Wednesday 7 May 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Bomb kills family of nine in Afghanistan

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HERAT (AFP) - A roadside bomb has killed nine members of a single family in western Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, in the latest violence as US-led troops prepare to leave the country after 13 years.The family was travelling in the Shindand district of Herat province late on Tuesday when explosives ripped through their vehicle, Abdul Hameed Noori, the district chief, told AFP.Nine members of the family including two women, five children and two men were killed on the spot, he said.Two people were wounded and taken to a nearby hospital. Sameh Wafa, a provincial spokesman, confirmed the incident to AFP. Roadside bombs are commonly used by Taliban insurgents to target Afghan and foreign forces but often cause injuries to civilians. Attack that kill civilians often go unclaimed and there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's deaths.Afghanistan is in the middle of presidential elections, with former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani due to compete in a head-to-head run-off vote next month.Both candidates have promised to bring peace after decades of conflict.But they will have to tackle security without US-led NATO combat troops, all 51,000 of whom will pull out by the end of this year.

World powers join hunt for abducted Nigerian schoolgirls

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KANO (AFP) - World powers, including the United States and China, said Wednesday they would join in the hunt for more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram Islamists who also killed hundreds in northeastern Nigeria this week.As shock reverberated over the mass abduction of the teenagers, the United States and France said they would send specialist teams to Nigeria, while London agreed to deploy satellite imaging capabilities.China promised to supply any useful information acquired by its satellites and intelligence services to Nigeria.The police on Wednesday offered $300,000 ( 215,000 euros) for information leading to the rescue of the girls.The flurry of effort to track the girls coincided with gruesome details emerging from an attack by Boko Haram which razed the town of Gamboru Ngala on the border with Cameroon this week, firing on civilians as they fled.Area Senator Ahmed Zanna said 300 were killed, citing information provided by locals, in an account supported by numerous residents. Zanna said the town had been left unguarded because soldiers based there had been redeployed north towards Lake Chad in an effort to rescue the kidnapped girls.Nigeria's response to the kidnappings has been widely criticised, including by activists and parents of the hostages who say the military's search operation has been inept. President Goodluck Jonathan's administration has sought to appear more engaged with the plight of the hostages in recent days, especially after Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau released a video threatening to sell the girls as slaves.In a second kidnapping, 11 more girls aged 12 to 15 years were seized Sunday from Gwoza, an area not far from Chibok. All the targeted villages fell in Borno state, Boko Haram's base. The group's five-year uprising has killed thousands across Africa's most populous country and top economy, with many questioning whether Nigeria has the capacity to contain the violence. Islamist fighters riding in armoured trucks and on motorcycles stormed Gamboru Ngala after midday on Monday. The extremists overran the town, making it too dangerous for locals to immediately return, survivors said. When the militants left, residents discovered their town littered with dead bodies, Musa Abba, a witness, told AFP. All economic and business centres have been burnt. The market in the town which attracts traders from all over the area... has been completely burnt, the senator said.Gamboru Ngala has been attacked repeatedly in the past but Abba said this (was) the worst Boko Haram attack (the town) has seen.The assault prompted Cameroon's army to reinforce security in the town of Fotokol on the Nigerian border, a medical source told AFP by phone, requesting anonymity. The toll is very heavy. We believe there are more than 200 dead, the source said, adding that 2,000 Nigerians, including soldiers had fled to Cameroon. Some of the bodies were charred. It was horrific. People had their throats slit, others were shot, the source added. US President Barack Obama has described the Chibok abductions as heartbreaking and outrageous, and announced that a team of military experts had been sent to help Nigeria's rescue mission.British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday condemned the kidnappers as pure evil and said that a small team of planning and coordinating specialists will head to Nigeria to advise on the search. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said a special team was at Nigeria's disposal, while Jonathan said that visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had also pledged assistance.Analysts said Jonathan's acceptance of Western military assistance suggested an admission that he can no longer manage the Boko Haram uprising without help.As well as mounting pressure over the kidnappings, Nigeria has been hit by a spate of bombings.Just a few hours before the mass abduction in Chibok, a car bombing at a bus station on the outskirts of Abuja killed 75 people in the deadliest attack to hit the capital.A copycat bombing at the same station killed 19 people on May 1.To contain the violence, Jonathan had last May imposed a state of emergency in the northeast where he sent thousands of troops to flush out the insurgents, but critics say the offensive has achieved almost nothing.Jonathan had hoped that a World Economic Forum summit which opened in Abuja on Wednesday would highlight Nigeria's economic progress.Meeting Jonathan in Abuja ahead of the summit, China's Li pledged stronger cooperation with Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer, but public focus has remained fixed on Boko Haram. Amid the outrage over the kidnappings and the twin attack just a few kilometres from central Abuja, Nigeria has promised the World Economic Forum will be kept safe by the 6,000 troops deployed across the capital.The police said in a statement Wednesday evening that it has not recorded any security hitch so far during the conference, dubbed 'Africa's Davos'.So far, activities and proceedings at the huge economic event have been without any security hitch or breach whatsoever, said the statement.The police said it was committed to ensuring a peaceful and successful event.

