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Football: City must cut out mistakes, says Pellegrini

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PARIS (AFP) - Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted his side must not repeat the defensive errors that marred their Champions League quarter-final, first leg with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday despite the 2-2 draw giving them the edge.Away goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho at the Parc des Princes mean City have the upper hand ahead of next Tuesdays return, but those strikes sandwiched a farcical goal gifted to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and an Adrien Rabiot effort for PSG.The French champions also saw Ibrahimovic have a penalty saved by Joe Hart early on with the game still goalless, so the evening could have gone far worse for Pellegrinis men.In the first half we made an important mistake that we cannot continue to do if we want to stay in the competition, said Pellegrini of the awful mix-up between Hart and Fernando that allowed Ibrahimovic to score.The second goal of PSG was offside. It was not a mistake of the defence but of the linesman.But it is important also to keep that mentality because when you receive the goal that we conceded in the last minute of the first half and then you concede a goal that is offside, it is not easy to try to recover, but I think this team has the personality and they believe in what they do.They always try to attack and we scored the second goal.Nevertheless, Pellegrini refused to label his side as the favourites to advance now as City eye a first ever Champions League semi-final and the Chilean also said it was very difficult to answer now if captain Vincent Kompany will be back in time for the second leg in six days.Selection headacheHowever, his opposite number Laurent Blanc is left with a selection headache for the return after both David Luiz and Blaise Matuidi picked up bookings that mean they will be suspended for the second leg.Marco Verratti and Javier Pastore will also miss the game due to the injuries that prevented them from featuring in Paris as PSG go to England having to overcome the handicap of those away goals.Its not the first time we have conceded goals at home but we have shown that we can score goals away from home, said Blanc, whose side eliminated Chelsea in the last 16.I think if we can do better defensively we can create chances and score goals in Manchester.He added: When you talk about the two players who will be suspended you can add that to the negatives tonight.We created more chances than City and we had most of the possession. They only had two chances.We conceded two goals and lost two players who will be suspended for the second leg. That is a lot of things to go against us.PSG have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage in each of the last three seasons and Blanc hopes that City will leave enough spaces for his team to get the goals needed to finally make it through to the last four this time.I dont think our philosophy will change in Manchester. I dont think City will just sit on their lead, but it is true that we will need to be much better defensively, said Blanc, whose side must negotiate a league fixture at Guingamp this weekend, while City are at home to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

Clinton tells workers she'll stand up to cheating China

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PHILADELPHIA (AFP) - A day after losing Wisconsin, White House hopeful Hillary Clinton unleashed a blistering critique of China while campaigning Wednesday in blue-collar Pennsylvania, warning the Asian giant must toe the line if she becomes president.The eastern US state, where organized labor is an influential force, hosts its presidential primaries on April 26.China illegally dumps cheap products in our markets, steals our trade secrets, plays games with their currency, gives unfair advantages to state-owned-enterprises and discriminates against American companies, she said.We will throw the book at China for their illegal actions.Clintons remarks, delivered to a state AFL-CIO union convention in Philadelphia, were among her most forceful campaign trail comments about Beijing.Her rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Bernie Sanders, addresses the gathering Thursday.Clinton, seeking to regain her footing in the nomination race after losing six of the last seven state contests, pointed to her experience as secretary of state as a measure of her ability to influence Beijing.Ive gone toe to toe with Chinas top leaders on some of the toughest issues we face, from cyber attacks to human rights to climate change to trade and more, she said.I know how they operate, and they know if Im president, theyre going to have to toe the line, because were going to once and for all get fair treatment, or theyre not going to get access to our markets.At one point she refered to China as the biggest abuser of global trade.Clinton defeated Barack Obama in Pennsylvania in their 2008 primary battle, thanks to support from union Democrats, and she aims to repeat her victory in three weeks time.But she will need to reassure workers who have criticized her late opposition to the trans-Pacific trade deal recently signed by President Barack Obama. Sanders has steadfastly opposed the agreement from Day One.My message to every worker in Pennsylvania, every worker across America is this: I will stand with you, I will have your back and I will stop dead in its tracks any trade deal that hurts America, Clinton said.She also criticized Sanders, insisting that in a number of important areas, he doesnt have a plan at all.Clinton leads Sanders by 52.7 percent to 35 percent in a RealClearPolitics poll average, although the latest poll, released by Quinnipiac University on Tuesday, puts Clinton just six points ahead.She is well ahead in the nominations race, but she has suffered stinging defeats for two weeks.A win in the New York primary April 19 is seen as crucial for her preventing Sanders from snatching the nomination.But the self-described democratic socialist from Vermont is popular with the rank and file.I dont think shes a bad person, and if she wins the nomination Ill vote for her, said Don Long, 39, a union telecommunications worker.But considering somebody who is as solidly behind organized labor as Bernie Sanders is, Long added, you got to go with Bernie Sanders.

