.

Cricket - Sports

Loading...

Monday, July 1, 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

US intelligence target Italy and France embassies: report

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - France, Italy and Greece were among 38 targets of spying operations conducted by US intelligence services, according to documents leaked to the Guardian newspaper by fugitive former CIA operative Edward Snowden.One of the leaked US National Security Agency (NSA) files said that intelligence officials targeted embassies and UN missions by implanting bugs in electronic communications gear, tapping into cables and collecting communications using specialised antennae, according to a report on the Guardian's website Sunday.Attempts were made to eavesdrop on the French, Italian and Greek embassies in Washington while Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India and Turkey were all named as subjects of operations in a 2010 document.German weekly Der Spiegel earlier revealed that the European Union was one of the targets of Washington's huge Internet spy programme, with bugs hidden in EU offices in Brussels and the US.According to documents seen by the Guardian, bugs were implanted on the encrypted fax machine at the EU embassy in Washington as part of operation 'Perdido', set up apparently to learn about rifts between member nations.The operation against the French mission to the UN was dubbed 'Blackfoot' and the one against its Washington embassy was known as 'Wabash'.The Italian embassy in Washington was also targeted in operation 'Bruneau'.The EU, Paris and Berlin on Sunday angrily demanded answers over the allegations Washington had bugged EU offices.The US authorities issued an arrest warrant this month for Snowden after he revealed details of NSA's so-called PRISM programme which collects and analyses information from Internet and phone users around the world, with access to data from Google, Yahoo and other Internet firms.He remains in political limbo at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport after flying in from Hong Kong last week, unable to fly on without legal travel documents or exit the airport without a Russian visa.

15 dead in Iraq attacks, bomb at football pitch

Posted:

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A string of attacks across Iraq killed 15 people Sunday, including nine in a bombing at a football pitch, the latest in a spate of blasts targeting Iraqis playing and watching the sport.The deaths are part of a surge in violence that comes as Iraq grapples with months of protests by the Sunni Arab community and protracted political deadlock. Analysts warn there may be no respite before general elections next year.Attacks on Sunday struck in Mosul, Dawr, Sharqat and Hilla, but the deadliest violence hit the capital.At 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) in the Nahrawan neighbourhood of southeast Baghdad, a bomb went off as a group of youths were playing football at a popular pitch.The blast killed nine and wounded 25 others, an interior ministry official and a medical source said.Most of the victims were boys under the age of 16, the sources said.The bombing was the latest in a string of attacks targeting football pitches and cafes broadcasting matches in this football-mad country where Iraqis closely follow not only the national team, but also an array of other international and club competitions.Including Sunday's attack, more than 50 people have been killed in at least 10 such bombings in cities in and around Baghdad, but also in northern Iraq, according to an AFP tally.Elsewhere, attacks outside the capital killed four people, while officials also found the bodies of two men who had been shot dead.Among the victims was a 17-year-old girl killed by a roadside bomb near Dawr, north of Baghdad.The latest attacks pushed the nationwide death toll for June to 448, the third successive month the figure has topped 400, according to an AFP tally based on reports from security and medical officials.More than 1,000 people died in unrest across Iraq in April and May.However, figures compiled by the United Nations are higher still, pegging the death toll for April and May at more than 1,750.Iraq has seen a rise in violence since the beginning of the year, coinciding with rallies among the Sunni Arab minority against what demonstrators see as discrimination and the authorities targeting them.Analysts say a government failure to address protesters' grievances has given militant groups recruitment fodder and room to manoeuvre.

Helicopter lands in NYC's Hudson River; all safe

Posted:

NEW YORK (AP) - New York authorities say a helicopter carrying four Swedish tourists has landed in the Hudson River off Manhattan, but everyone has been rescued.The incident happened shortly before noon Sunday in the section of the river near 79th Street. The pilot and four passengers were taken to shore.Deputy Fire Chief Thomas McKavanaugh says the passengers were two adults and two children from Sweden.He says the craft took off from the Wall Street area and lost power after 12 minutes in the air.The pilot used the craft's pontoons and the helicopter remained floating.In 2009, a US Airways flight landed safely on the Hudson after striking geese. All 155 people aboard survived.

