Thursday 3 July 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Miranshah: Another landmine manufacturing factory unearthed

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MIRANSHAH (Dunya News) – According to DG ISPR Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Pak Army is gaining ground during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristam.The security forces seized a large militant compound during Pakistan ground operation in Danday Darpakhel area of Miranshah which also contained landmines manufacturing and suicide jackets factory.Large amount of explosives, bullets, detonators and other equipment was seized during Pak Army operation.Meanwhile, a Pakistan army spokesman has informed that all thirty-seven thousand five hundred and fifty seven families, registered in Bannu, have been provided rations.

Pakistan formally lodges protest with US over spying issue

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - Pakistan on Thursday lodged strong protest with United States against spying of country’s main political party by its security agency.According to foreign office, the ministry has conveyed concerns of Pakistan government to US embassy in Islamabad over spying issue.Spying any entity and major political part of the country was shocking and against the moral values and international laws.It said that National Security Agency (NSA) spying on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is a violation of international law.Pakistan said such activities would not be tolerated in the future.Under a 2010 certification approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA), NSA was permitted to spy on 193 foreign governments as well as foreign factions, political organisations and other entities, Washington Post had reported.According to the certification, the agency would require new certification approved by the court to permit such surveillance under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act.Sparing Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand with whom US has broad no-spying arrangements, the NSA was allowed to spy on 193 countries including Pakistan.The list also includes two factions of foreign nations Palestinian Authority; Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on NSA’s radar.What was most shocking revelation was the fact that under the FISA court certification NSA was even authorised to spy on foreign-based political organisations including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from Pakistan and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from India.The list also includes the Amal movement of Lebanon, Bolivaria Continental Coordinator, Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and the National Salvation Front.

Armless China driver clocked up 160,000 kms: report

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BEIJING (AFP) - A Chinese man with no arms clocked up 160,000 kilometres of driving with his feet -- but no licence -- before he was stopped by police on a motorway, media reported Thursday.During an investigation, (police) discovered a man wearing a short sleeve T-shirt with empty sleeves, with his left leg controlling the steering wheel, news website Jingchuwang said.The 45-year-old, surnamed Guo, was apprehended on a motorway in the central province of Hubei, the report said.Police immediately requested him to get out of the car, and saw the driver use his big toe and second toe on his right foot to put the gearstick into neutral, before using his right foot to turn the key, it added.It was quite a skilled action.Guo lost his arms as a seven-year-old in the countryside, when he came into contact with a high voltage power line, the report added.He learned to use his feet to write, brush his teeth and wash his face, and took only one week to learn how to drive a car, the news portal said.He had driven the car for 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles) without a licence before he was apprehended by police in his home town of Xiantou.Regrettably, according to Chinese regulations, he is not allowed to apply for a licence, the report added.The man was fined 500 yuan ($80) and ordered to attend education, it said, adding that drivers without licences commonly receive a fine of 2,000 yuan and 15 days in detention.Last month, a man with no arms below the elbow was stopped by police for driving a lorry in neighbouring Hunan, and in 2008 a man with no arms was found driving an SUV with his feet.

Oil prices drop as Libyan supplies to return

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil extended losses on Thursday on prospects that Libya will begin exporting more crude and as concerns eased about the Iraqi crisis.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August fell 42 cents to finish at $104.06 a barrel, its sixth consecutive session of losses.Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August dropped 24 cents to $111.00 a barrel in London trade.Prices dropped after Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani on Wednesday declared that authorities had regained control of export terminals blockaded by rebels. Crude was down due to the relatively quiet situation in Iraq and the Libyan port deal, both of which kept supplies up, said analyst Sanjeev Gupta at consultancy EY.Libyan production has been severely limited for a year after rebels last summer blockaded terminals as part of a campaign to restore autonomy in the country's eastern region. Its output currently stands at some 320,000 barrels per day, about a fifth of its normal output. Rebel leader Ibrahim Jodhran said lifting of the blockade on the Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra terminals was in line with an April deal with Tripoli, and a sign of goodwill toward the new parliament elected last week.The reopening of the two terminals will add 500,000 barrels of crude per day into the global energy market, EY analyst Gupta said.Meanwhile, concerns over a possible supply disruption due to Iraq's security crisis have eased, analysts said. So far the swift Islamist militant offensive that has overtaken large parts of Iraq has not directly threatened the key oil-producing region in the country's south.Traders kept an eye on Hurricane Arthur as it headed toward the US East Coast. Analysts expect the storm will weigh on gasoline demand as millions curtail driving over the long Independence Day holiday weekend that officially begins Friday.Gas demand destruction will be in its wake, said Phil Flynn of Price Futures Group.

