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Anti-corporate protests spread to US capital
Gaddafi urges resistance to Libya's new leaders
Running battles in Santiago as police and students clash
Seven killed in Iraq attacks
Prince Harry due in US for military training
Euro rises vs dollar after ECB keeps rates flat
Gold rises past $1,650 mark
Oil above $82 on positive news for Europe banks
IMF moves toward new $129m Afghan loan
US seeks WTO action on China, India subsidies
US concerned about its negative image in Pakistan
India wants an 'anti-Pakistan' Afghanistan: Musharraf
Cook hits ton, Harris grabs five wickets
Tsonga, Wozniacki into quarterfinals at China Open
Boxing: Probe underway into 'clash for medals' allegations

Anti-corporate protests spread to US capital

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Protests against corporate power in the United States took root in Washington on Thursday, with several hundred people occupying Freedom Plaza outside city hall to demand progressive reform. The Stop the Machine rally -- midway between the Capitol and the White House -- echoed the demands of the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York that Thursday drew more than 5,000 people as well as labor-union support. "The poor are no long patient," said one of the speakers, Ben Manski, a Green Party activist from Wisconsin, from a stage decorated with the "We the People" preamble of the US constitution. "It took us long enough, but we are no longer patient," he told the crowd, a mix of young people and middle-aged veterans of protest movements of past decades. "This is a sacred struggle," on a par with the abolition of slavery, voting rights for women and civil rights, Manski said, "and just like those movements, we are going to win." The protest got underway just as President Barack Obama told reporters at the White House that the Wall Street protests were an expression of the "frustration" that Americans feel towards the financial establishment. Since October 1 a separate but like-minded group called Occupy DC has gathered around 30 people daily at McPherson Square on K Street Northwest, where many powerful lobbyists have their offices. But they were overshadowed Thursday by Stop the Machine, which originated a decade ago with opposition to the October 2001 invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent Iraq war.

Gaddafi urges resistance to Libya's new leaders

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Moammar Gaddafi called on Libyans to take to the streets and wage a campaign of civil disobedience against the country s new leaders Thursday the first word from the fugitive leader in just over two weeks. Gaddafi said the National Transitional Council, which has assumed leadership of the country since then-rebel forces swept into Tripoli in late August, has no legitimacy because it was not nominated or appointed by the Libyan people. He called on his countrymen to "go out in new million-man marches in all cities and villages and oases." "Be courageous, rise up, go out in the streets," he said. "Raise the green flag in the skies ... the conditions in Libya are unbearable." Gaddafi made the appeal in an poor quality audio recording and it was not possible to verify his identity, but it was broadcast on Syrian-based Al-Rai TV, which has become the mouthpiece of his resistance. Revolutionary forces, aided by NATO airstrikes, have gained control over most of the North African nation and forced the leader and two of his sons into hiding. Gaddafi has made several speeches on Al-Rai as he tries to rally supporters, who are still waging fierce resistance in his besieged hometown of Sirte, the town of Bani Walid southeast of Tripoli and pockets in the south. He was last heard on Sept. 20 calling the revolution a "charade gaining its legitimacy through airstrikes." The International Red Cross, meanwhile, delivered medical supplies and other humanitarian aid to civilians in Sirte amid rapidly deteriorating conditions.

Running battles in Santiago as police and students clash

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Chilean police wielded their water cannon and tear gas again in Santiago after protesting students said talks with government officials the night before failed to meet their demands. Thousands of students marched in the streets of downtown Santiago following the failed five-hour-long meeting with Education Minister Felipe Bulnes, which they said did not meet student s demands of free quality education and other reforms. The students said they disagreed with Bulnes on how to cut education costs and work towards a free education system. The meeting was negotiated between student leaders and government officials in an effort to put an end to months of protesting. In a scene familiar in the streets of Santiago since the demonstrations began in June, police tried to contain the demonstrators shooting water cannons and firing tear gas to disperse the ballooning student movement. The massive group of both university and secondary students responded throwing rocks and other projectiles as they violently clashed with police. Police arrested several students. The students, who have been protesting almost daily, say Chile s education system is profit-driven and provides poor instruction. Students say high costs make higher education inaccessible and saddle graduates with heavy debt loads. They want to make higher education more accessible with expanded scholarship programs for poor students funded in part by higher taxes on the wealthy. Students also claim unpopular President Sebastian Pinera is doing a poor job of distributing wealth from a copper price boom. Pinera, a billionaire businessman who has seen his approval ratings fall dramatically since the protests, had said he prioritized education in the next year s budget.

