Monday 9 September 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Obama: I might lose congressional vote on Syria

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WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama conceded Monday night he might lose his fight for congressional support of a military strike against Syria, and declined to say what he would do if lawmakers reject his call to back retaliation for a chemical weapons attack last month.The president sought to use a glimmer of a possible diplomatic solution including vaguely encouraging statements by Russian and Syrian officials on Monday as fresh reason for Congress to back his plan. Syria welcomed a proposal to turn over all of its chemical weapons to international control.Obama said Syria's statement was a potentially positive development, but he voiced skepticism about that the regime of President Bashar Assad would follow through. He said it was yet another reason for lawmakers to give him the backing he is seeking.He spoke in a series of six television network interviews planned as part of a furious lobbying campaign aimed at winning support from dubious lawmakers and well as a war-weary public.Speaking of Assad's government, Obama said the credible threat of a military strike led by the United States has given them pause and makes them consider whether or not they could make this move to surrender control of their chemical weapons stockpile.If we don't maintain and move forward with a credible threat of military pressure, I do not think we will actually get the kind of agreement I would like to see, he said on CNN.But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cited international discussions in unexpectedly postponing a test vote originally set for Wednesday on Obama's call for legislation backing a military strike.In a separate interview with NBC, Obama took the step unusual for any politician of conceding he may lose his campaign in Congress for authorization. I wouldn't say I'm confident of the outcome, he said.I think it's fair to say that I haven't decided on a next step if Congress turns its back, the president told NBC.Classified briefings for lawmakers just back from vacation were also part of the White House's bid to avoid a humiliating defeat in Congress, as were the public release of cringe-inducing videos of men, women and children writing in agony from the evident effects of chemical gas also.Obama arranged a trip to Congress on Tuesday as well as a prime time speech from the White House.The president picked up a smattering of support but also suffered a reversal when Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Republican, announced he had switched from a backer of military action to an opponent.Reid, the Senate majority leader, made a statement of support for the president's request.Today, many Americans say that these atrocities are none of our business, that they're not our concern, the Democrat said of Assad's alleged gassing of civilians on Aug. 21. I disagree. Any time the powerful turn such weapons of terror and destruction against the powerless, it is our business.Others came down on the other side of the question.I will vote 'no' because of too much uncertainly about what comes next, said Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Republican, reflecting concerns that even the limited action Obama was contemplating could lead to a wider war.Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, also voiced opposition. I strongly believe that we need the entire world, not just America, to prevent and deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria, or anywhere else on the globe, she said.In the House of Representatives, one of two female Iraq war veterans in Congress announced opposition to military strikes.Legislation approved in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week would give Obama a maximum of 90 days to carry out a military attack, and it includes a ban on combat operations on the ground in Syria. Both of those limitations were last-minute concessions to critics of a military option, and it was unclear whether Reid would seek additional changes to build support.Despite the difficulty confronting Obama, an AP survey indicated the issue was hardly hopeless for the president, particularly in the Senate where Democrats maintain a majority, and perhaps also in the Republican-controlled House.The survey showed 23 Senate votes in favor of military authorization and 10 more leaning that way. Opponents totaled 20, with another 14 leaning in the same direction, with the remaining 33 senators undecided or publicly uncommitted. That created at least the possibility of the 60-vote majority that will be necessary to advance the bill.In the House, there were fewer than a dozen declared in support and 150 opposed or leaning that way. But 201 lawmakers had yet to take a public position, more than enough to swing the outcome either way.The public opinion polling was daunting for the president and his team.An Associated Press poll showed that 61 percent of those surveyed want Congress to vote against authorization of U.S. military strikes in Syria and 26 percent want lawmakers to support such an action, with the remainder undecided.

