Monday 8 June 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Asia stocks near 10-week trough, China goes own way

Posted:

SYDNEY (reuters) - Asia shares were subdued on Tuesday while the dollar relapsed as investors raced to book profits on its post-payroll gains despite all the talk of a U.S. rate rise as early as September.Japans Nikkei .N225 eased 0.7 percent and Australian stocks .AXJO were barely changed. MSCIs broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was a fraction firmer having touched a 10-week low on Monday.There was much attention on China where stocks .SSEC had risen more than 2 percent on Monday to a new seven-year high on speculation MSCI might decide to add Chinese shares to its global index.An announcement is due later Tuesday on whether MSCI will include China A shares in its Emerging Markets Index, a decision the index publisher says could draw up to $400 billion to China stocks over time.China will also release figures on consumer and producer prices which are expected to show muted inflationary pressures.On Wall Street, the Dow .DJI ended Monday down 0.46 percent, while the S&P 500 .SPX lost 0.65 percent and the Nasdaq .IXIC 0.92 percent.Apple (AAPL.O) weighed most on the Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500. It was down 0.66 percent after the iPhone maker unveiled a new music service.There was the usual caution over Greece where interminable debt talks showed no sign of ending soon.The Greek government did say it was ready to negotiate a settlement acceptable to both sides by the end of this month, just three days after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told his parliament the latest proposal from the EU and IMF was absurd.Yet there was no new proposal from Athens that its creditors could agree to, an EU official said. ID:nL5N0YU2T7>There was better news from Germany where industrial output beat expectations and helped ease fears of deflation.Yields on German 10-year paper DE10YT=RR climbed to 0.89 percent, while those on 10-year Treasuries US10YT=RR dipped to 2.39 percent. As a result the premium offered by U.S. debt narrowed to around 150 basis points, having been as wide as 190 back in March.The dollar also took a hit from reports President Barack Obama had called the high currency a problem in talks at the G7, though the White House later denied he had ever said it.Federal Reserve and other officials have expressed concerns about dollar strengths impact on growth and exports.Early Tuesday, the euro was holding at $1.1280 EUR= having recovered all of Fridays drop to $1.1048. The dollar dipped just a little on the yen to 124.59 JPY=, to remain within striking distance of the recent 13-year high of 125.86.The dollar index .DXY stood at 95.259 having shed 1.1 percent on Monday.In commodity markets, oil steadied after being hit by a slump in Chinese demand and worries that OPECs decision to pump crude without restraint could prolong the current supply glut.U.S. crude futures CLc1 bounced 21 cents to $58.35 a barrel, while Brent LCOc1 added 15 cents to $62.85.Gold was tracking sideways at XAU= $1,173 an ounce.

U.S. base shipped live anthrax to 19 states plus D.C.: Pentagon

Posted:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The number of labs that received live anthrax samples from a U.S. military base in Utah has risen to 66 in 19 states, Washington and three foreign countries, the Pentagon said on Monday.Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Defense Department spokesman, said 31 people were receiving precautionary treatment for exposure to live anthrax, unchanged since the Pentagons last update on the incident.Warren said one new state, Pennsylvania, had been added to the list of locations where live anthrax had been sent. In addition to the U.S. states and Washington, the pathogen was sent to South Korea, Canada and Australia.Investigators are trying to ascertain whether the inadvertent shipments of the anthrax, which can be used as a biological weapon, stemmed from quality control problems at the base, the Dugway Proving Ground, Pentagon officials said.No one at the labs has been infected and there is no known risk to the public, officials said.A number of U.S. military facilities for the past decade have shipped what were supposed to be inactivated, or killed, anthrax samples to outside labs to develop countermeasures to biological weapons. The one in Utah is the only one known to have sent samples that proved to have live bacterial spores.

Congo slams US for political 'interference' in elections

Posted:

KINSHASA (AP) -The Congolese government has slammed statements by a visiting U.S. official about the ongoing election dialogue as unacceptable and intolerable interference in the countrys internal affairs.U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Tom Malinowski, said during a visit last week that the presidents electoral dialogue should not be used as an excuse to delay elections.Government spokesman Lambert Mende said Monday that Malinowski was repeating the negative messages of the opposition.President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, began the dialogue on June 1 but the largest opposition parties are refusing to participate.In January, mass protests erupted against proposed changes to the electoral law, widely seen as a ploy to delay the 2016 presidential elections and to allow Kabila to prolong his time in power.

