Friday 25 April 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Obama warns tougher sanctions against nuclear N. Korea

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SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea will gain nothing by making threats, US President Barack Obama said Friday, warning it of sanctions with more bite if it went ahead with a fourth nuclear test.Speaking in South Korea as satellite images revealed the North could be preparing for an underground explosion, Obama stressed that Washington and Seoul stood shoulder to shoulder in their refusal to accept a nuclear North Korea.Even China, the Norths only major ally, was becoming alienated by its provocative behaviour, he said on the second leg of an Asian tour.Threats will get North Korea nothing, other than greater isolation, Obama said at a joint press conference with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.China is beginning to recognise that North Korea is not just a nuisance but a significant problem for their own security, he added.Underlining its status as global outlaw, Pyongyang said late Friday that it was holding a US citizen for rash behaviour while passing through immigration.In a brief despatch, official news agency KCNA said the American, whom it identified as Miller Matthew Todd, 24, had been taken into custody on April 10.The two-week delay in announcing the incident suggested it was timed to coincide with Obamas visit.US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Washington was aware of the reports of the arrest of a US citizen, but she had no additional information.We have been in touch with the embassy of Sweden about these reports, she told journalists, adding that theres no greater priority to us than the welfare and safety of US citizens.Washington has no diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, and the Swedish embassy there usually acts on its behalf in cases involving US citizens.

Flash floods kill more than 80 in north Afghanistan

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MAZAR-I-SHARIF (AFP) - Flash floods in northern Afghanistan after two days of torrential rain have killed more than 80 people, officials said Friday, with scores more missing as helicopters searched for stranded villagers.Local officials told AFP that 43 people died in Jowzjan province, 33 in Faryab province and six in Sar-e Pul province.The floodwaters swept through villages and fields, engulfing thousands of homes and leaving many people seeking safety on the roofs of their mud-brick houses.We have been able to recover 43 bodies, Jowzjan provincial police chief Faqir Mohammad Jowzjani told AFP. Rescue helicopters have evacuated some 200 people, but many people are still trapped on roofs of their homes and some are also missing.Faryab governor Mohammadullah Batash said the death toll in the province, which borders Turkmenistan, was expected to rise.We have a confirmed toll of 33 people dead and 2,152 houses destroyed, several districts have been badly affected, he said. Rain is still continuing, which is hampering relief efforts.In Sar-e Pul, another northern province, the flooding killed at least six people with more than a dozen still missing, said governor Abdul Jabar Haqbeen.Local officials reported shortages of drinking water, food and medicine, as the central government's disaster management agency said it was assessing emergency needs.The floodwaters destroyed farmland and also killed livestock across the remote region.Flooding often occurs during the spring rainy season in northern Afghanistan, with flimsy mud houses offering little protection against rising water levels.Afghanistan is set to release preliminary presidential election results on Friday, and Ashraf Ghani, one of the leading contenders, was quick to call for help for the flood victims.With great regret, we have been informed that heavy flooding has caused casualties and destroyed properties in some northern provinces, said a statement from his campaign.We extend our deepest sympathies to the people affected and demand urgent action by the government and relief organisations to help the affected people.Two weeks ago, a landslide triggered by heavy rains and a small earthquake swept through two villages in the northern province of Takhar, killing four people and destroying around 100 houses.In the last major flooding in Afghanistan, 40 people died in August in flash floods in eastern and southeastern provinces and some districts of the capital Kabul.Neighbouring Pakistan suffered the worst floods in its history in 2010 when almost 1,800 people died and 21 million people were affected.