Brazil beat Spain 3-0 to win Confederations Cup

Posted:

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Fred scored two goals and Neymar added another as host Brazil defeated world champion Spain 3-0 to win the Confederations Cup on Sunday as protesters clashed with riot police outside the Maracana Stadium.Fred put Brazil on the board less than two minutes into the match, Neymar added to the lead just before halftime and Fred netted his fifth goal in five matches early in the second half to give Brazil victory. The win for the host nation was surprisingly easy against the current world champion.Sergio Ramos missed a penalty kick for Spain in the 55th, sending his low shot wide.Spain defender Gerard Pique was sent off with a straight red card for fouling Neymar in the 68th.Brazil came in hoping a victory would help it regain its status as a global powerhouse after recent struggles. Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hadn't won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.The champion is back, chanted the crowd of more than 73,000 people at the renovated Maracana.It also didn't take long before the fans in a sea of yellow jerseys started teasing the Spaniards, chanting Wanna play, wanna play? Brazil will teach you.The result ended Spain's 26-match unbeaten streak. It hadn't lost since a 1-0 result England in a friendly in London in 2011. Its last loss in an official competition had happened 29 matches ago, in the 2010 World Cup opener against Switzerland.Spain badly wanted a victory against the five-time world champion, which was one of the few top teams it hadn't faced since it began dominating international football. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.It was the first time the traditional football nations had met since a scoreless friendly in 1999. The last competitive match between the teams had been Brazil's 1-0 win in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.Brazil scored early on Sunday and kept pressuring, but it didn't take long for Spain to start taking control of the match. The Europeans were not able to create many dangerous opportunities, though, while Brazil kept threatening the most while relying on counterattacks.Fred opened the scoring after a cross into the area by Hulk in the second minute. The ball bounced off Neymar near the far post and Fred, who had fallen while trying to reach for the cross, fired it in with his right foot while still on the ground. It was his fifth goal in five matches.Brazil added to the lead with Neymar's fourth goal in five matches after an exchange of passes with Oscar in the 44th. The newly signed Barcelona striker, touted as the future of Brazilian football, fired a powerful left-footed shot into the top of the net.Fred closed the scoring early in the second half from just inside the area, sending a low shot to the far corner. Hulk started the move with a pass to Neymar, but the striker let it go as Fred came running behind him.Spain had the penalty kick after Marcelo fouled Jesus Navas inside the area, but Sergio Ramos sent his kick wide.Spain's greatest chance before the penalty came with Pedro Rodriguez in the 41st, when he entered the area clear from defenders in a breakaway. His low shot beat Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but David Luiz came rushing in and slid in front of the goal line just in time to keep the ball from going in.Brazil won the its first Confederations Cup title in Saudi Arabia in 1997, then again in Germany in 2005 and in South Africa in 2009. Spain was trying to win the tournament for the first time.The warm-up tournament, which gives the home country a chance to test its preparations for the World Cup, is played among continental champions plus the World Cup winner and the hosts.There were protests outside the stadium during the match, with police using rubber bullets and tear gas to keep demonstrators from getting too close. A wave of anti-government protests has swept across Brazil in recent weeks, and many affected the Confederations Cup host cities as demonstrators complained of the costs of hosting the World Cup.On the field, it was a heated match from the start, with players from both teams pushing and shoving each other a few times. Even the substitutes got into a shouting match.