Seven killed in Iraq attacks

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In the deadliest attack, a magnetic "sticky bomb" attached to a car in the north Baghdad neighbourhood of Al-Utaifiyah was followed by a roadside bombing, killing five people and wounding 21 others, an interior ministry official said. Four policemen were among those wounded in the attacks, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. In the east Baghdad district of Zafraniyah, a roadside bomb at a football pitch killed two young boys and wounded 13 others, according to a police official and a doctor at Zafraniyah hospital. And in the town of Al-Qassim, gunmen wounded a representative of Iraq s top Shiite cleric as he was returning home from prayers on Wednesday evening. Sheikh Karim al-Khalidi, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani, was shot and seriously wounded in the centre of Al-Qassim, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) south of the Iraqi capital. Sistani is Iraq s most senior Shiite Muslim cleric whose stature dwarfs that of any Shiite politician, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. "Unknown gunmen attacked Sheikh Karim al-Khalidi in Al-Qassim," said an official in Sistani s office in the holy Shiite city of Najaf of southern Iraq. The attack was the first assassination attempt on Khalidi, the official said, on condition of anonymity. A medical official in Hilla, capital of Babil province of which Al-Qassim is part, said Khalidi was "in serious condition. He is still in the hospital as he was shot in the chest."

Prince Harry due in US for military training

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The prince, who is a British Army captain, will start at the Naval Air Facility at El Centro where he will fly Apache helicopters in the remote California desert near the Mexican border. The facility hosts allied troops throughout the year because its hot, dusty conditions replicate Afghanistan s harsh environment and the clear weather allows for constant flying. "He will be Capt. Wales when he is here," said Capt. Devon Jones, the U.S. commanding officer at the facility. "He will be treated like any other British pilot." The prince will be among 20 students in the British Army participating in the training that ends at an Air Force station in Gila Bend, Arizona, where they will fire missiles, rockets and cannons from the Apache helicopters. The course is the final phase of a 16-month training British Army pilots undergo to prepare for deployment. British Army Lt. Col. Peter Bullen said those who succeed still have a few final steps to complete in Great Britain before they are ready to be sent into combat. He said the majority of troops who pass the training go on to be deployed to places like Afghanistan, where they will work alongside U.S. troops and coalition forces. The prince and the other students will not be restricted from going off the bases during their free time, except like U.S. troops, they are barred from crossing the border into Mexico, Bullen said. El Centro s facility is the winter home of the Navy s Blue Angels and the site where the "Top Gun" movie starring Tom Cruise was filmed.

Euro rises vs dollar after ECB keeps rates flat

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The euro rose against the dollar and other currencies after the European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged despite a growing economic crisis. Experts say the euro s rally may be short-lived. The euro rose to $1.3393 from $1.3240 earlier Thursday. It bought $1.3351 late Wednesday. The European Central Bank (ECB) said it will leave its key interest rate at 1.5 percent, but will make emergency loans to European lenders. Many had expected the central bank to cut rates to encourage lending and investment. Europe s economy is barely growing. Lower rates would make the euro less attractive to traders by reducing the returns from fixed-income investments such as government debt. The euro has been rising against the dollar since fears of a default by Greece pushed it to a nine-month low on Monday. Many analysts expect the euro to resume its decline, falling to or below $1.30 before the end of the year. Strategists with Bank of America Merrill Lynch lowered their year-end forecast to $1.30 last week. Capital Economics forecasters say it will hit $1.10 by 2013. The euro also rose strongly against the Japanese yen, the British pound and the Swiss franc. In other trading, the pound fell to $1.5395 from $1.5467 late Wednesday. It dove to $1.5297 early Thursday after the Bank of England surprised traders with a plan to inject $116 billion into the British economy.

