Thursday 2 October 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Dozens of Libyan troops killed in Benghazi attacks, clashes

Posted:

BENGHAZI (AFP) - Dozens of soldiers were killed and more than 70 wounded in car bomb attacks and clashes between troops and Islamists around Benghazi airport, a Libyan army spokesman said Friday, as the UN threatened sanctions.Thirty-six soldiers were killed on Thursday in three car bomb attacks, followed by fighting between the army and Islamists, a special forces unit spokesman told AFP.Two car bombs exploded when an army convoy travelled past close to the airport, taking out three soldiers, the spokesman said.Later, a third bombing attack struck, also near the airport.Libya has been sliding into chaos since longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi was toppled in a NATO-backed uprising three years ago, with interim authorities confronted by powerful militias that fought to oust him.Parliament, which was elected in June, is recognised by the international community but contested by the militia controlling capital Tripoli and Islamists holding much of the eastern city of Benghazi.The cradle of the uprising, Benghazi is now the regular scene not only of fighting but also the murder of members of the security forces, political activists and journalists. The Islamists have since September sought to seize control of Benghazi airport -- the last remaining bastion in the city of forces loyal to former general Khalifa Haftar, who launched a military campaign against the insurgents in May.On Wednesday, militiamen of the Shura Revolutionary Council, which includes Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, launched a fresh assault on the airport, which has both civilian and military airfields.General Sagr al-Jerushi, an aide to Haftar, said warplanes and helicopters were being used to repulse the Islamists advance on the airport.In New York, the UN Security Council on Thursday threatened sanctions against those who reject peace in Libya.In a unanimous statement, the 15 members of the council expressed their readiness to use targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, against individuals or entities that threatened Libyas peace and stability or undermined its political transition.The move is an apparent bid at shoring up UN-brokered talks on ending the violence. A first round of talks were held on September 29, but the militia controlling Tripoli and jihadists in Benghazi have rejected the peace initiative.Another round of talks is scheduled after the Eid al-Adha holiday, which ends Sunday evening.The soldiers wounded in Thursdays violence have been taken to hospital in Al-Marj, 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Benghazi.At the same time, a source at Benghazis Al-Hawari hospital said 23 wounded Islamists had been admitted there, some of them in critical condition.A health ministry official said 79 people were killed in Benghazi in September. Human Rights Watch said more than 250 have lost their lives there and in Derna, another Islamist stronghold further east, since the beginning of the year.

40 jihadists, 17 police and army killed in Iraq clashes

Posted:

RAMADI (AFP) - The Islamic State group launched attacks on Iraqi bases in two western towns that left at least 17 members of the security forces and 40 jihadists dead, security and medical sources said Thursday.Seven policemen and four soldiers were killed in an attack on police headquarters in the Anbar provincial town of Heet, while at least six members of federal forces were killed in an assault on a major army base in Ramadi.In Heet, on the Euphrates River about 150 kilometres (95 miles) west of Baghdad, 25 gunmen attacked the police headquarters shortly after midnight.They smashed the gates open with suicide car bombs, then 25 men tried to break into the HQ, sparking heavy clashes, Colonel Jabbar al-Nimrawi told AFP.The police killed 20 of them and the remaining five withdrew to the electricity building. They are still under siege; they have sniper rifles.Nimrawi said the building was surrounded by police, army, elite counter-terrorism troops and anti-jihadist Sunni tribal forces.Heet hospitals Doctor Nael Ahmed said seven police officers and four soldiers had been killed.Just outside Ramadi, less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Baghdad and further down the Euphrates, a similar suicide unit attacked the 8th Brigade headquarters Wednesday.They attacked from three directions. They used suicide armoured vehicles to break into the compound, then 13 fighters with suicide vests entered, said senior army officer Awad al-Dulaimi.We killed the last one at 5:00 am (0200 GMT) after fierce exchanges. We also killed seven who had come from another direction, he said.A doctor at Ramadi hospital, Ahmed al-Ani, confirmed that he had received the bodies of three members of the counter-terrorism force, including a colonel, and three soldiers.Some of the last pockets still under government control in the Sunni province of Anbar are in Heet and Ramadi.The government also retains control of Haditha dam, further up the Euphrates towards Syria. US warplanes have struck IS forces around the dam several times.Some parts of the restive province, such as the city of Fallujah, were already out of government control before IS launched its major offensive in Iraq four months ago.In recent days, the army has suffered a string of setbacks in Anbar, including when jihadists attacked bases near Fallujah.The army has confirmed that 155 of its soldiers are dead or missing as a result. IS claimed it killed 300 of them and looted large quantities of military vehicles and equipment.The jihadist group has since advanced west towards Ramadi and left government forces with few supply options in the province.According to Iraqi officers, 240 soldiers are trapped inside a base in Albu Aitha, just east of Baghdad, with little to eat or drink.

