Dunya TV

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• Machh: Miscreants blow up power pylons
• ECC to review PIAs financial crisis
• KESC cuts power supply to PSM
• Dollar higher after Bernanke comments
• Iraq violence kills 10, among then three children
• World celebrates ailing Mandela's 95th birthday
• Kerry says 'too early' to judge Egypt path after Morsi
• Official: Iran open for nuke talks once team named
• Turkey fires into Syria after teen's death
• Federer rallies to win at German Championships
• Third stage win for Froome in Tour de Force
• Blatter: Brazil may have been wrong choice as host
• Qatar to host boxing world championships in 2015
• Oil rises as market weighs supply report, Bernanke
• England face tough choice over second Test attack

Machh: Miscreants blow up power pylons Posted: MACHH (Dunya News) – According to details, miscreants blew up power pylons near Machh in Balochistan on Wednesday night, sending 18 districts, including Quetta, Machh, Dera Murad Jamali, of the province into darkness.Residents of these areas faced difficulties as there was no electricity during Sehri. According to Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco), rescue teams have been dispatched to the area for the restoration of power supply.

ECC to review PIAs financial crisis Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is scheduled to meet today under the chair of Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Ishaq Dar. The meeting will be briefed on overall plight of the PIA.According to sources, the meeting will approve more funding for PIA. The ECC during its previous meeting had approved Rs 7 billion for PIA.According to sources, Economic Coordination Committee will also release Rs 181 billion in respect of circular debt. This amount will be used to supply fuel to power plants.

KESC cuts power supply to PSM Posted: KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to a spokesman of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) the power supply of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) was disconnected on Wednesday due to non-payment of dues amounting to Rs 930 million.A spokesman of PSM has termed the KESC step as unlawful. He said that under an agreement between the two institutions, the power supply of PSM cannot be disconnected.The spokesman further informed that PSM will pay Rs 100 million out of Rs 930 million today (Thursday) to KESC.Meanwhile, the power supply to the residential colony of PSM was also disconnected which sparked protests by the residents. The protesters also blocked the National Highway causing huge traffic jam.

Dollar higher after Bernanke comments Posted: NEW YORK CITY (AFP) - The US dollar pushed higher against the euro even as bond yields fell Wednesday after the Fed's Ben Bernanke said interest rates would stay low even if stimulus is trimmed.Fed chief Ben Bernanke's message was clear -- that the economy is too weak for any interest rate increases for the foreseeable future, with government spending cuts and high unemployment still a significant hurdle to recovery.But market reactions were mixed.Bonds pushed higher on the prospect of easing interest rates, but the dollar also gained.At 2200 GMT, the euro fell to $1.3125, down from $1.3164 late Tuesday.The dollar also gained to 99.60 yen from 99.04, while the euro pushed to 130.73 yen from 130.43.Bernanke's testimony in Congress left forex traders confused as ever, said Kathy Lien of BK Asset Management.But avoiding a one directional reaction is most likely the Fed Chairman's intention, she said.Bernanke colored his comments on the economy and Fed policy with more worries about the current downside, which supported dovish views about tightening monetary policy.At the same time, he said economic growth was moderate with solid signs of strength in various areas, a view supported by the Fed's Beige Book report on regional economies, also released on Wednesday.The main takeaway from today's speech is that while Bernanke is in no rush to raise interest rates and he still plans to taper asset purchases this year, he understands the need to carefully manage market expectations and to reassure investors that any decision will depend on data, Lien said.In other currencies, the British pound rose to $1.5216 from $1.5155, while the dollar added to 0.9410 Swiss franc from 0.9391.

Iraq violence kills 10, among then three children Posted: BAQUBA (AFP) - A bombing killed three children at a popular swimming area in Iraq on Wednesday after a similar attack two days before, while seven people died in other violence, officials said.The bomb was planted near Al-Shakha river in the Muqdadiyah area northeast of Baghdad.The explosion came after mortar rounds struck a swimming area on the Tigris river north of the capital on Monday, killing four people, including a child.In another attack in the Muqdadiyah area on Wednesday, gunmen opened fire on a car carrying tribal leader Sheikh Majid Ali Jumaili, killing his wife and wounding him, his son and his cousin.And a roadside bomb killed a policeman and wounded another person to the south of Muqdadiyah.Areas to the north of Diyala provinces capital Baquba, especially Muqdadiyah, have been hit by several attacks in recent days, including a bomb targeting worshippers leaving a Sunni mosque on Tuesday that killed four people and wounded 15.Parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi called for an emergency session of parliament because of the situation in Diyala, especially Muqdadiyah, a statement from his office said.Armed men also attacked an army checkpoint north of Ramadi, in Anbar province, killing two soldiers, the defence ministry said in a statement.Three attackers were also killed.And two bombings in the northern city of Kirkuk wounded two members of the Kurdish peshmerga security forces, a senior officer and a doctor said.Kirkuk is part of a swathe of northern territory that the autonomous Kurdistan region wants to incorporate over the strong objections of the federal government in Baghdad -- a dispute that officials and diplomats warn is one of the main threats to Iraqs long-term stability.Wednesdays attacks come as Iraq struggles with its worst violence since 2008.More than 2,600 people have been killed so far this year, including over 400 so far this month, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

