Sunday 2 March 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Four injured as gas pipeline blown up near Naseerabad

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NASEERABAD (Dunya News) - Some unidentified persons blew up 24-inch diameter gas pipeline in Patfeeder area near Naseerabad on early Monday morning, halting gas supply to Shikarpur and Quetta.A huge fire erupted after the explosion as a result four people, including two cops, got injured.

Kerry to visit Kiev as Russian forces control Crimea

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Kiev on Tuesday to lend support to Ukraines new interim leaders, US officials said, adding that Russian forces now controlled the Crimean peninsula.In Kiev, on March 4, Secretary Kerry will meet with senior representatives of Ukraines new government, leaders of the Rada and members of civil society, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.Kerry will reaffirm the United States strong support for Ukrainian sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity.He will also stress the right of the Ukrainian people to determine their own future, without outside interference or provocation, Psaki added in a statement.On a conference call with reporters, senior US administration officials repeatedly warned that Moscow risked a deepening fallout for sending its troops into southern Crimea.Economic talks, including a visit by a Russian delegation to discuss energy, have already been cancelled, and an upcoming major military event is also expected to be put on hold.We are also looking with allies and partners at a broad menu of options to curtail our economic and trade investment, a senior administration official said, adding that the US would likely curtail normal activity that we have ongoing with Russia at this time.The official said that Russian forces were now in complete operational control of the Crimean peninsula.There is no question that they are in a occupation commission in Crimea. They are flying in reinforcements and they are settling in, the official said.Top US diplomat for Europe, Victoria Nuland, will travel to Vienna on Monday for talks with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.She was hoping to look at ways to get international monitors into flashpoint areas and possibly a broader mission to replace Russian forces if the Russians can be persuaded to pull back, the official said.

At least 74 dead in Boko Haram violence in Nigeria

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MAIDUGURI (AFP) - At least 74 people were killed in attacks blamed on Boko Haram militants this weekend, taking the overall death toll this year beyond 300, with no apparent end in sight to the carnage.Nearly 250 people had lost their lives since the turn of the year, even before the latest attacks, which saw twin blasts rip through the capital of Borno state, Maiduguri and heavily armed gunmen then open fire on a nearby village.The attacks will likely renew fears that Nigeria is struggling to contain the Islamist insurgency and the perception that militant fighters are able to roam the northeast with impunity, attacking at will.At least 35 people were killed in the crowded Gomari district of Maiduguri, many of them food vendors and children hawking goods, as locals prepared for evening prayers on Saturday.We are still counting. So far we have counted 35 bodies. Our men are still working with rescue workers at the scene, Borno state police commissioner Lawal Tanko told AFP.Witnesses said the final death toll could rise and as many as 50 people may have been killed and dozens of homes razed in the blasts.Less than an hour later, gunmen dressed in military fatigues and armed with powerful assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and explosives laid siege to the village of Mainok 50 kilometres (30 miles) away, killing 39.Separately, there were claims that 20 people were mistakenly killed in the village of Daglun, also in Borno state, during bombardment by airforce jets of suspected militants but the military denied the claim.There was no immediate comment from Nigerias government, which has maintained that it is successfully tackling the violence, but French President Francois Hollande condemned the attacks with the greatest possible rigour.Hollande visited Abuja last week and told his counterpart Goodluck Jonathan that Nigeria had Frances full support.Borno and two other northeastern states, Yobe and Adamawa, have been under emergency rule since May last year and an increased military presence had pushed Boko Haram out of towns and cities into more remote, rural areas.But Saturdays blast in Maiduguri came after at least 43 people, most of them students, were killed as they slept when suspected Boko Haram gunmen burst into their secondary school dormitory.At least 32 were killed in co-ordinated attacks in three separate locations on Wednesday in Adamawa state, including at a Christian theological college.Borno state governor Kashim Shettima last month claimed that Nigerias military was outgunned by Boko Haram after an attack on a mostly Christian village on February 15 left 106 people dead.The International Crisis Group said in its monthly CrisisWatch bulletin on conflicts around the world that the Boko Haram insurgency had deteriorated in February.The attacks have also attracted concern from foreign governments to the United Nations, in particular because the majority of victims were civilians and schoolchildren.There are increasing worries of a humanitarian crisis, as people in the three states flee their homes in fear.The UN said last Thursday that a total of 290,002 people had been internally displaced in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe between the start of emergency rule and January 1 this year.Nigerias military said on Sunday evening that it had killed a number of Boko Haram fighters, including those thought responsible for last weeks school attack in Yobe.Defence ministry spokesman Chris Olukolade said an unspecified number of people had been arrested on suspicion of detonating Saturdays bombs in Maiduguri.But he said claims that civilians were killed in air operations against Boko Haram in Borno were untrue.The reports are believed to be part of the design by those bent on discrediting the counter-terrorist mission, he added.On Friday, the military claimed to have killed 13 suspected Islamists and arrested 15 others after a raid on a camp between Borno and Adamawa the previous day.Boko Haram, which in the local Hausa language of the Muslim-majority north means Western education is sin, claims to be fighting to create a strict Islamic state in the mainly Muslim north.The sect has since 2009 carried out attacks across the north and centre of the country but the violence has in recent months been concentrated in the northeast, the region where Boko Haram was founded more than a decade ago.