Broad glad to have Stokes back on board

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LONDON (AFP) - Stuart Broad has backed Ben Stokes to have as big an impact on the England scene as he did on a Barbados dressing-room locker after the young all-rounder was recalled to a 13-man squad for next week's first Test against India.Stokes missed England's recent 1-0 home loss to Sri Lanka in a two-Test series after the selectors decided he needed to get more overs under his belt after a freak wrist injury.So angry was Stokes at being dismissed for a golden duck against the West Indies in Barbados, he punched a dressing room locker at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown and promptly broke a bone in his hand.That forced the 23-year-old to miss the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and the start of the English season.Since then the seamer has taken a career-best seven for 67 for Durham against Sussex -- and 10 wickets in the match -- although his batting has been less impressive with 172 runs at 28.66 in four Championship matches.However, Stokes has already shown his ability at international level by providing England with rare highlights during their 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia when he scored a maiden hundred in his second Test at Perth and took eight wickets in SydneyWe know the quality Stokes has got -- he's a raw talent but he is a player you want to play with and not against, said England new-ball bowler Broad, speaking before the squad was announced at the London headquarters of series sponsors Investec.He can get in players' faces and he has already got a Test match hundred and Test match 'six for' at Sydney. He is obviously a very talented guy. He was not in the Sri Lanka Test match squad in order to get more overs.Recalling how Stokes performed during a miserable Ashes for England, Broad added: He was 21, 22 and standing up to (Australia's) Brad Haddin in the toughest series he could have possibly played in and he came out as a shining light.He is the sort of player who can really get in the Indians faces, said Broad, no stranger to getting under the skin of opponents himself. However, with Stokes having to displace the likes of fellow all-rounder Chris Jordan from the side, Broad added: But he has got to have an opportunity first.Next week's first of a five-Test series takes place at Broad's Nottinghamshire home ground and the seamer did have some words of advice for Stokes if he felt the urge to smash a dressing-room locker again.I think they are made from solid wood...so it would be best to avoid them

India cruise to five-wicket warm-up win

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DERBY (AFP) - India cruised to a five-wicket win over Derbyshire in their second and final warm-up match on Thursday before next week's first Test against England.Despite a lacklustre last day in Derby, the tourists go into the Trent Bridge Test having seen a much-needed improvement in their seam attack.In a match relieved of its first-class status by the tourists' wish to rotate as many of their 18-strong squad as possible, they were barely troubled.Derbyshire managed only 156 for three in their second innings before their mandatory 45-over declaration, leaving India just 142 to win in their equal share of the scheduled 90 overs.The early departure of Shikhar Dhawan, lbw to Matt Higginbottom, put India on the back foot but opening partner Murali Vijay clicked into form before foregoing the opportunity of a cheap 50, becoming the seventh batsman to retire out in two matches.Ajinkya Rahane was the eighth, and then Rohit Sharma edged a drive at David Wainwright to slip - allowing Gautam Gambhir batting practice as India eased over the line with 8.3 overs to spare.Derbyshire had lost opener Ben Slater, edging Bhuvneshwar Kumar to second slip for a duck after India's overnight declaration by pre-arrangement on 341 for six.Derbyshire's captain Chesney Hughes escaped on seven but did go when an attempted cut off Stuart Binny was edged behind to give the all-rounder a wicket with only his second delivery.In 16 overs after lunch, Derbyshire put on another 94 runs for the loss of only Paul Borrington's wicket, lbw soon to Mohammed Shami.Billy Godleman then doubled the total in a brisk, unbroken stand with Alex Hughes (36no), but the total was nowhere enough to stretch India's batsmen.