Football: Zidane fuming as Real crash at Wolfsburg

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WOLFSBURG (AFP) - Zinedine Zidane admitted Real Madrid suffered an El Clasico hangover as they crashed to a 2-0 Champions League quarter-final, first-leg, defeat at Wolfsburg on Wednesday.Just five days after ending Barcelonas 39-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 away win, Real were humbled as Wolfsburg ignored their struggling mid-table form in Germanys top flight.Real never recovered as first-half goals from Swiss defender Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold put the hosts 2-0 up at the Volkswagen Arena with 25 minutes gone.Wolfsburg now have the upper hand ahead of Tuesdays return leg at the Bernabeu.Im not happy, above all with the first-half. This can happen if you dont play with intensity from the start, said coach Zidane, who made just one change from the team which beat Barca.We wanted to play here just like we did on Saturday, it was an intensive game for us (in Barcelona) and we were flat in the first-half here.Now we have a chance in the return leg and its good weve got a game in three days (at home to Eibar) to get over this defeat.We had our problems, not just in the intensity, but also in our movement.We didnt expect the 2-0 defeat and we need to analyse where we went wrong and make corrections.Zidane even said he was proud of his players and took full responsibility for the result.I have to find the reasons for the defeat and the solutions, he added.Reals six-game winning streak was ended as Wolfsburg picked up their first win in four games since beating Gent in the last 16 of the tournament.It was a poor performance from Reals star forwards as Gareth Bale was kept quiet and Cristiano Ronaldo rarely shook of his markers.France forward Karim Benzema went off on 41 minutes after a knock.Bale was left frustrated at not being awarded a first-half penalty after a heavy challenge in the area from Luiz Gustavo.I felt I got to the ball first and he hit me, so it is obviously frustrating, but we have another game, said the Welshman.We just have to make sure now that in the return we win by three goals.Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking gambled by starting inexperienced Brazilian Bruno Henrique on the right wing, who set up Arnolds goal.Centre-back Naldo played his first game since dislocating his shoulder in February and helped subdue the Real attack.There was little hint of the drama to come when Reals Cristiano Ronaldo put the ball in the Wolfsburg net after just 74 seconds, but the offside flag went up.The hosts took a shock lead on 18 minutes when Real midfielder Casemiro put in a clumsy foul on Wolfsburg striker Andre Schuerrle and Rodriguez nailed the spot kick.Arnold then slotted home on 25 minutes as Wolfsburg capitalised on some woeful Real defending.When Madrid leave the door open, you have to take the chance to go through it, said Hecking.There was contact (on Schuerrle) and it was a clear penalty.In Henrique, we had a weapon which Real hadnt bargained for.I have to give my team their due, they did everything we talked about, annoyed Real and put ourselves in a good position for the return leg.But goal-scorer Arnold insists nothing has been decided yet.There is no point getting carried away. Well have to play just as well in Madrid or maybe even better, he said after scoring his first Champions League goal.Defender Pepe said Real had been badly punished for leaking both goals in the opening 25 minutes.We have to comeback, we had 20 bad minutes they took advantage of, said the centre-back.We didnt take our chances. In a competition as important as the Champions League you pay for that.The tie is not over yet, we have another game at home with the fans on our side.

