Sunday 22 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Kerry urges Iraqi leaders to rise above sectarianism

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CAIRO (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry on a surprise Egypt visit Sunday urged Iraqi leaders to rise above sectarianism, and said Washington was not responsible for the country's crisis.Kerry had arrived in Cairo as part of a diplomatic mission to push Egypt toward democracy, but also to discuss the crisis in Iraq, where Sunni militants have made new advances in an offensive that has alarmed the world.ISIL (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant)... its ideology of violence and repression is a threat not only to Iraq but the entire region, Kerry said at a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri.This is a critical moment when together we must urge Iraq's leaders to rise above sectarian motivations and form a government that is united in its determination to meet the needs, speak to the demands of all their people.Kerry also said the US is not engaged in picking or choosing or advocating for any one individual, or a series of individuals to assume the leadership of Iraq. That is up to the Iraqi people.The United States of America is not responsible for what happened in Libya, nor is it responsible for what is happening in Iraq today, he said.The United States shed blood and worked hard for years to provide Iraqis with the opportunity to have their own governance... but ISIL crossed the line from Syria, began plotting internally, and they have attacked communities and they are the ones marching through to disrupt this ability of the people of Iraq to form their government and have the future that they want.This is about ISIL's terrorist designs on the state of Iraq.

Militants kill 21 people in two Iraq towns: officials

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RAMADI (AFP) - Militants killed 21 leaders in the western Iraq towns of Rawa and Ana during two days of violence, officers and doctors said Sunday, after security forces made a tactical withdrawal.Some of those killed were shot dead on Saturday, when the militants moved into the towns, while others were slain the following day.The killings came after Iraqi security forces members departed the towns, clearing the way for the militant takeover.The military units' withdrawal (from Rawa and Ana and Al-Qaim) was for the purpose of redeployment, Lieutenant General Qassem Atta said, referring to it as a tactical move.Witnesses said insurgents moved into Rawa and Ana, in Anbar province, on Saturday evening, after security officers and witnesses also reported militants entering Al-Qaim, a town on the Syrian border, earlier in the day.Anti-government fighters have held all of one city in Anbar province, where the towns are located, and areas of a second since early January.Beginning late on June 9, militants led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) but also including a number of other groups such as loyalists of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, overran most of one province and parts of three others north of Baghdad.The security forces wilted in the face of the initial onslaught, in many cases abandoning vehicles, equipment and even their uniforms.They appear to have recovered in the past few days, with officials touting gains against militants, though insurgents have made territorial progress elsewhere.