Tennis: Nadal loses in Barcelona for first time since 2003

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BARCELONA (AFP) - World number one Rafael Nadal suffered his first defeat in Barcelona since 2003 on Friday when compatriot Nicolas Almagro ended his 41-match winning run in the Spanish city.Top seed Nadal, the eight-time champion, lost 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to Almagro in a quarter-final lasting 13 minutes short of three hours.Nadal, who lost in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals to David Ferrer last week, had last been beaten in Barcelona when he was just 15 years old.Despite the defeat, 27-year-old Nadal refused to panic with the defence of his French Open crown starting in just a month's time.He said losing a tennis match was nothing in comparison to the death of former Barcelona football coach Tito Vilanova who lost his battle with cancer at the age of 45 on Friday.To lose is not a drama. What has happened to Tito Vilanova is. We are left with his example and I send my support to his family, said Nadal.He added: I was better in parts of the match, but sport is like that. It was my turn to lose and I congratulate Nico.Nadal will next defend his Madrid and Rome Masters claycourt titles -- two of the 10 tournaments he won in 2013 after a seven-month injury lay-off.He could lose his world number one ranking with Novak Djokovic set to pounce.I lacked a bit of intensity at points in the match, added Nadal. That is tennis and now I have to suffer for a bit, but keep fighting and think about Madrid.Friday's victory was 28-year-old Almagro's first over Nadal in 11 meetings, a series which included a straight sets loss in the 2013 Barcelona final.He needed two match points to secure his shock triumph while surviving 47 unforced errors. The sixth seed had also been a break down in the deciding set.Nadal's last defeat at the tournament was in the second round to compatriot Alex Corretja in 2003 before he skipped the 2004 event through injury.His loss of the second set to Almagro on Friday was the first he had dropped at the Real Club de Tenis since 2008.That ended a run of 44 consecutive sets.Winning the last point I felt happy for all of my team, said Almagro who broke Nadal three times in the final set.He had trailed 3-1 in the decider and had been 3-1 down in the second set tiebreaker.This victory could mark a turning point in my career. It is a victory against the best player in history on this surfce, added Almagro.In the first set it was more difficult for me. He kept me far behind the baseline and I couldn't find a solution. After that, though, I started to believe in my backhand a bit more to counter his forehand.Almagro, the world number 20, will face Santiago Giraldo of Colombia for a place in the final.Giraldo went through when Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber retired with a left thigh injury while trailing 4-3 in the second set having dropped the first 6-4.Japan's Kei Nishikori continued his impressive return to action after a three week absence due to a groin injury as he beat 12th seed Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals.Nishikori, seeded fourth, was ruthless in the opening set as he broke the big Croat's serve three times.The second set was more of a contest, but the world number 17 still had too much as he sealed victory in just over an hour to register his best ever run in Barcelona.Next up for Nishikori will be a meeting with Latvian ninth seed Ernests Gulbis after he secured a third semi-final appearance of the season with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Tennis: Sharapova marches into Stuttgart semis

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STUTTGART (AFP) - Defending champion Maria Sharapova marched into the semi-finals of Stuttgart's WTA tournament with a 6-4, 6-3 win over top-seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Friday.That was a big win for me, admitted Sharapova after picking up her 11th straight win in Stuttgart where she is bidding for a hat-trick of titles having won the 2012 and 2013 tournaments.That was my biggest win since my comeback from injury, she added having missed four months last year with a shoulder injury.Sharapova claimed her ninth win in 11 matches against world number three Radwanska of Poland, but the Russian did not have things her own way in her one hour, 39 minute victory.After a total of seven breaks at the start of the match, as the momentum swung back and forth, Sharapova finally won her first service game to take control of the first set.That was one of the key moments, she said after eventually needing eight match points to claim the win.She will now face Sara Errani in Saturday's semi-final after the Italian's quarter-final opponent Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain was forced to retire injured in the third set with Errani leading 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 3-0.It'll be a tough game, she's a clay-court specialist, said the Russian.Having won all four Grand Slam titles, Sharapova is bidding to claim a personal landmark this week in Stuttgart by winning a tournament three times in succession.Victory bought an extra bonus for the Russian as failure to beat Radwanska would have seen her fall out of the top ten for the first time in three years.Ana Ivanovic of Serbia clinched a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 quarter-final win over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.Ninth-seed Ivanovic will play former world number one and compatriot Jelena Jankovic for a place in Sunday's final after the latter's 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final win over Russia's Alisa Kleybanova.