Football: Toure, Nasri blasts bring City League Cup joy

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LONDON (AFP) - Sensational quick-fire goals by Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri inspired Manchester City to come from behind and beat Sunderland 3-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.Sunderland had taken a 10th-minute lead through on-loan Liverpool striker Fabio Borini and a fine first-half display left them on course for a first piece of major silverware since 1973.However, City responded in the second half, with Toure lobbing in a superb long-range equaliser and Nasri smashing home less than two minutes later before substitute Jesus Navas added a third goal at the death.The team deserve this cup because we played well during the whole cup and scored a lot of goals, said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.Sunderland played a good match also and we didn't move the ball as fast as we needed (in the first half), but in the second half we scored two beautiful goals and had the patience to wait for the moment.Victory for City enabled them to partially atone for the shock of last season's loss to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final and sets them up for a tilt at a domestic treble.City are six points off the pace in the Premier League with two games in hand and will face Wigan in the FA Cup quarter-finals, while they also trail Barcelona 2-0 in their Champions League last 16 tie.It was a bittersweet first trip to the new Wembley for Sunderland but they could reflect with pride on a valiant display that augurs well for their Premier League relegation battle and forthcoming FA Cup quarter-final against Hull City.We did everything we could, said Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.That's the best part of what we are all about. To beat us they had to score two wonder goals. I hate losing but I'm proud of the players.City welcomed back top scorer Sergio Aguero after a month out with a hamstring injury and he served an early reminder of his threat with a snapshot that was parried by Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone.Sunderland had started the game with intent, however, snapping into tackles in the middle of the pitch, and a minute later they rocked City by taking the lead.Lee Cattermole, starting in place of the cup-tied Liam Bridcutt, robbed Toure just outside the Sunderland area and fed Adam Johnson, who lofted a ball down the right flank for Borini to chase.Vincent Kompany got to the ball first but the City captain's attempted clearance was blocked by Borini, who cut into the box from the right and deftly found the bottom-left corner with the outside of his right foot.Sunderland were quick to gather men behind the ball afterwards but they continued to threaten, with Wes Brown heading over from a corner.When City did muster an attack, Nasri saw a tame shot saved by Mannone and it took a magnificent last-ditch block by Kompany to prevent Borini from extending Sunderland's lead before half-time.It was to prove a spurned opportunity that Sunderland would rue, as within 11 minutes of the restart, City were in front.The teams exchanged chances early in the second half, David Silva testing Mannone and Costel Pantilimon pushing a long-range Ki Sung-yueng effort over at the other end, before Toure equalised with an exquisite strike.With Sunderland camped inside their area, Pablo Zabaleta rolled the ball back to Toure and the giant Ivorian lifted a gloriously nonchalant effort over Mannone and into the top-left corner from 30 yards.Sunderland barely had time to draw breath before Nasri made it 2-0 in the 56th minute, meeting Aleksandar Kolarov's deflected left-wing cross with an emphatic shot from the edge of the box that swerved deliciously inside the left-hand post.Immediately, City introduced Navas in place of Aguero, while a shellshocked Sunderland sent on Craig Gardner and Steven Fletcher, who quickly tested Pantilimon with a low shot.Kompany almost added a third for City when he hooked wide from a Nasri corner, before Navas rattled a shot inside Mannone's near post from Toure's pass to rubberstamp City's third League Cup crown.