Militants seize more Iraq towns as US presses unity

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Sunni militants advanced in western Iraq and killed 21 people after security forces left several towns, while America's top diplomat called Sunday for the country's leaders to rise above sectarianism.It is the latest in a series of setbacks for Iraqi forces, which are struggling to hold their ground in the face of an insurgent onslaught that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and sparked fears that the country could tear itself apart.The militants, led by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), seized the towns of Rawa and Ana after taking the Al-Qaim border crossing on Saturday, residents said.They then gunned down 21 local leaders in Rawa and Ana in two days of violence, according to officers and doctors.The government said its forces had made a tactical withdrawal from the towns, control of which allows the militants to open a strategic route to neighbouring Syria where they also hold swathes of countryside along the Euphrates river valley.ISIL aims to create an Islamic state incorporating both Iraq and Syria, where the group has become a major force in the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.Washington wants Arab states to bring pressure on Iraq's leaders to speed up government formation, which has made little headway since April elections, and has tried to convince them ISIL poses as much of a threat to them as to Iraq.We're going to have to be vigilant generally, US President Barack Obama said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS.Obama said that while ISIL's offensive in could destabilise other countries in the region and could spill over into some of our allies like Jordan. They are engaged in wars in Syria where -- in that vacuum that's been created -- they could amass more arms, more resources.US leaders have stopped short of calling for Shiite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to step down, but there is little doubt that they feel he has squandered the opportunity to rebuild Iraq since US troops withdrew in 2011.The seizure of Al-Qaim leaves just one of three official border crossings with Syria in federal government hands. The third is controlled by Kurdish forces.Militants already hold areas of the western desert province of Anbar which abuts the Syrian border, after capturing this year all of one city and parts of another.Near Anbar capital Ramadi, parts of which are held by anti-government fighters, a suicide bombing and a car bomb killed six people and wounded eight, officials said.Elsewhere, a government air strike on the militant-held city of Tikrit, killed at least seven people, residents said, while the defence ministry announced air raids on the northern city of Mosul.The insurgents also clashed with security forces and pro-government tribal fighters in Al-Alam east of Tikrit, with militants killing the women's affairs adviser to the provincial governor.The fighting came as US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Cairo on a trip to the Middle East and Europe, with Washington aiming to unite Iraq's fractious leaders and repel the militants.We must urge Iraq's leaders to rise above sectarian considerations... and speak to all people, Kerry said in Cairo, adding that Washington is not responsible for the current crisis.Kerry later travelled to Jordan, and will also visit Brussels and Paris, where Washington is also expected to push for greater efforts to cut off funding to ISIL.First and foremost, we are urging countries that have diplomatic dealings with Iraq and that are in the region to take that threat as seriously as we do, said a State Department official.Second, we are underscoring the need for Iraqi leaders to expedite their government formation process and to come together around a new government that is inclusive.Kerry is expected to travel to Iraq for his second visit since taking over as secretary of state in 2013 but the date is not known.Washington backed Maliki when he first became premier in 2006, as he was seen to be cracking down on Shiite militias while reaching out to Sunni leaders.But he has since made what critics say are increasingly sectarian moves, triggering US calls for him to represent all Iraqis, particularly minority Sunni Arabs and Kurds.Obama has offered to send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq, but has so far not backed air strikes as requested by Baghdad.UN aid agencies are rushing supplies to Iraq to help more than one million displaced people.

Israeli troops kill 2 West Bankers in teen manhunt

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians in the West Bank on Sunday in separate clashes that erupted as they made more arrests in the hunt for three missing teenagers.Their deaths raised to four the number of Palestinians killed since the army began a massive search for the Israeli students who disappeared on June 12 while hitchhiking in the southern West Bank.Israel accuses Hamas of kidnapping them, and has said the objective of Operation Brother's Keeper is to bring them home safe while dealing a crushing blow to the group's West Bank infrastructure.So far, the army has arrested more than 340 Palestinians, around two thirds of them Hamas members.Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has denounced the abductions, but on Sunday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should condemn the bloodshed triggered by the manhunt.I said the kidnapping was a crime, but does that justify the killing of... Palestinian teens in cold blood? Abbas told Haaretz newspaper, referring to two young Palestinians who died this week.What does Netanyahu have to say about the killings? Does he condemn it? Abbas added: I have no credible information that Hamas was behind the kidnapping.Netanyahu, who insists Hamas abducted the youths, told a meeting of his cabinet that Israel has unequivocal proof and soon this information will be made public.Army spokesman General Motti Almoz said, meanwhile, that all information indicates the teens are alive.Netanyahu also said Abbas must show his good intentions by finding the youths and returning them home, and by his willingness to dissolve the unity government with Hamas.Israel has seized on the opportunity presented by the operation to try to rupture a reconciliation agreement between Abbas and Hamas, which saw the two sides recently agree on an interim government of independents, infuriating the Jewish state.Also on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel has no intention of harming anyone, even if some Palestinians are being killed.But our forces are acting as necessary for self-defence, and from time to time, there are victims or casualties on the Palestinian side as a result.President Shimon Peres, who recently prayed for peace alongside Abbas at the Vatican, praised the Palestinian for his courage in condemning several times the abduction.Abbas is the best peace partner Israel ever had and we should not miss the opportunity of making peace with him, said Peres.Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said the Palestinian leadership had begun efforts to call for an urgent session of the UN Security Council to put an end to the ongoing brutal Israeli aggression.He told AFP that they are appealing to international organisations to protect Palestinians from Israel's actions.UN chief Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, spoke to Netanyahu on Saturday voicing deep solidarity with the family of the missing Israeli boys, a UN statement said.But he also expressed concern over the increase violence, mass arrests and restriction of movement in the West Bank.With the search now in its 10th day, troops shot dead Ahmed Fanawi, a 27-year-old mentally challenged man, in Nablus on his way to prayers, his family and medics said.The army confirmed firing at a man who approached troops in a threatening manner, saying he had failed to respond to warning shots.But the military did not comment on the second reported fatality -- Mohammed Tarifi, 30, who Palestinian medics said was shot dead during clashes in central Ramallah that wounded five others.Shortly after the soldiers left, Palestinians were seen hurling rocks at a police station in the city and smashing the windows of two police cars.Later on Sunday, Israeli troops shot and wounded four Palestinians near Hebron, medics said.The Israeli search has sparked growing Palestinian frustration with their own security forces who are cooperating in the hunt for the teenagers, in a move defended by Abbas as necessary.Israeli rights groups sent a letter to Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon on Sunday, denouncing the crackdown which they branded collective punishment and a violation of basic rights.