Iceland names new PM, to hold autumn election

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REYKJAVIK (AFP) - Icelands right-wing coalition government on Wednesday named a new prime minister and said it would hold elections in the autumn, after the previous leader was forced to step down over his implication in the Panama Papers scandal.The Progressive Party and the Independence Party agreed after talks late Wednesday to hand the prime minister post to the current agriculture minister, Sigurdur Ingi Johannssonn, 53, of the Progressives.He replaces Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, 41, who stepped down Tuesday amid massive public protests over a hidden offshore account revealed in the massive so-called Panama Papers leak.We expect to have elections this autumn, Johanssonn told reporters, insisting that the coalition would continue to run the countrys affairs despite thousands of protesters calling for the whole governments resignation.We will continue our work together. We are of course hoping this will help bring stability in the political system, he said.Icelands next legislative elections were originally scheduled for April 2017.Gunnlaugsson remains the head of the Progressive Party for the time being.

Australia to play pink-ball Tests against SAfrica, Pakistan - report

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia will play two day-night Tests against South Africa and Pakistan next southern summer in a revamp of home international scheduling, a report said on Thursday.Following the success of the inaugural pink-ball Test against New Zealand in Adelaide last year, Cricket Australia will stage two more day-night Tests against touring nations South Africa and Pakistan, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.Australia will face the South Africans under lights in Adelaide and Pakistan at Brisbanes Gabba ground, the newspaper said.Cricket Australia is expected to finalise its international and domestic schedules for the 2016-17 season later this month.Under scheduling changes, the Herald said the Gabba would forfeit its customary hosting rights to the first Test of the season and instead host the opening match of the Australia-Pakistan series in December.The newspaper said the season would kick off with a Test at Perths WACA Ground between Australia and South Africa in November.The series against the Proteas will then head to Hobart, which has been retained as a Test venue amid competition from Canberra, before wrapping up under lights at Adelaide Oval.Australia will then meet Pakistan in the day-night Test in Brisbane and complete the series with matches in Melbourne and Sydney over Christmas-New Year.

Lithuania welcomes Afghan who reached out on social media

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VILNIUS (AFP) - A 22-year-old Afghan man landed in Lithuania on Wednesday after reaching out to the president for help on YouTube and securing a temporary visa that paves the way for asylum.I heard Germany has a lot of money, but I want to be in Lithuania. I speak the language, said Abdul Basir Yoususi, a Catholic who once worked as an interpreter for the Lithuanian army in Afghanistan.I only need one thing: to stay here, he told reporters at the airport in the Baltic states capital Vilnius, adding that he never wanted to return to Afghanistan.After Lithuanian forces left the central Afghan province of Ghor in 2013, Yoususi received several threatening letters, prompting him to set out on a two-month journey to Greece that cost around $6,500 (5,700 euros).Last week, he drew Lithuanias attention when he posted a video to YouTube saying, I have a request for the president (Dalia Grybauskaite). I need help. Im currently in Greece.The social media appeal worked: on Tuesday officials granted him a five-day visa so that he could apply for asylum for himself, his wife and their two-year-old daughter.Lithuanian soldier Jurgis Norvaisa, who was posted in Afghanistan in 2012, said he recognised Yoususi when he saw the video circulating on social media.He interpreted from Lithuanian to Dari Persian and vice versa. He helped us in our contact with the local people, Norvaisa told AFP.Lithuania has agreed to welcome 1,105 migrants over two years under an EU plan to resettle asylum-seekers among the blocs 28 members, as Europe battles its worst migration crisis since World War II.More than a million people entered Europe last year, many of them fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East and Africa.

