Thursday 6 November 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Ex-US diplomat under criminal investigation

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WASHINGTON (AP) - A former veteran U.S. diplomat and expert on Pakistan is the subject of a federal investigation and had her security clearance revoked last month, the State Department said Thursday.The department said it is cooperating with a law enforcement probe into Robin Raphel, a one-time ambassador to Tunisia and most recently a senior adviser on civilian aid to Pakistan. Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Raphels employment technically ended Nov. 2, but that her clearance was pulled in October, effectively ending her employment.We are aware of this law enforcement matter, Psaki said. The State Department has been cooperating with our law enforcement colleagues on this matter. Ms. Raphels appointment expired; she is no longer a State Department employee.The FBI declined to comment on the investigation and its exact nature was not immediately clear. But The Washington Post, which first reported the probe, said it was related to counterterrorism and that Raphels home in Washington had been searched on Oct. 21, although she has not been charged.Raphel, who was ambassador to Tunisia and then assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs during the Clinton administration, had retired from the diplomatic corps in 2005 after 30 years of service, but was hired as a contractor in 2009 by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to oversee development aid and civilian assistance to Pakistan. Two years later, she returned to Washington and was working until last month in the office of the U.S. Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan at the State Department.Her hiring by the embassy in Pakistan had raised some eyebrows because after her retirement from the foreign service she had worked for Cassidy and Associates, which lobbied on behalf of the Pakistani government. Raphels connections to Pakistan are deep as her late former husband, Arnold Raphel, served as ambassador in Islamabad.Arnold Raphel was killed in a mysterious 1988 plane crash that also claimed the life of then-Pakistani President Muhammad Zia ul-Haq.

Obama writes rare letter to Iran's supreme leader

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WASHINGTON (AP) - In a rare outreach to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Barack Obama has written a letter about the fight against Islamic State militants, a common enemy in Syria and Iraq, according to diplomatic sources.The U.S. and Iran are each engaged in military efforts to degrade the Islamic State group, essentially putting the longtime foes on the same side in the campaign against the extremists. However, the Obama administration has repeatedly insisted that it is not coordinating and will not coordinate its military actions with Iran, though officials from both countries have discussed the matter more broadly.Obamas letter to Irans powerful religious leader comes against the backdrop of the looming Nov. 24 deadline in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, as well as five other world powers. While Obama has previously sent letters to Khamenei, any communication between the two men has been extremely rare.The Wall Street Journal, which first reported that Obama had sent the letter, said it described a shared interest between the U.S. and Iran in fighting Islamic State militants and stressed that any cooperation on that would be largely contingent on Iran agreeing to the nuclear deal. However, while not confirming nor denying the existence of the letter, administration officials said there were still no plans to cooperate or coordinate with Iran against the militants.The United States will not cooperate militarily with Iran in that effort, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. We wont share intelligence with them.Diplomatic sources separately confirmed the existence of the letter to The Associated Press. They did so on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss Obamas outreach.Obama authorized a U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State fighters in Iraq in August and expanded the mission the following month to neighboring Syria. The U.S. is taking action alongside several other nations, including a handful of regional partners.Iran is not part of the U.S. coalition, but it has also been fighting the Islamic State group on the ground. However, Irans interests in pursuing the Islamic States defeat differ from those of the Obama administration. Iran is a staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is a target of the militants and opposed by the U.S.Two chief critics of Obamas foreign policy, Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, called it outrageous that Obama would seek to enlist Iran in its fight against IS given Irans support for Assad and Shia extremists throughout the region.The consequences of this ill-conceived bargain would destroy the Syrians last, best chance to live in freedom from the brutal Assad regime, the two senators said in a joint statement.U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility that a nuclear accord with Iran could open the door to discussions on other issues, but they have sought to keep the delicate negotiations focused solely on Tehrans disputed nuclear program. The U.S. and its negotiating partners say Iran is pursuing a bomb, while Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.The prospects for a final agreement remain uncertain, with Obama saying on Wednesday that the ability to secure a deal is an open question.The technical details of the talks have been closely guarded by the negotiating partners the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Iran. The broad parameters of a potential agreement include Iran cutting back on its number of centrifuges enriching uranium and redesigning a planned heavy water reactor so it doesnt produce plutonium. Both materials can be used in nuclear warheads.In exchange, the U.S. in particular would have to roll back some of the financial, trade and oil sanctions that significantly cut off Iran from global markets.The U.S. and Iran broke off diplomatic relations in 1979 after the Islamic revolution and the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, where 52 Americans were held hostage for more than a year. However, the relationship began to thaw after Obama took office, particularly following the election last year of a more moderate-sounding Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani.U.S. and Iranian officials held a series of secret meetings last year that ultimately paved the way for the resumption of international nuclear negotiations. Obama and Rouhani also held a historic phone call last fall, the first direct communication between their nations leaders since the Islamic revolution.However, the two men have not spoken since and skipped the opportunity to meet face-to-face while attending U.N. General Assembly meetings in New York in September.Despite Rouhanis standing as president, U.S. officials believe Khamenei, the powerful supreme leader, has the ultimate say in whether Iran reaches a nuclear deal with world powers.

