972.

West Indies beat England by 15 runs in first ODI

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NORTH SOUND (AFP) - West Indies defeated England by 15 runs in the first one-day international on Friday after the visitors squandered an excellent platform that had put them in position to take the lead in the three-match series.Replying to the home sides competitive total of 269 for six, England were restricted to 254 for six after cruising along merrily at 180 for two in the 37th over.Michael Lumbs fluent 106 on ODI debut, only the second England player after Dennis Amiss to achieve the feat, and an opening partnership of 96 with fellow first-timer Moeen Ali (44), seemed to ensure that most of the hard work was done in pursuit of a morale-boosting victory following the harrowing tour of Australia.But just as in the West Indies innings, when the home side plundered 116 runs off the last ten overs, England lost their way in the home stretch, losing four wickets for 31 runs.If you look at both innings, we were brilliant for 40 overs and then struggled, said England captain Stuart Broad.I wouldnt look too much at the batting. It was the last ten overs with the ball that really hurt us.Much of that English discomfort in the field in the final stages of the West Indies innings was caused by Darren Sammy.Coming to the crease after the fall of Lendl Simmons for 65 and a 108-run partnership with skipper Dwayne Bravo, the hosts were still labouring to get any momentum at 153 for five in the 40th over.But the former captain changed all that, bludgeoning his way to 61 off just 36 balls with five fours and four sixes as he and the man who replaced him at the helm cashed in on Broads decision to return to the fast-medium bowlers at the end of the innings.Bravos unbeaten 87 off 91 balls (4 fours, 1 six) was also entertaining, the pair carting the England bowling to all parts of the huge Sir Vivian Richards ground in taking 116 runs off the hapless bowlers before Sammy fell to Tim Bresnan off the final ball.Despite taking three wickets, Bresman and fellow fast-medium bowler, Barbadian-born Chris Jordan, conceded 135 runs off a combined 19 overs.That was in stark contrast to the economy and effectiveness of the slow bowling trio of James Tredwell, Ali and Joe Root.They exploited the helpful conditions in the early going -- Root opened the bowling with Broad -- so successfully that the West Indies were almost in ruins at 45 for four.Lumb, a member of Englands World Twenty20-winning squad in the Caribbean in 2010, also took a liking to the faster stuff offered by the West Indies at the start of the run-chase.In his first senior international match, Ali was also at ease and the pair of left-handers were on the verge of a century opening stand when Dwayne Smith removed Ali to a catch at long-on.Luke Wright fell cheaply but Root kept England ahead of the game, seeing Lumb to the three-figure landmark off 117 balls with seven fours and two sixes before the 34-year-old South African-born batsman gave Bravo a comfortable catch at cover off Ravi Rampaul.That proved to be the turning point with the West Indies able to build pressure and take more wickets as the captain turned to his spinning trump-card.We back our bowling group to defend 250-plus anytime, said Bravo.Sunil Narine had five overs to bowl and those were key, and we had Ravi Rampaul still to come as our best finishing bowler.Narines mesmerising variations were too much for England to handle in the pressure situation, and reduced to 211 for six in the 43rd over, there were to be no heroics from Ravi Bopara in his 100th ODI or Bresnan to give England anything like a glimmer of hope at the end.
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Thursday 27 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Iraq attacks kill 37, PM slams foreign aid to jihadists

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Bombings in a Shiite-majority area of Baghdad and other attacks killed 37 people on Thursday, as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki accused neighbouring states of backing jihadists in Iraq.The government has failed to curb a year-long surge in violence that has reached levels not seen since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a brutal period of sectarian killings in which tens of thousands died.In the deadliest attack on Thursday, an explosives-rigged motorcycle ripped through an area of motorcycle shops in the Shiite-majority Sadr City district of Baghdad, killing at least 27 people and wounding 40, the interior ministry said.And a car bomb in Sadr City killed at least one person and wounded five, officials said.Sunni extremists frequently target members of Iraq's Shiite majority, who they consider apostates.The capital is hit by near-daily bombings and shootings, including periodic coordinated vehicle bomb attacks that leave dozens of people dead.In Mishahada, north of Baghdad, a car bomb exploded near an army patrol, killing at least two soldiers and wounding three.Other attacks hit areas in northern Iraq.A roadside bomb exploded near a Sahwa anti-Al-Qaeda militia patrol in the Sharqat area, killing two fighters and wounding four, while a roadside bomb near a police station in Tuz Khurmatu killed two people and wounded 15.And three soldiers died in clashes with militants in Kirkuk province.The latest violence came as Maliki accused foreign states of backing a powerful jihadist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq.Some states do not want ISIL, especially on their territory, but they want ISIL in Iraq for sectarian reasons, Maliki said in an interview broadcast on Iraqiya state television.We know the details of ISIL and its foreign ties and the ties of states to it, and the funding that comes to it, Maliki said.The premier was apparently referring to Sunni-majority Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Iraq's neighbour to the south.Militants in Iraq have been bolstered by widespread discontent among members of the country's Sunni Arab minority, who say they are marginalised and unfairly targeted with heavy-handed security measures, and by the bloody civil war in neighbouring Syria.In a sign of the reach of militants and the weakness of security forces, the city of Fallujah -- just a short drive from Baghdad -- and shifting parts of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi, to its west, have been held by anti-government fighters since early January.Maliki said in the interview that except for Fallujah, Anbar province was under government control, though militants in fact hold areas outside the city.Of the situation in Fallujah, he said: God willing, it will end soon.Nationwide, violence has killed more than 710 people since the beginning of the month, and over 1,700 so far this year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

Obama to meet Palestinian leader Abbas on March 17: US

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama will meet Mahmud Abbas on March 17, stepping up Washington's efforts to convince the Palestinian leader to embrace the US vision of a peace deal with Israel.The meeting will come two weeks after Obama's planned encounter with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, which will also take place at the White House.The President looks forward to reviewing with President Abbas the progress in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.They will also discuss our continuing effort to work cooperatively to strengthen the institutions that can support the establishment of a Palestinian state.US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been mounting an exhaustive diplomatic push, said Wednesday that his quest to seal a full Middle East peace deal will slip beyond an April deadline. Kerry first hopes to convince both sides to agree a framework to guide the talks.Then we get into the final negotiations. I don't think anybody would worry if there's another nine months, or whatever it's going to be... But that's not defined yet, Kerry said in a roundtable discussion with a small group of news organizations, including AFP.Kerry coaxed the two sides back to the negotiating table in late July, after Obama's initial drive to secure a peace deal foundered in his first term.Despite Kerry's intense attention, the talks have shown little sign of progress, with each side blaming the other for the stalemate. But Kerry insisted that both parties were still in the middle of the talks. I laugh at people who say it's not going anywhere. They don't know because we're not talking about where it's at. They have no clue where our negotiations are and whether they could go anywhere. A Palestinian official told AFP however last week that Kerry's ideas could not be the basis of any framework.

