Wednesday 18 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Obama under pressure to respond to Iraq crisis

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama faced demands for a new US strategy on the deepening crisis in Iraq on Wednesday, as the White House insisted he had not ruled out Baghdad's request for air strikes.But there were no signs that renewed military action was imminent in a war that Obama had declared at an end, as the president mulled a range of options drawn up by his advisors.The White House, pushing back on reports that said that Obama had decided that no strikes would take place immediately, said that he had yet to discount direct military action.The only thing the president has ruled out is sending troops back into combat in Iraq, but he continues to consider other options, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.Work is being done that will help us see with more clarity what the options available to the president are, Carney added, when asked to clarify whether Obama had ruled out air strikes.Obama's other options include a possible drone campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fighters or stepped up assistance and training to Iraqi government forces.One official said that, while there was rampant speculation in Washington about US responses to the seizures of vast swathes of territory in Iraq by ISIL, Obama has not made a decision.Before any action in Iraq, Washington is also demanding Shiite Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki show a new spirit of political inclusion.The opinion is hardening here that official persecution of the minority Sunni community eased the takeover of Sunni areas by an extremist group branded extreme even by Al-Qaeda.Earlier, the top US military officer, General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, blamed the Iraqi government for the deepening sectarian mire.There is very little that could have been done to overcome the degree to which the government of Iraq had failed its people. That's what has caused this problem, Dempsey told lawmakers when asked if the United States could have taken action to counter the advance of Sunni militants.He said US warnings to Maliki's government of the risks of alienating rival religious communities had simply been ignored.Earlier, Iraq had officially requested US air support against the rebels which have occupied some key cities, including Mosul and other strategic targets, during an eight-day offensive.Obama met Democratic Congressional chiefs Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and House minority leader Nancy Pelosi and Republican party bosses, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell.The meeting took place against revived and fierce political debate, with Republicans saying Obama had squandered the gains of a bloody war that was essentially won when he pulled out all US troops in 2011.Democrats charge that former president George W. Bush blew the lid off Iraq's bottled up sectarian stew by invading the country in 2003 and that Maliki threw away a chance for a stable future for Iraq wrought by US blood and treasure.What I'm hoping to hear from the president today is the broader strategy for how we help keep the freedom that we paid dearly for for the people of Iraq, said Boehner before the Oval Office talks.Boehner also rejected the idea floated by some in the administration that common strategic goals could see Washington and Iran working together to save Iraq -- though officials say military cooperation is not on the table.The row over what to do about the current crisis in Iraq, also drew in an venerable combatant: former vice president Dick Cheney, who penned a savage critique of Obama's foreign policy on the opinion page of the Wall Street Journal.

Tehran, world powers begin drafting nuclear deal: Iran FM

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TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran and world powers started drafting Wednesday a comprehensive nuclear agreement but still face many sticking points, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.Today we have slowly begun to draft the final agreement... but there are still many differences over the text, ISNA news agency quoted Zarif as saying from Vienna.This does not mean we have reached an agreement, said Zarif, according to IRNA news agency.Fundamental disagreements continue to divide Iran and the P51 powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- he said.But Zarif said the two sides have agreed on a title for the text, which will be known as the General Joint Plan of Action.A new round of negotiations between Iranian diplomats and those of the six powers that opened Monday in Vienna had been very difficult so far.The talks, which run through Friday, are aimed at clinching a comprehensive nuclear deal by a July 20 deadline set up by an interim agreement.Iran's top negotiator Abbas Araqchi earlier told IRNA news agency that Iran hoped to settle all differences with the six powers by the target date.The main sticking points are the timetable for a full lifting of crippling US and EU sanctions, and the scale to which Iran would be allowed to continue uranium enrichment, he said.Enrichment is the sensitive process at the centre of Western concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions, as it can produce both fuel for nuclear power stations and, in highly extended form, the core of an atomic bomb.The P51 want Iran -- which insists its nuclear drive is purely for civilian use -- to drastically reduce its uranium production capacity, and keep only a few hundred centrifuges active.They want to ensure that Iran's nuclear activities are purely peaceful. In return, Iran wants the removal of international sanctions that have choked its economy.In the remarks to IRNA, Araqchi said it won't be a catastrophe if the July 20 target date is not met.We hope to start work on Wednesday on drafting the text of a final agreement, not the big issues but the general framework and the introduction, Araqchi said.There is a still a long way to go before we reach an agreement acceptable to all sides.An interim deal struck last November led the six powers to release $7 billion from frozen funds in return for a slowdown in Iran's controversial uranium enrichment.Iran began implementing the November deal in January.