Rain, wind in parts of Punjab turned weather cold

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - Intermittent rain was recorded in different parts of Punjab, including Lahore, on early Friday morning. The new spell of rain turned the weather cold.Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted more rain during the next 24 hours with chances of heavy snowfall over the hills.Rain was also recorded in Faisalabad, Fatteh Jang, Quaidabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kundian, Khushab and Paharpur. Meanwhile, widespread snowfall was recorded in Bagh, Ganga Chotti, Dara Haji Pir and Lasdana areas in Azad Kashmir.

Attacks in Iraq, mainly targeting troops, kill 13

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BAGHDAD (AP) - A series of attacks, mainly against Iraqi troops, killed 13 people in Baghdad and in the countrys west on Thursday as the government pressed ahead with a draft law meant to establish a community-based national guard force in efforts to mobilize Iraqs Sunni minority in the battle against the Islamic State group.In one of Thursdays attacks, a suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden car into an army checkpoint near the town of al-Baghdadi, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) northwest of Baghdad, killing five soldiers and wounding 12, police officials said.In Baghdad, a bomb blast in a commercial street in the western district of Ghazaliyah killed four people and wounded eight, while a bomb near a line of shops killed two people in the citys northwest, the officials said.Earlier, gunmen in a speeding car opened fire on an army checkpoint in Baghdads western suburb of Abu Ghraib, killing two soldiers.Hospital officials confirmed the causalities. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.Meanwhile, Iraqs parliament speaker, Salim al-Jubouri said that the draft law to establish a community-driven national guard in each province would be finished and submitted to the parliament within the next two weeksThe move is mainly designed to appease and mobilize Sunni tribes against the extremists form the Islamic State group who made big advances in the Sunni western province of Anbar in recent months. Members of the Sunni minority have been complaining of second-class treatment by the Shiite-led government and abuse by Shiite militias.Once the law is approved, it could still take months to assemble and equip such a force.Obviously the events of Anbar ... led to a popular mobilization of the people to confront the IS group, al-Jubouri told The Associated Press from Irbil in northern Iraq.Iraq is facing its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops, with the Islamic State group in control of large swaths of land in the countrys north and west.

