Thursday 9 April 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Karachi: Naseer Mengal's grandson injured in gun attack

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, former Chief Minister Balochistan Naseer Mengals grandson Matti-ur-Rehman and his nephew Sami-ur-Rehman were injured when some unidentified persons opened fire at the vehicle in Defence Phase-5 area of Karachi on Thirsday.Naseer Mengal has termed the incident as a result of old enmity. He said that life attempts against him and his relatives had been carried out in past by some separatist organizations.

Football: Ibrahimovic banned for four games over anti-France rant

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PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germains tempestuous striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Thursday received a four-match ban from Ligue 1 officials for his comments attacking France and its referees.The 33-year-old Swedish star will miss PSGs games against Nice, Lille, Metz and Nantes as a result of his widely televised rant in which he said France did not deserve a team like the star-studded Paris Saint-Germain because of the way it is treated.Ibrahimovic will already be missing for the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona next week after his sending off against Chelsea in the last 16.He will, however, be eligible to play in PSGs League Cup final against Bastia on Saturday.A day after scoring a brilliant hat-trick, Ibrahimovic stayed away from Thursdays hearing of the disciplinary commission of the Professional Football League (LFP).He was instead represented by a lawyer and two PSG officials.LFP commission president Sebastien Deneux said Ibrahimovics comments were rude and insulting.The hearing has tarnished another stellar week for the Swede whose hat-trick in a 4-1 French Cup semi-final win over Saint Etienne took him to 102 goals for Paris Saint-Germain in less than three seasons.He is now only seven goals behind the club record 107 by Portuguese star Pauleta.But the Swedes stormy personality keeps getting him in trouble.He was banned for two matches in February for a foul on Saint Etiennes Romain Hamouma which was not immediately seen by the referee but was caught on video. Another match ban was suspended.Ibrahimovic has since been banned by UEFA for his sending off against Chelsea. And televised images were again his downfall against Bordeaux in March.Furious at referee decisions in the game which PSG lost despite Ibrahimovics two goals, the Swede appeared to insult a match official as he left the field.And he went on: In 15 years, I have never seen such a referee. In this shit country, this country does not deserve PSG. We are too good for this country.Amid a political furore, Ibrahimovic quickly made a video apology for the comments.With Ibrahimovic in domineering form, Paris will miss him for any lengthy suspension as they target an unprecedented domestic championship, French Cup and League Cup treble.Paris coach Laurent Blanc reckons a quadruple with the Champions League is also possible.

Colombia extends suspension of anti-FARC air raids

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BOGOTA (AFP) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday he was extending the suspension of air raids on the leftist FARC guerrillas to accelerate peace talks aimed at ending the five-decade war.Santos first announced a month-long suspension of bombing raids on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on March 10, saying he wanted to de-escalate the conflict.The suspension partially reciprocated the FARCs declaration of an indefinite, unilateral ceasefire on December 17 -- both greeted as significant advances in the peace negotiations the two sides have been holding since November 2012.Santos said that since the FARC had upheld their ceasefire, he was extending the suspension of air raids for another month, and would continue to do so as long as the ceasefire held.We hope this continues to bring us closer to peace, he said.But, he added, as Ive said repeatedly, were not going to renounce bombing raids if we see an imminent threat.The announcement came as Colombians held nationwide marches for peace that drew thousands of people calling for an end to the conflict, which has killed 220,000 people and uprooted more than five million since the FARC was founded in 1964.Santos and Bogotas Mayor Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla, lit a flame of peace at the Center for Memory, Peace and Reconciliation in the capital. It will remain lit until a final peace deal is signed, officials said.The peace talks in the Cuban capital Havana have yielded partial deals on several issues, but a definitive peace accord remains elusive.The rebels have long demanded a bilateral ceasefire, but Santos has refused, saying a final peace deal must come first.When Santos first announced the suspension of air raids, the FARC called it a measure of dubious generosity that could subject them to monthly blackmail going forward.The FARC today has some 8,000 fighters, according to government estimates.The government has also held preliminary talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), a smaller rebellion of about 2,500 fighters, but they have yet to begin a formal peace process.