HK student protesters agree to talks but leader refuses to quit

Posted:

HONG KONG (AFP) - Students whose peaceful pro-democracy protests have gripped Hong Kong on Friday agreed to hold talks with the government while vowing to continue their occupation, as the citys underfire leader refused to stand down.Huge crowds have shut down central areas of the Chinese city with mass sit-ins all week and had set a midnight Thursday deadline for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to quit and for Beijing to guarantee the former British colony full democracy.With his office besieged by thousands of protesters and tensions with police high, a defiant Leung appeared minutes before midnight rejecting calls to go, but offered talks to one prominent student group in a bid to break the impasse.Hong Kong is set to return to work Friday after a two-day public holiday, but major roads and transport routes remain crippled by the chaos.I will not resign because I have to continue with the work for elections, Leung said, referring to upcoming polls in 2017 which are at the centre of the ongoing confrontation between demonstrators and the Beijing-backed city authorities.In a concession, the chief executive said he would appoint Chief Administration Secretary Carrie Lam to lead talks with the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), one of several groups behind the demonstrations in the financial hub.In a statement released early Friday, HKFS said they would meet Lam but renewed calls for Leungs resignation, vowing to continue their occupation if their demands were not met.CY Leung has already lost all his integrity and betrayed peoples trust in him... His resignation is only a matter of time, HKFS said.Hong Kong people shall continue (their) occupying movement until genuine universal suffrage comes to light.It was not clear when the talks will take place.On August 31, China said Hong Kongers would be able to vote for their next chief executive, or leader, but that only candidates vetted by a loyalist committee would be allowed to stand, a decision dismissed as fake democracy by furious demonstrators.The offer of dialogue appeared to mollify protest leaders, who had vowed to escalate their occupation of major sites if their demands were not met.It is the first time since August 31 that a minister has agreed to talk to students and citizens. This is a critical moment, student leader Lester Shum told the crowds, according to the South China Morning Post. The Occupy Central group said it welcomed the talks, adding it hoped they would provide a turning point in the current political stalemate.However, others were angered by the decision to talk with the embattled government and began an impromptu sit-in on Lung Wo Road, one of the few remaining carriageways around the besieged government headquarters that had remained largely free of demonstrators.Were here to escalate the action, this is the point of the Occupy movement, said Chris Lau, 28, a computer engineer and one of the first to sit in the road.The goals are still the same, true universal suffrage and for CY (Leung) to step down. Talking wont bring results, only action.Students had debated throughout the night whether or not to fully occupy Lung Wo Road, and minor scuffles broke out between them, in a rare sign of discord.I dont think talking to Carrie Lam will solve the problem, student protester Karen Man told AFP. We asked to talk to CY, not his deputy. Were peaceful and he has nothing to be afraid of.Tensions had soared at the site earlier after police were seen transporting tear gas and rubber bullet rounds, causing widespread alarm and anger within the crowds. Police warned protesters late Thursday that anyone rushing their cordons or attempting to break into government offices would meet resolute enforcement actions.China has strongly backed Leung and pledged support for police over the protests, which pose a huge challenge to its rule at a time when the Communist Party is cracking down on dissent on the mainland.In an editorial Friday the Peoples Daily, the Communist Party mouthpiece, repeated Beijings unbending response to calls for free elections.There is no room to make concessions on issues of important principles, the paper said, according to state news agency Xinhua.Some analysts say it is unlikely Leung will step down, in what would be a massive loss of face for the establishment.If Beijing forces him to resign, they will be seen to be buckling under pressure from the protesters, said Willy Lam, a China scholar at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Authorities have scrubbed mentions of the protests from Chinese social media, while rights groups say more than a dozen activists have been detained on the mainland and as many as 60 others questioned for expressing support for the Hong Kong crowds.Beijings latest comments came after Chinas foreign minister issued a stern warning to the United States not to meddle in its internal affairs.The EU said it was concerned over the protests and called on all sides to remain calm.Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, welcomed the governments offer to talk with students, in comments to the BBC.However, he called Beijing foolish for not trusting the people of Hong Kong to elect a suitable candidate to lead the financial hub.

