Wednesday 10 December 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Asia down as falling oil hits risk sentiment, dollar pressured

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TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian stocks fell early on Thursday as falling oil prices continued to feed into global growth concerns, while the dollar lost more ground against peers such as the yen and euro after a further drop in U.S. bond yields.MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was down 0.2 percent as another large drop in oil prices took a heavy toll on energy shares and hit Wall Street hard overnight.Crude oil prices fell as much as 5 percent overnight after data underscored weak U.S. demand and Saudi Arabia reiterated that it has no plans to curb output. [O/R]U.S. crude CLc1 posted a modest rebound early on Thursday after the overnight tumble, gaining 26 cents to $61.20 a barrel after falling to a 5-1/2 year low of $60.43 on Wednesday.Tokyos Nikkei .N225 lost 1.6 percent, pulling further back from 7-1/2 year highs hit at the weeks start, with sentiment bruised by the rout in U.S. stocks, while the yens rebound against the dollar showed little sign of ending.The dollar was down 0.1 percent at 117.610 yen JPY=, continuing its retreat from a seven-year high of 121.86 reached on Monday.The S&P 500 .SPX, at a record high just last Friday, fell to its lowest since early November on Wednesday.Recent nervousness in equity market sentiment is consistent with our view that equity fund positioning is near peak levels, which points to a near-term pullback, strategists at Barclays said in a note to clients.With underperformance by active managers, we worry that redemptions will continue and force an unwind of currently extended positioning, they said.In addition to declining oil, concerns over the political situation in Greece have also dented appetite for risk assets.The euro gained 0.3 percent to $1.2479 EUR=, putting further distance between a 2-1/2 year trough of $1.2247 hit on Monday.Safe-haven government debt remained better-bid, with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield US10YT=RR dropping by a basis point to 2.1603.The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield JP10YTN=JBTC fell 1.5 basis points to 0.390 percent, lowest since April 2013.

Lahore: Urs of Data Ganj Bakhsh starts today

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - The 971st annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) would be held from December 11-13 with enthusiasm and fervor.The Urs ceremonies will start at 10am with inauguration of milk sabeel. Millions of devotees and visitors from all parts of the country have reached Lahore to attend Urs and offer special prayers.Tight security arrangements have been made for the occasion. Over 500 policemen would perform security duties and devotees would be checked through walk through gates and metal detectors at all entry points of the shrine.Hazrat Ali Hajveri was born at Hajver, a town of Ghazni in Afghanistan, in 1000 A.D (400 H) and died in Lahore in 1063 or 1071 A.D.

Study says about 270,000 tons of plastic floating in oceans

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HONOLULU (AP) - A new study estimates nearly 270,000 tons of plastic is floating in the worlds oceans. Thats enough to fill more than 38,500 garbage trucks.The plastic is broken up into more than 5 trillion pieces, said the study published Wednesday in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.The paper is the latest in a nascent field where scientists are trying to better understand how much of the synthetic material is entering the oceans and how its affecting fish, seabirds and the larger marine ecosystem.The studys lead author is Markus Eriksen of the 5 Gyres Institute, an organization that aims to reduce plastic in the oceans.To gather data, researchers dragged a fine mesh net at the sea surface to gather small pieces. Observers on boats counted larger items. They used computer models to calculate estimates for tracts of ocean not surveyed.The study only measured plastic floating at the surface. Plastic on the ocean floor wasnt included.Bits greater than about 8 inches (20 centimeters) accounted for three-quarters of the plastic that the research estimated is in the ocean.Kara Lavender Law of the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, who wasnt involved in the study, said the researchers gathered data in areas where scientists currently dont have measurements for floating plastic debris, including the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean near Antarctica and the South Atlantic.In addition, the studys estimate for tiny plastic bits less than one-fifth of an inch, about 35,540 tons, is comparable to an earlier study by researchers in Spain who used different methodology, Law said. That study estimated there was 7,000 to 35,000 tons of plastics this size floating in the ocean.Its encouraging that two different approaches came up with such similar answers, given how difficult it is to measure plastic in the ocean, she said.Studying the amount of plastic in the ocean will help scientists understand how the material will affect the environment and potentially the food chain.For example, Law said, we might eat tuna that has ingested another fish that has eaten plastic that has in turn eaten another fish with plastic. These plastics could potentially have toxic chemicals.Am I being poisoned by eating the fish on my plate? she asked. We have very little knowledge of the chain of events that could lead to that. But its a plausible scenario that plastic ingested at lower levels of the food web could have consequences at higher levels of the food chain.