UN's Ban wants action to prevent Syria camp 'massacre'

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Thursday for action to prevent a massacre at Syrias Yarmuk refugee camp after Islamic State group terrorists, known for their brutality, overran much of it.His appeal came as 14 Palestinian factions meeting in Damascus said they would back a joint military operation with Syrian government forces against the terrorists.Syrias Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar on Wednesday said the crisis required a military operation to expel IS from the camp in southern Damascus.What is unfolding in Yarmuk is unacceptable, Ban told reporters in New York.We simply cannot stand by and watch a massacre unfold.Some 18,000 people are trapped in Yarmuk, which IS entered on April 1 and where it is battling Palestinians and Syrian rebels, and coming under increased regime shelling.The sprawling district, once home to 160,000 Syrians and Palestinians, has been devastated and endured a suffocating Syrian army siege since 2013.Rights organisations say the blockade has led to deaths because of food and medicine shortages, and that the situation now is worsening.A refugee camp is beginning to resemble a death camp, Ban warned.The refugees, including 3,500 children, have been turned into human shields, with armed fighters inside the camp and government forces outside, he said.In the horror that is Syria, the Yarmuk refugee camp is the deepest circle of hell, Ban said, calling for the fighting to stop so aid can be delivered.Joint ops roomEarlier, 14 Palestinian factions met in Damascus with Palestine Liberation Organisation official Ahmed Majdalani, who said they backed a joint anti-IS operation with Syrian regime forces.We agreed that there would be permanent cooperation with the Syrian leadership and the formation of a joint operations room with Syrian government forces and the Palestinian factions that have a significant presence in the camp or around it.The PLO official gave no further details and it was not immediately clear when such a operation could begin or who would take part.It was unclear if Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis -- the key group battling IS inside Yarmuk -- would agree to fight alongside government forces.The anti-regime group did not attend Thursdays meeting.Majdalani said Palestinian backing for a military operation was dependent on any action protecting civilian lives and infrastructure in the battered camp.On Wednesday, the Syrian reconciliation minister discussed Yarmuk with Majdalani and suggested that Syrian troops could be involved in an assault on IS there but that the government would decide.The priority now is to expel and defeat militants and terrorists in the camp. Under the present circumstances, a military solution is necessary, Haidar said.The government and residents of the capital have been rattled by the IS presence just a few kilometres (miles) from the heart of Damascus.Soldiers beheadedThe IS advance into Yarmuk has sparked international concern and warnings from rights and aid groups that life in the camp has become more desperate then ever.Residents who have managed to flee Yarmuk spoke this week of horrors committed by IS militants.I saw severed heads. They killed children in front of their parents. We were terrorised, said Ibrahim Abdel Fadel who fled with his wife and seven children.IS, which has seized chunks of Syria and Iraq, has a reputation for carrying out atrocities.On Thursday, IS beheaded three Syrian soldiers after attacks in the central province of Homs that left 17 soldiers and pro-regime fighters dead, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.On the political front, talks hosted by Russia between the Syrian government and members of the tolerated opposition dragged on Thursday with little sign of concrete progress.More than 215,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests which spiralled into war after a regime crackdown.

China defends land reclamation on disputed islands

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BEIJING (AFP) - Beijing reaffirmed its right to build on disputed islands in the South China Sea on Thursday after satellite imagery emerged of construction operations turning tropical reefs into concrete artificial islands.The newly released images prompted concern from the United States, which warned China that its island building activity posed a threat to regional stability.In our view, Chinas land reclamation and the construction activity are fuelling greater anxiety within the region, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke told reporters.Rathke said Washington is concerned that China might militarise outposts on disputed land features of the South China Sea.So we are watching these developments closely and we continue to raise our concerns with China as well as with others in the region to urge all parties to avoid destabilising activities, Rathke said.The Philippines -- one of the most vocal of Chinas neighbours in defending its competing territorial claim -- reacted strongly, calling for the Asian giant to dismantle the reclaimed land.They have to dismantle it, said Peter Paul Galvez, spokesman for Manilas defence department. It is a concern not only of our country and region but of the whole international community.A series of satellite images posted on the website of the Center for Strategic and International Studies show a flotilla of Chinese vessels dredging sand onto Mischief Reef and the resulting land spreading in size.Before-and-after images of other outcrops in the Spratly Islands record runways appearing from jungle, smooth-sided solid masses where coral once lay, and man-made harbours replacing natural reefs.Analysts say the pictures show how China is attempting to create facts in the water to bolster its sovereignty claims.Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost the whole of the South China Sea, including areas close to the coasts of other littoral states, using a nine-segment line based on one that first appeared on Chinese maps in the 1940s.The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all have overlapping claims.Indisputable sovereigntyChina exerts indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha islands and affiliated waters, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, using the Chinese name for the islands, which literally means Southern Sand.Such construction is totally within Chinas sovereignty, and it is legitimate, sensible and lawful. It does not influence nor target any specific country.The works were to safeguard the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of China, she said, adding: We will build more civilian facilities.The Philippines has taken its sovereignty claim to the United Nations for arbitration, a process rejected by Beijing.Manila has troops stationed on some islands it controls, which also have civilian residents.As we have mentioned more than once, actually since this administration started, we have been warning everyone of the implications of their (Chinas) actions, of their aggressive means so like today, these reclamations... will have further implications in the long term, defence spokesman Galvez told AFP.The South China Sea is home to strategically vital shipping lanes and is believed to be rich in oil and gas, and the territorial dispute has raised concerns in Washington, with the US asserting that freedom of navigation is in its national interest.The new satellite photographs were taken by Digital Globe, a commercial provider of satellite images, and analysed by CSIS.It appears that Chinas building projects are part of an expansive territorial grab or to make Chinas disputed Nine-Dash Line claim a reality, US Navy Lieutenant Commander Wilson VornDick wrote in an analysis on the CSIS site.The director of the centres Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Mira Rapp-Hooper, told the New York Times: Chinas building activities at Mischief Reef are the latest evidence that Beijings land reclamation is widespread and systematic.US admiral Harry Harris last month reportedly said that Chinese reclamation efforts in the area had created more than four square kilometres of artificial landmass.