Football: Real suffer shock first leg defeat at Wolfsburg

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WOLFSBURG (AFP) - Zinedine Zidanes Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-0 Champions League defeat at Wolfsburg in Wednesdays quarter-final, first-leg to leave them on the verge of a European exit.Just five days after ending Barcelonas 39-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 away win in El Clasico, Real were humbled as Wolfsburg ignored their struggling mid-table form in Germanys top flight.Zidane had made just one change, Danilo in for Dani Carvajal at right-back, from the ten-man side which beat Barcelona.But Real never recovered as first-half goals from Swiss defender Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold put the hosts 2-0 up at the Volkswagen Arena with 25 minutes gone.Reals six-game winning streak was ended as Wolfsburg picked up their first win in four games since beating Gent in the last 16 of the tournament.To give the result context, Wolfsburg needed a 93rd minute equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened Darmstadt on their last home league appearance.There was no hint they would bother Real when they crashed 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen last Friday in Germanys top flight.But having also beaten Manchester United 3-2 at home in the group stages, Wolfsburg now have the upper hand ahead of Tuesdays return leg at the Bernabeu.It was a poor performance from Reals star forwards as Gareth Bale was kept quiet and Cristiano Ronaldo rarely shook of his markers.France forward Karim Benzema went off on 41 minutes after a knock.Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking gambled by starting inexperienced Brazilian Bruno Henrique on the right wing.Centre-back Naldo was also rushed back after dislocating his shoulder in February, but both selections were rewarded.There was little hint of the drama to come as Real needed just 74 seconds to put the ball in the Wolfsburg net.Ronaldo made a late run and tucked his shot past Diego Benaglio, but the offside flag went up.The hosts started to find their feet before taking a shock 18th minute lead.Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi pointed straight to the spot when Real midfielder Casemiro put in a clumsy foul on Wolfsburg striker Andre Schuerrle.Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas tried to unsettle the taker, but Rodriguez nailed the spot kick.It was the first Champions League goal Navas had conceded after 738 minutes.But he soon leaked a second as Wolfsburgs attack stepped with the Real defence -- especially wingbacks Marcelo and Danilo -- rattled.Julian Draxler started a move on the right wing, Henrique picked out Arnolds run and the attacking midfielder slotted home on 25 minutes.Ronaldo tried to drag Real back into the match, but both of his shots flew wide of the Wolfsburg goal in the five minutes after the interval.In a bid to boost the midfield, Zidane brought on Isco for Luka Modric with an hour gone, but the Spain international had to immediately help snuff out a Schuerrle break.The Germany winger should have made it three when Draxler started a counter-attack with Henrique, but when the ball found him in space, Schuerre blasted just over with 20 minutes to go.There was plenty of pushing and shoving immediately after as Arnold clashed with Marcelo, which led to both Arnold and Bale being booked.Ronaldo then got in behind the defence and fired across the empty Wolfsburg goal, but Benzemas replacement Jese failed to connect as the Germans held on for a famous win.