Football: Ronaldo salvages point for Real, Barca beat Almeria

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MADRID (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo equalised eight minutes from time as Real Madrid remained top of La Liga thanks to a pulsating 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.Real remain three points clear of Atletico but Barcelona moved to within a point of the leaders as they beat Almeria 4-1 on Sunday.Karim Benzema had fired Real into a third minute lead when he converted Angel di Maria's cross.However, despite being denied what appeared a penalty when Sergio Ramos seemed to trip Diego Costa, Atletico were in front by half-time thanks to fine strikes by Koke and Gabi.Another turned down penalty appeal saw Atletico assistant boss Mono Burgos sent to the stands as he tried to confront the referee midway through the second-half.And Atletico were left to feel hard done by when Ronaldo spun on the edge of the box to drill home a late equaliser.I think we can leave here reinforced, we have drawn a game in which we were losing, said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.The reaction of the players was good, in general we can be satisfied because Atletico Madrid are a very good team, especially at home.We are still three points ahead of them and we are leaders.Atletico captain Gabi was understandably left enraged as his side missed out on a possible return to the top of the table.I leave with a bad taste in my mouth, he told Spanish TV channel Canal Plus.It was a very open game with chances for both teams but I am proud of Atletico Madrid.We wanted to offer this intensity and desire to the fans and I think that is what we did.Ancelotti's men came into the game full of confidence after thrashing Schalke 6-1 on their return to Champions League action in midweek and took just three minutes to open the scoring.A short corner from the right was worked back to Di Maria and his in-swinging cross was slotted home at the back post by Benzema.The home fans and players were left incensed seven minutes later when Costa seemed to be tripped inside the area by Ramos, but referee Carlos Delgado Ferreiro waved away claims for a penalty.The hosts bossed the latter part of the opening period and were level on 27 minutes when fine work from Turan teed up Koke inside the area to smash a low right-footed drive into the far corner.Atletico went in front in spectacular fashion in first-half stoppage time when Gabi collected a short free-kick and fired high into Diego Lopez's top right-hand corner from 35 yards.More controversy was to come as Costa appeared to be bundled over inside the area, this time by Alvaro Arbeloa, but rather than pointing to the spot Ferreiro booked Costa for diving.And that decision was to prove vital as Ronaldo fired home a loose ball from the edge of the area eight minutes from time to give Real a share of the spoils.At the Camp Nou, Barcelona maintained the pressure on both Madrid sides as they made amends for their 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad last weekend.It took the hosts just eight minutes to make the breakthrough when Alexis Sanchez tapped home after Esteban failed to hold Cesc Fabregas's shot.Lionel Messi made it 2-0 with a fantastic free-kick from 25 yards to register his eighth goal in his last six games.However, Almeria were handed a lifeline three minutes later as Angel Trujillo took advantage of some awful marking from the Barca defence to head home Corona's corner.The visitors could even have been level after the break when Aleix Vidal fired straight at Victor Valdes when well-placed inside the area.Barca did finally put the game to bed when Carles Puyol bundled home after Messi's looping header came back off the bar before Xavi curled home the fourth two minutes from time.The goal they scored put a little doubt in our minds and we were more worried making sure we defended well and kept the ball, midfielder Cesc Fabregas told Barca TV.We had control of the game and once the third goal arrived and we could relax.I still think we have to improve, but it is all in our hands. We have 19 games left to make this is a great season.

Tennis: Delbonis takes Brazil Open title

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Argentina's Federico Delbonis, ranked 61 in the world, won the Brazil Open on Sunday with a three-set success over Italian Paolo Lorenzi.Delbonis, 23, beat his 114th-ranked rival 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to capture his first ATP Tour crown.The win saw him fulfil some of the potential he had shown in beating Roger Federer in the Hamburg semi-finals as a qualifier last July. Lorenzi had beaten his left-handed rival in three Challenger events but was unable to capitalise on a strong start which landed him the opening set.He leaves Sao Paulo with the consolation of having at least played his first final at the age of 32.