Malaysia PM defends himself against mounting criticism

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has defended himself against a slew of criticisms over corruption scandals and a crackdown on civil liberties, brushing aside suggestions that he should step down.I was elected by my party, and by the people of this country, to lead them. As such, I am answerable only to the people -- not to any one individual, Najib said in an interview on state-controlled television broadcast late Thursday night.Najib has come under fire over a state-owned investment company he launched, now mired in $11 billion of debt and allegations of fraud and huge sums of missing money.His government -- long accused of using security laws to stifle dissent -- this week also triggered outrage by passing a tough anti-terrorism act allowing authorities to detain suspects without charge in the Muslim-majority country.It also toughened penalties under a sedition law -- used against dozens of government critics over the past year -- to a maximum 20-year jail term, up from three years.Contrary to what some are suggesting, these laws will not be used against critics of the government, Najib said of the terrorism legislation, according to an English translation of his comments released by his office.Rather, they will be an extra tool for dealing with the militant threat that all countries face.The prime minister was forced to respond after hardline former leader Mahathir Mohamad last week stepped up a campaign to remove Najib, who came into office in 2009 promising clean government and a more relaxed rule.Mahathir had demanded answers on the scandal surrounding the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).Fears that 1MDB could collapse have rattled the ringgit currency.I recognise that there are a number of questions swirling around 1MDB. Some of these questions are valid, but there are others that appear to be directed at the company solely with the intention of creating controversy, Najib said.Mahathir, 89, spearheaded a successful campaign to oust Najibs predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in 2009.The retired former premier also waded into taboo territory recently by raising a past scandal linked to Najib involving the 2002 purchase of French submarines.The deal has been clouded by allegations of huge kickbacks to Malaysian officials and the still-murky 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman involved in negotiations, amid suspicions she was killed to silence her about the deal.Najib did not address the issue in his interview.Najib led the ruling coalition dominated by his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) -- in power for 58 years -- to its worst election showing ever in 2013.His government has cracked down since then, arresting scores of critics on a range of charges.The terrorism and sedition laws have been denounced by international rights groups, but Najib said Thursday both were necessary to safeguard stability.Political analysts say Najib retains control of his ruling party and looked unlikely to be ousted for now.