US Senate leader delays crucial test vote on Syria

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday he is delaying a key vote on authorizing the use of force in Syria to let President Barack Obama publicly address the issue.Earlier in the day, the top Obama ally in Congress had scheduled the crucial test vote for Wednesday but then backtracked to let the US leader sell his plan on strikes against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.I want to make sure the president (makes) his case to the Senate and the American people before voting on this matter, Reid said. I don't think we need to see how fast we can do this. We have to see how well we can do this.Amid deep divisions in Congress over the way forward, Obama meets with Democratic and Republican senators Tuesday and gives a televised address to the nation that night.Russia, which has blocked US and British efforts to gain a United Nations resolution approving international action against Syria, appeared to open a path toward a solution Monday when it suggested a plan for Damascus to hand over its chemical weapons.Obama called the plan potentially positive, and hinted at congressional delays as his administration weighs Moscow's comments.I don't anticipate that you would see a succession of votes this week or anytime in the immediate future, Obama told ABC News.But Republican Senator John McCain, who has long pressed for military action, said he remained very, very skeptical of Russia's offer.It's got to be verifiable, it's got to be definitive, and it's got to be time sensitive, he told reporters.McCain said the plan would need to see inspectors enter Syria immediately to get the chemical weapons under control and removed within two weeks. He added that he would want to see the deal approved by the UN Security Council within a week.Passage of Reid's Senate procedural step, known as a cloture vote, would let the chamber proceed to official debate on a resolution endorsing limited military action.Should there be objections to the motion, as at least one Republican senator threatened last week, the 100-member chamber would need 60 votes to move forward.Obama's Democrats control the Senate, but it is unclear whether the president has the necessary support to meet the 60-vote threshold.Reid, however, said he has spoken to top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell and virtually all my Democratic senators, and we have enough votes to get to cloture.At least three lawmakers who had been among the many in the undecided column announced Monday they would oppose the move to authorize the use of force.After step A, what will be steps B, C, D and E? veteran Republican Senator Lamar Alexander told his constituents. I see too much risk that the strike will do more harm than good by setting off a chain of consequences that could involve American fighting men and women in another long-term Middle East conflict.The Senate resolution now being considered forbids US boots on the ground in Syria for combat purposes, but several war-weary lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced concern that a strike would still draw the United States deeper into a Mideast military entanglement.First-term Senate Democrat Heidi Heitkamp said she and Senator Joe Manchin, another Democrat who has voiced deep skepticism about Obama's plans, were drafting an alternative approach that would give Assad 45 days to sign an international chemical weapons ban and start turning over such poison gas.Approval of Obama's plan may be tougher in the Republican-held House of Representatives, where far more lawmakers have spoken out in opposition of the strikes than in favor.

AP poll: Most Americans oppose strike on Syria

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Only 1 in 5 Americans believe that failing to respond to chemical weapons attacks in Syria would embolden other rogue governments, rejecting the heart of a weeks-long White House campaign for U.S. military strikes, an Associated Press poll concluded Monday,The poll of 1,007 adults nationwide found that most Americans oppose even a limited attack on Syria likely with cruise missiles despite Obama administration warnings that inaction would risk national security and ignore a gruesome humanitarian crisis. And a slim majority 53 percent fear that a strike would lead to a long-term U.S. military commitment in Syria.The survey reflects a U.S. public that is tired of Mideast wars after a dozen years of military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. It undercuts political support Obama is hoping to garner as he seeks congressional authorization this week to strike the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.U.S. officials have cited a high confidence in intelligence that indicates Assad's government launched the Aug. 21 attacks that they say killed more than 1,400 Syrians. Obama last year warned Assad that using chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war would amount to a red line that, if crossed, would bring a swift U.S. response.But the White House is facing lukewarm support in Congress, where many lawmakers have questioned whether the strikes would create more of a problem for the U.S. than they would help the nearly three year effort to overthrow Assad.America needs to stop getting into other people's business and causing a war that's mainly unneeded, Patrick Lawrence, a student at Loyola Marymount University, said Monday while eating breakfast at a California bakery.If Assad still refuses to negotiate an end to the Syrian civil war, then we should go after him instead of going after innocent people in random cities, Lawrence said. He was referring to the strong possibility of civilians who would be killed unintentionally during U.S. strikes.Released Monday, the AP poll was conducted September 6-8 by GfK Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,007 adults nationwide. Results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points; it is larger for subgroups.