Bach: FIFA must go through 'painful experience' to reform

Posted:

LAUSANNE (AP) -Saying there is no comparison in the scale of the IOCs Salt Lake City scandal and FIFAs corruption crisis, IOC President Thomas Bach urged soccers governing body to take the painful steps needed to clean itself up and restore credibility in the organization.Bach gave his most extensive comments to date on the bribery allegations engulfing FIFA, a far-reaching scandal that led Sepp Blatter to resign as president last week pending new elections.Bach said FIFA should press ahead with reforms, citing the measures taken by the International Olympic Committee to recover from the Salt Lake crisis in the late 1990s.Its not up to the IOC to give advice, its just to remember that we had this kind of problems 15 years ago, Bach said. We also know from our experience that ... putting everything on the desk can be a painful experience, but it is absolutely necessary to do this as we have seen from our own history.Also Monday, the IOC executive board approved new events for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South KoreaBig Air in snowboard, mass start in speedskating, mixed doubles in curling, and a nations team event in Alpine skiing. The IOC also approved cost-cutting venue changes for seven sports for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, bringing to $1.7 billion the total amount saved by Japanese organizers so far.Bach said the size of the FIFA scandal was much bigger than the case that led to the ouster of 10 IOC members for accepting improper inducements during Salt Lakes winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.In addition to kicking out members, Bach said, the IOC undertook structural reforms, including a ban on member visits to bid cities, creation of an ethics commission, introduction of term limits and inclusion of athlete members on the committee.We can only encourage FIFA to continue (with) the reforms which have been initiated, Bach said. We cannot give advice of what to do in detail but we appreciate there is the readiness for reforms now and for substantial reforms.Blatter announced hes stepping down less than a week after seven officials were arrested in a dawn Swiss police raid on a Zurich hotel on corruption charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Blatter made the decision four days after winning re-election to a fifth term, saying he would lead reform efforts until new elections can be held.The structure of FIFA is very different from the IOC, Bach said. The scope, the difference in the scope is huge. There is almost no comparison of what happened with regard to Salt Lake City and what is now at stake with regards to FIFA.Bach said the Salt Lake scandal involved the choice of Olympic host cities, while FIFA faces many other allegations that involve sums of money which cannot be compared to what was at stake for the IOC 15 years ago.Asked whether Blatter should step aside completely now, Bach said: This is something that FIFA has to decide. FIFA is a federation of its own right and it is not for the IOC to interfere.Blatter, who has been an IOC member since 1999, retains his seat as long as he remains FIFA president. He would lose his membership next year when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 80. Blatter is not attending Tuesdays technical briefing for IOC members with the bid cities for the 2022 Winter Games Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan.He informed us 10 to 14 days ago that he will not be able to make it for the briefing because of other commitments, Bach said. I think he is not the only one who excused himself.

Murder indictment for officer who shot fleeing black man

Posted:

CHARLESTON (AP) -It didnt take long for a grand jury to indict a white former city policeman for murder in the shooting death of a black man who tried to flee from a traffic stop.State investigators presented the case against former North Charleston officer Michael Slager to a Charleston County grand jury on Monday and prosecutor Scarlett Wilson announced the indictment a few hours later.A bystanders cellphone video shows Slager firing eight times as 50-year-old Walter Scott tried to run away on April 4. The killing enflamed a national debate about how black people are treated by white police officers.But it caused no unrest in North Charleston, where community leaders and Scotts family praised the governments swift response. Slager was charged with murder by state law enforcement agents and fired from the police force immediately after Scotts family released the video.The indictment of Slager is the fourth in less than six months in which a grand jury in South Carolina has agreed that white officers should stand trial in the shootings of black men.The grand jury that reviewed the shooting of Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, met weekly for three months, hearing from 60 witnesses. Saint Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch then spoke nearly 45 minutes, describing how jurors poured their hearts and souls into this process before deciding not to indict anyone in Browns death. Angry protests and riots ensued.When riots in Baltimore followed the death in police custody of another young black man, Freddie Gray, States Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged six officers with crimes and then spent two weeks presenting evidence to a grand jury that affirmed nearly all the charges. To the youth of this city, I will seek justice on your behalf. This is a moment. This is your moment, Mosby said in a passionate speech.Wilson, by contrast, made no speeches. She called reporters to her office to announce the indictment, and made very few comments.Asked about the importance of the cellphone video of Scotts death, she acknowledged that its helpful to have evidence that depicts the crime, and we arent having to rely just on peoples perceptions.That said, just because you have video in a case doesnt mean its the be-all and end-all and the case is over, she said. The jury will be able to make up their own mind after seeing the video and hearing the testimony.Slager said he initially tried to stun Scott with his Taser when both men scuffled over the stun gun and he fired his handgun at Scott in self-defense. The video shows the men briefly scuffling before Scott runs away and the officer fires at Scotts back.Slager, 33, faces 30 years to life without parole if convicted. Wilson said the death penalty doesnt apply because there are no aggravating circumstances such as robbery or kidnapping.His defense lawyer, Andy Savage, said he wont comment until we have an opportunity to fully evaluate the states case and to compare it with our own investigation.Walter Scotts brother Rodney Scott said the family is very happy and pleased with the indictment.

G7 climate vision requires gargantuan economic shift

Posted:

STOCKHOLM (AP) -When leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy countries pledge to decarbonize the global economy theyre talking about a shift so dramatic that one analyst described it as a new Apollo mission.Like putting a man on the moon, it would require overcoming major hurdles related to technology and money and the political will so far in short supply to make it happen.Despite gains by renewable energy sources in recent years, the world is still hooked on fossil fuels that are powering our homes and businesses and fueling our cars, trucks, airplanes and ships.The resulting release of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere keeps rising, primarily because of fast growth in China, India and other emerging economies. CO2 emissions from fossil fuels now exceed 30 billion tons a year, according to the International Energy Agency.What President Barack Obama and other G-7 leaders envisioned in Germany on Monday is a world where those emissions would be phased out by the end of the century.Above all that would entail a major shift in how the world produces electricity, about two-thirds of which comes from the burning of fossil fuels, mainly coal and gas.Scaling up solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, hydro-power and perhaps other renewable sources still to be developed is possible, but that requires policies, such as carbon taxes, that make them more competitive compared to coal or natural gas.We have to be honest: coal is a very, very cheap energy carrier. Therefore we need a carbon price, said Ottmar Edenhofer, a prominent member of theU.N.s expert panel on climate science.Putting a price on carbon is highly contentious politically in many countries. The U.S. Senate turned down such a proposal in 2010. Australias current government repealed a carbon tax introduced by the previous government.Making renewables that depend on the weather such as wind and solar power more competitive would also require technological advances, primarily how to store energy more efficiently.Decarbonizing the transportation sector is even more complicated. There are of course already vehicles running on electricity or biofuels. But fuels made from oil still dominate and it will probably be a long time before they can be substituted at a large scale in aviation and shipping, though experiments with biofuels and even solar power are underway.Also, replacing fossil fuels to generate the intense heat required for some industrial processes like steel production isnt likely to happen anytime soon.Thats why many scientists and economists say demands by some environmental activists for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels are unrealistic. Instead, they say the fight against climate change will have to include efforts to capture CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and bury them deep underground where they dont affect the climate.U.N. climate science panel projected last year that such technologies, which already exist at a small scale, may have to be applied to achieve negative emissions in the future, because the world isnt expected to bring down its emissions fast enough in the near term. That could entail, for example, using biofuels for power generation and then capturing their emissions.But even that is not without problems: large-scale biofuel crops could end up replacing food crops or threatening biodiversity.The G-7 leaders didnt address in detail how to resolve all these issues. In U.N. climate talks on an envisioned pact in Paris later this year, countries have a hard time agreeing on much smaller things, like whether to renew their individual climate targets every five or 10 years.Still, the message from the leaders of the worlds most powerful developed countries is important because its the first time they acknowledge what needs to happen to keep global temperatures from reaching dangerous levels, said Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist and U.N. special adviser.It does mean in practice an enormous shift from a fossil fuel-based energy system to near-zero carbon energy sources. Its a big deal, he said. Not unlike the Apollo mission.