Death toll in Model Town tragedy mounts to 12

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - The death toll in Model Town tragedy mounted to 12 as another victim succumbed to his wounds in Jinnah Hospital on Thursday morning.According to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) sources the deceased was identified as Rizwan.At least 11 people including two women were killed during violent clash between the supporters of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri and police on Tuesday while 80 people sustained injuries.

Football: Spain crash out of World Cup after Chile loss

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Defending champions Spain slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Chile and crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday after their second defeat in five days.Chile's victory -- through goals from Eduardo Vargas and Charles Arranguiz -- made the South Americans and the Netherlands the first teams to go through to the second round.After a golden era that saw them win the European Championships in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010, Spain have suffered a dramatic fall from grace. They equalled Italy's unwanted record in 1950 of being booted out of the World Cup after just two games.It was Chile's first win over the Spanish in 11 meetings.Spain's confidence seemed to have evaporated after their 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their first Group B game on Friday.Coach Vicente del Bosque dropped established stars Gerard Pique and Xavi Hernandez but it had no impact in the charged atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium.Chile pressed forward from the start. Vargas' shot in the second minute was narrowly deflected wide of the goal by a defender. Spain also pushed up, but errors soon proved costly.Xabi Alonso gave the ball away in the 20th minute and the ball reached Arranguiz in the penalty area who slipped it inside to Vargas who smashed the ball past Spain's captain Iker Casillas, making a Spanish record 17th appearance in a World Cup finals match.Spain's defence was in disarray.The game carried on at a furious pace as the defending champions sought a way back into the game.But in the 43rd minute, Casillas clumsily punched away a free kick by Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez. The ball went straight to Arranguiz who struck it into the net.Casilllas seemed shell-shocked as he walked off at half-time. Defender Sergio Ramos and other Spanish players also shook their heads in disbelief.Spain's pitiful state seemed to be epitomized by misses in the second half. Diego Costa had a shot deflected wide and in the 53rd minute Sergio Busquets's was clear in front of goal but a seemingly simple tap in went wide.Chile's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo pulled off a brilliant reflex save to stop an Andres Iniesta shot in the 84th minute.The historic Maracana stadium erupted into a riot of red and blue as Chilean supporters started noisy celebrations. Thousands crossed the Andes in special convoys to watch Chile's games.Chile play Netherlands to decide top place in Group B on June 23. Spain play their final game against Australia on the same day.