British gov't boycotts Sochi Paralympics over Ukraine

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LONDON (AFP) - The British government will boycott the Winter Paralympics in Sochi over host Russia's military action in Ukraine, Prime Minister David Cameron said Sunday.The British premier said he and Foreign Secretary William Hague thought it would be wrong for ministers to go to the Games, which start on Friday, given the unfolding events in nearby Ukraine.Cameron tweeted: Because of the serious situation in Ukraine, @WilliamJHague & I believe it would be wrong for UK Ministers to attend the Sochi Paralympics.Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth II's youngest son, Prince Edward, who is patron of the British Paralympic Association, has, on the advice of government, cancelled a planned visit to Russia to attend the Games.A Downing Street spokesman said Cameron was gravely concerned about the situation in Ukraine and was to talk with US President Barack Obama on Sunday.Cameron was also due to speak with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.Hague is in Kiev to meet the new Ukrainian authorities, make clear London's support for them and to urge continued restraint.He tweeted after meeting Ukrainian political leaders that the violation of the former Soviet republic's sovereignty was unacceptable.Hague announced earlier that Britain would not take part in preparatory meetings this week in Russia for the G8 summit, due to be held in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in June.In current circumstances, the prime minister is clear that the focus of our engagement with Russia must be the situation in Ukraine, rather than other normal business, the Downing Street spokesman said.Ukraine warned Sunday it was on the brink of disaster and called up military reservists after Russia's threat to invade its Western-leaning neighbour risked sparking the worst crisis since the Cold War.The prime minister remains gravely concerned about events in Ukraine and is determined to pursue all avenues to reduce tensions and de-escalate a very dangerous situation, said the Downing Street spokesman.A stable Ukraine is in the interests of everyone. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has been violated and this cannot be the way to conduct international affairs.He added that Cameron and Hague have also decided that it would be inappropriate for UK ministers to attend the Sochi Paralympics in current circumstances.The prime minister remains fully supportive of our Paralympic athletes' participation at Sochi.Cameron did not attend the Sochi Winter Olympics last month, though there is no tradition of British premiers attending the Winter Games.

Golf: Woods withdraws from Honda Classic with sore back

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PALM BEACH GARDENS (AFP) - World number one Tiger Woods withdrew from the final round of the Honda Classic on Sunday citing a sore back.A day after shooting his lowest score of the year -- a third-round 65 at the par-70 PGA National -- Woods was five-over for the day through 13 holes of the final round when he pulled out, shaking hands with his playing partners on the 13th green before unceremoniously departing.The 14-time major champion had parred his last four holes, the 10th through 13th, but he was nine over on the front nine, including a double-bogey seven at the reachable par-five third hole where he was in the water.He made three more bogeys over his next six holes.I kind of noticed that he wasn't feeling the greatest, playing partner Luke Guthrie said. I noticed he was starting to kind of gingerly tee up the ball and pick up the ball out of the hole and stuff.With less than six weeks to go until the first major of the year, the Masters at Augusta National April 10-13, it was another disappointment for Woods, whose 2014 campaign has gotten off to a stuttering start with a missed secondary cut at Torrey Pines and a shared 41st place at Dubai.He just made the Honda Classic cut on the number, but had seemed to find something in his game on Saturday with a round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.Woods is scheduled to tee it up on Thursday in the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship at Doral, where he is the defending champion.He said through a spokesman that it was too early to tell if he would be able to defend his title there.Woods added in his statement that his back flared up when he was warming up on Sunday, and the problem was similar to the back spasms that he battled en route to a runner-up finish at The Barclays last August.It's the seventh time in Woods' career and fourth time in the last five years that he has withdrawn from a tournament. The most recent instance was in the final round of Doral in 2012, where he withdrew after 12 holes with an Achilles injury.