World celebrates ailing Mandela's 95th birthday Posted: JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Global celebrations and charity events will mark Nelson Mandelas 95th birthday Thursday, but the critically ill anti-apartheid hero himself may still be confined to his Pretoria hospital bed on life-support.Volunteers will spend 67 minutes on hundreds of community upliftment projects -- a minute for every year of his activism.But his hospitalisation for a recurring lung infection and bitter infighting among his relatives have tempered the festive spirit.The United Nations in 2010 declared the Nobel peace laureates birthday Mandela Day -- to encourage people around the world to do just over an hour of good deeds.Global celebrities have supported the campaign in memory of Mandelas 67 years of political activism.I will also be giving my 67 minutes to make the world a better place, one small step at a time, British business magnate Richard Branson pledged in a recorded message.On Thursday, children in schools around South Africa will start their classes singing Happy Birthday to the former statesman. Celebrities have committed to painting schools, handing out clothes to impoverished kids and countless similar projects.The inauguration of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Bridge is scheduled at the icons birth village, Mvezo, in the rural Eastern Cape province.A science-specialisation high school bearing his name is also due to be opened.In the United States meanwhile, 17 cities have planned various activities Thursday.On Saturday, Australian city Melbourne will hold a concert featuring local and African artists, while a music festival later this year in Norway will promote equality in schools.Born July 18 in 1918, imprisoned 46 years later, Mandela went on to lead black South Africans struggle for equal rights with whites.He was convicted of treason in 1964 and spent the next 27 years in jail.After his release Mandela skillfully negotiated with the apartheid minority government to end whites-only rule.He became South Africas first black president after all-race elections in 1994 and led reconciliation in the deeply divided country.Mandelas peace-making spirit has won him worldwide respect.Never before in history was one human being so universally acknowledged in his lifetime as the embodiment of magnanimity and reconciliation as Nelson Mandela, archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu, himself a Nobel peace laureate, said.Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said her family had been inspired by a man who personifies the best of humanity.He is proof that even the most intractable problems are surmountable, that division can be overcome with dignity and forgiveness can triumph over fear, said Clinton.But the ailing icon is bound to spend his birthday in the hospital where he has been for the past six weeks, breathing with the help of a machine.Almost a month ago, the presidency announced that his condition had worsened. But it has denied he is in a vegetative state, as his family claimed in court documents dated June 26.His health has recently improved, according to official statements and comments from family and friends.His successor as president, Thabo Mbeki, even suggested he might be discharged from hospital in time to spend his birthday at home.As Nelson Mandela fights for his life, members of his family are fighting amongst themselves.It recently emerged that grandson Mandla Mandela had moved three graves of Mandelas children, from the icons childhood village of Qunu to his own Mvezo village, without consent of the rest of the family.Fifteen relatives, including Nelson Mandelas wife Graca and three daughters, accused Mandla of trying to force Mandelas eventual burial to be in Mvezo.Mandela has previously expressed the wish to be buried with his family in Qunu.The relatives won a court battle against Mandla, and the graves were forcibly returned.Mandla subsequently attacked his relatives in a televised press conference, accusing his aunt, Mandelas oldest daughter Makawize, of sowing divisions in the most famous family of South Africa.Tutu finally had to appeal to the family not to besmirch Mandelas name.But the messy public dispute showed how difficult it is for even Mandelas own family to live up to his principles of humility and unity.