Football: Netherlands beat Australia 3-2 at World Cup

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PORTO ALEGRE (AFP) - The Netherlands all but secured their place in the last 16 of the World Cup as they came from behind to beat Australia 3-2 in Porto Alegre on Wednesday.Arjen Robben fired the Dutch into an early lead, but a stunning volleyed equaliser from Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak's penalty early in the second-half had put Australia on course for their most famous victory.Their joy was short-lived, though, as Robin van Persie levelled before Maty Ryan let Memphis Depay's long-range effort creep into the bottom corner to make it two wins from two games for the Dutch in Group B.I just wanted the players to get the reward for the way they went about things today, said Australian coach Ange Postecoglou.I have put a lot of pressure on the players and the staff that we are going to be a certain type of team and take it to world class opposition, but it is one thing saying it and another thing doing it.They did that today but didn't get their reward. It's heartbreaking and massively disappointing.A change of formation at half-time helped turn the tide in the Netherlands' favour after the break, but boss Louis van Gaal admitted his side had been fortunate to escape unscathed after a lacklustre first 45 minutes.If in the first-half you lose the ball so simply or so often, then the formation doesn't matter. I needed to change something at half-time to boost their confidence and change their mindset, said the newly appointed Manchester United manager.Fortunately it turned out ok, but it could have turned out differently. In the second-half we had more chances and the way the players came from behind was incredible. To recover and correct that situation showed a lot of mental strength.The Dutch will be certain of a place in the next round should Spain fail to beat Chile later on Wednesday while Australia are staring at almost certain elimination.Australia will face champions Spain in their last match but will have to do without Cahill as he saw his second yellow card of the tournament, whilst Van Persie will miss his side's clash with Chile after also being booked.Australia had never been beaten in three previous friendly meetings with the Netherlands, and were forced to come from behind when Robben galloped through the Australian half almost unchallenged before rifling home his third goal of the tournament.The lead lasted barely a minute, though, as the Socceroos levelled in style when Cahill caught a deep cross flush on the volley to send the ball crashing in off the bar in a goal reminiscent of Marco van Basten's legendary strike for the Dutch in the 1988 European Championships final.Australia then went on to control the rest of the half and had two great chances to go in front.Firstly Mark Bresciano blasted over when well-placed inside the area before Matthew Spiranovic failed to make a clean contact from close range as a free-kick fell at his feet.Cahill was booked for a rash challenge on Bruno Martins Indi that forced the Dutch centre-back off on a stretcher, with Depay replacing the Feyenoord man.Australia continued to press at the start of the second-half and had a goal ruled out within 60 seconds of the restart for a push by Matthew Leckie on Daley Blind.Van Persie then saw his second yellow card of the tournament when he clashed with Spiranovic.And things got even worse for the Dutch moments later when Daryl Janmaat was adjudged to have handled substitute Oliver Bozanic's cross and Jedinak stepped up to convert from the penalty spot to put Australia in front.Again, though, the lead was short lived as poor defending from Jason Davidson allowed Van Persie to spring the offside trap and thunder his third goal of the tournament high into the net.The game then turned in 60 seconds midway through the second-half as Leckie's chested effort from Tommy Oar's cross was smothered on the line by Jasper Cillessen and at the other end Ryan let Depay's long-range effort slip through his grasp to hand the Netherlands all three points.

Football: Croatia knock 10-man Cameroon out of World Cup

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MANAUS (AFP) - Striker Mario Mandzukic scored two second-half goals as Croatia knocked 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-0 rout in Manaus on Wednesday.Croatia bounced back from their opening defeat to hosts Brazil to keep alive their hopes of progressing from Group A with an emphatic display.But Cameroon were largely the architects of their own downfall after playing the last 50 minutes with 10 men after Alexandre Song's dismissal for a stupid a reckless punch to Mandzukic's back.The Indomitable Lions seemed anything but as they imploded with full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto even trying to headbutt team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the dying moments following an argument.Croatia, for their part, could have doubled their score but at least did what they needed to.Veteran striker Ivica Olic gave them a 1-0 half-time lead before his Wolfsburg team-mate Ivan Perisic added a second ahead of Mandzukic's brace.The result leaves Niko Kovac's Croatia third in the table, just one point behind joint leaders Brazil and Mexico. Cameroon are bottom with no points.Croatia now face Mexico in Recife on Monday for a place in the last 16.Cameroon were hamstrung before kick-off when captain Samuel Eto'o lost his battle to make the starting line-up having failed to recover from a knee injury.Mandzukic returned for Croatia in style having missed their opening defeat to hosts Brazil through suspension, breathing life into their last 16 hopes.They needed just eleven minutes to take the lead as Cameroon failed to bounce back in tropical Manaus after their opening 1-0 defeat to Mexico.Olic met a Perisic pass at the far post and buried his shot past Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje, then nearly added a second five minutes later.Things went downhill for Cameroon as Barcelona's Song became the third player to be sent off at the World Cup, after Portugal's Pepe and Uruguay's Maxi Pereira.Referee Pedro Proenca spotted Song lashing out at Mandzukic on a Croatian counterattack and he produced a red card on 40 minutes.Perisic grabbed Croatia's second on 48 minutes when he unleashed a powerful shot after a strong run.Mandzukic, who has said he wants to leave Bayern Munich with Poland striker Robert Lewandowski set to arrive from Borussia Dortmund, then grabbed his brace.He headed home from a corner on 61 minutes before firing in his second on 73 minutes when he tucked home the rebound after Itandje saved a shot from substitute Eduardo.Barcelona's new signing Ivan Rakitic squandered a golden chance to claim Croatia's fifth just before the final whistle while Moukandjo hit the bar with a late header, before tangling with Assou-Ekotto.Finke's Cameroon will now be playing just for pride when they face Brazil in Brasilia on Monday.