US lifts 40-year arms ban to boost Vietnam sea defense

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - In a decision expected to anger China, the US is partly lifting a 40-year-old ban on arms sales to former foe Vietnam to help boost its defenses in the tense South China Sea.The historic easing of the ban, in place since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, will only apply to maritime equipment, State Department officials stressed, and comes amid warming ties and as Hanoi makes modest improvements to human rights.Whats driving this is not a sudden desire to transfer military equipment to Vietnam writ large, but a specific need in the region, said one, highlighting what he called Vietnams lack of capacity in the disputed waters and Americas own national security interests.Its useful in trying to deal with the territorial disputes in the South China Sea to bolster the capacity of our friends in the region to maintain a maritime presence in some capacity.Some 40 percent of the worlds seaborne trade passes through the sea which is claimed in part by Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia as well as China and the Philippines.Although the United States has not taken sides in the territorial disputes, it has warned Beijing against destabilizing actions amid a series of tense maritime incidents.Earlier this year Beijing placed an oil rig in waters also claimed by Vietnam, sparking deadly riots in the Southeast Asian nation.Secretary of State John Kerry informed his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Min during talks on Thursday of Washingtons move to adjust the current policy to allow the transfer of defense equipment, including lethal defense equipment, for maritime security purposes only, a senior State Department official said.The US ban on selling lethal weapons to Hanoi was being changed because of our broader strategic interests in helping the countries of the region boost their ability to know whats going on in the maritime environment and to have a presence, he added.However, a prohibition on sales of other kinds of lethal weapons would stay in place as Washington pushes Hanoi to improve its human rights situation.US officials denied the policy change was anti-China and insisted they had no specific sales to outline so far, but would consider each request from Hanoi on a case-by-case basis.And they sought to allay any concerns from Beijing saying it was purely a defensive measure.Were not talking about destabilizing systems, were talking about defensive capabilities that would engender presence in the maritime spectrum. These are not things that are going to tip the regional balance, a second State Department official said, also asking not to be named.Any sales would be done in close consultation with the US Congress, and would be heavily focused on equipping the Vietnamese coastguard, the State Department officials said.So far, Washington has only been allowed to sell unarmed patrol boats to the Vietnamese coastguard since a total ban on military sales was lifted in 2006. That could now change, for example, the officials said.And they acknowledged that airborne defense systems would also be considered for sale if they included a maritime capacity.This policy supports Vietnams efforts to improve its maritime domain awareness and maritime security capabilities, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.Officials said however that the easing of the ban did not mean all arms sales were now on the table to the communist-run authorities amid continuing concerns about rights such as freedom of expression and religion.Its not an indication that we are going to provide all lethal assistance now, its just simply says we can remove what heretofore has been a hinderance to our ability to provide legitimate maritime capacity, the second unnamed State Department official said.

Hajj pilgrims to arrive in Arafat today

Posted:

MAKKAH MUKARRAMA (Agencies) - Hundreds of thousands of Hajj pilgrims began streamed into tent city at Mina by foot, on buses and in four-wheel drives amid extreme heat and humidity where they spent the night reciting the Holy Quran.Faithful will leave for Arafat today (Friday) after Fajr prayers to perform the main ritual of Hajj Waqoof-e-Arafat.The Imam will deliver Hajj Khutbah from Masjid-e-Nimra highlighting the importance of Hajj and challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah.The pilgrims here offer their Zuhar and Asar prayers combined. The faithful then leave for Muzdalfa, where delayed (Qasar) Maghrib and Esha combined prayers would be offered, while in the remaining part of the night, they would collect pebbles for Rami Jamarat.Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The pilgrims would return to Mina valley on Saturday after offering Fajr prayer. Reaching Mina, they would perform Jamarat ul Aqaba, offer Qurbani and then would leave for Makka al Mukarrama, where they would perform around Baitullah Sharif Tawaf-e-Ziarat and, thereafter, shaving their heads would take off Ehram.