Qatar restaurant explosion 'kills 12, mostly customers'

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DOHA (AFP) - A gas tank on the roof of a restaurant exploded in the Qatari capital Thursday, killing 12 people, mostly Asian and Arab customers, and injuring 31 others, the interior ministry said.The blast tore through the restaurant, which is attached to a mall in Doha and next to a petrol station, according to footage aired on Qatar Television.It was a huge explosion, public security chief Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khleifi told a press conference, adding that the gas tank had caught on fire before it exploded.Footage showed paramedics carrying a covered body past rubble strewn some 50 metres (yards) from the building, whose roof had caved in.And pictures posted on Twitter showed several damaged cars.A witness said police had cordoned off the area, and firefighters were busy clear debris.In a May 2012 blaze at a kindergarten in a major Doha shopping mall, 19 people died, including 13 children.

Karachi: 44 suspects arrested during targeted operation

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Targeted operation jointly launched by Rangers and police under directives of the federal and Sindh provincial governments continues in Karachi and 44 more suspects were arrested on Thursday.According to details, police arrested 20 suspects during targeted operation in Saeedabad, Ittehad Town and Gulshan Ghazi areas of Baldia Town.In another riad, Garden Police arrested three accused of Baba Ladla Group while Ferozeanad Police nabbed two dacoits after encounter at the Kashmir Road and Guzri Police arrested one dacoit.Earlier, Police arrested eight accused, including two target killers, from District West.On the other hand Rangers have arrested 10 accused including members of a banned organization.

Gas pipelines blown up in Sindh, Balochistan

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, miscreants blew up gas pipeline supplting gas to Karachi from Sui near Shabbirabad village near Thull in Sindh province on Thursday. As a result, the gas supply to different parts of Sindh was suspended.On the other hand, miscreants also blew up an eight-inch diameter gas pipeline in Sui area of Balochistan. As a result supply of gas from Well No 42 to Sui plant was suspended.

Ch. Nisar vows to root out terrorism in the country

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PESHAWAR (Online): Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Thursday vowed to root out terrorism in the country saying that all hurdles in path towards peace would be eradicated.Speaking to media persons here after meeting with chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, federal minister said that Nawaz government is committed to implement a comprehensive national security policy with consensus of all political parties.He said government had initiated dialogue process with core of sincerity but Taliban side continued their terror activities which forced the government to shift it policy.He said the government gave priority to dialogues with those who wanted to talk.Chaudhry Nisar said door for talks have not been closed as the government believes dialogue would continue with groups which are not against Pakistan and never carried out terror attacks in the country. He said National Security policy has been formulated in a span of five months after consultations with all the segments of society and keeping in view the international models.He said that this policy is not a final word and genuine inputs of parliamentarians will be welcomed and incorporated in the policy.He expressed the confidence that we will rid the country of the wave of terror.The Interior Minister said that the decision to hit the hideouts of terrorists was in consistent with the Prime Minister’s statement that violence and dialogue cannot go side by side.Interior Minister said the government has introduced basic change in its policy on terrorism and decided to target terrorist leadership in their headquarters.He said the National Counter Terrorism Authority will be made fully functional to deal with all the terror-related issues. He said a rapid response force will initially be established in Islamabad and will be replicated in all the four provinces after consultation of the provincial governments.This Anti-Terrorism force will be fully equipped to enable it react rapidly to any terror incident. Similarly‚ an internal security department will be established to enhance cooperation among civil Armed Forces.He said the government is importing state of the art bomb disposal vehicle with reboots to save security forces personnel.Nisar said he came to Peshawar to express condolences and sympathies with victim families of FC personnel who have been lost their lives for the country.

No compromise on enforcement of rule of law: CJP

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KARACHI (Online): Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on Thursday said that there would be no compromise on the enforcement of the rule of law and constitution.Speaking at a dinner reception hosted in his honour by the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), he said that rule of law is essential for transforming the society to a civilised one.The CJP said that every individual and institution would need to play its role in confronting the challenges faced by the country.The judiciary will continue to uphold and implement the constitution and the laws of the country, he added.Justice Jillani said that legal fraternity has a role to play both in dispensation of justice in court and also in defending and preserving the seminal values of the constitution and thereby ushering in a social transformation.The CJP said that lines have already been drawn between those who want to break these values in the name of faith or their narrow world view and those who would defend these values.He said that the constitution does not create any distinction among citizens on fundamental rights as it guarantees right to life and right to worship to all including minorities and it promises access to inexpensive justice to all.The CJP said that these decisive values of substantive democracy and the rule of law are under serious threat on account of the growing intolerance and violence. We are in the grip of an existential crisis.Justice Jillani said that the court by and large refrains from interfering in matters of public policy. “We believe that it is not the function of the court to get embroiled in politics or passions of the day,” he added.Sindh High Court Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar and SHCBA President ZK Jatoi also spoke. Judges of the SC and SHC as well as members of the SHCBA were in attendance.

Tennis: Federer, Djokovic to meet in Dubai semi-final

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DUBAI (AFP) - Grand Slam record-holder Roger Federer earned another showdown with defending champion Novak Djokovic by outplaying Lukas Rosol 6-2, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Dubai Open on Thursday.The mood of Federer's success against the Czech, who famously ousted Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012, was in sharp contrast with his desperate recovery from within sight of defeat against Radek Stepanek on Wednesday.If you want to just analyse it within like ten seconds, I think that's what it was. I don't (usually) break somebody eight times and almost lose the match, Federer said, referring to his slide almost to 0-3 down in the final set against Stepanek.So I definitely didn't hit my spots as well, as today on my serve. I maybe could argue that Radek is a better return player than Rosol and all these things, but still I did serve much more clutch today when I needed to.Federer did go 0-2 down at the beginning of Thursday's quarter-final, but hurtled through the next six games, striking the ball beautifully.Federer was happy to go into the match with Djokovic in confident mood.For me, it was important also probably not to be out there for three hours, he said. Then it would have been a disadvantage. But like this, I think it was a good and quick match for me. I guess we're back on even terms for tomorrow. Federer leads Djokovic 16-15 in their head-to-head record, but has lost the last three.We've played each other everywhere and all the surfaces, you name it, so I think we know each other very well, said the Swiss.I think we always play the match-up very good, because we play explosive, aggressive tennis, so there is always some shot making going on.I think it's improved very much over the years. I don't need to say it now because he's proven his point so much, but he's cleaned up his game in all aspects -- serves, volleys, movement, anyways, also forehand and backhand.I always thought he did have some technical issues at some point in his career, maybe in the very beginning of his career or midway through. He seemed to always find a way. I'm very impressed when it comes to that.Earlier Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals more quickly than he would have wished when his opponent, Mikhail Youzhny, was taken ill and withdrew.The sixth-seeded Russian has twice reached the final in Dubai and might have provided a good test for the champion, and he would certainly have preferred to experience that.Returning to the tour more than five weeks after the loss of his Australian Open title, Djokovic's greatest need is match practice. Instead he approaches his encounter with Federer with little more than two hours court time altogether.Tomas Berdych increased his chances of reaching the final for a second year in a row when he overcame Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and some painful sun-cream to post a resolutely-taken 6-4, 6-3 win.The third-seeded Czech hit with solidity in the second set when confronted with four break points against him in the third game and one more in the seventh -- although his burning back seemed almost as great an obstacle.It wasn't sunburn, it was a wrong application of cream, he said with doleful humour. I didn't expect to die by burning. For the first four games I was on fire -- not on the court, but on my back. So I am glad the physio helped me and I survived it.Berdych, who has now won 14 of his last 15 matches, next has to survive a semi-final with Philipp Kohlschreiber, the seventh-seeded German, whose tidily aggressive performance ousted Malek Jaziri, the surprise survivor from Tunisia, by 6-2, 6-3.