Seven police among 13 dead in Iraq attacks

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Gunmen killed five policemen in a checkpoint shooting north of Baghdad on Monday, the deadliest of attacks that left 13 dead, officials said amid a nationwide surge in violence.The unrest came days after an Al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for a spate of car bombings in the capital last week, killing 50, the latest in a spike in bloodshed that has raised fears Iraq is slipping back into all-out sectarian war.In Monday's worst attack, gunmen opened fire on a police checkpoint near Tikrit, capital of Salaheddin province, killing the five officers.Also in Salaheddin, two near simultaneous roadside bombs targeted an army patrol along a main road near the Baiji oil refinery, killing two soldiers and wounding three.Six people died in violence elsewhere, among them an alleged militant linked to Al-Qaeda and two policemen, in attacks that included a suicide car bombing.Iraq has seen a surge in unrest since the beginning of 2013, in which nearly 4,000 people have died so far, according to an AFP tally.Officials have vowed to press on with a campaign targeting militants they say has led to the capture of hundreds of alleged fighters and the killing of dozens more.But the government has faced criticism for not doing more to tackle anger in the Sunni Arab community over alleged ill treatment at the hands of the Shiite-led authorities.

Nadal wins US Open title

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Rafael Nadal claimed his second US Open title and 13th Grand Slam crown on Monday when he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a lung-busting, big-hitting final.Nadal, 27, added the 2013 trophy to his 2010 triumph, when he completed a career Grand Slam, and gloriously capped a year that has now seen him capture 10 titles and stretch his season record to 60 wins and just three losses.Monday's win also earned him a total of $3.6 million, which takes his career earnings through the $60 million mark and also edged him closer to Roger Federer's record of 17 majors and put him one behind Pete Sampras.In the pair's record-setting 37th meeting, world number two Nadal, who only returned to the tour in February following a seven-month injury lay-off, took his lead over Djokovic to 22-15 as he added the US Open crown to the eighth French Open he claimed in June.It's very emotional. All my team knows what this means to me, said Nadal.Novak always brings my game to the limit. He is an amazing player. He will go down as one of the greatest in the sport.For Djokovic, playing in a fourth successive final in New York, it was a devastating defeat in a year which started with a fourth Australian Open title but was followed by a semi-final loss at the French Open to Nadal and a Wimbledon final mauling by Andy Murray.For the neutrals, however, it was a memorable contest which showcased thrilling athleticism, delicate touch and exhausting, brutal rallies, one of which was fought out over 54 shots.Djokovic lost 11 of the last 13 games with his challenge fatally undermined by 53 unforced errors to Nadal's 20.Rafa was too good, and he definitely deserved to win today. I am disappointed to lose a match like this but it's a huge privilege to be fighting for the trophy, said Djokovic.Nadal, in his 18th major final, was comfortably the more settled player in the opening stages, finding pin-point accuracy while Djokovic, who had already voiced his dislike at playing on a late Monday afternoon, was sluggish and heavy-footed.Nadal, who missed the 2012 tournament through injury, sensed the Serb's uneasiness and broke for a 2-1 lead, mastering the occasion as well as the tricky breeze.Djokovic, meanwhile, looked as lethargic as he had done at Wimbledon when he was brushed aside in straight sets by Murray.Even the technology was on the Spaniard's side as a successful challenge on triple break point gave him a double break for 5-2.With a host of showbusiness glitterati looking on -- including Sean Connery, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake -- Nadal claimed the first set with ease after 42 minutes, Djokovic undone by 14 unforced errors.The omens were looking good at that stage for the 27-year-old Spaniard, who had only lost three out of 154 career Grand Slam matches when winning the first set.But 26-year-old Djokovic stormed out of his slumbers and broke for 4-2 in the second set after a 54-shot rally, Nadal dumping an approach into the net.It was only the second time Nadal had dropped serve in the tournament and the setback fired him into an immediate response, hitting back at 3-4, before Djokovic broke again for 5-3 on a modest 28-shot exchange.This time, the world number one backed up it up to level the final, taking the 58-minute set with a down the line winner.Djokovic broke to love in the opening game of the third and had a point for a double break in the third before Nadal clung on to avoid dropping serve for the fourth game in a row.The world number two then capitalized on a sloppy Djokovic service game to level at 3-3, but the twists and turns became a tumble for Nadal, who slipped to the floor in the ninth game.Unruffled, he saved three break points to sneak ahead 5-4 and then unleashed a deep, fierce forehand which Djokovic could only slap long as Nadal went into a two sets to one lead.The momentum was back with Nadal as Djokovic cursed his unforced error count, which had rocketed to 42.Nadal fought off two break points in the opening game of the fourth set and broke a tiring Djokovic with a heat-seeker of a forehand.He backed it up for 3-0 and repeated it against a broken-spirited Djokovic for 5-1.Victory was Nadal's after three hours and 21 minutes when Djokovic buried a return in the net.