Bomb blast aboard Egyptian trains kills 4

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CAIRO (AP) - A bomb blast aboard a train north of Cairo killed four people, including two policemen, and wounded nine, officials said Thursday, the latest attack by suspected Islamic militants battling the government of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.The blast took place shortly before midnight Wednesday in the Nile Delta, the officials said Also late Wednesday, three people were wounded when a homemade bomb went off aboard a commuter train in the Cairo suburb of al-Marg, said the officials.And on Thursday morning in Cairo, a woman was slightly wounded when a homemade explosive device went off near one of the citys presidential facilities, the infrequently used al-Quba palace, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.No one immediately claimed responsibility for planting any of the three bombs, but the attacks bore the hallmarks of Islamic militants fighting the government of el-Sissi, a general-turned-politician who took office in June, nearly a year after he led the military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.The attack on the Nile Delta train came hours after el-Sissi appointed two senior aides. Former Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin was named security adviser while career diplomat and former Cabinet minister Faiza Aboul Naga, who also served during the era of autocrat Hosni Mubarak, was named national security adviser.Egypt has long battled Islamic militants in the Sinai Peninsula, but the unrest there escalated into a full-fledged insurgency since the ouster in July last year of former President Mohammed Morsi, an Islamist. The attacks, mainly targeting security forces, have spread to the Nile Delta and Cairo itself.Attacks in Cairo have mainly involved small, homemade bombs that cause few casualties. But they have still revealed meticulous planning and execution by the militants and exposed inefficiency by the police. One such recent attack involved three homemade bombs that went off less than 20 meters (yards) from Cairos presidential Ittihadiya palace, where el-Sissi conducts daily business. Two senior police officers were killed, one of whom was trying to defuse a bomb while in civilian clothes and without protective gear.In the deadliest-ever militant attack on the military, at least 30 soldiers were killed late last month in Sinai, prompting el-Sissi to declare a state of emergency in northern Sinai and order the eviction of some 10,000 people from the town of Rafah on the border with the Gaza Strip.El-Sissis government has taken drastic measures to restore law and order and jumpstart the economy after three years of turmoil following the uprising that ended autocrat Hosni Mubaraks nearly three-decade rule in 2011.But a recent series of deadly road accidents has underscored the persistently poor state of government services and infrastructure.At least 18 people, mostly schoolchildren, died in a road accident north of Cairo on Wednesday, a tragedy that dominated the front page of every Cairo newspaper on Thursday. The accident prompted el-Sissi to order an overhaul of traffic regulations to stiffen penalties against offenders.Last week, the burning death of a newborn baby in a private clinic caused a similar uproar. The baby was placed near a heater that caught fire. Graphic images published in newspapers of the babys blackened body revived longstanding complaints about a culture of negligence and mismanagement.Of the new el-Sissi appointments, Eddin served under Morsi but was fired after Morsis Muslim Brotherhood accused him of failing to protect the presidential palace from protesters. He was close to el-Sissi, who was defense minister at the time.Aboul Naga was at the center of one of the worst crises in Egypt-U.S. relations when, as minister of international cooperation in 2012, she led a campaign against nonprofit groups in Egypt, including key American organizations. She accused them of undermining the nations security and using funds to spread chaos in the country. Sixteen Americans were charged with wrongdoing and tried in absentia after security forces raided their offices in December 2011.

Halep parts ways with coach after less than a year

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BUCHAREST (AP) - Fourth-ranked Simona Halep has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette after less than a year.A statement posted on Haleps Facebook page Thursday said: My collaboration with Wim Fissette will come to an end, following a mutual agreement. It was a good and beautiful year. I want to thank him and wish him good luck in the future.Halep hired Fissette in January, having discarded Adrian Marcu after rising from No. 47 to No. 11 in 2013.This year, the Romanian player rose to a career-high ranking of No. 2 in August after reaching her first career Grand Slam final at the French Open then making the semifinals at Wimbledon.Halep recently lost to Serena Williams in the final of the WTA Finals.

Ramprakash hired as England batting coach

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LONDON (AP) - Unfulfilled as a player on the international stage, Mark Ramprakash will now look to make a difference with Englands national team as a coach.Ramprakash was hired as Englands batting coach on Thursday and will work across all formats starting with the one-day series against Sri Lanka this month.The 45-year-old Ramprakash was one of English crickets most stylish and talented batsmen of his generation, hitting 114 centuries in 461 matches in a 25-year first-class career with Middlesex and Surrey that ended in 2012.He failed to transfer his county form to England, though. His brilliant technique was regularly ruffled by pace, he drifted in and out of selection under different coaches and an average of 27.32 in 52 tests over 11 years did not do justice to his ability.The affable Ramprakash has made a seamless transition into coaching, initially with the second-string England Lions team and then in a temporary role as batting coach for the senior side since May following the resignation of Graham Gooch.I will draw on my 25 years of experience as a cricketer but also am open to learning all the time, Ramprakash said in an England release announcing his appointment. I feel we have a very exciting group of players and am relishing the opportunity to continue working with them.The greatest achievement in his career came in 2006, when he averaged more than 100 with Surrey and scored 2,278 runs. To top off that year, he won the BBC reality show Strictly Come Dancing the second English cricketer to do so after former international teammate Darren Gough.