Football: City in driving seat after slapstick night in Paris

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PARIS (AFP) - Away goals by Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho handed Manchester City a 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday to give the English side the edge in their Champions League quarter-final tie.On a night that will be remembered for some comical defending and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty that was saved by City goalkeeper Joe Hart, the Premier League side twice punished mistakes by their hosts.De Bruyne put City ahead on 38 minutes, only for Ibrahimovic to level after an embarrassing mix-up in the visitors defence soon after.Adrien Rabiot then put PSG ahead just before the hour, but Fernandinho made it 2-2 on 72 minutes and ensured the French giants will be chasing the tie in next Tuesdays second leg.City were appearing at this stage for the first time and were handicapped by the absences of injured captain Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Raheem Sterling. However, Hart had recovered from injury in time to play and De Bruyne started after making his own comeback from two months on the sidelines at the weekend, giving the English sides attack a fearsome look to it. PSG, conquerors of Chelsea in the last 16, feared Sergio Aguero the most, though, and the stocky Argentinian striker coaxed a yellow card out of David Luiz inside 20 seconds after getting in behind the Brazilian. The home support were furious soon after when Serbian referee Milorad Mazic refused to give Paris a penalty after Blaise Matuidi went down in the box under pressure from Eliaquim Mangala, but PSG did win a spot-kick in the 13th minute for a foul by Bacary Sagna on Luiz. Ibrahimovic stepped up, but was thwarted by Hart, who dived low to his right to make the save. Perhaps the 34-year-old Swede was feeling the pressure in what could be his last chance to win the Champions League, because he passed up another huge opportunity midway through the first half, blazing over the bar after a Thiago Motta pass had split the away defence. City made Ibrahimovic pay as they opened the scoring seven minutes before half-time, capitalising on loose play in the Paris midfield. Fernandinho intercepted a Matuidi pass intended for Rabiot and advanced towards the edge of the box before teeing up De Bruyne, who took a touch and fired past Kevin Trapp.However, City inexplicably gifted the French champions an equaliser only three minutes later. It was a horror moment for Hart and Fernando, with the goalkeeper choosing to play a goal-kick short to the Brazilian-born midfielder on the edge of the area despite Ibrahimovic lurking in close proximity. Fernando tried to release the ball, but Ibrahimovic stuck out a leg and diverted it into the net for his 39th goal of the season. PSG came out in the second half with the momentum after that and they took the lead on 59 minutes thanks to one-time City youth player Rabiot. Edinson Cavani turned a corner towards goal and Hart saved, but the ball fell kindly for Rabiot to tap in. PSG sensed a chance to increase their advantage before the second leg and a Di Maria cross from the right was headed against the woodwork by Ibrahimovic. Instead City pounced on some more comical defending to grab a second away goal, Fernandinho gleefully prodding into the net after neither Serge Aurier nor Thiago Silva were able to clear a low ball into the box from the away right.Those away goals, and the fact PSG will be without the suspended Luiz and Matuidi for the return, could prove crucial.

Opposition to raise issue of Panama Leaks in NA session today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Opposition parties will raise the issue of Panama Leaks pertaining to the involvement of Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s children in keeping offshore accounts in National Assembly’s session today (Thursday). The session is likely to be a turbulent one, given the allegations and criticisms being levelled by both government and opposition parties against one another. The opposition has decided to take a unified stance on the issue.The session will be held at Parliament House at 5:00 pm in the evening. The session will also discuss the poor performance of Pakistan’s cricket team in World T-20 tournament.The agenda of the meeting will also include Call for Attention notices against the enforcement of Custom Act in Malakand Division and Kohistan district.The government may also present Electronic Crimes Bill and Foreign Exchange Regulation Amendment Bill during the session.

Tennis: Venus powers past Riske, Bencic toppled

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Seven-time Grand Slam Champion Venus Williams powered into the third round of the WTA clay court tournament at Charleston on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Alison Riske.Williams, seeded third and seeking a 50th career WTA title this week, fired 20 winners, displaying a sharp service game in a match lasting less than 90 minutes.Things didnt go so well on the green clay of Charleston for second-seeded Swiss Belinda Bencic, beaten 6-1, 6-1 by Russian Elena Vesnina.Bencic, the world number 10, appeared to be struggling with the same back trouble that forced her out of her opening match in Miami.Vesnina took full advantage, advancing in just 56 minutes.Shell next face Lourdes Dominguez, who reached the third round when Canadian Eugenie Bouchard retired with an abdominal injury.Spains Dominguez was leading 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 when Bouchard decided she couldnt continue.Its the same one (from last year), which is why Im concerned and why I did retire, said Bouchard, who played at last years Wimbledon with an abdominal muscle tear and said she didnt want to repeat the mistake of making the injury worse.Williams win was relatively straightforward, although the 35-year-old coming off opening match defeats at Indian Wells and Miami said it wasnt easy.I think experience definitely helped, said Williams, who won the Charleston title in 2004. She has played good matches and won titles, so just the experience of playing those important points helped me a little more today.Williams next faces Kazakhstans Yulia Putintseva for a place in the quarter-finals.Putintseva defeated 15th-seeded German Sabine Lisicki 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.In other matches on Wednesday, seventh-seeded American Sloane Stephens defeated Danka Kovinic 6-4, 6-3, but former Charleston finalists Lucie Safarova and Madison Keys both bowed out.America Louisa Chirico sent fourth-seeded Safarova packing 6-3, 6-3, while Germanys Laura Siegemund rallied for a 6-7 (3/7), 6-4,6-4 win over eighth-seeded Keys.