Boater rescued south of Hawaii after 12 days adrift

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HAWAII (Reuters) - The Navy rescued a boater who had been adrift for 12 days off the coast of Hawaii, the Coast Guard said on Wednesday.Ron Ingraham, 67, who is from the island of Molokai, was alone on a 25-foot sailing boat and had originally sent out a distress signal by radio on Nov. 27, saying his boat was taking on water in a storm, a representative for the Coast Guard command center in Hawaii said.Officials repeatedly responded to the rescue signal and searched for five days but called the search off when they got no response, the Coast Guard told Reuters.On Tuesday morning, another Mayday call came in and indicated where the sailboat was, the Coast Guard said.There was a Navy vessel operating close to the position, about 55 miles south of Honolulu, the Coast Guard representative said.

Scientists work to conserve 2,500-year-old mummy

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CHICAGO (AP) - Conservation work has started at Chicagos Field Museum on the 2,500-year-old mummy of a 14-year-old Egyptian boy.Scientists opened the coffin last week. The boy, named Minirdis, was the son of a priest. Conservators are hoping to stabilize the mummy and coffin so they can travel in the exhibit Mummies: Images of the Afterlife, which is expected to open in Los Angeles in September.Specifically, conservators are creating wood pieces to repair broken sections of the coffin. Theyre also using new linen to fill holes and gaps in the death mask.The Field Museum has had the mummy since the 1920s. Its part of the museums collection of 30 complete human mummies from Egypt.Theres always a risk of damage, said Brown, who did the work in a lab filled with plastic-covered examination tables set behind a large window to let schoolchildren watch his daily work. So we like to handle these things as little as possible.Inside the coffin, there was expected damage. CT scans, which make X-ray images that allow scientists to see inside the coffin before opening it, showed the boys feet were detached and partially unwrapped with his toes sticking out. His shroud and mask were torn and twisted sideways. Those also will be repaired.Brown didnt worry that the mummy would scatter to dust when opened — something common in the movies. Pieces of the coffin had previously gone missing, exposing the mummy to the elements.

Hong Kong police give final warning to protesters

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HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong police and bailiffs have given protesters a final warning to leave the main pro-democracy protest camp across a busy highway before they start removing barricades.Court workers are due to carry out a restraining order Thursday morning that calls for barriers to be dismantled and obstructions removed from three sections of the more than 2-month-old protest site.Bailiffs moved down the road and repeatedly read out a warning for people to leave certain roads.Police Senior Superintendent Kwok Pak-chung warned the public that anyone obstructing the bailiffs would be arrested.The sprawling encampment in Hong Kongs Admiralty section, on the edge of the financial district, has been the focal point for the protesters, who have occupied the site for 75 days.

Ex-Madoff computer programmer gets 2-1/2 years prison for fraud

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former computer programmer for Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison on Wednesday for helping the imprisoned fraudster carry out his multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme.The sentencing of George Perez, who worked at Madoffs firm from 1991 until its collapse in 2008, came nine months after a Manhattan federal jury found him guilty and a day before the sixth anniversary of Madoffs arrest.U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain also ordered Perez to forfeit a symbolic $19.7 billion jointly with other defendants who worked at Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.He must be punished in a way thats severe and commensurate with his crimes, she said.Perez, 48, was the fourth of five former employees to be sentenced following their convictions in March on all counts, including securities fraud and conspiracy in the first criminal trial over Madoffs Ponzi scheme.Perez told Swain he was sad and tired, adding: Im terribly sorry for the role my work played.Madoff is serving a 150-year prison term after pleading guilty in 2009 to running a scheme that cost investors more than an estimated $17 billion in principal.Prosecutors said the employees knowingly propped up Madoffs fraud by creating fake documents and backdating trades. Prosecutors said Perez developed and maintained computer programs that enabled the fraud to multiply.The defendants have said Madoff deceived them into believing his investment advisory business was legitimate. They are expected to appeal their convictions.Daniel Bonventre, Madoffs former back office director, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison. On Tuesday, former Manager Annette Bongiorno and Computer Programmer Jerome OHara received six years and 2-1/2 years, respectively.All the defendants received less prison time than requested by prosecutors, who in Perezs case had asked for more than eight years.Matthew Schwartz, an assistant U.S. attorney, ahead of Perez being sentenced, urged Swain to avoid issuing further light sentences for the Madoff defendants to avoid setting a precedent in future fraud cases.Judges will have to explain how small-time crooks in front of them were worse than the defendants in this case, he said.Swain nevertheless gave Perez a less-harsh sentence than prosecutors wanted, saying he was less culpable than other defendants.Fifteen people have been convicted in connection with Madoffs fraud. A final defendant, former Portfolio Manager Joann Crupi, is scheduled to be sentenced next Monday.

