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Karachi: 2.5kg bomb planted on motorcycle defused
Nawaz meets Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan
Registration of 12 pharmaceutical factories suspended
Putin warns of long Syrian civil war if Assad ousted
US, China begin annual human rights dialogue
US donates extra $150 million to battle AIDS
US shooting suspect in court with orange-red hair
IMF stresses support for Greece ahead of audit
Oil price falls on renewed concerns about Europe
European debt worries drive down commodity prices
Olympics: Pakistan slams visa scam claims
Olympics: Four-time Olympian Venus eyes Rio 2016
South Africa vow not to rest after crushing victory
Chris Gayle back in WI Test squad
Five-star Steyn finishes demolition job

Karachi: 2.5kg bomb planted on motorcycle defused

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The bomb disposal squad was called in on report that a suspect motorcycle was parked in front of China’s consulate. The motorcycle was moved to Sea View. According to bomb disposal squad, 2.5kg explosive material was planted on the motorcycle.

Nawaz meets Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan

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Nawaz Sharif met with Sharat Sabharwal, India’s High Commissioner in Pakistan, in Murree and exchanged views on Pak-India ties and matters of mutual interests. He stressed on better Pak-India ties on the basis of mutual respect for the restoration of durable peace. He also welcomed the restoration of Pak-India cricket ties.

Registration of 12 pharmaceutical factories suspended

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Taking action on the news flashed by Dunya News, the federal government has suspended registration of 12 pharmaceutical factories for producing substandard drugs. The Central Drug Testing Laboratory has confirmed report about 30 substandard drugs. The chemical composition of these drugs was not up to prescribed standard.  Meanwhile, National Regulation ministry has summoned 18 pharmaceutical factories on report of substandard drugs while it has suspended registration of 12 pharmaceutical factories.

Putin warns of long Syrian civil war if Assad ousted

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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Monday of a protracted civil war in Syria should President Bashar al-Assad be "unconstitutionally" removed from power by rebel fighters. "We are afraid that if the country s current leadership is removed from power unconstitutionally, then the opposition and today s leadership may simply change places," the Interfax news agency quoted Putin as saying. "One will become (the new) leadership and the other -- the opposition." Putin warned that in that case "a civil war will stretch on for who knows how long," Interfax reported. The Russian leader s comments came as fighting raged in the main Syrian cities of Damascus and Aleppo on Monday.

US, China begin annual human rights dialogue

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The US and China are holding their annual human rights dialogue that allows Washington to broach thorny issues but demonstrates its limited leverage with Beijing. The two days of closed-door talks between senior officials began in Washington Monday. Human rights groups want the US to press China over a crackdown on rights lawyers and activists and repression in Tibet. The Obama administration says human rights is central to its foreign policy. In May, a prominent Chinese dissident was allowed to move to New York after he sought refuge in the US Embassy in Beijing. But Washington s scope for pressuring China has diminished as the Asian nation s stature has grown. China objects to finger-pointing but likely sees the dialogue as useful in fending off critics and preserving ties.

US donates extra $150 million to battle AIDS

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Science now has the tools to slash the spread of HIV even without a vaccine and the US is donating an extra $150 million to help poor countries put them in place, the Obama administration told the world s largest AIDS conference Monday. "We want to get to the end of AIDS," declared the top US HIV researcher, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health. How long it takes depends on how quickly the world can adopt those tools, he said including getting more of the millions of untreated people onto life-saving drugs that come with the bonus of keeping them from infecting others. "No promises, no dates, but we know it can happen," Fauci told the International AIDS Conference. Some 34.2 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and 2.5 million were infected last year. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the goal is an AIDS-free generation. That would mean no babies would be born infected, young people would have a much lower risk than today of becoming infected and people who already have HIV would receive life-saving drugs so they wouldn t develop AIDS or spread the virus. "I am here today to make it absolutely clear the US is committed and will remain committed to achieving an AIDS-free generation," Clinton told the more than 20,000 scientists, people living with HIV and policymakers assembled for the conference. But it will require smart targeting of prevention tools where they can have the greatest effect including to high-risk populations that are particularly hard to reach because of stigma. "If we want to save more lives, we need to go where the virus is," she said. First, Clinton said it is possible to virtually eliminate the transmission of HIV from infected pregnant women to their babies by 2015, by getting the mothers onto anti-AIDS drugs. HIV-infected births are rare in the United States and are dropping steadily worldwide, although some 330,000 children became infected last year. Clinton said the US has invested more than $1 billion toward that goal in recent years and is providing an extra $80 million to help poor countries finish the job. Much of the AIDS conference is focused on how to get treatment to all people with HIV, because good treatment can cut by 96 percent their chances of spreading the virus to sexual partners. Fauci pointed to South Africa, where healthy people who live in a region that has increased medication now have a 38 percent lower risk of infection compared with neighbors in an area where HIV treatment is less common. Drugs aren t the only effective protection. Fauci said male circumcision is "stunningly successful," too, at protecting men from becoming infected by a heterosexual partner. Clinton said the US will provide $40 million to help South Africa reach its goal of providing voluntary circumcision to half a million boys and men this year.

US shooting suspect in court with orange-red hair

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A former doctoral student accused of going on a deadly shooting rampage at a showing of the new Batman movie in Colorado appeared in court for the first time on Monday, but he didn t seem to be there at all. James Holmes shuffled into court with his hands cuffed and his brown hair dyed orange-red the first look the world got of the 24-year-old since the Friday rampage that left 12 people dead and 58 others injured at a packed midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises." It was one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. Unshaven and appearing dazed, Holmes sat virtually motionless in a maroon jailhouse jumpsuit, his eyes drooping as the judge advised him of the severity of the case. At one point, Holmes simply closed his eyes. He didn t say a word. His attorneys did all the talking when the judge asked if he understood his rights. Prosecutors said later they didn t know if Holmes was on medication. Authorities have said he is being held in isolation at the jail. Holmes  demeanor appeared to anger the relatives of some of the victims who attended the hearing. One woman s eyes welled up with tears. The hearing was also the first confirmation that Holmes  hair was colored. Soon after the shooting, there were reports of his hair being red and that he called himself "The Joker" when he was arrested. "The Joker" is one of Batman s enemies in the fictional Gotham and has brightly colored hair. It was not immediately known if he told officers that he was Batman s nemesis, however. Investigators also found a Batman mask inside Holmes  apartment after they finished clearing the home of booby traps, a law enforcement official close to the investigation said Sunday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media. Holmes, whom police say was clad in body armor and armed with an assault rifle, a shotgun and handguns during the attack, was arrested shortly after in the parking lot. He is refusing to cooperate, authorities said. They said it could take months to learn what prompted the attack. Holmes was brought over from the Arapahoe County detention facility and walked into the courtroom with attorneys and others. He sat down in a jury box, seated next to one of his attorneys. His entrance was barely noticeable but relatives of shooting victims leaned forward in their seats to catch their first glimpse of him. Some stared at him the entire hearing, including Tom Teves, whose son, Alex, was killed in the shooting. Two women held hands tightly, one shaking her head. After the hearing, prosecutor Carol Chambers said that "at this point, everyone is interested in a fair trial with a just outcome for everybody involved." Chambers said earlier her office is considering pursuing the death penalty against Holmes. She said a decision will be made in consultation with victims  families. Holmes is expected to be formally charged next Monday. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and he could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations. Holmes has been assigned a public defender.

IMF stresses support for Greece ahead of audit

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The International Monetary Fund stressed Monday its support of Greece on the eve of an IMF and European audit of the debt-stricken country s progress under an international bailout programme. "The IMF is supporting Greece in overcoming its economic difficulties," the Washington-based fund said in a brief statement. On Tuesday, "an IMF mission will start discussions with the country s authorities... on how to bring Greece s economic program, which is supported by IMF financial assistance, back on track," it added. The global lender said it was responding to a number of news queries following a report by the German news magazine Der Spiegel on Greece. Der Spiegel reported that Greece had fallen behind with its budget cuts and was asking for more time to meet the conditions of the 130-billion-euro ($157.5 billion) IMF-European Union aid package. But, the magazine said, Greece would require an additional 50 billion euros, and neither Germany nor the IMF were prepared to make that available. Auditors from the IMF, EU and the European Central Bank -- the so-called troika of Greek creditors -- return to Athens on Tuesday. The troika s findings will determine whether Greece will receive fresh loans of 31.5 billion euros by September under its debt rescue program. Without this money, the Greek government will be unable to redeem maturing debt and maintain salary and pension payments.

Oil price falls on renewed concerns about Europe

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Borrowing costs soared for Spain and Italy, reaching levels considered unsustainable for more than a few months. Spain and some other eurozone nations already are in recession, and many analysts worry that other European nations will follow. As Europe struggles, its demand for manufactured goods from the U.S. and China will likely decline. China, the world s second biggest oil consumer behind the U.S., already foresees slower economic growth in the third quarter. And the U.S. economy is still sluggish. Less growth means less demand for oil. Benchmark U.S. crude prices fell by $3.69, or 4 percent, to finish the day at $88.14 per barrel in New York. Brent crude, which sets the price for imported oil, lost $3.57, or 3.3 percent, to finish at $103.26 per barrel in London. Stocks also fell with major indexes closing down about 1 percent. At the pump, gasoline prices rose by 2.4 cents over the weekend to a national average of $3.471 per gallon (91 cents a liter), according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service. The price of a gallon of regular increased in July by an average of 14 cents, but it s still 46 cents cheaper than the peak for the year in April. U.S. gasoline prices may rise this week following a fire at a Louisiana refinery that forced owner Valero Energy Corp. to shut it down. Valero spokesman Bill Day said the Meraux, La., refinery was taken offline after catching fire early Sunday morning. It will stay shut while the company repairs the damage. No injuries were reported. The Meraux facility can refine up to 135,000 barrels of oil per day. It then ships gasoline and other refined petroleum products to other parts of the country, including the East Coast. An extended closure at Meraux could tighten gasoline supplies in some parts of the country. In other futures trading, heating oil fell by 10.54 cents, or 3.6 percent, to finish at $2.8189 per gallon, while wholesale gasoline lost 6 cents, or 2 percent, to end at $2.8829 per gallon. Natural gas rose 3.6 cents to end at $3.1170 per 1,000 cubic feet.

European debt worries drive down commodity prices

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Oil fell 4 percent, copper, 2 percent and wheat 3.2 percent. Gold and silver also dropped. About the only bright spot was natural gas, which ended up 1.2 percent. The European concerns focused on Spain after its economy contracted 0.4 percent in the second quarter and the government predicted the economy would continue to shrink into 2013. That sent the interest rate on Spain s 10-year bond up 0.22 percentage point to 7.45 percent, the highest level since the euro began in 1999. Investors speculated that Spain could become the next country to seek bailout money from the 17 countries that use the euro. There also are lingering concerns about financially troubled Italy and Greece. Commodities investors worry that Europe s problems will continue to dampen demand for oil, industrial metals, grains and other raw materials. "I still think the markets have not really seen enough from European authorities to, you know, alleviate these fears," Kingsview Financial analyst Matt Zeman said. He speculated that conditions will worsen and the European Central Bank eventually will step in to buy bonds of various countries to help promote economic growth. Commodities were also hurt by a stronger dollar. Since commodities are priced in dollars, a stronger dollar makes them more expensive for buyers who trade in other currencies such as the euro and the yen. In agricultural contracts, corn and soybeans fell after making steady gains for weeks because hot, dry weather damaged the crops. Corn for September delivery fell 10.5 cents to finish at $8.14 per bushel after setting a record high of $8.245 a bushel on Friday, the second consecutive record. The December contract, which was the most active, dropped 10.25 cents to $7.855 per bushel. August soybeans declined 59 cents, or 3.4 percent, to end at $16.985 per bushel after hitting a record high of $17.575 per bushel on Friday, its third straight day of record highs. The November contract, also the most active, fell 64 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $16.2225 per bushel. September wheat fell 30.5 cents to end at $9.1275 per bushel. In other trading, September copper fell 6.8 cents to finish at $3.38 per pound, October platinum dropped $15.60 to $1,398.90 an ounce and September palladium ended down $5.15 at $570.95 per bushel. August gold decreased $5.40 to end at $1,577.40 an ounce and September silver dropped 26 cents to $27.042 an ounce. Benchmark oil dropped $3.69 to finish at $88.14 per barrel. Heating oil fell 10.54 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $2.8189 per gallon and wholesale gasoline ended down 6.01 cents, or 2 percent, at $2.8829 per gallon. Natural gas rose 3.6 cents to $3.117 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Olympics: Pakistan slams visa scam claims

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Pakistani sports officials Monday rubbished claims by a British newspaper to have uncovered a visa scam that could have allowed potential terrorists into the Olympic Village. The Sun tabloid said it had busted a racket involving a politician in the eastern city of Lahore that could have given access to the London Games as part of the Pakistani contingent in return for a million rupees ($10,000). Pakistan s Olympic chef de mission Aqil Shah dismissed the Sun s claims. "These are baseless reports," Shah told AFP. "This is an attempt to malign Pakistan. Even if someone gets a passport he cannot enter the Olympic Village without an Olympic accreditation card." The Sun said its undercover reporter was offered the chance to go to the Olympics posing as an official member of the Pakistani contingent on a two-month visa. Pakistan s 39-strong delegation -- minus Shah -- is already in London and consists of 23 athletes and 16 officials. Shah justified the number of officials. "Hockey has at least six officials which are under the rules and then we have physicians and other coaches who are genuine members of Pakistan s contingent," said Shah. Pakistan Olympic Association chief Arif Hasan was already in London and discussing the matter with the Pakistan High Commission, said Shah.

Olympics: Four-time Olympian Venus eyes Rio 2016

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Venus Williams may be about to become the first American tennis star to feature in four Olympics, but she intends to keep playing until the 2016 Rio Games when she will be 36. Williams, the singles gold medallist at Sydney in 2000, and doubles winner with sister Serena in 2000 and 2008 in Beijing, has no intention of calling it quits despite her world ranking having slumped to 69. "I m aiming for 2016. Serena and I both want to play there. I have played a lot of Olympics and to keep adding to them is amazing," said Venus after her first hit at Wimbledon on Monday. Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus was a first round casualty at the Grand Slam event earlier this month, her worst defeat in south-west London since her 1997 debut. But she and Serena then went on to win their fifth doubles title at the venue where the London Olympics tennis tournament is taking place. "I had a great Wimbledon. I was very happy with the results and getting the doubles title. You can t win every one in singles," said Venus, whose build-up to Wimbledon had been hit by Sjogren s syndrome, an auto-immune disease, which left her lacking energy. "Thankfully I have been able to be a champion here, so I am grateful for that and if I could triumph in the Olympics, that would be even more amazing." Venus, 32, said that after her battle to regain her fitness and recover her ranking to boost her Olympic qualification hopes, she rated the London Games as the most important in her career. "This is the most important Olympics I have ever played. It was definitely a fight to get here. Now I am an Olympian, I am very excited. As soon as I touched down, I just felt all the feelings of being an Olympian," she said. "It would feel even sweeter now to win a fourth gold medal. But looking at that, I can t believe I actually did that, I m like  oh my god . "At the time, you just get in the zone but afterwards you can t believe it. So if it could happen again, I could make my country proud." On Monday, Venus took part in the torch relay which made its way around the All England Club, taking it on from Britain s Andy Murray. "It was so exciting. When I had the invite to carry the torch, I just couldn t believe it. I was just elated the whole time," she said.

South Africa vow not to rest after crushing victory

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South Africa achieved one of the most comprehensive wins in Test history when they beat England by an innings and 12 runs in the first Test at the Oval on Monday but captain Graeme Smith and coach Gary Kirsten pledged they would not take England lightly in the remaining two matches. South Africa bowled out England twice on a pitch which gave minimal help to the bowlers. They lost only two wickets themselves in piling up a massive 637 for two in their only innings, with man of the match Hashim Amla hitting a South African record 311 not out. It was an especially surprising margin because England were on top on the first day when they scored 267 for three. Dale Steyn was South Africa s hero on Monday, taking three wickets in 16 deliveries with the second new ball as England were bowled out for 240 on the final day. The fast bowler finished with five for 56 to justify his ranking as the world s leading Test bowler. The win took South Africa a big step towards earning the number one ranking in Test cricket which they will achieve if they defeat current number ones England in the series. The second Test starts at Headingley in Leeds on August 2. Smith said in a television interview before flying back to Cape Town to be with his wife for the birth of the couple s first child: "It s an extremely proud moment for all of us in our team." But he added: "We are going to Headingley and the conditions will be very different and we understand it will be a very different Test match." Kirsten hailed a "great performance" by his team. "We think that we can go out and play cricket like that on a regular basis, rather than that being a one-off Test match. "I m not saying we ll be 650 for two again but we feel that we can put in really good performances on a daily basis." Responding to South Africa s apparent shortage of preparation ahead of the Test, Kirsten said: "The only way you can prepare effectively for Test match cricket is to play Test match cricket because it s very tough to get into Test match intensity mode playing first-class cricket. "It s a very different game. We had 18 days together as a unit, we tried a couple of different things and I thought the guys came into this match mentally fresh." Kirsten said, though, that the team s job was only a third complete. "We ve got a great respect for the England cricket team. We know they will try and bounce back. We re not going to take anything for granted." England captain Andrew Strauss gave credit to South Africa. "We were outplayed in the last four days of the game. We set the game up well on the first day. South Africa used the conditions to their advantage on day two and they never let us back into the game." But Strauss pledged that England would bounce back.