Swiss police search UEFA offices in Panama Papers fallout

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GENEVA (AFP) - Swiss police raided the headquarters of European football body UEFA on Wednesday following the latest revelations of a web of Panama-based offshore financial dealings by the rich and famous.The raid came the day after the so-called Panama papers claimed their first major scalp when Icelands prime minister stepped down after being named in the massive leak of 11.5 million documents linked to a Panamanian law firm.The Panama Papers also revealed that newly elected FIFA president Gianni Infantino had signed TV rights contracts for the Champions League with a company headed by two defendants later caught up in the corruption scandal that engulfed footballs world body.Infantino, who was UEFAs legal director at the time he did the deals for the 2006 and 2007 tournaments with Argentinian TV rights specialists Hugo and Mariano Jinkis, told AFP he was dismayed by the claims and denied any wrongdoing.The father and son team are fighting extradition from Argentina to the United States where prosecutors allege they paid tens of millions of dollars in bribes to win various contracts.The Panama Papers claimed another scalp Wednesday when Uruguayan Juan Pedro Damiani resigned as an ethics judge for world football body FIFA after he was also named in the leaks.Reflecting a heightened focus on tax rules, US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer abandoned plans for a $160 billion (140.5 billion euro) merger with Irelands Allergan, citing new US regulations to crack down on tie-ups aimed at making fiscal savings.The decision to call off the deal to create the worlds largest pharmaceutical company came after the US Treasury announced new rules this week to block inversions, by which US firms merge with companies in countries with lower tax rates.France led global pressure on Panama, saying it would put the country back on its own list of tax havens, four years after it was removed.Finance Minister Michel Sapin called on the 34-nation Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to do the same. Unfortunately Panama has a bit of a tendency to make U-turns, to play the good guy and then the bad guy. This cannot go on, Sapin told French radio.The EUs Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said the blocs 28 countries should urgently agree on joint criteria for compiling a new, joint list of global tax havens, seen as a key tool in the crackdown on tax cheats.Panama hit back, however, after days of being hammered in the worlds media.In Panama, there is a law that sets out retaliation measures against countries that include Panama in grey lists, Alvaro Aleman, the minister for the presidency, warned France at a news conference. Panama had earlier lashed out at OECD head Angel Gurria, saying his description of the country as the last major tax haven impenetrable to law enforcement was unfair and discriminatory.In another new revelation, the law firm at the heart of the scandal was reported to have counted drug barons and entities targeted by international sanctions among its clients.Mossack Fonsecas client list included drug traffickers from Mexico, Guatemala and eastern Europe as well as people and companies under US and European sanctions, according to Sueddeutsche Zeitung, the German newspaper which originally obtained the Panama Papers from an anonymous source.The papers were shared with more than 100 media groups by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). After a year-long investigation, the ICIJ and other international media on Sunday published the first wave of revelations, detailing the offshore financial activities of 140 political figures.One of Mossack Fonsecas founders, Ramon Fonseca, told AFP it had lodged a criminal complaint with Panamanian prosecutors over the breach which he blamed on a computer hack launched from abroad.Nobody is talking of the hack, and that is the only crime that has been committed, he said.Many of those identified in the papers insist they have done no wrong.Offshore financial dealings are not illegal in themselves, though they may be used to hide assets from tax authorities, launder the proceeds of criminal activities or conceal misappropriated or politically inconvenient wealth.US President Barack Obama said wealthy individuals and corporations were gaming the system by making use of tax code loopholes to which average taxpayers had no access.A lot of it is legal, but thats exactly the problem, the US leader said.Icelands Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson has been the biggest casualty so far, quitting Tuesday after it emerged that he and his wife invested millions of dollars in an offshore company that had stakes in three Icelandic banks that collapsed in 2008, tipping the country into a deep recession.He denies any wrongdoing, but bowed out after thousands took to the streets.Other more powerful figures are implicated in the Panama Papers, which come from around 214,000 offshore entities and cover almost 40 years.They purportedly reveal a web of financial transactions by associates of Russian President Vladimir Putins associates and relatives of Chinese President Xi Jinping.The Kremlin suggested a US plot after the leaks put a close friend of Putins at the top of an offshore empire worth more than $2 billion.Beijing refused to respond to accusations, except by calling them groundless.In another development, a British government source told AFP Prime Minister David Cameron did not have any offshore funds after it was reported his late father ran an offshore fund that paid no tax in Britain for 30 years. In Spain, an aunt of Spains King Felipe VI acknowledged she headed an offshore company exposed in the so-called Panama Papers but stressed she has always complied with her countrys tax laws.

