Saturday 15 November 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Brazil police takes statements

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Brazilian police Saturday began questioning some two dozen people arrested in the course of a wide-ranging probe into allegations of a multi-billion-dollar kickback scheme at state-owned oil giant Petrobras the day before.A plane with 16 suspects, including Renato Duque, the former Petrobras director of engineering and services, and nine executives from construction companies that signed fraudulent contracts with the oil giant, arrived at dawn in Curitiba in southern Brazil, for questioning, according to the Globo newspapers website, G1.Meanwhile, police said some 2,500 people protested in Sao Paulos otherwise calm downtown against the corruption, which has been linked to the government of newly reelected President Dilma Rousseff. She is a former Petrobras board chair.Four other suspects who turned themselves in Friday evening will also be questioned, while five remain at large.On Friday, 27 people were arrests in raids across Brazil by 30 police teams that fanned out across the country to scoop up the suspects.Authorities, under pressure to get to the bottom of the escalating crisis at Petrobras, also froze assets worth 720 million reais ($277 million) belonging to 36 suspects and three unnamed companies.Former Petrobras director Paulo Roberto Costa has said the company allegedly paid millions of dollars in kickbacks to politicians and members of the ruling Workers Party between 2004 and 2012 to buy influence in what critics say was a collusion between Petrobras and politicians.Costa, who is under house arrest, has been acting as whistleblower as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. The allegations roiling Petrobras have been dubbed Operation Car Wash.On Saturday Brazilian Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo accused opposition of using the episode to discredit Rousseffs October reelection.The government will continue to demand that we investigate everything... I say this to strongly discredit attempts to orchestrate, with this investigation, a third electoral round, he said during a press conference in Sao Paulo.Just before the second round of voting in October, news magazine Veja quoted a suspect in the case as saying Rousseff and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva knew about the kickbacks scheme, a claim both angrily denied.Police estimate more than 10 billion reais of kickbacks were made in all.

Hong Kong protest leaders prevented from flying to Beijing

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Hong Kong (AFP) - Three Hong Kong democracy protest leaders were Saturday denied permission to board a flight to Beijing, where they had hoped to bring their demand for free elections directly to Chinese authorities.The leaders of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, spearheading mass rallies that have paralysed parts of the city for more than six weeks, said airline officials informed them that their permits used for travel to the mainland had been cancelled by Chinese authorities.Today they can say they take away the students Home Return Permits but it symbolises that they will take away a generation of Hong Kong peoples right to decide their own fate in the future, HKFS leader Alex Chow told a press conference late Saturday.This whole situation defies logic.Protesters have been occupying key intersections around the former British colony calling for fully free leadership elections in 2017, but Beijing has insisted that all candidates be screened by a loyalist committee.Fruitless talks with the Hong Kong government almost a month ago have led to an impasse and protest leaders had planned to travel to Beijing to bypass the unpopular local administration altogether.We have received information from relevant departments on the mainland that the Home Return Permits of the passengers in question have been cancelled, a Cathay Pacific staff member told the trio, footage from Cable Television News showed.The permit, issued by mainland authorities, allows Hong Kong residents free travel within mainland China, but some of the citys pro-democracy figures have been denied access to the country in the past.Before they were turned back, the three leaders -- Nathan Law, Eason Chung and Chow -- were mobbed by supporters who unfurled yellow umbrellas, a symbol of the citys democracy movement.- Why would they fear three students? -They also carried banners with pro-democracy messages including we want real elections.People say China is now a grand country, so why would they fear three students entering the border to seek an audience with Chinese officials? Chow said.Dialogue is important for resolving the current (situation) but it depends on whether Beijing has the initiative to open talks with students.A member of another student activist group Scholarism was denied entry into the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen late last week. The group said the volunteer was barred for taking part in activities against national security.The citys number two official Carrie Lam on Tuesday said there was no need for student leaders to go to Beijing if they were only going to repeat previous demands.The former British colony was handed back to China in 1997 under the one country, two systems principle which promises to maintain the citys social and economic systems until 2047.But democracy activists say Hong Kongs freedoms have been steadily eroded under Chinese rule.The protesters are demanding civil nominations in leadership elections for the semi-autonomous city in 2017.China has refused to back down on its insistence that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee, a decision critics say is designed to ensure the election of a pro-Beijing stooge.