Tennis: Nadal, Williams make quarters, Halep withdraws in China

Posted:

BEIJING (AFP) - Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams powered into the quarter-finals of the China Open Thursday, while world number two Simona Halep made the last eight, and then withdrew from the tournament through injury.Williams, the top seed in Beijing, made it through after a scare in a back-and-forth game against Czech player Lucie Safarova that she eventually won 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.World number three Nadal beat qualifier Peter Gojowczyk in straight sets in his second competitive singles match in three-months.It was another encouraging display from the second seed in Beijing, but Nadal recognises he is still far from his world-beating best following a wrist injury which forced him out of a string of tournaments.In general I need to improve. Its obvious, he said.My serve worked well today. But in general I need more rhythm on the legs, more rhythm on the shots, more good directions.Nadal also criticised the balls that are being used in Beijing, saying: If you throw the ball on the floor, the bounce goes everywhere.But Nadal was well in control of the match, bar a last ditch show of resistance from his German opponent which was eventually snuffed out.The Spaniard broke serve in the sixth game to clinch the first set, and again in the third game of the second set, after missing three break points.Serving for the match at 6-5 ahead, Nadal appeared to be closing in on victory, as he earned match point following a 22-shot rally.But Gojowczyk summoned extra strength to force three break points against the 14-times Grand Slam winner in a marathon 11-minute game.But Nadal finally wrapped up the game -- and the match -- when his 122nd ranked opponent failed to return a powerful serve.Elsewhere in the mens competition, Czech world number six Berdych helped his cause in aiming to qualify for next months ATP World Tour Finals in Great Britain when he made the quarter-finals.The champion in Beijing in 2011 currently holds the eighth position in the race for London, the final berth for the end of season tournament involving the worlds top eight players.He beat Viktor Troicki in straight sets in his second round match, saving two break points in the third game before breaking his opponent and clinching the opener 6-3.The pair traded serves midway through the second set before Berdych took a two-game lead which he held to finish the match 6-3, 6-4.Berdych made the semi-finals in Beijing last year and will have to beat American John Isner to achieve the same feat this year.Briton Andy Murray, who is also chasing points for London, made the quarter-finals at the expense of Pablo Cuevas.The 27-year-old Scot took 80 minutes to defeat the Uruguayan 6-2, 6-2.Meanwhile, Slovak Martin Klizan beat Ernests Gulbis when the Latvian retired with a shoulder injury with the scores at 6-2, 3-0.Fifth seed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov also made the last eight after beating Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-4, 6-4.In the womens competition, second seed Halep overcame stubborn resistance from Andrea Petkovic in her match.Halep defeated her German opponent 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-6 (7/1) as she dominated at the tie break in the first and third set of the two hour 35 minute epic.The Romanian world number two had difficulty coping with the serve of her opponent, who is ranked at number 17 by the WTA, and also lost her own serve nine times during the closely-fought match.But after her hard-earned victory, the WTA said she had withdrawn from the tournament with a hip injury, and her scheduled opponent in the quarters, Ana Ivanovich, will go straight into the semi-finals.The Serb, who is seeded ninth, defeated German Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 7-5 in her third round match.Also in Beijing, seventh seed Angelique Kerber suffered an agonising defeat to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.Kerber is desperate for points as she is seeking a place at the WTA Finals in Singapore, the end-of-season finale involving the worlds top eight women players.Russian Ekaterina Makarova is another player whose hopes of making Singapore were potentially dashed, as the 12th seed in Beijing crashed out to Roberta Vinci 6-1, 0-6, 7-5.The Italian will meet Petra Kvitova in her quarter final match, after the world number three made it through without having to play Thursday.The much-anticipated duel between Kvitova and Venus Williams failed to happen when the American withdrew with a viral illness.Australian Samantha Stosur also made it through to the next round after claiming a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Alize Cornet of France.The $5.4 million China Open will reach its climax on October 5.

Asian Games: South Korea beat North to win football gold

Posted:

INCHEON (AFP) - Hosts South Korea beat North Korea 1-0 with virtually the last kick of extra time to win a cliff-hanging Asian Games mens football final on Thursday.Defender Rim Chang-Woo smashed home a last-gasp winner from close range to deliver the knockout blow in an emotionally charged final, giving South Korea their fourth title and a first since 1986.When the final whistle blew just moments later the crowd of 47,000 rain-soaked fans erupted with joy, while both sets of players slumped to the wet turf sobbing, having battled each other to a standstill.As a reward for their dramatic and symbolic victory in Incheon, South Koreas players will be excused two years of mandatory military service.The home side were fortunate to survive a major scare in normal time when Pak Kwang-Ryong thundered a header against the bar after 75 minutes for the North, who dished out some rough stuff throughout a game played 120 miles (195km) from the worlds most fortified border.South Korea largely dominated but missed many chances. The scrappy winning goal came from a corner, which Lee Yong-Jae nudged goal-wards and appeared to have crossed the line before Rim made sure with a fierce volley after it dropped to him.North Korea coach Yun Jong-Su remonstrated furiously with the officials as his players wept uncontrollably and the South celebrated wildly.The countries remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Football: Eto'o rescues point for Everton, Spurs held