Football: Barcelona face stiff title test in Seville

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MADRID (AFP) - La Liga leaders Barcelona will have to break Sevillas 31-game unbeaten run at the Sanchez Pizjuan to ensure they maintain a four-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table on Saturday.Barca swept aside Almeria on Wednesday to take their winning streak in all competition to nine games, but have the added complication of facing the on-form Andalusians just three days before a Champions League quarter-final, first leg away to Paris Saint-Germain.We know that they will be very difficult matches, but if we face them with the personality we have we will have a good chance because we are Barca, said striker Luis Suarez after scoring twice against Almeria to take his tally for the season to 16.Barca will at least be able to welcome back six first-team regulars, including Neymar and Gerard Pique, after they were rested against Almeria.The schedule in April is very hard. We cant win any title, but we can lose them if we dont do things right, Pique said on Thursday.We can be knocked out the Champions League or lose our lead in the league. We have to go game by game and if we finish April well it means we are in the semi-finals and still on top in La Liga.Sevilla have also won their last seven games in all competitions and are in desperate need of the points as they battle Valencia and Atletico Madrid for a place in next seasons Champions League.The truth is we didnt expect to be playing so well at this stage of the season, we have a lot of confidence and want to continue like this, said midfielder Daniel Carrico.On Saturday we have a very difficult game, but we are playing in our stadium, in front of our fans and they always help us a lot.Real Madrid can close to within a point of Barca before kick-off at the Sanchez Pizjuan as they host Eibar at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier on Saturday.The European champions have appealed the yellow card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo in Wednesdays 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano which would see him miss out through suspension.Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez will definitely be banned after also picking up bookings at Vallecas, whilst boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Keylor Navas will get a rare start in goal ahead of Iker Casillas.Real will also have one eye on a return to European action in midweek as they face Atletico in the Champions League, who they have failed to beat in six previous meetings this season.Atletico who have the tougher game on paper this weekend when they travel to seventh-placed Malaga and defender Jesus Games insisted their focus will be on that game with Valencia and Sevilla breathing down their necks.Third place is far from being resolved. The teams are pushing hard and there are eight difficult games remaining. We need to concentrate on Malaga and not look to other games, we just need to focus on ourselves.The champions are likely to be without goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya and top scorer Mario Mandzukic once more through injury, but Juanfran returns from suspension and Diego Godin is expected to recover from a hamstring injury in time to take his place in central defence.Valencia were denied by a stoppage time equaliser in a 1-1 draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Thursday to move just a point ahead of Sevilla in fourth, but they will be confident of a return to winning ways when they host local rivals Levante on Monday.Fixtures (all times GMT)SaturdayReal Madrid v Eibar (1400), Malaga v Atletico Madrid (1600), Sevilla v Barcelona (1800), Almeria v Granada (2000), Celta Vigo v Rayo Vallecano (2000)SundayGetafe v Villarreal (1000), Espanyol v Athletic Bilbao (1500), Real Sociedad v Deportivo la Coruna (1700), Cordoba v Elche (1900)MondayValencia v Levante (1830)

Football: Celtic not getting carried away with treble talk

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GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic assistant manager John Collins says his side are not getting carried away as they chase a historic treble.The Hoops have already claimed the League Cup, are in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup and took another step closer to their fourth successive Scottish Premiership title with a 2-0 victory over Partick Thistle on Wednesday night.The Glasgow giants could open a 10-point gap over Aberdeen, who face Kilmarnock on Sunday, at the top of the table if they can win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.Collins concedes Celtic have a great chance to claim their first clean sweep of domestic trophies since 2001, but insists his side arent looking too far ahead.I can speak for everybody, the management team, the players, staff, every supporter; the treble is special, the Celtic assistant manager said.Not many players or coaches have achieved it so if we do achieve it will be great for everybody.We are in a good position in the league, out in front playing well, winning games, not conceding, scoring goals although we could be scoring more.We are in the driving seat for the treble but nothing is concluded.We dont like talking about things in advance but we have said from the start of the season we are in the good position but one game at a time.Football is a dangerous game if you think too far ahead and start getting carried away.The Hoops have faced two tough games against Inverness this season, losing in the Highlands before claiming a 1-0 win against John Hughes side at Celtic Park.Weve had two good games against Inverness and theyve pushed us. They won 1-0 up there and we won 1-0 at Celtic Park so it will close. But were in a good place just now and were playing very well, Collins said.We were disappointed to lose the game up there earlier in the season. I dont think we deserved to lose it but we did, so it will be nice to go back up at the weekend and put that right.Celtic midfielder Scott Brown should return to captain the side after he missed out on the match with Partick Thistle due to suspension. Third-placed Inverness will be looking for their first win in seven matches in the league when the Hoops visit on Saturday.Elsewhere on Saturday, Dundee United, without a win in 10 matches, take on Hamilton, who havent won since January 5, at Tannadice. Second bottom Motherwell could close to within one point of Partick Thistle when they clash at Firhill while St Johnstone take on Dundee at McDiarmid Park.Fixtures (1500 unless otherwise stated)SaturdayInverness CT v Celtic (1245), Dundee United v Hamilton, Partick Thistle v Motherwell, St Johnstone v DundeeSundayKilmarnock v Aberdeen (1215)MondaySt Mirren v Ross County (1945)