Springboks outsmart England

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London (AFP) - South Africa returned to winning ways with a 31-28 victory over England at a rainswept Twickenham on Saturday.England, 20-6 down early in the second half, capitalised on the sin-binning of Victor Matfield to score 14 points while the veteran lock was off the field as forwards David Wilson and Ben Morgan rumbled over for converted tries to tie the match at 20-20.But South Africa, still a man down, regained their composure to score a try through man-of-the-match Schalk Burger, while impressive fly-half Pat Lambie kicked 16 points in total.Conditions were tricky to begin with, but at 20-6 up we felt we had the job 75 percent done, Burger told Sky Sports.We needed to keep composure then sadly we got a yellow card and we were on the back foot, the openside flanker added.But, we huddled together and said, weve been here before and thats what saw us through.This was Englands second agonising three-point loss in as many weeks following their 24-21 defeat by world champions New Zealand but they could have few complaints.England captain Chris Robshaw lamented how his side were never in front, saying: We were a little bit reactive today.We allowed them to get ahead of us and then we were playing catch-up, the flanker explained.Fresh from their shock tour-opening 29-15 defeat by Ireland in Dublin, the Springboks made it 12 games unbeaten against England as more doubts were raised about the ability of the 2015 World Cup hosts to challenge for the Webb Ellis Trophy.Defeat was Englands fifth in a row -- albeit four were against the All Blacks -- and their worst run of results since they suffered seven successive losses in 2006.It also meant that in 13 matches under coach Stuart Lancaster against the southern hemisphere giants of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, England had won just two.Englands scrum and line-out again held up well but they once more suffered from poor decision-making, loose kicking and needless knock-ons.South Africa responded to their Dublin debacle by making five changes with England making just one, injury-enforced, switch as Anthony Watson replaced Bath team-mate Semesa Rokoduguni on the wing.Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, significantly, dropped both half-backs Francois Hougaard and fly-half Handre Pollard, their places taken by Cobus Reinach and Lambie respectively.A scrappy opening saw the Springboks take the lead in the 10th minute.England fly-half Owen Farrell, running from close to his own line, gave a poor pass to Watson, who was engulfed by a horde of green shirts.South Africa worked the ball wide to wing Bryan Habana but knocked on.However, Robshaw had infringed and Lambie kicked the routine penalty.South Africa made it 10-0 when England scrum-half Danny Care took too long at the base of a ruck and saw his pass intercepted by Jan Serfontein, the centre running in unopposed from 60 metres for a converted try under the posts.England spent plenty of time in the Springbok half but failed to make it count in the 26th minute when lock Dave Attwood, having broken clear, delayed what should have been a try-scoring pass to Watson and the Springbok defence recovered.Farrell kicked a penalty but Lambie responded and South Africa were 13-6 up at half-time.- England caught cold -South Africa stunned England barely 38 seconds into the second half when Lambies well-judged kick ahead was superbly caught by fullback Willie Le Roux, running at pace, and he fed Reinach, who ran in under the posts from 20 metres for his first Test try.Then came Matfields sin-binning and England made their advantage count with two huge driving mauls that led to tries for prop Wilson and replacement Morgan.But South Africa hit back through Burger, who went in on the blindside following a close range line-out off a penalty.And just after the hour mark, England were a man down when hooker Dylan Hartley was sin-binned for stamping.Lambies third penalty made it 28-20 to the Springboks before England replacement fly-half George Fords penalty, virtually his first touch, cut the deficit to five points.But Lambie put South Africa eight points in front with just four minutes left when his kick to touch set up a line-out from which he landed a close-range drop-goal.England created a 79th-minute try for South Africa-born centre Brad Barritt but Ford missed the conversion and it was the Springboks who were denied a try with the last play of the game by the replay official.