Kerry says 'too early' to judge Egypt path after Morsi Posted: AMMAN (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday said it was too early to judge yet the future course of Egypt following the ouster of Mohamed Morsi.Very clearly order needs to be restored, stability needs to be restored, rights need to be protected ... and the country needs to be able to return to normal business, Kerry told a press conference in Amman.We are concerned about political arrests and we are concerned about people being able to participate, Kerry said.He added it was much too early to make pronouncements or judge where its going to go.On Monday Deputy Secretary William Burns was in Cairo, the most senior American official to visit Egypt since the July 3 coup which removed Morsi.Burns urged Egypts divided factions to engage in dialogue and end violence, according to comments he made in Cairo aired on Arabic television channels.State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell later said violence which has rocked Egypt since Morsis ouster made the transition much more difficult, but he insisted Washington was not taking sides.Washington has refrained from saying Morsi was the victim of a coup, which would legally require a freeze on some $1.5 billion in US military and economic assistance to Cairo.

Official: Iran open for nuke talks once team named Posted: TEHRAN (AP) - Iran will be ready to resume nuclear talks with world powers as soon as the countrys president-elect puts together his negotiating team, the foreign minister said Wednesday amid signals on both sides to try to quickly restart dialogue.The comments by Ali Akbar Salehi follow a meeting in Brussels with members of the six-member group that reopened talks last year with Iran on its disputed nuclear program. The West fears the program is designed to develop atomic weapons, while Iran insists it is only for peaceful purposes.EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the group the five permanent U.N. Security Council nations plus Germany seeks to resume negotiations as soon as possible. Four rounds of talks since last year have failed so far to make significant headway, and no date has been proposed for their resumption.Irans newly elected president, Hasan Rouhani, himself a former top nuclear negotiator, is currently piecing together his government. He will be sworn-in early next month.In separate comments attributed to Rouhani, he dismissed Israels warnings of possible military action against Irans nuclear program, telling veterans of the 1980-88 war with Iraq that they should scoff at threats from a miserable country in the region.The remarks were carried by tasnimnews, a newly established conservative news website. The statement was not reported by state media or other more established news outlets. Rouhanis advisers declined to comment.At the Brussels meeting, no new offers were discussed, according to a Western diplomat with knowledge of the session. But the diplomat said the possibility was raised about positive steps that could include easing sanctions in return for more flexibility by the new chief negotiator for Iran, who will replace hard-liner Saeed Jalili. He finished a distant third in Junes presidential election to the centrist Rouhani.The diplomat was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity.Shortly after Irans election in June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Islamic Republic was willing to halt its 20 percent enrichment of uranium, which has been a key concession sought in the negotiations. Iran, however, has not publicly commented on the presumed offer or what other potential steps the country could take.The 20 percent enriched uranium is much closer to warhead-grade material than the level needed for energy-producing nuclear reactors. Iran says it needs the higher enrichment for its medical research reactor.

Turkey fires into Syria after teen's death Posted: ANKARA (AP) - A Turkish teenager was killed and two other people were wounded near Syrias border by stray bullets fired during renewed clashes between Syrian rebels and Kurdish gunmen, an official said Wednesday. Turkeys military said it fired into Syria in retaliation for bullets that struck Turkish territory.Syrian rebels and pro-government fighters from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party have resumed battles in the Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Kurdish gunmen had captured most of the town after a day of fighting against the rebel jihadi groups.The Observatory said the fighting in Ras al-Ayn between Kurdish Democratic Union Party, or PYD, and members of al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant left at least 11 dead people dead, including nine extremists.The clashes between rebel factions who had fought together against forces of President Bashar Assad have been frequent in the past weeks.Fighters affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and those from the al-Qaida-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant clashed last week in Aleppo, Syrias biggest city.The growing phenomenon of rebel-on-rebel violence has sapped strength from the broader opposition movement to Syrian President Bashar Assad, underscoring the rebels inability to unite around a common command and for Assads deeply divided political opponents in the Western-backed opposition group to unify their platforms.A Turkish official said the 17-year-old boy was killed in the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar by a stray bullet on Tuesday while another teenager was in a hospital in serious condition. The official from the Ceylanpinar mayors office spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.The Turkish military said in a brief statement that it fired into Syria in retaliation to shots fired into Turkey, including several that hit a police station in Ceylanpinar. It gave no further detail on the attack but the pro-Kurdish Firat news agency said the military fired artillery at an area in Ras al-Ayn. The official in Ceylanpinar said the military targeted PYD gunmen but had no information on any casualties or damage.Turkey was once a close Syrian ally, but turned into one of Syrian President Bashar Assad regimes harshest critics and is a key supporter Syrian rebels. Turkey has repeatedly struck back at the Syrian territory in response to shelling, mortar rounds or fire from across the border since shells from Syria struck a Turkish village in October, killing five people.The Observatory said members of jihadi groups had to withdraw from Ras al-ayn to nearby villages. It said Kurdish gunmen captured a number of fighters in the area.The fighting broke out Tuesday after the Islamic fighters attacked a Kurdish patrol in the area, capturing a Kurdish gunman. Wider clashes erupted later in the day after the Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant rejected a truce offer, according to the Observatory.More than a dozen Ceylanpinar residents have been wounded from stray fire as the groups have battled for control of Ras al-Ayn since November.Officials in Ceylanpinar were on Wednesday urging people to keep away from the Syrian border, to stay indoors and to avoid balconies or windows.Also on Wednesday, angry residents protested the teenagers death outside of the hospital where at least eight Syrians wounded in the fighting were being treated, the official said.

