Wednesday 2 July 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Syrian chemical weapons transferred to US ship

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GIOIA TAURO (AFP) - The international operation to destroy Syrian chemical weapons entered its final phase on Wednesday, with the stockpile loaded onto a US military ship equipped to dispose of them.Hundreds of tonnes of mustard gas and ingredients to make Sarin nerve gas were transferred from a Danish freighter in the southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro amid tight security.Italy has proven its capacity for great efficiency in this delicate operation of international security, Environment Minister Gian Luca Galleti said as he declared the transfer finished.Workers cracked out the champagne to celebrate the end of an intense and quick-paced operation, according to Italian news agency ANSA.Ahmet Uzumcu , director general of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which oversaw the operation, said it had gone without incidents and thanked Italy for having offered the Gioia Tauro port, praising all the staff involved.With the chemical agents safely transferred, both ships were due to set sail immediately, with the US Cape Ray taking its new cargo to be destroyed in international waters.An exclusion zone had been set up around the port in the Reggio Calabria region for the transfer, and the containers were moved from one ship to the other by crane and a vast climbing platform.Safety officers in the area monitored for the possible release of dangerous toxins into the air amid protests by Italian environmentalists.The disposal process marks the culmination of a programme to rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpile after the outcry that followed chemical attacks by the Assad regime in the suburbs of Damascus on August 23 last year, that may have killed as many as 1,400 people.The transfer and disposal of the weapons and materials could open up new possibilities for disarmament and non-proliferation in the region, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said.But despite government assurances that the port was used to handling highly dangerous toxic substances, the procedure sparked concern in Italy.Dozens of protesters had gathered in the nearby town of San Ferdinando on Tuesday, worried by the risks to health involved in allowing the Danish freighter Ark Futura, which they dubbed the poison ship, to dock.The protest group SOS Mediterraneo said destroying the weapons at sea risked having a devastating effect on Italy's pristine beaches and seaside communities, with a spokesman saying securing such dangerous agents should be done on land, in absolutely secure conditions.Angelo Bonelli, leader of Italy's Green Party, also asked the government for immediate assurances that residual toxins produced during the destruction of the agents will not pollute the waters or impact the fishing industry.The port had stepped up security for the transfer, sealing off access roads and barring entry to any non-authorised people.Once the MV Cape Ray moves back out into international waters, the process to destroy the materials is expected to take between 45 and 90 days. The US vessel has been equipped with two Field Deployable Hydrolysis Systems -- portable treatment plants capable of neutralising the most dangerous Syrian chemical agents.The process should destroy more than 99 percent of the chemicals, reducing the lethal agents into a sludge similar to low-level hazardous industrial waste, which will then be disposed of by private waste treatment facilities.Syria shipped out its stockpile of chemical weapons under the terms of a UN-backed and US-Russia brokered agreement to head off Western air strikes against the regime last year.

Iran says 'chance to make history' with nuclear deal

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TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday his country and world powers have a unique opportunity to make history by agreeing on a nuclear deal, as talks enter a crucial final round.Mohammad Javad Zarif was speaking as the five permanent members of the United Nations, plus Germany, prepare to sit down with Iran in Vienna Thursday in a bid to reach a historic deal by a July 20 deadline.The world powers want Iran to scale down its nuclear activities in order to ease long-held fears that Tehran might develop atomic weapons.Iran, subject to damaging UN and Western sanctions, insists its nuclear programme is purely peaceful and even wants to expand key parts of it.Speaking a video uploaded on YouTube, Zarif said forging a deal would end an unnecessary crisis that has distracted us from addressing together our common challenges, such as the horrifying events of past few weeks in Iraq.He claimed an agreement could have been reached in 2005 when he had been nuclear negotiator, but that the administration of then US president George W. Bush torpedoed the deal.They then opted for pressure and sanctions. For eight years.But he said sanctions didn't bring the Iranian people to kneel in submission. And it will not now nor in the future.We are trying to reach a deal, he added. Not a good deal or a bad deal, but a doable and lasting deal.A sixth round of talks starts officially on Thursday. It could potentially last until July 20 when an interim deal from November expires, although this could be extended by up to six months.Without elaborating, Zarif said we are willing to take concrete measures to guarantee that our nuclear programme will always remain peaceful. We still have time to put an end to the myth that Iran is seeking to build a bomb.Western powers and Israel have long suspected Iran of using its civil nuclear energy programme as a cover for developing weapons capability, which Tehran has consistently denied.