Football: Spurs through to Europa League last 16

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PARIS (AFP) - Tottenham Hotspur are through to the last 16 of the Europa League after a dramatic recovery saw them get the better of ten-man Dnipro at White Hart Lane on Thursday.After losing 1-0 in the first leg of the round of 32 tie in Ukraine last week, Spurs looked to be heading out of the tournament when Roman Zozulya headed in a delivery from visiting captain Ruslan Rotan two minutes into the second half.That left the Premier League club needing to score three unanswered goals to go through, but a Christian Eriksen free-kick reduced the deficit on 55 minutes before Zozulya was shown a straight red card by the French referee following a headbutt on Jan Vertonghen.Spurs made the most of their man advantage as Emmanuel Adebayor struck twice in the space of four minutes to seal a 3-1 win on the night and go through 3-2 on aggregate.The Togolese forward later told ITV that he was never worried about his team's situation, saying: Not at all. I know we have quality up front.We just kept our focus very well and scored that good free-kick that put us on our way. I managed to get two goals for the team and we're very happy.Tim Sherwood's side will now face last season's beaten finalists Benfica, who saw off PAOK of Greece, and they will do so as the only Premier League side left in the tournament after Swansea City went down 3-1 to Napoli in Italy.Following a goalless first leg, the Serie A side took the lead 17 minutes in at the San Paolo stadium when Lorenzo Insigne cutely lifted the ball over Michel Vorm in the away goal.Jonathan De Guzman hit back for Swansea and for a long time it looked as if they would progress on away goals.But Gonzalo Higuain took advantage of a lucky ricochet in the box to put the hosts back in front 12 minutes from time, and Gokhan Inler made sure of Napoli's progress in stoppage time.Napoli will now take on 2011 Europa League winners Porto, after the Portuguese club won a remarkable tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.Following a 2-2 draw in last week's first leg, Eintracht looked to be going through thanks to goals from Stefan Aigner and Alexander Meier either side of the interval.A double from Porto's France international defender Eliaquim Mangala silenced the crowd of close to 50,000 in the Commerzbank Arena, only for Meier to put the hosts back in front.But Nabil Ghilas netted four minutes from time to make it 3-3 on the night and take Porto through on away goals, the result easing the pressure on coach Paulo Fonseca.Elsewhere, there will be a mouth-watering all-Italian tie between Juventus and Fiorentina after they eased past Trabzonspor and Esbjerg respectively.And there will also be a Spanish derby clash between city rivals Sevilla and Real Betis in the round of 16.Sevilla, who are eighth in La Liga, beat Maribor of Slovenia 2-1 on the night to go through 4-3 on aggregate, while Betis, the Spanish top flight's bottom club, were impressive 2-0 winners away to Rubin Kazan in Russia, advancing 3-1 overall.The 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk were eliminated by Viktoria Pilsen of the Czech Republic, who go through to play French side Lyon.Ajax fell by the wayside too, going down 6-1 on aggregate to Salzburg, who will next face Basel of Switzerland, while Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad came from behind to knock out Lazio, setting up a tie against Valencia.

Football: Anelka gets five-match ban for 'quenelle'

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LONDON (AFP) - Nicolas Anelka's future in English football was in the balance Thursday after he was given a five-match ban for making the controversial 'quenelle' salute which was widely condemned as anti-Semitic. The Football Association cleared Anelka of being an anti-Semite and were convinced that he was not promoting anti-Semitism by his use of the gesture. However, he was nevertheless guilty of an aggravated breach of FA rules for making the 'quenelle' while playing for West Bromwich Albion in a Premier League match away to West Ham on December 28. As a result, the 34-year-old French striker was banned and fined 80,000 pounds (97,468 euros, $133,368). Anelka was also ordered to complete a compulsory education course although he does have the right of appeal. Anelka's lawyers, Brown Rudnick, responded by saying: Nicolas Anelka is pleased that the FA regulatory commission has found him not to be an anti-Semite and that he did not intend to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the quenelle gesture. He is now waiting to receive the commission's full reasons for their decision before considering whether or not to appeal.West Brom, who last month saw main sponsor Zoopla announce they would not be renewing a 3 million pounds ($4.9m) deal that expires at the end of the season, said they would suspend Anelka pending the conclusion of the FA's disciplinary process and the club's own internal investigation.The club acknowledges that the FA panel 'did not find that Nicolas Anelka is an anti-Semite or that he intended to express or promote anti-Semitism by his use of the 'quenelle'', said a West Brom statement. However, the club cannot ignore the offence that his actions have caused, particularly to the Jewish community, nor the potential damage to the club's reputation. The club will make no further comment until the FA's disciplinary process and its own internal investigation have been completed. Midlands club West Brom, currently just one point above the relegation zone with 11 games left, are not in action again until a home match against English champions Manchester United on March 8. Former France international forward Anelka made the 'quenelle' after scoring the first of his two goals in a 3-3 draw at Upton Park. Anelka always denied the gesture was anti-Semitic or that he himself was a racist. Even so, he was banned by a disciplinary panel chaired by leading lawyer Christopher Quinlan following a hearing in Watford, north of London.

Golf: McIlroy grabs PGA clubhouse lead

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PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) - World number eight Rory McIlroy closed with back-to-back birdies to seize the clubhouse lead in Thursday's opening round of the $6 million US PGA Honda Classic with a bogey-free seven-under par 63.The two-time major champion from Northern Ireland sank a 27-foot birdie putt at the second and had a tap-in birdie at the par-5 third for a solid early start at PGA National.McIlroy then opened the back nine with three birdies in a row and added another with a 12-foot putt at the par-3 17th.At the 18th, McIlroy found a bunker with his approach but blasted out to 4.5 feet and sank the birdie putt.McIlroy's longest birdie putt was a 45-foot effort at the 11th sandwiched between an eight-foot birdie putt at the 10th and a six-footer at the 12th.American Russell Henley was still on the course at six-under with two holes to finish while South African Rory Sabbatini, Welshman Jamie Donaldson and American William McGirt were next nearest to McIlroy in the clubhouse on five-under 65.McIlroy, 24, won the Honda Classic in 2012 to capture the world number one ranking for the first time in his career.But last year, McIlroy made a humbling withdrawal during his second round at the event, complaining of mental fatigue and a toothache. He later apologized and says he has learned from his actions that he must play through tough times.