Football: Soccer millionaire di Maria sold for 20 footballs

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ROSARIO (AFP) - Angel di Maria has cost more than 100 million euros in transfers in his illustrious career, but the first fee paid for him was just 20 footballs.Poor clubs across South America are getting ready to celebrate stars like Argentinas di Maria who have risen to the top of the profession when the Copa America starts in June.Copa fever is mounting in the media and in the small clubs like El Torito in the Argentinian city of Rosario where di Maria first made his mark.Di Maria was only seven when when he first had clubs fighting for his signature, recalled Marcelo Pavon, the El Torito coach.It was not like Real Madrid or Manchester United, we sold di Maria for 20 balls to Rosario Central, Pavon told AFP. It was a fortune.Portugals Benfica paid Rosario Central more than five million euros for the 19-year-old di Maria in 2007. They sold him to Real Madrid for 25 million euros.The Spaniards got more than 80 million euros for the attacking midfielder when they sold him to Manchester United last year.But Rosario, 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires, and which also produced Lionel Messi and a host of other stars, remembers a di Maria who was known for his skinny build even as a child.Di Marias mother Diana would ride more than 10km on a bicycle with her son to take him to training with Rosario Central.She would help him fill coal sacks in his fathers business so he could get away earlier.Coal sack kidIn the Union district of Rosario, Messi is admired but football fans say they are loyal to di Maria, who is affectionately known as Noodle.Most wear football shirts with di Marias number seven on the back. A mural on one wall shows di Maria making his traditional goal celebration with his two hands in the shape of a heart.Di Maria has in turn remained loyal to childhood friends from Perdriel street.The names of his five best pals are tatooed on his left arm. The star also paid for them to go to last years World Cup final when Argentina lost to Germany.That is the type of person he is, said a neighbour, Claudia Galat.A similar soldiarity surrounds the James Rodriguez legend in the Colombian Andes city of Ibague.Rodriguez was obsessed with football and video games as he made his spectacular rise, according to people who knew him.Now Yul Calderon, Rodriguezs first coach at the Tolimense Football Academy, reminds kids he forces to run up and down dusty steps to keep fit that they are following the footsteps of the Colombian World Cup hero.Rodriguezs stepfather Juan Carlos Restrepo brought him to the academy after the wealthy Club Campestre rejected him because it was for members only.Calderon quickly spotted Rodriguezs vision and shooting ability.The academy won titles and first division side Envigado spotted Rodriguez at the age of 12.That became a springboard for his moves to Banfield in Argentina at the age of 16, Porto, Monaco and now Real Madrid.Rodriguez was a shy boy though and sometimes stuttered.Rodriguez cried when he was forced to read lines from 100 years of Solitude, the classic novel of Colombias Gabriel Garcia Marquez, said Nelson Padilla who has written a biography of the footballer.His academy friend Alberto Beto Bustos said that everyone knows that his vice was video games.Football was his main passion, however. Bustos said that even when he was not at the academy, Rodriguez would practice in the fields around Ibague with his stepfather.Football schools have now mushroomed in the Andes town 190 kilometers (110 miles) north of Bogota. There are posters of Rodriguez everywhere.But the footballer, a devout Christian like most of the Colombian team, has also set up a foundation run by his mother, Pilar Rubio, that gives education, food support and most importantly football classes to poor children.

Tokyo's Nikkei stock index breaks 20,000 level

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TOKYO (AFP) - The Tokyo Stock Exchanges benchmark Nikkei index on Friday briefly broke through the psychologically important 20,000 level last seen 15 years ago.The Nikkei 225 index reached 20,006.00 in the first few minutes of trade, rising 0.34 percent from Thursday following gains on Wall Street and a stronger dollar on an encouraging US jobs report.It was the first time that the Nikkei had hit 20,000 since April 2000.The index later came off its high, to sit at 19,917.62, a 0.10 percent loss from Thursday.The early rise was heavily influenced by heavy-weighted Fast Retailing, the operator of fast-fashion brand Uniqlo, whose shares were up 2.62 precent after the group announced strong half-year earnings.Strategists are upbeat over the outlook of stock prices on expectations of good earnings at Japanese companies, while acknowledging a short-term overshoot.When we look back on this moment, the 20,000 figure should just be a stop along the road, said Juichi Wako, a senior strategist at Nomura Holdings.It wouldnt be surprising if better-than-expected earnings lift the Nikkei to 21,000 or 22,000 by years end.However, above the 20,000 mark, we might begin to hear voices that stocks are a bit overvalued, he told Bloomberg News.The dollar held steady early Friday after rising on an encouraging US unemployment claims report.The greenback was at 120.58 yen on Friday, hardly changed from 120.59 yen in New York late Thursday but up from 120.28 yen in Tokyo earlier Thursday.The US Labor Department reported Thursday that the number of first-time unemployment claims rose last week, but claims filed in the past four weeks fell to a nearly 15-year low, suggesting a stronger labour market.The robust data stoked speculation about the Federal Reserves plan to raise ultra-low interest rates, boosting the dollar in a positive move for Japanese exporters.aThe euro bought $1.0661 and 128.56 yen on Friday against $1.0659 and 128.55 yen in US trade.On Thursday big gains in petroleum stocks lifted the US equity market as investors bet on more large energy mergers following Royal Dutch Shells huge takeover of BG Group.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.31 percent while the broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.45 percent.