US stocks end lower, pushing Dow into the red for the year

Posted:

NEW YORK (AP) -The Dow Jones industrial average slipped into the red for the year on Monday as stocks extended their slump.Airlines were among the biggest losers amid concern that capacity growth in the industry may curb profitability. JetBlue Airways, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines were among the carriers that declined.Stocks have sagged in the past two weeks as investors try to assess if Federal Reserve policymakers will raise their benchmark interest rate later this year for the first time since the recession. A stronger-than-forecast jobs report on Friday suggested that the economy is recovering from its winter slump.The Fed has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at close to zero for more than six years to help support lending and boost the economy. Those low rates have also boosted the stock market in that time, pushing it to record levels.The market is suggesting that if the data continue at this pace, the Fed will be more inclined to raise rates in September, rather than waiting, said Quincy Krosby, a market strategist at Prudential Financial.The Standard & Poors 500 index dropped 13.55 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,079.28. The Dow fell 82.91 points, or 0.5 percent, to 17,766.55, giving it a loss of 0.3 percent for 2015.The Nasdaq composite declined 46.83 points, or 0.9 percent, to 5,021.63.On Monday, airline stocks were among the biggest decliners as industry executives met in Miami for the International Air Transportation groups annual general meeting.American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told Reuters at the meeting Sunday that he was worried that growth in airline capacity could depress profits.Analysts at Raymond James cut their earnings forecasts for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Continental.American Airlines was among the leading decliners in the S&P 500, dropping $1.86, or 4.5 percent, to $39.86. Delta Air Lines, United, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue also fell.The drop for airlines extended a theme of weakness for the transport sector.The Dow Jones Transportation average is down almost 9 percent this year, a slump that is giving a potentially worrying signal about the economy even as hiring picks up. A drop in transport companies could mean that fewer goods are being transported by boat, plane or rail, suggesting the demand remains weak six years after the end of the recession.You do want to see transport stocks gaining, said Prudentials Krosby. It would lend confirmation (to expectations) that the economy is gaining that crucial momentum that we have been waiting for.Talks between Greece and its creditors have been deadlocked since late last week, when Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rejected as unacceptable a proposal made by the three institutions overseeing the countrys bailout: the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.A resolution to the talks is needed by June 30, when Greeces emergency financing program ends. Without fresh funds, Greece is unlikely to be able to repay its debts and could end up crashing out of the euro. Jitters over Greeces financial future have been a cloud over markets in recent days, notably in Germany, where the DAX index is down more than 10 percent from its April peak.The Wall Street Journal reported that Greeces creditors have suggested extending the countrys bailout program until the end of March 2016. The report cited people familiar with negotiations.Still, some analysts forecast that the current weakness in stocks will prove transitory and stocks will eventually continue to move higher. Thats because corporate profits are still strong and interest rates will still be low enough to boost growth.Even when the Fed begins to raise rates later this year, we will be going from zero to something that is slightly above zero, said Michael Arone, Chief Investment Strategist for State Street Global Advisors.In energy trading, the price of oil fell as import data suggested a slowdown in Chinese trade, which could lead to weaker global demand for diesel, gasoline and other fuels.Benchmark U.S. crude fell 99 cents to close at $58.14 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil used by many U.S. refineries, fell 62 cents to close at $62.69 in LondonIn U.S. government bond trading, prices rose. The yield on the 10-year note fell to 2.38 percent. The yield had risen to its highest level of the year onFriday. The dollar slipped to 124.42 yen from 125.61 yen on Friday. The euro strengthened to $1.1298 from $1.1113.Metals prices were little changed.Gold rose $5.50, or 0.5 percent, to $1,173.60 an ounce. Silver dropped 2.5 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $15.96 an ounce and copper was little changed at $2.70 a poundIn other futures trading on the NYMEX:Wholesale gasoline fell 2.3 cents to close at $2.007 a gallon.Heating oil fell 1.5 cents to close at $1.855 a gallon.Natural gas rose 11.5 cents to close at $2.705 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Mexico president poised for majority despite discontent