Formula One: Perez fastest, Red Bull struggles go on

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MANAMA (AFP) - Mexicos Sergio Perez took his Force India to top place in pre-season testing at Bahrains Sakhir circuit on Thursday while world champions Red Bulls winter woes continued.As the final four-day testing period got underway, Perez clocked a best time of 1min 35.290sec with Valtteri Bottas continuing Williams early promise with the second-best time.Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari, Mercedes Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil in a Sauber and promising McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen filled out the top six.We really needed a good day to start this week and today we had it, said Perez after completing a marathon 105 laps.We managed to do a lot of laps, try several different compounds and mappings, and its been a fantastic day in terms of learning about the car.But with the season-opening Australian Grand Prix just two weeks away, Red Bull again endured a frustrating session.Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo clocked the teams best time in Bahrain this winter but he was still down in seventh place.He managed 32 laps in the morning but just seven more in the afternoon before being confined to the garage as the car endured more technical glitches.We started really well this morning and put in some very useful laps straight away, which was good. We were able to run consistently and without issue and the plan was to increase the duration of the runs incrementally, said Red Bull engineering co-ordinator, Andy Damerum.That was all going according to plan. We sent Daniel out for a long-ish run, but we had to abort about five laps in, as we noticed some issues on the sensors.We brought him in, had a look at the car and discovered that we had a problem with the exhaust. So we had a long afternoon in the garage, but we did manage to get Daniel back out at the end of the session, which was good.Ricciardo tried to remain positive with his final day in the seat set for Friday before world champion Sebastian Vettel completes driving duties on Saturday and Sunday.We still had a few issues today, but at least when the car was on track it was much more useful running and we made progress in the morning. Its getting there, said Ricciardo.

Oil falls after weaker US data, Yellen testimony

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices fell modestly on Thursday as investors digested weaker US data, US Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen's unsurprising testimony to Congress and rising Ukraine tensions.New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in April, slipped 19 cents to finish at $102.40 a barrel.In London trade, Brent North Sea crude for April settled at $108.96 a barrel, a drop of 56 cents from Wednesday's close.The US benchmark traded lower after some weaker-than-expected data added to soft indicators on the US economy, and stayed down after Yellen's testimony to the Senate Banking Committee.First-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits, a sign of the pace of layoffs, rose last week and new orders for manufactured durable goods fell 1.0 percent in January.Yellen meanwhile said that the intense winter storms of the past two months have been one cause of the recent run of weaker US economic data.What we need to do and will be doing in the weeks ahead is to try to get firmer handle on exactly how much of that set of soft data can be explained by weather and what portion, if any, is due to softer outlook, she told lawmakers.Analysts said there were no big surprises in Yellen's testimony, which stressed the Fed would continue to taper its $65 billion asset-purchase program unless there was a significant change in the economic outlook.Meanwhile, the market kept watch over the crisis in Ukraine, where the ousted pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovych, emerged defiant Thursday from five days in hiding as the country's new leaders issued a blunt warning to Russia against any aggression on the volatile Crimean peninsula.Anxious Western governments voiced fears about the dangerous situation in Crimea after dozens of pro-Kremlin gunmen in combat fatigues seized government buildings in the autonomous republic and pleaded with Moscow not to escalate tensions.Concerns over slowing economic growth in China is pressuring Brent lower, as is the general risk-off tone in Europe as tensions rise in the Crimea, said Addison Armstrong, head of market research at Tradition Energy.

Dollar slips after Yellen testimony

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The US dollar slipped against the euro Thursday after Janet Yellen suggested the Federal Reserve could shift its tapering policy if recent weaker data represented a fundamental change in growth.But the turmoil in Ukraine, with worries of a regional conflict involving Russia focused on Crimea, kept up demand for safe-haven currencies generally.After trading lower ahead of Yellen's Senate testimony, at 2200 GMT the euro was up to $1.3710 from $1.3683 late Wednesday.The dollar edged lower to 102.15 yen from 102.38 yen, while the euro moved to 140.05 yen from 140.11.The dollar fell to 0.8882 Swiss franc from 0.8906 franc, while the British pound was slightly higher at $1.6688 compared with $1.6667.Yellen told the Senate Banking Committee that Fed policymakers believe severe weather was behind some of the disappointing numbers of the past two months on job creation, industrial production and consumption.However, the Fed chair allowed for a more bearish interpretation that conceivably could lead to a slower pace of cuts to the stimulus program, now at $65 billion monthly bond purchases.What we need to do and will be doing in the weeks ahead is to try to get a firmer handle on exactly how much of that set of soft data can be explained by weather and what portion, if any, is due to softer outlook, she said.Analysts said Yellen's hint that the taper could be flexible, and her stronger statement that unemployment remains a big problem, suggests less of a determination to push ahead with policy tightening than was evident a few months ago.It is clear from today's hearing that market participants will have to wait until the March (Fed) rate decision on the 19th for true guidance on where the Fed stands, said Gregory Marks of DailyFX.Moving forward, sentiment may continue to shift between risk-on and risk-off as markets remain choppy amid good/bad data extremes and geopolitical tensions building in some emerging and frontier markets.

IMF studies aid for cash-strapped Ukraine

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund waded into the fast-moving Ukraine crisis on Thursday, promising to look at providing a lifeline to its embattled economy.Ukraine's newly minted prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, has requested the world lender of last resort's assistance, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said.We are ready to respond, she said, giving de facto recognition of the new Western-leaning government in Kiev following the overthrow of Russian-backed president Viktor Yanukovych over the weekend.Ukraine owes $13 billion in state debt payments this year -- a massive sum in a country where state reserves have shrunk to less than $18 billion.And Kiev has suffered from Russia's decision to freeze a $15 billion dollar bailout package after a first $3 billion tranche was used up.In her statement, Lagarde made no mention of the sum -- $35 billion in Western help -- requested by the Ukraine's new leaders as their economy teeters toward a sovereign default.Lagarde said she would send a fact-finding team to Kiev to undertake a preliminary dialogue with the authorities.IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters the mission should arrive in Ukraine next week, but declined to say when the IMF could begin to extend any financial assistance. Typically, an aid plan is agreed between authorities and IMF staff before being approved by envoys to the 188-nation body, a process that can take serval months.But growing pledges of support by Western powers could speed things up.The United States, the largest IMF stakeholder, announced Wednesday that it would guarantee $1 billion in loans. US Secretary of State John Kerry promised quick deliver of the guarantees with some other pieces to follow.Kerry said the European Union was looking at loan guarantees worth some $1.5 billion for the nation of 46 million people.Any aid would probably be funneled through a mechanism overseen by the IMF which had previously frozen its assistance program because of Yanukovych's refusal to make painful structural changesThe letter we just received does indicate that the new leadership is committed to implement wide-ranging reforms, said Rice.Meanwhile, Switzerland said Thursday it was prepared in principle to freeze any funds Ukraine's ousted president Yanukovych might have in Swiss banks.The full decision, which will be published Friday, obliges Swiss banks to show increased vigilance when it comes to Ukrainian funds, foreign ministry spokesman Pierre-Alain Eltschingerhe said.Demonstrators gathered in front of the United Nations's European headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, calling on Switzerland to stop being passive.Lagarde said the IMF mission would assess the economic situation in Ukraine as well as begin discussions on the policy reforms that could form the basis of a Fund-supported program. We are also discussing with all our international partners -- bilateral and multilateral -- how best to help Ukraine at this critical moment in its history, she said. In that regard, we are encouraged by the many statements of support that have been expressed.Concerns over what would be a catastrophic default saw the local currency take a 9.6-percent plunge to a record low of 11.5 hryvnias against the dollar Thursday.
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Wednesday 26 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Afghanistan set for tough Pakistan test in Asia Cup