Italy beat Uruguay in shootout to take 3rd place

Posted:

SALVADOR (AP) - Gianluigi Buffon saved three penalties as an under-strength Italy edged Uruguay 3-2 in a shootout Sunday to secure third place at the Confederations Cup following a 2-2 draw after extra time.It was a measure of redemption for Italy after a loss to Spain, also in a shootout, in the semifinals.Uruguay, meanwhile, has now lost seven of eight bronze-medal matches at the World Cup, Copa America and Confederations Cup, including a loss to Germany at the 2010 World Cup.This shootout capped an entertaining match at the Arena Fonte Nova, where Alessandro Diamanti scored one goal and set up another for Italy and Edinson Cavani equalized twice for Uruguay.Italy defender Davide Astori opened the scoring in the 24th minute after Diamanti's free kick rattled the post and Cavani equalized for Uruguay in the 58th with an angled shot.Diamanti restored Italy's lead in the 73rd with another free kick that went in directly but not to be outdone Cavani drew Uruguay level again five minutes later with an equally splendid free kick of his own.In the shootout, the 35-year-old Buffon set the tone by stopping the first shot in the shootout from Diego Forlan, then also saved from Martin Caceres before smothering Walter Gargano's effort to end the game.Alberto Aquilani, Stephan El Shaarawy and Emanuele Giaccherini converted for Italy while Mattia De Sciglio's shot was blocked by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.Italy was without usual starters Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo and a handful of others and ended with 10 men after Riccardo Montolivo picked up his second yellow card in the 110th minute for a foul on Luis Suarez.Uruguay was at full strength, featuring virtually the same lineup from its 2-1 semifinal loss to Brazil. With an added day of rest, Uruguay had its usual strike trio of Forlan, Suarez and Cavani in place.Still, for the first 90 minutes it was a balanced match featuring numerous opportunities for both sides.With Leonardo Bonucci on the bench after missing the key shot in the shootout loss to Spain, Astori saw his first action in the tournament and he quickly took advantage.After hitting the post, Diamanti's free kick deflected off the back of Muslera and Astori was waiting for an easy tap in.However, there were doubts over whether the ball had already gone in when Astori touched it. FIFA first awarded the goal to Diamanti then gave it to Astori at halftime making it his first goal for Italy, in his fifth appearance.While Italy appeared content to head into the changing room with a one-goal lead, Uruguay came out energized in the second half and Cavani slotted a shot past outstretched Buffon after being set up by Gargano.Diamanti's goal, also his first for Italy, came with a curling free kick from 28 meters (yards) over Uruguay's wall and into the right corner beyond the reach of diving goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.The lead didn't last long, though, as Cavani then produced a shot over Italy's wall that dipped down in under the crossbar with Buffon unable to stop it despite getting his finger tips on it.The two goals gave Cavani 17 in 54 appearances for Uruguay and they also may have boosted his price on the transfer market, as there is speculation he could lead Napoli after leading Italy's Serie A with 29 goals last season.In extra time, Uruguay dominated but could not find the target with a series of shots from beyond the area while Italy appeared exhausted. Fortunately for the Italians, Buffon was still alert and made the decisive saves.

Park wins US Women's Open for 3rd straight major

Posted:

SOUTHAMPTON (AP) -Inbee Park has won the U.S. Women's Open to make history with titles in the year's first three majors.The world's top-ranked player finished at 8 under to win by four strokes. Her 2-over 74 in the final round Sunday was more than enough, with Sebonack's trying conditions keeping any rivals from making a run. Only three players were under par for the tournament.Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim also shot 74 for her second runner-up finish at a major.No player had ever won the first three majors in a year with at least four.Ahead by four strokes at the start of the round, Park birdied the ninth and 10th holes to extend her lead. She has won six times already this year, including three straight tournaments. Park added a second U.S. Women's Open title to another historic victory in 2008, when she became the event's youngest champion at age 19.