Chris Gayle back in WI Test squad

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Gayle has not played Test cricket in over 18 months and his return has afforded the Windies  batting ranks, which have also welcomed the return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, a major boost ahead of the two-match series. The veteran Chanderpaul missed the third and final Test against England earlier this year due to a side strain, but has since recovered. Darren Bravo, however, has not been considered for selection as he is still nursing the groin injury sustained on the same tour. Fast bowler Fidel Edwards and spinner Shane Shillingford, meanwhile, have been dropped. Sunil Narine is the only specialist spinner in the 13-man squad, while batsman Assad Fudadin has retained his place. Squad: Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Kieran Powell, Assad Fudadin, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Narsingh Deonarine, Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Darren Sammy (captain), Tino Best, Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul, Sunil Narine.

Five-star Steyn finishes demolition job

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England to an embarrassing innings and 12-run defeat on day five of the series opener at The Oval. Resuming on 102 for four overnight and sporting plenty of ambition to, at least, make the Proteas bat again, the home side instead slumped to 240 all out - and a one-nil deficit in the three-match series. The tourists  attack struggled in the first session on Monday, taking just one wicket, but the arrival of the second new ball brought the remaining five needed for an emphatic triumph shortly before tea over the world s number one-ranked Test nation. Hashim Amla s record-breaking triple-century and a majestic 183 not out from Jacques Kallis largely removed the proverbial wind from England s sails on Sunday, but the job still had to be finished come the new week. Steyn, leading from the front and with Imran Tahir by his side, duly delivered. Castling Ravi Bopara before lunch and later removing Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann in relatively quick succession, the right-arm fast bowler screamed to the 19thfive-wicket haul of his prolific Test career.Bell and Prior s 86-run stand for the sixth wicket threatened to derail the Proteas  progress, but the latter s departure to Tahir on the sweep, sparked a capitulation that saw the English lose their last five wickets for a mere 37 runs.Tahir s role in complementing the out-and-out speed of Steyn was always going to be an important one on a day-five pitch offering plenty of turn. The animated leg-spinner proved up to the challenge entirely, and was almost fittingly at hand to hammer the final nail into the hosts  coffin.Outfoxing tail-ender James Anderson with a delivery that admittedly kept low, Tahir finished with a innings haul of three for 63 - his true value, though, extended well beyond his modest figures. Andrew Strauss  men will be left with plenty of questions, none more pressing than the inadequacy of their seam attack in conditions void of much swing and seam. Their tail, meanwhile, appears a touch too long if Bresnan is to continue batting at eight in the order. South Africa, though, have promptly put a trying first day at The Oval and allegations of being underprepared behind them with an utterly resounding performance. While they ll be the first to ward off talk of rising to the helm of the Test rankings until the mace is actually in their hands, skipper Smith and coach Gary Kirsten s are now the firm favourites to win the series. This is the Proteas  first ever Test victory at The Oval, while England are left to lick the wounds of their first innings defeat in three years. The margin might have been even bigger, had AB de Villiers not shelled a catch offered by Bell, who ultimately reached 55, was on 20. Amla, for his historic 311 not out, was rightly named Man of the Match. Smith, in the interim before the second Test, which gets underway at Headingley on 2 August, will jet back to South Africa to be with his wife for the birth of his first child.

PoliticusUSA

Cricket - Sports

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

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