Friday 9 May 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Iraq forces launch assault near Fallujah, 11 killed

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi forces launched an operation Friday to retake areas near the militant-held city of Fallujah in preparation for an eventual assault, a senior officer said, as violence killed 11 people.Anti-government fighters have held Fallujah, just a short drive from Baghdad, and shifting parts of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi, farther west, since early January.A military operation was launched... to eliminate the ISIL organisation and liberate Fallujah, a senior army officer said, referring to powerful jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.The operation will continue until an assault on Fallujah, the officer said.But such an assault is unlikely to occur soon, as security forces have struggled all year to retake territory in Anbar from militants.And they would face major challenges in actually assaulting Fallujah, an operation that would likely cause massive damage to the city and carry significant risks of civilian casualties.Shelling and clashes began in and around Fallujah about 3:00 am (0000 GMT) on Friday and continued for hours, a tribal leader said.Eight people were killed and nine wounded, according to Dr Ahmed Shami of Fallujah's main hospitalAmong the dead were two children, while another two children were wounded, he said.The crisis in the desert province of Anbar, which shares a long border with conflict-hit Syria, erupted in late December when security forces dismantled Iraq's main Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp just outside Ramadi.Militants subsequently seized parts of Ramadi and all of Fallujah, the first time anti-government forces have exercised such open control in major cities since the peak of the deadly violence that followed the US-led invasion of 2003.In other violence on Friday, a roadside bomb exploded near an army patrol in Khales, northeast of Baghdad, killing three soldiers and wounding two, a police colonel and a doctor said.The bloodshed comes during vote counting from the April 30 general election, the first since American troops withdrew in late 2011, and amid a protracted surge in nationwide unrest.While officials are quick to blame external factors for the violence, analysts and diplomats say widespread anger among the Sunni Arab minority is also a key cause.

5 killed in attack on Yemen presidential palace: security

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SANAA (AFP) - Suspected Al Qaeda gunmen killed five guards and captured others Friday in an attack on a checkpoint outside the Yemeni presidential palace in the capital Sanaa, a security source said.The source told AFP that President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi was not at the palace at the time of the attack, which came amid heightened tensions in Yemen where the army is pressing an offensive against Al Qaeda militants.The gunmen attacked a checkpoint manned by presidential guards in Sanaa, killing five soldiers and capturing a number of others, the source said, adding there were unconfirmed reports that the dead included two of the assailants.Security sources and witnesses said there was an exchange of fire and that the gun battle lasted more than 20 minutes.Sanaa has been on alert for days, and tensions rose when the army announced troops had entered Azzan, a major jihadist bastion in the southern province of Shabwa, prompting the closure on Thursday of the US embassy.Late Thursday security forces killed Al Qaeda commander Shayef Mohammed Said al-Shabwani, who was suspected of masterminding the abduction of Western diplomats and of involvement in killing policemen.He was killed in a shootout near the presidential palace.The building, also known as the republican palace, is the official headquarters of the president where he has his office and receives guests.But the president does not live there and was not present at the time of Friday's attack, the security source said.Earlier on Friday, 11 policemen were wounded when a bomb exploded in a bus in an eastern district of the city where the British and Qatari embassies are located.And later in the day the defence minister and two senior security officers were ambushed as their convoy returned from a tour of the battleground in the south where the army is fighting jihadists.Authorities say Al Qaeda commanders were among dozens of jihadists killed since the army launched its offensive 11 days ago in the south, where US drone strikes this year have killed scores.The interior ministry has warned the jihadists will resort to hysterical and desperate acts because of the huge losses they have suffered since April 29.