Posted:

MEXICO CITY (AP) -Despite widespread disillusionment with his government, President Enrique Pena Nieto on Monday emerged from midterm elections with an expected congressional majority that will let him forge ahead with his reform agenda without compromising with opponents.With 95 percent of the ballots counted, Pena Nietos Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and its two coalition partners received about 40 percent of the vote in Sundays election.Under Mexicos mixed system of direct and proportional elections for congressional seats, analysts predicted the PRI coalition will ultimately control 245 to 263 seats in the 500-seat legislature.I can assure you that Pena Nieto will be able to put together a majority with certainty, said Roy Campos, director the Mitofsky polling firm. Having 251, which is what he needs, is practically a done deal.But if the government measures the electoral result as an endorsement, Campos added, that means they didnt understand this vote.Halfway through Pena Nietos six-year term, the election was widely seen as a referendum on a government whose approval ratings have been hit by scandals over real estate deals with government contractors, a less dynamic economy than expected and ongoing security concerns, as well as suspected massacres of civilians and the disappearance and presumed murder of 43 students who were grabbed by police last September.A recent poll signaled that 91 percent of Mexicans surveyed distrusted the countrys political parties, while over half disapproved of Pena Nietos governance.But a schism in the countrys main leftist Democratic Revolution Party caused by former two-time presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador breaking off to launch his own party, known as Morena, cost the left seats and benefited the PRI.A year after it was formally recognized, Morena will have its first representation in Congress while Democratic Revolution, which was winning less than 11 percent of the vote in the preliminary results, could lose about a dozen seats.The third main political force, the conservative National Action of the Party that produced Mexicos two previous presidents, maintained more or less steady support with about 21 percent of the vote.Analysts noted that in many places around the country there were no local elections for mayor or governor, and voters were casting ballots for unknown congressional candidates. In such races, the PRI enjoys an advantage because of its large, entrenched political machine.Its a sigh of relief (for the PRI), yes..., said Jose Antonio Crespo, a political analyst and professor at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching. What was not reflected was discontent with the government and the parties. All the indicators of discontent did not appear ... except at the local level.The most notable example was the election of Jaime Rodriguez, known as El Bronco, who became the first independent candidate in Mexico to win a governors race, in Nuevo Leon state. This was the first year independents could seek office under a recent electoral reform.In doing so, the horseback-riding, boot-clad Rodriguez ousted the PRI from a key state that includes the business hub of Monterrey.Rodriguez filled a void where fed-up voters felt that traditional parties werent responsive to their needs, and it could set a precedent for similar candidacies in the future, Crespo said.The independent gives you hope, an expectation, simply because its something different, he said, even though we have no proof that he will be more effective.In the city of Cuernavaca outside the Mexican capital, recently retired soccer star Cuauhtemoc Blanco was ahead in the vote for mayor and poised to take over an office previously held by the PRI. He represented the tiny Social Democratic Party, which doesnt exist in most other states.And the major city of Guadalajara turned its back on the traditional powers, the PRI and National Action, by giving an overwhelming victory to Enrique Alfaro of the center-left Citizens Movement, which barely registers in polls in much of the country.Pena Nieto was boosted by a bump in support for the allied Green Party, which jumped from about 6 percent of the vote to 7 percent following a controversial campaign in which it was fined millions for ignoring campaign finance laws. That could give the Greens as many as 20 new seats.Protesters burned ballot boxes in several restive states in southern Mexico, but officials said they were isolated incidents.Electoral officials will issue final, certified results later in the week. Returns so far show the PRI losing some of its six governorships up for a vote, while winning back others.