Web inventor says Internet should be 'human right'

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LONDON (AP) - The computer scientist credited with inventing the World Wide Web has called for affordable access to the Internet to be recognized as a human right, as a report showed that billions of people still cannot go online and government surveillance and censorship are on the rise.Tim Berners-Lee said Thursday the Internet can help tackle inequality, but only if it comes with the rights to privacy and freedom of expression. The Briton, who launched the Web in 1990, made the remarks as he released his World Wide Web Foundations latest report tracking the Internets global impact.The Web Index found that laws preventing mass online surveillance are weak or nonexistent in more than 84 percent of countries. It also said that almost 40 percent of surveyed countries were blocking sensitive online content to a moderate or extreme degree, and that half of all Web users live in countries that severely restrict their rights online.Almost 4.4 billion people, most of them in developing countries, still have no access to the Internet, the Web Index said.Its time to recognize the Internet as a basic human right, Berners-Lee said. That means guaranteeing affordable access for all, ensuring Internet packets are delivered without commercial or political discrimination, and protecting the privacy and freedom of Web users regardless of where they live.Denmark, Finland, and Norway were ranked as top overall, meaning they were best at using the Internet for economic, political and social progress. At the bottom of a list of 86 countries were Yemen, Myanmar and Ethiopia.Berners-Lee was working an engineer at the CERN laboratory in Geneva when he proposed the idea of a World Wide Web in 1989.

US ends control of Afghan prison

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States on Wednesday released the final three detainees from the Parwan Detention Center in Afghanistan, ending the U.S. operation of any prisons in the country after more than a decade of war, the Pentagon said.Two of the detainees, including Redha al-Najar, were transferred into Afghan custody for possible prosecution, while the third wasnt considered a threat and is seeking resettlement in another country.In 2002, al-Najar was the subject of enhanced interrogation techniques by the CIA, according to the newly released Senate Intelligence Committee report.The report said al-Najar, a former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden, was held at the so-called CIA salt pit in Afghanistan where his interrogation included isolation in total darkness; lowering the quality of his food; keeping him at an uncomfortable (cold) temperature, playing music 24 hours a day and keeping him shackled and hooded.It also said he was left hanging with his wrists handcuffed to an overhead bar for 22 hours a day for two days, had to wear a diaper and had no access to toilet facilities.After a month, the Senate report said, al-Najar was clearly a broken man and on the verge of complete breakdown. The Senate report cited a CIA cable saying al-Najar was willing to do whatever the CIA officer asked. U.S. military participation in his interrogation was forbidden because it was seen as a risk to military personnel.U.S. officials had worked to transfer all remaining detainees before the end of this year, when the U.S. combat mission ends.In a statement Wednesday, Lt. Col. Myles Caggins, a Pentagon spokesman, said that after careful review, the U.S. has transferred the last of the third-country nationals held in U.S. custody in Afghanistan.The Defense Department no longer operates detention facilities in Afghanistan nor maintains custody of any detainees, he said, adding that the government of Afghanistan will be responsible for any detention facilities.The turnover was complicated earlier this year by ongoing U.S. worries that the Afghans were releasing Taliban fighters who would likely return to the battlefield. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai drew U.S. ire in February when he released 65 detainees, including some directly linked to attacks that killed or wounded U.S. and coalition personnel.The U.S. had argued for the detainees to face trial in Afghan courts, citing strong evidence against them from DNA linking them to roadside bombs to explosive residue on their clothing. However, Kabul said there was insufficient proof to hold them.