Federer rallies to win at German Championships Posted: HAMBURG (AP) - Roger Federer rallied to beat Daniel Brands 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday at the German Tennis Championships in his first match since his second-round loss at Wimbledon last month.Using a bigger racket for the first time, Federer served three aces in the opening game but still lost his serve and ultimately the set to the German. The former No. 1 broke once in the second set and twice in the decider to reach the third round.The 17-time major champion is a four-time winner in Hamburg, the city where he won his first title in 2002 to break into the top 10.After losing at Wimbledon to Sergiy Stakhovsky who failed to qualify for the main draw in Hamburg Federer dropped to No. 5 in the rankings, the first time in a decade that hes been that low.Brands, who celebrated his 26th birthday Wednesday and received a cake after the match, received few presents from the top-seeded Federer in the last two sets. However, the Swiss star needed four match points to close it out. He finished with nine aces on the clay-court surface.It was a tough match, Daniel is playing a very good season, Federer said.Federer will play qualifier Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic, who beat 15th-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.Tommy Haas outlasted qualifier Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the third round.The second-seeded Haas blew a 4-1 lead in the third set but held serve and then broke to clinch the match when Kavcic sent a forehand long.At the end, its the victory that counts, Haas said.Haas was runner-up in the tournament last year and is the oldest player in the top 100 at 35. He is looking for his second title at home this season, after winning in Munich.Fourth-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, a Wimbledon semifinalist, prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) over Robin Haase of the Netherlands.Defending champion Juan Monaco of Argentina, seeded fifth, beat Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-4.Four other seeded players lost No. 6 Andreas Seppi, No. 10 Tommy Robredo, No. 13 Mikhail Youzhny and No. 16 Martin Klizan.No. 11 Feliciano Lopez, No. 12 Fabio Fognini and No. 14 Fernando Verdasco advanced.