Perry captures 1st major title at Senior Players

Posted:

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Kenny Perry won the Senior Players Championship on Sunday, overtaking Fred Couples with a final round 6-under 64 to claim his first major title.Perry finished his four rounds in 19-under 261 at Fox Chapel, two shots ahead of Couples and Duffy Waldorf.Perry was runner-up in the 1996 PGA Championship and 2009 Masters while playing as a regular on the PGA Tour. He tied for second in the Senior PGA Championship last month.On Sunday, the 52-year-old American took control late in the round. He hit close to the pin on Nos. 16 and 17 for tap-in birdies to break free from Couples and Waldorf.Couples began the day with a two-shot lead but missed a handful of short putts, opening the door for Perry.

Bakelants wins 2nd stage of Tour de France

Posted:

AJACCIO (AP) - Belgian rider Jan Bakelants pulled away close to the finish line to win Sunday's second stage of the Tour de France and take the race leader's yellow jersey for the first time in his career.Bakelants made his move with a few hundred meters remaining and the RadioShack rider did enough to withstand a late charge from Slovak sprinter Peter Sagan.It's difficult to believe what happened today, it's fantastic, said Bakelants, who had a knee operation earlier this year. Today it may be the first and last time I ever wear the yellow jersey.German sprinter Marcel Kittel started the day in the lead after winning Saturday's crash-marred first stage, but the rolling hills took their toll and he finished nearly 18 minutes behind in 169th spot.It's a difficult stage and I'm a sprinter, that's why I suffer, said Kettel, who retained the sprinter's green jersey. I had goose bumps when I went up the hill. So many people were screaming my name. But we were expecting to lose it (the yellow jersey).The 156-kilometer (97-mile) trek started from Bastia and after four moderate climbs finished in Ajaccio, where French emperor and military mastermind Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769.The day's last climb up Cote du Salario was much shorter than the other ones but far steeper.By the time the pack reached the foot of it, Kittel and British sprinter Cavendish were among a small band of strugglers drifting further and further away.Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha and Cyrille Gautier attacked up the final ascent, and Tour favorite Chris Froome then launched a surprise attack to go after Gautier when the Frenchman pulled away. But Froome's attack fizzled out and the main pack swallowed him up.The day after more than a dozen riders crashed, a small white dog ran out into the road some 4 kilometers (2. 5 miles from the line) and a potentially dangerous situation was narrowly avoided by a matter of seconds.A bystander started to run after the dog and then changed his mind, and the dog just managed to reach the other side of the road before the marauding pack passed through.Monday's third stage is the last of the Corsican trio, and is again hilly, with four moderate climbs dotted along the 145.5-kilometer (90-mile) route from Ajaccio to Calvi.

Tri-series: West Indies beat India by one wicket

Posted:

KINGSTON (Agencies) - Opener Johnson Charles made a vital 97 and birthday boy Kemar Roach hit the winning run as West Indies secured a thrilling one-wicket victory over India in their Celkon Mobile Cup match at Sabina Park.India were restricted to 229-7 in their 50 overs and the hosts then recovered from 26-3 to sneak over the line with 14 balls to spare.Having been put into bat, India had Champions Trophy star Shikhar Dhawan caught and bowled by Roach (2-41) for 11.And Virat Kohli went for the same score, well caught by Chris Gayle in the slips off Darren Sammy.However, opener Rohit Sharma made a patient 60 off 89 balls and added 59 for the third wicket with Dinesh Karthik (23).Suresh Raina (44) and MS Dhoni (27) also chipped in but Marlon Samuels (1-20 in nine overs) led the way as the hosts kept the Indians relatively quiet.However, India's 229 -7 looked likely to prove a winning total when they took three quick West Indies wickets.Danger man Gayle (11) hit Umesh Yadav (3-43) to Raina at short cover before the same bowler removed Smith lbw for a duck and Samuels played on to Bhuvneshwar Kumar for just a single.But the West Indies got back into the game as Charles and Darren Bravo (55) supervised a recovery, adding 116 for the fourth wicket.Ravichandran Ashwin eventually removed Bravo before Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin both went for just four, leaving West Indies with plenty to do again at 161-6.Darren Sammy smashed three sixes in his 29 before falling to Ishant Sharma and Charles then holed out to deep mid-off three runs short of what would have been a fine century, having hit eight boundaries and four sixes in his 100-ball knock.That made it 211-8 and it was 220-9 when Sunil Narine hit Raina to mid-on.But Tino Best (3 not out) joined Roach (14 not out) and the two fast bowlers nervously edged their way towards the target, before Roach got Yadav away through the leg-side to clinch a dramatic victory.