Varela's late header saves Ronaldo's World Cup hopes

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MANAUS (AFP) - A superb header by Silvestre Varela deep into time added on saved world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal from crashing out of the World Cup finals on Sunday as it secured a 2-2 draw with the United States.The Americans had looked to be safely into the last 16 after second-half goals by Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey saw them come back from 1-0 down -- a goal by Nani -- to lead.However, with only seconds remaining one sublime cross from a pretty anonymous Ronaldo was met by Varela and it soared past Tim Howard to give Portugal a lifeline as a further defeat after the 4-0 hammering by Germany in the opening game would have seen them out.The United States -- who reached the last 16 in 2010 only to lose to Ghana -- are on four points along with Germany, who they play in their final group game, and who their coach Jurgen Klinsmann led at the 2006 finals.Ghana and Portugal both have one point and play also on Thursday.Klinsmann, who was also within seconds of being the first coach to guide the USA to two successive wins at a finals since 1930, was phlegmatic about the dramatic dashing of their hopes.Obviously the last second is unfortunate but my guys were magnificent, said Klinsmann, who won the 1990 World Cup as a player.We just have to get a result against Germany. Obviously the Germans have a day more to recover and we have had further to travel for our game but then the big guys are the ones that get the favourite treatment.My guys went to the limit but now they have to pick themselves up and despite this result we will go into the game with a lot of confidence.The Portuguese got just the start they needed to settle their nerves as a terrible defensive error by Stoke City's Geoff Cameron -- the ball flying off his boot to Nani -- saw the Manchester United winger wait for Howard to commit himself before rifling the ball into the net.It had been preempted by an outrageous piece of skill by Ronaldo down the left side, completely bewitching three American players as they tried to corral him out on the touchline, only for a series of step overs and a backheel to see him squirm through the three of them.Conditions even in the evening were so draining that five minutes from the break, when Jermaine Jones received some treatment, the referee allowed both sides to rehydrate with a drinks break.Howard, who was earning his 102nd cap, kept his side in the game on the stroke of half-time as he somehow managed to stick a hand out as he dived the wrong way to tip a pointblank shot by Eder over the bar.There was an even finer block the other end 10 minutes into the second-half as Bradley's goalbound effort from only 10 yards out saw defender Ricardo Costa spread himself deflect the ball off his knee for a corner, earning a well deserved kiss on the head from goalkeeper Beto.The Americans, though, deservedly levelled in the 64th minute as Jones produced a pearler of a right-footed shot from outside the area, leaving Beto rooted to the spot.Ronaldo and the Portuguese appeared shellshocked and it was the Americans who grabbed a second as Bradley's shot rebounded to Graham Zusi off a defender and his cross was put into the net by Dempsey's stomach for his fourth goal at a World Cup finals.That looked to be that until, like Lionel Messi with his late goal against Iran on Saturday, Ronaldo summoned up one piece of class with his pinpoint cross, which was enough to break American hearts.