Bangladesh reach 201-5 at stumps on day 4

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KHULNA (AP) - Bangladesh recovered from a mini collapse in the middle order to reach 201-5 and stretch its lead over Zimbabwe to 266 at stumps Thursday on the fourth day.Mahmudullah on 63 will resume the fifth day with Shuvagat Hom, who was on 23. Malcolm Waller was the most successful bowler for Zimbabwe with 4-48 while Tinashe Panyangara picked up 1-34.Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed his 13th five-wicket haul to help dismiss Zimbabwe for 368 in its first innings before lunch and earn a 65-run lead.Tamim Iqbal gave Panyangara a return catch to be out for 20 after hitting him for consecutive boundaries.Mominul Haque then gave the innings a shape along with Shamsur Rahman, who was beaten by a Malcolm Waller delivery that turned sharply and was out for 23.Mominul hit six fours in his 54 and became the quickest Bangladeshi batsman to reach 1,000 test runs when he was on 35. He reached the mark in just 21 in 11 tests, beating the previous record held by Tamim Iqbal, who needed 30 innings and 15 test matches.After earning his seventh test fifty, Mominul was undone by a flighted delivery by Malcolm Waller, leaving Bangladesh on 131-3.Waller helped Zimbabwe strike back by also removing Shakib Al Hasan (6) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0) with consecutive deliveries.However, Mahmudullah and Shuvagat helped Bangladesh avoid a collapse.After Zimbabwe resumed the day on 331-5, Hamilton Masakadza hit a career-best 158 and Regis Chakabva brought up his maiden test century before being dismissed on 101 as the last batsman shortly before the end of the morning session.It was the first time since 2001 that two Zimbabwe batsmen scored a century in a test innings test.Shakib, who hit 137 in the first innings, was the successful bowler for Bangladesh with 5-80. The feat helped him join the likes of Ian Botham, Garry Sobers, Mushtaq Mohammad and Jacques Kallis in bringing up a century and claiming a five-wicket haul in a single test more than once. Botham did it five times.

Libya parliament rejects supreme court decision to nullify it

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Benghazi (Libya) (AFP) - Libyas internationally recognised parliament on Thursday rejected a supreme court decision to nullify it, saying the ruling was taken under the threat of arms.The House of Representatives rejects the verdict under these conditions and says it is still functioning, as is the government elected on June 25, an official statement broadcast live on Libya Awalan television said.It charged that the ruling announced earlier on Thursday by the Tripoli-based supreme court was taken under the threat of arms because the capital is ruled by outlawed militias.The statement was read out by lawmaker Adam Abu Sakhra.The supreme courts ruling cannot be appealed and also nullified a constitutional amendment that led to elections on June 25, thereby invalidating the polls and all decisions that resulted from them.But the parliament, in its statement, stressed that it was elected by the people in free and credible polls.