Gooch urges England top order to cash in

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Batting coach Graham Gooch urged England's top order to make the most of sound starts after all the side's specialist batsmen failed to do just that on the first day of their Ashes warm-up against Essex.England finished the opening day of four at Chelmsford on Sunday well-placed at 328 for seven but with the only stand of note thus far coming from an unbroken eighth-wicket century partnership between Tim Bresnan (55 not out) and Graeme Swann (62 not out).Former Essex and England captain Gooch, one of England's greatest batsmen, has long emphasised the importance of daddy hundreds -- players turning good starts into truly large scores.All of England's top seven, including captain Alastair Cook, Gooch's protege, reached double figures Sunday but none could follow the master's example.But they should have at least one more chance to spend some time in the middle before England begin the defence of the Ashes with the first Test against Australia in Nottingham starting on July 10.It's a fair total. But we'd have liked some of our top order to spend more time at the crease, and capitalise on their starts, Gooch said.You want your main batsmen to get into a bit of rhythm, get their games in order so that we're building up to peak next week, he explained.You've got to bat long. Once you get in, you've got to capitalise on that. Certainly, come this Test series, if we get starts we've got to put big totals on the board.The job of the batters is to create an opportunity for your bowlers to win the match. That's their job, and they know it is. It wasn't a disaster today. But obviously some of the guys would have liked to spend more time out there.Several of England's batsmen have only just returned to first-class cricket following the team's run to the final of the one-day Champions Trophy, where they were beaten by India at Edgbaston earlier this month.However, Gooch said: I certainly wouldn't make excuses. We've played a lot of one-day cricket recently against the white ball ... you have to make that adjustment pretty much straight away (but) I don't think any of our players would make that excuse.Some of the Essex bowlers did their job, okay. I don't think they tore up any trees, but they stuck at it.Our guys got in, and some of them got out.They won't be happy with that. So next time they've got a chance, they've got to do a better job.

28 killed, 50 injured in Quetta Imambagah blast

Posted:

QUETTA (Dunya News /Agencies) – The bomb exploded near an Imam Bargah in Aliabad area of Hazara Town here on Sunday.According witness, the blast took place near an Imam Bargah followed by firing. The area plunged into darkness after the thunderous explosion that disrupted the power supply.According to media reports, the bodies and injured were rushed to Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Bolan Medical Centre and Civil Hospital.According to sources, the dead bodies and injured were rushed to Combined Military Hospital, Bolan Medical Centre and Civil Hospital.A number of houses and shops were also damaged in the attack.The security forces completely cordoned off the area following the high-intensity suicide blast and media persons and members of rescue teams were not being allowed to enter the crime scene.The attack once again targeted the Hazara Town in Quetta despite presence of heavy security and it is being feared that the death toll could mount.According to an eye witness, the blast took place near an Imam Bargah followed by firing. The area plunged into darkness after the thunderous explosion that disrupted the power supply.Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) has announced three-day mourning across the country while Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) has called a shutter-down strike in Quetta.Earlier in the day, at least 17 people including a child were killed and 32 others sustained injuries in a powerful blast near Badaber police station in Peshawar.Police said militants targeted security forces convoy in the attack.The dead and injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital. Condition of six injured is said to be critical.Those killed also include two women while women and children are also among the injured, twenty of whom are said to be in critical condition.President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have strongly condemned the explosion and expressed deep grief over the loss of the precious lives.They directed the authorities concerned to provide best possible medical facilities to the injured.