Rugby: Experimental New Zealand leave it late against Scotland

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EDINBURGH (AFP) - It took a 74th minute try from lock Jeremy Thrush to secure a 24-16 victory for an experimental All Blacks side in a tight contest with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.The Scots have never beaten New Zealand, but were scenting history and within just a point of the world champions on the scoreboard until Thrush crossed the whitewash and Colin Slade converted to leave the visitors with a flattering eight point cushion of victory.There was an unfamiliar look to the All Blacks line-up, with captaining Richie McCaw playing his first international at blindside flanker and fourth-choice fly-half Colin Slade stationed on the right wing. Coach Steve Hansen made 13 changes in all from the XV that started the 24-21 victory against England at Twickenham the previous week.Still, McCaw was collecting his 136th cap and Dan Carter his 102nd. It was Carters first start for his country for a day short of a year.The Crusaders outside-half played 30 minutes as a second-half replacement in New Zealands 74-6 win against the United States in Chicago on November 1 and performed water boy duties at Twickenham but was returning to the All Black number 10 jersey for the first time since November 16 last year, when his 100th cap against England.Carter, who missed the 2014 Rugby Championship after suffering a bone fracture in his right leg in the Super Rugby Final in August, had the opportunity to get the scoreboard ticking when Scotland lock Richie Gray was penalised for failing to release the ball in the tackle in the eighth minute.The two-time IRB Player of the Year pulled his effort wide but two minutes later New Zealand had the opening score in the bag. Big Number Eight brushed aside an attempted tackle from Alex Dunbar before holding off Stuart Hogg and Greig Laidlaw and dotting the ball down in the left corner.Carter was off target with his conversion attempt from tight to the touchline and it was an error from the other cap centurion in the All Blacks ranks, McCaw, that handed a try to Scotland in the 12th minute. In attempting to find Vito, the New Zealand captain merely threw a pass to Scotland wing Tommy Seymour, who had an unopposed run to the line.Laidlaw landed the conversion, furnishing Scotland with a 7-5 lead that they managed to hold on to until the 27th minute.After Scotland fly half Finn Russell had an attempted clearing kick charged down, the All Blacks were held up in the left corner but had the consolation of a penalty that Carter duly converted to give the visitors an 8-7 advantage.Five minutes later Carter made it 11-7 with a second penalty success and, after Laidlaw replied with a penalty at the other end , Carter nailed his third just before the interval to give New Zealand a 14-10 half-time lead.It was the closest Scotland had been to the All Blacks at the halfway stage of a contest since 1991 and they attacked from the off in the second period. The result was a 45th minute penalty that Laidlaw landed to pull the gap back to 14-13.The All Blacks rang the changes in the 56th minute, Carter making way for Julian Savea, with Slade switching from the right wing to outside half, and Sonny Bill Williams and Ben Franks also being released from bench duty.Slade banged over a 65th minute penalty to give New Zealand a 17-13 cushion, but two minutes later Laidlaw replied in kind, making it a one-point contest once again.Eight minutes from time Laidlaw had the chance to put Scotland ahead but pushed his penalty attempt wide - his first miss in five attempts at the posts. Then, in the 76th minute, Thrush barged over in the right corner and Slade converted.The odd-looking All Blacks had got off the hook and Scotlands shot at history had gone.