Motorcycling: Marquez tops in Argentina, Yamaha struggle

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TERMAS DE RIO HONDO (AFP) - World champion Marc Marquez dominated practice for the Argentina MotoGP at the brand new Termas de Rio Hondo track on Friday.The Spanish Honda rider is seeking to make it three wins out of three this season as the world championship returns to Argentina for the first time since 1999.And the 21-year-old proved a quick learner as he made light of the alien surroundings to top the times by over one second from his teammate Dani Pedrosa.It was a fun day, it is always interesting to learn all the different corners and their secrets at a new track and the practice sessions go by more quickly, said Marquez after clocking 1min 39.313sec.I am happy with how this first day went and with the base that we have. We shall continue working in the same way, as we are aware that tomorrow's times will be much closer.In third came the Yamaha of Aleix Espargaro, Stefan Bradl (Honda) took fourth with Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso completing the top five.Former double world champion Jorge Lorenzo had posted the quickest time in first practice but the Yamaha rider plummeted down to ninth overall after the second session.His first session time of 1min 42.804sec was almost five seconds slower than the one Marquez was to set later.Yamaha's nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who raced in the 250cc division when Argentina last hosted a world championship event 15 years ago, was eighth fastest with 1min 41.395sec.A difficult day in Argentina at the new track. The conditions are not fantastic and we are struggling very much with the tyres, especially the rear, said Rossi.In the afternoon it became a bit better and we worked well with the bike but we still haven't found the right balance so we have to work to make it better. We have to concentrate on making the tyre work harder as after a few laps the rear slides a lot. We hope the conditions of the track improve but we will also work to improve the setting of the bike for tomorrow.Marquez is on a three-timer after winning the season-opener in Qatar one month after breaking his leg, doubling up in the Grand Prix of the Americas.The youngest ever world champion leads the MotoGP standings by 36 points from Pedrosa going in to Sunday's race.Australia's Jack Miller emerged quickest in Moto3 practice.

Golf: Taiwan's Lin takes lead in Indonesia

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JAKARTA (AFP) - Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang fired a sparkling eight-under-par 64 to take the second round clubhouse lead in the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on Friday. Rising French star Victor Dubuisson, the highest ranked player in the $750,000 Asian Tour event at 23 in the world, improved from a disappointing first round with a three-under-par 69 but still trailed the leading pack.Lin, a six-time Asian Tour winner, is the man to catch when play resumes Saturday. He marked his card with nine birdies against one lone bogey to take the lead with a two-day total of 10-under-par 134. Bad weather brought a halt to the day's action at 5:00 pm and 19 players will now have to return to the Royale Jakarta Golf Club to resume their round early Saturday. Australian rookie Cameron Smith continued to impress in what is only his second start on the Asian Tour by carding a 67 to trail Lin by one. Nicholas Fung battled to a 69 to share third place with Thailand's Chapchai Nirat.Lin was forced to withdraw from an event in Malaysia last week because of heat and fatigue. But having taken a break, the 40-year-old bounced back. I wasn't feeling very well coming to this week. I had to withdraw from the tournament in Malaysia last week because the weather was just too hot, he said, according to an Asian Tour press release. But he said he felt better after resting and added: I guess I had an advantage today because the weather was cooler when I started in the morning.Dubuisson had a two-day total of one-under-par 143 and was in joint 38th place.