War crimes charges eluded by Israel over deadly Gaza raid

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The Hague (AFP) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) will not launch a prosecution over Israels raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 in which 10 Turkish activists died, despite a reasonable basis to believe war crimes were committed, the chief prosecutor said Thursday.Fatou Bensouda said that there would be no investigation leading to a potential prosecution because the alleged crimes, including the killing of the 10 activists by Israeli commandos, were not of sufficient gravity.The information available provides a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed on board the Comorian-registered vessel the Mavi Marmara during the interception of the flotilla, Bensouda said in a statement on Thursday.However, after carefully assessing all relevant considerations, I have concluded that the potential case(s) likely arising from an investigation into this incident would not be of sufficient gravity to justify further action by the ICC, she said.Nine Turkish nationals died when Israeli commandos staged a botched pre-dawn raid on a six-ship flotilla seeking to bust Israels naval blockade of the Gaza Strip on May 31, 2010. A tenth activist later died of his wounds.- Our struggle is not over -Taking into account the serious nature of the physical injuries caused by the IDFs (Israeli Defence Force) use of force against some affected passengers, and even bearing in mind self-defence... the information available provides for a reasonable basis to believe that the IDF soldiers committed (a) war crime, Bensouda said.The ICC, which was set up in 2002, tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.At a press conference in Istanbul, attorneys representing the Comoros denounced the decision as politically-motivated. They vowed to appeal against it by all legal avenues open to them.This is a struggle for justice, humanity and honour, attorney Ramazan Ariturk said.Our struggle is not over. We will appeal to a higher court for a review and hopefully achieve a favourable result, he added.Turkish Aid group IHH, which organised the flotilla, said in a statement on Wednesday that although ICC admitted the crimes and wrongfulness of Israel, it couldnt take the liberty of going on with the investigation.Israel acknowledged the decision while expressing regret that the courts time had been wasted looking into what it called a politically-motivated complaint.Israel believes that it was pointless to initiate a preliminary inquiry in the first place, a foreign ministry statement said, adding that the court was established to combat the worlds worst atrocities.It also noted that the incident had already been thoroughly examined in detail by both an Israeli committee and one established by the UN.It said that both of these probes determined that the IDF soldiers were forced to respond with force to protect their lives from lethal, pre-planned and organised violence.Israel imposed its blockade on Gaza in 2006 after militants there seized an Israeli soldier, who was eventually freed in 2011 in a trade for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.The blockade was strengthened in 2007, when the Islamist Hamas movement took control of Gaza, then eased somewhat following an international outcry over the killing of the Turkish activists.A Turkish court in May ordered the arrest of four former Israeli military chiefs over the raid as part of an ongoing trial in absentia brought by IHH and the victims families in 2012.The assault sparked widespread condemnation and provoked a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries.Ankara expelled the Israeli ambassador, demanded a formal apology and compensation and an end to the blockade on the Gaza Strip.An Israeli probe found that the raid did not violate international law, in a conclusion which Turkey said lacked credibility.Israel and Turkey, encouraged by the United States, had until this year been negotiating a compensation deal to normalise their relations.However this was put off indefinitely by Israels deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip which Turkey strongly condemned.

ECB keeps its powder dry, readies anti-deflation gun

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Frankfurt (AFP) - The European Central Bank held its fire on any new policy measures on Thursday, but said it was actively preparing more moves if needed to ward off deflation in the euro area.As widely expected, the ECB kept its key interest rates unchanged at its regular monthly policy meeting.It held its main refinancing rate steady at 0.05 percent, and its two other rates -- the marginal lending and the deposit rates -- at 0.30 percent and minus 0.20 percent, respectively.Nevertheless, the ECB is actively preparing additional moves should the situation need it, central bank chief Mario Draghi told a news conference afterwards.The governing council has tasked ECB staff and the relevant Eurosystem committees with ensuring the timely preparation of further measures to be implemented, if needed, he said.In addition to cutting rates, the ECB has rolled out a series of programmes to kick-start stymied credit in the 18 countries that share the euro.Looking ahead... the governing council will closely monitor and continuously assess the appropriateness of its monetary policy stance, Draghi said.Should it become necessary to further address risks of too prolonged a period of low inflation, the governing council is unanimous in its commitment to using additional unconventional instruments within its mandate, he said.Among the additional measures being considered is so-called quantitative easing or QE, the large-scale purchase of government bonds, a policy hitherto used by other central banks around the world.Earlier, the OECD in Paris had urged the ECB to step up QE until the eurozones chronically low inflation is back on track.- Boosting the balance sheet -Until now, the ECB has focused on buying packages of loans known as asset-backed securities (ABS) and so-called covered bonds to pump cash into the economy.Those measures, together with the series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations or TLTROs -- cheap funding made available to banks on condition they lend it on to businesses -- will have a sizeable impact on our balance sheet, which is expected to move towards the dimensions it had at the beginning of 2012, Draghi said.At that time, the ECBs balance sheet total amounted to around 3.0 trillion euros ($3.7 trillion).Media reports this week have suggested that there are deep differences and even a palace revolution on the governing council over the issue, particularly between Draghi and the head of the German central bank or Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann.But Draghi played down such speculation.It was relatively normal for there to be different views, he said.But when we differ in our views and our policies, there is no drawing line between North and South. There is no coalition. Not at all.- QE is coming -Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz felt that Draghis comments at the press conference were a demonstration of unity and readiness to act at the ECB.Reports about a serious rift between Draghi and a German-led minority over Draghis conduct of the press conferences had caused some market volatility ahead of the meeting. The governing council now closed the ranks and emphasised their easing bias, Schulz said.Commerzbank economist Joerg Kraemer agreed.There was no sign at the press conference of a palace revolution against Draghis alleged autocratic style, he said.On the contrary, Kraemer said. We still expect the ECB to start QE, probably at the beginning of next year.Postbank economist Thilo Heidrich noted that the ECB was not only prepared to act, but had already issued orders for those preparations to be made.We see this as a sign that the ECB will follow through shortly, he said.IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer said he suspected the ECB would ideally like to sit tight for an extended period while previous measures kick in and hopefully increasingly take effect.We suspect that there is still appreciable reluctance within the governing council to engage in full-blown quantitative easing. Nevertheless, unless there is a sustained, clear change in the eurozones fortunes, the ECB could yet ultimately have to go down the QE road, Archer concluded.