Gold rises past $1,650 mark

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Gold for December delivery rose $11.60 Thursday, or nearly 1 percent, to $1,653.20 an ounce Thursday. December silver gained $1.635, or 5.45 percent, to close at $32.005. Many traders buy and sell gold based on market momentum. A sell-off last week pushed gold below $1,600 for the first time since July. Gold is down about 13 percent from its high of $1,891.90 in late August. Some investors see a brighter future in gold, thanks to big stimulus measures from European central banks that promise to keep interest rates low. Gold is often seen as safe investment when interest rates fall and currencies get cheaper to buy.

Oil above $82 on positive news for Europe banks

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Benchmark crude jumped $2.91, or 3.7 percent, to finish at $82.59 per barrel in New York, while Brent crude rose $3, or 2.9 percent, to end at $105.73 in London. Oil climbed for a second day after plummeting to 12-month lows earlier in the week. The fall came as credit problems in the eurozone rattled energy markets. Investors fear that a Greek default could spark a wider banking crisis that threatens the U.S. economy and weakens demand for oil. In an effort to deal with that the European Central Bank on Thursday offered new emergency loans to banks that could shield them from possible losses. Europe s financial problems have scared many investors out of oil markets this year, said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service. When Europe s situation appears to improve, investors rush back in, lifting prices, Kloza said. A stronger Europe and world economy means demand for oil will rise. The US economy also showed signs of strength, as major retailers posted strong sales increases in September. In other energy commodities trading, heating oil rose 8 cents to finish at $2.86 per gallon and gasoline futures rose 12 cents to end at $2.69 per gallon. Natural gas rose 3 cents to end the day at $3.60 per 1,000 cubic feet.

IMF moves toward new $129m Afghan loan

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The IMF said its Afghan mission had reached an agreement in principle on the new financing to help the government advance its fiscal program and strengthen the financial sector. The announcement came after more than one year of discussions that were stalled by the collapse of the war-torn country s biggest commercial lender which saw hundreds of millions of dollars stolen from the government and depositors and highlighted endemic corruption among Kabul s elite. "The authorities have made important progress on managing the Kabul Bank crisis that came to the fore in the fall of 2010," the IMF said in a statement. "Kabul Bank has been put into receivership and efforts are underway to recover the embezzled assets from the former shareholders of the bank which will limit the fiscal costs of the crisis." It said the Afghan central bank was strengthening its supervision of the banking sector and ensuring "that the banking law and regulations are fully enforced, including on conflict of interest." In February the IMF said it was holding back on a new three-year extended credit facility pending a cleanup of the banking system including, it advocated, prosecutions of illegal behavior or fraud tied to Kabul Bank. The new ECF, which is expected to be submitted to the IMF executive board for approval in November, comes as planned NATO troop withdrawals and waning donor support will challenge economic growth and the government revenue collection, the Fund said. But it forecast annual economic growth of 6-8 percent during the period of the loan, which it said could pick up with the development of Afghanistan s mining sector. "Over the medium term, sustaining high and inclusive growth with a view to reducing poverty will require a stable security situation, improvements in governance, and an enabling environment for the private sector."