Flower happy over Pietersens return

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - England coach Andy Flower has welcomed Kevin Pietersen back to England duty by saying hes pleased to have the superstar batsman in the squad ahead of the defence of the Ashes against Australia.The 33-year-old Pietersen was included Sunday in the England side playing Essex in a four-day Ashes warm-up match at Chelmsford.The South Africa-born batsman last played for England in New Zealand in March before being sidelined by a knee injury that kept him out of all cricket until he made a dominating 177 not out for Surrey in their recent County Championship match against Yorkshire.Flower has had his run-ins with Pietersen, notably last year when England dropped arguably their most talented batsman during the South Africa series for allegedly sending provocative texts to Proteas players.But the Zimbabwean, himself a world-class batsman in his playing days, was in no doubt of Pietersens ability.I am very happy he is back, Flower told the Sunday Telegraph. It was great to see him get that score at Leeds. But it was also great to see how he was in the nets with us prior to that. He looked very confident and was moving well.He is very important to our side. He is a superstar with the bat who can dominate and intimidate opposition. He is a big physical presence and a big personality, and those people influence sporting contests.But Pietersens return ahead of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on July 10 means another specialist batsman must make way and that man looks to be Nick Compton.The grandson of England great Denis, Compton has been opening alongside England captain Alastair Cook in Tests. But he was left out of the side for the Essex match after national selector Geoff Miller said Root, a Yorkshire opener but a middle-order batsman thus far in his Test career, was the best candidate to partner Cook.Compton responded by making 81 and 34 for Somerset against Australia this week and will have another chance to impress against the tourists when he guests for Worcestershire next week.I would not write off Comptons chances of taking part in the Ashes, said Flower.A lot can happen. His only option at the moment is to score as many runs as he can so that he is viewed as being in excellent form if we wanted to call on another batsman.Flower, asked why Root had been preferred to Compton, said: Because in our judgement Joe Root will score more runs than anyone else competing for the opening spot. Hes an opening batsman and we believe he has the game and the mental make up to be successful in that role.

7 Saudis jailed for anti-govt postings on Facebook

Posted:

RIYAD (Online) - The Human Rights Watch on Sunday said Saudi Arabia has sentenced seven activists from its restive eastern province to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years for posting messages on Facebook calling for anti-government protests.According to foreign media reports, the New York-based rights group urged EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and other European officials who were meeting with Gulf counterparts, including Saudi Arabia, in Manama on Sunday to condemn the convictions.Eastern Province has seen occasional protests by minority Shiite Muslims over the past two years against alleged discrimination and negligence, which the Riyadh government denies.Sending people off to years in prison for peaceful Facebook posts sends a strong message that theres no safe way to speak out in Saudi Arabia, even on online social networks, Joe Stork, HRWs deputy Middle East director, said in a statement.If the EU doesnt raise these cases with Saudi officials this weekend, its silence will look like craven compliance with the rights abuses of an authoritarian state.The media reports said the Saudi Interior Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment.

Tires burst for 3 drivers at British Grand Prix

Posted:

SILVERSTONE (AP) - The safety car came out on lap 15 of the British Grand Prix on Sunday after rear left tires burst on three separate cars, including those of race leader Lewis Hamilton and Ferraris Felipe Massa.Hamilton was leading and starting to pull away on the eighth lap when his tire exploded and he was forced to pit before resuming.Two laps later, Massa had the same problem and he spun out. Then on lap 15, Toro Rossos Jean-Eric Vergne also lost his rear tire, with the rubber exploding across the track. That brought out the safety car until lap 22 when normal racing resumed.Red Bull told race leader Sebastian Vettel over the radio it was unclear if the problems were linked to supplier Pirelli or the curbs at Silverstone.