US condemns apparent revenge killing of Palestinian teen

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday condemned the killing of a Palestinian youth in apparent revenge for the murders of three Israeli teenagers, warning acts of vengeance would worsen an explosive situation.There are no words to convey adequately our condolences to the Palestinian people, Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.President Barack Obama's national security advisor Susan Rice said on Twitter that the murder of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder was heinous and called on both Israelis and Palestinians to avoid a cycle of retribution and revenge.Khder was seen being forced into a car by three Israelis in east Jerusalem. Police later confirmed a body was found in a forest in west Jerusalem.DNA tests proved the body was that of the missing teenager, his family said.In his statement, Kerry condemned the killing in the strongest possible terms. He said it was sickening to think a young boy could be snatched off the streets and his life stolen from him and his family.Kerry, who spoke by phone with Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, noted that the Israeli prime minister had condemned the killing and urged Israelis not to take the law into their own hands.Those who undertake acts of vengeance only destabilize an already explosive and emotional situation, Kerry said. We look to both the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take all necessary steps to prevent acts of violence and bring their perpetrators to justice.At this tense and dangerous moment, all parties must do everything in their power to protect the innocent and act with reasonableness and restraint, not recrimination and retribution.The attack is widely believed to have been carried out in revenge for the kidnap and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Palestinian militants.Netanyahu told Kerry he had asked for an investigation to find out who was responsible for the despicable murder as soon as possible, that anyone who takes a life will be punished severely, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.The Israeli leader also said that he had publicly called for all sides not to take the law into their own hands, she added.Tensions have soared since June 12 when the three Israeli teenagers disappeared while hitchhiking in the West Bank. Their bodies were found on Monday, with Israel blaming Hamas and vowing to hit it hard.

Obama tops 'worst president' list

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new poll Wednesday found President Barack Obama, who is enduring a tough second term, topping a list of the worst US leaders since World War II.The survey, by the polling institute at Quinnipiac University, revealed that 33 percent of those asked saw Obama as the worst leader in the last 70 years. Twenty-eight percent picked his predecessor, Republican George W. Bush.Quinnipiac said that 35 percent saw Republican Ronald Reagan, president from 1981 to 1989, as the best US leader since 1945, with 18 percent choosing Bill Clinton and 15 percent going for the assassinated John F. Kennedy.Over the span of 69 years of American history and 12 presidencies, President Barack Obama finds himself with President George W. Bush at the bottom of the popularity barrel, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of polling for Quinnipiac.Forty-five percent of those polled said that America would have been better off had Republican Mitt Romney won the 2012 election, while 38 percent said the country would be worse off.Presidents typically capture the most heat while they are in office, and many find that their spells in the White House are reevaluated when they have retired and are out of Washington's bitter partisan crossfire.Bush, who was deeply unpopular at the end of his second term has seen his ratings edge up in recent years. Others like Clinton were popular on their last day in office and have seen their public opinion ratings remain strong.The poll appeared to show a bias towards more recent presidents. Only 13 percent said Richard Nixon, who resigned in disgrace, was seen as the worst president. Jimmy Carter, a one-term Democrat whose 1981-85 presidency is often pilloried, was seen as the worst president by only eight percent.The Quinnipiac poll was consistent with other recent surveys, showing Obama's job approval ratings touching near historic lows of around 40 percent.A string of political controversies and foreign policy crises have sullied Obama's reputation. The poll found that by 54 to 44 percent, voters believe the Obama administration is not competent at running the government.Only 40 percent of those asked approved of how Obama was handling the economy and only 37 percent backed his management of foreign policy.The survey was conducted between June 20-24 among 1,446 registered voters and has a plus or minus margin of error of 2.6 percentage points.