Official: At least 44 dead in Guatemala bus crash

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SAN MARTIN JILOTEPEQUE (AP) - An overcrowded bus plunged into a deep river canyon in northwestern Guatemala on Monday, killing at least 44 people commuting to the capital, officials said.Grieving families gathered outside a recreation center near the accident site where authorities set up an improvised morgue to identify the bodies of the passengers, including children and at least three babies. The spokesman for the volunteer fire department, Mario Cruz, said 46 people were taken to regional hospitals for treatment of injuries.Marcos Rene Zet, 17, was crying outside the center as medical personnel performed autopsies on the corpses. He said he couldnt believe he had lost his mother, two sisters and three nephews.My mother told me she was going to the capital to buy food. She sells food outside schools, Zet said as he waited for news.The fire department spokesman said approximately 90 people were aboard the Guatemala City-bound bus, which had an official capacity of 54 passengers. The bus driver, Yony Cumar Cana, died in the accident.Some of the people were rescued with hydraulic equipment, and others were thrown (from the bus) at the time of the accident, Cruz said.People from the nearby town of San Martín Jilotepeque gathered at the scene and were shocked when they saw rescue workers carrying out the bodies of three babies wrapped in pastel-colored blankets. Boys and girls were brought out of the canyon on stretchers.The bus ended up in the river at the bottom of the 600-foot (200-meter) canyon around 8:15 a.m., apparently after the driver lost control on a curve.Twisted metal from the bus was scattered in the ravine.From what we see, the bus crashed against a wall of rocks first and then fell over the cliff, Mayor Otto Vielman said.The area has mostly dirt roads that wind through steep mountains without guardrails or other safety measures. The mayor said a similar bus accident in 2000 on the same road killed 40 people.

Olympics: IOC members gear up to elect new president

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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Six men will wake up on Tuesday with hopes of ending the day as the most powerful man in sport by being elected International Olympic Committee (IOC) President and succeeding Jacques Rogge.Their fate lies in the hands of fellow IOC members when they vote later on Tuesday in Buenos Aires.They may not be locked away like the cardinals when they go into a conclave to elect the Pope, and they dont burn their voting papers after voting, but their vote is similar in that it is by secret ballot.Their responsibility is enormous as they are voting for the president of the sporting equivalent of the United Nations.The winner will be the flagbearer not only of the IOC values of Excellence, Respect and Friendship but also of continuing to lead the fight against doping and illegal betting to name but two daunting challenges.In as much as one can assess what members voting intentions are, Germanys Thomas Bach is still regarded as likely to justify his role throughout of being the favourite and be rewarded with a position he has wanted for a long time.One of his supporters told AFP a first round win was assured: We have more than wrestling had in their vote (they got 49 on Sunday in the first round to regain their place among the Olympic roster).However, in the relative privacy of pushing the button on their voting boxes some members freed from constant pressure could feel liberated and change their minds and there are those who resent the way some Bach supporters are calling the vote a done deal and a coronation.Of the 59-year-old lawyers rivals only two have been talked about as potentially being capable of dashing his dreams of achieving his goal: Ng Ser Miang of Singapore and Puerto Ricos Richard Carrion.The 64-year-old China-born Ng, Singapores ambassador to Norway, is extremely popular among the membership.However, the victory of Tokyo in the race to host the 2020 Olympics on Saturday damaged his chances as members could be loathe to give Asia two golden prizes in such a short space of time.Carrion, responsible for brokering the record $4.38 billion (3.3 billion euros) broadcasting deal with NBC to have exclusive US coverage of the Olympics through to 2020, has presidential bearing and espoused powerful arguments in his campaign, but his lack of a sporting background is likely to hurt his chances.Thus the likelihood is that at 1400GMT, when voting begins, the odds are that at the end of it Europe will retain its stranglehold over the presidency -- the controversial American Avery Brundage is the only non European to have held the office.Should Bach be elected -- becoming the first Olympic champion to be IOC President -- there could well be a frosty exchange between him and one of his rivals, Swiss lawyer Denis Oswald.The 66-year-old Oswald, realising he had no chance of winning, decided to vent his feelings about the German.I dont believe he and I share the same values, said the 66-year-old, president of the Rowing Federation.I imagine a president who is independent, who is not dependent solely on alliances with other people and who does not use his position for anything else but the defence of sport.