Obama: US lacks 'complete strategy' for training Iraqis

Posted:

ELMAU (AP) -Acknowledging military setbacks, President Barack Obama said Monday the United States still lacks a complete strategy for training Iraqi forces to fight the Islamic State. He urged Iraqs government to allow more of the nations Sunnis to join the campaign against the violent militants.Nearly one year after American troops started returning to Iraq to assist local forces, Obama said the Islamic State remains nimble, aggressive and opportunistic. He touted significant progress in areas where the U.S. has trained Iraqis to fight but said forces without U.S. assistance are often ill-equipped and suffer from poor morale.IS fighters captured the key Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi last month, prompting Defense Secretary Ash Carter to lament that Iraqi troops lacked the will to fight. That was a strikingly negative assessment of a military that has been the beneficiary of billions in U.S. assistance dating back to the war started during the administration of U.S. President George. W. Bush in 2003.Still, Obama indicated that simply increasing the number of Americans in Iraq would not resolve the countrys issues. The U.S. currently has about 3,000 troops there for train-and-assist missions.Weve got more training capacity than we have recruits, he said at the close of a two-day Group of Seven meeting at a luxury resort tucked in the Bavarian Alps.G-7 leaders invited Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to join them Monday for talks on the security situation in the Middle East. Obama and Abadi also met one-on-one shortly before the president departed for Washington.In both public and private, Obama urged Abadi and his Shiite-led government to allow more Sunnis to fight the Islamic State. The White House has long blamed Iraqs sectarian divisions for stoking the kind of instability that allowed the militants to thrive.Weve seen Sunni tribes who are not only willing and prepared to fight ISIL, but have been successful at rebuffing ISIL, Obama said by the U.S. government. But it has not been happening as fast as it needs to.In Washington, the highest-ranking Sunni in Iraqs government said Sunni tribes are still receiving insufficient training and inferior weapons compared to the national army. Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri put the onus for fixing that on Baghdad, saying it should provide clear assurances that the tribes will receive the necessary weapons.Guarantees create confidence, and we need confidence, al-Jabouri told a small group of reporters, speaking through an interpreter.An early opponent of Bushs war in Iraq, Obama withdrew U.S. forces in late 2011 and has vowed that he wont send Americans back into combat there.The U.S., along with coalition partners, is launching airstrikes in both Iraq and Syria, but is banking on local ground forces to supplement that effort.A six-week U.S. combat training course instructs Iraqi forces in how to shoot, communicate and move about on the battlefield. They are also given individual military equipment.Col. Steve Warren, Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Monday that the U.S. wants to be able to increase the number of Iraqi troops being trained, but to do that the Iraq government has to increase the number of troops it provides. As of June 4, the U.S. had trained 8,920 Iraqi troops at the four sites, and 2,601 more are undergoing training, Warren said.Beyond Iraqs sectarian divisions, senior defense officials said, training is hindered because Iraqi security forces have difficulty getting to training sites.Not only are they consumed with fighting, but there are also risks in the travel itself, from Islamic State fighters to roadside bombs and blocked roads.Some Republicans in the U.S. say the Islamic States strength is a result of what they see as Obamas muddled and ineffective strategy. The president was sharply criticized in August for saying the U.S. didnt have an overall strategy for fighting the Islamic State, and his comments Monday about plans for training the Iraqis sounded similar.We arent winning the fight against ISIL because we dont have a winning plan, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said. The president cant delay anymore, especially as ISIL continues to make major gains.The campaign against the Islamic State was one of several security issues on the agenda during the G-7 talks. Leaders also spent significant time discussing the crisis in Ukraine, where the West alleges Russia continues to sow instability.In a joint statement, the leaders vowed to keep sanctions in place until a fragile peace agreement is fully implemented. They also said sanctions could increase if Russia escalates its aggression, despite the fact that the economic penalties have done little to change Vladimir Putins approach so far.Until last year, Russia had joined the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan in the bloc of leading industrial nations. But those nations kicked Russia out last year as part of its punishments for actions in Ukraine.