Mass protest in northern Nigeria over missing girls

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MAIDUGURI (AFP) - Hundreds of people joined a protest in the traditional stronghold of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria on Friday, accusing the government of indifference to the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by the Islamists.The demonstration in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in northeast Nigeria, included residents from the remote town of Chibok, where heavily armed Boko Haram fighters abducted 276 girls on April 14, participants told AFP.The demonstrators marched to the office of state governor Kashim Shettima and delivered a letter of protest to be sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, they said.We staged this protest to express our dissatisfaction with the indifference and lack of concern with which the Nigerian government has handled the kidnap of our schoolgirls, said Manaseh Allan, a youth leader in Chibok who led the march.What adds to our displeasure is the way some officials try to trivialise our agony by denying the abduction and ridicule our local leaders.Allan said frantic parents and friends of the girls had scoured the bush for the youngsters but claimed the security agencies had done nothing.We therefore call on the Nigerian government to intensify effort and show strong commitment and the will to free our girls, he added. As it is now we have seen no such commitment and will to act.Allan and Governor Shettima said people in the town welcomed foreign assistance in the search for the girls.Chibok residents' association spokesman Alabe Grema added that some of the girls' parents were traumatised and had gone mad.Shettima, meanwhile, declared three days of prayers and fasting next week for the safe return of the 223 girls still missing.We are calling on all Muslims and Christians to embark on a three-day fasting to seek God's help towards rescuing our girls, he said.All of us must fast because we worship the same God, he added, saying the issue crossed political and religious lines.All what we want is the safe return of our girls, Shettima said.

UN urges calm from Vietnam, China in disputed waters

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on China and Vietnam to exercise the utmost restraint in the South China Sea, UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday.Ban noted with concern the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, in particular between China and Vietnam, the spokesman said in a brief statement.He urges the parties concerned to exercise the utmost restraint and resolve their dispute in a peaceful manner, through dialogue and in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter.Tensions between the communist neighbors have risen sharply since Beijing unilaterally announced last week it would move a drilling rig into disputed waters.Over the last several days, the area around the drilling well has seen several collisions between Chinese and Vietnamese ships, with each side blaming the other for the rise in tensions.

Tennis: Nadal, Sharapova into Madrid semis, Serena withdraws

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MADRID (AFP) - World number one Rafael Nadal stormed into the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters on Friday with his 17th consecutive win over Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 6-2.Maria Sharapova also booked her place in the last four of the Madrid Open with a three-set win over Li Na, but top seed and reigning champion Serena Williams was forced to pull out due to a thigh injury.Despite coming into the tournament with doubts following surprise defeats to David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro in recent weeks, Nadal has looked in fine form in the Spanish capital as he has cruised into the last four without the loss of a set.I just managed to go over the barrier of the quarter-finals against a difficult opponent which I haven't done for a couple of weeks so I'm very happy abut that, said Nadal.Now I just need to make that effort once more tomorrow. I have to keep on going on in the manner that I have so far this week, which means getting better a little each day.The 13-time Grand Slam champion will meet compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday for a place in the final as he overcame in-form Colombian Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-4.World number five Ferrer became the third Spaniard to reach the last four with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over Latvian Ernests Gulbis.And Feliciano Lopez could complete a historic Spanish quartet in the semis should he beat Kei Nishikori in the final quarter-final on Friday.Williams was due to face Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals but pulled out due to a thigh injury she had been carrying since sweeping aside Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic in the first round on Sunday.I have a left thigh injury and, unfortunately, have to withdraw from this year's Madrid Open, she said.It happened during my first round match. It started to get better, but most importantly right now, I just need some time to rest and recover. It's beyond words. It's so frustrating.However, the American insisted that she will try to defend her title in Rome next week.I am planning to play in Rome. Fortunately, I have a bye next week so will have an extra day of rest.For now, I will take it one day at a time and take advantage of some extra rest.Sharapova has been beaten by Williams in Madrid in the last two years, including in the 2013 final, and the Russian is now the favourite to clinch her first title in the Spanish capital as she edged a thrilling match against second seed Li 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.I will say the match was very close. I think it really could have gone her way today, admitted Sharapova.It was just a matter of a few points in the second set and in the third, although I was up a break throughout the third set, you know she's not going to let go. I didn't win the match until the last point was played.Li looked on course for the semi-finals when she broke to lead 4-3 in the second set.However, Sharapova broke back immediately and, despite needing four set points, finally forced the match into a deciding set when Li netted at 5-6 down in the tie-break.There were three breaks of serve to open the third set, but Sharapova took control when she finally consolidated the break at 3-1 and was gifted the final game when Li double faulted on match point.The four-time Grand Slam champion will face third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals after the Pole overcame French qualifier Caroline Garcia in three hard-fought sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 after nearly two-and-a-half hours on court.Also into Saturday's semis is fourth seed Simona Halep as she set up a meeting with Kvitova thanks to a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Serbia's Ana Ivanovic.