Palestinian minister dies after confrontation with Israeli police

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TURMUSIYA (Reuters) - A Palestinian minister died on Wednesday shortly after an Israeli border policeman shoved and grabbed him by the throat during a protest in the West Bank, an incident Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described as barbaric.Ziad Abu Ein, 55, a minister without portfolio, was among scores of Palestinian and foreign activists who were confronted at an Israeli checkpoint while heading to a demonstration against Jewish settlements in the occupied territory.Around 30 Israeli soldiers and border policemen fired tear gas and sound grenades at the group and a scuffle ensued in which a border policeman pushed Abu Ein and grabbed his neck firmly with one hand. Footage of the incident and pictures taken by Reuters do not show Abu Ein responding with any violence.Minutes later the minister began to look faint and fell to the ground clasping his chest. He died on his way to hospital.It was not clear what caused his death. An autopsy is being carried out with Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian pathologists present, with the results expected later on Wednesday.The incident comes at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians, following months of violent unrest in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.Hoping to head off any escalation as well as a possible erosion of security cooperation with Abbass forces, Israel reinforced troops in the West Bank. It also issued an apology.We are sorry about his (Abu Eins) death, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said in a statement. He said Israel was investigating the incident as well as taking part in the autopsy. Security stability is important for both sides and we will continue coordinating with the Palestinian Authority.PROTESTSClashes broke out in a refugee camp near Ramallah and an Israeli soldier shot and critically wounded a Palestinian youth, Palestinian medics said. Ramallah shops were shuttered for the day in protest at the ministers death.Israels army spokesman said the march toward the settlement involved approximately 200 rioters and was stopped by its forces using riot dispersal means. Footage shows the marchers moving peacefully toward the demonstration, although at one point an Arab man struck an Israeli soldier with a flag.Abbas described the incident as a barbaric act which we cannot be silent about or accept. He announced three days of national mourning and said necessary steps would be taken after an investigation, but did not elaborate on whether security ties with the Jewish state would be affected.Abu Ein, who was convicted of killing two young Israelis in a bomb attack in 1979 and released as part of a prisoner swap in 1985, was a vocal opponent of Israels settlement expansion in the West Bank, which Palestinians want as part of an independent state together with Gaza and East Jerusalem.A leader of Palestinian civil society groups for decades, Abu Ein was a regular attendee of non-violent protests and was appointed this year to head a government-backed protest group, the Committee to Resist Settlements and the Wall.Shortly before his death, Abu Ein spoke to television reporters, sounding hoarse and short of breath.This is the terrorism of the occupation, this is a terrorist army, practicing its terrorism on the Palestinian people, he told the official Palestine TV. We came to plant trees on Palestinian land, and they launch into an attack on us from the first moment. Nobody threw a single stone.Ten Israelis and a foreign visitor have been killed by Palestinian assailants over the past three months, while more than a dozen Palestinians have also been killed, including most of those who carried out the attacks.

Saudi king donates $104M for Syria food aid

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) - A $104 million donation from Saudi Arabias King Abdullah has helped restore food vouchers for 1.7 million Syrian refugees as winter approaches.A statement Wednesday from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons spokesman expresses profound gratitude and says the money will help get food to millions of refugees from Syria as well as South Sudan and Somalia.The World Food Program caused alarm last week when it announced that it would have to cut food vouchers to Syrian refugees. But an unusual social media campaign brought in more than $1 million from the public, while countries donated millions more.In the end, the $64 million request was far surpassed.The crisis in Syria is just one of several around the world that have stretched U.N. aid resources.

2 female suicide bombers kill 4 in north Nigeria

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KANO (AP) - Four people were killed when two female suicide bombers detonated their explosives Wednesday in the northern city of Kano, said Nigerian police.State Police commissioner Aderenle Shinaba said the explosions happened in the busy Kantin Kwari textile market located in the center of Kano, Nigerias second largest city. The casualty figure does not include the suicide bombers. Seven people were injured, said Shinaba.Nigerias Islamic extremist group Boko Haram is suspected of carrying out the bombings.An eyewitness, Abdulsalam Kabir, said the two female bombers were disguised as customers and witnesses became suspicious about their attire.On Nov. 29 more than 100 people were killed in Kano when a double suicide bombers and gunmen hit the central mosque.

US Congress passes sanctions on Venezuela officials

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Congress has cleared and sent to President Barack Obama legislation directing him to levy sanctions against Venezuelan government officials involved in a crackdown on anti-government protesters.The Senate passed a bill Monday evening and the House approved the measure by voice vote Wednesday evening.It authorizes sanctions that would freeze the assets and ban visas of individuals accused of perpetrating acts of violence or violating the human rights of those opposing the South American countrys socialist government. Earlier this year, the State Department imposed a travel ban on Venezuelan officials accused of abuses during a months-long street protest movement.The absence of justice and the denial of human rights in Venezuela must end, and the U.S. Congress is playing a powerful part in righting this wrong, said Sen. Robert Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the author of the bipartisan Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act. When this bill becomes law, a spotlight will shine on Venezuelas abusers and target individuals responsible for human rights violations by applying asset-freezes and visa bans.Last week, a leading opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado, learned that she was being charged with conspiracy in connection with an alleged plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro, a move she called an attempt to silence her and other critics of the government. Together with fellow opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Machado called tens of thousands of demonstrators into the streets to protest the government earlier this year. Lopez was arrested nine months ago for his role in the sometimes violent protests. He turned himself in during an emotional public event.In a message broadcast on national television and radio after the Senate approval, Maduro said that if Obama wants to challenge Venezuela with sanctions, things are going to turn out very badly for them.Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican, said the bipartisan legislation signals the U.S. will not tolerate impunity of violations of human rights in Venezuela.We support the calls of democracy and freedom by the people of Venezuela, she said. I call on President Obama and the State Department to vigorously enforce the sanctions against Venezuelan officials swiftly.