Boxing: Pacquiao vows to sign off in style

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LAS VEGAS (AFP) - Manny Pacquiao believes his 11-month absence from boxing following last years mega-fight defeat to Floyd Mayweather has left him hungrier than ever as he prepares for his farewell fight against Tim Bradley here on Saturday. The 37-year-old Filipino insists he will retire from boxing after the third instalment of his rivalry with Bradley, maintaining he will focus on a political career in his homeland where he is seeking election to the Senate. While Pacquiao has carefully kept a door ajar to extending his career, he told reporters at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Wednesday that he views Saturdays bout as an opportunity to sign off in style. For me its different, its really important for me to win this fight, to win convincingly, Pacquiao said. Its part of my legacy. Asked if he still retained the killer instinct which helped him win an unprecedented eight world titles at eight different weight classes, Pacquiao said his lengthy absence had helped renew his enthusiasm. I still have that (killer instinct), Pacquiao said. I rested almost one year and when I started training for this fight I felt fresh and hungry again, like I did when I first started boxing. Its been good for me. Its good that I had a long layoff. I still have that desire. I love boxing. Boxing is my passion. I grew up on boxing. I started when I was 12 years old, non-stop, until now. Pacquiaos long-time trainer Freddie Roach admitted he had questioned whether retirement talk could prove a distraction.I thought it might be but training camp was great, it was just like every other training camp. Manny maybe worked a little harder and said Lets go out with a bang and thats what we intend on doing, Roach said.Pacquiao (57-6-2) has joked that a knockout against Bradley -- who has twice gone the distance with the Filipino, winning one, losing one -- would boost his appeal at the ballot box when he stands in Filipino elections in May. Pacquiao however has not scored a knockout since 2009, when he demolished Britains Ricky Hatton in two rounds before beating Miguel Cotto six months later with a 12th round TKO. Bradley said he expects Pacquiao to adopt an aggressive game plan.Im expecting him to be more aggressive, hes going to come out like a bat out of hell and try to take my head off, Bradley said. The 32-year-old from the Californian desert city of Palm Springs believes, however, that a combative approach from his opponent could play into his hands. If hes more aggressive, then its probably going to give me more opportunities I would think, Bradley said. Roach however insisted Pacquiao would walk the line between controlled aggression and outright foolhardiness. Were professionals, we wont make that mistake, Roach said. Were not going to go in there looking for a knockout. Weve never looked for a knockout because if you do it will never happen. The knockouts come as kind of a bonus but we never look for them out there. Pacquiao meanwhile shrugged off reports that Bradley had sought to incorporate tactical elements used by Juan Manuel Marquez when he inflicted a devastating sixth round knockout on the Filipino in December 2012. I know that Floyd (Mayweather) used the same sparring strategy, I know that theyre going to use that strategy, Pacquiao said. But I learned a lot from that fight. So maybe they should think about another strategy.