Golf: Tiger grinds out 73 in 'good day' Masters return

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AUGUSTA (AFP) - Tiger Woods showed an improved short game in grinding out a one-over par 73 start to the Masters on Thursday, his first competitive round at Augusta National since 2013.Woods, a 14-time major champion and four-time Masters winner who missed last year after back surgery, made four bogeys and three birdies to finish nine strokes behind 21-year-old pace-setter Jordan Spieth after 18 holes.It was a good day. I felt good out there, Woods said. I felt like I hit the ball well enough to shoot 3-under par.The 39-year-old former world number one, who has fallen to 111th in the rankings, was coming off a two-month layoff to improve his form after woeful chipping led to a career-worst 82 at Phoenix and a withdrawal in February at Torrey Pines after only 11 holes.Strong practice rounds sparked hope of a quick return to Masters glory for Woods, but such was not the case. But while he sprayed errant tee shots at times, Woods was solid with his short game.Its my strength again, Woods said. Thats why Ive busted my butt. Thats why I took time off. Thats why I hit thousands and thousands of shots to make sure that its back to being my strength.I tried to hole most of them, thats the thing. Im back to hitting shots, making it hop, check on the second bounce, third bounce, I can figure those things out again.Woods has not won a Masters since 2005 and has not won a major since the 2008 US Open. His last tourney win was the 2013 WGC at Firestone, which put him three shy of Sam Sneads all-time record of 82 PGA titles.But Woods remains confident he can win this weekend.Im still in it. Im only nine back. And we have a long way to go, Woods said. And we dont know what the Masters is going to do with the greens or the golf course. You know how they like to change things every now and then.Woods said the greens were almost too welcoming, saying, I couldnt believe they were as slow as they were, and lammented two dumb mistakes at the ninth hole that led to a bogey.Woods opened with a bogey after hitting his first shot right into trees. His tee shot at the second sailed left into trees but he blasted out and put his third shot four feet from the cup to set up a birdie.At the par-3 fourth, Woods found a bunker fronting the green, blasted 18 feet past the hole and took bogey.But Woods birdied the par-5 eighth and appeared to be on solid ground as he strode to the ninth tee.Instead, his tee shot sailed way left over pine trees into the adjacent first fairway. His second shot went into the trees and landed in pine straw at the bottom of the elevated green, Woods swinging his club in frustration after making contact.Woods responded by punching his third shot onto the green and rolled a 49-foot putt inches from the cup for a tap-in bogey that could have been worse.On the back nine, Woods took a bogey at the par-3 12th but answered with a birdie on the next hole.

PG&E hit with $1.6 bn fine over deadly 2010 blast

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - US energy giant PG&E was hit with a $1.6 billion fine Thursday over the deadly 2010 explosion in California which left eight people dead, authorities said.The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said the fine was the heaviest ever imposed by authorities in the state.The devastating September 2010 pipeline explosion near the town of San Bruno, close to San Francisco, destroyed around 30 homes.PG&E failed to uphold the publics trust. The CPUC failed to keep vigilant. Lives were lost. Numerous people were injured. Homes were destroyed. We must do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this happens again, CPUC chief Michael Picker said in a statement.Part of the fine will be used to upgrade the network of pipelines across California including PG&E pipelines.PG&E said in a separate statement that the lessons of the San Bruno explosion would not be forgotten.It added that it had already distributed more than $500 million to victims of the blast and their families, established a $50 million fund for the city of San Bruno and contributed more than $70 million towards rebuilding in the town.PG&E -- the Pacific Gas and Electric Company -- distributes energy to around 16 million customers throughout north and central California.PG&E stock closed 1.55 percent lower on Wall Street Thursday, ending the day at $52.78.