England come from behind, San Marino claim famous draw

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Paris (AFP) - England fought back from behind to beat Slovenia 3-1 in Euro 2016 qualifying on Saturday as some of the continents minnows again enjoyed outstanding results.A turgid Group E encounter at Wembley came to life just before the hour mark when Jordan Henderson headed into his own net to give Slovenia the lead.However, England were back on level terms moments later thanks to Wayne Rooney, who won and then converted a penalty to mark the occasion of his 100th international appearance with his 44th goal for his country.Danny Welbeck of Arsenal then netted a brace to seal the victory as England made it four wins from four games in Group E to remain firmly on track for a place at the finals in France.Meanwhile, after the Faroe Islands recorded a stunning 1-0 win in Greece on Friday, prompting the demise of Claudio Ranieri as coach of the 2004 European champions, San Marino and Liechtenstein claimed famous results of their own.San Marino, ranked 208th and joint-last in the world by FIFA alongside Bhutan, ended a run of 61 consecutive defeats by holding Estonia to a 0-0 draw at home in Group E.Liechtenstein fared even better, a second-half goal by captain Franz Burgmeier securing a 1-0 victory in Moldova in Group G.The tiny principality with a population of under 40,000 had not won a competitive match since June 2011 and had not won on their travels in a qualifying fixture in over a decade.In contrast, Europes largest nation Russia went down to a 1-0 defeat in Austria in the same group to increase the pressure on coach Fabio Capello.The only goal of the game in Vienna was scored by 1860 Munichs Pakistan-born striker Rubin Okotie in the 73rd minute, moments after officials had deemed that another effort by the same player had not crossed the line.The result comes a month after Russia were held at home by Moldova and days after the countrys football union said they could no longer afford to pay Capellos huge salary, believed to be around seven million euros ($8.8m, 5.6m pounds) per year.Elsewhere, Ukraine claimed their third consecutive win in Group C as Andriy Yarmolenko of Dynamo Kiev scored a second-half hat-trick to secure a 3-0 victory in Luxembourg.Later in the same group, reigning European champions Spain entertain Belarus while Slovakia face Macedonia away.Switzerland are at home to Lithuania in Englands Group E and Sweden, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the starting line-up, take on Montenegro in Group G.

World leaders vow to 'extinguish' Ebola

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Brisbane (Australia) (AFP) - The worlds most powerful economies vowed on Saturday to extinguish the Ebola epidemic ravaging west Africa, as the vast desert nation of Mali scrambled to prevent a new outbreak of the killer disease.Despite some hopeful signs from Africa -- where Liberia has lifted its state of emergency and the DR Congo announced the end of its own, unrelated, outbreak of Ebola -- the recent deaths of three people in Mali have fuelled fears of a new hotspot.As pop stars recorded a new Band Aid single in London to help combat a disease that has killed more than 5,100 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, global leaders meeting in Brisbane made no new pledges of cash.G20 members are committed to do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its medium-term economic and humanitarian costs, the leaders said in a statement, as they welcomed the International Monetary Funds initiative to release $300 million (240 million euros) to combat Ebola.They also promised to share best practices on protecting health workers on the frontline, as a Sierra Leone doctor with US residency was flown to be treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.Described as critically ill, Martin Salia will be the third Ebola patient treated at the facility. Both others survived.We immediately started preparing the unit and notifying staff members of this possibility, said Phil Smith, medical director of the bio-containment unit.Weve obviously been through this a couple of times before, so we know what to expect.- Mali situation worrying -The G20 pledge came as Togo, which is coordinating the west African fight, warned that the world cannot relax efforts despite some encouraging signals on the ground.Senegal said Friday it was reopening its air and sea borders with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, although its land border with Guinea will remain closed. The news came a day after Liberia lifted its state of emergency, announcing huge gains in fighting Ebola.The Democratic Republic of Congo -- where a three-month outbreak of a different strain of the disease claimed at least 49 lives since August -- declared itself Ebola-free on Saturday.But attention has now turned to Mali where there are fears that an isolated outbreak could spark a major crisis after the deaths from Ebola of three people infected by a Guinean imam who died of the disease.A fourth person, a doctor at the Bamako clinic where the cleric died, is in intensive care with Ebola. More than 250 people have been placed under observation.Former colonial power France added Bamako to its list of destinations subject to Ebola flight checks, and its development minister, Annick Girardin, was to make an unscheduled visit to Mali on Saturday.The situation in Mali is worrying, she told AFP in the Guinean capital Conakry, saying she would meet the Malian authorities to see how we can scale things up.There is no known cure for Ebola, one of the deadliest known pathogens which spreads through contact with bodily fluids, but trials for several possible treatments were announced this week in west Africa and Canada.The World Health Organization said Friday that 5,177 people are known to have died of Ebola across eight countries, out of a total 14,413 cases of infection, since December 2013.- Makes humans untouchable -UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged G20 countries to step up, warning that Ebolas disrupting effect on farming could potentially spark a food crisis for a million people.As rates decline in one area, they are rising in others. Transmission continues to outpace the response from the international community, Ban told reporters.A joint petition from aid groups including Oxfam and Save the Children urged the G20 to band together to ensure that the right resources are made available in terms of staff, equipment and funding.Artists including One Direction, U2 frontman Bono, Coldplays Chris Martin and Sinead OConnor were set to record late into the night for a 30th anniversary version of the charity single Do They Know Its Christmas?.Its not just about whats happening in west Africa, it could happen here tomorrow, said rocker-turned-activist Bob Geldof, one of the forces behind the original Band Aid.We can stop this thing, we can allow mothers no matter where they are to be able to touch their dying children.Making his way into the studio, Bono hit out at the response of rich countries, saying if they kept the promises they make at these big G8 meetings and the like we wouldnt have to be standing here.Set to air on Sunday before its official release Monday, the single will be the fourth incarnation of the song, which became one of the biggest-selling singles ever after its release in 1984 to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief.

