Saturday 22 February 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

UN Security Council unanimously adopts Syria aid resolution

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Saturday adopted a unanimous but non-binding resolution calling for the lifting of the siege on several Syrian cities to allow passage of humanitarian aid convoys in the war-torn country. Russia, with support from China, has blocked three previous resolutions aimed at pressuring the Damascus regime since the crisis began in March 2011, with an estimated 250,000 people across Syria awaiting help.But Moscow and Beijing, two of the five permanent Security Council members, did not do so this time, sending a strong message to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.The resolution was drafted by Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg and had the backing of Britain, France and the United States, the other permanent members.However, some diplomats doubt the effectiveness of the resolution in the absence of automatic sanctions to force Damascus to let aid convoys have access to the hardest-hit areas.

Suicide car bomb kills three at Lebanon army post

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HERMEL (AFP) - A massive suicide car bomb targeting an army checkpoint in the eastern Lebanese town of Hermel near war-torn Syria killed two soldiers and a civilian on Saturday.The bomb is the third this month to hit areas of Lebanon where the powerful Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah, which is helping the Syrian regime battle insurgents, is a dominant force.The Al-Nusra Front in Lebanon, a group named after Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, claimed the bombing on Twitter, indicating it was a revenge attack for Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian conflict.The bombing drew condemnation from the United Nations, Lebanese Sunni Muslim leader Saad Hariri and new Prime Minister Tammam Salam, who unveiled a cabinet last month, ending months of political vacuum.A medical official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said two soldiers and a civilian were killed in the Saturday's attack, and that 16 other people, five of them soldiers, were wounded.The suicide car blast ripped through the army checkpoint which lies at the main entrance of Hermel in the Bekaa Valley, and at which cars are routinely stopped and searched by soldiers.Immediately after the attack, military police imposed security measures in Hermel, as they searched for suspects and evidence, said the National News Agency (NNA).Hezbollah-dominated parts of eastern Lebanon and southern Beirut have been hit by a wave of violent attacks in recent months, since the Shiite group acknowledged it sent fighters to Syria.But until Saturday, the attacks had only killed civilians.Hezbollah television channel Al-Manar broadcast amateur footage showing a huge fire over the checkpoint, and people screaming in the background.

Mexico captures top drug kingpin 'El Chapo' Guzman

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MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Mexican marines captured the world's most wanted drug lord, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, in a Pacific beach city on Saturday, ending a blood-stained reign after a 13-year manhunt.Guzman, 56, was arrested at around 6:00 am local time in a hotel in Mazatlan, a resort located on the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa, apparently without a shot fired, a US security official told AFP.The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Guzman, who is accused of being behind much of the drug violence that has plagued Mexico for years.His arrest deals a major blow to the Sinaloa cartel, Mexico's biggest drug trafficking organization, an empire that stretches along the Pacific coast and smuggles drugs to the United States, Europe and Asia.Mexican forces were acting on a intelligence from the US Drug Enforcement Administration and US Homeland Security intelligence, the official said on condition of anonymity.We've been actively tracking him for five weeks. Because of that pressure, he fled in the last couple of days to Mazatlan, the official told AFP.He had a small contingent with him, the official said.Guzman was believed to have been hiding in a house in Culiacan, Sinaloa's largest city, but had fled as authorities hunted for him. The house had extra-thick walls and escape tunnels, the official said.The arrest is a major coup for the 14-month administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto, which captured the head of the ultra-violent and powerful Zetas drug cartel, Miguel Angel Trevino, in July 2013.I recognize the work of the Mexican state's security institutions for detaining Joaquin Guzman Loera in Mazatlan, Pena Nieto wrote on Twitter, adding that the coordination between the navy, police and intelligence services was decisive.But Guzman's top associate, Ismael El Mayo Zambada, remains on the run even though Mexican marines almost got him in recent operations against the Sinaloa cartel, the US official said.

Burewala: Bride, groom among 7 dead in road accident

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BUREWALA (Dunya News) – At least seven people of a family, including a newly-wedded couple, died in a road accident in near Burewala when their car rammed into a police bus on Saturday.The deceased groom Muhammad Arshad and his bride Parveen were married a day earlier.The ill-fated family was returning to Burewala after Valima ceremony when their car collided with a police bus. The bus was carrying policemen, who were going back after performing duty at a local Tableeghi Markaz.

MQM to take out rally today to express solidarity with army

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KARACHI (Online) - Coordination Committee of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) announced a public rally on Sunday (today) in the metropolis to express solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces.A haleem banquet was organized under the aegis of North Nazimabad Residents Associations late Friday. Addressing the participants of the feast, deputy convener of Rabta Committee Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui demanded of the government to take strict action against those who disrupt peace, instead of wasting time on negotiations.He also announced a public rally on Sunday to express solidarity with the military.Senator Babar Ghauri said negotiations with the Taliban are a sheer wastage of time.The Muttahida leaders were of the view that the citizens of Karachi will turn out to be an iron wall against the terrorists.

Olympics: Matt wins men's slalom gold

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ROSA KHUTOR (AFP) - Austria's Mario Matt became the oldest Olympic alpine skiing champion in history on Saturday when he won a dramatic men's slalom at age 34, in front of favourite Marcel Hirscher.However the race ended in controversy with many big names crashing out, including US star Ted Ligety who blasted the course as unfair and unsporting.Matt, a two-time slalom world champion, proved unbeatable over the two runs, finishing with a combined time of 1min 41.84sec to close the skiing competitions at the Sochi Games. His compatriot Hirscher, the reigning world champion, finished second at 0.28sec, with young Norwegian sensation Henrik Kristoffersen taking bronze at 0.83sec. At 34 years and 319 days old, Matt snatched the mantle of oldest winner from Norwegian legend Kjetil Andre Aamodt, who was 34 years and 169 days when he won super-G gold in Turin in 2006. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Kristoffersen became the youngest Olympic medallist in men's alpine skiing, a day after US teenager Mikaela Shiffrin smashed the record for youngest ever Olympic slalom champion.You can tell yourself this is just a training run but when it works out like this it is incredible, said Matt, who won his first world championship gold in 2001. A massive goal has come through for me today. Kristoffersen, who had won the last slalom going into the Olympics, was 15th after the first run but showed off a commanding performance to take the lead in the second. This didn't last long as 24-year-old Hirscher, with his typical attacking style, stormed down the course. The Austrian slalom World Cup winner had made a faultless first run but had found himself in ninth place before battling back in impressive fashion. Hirscher just missed the prized treble of slalom World Cup trophy and world and Olympic gold, but was visibly moved and teary-eyed as he stood in the finish area with only teammate Matt likely to overtake him for gold. With the time I was behind I thought this would be impossible but I managed to get my skiing back to normal and luckily the snow got a bit harder and I managed to make up a lot of time, he rejoiced afterwards. Matt and Hirscher's podium double bring Austria's alpine skiing haul at these Olympics to nine medals -- including three golds -- out of a total 31. But the tricky course, set by Ante Kostelic -- father of 2010 Olympic silver medallist Ivica, who finished joint-ninth on Saturday -- drew some serious criticism after it caused many of the top favourites to crash out. These included Felix Neureuther of Germany, France's Alexis Pinturault and Jean-Baptiste Grange, and Sweden's slalom bronze medallist from Vancouver, Andre Myhrer. Kostelic is known for his tortuous courses but newly-crowned giant slalom champion Ligety, who also went out, slammed the race as a battle of attrition and not the most fair.(It's) borderline unsportsmanlike to set those kinds of courses on these kinds of hills.This is the Olympics, you're trying to showcase our sport to the rest of the world and I don't think this does us any favours, especially when you have 12 guys in the top 30 go out, that's not an ideal setting.A visibly annoyed Kostelic hit back, insisting he was a fair setter: Modern Olympics began with one motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger). That's all.The Croat already had tongues wagging last week after he set the slalom run of the super-combined, in which his son won silver. But he got some backing from third-placed Kristoffersen. I was really disappointed after the first run but when I saw the course in second run I thought now I might have a chance. So thank you Ante Kostelic for that oneHirscher also was supportive: Hats off to the course setter. Not everyone would have had the guts to (set such a course).I prefer if we're challenged... I had lots of fun racing the course, he added. Defending Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli of Italy, 16th after the first run, also crashed out in the second round.

Tennis: Venus wins first title for 16 months

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DUBAI (AFP) - Venus Williams, the seven times former Grand Slam champion, won the WTA Dubai Open on Saturday to silence some of the doubters who said she could never make a significant come-back at the age of 33.Williams produced a magnificent performance by outplaying the tournament's sensation, Alise Cornet, 6-3, 6-0 to earn her a first title in 16 months.Williams only gained entry into the Dubai Open with a wild card after falling outside the top 40, yet completed five fine wins. In doing so she avenged the defeat which the French player had inflicted on her sister Serena Williams in the semi-finals, captured her first Premier level title since 2010, and ensured she would climb back into the world's top 30.Williams' face was afterwards wreathed with enormous smiles, while Cornet twice dissolved into tears during the match, aware from an early stage that she was unlikely to find a way to halt one of the game's most formidable attacker two nights in a row.It's great to be back, Williams said, referring to her capture of the Dubai title four years ago.I was expecting to be playing Serena, but Alize played an amazing game in the semis, so congratulations on that.I have continued being able to practise, and I have been getting healthier, Williams went on, referring to the long term effects of the immune deficiency which has been threatening her career.It hasn't been easy. I have to thank the tournament for a wild card, and my family and Serena for encouraging me. They all kept me up when I was down.Cornet said: I think the first set was very, very important, and that's why I was a bit emotional, because I wanted to do better. She added: I would have loved to make like a better final, you know, with a little bit more of suspense. And the score is really too hard to finish the week, such a good week, but I will have to take all the positive things out of this week. I think there is a lot, so I'm still very motivated for the rest of the season.Despite Williams' consistent excellence, the first blow was Cornet's.Combining two great forehand drives, which dragged her opponent in different directions, she reached deuce on the Williams serve, and then immediately prospered from a double fault.Williams saved that break point, but conceded the next one with a moderate second serve, which Cornet thumped back hard and deep, forcing an error.It gave Cornet a break, a lead of 2-1, but from then on Williams asserted her dominance, finishing the match with yet another flurry of fierce drives.Later Williams commented: I'm not looking to do anything I did in the past, because I already did that. I'm looking to improve and be a better, smarter Venus. I think obviously this week is a step.Cornet's consolations were that she had achieved her first final on a hard court surface, and that she had managed four top 20 scalps, including a career best win to reach only her second Premier level final.She is now very close to being back the top 20 for the first time in five years, a better player than she was then, and with every prospect of further progress.With her sequence of five wins in this tournament Venus has remained ahead of sister Serena as the active player with the most WTA Tour wins (647 to Serena's 641). Her dream of continuing till the Rio Olympics may yet be alive.

Football: Arsenal, Man City stay on Chelsea's tail

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal and Manchester City replied in kind after John Terry scored an injury-time winner against Everton to preserve Chelsea's position as Premier League leaders on Saturday.Chelsea's victory momentarily gave them a four-point lead at the summit, but Arsenal closed the gap to a point by overwhelming Sunderland 4-1 and City are three points back with a game in hand after edging Stoke City 1-0.Arsenal had been dealt a dispiriting 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday and they reacted in style by outclassing third-bottom Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.Left on the bench against Bayern, Olivier Giroud was restored to the starting line-up to face Sunderland and the Frenchman responded with a brace of goals in the first 31 minutes.The former Montpellier man also played a role in the glorious move that led to Tomas Rosicky chipping in Arsenal's third goal before half-time, with Laurent Koscielny heading home a fourth in the 57th minute.Emanuele Giaccherini claimed a late consolation for Gus Poyet's side, who face City in next weekend's League Cup final.After playing for so long with 10 men in a difficult game in mid-week against Bayern Munich, it was good to win today, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.We are still there in the table. It is down to consistency and our performances.City also tasted Champions League disappointment in mid-week, losing 2-0 at home to Barcelona, and their return to winning ways was not quite as straightforward as Arsenal's.Manuel Pellegrini's side toiled in front of goal against Stoke at the Etihad Stadium and there was a sense of relief when Yaya Toure broke the deadlock from Aleksandar Kolarov's cut-back in the 70th minute.They were defending with 10 players in their box, said City manager Pellegrini.I thought we controlled the game and it was a matter of time before we scored.Earlier, Terry's last-gasp winner allowed Chelsea to hold onto top spot as they snatched a 1-0 victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge.With Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard in sparkling form, Chelsea looked set to drop points until Terry marked his return to the team after a three-game absence by toeing home a Frank Lampard free-kick in the 93rd minute.When you score in minute 90-something, you could speak about being lucky, but the reality is that the boys chased it, said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.I feel sorry for Everton because a point would have been fair, but we were the team that was trying to win, which is our responsibility.Terry's strike was a bitter blow for an enterprising Everton side, who squandered an opportunity to close the eight-point gap that currently separates them from fourth-place Liverpool.Manchester United capitalised by stealing into sixth place -- ahead of Everton on goal difference, albeit having played a game more -- with a 2-0 success at Crystal Palace.Robin van Persie opened the scoring at Selhurst Park with a 62nd-minute penalty after Marouane Chamakh tripped Patrice Evra just inside the Palace area.Wayne Rooney doubled United's lead six minutes later, celebrating his new five-year contract and marking his 300th league appearance for the club by slamming a half-volley into the top-right corner.To get the first goal is always crucial. It was hard to come by, but we felt that we deserved it, the way we played, United manager David Moyes told Sky Sports.On Rooney's goal, Moyes added: The finish was exquisite, wasn't it? It's a bit like Wayne -- no time to think, pull the trigger, and bang, it's in the back of the net.Meanwhile, Felix Magath saw victory snatched from his grasp in his first game as Fulham manager after a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.Fulham were on course to climb off the foot of the table thanks to Ashkan Dejagah's 28th-minute goal, only for Matej Vydra to plunder an 86th-minute equaliser with a shot that squirmed past Maarten Stekelenburg.We are disappointed, but in the whole game, 1-1 was correct, said Magath, who succeeded Rene Meulensteen as manager last week.Vydra's goal meant that Cardiff City remained second from bottom after they were crushed 4-0 at home by Hull City, who prevailed through a Nikica Jelavic brace and strikes from Tom Huddlestone and Nikica Jelavic.Hull are now six points above the relegation zone and West Ham United are a point better off in 10th place after goals from Matt Jarvis, Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan set up a 3-1 win at home to Southampton.

Football: Sociedad stun Barcelona, Real Madrid go top

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of La Liga as Barcelona suffered their second league defeat in four games with a 3-1 reverse away to Real Sociedad on Saturday.Earlier, Madrid had comfortably seen off Elche 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks in part to a spectacular long-range strike from Gareth Bale.Barcelona had come into the game on a high after beating Manchester City in their much-anticipated Champions League tie on Tuesday, but went behind when Alex Song turned Sergio Canales' cross into his own net.Lionel Messi restored parity almost instantly with a clinical left-footed finish.However, two goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half from Antoine Griezmann and David Zurutuza handed Sociedad a deserved victory.We didn't feel comfortable and we didn't have possession, which is our strength. That allowed then to create chances, Barca defender Gerard Pique told Spanish TV station Canal Plus.Now we have a week to rest and reflect on why things did't go well. It is not worrying, we just have to continue onto the next game.Barca boss Gerardo Martino had made six changes from the side that started in Manchester as Neymar made his first start in a month.After a slow start from the visitors, Pedro came close to opening the scoring when he sliced Andres Iniesta's pass just wide.It was Sociedad who struck first, though, as Song bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Gorka Elustondo.The lead lasted only three minutes as Messi fired home his seventh goal in his last five games with an unerring finish from the edge of the area.Sociedad should have been back in front before half-time when Carlos Vela pounced on an error from Gerard Pique, but the Mexican wastefully blasted over the bar with just Victor Valdes to beat.Barca were dealt a blow at half-time when coach Gerardo Martino was sent to the stands for the second half after taking his protests towards the officials too far as they headed down the tunnel.And the Catalans' defence also seemed to completely lose their composure at the start of the second-half as Sociedad opened them up at will.Vela raced onto a long ball in behind the Barca defence to square for Griezmann to register his 15th league goal of the season on 54 minutes.Five minutes later it was 3-1 as this time Zurutuza burst through a pedestrian defensive line to turn home Griezmann's cross from the right.Cesc Fabregas replaced the struggling Song and Alexis Sanchez was also introduced as Barca went in search of a way back into the game.Yet, it was Sociedad who should have added to their lead when Vela struck the base of the post nine minutes from time.Victory moves Sociedad to within a point of Athletic Bilbao in the fourth Champions League place, while Barca could end the weekend in third should Atletico Madrid avoid defeat away to Osasuna on Sunday.There were no such worries for Real Madrid as goals from Asier Illarramendi and Isco either side of Bale's stunner handed them a 15th win in 16 games in all competitions.Madrid were once again without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo as he completed a three-game ban after having a final appeal rejected on Saturday morning.However, after an unconvincing start, Illarramendi's deflected effort gave the hosts a half-time lead.Bale then made the game safe 19 minutes from time when he collected possession midway inside the Elche half and blasted the ball in off the underside of the bar.And Isco rounded off a 15th win in 16 games in all competitions for Real when he slammed home the third from Karim Benzema's pass nine minutes later.Bale had been enduring a difficult day before he found the back of the net as he consistently lost possession and even drew the ire of the Bernabeu crowd on a couple of occasions.Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, however, hailed his transformation in the final 20 minutes as his confidence soared after the goal.He was a different player before and after the goal, said Ancelotti.Before he was playing without confidence and then everything changed. Obviously, given the type of player he is, the goal helped him a lot.It is difficult to play against a well-organised team and it is difficult to find space. Before the goal he did ok, but after he was brilliant.

Formula One: Rosberg quickest in Bahrain testing

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MANAMA (AFP) - Germanys Nico Rosberg registered the fastest time in his Mercedes in Saturdays pre-season testing session at Bahrains Sakhir circuit.Rosberg managed to go a second faster than his teammate Lewis Hamilton a day earlier, outpacing Jenson Button in a Mclaren-Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari.Brazilian Felipe Nasr, a new test driver with the Williams team, took to the wheel for the first time and was fourth-quickest.A final pre-season testing session will take place in Bahrain next Thursday, February 27, before the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 16.Mercedes go into Melbourne in good shape after strong testing both in Bahrain and in Jerez in Spain last month.For world champions Red Bull, who endured a torrid time testing in Jerez, things looked a little brighter, with Sebastian Vettels new teammate Daniel Ricciardo coming in 7th in Bahrain.However, he was still a full six seconds off the pace set by Rosberg and Mercedes as Red Bull continued to struggle with technical issues.

Golf: Day, Fowler book Match Play semi-final

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MARANA (AFP) - Rickie Fowler withstood a late charge by Jim Furyk to beat his fellow American 1 up on Saturday and book World Golf Championships Match Play Championship semi-final with Jason Day.Furyk, 3 down through 12 holes, won four straight to take a 1 up lead through 16. But Fowler won the last two holes for the victory.Australia's Day, who finished third in the elite 64-man Match Play event last year, defeated South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen 2 and 1 to reach the final four.Furyk, who came from behind to win his first three matches this week, dug himself out of a hole against Fowler with birdie wins at 13, 14, and 15 to square the match.He took the lead when Fowler bogeyed 16, but Furyk missed the green at 17 and ended up with a two-putt bogey that squared the match.At 18, Furyk's approach rolled back off the false front of the green, and his first attempt to chip on ended with the ball rolling back toward his feet.Fowler, safely on the green, rolled his first putt to within three feet to set up the win.You can say it got a little weird, Fowler said of the see-saw battle.Jim started to come on pretty hard there. I knew he was going to put something up when he was 3 down. I just had to stay patient. I didn't have too many bad swings. I forced him to make some birdies.After surrendering the first hole, Oosthuizen won the next two for a 1 up lead, but Day won the next two to take a lead he wouldn't relinquish.A six-foot putt at the ninth gave Day a 2 up lead and he took a three-hole lead when Oosthuizen conceded the 11th after finding a fairway bunker and taking four shots to reach the green.Oosthuizen trimmed the deficit at the par-five 13th, where Day hit his third shot over the green and into a bunker, but Day held on against the South African who was struggling with a sore back that saw him receiving treatment from his physio after hitting his tee shot at the 13th.At 16, Day's 50-foot putt stopped 18 inches from the cup but Oosthuizen's 26-footer also failed to fall and they went to 17 with Day up by two.Day missed the green, but after Oosthuizen was unable to convert from long range Day's five-footer was enough for the win.We both played well today, said Day, adding that he knew Oosthuizen was hurting but that it didn't seem to affect the South African's play much.In Saturday's remaining quarter-finals, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was taking on France's Victor Dubuisson while South African Ernie Els faced American Jordan Spieth.

We've got work to do, says Clarke

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PORT ELIZABETH (AFP) - Australian captain Michael Clarke admitted his side had some work to do after South Africa moved into a strong position on the third day of the second Test at St Georges Park on Saturday.Australia were bowled out for 246 in their first innings, giving South Africa a lead of 177, which they stretched to 369 by the close of play, reaching 192 for four. Hashim Amla returned to form with a sparkling innings of 93 not out.But South Africa will be without left-arm fast-medium bowler Wayne Parnell when they attempt to bowl out Australia a second time.Parnell, who on Friday took two wickets with his first three deliveries of the match, pulled up with a groin strain after bowling three balls in his ninth over.That left South Africa with three specialist bowlers after bringing in a batsman for an all-rounder after losing the first Test in Centurion by 281 runs.Australia found themselves in unfamiliar territory in a dominant southern hemisphere summer, during which they have won six successive Tests, all by wide margins.South Africa, though, looked more like the team that has surged to the top of the international Test rankings as they followed up a solid first innings with aggressive bowling to put Australia under pressure.Give credit where it is due, said Clarke. South Africa bowled very well. Four hundred runs on the board obviously helps when youve got a period of 24 or 25 overs to bowl (at the end of the second day).As a bowler you can certainly have a crack and give it everything youve got. Our top order probably didnt perform as we would have liked, so it was always an uphill battle today for the rest of our batters. Australia were 112 for four overnight.Clarke said poor shot selection, including his own dismissal, had accelerated his teams downfall.Weve got some work to do in the second innings, thats for sure. The wicket is deteriorating a little bit and the odd ball is keeping low. Were going to have to make sure were switched on and bat well, no matter how many we are chasing.The tall Morne Morkel was particularly hostile, peppering the batsmen with numerous short deliveries as he took three wickets for 63 runs. Vernon Philander claimed three for 68.Last night we had a nice little window just before close of play to run in, said Morkel. My rhythm felt good last night and this morning.Morkel admitted the loss of Parnell was a big blow. Wayne knows conditions here very well. The way he started in his first spell was fantastic and hes also a guy who swings the ball.Its going to put a bit of extra workload on us in the second innings. Theres a Test match to be won. If we have to put in a little extra effort Im sure the bowling unit will do that.South Africa were on top from the fifth over of the day when Philander had top-scorer David Warner caught at slip for 70.Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon, after standing up to a bumper barrage from Morkel, chopped a ball from the tall fast bowler into his stumps in the next over.Steve Smith and Brad Haddin both survived chances as they added 40 for the seventh wicket before Haddin was bowled by Dale Steyn.Mitchell Johnson hit a quick 27 before he was bowled in the over before lunch by off-spinner JP Duminy. In the previous over Johnson had been struck a heavy blow on the batting helmet by a bouncer from Morkel.Smith made 49 before he was given out caught behind off a faint edge from Morkel after a review by South Africa.Australia struck back at the start of South Africas second innings by dismissing both opening batsmen cheaply.Captain Graeme Smith failed for the fourth successive innings when he was bowled off an inside edge for 14 by Johnson -- the eighth time he has been out to the left-arm fast bowler in Tests.The opening partnership of 20 with Dean Elgar was the highest by either side in seven innings of a series which features two strong fast bowling attacks.Elgar was caught behind off Peter Siddle for 16.Amla, who suffered a dislocated left ring finger in dropping a difficult chance from Haddin at gully off Philander, struck the ball with superb timing as he made his first Test half-century in eight innings off 53 balls. He and Faf du Plessis steadied the innings with a third wicket stand of 70.AB de Villiers helped Amla add 55 for the fourth wicket. By the close Amla had faced 126 balls and hit 12 fours.

Amla strokes South Africa into strong position

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PORT ELIZABETH (AFP) - South Africa moved into a strong position on the third day of the second Test against Australia at St Georges Park on Saturday but lost one of their four specialist bowlers.Australia were bowled out for 246 in their first innings, giving South Africa a lead of 177, which they stretched to 369 by the close of play, reaching 192 for four. Hashim Amla returned to form with a sparkling innings of 93 not out.But South Africa will be without left-arm fast-medium bowler Wayne Parnell when they attempt to bowl out Australia a second time.Parnell, who on Friday took two wickets with his first three deliveries of the match, pulled up with a groin injury after bowling three balls in his ninth over.Team manager Mohammed Moosajee said Parnell had a strain, not a tear, but would nevertheless be unable to bowl in the second innings.It left South Africa with three specialist bowlers after bringing in a batsman for an all-rounder after losing the first Test in Centurion by 281 runs.Australia found themselves in unfamiliar territory in a dominant southern hemisphere summer, during which they have won six successive Tests, all by wide margins.South Africa, though, looked more like the team that has surged to the top of the international Test rankings as they followed up a solid first innings with aggressive bowling to put Australia under pressure.The tall Morne Morkel was particularly hostile, peppering the batsmen with numerous short deliveries as he took three wickets for 63 runs. Vernon Philander claimed three for 68.South Africa were on top from the fifth over of the day when Philander had top-scorer David Warner caught at slip for 70.Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon, after standing up to a bumper barrage from Morkel, chopped a ball from the tall fast bowler into his stumps in the next over.Steve Smith and Brad Haddin both survived chances as they added 40 for the seventh wicket before Haddin was bowled by Dale Steyn.Mitchell Johnson hit a quick 27 before he was bowled in the over before lunch by off-spinner JP Duminy. In the previous over Johnson had been struck a heavy blow on the batting helmet by a bouncer from Morkel.Smith made 49 before he was given out caught behind off a faint edge from Morkel after a review by South Africa.Australia struck back at the start of South Africas second innings by dismissing both opening batsmen cheaply.Captain Graeme Smith failed for the fourth successive innings when he was bowled off an inside edge for 14 by Johnson - the eighth time he has been out to the left-arm fast bowler in Tests.The opening partnership of 20 with Dean Elgar was the highest by either side in seven innings of a series which features two strong fast bowling attacks.Elgar was caught behind off Peter Siddle for 16.Amla, who suffered a dislocated left ring finger in dropping a difficult chance from Haddin at gully off Philander, struck the ball with superb timing as he made his first Test half-century in eight innings off 53 balls. He and Faf du Plessis steadied the innings with a third wicket stand of 70.AB de Villiers helped Amla add 55 for the fourth wicket. By the close Amla had faced 126 balls and hit 12 fours.

Revamped Sri Lanka sweep Bangladesh one-dayers

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DHAKA (AFP) - New-look Sri Lanka trounced Bangladesh by six wickets in the third and final one-day international in Dhaka on Saturday to sweep the series 3-0.Seamer Dhammika Prasad claimed three wickets in his first match of the series as the tourists restricted Bangladesh to 240-8 after electing to field in the day-night match.Kusal Perera, a 23-year-old left-handed opener, then hit a maiden one-day century as Sri Lanka surpassed the target with 15 deliveries to spare at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.Perera hit a belligerent 106 off 124 balls with six boundaries and five sixes, sharing a third-wicket stand of 138 with Dinesh Chandimal, who scored 64.Sri Lanka ended the month-long tour on a high, having also won both the preceding Test and Twenty20 series.But the victory on Saturday was sweeter as Sri Lanka took the field without either of their three veterans, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, for the first time in a one-dayer since 2000.Jayawardene and Dilshan were nursing injuries, while Sangakkara was rested ahead of the five-nation Asia Cup which opens in Bangladesh on Tuesday.The bowling was also depleted in the absence of pace spearhead Lasith Malinga, who was given a break, and the injured duo of seamer Nuwan Kulasekara and spinner Rangana Herath.Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews said the series provided useful preparation for the Asia Cup, where the other contenders are India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the hosts.It was nice to win even without the senior players, said Mathews. This was a good test for our bench strength. It will put us in the right frame for the Asia Cup.Prasad was well-supported by new-ball partner Suranga Lakmal, who finished with two for 24 in 10 overs on the slow pitch.The hosts missed premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was handed a three-match ban for a lewd on-camera gesture during the second one-dayer on Thursday.Mominul Haque top-scored with a run-a-ball 60, while valuable contributions from Nasir Hossain (38), Naeem Islam (32) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (30) gave the hosts their highest score in the series.Kusal Perera made light of the target as he flayed the home teams attack till the 40th over when he was bowled by Rubel Hossain with 43 remaining for victory.Rubel dismissed Chandimal in his next over to make it 205-4, but Mathews signalled the win with a six off Naeem Islam.We have a lot to work on if we are to do well in the Asia Cup, said Rahim.We need to score big on these wickets, otherwise it puts the bowlers under pressure.

Johar Town case close to being cracked as Police finds suicide note of prime suspect

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore police has found a suicide note allegedly written by prime suspect Nazir confessing to killing seven family members in Johar Town Lahore before committing suicide. The police claim the new evidence carries irrefutable weight.Police took one of the deceased brothers Nazir as prime suspect which surrounded the whole case around this suspicion.The suspicion found its basis especially in the wake of autopsy report that established at least one hour difference between the time of death of the seven family members and prime suspect.Police believes the dots have been connected and the case has been cracked.As many as eight bodies – all of whom belonged to the same family -- were recovered from a house in Johar Town on Tuesday, seven of which were bludgeoned while the other one appeared to have committed suicide.
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