Football: Algeria close to 2nd round after Korea feast

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PORTO ALEGRE (AFP) - Algeria moved them tantalisingly close to a first ever appearance in the knock-out rounds after dishing out a 4-2 defeat to South Korea in Porto Alegre on Sunday.It was the North Africans' first World Cup victory since their famous 1982 success against West Germany and was the first time an African side had managed four goals in a single World Cup match.First half goals from Islam Slimani, Rafik Halliche and Abdelmoume Djabou did the damage as Korea were on already their knees at the break. Son Heung-Min and Koo Ja-Cheol gave Korea some hope in the second half but Yacine Brahimi's fourth for Algeria kept them in charge. The result spirited Algeria up to second in Group H behind Belgium, with Russia and the Koreans trailing on one point apiece.On a perfect afternoon in this southern port city, Algeria came out fighting for their World Cup lives, only too aware defeat would send them home.Sofiane Feghouli and Slimani tested Korean keeper Jung Sung-Ryong in the opening minutes.Algeria's pleas for a penalty on five minutes in a chaotic goalmouth scramble were firmly rejected by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan.But their impressive start reaped its initial reward when Slimani raced onto Carl Medjani's lob, saw off Korean defenders Hong Jeong-Ho and Kim Young-Won and flicked the ball past Jung.The rattled Koreans were picking the ball out of their net again two minutes later when Halliche out-jumped his markers to head in Djabou's corner from the left.The Desert Foxes had their tails up and as the Koreans struggled to cope with their pace and technical nous, Djabou tightened their grip on the game when sweeping the ball past the hapless Jung eight minutes from the break, thanks to the slide rule assist from Slimani.Korea reduced the deficit with the second half just five minutes old thanks to a piece of individual wizardry by Son.A long ball into the box by Ki Sung-Yeung bounced off his back, but he swivelled round to fend off Madjid Bougherra and shoot low and hard past Algerian keeper Rais Mbolhi.Korea kept putting the heat on Algeria and Mbolhi made a brilliant save to deny Ki.Brahimi's right-footed finish after a slick passing move between him and Feghouli settled any Algerian jitters.Koo added a second for the 2002 semi-finalists but Algeria weren't about to let this slip through their grasp and they held on comfortably for a memorable win.

Teenager Origi sees Belgium into World Cup 2nd round

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - A late goal by teenage substitute Divock Origi was enough to secure Belgium a 1-0 victory over Russia and a place in the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday.Belgium, who have yet to lose a competitive match under coach Marc Wilmots, confirmed their tag as dark horses for the trophy while Russia, who are to host the 2018 finals, have just a point and face a huge task to qualify.It leaves Russia's Italian coach Fabio Capello potentially facing an even earlier exit than the one four years ago when then in charge of England they went out in the second round. The win left Belgium as clear Group H leaders with a maximum six points from two games after their 2-1 win over Algeria.While Wilmots decision to take off out of sorts striker Romelu Lukaku and send on Origi proved an inspired one it also produced the sole sour note as the older striker looked to be furious as he took his place on the bench.I know people are not happy to be on the bench, said Wilmots, whose substitutions in the opening game also proved to be masterstrokes.But what is important is Belgium being able to rely upon totally devoted players when they are called upon.For the last 20 minutes I had people dying to be brought off the bench.Origi, who plays for French First Division side Lille, for his part was overcome at scoring in such a sporting arena as the Maracana. It was very special to score here at the Maracana in the World Cup - and my family in the tribune too, said Origi.I hope I have paid back some of the confidence the coach has shown he has in me.Capello, whose contract runs till the 2018 World Cup, had a penalty shout turned down in the first half which irked the Italian. But I'm not thinking of speaking about the referee, he said tartly afterwards.Both sides made a bright start and the opening minutes saw chances at each end.Victor Fayzulin swept into the box and fired in a low effort that Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois smartly stopped low to his right.The Belgians responded as Dries Mertens pulled the midfield strings.Mertens accelerated into the danger zone only to thump an effort wide of the right hand post of Igor Akinfeev, who coach Fabio Capello had kept faith with despite his blunder handing Korea their goal in the opening game.Mertens drilled another effort wide as the Belgians, World Cup semi-finalists in 1986, turned the screw.With the runners-up in the group likely to face Germany, assuming the three-time champions top their group, there was every incentive for both sides to chase the win.Russia enjoyed a purple patch as the opening half came to an end, Fayzulin smacking a volley just over following a corner.Denis Glushakov, booked for clattering Mertens, then crossed for Alexander Kokorin, who avoided being the meat in a Jan Vertonghen-Vincent Kompany sandwich but sent a free header off target.Having endured a 56-minute virtual no-show from Lukaku, Wilmots -- once again urged to don a jacket by stewards to avoid his white shirt being taken for a Russian one -- withdrew him, sending on Origi.Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard defended Lukaku, despite his moody reaction to being replaced, and said both he and Origi deserved credit.They both have different styles. Romelu didn't get a lot of space to work in but he played his part in tiring the Russian defense, he said.Watching royals King Philippe and Queen Mathilde saw the Belgians survive a huge let off with 12 minutes remaining when Andrey Eshchenko found space but dragged a shot just wide.In a frantic finale another Belgian substitute Kevin Mirallas' low freekick bounced off the base of the post before Capello finally gave playmaker Alan Dzagoev, whom he had controversailly left on the bench, his chance with nine minutes left.But almost as soon as he got into the action, Origi struck, leaving Capello and his team on the brink of going home early.