Posted:

PARIS (AFP) - Samuel Etoo popped up with just eight minutes remaining to hand Everton a precious point from a 1-1 draw with FC Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday.Meanwhile, former Premier League star Demba Ba returned to England to grab a late leveller for Besiktas at Tottenham while Celtic edged Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.Cameroonian striker Etoo cancelled out Aris first-half opener for Krasnodar to earn Roberto Martinezs men some reward from their journey of almost two and a half thousand miles to southern Russia.The result leaves the Toffees with four points from two matches in Group H after their 4-1 thumping of Wolfsburg a fortnight ago.Wolfsburg and Lille drew 1-1 in Germany in the other game in the group on Thursday evening, with Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne scoring a wonderful volley to earn the hosts a point after his compatriot Divock Origi, on loan from Liverpool, had put the French side ahead.Everton face a double-header against Lille next in arguably the toughest group in the competition.I am pleased because I thought Krasnodar played very well, Martinez told ITV. They started with a lot of energy but I am very pleased with the manner we stayed in the game. We showed incredible character.Martinez has promised to put all his resources into trying to win the Europa League, although he still made five changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Liverpool in last weekends Merseyside derby.Etoo, Darron Gibson, Aiden McGeady, Christian Atsu and Leon Osman were all handed starts for the meeting with Krasnodar, who started their very first European campaign in the second qualifying round in mid-July.Krasnodar drew 1-1 in Lille in their opening game and showed their threat with the pace of Colombian Ricardo Laborde particularly dangerous.Nevertheless, it was the Brazilian Ari, a former team-mate of McGeady at Spartak Moscow, who put Krasnodar ahead two minutes before the break, finishing past Tim Howard after Phil Jagielka had inadvertently helped an Odil Ahmedov ball into his path.It could have been all over for Everton in the 66th minute when another Brazilian Wanderson, just on as a substitute, weaved his way through in the box and hit the bar from eight yards out.The visitors rode their luck and the veteran Etoo brought them level with time starting to run out.Etoo, familiar with Russia from his two-year spell with Anzhi Makhachkala, played the ball out to Leighton Baines on the right before continuing his run and connecting with the full-backs cross from the edge of the six-yard box.Elsewhere, holders Sevilla came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rijeka in Croatia in Group G, Liverpool loanee Iago Aspas getting one back before Stephane Mbias stoppage-time equaliser. Napoli won 2-0 at Slovan Bratislava in Group I thanks to goals from Marek Hamsik and Gonzalo Higuain, while fellow Serie A side Fiorentina beat Dinamo Minsk 3-0 in Belarus.Tottenham were ahead against Besiktas thanks to Harry Kanes 27th-minute strike at White Hart Lane.But the Turks grabbed a deserved point one minute from time when former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Ba converted a penalty awarded after Vlad Chiriches had handled.Asteras Tripolis beat Partizan Belgrade 2-0 to take top spot in Group C.Its great to get on the scoresheet but we wanted to come away with a win and to concede that late goal is very disappointing, said Kane.Celtic are joint top of Group D after Kris Commons scored in the fifth minute to edge Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in Glasgow.Italian giants Inter Milan have a perfect record of two wins in two games after a 2-0 win over Qarabag which put them top of Group F.

Football: Messi tips 'fabulous' Neymar as future Ballon d'Or winner

Posted:

MADRID (AFP) - Four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi on Thursday hailed his fabulous Barcelona team-mate Neymar as a future Ballon dOr winner.A year after 22-year-old Neymars arrival at Barcelona, the two South American stars are becoming increasingly at ease with each other on the pitch.Their partnership has been one of the keys to La Liga leaders Barcelonas success so far this season with Neymar scoring four of his six goals from Messi passes.Argentine Messi said his partnership with Neymar was becoming increasingly efficient as he hailed the Brazilian as a great player.Its the second season that were playing together and were starting to know each other better, said Messi.As well this season the (Barca) strikers play more in the middle of the pitch so we can pick each other out more and find connections. Its a pleasure to play with him ... Weve a very good relationship, hes a fabulous boy.Messi added that their partnership was helped by the freedom that coach Luis Enrique gives the Argentine on the pitch.The coach told me I could go where I wanted. Sometimes I move back a little to try to make the final pass and to create, explained Messi.Messi won the Ballon dOr title four times between 2009 and 2012, but lost his crown last year to Real Madrids Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.But he insisted that thoughts of reclaiming the title were far from his mind.Ive repeated it several times, Im not in competition with Cristiano. I play my game, I do my work and Im not interested in rivalry with him or anyone else.Individual awards are those that matter least to me, I want to have a great year and make sure my team achieve their goals.The Argentine added that he expected Neymar to win the title at some stage in the future.Hes going to get it, through his qualities, the way he is, Ive no doubt that he can at some time win it, said 27-year-old Messi.He has great potential, hes a player who has a lot of qualities and he can go as far as he wants. Im lucky enough to rub shoulders with terrific players on the pitch and hes among them.