US seeks WTO action on China, India subsidies

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The United States said Thursday it has enlisted the World Trade Organization to obtain detailed information on subsidy programmes in China and India. US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said that Washington had submitted information to the WTO identifying nearly 200 subsidy programmes that China has failed to notify as required under WTO rules, as well as information on 50 subsidy programmes in India not previously notified. The United States is seeking the "prompt provision of detailed information and data from China and India" regarding the operation of these subsidy programmes, Kirk said in a statement. Under WTO rules, every member is obliged to notify the Geneva-based trade body of its subsidy programmes "in a timely fashion." China, since becoming a WTO member in December 2001, has submitted only one subsidies notification -- more than five years ago and "noticeably incomplete" for the period from 2001 to 2004, the top US trade envoy said. Since then, the US said, China has undertaken numerous subsidy programmes, including subsidies for green technology and income tax exemption for investment in domestic "technological renovation." Earlier in 2011, India submitted its first notification in nearly 10 years, but it covered only three subsidy programmes, the USTR said. India has failed to notify the WTO about subsidies for shipbuilding, steel development and software, among others, the trade envoy said. Kirk said that Washington provided the WTO with information on the Chinese and Indian subsidy programmes gathered in investigations it conducted in cooperation with the US Department of Commerce. "The situation was simply intolerable," Kirk said. "Because China and India have failed to meet their respective obligations, we had to act -- as we are entitled to under the WTO rules -- and provide the voluminous information we have developed regarding subsidy programmes in these two countries." Kirk said the notification obligation was particularly significant for WTO members like China, saying inadequate transparency in many areas of the Asian powerhouse places a "tremendous burden" on other WTO members. "The lack of transparency severely constrains the ability of WTO members to ensure that each government is playing by the rules. The United States would have preferred to avoid today s filings but we have done so to hold China and India accountable and to enforce the rules that all WTO members must follow."

US concerned about its negative image in Pakistan

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Washington is concerned about its negative images among the Pakistanis, vowing to use its diplomatic assets and aid to turn the tide, the US State Department said on Thursday. "We are concerned about the public opinion polling numbers in Pakistan," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, when asked why the US, instead of India, is now perceived by many Pakistanis as their number one enemy while providing them with billions dollars of aid each year. Nuland s comments came after US President Barack Obama, just hours ago, warned Pakistan on its alleged ties with militant groups, including the Haqqani network, saying Washington will not accept a long-term relationship in which Pakistan is "not mindful" of US interests. She said that a key focus of US embassy in Islamabad is to give "an accurate picture" to a broad cross-section of Pakistanis, admitting it is sometimes "hard to permeate, given the intense emotions about other aspects of the relationship." She emphasized that the US civilian aid to Pakistan, which has not been affected the soured relationship, will help Pakistan to improve its economy, education etc., adding that the US will continue to make efforts on these areas to support the country. Last month, the then Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen publicly accused the Haqqani network of being a " veritable arm" of the Pakistani intelligence service, which prompted furious response from Pakistan. The recent row has sent the two countries  relations to a new low, which had already been seriously damaged after US special forces secretly entered Pakistan and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden without knowledge and permission from Islamabad in May.

India wants an 'anti-Pakistan' Afghanistan: Musharraf

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Pakistan s former president Pervez Musharraf charged Thursday that arch-rival India seeks to "create an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan" as part of a bid to dominate South Asia politically and economically. Musharraf said Afghanistan sends its intelligence staff, diplomats and soldiers to Pakistan where they are "indoctrinated against Pakistan," something he said India must stop and the United States should be concerned about. "In Afghanistan, there is some kind of a proxy conflict going on between Pakistan and India," Musharraf told a leadership forum sponsored by the Atlantic media corporation. "India is trying to create an anti-Pakistan Afghanistan." It s ambition, he said, is to "have a weak Pakistan so that it can be dominated, so that it doesn t have any confrontationist attitude which doesn t go well with India s vision of dominating the region." Musharraf said he understood that India does not seek to take over Pakistan militarily, but rather it wants to dominate Pakistan in the area of foreign policy, economic policy, trade and commerce. "That is how you suppress, you control or dominate another country," according to the former army chief who seized power in a 1999 bloodless coup and resigned as president in 2008. "Afghanistan s intelligence, Afghanistan s diplomats, Afghanistan s soldiers, all the army, security people, they all go to India for training," where they are "indoctrinated against Pakistan," he added. While he was in power, he said he personally offered Afghanistan free training but "not one man has come to Pakistan for training." He added: "India must stop it.... I would say that the United States needs to understand Pakistan s sensitivities. I see there is a lack of concern for Pakistan s sensitivities." Musharraf spoke after Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed a "strategic partnership" with India on Tuesday. The partnership -- the first such pact between Afghanistan and another country -- deepens already friendly Delhi-Kabul ties and aims to boost trade, security and cultural links between the countries. Fearful of encirclement by its wealthier neighbour, Pakistan has long focused on Afghanistan -- arming Islamist warlords against the Soviets in the 1980s, backing the Taliban in the 1990s and hedging its bets in the 2000s.

