Brazil’’s Petrobras announces 11-bln-dlr oil refinery

BRASILIA: Brazil’’s state-run oil company Petrobras on Tuesday announced it would invest 11.1 billion dollars in building a refinery in the northeast state of Ceara. The facility, which is scheduled to begin operation in 2014, will have a capacity to process 300,000 barrels of crude per day. Most of the output will be for export diesel, although gasoline and gas will also be produced for domestic consumption. Petrobras also has another refinery planned, according to the financial newspaper Valor, which said its capacity — around half of the Ceara plant — would be for export.Valor said the company is aiming to double refined output to 3.2 million barrels per day by 2020. Petrobras is already building a joint refinery in Pernambuco with Venezuela’’s state firm PDVSA as a 50-50 partner, although a final contract has yet to be signed. Brazil recently announced the discovery of deep offshore oilfields potentially containing billions of barrels of light crude.

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Blast underscores challenges facing Pakistan (USA Today)

A suicide attack on a hospital Tuesday in northern Pakistan killed more than two dozen people, a reminder of the challenges facing the country’s untested democratic government after Pervez Musharraf resigned as president.

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Fresh clashes kill 21 in Kurram Agency

KURRAM AGENCY: Twenty-one more persons were killed and 35 others injured as clashes between the rival Bangash and Turi tribesmen continued in various parts of the Kurram Agency for the 14th straight day.Sources said that fighting continued in rival tribes for the 14th straight day while both sides used artillery, mortar missiles and automated weapons against each other. Chief of Turi tribe Ali Akbar Turi said that fighting erupted when militants attacked various parts of Lower Kurram. 15 militants were killed in counter attack, he said.Akbar Turi has demanded the government of taking action against the extremists. Meanwhile, Bangash tribe denied the reports that militants were taking part in fighting. Members of Jirga came from Hanug have failed to persuade both sides to stop fighting and proposed the security forces to launch operation against them.Security forces have launched an operation against rival tribes, according to sources.

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Taliban linked to Pakistan blast (UPI)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 19 (UPI) — Taliban militants in the tribal areas of northwest Pakistan claimed responsibility for a suicide attack Tuesday that left at least 25 dead, officials said.

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Aides knew Musharraf was to quit

ISLAMABAD: The politicians, legal minds and associates who met Musharraf during the 11 stirring days between the announcement of the impeachment plan

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Pakistan’s Ambassador Says Musharraf Resignation Returns Nuclear-Armed Nation to Democracy (US News & World Report)

Diplomat sends message of reassurance to Washington about Pakistan’s commitment to counterterrorism.

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Abraaj Capital appoints CEO for Pakistan

KARACHI: Abraaj Capital announced on Tuesday appointment of Farrukh Abbas as head of its operations in Pakistan. Abbas, 46, has 22 years of pr

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Lawyers threaten to launch anti-govt drive

KarachiLawyers at City Courts warned of a strong movement against the rulers if they deviated from their commitment of restoring all deposed s

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Graveyard scam unearthed; three held

KarachiThe Shadman Town Supervisory Police Officer (SPO) has unearthed a scam where contractors and workers at the Sakhi Hasan graveyard destr

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IMF attaches conditions to grant of letter of comfort

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has linked its Letter of Comfort (LoC) for Islamabad with cutting down fiscal deficit to around 4 per

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