Royal hair force: William, Kate given waxwork makeover

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LONDON (AFP) - Prince William and his wife Catherine have been given a glamorous make-over at Madame Tussauds wax museum in London, with the prince's hair altered to reflect his thinning thatch.The couple were installed at the attraction two years ago to mark their first wedding anniversary, clothed in the outfits they wore to announce their engagement.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 32, have now been re-dressed in evening wear, while the hair has been updated with the times.The newly-dressed wax figures were unveiled Wednesday.Kate is wearing a full-length turquoise silk gown, while William, second in line to the throne, is dressed in a double-breasted black dinner suit.The figures have been in the attraction for two years now and we felt it was time to swap their engagement outfits for a glamorous evening look, a spokeswoman told AFP.The figures are the same but their hair has been altered in keeping with the real-life royals.The hair has been restyled and updated, the spokeswoman said.The duchess now has a chic half-up, half-down evening hairstyle. The duke's hair has thinned since his figure was first made, so yes, so has our figure's.The figures are placed in the royal zone, one of the most popular parts of the visitor attraction, along with other members of the House of Windsor.Meanwhile a new painting of William entitled Fatherhood was to be unveiled in London on Wednesday. William and Kate's son Prince George was born on July 22 last year.The oil-on-canvas portrait, measuring 90 by 60 centimetres, is by Dan Llywelyn Hall. It shows William in a dark suit and red tie looking upwards and to his left.'Fatherhood' is a portrait about a universal theme: the concerns, hopes and aspirations of a family man, the 33-year-old artist said.It depicts the prince wearing a poppy, in a nod to the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I.The painting will be sold in October in aid of The Victoria Cross Trust and War Memorials Trust.The duke and duchess were in the royal box on Wimbledon's Centre Court on Wednesday, where they saw British defending champion Andy Murray crash out in the quarter-finals.

Murray crashes, Djokovic, Federer reach Wimbledon semis

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LONDON (AFP) - Grigor Dimitrov sent defending champion Andy Murray crashing out of Wimbledon on Wednesday leaving Grand Slam warhorses Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in pole position to contest Sunday's final.Dimitrov, the 11th seed from Bulgaria, claimed a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 quarter-final victory over third-seeded Murray on Centre Court, just 24 hours after world number one and two-time champion Rafael Nadal had been knocked out by Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios.Dimitrov, as well known for being Maria Sharapova's boyfriend as he is for his achievements on the court, will next tackle top seed Djokovic, the 2011 champion, in Friday's semi-finals.Djokovic defeated Croatia's Marin Cilic for the 10th time in 10 meetings courtesy of a gruelling 6-1, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-2 triumph on Court One.The 23-year-old Dimitrov will be playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final against Djokovic who will be appearing his 23rd and 16th in his last 17 majors.Seven-time champion Federer reached his ninth All England Club semi-final with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka, his 14th win in 16 meetings against the Australian Open champion.Federer will now play eighth-seeded Milos Raonic, the first Canadian man in the semi-finals in 106 years, for a place in the final.Raonic ended world number 144 Kyrgios's giant-killing act with a brutal 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) win.Murray had hoped to become the first British man to successfully defend the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936 but the 27-year-old's defeat snapped a 17-match winning streak at the All England Club.I'm very disappointed with the way I started. I felt that gave him confidence at the beginning, said Murray, who hasn't reached a final since his 2013 Wimbledon triumph.He played a very solid match, making few mistakes and a lot of returns. I just wish I'd made it tougher for him. It wasn't a great day.Dimitrov said he was pleased to get the job done in straight sets.I am excited and happy to win through in straight sets. It's never easy against Andy in front of his home crowd but today I was fortunate, Dimitrov said.I sensed in the warm up that his game was not at the highest level but I was already confident I could play at a high level and play good tennis.World number 13 Dimitrov will move into the top 10 next week, the first Bulgarian man to achieve such lofty status.Six-time major winner Djokovic went level with Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal by making the last-four at a major for the 23rd time.It was a tough five-setter. I knew that Marin would be aggressive. I took the first set and had chances to break in the second but didn't take them, said Djokovic, who has a 3-1 career lead over Dimitrov.I dropped serve and the momentum shifted but in the last two sets I regained control, swung through the ball, had more stability on the ground and I was getting my returns back.Federer reached his 35th Grand Slam semi-final with victory over Wawrinka who ran out of steam having played three times in three days.Stan played great in the first two sets but maybe he struggled with his fitness a little, said Federer who admitted he has been especially motivated at Wimbledon this year following his surprise second round loss to Sergiy Stakhovsky 12 months ago.Last year was a disappointment as Wimbledon is always a highlight of the year for me. I didn't come close and I was very deflated.Wednesday's win was the 17-time Grand Slam champion's 72nd match win at the All England Club, which moved him into second place on the all-time list ahead of Boris Becker and behind only Jimmy Connors.Raonic fired 39 aces and 73 winners past Kyrgios as he reached a maiden semi-final at a major. He allowed just 20 points off his own serve and only three in the fourth set.Robert Powell in 1908 was the last Canadian man to make the last-four at the All England Club.It's great to have this kind of win, especially at a tournament where I always wanted to play so well and haven't in previous years. To turn it around is pretty special, said Raonic.Federer enjoys a 4-0 career lead over the Canadian going into the semi-finals.