Badminton: Lin Dan cruises into semis at Asia Championships

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SEOUL (AFP) - Five-times world champion Lin Dan cruised into the semi-finals of the men's singles at the Badminton Asia Championships in South Korea on Friday.The Chinese star needed just 34 minutes to dispatch Wei Nan of Hong Kong 21-10, 21-7 in Gimcheon about 230 kilometers (144 miles) southeast of Seoul.The former world number one, currently at 83rd after a long hiatus, is playing in his second tournament of 2014. He won his season debut at the China Masters earlier this month.The continental championships are missing the current world number one, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, who withdrew at the last moment.Lin has yet to drop a set in South Korea. He will face fellow Chinese Liu Kai in Saturday's semis.The other semi-finals matchup will pit South Korea's Hwang Jong-Soo against Sho Sasaki of Japan.In the women's singles, the top-seed Wang Shixian of China edged past Lee Jang-Mi of South Korea 21-16, 21-19. She will take on P. V. Sindhu of India in the semi-finals Saturday.South Korean Sung Ji-Hyun, seeded fourth, reached the last four by beating Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei 16-21, 21-13, 21-18.Sayaka Takahashi of Japan knocked out Kim Hyo-Min of South Korea 21-13, 21-18 to also reach the last four.In the men's doubles, Shi Longfei and Chen Zhuofu of China reached the semis, where they will play compatriots Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen. It will be the third-seeded Thai tandem of Jongjit Maneepong and Puangpuapech Nipitphon against Shin Baek-Cheol and Yoo Yeon-Seong of South Korea in the other semi-finals matchup.Kim Ha-Na and Jung Kyung-Eun, the second-seeded South Korean women's doubles team, made it to the final four with a 21-9, 19-21, 21-17 win over Ou Dongni and Xiong Mengjing of China. Kim and Jung will meet another Chinese team in the semi-finals, Zhong Qianxin and Xia Huan.Luo Ying and Luo Yu of China and Ponnappa Ashwini and Gutta Jwata of India are the two other teams in the final four.

Saudi MERS death toll now 87: ministry

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RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi Arabia announced Friday two more deaths from the MERS coronavirus, taking the countrys toll to 87, a day after King Abdullah tried to reassure a worried public.A health ministry bulletin on the Internet said a total of 299 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome had been detected in the kingdom since MERS first appeared in September 2012.On Thursday, King Abdullah was in the Red Sea city and commercial hub of Jeddah which has seen a spate of cases among health staff in recent weeks that have sparked fears the virus has mutated to make it more transmissible from person to person.Public concern has been fuelled by the reported resignation last week of at least four doctors at Jeddahs King Fahd Hospital after they refused to treat MERS patients for fear of infection.The World Health Organisation announced on Wednesday that it had offered to send international experts to Saudi Arabia to investigate any evolving risk resulting from the apparent change in transmission pattern.MERS is considered a deadlier but less-transmissible cousin of the SARS virus which erupted in Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 people, nine percent of whom died.

US oil prices fall despite Ukraine tensions

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices retreated on Friday, with the New York market finishing sharply lower for the week as mounting US stockpiles appeared to counter worries over the mounting tensions around Ukraine.In New York WTI crude for June delivery gave up $1.34 at $100.60 a barrel, taking the US benchmark to a loss of $3.70 a barrel for the week.In London trade Brent North Sea crude for June dropped 75 cents to settle at $109.58 a barrel, roughly where it was a week ago.In London the Ukraine crisis kept the focus on how a feared outbreak of fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops could impact the European economy and particularly energy supplies. Russia is a key supplier of oil and natural gas to Western Europe.On Friday leaders in Russia and Ukraine swapped charges against each other while Western leaders threatened Moscow with fresh sanctions. Kiev accused Moscow of seeking to trigger a third world war after Russian troops launched military exercises on Ukraine's eastern border.Renewed tensions over Ukraine between Russia and the West have triggered fresh worries about possible oil supplies issues in the region, said Myrto Sokou, senior research analyst at Sucden brokers.An S&P credit downgrade of Russia added to the pressure on Russia, already facing heavy capital flight due to the tensions over Ukraine.But in the United States, the record level of commercial crude stockpiles is putting downward pressure on prices.Michael Lynch of Strategic Energy and Economic Research said that investors took profits and moved into cash ahead of the weekend amid the Ukraine political uncertainty.