Tennis: Djokovic top seed over Nadal at Wimbledon

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LONDON (AFP) - Wimbledon turned tennis upside down Wednesday when Novak Djokovic was named top seed above world number one Rafael Nadal while defending champion Andy Murray was seeded three over seven-time winner Roger Federer.The All England Club awarded top billing to 27-year-old Djokovic, the 2011 champion and 2013 runner-up, by using its controversial grasscourt weighting system in deciding its seeds instead of sticking by the ATP world rankings.French Open champion Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon winner, is relegated from his world number one ranking to the second seeding after losing in the first round in 2013 and second round 12 months earlier.Murray, who became Britain's first men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936 when he swept past Djokovic in last year's final, has been elevated to the third seeding despite a world ranking of five.Federer, a shock second round loser to Sergei Stakhovsky in 2013 and who won the last of his seven titles in 2012, was handed the fourth seeding in line with his current ranking.World number three Stan Wawrinka has never got beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon and has lost in the first round in 2012 and 2013.That modest form is reflected in his seeding of five.Wimbledon, they do what they want. For me it's fine, said Australian Open champion Wawrinka when asked about the seeding system when he was at Queen's Club last week where he made the semi-finals.I knew that with my past two years on grass I didn't have any results, so for sure my ranking will drop a little bit for the seedings.At the end of the day, it doesn't change much. You have to play well. You have to start the tournament well if you want to go far, and that's simple.Wawrinka's build-up to the tournament has been hit by illness after he developed a fever following practice on Monday.The 29-year-old is not expected to train again until Thursday.The women's seedings follow the WTA world rankings with five-time champion Serena Williams the number one followed by China's Li Na, Simona Halep of Romainia in third and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska taking fourth spot.Maria Sharapova, the champion at Wimbledon 10 years ago as a 17-year-old, is seeded five.This year's women's event is guaranteed a new champion after France's Marion Bartoli, the shock 2013 winner, retired from the sport soon after her lone Grand Slam triumph.