Asian Games: Chinese relay team break Asian record

Posted:

INCHEON (AFP) - Chinas mens 4x100m relay team broke the Asian record as they raced to victory at the Asian Games Thursday, while Bahrains African imports secured a hat trick of long distance golds.Chen Shiwei, Xie Zhenye, Su Bingtian and Zhang Peimeng crossed the line in 37.99 seconds, becoming the first Asians to go below 38 seconds. It was also the third best time in the world this year.Japan were a full half second back in second while Hong Kong snatched bronze from Thailand in a tight anchor leg on the sixth day of competition at Incheons Asiad Main Stadium.There was another Asian record for China in the mens javelin as Zhao Qinggang threw the second longest distance of 2014, a monster 89.15 metres -- nearly five metres clear of nearest rival, Ryohei Arai of Japan.With a few exceptions the track and field performances in Incheon have been some way below world class. But there have been Asian Games records in 17 out of 46 events, with Fridays mens marathon still to come.Chinese sprint star Zhang, who ran 10.00sec in last years world championships in Moscow but only managed a disappointing fourth in the 100m final on Sunday, said the team had not set out to target the Asian mark.I never imagined we would break the record, we just focused on training to win the race. Relay is a team event and Im really pleased with our efforts this time, he said.Chinas women made it a relay double with victory in the 4x100m, led by 100m gold medallist and 200m silver medallist Wei Yongli.Indias women -- Piwar Priyanka, Lukka Tintu, Kaur Mandeep and Poovamma Machettira -- continued their dominance of the 4x400m, winning for the fourth Asian Games in a row.There was last lap heartbreak for Japans Suguru Osako in the mens 10,000m as Bahrains Elhassan Elabbassi snatched gold with a cleverly-timed kick.After slipping behind Osako with two laps to go, early pace-setter Elabbassi sat on his shoulder and pounced as the Japanese lapped a back marker, streaking away over the last 200m to win in 28 minutes 11.20 seconds.Moroccan-born Elabbassis shrewd tactical race completed a hat trick of long distance golds for Bahrain on Thursday, after Maryam Yusuf Jamal won the 5,000m and Eunice Kirwa the marathon.With only the mens marathon to go, China lead the athletics medal standings with 15 golds, with Bahrain second on eight and Qatar third with six.Virtually all of the Gulf states golds have been won by athletes who switched nationality from African countries. The trend is not a new one -- the same two countries have dominated the long and middle distances at the last two Asian Games with imported runners -- but has raised hackles in Incheon this week.Chinese 100m silver medallist Su called it unfair and Olympic Council of Asia official honorary vice president Wei Jizhongo said countries should work together to decrease the number of imported medal winners.

Saudi price cuts send oil prices to 2-year low

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Price cuts by key exporter Saudi Arabia helped send global crude prices to their lowest point in more than two years Thursday before they recovered in late trade.Analysts said Riyadh had announced lower prices for the fourth straight month to hold onto market share, which it had been losing against a broader increase in production by rivals in OPEC and elsewhere. In New York the price for the West Texas Intermediate benchmark for November delivery retreated to $88.18 -- touching a level last seen on April 23, 2013 -- before recovering to $91.01, for slight gain of 28 cents from Wednesday.In London, Brent crude dropped to $91.55 a barrel, last hit in June 2012, but later rebounded to $93.42, for a loss of 74 cents.Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates pointed to data showing that OPEC as a whole increased crude production last month.At the same time, Saudi Arabia are trying to entice more buyers with lower prices as an attempt to maintain market share in light of the increasing supply from Libya, Russia, as well as Kurdistan, he said.The Saudis, meanwhile, are also reported to be cutting back production with the aim of slowly tightening up market supplies.

IMF worried about sustained slow global growth

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde warned Thursday that the global economy could be sinking into a prolonged period of mediocre growth which could endanger efforts to bring down unemployment worldwide.Lagarde said that the worlds economy has weakened in the past six months, despite the efforts of leading central banks to boost activity with ultra-low interest rates.And she warned that the Ukraine crisis, the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and Middle East turmoil posed additional threats to the worlds economy.Without more active stimulus from governments themselves, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund said, there is the risk that the world could get stuck for some time with a mediocre level of growth.That imperils efforts to bring down the number of unemployed worldwide, some 200 million people, including 75 million youth.Six years after the financial crisis began, we see continued weakness in the global economy. Countries are still dealing with the legacies of the crisis, including high debt burdens and unemployment, she said in a speech at Georgetown University in Washington, according to the prepared text.If people expect growth potential to be lower tomorrow, they will cut back on investment and consumption today.This dynamic could seriously impede the recovery, especially in advanced economies that are also grappling with high unemployment and low inflation. This is the case for the euro area.Lagarde said the IMF is forecasting only a modest pickup for next year, and that governments need to do more, with better-targeted spending and growth-friendly reforms.In addition, more public investment in infrastructure would improve economies, acting as a powerful impetus for growth and jobs.The world needs to aim higher and try harder, to do it together, she said.

Pakistan will miss Ajmal, says T20 captain Afridi

Posted:

DUBAI (AFP) - Pakistans Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi admitted his team will miss suspended ace spinner Saeed Ajmal when they meet Australia in Dubai on Sunday.The 36-year-old off-spinner is serving suspension on illegal bowling action and will not be available to play internationally until he is cleared after remedial work and reassessment.Ajmal has been an integral part for Pakistan in all three formats of the game, having missed only three Twenty20 matches since his debut, also against Australia at the same venue in 2009.He is the leading wicket-taker in all Twenty20 cricket with 85 in 63 matches, a record which Afridi admitted made him an important bowler.We all know the importance of Ajmal and we will miss him, Afridi told reporters after the teams practice session on Thursday.Pakistan have selected 22-year-old left-arm spinner Raza Hasan to replace Ajmal, a selection Afridi hoped will come good.I am very confident that Hasan has played cricket before and has done well, said Afridi of the spinner whose all six wickets came in seven World Twenty20 matches in Sri Lanka two years ago.Afridi said other spinners will also take responsibility.(Mohammad) Hafeez and I will be there and as captain when I look at my bowling, definitely miss Ajmal, but I am very confident that we will have no issues, said Afridi.Pakistan have also included uncapped 24-year-old leg-spinning allrounder Saad Nasim to bolster the spin attack.Australian coach Darren Lehmann Wednesday played down Ajmals absence, saying Pakistan will be tough even without the spinner as they have youngsters who can surprise.Afridi hoped it will be a keenly contested Twenty20 game.Both teams are balanced so it will be a good game. All the players have played cricket, this type of cricket you need youngsters and I am confident as a player, they will deliver, said Afridi, who was last month appointed Twenty20 captain for two years.Afridi said he wanted all-out effort from his team.You win or lose but I think all-out effort should be there. Every series is very important and if we win the body language will be better, said Afridi.The Twenty20 game will be followed by three one-day internationals in Sharjah (October 7), Dubai (October 10) and Abu Dhabi (October 12).The two Tests will be played in Dubai (October 22-26) and Abu Dhabi (October 30-November 3).

Strauss fears tide has turned against Tests

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Former England captain Andrew Strauss has issued a dire warning for the future of Test cricket, saying he fears it could fizzle out.Strauss made his gloomy forecast in the paperback edition of his autobiography, Driving Ambition, published Thursday.In it the former opening batsman, who led England to Ashes victory in both 2009 and again in 2010/11 in Australia, highlighted the revamp of the International Cricket Council -- on whose cricket committee he now sits -- and the rise of lucrative Twenty20 tournaments such as the Indian Premier League as the biggest threats to Test matches.Crickets three wealthiest nations -- India, England and Australia -- now effectively run the ICC, crickets global governing body, between them.Should a new television rights deal be concluded, the trio and in particular India -- already the richest of the three cricket boards on account of the massive commercial marketplace generated by the huge following for the sport in the worlds second-most populous country -- will become even wealthier.Strauss believes this will create an increasing number of lopsided matches, in turn speeding the demise of Test cricket, which although many players still say it is the pinnacle of the game can struggle to bring in crowds outside of marquee fixtures. India can argue that they bring the most money into the game, and thus deserve more out of the precious ICC broadcasting rights, but skewing the distribution of the three boards that are already the most financially secure can only create a situation in which the rich get richer and the poor poorer, Strauss wrote.With only ten teams playing Test cricket and four of those already struggling to stay competitive, the risk of the game degenerating to the extent that the result of many Test series is a foregone conclusion is both high and real.Strauss, who captained England in 50 of his 100 Tests, added: I have to admit that I become more and more concerned about the plight of Test cricket every year.Watching a Test match between the West Indies and New Zealand in an empty stadium with no more than a handful of spectators in attendance sends out warning signals. Seeing that the viewing figures for a county Twenty20 game rival those for a Test match adds to the growing perception that Test cricket is in crisis.I cant help feeling that we have already reached the tipping point as far as Test cricket is concerned.The teams will keep playing each other over the next eight years, but aside from iconic series like the Ashes or England v India, I fear that the game is slowly going to fizzle out as a mainstream attraction, especially away from the big three nations.It is too late to turn the tide, especially with the glitz and glamour of Twenty20 cricket managing to gain more and more traction every year.