Man City beat Roma 2-0 to reach knockout phase

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ROME (AP) - Samri Nasri scored one goal and set up another as Manchester City won 2-0 at Roma on Wednesday to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League, eliminating an Italian side that still seemed to be feeling the effects of its 7-1 thrashing by Bayern Munich.It looked as if Roma was set to go through until Nasri found the target with a long, rising shot on the hour mark. Then Pablo Zabaleta doubled the visitors lead in the 88th following a perfect pass from Nasri.Romas best chance was a header off the post from Kostas Manolas in the 72nd.Bayern Munich easily won Group E considered perhaps the competitions toughest with 15 points following a 3-0 home win over CSKA Moscow. City finished second with eight points, Roma was third with five and will play in the Europa League. CSKA finished last, also with five points.The victory was all the more impressive considering that City was missing three top players.Top scorer Sergio Aguero is out with a serious knee injury, star midfielder Yaya Toure was suspended, and captain Vincent Kompany sat out injured.Entering the Stadio Olimpico, City faced a steep challenge to avoid its second group-phase exit in three years.Without Aguero, Edin Dzeko spearheaded Citys attack with support from James Milner, Nasri and Jesus Navas.Roma had a similar 4-2-3-1 formation with Gervinho, Miralem Pjanic and Adem Ljajic behind captain Francesco Totti.Roma had the first chance five minutes in when Jose Holebas was set up by Totti and nearly got his shot under Joe Hart but the City goalkeeper managed to slow the ball just enough to prevent it from going in.After a strong start from Roma, City began to move forward and Milner threatened from the left flank in the 20th, testing Roma goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.Then it was Nasris turn to set up Dzeko, who was blocked by Manolas and couldnt find the target.Milner had another opportunity in the 39th, forcing De Sanctis to push the ball wide.Combined with Bayerns win, a 0-0 draw would have been enough for Roma to advance which would have been no small feat following the devastating home loss to Bayern in October.But Nasri had other ideas, taking advantage of the slightest amount of space at the edge of the area and banging in the decisive goal off the post.Then the Frenchmans set up meant Zabalata merely had to slot the ball past De Sanctis from the center of the area.

Sporting loses at Chelsea, out of Champions League

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LONDON (AP) - Sporting Lisbon was eliminated from the Champions League after losing 3-1 at Chelsea on Wednesday, with the Portuguese side surrendering second place to Schalke in the final round of games in Group H.Sporting required a point at Stamford Bridge to guarantee finishing runner-up behind the already qualified Premier League leaders, but slipped to 2-0 down after 16 minutes thanks to goals by Cesc Fabregas and Andre Schuerrle.Jonathan Silva reduced the deficit for Sporting in the 50th but John Obi Mikels close-range goal in 56th ensured there was no way back for the visitors.Schalke got the victory it needed at Maribor, winning 1-0 to finish a point above third-place Sporting, which drops into the Europa League.Chelsea was undefeated in group play, winning four games and drawing twice.With first place assured, Chelsea took the opportunity to rest key players like Eden Hazard, John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Thibaut Courtois but still had too much for a Sporting team missing Nani, the in-form winger on loan from Manchester United.Fabregas played just behind striker Diego Costa calmly stroked a penalty into the center of the goal in the eighth minute after Filipe Luis was fouled by Ricardo Esgaio, having slipped the ball through the legs of the Sporting defender.It got worse for the visitors when Nemanja Matic passed the ball to Schuerrle, who beat his marker on the edge of the penalty and fired a low shot just inside the post.Sporting threatened sporadically but back-up goalkeeper Petr Cech wasnt seriously tested until a shot from Silva flew past him into the net after Chelseas defense only cleared a cross out to the edge of the box.Within six minutes, Chelsea restored its two-goal advantage when Gary Cahill flicked on a free kick from Fabregas and Mikel tapped into an empty net from close range.
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