Karachi: NA-245, PS-115 by-elections to be held today

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – By-elections for the constituencies of Karachi’s NA-245 and PS-155 will be held today (Thursday). Polling will start at 8:00 am in the morning amidst police and Rangers security.According to the details, Returning Officers (RO) had called the Presiding Officers at 2:00 pm in the afternoon for bringing the polling equipment. However, with many running late, the Presiding Officer arriving on time had to face distress for over 4 hours.Polling equipment was provided to the Presiding Officers after 6:00 pm. The Presiding Officers were provided compensation along with the equipment. Deputy Commissioner Central and RO briefed the Presiding Officers on the elections’ code of conduct.Many Presiding Officers transported the polling equipment on motorcycles and private vehicles despite prohibition; others were left stranded, desperately searching for official vehicles.In NA-245, 4,13000 voters will exercise their voting rights while in PS-115 1,62614 voters will vote for their candidates of choice.

Karachi: Rangers take former MQM member Masood Siddiqui into custody

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) former member and MQM Rabita Committee’s former member Qamar Mansoor’s younger brother Masood Siddiqui was taken into custody by Rangers during a raid in Paposh Nagar area of Karachi. MQM condemned the arrest and has demanded Siddiqui’s immediate release.According to sources, Siddiqui is a member of Gulbahar sector; however he has remained inactive since some time. Siddiqui has been shifted to an unknown location for interrogation.Prior to this, Siddiqui’s elder brother Mansoor was kept under custody by Rangers for 90 days. Mansoor was released on bail after being handed over to police.Meanwhile MQM has condemned Siddiqui’s arrest. In a statement issued by MQM’s Rabita Committee, the party has stated that Siddiqui was used to be a MQM member since some time, however now he had been leading a private life and was busy in tending to his ailing mother.According to the Committee, Siddiqui’s elder brother Mansoor had also been taken into custody by Rangers prior to this and was tortured both mentally and physically.The Committee stated that MQM workers are being arrested from the city on daily basis, which is blatant persecution.The Committee called for the immediate release of all its arrested members.

Drop in US oil inventories lifts prices

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices climbed more than five percent Wednesday after US inventory data showed a sizeable drop in petroleum stocks, the first decline in seven weeks.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for May delivery gained $1.86 to $37.75 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent North Sea oil for June delivery rose $1.97 to $39.84 a barrel in London.US commercial crude oil inventories fell by 4.9 million barrels for the week ending April 1, according to US Department of Energy data.The report, following a 2.3 million barrel increase last week, represented a sharp swing that suggests a significant shift in the market, said Bob Yawger of Mizuho Securities.The data also showed a rise in refinery utilization, suggesting petroleum refiners may be finishing maintenance season earlier than usual, he said.Theres hope of a very solid gasoline season coming up, Yawger said. That would happen because gasoline is cheap.US oil production also fell last week, in another bullish sign. However, on a more bearish note, gasoline supplies rose by 1.4 million barrels.Analysts were also heartened by comments from Kuwaits OPEC governor, Nawal al-Fezaia, who told Bloomberg News that producers have no option but to freeze output, even if Iran does not join an agreement to cap production in response to low prices. But Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, said traders were likely to wait for the results of an April 17 meeting of producers in Qatar before making big bets.Given the welter of statements... people are probably just going to ignore (the comments) until they get the results of the meeting, Spooner told AFP.

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