Dollar-euro flat, yen stronger ahead of BOJ, Fed meetings

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar and euro stayed virtually unchanged Friday as the boiling Ukraine crisis kept traders cautious going into the weekend.But the Japanese yen inched higher, with eyes looking to policy meetings next week in both the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve.Firm inflation figures -- a 1.3 percent pace in March -- released in Tokyo Friday drove expectations that the BOJ will keep policy unchanged, instead of expanding stimulus efforts as some have hoped for.The inflation figures do not inspire much hope that the Bank of Japan will engage in more monetary easing any time soon, said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley SecuritiesThere were virtually no expectations of any shift by the US Federal Reserve at their policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Another $10 billion cut in the monthly bond purchase program is expected, with the Fed accepting that the economic stall during the winter was largely related to the repeated storms.We anticipate a fairly uneventful Fed meeting... The Fed will not make any further changes to interest rates or its forward guidance, said economists at IHS Global Insight.

Giles quits as England selector

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LONDON (AFP) - Ashley Giles has resigned as an England selector after being passed over for the role of national team coach, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Friday.Former England spinner Giles had been Englands one-day coach since 2012, having joined the selection panel four years earlier.But after Andy Flower stood down as head coach following the teams 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, England officials decided they wanted just one man in charge of the side across all three major international formats -- Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20s.And last week Giles hopes of succeeding Flower were ended when the ECB announced they had recalled former Lancashire boss Peter Moores for a second stint as England coach.Unsurprisingly in the circumstances Giles, who guided Warwickshire to the County Championship in 2012, felt he could no longer continue as an England selector.He has now been replaced on the four-man panel by Nottinghamshire coach Mick Newell, also a candidate for the England head coach position befire he too lost out to Moores.Ashley Giles has informed ECB today (Friday) that he intends to step down from the panel and I would like to thank him for all his hard work and dedication to the England cause over the past six years both as a selector, and more recently as our limited overs coach, ECB national selector James Whitaker said in a statement.Newell, who will continue with his Nottinghamshire day job, joins a panel that also includes, Whitaker, Moores and another county coach in Middlesexs former England seamer Angus Fraser.We welcome Mick to the panel and his passion, cricketing knowledge and in-depth understanding of our county game will be invaluable as we seek to identify potential international talent and develop outstanding England teams across all three formats of the game, ex-England batsman Whitaker added.Meanwhile Newell, who has served as a coach on second-string England Lions and Under-19s tours, and has twice been a County Championship winning coach with Nottinghamshire, said: Its a tremendous privilege and a great honour to be invited to join the England selection panel and I am really looking forward to working more closely with James, Peter and Angus.I would also like to thank Nottinghamshire CCC for their support in allowing me to take on this role and play a part in shaping the future direction of the England team.Englands next match is a one-day international away to Scotland in Aberdeen on May 9.

Hamid Mir's statements to media, police contradict

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Contradictions have surfaced in prominent journalist Hamid Mir’s statements given to police and media, Dunya News reported.According to reports, Mir’s first statement blamed Director General (DG) Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), second statement alleged whole ISI but the statement given to police does not mention defence institution at all. Mir said in statement to police that he doesn’t know who attacked him. His three different statements within six days of attack have given birth to confusion.Private TV channel Geo News landed itself into controversy on April 19 in its coverage following the attack on prominent journalist Hamid Mir.The attack was reported on every national TV channel including Dunya News within minutes of attack, however, Geo News distinguished itself in coverage by airing Hamid Mir’s brother Amir Mir’s allegations over DG of national institution. Geo News allegedly took it to task to repeatedly malign and defame DG ISI by flashing his picture on the breaking news broadcast for at least eight hours.The channel backtracked by terming the allegations as Hamid Mir’s brother’s own statement and not of the channel’s.Amir Mir claimed during the broadcast that Hamid Mir had informed him that DG ISI Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam is to be blamed if he was attacked.On the evening of April 24, Hamid Mir issued his first formal statement after the attack in which he said that he fears ISI the most in current circumstances without any mention of the DG ISI anywhere in the statement.However, the statement given to police in Agha Khan Hospital few hours later, Hamid Mir made no mention of ISI or DG ISI in the statement and instead said that he has no idea who attacked him.He said in the statement that he heard the gunshot on his way to office and realized he was attacked after feeling pain and seeing the blood.Legal experts have expressed dissatisfaction over the contradicting statements saying the developments in the aftermath render Mir’s statements irrelevant.