Oil edges lower as Syria threat fades; crops fall

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NEW YORK (AP) - Energy prices closed lower Monday as the likelihood of a U.S.-led strike on Syria seemed to diminish.Crop prices fell. Prices for metals were mixed.Crude oil for October delivery fell $1.01 to close at $109.52 a barrel in New York.Oil had been rising over the past two weeks as tensions mounted over Syria and President Barack Obama pressed the case for a military strike in response to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians.On Monday there was reason to hope for a possible diplomatic solution when Syria's foreign minister welcomed a suggestion floated by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to move all the country's chemical weapons under international control.In other energy trading, natural gas rose 8 cents to $3.61 per 1,000 cubic feet (28.32 cubic meters).Gold for December delivery edged up 20 cents to $1,386.70 an ounce. December silver fell 17.40 cents to $23.717.December copper rose 16.5 cents to $3.2780 a pound.October platinum fell $12.70 to $1,483 an ounce and December palladium fell $13.85 to $683 an ounce.Wheat, soybeans and corn all fell.December wheat fell 6.5 cents to $6.4125 a bushel. December corn fell 4.75 cents to $4.635 a bushel and November soybeans fell 11.25 cents to $13.565 a bushel.

Dollar slips in wake of poor jobs data

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NEW YORK CITY (AFP) - Foreign exchange traders continued to sell the dollar for the euro in the wake of last weeks disappointing US jobs report.Near 2200 GMT, the euro traded at $1.3254, up from $1.3180 Friday.The dollar also fell against the Swiss franc and the British pound.The dollar advanced to 99.69 yen from 99.07 yen.The euro rose to 132.10 yen from 130.57 yen.Last weeks jobs reports had a dramatic impact on interest rate expectations, said David Rodriguez, quantitative strategist at DailyFX.The report showed weaker-than-expected jobs growth in August and revised downward the estimated jobs added in June and July.Rodriguez said the real test for the dollar will be next weeks Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting, which could begin scaling back the Feds aggressive bond-buying program.Markets are also carefully eyeing developments on Syria and an expected US congressional debate on President Obamas plan to lead military strikes on the country.A military strike would likely lead to lower equities, higher oil prices and a higher dollar, said Kathy Lien, managing director at BK Asset Management.A military strike could spur a safe haven bid for the US dollar, Lien said.The British pound rose to $1.5696 from $1.5627 Friday.The dollar slipped to 0.9325 Swiss franc from 0.9376.

