Wednesday 11 December 2013

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Justice Tassaduq to take oath as CJP today

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ISLAMABAD (APP) - Designate Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani will take oath of his office today (Thursday). President Mamnoon Hussain will administer oath from the newly appointed Chief Justice of Pakistan. The oath taking ceremony will be held at Aiwan e Sadr and to be attended by Judges of the Supreme Court, chief Justice and judges of the Islamabad High Court, Chief Justice and judges of the Federal Shariat court, President Supreme Court Bar Association, Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council and Attorney General for Pakistan beside others. Outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has retired here on Wednesday (December 11, 2013). According to biodata available on the official website of the supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was born on July, 6, 1949, did Masters in Political Science from Forman Christian College, Lahore. LL.B., from the University of Punjab, Lahore. He completed a course in Constitutional Law from the University of London in the Institute of Advance Legal Studies. He started practice at District Courts, Multan in 1974; enrolled as an Advocate of the High Court in 1976; elected as General Secretary, District Bar Association, Multan in 1976, elected Member Punjab Bar Council in 1978, appointed as Assistant Advocate General, Punjab in July, 1979. He was enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1983 and was appointed as Additional Advocate General, Punjab in 1988, appointed as Advocate General Punjab in 1993. He took oath as a Judge of Lahore High Court on August 7, 1994 and was elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on July 31, 2004 where he served till the imposition of the state of Emergency on the 3rd of November, 2007. As he refused to take fresh oath, he was made dysfunctional as a Judge of the Supreme Court. After the restoration of democracy and elected Government in Pakistan, he joined as Judge of the Supreme Court in September, 2008. He has participated and represented in number of international meetings, conferences, seminars and dialogues. Naming few amongst many are 3rd Malta Judicial Conference on Cross-Frontier Family Law Issue held from 24-26 March 2009 in St. Julian’s Malta; International Family Justice Judicial Conference for Common Law and Commonwealth Jurisdictions at Cumberland Lodge Windsor, England from 4th to 7th August, in 2009, the “Conference on Religious and Cultural Freedom under a Bill of Rights” (13-15 August, 2009) organized by the University of Adelaide, Canberra, Australia ; World Justice Forum-II from 11-14 November, 2009, in 2010, 10th Congress International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions held in Australia from 7th to 11th March, 2010 and the International Judicial Conference on Cross-Border Family Relocation held in Washington, D.C. from 23-25 March, 2010.He was awarded “Key of the City of Detroit (Michigan)” by the Mayor at a function, on 12th of October, 2007, conferred “Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters” at a special Convocation held in Southern Virginia University, Washington, he was conferred the Honorary Chair by the American Bar on its “The World Justice Project” --- an Initiative to promote the rule of law the world over. In July, 2008, he was invited by the American Bar Association to receive the “2008 Rule of Law Award” on behalf of those Judges of Pakistan who demonstrated courage in upholding the ‘Rule of Law’ in the country. He is Co-chair of the Hague Conference Mediation Committee in Family International Law.

Football: Neymar nets hat-trick, Barca hit Celtic for six

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Neymar scored his first Barcelona hat-trick as the Catalans secured top spot in Group H of the Champions League with a 6-1 thrashing of Celtic at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.Gerard Pique got the hosts off to the perfect start when he slammed home from close range after Celtic keeper Fraser Forster had done well to deny Alexis Sanchez.Neymar then produced a magical piece of skill to ghost past Efe Ambrose to set up Pedro for the second and rounded off a fine team move with the simplest of finishes to make it 3-0 a minute before half-time.The Brazilian striker then added a brilliant fourth with a curling finish after a one-two with Xavi before completing his hat-trick with an individual effort 10 minutes later.Cristian Tello made it 6-0 with a deflected strike 18 minutes from time before Giorgious Samaras pulled one back for the Scottish champions.I am very happy to score my first three goals in the Champions League, but the most important thing was that the team played well, he told Spanish TV station Canal Plus.We needed to change the dynamic after the recent defeats and now we have to concentrate on La Liga.Despite being already assured of a place in the last 16, Barca boss Gerardo Martino sent out the message that he didn't want a repeat of the lacklustre performance that saw his side beaten 2-1 by Ajax in their last Champions League outing as he named a strong side.Barca could even have gone in front inside three minutes as only a last-ditch challenge from Virgil Van Dijk prevented Xavi from having a clear sight of goal.However, the reprieve only last a further four minutes for the visitors as Pique coolly volleyed home his second goal of the season.Forster had to be alive to deny Pique his second midway through the half as Barca continued to swarm forward with ease.And the only surprise was that it took until the 39th minute for the La Liga leaders to double their advantage as Neymar skipped past Ambrose on the right side of the area before squaring for Pedro to slot home.Neymar then scored his first Champions League goal just before the break as a lovely move involving Sanchez, Sergi Roberto and Martin Montoya found the later in behind the Celtic defence and he rolled the ball into Neymar's path to slot into an unguarded net.The flurry of goals continued after the restart as Neymar got his second of the evening just three minutes into the second period with a precise finish into the top corner from 20 yards.And the 21-year-old then embarrassed Ambrose once more as he nutmegged the Nigerian before rolling the ball past a helpless Forster.Neymar ought to have had his fourth of the night 26 minutes from time when he rounded Forster only for Pedro to take the ball off his teammate and fire the ball of Van Dijk with the whole goal to aim at.Substitute Tello did add a sixth as his shot from outside the area deflected in off a stary Celtic leg.However, there was time for Celtic to salvage some pride as Samaras headed home Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick a minute from time.

Arsenal advances despite 2-0 loss at Napoli in CL

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NAPLES (AP) - Ten-man Arsenal advanced to the Champions League knockout phase for the 14th consecutive year despite a 2-0 loss Wednesday at Napoli, which was eliminated.Gonzalo Higuain scored in the 73rd minute but the San Paolo stadium was soon silenced when word arrived that Borussia Dortmund had scored a late goal in a 2-1 win at Marseille to win Group F.Jose Callejon added another goal for Napoli in added time but it made no difference.Dortmund won the group with 12 points. Arsenal and Napoli also finished level on 12 but Napoli was eliminated on goal difference, becoming the first club in the history of group competition to exit with 12 points.Arsenal was reduced to 10 men when Mikel Arteta picked up his second yellow card in the 76th.

1st female president for Lawn Tennis Association

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LONDON (AP) - A woman has been appointed to head the Lawn Tennis Association for the first time in the British organization's 125-year history.Cathie Sabin assumed the presidency at the LTA's annual general meeting on Wednesday.The 66-year-old former teacher says she doubted if a woman would get the chance to be the LTA's figurehead.Sabin added that when we are trying to raise the profile of women and girls in sport, not just tennis, I think it's a great opportunity.

England's Brooks leads in rain-hit Durban with 62

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DURBAN (AP) - England's Daniel Brooks shot an 8 under 62 to take a one-stroke lead in the Nelson Mandela Championship on Wednesday after heavy rain disrupted the first round.Play at the Mount Edgecombe Country Club began seven hours late after rain left many of the fairways waterlogged. More than half the field failed to complete their rounds and play is scheduled to re-start at 0400 GMT on Thursday in order to catch up.Brook is being pursued by a group of French players, led by Francois Calmels on 63 and followed by Edouard Dubois and Romain Wattel a stroke further back.Sweden's Joel Sjoholm and Ryan Cairns of Zimbabwe share fifth place after carding 65s.Brooks, who kept his European Tour card after last month's Qualifying School, produced eight birdies in his bogey-free round. Although play was suspended shortly after he birdied the 17th hole, the Englishman decided to carry on and finish his round.I was completely focused on getting to the 18th tee box when we got called in, Brooks said. That probably helped, in a way, because I just kept playing and the result was good.The course was reduced to a par-70 track: The 293-meter (320-yard) par-4 fifth was converted into a 130-meter (142-yard) par-3 because of the waterlogged fairway.It's not too bad and they've shortened a few holes as well, Brooks added. If you're hitting it on the fairways it's pretty score-able.

Clarke warns raw pace alone will not win Ashes

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PERTH (AFP) - Skipper Michael Clarke Thursday warned the Perth Test against England will not be won by raw pace alone, with bowlers needing to be smart in the forecast searing heat as Australia close in on the Ashes.A win for the home side in the match starting on Friday would give Australia an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series after their pacemen, led by left-armer Mitchell Johnson, blitzed the tourists in Brisbane and Adelaide.Clarke, who will be playing his 100th Test on the WACA's famously fast pitch, said he could feel a great sense of anticipation around the country about winning the Ashes, but said it was far from a foregone conclusion.This is going to be a tough Test match, he said in a column for News Limited tabloids.History says we have a fabulous record here and we have certainly taken a lot of confidence out of winning the first two Tests.But history won't mean a thing when the third Test starts on Friday. It's about us creating our own history.And it won't be simply a matter of bombing away with our fast bowlers.While Perth, where England have only won one Test, will have more pace and bounce than Adelaide, Clarke said batsmen could prosper on the WACA track.Starting your innings in Perth can be harder than most other places because of the extra pace and bounce but once you get in it can be a great place to bat because the surface is so even and the pace and bounce so consistent, he said.Likewise, fast bowlers need to be smart. It's one thing thinking you're going to terrorise batsmen because the ball is flying around and quite another getting them out.Life can be uncomfortable at times, that's Test cricket, but most wickets in Perth are taken in the slips with batsmen driving at full deliveries.Adding to the mix in Perth will be temperatures that are expected to reach up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) over the weekend, a factor that is expected to see coach Darren Lehmann stick with spinner Nathan Lyon instead of going into the game with a four-pronged pace attack.Clarke said the weather would pose challenges.They can be long days in the field so you have to find ways of staying sharp and alert, he said.This is where all the hard physical work we do preparing for series comes fully into focus.That physical fitness also brings with it a mental fitness which helps you concentrate for long periods whether batting or in the field.Despite Australia's emphatic victories in the first two Tests, Clarke has been keen to keep his side firmly grounded, with the 3-0 Ashes defeat on English soil earlier this year still fresh in his mind.But he is quietly confident.Now we have grabbed the momentum in this series we want to run with it and there is no better place to do that than Perth, he said. If you take the initiative in Perth it can be a very hard place for the other side to drag it back. Things can happen quickly here, whether it is wickets falling or runs being scored.

Harris battles sore knee ahead of Ashes Test

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PERTH (AFP) - Australian paceman Ryan Harris is battling a sore knee, with reports Thursday saying he was in doubt for the third Ashes Test against England.The 34-year-old has been a crucial part of the attack that has fired Australia to a 2-0 lead over their arch-rivals, but he reported stiffness during the second Adelaide Test.Channel Ten television said he was a doubt for the Perth Test starting Friday, in which Australia can take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.Ryan Harris has had an ongoing knee issue throughout his career which we manage after each Test he plays, a Cricket Australia spokesman said. He added that the Queensland quick, who has bowled 67.4 overs in this Ashes series, with eight wickets at 20.25, would train on Thursday.If he does not recover, James Faulkner, who was 12th man in Brisbane and Adelaide, is a contender to come into the side, while Doug Bollinger and Nathan Coulter-Nile are on standby.

Rain washes out South Africa v India ODI

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PRETORIA (AP) - Quinton de Kock became the fifth batsman to hit three centuries in three one-day internationals, but persistent rain at Centurion forced the third and final match of the series between South Africa and India to be abandoned on Wednesday.De Kock followed up his 135 and 106 in the first two games by hitting 101, while AB de Villiers hammered 109 as South Africa posted 301-8.However the rain swept in during the innings break and the players were unable to take the field for Indias reply, leaving South Africa to settle for a 2-0 series victory.The 20-year-old De Kocks innings made him the first wicketkeeper to achieve the feat of three tons in as many games, and also gave him the record for most runs in a three-match bilateral series.While his first two centuries in the series had been breezy affairs, De Kock faced a more challenging situation on Wednesday after Ishant Sharma (4-40) claimed two early wickets to reduce the hosts to 28-3.The left-hander dug in admirably alongside his captain De Villiers - and enjoyed some fortune when he was dropped on 37 and 43 - as the pair added 171 for the fourth wicket to put South Africa back in charge.De Kock passed the 330 runs by New Zealands Martin Guptill in a three-match series against England this year, and joined Zaheer Abbas (1982), Saeed Anwar (1993), Herschelle Gibbs (2002) and De Villiers (2010) on the list of batsmen to score three one-day hundreds in a row.Sharma ended the knock when he bowled De Kock with a slower ball, but he could not stop South Africa from taking 45 runs in the batting powerplay.De Villiers struck five sixes in his 101-ball innings, and after he was trapped lbw by Umesh Yadav, David Miller took over the six-hitting responsibilities.Miller struck three sixes in his unbeaten 56 off just 34 deliveries, as a couple of late wickets for Mohammed Shami (3-69) failed to prevent South Africa from reaching the 300-run mark.That put South Africa in a strong position to record a series whitewash, but the inclement weather ensured it was not afforded the opportunity to do so.The two teams now turn their attention to the two-match test series, which gets underway at the Wanderers next Wednesday.

Oil falls on huge buildup in gasoline supplies

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NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil fell 1 percent Wednesday after the government reported a large buildup in supplies of gasoline and distillate fuels such as diesel.Benchmark oil for January delivery dropped $1.07 to close at $97.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil had jumped $1.17 to $98.51 on Tuesday, its highest level in six weeks.Gasoline supplies rose by 6.7 million barrels, the Energy Department said, while distillate supplies increased by 4.5 million barrels in the week ended Dec. 6. Both increases were more than three times what analysts were expecting, raising the possibility that refiners would slow production and purchases of oil in the coming weeks.The fuel increases overshadowed a huge decline in oil supplies of 10.6 million barrels.Oil has fallen from $110 in September on high supplies, muted demand and a lessening of Middle East tensions. It sank to nearly $92 late last month but has since crept higher as the U.S. and Chinese economies show signs of sustained recovery.Brent crude, a benchmark for international crudes, rose 32 cents to $109.70 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.

Euro continues push against dollar despite budget deal

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro pushed up against the dollar Wednesday for the fourth straight session despite a US budget deal that gave the Federal Reserve more reason for cutting stimulus.At 2200 GMT the euro was trading at $1.3785, compared to $1.3760 late Tuesday.The dollar fell to 102.40 yen from 102.81, while the euro fell to 141.19 yen from 141.48.Late Tuesday Democrat and Republican negotiators agreed on a two year budget plan, reducing scheduled budget cuts that would hit growth and avoiding another government shutdown as seen in October.Analysts said that was a positive for growth, giving the Fed -- which has expressed concern over Washington's repeated policy brinksmanship -- less reason to hold tight to the $85 billion a month asset purchase program.If the Congress ratifies the deal, said S&P's chief US economist Beth Ann Bovino, we would expect the US economy to grow faster in 2014.The tentative deal also supports our expectation that the Federal Reserve may start to reduce bond purchases this month.US bond yields jumped after the deal, the 10-year Treasury rising to 2.84 percent from 2.80 percent.But a preference for more risk kept players in the euro, amid expectations the eurozone is turning around after Italy pulled out of a two-year recession and Prime Minister Enrico Letta won a parliamentary confidence vote.The British pound slipped after strong recent gains on the dollar, falling to $1.6374 from $1,6442. The dollar dropped to 0.8863 Swiss franc from 0.8871 franc.

Bangladesh halts execution of opposition leader

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DHAKA (AP) - Lawyers for a leader of Bangladesh's largest Islamic party sought Wednesday to have his death sentence thrown out after a late-night reprieve saved his life just hours before he was to be hanged.Abdul Quader Mollah, convicted of war crimes during the nation's war of independence against Pakistan in 1971, was due to be executed at a minute past midnight, but lawyers went to the home of Judge Syed Mahmud Hossain and secured a postponement.The lawyers are trying to convince the Supreme Court to throw out the sentence in a case that could usher in a new wave of political violence ahead of national elections set for next month.After beginning to hear the case Wednesday, the Supreme Court adjourned until Thursday.Mollah's party, Jamaat-e-Islami, an ally of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, enforced a nationwide general strike on Wednesday and issued a statement warning of dire consequences if he were executed.Hundreds of pro-government activists, meanwhile, blocked traffic on a main road in Dhaka demanding Mollah's immediate execution.The developments come at a time of deep tension in Bangladesh, a nation struggling to overcome extreme poverty and rancorous politics.Mollah would be the first person executed in special trials begun by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 of people suspected of crimes during the nation's war of independence against Pakistan in 1971. The government says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women during the nine-month war.Most of the defendants in the trials are opposition members. Mollah's party and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party say the trials are an attempt to weaken the opposition and eliminate Islamic parties. International human rights groups have also raised questions about the impartiality of the tribunal. Authorities have denied the allegations.Deadly clashes have followed court verdicts against six other current and former officials of Mollah's party, and extra police are stationed in the capital to head off any new violence. Paramilitary guards are on standby across the country as well.Carrying out the execution would complicate an already critical political situation in Bangladesh, where the opposition has carried out violent protests for weeks to back a demand for an independent caretaker government to oversee the general elections early next year.The government has rejected that demand and said a political government headed by Hasina would conduct the elections.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke by phone with Hasina to express his strong concern about the prevailing situation in the country, a statement from his office said Wednesday.It said Ban urged Hasina to resolve differences over the upcoming elections with dialogue.The election is set for Jan. 5, but the opposition alliance led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia plans to boycott it. Weeks of blockades and general strikes have left nearly 100 people dead since October. Mollah's party has been banned by the Election Commission from taking part in the elections.Mollah's family had met him at a Dhaka jail on Tuesday for what was expected to be the last time.As authorities finalized the time for the execution, many cellphone users in Bangladesh received text messages from an unknown number that said if Mollah was executed a civil war could break out. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said it is trying to determine who sent the messages.Defense counsel Sazzad Ali Chowdhury said the postponement late Tuesday gave lawyers time to file the petition which the Supreme Court's Appellate Division was reviewing Wednesday.Mollah was found guilty by the special tribunal in February of killing a student and a family of 11 and of aiding Pakistani troops in killing 369 others during the independence war. He was sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court changed the penalty to a death sentence in September, triggering deadly clashes and a nationwide general strike.Until it gained independence in 1971, Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan. Mollah's party campaigned against Bangladesh's independence and has been accused of forming several groups to help Pakistani troops in killing, rape and arson.

US suspends non-lethal assistance into northern Syria

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ANKARA (AFP) - The United States has suspended all non-lethal aid to the opposition in northern Syria after Islamist rebels seized key bases and warehouses belonging to the Western-backed Free Syrian Army, a US official said Wednesday.We have seen reports that Islamic Front forces have seized the Atmeh headquarters and warehouses belonging to the Supreme Military Council and we are obviously concerned, T.J. Grubisha, spokesman for the US embassy in Ankara, told AFP. Because of the current situation, the United States has suspended deliveries of non-lethal assistance into northern Syria, he said. The Islamic Front, the largest Islamist rebel force in Syria, seized depots belonging to the FSA near the Bab el-Hawa border crossing with Turkey on Saturday.The group also took control Tuesday of the crossing itself, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said.Non-lethal aid provided to the rebels by Washington has included armoured vehicles, night vision goggles, laptops and advanced communications equipment.Grubisha said the US decision to suspend such aid would not impact humanitarian assistance that was coordinated by international and non-governmental organisations including the United Nations.We are gathering the facts and consulting with friends of the Syrian opposition on next steps in support of the Syrian people, Grubisha said.We are working with General Idriss and SMC staff to inventory the status of US equipment and supplies provided to the SMC, he added, referring to the Supreme Military Council of the FSA headed by Selim Idriss.State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said news that the headquarters and warehouses belonging to the SMC have been taken over is certainly something concerning.US support for Idriss remained strong, she stressed, and although it was unclear when deliveries would resume it's in our interests and the international community's interest to ... have the aid going through this area as soon as we can.But we want to evaluate the circumstances on the ground and make a decision from there, Psaki added.The Islamic Front was formed last month when six groups merged and pledged to work towards forming an Islamic state. It has rejected the authority of the FSA.Turkey on Tuesday shut its side of the border in Hatay province after the Islamic Front seized the Bab al-Hawa post, customs officials said in a statement. The crossing into Syria via Cilvegozu has been closed ... due to the clashes between rebel groups in Syria, the statement said.But a foreign ministry official, contacted by AFP, said the measure was temporary and would not affect refugees entering Turkey.Turkey, which is fiercely opposed to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, has taken in about 600,000 refugees from the Syrian conflict and has become a base for Syrian rebels and army defectors who form the core of the FSA.The FSA was the first organised rebel military entity to emerge after peaceful demonstrations against the Assad regime in 2011 degenerated into an armed uprising.Since then, numerous other groups have emerged, many of them Islamist, which are operating with a high degree of autonomy from the FSA, if not totally independently.Syria's civil war, which has killed more than 126,000 people and displaced millions, has become more complicated as jihadist and other rebel groups battle not only Assad but, increasingly, each other.

Muslim bloc calls for recognition of Palestinian state

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CONAKRY (AFP) - The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called on the international community to recognise the Palestinian Territories as a sovereign state in the shortest possible time as it closed its annual conference of foreign ministers on Wednesday.The ministers welcomed a United Nations decision in November 2012 to elevate the territories to the status of non-member observer state in a declaration adopted at the end of the three-day meeting in the Guinean capital Conakry.We welcome the important recent decision by many countries to recognise the state of Palestine... and urge states that have not yet done so to fulfil their responsibilities under the charter of the United Nations recognising the State of Palestine in the shortest possible time, the statement said.The 57-member grouping reiterated its condemnation of illegal Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and acts of violence and terrorism of Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians.It called for the immediate cessation of violence in Syria, wracked by conflict between forces loyal to the Ba'athist government of Bashar al-Assad and rebels seeking to oust it, and the start of a transition towards a pluralistic, democratic and civil country.The world's largest grouping of Muslim nations also underlined its commitment to working with the international community to combat terrorism and rejected any attempt to link terrorism to Islam, a particular Islamic country, race, culture, religion or nationality.The ministers called for support to eradicate the terrorist armed groups and drug traffickers in Mali, which was upended by a coup and sweeping Islamist offensive before a French-led military intervention in January. The 57-member OIC was founded in 1969 and describes itself on its website as the collective voice of the Muslim world.

2 shootings kill 4 people in Iraq

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BAGHDAD (AP) - Authorities in Iraq say two separate shootings have killed four people, including a former provincial election candidate, in the countrys north.Police officials say gunmen shot and killed the former candidate Abla Ahmed along with her son Wednesday night in a drive-by-shooting as she was driving home in the city of Mosul.Also in Mosul, gunmen ambushed the convoy of the citys mayor, Hussein Ali, at a road intersection, killing two bodyguards and wounding four others.The mayor was unhurt in the attack, said police officials.The former insurgent stronghold of Mosul is located about 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures for both attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to publicly release the information.

Afridi stars in Pakistan's T20 win over Sri Lanka

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DUBAI (AFP) - Dashing allrounder Shahid Afridi starred in Pakistans exciting three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Dubai stadium on Wednesday.Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39, hitting the winning six off the last ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs.Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run second wicket stand before they lost three wickets in the space of seven runs.Sharjeel holed out after hitting three fours off 31 balls while Hafeez, who hit two fours and a six in his 27-ball knock, fell leg-before and Umar Akmal was run out for five.It was left to Afridi to see Pakistan through.Criticised for his recent poor batting form, Afridi hit two towering sixes in Kulasekaras 16th over to give Pakistan a sniff of victory.When on 23, Afridi also became the first player to score 1,000 runs and take 50 wickets in all Twenty20 cricket. In all he has 73 wickets in 69 matches.Afridi said he was delighted to return to his aggressive batting.Pakistan won and Im very happy for that. I have to mention (skipper) Hafeez, who was not feeling well but still he played for the country.Its nice to bat well, once in a blue moon.Sent into bat, Sri Lankan batsmen did not capitalise on the good starts before Mathews (50) and Lahiru Thirimanne (23 not out) added 58 for the fifth wicket stand to take their team to 145-5 in 20 overs.Mathews hit five boundaries and a six off 34 balls before holing out in the last over. He hit paceman Bilawal Bhatti for three boundaries in one over before sending left-arm paceman Sohail Tanvir to long-on ropes to reach his fifty off 32 balls.Experienced opener Tillakaratne Dilshan managed just seven before he was the first wicket to fall in the second over.Kusal Perera (15) and skipper Dinesh Chandimal (22) then added 32 for the second wicket but off-spinner Saeed Ajmal put on the initial brakes with 2-35.Kumar Sangakkara scored 21.Pakistan gave an international debut to 19-year-old Usman Shinwari after the left-arm paceman was drafted into the team as late as Tuesday but the youngster from the troubled Kahyber Pakhtunkhwa province bowled only one over, costing nine runs.Tanvir finished with 2-32 while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took 1-20 in his four overs.The second match will also be played in Dubai on Friday. The two teams also play five one-day internationals and three Tests.
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