10 most beautiful lakes in Pakistan

Posted:

(Web Desk) – Pakistan has been in the international news for mostly the wrong reasons. The global media coverage about Pakistan doesn’t exactly encourage one to visit Pakistan. This is especially true for foreign tourists and travel enthusiasts who are turned down by what they see on TV. But what if they knew about the breathtaking beauty Pakistan possesses especially on the sights and scenes. One post doesn’t exactly justify all there is, but this post aims to list down some of the most beautiful lakes there are in Pakistan.These are the lakes that caste a magic spell on the visitors…the beauty that will leave you wondering if you’re in paradise or earth.1 - Lake Saiful MulukThe lake that tops the list is the Lake Saiful Muluk which is located in the north east of the Mansehra district. Legend has it that this lake’s name symbolizes the love story of a Persian prince and a fairy. The Saiful Muluk Lake is situated on the northern side of the Kaghan Valley and is approximately 3244 meters high than the sea level. The images of Malika Parbat and other surrounding mountains perfect the sight.2 - Lake LulusarThe second lake on our list is the Lulusar Lake that is situated some three hundred and half kilometer ahead of Mansehra. The Lulusar Lake, popular among local and foreign tourists alike is known for the Russian birds that fly there.The word Lulusar is actually a combination of high mountains and a lake. The beautiful image of icy mountains on the crystal clear water leaves an enchanting effect on the visitors.3 - Ansoo LakeThe third in the list is the Ansoo Lake that is situated in the Kaghan Valley. This Lake is approximately 16000 feet high and because of its peculiar water drop-like shape, it is called the Ansoo (tear) lake. Its soothing beauty has won it an international acclaim and Ansoo Lake, too, attracts several tourists from across the world every year.Another reason is the adventure it takes only to get to the lake because there are no hotels in the surrounding and tourists have to rely on camping.4 - Dudipatsar LakeThe fourth in the list is the Dudipatsar Lake that is situated 4175 meters high on the extreme north of the Kaghan Valley. One can get to the lack by traveling for around four hours from Jalkhad area of Naran. Dudipatsar means white like milk in the local language but its actual colour is bluish and not white.Another possible reason for its name could be the image of the far flung and surrounding mountains that is visible in the lake. The whole view looks like a flow of milk.5 - Satpara LakeAnother breathtaking lake that has made this list is the Satpara Lake that is situated approximately 8500 feet above the sea level. There are raging mountains surrounding the lake that are covered with ice especially in Winter.6 - Rush LakeSixth on the list is the Rush Lake which is the highest lake in Pakistan situated at the height of 5098 meters near a mountain named Rush Pari. This lake is situated on the world’s 25th highest mountain.7 - Karambar LakeThe Karambar Lake is situated in the middle of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan and it is Pakistan’s second highest and world’s 31st highest lake.8 - Haleji LakeThis lake is situated some 80 kilometer away from Karachi. This lake was built by the British as a safe water reserve.This lake comprises the area of approximately 22,000 acres.9 - Shangrila LakeThe number 9th on the list is the Shangrila Lake situated on the distance of 20-minute drive from Skardu city in the northern areas of Pakistan. Basically the Shangrila, also known as the Kachura Lake comprises two lakes known as the Upper Kachura Lake and the Lower Kachura Lake.10 - Hanna LakeHanna Lake is tenth on the list and is situated at approximately 10 kilometer north of Quetta. This lake was built by the British colonials in 1894 and is one of the prime tourist attractions in the city.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)