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FATULLAH (Online) - It would be a trial by fire for Afghanistan when the gutsy team from the strife-torn country makes its Asia Cup debut by taking on defending champions Pakistan today (Thursday).Mohammad Nabi's Afghanistan was brought into the Asia Cup after it qualified for the 50-over World Cup scheduled next year.And they would look to make a good impression in front of their four sub-continental neighbours, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.The interest that they have managed to generate by their presence notwithstanding, Afghanistan are not expected to go too far in the tournament given that they have played just two one-dayers against Test nations, losing both matches to Pakistan and Australia.That exposure also came way back in 2012 and it would be interesting to see how the minnows have grown since then.What would count in their favour in the Asia Cup is the team's firm understanding of the local conditions given that eight from the current squad have participated in various domestic competitions here including the Bangladesh Premier League.Rahmat Shah, Azghar (Stanikzai), Gulbadin Naib, (Mohammad) Shahzad, Shapoor (Zadran), maybe half the team has played in Bangladesh and this is a good experience for them and for Afghanistan, said Nabi, himself a regular at the T20 event.We will try our best against every team. There is no target. We will play good cricket and when the time comes we will win, he added.Whatever the end result, Afghanistan are expected to put their best foot forward on the field, making them exciting prospects at the regional mega-event.Pakistan, on the other hand, would have to quickly shake off the disappointment of losing their tournament-opener against Sri Lanka.

COAS witnesses Field Firing in Kotri

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RAWALPINDI (Online) - Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif visited Kotri Ranges to witness Field Firing and Battle Inoculation Exercise of Karachi Corps Wednesday. These exercises are aimed at training troops in various tactical operations under battlefield environment. Fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and armoured fighting vehicles of Mechanized Division also participated in live firing maneuvers as part of the field firing.COAS commended the standard of training of the participating troops and lauded their skills, precision and accuracy in engaging the targets and said that strenuous training and highest standard of preparedness in peacetime are the only guarantors of peace. Perpetual quest for modern techniques, seizing initiative from the enemy and mastery in battle procedures are essential for success in all kinds of military operations, whether conventional or unconventional.Speaking on the occasion COAS emphasized on all ranks to continue to focus on training and combat preparedness to respond to full spectrum of threat with speed and effectiveness. He reiterated the resolve of armed forces and said in unequivocal terms that with the backing of the Nation, we will accomplish our mission of defeating every threat to our motherland in accordance with the expectation of the people of Pakistan.Earlier, on arrival at Kotri, the COAS was received by Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani, Corps Commander Karachi.

US court orders Google to pull YouTube anti-Islam film

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A US appeals court on Wednesday ordered YouTube to take down an anti-Islamic movie that triggered protests in the Muslim world, after an actress alleged she had been duped into appearing in it.The 2012 appearance of Innocence of Muslims on Googles video-sharing site provoked deadly violence, but the current legal case against it relates only to the concerns of one of its stars.US actress Cindy Lee Garcia brought a lawsuit claiming she was tricked into appearing in the film, without realizing its provocative anti-Muslim slant, and has received death threats as a result of it.A lower court refused to grant an injunction forcing Google to remove the film while her case goes forward, but on Wednesday the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision.Judge Alex Kozinski said: While answering a casting call for a low-budget amateur film doesnt often lead to stardom, it also rarely turns an aspiring actress into the subject of a fatwa.But thats exactly what happened to Cindy Lee Garcia when she agreed to act, he wrote in the 37-page ruling.He ruled that Garcia had established she could suffer irreparable harm if the film was not taken down because she was subject to death threats.The amateurish movie, which depicted the Prophet Mohammed as a thuggish deviant, triggered a wave of violent protests that left dozens dead in September 2012.During the period of the protests, militants attacked the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya and US ambassador Chris Stevens and three more Americans were killed, although the extent to which popular local anger over the film played a role in the assault is a matter of fierce debate in the US.Google, which refused to take the video down arguing that it would violate its freedom of speech rights under the US Constitution, did not immediately react to Wednesdays ruling.Garcia was paid about $500 for three-and-a-half days of filming on the movie, which had the working title Desert Warrior, after being cast by producer Mark Basseley Youssef, who had a variety of pseudonyms.Desert Warrior never materialized, and Garcias only realized what had become of the footage when she saw Innocence of Muslims on YouTube.She discovered that her brief performance had been partially dubbed over so that she appeared to be asking Is your Mohammed a child molester? Kozinski wrote.These, of course, are fighting words to many faithful Muslims and, after the film aired on Egyptian television, there were protests that generated worldwide news coverage.Garcia asked eight times for the film be taken down, but Google refused to comply so she applied for a restraining order seeking removal of the film from YouTube, claiming that it infringed her copyright in her own performance.Youssef was jailed in November 2012 for breaching the terms of his probation for a previous offense -- a bank fraud conviction in 2010 -- by using a series of pseudonyms including Nakoula Basseley Nakoula and Sam Bacile.He was released last year. In November he told the Hollywood Reporter that he was seeking partners to make a new movie and a TV show about the roots of Islamic terrorism.

Kerry urges Russia to keep pledge over Ukraine unity

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday urged Russia to keep its word and respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Moscow said it was boosting security measures in southern Crimea.We are making it clear that every country should respect the territorial integrity here, the sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia said it will do that, and we think it is important Russia keeps its word, Kerry said.He stressed that Washington was not looking for confrontation amid the political upheaval in the former Soviet satellite, denying that the US was meddling in the countrys internal politics.The key here is to give the people of Ukraine the full space within which to make their decisions about where they want to go. Thats what were trying to do, the top US diplomat told MSNBC television in an interview.Were not putting pressure on them. Were not urging something that they havent themselves expressed as a desire, Kerry saidWe are trying to honor their intentions of putting together a democratic pluralistic government that breaks away from this kleptocracy that existed there.Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday that Moscow was taking measures to ensure the security of its Black Sea naval fleet based on Ukraines Crimean peninsula.Sevastopol, which has hosted the Black Sea fleet since tsarist times, has witnessed several pro-Russian demonstrations in recent days with hundreds rallying outside city hall on Tuesday.Russia does not need or want a Ukraine that is unstable and more violent going forward. And economically a basketcase, Kerry insisted.What we need now is not to get into an old Cold War confrontation. We need to work together in what does not have to be a zero sudden game to provide the capacity of the people of Ukraine to choose their future. Thats all thats at stake.

Syria army ambush 'kills 175' rebels near Damascus

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - More than 170 Islamist rebel fighters, including Saudis, Qataris and Chechens, were killed Wednesday in a Syrian army ambush near Damascus, state news agency SANA reported.The attack, apparently the deadliest against the rebels for months, took place in Eastern Ghouta, a key rebel stronghold targeted in a chemical attack in August 2013 that killed hundreds of people.SANA said an army unit spotted Al-Nusra Front (jihadist) and Liwa al-Islam (Islamist) terrorists near Damascus, and killed 175 of them and wounded several others.Saudis, Qataris and Chechens were among the dead, it said.State television had earlier reported dozens killed, mostly non-Syrians, in a well-organised ambush following a tip-off.The army also seized the rebels weapons, the broadcaster said, following the regimes practice of using the term terrorists to refer to the armed opposition.Al-Nusra Front is Al-Qaedas official affiliate in Syria and is committed to the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad and the establishment of an Islamic state.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group with a network of contacts inside Syria, confirmed that dozens were killed in the ambush.Dozens of Islamist fighters were killed and wounded in an ambush by loyalist troops, with the help of (Lebanese Shiite group) Hezbollah, near Otaybeh village in the Eastern Ghouta area, it said.A government security source said most of the fighters were Jordanians or Saudis, and that they had crossed over into Syria from Jordan earlier the same day.The source said the ambush took place at around 5:00 am (0300 GMT) and killed 156 rebels. Another 10 were taken prisoner, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.The Otaybeh area has seen several army ambushes in past months.Syrias war has since March 2011 killed more than 140,000 people and forced millions more to flee.