Nationwide rallies held in solidarity with Pak Army

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Several rallies were held in various cities of the country in solidarity with Pakistan Army on Friday, Dunya News reported.The demonstrators said that allegations against the armed forces are not acceptable and that no compromise will be tolerated over sanctity of the defence institutions.Traders, student organizations, religious and minority organizations held rally in D-Chowk Islamabad to show solidarity with Pakistan armed forces.Demonstrators demanded end to the media trial of defence institutions.Another rally was held in Lahore by members of civil society and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) and was attended by women and children as well. The demonstrators kept chanting slogans in favour of Pakistan armed forces.Another rally was held in Faisalabad starting from District Council and ending at Clock Tower Chowk. Children wearing military uniform demonstrated in favour of armed forces by marching during the rally.Jamatud Dawah and Pakistan Awami Tehrik held rallies in solidarity with Pakistan Army also in Hyderabad.Another demonstration took place in Sukkur where slogans in favour of armed forces were chanted.Pakistan Awami Tehrik led another rally in Sahiwal where participants stood in solidarity with defence institutions.In another rally that was held in Bahawalpur, participants said they are proud of the armed forces, adding that the attempts to malign army are shameless.Rallies were also held in Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Mianwali, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Kasur and Jacobabad where participants showed solidarity with armed forces.Speakers demanded legal action against the offending news channel.Geo News’s coverage following the attack on prominent journalist Hamid Mir became a matter of controversy especially when Pakistan’s premier intelligence Inter Services Intelligence was named in the broadcast with pictures of Director General (DG) ISI flashing on the screen.

Musharraf urges to avoid negative propaganda against defence institutions

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf has stressed to stop negative propaganda against Pakistan Army and a defence institution.Addressing the party workers via telephone, the former president said that he feeling well and urged the workers not to take tension as he was not scared of any situation.Pervez Musharraf said he was facing the courts and was not afraid of anyone as whatever he did was in the interest of Pakistan.Musharraf said Pakistan was going through a tough phase. He urged everyone to think first of all about Pakistan.The All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) workers took out a rally in support of the former president from Do Talwaar, Clifton to his residence.Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Pir Pagara called on Pervez Musharraf and inquired about his health.On this occasion, Pir Pagara said that the whole nation stands united behind Pakistan Army. He said Sindh government was responsible to arrest those involved the attack on anchorperson Hamid Mir.The PML-F chief slammed the negative propaganda against Pakistan Army during Indian elections.Earlier, the special court reserved its decision on the plea of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf’s counsel, seeking access to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) report in the treason case, Dunya News reported.A three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab heard the case.During case proceedings, Barrister Farogh Naseem argued that the Official Secrets Act exists in Pakistan, however, FIA’s investigation report does not come under this act.Justice Faisal Arab remarked that investigation report would not have been broadcasted on the media if it was under the Official Secrets Act.Meanwhile, the court reserved its decision on the plea and adjourned the case hearing till April 28.On March 31, Musharraf was formally charged with subverting and circumventing the constitution by imposing emergency on November 3, 2007. Musharraf had rejected the charges levelled against him.

ECC approves Rs 18b for Pakistan Steel Mill's restructuring

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) on Friday approved restructuring plan for the Pakistan Steel Mill amounting to over eighteen billion rupees.Its meeting was held in Islamabad under chairmanship of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.The plan envisages achieving 77% capacity of the Mill till June next year.The meeting decided to impose 25 percent regulatory duty on export of potato with effect from 5th of next month. It was also decided that there will be zero duty and levy on import of potato from 5th of next month till 31st of July this year.The measure will help in bringing potato prices at rational level in the market before and during coming Ramadan.The ECC decided, in principle, to allow Utility Stores Corporation to procure sugar directly from the domestic sugar mills without the involvement of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan. The Ministry of Finance will provide credit line support to the USC.The TCP was directed to maintain their stocks upto 50,000 tons in future and to supply their over and above stocks to the corporation from the current inventory of around 200,000 tons.
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