Bopara, Broad lead England to three-wicket win

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NORTH SOUND (AFP) - An unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 58 between Ravi Bopara and captain Stuart Broad averted another embarrassing England collapse and saw their team to a series-levelling three-wicket win over the West Indies on Sunday.On a day when both teams performed below average with the bat, the home side lost their last six wickets for 26 runs after skipper Dwayne Bravos controversial dismissal to be dismissed for 159 off 44.2 overs.England, their confidence at a low ebb on the back of six defeats in their last seven ODIs, seemed to have frittered away an excellent position in being reduced to 105 for seven in the 32nd over.However Broad joined Bopara in defying the primary threat of spinner Sunil Narine and survived a few alarms before striking the winning boundary with five overs to spare.West Indies thought they had removed Broad immediately upon his arrival at the crease to a catch at the wicket off Ravi Rampaul but umpire Rod Tuckers on-field decision was reversed on television review.He was then put down on three by Bravo diving to his left at slip off the same bowler.It proved to be the critical miss with Broad finishing unbeaten on 28 and Bopara on 38 not out setting the stage for the deciding third and final match at the same venue on Wednesday.West Indies had won Fridays opener by 15 runs at the same Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.We made it really hard for ourselves, said Broad. But Rav (Bopara) did what we expected of him at number seven and we were able to keep our minds clear on the target required.On another dry pitch, spinners again proved to be Englands most effective weapon, left-arm orthodox bowler Stephen Parry taking three for 32 on debut and earning the man of the match award.This is the greatest day of my life, said Parry. To make my debut, get man of the match and, most importantly, get the win, its a dream come true.The other three slow bowlers used by the tourists -- James Tredwell, Joe Root and Moeen Ali -- shared five wickets among them as only Lendl Simmons (70) prospered in a West Indies top-order that once again lacked the technique and application to succeed in the conditions.Simmons and Bravo were threatening a repeat of their century partnership in the first ODI two days earlier, having put on 52 for the fifth wicket.But the West Indies captain was ruled stumped off Tredwell by television umpire Marais Erasmus despite lengthy deliberation and the examination of numerous camera angles which appeared to suggest there was enough doubt as to whether wicketkeeper Jos Buttler had effected the dismissal before the ball fell from his grasp.Theyre going to get some harsh words in the dressing room, said a despondent Bravo after the lower-order fell away following his demise, leaving more than five overs unused.It could have meant another 30 runs for us.

Clarke leads from front before weather frustrates Aussies

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CAPE TOWN (AFP) - Australian captain Michael Clarke hit an unbeaten 161 to guide his team to a strong position before rain disrupted his teams bid to take a stranglehold on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa at Newlands on Sunday.Australia were 494 for seven when a storm swept in on the back of high winds and prevented any play after mid-afternoon.Before the rain, Australia were on target to take their total past 500 and subject South Africa to a challenging examination from the tourists fast bowlers in what was shaping as a mirror image of the domination achieved by South Africa in the second Test in Port Elizabeth.Clarke said it was a very satisfying innings.There were some tough stages yesterday (Saturday). Morne Morkel bowled a couple of pretty quick spells, bowling around the wicket with a set plan to attack the emblem on my helmet.That was difficult to get through but most important is weve got 494 runs on the board and Im extremely pleased with the position were in.Clarke said Australia were determined to push for a win which would seal a series that is tied at one match each.He said there was some inconsistent bounce.Hopefully it continues to deteriorate and gets a little more up and down. But were going to have to bowl well, its still a very good batting wicket.South African bowler Kyle Abbott, who bowled two tight spells in difficult, windy conditions, said he thought the pitch would stay good for batting through most of the rest of the match.Weve got to bat as well as they have, he said.We have to keep positive. As soon as you start thinking of a draw, or any negative thoughts, you come unstuck.Australia scored 163 runs in 39.4 overs on Sunday, blunting a depleted South African pace attack with an almost-new ball at the start of the day and then going for their shots.Part-time off-spinner JP Duminy claimed Test-best figures of four for 73, taking three wickets after lunch as Australia went for quick runs.With strike bowler Dale Steyn out of action after suffering a hamstring injury on the first day, the key for Australia was to prevent the South African bowlers from making a breakthrough early in the day with an almost-new ball.Abbott bowled an outstanding spell of six overs during which he conceded only one run - but couldnt take a wicket, while Vernon Philander went for 39 runs in his six-over morning spell.Clarke, who was on 92 overnight, quickly went to 99 but then faced 24 deliveries - 23 of them from Abbott - without being able to get the run to bring up his fifth century against South Africa.It finally came with a cover drive for four off Philander. He had faced 215 balls and hit 11 fours.Smith, meanwhile, played some aggressive strokes, which included a straight six off Philander.He made 84 in a fourth wicket stand of 184 with Clarke before he chopped a wide delivery from part-time left-arm spinner Dean Elgar into his stumps. He hit nine fours and three sixes in a 155-ball innings.Shane Watson, playing in his first match of the series, survived a review off the first ball he faced when Elgar appealed for leg before wicket but went on to make an aggressive 40 off 32 balls with two fours and three sixes.In trying to hit Duminy for a fourth six he mistimed a shot to long-off.Brad Haddin also perished playing an attacking shot and Mitchell Johnson was caught down the legside first ball by wicketkeeper AB de Villiers off Duminy.Clarke, who had gone 11 Test innings without making more than 24 runs, batted with increasing confidence and reached 150 for the tenth time in his career off 288 balls when he clipped Abbott for his 17th four.