Iraq forces break jihadist siege of main oil refinery

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Kirkuk (Iraq) (AFP) - Iraqi forces broke the Islamic State groups months-long siege of the countrys largest oil refinery Saturday as Americas top officer flew in to discuss the expanding war against the jihadists.Completely expelling IS fighters from the area around the refinery would be another significant achievement for Baghdad, a day after pro-government forces retook the nearby town of Baiji.Iraqi forces... reached the gate of the refinery, Salaheddin province Governor Raad al-Juburi told AFP.Three military officers confirmed that Iraqi forces had reached the refinery, 200 kilometres (120 miles) north of Baghdad, where security forces have been surrounded and under repeated attack since June.This new success for the government came a day after the recapture of nearby Baiji, the largest town to be retaken since IS-led militants swept across Iraqs Sunni Arab heartland in June.It also followed another victory earlier in the week in the eastern province of Diyala, where a joint operation by the army and Shiite militiamen wrested back control of the Adhaim Dam, one of the countrys largest.France, one of the nations taking part in anti-IS coalition air strikes, on Saturday hailed the remarkable progress made by Iraqi forces.- Top officer in Iraq -A breakthrough preliminary deal reached on Thursday between the federal government and the autonomous Kurdish region on long-standing budget and oil disputes also raised the prospect of increased coordination in the fight against IS.But with three major cities and a swathe of other territory still in IS hands, the fight is far from over.Americas top military officer, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, arrived in Iraq for talks on the expanding military operations against the jihadists with Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and other Iraqi and American officials.A US-led coalition is carrying out a campaign of air strikes targeting IS jihadists in both Iraq and Syria, and Washington has announced plans to increase the number of its military personnel in Iraq to up to 3,100.Dempsey arrived in Iraq today to visit with US troops, commanders and Iraqi leaders, his spokesman, Colonel Ed Thomas, told AFP.The primary purpose of his visit is to get a first-hand look at the situation in Iraq, receive briefings and get (a) better sense of how the campaign is progressing, Thomas said.The United States and other governments have pledged trainers and advisers to aid Iraqi security forces in their battle against IS.- US assesses deployment sites -American personnel are assessing deployment sites, including Al-Asad Air Base in Anbar, a key province that stretches from the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the western approach to Baghdad.The IS jihadist group released an audio recording on Thursday purportedly of its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, after rumours that coalition air strikes may have killed or wounded him.It has had most of the initiative in recent months, but the man said to be Baghdadi seemed at pains to reassure his followers, and the lack of video in the message failed to dispel speculation he might still have been wounded.The operation to retake Baiji began more than four weeks ago when security forces and pro-government fighters began advancing towards the town from the south.Slowed by bombs the militants had planted on the way, they finally entered the town on October 31.The huge refinery once produced 300,000 barrels a day, accounting for half of the nations needs in refined oil products.It is also on the road linking the two largest cities in Iraq under jihadist control, Mosul and Tikrit.Washington has repeatedly stated that it will not deploy combat troops to Iraq, but Dempsey said on Thursday that sending out advisers alongside Iraqi forces was something that were certainly considering.As federal forces, Kurdish peshmerga fighters, Sunni tribesmen and Shiite militias battle IS on several fronts, near-daily bombings take their toll.On Saturday, a blast in an area north of Baghdad killed at least four people, a day after at least 17 died in two explosions in northwestern neighbourhoods of the capital.

