NEW YORK: Oil prices slumped Wednesday after news of a surprise jump in crude inventories in the United States, the world’’s biggest consumer of energy, put more downward pressure on prices. New York’’s main contract, light sweet crude for November delivery, lost 2.11 dollars to close at 98.53 dollars a barrel. London’’s Brent North Sea crude for November delivery tumbled 2.84 dollars to settle at 95.33 dollars a barrel. The US Department of Energy (DoE) said Wednesday that US crude stockpiles rose 4.3 million barrels in the week ending September 26, surprising a market which had been expecting a fall of around 1.7 million barrels. The DoE said gasoline (petrol) stockpiles increased by 900,000 barrels. Mike Fitzpatrick at MF Global said another possible reason for the decline was “an unwillingness to be surprised again by feckless US lawmakers” that has pushed traders to the sidelines. The US Senate was set to vote later Wednesday on a new version of a package to rid Wall Street banks of toxic mortgage-related assets.
More: continued here
KOLKATTA: World renowned off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka will play for Bengal in Ranji Trophy.According to an Indian newspaper, the Sri Lankan star will play for Bengal in Ranji Trophy - the biggest first-class cricket tournament of India during the season beginning in November.Muralitharan, who has so far taken record 756 wickets in Test cricket and 479 in One-day International cricket, will play four matches for Bengal.Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is also included in the team of Bengal.
More: continued here
NEW DELHI: The venue for the fourth one-day international between India and England has been changed, the Indian cricket board said on Wednesday.The day-night match would now be played in Bangalore instead of Jamshedpur in eastern India, Indian board chief executive Ratnakar Shetty said.The decision was taken after the cricket association in Jamshedpur said they were unable to host the match as they did not get a response from Tata Steel who own and maintain the Keenan Stadium, he said.The stadium had come under the scanner after an unruly crowd threatened to disrupt a one-dayer between India and the West Indies in 2002.It was not awarded a one-dayer till 2005 when Pakistan played a game there. It last hosted a match in 2006 when England beat the hosts by five wickets. Schedule: Nov 9 : Practice match, Mumbai Nov 11 : Practice match, Mumbai Nov 14 : First ODI, Rajkot Nov 17 : Second ODI, Indore Nov 20 : Third ODI, Kanpur Nov 23 : Fourth ODI, Bangalore (D/N) Nov 26 : Fifth ODI, Cuttack (D/N) Nov 29 : Sixth ODI, Guwahati Dec 2 : Seventh ODI at Delhi (D/N) Dec 5-7 : Three-day practice match, Vadodara Dec 11-15 : First Test, Ahmedabad Dec 19-23 : Second Test, Mumbai.
More: continued here
HAMBURG: The national hockey team, led by centre-forward Shakeel Abbasi, has reached the German city Hamburg for playing the four-nation tournament.Pakistan will play their first match against Malaysia on Friday in the tournament being played on single league basis.The second match of the national team will be played against Belgium on Saturday while the next day, they will play their third and the last league match against the hosts and the Olympic champions Germany.
More: continued here
LAKKI MARWAT: Police defused 7-kilo bomb and timer planted with three rockets at Sarai Naurang area here.Some unknown miscreants had planted 7-kilo remote control bomb and timer with three rockets near a cold drink stall located on G.T. Road. Police on information immediately called the bomb disposal squad, which defusing the bomb and the rockets saved the area from a fearsome devastation.
More: continued here
KARACHI: Senator Babar Ghauri has urged upon the prime minister to get the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee decision investigated. Talking to Geo News, Senator Babar Ghauri said that the sighting of moon at 11.00 P. M. in the night gave rise to suspicions, the people were not happy with this sudden U-turn. He said that although the people have celebrated Eid, but Ruet-e-Hilal Committee decision was under suspect. Babar Ghauri demanded from the PM Yusuf Raza Gilani to get the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee decision investigated.
More: continued here
RISALPUR: A passenger bus overturned due to break up of its tie rod near here. The bus was on way to Mardan from Rawalpindi, when its tie rod suddenly loosened near Risalpur Phatak. The injured were immediately admitted into Mardan and Naushehra hospitals, where 13 of them were said to be in critical condition.
More: continued here
Pakistan News
PESHAWAR: A clash between the Ferozekhel clan in Orakzai Agency and the extremists claimed 16 dead, which included 14 extremists and 2 persons from the Ferozekhel.Sources said that the Ferozekhel clan had launched a drive against the extremists for the recovery of their tribal leader, which led to the heavy firing with automatic weapons from both sides.
More: continued here
HYDERABAD: Ageing Bryce McGain further depleted Australia’’s already thin spin resources in India on Wednesday when he was ruled out of a practice match due to a shoulder injury.The 36-year-old leg-spinner will miss the four-day match against a strong Indian Board President’’s XI here from Thursday, the tourists” last warm-up before next week’’s first Test.It effectively rules the Victorian out of the series opener in Bangalore from October 9, with the lone spinning Test spot likely to be handed over to fellow debutant, off-spinner Jason Krejza.McGain, who injured his right shoulder during last month’’s Indian tour by the Australia ”A” team, was unable to bowl at the nets on Wednesday, a team spokesman said.
More: continued here