Tennis: Raonic into Wimbledon semi-finals

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LONDON (AFP) - Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals in 106 years on Wednesday when he ended the giantkilling run of Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios. The eighth-seeded Raonic will tackle seven-time champion Roger Federer for a place in Sunday's final after seeing off world number 144 Kyrgios, who beat Rafael Nadal in the fourth round, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). Federer had earlier reached the semi-finals for the ninth time with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over compatriot Stan Wawrinka. Robert Powell in 1908 was the last Canadian man to make the last-four at the All England Club.Raonic fired 39 aces and 73 winners past Kyrgios. He allowed just 20 points off his own serve and only three in the fourth set.It hasn't really sunk it yet. It's great to have this kind of win, especially at a tournament where I always wanted to play so well and haven't in previous years. To turn it around is pretty special, said Raonic.It's another step forward. The goal is to be the best player in the world and this is one of those steps you have to take to achieve those goals. To do it on this stage is really special.Federer enjoys a 4-0 career lead over the Canadian going into the semi-finals.I've got to take care of my serve against Roger. It's a great challenge and one I'm gojng to relish, he said.I wanted to put myself in this situation so I'm going to compete hard and who knows what can happen.

Tennis: Bouchard into maiden Wimbledon semi-final

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LONDON (AFP) - Canada's Eugenie Bouchard reached her first Wimbledon semi-final and ensured a move into the world top 10 by beating Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.Victory also meant that the 20-year-old has reached the last-four of all three Grand Slams in 2014.The blonde Canadian 13th seed had already defeated the ninth-seeded Kerber at the French Open last month.And she was rarely threatened on Wednesday on Court One where Kerber, a semi-finalist in 2012, was still feeling the effects of her marathon fourth round win over Maria Sharapova 24 hours earlier.Bouchard, who will rise to number eight in the world next week to equal the record high ranking achieved by a Canadian, will face third seed Simona Halep on Thursday for a place in the final.It was definitely a tough battle, I've played her a few times and it's always been tough, so I knew it wasn't over. I tried to keep fighting and thankfully I did it in the end, said Bouchard.I've been working hard to stay mentally in the moment. I made a few bad errors but I came up with enough winners at the right time.Bouchard has played Halep just once -- losing in three sets at Indian Wells earlier this year.Halep is a very good player, third in the world. I'm definitely excited to be in the semi-finals and I want to go one step further, she said.The Canadian swept through the first set on a sun-kissed Court One hitting a confident 13 winners to the German left-hander's four.She then raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set before the 26-year-old Kerber rallied back to trail 4-5.Kerber had two break points in the 10th game which Bouchard saved before victory was sealed when the German went wide with a crosscourt forehand.The former Wimbledon junior champion finished the 72-minute encounter with four aces and 29 winners in a testament to her offensive and positive approach to her career.

Tennis: Halep sweeps into first Wimbledon semi-final

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LONDON (AFP) - Romania's Simona Halep swept into her first Wimbledon semi-final with a crushing 6-4, 6-0 victory over former finalist Sabine Lisicki on Wednesday.Halep recorded her 250th career win in memorable fashion as the world number three dismissed German 19th seed Lisicki, beaten by Marion Bartoli in the final 12 months ago, in just 57 minutes on Centre Court.The 22-year-old reached her maiden Grand Slam final at the French Open last month and, after winning 11 consecutive games to sink Lisicki, she will play Canada's Eugenie Bouchard for a place in the another major final at the All England Club.I played my best today and I was enjoying every moment. It was incredible to be on Centre Court. It was just my second time, Halep said.She had a 4-1 lead but I came back well after that. I'm really happy I could win.I have more confidence now and the secret is just to enjoy every match. I feel happy on court and I'm moving well.Since losing in the Wimbledon second round last year, Halep has enjoyed a rapid rise up the rankings from 32nd 12 months ago to her current lofty position of third and now she stands on the verge of breaking new ground back in south-west London.Halep, who was only the second Romanian to reach the last eight at Wimbledon, had already made the strong showings at both the Australian and French Opens this year, advancing to the final in Paris last month before losing a three-set classic against Maria Sharapova.Lisicki, dubbed Doris Becker because of the similarities in her game to former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker, had only herself to blame because she appeared to be in a strong position after breaking to establish a 4-1 lead.Halep refused to be bullied into submission by the big-serving German and hit back to completely turn the momentum her way.A pair of breaks gave Halep a 5-4 advantage and she held her nerve to serve out the set, finishing with a crushing forehand on her second set point.Lisicki had needed medical attention on a shoulder injury early in the final set of her fourth round win over Yaroslava Shvedova on Tuesday.She had admitted it would need a miracle to make a complete recovery in time to face Halep and, looking less than 100 percent fit, there was never much sense a dramatic revival was on the cards as the Romanian went for the kill.Halep broke in the first game of the second set and added two more breaks for good measure to seal the win as Lisicki collapsed in dismal fashion.Lisicki had sobbed tears of frustration during her Wimbledon final loss against Bartoli last year, but she at least managed to keep her composure this time as the match slipped away.