Calls mount for US police to wear body cameras

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NEW YORK (AFP) - From the White House to local communities, Americans are pushing for more police to wear body cameras after an officer shot dead an unarmed man running away from a traffic infraction.The killing of Walter Scott, a 50-year-old black man, shot in the back by a white officer on Saturday in South Carolina and filmed on a cell phone, shocked America and shocked the world.US officers are rarely indicted in shootings, but Michael Slager, 33, was charged with murder, sacked and faces up to life in prison or the death penalty if convicted at trial.He initially claimed he felt threatened, but the emergence of the video so fundamentally contradicted his account that it has fueled calls for more widespread use of police body cameras.The devices, which cost an estimated $1,000 compared to $5,000 for dashboard cameras, are still a new innovation in the United States but experts predict they could become standard equipment in the next three to five years.In the past it was always the case that people gave the police the benefit of the doubt, said David Harris, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies police practices.That is beginning to change, he told AFP. There is no doubt whatsoever that if that cell phone video had not surfaced that officer would be out on patrol in a police car right now.A series of killings of unarmed black men by largely white police officers last year sparked nationwide protests, charges of racism and revived the debate about excessive use of police force.Last Augusts killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in bitterly disputed circumstances, and millions of Americans strolling around with smart phones capable of filming video is changing attitudes towards body cameras, experts say.Could reduce violenceA few police departments were trying them out but it wasnt until this year that people began to really pay attention, said Harris.Preliminary US studies and studies from Britain show that they are great at collecting evidence, fending off bogus complaints and -- most often -- back up officers accounts, said Harris.One study from Rialto, California in 2012 found that for officers with cameras, complaints from the public dropped almost 90 percent and uses of force went down nearly 60 percent.If we issue them to all police, have reasonable rules, train for it and so forth we should see a diminishment of these kind of incidents, Harris told AFP.The issue has harnessed political support from the top down.White House spokesman Josh Earnest said police body cameras could have a positive impact in terms of build and trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.Marlon Kimpson, a South Carolina state senator who represents North Charleston, where Scott was killed, is pushing a bill that would force all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.In North Charleston -- where blacks make up the largest population group and police are overwhelmingly white -- mayor Keith Summey promised to speed up the introduction of police body cameras.While police have had cameras in patrol cars for the last 10-15 years, body cameras are still at pilot stage in many areas.Pilot program in New YorkNew York, the largest force in the country, began a test program only last December in five of precincts and one service area.The move came six months after the death of father-of-six Eric Garner in a police chokehold that sparked nationwide protests.Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) think tank in Washington DC, said the lack of a national force made rolling out body cameras complicated.We have 18,000 local police agencies in the United States most of them are very small -- 90 officers or less, he told AFP.Small agencies may find it challenging to adopt this technology but nonetheless more and more are, and certainly after this tragedy in North Charleston, I think youre going to see even more interest in adopting body cameras, Wexler said.Wexler said the PERF was researching police training as a whole to see whether the recent shootings had exposed a larger problem.Were really doing some serious soul searching about how we handle situations here opposed to say other countries, he said.

Obama advised to take Cuba off terror list

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PANAMA CITY (AFP) - US President Barack Obama has been advised by aides to remove Cuba from a list of state sponsors of terrorism, a major hurdle in his diplomatic thaw with Havana.With Obama due to arrive in Panama on Thursday for a historic gathering with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Summit of the Americas, it emerged that the State Department has advised Obama to take Cuba off the blacklist.Obama earlier said he would not make a formal announcement until he has the recommendations in full, but a leading member of the Senate foreign relations committee indicated the departments advice was clear.The State Departments recommendation to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the result of a months-long technical review, is an important step forward in our efforts to forge a more fruitful relationship with Cuba, Senator Ben Cardin.Having Cubas name on the list has been a major sticking point in negotiations aimed at reopening embassies, which closed after the Cold War-era foes broke relations in 1961.The blacklisting means that Cuba is subject to a ban on weapons exports and economic aid as well as financial sanctions that make it difficult to get World Bank and other loans.Cuba was first put on the list, which also includes Syria, Sudan and Iran, in 1982 for harboring militant ETA Basque separatists and Colombian FARC rebels.Obama said the overall talks on establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba was moving along as he expected.I never foresaw that immediately overnight everything would transform itself, that suddenly Cuba became a partner diplomatically with us the way Jamaica is, for example, he said. Thats going to take some time.I do think that well be in a position to move forward on the opening of embassies in respective countries, Obama said.US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Panama hours before Obama and was expected to meet with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, which would mark the highest-level talks in decades.An announcement about the terror list during the 35-nation Summit of the Americas on Friday and Saturday would add to the historic symbolism of the gathering.The meeting will mark the first time that a Cuban leader attends the event, heralding a new milestone in the diplomatic thaw.Cubas presence on the list is seen in Cuba as an unfounded insult and a lie, said Arturo Lopez-Levy, a Cuban analyst at New York University.Mark Weisbrot, director of the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research think tank, said removing Cuba from the list would be just the beginning of efforts to normalize relations.This is just a bare-minimum first step, Weisbrot said, noting that Havana also wants Congress to lift the US embargo and Washington to abandon the Guantanamo Bay naval base on Cubas eastern edge.US Congress reviewCubas removal from the list would not be immediate. Congress would have 45 days to decide whether to override Obamas recommendation.US lawmakers who have been critical of the diplomatic detente could seize on the review of the list to further attack Obamas Cuba policy.US Senator Ted Cruz, a Cuban-American Republican running for his partys presidential nomination, has been among the most vocal critics of the rapprochement.A scene of lingering tensions among Cuban dissidents and government sympathizers emerged on Wednesday in Panama City.Some 100 Castro regime supporters jeered dissidents as they arrived at a Latin American civil society forum in a Panama City hotel, shouting sell outs and imperialists before leaving the event.US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf slammed reports that Cuban dissidents were attacked.We condemn those who use violence against peaceful protesters, Harf said.Maduro petitionAnalysts have pointed to another potential problem for Obama at the summit -- the sanctions he imposed against Venezuelan officials accused of human rights abuses in an opposition crackdown.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Havanas main ally in the region, hopes to bring a petition signed by 10 million of his citizens urging Obama to lift his executive order.Other Latin American nations have criticized the order, which calls Caracas a US national security threat.Seeking to ease tensions, Obama said the United States does not see Venezuela as a threat. The White House says the legal term is a requisite for sanctions.But we do remain very troubled by the Venezuelan governments efforts to escalate intimidation of its political opponents, Obama told Spanish news agency EFE.