Golf: Michelle Wie wins US Women's Open

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PINEHURST (AFP) - Michelle Wie won the US Women's Open on Sunday, firing an even-par final round of 70 at Pinehurst for the first major title of her career.The American, tipped for stardom even before she turned pro at the age of 15 in 2005, finished with a two-under total of 278, two strokes in front of world number one Stacy Lewis, who carded a final-round 66 for 280.I just had a lot of fun out there, said Wie. I woke up so excited. I was so grateful for this opportunity.Wie saw a three-stroke lead shrink to one with a double-bogey at 16 but responded by burying a long birdie putt at 17 to take a two-stroke lead to the final hole.I got a lot of goosebumps walking up 18, said Wie, who allowed herself a small smile and wave as she was greeted at the 18th green by a standing ovation.Wie, swept along by a wave of hype and endorsements when she turned pro, drew criticism for her early insistence on trying to challenge in men's events before she'd become a proven winner against the world's top women.Sunday's triumph was her fourth on the LPGA Tour, and her second of the year.In April she won the Lotte Championship in her home state of Hawaii to end a victory drought stretching to 2010.The major title, on the course where Germany's Martin Kaymer lifted the US Open trophy in the second men's major of the season a week earlier, also helped erase the memory of her near-miss in the Kraft Nabisco Championship this year.She went into the final round of the year's first major at Rancho Mirage tied for the lead but ended up second behind 19-year-old Lexi Thompson.

Formula One: Rosberg wins Austrian Grand Prix

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SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD (AFP) - Championship leader Nico Rosberg won the Austrian Grand Prix here Sunday, putting Mercedes back on top in a nail-biting finale with teammate Lewis Hamilton.The German, clinching his third win this season, managed to hold off Hamilton until the end, with Williams driver Valtteri Bottas taking his first ever podium, in what turned out to be a disastrous home race for Red Bull.Bottas's teammate Felipe Massa, who had started on pole, was fourth, followed by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez of Force India and McLaren's Kevin Magnussen.The season's eighth race saw Mercedes extend their lead in the constructors' standings to 301 points, with Red Bull trailing in a distant second place with 143 points. It also gives Rosberg -- who has never finished off the podium this season -- a 29-point lead on four-win Hamilton in the fierce internal Mercedes battle. Sunday's race at the Red Bull Ring started with an all-Williams front row after Brazilian Felipe Massa and Bottas put in a superior performance in Saturday's qualifying, depriving Mercedes of pole for the first time this season. But the German team showed already in the first lap that they were in fighting spirit, with Rosberg briefly coming into second position, while Hamilton jumped from ninth into fourth place after a thundering start. After taking his first pole position since 2008, Massa had hoped to follow this up with his first win in six years, but this was not to be. Instead, it was Bottas who brought Williams their first podium in a year. For Red Bull, which went into this home race having won the Canadian Grand Prix, the day proved a wash-out with Daniel Ricciardo finishing eighth. A disappointing season for reigning four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull meanwhile went from bad to worse as he was forced to retire. Having started in 12th position, he never had a chance as his car came to a complete halt shortly after the start.He managed to restart but had to call it quits halfway through the race, having also had a minor brush with Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez that was being investigated. Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat also had to pull out after 26 laps with brake problems, later followed by teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.Sergio Perez of Force India posted some of the fastest laps on the track and managed to move up to sixth postion after starting in 15th place for causing a crash in Canada with Massa.