Israel tests anti-missile system for passenger planes

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel has successfully completed tests of a new missile defence system for commercial aircraft and plans to start fitting it to its passenger fleet, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.It said the automatic laser-based SkyShield system detects shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles and also scrambles their guidance systems, rendering them harmless.The tests, conducted in a test range in the south of Israel, were the most complex and sophisticated ever held in the state of Israel, the ministry said in a statement.The series of tests included a wide variety of threats that the SkyShield system would have to tackle in order to protect passenger aircraft.It did not say when SkyShield would enter service.Last August, the airport in the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat was briefly closed over unspecified security concerns.The town next to Egypts troubled Sinai Peninsula has been the target of cross-border rocket attacks, and Israeli media said on Wednesday that SkyShield would be fitted to domestic flights going there as well as to international destinations.In 2002, a flight of Israels Arkia airline with 261 passengers on board came under attack from two shoulder-fired missiles as it took off from Mombasa, Kenya. They narrowly missed their target.

Football: Chelsea in pole position after Galatasaray draw

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ISTANBUL (AFP) - Chelsea have the upper hand in their Champions League last-16 tie with Galatasaray after coming away from a testing environment in Istanbul with a 1-1 first-leg draw on Wednesday.The visitors led at half-time thanks to an early goal from Fernando Torres, but Galatasaray improved in the second half and restored parity after the hour mark when Cameroon defender Aurelien Chedjou found the net.A draw was a fair reflection of the way the game went, but Chelsea will now hope to finish the job in the return at Stamford Bridge on March 18.Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho opted to select Torres in attack ahead of Samuel Eto'o in one of three changes to the team that beat Everton at the weekend, with Ramires and Andre Schuerrle also coming in.It proved to be an excellent decision as it was Torres who finished off a clinical breakaway to put the Blues in front with just nine minutes played, giving Chelsea the lead they deserved as their hosts paid for a poor start.Former Arsenal man Emmanuel Eboue lost possession high up the field, and Chelsea pounced down the left flank, Schuerrle releasing Cesar Azpilicueta, who advanced into the box and drew goalkeeper Fernando Muslera before squaring for his fellow Spaniard to apply an easy finish.It was a sixth goal in his last five Champions League starts for Torres, and it briefly silenced the boisterous Turkish fans inside the impressive Turk Telecom Arena.Chelsea could possibly have put the tie to bed in the minutes that followed, with Galatasaray utterly disorganised and poor in possession.Willian had an effort comfortably stopped by the Uruguayan Muslera before Schuerrle's low ball from the right - with the home defence at sixes and sevens - was met first time by Ramires at the edge of the box, but his shot flew high over the bar.There was little by means of a response from Roberto Mancini's men, with Didier Drogba unable to wriggle free from the marking of John Terry and Wesley Sneijder incapable of influencing proceedings from the left flank.Winger Izet Hajrovic saw his snap-shot from 20 yards saved by Petr Cech, but the recent signing from Swiss side Grasshoppers was then the victim of a tactical switch by Mancini, who sent on central midfielder Yekta Kurtulus in his place and changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation.Gala improved after that and an Alex Telles cross-cum-shot had Petr Cech panicked before Burak Yilmaz put the ball in the net after a quickly-taken throw, but with an extra ball on the pitch at the time, the Spanish referee disallowed the goal, and booked Chelsea skipper John Terry for throwing one ball away.A lively Torres almost made it 2-0 for Chelsea in the 52nd minute, bursting through the middle of the home back line before seeing his shot turned behind for a corner by Muslera.However, Galatasaray finally started to grow into the contest in the second half, the raucous crowd receiving a lift when Gary Cahill nearly turned the ball into his own net after intercepting a Burak Yilmaz pass intended for Drogba.The Ivorian striker almost created an equaliser against his old club in the 62nd minute, heading down a left-wing cross for Selcuk Inan, but the home captain somehow contrived to stab the ball against the post from a yard out.The Turkish champions were not to be denied a leveller three minutes later, though, Chedjou wriggling free of his marker to convert a Sneijder corner from point-blank range.Galatasaray finished strongly, although the closest they came to winning the game was from a fierce Telles shot that Cech tipped over.

Football: Real crush Schalke in CL last 16 first leg

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GELSENKIRCHEN (AFP) - Real Madrid cruised to a rare victory on German soil as they romped to a 6-1 win at Schalke 04 in Wednesday's Champions League's last 16, first-leg clash.Real are now all but guaranteed a quarter-final place even with the return leg to come in Madrid on March 18 after Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale both scored braces.Real's Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo also scored twice on his return from a three game suspension to see him take over from Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the competition's top-scorer this season with 11 goals.The team has played a lot of good games and this is one more, said Ronaldo.We played well and didn't allow Schalke to play at their best. We are happy and a step away from the next round.The Schalke goalkeeper did very well and made good saves, but I believe in my ability and my teammates helped me a lot.I am very happy to score two goals.Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann admitted his side had been outclassed as Real fired in 21 goal attempts compared to 10 by the hosts.One save against Ronaldo isn't enough. Real Madrid were a class apart tonight, said Faehrmann.When you start conceding goals, it's almost impossible to come back against Real Madrid.Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a 91st-minute consolation goal for Schalke, but it couldn't prevent the Royal Blues suffering their heaviest defeat in European competition.You can see the disappointment is etched on our faces, but we will come back from this, said Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewedes.Carlo Ancelotti's Real are now unbeaten in their last 27 games dating back to October.After the early goal, we started getting a lot of room, that was the reason for our perfect night, said the Italian.The huge victory went some way to correcting Real's terrible away record in Germany as they made the Royal Blues of Schalke look anything but regal.This was only Real's second win in 26 visits to Germany after 18 defeats, including their 4-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund in last season's Champions League's semi-final.Real needed just 13 minutes to take the lead at the Veltins Arena as their star-studded attack clicked into gear.Bale cut in from the right, the ball came to Ronaldo and his backheel was deflected by a Schalke defender to Benzema and he fired past Faehrmann.Schalke could have equalised almost immediately as teenage midfielder Max Meyer fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy after Iker Casillas had blocked Julian Draxler's shot. Schalke were punished for wasting their rare opportunity and with 21 minutes gone, Bale held off two Schalke defenders to make it 2-0.Schalke's situation was not helped by Ronaldo effortlessly switching with Bale from the left to the right wing midway through the first half, only to revert back after the break.Schalke came out all guns blazing for the second-half as Kevin-Prince Boateng forced Casillas into a save.But Ronaldo finally got on the scoresheet at the fourth attempt to claim his 10th European goal of the season in his sixth Champions League match.He effortlessly turned Cameroon centre-back Joel Matip inside, then out before tucking the ball just inside the far post with 52 minutes gone.Just five minutes later, his deft backheel fell into Benzema's path for the Frenchman to drill home his second of the night and Real's fourth.It was one-way traffic by now and Bale scored his second and Real's fifth when Sergio Ramos's through ball was driven low into the bottom left-hand corner on 69 minutes.Ronaldo then grabbed his second on 89 minutes to leave him with 36 goals in 33 games for Real this season before Huntelaar finally put Schalke on the board just before the final whistle.