Tennis: Nishikori becomes first Japanese man in top 10

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MADRID (AFP) - Kei Nishikori ensured he will become the first ever Japanese player to make the top 10 of the ATP rankings with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Spain's Feliciano Lopez to make the Madrid Masters semi-finals on Friday.Currently ranked 12th in the world, Nishikori will move into the top 10 when the latest rankings are released on Monday thanks to 13-match winning streak.The 24-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Miami Masters in March before having to withdraw due to a groin problem and won his first ever tournament on clay on his return from injury at the Barcelona Open two weeks ago.It was a big goal for me to get to the top 10, but it is only one week for now so I have to keep playing better tennis to stay in the top 10, he said.My goal is not just to be there for one week so hopefully I can keep that ranking for a while.Nishikori was bothered by a back injury throughout the second set against Lopez.However, he is hopeful of being fit to face David Ferrer in the last four on Saturday.It should be ok. I don't know for sure, I only have half a day to recover so it's going to be hard but hopefully I will be ok.

Football: FIFA threatens Iraq suspension over election delays

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - World football's governing body FIFA has threatened to suspend Iraq over persistent delays to elections for its football federation's leadership, according to a copy of a letter obtained by AFP on Friday.The letter, signed by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Dato Alex Soosay, warns that if Baghdad does not hold the elections as planned at the end of the month, the governing bodies may decide to impose a suspension.Please be informed that should IFA (Iraqi Football Association) not complete its election process by 31 May 2014 (sic) then this matter will be referred to the relevant body to take appropriate measure against IFA, which may include immediate and indefinite suspension, the letter dated May 7 read.The IFA had originally planned to hold elections for its board, as well as for a new president and vice president, in January, but these were delayed until April 20, and then again until May 31.FIFA and the AFC said in their letter that in the lead-up to the planned election last month, the AFC representative received threatening phone calls during his mission.The IFA last held contested elections for its leadership in 2011, with claimants alleging multiple problems with the vote in its wake.The claims were made by IFA general committee members including defeated candidate Falah Hassan, and ranged from accusations that the IFA failed to hold a preparatory meeting before the elections and violated FIFA rules regarding the election of new committee members.The IFA is currently headed by Najeh Hmoud, who won the disputed 2011 elections over Hassan, a candidate who was unofficially backed by the government.Although FIFA insists that football must be free of politics, in Iraq politics permeates nearly everything, especially football.In July 2013, FIFA barred Iraq from hosting international friendlies due to a surge in violence, reversing a decision three months earlier to allow the country to host such matches.

Formula One: Hamilton 'in good place' after topping both practices

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BARCELONA (AFP) - A happy Lewis Hamilton topped the times in both sessions on Friday as he and his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg dominated opening practice for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.The Mercedes pair were fastest overall at the end of the afternoon with Hamilton setting the pace and reveling in his form and his role as a settled senior member of the German outfit.His speed, he said, showed he was in a good place.He said: It really means a lot to me to feel that I am an integral part of this team and I love the huge energy that goes into the car and working with the engineers.It gives me a really special feeling. These guys, the engineers, they can do anything and it is up to us to help by 'steering the bubble' and me and Nico, we do it together.As he bids for his first Spanish Grand Prix triumph this weekend after three consecutive victories, Hamilton said he was aiming to grab the 34th pole of his career and make sure he can stay out of trouble with back-markers on a circuit where it is difficult to overtake easily.Pole is always important, but it is especially so here because it so difficult to get past people, especially those with a Mercedes engineThe smiling 29-year-old Briton added that he felt pleasantly surprised by the pace of his car in the afternoon practice after making changes to his set-up following a less-satisfying morning, when he was also fastest.The morning session saw Rosberg, who leads the championship thanks to winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix and then finishing second behind Hamilton three times, struggle with engine problems.In the afternoon, however, Hamilton stayed on top, lapping nearly half a second faster than his Mercedes team-mate and showing that, in his second full season with the team after leaving McLaren, he is fully settled and fast.Defending four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel was reduced to only four laps early in the morning session after his Red Bull car was halted by electrical problems. This required a replacement of the wiring loom and he missed the afternoon session entirely.Hamilton clocked a best lap of one minute and 25.524 seconds in his Mercedes before switching to an impressive demonstration of speed on a long 'race spec' run. German Rosberg's best time was 1:25.973.Hamilton proved he has lost little of his massive performance advantage over his rivals despite all the teams arriving in Spain with a raft of upgrades for their cars.Australian Daniel Ricciardo wound up third fastest for Red Bull, nine-tenths of a second slower than 2008 champion Hamilton.He was the only man to be less than a second a lap adrift of the pace-setter who, after three straight wins, is seeking to claim his first Spanish Grand Prix triumph.The Ferrari pairing of two-time champion and local hero Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Finn Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, took fourth and fifth places, the Italian team bidding to win a race for the first time since Alonso triumphed on home soil a year ago.

Athletics: Fraser-Pryce wins Diamond League opener

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DOHA (AFP) - Jamaican sprint sensation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce kicked off the 2014 Diamond League season with a comfortable victory in the women's 100m in Doha on Friday. But there was disappointment for Ethiopian star Genzebe Dibaba who struggled home in sixth place in the 3000m, with Kenya's Hellen Obiri taking victory in a time of 8min 20.68sec, the fifth-fastest in history and a new African record.Dibaba, who broke the world indoor 1500m and 3000m records this year before taking the world indoor 3000m title in Sopot, was passed by Obiri and Mercy Cherono on the final lap and finished almost six seconds behind.I don't know what went wrong. I didn't feel good from the beginning of the race, said Dibaba.After skipping a couple of meets, including the Penn Relays, on medical advice, Fraser-Pryce bounced back to win the 200m at the Kingston Invitational last week and she showed no signs of struggling in the Qatari capital.After a great start, the Pocket Rocket, the reigning two-time Olympic sprint champion who also claimed world 100m gold in Moscow last year and world indoor 60m gold in Sopot in March, pulled immediately away from Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare.The Jamaican crossed the line in 11.13 seconds, an eye fixed on the big screen as Okagbare made a late surge for the line to finish second in 11.18sec.It was a good race, the crowd definitely is a plus, very diverse, energetic and supportive, said Fraser-Pryce. Now my goal for the season is to break the 22 seconds barrier in the 200 metres and in Shanghai (May 18) I will run the 200 metres.Fraser-Pryce's compatriot and world 200m champion Warren Weir had a night to forget, however, as he was trumped by another Jamaican, Nickel Ashmeade, winner of the sprint in 20.13sec.Weir struggled out of the blocks and around the bend, Ashmeade holding his own line and a crucial metre-lead on his teammate well for a surprise victory.Algeria's surprise Olympic champion in London, Taoufik Makhloufi, after sitting out most of last season and since changing coach, had to be happy with fourth in a fantastic men's 1500m, won in commanding style by Kenya's 2008 Olympic champion and defending double world champ Asbel Kiprop in 3:29.18.The two pace-makers stretched the field out early with an electrifying pace through the first three laps, world indoor champ Ayanleh Suleiman of Djibouti leading as the bell went.Kiprop moved on to his shoulder with 200m to run, and then accelerated away in the last 40 metres of a 54sec final lap, Makhloufi finishing fourth in a personal best behind Kenyan Silas Kiplagat and Suleiman in a national record.Such was the depth in the field, Aman Wote set an Ethiopian national record finishing sixth in 3:30.86.World champion Eunice Sum of Kenya racked up a similarly impressive victory in the women's 800m in 1:59.33, while the men's event was claimed by Ethiopian world champion Mohammed Aman in 1:44.49.One Olympic champion who also had no problems was American LaShawn Merritt, who equalled his own world lead of 44.44sec in winning the 400m at the Qatar Sports Club.And Russian Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov won a high-quality high jump competition with a Diamond League record of 2.41m, ahead of Canadian Derek Drouin and American Erik Kynard, joint second on 2.37m.Local hope and world indoor champion Mutaz Barshim finished fourth on countback having also gone over at 2.37.

Oil prices ease ahead of weekend

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices eased ahead of the weekend as the dollar pushed higher against the euro for a second day, but were little-changed for the week amid continued worries over Ukraine.The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in June, fell 27 cents to close at $99.99 a barrel.Brent North Sea crude for June slipped 15 cents to trade at $107.89 a barrel in London trade.Carl Larry of Oil Outlooks and Opinion said the fall came as the dollar picked up strength, making crude more expensive in other currencies.The dollar began rising Thursday after European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said the bank was ready to take more measures to ease monetary conditions in the eurozone next month.The dollar has risen around two cents since then, trading at $1.3756 per euro late Friday.Earlier prices surged on fierce fighting between Ukrainian troops and pro-Moscow militants in a southeastern Ukraine port city that left more than 20 dead.The market has been on edge all week as tensions have picked up, and traders were looking at Sunday's planned secession votes in parts of eastern Ukraine.Stoking the anti-Kiev fervor, Russian President Vladimir Putin took a victory lap Friday in Crimea, annexed by Russia in March after a similar referendum.We expect political turmoil in Ukraine to continue in the run-up to, and probably also in the aftermath of, the presidential elections on May 25, Dutch bank ABN AMRO said in a note. Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said there would be a build-up in risk premium ahead of the planned May 11 referendums.

Dollar surges for 2nd day after ECB easing talk

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The dollar racked up solid gains against the euro for the second straight day Friday after Mario Draghi said the European Central Bank was ready to ease monetary policy soon.The dollar was up about two cents, to $1.3758 per euro, since Draghi's statement after the close of an ECB policy meeting on Thursday.In a surprise departure from the bank's previous policy of never pre-committing on interest rate moves, Draghi said the monetary policy makers were now sufficiently concerned to take more action.The governing council was dissatisfied with the current path of inflation and was not prepared to accept it as a fact of nature, Draghi said.As a result, the governing council is comfortable with acting next time, he said.But he added that we want to see the staff's projections that will come up in early June.A relatively buoyant report on the economy by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen during the week also continued to support the dollar, analysts said.Boris Schlossberg of BK Asset Management said he suspected the dollar's turn upward was more than a momentary shift.Even with a dovish Fed and a very low yield US bond market... the latest signal by the ECB would create a more negative interest rate differential dynamic between the euro and the greenback that could finally direct capital flows toward the dollar.

PCB defends Waqar's appointment as Pakistan coach

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LAHORE (AFP) - Pakistan cricket chiefs on Friday defended their decision to appoint fast bowling legend Waqar Younis as head coach, after former interim coach Mohsin Khan lashed out at the decision.The Pakistan Cricket Board had on Tuesday handed Waqar a two-year contract for a second stint in the top job -- without interviewing the other six applicants, including Khan.Khan hit out at the PCB on Thursday, saying he was a deserving candidate, and he is now likely to challenge the appointment in court.But PCB chiefs said the board had agreed that Waqar was better suited to take the team forward.The 42-year-old played 87 Tests and 262 one-day internationals for Pakistan and held the job of national team coach from February 2010 to September 2011.Waqar has regularly been associated with Pakistan cricket and commentating on the game as well, PCB management committee member Zaheer Abbas told a press conference.The PCB thought that Waqar was better suited to take the team forward he said.He added that Khan's strengths and weaknesses, like Waqar's, were already well known to cricket chiefs.As a procedure we usually interview candidates about whom we have no or little information. But Khan's case was different -- he is quite familiar to us and we are aware of his strengths and weaknesses, he said.As temporary coach, Khan guided Pakistan to 3-0 rout of then number one England in 2012 before he was replaced by Australian coach Dav Whatmore.PCB director Intikhab Alam said Khan had the right to take his case to the court.It is everyone's right to take a matter to court -- so if Khan wants to take it to court, it is his right. But the PCB will not be taking this matter to court, he told reporters.Waqar's first assignment will be a two Test and three one-day series in Sri Lanka in July-August this year.Pakistan also plays full series against Australia and New Zealand in United Arab Emirates from October to December.

Ramdin replaces Sammy as Windies Test skipper

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ST. JOHN'S (AFP) - Denesh Ramdin was on Friday named as the new captain of West Indies' Test team in succession to Darren Sammy, who had been in charge since October 2010.Wicketkeeper/batsman Ramdin, 29, had already been understudy to Sammy, who retains the leadership of the Twenty20 squad.Ramdin has played 56 Tests in addition to 109 one-day internationals and 46 Twenty20 internationals.We thank Darren for his energetic and resolute leadership over the past four years and we continue to see his role as the Twenty20 captain as a critical one, said West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron.Ramdin said he was honoured to be named the new Test skipper.It is an honour to be named as captain of the West Indies Test team. This is a huge opportunity and as a unit we are capable of representing the people of the West Indies, Ramdin said.I am taking over from Darren who did a good job while he was at the helm. He is a very humble and hardworking cricketer and during his time at the helm we won six matches and he gave his all to the job.My first assignment will be against New Zealand at home and this promises to be a very exciting series.Sammy, 30, offered his support to Ramdin.Congratulations to Ramdin on being named Test captain. God's speed brother as you look to take us forward. Thanks to all for the support, said Sammy.Ramdin's first appointment in his new role will be the West Indies versus New Zealand Test in Jamaica starting on June 8. The second Test at the Queen's Park Oval will be his first as Test captain on home Trinidad soil.West Indies will now have three different captains for the three international formats -- Ramdin for Tests, Sammy with the T20 side and Dwayne Bravo as head of the ODI squad.

England see off Scotland by 39 runs

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ABERDEEN (AFP) - England launched their second spell under coach Peter Moores with a ran-marred win over Scotland in the lone one-day international at Aberdeen's Mannofield ground on Friday.The visitors made 167 for six before Scotland, set a Duckworth/Lewis victory target of 173 to win finished on 133 for nine to give Moores's men a win by 39 runs.Scotland lost both openers to James Anderson (two for 22) as they slumped to 18 for two against an England side they will next face again in the pool phase of the 2015 World Cup.And after a revival led by man-of-the-match Michael Leask's blistering 42 off 16 balls, including five sixes and two fours, they were ultimately undone by off-spinner James Tredwell's one-day best figures of four for 41. England saw captain Alastair Cook (44) and Ian Bell (50) put on 83 for the first wicket in an innings cut to 20 overs.Eoin Morgan made a brisk 31 while Somerset seamer Josh Davey took three wickets for 21 runs after England lost the toss.It would have been wrong if the game hadn't taken place, said Cook. It was as wet as I've ever fielded in and it probably wasn't fit to play but both sides just got on with it, the left-handed opener added.Earlier, Bell straight drove Majid Haq for six and next ball reverse swept the spinner for four.He also struck a straight six off Rob Taylor but was bowled two balls later by the left-arm seamer.Bell faced 34 balls including four fours and two sixes.Cook's 47-ball innings ended when a flat, hard drive off left-arm seamer Taylor that was heading for six was brilliantly caught by a diving MacLeod at long off.Jos Buttler was also well caught in the deep by Taylor off Davey before Joe Root and Ravi Bopara holed out off him in a final over where Chris Jordan hit the last ball for six.Anderson struck four balls into Scotland's innings when Matt Cross played on.And the Lancashire seamer had another wicket when he proved too quick in bowling Calum MacLeod.Anderson should have had a third wicket when Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer, then on just one, nicked a delivery that straightened only for wicketkeeper Buttler, seemingly surprised by the speed of the chance, to drop the catch.But it wasn't an expensive miss with Northamptonshire batsman Coetzer -- one of six players with English counties in the Scotland side -- bowled round his legs sweeping by Tredwell for eight.Mannofield groundmsan Ken McCurdie dislocated his shoulder on Thursday while working to ensure the ground was fit for play and his efforts were rewarded as a capacity crowd of 2,000 soaked up the late evening sunshine.Unfortunately for Scotland supporters, Coetzer's exit left the hosts 46 for three.But Leask gave home fans something to cheer by smashing a four and a six off successive Tredwell deliveries. Leask then took 17 runs off four consecutives balls from Bopara, including two sixes off the medium-pacer.But Leask, a club player who works in a bank, saw his quickfire innings end when he holed out off Tredwell.Scotland were now 95 for five off 13 overs and they never recovered.England next face Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 international on 20 May before five one-dayers and two Tests.

ICC defends anti-corruption unit despite review

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ABERDEEN (AFP) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has defended the work of its anti-corruption and security unit, despite announcing a review into how the sport cracks down on fixing.A report in Britain's Daily Telegraph on Tuesday said the ACSU, which does not have the powers of a law-enforcement agency, would be the first victim of the restructuring of the ICC following a shake-up of the global governing body led by the 'big three' nations of India, Australia and England.During its 14 years in existence, the ACSU -- reported to cost $5.5 million dollars (3.25 million pounds) per year to run -- has not been directly responsible for uncovering a major case of corruption at a time when cricket has been trying to combat the threat to its integrity posed by match and spot-fixing.Now there are suggestions the unit, which is headed by former senior British police officer Ronnie Flanagan and employs seven regional around the world, as well as staff in the United Arab Emirates, will be replaced by investigation boards in individual countries as these are better able to liaise with national police forces.However, ICC chief executive David Richards said Friday: The suggestion that the ACSU might be failing in its duty to protect the game is entirely misplaced and inaccurate.It is important to emphasis that the review is only commencing, and, therefore, to draw any conclusions on the outcome of the review will be premature and detrimental to the working of such an important unit.The ICC ACSU remains a world leader in the fight against corruption in sport, and has done some outstanding work since its inception in 2000, the former South Africa wicketkeeper added. Nevertheless, Richardson said a review was timely given the risk of corruption changing rapidly in recent years due to the increasing number of domestic Twenty20 cricket tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.Last month, India's Supreme Court rejected N. Srinivasan's plea to reinstate him as India's cricket chief, saying he had effectively turned a blind eye to allegations of wrongdoing in the IPL.That case has called into question the plan to have Srinivasan head the revamped ICC from July.The most high-profile cricket fixing scandal in recent years arose from a 'sting' operation carried out by now defunct British newspaper the News of the World in 2010 which led to the jailing of three Pakistan Test cricketers -- then captain Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamer.The Essex case involving another Pakistan cricketer, Danish Kaneria, who this week lost an action in London's High Court to have his life ban overturned, only came to light when a player reported an approach.This led the England and Wales Cricket Board to set up its own anti-corruption unit under Chris Watts, a former Scotland yard detective.Now the ECB set-up could serve as a model for other national boards.The ACSU was set up by Lord Paul Condon, the former head of London's Metropolitan Police, in 2000 in response to the match-fixing scandal involving Hansie Cronje, the late South Africa captain.
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