Islamabad airport flight operations suspended

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – All flights operations at the Islamabad’s Benazir International Airport have been suspended due to security reasons.Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri was scheduled to land at the airport at 8:15am.

Australian diplomat hopes to bring cricketers to Pakistan

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KARACHI (AFP) - Canberra's top diplomat in Pakistan has said he hoped to bring some Australian players to the country to help revive international cricket five years after militants attacked a visiting team.Pakistan has been forced to play its home fixtures on neutral soil since a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team, which killed eight people and injured seven visiting players.Talks with associate team Ireland for a short series in September were put on hold after the Taliban carried out a brazen raid of Karachi airport earlier this month, killing dozens and shocking the country.Peter Heyward, Australia's High Commissioner, said confidence could be restored if foreign cricketers visited Pakistan though he did not elaborate on what form the visit might take or which players would be involved.Rest assured, whenever I go to Australia I meet Cricket Australia and they say they can't send the team until it's safe. I understand it completely, Heyward said at a ceremony late Saturday.But, he added: I hope to bring some cricketers next year (to Pakistan) to show them the situation and try to make a positive impact.We all are waiting for cricket to return to Pakistan and the Australian team would love to play here because the crowd is so knowledgeable, he added.Even before the attacks on the Sri Lankan team, players' safety had been an issue in Pakistan which has faced a homegrown Islamist insurgency since joining hands with the United States after the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 over security fears. They were due to tour in October 2002 but the series was played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates after a suicide bombing outside the hotel of the New Zealand team forced them to cut short their tour in May that year.Heyward said he hoped the two countries could use cricket to strengthen their ties.Cricket is one of the issues which unite Pakistan and Australia and I hope Pakistan and Australia meet in the final of the World Cup, he said.

Sangakkara equals consecutive Test fifty record

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LEEDS (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara became only the fourth batsman in history to make scores of fifty or more in seven successive Test innings when he reached the landmark against England in the second Test at Headingley on Sunday.A flick off his pads for four through square leg saw Sangakkara join West Indies greats Everton Weekes and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, together with Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, as the only batsmen to have completed the feat.But left-hander Sangakkara was out for 55 soon afterwards when falling lbw to off-spinner Mooen Ali.