17 killed, mainly students, in bus accident in Peru's Andes

Posted:

LIMA (AP)-A truck carrying students home from a parade fell into a ravine in the Perus Andes Mountains, killing 17 people and injuring 33, authorities said Monday.Five of the injured are in grave condition following the accident Sunday near the remote community of Cahuac, 263 kilometers (163 miles) northeast of the capital, Lima, said hospital director Rosa Pascual. Fifteen of the dead were students aged 9 to 15.The truck was returning from a flag day parade when it fell 300 meters (985 feet) into the ravine, said Huanuco Gov. Ruben Alva.School director Yonel Espinoza said the students decided to get in the back of the truck because they wanted to avoid the 90-minute walk from the parade site back to Cahuac, where they lived.Perus transport system is plagued by old vehicles and poor roads and highways, often through mountainous regions, contributing to a high accident rate.According to the Transport Minister, 3,110 people died in road accidents in Peru in 2013.

Execution of Pakistani youth suspect stayed for 4th time

Posted:

KARACHI (AP) - A death-row prisoner whose family says was just 14 years old when he was convicted of killing a 7-year-old has had his execution stayed for a fourth time, authorities said Tuesday.Liaquat Khoso, an official at Karachi Central Jail, said the order to stay Shafqat Hussains execution was received from the countrys Supreme Court just hours before Hussain was scheduled to hang.Authorities said the execution was halted after Hussains conviction was challenged anew in the Supreme Court and an urgent hearing by a three-judge panel headed by the Chief Justice was set.Hussain was to be executed in connection with the 2004 killing of a seven-year-old. His family and lawyers have said he was only 14 at the time of the alleged crime and that he was tortured into confession.Hussains lawyers were not available to comment on what new grounds they presented to argue that charges should be dropped. Officials stayed Hussains execution three previous times after intense public outcry and condemnation from human rights groups.Hussains is the most high-profile execution case since the government lifted a moratorium on the death penalty.In January, Minister of the Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said he was postponing the execution to allow officials to investigate Hussains age. On Tuesday, speaking to parliament, the minister said earlier police and jail reports had put his age at 23 or 25 at the time of the arrest but said officials were still trying to determine his age.The government has sharply increased its use of the death penalty. Earlier this week, Pakistan hung 12 prisoners in a single day the largest group since the moratorium was lifted.

Apple makes product upgrades, pushes into streaming music

Posted:

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Apple announced a major new foray into streaming music on Monday as it showed off a host of new software features for its iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.The $10-a-month music service is called Apple Music and combines on-demand listening, a 24/7 radio station hosted by live DJs and a forum for artists to give fans behind-the-scenes content from upcoming releases.The service, which was announced during Apples annual software conference Monday, will be launched later this month in more than 100 countries. It comes at a time when iTunes songs and album sales are falling, while streaming music leaders like Spotify and Deezer are gaining subscribers and revenue.The music service was the biggest news of the companys five-day conference, but Apple also announced a host of new upgrades and services coming later this year to the operating software for its popular iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.The new features including enhancements to Siri, the companys voice-activated digital assistant, as well as Apple Pay, Apple Maps and the Apple Watch. Executives also mentioned a new streaming TV service that Apple is reportedly hoping to announce later this year.Analysts say the new services and upgrades, which will be available when Apple releases free updates to its iOS and Mac OS software this fall, are part of a broader strategy to make Apples devices indispensable.While many companies make smartphones and computers, Apples crown jewels are its software and online services, said analyst Daniel Ives, who follows tech companies for FBR Capital Markets.Some of the new features could provide new profits for the tech powerhouse. But perhaps more importantly, they may help keep customers from defecting to rivals like Google, which showed off new features for its competing Android mobile software at its event last month.Heres a look at the new features Apple announced:Apple MusicThe service represents a chance for Apple to come from behind in a digital music field that it once led. With a lengthy three-month free trial, a $15-a-month plan for up to six family members, and the ability to push the app to 100s of millions of iPhone and iPad users, the launch could mark a major milestone in digital music.Besides offering the new subscription plan, the app also will continue to allow download purchases from iTunes. It will be available this summer for Apple devices and Windows PCs, and in a break from Apples usual practice, it will also be released as an app for Android devices this fall.The live radio station, called Beats 1, puts a twist on Internet radio, a field led by Pandora, by having human DJs host a constant stream of talk and music from Los Angeles, New York and London, led by former BBC host Zane Lowe.The company is also touting a feature called Connect, which artists can use to share notes, recordings and photos with their fans who subscribe to Apple Music.Apple Music is the next chapter in music, CEO Tim Cook told an estimated 5,000 software developers attending the conference. Itll change the way you experience music forever.SIRIApples voice-activated digital assistant will be integrated into the new music service, so subscribers can ask it to play songs from movie soundtracks, find hit songs from a certain year, or create playlists from top songs in different genres.Siri is also gaining more intelligence, according to Apple executives, who demonstrated by having Siri do things like search an iPhone-users photos with a voice command, such as Show me pictures from San Francisco last July.With the coming software update, Siri also will be able to anticipate certain requests and remember websites, said Apple senior vice president Craig Federighi. So, a user can tell Siri to remember this and it will later show a link to a website viewed earlier.Siri will also gain the ability to search within apps loaded on the iPhone, to provide links to information from a restaurant or food app, for example.APPLE PAYAlong with making payments tied to a credit or debit card, Apple Pay will soon incorporate store-issued payment cards and rewards from loyalty programs offered by merchants like Walgreens and Dunkin Donuts. That could be a key to making the service more useful for shoppers, according to analysts at Forrester Research.Apple says Apple Pay has been quickly embraced by shoppers and merchants since it was launched last fall, but it hasnt released many financial details. Forrester analysts said in an email that the idea of paying with a smartphone in stores is still new and its unclear if consumers view it as a novelty or an essential shopping tool.APPLE WATCH:Apple announced an update to the watch operating system and said it will release the programming tools that independent developers need to build apps that can interact directly with the watchs hardware and sensors.The watch still requires a link to the iPhone to perform many functions, but Apples Kevin Lynch said the new software upgrade will let the watch connect directly to Wi-fi networks, so it will be able to provide some services even if the owners iPhone isnt nearby.While tech experts see big opportunities in wearable devices, some consumers are still on the fence, said app-builder Jordan Edelson of Appetizer Mobile. He said the new app-building tools will help developers show how useful the watch can be.Apple did not release any sales figures for the watch, which it began selling in April.

Lahore: 2 men drown in Canal, dead bodies found after 2 hours

Posted:

LAHORE (Dunya News) – 2 men died in Lahore on Monday after drowning in canal near FC College area. 25-years-old Ali and 17-years-old Hassam jumped from the bridge into the canal and never surfaced. Rescue 1122 reached the area and started the search operation right away. Rescue team found the dead bodies of both friends after two hours and sent them to Jinnah Hospital where doctors confirmed their death. Police sent the bodies to the morgue for identification after completing the routine procedure.

PML-N convincingly defeats PTI, PPP in Mandi Bahauddin by-poll

Posted:

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: (Dunya News) – Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Mumtaz Ahmad Tararr convincingly won the NA-108 by-election in Mandi Bahauddin on Monday. Mumtaz secured 77,884 votes to win the election while Tariq Tararr of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) remained runner-up with 40,570 votes, reported Dunya News.PML-N won the election convincingly and the party workers celebrated the victory with fireworks. Workers danced at the beat of Dhol and also displayed weapons.According to the details, turnout in the by-poll remained 53%. The winning candidate bagged 77,884 votes, PTI candidate got 40,570 while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Asif Bashir Maangat got 29,618 votes. Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) candidate Hamza Nasir Iqbal got 10,796 whereas Jamaat Islami (JI) candidate Riaz Farooq bagged 7,662 votes.It is pertinent to mention here that the seat had been vacated when Ijaz Chaudhry, who had won the seat in General Election 2013 on PML-N ticket, crossed the floor to join PTI and got disqualified.

Islamabad: Car gets out of control, hits a tree, 3 dead

Posted:

ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – 3 died while 7 others were injured on Monday when a car got out of control and accidentally hit a tree near Lake View Park, reported Dunya News.Police and relief teams arrived immediately after the accident and transferred the injured to the Polyclinic Hospital where they are receiving treatment. According to police, Khayr-un-Nisa, Sania and Ehsaan were included among those injured.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)