Pakistan, Zimbabwe 2nd Test begins today

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HARARE (Agencies) - After winning the first Test convincingly by 221 runs, Pakistan are overwhelming favourites to win the second and final Test against a Zimbabwe team that is fighting hard to focus on cricket amid a battle over payment issues with their board.Zimbabwe suffered a massive defeat in the first Test of the series as Saeed Ajmal toppled their batting with 11 wickets in the match. Pakistan bowlers picked up nine wickets on the final day of the first Test, with spinners Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman taking four each.There was a question mark hanging over the second Test due to the payment row, but Hamilton Masakadza, who is captaining the side in place of Brendan Taylor on a paternal leave, confirmed that Zimbabwe players will definitely play the second Test. Earlier, the players had threatened to boycott the final ODI of the tour, but Zimbabwe Crickets negotiations with the players ended the impasse.For Pakistan, veteran batsman Younis Khans innings was the game-changing contribution in the first Test as the visitors made 419 in their second innings to set a huge target for Zimbabwe. Younis made 200 not out off 404 balls, batting for nearly 10 hours, and was also given the Man-of-the-Match award. The only positive for Zimbabwe was the partnership between Sikandar Raza and Malcolm Waller in the first innings. Elton Chigumbura also had a good show with the bat as he scored 69 runs to take Zimbabwe to 327 in the first innings.Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza, though, was worried about the pitch at Harare that replaced Bulawayo as the venue for the second Test to reportedly avoid travel expenses - a cost-saving measure by the countrys board. The official reason given, though, was that Queens Club was not in a condition to host the Test.Masakadza believes less time to prepare the pitch may render it slightly difficult to negotiate. Its going to get a lot worse, a lot quicker. Its going to be tough for the groundsman with such a short turnaround and the spinners will definitely come into play much more in the second innings, said the Zimbabwe captain.Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq concurred with Masakadza. The pitch is a really big concern for us. Its going to be tricky but we need to be prepared - especially mentally prepared - and we need to be professional. There have only been three days between the two Tests, and the groundstaff had a tough job getting a decent pitch prepared in that time.

Australia's Starc out with back injury

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Mitchell Starc is expected to be out for a prolonged period with a back stress fracture in a further blow to Australias fast bowling stocks, Cricket Australia said Monday.Starc returned home earlier this month from Australias one-day series in England with lower back soreness and CAs worst fears were realised with confirmation of his injury.Mitch Starc had scans following his arrival back to Australia and they have shown an early stage low back stress fracture, CAs chief medical officer Justin Paolini said in a statement.His management plan will be determined in the coming days but he is expected to be unavailable for a prolonged period.The left-arm fast medium bowler endured a frustrating tour of England, playing in the first, third and fifth Tests of the five-match Ashes series while being dropped for the second and the fourth.CA had better news concerning another paceman Jackson Bird, who also returned home early from England with back trouble.Jackson returned home with some lower back soreness. We have ruled out a major injury but will review scans in two weeks to confirm this, Paolini said.We expect that he will be available during The Ashes (in November).Starc joins other Australian fast bowlers James Pattinson and Pat Cummins on the sidelines with back injuries.Pattinson was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back after the second Test at Lords in July, while Cummins is expected to miss most of the 2013-14 domestic season with recurring back trouble.CA general manager team performance Pat Howard said Starc, Pattinson and Cummins were all under 24 years of age and studies had shown that until fast bowlers get into their mid-20s they are more susceptible to injury.Historically, weve rarely seen three such promising young fast bowlers come through at the same time and all of a similar age so when they get injured of course that will be disappointing, Howard said.Were doing our best to minimise longer term injuries, but we are also realistic that such injuries are possible.Looking at a comparison of some of Australias best quicks at the age of 23, Pattinson and Starc are second and third on the list behind Craig McDermott in terms of performance.What that tells us is we have a greater reliance on younger fast bowlers at international level than ever before and were getting the most we can out of these talented young players, who are all coming through into international cricket together, Howard said.

Van cylinder explosion kills 12 in Chiniot

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CHINIOT (Dunya News) - At least 12 people died and 6 others injured when cylinder of a passenger van exploded near Tahirabad area here on Monday night.According to police, the cylinder of the van exploded due to collision with a dumper.The passenger van carrying 18 passengers was arriving to Chiniot from Islamabad.