US temporarily closes embassy in Yemen to the public

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is temporarily closing its embassy in Yemen to the public amid a spate of attacks against foreign diplomats, a top US official said Wednesday.Due to recent attacks against Western interests in Yemen, we have temporarily suspended operations of our embassy in Sanaa to the public, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.She said in a statement that the recent attacks and information we have received have given us enough concern to take this precautionary step.The move comes after a Frenchman was killed on Monday and another was wounded when gunmen opened fire on their car in Sanaa's diplomatic district.Both worked for a private security firm that officials said was guarding the EU delegation in Yemen.On Wednesday, Yemeni security forces shot dead the head of a terror cell behind Monday's attack, the country's supreme security committee said.Foreign diplomats, mainly Europeans, have increasingly come under attack in Sanaa.A German diplomat was wounded in the city on April 28 as he evaded an attempt by gunmen to kidnap him in the same district.In October, a German embassy security guard was killed as he resisted a kidnapping attempt.Two Britons and a German were kidnapped in January and February respectively.We continue to evaluate the security situation every day, and we will reopen the embassy to the public once it is deemed appropriate, Psaki said.The United States remains firmly committed to supporting Yemen as it works to achieve meaningful reform through its ongoing transition process and to enhance security for the Yemeni people.

Tennis: Nadal, Serena cruise in Madrid, Murray battles

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MADRID (AFP) - World number one Rafael Nadal dismissed lingering doubts over his recent form with a resounding 6-1, 6-0 win over Juan Monaco to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters on Wednesday.Monaco failed to win a game on serve all match as Nadal, who suffered shock defeats in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, rolled off 10 straight games to seal victory in little over an hour. He now meets Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.Obviously once you lose a match it takes a bit longer to find the confidence in your movement and your shots, admitted the 13-time Grand Slam champion.Once it went to 4-1 in the first set I felt I played a lot better and I am happy with the way I felt on court today.Nadal is the only top four seed remaining in the men's draw as Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer withdrew due to injury and family reasons respectively, while Stanislas Wawrinka lost to Austrian qualifier Dominic Thiem on Tuesday.However, the Spaniard insists he has not been distracted by the draw appearing to open up perfectly for a fourth title in Madrid.In the past two tournaments I didn't get to the rounds where I would have played those players anyway, said Nadal.At this level all the opponents are difficult and next I will face Jarkko who has huge experience form being on the tour so many years.I congratulate Roger on becoming a father again and wish Novak the best in his recovery.Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was victorious on his return to action for the first time in over a month as he progressed with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win over Spain's Nicolas Almagro.The Scot cruised through the opening set, but went onto lose six games in a row after breaking the Almagro serve in the first game of the second.Serve was dominant in the third until a backhand error from Almagro gifted Murray the vital break on match point.Murray will next face in-form Colombian Santiago Giraldo after he upset French 11th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-3.The first match after a month there is always things that were going to feel a little bit different, but I thought I moved well this evening, which was a good sign, said Murray.I did what I needed to do. He's a very tough guy to beat on this surface and was certainly moving a lot better and hitting the ball a lot bigger at the end of the match than he was at the beginning, so that was a good one for me to come through.Serena Williams also cruised into the last 16 of the WTA Madrid Open with a 6-2, 6-3 thrashing of China's Peng Shuai.The 17-time Grand Slam champion powered through the first set against the world number 42 for the loss of just one point on her own serve.Peng showed more resistence in the second, but couldn't convert on two break points and Williams needed just one chance to seal the only break of the set, before serving out the match to set up a third round meeting with Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.Williams wore heavy strapping on her left leg throughout the match, but insisted there is no serious injury to worry about.It's okay. I was just taping it to make sure it stays kind of warm and ready. I just had some issues and went preventive to make sure I didn't make anything worse, she said.Fourth seed Simona Halep also had a comfortable passage into round three as she saw off Spain's Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 6-4.However, there was disappointment for 13th seed Caroline Wozniacki as she was beaten in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 by Italian Roberta Vinci.Elsewhere, world number six Thomas Berdych stretched his perfect record against South African Kevin Anderson to 11-0 with a 6-1, 6-4 win.Ninth seed John Isner of the United States sealed victory with the only break of serve in the match to overcome Australia's Marinko Matosevic 7-6 (11/9), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5.Polish lucky loser Lukasz Kubot made the most of Federer's withdrawal by beating Frenchman Gilles Simon 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 and Latvia's Ernests Gulbis also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Football: Dzeko sends 100-goal City to brink of title