PM meets CM Punjab to discuss matters including Taliban ceasefire

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LAHORE (Dunya News) -- A high level meeting presided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took place in Lahore on Sunday where various national matters including Taliban ceasefire were discussed, Dunya News reportedThe session took place at party’s central secretariat in Model Town Lahore where Prime Minister was accompanied by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal ministers among other party leaders.The high level meeting also discussed by-polls in Jhang and energy project.Earlier, during a meeting with Shahbaz Sharif at Jati Umra area of Raiwind, PM said the government is striving to improve standard of living of citizens and that the government is trying to move the country forward from the crossroads of corruption.Nawaz Sharif vowed his government will rid the country of energy load-shedding among other crises.

Egypt frees Morsi son arrested in drugs case

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CAIRO, March 02, 2014 (AFP) - A son of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was freed Sunday a day after being arrested on suspicion of possessing hashish, judicial sources said.Police said they found two joints on 19-year-old Abdullah Morsi and a friend in a car parked by the roadside in Qalyubia province north of Cairo, security officials said on Saturday.They were released pending investigation after agreeing to give urine samples, judicial sources said, adding that the results had not yet been released.Morsis other son, Osama, had dismissed the accusations, saying the authorities were fabricating the case and that his brothers arrest was an attempt to defame the family.Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood have been the target of a relentless government crackdown since the Islamist was ousted last July after just a year in office.Amnesty International says that more than 1,400 people have been killed, mostly Morsi supporters, in street clashes since his ouster.Morsi himself and several Brotherhood leaders have been put on trial.

Notorious Irish gangster shot in Dublin: reports

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DUBLIN (AFP) - A notorious Irish gangster who was acquitted of the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin was in hospital on Sunday after being shot in Dublin, media reports said.Police said a man in his 60s was shot several times by two masked men in a house in the city shortly after 7 pm (1900 GMT) on Saturday evening.According to media reports, the house belonged to the brother of 61-year-old John Gilligan, a convicted drug dealer who was the chief suspect in Guerins murder.The gunmen forced their way into the house, where a family christening was taking place, and shot Gilligan seven times in the chest, stomach and leg, the RTE broadcaster said.The two men are believed to have fled the scene in a car, police said, adding that the victim was taken to hospital where his injuries are described as non life-threatening.Gilligan was released from prison last year after being jailed in 2001 for drug trafficking.He was the key suspect in the notorious murder of Guerin, a crime reporter with the Sunday Independent newspaper, but was acquitted after a trial in 2001.The investigative reporters shooting was the subject of a 2003 film starring Cate Blanchett.

RBS draws up rescue plan for Ulster Bank: report

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LONDON (Reuters) - Part-nationalized Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) is working on a plan to salvage its troubled Irish business, Ulster Bank, by merging it with a number of rivals, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.Attempts to find a buyer for the business have failed and a team inside RBS is looking at tie-ups between Ulster and other lenders, such as Permanent TSB or the Irish units of Danske Bank (DANSKE.CO) or KBC (KBC.BR), the newspaper reported.Bolting the institutions together could allow the new Ulster Bank to strip out costs and mount a credible challenge to Ireland's top players.Ireland's finance minister Michael Noonan said on Saturday he would like a significant new bank with a big balance sheet to enter its lending market this year to drive competition in the diminished sector.Noonan said on Sunday that he was looking at the possibility of overseas banks partnering with Irish lenders to create a competitor to the country's biggest lenders - Allied Irish Bank (ALBK.I) and Bank of Ireland (BKIR.I).I'm sending a signal out to the European banking system that a growing economy in Ireland has space for more banking activity and we would welcome their participation in Ireland by way of subsidiaries or by way of going into partnership with some of our domestic banks, he told national broadcaster RTE.Ulster Bank has racked up losses of 2.5 billion pounds ($4.2 billion) over the past two years. It accounts for less than 4 percent of RBS's assets but was responsible for 20 percent of its bad debt charges last year. Ulster is the biggest bank in Northern Ireland and the third biggest in the Republic of Ireland.RBS Chief Executive Ross McEwan said on Friday that he wanted to develop Ulster as a challenger to Ireland's biggest two lenders. McEwan was speaking after RBS reported a 2013 loss of 8.2 billion pounds.The Sunday Times said RBS is in talks with a handful of private equity firms about providing tens of millions of pounds in backing for the venture.RBS declined to comment.