Putin under fire over Ukraine at G20 summit

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Brisbane (Australia) (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin faced Western scorn and scepticism over Ukraine at a G20 summit in Australia on Saturday, underscoring the deepest chill in relations with the West since the Cold War.At one stage, a member of the Russian delegation told AFP Putin would cut short his visit by skipping the annual summits final lunch, upending a meeting focused on revamping the global economy and addressing the Ebola epidemic in west Africa.But the Kremlin quickly stepped in to deny the Russian leader was leaving early under pressure over the Ukraine crisis.The G20 summit will be over tomorrow (Sunday), Putin will certainly leave it, when all the work is completed the president will leave, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Russian radio, without specifying whether the Russian leader would attend the lunch.The Group of 20 nations, which includes the United States and China, found agreement in vowing to extinguish the Ebola outbreak -- albeit without any promise of hard cash -- as it worked to reboot growth in the world economy after the shock of the 2008 financial crisis.But German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Brisbane that the tensions over Ukraine were hindering efforts to boost economic growth.Its clear that these geopolitical tensions, including relations with Russia, are not really conducive to promoting growth, she said. We are all striving to do everything diplomatically possible to see improvements.Ukraine is the most pressing test of the clubs ability to marry its economic heft to diplomatic troubleshooting, given the Cold War-style divisions between Russia and the West exposed by the former Soviet satellites separatist crisis.There was no immediate comment from the G20s Australian hosts or other delegations to Putins apparent desire to leave early, which came after some testy exchanges in Brisbane.A Kremlin statement said Putin held rather lengthy and detailed discussions with Merkel and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Junker.An exchange of opinions on the situation in the southeast of Ukraine took place in the meeting between Putin and Merkel, the Kremlin said. Vladimir Putin in detail explained Russias approach to the situation.Before his own tense meeting with Putin on the G20 sidelines, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Russia faced a choice, with one option to implement an agreement to allow stability to return to Ukraine free of Moscows meddling.Its important to warn of the dangers if Russia continues to head in the other direction, Cameron said, bluntly warning that Putin had failed to serve Russias own interests by exposing it to punishing Western sanctions.If that path continues and if that destabilisation gets worse, the rest of the world, Europe, America, Britain, will have no choice but to take further action in terms of sanctions, he said.G20 host Tony Abbott went into a week of Asia-Pacific summitry vowing to confront Putin, particularly over the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over Ukraine in July.- Koala diplomacy -In the event, on Saturday, the Australian prime minister was all smiles as he posed for a handshake with a similarly grinning Putin -- before the two leaders were photographed holding koala bears together.However, the koala diplomacy was followed by less cuddly talks on the G20 sidelines.When Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was approached by Putin to shake hands he said, according to Canadian media: Well, I guess Ill shake your hand, but I only have one thing to say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine.In contrast, there was concordance at the G20 on the need to turn back an outbreak of Ebola that has so far claimed more than 5,000 lives across eight countries, particularly in west Africa.G20 members are committed to do what is necessary to ensure the international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its medium-term economic and humanitarian costs, the leaders said.However, there was no G20 cash commitment to back up the statement.Across the globe in London, the Ebola crisis got some help from rock music stars Bob Geldof, One Direction, Bono and around 30 others. They gathered in a studio to record a 30th anniversary version of the Band Aid charity single to raise money to fight the deadly virus.UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned the secondary impacts of the health crisis could include serious disruption to farming in the west African countries that could provoke a major food crisis affecting one million people across the region.Ban also echoed former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachevs fears that tensions between Russia and the West had brought the world to the brink of a new Cold War, and described climate change as the defining issue of our times.But Abbott -- who is sceptical about man-made climate change -- has fought hard against mentioning global warming in the G20s closing statement.However, Obama said a Sino-US breakthrough in Beijing this week on reducing carbon emissions proves that a post-Kyoto deal to arrest climate change is achievable, as he unveiled a $3 billion pledge to a UN-backed climate mitigation fund.If China and the US can agree on this, then the world can agree on this -- we can get this done, he said in a speech in Brisbane.