Luxembourg, Juncker under fire after global tax leaks

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Brussels (AFP) - Luxembourg and its former premier Jean-Claude Juncker -- now head of the European commission -- came under fire Thursday after leaked documents showed the tiny nation gave hundreds of global firms huge tax breaks.Household names such as Pepsi, IKEA and Deutsche Bank were among companies named by the US-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) following a six-month investigation of 28,000 leaked documents.The revelations risked weakening Junckers position just days after he took office as head of the EUs executive arm after 19 years as Luxembourg prime minister, the period during which many of the tax deals were sealed.Junckers spokesman said the veteran politician was serene about the revelations, though he pulled out of a public speaking engagement with former commission chief Jacques Delors scheduled later Thursday.Under an hour-long barrage of questions from reporters, the spokesman stressed that EU regulators were already investigating whether Luxembourgs deals with US Internet giant Amazon and the financial arm of Italian carmaker Fiat amounted to illegal state aid.Spokesman Margaritis Schinas said that if the EU found it breached the rules, Luxembourg will have to take corrective actions.The EUs new Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said she would of course press on with those probes and looked forward to forming a very concrete picture of the thorny issue.Vestager noted a complete change of mood in the past few years on taxation, with a huge push by G20 nations to agree new rules to deprive multinationals from easy access to tax havens globally.- Blow to Junckers credibility -The so-called Luxleaks documents showed that billions of dollars were funnelled through the tiny European duchy of Luxembourg thanks to complex financial structures that allowed companies to slash their tax liabilities, depriving hard-up governments of revenue.Juncker presided over the tax affairs of Luxembourg for over two decades, transforming the country from a sleepy European backwater into a prized destination where hundreds of the worlds biggest companies channel their affairs.On Wednesday, asked about the tax policies he once led, Juncker said he wanted the Commission to investigate independently and would not interfere with its work as this would be indecent.But criticism poured in with Sven Giegold, head of the Greens group in the European Parliament, calling the revelations a major blow to Junckers credibility.- Burberry, Heinz also named -In its investigation, the ICIJ said global accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers had helped multinationals secure at least 548 tax rulings in Luxembourg between 2002 and 2010.The documents uncovered details of so-called Advance Tax Agreements -- pre-negotiated deals which set out how companies will be taxed, the same practice that the EU is investigating in the Amazon and Fiat cases.It’s like taking your tax plan to the government and getting it blessed ahead of time, the ICIJ quoted Connecticut School of Law tax expert Richard Pomp as saying.The EU has no power over member states tax affairs as such, but it can probe whether they amount to illegal state aid by giving a company an unfair advantage over its competitors.If so, then a country is in breach of the 28-nation blocs single market rules.Luxembourgs finance minister, Pierre Gramegna, in Brussels for a meeting of eurozone ministers, said that while the practice was totally legal it may no longer be ethically compatible with todays norms.Similar cases have been opened against Ireland for deals with tech giant Apple and the Netherlands with coffee chain Starbucks.Ronen Palan, Professor of International Politics at City University London, said the ICIJ investigation was a game changer that would prove as damaging to Luxembourg as previous revelations were to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.Other companies that benefited from the schemes included Burberry, Procter & Gamble, Heinz, JP Morgan and FedEx -- many of which use Luxembourg as one of several tax havens to optimise earnings.The fight against tax avoidance must be global, said French Finance Minister Michel Sapin.German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Luxembourg still had a lot to do to improve its tax policies.Fighting the unfair use of these legal arrangements was the next chapter in the fight against tax avoidance, Schaeuble said.