Third stage win for Froome in Tour de Force Posted: CHORGES (AP) - Even when he expects to lose, Tour de France champion-in-the-making Chris Froome cannot help but win. Hes that strong and hes making it look easy.On a day when the British rider was planning to save some energy for upcoming mountains, Froome still brushed aside the field and took his third stage win of this 100th Tour.Alberto Contador, Froomes Spanish rival still trying to make a fight of this one-sided battle, gave his all in Wednesdays Alpine time trial. His face contorted in a rictus of effort as he sprinted out of the saddle to the line, while spectators whipped up a thunderclap of noise by banging their fists on the barriers.Froome, having set off behind Contador, sped in a few moments later. He, too, rode hard but looked more comfortable with his easy-on-the-eye pedaling style, perched on his saddle, legs pumping underneath him like pistons in an ocean liners engine room.Contador shook his head and shrugged his shoulders when television flashed that Froome beat his time by 9 seconds. This was another opportunity lost for Contador to make victory for Froome in Paris on Sunday at least feel less inevitable.Froome is in impressive shape, was the understated assessment of the 2007 and 09 winner who was stripped of his 2010 victory for a failed doping test.The last Tour champion now ex-champion to carry as many stage wins as Froome to Paris was Lance Armstrong. That was in 2004, when Armstrong won five stages and declared hed be giving no gifts to his rivals. That is all just a bad memory now. This Tour is the first since the serial dopers name was erased last year from the races honor roll, literally crossed out in the official history book.Froome swears that wont happen with him. He has repeatedly said when asked at this Tour that he is riding clean an assurance that only has limited value in the poisonous atmosphere of doubt that is a legacy of the Armstrong years and the Americans confession to Oprah Winfrey this January that he cheated for all seven of his Tour wins, from 1999-2007.The problem today is that we are traumatized by the past, Stephane Heulot, manager of the French Sojasun team, said in an interview. Weve seen too many stories like this. Weve seen too many riders swearing on the heads of their kids, their grandmothers, their mothers that theyre completely clean and then bam 15 years, 10 years, five years later were told other things. Someones word no longer means anything. We cant rely on that.A union that represents about 600 professional riders from seven European nations supported Froome on Wednesday against what it called unjustified allegations of doping.Its not fair to blame someone without evidence against him, Gianni Bugno, president of the Association of Professional Riders, said in a statement.We demand more respect for Chris and for all the riders.In four days, as long as he gets through the Alps, Froome will be able to sip champagne in the saddle on the final ride to the Champs-Elysees, unusually staged in the evening this year. That would make it two victories in a row for Britain and for Team Sky, after Bradley Wiggins win last year.With wins in the Pyrenees and on Mont Ventoux, Froome has shown excellence going uphill. It would be a big surprise if he wilted on the three days of Alpine climbs that start on Thursday with a double ascent to the ski station of LAlpe dHuez, with its 21 hairpins bends to the top. Done twice, thats 42 bends packed with spectators to be negotiated. It promises to be frenzied and spectacular a dramatic crescendo for what already has been a highlight-rich Tour.But there are questions about how comfortable Froome is speeding downhill. He has voiced concern about a hairy descent without safety barriers that the pack tackles between the first and second ascents to LAlpe dHuez. He appealed to race organizers to cancel the Col de Sarenne descent and make the pack ride just once to LAlpe dHuez if it rains on Thursday.Just in terms of the safety of the riders, I think that has to come first, Froome said.That eventuality was ruled out by Jean-Francois Pescheux, the event director.This is the Tour de France. Rain hasnt ever stopped the Tour de France. It would have to really be a natural catastrophe that blocked the road or something like that, he told The Associated Press.Rain isnt the enemy of the cyclist its part of the sportIt was certainly part of Wednesdays time trial, but not as much as initially feared. While it did rain on parts of the course, the forecast storms hit only after Stage 17 finished. That was a relief because the route went up two climbs in the mountains above the man-made Serre-Poncon lake. The twisting descents could have been terribly treacherous if wetter.Froome covered the 32 kilometers (20 miles) in 51 minutes, 33.66 seconds.I went into today thinking: OK, Im going to give this a really good shot, but Im not going to empty myself, Froome said. I really expected to lose at least 30 seconds to a minute to some of the best riders.Contadors gutsy ride bumped him up from third to second in the overall standings, although he is more than four minutes back from Froome.When you are second, its easier to get to first place, Contador said hopefully. But its true that he is very strong.Bauke Mollema dropped from second to fourth overall. The Dutch rider went too fast into a right-hand bend, slapped into the barriers and briefly came to a stop.Some riders chose road bikes for the tough course. Contador opted for a time trial bike with an aerodynamic back wheel. Froome used both switching from an adapted road bike to a time trial bike for the final descent into the town of Chorges.The first bike was more adapted to climbing, Froome said. The second bike was a little faster.

Blatter: Brazil may have been wrong choice as host Posted: GOING (AP) - FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Brazil might have been the wrong choice as host of the 2014 World Cup if the tournament is affected by social protests like those as at the Confederations Cup last month.Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets during the warm-up tournament in June, demanding better public services and expressing their anger over the costs to stage the World Cup.If this happens again we have to question whether we made the wrong decision awarding the hosting rights, Blatter told German press agency DPA on Wednesday.FIFA spoke with the Brazilian government after the Confederations Cup, and Blatter said hell discuss the issue again with Brazil President Dilma Rousseff in September.We didnt do a political debriefing, but we did emphasize the fact of this social unrest being there for the entire duration of the Confederations Cup, he said. The government is now aware that next year the World Cup shouldnt be disturbed.To me, these protests were like alarm bells for the government, the senate, the parliament. They should work on it so that this is not going to happen again. Though protests, if peaceful, are part of democracy and therefore have to be accepted ... we are convinced the government, and especially the president, will find the words and the actions to prevent a repeat. They have a year to do so.Blatter was speaking at the start of a two-day conference on sports, media and economy set up by German great Franz Beckenbauer in Austria. FIFA later verified the comments were accurate.The Confederations Cup, which was won by Brazil, angered citizens who are upset with the billions of dollars spent on the tournaments while they endure underfunded schools and hospitals.Protesters aired a wide spectrum of grievances, including the high cost of hosting the 2016 Rio Olympics.The protests were originally organized by university students before spreading across the country, including tournament host cities Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza and Belo Horizonte.Its not we who have to learn lessons from the protests in Brazil politics in Brazil have to do that, said Blatter, adding that FIFA cannot be held responsible for social discrepancy in the country.Without FIFAs executive committee having to vote, Brazil won the right to host the tournament in October 2007. That was six months after the only other candidate, Colombia, withdrew its bid.The decision for Brazil was the best decision we could make. It was the correct decision, we stick to this decision, Blatter said.Blatter said the success of next years tournament will be instrumental in his decision whether to stand for president for a fifth time in 2015, adding that not all of the governing bodys tasks have been fulfilled yet.First we have to complete the reforms, which are three-quarters done. Ill then have to deliver the World Cup ... the way the world looks now, Ill say yes or no (to standing again) at the next congress in Sao Paulo in 2014, he said. FIFA should be taken over by someone who can take over a FIFA which is not just financially healthy, which it is now, but which also has credibility.