Golf: Superb Spieth in control as Masters starts

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AUGUSTA (AFP) - Jordan Spieth produced one of the greatest rounds of golf in major history on Thursday with a 64 to lead by three strokes after the first round of the 79th Masters.The 21-year-old Texan at one stage looked in line to become the first player to shoot below 63 in a major -- a mark currently shared by 24 golfers -- but a poor approach shot to the 15th led to his only bogey and nudged the record agonizingly out of his grasp.Still, Spieth closed with a 20-footer for an ninth birdie at the last to surpass fellow young gun Rory McIlroy as the youngest player to have led the Masters after the opening round and underlined once again his huge potential.Tied for second on his debut last year, Spieth ended the day at Augusta National as sole leader, three shots clear of a rejuvinated South African veteran Ernie Els, Englands Justin Rose, Australian Jason Day and American Charley Hoffman.Its nice to put myself in a position now where I can really stay patient, dig in and keep giving myself opportunities and not worry about anything else, Spieth said.I can pretty much control my own destiny from here. And pleased to be in that position here again.I was leading last year at one point by a couple of shots on Sunday, it didnt go my way.I know how many things can happen in a major championship and I try and learn from last year, and stay patient these next three rounds.The superb performance by the young Texan eclipsed the two big storylines that were the talk of Augusta at the start of the day concerning Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.The 39-year-old Woods returned after two-month timeout he called on himself to try and piece back together his once domninant game.But, after enjoying a promising buildup to the tournament, Woods once again struggled at times, especially early on, as he clattered a couple of drives into the trees, misjudged chips and then found the water of Raes Creek at the 13th en route to a 73.It could have been worse for him were it not for some desperate scrambling to repair the damage done by his wayward shots.It was a step forward for him in some ways after his woeful performances earlier this year, but it still leaves him with a fight on his hands just to make the Masters cut, something he last failed to do in 1996 when he was still an amateur.Woods was, however, upbeat over his showing, saying that the unusually soft Augusta greens had been his main problem.I felt good. I felt like I hit the ball well enough to shoot three-under par, he said.Our entire group was really struggling at the greens. We were talking about how slow they were today. We had a hard time hitting the putts hard enough.World number one McIlroy, aiming to become just the sixth man in golfing history to complete a career Grand Slam of the four majors, settled for a quiet day.His one-under 71, which contained three birdies and two bogeys, was largely without incident and he would have been even more handily placed if not for Spieths late fireworks.Still the 25-year-old, a four-time major winner, said he was content with his days work.Yeah, I just kept telling myself to be patient out there today. It was a tricky day. The wind was swirling a little bit. Pin positions were tough. Anything under par I felt was a pretty good score, he said.It was nice to pick up a couple birdies on the back nine, on the par-fives there. Pretty satisfied with todays work.Els, playing in his 21st Masters at the age of 45 and with two runner-up finishes to his name, rode an eagle on the 15th to record his best score at Augusta National since 2003.He missed the cut last year after rounds of 75 and 74 that left him feeling hugely frustrated and in doubt over whether he could ever again compete for the top prize at Augusta.Kind of, you get fed up with yourself. Never with Augusta, you know, but yourself with the mistakes that you make, he said.A stroke further back from Els, Rose, Day and Hoffman and tied for six were Spaniard Sergio Garcia and American Russell Henley.Defending champion Bubba Watson was solid en route to a 71 -- the same as McIlroy and namesake Tom Watson, who at 65 became the oldest player in Masters history to break par.Three-time winner Phil Mickelson was well-placed on 70 while 2012 winner Adam Scott settled for a level par 72.
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