Russia to challenge US sanctions at WTO

MOSCOW: Russia will contest US sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine at the World Trade Organisation, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday.

"The United States has introduced sanctions against Russia which will have negative consequences for external trade. We have decided to challenge them at the WTO," Medvedev said in televised comments.

Washington has slapped sanctions on high-ranking Russian officials and businesses belonging to close allies of President Vladimir Putin over Moscow´s annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March and accusations the Kremlin is stirring up a separatist rebellion. Russia -- which joined the WTO in 2012 -- has already launched several challenges against similar punitive measures by the European Union but this is the first time it has taken on the US sanctions.

Medvedev said that challenging the US penalties would "not be simple as the United States is the authority at the WTO." The West has said it is ready to impose a fresh round of broader economic sanctions on Russia if it continues to destabilise the situation in eastern Ukraine. (AFP)

No talks with those who challenge govt writ: Mir Sarfaraz

NASIRABAD: Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Khan Bugti has said that talks were not possible with those who challenged the government’s writ and took up arms, but dialogue would be held with those who lay down their arms.

Talking to a private TV channel, he said that a foreign hand was behind terrorism in Balochistan. He said that the federal government was cooperating for the establishment of peace in the province.

He said that solid steps were being taken for establishing peace in Balochistan. A foreign hand was behind terrorism in Balochistan while there were 34 terrorist camps in the neighbouring country where terrorists were being given training and sent to Balochistan.

While answering a question, Mir Sarfraz said that the length of the Afghan border with Balochistan was of several hundred kilometers. Despite this, the police, levies and other agencies were performing their services in order to control terrorism. He said that the present government had continued the search for missing persons. There would be no leniency for those who gave direct interviews to newspapers and the foreign media against the security and integrity of the country. Such people were not pardonable, he added.

Thai PM denies abuse of power in key legal challenge

BANGKOK: Thailand´s besieged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra denied an abuse of power allegation at the nation´s Constitutional Court on Tuesday in a legal challenge which could see her removed from office.

The case, one of two potential knockout legal moves against her premiership, comes as Thailand´s political crisis reaches a critical juncture.

Anti-government protesters are still massed on Bangkok´s streets -- although in diminished numbers -- and Yingluck´s supporters are also threatening to rally to defend her.

The premier denied the complaint, filed by a group of senators, who said that the replacement of then-national security chief Thawil Pliensri after she was elected in 2011 was for the benefit of her party.

"I deny the allegation... I didn´t violate any laws, I didn´t receive any benefit from the appointment," a composed Yingluck told the court, adding she replaced Thawil for the benefit of the country.

Under the constitution -- forged after a 2006 coup that ousted Yingluck´s billionaire brother Thaksin Shinawatra as premier -- such an offence could lead to her removal and a ban from politics.

The court could also extend its verdict to cabinet members who endorsed the decision to remove Thawil, potentially dislodging a layer of ruling party decision-makers with ties to Thaksin, who lives overseas to avoid jail for corruption convictions.

Thawil has been re-instated as head of the NSC by the order of another court.

"It´s up to the judges," said Jarupong Ruangsuwan, leader of the ruling Puea Thai party, told before the hearing.

"All I can say is that if the court convicts the prime minister and her entire cabinet there will be turmoil," he said, adding "all may be known today".

The court has not given a date for its ruling.

Kaneria loses challenge to life ban

LONDON: Former Essex and Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to under-perform, has lost a High Court fight with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB had charged Kaneria with inducing anther Essex player to''deliberately concede'' runs in a limited overs game against Durham in 2009 and with bringing cricket into disrepute. An ECB disciplinary panel found that charges had been proved after a hearing in 2012. An appeal panel set up under ECB disciplinary regulations upheld the decision to impose a life ban in 2013.

Kaneria took High Court action - claiming that the ECB appeal panel had been wrong to uphold the life ban - and wrong to order him to pay ECB legal costs of GBP200,000.

But a High Court judge today (Tuesday) dismissed his claims at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Hamblen said the appeal panel had not exceeded its powers. He said there were no grounds for suggesting that an error of law had been made.

Kaneria was not at today's hearing. A lawyer told the judge that he was in Pakistan.

Kaneria loses challenge to life ban

LONDON: Former Essex and Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was given a life ban after a disciplinary panel concluded that he had encouraged a team-mate to under-perform, has lost a High Court fight with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The ECB had charged Kaneria with inducing anther Essex player to''deliberately concede'' runs in a limited overs game against Durham in 2009 and with bringing cricket into disrepute. An ECB disciplinary panel found that charges had been proved after a hearing in 2012. An appeal panel set up under ECB disciplinary regulations upheld the decision to impose a life ban in 2013.

Kaneria took High Court action - claiming that the ECB appeal panel had been wrong to uphold the life ban - and wrong to order him to pay ECB legal costs of GBP200,000.

But a High Court judge today (Tuesday) dismissed his claims at a hearing in London.

Mr Justice Hamblen said the appeal panel had not exceeded its powers. He said there were no grounds for suggesting that an error of law had been made.

Kaneria was not at today's hearing. A lawyer told the judge that he was in Pakistan.

No response from Imran on Iftikhar's challenge

LAHORE: There has been no response from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan to a debate challenge by Director Geo News election cell Iftikhar Ahmad over allegations against the channel.

During his programme ‘Mere Mutabiq’ on Friday, Iftikhar Ahmad had urged Imran Khan to provide evidence defending his allegation against Geo News of being involved in rigging during general elections 2013.

In the programme, the senior journalist invited Imran Khan and his team for a debate over the allegations. Iftikhar Ahmad said Imran Khan had issued a 100-page white paper over election rigging but did not mention the allegations against Geo News. He added that Imran Khan and PTI workers were continuously leveling allegations against Geo News.

Speaking to Geo News on Saturday, Mr Ahmad said it was regrettable that neither Imran Khan nor any other PTI representative had contacted him. He added that his team was willing to address any grievances the PTI found during Geo News’ election transmission.

Meanwhile a response has been issued by a Jang group spokesman to all the allegations leveled by Imran Khan against Geo News.

Gulaab Gang producers challenge court decision to stop film's release

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Gulaab Gang was slated to release on March 7.

The producers of actresses Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla's film Gulaab Gang have moved the Delhi High Court asking that the stay order on the movie be lifted. The court will hear the plea later today.

Yesterday, the Delhi High Court ruled that the movie not be released anywhere in India in its censored or uncensored form till May 8. Gulaab Gang was meant to release tomorrow.

Activist Sampat Pal, the leader of the real-life Gulabi Gang - a group of pink sari clad women vigilantes from Uttar Pradesh - on which the film is based, moved the Delhi High Court to block the release of the film.

Sampat Pal moved the high court seeking a restraining order on the release of Gulaab Gang, saying the filmmakers did not ask her permission before making the movie.

She also sought financial compensation, saying there are certain scenes in movie which will affect her reputation.

The court agreed that the film promos, shown in January 2014, depicted Ms Pal "in the negative light and gave her a fresh cause of action".

"Reputation once lost is lost forever and can not come back and even can't be compensated with monetary terms," the court said.

Gulaab Gang is directed by debutant Soumik Sen and produced by Anubhav Sinha.

With agency inputs