UBS eyes cancelling bonuses for forex traders

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Geneva (AFP) - Banking giant UBS, one of six banks fined this week for attempting to manipulate foreign exchange markets, confirmed Saturday it was considering taking back bonuses from traders over the scandal.The bank confirmed a report in Financial Times stating that it was one of five fined banks looking into clawing back millions of dollars in bonuses from individual traders.A spokeswoman said the bank would especially aim to cancel the payment of deferred bonuses in cases where wrongdoing was found.Another of the fined banks, Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), hinted it could take similar action.We are still working our way through disciplinary and accountability processes involving over 50 employees and their managers, RBS chief Ross McEwan said in a statement Friday.While we will treat all people fairly, those who have been found lacking in conduct or accountability terms will be dealt with appropriately, including through claw back, award forfeiture, or through formal disciplinary procedures, he said.Along with RBS and UBS, British bank HSBC and US peers Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase were together slapped with $4.2 billion in fines by global regulators Wednesday.The hefty fines, unveiled in London, Washington and Zurich, followed a worldwide probe into the scandal over the $5.3-trillion-per-day forex market, around 40 percent of which takes place in the British capital.A string of scandals, including the rigging of the Libor interbank interest rate and product mis-selling, has damaged the reputation of major banks, already tainted by their roles in sparking the 2008 global financial crisis and subsequent worldwide recession.

Telenor involved in corruption in Uzbekistan

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Norwegian telecom giant Telenor was allegedly involved in a corruption scandal in Uzbekistan with ties to President Islam Karimovs daughter, Norwegian media reported Saturday.According to documents published by Norways Klassekampen daily, Vimpelcom, an Uzbek firm partially owned by Telenor, paid $25 million (20 million euros) in bribes to obtain telecom licenses in the Central Asian nation.The money allegedly went from a subsidiary of Vimpelcom to Takilant Limited, owned by Gayane Avakyan, a friend of Karimovs oldest daughter, Gulnara Karimova.Bank statements document how the money was transferred from a previously unknown company in the British Virgin Islands as Vimpelcom purchased licenses to the mobile market in the former Soviet state, Klassekampen wrote on its website.Telenor owns 33 percent of Vimpelcom and has 43 percent of the voting rights in the company.We are a minority shareholder in Vimpelcom, so its up to Vimpelcom to take responsibility for answering any questions that relate to their operations, Telenor communications head Glenn Mandelid told AFP.Telenor has zero tolerance for corruption, both when it comes to our own operations and also to the companies that we are part owners in.A similar graft scandal forced out the chief executive and several senior managers of Swedish-Finnish competitor TeliaSonera in 2013.

Idaho biology teacher kills, skins rabbit in class

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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho biology teacher is facing possible disciplinary action after killing and skinning a rabbit in class to show students where their food comes from.Nampa School District spokeswoman Allison Westfall says the teacher killed the rabbit in front of 16 students by snapping its neck on Nov. 6 at Columbia High School.The rabbit was then skinned and cut up in front of the 10th graders. Westfall says the demonstration isnt part of the biology curriculum. She says students who didnt want to view the lesson were allowed to leave ahead of time. The teachers name hasnt been released.

Afghanistan 'A' upsets Pakistan 'A' in a T20 friendly

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Afghanistan ‘A’ defeated Pakistan ‘A’ in a friendly Twenty20 at Shalimar Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were the special appearance at the ground.Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan and former chairman Najam Sethi also attended the match.Afghanistan’ captain Ghulam Nabi won the toss and chose to bat first. Afghanistan scored 154 runs in allotted 15-overs. Najeeb Ullah (60) and Sami ullah Shenwari (27) were the top scorers.Sohaib Maqsood’s eleven failed to chase the given target and scored 100 runs with the loss of nine wickets. Babar Azam was the top scorer from the Pakistani side.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (L) talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while watching a cricket match between their two countries in Islamabad November 15, 2014. Looking to overcome years of mistrust and hostility between their two nations, Sharif and the new Afghan president, Ghani, promised on Saturday to boost security and trade ties.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (L) and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif clap during the prize distribution ceremony.Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) presents a shield to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during a ceremony.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (centre L) and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (centre R) watch as Pakistani players walk past following a cricket match between their countries.Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (C) present a trophy to Mohammad Nabi (L), captain of the winning Afghan cricket team.

UAE declares Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist

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DUBAI: (AP) - The United Arab Emirates has issued a list designating the Muslim Brotherhood and dozens of other Islamist groups as terrorist organizations, ratcheting up the pressure on the group by lumping it together with extremists such as the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front, al-Qaidas affiliate in Syria.The official state news agency WAM published the list of 83 organizations Saturday evening, saying the designations were adopted by the council of ministers, the federations cabinet.The move follows a similar decision by Saudi Arabia in March to designate the Brotherhood a terrorist group along with al-Qaida and others.Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have taken a firm stance against the Brotherhood since its ascendance in Egypt in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Saeed Ajmal still needs work on bowling action

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DUBAI: (AFP) - Suspended Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has substantially improved his suspect bowling action but he still needs work to return to being within the legal limit, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Saturday.The 37-year-old was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka in August this year and after a biomechanical analysis in Australia the master spinner was suspended until another official assessment by the International Cricket Council (ICC).The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has even hired former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to work on removing the flaws in Ajmals action.Under ICC rules a bowler is allowed 15-degree elbow extension, a point visible to naked eye. But Augusts tests on Ajmal showed he extends his elbow nearly 43 degrees and, as a result, needed a major overhaul.Before going for his official test with the ICC, the PCB sent Ajmal to Loughborough, England, to have an unofficial assessment as a precautionary measure and the Pakistan board said the unofficial test was satisfactory.After tests on November 10 at Loughborough University, an ICC-accredited facility for tests on bowlers with suspect actions, biomechanist Dr. Mark King has reported that Ajmal has modified his bowling action substantially, said the PCB.While there is clearly a substantial improvement from the previous official test it is likely that with additional work the bowler can bowl within the 15-degree limit.Ajmal will remain in England for one more week and will continue working with Saqlain. Ajmal was one of seven bowlers reported after an ICC crackdown initiated in June this year.Apart from Ajmal, Sri Lankas Sachitra Senanayake, New Zealands Kane Williamson, Zimbabwes Prosper Utseya and Bangladeshs Sohag Gazi were also suspended.Bangladeshs paceman Al-Amin Hossain, also reported in September, was cleared after a biomechanical assessment last month while Zimbabwes Malcolm Waller was reported last week.Under ICC rules, if a bowlers action is reported twice within two years of the first report he will be banned for 12 months. Pakistan is hoping Ajmal will be cleared before the World Cup in February and March in Australia and New Zealand as he is seen as key to the teams success.

Wayne Rooney youngest English player to receive his 100th cap

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Wayne Rooney received his 100th England cap from fellow centurion Bobby Charlton before the captains landmark appearance against Slovenia on Saturday.The striker is the ninth England player to reach the milestone, but the youngest at 29.The Manchester United captain carried one-year-old son Klay onto the Wembley Stadium pitch to cheers before being presented with the commemorative golden cap by Charlton, who scored an England-record 49 goals in 106 appearances.Heading into Saturdays European Championship qualifier, Rooney was seven goals away from overtaking Charltons goal record.Englands appearance record is held by Peter Shilton, the goalkeeper who was capped 125 times. David Beckham made a record 115 outfield appearances.I dont just want to be remembered as one of the players who gets 100 caps, Rooney recalled ahead of his 100th match. I want to be successful and we havent been successful. Thats how teams and players get rated.I would say it hasnt always been great but it has always been magical playing for England.But Rooney, who made his England debut against Australia in 2003, revealed that he came close to quitting the sport aged 14.I had stopped enjoying football, Rooney said, recalling how a coach made him fall back in love with football.Rooney succeeded Steven Gerrard as England captain in August, having despite a tempestuous relationship with fans and past concerns over his temperament.Far more was expected of Rooney after announcing himself on the international scene with four goals at Euro 2004 as an 18-year-old forward.But the 2006 World Cup campaign was remembered for his red card against Portugal, and he struggled four years later in South Africa.Although Rooney broke his World Cup goal drought at his third competition in June, England went out in the group stage with only one point leaving the country without a title since its only success at the 1966 World Cup.
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