Tennis: Federer pushed to the limit by canny Stepanek

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DUBAI (AFP) - Former men's world number one Roger Federer had to dig deep to progress to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Open on Wednesday eventually beating fellow veteran Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 in their second round clash.The 32-year-old Grand Slam record-holder -- who has won the Dubai title a record five times -- struggled for long periods against a 35-year-old who is barely a full-timer on the ATP Tour these days.Federer was four times within a point of going 0-3 down in the final set, any one of which could have inspired the talented and unpredictable Czech to close out the game.Once Federer had held on in that game, and broken back, he created some momentum of his own, and the ace which took him to 4-2 signalled he had turned the tide.It was a difficult match and a bit typical of a second round at Dubai, and I found it difficult to get rhythm, admitted Federer.Radek is talented and agile, and it didn't look good for a while in the third set.It was a bit frustrating. I didn't take advantage after the first set when you hope to keep it going.At the start of the second he stuck in a quick break and I was under pressure for the rest of that set.I had to figure out how to deal with it. I am glad I made it. Stepanek -- who has played only four games on the Tour this year -- also showed a remarkable ability to raise his game as it became evident he had a chance of pulling off a big result, and he mixed up his tactics with unorthodox brilliance.When Federer broke back from 5-3 down in the second set he seemed to be out of danger.However the opening point of the tie-break had to be played three times - Federer winning a Hawkeye appeal and the umpire over-ruling the next line decision - and that appeared to have an effect on the Swiss.When Federer double faulted it left him trailing 6-2, and although he saved two set points, Stepanek was soon performing one of his notoriously extravagant celebrations and hop-skipping his way into a deciding set.Federer turned it round by reining in his ambitions, and mixing in a little containment with his forcefulness and will take note of that when he takes on Lukas Rosol, conqueror of Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon two years ago, in Wednesday's quarter-finals.The last match of the day saw Novak Djokovic, who will equal Federer's record of five titles if he succeeds again, also reach the quarter-finals, beating Roberto Bautista Agut, the world number 51 from Spain, 6-1, 6-3.Although it was only Djokovic's second match in more than five weeks, the top-seeded Serb was untroubled, and earned a meeting with Mikhail Youzhny, the Russian who has reached the Dubai final twice.If Djokovic beats Youzhny he should have a semi-final with Federer.Earlier Stepanek's compatriot Tomas Berdych cruised into the quarter-finals and looks in the type of form that could see him reach the final for a second successive year.The world number six was the only top ten player not to have won a title last year, though an overwhelming 6-2, 6-1 victory over Sergiy Stakhovsky now hinted how his chances of remedying that are improving.Berdych has lost only ten games in four sets of tennis here, his steep serve and fierce forehands proving formidable weapons, and the win was his 13th in 14 matches.He next plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the fifth-seeded Frenchman, who rushed here from contesting the final in Marseille on Sunday, and who was pleased to get a day's rest when Nikolay Davydenko, the former world number three from Russia, withdrew with an injured rib.

Golf: Tiger tees off near home but thinking of Masters

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PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) - World number one Tiger Woods makes his third start of the year Thursday at the US PGA Tour Honda Classic near his home but his thoughts are already on the Masters.Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 major wins of Jack Nicklaus, will be tested by an all-star lineup in the $6 million event at PGA National.Reigning Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia, reigning British Opwn champion Phil Mickelson and Northern Ireland stars Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are also in the field at the first of four consecutive Florida stops on the US tour ahead of the year's first major, the Masters, in early April at Augusta National.Once we get to Florida, we're all thinking about it, on our way to Augusta, Woods said.For most of the guys, this is like their prep to Augusta this week. The quality and the depth of the field has gotten so much better in recent years.Woods is already pondering how the 17th hole at Augusta National will play now that the huge century-old pine nicknamed the Eisenhower Tree has been removed from the left side of the fairway following damage from an ice storm.I've hit it a few times. It's an iconic landmark, Woods said. I can't say some of the guys are going to miss it, but there will be a difference, no doubt about it.You don't really see the trees on the left because Eisenhower blocks them out. Before you could only see the tops of the trees. With Eisenhower gone, now you will be seeing the line you are hitting a little bit better.Woods, who tees off from the 10th tee on Thursday in round one alongside 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson and 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, lives near enough to be able to sleep in his own bed every night.I'm going home to my own home, my own remote (TV command), my own bed -- those are things we don't get to do very often, Woods said. Most golfers spend pretty much their entire career on the road.Woods will be making only his third start at the event, staged on a 7,241-yard layout that has had the toughest scoring in relation to par outside the majors, but one drenched by rain.The fairways are a little bit spotty with all the rain we've had, Woods said. I didn't expect the greens to be this slow. They have kept them slower than they normally are. We're going to have to make a few adjustments there.Woods shared 80th at Torrey Pines and 41st at Dubai in his two prior 2014 starts. In 16 of his 17 pro seasons, Woods has finished in the top six or better at least once in his first three starts to a year.But he does like the state of his swing.It feels good, Woods said after a Wednesday practice round. I was pleasantly surprised with how well I was hitting it.And while the Masters is on his mind, Woods is more concerned about victory this week than how well he is hitting the ball.If i hit it great and win, if I slap it all over the place and win, I win, he said. That's the intent.

Golf: McIlroy still undecided about Rio Olympic ties

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PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) - Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy remains undecided about whether he would play for Ireland or Britain at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when golf returns to the Games programme.For the first time since 1904, golfers will compete for Olympic gold but that brings the tricky question of nationality into play because Northern Ireland does not field its own team.I haven't made a decision yet, McIlroy told the US PGA Tour website on Wednesday.There's no real urgency at the moment, and I couldn't even imagine planning my schedule that far ahead. I will have to decide, however, and take into consideration many sensibilities.Another Northern Ireland golf star, Graeme McDowell, played for Ireland at last year's World Cup of Golf. That locked him into representing Ireland at Rio in 2016.It's a very touchy subject, McDowell said at the event. You are going to end up upsetting someone.McIlroy, a two-time major champion, plays this week at the $6 million US PGA Honda Classic, which he won in 2012 to secure the world number one ranking for the first time in his career.But last year, McIlroy walked off the course in the middle of his second round, citing a toothache and mental fatigue, what he called his lowest moment of the 2013 season.I made a mistake walking off the course and disappointed not just myself, McIlroy said.What's important, though, is that I have learned from that episode. I need to stay patient and play my way through the difficult patches.