Ecuador flower growers upset over Snowden

Posted:

PIFO (AP) - Gino Descalzi used to fret about things like aphids, mildew and the high cost of shipping millions of roses a year from Ecuador to florists in the United States. These days hes worried about a 30-year-old former spy stuck thought to be in the transit area of the Moscow airport, and he cant believe it.The Obama administration sent a thinly veiled economic threat to this South American country on Thursday when it indefinitely delayed a decision to eliminate tariffs on imports of roses worth about $250 million a year. The move created leverage over the leftist government seen as likeliest to grant National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden political asylum that would protect him from U.S. criminal charges.A week after Snowden began his stuttering, surreal flight across the globe, every passing day without him making progress toward Ecuadorean asylum makes the prospect look less likely. But the men who grow roses, asters and delphinia in the thin air of Ecuadors sun-soaked highlands are deeply concerned that, whatever happens to Snowden, they may turn out to be the most unlikely collateral damage from the geopolitical wrangle over his fate.This totally changes the financial panorama for our businesses and seriously affects the structure of our markets, said Descalzi, whose 280 employees produce some 22 million roses a year. Were just shocked that an event so far from the political and economic life of Ecuador has caused so much commotion and worry.The rose benefit for Ecuador had been widely expected to be approved. Any delay, they say, puts it into uncomfortably uncertain territory.Even if Snowden never touches Ecuadorean soil and the U.S. cuts the 6.8 percent tariff on Ecuadorean roses, along with tariffs on frozen broccoli and canned artichokes, Ecuadorean flower growers are worried that the brouhaha has damaged Ecuador in the eyes of the United States, hurting its reputation for stability and reliability among the buyers who must decide between flowers from Ecuador and the already tariff-free blooms from its nearby market-dominant competitor, Colombia.This is not a mathematical equation, said Benito Jaramillo, the head of the Ecuadorean flower-growers association. The graduate of Texas A&M and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign employs hundreds of people growing summer flowersa category of less-flashy blooms like hydrangeas and asterson his farm about a half-hour from the capital, Quito.The point is that there are a lot of other factors that damage our industrys image and competitiveness in the mid-term, Jaramillo said.Flowers are serious business in Ecuador.The industry says it employs about 50,000 people on about 550 farms across the country and is indirectly responsible for 110,000 jobs, putting it after only oil, seafood and bananas in the ranks of the countrys biggest exporters. It boasts that the long days, rich sunlight and cool nights of the Andean highlands mean the heads of flowers, particularly roses, grow fuller and richer than those from Colombia, which they scoff at as more suitable for grocery stores than florists.Industry representatives spent around a year campaigning hard in Washington for the inclusion of cut roses under the Generalized System of Preferences, or GSP, a mechanism meant to encourage development in lower-income countries.A broader trade pact that covers a wide range of Ecuadorean products, the Andean Trade Preference Act, had been widely expected to expire next month. That now seems certain, not least because Ecuador declared Thursday that it was preemptively rejecting it.Now, the flower industry has turned its focus to its own government, which it desperately hopes wont offer asylum to Snowden.A small group of U.S. senators explicitly threatened trade retaliation if Ecuador harbors Snowden. And on Saturday, Vice President Joe Biden asked Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa to turn down any asylum request.We cant put the interests of 14 million Ecuadoreans at risk because of a 29-year-old hacker whom we dont even know, Descalzi said. This gentleman doesnt mean anything to us.The business impacts of the Snowden affair have infuriated Ecuadors main business groups, who accuse the government of putting ideology before commerce.The decision to renounce the Andean Trade deal was permeated by political and ideological motives, said Roberto Aspiazu, chairman of a coalition of Ecuadors largest industries. The countrys business sector is calling on the government to manage the relationship with the United States with the utmost care, he said.The government said it planned to compensate business damaged by the loss of U.S. tariff benefits and has painted its decision in terms of the nations sovereignty versus U.S. threats.

Posted by IMRAN ALI SOOMRO (DARVESH) at 7/01/2013 07:02:00 AM

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

World EYE

Loading...

  © Blogger templates Newspaper III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP