Syria unrest: New protests erupt across country
New anti-government protests have erupted in several Syrian cities after Friday prayers, despite heavy security.
Witnesses said thousands of people took to the streets chanting "freedom". The state news agency said protesters were calling for reforms to be speeded up.
Reports suggest four protesters died as security forces opened fire in the Damascus suburb of Duma.
Activists had dubbed Friday a Day of Martyrs to honour the dozens of people killed during two weeks of protests.
President Bashar al-Assad said earlier this week that demonstrations were part of a foreign "plot".
In a speech on Wednesday, Mr Assad did not announce the lifting of emergency legislation as some analysts had predicted.
However, the president later said he had directed a legal committee to look into lifting unpopular emergency laws - in place since 1963.
Backing for Mr Assad's regime has also been in evidence, with huge crowds joining officially encouraged shows of support for the regime in Damascus on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the US said two Americans detained in Syria for several days had been released. State department spokesman Mark Toner confirmed the news but could add no more details due to "privacy considerations".
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that snipers dressed in civilian clothes shot at people from rooftops.
Unrest was also reported in the central city of Homs.
Syria's Sana state-run news agency confirmed that protests were held in Deraa and Latakia, but said "there were no clashes".
The cities of Qamishli and Hassakeh are in the north-east of Syria. The region is the centre for the Kurdish population, who until now distanced themselves from the protests over the past two weeks, the BBC's Lina Sinjab in Damascus reports.
But in Qamishli and Hassakeh protesters chanted "Neither Arabic, nor Kurdish, we want a national unity" in an attempt to defeat any accusations of trying to make a Kurdish movement, our correspondent says.
She adds that in Damascus there is a heavy security presence around the main mosques - especially the Umayyad mosque where the first anti-government protest began.
Hundreds of security and pro-government gangs gathered around the mosque and later mixed with people praying inside.
The doors of the mosque were closed to prevent any protests, our correspondent says.
People are also reportedly locked in the al-Rifai mosque in Damascus, where some of the worshippers chanted "The one who kills his people is a traitor" and "We are all Syrians".
"We fear being arrested, we only want freedom for those who are detained. They (the government) have security and buses waiting for us outside," one worshipper told the BBC.
Activists and rights groups estimate that between 60 and 130 people have died in clashes in the past two weeks.
Government officials say the death toll is closer to 30.
Bank of Ireland shares jump on independence hopes
Bank of Ireland shares have jumped 41% on hopes the government will not have to take a majority stake in the firm.
However, Irish Life and Permanent plunged 54%, a day after the results of the stress test on the Irish banking system were announced.
The tests found the country's banks will need an extra 24bn euros (£21.2bn) to survive the financial crisis.
Bank of Ireland said it would be able to meet its capital requirements and thus remain independent.
Its shares closed at 31 euro cents. Irish Life closed at 17 euro cents.
"It seems very likely that the government will end up owning a majority stake in Irish Life & Permanent," said Emer Lang, banking analyst with the stockbrokers Davy in Dublin.
Capital requirements
Bank of Ireland has been ordered to raise 5.2bn euros ($7.4bn; £4.6bn) by early summer to meet capital requirements. The bank said it would do so.
"It has potential to raise some of that through further debt management," said Ms Lang, adding that some of the rest might come from existing shareholders, thus minimising the government's involvement.
The Irish Republic's government currently owns a 36% stake in Bank of Ireland. Investors hope it will keep its stake below 50%.
"The Bank of Ireland has at least a fighting chance of maintaining its independence," said Ms Lang.
"It has three months to keep itself out of the government's hands."
Irish Life & Permanent has to raise 4bn euros. Emer Lang said it should be able to raise 1.1bn euros from its life business and from debt management, but that it would struggle to raise the remaining 2.9bn.
Shares in Allied Irish Banks initially fell 15%, but soon bounced back and closed up 11% at 21 cents.
The bank is already majority-owned by the government, and the state's stake might be raised, she said.
Allied Irish Banks is expected to be merged with building society EBS as part of a government plan to reduce the number of banks in the country.
Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks are expected to become the two main "pillar banks" on which the banking system will rest in the future.
It was announced last month that the heavily-indebted Anglo Irish Bank would be merged with the Irish Nationwide Building Society and its assets auctioned off.
Economic 'recovery'
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's said the latest round of tests were robust, despite criticism that the scenarios included in the assessment were no worse than the current economic situation facing the Republic.
It did downgrade Irish government debt to below A rating, however, but by a smaller amount than had been expected.
"It's as positive as a downgrade can be," said Eoin Fahy, economist at Kleinwort Benson Investors.
S&P said it expected the Irish economy to gradually recover.
"We are of the opinion that the sharp contraction in Ireland's nominal GDP... since 2008 has reached an end, and that the Irish economy is now set to gradually recover," the agency said in a statement.
Rival agency Fitch, however, said there was "significant uncertainty" surrounding the outlook for growth this year following a greater-than-expected contraction of the economy at the end of last year.
"The weaker GDP baseline, as well as increased bank recapitalisation costs announced on 31 March 2011, mean that the government debt-to-GDP ratio is likely to rise significantly higher than Fitch's projection of a peak of 103% of GDP made in December 2010," it said.
'Burning' bondholders
Most of the cost involved in restructuring the Irish banking system will be borne by the taxpayer.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan had tried to get German, US and UK investors in Irish bank bonds to share in the burden, but his plan was vetoed by the European Central Bank (ECB).
The ECB was concerned large investors might panic and thus make it harder for bond issuers to raise funds, thus causing a damaging credit crunch.
This would also mean Irish banks might find it difficult to raise funds in the future by issuing bonds.
"It would inhibit their capacity to get funds in the market in two and a half, three years time, if the people they are going to be seeking the funds from have shared in the burden - by burning the bondholders - to use the expression," Mr Noonan said.
US unemployment rate falls to new two-year low of 8.8%
The US unemployment rate fell to a new two-year low in March of 8.8%, from 8.9% in February.
It was the fourth monthly fall in a row. The unemployment rate has fallen by a percentage point during the last four months.
Employers created 216,000 jobs in March, the US Department of Labor said, higher than market expectations.
Other economic data showed a slight dip in manufacturing in March, although the report was seen as broadly positive.
The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) index of national factory activity dipped to 61.2 last month from 61.4 in February.
February's rate was the highest since May 2004. Any reading above 50 indicates growth.
US and European stock markets were boosted by the economic news. London, Paris and Frankfurt all closed with gains of more than 1.5%, while the Dow was up 1% by late afternoon.
Most of the new jobs were created in the private sector, in factories, shops and health care, as well as in education and several professional and financial services.
David Sloan of IFR Economics said: "This [the jobs report] suggests the recovery is continuing."
The new private sector jobs offset job losses in the public sector, mainly resulting from cuts by local government.
"The numbers are obviously good and one can hope that we will continue to see the market rise in continuing months," said Bernard Baumohl, managing director and chief global economist of Economic Outlook Group.
If employers keep on creating jobs at this pace, as many economists expect, there will be a further 2.5 million new jobs in the US by the end of the year.
Eurozone unemployment rate begins to fall
The unemployment rate in the eurozone area has begun to fall, official figures show.
For the first time in over a year the percentage of people out of work dipped below 10%, having dropped in February to 9.9%.
However, the unemployment rate diverges widely within the 17 eurozone countries, Eurostat figures show.
Spain's jobless rate stands at 20.5%, while 4.3% of the Netherlands' population is unemployed.
Spain's unemployment rate edged up in February having stood at 20.4% the previous month.
However, in Germany the jobless rate continued to fall and now stands at 6.3%.
Eurostat, who compile the official figures, had previously estimated the eurozone unemployment rate for January at 9.9%, but this has now been revised up to 10%.
Eurostat estimates 15.8 million people are unemployed in the 17 countries that have adopted the euro.
The unemployment rate for males fell to 9.7% in February, down from 9.9% twelve months earlier.
However, during the same period, the female unemployment rate rose from 10.1% to 10.2%.
Oil price hits 30-month high on new supply fears
Oil prices jumped to their highest close in two-and-a-half years as Libya's conflict and Middle East unrest sparked fresh worries about supplies.
Brent crude for delivery in May rose $2.23 to $117.36 a barrel, its highest close since August 2008 and up 23.9% so far this year.
US crude rose $2.45 to $106.72, its highest close since September 2008, and jumping 16.8% for the quarter.
Analysts said oil trading recently was the most volatile for two years.
Fighting near Libya's oil ports heightened concerns about the country's ability to re-start production any time soon.
Energy consultants Cameron Hanover said traders are beginning to view the Libya uprising as a stand-off with little sign of resolution.
"Optimism that Libyan oil might return to the market, seen earlier this week, was dashed," the firm said in a statement.
But the oil price also rose amid optimism about the strength of the US economy, which could mean crude imports rising.
Brent crude's recovery comes after it fell below $108 in the aftermath of Japan's earthquake and tsunami on 11 March.
Brazil banks sued for Amazon deforestation
Brazil's biggest bank - the state-run Banco do Brasil - is being sued for allegedly funding deforestation in the Amazon.
Public prosecutors say the bank lent money to companies that illegally cleared the rainforest and used labour practices bordering on slavery.
The smaller state-owned Banco da Amazonia is also being sued.
Brazil says it has drastically reduced the rate of deforestation in the Amazon in recent years.
Prosecutors in the state of Para said they had uncovered 55 loans worth nearly $5m (£3m) that the Banco do Brasil approved to farms that had broken environmental and employment laws.
They also said they had uncovered 37 loans worth $11m given to farms with similar violations by the Banco da Amazonia.
The loans violated Brazil's constitution, environmental laws, banking regulations and international agreements signed by Brazil, the independent prosecutors at the Public Ministry said.
"The discovery of this this irregular financing shows that this is a generalised problem," they said in a statement.
They added that their findings supported studies that showed a direct relationship between public loans and deforestation in the Amazon.
Denial
The Banco do Brasil denied the allegations, insisting it complied with Brazilian law, but said it would look into the charges on a case-by-case basis.
The Banco da Amazonia said it would not comment until it had studied the legal documents.
Brazil's judicial branch will now have to decide whether to pursue the case.
If the lawsuits are successful the banks could have to pay compensation.
The prosecutors have also called for closer regulation and control of how loans are handed out.
Last year Brazil's government said deforestation in the Amazon - the world's largest tropical rainforest - had fallen to its lowest rate for 22 years.
Brazilian officials said the reduction was due to better monitoring and control.
Brazil says it is on course to meet its target of cutting deforestation by 80% by 2020 as part of international efforts to tackle global warming.
The cutting and burning of trees in the Amazon has made Brazil a major contributor of the greenhouse gases.
Cricket World Cup: Muralitharan set to defy injury
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is set to put his body on the line in a bid to end his career with victory over India in Saturday's World Cup final.
The 38-year-old is expected to take the field in the Mumbai showpiece despite struggling with hamstring, knee and groin problems during the tournament.
And while the majority of the 38,000 crowd at the Wankhede Stadium will be cheering on their prodigal son, Sri Lanka fans will be pinning their hopes on Muralitharan, who as a 23-year-old helped the small island nation stun the cricket world by beating Australia in the 1996 final in Lahore.
Muralitharan, who claimed a wicket with his last international delivery on home soil in the semi-final victory over New Zealand in Colombo, needs three more to equal former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath's World Cup record of 71 wickets.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara stopped short of guaranteeing Muralitharan would play, but stressed the off-spinner's importance to the side.
"He's a big-match player, he has been amazing for us," said Sangakkara.
"It's great to have him in the side and it would be great to hopefully have him on the field tomorrow and to have him play this World Cup final with us because there is no other way we can have it.
"Whatever happens we want to play for him, and play for each other and do the best that we can do."
Mathews, 23, has been ruled out with a right thigh injury suffered while fielding during Tuesday's semi-final.
Batting with a runner, he helped Sri Lanka clinch a five-wicket victory with an aggressive 14 not out.
He has been replaced in the squad by Suraj Randiv, who has 22 wickets in 21 one-day internationals and could provide spin-bowling cover for Muralitharan.
Dhoni is playing down the pressure on his team.
"We are not thinking about tomorrow's game as a final, for us every match is a challenge and just as important," he said.
"These matches are called by different names like quarters, semis and final. In the end you have to play the same way and do the right things to succeed.
"Of course we realise this is a World Cup final. It can't get bigger than this, but our preparations have to be the same."
Saturday's match will be umpired by Australia's Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar of Pakistan.
Taufel has been named international umpire of the year five times the presence of Australia in the last three World Cup finals has prevented him from officiating in the sport's biggest single match.
Meanwhile, left-armer Nehra is almost certain to miss the final after injuring the middle finger of his right hand in the semi-final win over Pakistan.
India captain Mahendra Dhoni said no decision had been made whether Nehra would be replaced in the team by an additional seamer in Sreesanth or a second spinner in Ravichandran Ashwin.
"The Mumbai wicket usually has a bit of bounce and a third seamer gives me the option to manoeuvre the attack," he said.
"But if we feel there could be turn in the wicket as the game progresses, Ashwin will come into the picture. It helps to have such good options."
Dhoni said left-handed batsman Gautam Gambhir was fit to play after recovering from a minor hamstring strain he developed while fielding against Pakistan.
In the first all-Asian final, all eyes will be on Tendulkar in his home city.
The 37-year-old is playing in his sixth World Cup, and will be desperate to help his team land the trophy it has only captured on one occasion, in 1983.
The "Little Master" scored two hundreds in the group stage and looked on course to reach the 100 century landmark in the semi-final before he was dismissed for 85 following an uncharacteristically scratchy knock in which he was dropped four times.
"Going back to Mumbai, especially for this event, is a wonderful occasion," said Tendulkar. "All I want to say is, we want to be calm, focus on our job and get the job done."
In the build-up to the final, Dhoni paid tribute to Tendulkar, who made his India debut as a 16-year-old in 1989.
"God has made Sachin to play cricket," said Dhoni. "He has been doing it for 21 years and a few more years to come."
With India the marginal favourites to win the trophy, Sangakkara is hoping the weight of expectation could tell on their players.
"Everyone in the world expects India to turn up tomorrow and win this game," he said.
"We have to understand the fact that India for the last year or two years have been tagged as the favourites by almost everyone to win the World Cup.
"I'm sure they'll be looking at themselves as favourites too."
A massive security operation has been mounted for the highest-profile sporting event to take place in Mumbai since gunmen attacked the city in November 2008, leaving 174 people dead.
"We will be overdoing it a bit," said Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik. "But it's better to be on the safe side. The stakes are high."
India (from): Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (capt & wk), Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla.
Sri Lanka (from): Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) & Simon Taufel (Australia)
Asafa Powell versus Tyson Gay
Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell confirmed he will go head-to-head against American Tyson Gay on British soil this year.
Gay was the fastest man over the 100-metre distance last year.
The pair's first showdown will take place at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham, on July 10 before they battle at the London Grand Prix on August 5 and 6.
Both events will be included on the Diamond League circuit, with the London race taking place exactly a year before the 2012 Olympic 100-metre final.
The Birmingham race at the Alexander Stadium will be the first Diamond League meet to be held in the city.
Powell, the former world record holder, looked in good form at the start of last year with a best time of 9.82 seconds in June before back and hamstring injuries cut his season shor
Warner retains CONCACAF top position
Caribbean football mogul, Jack Warner, will take charge of CONCACAF for a sixth successive term after being nominated without opposition for the post of president.
Warner, a powerful FIFA vice president and key ally of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will be formally returned to power at the CONCACAG Congress scheduled for Florida on May 3.
CONCACAF is the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean and is a key voting bloc in FIFA, football's world governing body.
Warner is also Minister of Works in the People's Partnership coalition government of Trinidad and Tobago.
He acted as prime minister twice during the absence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar from the country.
Boys champs in Jamaica
Calabar High titan Traves Smikle continued his merry ways at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, smashing his own national junior record, with a mammoth 66.88m heave in the final of the Class-One boys' discus throw at the National Stadium last night.
Smikle, who in the process also erased the old Champs record of 58.86m, which was established last year by his former teammate, Chad Wright, is now the holder of the best throw by a junior in the world this year, bettering Robert Harting's (Germany) 65.94m. It is also the fourth best in history.
Along with teammate Federick Dacres, Smikle registered Calabar's first 16 points of the Champion-ships; good enough for fourth place up to press time.
Kc on 33 points
After three finals, Kingston College are motoring away on 33 points, with Jamaica College in second place on 19. Munro are third on 17 points while defending champions Wolmer's are in fifth place on 14 points.
Smikle, while speaking to The Gleaner after his performance, expressed amazement at the mark and says that he hopes it will inspire other throwers.
"I am deeply amazed and really happy seeing that it's my last year and so my victory is one that I hope will inspire the throwers to come seeing that I left a decent mark," said Smikle. "I expected at least 65m and over, so to get the 66.88m is a real thrill for me."
At press time, KC's Xavier Boland had also set a new mark in the boys' pole vault open, with a 4.46 mark, bettering the old mark of 4.45m set in 2009 by K'Don Samuels.
Akeem Powell (JC) won the Class-Three boys' high jump final ahead of teammate Clayton Brown, both athletes posting 1.85m with KC's Chevon Ramsay picking up the bronze with 1.80m.
There was also hot action in the 100m as favourite Jazeel Murphy strolled into today's second round with a 10.80 clocking with Camperdown's Bernard Brady, 11.00 posting the second-fastest time.
Defending champion Odean Skeen (Wolmer's) didn't appear to be as smooth as he usually is, but he did enough to advance to the next round along with teammate Julian Forte and Munro's Delano Williams.
The Class-Three boys' 100m is one of the most hotly anticipated event at this year's championships and protagonists Michael O'Hara (Calabar) and Rashaad Saunderson (KC) are on a collision course for a hot semi-final and final later today.
O'Hara laid down the challenge with a smooth 11.73 to win his heat while Saunderson replied with a comfortable 11.74 of his own.