Tennis: Gasquet, Wozniacki advance to Eastbourne quarters

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EASTBOURNE (AFP) - Top seed Richard Gasquet turned 28 with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Bernard Tomic on Wednesday to make a winning start at the Eastbourne International.Gasquet, competing in his third tournament since April after injury, moved into the quarter-finals after an opening bye as he bids for a third career trophy on grass.Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki and second seed Petra Kvitova also advanced in the women's event at Devonshire Park.Frenchman Gasquet, winner in 2005 and 2006, fired eight aces and saved nine of ten break points to win through in 1hr 45min.Tomic sent down 16 aces and goes into Wimbledon with confidence after his start to the season was hampered by double hip surgery.The Australian, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2011, is looking forward to stepping onto the grass at the All England club for a sixth time after what he considers a decent preparation.I've had two good weeks, I'm happy with the way it's been going leading up into this. Wimbledon is my favourite tournament, so if I can get a good draw, first, second round will be very important for me.Tomic knows what is missing in his game after going down to Gasquet, who won his first Eastbourne match after losing in 2012.I'm struggling to convert the break points lately, said the 21-year-old ranked 82nd. Today I had a lot of break points, but I couldn't finish it on those occasions. I think we played a good match, and this is what you need leading into Wimbledon.Queen's finalist Feliciano Lopez struggled in the first set against German qualifier Tobias Kamke and needed a dozen break point in the second set before breaking back for 5-all in a 7-6 (12/10), 7-5 opening match lasting two hours.Two seeds fell in their opening matches as Uzbek Denis Istomin put out number four Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 6-2, 7-5 and Julien Benneteau beat fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-4.Finn Jarkko Nieminen fell to Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) despite 11 aces.In the women's event, eighth seed Wozniacki beat American Sloane Stephens for the sixth straight time, winning 6-3, 6-3. The 2009 champion from Denmark advanced in 66 minutes to next face Camila Giorgi.The Italian continued her run of form as she dismissed Britain's Johanna Konta 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 a day after taking nearly three hours to upset former world number one Victoria Azarenka.Czech Kvitova won a 14th consecutive match against a left-hander as she put out Varvara Lepchenko 6-1, 6-4. It was her sixth win without a loss against the American.German fifth seed Angelique Kerber reached the last eight over Alize Cornet of France 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3). Britain's Heather Watson will next line up against Kvitova after earning a top 20 scalp with her defeat of Italian sixth seed Flavia Pennetta 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-2American Lauren Davis beat experienced grass-courter Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3 as the Slovak played the event for a ninth time dating back a dozen years.Holder Elena Vesnina lost to Madison Keys 7-5, 7-6 (11/9) as the winner reached a second career grass quarter-final.

Oil prices advance on Iraq violence

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LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday as dealers tracked fresh violence in Iraq -- where militants have attacked the nation's main refinery -- and awaited the US Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision.Brent crude for August delivery added three cents to $113.48 per barrel just after midday.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for July delivery reversed 41 cents to $106.77 a barrel.Brent crude has strengthened, driven by continued supply fears deriving from ongoing and escalating violence in Iraq, said Dorian Lucas, an analyst at British-based energy consultancy Inenco.Brent crude could see further gains intraday as news emerges that one of Iraq's largest oil fields is under siege by Islamist led militants; already having withstood mortar and machine gun fire.It is reported that so far the siege has resulted with the destruction of some oil stores, the full extent of which is not yet apparent.Militants attacked Iraq's biggest oil refinery on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki scrambled to regain the initiative by sacking security commanders and reaching out to political rivals.The crisis, which has displaced hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, threatens to carve up the country while the assault on the Baiji oil refinery early Wednesday will likely further spook international oil markets.From about 4:00 am (0100 GMT), clashes erupted at the refinery complex in Salaheddin province, north of Baghdad.The United States, which is mulling air strikes against the insurgents, said it believed Baghdad's security forces were rallying against the assault, while Iran pledged not to let Shiite shrines in Iraq fall to the Sunni Arab militants leading the charge.The Iranian vow follow a call by top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for Iraqis to volunteer to resist the onslaught spearheaded by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who hold the major cities of Mosul and Tikrit and are fighting north of the capital.Today's militant attack on Iraq's main refinery in Baiji risks cutting off supply of gasoline and diesel to northern Iraq and also provides a source of fuel for ISIL and its supporters, said Rebecca O'Keeffe, head of investment at stockbroker Interactive Investor.The impact to global supply from the attack in Baiji is limited, however, if the ISIS forces continue to make progress towards Baghdad and onto Iraq's main oilfields in the south, the current oil price stabilisation is likely to be short lived and we could see a significant spike in oil prices.Iraq is the second-biggest oil exporter in the 12-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), after Saudi Arabia.