Revolution of Qadri will sink with PML-Q's boat: Pervaiz Rashid

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Federal Minister for Information, Pervaiz Rashid on Thursday said Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader (PAT) Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s revolution will sink with the boat of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).In a statement, the information minister said Qadris so called revolution is led by Sheikh Rashid and supported by Chaudhries of Gujrat which is destined to flop.Pervaiz Rashid said Tahir-ul-Qadri, a Canadian national, is an anti-democracy figure.He said PAT chief has nothing to do with law and the constitution.Earlier, addressing a press conference along with the leaders of PML-Q, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Sunni Ittehad Council at Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said that the government would be thrown out within weeks.Tahirul Qadri said that he would announce to launch revolutionary movement within next few days. He said that a peoples revolutionary council would be constituted at the centre level.The PAT chief urged officials of law enforcement agencies to follow the law and do not obey orders of the corrupt rulers. He asked security officials of the law enforcement agencies to stop harassing PAT workers.Tahirul Qadri said that police were working under corrupt rulers. He said that the decision about those who violated constitution and harassed the PAT workers would be made within next 15 days.The PAT chief warned officials to excuse from serving for the corrupt government otherwise they should get ready to face accountability and they would repent.Responding to a question, Tahirul Qadri slammed appointment of Arsalan Iftikhar as Vice-Chairman Balochistan Investment Board. Qadri said he would soon hold a press conference about the issue of Reko Diq project.On June 29, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) hosted All Parties Conference in Lahore.The five-point declaration of the APC included demand of resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.The APC vowed to extend full support to Pakistan Army in Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorist in North Waziristan.The participants of the APC also announced to extend their complete support for internally displaced persons (IDPs).It is worth mentioning here that more than a dozen PAT workers were killed and 90 others injured during clash when police tried to remove barricades outside Minhajul Quran Secretariat.

ICC World Cup trophy to travel in all participating countries

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – ICC World Cup trophy will travel in all countries that are participating in the mega event, International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today.This is the first time when the cricket trophy will visit all participating countries like it is done in Football and Olympics, ICC said in a press release.The most prestigious trophy of Cricket will start its tour from Colombo on July 4 and will arrive in India on 23rd of July.Pakistan will host the trophy from 11th to 13th of September.World Cup trophy will visit the 12 countries in 100 days and will be placed in Melbourne on November 6th.ICC World Cup will start from February 14, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

Terrorists will not be allowed to enter Sindh in the guise of IDPs - Qaim Ali Shah

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KARACHI: (Dunya News) Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that a strong check will be kept on the IDPs in order to prevent any terrorists from setting foot on Sindhs soil in the guise of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). He said that the Sindh Rangers and law enforcement agencies will ensure that no terrorist is able to break into Sindhs territory. He also said that the IDPs will be allowed to settle in the camps only after a thorough check. The Chief Minister also said that the camps will be situated near the borders of the province and that the IDPs will be checked methodically before being registered at the camps.It was previously blamed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insafs government in KPK that Punjab and Sindh were not allowing the IDPs to enter in their provinces. PTI Chief, Imran Khan, had also leveled the same allegations and had complained in a press conference that Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Government had been left on its own by the other provinces in this hour of need. Punjab and Sindh Governments had later clarified that there was no such restriction and Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, had stated that the doors of Punjab were open for the IDPs and that entire Punjab and entire Pakistan belonged to these IDPs.Chief Minister Sindh was talking to the media after inaugurating the roads in industrial area during his visit to the site association. These roads have been constructed with a budget of two hundred and seventy million rupees. He assured the investors of his complete support for industrialization in the province. He also said that the government would be more than willing to provide funds upon the request of the investors. He said that he was looking for the investors to share their views and suggestions with the government to boost the economy and business conditions in the province.The Chief Minister Sindh also lent complete support to the military operation that is currently going on in the North Waziristan Agency. He said that the fallout of the operation could take the entire country in its folds; therefore, it was mandatory for the government to keep a strong check on the provincial borders. He said that the investors did not need to worry about the security situation as government was leaving no stone unturned in keeping the environment of the province peaceful and free of terrorists.Industrialists thanked the provincial chief executive for his all out support in provision of the funds and also requested more funds for the development in the site area.Qaim Ali Shah reiterated his resolve to look after the interests of Sindh and urged the federal government to make sure that the distribution of water and power is done impartially. He said that Sindh will do whatever it can, under constitution, to secure its share of water and power.