There was no other option, says Shahzeb's mother

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - Justifying the decision to pardon the killers of her son, Shahzeb’s mother Monday said that her family felt proud that her son’s case became an example for the society.Talking to media, she said that the family was feeling isolated with the passage of time and wanted to take some decision for return to normal life.“My son will not return if his killers are hanged and we have left the whole matter to God. We forgave the culprits in the name of God,” she said.Shahzeb’s mother said that she believed that the culprits would be able to escape the sentence. “We did what we thought right according to the situation”, she added.She said that disappointment of the people over the decision was understandable but execution of Shahrukh Jatoi could not have brought her son back.She said she wished killers of her son to be alive so that they die every moment in guilt.Shahzeb’s mother said that they had been assured that no harm would be caused to the witnesses in the case.Earlier, in a surprise decision parents of Shahzeb Khan pardoned all the culprits. In this regard, father of Shahzeb Khan submitted an affidavit in Sindh High Court on Monday..An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi had sentenced Shahrukh Jatoi, the main accused in the Shahzeb murder case, to death.Another suspect, Siraj Talpur, was also awarded capital punishment for his role in the crime.Whereas, two other suspects in the case, Sajjad Ali Talpur and Ghulam Murtaza Lashari were sentenced to life imprisonment.Twenty-year-old Shahzeb Khan was gunned down on the night of December 24, 2012 when he was returning home along with his sister after attending a wedding.Shahzeb, son of a DSP, was murdered reportedly after he had an altercation with one of the suspects’ servant who had allegedly given verbal threats to the victim’s sister.Jatoi, Siraj Talpur, his younger brother Sajjad Talpur and their house servant Ghulam Murtaza Lashari were charged with killing Shahzeb in the city’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA).The case had attracted much media attention after the Supreme Court took a suo motu notice of the murder.

Barguil wins 16th Vuelta stage, Nibali keeps lead

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ARAMON FORMIGAL (AP) - Warren Barguil of France won the mountainous 16th stage of the Spanish Vuelta by perfectly timing his final sprint up the steep Aramon Formigal peak on Monday, while Vincenzo Nibali fended off his rivals to retain the overall lead.The 21-year-old Argos-Shimano rider looked tired in the final stretch up the category 1 ascent, but finished in 3 hours, 43 minutes, 31 seconds, just ahead of Rigoberto Uran of Colombia, who finished with the same time.Polands Bartosz Huzarski was third, three seconds behind, on the 146-kilometer (91-mile) ride from Graus to Aramon Formigal.Today it was a very nice race for me, Barguil said. I had very good legs and I attacked. Then, when I saw Uran coming after me, I thought I would wait a bit and held back to see if I could still sprint a bit at the end, and I did.Nibali also appeared to struggle on the final ascent, losing time to Christopher Horner of the United States, but he remained in the overall lead, 28 seconds ahead of the American.It was a difficult stage with the wind against us, Nibali said. I thought I would be in better shape, but it was a very difficult ascent. The last three kilometers were very tough, especially after three difficult days of racing, but Im still optimistic.With three kilometers to go, Uran began to attack Barguil on the climb up the 5,906-foot Aramon Formigal peak, which is set in the mountainous landscape of the former kingdom of Aragon, now a region in northeastern Spain.The stage had also included a category-3 climb up Puerto de la Foradada and a category-2 ascent up Puerto de Cotefablo.The race resumes after a days rest with the 17th stage on Wednesday, a 189-kilometer (117-mile) ride from Calahorra to Burgos.

Ukraine: 3 England fans injured in brawl

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KIEV (AP) - Police say three England fans were briefly hospitalized for head and arm injuries on Sunday evening after a fight erupted at a central outdoor cafe in Kiev, two days before the countrys World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.Police said the fans, aged 19, 22, and 23, were among some 40 English nationals at the venue, although eyewitness Tim White of Manchester said there were at least 100 Englishmen singing football songs and drinking beer there.Police said six Ukrainians approached the venue around 9 p.m. and a verbal argument started between the two groups and escalated into a fight, during which an additional 15 Ukrainians joined in.Police said the three Englishmen were released from hospital the same evening and refused to give official statements.
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