Monday 18 August 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Serena targets 18th major at US Open

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NEW YORK (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams is firing on all cylinders as she seeks to stretch her tally of Grand Slam singles titles to 18 at the US Open.The familiar hardcourts of Flushing Meadows, where Williams has lifted the trophy the past two years and a total of five times, is just the place to end her 2014 Grand Slam drought.The American superstar hasn't made it past the fourth round of a major this year.But she has won two of her five 2014 titles in the buildup to the Open, signalling she won't surrender her crown without a fight.Her straight-sets win over Ana Ivanovic in the final at Cincinnati showed Williams at her dominant best.At some point of the match, I actually felt quite embarrassed walking from one side to the other for returns, Ivanovic said of the near-hopelessness of returning Williams' serve.It was a long way from Ivanovic's fourth-round victory over Williams at the Australian Open, where the American was hindered by back pain.Back trouble, and the virus that left her weak and woozy in doubles after her shock third-round singles exit at Wimbledon, are all in the past, Williams said.I'm in some of the best shape I've been in, she said. I can play long points and be ready to go again. I feel really fit -- 32 is the new 22, right?An actual 22-year-old, Simona Halep, will be among those trying to topple Williams in New York.The Romanian has been knocking at the door of a first Grand Slam title this year, finishing runner-up to Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros.Halep also reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon as she climbed to number two in the world.Williams will also be challenged by more familiar foes, including Sharapova.Sharapova's appetite is only greater after she missed last year's US Open with a shoulder injury that brought her season to a premature close.She sealed yet another return from injury by capturing her fifth career Grand Slam in Paris, but she has never won two majors in the same year.I only have one more chance to do that this year, she said, and admitted that such milestones matter.At this position, that's where you showcase how strong you are and how much you really love it and (want) to show your legacy through the sport, she said.Just who else might emerge to challenge Williams is unclear.Australian Open champion Li Na of China is an injury absentee, while Czech Petra Kvitova has been an early casualty in the two tournaments she has played since winning Wimbledon.Eugenie Bouchard, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian and French Opens before becoming the first Canadian woman to reach a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, has failed to impress since her crushing loss to Kvitova at the All England Club.Victoria Azarenka, beaten by Williams in each of the past two US Open finals, goes into the fortnight under an injury cloud.The Belarusian, owner of two Australian Open titles, has been limited to just six events in 2014.She battled a foot injury for much of the year and withdrew from her title defence at Cincinnati with a right knee injury.Russian veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won the US Open in 2004, arrives in New York having snapped a four-year WTA title drought at Washington in August.Australian Samantha Stosur -- whose 2011 US Open triumph makes her the last woman to beat Williams in a final at Flushing Meadows -- has had a largely forgettable season.Also among the former champions in the field, Venus Williams has failed to shine in Grand Slams this year, but won her 45th career title at Dubai and reached the final at the US Open tune-up in Montreal -- where she fell to Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska.That Canadian run included a her first victory over younger sister Serena since 2009, adding intrigue to the possibility of a clash between the sisters in New York.Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champion, has never been past the US Open quarter-finals. But the former world number one is enjoying a resurgence this season and will be back in the top 10 in the world rankings for the year's last Slam.Definitely exciting times, said Ivanovic, who nevertheless knows that the spotlight will be firmly on Williams unless someone can wrest it away.In her opinion, that's as it should be.We are lucky to have someone like her in our game, Ivanovic said.