Shahbaz fails to bridge differences between Nisar, PM Nawaz: sources

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif failed to convince Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to shun his differences with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Dunya News reported.According to the sources, Shahbaz Sharif held a few meetings with Nisar in the last couple of weeks, but he failed to settle the matter.The sources added that the Punjab CM had to arrange the meeting between the PM Nawaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar on Thursday (today) to resolve their differences but the meeting did not take place.Later, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif sought more time to resolve the differences between the two and left for Lahore before Iftari.According to sources, Chaudhry Nisar had developed some serious differences with the party high command on host of issues in the country.On Wednesday, there were reports that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Members of National Assembly (MNAs) succeeded in appeasing Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan who was displeased with the party leadership over host of issues.After the session of National Assembly ended, more than 30 MNAs reached Punjab House and held meeting with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.The delegation included, among others, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Sheikh Aftab, Abid Sher Ali, Malik Pervez, Talal Chaudhry and Ashiq Kirmani.The PML-N MNAs inquired after the health of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. They succeed in pacifying the federal minister to end his differences with the leadership and again play active role in the party.According to the MPs, they visited Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to inquire after his health and he had no more differences with the leadership but the sources later confirmed that the differences could not be removed.During the meeting, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that young parliamentarians of PML-N were bright future of Pakistan. He urged them to play their active role in the party and the Parliament.According to the sources, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also called on Chaudhry Nisar at his residence on Tuesday.

It would have been better of the operation started earlier: Altaf

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Karachi: (Dunya News) MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has said that it would have been much better if the operation against the terrorists started earlier. He felt sad about the fact that the Operation Zarb-e-Azb had started only after costing so many lives to Pakistan. Altaf Hussain also brought his concerns, as the MQM chief, forward on the subject of Pakistan Protection Bill. He said that while it was vital at the moment to support this bill yet he felt PPB to be a draconian law and demanded that the country should get rid of this law as soon as Operation Zarb-e-Azb ends.He feared that the Pakistan Protection Bill is prone to misuse and that it can be used in future against the democratic leaders and party workers as well. The same concerns were shared a few weeks back by the co-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In a tweet he had warned that if the law got passed in the same state as it was tabled then even Nawaz Sharif could one day become a victim of it. The copies containing the text of the proposed bill were torn apart by the opposition members in the National Assembly at that time after which government had decided to initiate a debate over it.The bill was again presented in the National Assembly yesterday after several amendments made in it on the recommendations of the parliamentarians from the lower and upper houses of the parliament. MQM Chief again expressed the same concerns today while talking on phone to the journalists at Press Club Karachi. He said that the law was passed in a hurry by the MQM legislators and that he was not consulted about it prior to the vote on the bill.He reiterated his desire of bringing a peasants revolution in the country saying that a revolution was nearing every moment and this feudatory society will soon be abolished. The peasants and middle class will rise against the big landowners and landlords and bring this system, based on a feudal style, down. He reminded the nation that he had been raising his voice on the issue of Talibanization for the last several years. “They laughed at me when I warned them of the threat and now all agree with the fact that Taliban have strong presence in Karachi”, said Ataf Hussain.He reassured the Armed Forces about Muttahidda Qaumi Movements support to the ongoing operation in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA). He also said that it would have been much better if this operation started without costing so many lives to Pakistan. It was an indirect support to Major General (r) Athar Abbass statement that by showing reluctance after the operation in South Waziristan, Army had allowed Taliban to strengthen their feet in the NWA.He said that the politics of protest was uncalled for at the moment as it could destabilize the government and cause troubles for the Army in the operation as well. He announced that MQM was going to stage a solidarity rally with the Army on 6th of July. He also said that this rally will prove that MQM enjoyed massive support among the Pakhtoons living in Karachi.He went on to announce that MQM was planning to stage another huge rally after the Eid in Armys favor. He admired MQM for its all out support to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). He said that MQM would support even a military dictator if he would bring this feudatory and capitalistic system to an end and provide a level playing field for all the members of the society without any class discrimination.

Geneva phone thief left own mobile at crime scene

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GENEVA (AFP) - A man who stole a mobile phone at a Geneva shop was caught after police identified him from pictures on his own mobile phone, which he left at the scene.The man, a Romanian in his early twenties, took a phone left at a shop in central Geneva for repair, but in his haste to get away he left his own phone behind, local police said.The shop owner had identified the thief from pictures found on his phone, allowing officers to spot him sitting at an outdoor cafe on Wednesday.The man, who was also suspected of being in Switzerland illegally, has denied any wrongdoing, police said.

Fraud dispute blazes ahead of Afghan election result

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KABUL (AFP) - Afghan authorities faced growing pressure Thursday to open a full anti-fraud probe into the presidential election as EU observers described polling data as very worrying and one candidate confirmed he would reject the result.Abdullah Abdullah, who is reported to be losing the vote count, dismissed plans for a partial audit of the ballots and said he would not accept the outcome due on Monday -- pitching the election into further turmoil.The June 14 election run-off has been mired in allegations of cheating, with Abdullah and his poll rival Ashraf Ghani at loggerheads in a dispute that threatens Afghanistans first democratic transfer of power.The US-led allies who have fought a 13-year war against Taliban militants and spent billions of dollars in aid are eager to avoid a prolonged power struggle in Kabul.But a risky political stalemate looms at a time when Afghan security forces are taking on the battle against the Taliban insurgency as NATO military forces depart.We will not accept the preliminary results that are to be announced Monday because the fake and clean votes have not been separated, Abdullahs spokesman Baryalai Arsalayee told reporters.The process is still not transparent, and massive fraud has not been addressed.- Fraud sparks international concern -Abdullah, once a front-runner in the race, alleges he was the victim of industrial-scale ballot-box stuffing, with many more votes than voters registered in some areas.Ghani claims to have won fairly by more than one million votes and accuses Abdullah of refusing to accept defeat -- raising the prospect of a messy election aftermath.European Union observers on Thursday expressed widespread international concern over fraud and called for an audit of suspicious votes to be expanded from 2,000 to 6,000 polling stations -- about a quarter of all ballot boxes.I have serious concerns about a significant number of polling stations, EU chief election observer Thijs Berman said.I have no conclusions on possible fraud because this you can only do when you have done an in-depth audit, but the indications are very worrying.I insist on the necessity to enlarge the audit.Ghani has complained that the delayed result breaks promises to stick to the election timetable, and has demanded that the preliminary result is revealed on Monday.Ethnic tensions are rising over the deadlock, according to the UN mission, which pointed to fears of instability as rhetoric between rival supporters sharpens.We hope Dr. Abdullah comes back (from his boycott) and establishes relations with the commission again, Ahmad Yousuf Nuristani, the Independent Election Commission chief, said Wednesday.It is better to solve issues through negotiations than shedding innocent peoples blood to reach power.Following a period for complaints to be heard, the final election result is now expected on July 24.With NATO troops pulling out, the coming months are expected to be a test of the fledging Afghan government forces now responsible for imposing nationwide security.The Taliban fired rockets into Kabul international airport on Thursday, setting a hanger alight and badly damaging three Afghan military helicopters in an attack that underlined the insurgent threat.All foreign combat troops will leave Afghanistan by December, with about 10,000 US troops staying into next year if the new president signs a security deal with Washington.Any delay in appointing a successor to Hamid Karzai could undermine anti-Taliban operations and also put billions of dollars of aid pledges at risk.

Pressure for talks mounts as shelling rumbles on in Ukraine

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DONETSK (AFP) - Ukraine reshuffled top defence posts on Thursday as fighting raged on between government forces and pro-Russian rebels amid mounting diplomatic pressure to agree to talks on a new ceasefire.Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko named a new defence chief and army head as his forces said they were pressing on with an offensive to oust separatist insurgents from the restive east of the country.Speaking after his confirmation by parliament new Defence Minister Valeriy Geletey pledged to deliver a knockout blow to the rebels after Poroshenko this week ditched a 10-day truce.I am sure that Ukraine will win and believe me that there will be a victory parade, Geletey, a former police commander, told lawmakers.Ukrainian troops backed by tanks and bomber jets have stepped up the fighting since the end of the ceasefire that failed to stem 11 weeks of violence during which some 460 people have been killed.But Ukraines weak armed forces face a mammoth task to defeat the rebels and on Thursday the border service said that nine guards were wounded when shells hit a key border crossing with Russia that Kiev had celebrated retaking just days earlier.Overall, rebels fighters launched 16 attacks on government checkpoints during the past 24 hours, a statement from the defence ministry said early Thursday.- Need for truce talks -The latest clashes came amid a flurry of diplomacy aimed at convincing Kiev and the separatists to agree to a fresh round of indirect talks to hammer out a new ceasefire.French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Russian leader Vladimir Putin in a phone call to help organise a fresh meeting of the so-called Contact Group on the crisis by this weekend.The two European heads urged him to persuade the pro-Moscow separatists -- that Ukraine and its Western allies accuse the Kremlin of backing -- to negotiate.The Kremlin, for its part, said Putin expressed his deep concern over the growing number of civilians who had been killed as well as a sharp increase in the number of refugees from southeastern Ukraine in Russia.Both Kiev and the separatists refuse to negotiate directly but are under pressure to set up a third round of consultations involving the rebels, former president Leonid Kuchma, a Russian envoy and an international observer.Ukraines foreign minister agreed at a meeting with his Russian, French and German counterparts in Berlin on Wednesday that the new talks for a fresh truce should be held this week.Insurgent leaders said on Thursday they were prepared to take part only if Moscow and international observers were behind them.If Russia and the OSCE make a proposal to us then we are willing to participate in consultations, Andriy Purgin, deputy prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, told AFP.Russias Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source close to the talks as saying that a fresh meeting could take place Friday.Where exactly the talks would be held is not clear as previous meetings have happened in the rebel-held city of Donetsk but Kiev appears reluctant to have the next round there.- Border control priority -German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned that Ukraine faces an explosion of violence if the truce talks are not held.Kiev though has made clear that it wants to retake control of its leaky border with Russia -- across which it accuses Moscow of sending fighters and weapons -- before it commits to a new ceasefire.Highlighting its shaky control, Ukraines border service on Thursday accused Russian military helicopters of breaching its borders by crossing briefly into Ukrainian airspace at several points along the frontier.Despite international agreement over the need for talks, the West and Russia remain at loggerheads over settling the conflict in Ukraine and the threat of fresh sanctions against Moscow remains on the table.Putin has charged Poroshenko bears full responsibility for the latest deaths while Washington has backed Ukraines right to defend the country from separatist aggression.Amid the diplomatic tug-of-war, away from the frontline the security situation in rebel-held territory is deteriorating.An AFP journalist on Thursday saw the bodies of three traffic policemen who had been shot dead lying in a street of Donetsk.Police said that two unknown gunmen in camouflage had opened fire at the officers, killing three and seriously wounding a forth before making off.

ECB to hold interest rate meetings every six weeks from Jan 2015

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FRANKFURT (AFP) - The European Central Bank said Thursday it will hold its regular policy meetings every six weeks from January instead of every month at present.The ECB will also start publishing regular accounts from the same date, central bank president Mario Draghi told a news conference.The frequency of our monetary policy meetings will change to a six-week cycle, from January 2015. Moreover, we announce our commitment to publish regular accounts of the monetary policy meetings, which is intended to start with the January 2015 meeting, Draghi said.So far, the ECB has always held rate-setting meetings on the first Thursday of every month.But the complexity of the situation in the eurozone since the outbreak of the financial and debt crisis and the enlargement of the single currency area is forcing the ECB to adapt, Draghi explained.The ECB wanted to stamp out expectations on the part of the financial markets for action every time the central banks governing council met, he said.Our job isnt finished, not at all. But the issue is whether we should have each and every month expectations of action, he said. Those expectations in themselves could trigger market behaviour which has nothing to do with fundamentals.Our monetary policy measures are not taken on the basis of short term considerations, he said. The monthly frequency was simply just too tight.There were also logistical reasons for the change, the ECB chief continued. With the decision to publish minutes or records of previous meetings, extending the period between meetings would give financial markets time to digest the minutes before new meetings were held, Draghi said.
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