Dollar falls after Fed holds course on rates

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar Wednesday weakened against other major currencies after the US Federal Reserve kept its policy of ultra-low interest rates and did not accelerate the time-frame for raising them.The Fed, as expected, reiterated its policy of tapering stimulus while keeping monetary policy highly accommodative. However, some analysts had thought the Fed could signal a faster time-frame for lifting benchmark interest rates. The Fed has previously suggested mid-2015 for the shift.Instead, Fed Chair Janet Yellen downplayed recent data that shows accelerating, but still tame, inflation, and characterized unemployment as still too high. Speaking at a post-meeting news conference, she said there was no mechanical formula for when the Fed will lift benchmark interest rates.As a result, analysts concluded the Fed sees no reason to move up the time-frame for raising rates.Unlike other central banks that have recently expressed their desire to become more active, the Fed remains comfortable with their current course and has no desire to alter the market's expectations, said Kathy Lien, managing director at BK Asset Management.While we don't expect a significant sell-off in the dollar, the greenback should extend its losses against the currencies of central banks who are looking to tighten.

Balochistan Budget 2014-15 today

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QUETTA (Online) - Balochistan Budget for the financial year 2014-15 will be presented in the Provincial Assembly in Quetta today (Thursday).Provincial Information Minister, Abdul Raheem Ziaratwal said the budget for next financial year will be over 220 billion rupees.He said the allocations for education sector in the upcoming budget would be more than 25 percent in comparison with allocations of current years budget.The provincial minister said the budget will be people friendly and it will help resolve the issue of unemployment.

New Zealand face grim battle for second Test survival

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PORT OF SPAIN (AFP) - New Zealand face an uphill battle for survival at 73 for one in their second innings, still trailing the West Indies on first innings by 166 runs, at stumps on the third day of the second Test at Queen's Park Oval on Wednesday.After the home side added another 150 runs through the first half of the day to be eventually dismissed for 460, so taking a first innings lead of 239, the Black Caps negotiated 41 overs to the close for the loss of Brendon McCullum.Opening batsman Tom Latham extended the pattern of resolute defiance that has brought him three consecutive half-centuries in the series to be unbeaten on 30. Kane Williamson (38 not out) has been similarly obdurate and the pair will be seeking their third century partnership of the tour and much more going into the fourth day.West Indies' only glimmer of hope in separating the pair came just before the close when Latham edged a delivery from part-time spinner Chris Gayle that dropped just short of Sulieman Benn at slip.New Zealand, who lead the series 1-0 after winning the first match of the three-Test series in Jamaica last week, were forced to adjust their opening combination due to a stomach ailment that kept Mark Rutherford off the field for the first half of the day. McCullum took on the responsibility but the captain did not last long, trapped leg-before for three by Jerome Taylor.There were no further casualties, but on a pitch that is expected to be more variable in bounce over the final two days, the tourists will be hard-pressed to produce a rearguard similar to the one that earned them a draw against India in Wellington four months ago.Jermaine Blackwood's adventurous innings of 63 was the highlight of the latter half of the West Indies first innings as they resumed in the already healthy position of 310 for five.Coming to the crease after the swift fall of nightwatchman Kemar Roach to Trent Boult, the debutant's first scoring shots were an edged four through the slips and a commanding six over long-on. He added five more fours and another six as the West Indies pushed hard to extend their first innings advantage.For the second time in the series, the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul was adjudged lbw to Ish Sodhi offering no shot, falling for 47. But captain Denesh Ramdin added 76 entertaining runs for the eighth wicket with Blackwood before the innings came to a swift end in mid-afternoon, Sodhi taking two of the last three wickets to fall to finish with figures of four for 96.Although the leg-spinner claimed the most wickets in the innings, he proved expensive together with the other support bowlers, off-spinner Mark Craig and medium-pacer Jimmy Neesham. Frontline seamers Boult and Tim Southee bore their responsibilities manfully and frugally, but the ease with which the West Indies batsmen scored off the others almost resulted in their efforts being in vain.