McDowell off to flying start at WGC-HSBC Champions

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Shanghai (AFP) - Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell gave himself a two-shot cushion ahead of the field after the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions Thursday.Starting on the 10th, the Northern Irishman scorched through his first 12 holes in seven-under par.Despite two bogeys coming in G-Mac was pleased with his opening five-under par 67 at Sheshan which put him two shots clear of six players tied for second on three-under.A big key to this golf course is driving the ball well, McDowell told reporters afterwards. I drove it very well today. I think I missed only one fairway, which is very important. Set up a few opportunities. The greens are in fantastic shape and I putted very well.So seven-under par through 12 holes was a beautiful start. Dropped a couple coming in, but all in all, very pleased with five-under par on what I thought was a reasonably tricky day.McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, lies 16th on the European Tours Race to Dubai and needs a high finish in the $8.5 million event here to achieve his goal of getting a shot at a $5 million bonus pool for the top 15 players after the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in a fortnights time.The wind switched Thursday and blew harder than on the practice days. With narrow fairways and lush, punishing rough after nearly a week of rain in the city, it all meant that only seven players broke 70 on the par-72, 7,261-yard Sheshan International Golf Club layout.This is as tough off the tee as I think Ive ever seen this golf course, McDowell added. If we get three more days of this, I dont think sort of 10-under, 12-under par is going to get beat out there.One of the sextet in second on three-under par 69 is this years US Open champion Martin Kaymer.I think its a very good score, said the German world number 13. So even when I was at one point level par today, but just kept telling myself you will have plenty of birdie chances, so you just need to be patient.Joining Kaymer on three-under are Americans Rickie Fowler, Brandt Snedeker and Chris Kirk, plus Englands Tommy Fleetwood and South Africas Tim Clark.The rough is very rough, said Fowler, who finished in the top five of every major championship in 2014. I drove the ball well today and hit a lot of fairways. I think I only missed two. That made things a lot easier for me out there. I was able to stay in the short grass today.Eleven players are a shot further adrift after carding two-under par rounds of 70.They include world number two Adam Scott of Australia, and the England pair of former world number one Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, who won this tournament two years ago when it played at Mission Hills in Shenzhen.