Cook hits ton, Harris grabs five wickets

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Highveld Lions opening bat Stephen Cook and Northern Titans spinner Paul Harris starred on the first day of South African SuperSport Series second round matches Thursday. Cook finished unbeaten on 131 after a full day at the De Beers Oval crease in Northern Cape diamond city Kimberley as the Johannesburg-based Lions compiled 297-6 in 96 overs by the close of play. He faced 282 balls and struck 20 fours with fellow opener and skipper Alviro Patersen (35) and number three Jonathan Vandiar (48) lending valuable support while Ryan McLaren and Dillon du Preez each took two expensive wickets for the Knights. Titans showed no ill effects of a six-win hiding from the Knights last weekend as they bowled out the Coastal Dolphins for 243 in 87.5 overs and were 20 without loss when play ended at the City Oval in KwaZulu-Natal capital Pietermaritzburg. Dolphins struggled from the start with opener Imran Khan going for nine and South Africa batting star Hashim Amla, who scored a double century at the Lions last weekend, made only 14 when he was trapped leg before. Harris was the tormentor in chief, taking 5-37 in 26 overs that included eight maidens, and was ably backed by three-wicket Morne Morkel against the Dolphins whose highest scorer Daryn Smit was on 73 when he ran out of partners.

Tsonga, Wozniacki into quarterfinals at China Open

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Tsonga beat Chinese qualifier Zheng Ze 6-3, 6-4 and Wozniacki defeated Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-3, 7-6 (3). "It was not easy today, and I m happy to win, of course, even if I was supposed to win," Tsonga said. The Frenchman, who won a tournament at home in Metz last month, is competing for one of the four remaining spots at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London. In the next round, he will face Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, who beat Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-4. "I think he s a great player," Ferrero said of Tsonga. "He s in a good shape. He s been playing very good tennis most of the season on the hard courts, and of course he s one of the favorites to win the tournament." Also in Friday s quarterfinals, Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic will face Fernando Verdasco of Spain, Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia will meet Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, and Kevin Anderson of South Africa will play Marin Cilic of Croatia. In the women s tournament, Wozniacki rebounded from last week s loss to Kanepi at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. "I knew it was going to be a tough match," the top-ranked Dane said. "I m really happy to get this win and get my revenge." Wozniacki will next face Flavia Pennetta of Italy, who defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Also, second-seeded Victoria Azarenka pulled out of the tournament because of a right foot injury, giving 13th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia a walkover win. Azarenka, who lost in doubles on Wednesday, said her foot has been bothering her since Tokyo. "I m not sure about recovery time but I will consult my doctor," the fourth-ranked Azarenka said. In other quarterfinal matches, Pavlyuchenkova will face Andrea Petkovic of Germany and Monica Niculescu of Romania will take on Maria Kirilenko of Russia.

Boxing: Probe underway into 'clash for medals' allegations

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An investigation into lurid allegations that multi-million dollar bribes were paid to ensure Azerbaijan boxers won gold medals at the 2012 Olympics got under way on Thursday. The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) s special investigation committee met for the first time to begin its probe into allegations made by the BBC s Newsnight programme that $9 million was involved. The claims, which emerged as the world championships got underway in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku, have been denied by AIBA officials. "The committee has started the process of gathering in all documentation and interviewing the parties that are relevant to the investigation," said an AIBA statement. "The BBC has informed the committee that, although they are willing to assist with the investigation, they will not identify any confidential sources. The BBC has yet to provide the committee with any documentation or evidence."

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Cricket - Sports

Friday, October 7, 2011

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