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Manchester City are within touching distance of the Premier League title after overwhelming Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday to close within a point of the championship.Villa resisted until the 64th minute at a sodden Etihad Stadium, but a quick-fire Edin Dzeko brace put the hosts ahead and late goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure took Citys goal tally to 100 in the league.Citys victory eliminates third-place Chelsea from the title race and means that they will be champions for the second time in three years if they avoid defeat at home to West Ham United on Sunday.I was absolutely sure if we continued to play the same way we would find the space to score a goal, said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who has already led the club to success in the League Cup.Now we can talk about the title. We must win the last game against West Ham.On Toures storming solo goal, Pellegrini added: The power of Yaya is unbelievable. One hundred goals in the Premier League is a good amount of goals.Pellegrinis side lead Liverpool by only two points, but they can afford to draw on the final day because they have a goal-difference advantage of 13 over Brendan Rodgers men, who host Newcastle United.While Liverpool and Chelsea have slipped up spectacularly in recent weeks, City have now won four games in succession, and they will have Chelseas Premier League record of 103 goals in their sights against West Ham.We kept the belief when we were in third place, and now we are here, said City right-back Pablo Zabaleta.We have a great chance and hopefully on Sunday we can celebrate the title.In his programme notes, Pellegrini had demanded focus and complete concentration from his players, and despite the absence of injured top scorer Sergio Aguero, they quickly forced Villa back.David Silva had an early penalty claim dismissed after being clipped by Ashley Westwood, while Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan had to save at his near post from Aleksandar Kolarov and block a close-range Toure effort.Vincent Kompany headed wide after beating Guzan to a corner and Samir Nasri curled off-target following a one-two with Silva, but as the nervousness among the home support grew, so Villa began to threaten.Jordan Bowery volleyed wide from an Andreas Weimann cross and Weimann himself then gave the hosts an uncomfortable moment by surging away from Zabaleta on a one-man counter-attack, only to shoot wide.City soon regained the upper hand, but Silva scuffed his shot from Zabaletas cut-back and Nasri could only prod wide from an inviting Zabaleta cross in first-half stoppage time.With nothing to play for, Villas approach was unapologetically conservative, and there was no change to their approach in the second period.Kompany was unable to get enough purchase on an overhead kick to trouble Guzan, but the Villa goalkeeper was fully extended by a dipping Kolarov free-kick moments later.With half an hour to play Pellegrini introduced striker Jovetic in place of midfielder James Milner, and moments later the home fans increasingly desperate prayers were answered.After an hour of frustration, the move that brought the goal was one of arresting simplicity. Silvas pass down the inside-right channel freed Zabaleta, who centred for Dzeko to sweep home his fourth goal in three games.It was five in three minutes later, with the tall Bosnian striker tapping home after Guzan had saved from Nasri to set the stage for another title party at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.Villa threatened to set up a nail-biting finale when Weimann saw a header hit the bar and bounce on the line, but Jovetic settled any remaining nerves in the 89th minute by steering home from Toures pass.There was still time for Toure to apply a stunning coup de grace in stoppage time, powering through the heart of the Villa defence from halfway and firing past Guzan to bring up his 20th league goal of the campaign.

Football: Real's title hopes dashed by Valladolid draw

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes were all but ended as they conceded five minutes from time to draw 1-1 away to Valladolid on Wednesday.Sergio Ramos' free-kick had given Madrid the lead 10 minutes before half-time, but Humberto Osorio's late header rounded off a horrible evening for the visitors as Cristiano Ronaldo also hobbled off with an injury in the first 10 minutes putting his participation in the Champions League final in doubt.The draw leaves Real four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid and a point adrift of Barcelona with two games to play.Real will be mathematically out of the title race should Atletico win at home to Malaga on Sunday and Atletico could be crowned champions for the first time in 18 years should Barcelona also drop points away to Elche.It is a shame that with two games to go and all the effort we have put in that it is almost impossible to win the league, Ramos told Canal Plus.We failed to kill the game off, but it wasn't for the want of trying. The league is practically lost, but whilst mathematically it is still possible Real Madrid is obliged to fight.Madrid captain Iker Casillas was back in goal in a La Liga match for the first time in 17 months, but he nearly had to pick the ball out of his net after just five minutes when Javi Guerra's header from close range clipped the outside of the post.Madrid then suffered a huge blow when Ronaldo limped off to be replaced by Alvaro Morata.The Portuguese punched the top of the dugout in frustration as he left the field and could now miss the rest of Real's season, including the Champions League final against Atletico on May 24.In Ronaldo's absence Sergio Ramos took on free-kick duties and continued his tremendous scoring streak of late with his fifth goal in four games as his dipping free-kick had to much power for Jaime in the Valladolid goal.Ramos could even have had a second before half-time as his header from Luka Modric's corner flew just wide.The visitors had to withstand some concerted pressure from Valladolid in the second period as Guerra saw an acrobatic overhead kick fly inches past 25 minutes from time.And the hosts finally got their reward when Alvario Rubio's corner from the right was powered into the far corner of the net by Osorio.The result could have been even better for Valladolid as Zakara Bergditch led a three-on-one counter-attack moments later, but the Frenchman's final pass was cut out by the covering Pepe.

Football: PSG clinch title despite defeat

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PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain clinched the French league title for the second successive season on Wednesday before going down to a 2-1 home defeat against Rennes at the Parc des Princes.Confirmation that PSG had secured the Ligue 1 championship came through just before they kicked off their match as it emerged that nearest challengers Monaco had been held to a 1-1 draw by Guingamp.News of the result in the principality was met with jubilation by Paris fans gathered for their match.The result left second-placed Monaco seven points behind PSG with only two matches of the season remaining and means that Claudio Ranieri's side will have to settle for the runners-up spot and automatic Champions League qualification.Monaco took the lead against Guingamp in the 77th minute courtesy of a strike from the in-form Dimitar Berbatov, his fifth in his last four games.However, Fatih Atik equalised for the Bretons five minutes from the end, and PSG fans cheered as it filtered through to them that Monaco had been pegged back.Guingamp, who won the French Cup 2-0 at the weekend against Rennes, hung on for a precious draw in their fight against relegation despite having Moustapha Diallo sent off.PSG appeared buoyant at the start of their match and took the lead inside three minutes when Edinson Cavani found Ezequiel Lavezzi, who drilled home.However, Rennes recovered to equalise midway through the first half, on-loan Marseille winger Foued Kadir firing into the net through a crowd of bodies in the PSG box.Paul-Georges Ntep set up that goal, and four minutes later the France under-21 forward put Rennes in front, his free-kick from wide on the left avoiding everyone in the box as it sailed into the net at the far post.That proved to be the end of the scoring, with the home side unable to conjure an equaliser even after the introduction of Zlatan Ibrahimovic just before the hour mark, the Swede making his first appearance in a month after a thigh injury.Remarkably, it was PSG's first home league defeat in 30 matches since a nine-man Rennes side also won 2-1 at the Parc des Princes in November 2012, and the result leaves Rennes almost certainly safe from the threat of relegation.Paris have toiled in the league ever since being knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea last month, with this defeat following a loss at Lyon and a 1-1 draw at Sochaux 10 days ago.However, their dominance of Ligue 1 was previously absolute, and they have not been off the top of the table since October.Helped by Ibrahimovic's tally of 25 goals, they have already set a new record for the most goals scored in a Ligue 1 campaign and are on course to break the record for the most points.Despite losing to Rennes, PSG have 83 points with two matches left, one fewer than the all-time best mark, set by Lyon in the 2005-06 season.It is PSG's fourth French title since their foundation in 1970, following previous triumphs in 1986, 1994 and last season, and is added to the League Cup they won last month by beating Lyon 2-1 in the final.

Boxing: Undefeated Amnat retains IBF flyweight title

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OSAKA (AFP) - Thailands unbeaten Amnat Ruenroeng defeated former world champion Kazuto Ioka with a 2-1 decision Wednesday to retain his International Boxing Federation flyweight title and deal the Japanese his first loss.Amnat -- taking advantage of a longer reach -- displayed a variety of blows that prevented Ioka from boring in with a high guard, leaving him to contemplate his first defeat in 15 matches as a professional.There was no knockdown in the 12-round bout at the Prefectural Gymnasium in the western Japan city of Osaka as Amnat defended the 50.8-kilogramme class title for the first time.The 34-year-old became champion in January when he outpointed Filipino Rocky Fuentes in a bout for the title vacated by South African Moruti Mthalane.Polish and American judges Pawel Kardyni and Eddie Hernandez scored the fight 119-108 and 115-112 in the Thai champions favour. Hilton Whitaker saw Ioka as the winner by 114-113.I was convinced of victory. Ioka came out fighting but could not come inside possibly because he was afraid of my uppercuts as I kept attacking, Amnat said.The Thais unblemished record stretched to 13 wins, five of them by knockout.A win would have made 25-year-old Ioka, the ninth IBF contender, the winner of world titles in three different divisions.Instead, he had his first defeat after winning his last 14 matches, nine of them inside the distance.In 2011, he won the unified World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association minimumweight title as well as the WBA light-flyweight crown.I did not sense a huge difference in our strengths, the Japanese said.But I realised anew how difficult it is to reign in three divisions. There must be lessons I can learn from defeat. I will use them and definitely come back.With a nine-centimetre reach advantage, the Thai champion kept Ioka at bay with sharp left jabs, right uppercuts and other kinds of blows from the opening bell.At times, Amnat switched from right-handed to left-handed style, lowered his guard and danced around to outfox the Japanese whose punches did not seem to carry much steam.In the third and fourth rounds, the Thais sharp right uppercuts caught Iokas jaw.The champion slowed down and often resorted to crafty clinches in the later rounds.In the 10th round, Amnat was slapped with a one-point deduction for clinching. Iokas left body blow in the 11th round was one of his few punches that surprised the champion.In another IBF bout on Wednesday, Japans Katsunari Takayama retained his minimumweight title by beating compatriot Shin Ono with a unanimous decision.Takayama knocked down Ono twice in the 10th and 12th for his second successful defence of the 47.6-kilogramme class title.Whitaker and Hernandez scored the fight 115-111 to Takayama while Kardyni recorded it at 117-109.

Radio waves affect migrating birds: study

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PARIS (AFP) - Radio waves disrupt the magnetic compass in robins, according to a study published on Wednesday that is likely to fuel debate about the safety of electronic devices.In a long and careful experiment, German scientists found that migrating robins became disorientated when exposed to electromagnetic fields at levels far lower than the safety threshold for humans.The frequencies were in the medium-wave band used by AM radio -- not the bands used by mobile phones, whose safety has been contested by some campaigners.For decades, it has been hotly debated whether man-made electric and magnetic fields affected biological processes, including human health, the authors, from Oldenburg University, wrote in Nature.The tests show a reproducible effect of anthropogenic electromagnetic noise on the behaviour of an intact vertebrate.Birds have long been thought to navigate using light and Earths magnetic field.Where their magnetic compass is and how it works remain unclear -- research in homing pigeons suggests it may derive from an iron-rich crystal in their beaks called magnetite.Seven years ago, the Oldenburg researchers were surprised to find that European robins (Erithacus rubecula) became confused when they made a stopover on the university campus.Intrigued, the scientists prepared a wooden hut with aluminium sheeting on its walls and earthed by a cable to the ground. This virtually eliminated electromagnetic radiation in the range from 50 kilohertz to 20 Megahertz range but had no effect on Earths magnetic field.Over seven years, experiments showed that when the screening was in place, birds in the hut adopted their normal position for migration.But when the screening was removed or the birds were exposed once more to a gadget emitting background electromagnetic noise, they were disoriented.The disruption occurred from weak electromagnetic signals at levels equivalent to the bird flying at a distance of around five kilometres (three miles) from a 50-kilowatt AM radio transmitter.This intensity is far below safety levels for humans set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which sets down guidelines for electrical devices from radio sets to computers, power lines and mobile phones.The researchers are convinced that the disruption was man-made and not from a natural source. Powerful solar storms -- particles blasted out from the Sun that slam into the Earths magnetic field -- can cause radio noise that leaks through the ionosphere and disrupt homing pigeons, previous work has found.The findings may ignite claims that electronic devices are unsafe or disruptive, said Joseph Kirschvink of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in a commentary carried by Nature.Modern-day charlatans will undoubtedly seize on this study as an argument for banning the use of mobile phones, despite the different frequency bands involved, Kirschvink warned.Provided the German experiments are borne out in other tests, a more reasonable response, though, would be to gradually abandon use of any problem-causing parts of energy spectrum to help migrating birds find their way, he said.

Oil market rallies on surprise drop in US crude stocks

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NEW YORK (AFP) - World oil prices surged higher Wednesday after crude inventories unexpectedly fell from a record high in the United States, suggesting better demand in the world's largest crude consumer.The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in June, jumped $1.27 from Tuesday to close at $100.77 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for June gained $1.07 at $108.13 a barrel in London.The US Department of Energy (DoE) announced that American crude reserves sank by 1.8 million barrels in the week to May 2.That confounded market expectations for a gain of 1.2 million barrels.The sharper drop suggests the demand for oil was stronger than expected at the end of April, which is consistent with some of the other US data we have seen of late, most notably non-farm payrolls, said analyst Fawad Razaqzada at trading site Forex.com.But the DoE report was bearish on gasoline demand as the US gears up for the summer holiday driving season. Gasoline reserves rose 1.6 million barrels, much more than the 100,000 barrels expected by analysts.This took the gloss off an otherwise bullish oil report, Razaqzada told AFP.As we head into the US driving season, gasoline stocks in particular will be monitored closely by market participants.Traders also digested comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, who opened congressional testimony by restating the need for loose monetary policy even as the economy strengthens.Yellen said the US economy is doing better, but that the considerable degree of slack in the labor market means a high degree of monetary accommodation remains warranted.

Dollar gains as Yellen says US economy strengthening

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar edged higher against the euro Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said that the US economy was strengthening and the stimulus taper will continue steadily.But the move upward against the euro and yen was tempered by Yellen's reiteration of the Fed's overall dovish stance, saying that the economy still needs the help of ultra-low interest rates and that there was still no threat from inflation.She also cautioned over the still-high level of slack in the jobs market and the slowdown in the real estate market as reasons to keep policy highly accommodative.With the harsh winter behind us, many recent indicators suggest that a rebound in spending and production is already under way, putting the overall economy on track for solid growth in the current quarter, she told a congressional panel.Paul Edelstein, economist at IHS Global Insight, said the testimony at least confirmed that the quantitative easing stimulus will be wound up late this year. He added that the Fed sees a full economic reversal requiring more stimulus as highly unlikely.For the Fed, the key domestic risk is now the housing recovery. But the baseline assumption is for a return to growth, he said.Meanwhile expectations for the policy meeting of the European Central Bank Thursday were for no change in policy.We doubt that recent events and data releases have been significant enough to ensure more policy action from the ECB, said Jennifer McKeown at Capital Economics.We expect a very dovish tone from (ECB chief Mario) Draghi to hint that such action might be taken at the June meeting.

Kaneria refuses to admit guilt, will fight on

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KARACHI (AFP) - Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said Wednesday he would continue to fight his life ban from cricket after losing a second appeal in a London court this week.On Tuesday, Britains High Court rejected Kanerias bid to overturn the ban imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in June 2012 for encouraging a team-mate to bowl badly on purpose as part of a spot-fixing scam.The ECB had charged Kaneria, then playing for Essex, with inducing team-mate Mervyn Westfield to deliberately concede runs in an English county limited overs match against Durham in 2010.The ban was then subsequently applied globally by the International Cricket Council and Kaneria lost an appeal with the ECB disciplinary panel in July last year.Kaneria took legal action, claiming the panel had been wrong both to uphold the life ban and to order him to pay ECB legal costs of 200,000 pounds ($339,000).But after Kanerias second attempts at having the ban lifted were rejected on Tuesday, ECB chief executive David Collier urged the 33-year-old to publicly admit his guilt and apologise.Accept guilt? They (the ECB) should first present the evidence against me, an adamant Kaneria told AFP.Where is the evidence that I induced Westfield, is there an email, any sms of mine to him or did I beat him or tortured him to do something wrong.Once I get the full judgement of the court then I will consult my lawyer and decide the next course of action.I can go to the European court or the Court of Arbitration for Sports, he added.Kaneria claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had sided with the ECB under pressure and never helped him with his case.The ECB took disciplinary action against Kaneria after former fast bowler Westfield agreed to spot fix and was jailed, the London court heard.The incident that sparked disciplinary action against both players took place during a one-day match between Essex and Durham on September 5, 2009.Westfield later revealed hed bowled deliberately badly after agreeing to concede 12 runs in his first over for financial reward, Judge Nicholas Hamblen told the court in Britain.

PPP won't support any movement aimed at harming system: Zardari

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DIR (Dunya News) – Former president Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not become part of any movement aimed at destabilizing the system, Dunya News reported.Zardari’s statement was read by the spokesman at a political gathering in Lower Dir. Former president made it clear in the statement that he rejects all efforts aimed at disturbing democratic setup adding that PPP will not join any movement that aims to threaten the system.He said that PPP will fail all the attempts aimed at harming democratic setup.Zardari’s statement was read to the gathering by spokesman Farhatullah Babar.He reiterated that PPP will expose and fail every effort aimed at failing the system.

PMLN to strongly respond to PTI's allegations

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) decided on Wednesday to strongly respond to Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf’s (PTI) allegations. A 10-member committee has been formulated in Punjab under supervision of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif in this regard, Dunya News reported.The first session of the committee to formulate strategy took place in Model Town Lahore under supervision of PMLN’s Member National Assembly (MNA) Hamza Shahbaz Sharif which was attended by members including Punjab’s law minister Rana Sanaullah, education minister Rana Mashhood, food minister Bilal Yasin, Syed Zaeem Qadri and Khawaja Imran Nazir.It was decided in the session that PTI’s opposition protests will be handled politically and not administratively.Committee decided that PTI’s allegations will strongly be countered and that PTI’s ‘poor performance’ in the past one year will be brought in the public front.The committee resolved that people will be told about PTI’s agenda. It was also decided that committee will meet on daily basis until May 11 and evaluate the situation.Earlier, PTI chairman Imran khan said that the Pakistan People’s Party and the PMLN were having a secret alliance, adding that his party will show the ‘tsunami power’ on May 11.Addressing a news conference at his residence in Lahore, Imran Khan claimed that the government was stopping PTI from holding protest, adding that his party workers were getting threats. He said he will launch a movement against government if they attempted to stop the May 11 rally.PTI chief said his party will also present a charter of demands on May 11.He also said Mir Shakilur Rehman was going to start a campaign of character assassination against him.Earlier, cricketer-turned politician said there was no real but an artificial democracy in the country.Khan said PTI does not want to derail the democratic system but it wants justice.He said the PTI moved Supreme Court, Election Commission, election tribunal but saw no progress against polls rigging.

Ruckus by workers: CJ LHC seeks explanation from PTI's counsel

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Chief Justice Lahore High Court has on Wednesday took notice of the ruckus created by workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) near a courtroom at Lahore High Court.According to Dunya News, when PTI chairman Imran Khan arrived at the LHC to submit his response to the petition of Sardar Ayaz Sadiq regarding checking of the election record in NA-122, a large number of party workers and lawyers accompanied him.The PTI workers created ruckus near the courtroom and broke door and flowerpots.After the incident, PTI lawyer tendered apology on behalf of the workers.Chief Justice Lahore High Court Umar Ata Bandial expressed annoyance and rejected verbal apology.The CJP said that the courts respected all politicians but at the same time respecting the courts was also mandatory for all whether President or a politician.The CJP said that the court did not seek PTI chief Imran Khan’s appearance in person however; such incidents would not be tolerated.He said that the case would not be heard until written explanation of the ruckus.The LHC CJ ordered lawyer of Imran Khan to submit written explanation of the incident till May.Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid condemned the incident and termed their attitude of PTI as inappropriate.In a statement, he asked Imran Khan to respect the sanctity of court.Pervaiz Rashid said said the act is designed to pressurize the judiciary and to get the decisions of their choice.
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