Kane helped Tottenham to victory,Europa League

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Paris (AFP) - In-form Harry Kane helped Tottenham to victory in the Europa League on Thursday as Celtic and Inter Milan had to settle for draws.After a taxing week for some of their Premier League rivals in the Champions League, Spurs survived a poor second half display to run out 2-1 winners at Greek side Asteras Tripolis.Andros Townsends penalty and Kanes quick second goal set the north Londoners up nicely, however Asteras pulled one back via a last minute penalty after Federico Fazios red card.There may have been no repeat of Spurs 5-1 rout in which Kane got a hat-trick and Erik Lamela produced his rabona goal against the Greeks in London last month.But in the end it was job done to stretch Tottenhams unbeaten run in the competition to four.Townsend got them under way from the penalty spot in the 36th minute, dusting himself down after being sent clattering to the ground by Khalifa Sankare to rifle the spot kick into the corner of keeper Tomas Koscikys net.Six minutes later Townsend turned provider, his lobbed cross headed home by Kane for his 10th goal of the season.Asteras made Spurs sweat, though, when Jeronimo Barrales converted the 90th minute penalty awarded after Fazio was sent off for an ill judged tackle.The win was a welcome upturn in Premier league clubs fortunes in Europe after losses for Liverpool and Manchester City and stalemates for Chelsea and Arsenal.Spurs are level with Besiktas on eight points in Group C and on their way to the knockout stages with two games remaining.Celtics Group D game against Astra Giurgui in Romania was played out in thick fog.The Scottish champions were fired into the lead by Stefan Johansen only for Brazilian substitute William Amorim to level with a brilliant curling shot to beat Celtic keeper Craig Gordon.While a win would have seen them safely through to the next round, the draw left them second on eight points, two adrift of Salzburg, 5-2 winners at Dinamo Zagreb.Inter Milan were also held 1-1 at Saint-Etienne.Italys last Champions League winners in 2010 took the lead through Brazilian Dodo, only for Moustapha Bayal Sall to equalise for the former French greats in the second half.In Group E, Dynamo Moscow beat Portuguese visitors Estoril 1-0 to make it four wins out of four and see them safely into the next round, Germany forward Kevin Kuranyi bagging the decisive goal deep in the second half.In Group A, Borussia Moenchengladbach lead by a point after beating Apollon Limassol 2-0, while Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven saw off Panathinaikos 3-2 in Greece.In later action, Group H leaders Everton host Lille, the two sides producing a goalless draw in France a fortnight ago.

OCA boss:Winter Olympics will not move for Qatar World Cup

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Bangkok (AFP) - Asias Olympic chief ruled out rescheduling the 2022 Winter Olympics to avoid the Qatar World Cup on Thursday as moves gather pace to shift footballs showpiece to a cooler time of year.Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, head of Asias Olympic body and the worldwide Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), said he was sure the two events would not clash.But, speaking to reporters during an ANOC meeting in Bangkok, the highly influential Kuwaiti said the World Cup had to fit in around the Winter Olympics, and not the other way round.I think the Olympics should be maintained because we dont have a problem. This is a FIFA issue, not an IOC (International Olympic Committee) issue, Sheikh Ahmad said.For that (reason) I believe the IOC will stick with their time because it already has been committed and the broadcaster has been committed, the broadcasting, all the marketing partners, the NOCs.I dont think anything will touch the Olympics. FIFA should be flexible in choosing -- this is my advice -- which is the best date.The timing of the Qatar World Cup is becoming increasingly complex after footballs world body FIFA supported the idea of holding it in winter to avoid the desert states blazing summer months.Suggested dates for the month-long tournament are January and February 2022 or later that year in November and December, raising fears of a clash with the Winter Games to be held in Beijing or the Kazakh capital Almaty.Major football leagues oppose a winter World Cup and a January-February timing would also conflict with Americas NFL, whose Super Bowl takes place in early February.- Strong Olympic contender -A commission led by Asian football chief Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is studying dates for the Qatar World Cup, which has already run into controversy over the bidding process and human rights issues.I think they will analyse this and they will try to find the best solution, how they will make it without touching each other, keeping the interests of each and respect the period of each game or event, Sheikh Ahmad said.We dont have to be in a hurry. Somebodys speaking about January, February before the Games, somebodys talking about November and somebodys asking to keep it in August.We have to respect opinions, let the commission do their homework, but Im 100 percent confident they will never be at the same time. There will be respect for the time of each event.FIFA is currently investigating the bidding process for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Criticism of Qatar also extends to its treatment of migrant workers following hundreds of deaths at construction sites.But despite the difficulties, Sheikh Ahmad said Doha would be in a strong position if it decides to launch a fourth bid to host a Summer Olympics, after three failed attempts so far.In any case I think Doha is in a better position than the last three bids and when they go again I think they will be in the shortlist, he said.The sheikh added that dates for Summer Games should be flexible to give hot countries a better chance of hosting.I think we have to respect the south zone of the world. Not only our zone, but South Africa... when we did it in Sydney (2000), we did it in October, he said.Tomorrow Buenos Aires may want it, or some city from South Africa or Australia again. We have to have two periods of time. One for the north, one for the south, not only a world zone.
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