Qatar to host boxing world championships in 2015 Posted: LAUSANNE (AP) - Qatar will host the 2015 world boxing championships, beating a bid from Bangkok.C.K. Wu, the president of governing body AIBA, says it is very exciting for AIBA to explore new horizons and we are looking forward to visit Doha in 2015.Besides boxing, Qatar will also host the 2022 World Cup plus world championships in handball (2015) and road cycling (2016).Wednesdays decision was made by AIBAs executive committee at a meeting in Jeju, South Korea.The biennial tournament will be in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from Oct. 11-27.

Oil rises as market weighs supply report, Bernanke Posted: NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil rose Wednesday as U.S. crude supplies fell for a third week and the chairman of the Federal Reserve signaled no impending change in the central banks stimulus program.U.S. benchmark crude for August delivery gained 48 cents to close at $106.48 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil is up nearly $10 a barrel in July.The price of oil drew support from another sizable decline in oil supplies. The U.S.s inventory of crude fell by 6.9 million barrels last week, bringing the three-week decline to 27.1 million barrels, the Energy Department said.That was somewhat offset by a sharp decline in gasoline demand compared with last week. Gasoline consumption fell by 570,000 barrels from a week ago, when demand was boosted by drivers hitting the road for the July Fourth holiday. Gasoline supplies rose by 3.1 million barrels.Analysts expected a decline of 2.5 million barrels in crude oil supplies and no change in gasoline supplies, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.The markets also weighed comments to Congress from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. He said the central bank had no firm timetable for cutting back on the bond purchases that have helped depress long-term interest rates.The withdrawal of Fed bond purchases could push the dollar higher as U.S. interest rates would tend to rise. That would make oil a less attractive investment for investors with foreign currencies that have to be converted to dollars.In London, Brent crude gained 47 cents to finish at $108.61 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

England face tough choice over second Test attack Posted: LONDON (AFP) - England captain Alastair Cook admitted Wednesday the selectors faced some awkward decisions about the final composition of their bowling attack for the second Test against Australia at Lords starting on Thursday.Steven Finn took two wickets in two balls and narrowly missed a hat-trick during Australias first innings of the first Test at Trent Bridge last week in a match Ashes-holders England won by 14 runs.However, on a slow pitch not suited to his style, fast bowler Finn was not called upon by Cook until 30 overs of Australias second innings chase had passed and was then promptly targeted by Brad Haddin before being quickly removed from the attack.Englands 13-man squad contains two rivals for Finns third seamer place in Tim Bresnan, a better batsman, and Graham Onions, renowned for his accuracy.However, the second Test is at Lords, Finns Middlesex home ground, where the tall paceman has taken 29 wickets at a miserly average of 20.65 in five Tests, compared to a more expensive career average of 29.40.Obviously you try and be as loyal as you can to your players when youve won a Test match, Cook told a Lords news conference on Wednesday.You want players confident theyre going to get a good run.But on the other hand you always pick a side you think can win the Test and you do have to make tough decisions.Id love to say the guys who play under me feel theyve got my backing but you do have to take tough decisions for the good of the side.You need to look at the best balanced attack in the conditions available. We all know you need 20 wickets to win a Test match. Sometimes there are different ways of going about that.Part of the skill of being a selector or to weigh up all those conundrums and try to get right answers in the end.But Cook said local conditions were a factor as well.Your record at a certain place can play a part, Cook said. You always try to find the balance of the attack for the conditions you find; past form and past bowling (at a venue) is very important.

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