Tennis: Federer poised to step out of darkness in New York

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Twelve months after crashing to his worst defeat in New York in a decade, Roger Federer heads to the 2014 US Open poised to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in more than 40 years.In an astonishing reversal of fortunes, the 33-year-old, written off as a relic of the game when he slipped to a fourth round loss to Tommy Robredo in 2013, is perfectly positioned to win a staggering 18th major at the season's concluding Grand Slam event which starts Monday. Buoyed by claiming a sixth Cincinnati title and his 80th career crown, the Swiss is revelling in the twilight of his career just a year after it was being consumed by darkness. That last-16 loss to Robredo meant it was the first year since 2002 that he had failed to make a Grand Slam final. The defeat also marked the first time in 10 years that he hadn't made at least the last-eight at Flushing Meadows. Suddenly, his five consecutive US Open titles from 2004-2008 appeared a detail in history and his 17th and most recent major success -- the 2012 Wimbledon title -- looked certain to be his last. But the Swiss never doubted his ability to remain a force in the sport and he goes into his 15th US Open with his unwavering confidence justified.There were hints of a revival at Wimbledon in July where he was defeated in five sets by world number one Novak Djokovic. Since then, he has been runner-up at Toronto and champion in Cincinnati. I come in with great confidence, said Federer, chasing a record sixth title in New York and where he will be playing in a 64th consecutive Grand Slam. I know my game is where I want it to be. It's about just keeping that level up right now.Meanwhile, his fellow members of the Big Four are slipping and sliding. Djokovic, the 2011 champion, heads into the tournament with two dispiriting third round losses in Toronto and Cincinnati with the 27-year-old Serb, recently married, having to bat back accusations that he is distracted by impending fatherhood. Just many, many, many things are not clicking, said Djokovic. I'm not feeling very comfortable on the court. Obviously I want to peak in New York. I expect more from myself, but I have to keep on going. A Grand Slam is coming up, and that's where I want to do well. Despite his recent troubles, Djokovic, whose second Wimbledon title took his majors haul to seven, will still be the big favourite in New York having reached the final in the last four years. Furthermore, his record at all the majors is impressive -- the last time he failed to make at least the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam was at the 2009 French Open. The odds on Djokovic and Federer meeting in the September 8 final were shortened on Monday when defending champion Rafael Nadal was forced to withdraw with a right wrist injury. Andy Murray, the 2012 champion, has not reached a final of any description since his historic 2013 Wimbledon triumph, prompting many to believe that the Scot's work is done. Now down at nine in the world, the 27-year-old has not got beyond the quarter-finals of any tournament since his morale-sapping semi-final loss to Nadal at the French Open where the Spaniard allowed him just six games. With 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro still sidelined by injury, the much-vaunted next generation will get another opportunity to shine. Canada's Milos Raonic, the world number six, was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon and Cincinnati where he was swept aside in straight sets on both occasions by Federer who made him look the one-dimensional big-server many in the game believe him to be.Fellow 23-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, the world number eight, has three titles to his name in 2014 but lost out to Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals. More frustratingly, the Bulgarian boyfriend of Maria Sharapova, has yet to win a match in three visits to the US Open.

Israel, Palestinians to extend Gaza truce by 24 hours

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed late Monday to extend a five-day truce by 24 hours just minutes before a midnight deadline to allow for further talks on a long-term Gaza ceasefire. News of the last-minute extension came from Cairo where Egyptian mediators have been pushing both sides to put a decisive end to weeks of bloodshed in Gaza which has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians and 67 on the Israeli side. The announcement was confirmed by both sides just minutes before a five-day ceasefire was to expire at midnight local time (2100 GMT). Both sides have agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire, a senior Palestinian official told AFP in Cairo.Israel also confirmed accepting the extension to allow talks on a longer-term deal to continue for another 24 hours. In response to an Egyptian request, Israel agreed to extend the truce for 24 hours in order to continue the negotiations, a government official said. The talks in Cairo centre on an Egyptian proposal that meets some of the Palestinian demands, such as easing Israel's eight-year blockade on Gaza, but defer debate on other thorny issues until later.Hamas, which is part of the Palestinian delegation, also said it had agreed to hold its fire for another 24 hours following an Egyptian request. The negotiations have faced difficulties because of the occupation's obstinacy, and the 24 hour (extension) came as a result of a request by the mediators to have another chance, Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq wrote on Twitter. The warring parties had been faced with three choices -- reach a long-term agreement, accept a further extension or risk a resumption of the fighting which has wreaked destruction across the densely populated Mediterranean coastal enclave.The aim is to broker a long-term arrangement to halt more than a month of bloody fighting, although both sides have largely lowered their guns since August 4 thanks to a series of temporary truces.Earlier, a senior member of the Palestinian delegation insisted there had been progress, with both sides demonstrating a great degree of flexibility.The Egyptians have submitted a draft that was met with a great degree of flexibility by both sides, the Israelis and Palestinians. There has been progress, he told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity, saying the draft adopted the Palestinian demands, including that of an airport and (sea) port. Both delegations are now consulting with their leaderships, he added. Hamas had repeatedly warned it would not extend the temporary ceasefire again, pressing for immediate gains that would allow it to claim concessions from Israel after the devastating four-week war which began on July.But a senior official within the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said the Islamist movement appeared to have changed its position following a meeting at the weekend between exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and senior Palestinian official Saeb Erakat. It looks like Saeb Erakat persuaded Khaled Meshaal to push Hamas to accept the Egyptian initiative, he told AFP on condition of anonymity.It looks like Hamas and Islamic Jihad will agree to the Egyptian paper.The talks centre on an Egyptian proposal which calls for both sides to immediately halt fire, and includes provisions relating to opening the borders to allow for free movement of people, goods and construction materials, as well as a clause on regulating the financial crisis within the enclave. But crucially, it postpones discussions on the thorniest issues, such as a port and airport in Gaza, for another month, along with talks over exchanging the remains of two Israeli soldiers for the release of Palestinian prisoners. As the weekly drama of truce deadline played out, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas arrived in Doha for talks with Meshaal and the Qatari emir, who is a key backer of Hamas.Monday's deadline marked the end of the third temporary ceasefire in a fortnight.Ahead of midnight as uncertainty grew, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would hit back hard if Gaza militants resumed their fire on the south. We are ready for all scenarios... the army is preparing for a very strong response if the firing (of rockets) resumes, he said.Israel on Sunday began implementing a series of unilateral measures, lifting a total ban on fishing to allow boats out to sea for up to three nautical miles.As diplomatic efforts intensified, Gaza's health ministry said the death toll rose to 2,016 people with 10,196 wounded. Among the dead were 541 children, 250 women and 95 elderly men.Separately, the Israeli army confirmed that five of its 64 dead soldiers were killed by friendly fire.

Obama hails Syria arms destruction, vows vigilance

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama hailed the completion Monday of the destruction of Syria's chemical weapon stockpile, but said Washington would seek to ensure that Damascus fulfills all its commitments.Today we mark an important achievement in our ongoing effort to counter the spread of weapons of mass destruction by eliminating Syria's declared chemical weapons stockpile, Obama said in a statement.He said the destruction, carried out aboard a US Navy ship on the Mediterranean Sea, sent a clear message that the use of these abhorrent weapons has consequences and will not be tolerated by the international community.After a global outcry over deadly chemical attacks in a Damascus suburb last year that may have killed as many as 1,400 people, President Bashar al-Assad's regime agreed to an international plan to destroy its stockpile. Going forward, we will watch closely to see that Syria fulfills its commitment to destroy its remaining declared chemical weapons production facilities, Obama said.US Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated that much more work must be done as he marked what he said was a milestone in our unrelenting work to ensure the end of the Assad regime's deadly chemical arsenal. The United States will continue to provide political, financial and other support to the moderate opposition because we are committed to help those who seek the right of all Syrians to choose a future of peace and oppose the violent extremists who exploit the chaos and ruin that Assad has brought to Syria, Kerry said in a statement.With no country ready to accept shipments of Syria's most lethal chemical agents, the United States proposed destroying the chemicals at sea using two portable hydrolysis units.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called the captain of the MV Cape Ray earlier in the day to congratulate the crew on their unprecedented work of neutralizing, at sea, the most dangerous chemicals in Syria's declared stockpile, the Pentagon said.The process called for mixing the chemicals in sealed containers with thousands of gallons of hot water along with sodium hydroxide or other reagents that help break down their toxicity.Officials have said none of the chemicals or waste will be dumped at sea.

Nepal, India floods kill nearly 200

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KATHMANDU (AFP) - Floods and landslides in Nepal and northern India have killed nearly 200 people and scores more are missing, local authorities said Monday.Nepal has been worst hit, with 105 people confirmed dead after torrential rain triggered landslides and flooding, devastating entire villages in what the country's prime minister termed a national tragedy.Another 136 people are missing, and authorities are battling to prevent an outbreak of cholera after some survivors showed symptoms of the potentially fatal disease.Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala pledged to expedite the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts and expressed his sorrow over the deaths.In neighbouring India's Uttar Pradesh state, flooding has claimed at least 48 lives and forced around 500,000 people to leave their homes, relief commissioner KS Bhadoriya told AFP.Twelve people lost their lives in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, while nine people were killed and 40,000 others evacuated in Bihar state, which borders Nepal's eastern plains, officials told AFP.Hundreds die every year in floods and landslides during the monsoon season in South Asia.In Nepal, the government deployed more than 3,400 workers and four helicopters to rescue stranded people and deliver emergency supplies as the weather cleared after three days of incessant rain last week.Yesterday, they were only able to drop relief materials... because there was nowhere for the helicopter to land, but today they have managed to reach all the affected areas, said Jhankanath Dhakal, chief of Nepal's National Emergency Operation Centre.Dhakal said the confirmed toll had risen to 105 after another seven bodies were found on Monday.In the worst-hit districts of Surkhet, Bardiya and Dang, officials scrambled to provide distraught villagers with clean drinking water kits to try to avert a possible cholera outbreak.We have diagnosed a few cases displaying symptoms of cholera, said Tulashi Prasad Dahal, who is coordinating the health ministry's efforts to prevent an epidemic.People suffering from fever, dysentery, diarrhoea are being treated at nearby health posts. The problems arose because of impure drinking water and food, Dahal told AFP.Cholera, a potentially deadly disease which causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration, is contracted by consuming food or water contaminated by human faeces. As water levels gradually recede, allowing rescue workers to use land routes instead of relying entirely on helicopters, thousands of people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.In Surkhet district, which suffered the worst damage with roads still underwater, officials said workers were struggling to locate scores of people reported missing.The flood has destroyed our water pipes, our roads and cut off our electricity, making it difficult for us to carry out necessary search and rescue operations, district official Jagat Bahadur Basnet told AFP.The deaths come two weeks after Nepal's worst landslide in more than a decade smashed into hamlets in the hilly northeast and killed 156 people.

Train slams into rickshaw in India, kills 20: report

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - An express train ploughed into a packed rickshaw in northern India on Monday, killing 20 people, eight of them children, a report said.The train was going at full speed when it hit the autorickshaw (motorised rickshaw) at a manned railway crossing in the northern state of Bihar, the Press Trust of India reported, citing local police.All the victims were from the same family and some had been mutilated beyond recognition. Others had been dragged some distance by the speeding train, the news agency's report said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the victims' relatives after the crash, which also seriously injured two people.Deadly train accidents are common on India's railways, whose vast and rundown network carries tens of millions of people daily.In 2012 a government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on the network, describing the deaths as an annual massacre due mainly to poor safety standards.Last month 20 people were killed, most of them young children, when a passenger train rammed into a school bus in southern India.The train collided with the bus as it drove across an unmanned level crossing in the state of Telangana.In May, 26 people were killed when a passenger express travelling in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh ploughed into a stationary freight train.An express train ploughed into a crowd of Hindu pilgrims in eastern India in August last year, killing 37.

West Indies look to prolong Bangladesh's woeful run

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ST. GEORGES (AFP) - West Indies and Bangladesh commence a three-match One-Day International series at the Queens Park Stadium in Grenada on Wednesday with the home side heavily favoured to extend the tourists miserable record in 2014.Despite several encouraging performances in a 95-run win in their lone warm-up fixture against a Grenada XI on Sunday, Bangladesh will be hard-pressed to challenge a Caribbean side brimming with big-name international players, all of whom will be match fit given their participation in the just-concluded second season of the Caribbean Premier League T20 franchise tournament.This campaign, Bangladeshs third tour of the region outside of involvement in the 2007 World Cup and 2010 World T20, is their first trip away from home this year and captain Mushfiqur Rahim will be hoping a return to the scene of the sides greatest triumphs can somehow inspire a transformation from the atrocious form displayed over the past eight months.Facing a home team stripped of all its top players in the midst of a bitter dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association in 2009, Bangladesh swept the Test series 2-0 and the ODIs 3-0 with all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan outstanding as both player and captain.Now though, the West Indies are at full strength with the likes of devastating opener Chris Gayle and power-hitting middle-order player Kieron Pollard keen to help their team develop a winning momentum in the countdown to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in six months time.Mystery spinner Sunil Narine appears to carry the greatest threat to Bangladesh in the limited-over formats but they may also find the pace of Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul, together with the awkward bounce extracted by gangling fast-medium bowler Jason Holder to be more than a handful, even on batting-friendly surfaces.Compounding the tourists challenge is the absence of Shakib, who is serving a six-month suspension from all cricket imposed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board last month over a disciplinary matter.In their last 21 competitive international matches spread across the games three formats, Bangladeshs only successes have come against Afghanistan and Nepal during the qualifying phase of the World T20 in Chittagong last March. Their only meeting with the West Indies in 2014 before this series was at the same tournament with the side skippered by Darren Sammy romping to a 73-run win.Sammy will again lead the team for the lone T20 fixture in St Kitts next week, but the responsibility of captaincy in the ODI campaign, which includes two matches in Grenada and a day/night encounter at the Warner Park venue in St Kitts, falls on the shoulders of Dwayne Bravo, the flamboyant all-rounder who has so far struggled to achieve consistent success since replacing Sammy at the helm of the team in the 50-over format a year ago.West Indies have won just eight of 20 completed ODIs in the 14 months since Bravo succeeded Sammy as captain following the 2013 Champions Trophy in England.Bangladesh will look to opener Tamim Iqbal and off-spinning all-rounder Mahmudullah, who had scores of 91 and 78 respectively in the match against Grenada to provide some batting solidity, while Mushfiqur will also be expected to contribute significantly in a side that has batting talent but often lacks the determination and application to build formidable totals.In the bowling department, the experience of Mashrafa Mortazas medium pace and left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak will be essential to curbing the Caribbean batsmens pursuit of big scores.West Indies (from): Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo (captain), Kieron Pollard, Darren Sammy, Denesh Ramdin, Jason Holder, Nikita Miller, Kemar Roach, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul.Bangladesh (from): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Anamul Haque, Mithun Ali, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Shamsur Rahman, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Sohag Gazi, Abdur Razzak, Al-Amin Hossain.

Football: Terry eyes title as Chelsea make flying start

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BURNLEY (AFP) - Chelsea captain John Terry set his sights on winning the Premier League after his sides 3-1 victory in their season opener at Burnley on Monday.Jose Mourinhos team recovered from Scott Arfields 14th minute goal to sink the newly-promoted Clarets and send a warning to their title rivals.Spain striker Diego Costa marked his debut with the equaliser and Andre Schurrle finished off a sublime 25-pass move to put the visitors ahead before Branislav Ivanovic made it three inside the first half.Weve made some very big signings, Terry told Sky Sports. Diego has come in and he was great tonight. He got on the scoresheet which is a great start for him.Were hoping to win the league. Thats our target this year.This league is going to be really tough and weve seen some quality at the weekend from many teams, but importantly we picked up three points and well move on to the next.With Chelsea top of the table after the opening round of fixtures, 33-year-old Terry also saluted former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who joined the Blues from Barcelona in pre-season and made a sparkling debut.Some of the movement and play for the goals was different class and Cescs pass was probably pick of the bunch for Schurrle, Terry added.It was a tough game tonight but we saw it out in the second half.

Football: Neymar, Messi on target as Suarez makes Barca debut

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Luis Suarez made his first appearance for Barcelona after his move from Liverpool for a reported 95 million euros (75 million pounds, $127 million) as the Catalans hammered Mexican side Club Leon 6-0 in a friendly on Monday.The Uruguayan striker, who won't be able to play in a competitive game for Barca until October after his appeal against a fourth-month ban for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup was rejected last week, replaced Rafinha Alcantara 14 minutes from time.Barca were already leading 4-0 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi, Munir El Haddadi and a double from Neymar before Munir and Sandro rounded off the scoring.Today was an unforgettable day, tweeted the 27-year-old Uruguayan international.Thank you all for your affection.Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizaretta said that they would give him time to get used to his new surroundings.We will give him (Suarez) the time so that he can see he is integrating into the team and he will adapt to the team in training, he told Barca TV.He will get to know our style of play and with his quality he will help us. His teammates will get to know him and the idea is that when he returns, he does so at 100 percent.Midfielder Andres Iniesta believes last season's Premier League Player of the Year will not have any difficulty adapting to life alongside Messi and Neymar in attack.It is never easy when you come from another club, but, as I have said before, I think he will find a very healthy dressing room and I think he will adapt fine, because his talent is above everything else, he said.Despite his controversial past, which includes two previous bans for biting as well as a suspension by the English Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, Suarez was warmly received by the home fans as he made his entrance.Earlier, Neymar and Messi made a telling impact in their first outings since their World Cup ended in a devastating back injury and defeat in the final respectively.Messi headed the hosts in front inside three minutes from Neymar's deflected cross.The Brazilian striker then doubled Barca's lead with a delightful chip from Andres Iniesta's through ball before grabbing his second of the night when he backheeled into an empty net two minutes before half-time.Munir replaced Neymar at half-time and he tapped home the fourth goal when Dani Alves knocked Ivan Rakitic's ball over the top into the 19-year-old's path.And moments after Suarez had made his entrance, Munir smashed home his second goal of the game with a powerful low finish before Sandro put the seal on a fine Barca performance in similar fashion a minute from time.

Oil prices fall on easing geopolitical fears

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices slid lower Monday on easing concerns about conflicts in Ukraine and Iraq and increased output by Libya.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in September finished trade at $96.41 a barrel, shedding 94 cents from Friday's closing level.The key European futures contract, Brent North Sea crude for October, sank by $1.93 to settle at $101.60 a barrel, its lowest level since June 2013.The crude complex starts this week by being clobbered lower as Libya production has increased to 540,00 bpd (barrels per day) and Kurds have recaptured control of most of the Mosul dam in Iraq, said Matt Smith of Schneider Electric.Re-opening of the biggest oil ports in the east could raise Libyan oil supplies further in the next few weeks, adding to the existing oversupply on the European market, Smith said.Talks on Sunday between Russia and Ukraine in Berlin also helped to dissipate geopolitical tension, he added.The oil market had spiked higher Friday after Kiev said that Ukrainian forces had destroyed part of a Russian military convoy that entered its territory. Investors feared direct conflict could break out between Ukraine and Russia, the world's second-largest crude producer. Those reports were erroneous and peace talks are moving forward. And in Iraq (Prime Minister Nuri) al-Maliki stepping aside is taking out the fear premium that we put in on Friday, said Phil Flynn of Price Futures Group.Russia on Monday said that certain progress had been made during crisis talks Sunday in Berlin between the two countries' foreign ministers and their counterparts from Germany and France.Elsewhere, traders eyed easing market concerns over ongoing unrest in key OPEC crude producer Iraq.Kurdish officials said their fighters, backed by US warplanes, have retaken the country's largest dam from jihadists, as the United States and Britain step up their military involvement.

Euro slips as Ukraine tensions ease

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro softened Monday after a Berlin meeting between the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia helped lower market worries, even if it did not resolve tensions between the two.Traders had fled higher-risk currencies to safe havens on Friday after Ukraine said it had destroyed some Russian armored cars, sparking fears of an escalation. But Russia dismissed the claim.Then, five hours of talks late Sunday that also involved the foreign ministers of Germany and France concluded with an agreement for the sides to meet again and continue trying to de-escalate the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.The dollar pushed higher against the euro Monday, to $1.3363 per euro, in the range it traded last week before the Ukraine situation heated up.The pound meanwhile won support from comments over the weekend from Bank of England governor Mark Carney that improving wage growth was not a prerequisite for increasing interest rates.Carney shows a greater willingness to normalize monetary policy sooner rather than later, said David Song of DailyFX, while adding that any plan will be contingent on the strength of inflation.

Uncapped Hales named in England squad for India series

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LONDON (AFP) - Alex Hales will be given the chance to stake his claim for a World Cup place after being named in Englands 15-man squad to face India in the one-day international series.Hales is uncapped as yet in one-day internationals, but he has been in fine form for Nottinghamshire of late, hitting a brilliant 141 from 96 balls against Middlesex last Thursday following an impressive century for England Lions against Sri Lanka A at Taunton last week.The 25-year-old batsman has featured in 32 Twenty20 internationals, but the selectors had been reluctant to employ his audacious stroke-play in the 50-over arena until now.With the World Cup looming in Australia and New Zealand early next year, Hales looks set to be given the opportunity to cement his place as captain Alastair Cooks opening partner in the forthcoming five-match limited-overs series, which starts in Bristol on August 25.Following the tons for the Lions last week, at Lords on Thursday and now today, I feel Im in the best form of my career - and I hope it continues, Hales said after hitting another century for Nottinghamshire against Northamptonshire just hours before the squad was announced.England, meanwhile, must work out whether he is ready to take over from Ian Bell - and if so where that leaves the latter, who is one of six specialist batsmen in their squad.Cook and Bell both operate at ODI strike rates in the mid to late 70s, while Hales smashes the ball to all parts at 99.77 in List A fixtures.Hales joins a squad which will be missing star seam bowler Stuart Broad, who is due to see a specialist this week to assess what to do about his long-term right knee injury.Middlesex fast bowler Steven Finn has benefitted from Broads absence as he earns a call-up.Fellow pace man James Anderson is included despite suggestions he might benefit from a rest after England concluded their sequence of five back-to-back Test matches with a 3-1 victory over India on Sunday.James Whitaker, Englands National Selector, said: With the ICC Cricket World Cup now less than six months away our focus over the coming months switches to identifying our strongest possible squad for that competition.However this is an important series in its own right and we have selected 15 players who we believe will perform well against an Indian side with a strong one day record.This series presents an opportunity for players to build on their international and domestic form and demonstrate that they have the ability to win games of cricket for England.With plenty of domestic limited overs cricket still to be played this season and a series against Sri Lanka in November before finalising our World Cup squad there are still opportunities for us to consider a number of players who have missed out on selection.England squad named on Monday for the one-day international series against India, starting on August 25:Alastair Cook (Essex/capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire/wkt), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Harry Gurney (Nottinghamshire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Tredwell (Kent), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

Qadri refuses to meet opposition committee members

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The opposition committee comprising Aijazul Haq, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Haider Abbas Rizvi visited the venue of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Inquilab March to meet Dr Tahirul Qadri.However, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri refused to meet them after which the opposition committee members held meeting with PAT leader Raheeq Abbasi.

Awami Parliament meeting to take place today: Qadri

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Qadri while addressing participants of Inquilab March at Khayaban-e-Suharwardi said that ‘Awami Parliament’ (People’s Parliament) will meet today (Tuesday) at 5:00pm.Dr Qadri was speaking to the participants of sit-in after expiry of his deadline to the government to dissolve assemblies.He said that ‘Awami Parliament’ will take all decisions from now on and he and other leaders in his Inquilab March will accept them.

Separate committees formed for negotiation with PTI, PAT

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) -- In a meeting led by Opposition leader Khursheed Shah, two committees ‎were formed comprising of four members each, for negotiation with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) ‎chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Both these committees did not include any ‎member from the government.‎Khursheed Shah said that the formation of impartial committees is an effort to end this political game ‎otherwise the results would not be pleasant if it continues this way. He added that if such a tradition of ‎‎‘dharnas’ start regularly then no political party would be able to complete its five year tenure in the ‎future.‎Meetings between political entities are taking place everywhere to diffuse the current political ‎temperature of Islamabad and strive to reduce political tension.‎Negotiation committee for Dr.Tahirul Qadri would include Aftab Sherpao and Ijazul Haq. Negotiation ‎committee for Imran Khan would include Khursheed Shah and Ghulam Bilour.‎Shah said that negotiations are necessary to uphold the supremacy of the constitution and territorial ‎integrity but there would be no compromise in terms of democracy and parliamentary sovereignty.
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