US oil rises after stockpiles report points to demand

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Global oil prices rose on Wednesday, with US prices gaining a boost from a bullish stockpiles report and another wintry blast of cold hitting the country.New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in April, gained 76 cents over the session, closing at $102.59 a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for April ticked up one cent to settle at $109.52 in London trade.The US Department of Energy's weekly petroleum stockpiles report lifted New York crude prices in morning trade, with its details pointing to potential improvement in demand in the world's largest crude-oil consumer.Commercial crude oil supplies rose only by 100,000 barrels last week, one-eighth of what analysts expected.And supplies at the Cushing, Oklahoma, depot, which serve as a reference for WTI, fell by 1.1 million barrels, supporting prices, said Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates.The opening of the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline, bringing oil from Cushing to Gulf Coast refineries in Texas, has eased a buildup of WTI at the hub.Higher refineries' runs... are keeping US inventories under control, Lipow said.The difference between WTI and Brent prices has narrowed since Monday to levels not seen for months. At Wednesday's Brent close, the spread stood at $6.93, its lowest gap since October.The DoE also reported a tick higher last week in distillate stocks, which include heating oil, by 300,000 barrels. Although the increase ended six straight weeks of declines, the level remained 9.0 percent lower than a year ago as large parts of the country have been hammered by severe winter cold.Lipow predicted the distillate market would continue to be supported by the cold weather which is expected to continue for the next 10 days.Political unrest in oil-producing Venezuela, as well as in Libya and South Sudan, was still underpinning the market, analysts said.The market is concerned about supply disruption in Venezuela, Lipow said.

Dollar firmer ahead of Yellen's Senate testimony

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar firmed against other major currencies on Wednesday as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's testimony to Congress on Thursday on US economic conditions and monetary policy.The euro fell to $1.3683 around 2200 GMT, down from $1.3744 late Tuesday.The dollar edged up to 102.38 yen from 102.22 yen, while the euro dipped against the Japanese currency, to 140.11 yen from 140.49.Investors are buying US dollars today ahead of tomorrow's testimony from Janet Yellen on monetary policy, said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.Yellen will appear before the Senate Banking Committee in a hearing delayed by two weeks because of severe winter weather that has also been blamed as a large factor in a recent spate of disappointing economic indicators.Analysts were not expecting Yellen, who succeeded Ben Bernanke at the helm of the US central bank on February 1, to deviate from winding down The Fed's stimulus program, as spelled out in her February 11 testimony in the House of Representatives.The Fed has cut $20 billion from its asset-purchase program so far this year, to $65 billion a month, and is on track to exit the program before the end of the year if economic conditions hold up.We believe that Yellen's comments will be more beneficial than detrimental to the dollar tomorrow, Lien said.Although new-home sales surprised to the upside today, most of the recent economic reports have been disappointing and some investors are hoping that Yellen will acknowledge the deterioration, using it as a justification for keeping monetary policy easy for a longer period of time. The dollar rose to 0.8906 Swiss franc from 0.8866 franc late Tuesday.The pound slipped to $1.6667 from $1.6680.

Captain Kohli steers India past Bangladesh

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FATULLAH (AFP) - Virat Kohli won the battle of the captains as reigning World Cup champions India defeated host Bangladesh by six wickets in the second match of the Asia Cup in Fatullah on Wednesday.Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim hit 117 off 113 balls, sharing a third-wicket stand of 133 with Anamul Haque (77), to lift the hosts to 279-7 after India elected to field.Kohli, standing in for the injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, then smashed 136 off 122 balls to steer India past the challenging target in 49 overs.The prolific 25-year-old hit 16 boundaries and two sixes in his 19th one-day century, 17 of which have been in winning causes.Ajinkya Rahane (73) provided valuable support to his captain, adding 213 for the third wicket with Kohli after India were reduced to 54-2 by the 13th over of the day-night game.Kohli, later named the man of the match, preferred to dwell on the team's performance rather than his own stand-out batting.I am very happy with the way the team performed, he said. It was good to see everyone step up in the absence of Dhoni.And it was very important for someone like Ajinkya to bat through the innings. He played beautifully. He is a very positive guy and works very hard. It was a good stand with him.Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak, who attended the presentation ceremony instead of his captain, blamed the evening dew for the defeat.We had enough runs on the board, but the dew caused problems. It made it difficult to grip the ball and we had not anticipated that. But we will need to push more for runs if we bat first again.Earlier, Rahim hit seven fours and two sixes in his second one-day century, before he was dismissed in the final over attempting a big hit.Anamul and Rahim came together after opener Shamsur Rahman and Mominul Haque were removed by the 13th over with the score at 49.Anamul smashed fast bowler Varun Aaron for two sixes to long-on, then reached his half-century with another six off Ravichandran Ashwin over the bowler's head.Aaron, who conceded 56 runs in 6.5 overs, finally found success when he bowled Anamul with the last ball of his seventh over, the 37th of the innings.Rahim slammed two boundaries and a six when Aaron bowled next, but the batsman was hit on the chest by a full toss delivery later in the same over and needed medical attention on the field.Aaron, who had also sent down a full toss earlier in the match, was not allowed to bowl by the umpires for the rest of the innings and finished with expensive figures of one for 74 from 7.5 overs.Seamer Mohammad Shami was the most impressive Indian bowler with four for 50 from his 10 overs.India are without Dhoni for the entire five-nation tournament due to a side strain suffered during the recent tour of New Zealand.Bangladesh were missing injured opener Tamim Iqbal and premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is serving a three-match ban on disciplinary grounds.Shakib will also miss the home team's second match against Afghanistan on Saturday.Defending champions Pakistan, who were beaten by Sri Lanka in Tuesday's tournament opener, take on minnows Afghanistan on Thursday.

Trott on course for cricket return: Amiss

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LONDON (AFP) - Jonathan Trott is set to make his comeback for county side Warwickshire in April and wants to play international cricket again, former England batsman Dennis Amiss said Wednesday.Trott, 32, left Englands Ashes tour of Australia with a stress-related illness after twice falling cheaply to fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in a crushing 381-run loss in the first Test at Brisbane.That prompted concerns the South Africa-born batsman, who made a hundred on Test debut against Australia at The Oval in 2009, might struggle to return to the international arena.But Amiss, chairman of Trotts benefit committee, said he expected the top-order batsman to face Gloucestershire in a pre-season friendly in April.Hes still very hungry, Amiss told the BBC. He wants to continue succeeding both for Warwickshire and for England.Trott, who has scored 3,763 runs, including nine hundreds, in 49 Tests for England at an average of 46.95, has been granted time for a family holiday while Warwickshire are on their pre-season tour in Barbados.But he will join up with the squad on their return and is in line to play against Gloucestershire at Warwickshires Edgbaston headquarters in Birmingham, central England, on April 1-2.He will also be considered for the first-class match against Oxford University from April 7 and the County Championship opener against Sussex from April 13.Amiss, who was Warwickshire chief executive when Trott arrived at Edgbaston from South Africa in 2002, said he had been encouraged by the players state of mind during their recent meetings.Hes doing very well, Amiss said. Hes had a great rest, which is very important, and he is raring to go again.Cricket is his passion and I believe he has qualities, as weve seen, to be able to score a mass of runs for Warwickshire to get himself back into the England side and regain his position.Trott has not spoken publically since he left Australia on November 25, saying: I dont think it is right that Im playing, knowing that Im not 100 percent.Amiss added: I think it was essentially burnout. The England and Wales Cricket Board has helped him while he has been back. Everybody has given him a lot of help. Rest has been the most important thing.
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