Bell 'amazed' to join England 100-club

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LEEDS (AFP) - England batsman Ian Bell said Wednesday it felt amazing to be on the verge of his 100th Test.The 32-year-old Warwickshire right-hander is in line to become only the 12th England player to complete a century of Test appearances when the team face Sri Lanka in the second and final match of their series at Headingley on Friday.Its amazing to achieve this (100 caps). I wouldnt say its all been straightforward, there have been some real lows as well as highs, Bell, who endured an awkward transition between rising star and senior pro told Sky Sports News.Ive really enjoyed the challenges weve had. The last few years have been brilliant.I feel lucky. When you look back when you finish I think that Ive been very lucky to play in a great period of English cricket, added Bell, Englands current cricketer of the year and a member of several Ashes-winning sides -- as well as the team thrashed 5-0 in Australia last year.There have been some great players that Ive played with and Im excited by the new challenges ahead of us as well.Bell who made 56 and nine as Sri Lanka clung on for a draw in the first Test at Lords, has been one of Englands mainstays in recent years, with 20 hundreds and 40 fifties in his 99 Tests to date.Tuesday saw England fined by the International Cricket Council for their slow over-rate at Lords, but Bell insisted he did not expect a repeat display at Headingley.We took that bit longer than normal so hopefully we can tweak a little bit here and there to get back up to speed, he said.We certainly tried as much as we can to get round as fast (as we could) with a four-man seam attack, and I imagine here again with predominantly seam bowling were going to have to get around as quick as we can.

Model Town tragedy: Shahbaz Sharif directs investigating bodies not to bow to pressure

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the investigating body not to bow to pressure, vowing that those responsible will be given exemplary punishment, Dunya News reported.During the session that took place under headship of CM Punjab, cabinet members expressed regret at the loss of life and prayed for those who died in the mayhem.It was also decided that a delegate of ministers will visit Minhajul Quran Secretariat for condolence.Addressing the session, CM Punjab said that everyone is sad on the incident, adding that the judicial commission report will be completely implemented. He said that he never compromised on justice.He said that he has directed the authorities not to bow to pressure or temper any evidence collected for the investigation. Inspector General (IG) Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera admitted on Wednesday during Punjab cabinet session that Gullu Butt – the man seen vandalizing vehicles while police stormed on Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers – is Punjab police’s tout.The cabinet session took place under headship of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif in which IG Punjab admitted Gullu Butt’s association to the Punjab police.According to reports, Gullu Butt had been barred from entering Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) ceremonies and assembly for past six months.CM Punjab also offered to visit Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) secretariat for condolences.Punjab cabinet recommended dealing PAT chief Tahirul Qadri’s arrival wisely, adding that no mishap should take place upon his arrival.

Analysts predict big consumer market for 3D printers

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(Web Desk) – An analyst from Juniper Research predicted on Wednesday that the sale of 3D printer hardware and accessories will accumulate to a total of $1 billion market by 2018, Dunya Web Desk has learnt.The market might not look as fascinating as it sounds in the long term, but the analysts say the real potential is in the long term growth.Commentators note that the current year’s worth of the 3D printer market has been $75m, mainly because the current market comprises industrial professionals and the market hasn’t explored any potential of the individual consumer base yet.Despite the slow growth this year, Juniper Research says that suppliers including 3D Systems have confirmed the increase demand of 3D printers and its materials.Analysts hope that the market will rise subsequently as soon as the major consumer players like HP tap into the lucrative 3D printer market.“While there has been an increase in awareness of 3D printing it is still, and will continue to be, a niche consumer technology,” said Nitin Bhas, author of the Juniper Research report.“In order for 3D printing to successfully find a mainstream market amongst consumers, it needs to widen the applications available that integrate consumer lifestyle and drive a number of applications beyond professional printing.”Markets for 3D printers are ahead in the US and Europe in terms of hobbyists and early adopters-driven demand than Asia-Pacific and Africa.Reportedly, retail giants like Staples are even testing in-store 3D printing services.
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