Reforms slow in Bangladeshs toxic tanneries

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DHAKA (AFP) - Standing knee deep in toxic chemicals, Mokter Hossain loads animal hides into huge drums filled with still more dangerous liquids at a tannery in the Bangladesh capital.Barefoot and sick with fever, Hossain stops every now and then to cough, a legacy of the job that his doctors warn could one day kill him.Some days I am too ill to work, said Hossain, 25, who has spent years inhaling fumes from the hexavalent chromium and other chemicals used to turn the raw hides into soft leather.I take medicine to control my skin diseases. If I dont, it gets worse, Hossain adds, gesturing to his arms and legs which are covered in rashes and black spots.Hossains tannery is one of 200 in Hazaribagh in Dhaka, where some 25,000 workers toil for as little as $50 a month to produce leather for shoes and other goods for stores in Europe and the United States.Ten months ago, Western retailers were forced into action after a garment factory complex collapsed killing 1,135 people, one of a string of tragedies that have shone a global spotlight on that sectors shocking labour and safety conditions.But there are few signs of reform at Bangladeshs leather industry, where conditions are equally atrocious and business is booming thanks to the Wests growing demand for cheap, leather items.Top local activist Rizwana Hasan blames a lack of headline grabbing disasters in the industry that could make consumers think twice about where their shoes and bags are made.In these tanneries, death comes slowly, said Hasan, referring to respiratory problems, cancers, skin diseases and other illnesses that doctors blame on long hours and few safety precautions.(So) While Bangladesh garment disasters make headlines across the world, the even more terrible conditions at the tanneries dont.These tanneries remind us of factories in the 19th century, she added.An AFP reporter recently saw children as young as 14 working inside one tannery, whose floor was awash with chromium effluent and where cow and goat skins caked in salt were stacked in piles.Activists are also frustrated by murky supply chains in Hazaribagh that make it difficult to link specific tanneries to individual top Western retailers, and possibly shame them into action.- Waste dumped in river -In Hazaribagh, the environmental and public health costs of the growing industry are on full display.Every day, the tanneries collectively dump 22,000 cubic litres of toxic waste, including cancer-causing chromium, into the Buriganga -- Dhakas main river and a key water supply -- according to the environment ministry.Nearly 200,000 people live in Hazaribagh including on the banks of the Buriganga, recently voted one of the worlds most contaminated rivers by a New York-based environmental group.The area, once a pleasant, semi-rural district, has been transformed into a patchwork of toxic swamps, garbage landfills and mountains of decomposing leather scraps.Dozens of small recycling plants burn the scraps to produce fish and poultry feed -- a flourishing offshoot of the industry. Black smoke covers the sky and there is a stench in the air.It is worse than hell. But we dont have any choice, said Munia, 19, who uses one name, adding that she has developed breathing problems from her job at one of the recycling plants.Activist Hasan has been embroiled in a long legal battle to get the tanneries relocated outside of Dhaka and equipped with waste treatment plants. She blames close links between government and powerful owners of the tanneries, a vital source of employment, for the lack of action.The department of environment, the department of labour inspectors hardly make any inspection there. The reasons could be political as the government doesnt want to upset the business community.The government concedes tanneries are breaking environmental laws, but favours persuading, rather than forcing them, to improve, while debate drags on about who would bear the cost of any move.The tanners do not want to relocate, they want to stay here. They make excuses so that the relocation is delayed, Munir Chowdhury, a former director at the department of environment, told AFP.- Business booming -As the stalemate continues, business booms in Hazaribagh thanks to growing global demand for leather and hiked manufacturing costs in China that have been driving Western buyers to Bangladesh.Leather and leather goods, including shoes, are the impoverished countrys fastest growing exports, and combined shipments grew 35 percent in the last half of the financial year ending December, compared to the same period last year, export bureau figures show.Both the Western buyers and the tanners are addicted to Hazaribaghs cheap labour and lax environmental enforcement standards. It wont go away unless we have pressure from all sides, said Hasan.But there are signs of improvements in the industry where some tanneries, at least, have shunned the lowest-cost formula.Apex Adelchi, which supplies to retailers such as Macys in the United States, and UK-based Jones Bootmaker which owns Clarks, have set up environmental-friendly tanneries to woo high-end chains.We are seeing much higher levels of consciousness and awareness (from foreign buyers) in terms of environmental compliance, said Apexs chief executive Nasim Manzur.He said it was in Bangladeshs long-term interest to improve working standards and environmental standards despite the extra costs for tanneries and buyers that reforms would bring.
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