Formula One: Hamilton targets home win to boost title bid

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SILVERSTONE (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton heads into his home British Grand Prix this weekend bidding for a victory that could revive his title challenge and prove that his Mercedes team retain a speed advantage over their rivals.The 29-year-old, who is 29 points behind German team-mate Nico Rosberg in the drivers' championship, believes he has the talent to triumph again - as he did in 2008 - and use that success as a launch-pad to his second title.I know that I'm 29 points down now, but even though I've not finished as many races as I would like -- and I lost another seven points to Nico in Austria -- there's still a long way to go, said Hamilton.I had a lot of pace in Austria, and although I didn't capitalise on it, I'll take it into the British Grand Prix and make sure I do. I'm excited about our pace. I'm going to Silverstone with the best package I've ever had, so I'm thrilled about that.I just have to execute that pace over a weekend, so I will work hard to make sure I do that. I believe I have the ability so I just have to harness it all and do my utmost.Hamilton has suffered two retirements this season while Rosberg has finished in the top two in all eight races to date, to demonstrate that the consistent man can often outscore a faster rival who wins more often, but also fails to finish.In Austria 10 days ago, Hamilton was twice on course for pole position, but his own errors cost him dearly and he ended up starting ninth, to Rosberg's third, as Mercedes failed to have a car on the front row for the first time this year.Hamilton came home second behind Rosberg and said: I'm happy I managed to recover that weekend. I earned my money, so that was good...Now I need some better luck, but I am not counting on it. Not at Silverstone or anywhere else. I just have to go out and do the job.A year ago at Silverstone, Hamilton took pole by half a second and led the race easily before he became the first of five drivers who suffered spectacular tyre failures. He finished fourth.Rosberg, untroubled by punctures, won the race.I think that was my best chance of another win and I should have won that one, said Hamilton. I have definitely had my fair share of bad luck, that's for sure, so hopefully moving forwards positive things will happen.At least in going to the British Grand Prix - for any athlete going into an event in their home country - performing for the fans and the support you have is significantly more than any other place you go.It's just the most incredible feeling, particularly with the difference you can make to those individuals' weekends. When I won the race in 2008, I had so many messages of support. Even today, people tell me their dream came true that weekend.That's a real positive. Lots of positives come from these events so I'm excited to be going back there this weekend and I am going to do it my way. I can't expect Nico to suffer retirements or anything like that.I just have to focus on doing better than him, which I am capable of - and I believe that. For me, the edge I have is in my ability. That is the gift I have and I have to use it this year more than ever.As the two Mercedes men continue their apparently private battle for the title, team chief Niki Lauda warned that they all need to keep pushing to ensure that the outfit stay ahead of the field.We are not going to sit back and relax, we are pushing and we can see that our rivals are all pushing, he said. The gap may be closing, but we can stay in front if we act now.

Motorcycling: Rossi to stay with Yamaha until 2016

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PARIS (AFP) - Italy's nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi has extended his contract with MotoGP outfit Yamaha until 2016, the team announced on Wednesday. The announcement pours cold water on any reports that the iconic 35-year-old rider was thinking about quitting the sport at the end of the season. I am very happy to announce that I have signed a new contract with Yamaha to continue together in MotoGP for the next two years and I am very proud of this announcement, Rossi said in a statement on the team website.It's very important to me because I really enjoy working with my crew and all the guys from the team, both the Japanese and European members that have been with me almost my entire career.It's great because this was my target, I wanted to continue, I am feeling good and I'm motivated to keep giving my best.I am very happy that I can keep riding my YZR-M1, that has been my love for so many years and will still be my love this year and the following two seasons.A big 'Thank You' to everybody, I will try to keep giving the maximum to arrive in front and make good races. EnjoyRossi who first won the 125cc world title in 1997 before moving up to claim global honours in the 250cc category two years later, has since added seven world titles at the highest level. He is currently tied for second in the championship standings with Spanish Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, with the two men 72 points behind Marc Marquez of Spain who has won all eight races this season on a Honda. I am very happy that we have concluded the agreement with Valentino for 2015 and 2016, said Yamaha managing director Lin Jarvis.Since his return to Yamaha in 2013 it's been a very positive experience for everybody involved. After two difficult years 'away from home' Valentino returned last year, not only to us but also to his beloved YZR-M1.We look forward to the next two and a half years together and it is our intention that Valentino will remain with Yamaha until the end of his sporting career and beyond. concluded Jarvis.