Jayawardene stands firm after Ali double

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LEEDS (AFP) - Mahela Jayawardene steered Sri Lanka to a lead of more than a hundred runs in the second Test at Headingley after Moeen Ali proved an unlikely bowling hero for England.Sri Lanka were 214 for four in their second innings at stumps on Sunday's third day, a lead of 106 runs.Jayawardene was 55 not out and Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews 24 not out, with two days remaining to decide the fate of this two-match series following the drawn first Test at Lord's.Off-spinner Ali, primarily a batsman and in just his second Test, stunned Sri Lanka with two wickets for no runs in three balls to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne.Earlier, Mathews took his Test-best figures of four for 44, with fellow seamer Shaminda Eranga enjoying a return of four for 93 as England -- 320 for six overnight on the back of Australia-born opener Sam Robson's maiden Test century -- were bowled out for 365.The pick of the four England wickets that fell Sunday came when all-rounder Mathews produced a superb off-cutter to clean bowl tailender Liam Plunkett. England's seamers then repeatedly bowled too short.And when James Anderson did induce an edge from Dimuth Karunaratne, then on four, second slip Chris Jordan dropped the catch.It is pretty even stevens at the moment, England assistant coach Paul Farbrace, formerly head coach of Sri Lanka, told Sky Sports.The plan is to get the ball fuller and early on it might have been a fraction short. The bowlers know their game, they are experienced and if they have missed their length by a fraction, occasionally that happens.It took fast bowler Plunkett, who in the first innings had taken a Test-best five for 64 on his Yorkshire home ground, to make the breakthrough England so badly needed when he had Kaushal Silva (13) caught behind off a full-length delivery.Sangakkara was quickly into his stride, going down on one knee to drive Plunkett through the covers for a boundary.Karunaratne's erratic innings came to an end when, on 45, he gloved Plunkett down the legside to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.He reviewed New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden's decision but replays confirmed he was out, having faced 51 balls with three boundaries.Left-hander Sangakkara struck two stylish boundaries off Anderson, straight down the group and a whip through mid-wicket, to become only the fourth batsman to score fifties in seven successive Test innings after West Indies greats Everton Weekes and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Zimbabwe's Andy Flower.However, Ali did for Sangakkara when the batsman played down the wrong line and was lbw for 55.Sangakkara reviewed the decision but, with replays confirming his dismissal, it was the end of a 103-ball innings including six fours and a stand of 79 with Jayawardene.Ali then struck again when he bowled Thirimanne for his second nought of the match with a superb delivery that drifted in towards middle-and-leg and then turned past the outside edge to hit the left-hander's middle stump.That meant Sri Lanka vice-captain Thirimanne had scored just four runs in four innings this series.But Jayawardene was still there, while Mathews had made a hundred at Lord's.Jayawardene's single off Ali then saw the veteran right-hander to a 103-ball fifty including five fours.Mathews then edged Jordan to give Sri Lanka a lead of a hundred before next ball driving him through the offside for an emphatic boundary.

England confirm Australia and India ODIs

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LONDON (AFP) - England will take part in a triangular one-day tournament in Australia also featuring the hosts and India early next year, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Sunday as it announced the schedule for the series.The Tri-Series will act as preparation for the 2015 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand which starts in February.India are the current World Cup champions after defeating Sri Lanka on home soil in the 2011 final in Mumbai, while Australia have won the tournament four times.England, despite pioneering one-day cricket as a professional sport, have never won the World Cup although they were losing finalists in 1979, 1987 and 1992 -- when the tournament was last staged in Australia and New Zealand. But it is a record England are determined to improve upon, having also scheduled a seven-match ODI series in Sri Lanka before the end of this year.The Tri-Series will see each of cricket's 'big three' nations play each other twice ahead of a final at Perth's WACA ground on February 1.Following our seven-match ODI series in Sri Lanka before Christmas, this tour will provide further excellent preparation for the England team prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, said ECB chief executive David Collier in a statement.We look forward to an exciting and competitive series against two of the world's best teams in this format of the game and thank both Cricket Australia and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for their support in agreeing this schedule.

Tahirul Qadri leaves for Islamabad from Dubai

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DUBAI (Dunya News) - Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has left for Islamabad from Dubai on early Monday morning. Qadri is due to reach Islamabad at 8:15am today.Qadri was scheduled to reach Islamabad at 7:30am but after a delay of 40 minutes in departure of his plane from Dubai, the PAT chief will now reach Islamabad at 8:15am.Earlier, talking to newsmen outside Heathrow airport before his departure to Dubai, Tahirul Qadri said that he wants to arrive in Pakistan and proceed to Lahore in a peaceful manner. He said the PML-N government was digging grave of its rule as it was harassing PAT workers.Qadri said these tactics of the government cannot stop Pakistan Awami Tehreek from following its mission to bring change in the country through revolution.Qadri is expected to arrive at the Benazir International Airport on Monday morning. According to party sources a large number of party works would receive Dr Tahirul Qadri at the airport. Qadri’s convoy would leave for Lahore by road.Meanwhile, Pakistan Awami Teheerk (PAT) claimed that its workers were being arrested in different cities.
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