US couple arrested over 'caged' autistic child

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A Californian couple has been arrested for allegedly keeping their 11-year-old autistic son in a metal cage designed for an animal, police said Wednesday. The boy, who is unable to communicate, has been taken into protective custody with his younger siblings following their parents' arrest, said police spokesman Bob Dunn in Anaheim, southeast of Los Angeles. The cage, which had a mattress inside, was of the type normally used to house a pet, he said, adding that there were varying reports of how long the boy had been caged, from several years to several months to several hours. Perhaps because of some of the outbursts that occurred because of his autism... the family was having difficulty coping with that and controlling that, Dunn told KTLA television. Putting him in that cage may have been a way for them to try to, in their way, control what was going on, he said after the arrests Tuesday night. The Vietnamese parents -- who speak English, but not fluently -- were detained on suspicion of child endangerment and false imprisonment, said the spokesman. The boy and his siblings -- a boy and a girl, aged 10 and eight -- were in good physical condition. Other than perhaps living in that cage, there was no other signs of any type of abuse that were visible to the officers, said Dunn.

Oil prices fall on Libya output prospect

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices tumbled Wednesday on the prospect of higher Libyan output joining ample global supplies and as traders continued to book profits from a sharp rally a week ago.The latest weekly US petroleum report showed a larger-than-expected decline in crude inventories that nevertheless remained close to record highs.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August slid lower for the fifth straight trading session, losing 86 cents, or 0.8 percent, to close at $104.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.In London, Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August shed $1.05 (0.9 percent) at $111.24 a barrel, its lowest close since June 11.The Brent crude oil market is the weakest segment of the wider petroleum complex on Wednesday as Libya looks set to reopen two oil export terminals sooner rather than later, said Tim Evans of Citi Futures.Libyan production has been severely limited for a year due to unrest, and currently stands at about 320,000 barrels per day. Normally, the north African country produces 1.5 million bpd. We still see plenty of geopolitical uncertainty -- there may not be that much oil flowing from Libya right away, Iraq still faces considerable political and military challenges, Ukraine and Russia are still at odds -- but current oil supplies do look comfortable. Gene McGillian of Tradition Energy said that traders continued to take profits, adding that the market has been getting overly long.McGillian said the US Department of Energy's report Wednesday of a drop of 3.2 million barrels in commercial crude inventories last week, almost twice the amount estimated, still left supplies within five percent of a record high.The fundamentals are remaining kind of loose in the world's biggest crude consumer, he said.Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Arthur gathered strength off the US southeastern coast ahead of the long Independence Day holiday weekend and was predicted to become a hurricane in the coming days. But traders were expecting only a marginal impact on gasoline demand and oil prices.I don't think it's going to be a major event, McGillian said.

Dollar follows bond yields up ahead of US jobs report

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar headed higher against the euro and the yen Wednesday as private sector data pointed to a strong jobs report for June and sent Treasury yields jumping.Payrolls company ADP said the US private sector added 281,000 jobs in June, a better-than-expected surge from May's 179,000. That boosted expectations for the official Labor Department jobs report -- to be released Thursday -- which if strong would add to expectations of official interest rate hikes taking place earlier next year than is now forecast.This morning's employment report should put to rest lingering concerns about the plunge in first quarter real GDP, said Deutsche Bank.Treasury bond yields jumped on the ADP data, with the 10-year rising to 2.63 percent from 2.56 percent and the 30-year to 3.47 percent from 3.39 percent.Nevertheless, the dollars gains were not great, with some economists saying the ADP numbers are not a solid indicator for the official data.The dollar fell again on the pound, with the British currency hitting $1.7176 before settling slightly below that.

Nawaz, Imran under threat of terrorist attacks

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan are under threat of terrorist attacks as both the leaders are backing Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists in the North Waziristan.According to details, Punjab Home Department has written a letter to police and other security agencies, asking them to beef up security of PM Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan as Taliban commanders Omar Khalid Khorasani and Commander Abdullah are planning attacks on both the leaders for backing Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
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