Sunday 8 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Kerry defends US soldier swap with Taliban

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Secretary of State John Kerry defended Sunday the prisoner swap that freed US soldier Bowe Bergdahl, said to have been sometimes kept in a metal cage and in total darkness while in captivity.Kerry doubled down on President Barack Obama's controversial decision to release five Taliban detainees held at Guantanamo Bay a week ago in exchange for the freedom of Bergdahl, who the top US diplomat said was at risk of being tortured by his captors. It would have been offensive and incomprehensible to consciously leave an American behind, no matter what, to leave an American behind in the hands of people who would torture him, cut off his head, do any number of things, Kerry told CNN's State of the Union program.Kerry made the remarks -- his first on the controversial prisoner exchange -- amid a news report about the grim conditions in which Bergdahl was held while a hostage in Afghanistan.The New York Times wrote that the army sergeant told medical officials he was kept in total darkness in a metal cage for weeks, as punishment for trying to escape.Bergdahl, in treatment at an army facility in Landstuhl, Germany, is healing physically, but is still emotionally too fragile to be reunited with his relatives, said the daily, citing anonymous US officials who have been briefed on his condition.The Wall Street Journal said Bergdahl has so far declined opportunities to speak with his family. It cited a US official familiar with Bergdahl's recovery.In a statement, the Defense Department said it does not comment on discussions that Sergeant Bergdahl is having with his medical team.The Times also reported that Bergdahl has had no access to news media and is unaware of the controversy raging in the United States about whether the administration put US security at risk by freeing the Taliban inmates.Kerry said the freed prisoners, who have been released to the Qatari government, are unlikely go back on their word to take up the struggle once more against the US.I'm not telling you that they don't have some ability sought some point to go back and get involved. But they also have an ability to get killed doing that, he told CNN.I don't think anybody should doubt the capacity of the United States of America to protect Americans.But the decision has garnered criticism, even from Obama's Democratic party.High-ranking Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said you can't help but worry about the released militants.We have no information on how the United States is actually going to see that they remain in Doha, that they make no comments, that they do no agitations, said Feinstein, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee.She told CBS television's Face the Nation that the Obama administration has not shared any information about possible torture Bergdahl suffered.I think this whole sort of deal has been one that the administration has kept very close, and in the eyes of many of us, too close, she said.There has also been controversy over reports Bergdahl was captured after deserting his post.In an interview with ABC's This Week, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton said that ultimately, the circumstances of Bergdahl's capture were irrelevant. The United States always does its best to bring everybody home off the battlefield, she said.But Republican Senator John McCain said the prisoner swap was the wrong call.The question is... whether it would put the lives of other American men and women who are serving in danger, said McCain, speaking to CNN.In my view, clearly, this would, said McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam.The Times reported that Bergdahl, 28, has emerged from captivity physically in better condition than expected, although he suffers from skin and gum disorders typical of poor hygiene and sun exposure.Meanwhile, the FBI reported it was investigating threats to his relatives back home in Idaho.We are aware of the threats and are working with our local law enforcement partners to investigate, FBI spokeswoman Jacqueline Maguire told AFP, without providing details as to the nature of the threats.

Five dead in Las Vegas shooting: report

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Two Las Vegas police officers and a civilian were killed Sunday in an apparent ambush that ended with the two gunmen killing themselves, local media reported Sunday.One of the attackers yelled This is the start of a revolution before shooting the officers and stripping them of their weapons and ammunition, the Las Vegas Review-Journal said.Two officers were shot by the gunmen -- a man and a woman -- as they ate lunch at CiCi's Pizza, it said, citing police sources. One of the officers died at the scene, while the second subsequently died in surgery.The attackers then headed to a nearby Walmart store, exchanging gunfire with and ultimately killing a civilian who was carrying a concealed weapon.The male shooter, described as a tall white man, yelled everyone get out before shooting, Assistant Sheriff Kevin McMahill.The two gunmen then went to the back of the Walmart for some kind of suicide pact. McMahill .Earlier, police alerted the public on their Twitter feed.We're investigating a multiple shooting at the 300 block of N Nellis. Persons have been injured. Avoid the area. Please RT. Vegas, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said on Twitter.

Tennis: Nadal wins ninth French Open, 14th Grand Slam

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PARIS (AFP) - Rafael Nadal clinched his ninth French Open and 14th career Grand Slam title on Sunday with a brutal 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory over a battling Novak Djokovic.The world number one also became the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession as the 28-year-old took his record at the tournament to 66 wins against just one defeat.His tally of 14 majors equals the mark of Pete Sampras and puts him just three behind the all-time record of Roger Federer who is almost five years older.Defeat was cruel for world number two Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, who still needs a French Open title to become just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.Every moment was crucial, all the points were so hard, said Nadal.Playing against Novak is always a big challenge, I have lost to him the last four times. Every chance I have to beat him it's because I have had to play to my limit. I feel sorry for Novak. He deserves to win this tournament one day and I am sure he will.He added: It's an amazing, emotional moment for me. I lost the Australian Open final this year when I had a problem with my back. Today tennis has given me back what happened in Australia.The Serb dominated the early stages of Sunday's final, the pair's 42nd meeting, seemingly immune to the sweltering 30-degree heat on Philippe Chatrier court.But Nadal, playing in his 20th Grand Slam final to Djokovic's 13th, grew stronger as the final wore on as he ended a four-match losing streak against his old rival.The 3hr 31min duel ended on a sour note when Djokovic double-faulted on match point, shaken by a shout from the crowd.Congratulations to Rafa. To win the French Open nine times is incredible, said Djokovic.There's a lot of emotions for me. I gave my maximum with all my strength and force but Rafa was better on the court.But I will keep coming back and coming back and try to win it at least once.In a tense opening to their seventh Grand Slam final meeting, the steadier Djokovic, sporting a white cap against the fierce sun, pounced to break for 5-3, after Nadal put too much zip on a forehand.The Spaniard had two points to break back in the ninth game but two more ballooned forehands kept Djokovic, who had even served and volleyed at 0-30, in the picture.He took the opening set when Nadal, off balance and stranded behind the baseline, went long with a slapped backhand.It was only the second time the champion had dropped the opening set of a final in Paris -- in 2005 against Mariano Puerta and in 2006 against Roger Federer.However, he regained the advantage with a break to lead 4-2 in the second set with an inside-out forehand stretching the Serb who could only net a desperate return.But back came Djokovic for 3-4 after a sloppy Nadal service game, punctuated by an untimely second double fault.The world number two saved a break point to go to 4-4, Nadal then held before Djokovic suffered his first serious lapse which was as sudden as it was surprising.A wild forehand gifted Nadal two set points and the top seed converted with a merciless, crunching forehand.Djokovic was rapidly wilting as a 22-shot rally laid the foundation for a Nadal break for 2-0 in the third set, courtesy of a weary backhand volley into the net.A love service game followed for 3-0 with Nadal having taken five games in succession.Djokovic had break points in the fifth game as well as an 11-minute seventh game but had no response to Nadal's iron will and rock-solid defence.As the sun disappeared, so did Djokovic's hopes as Nadal claimed the third set off a long forehand from the Serb.Djokovic appeared to vomit early in the fourth set and he was feeling even worse when he was broken in the sixth game as Nadal again turned defence into scintillating attack.In keeping with their gripping eight-year rivalry, however, Djokovic ensured another twist with a break back for 3-4.But Nadal clinched victory in the 10th game on Djokovic's third double fault with his second serve interrupted by a scream from the crowd.

Football: England, Germany arrive for World Cup

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - England and Germany arrived in Brazil Sunday to launch their World Cup campaigns, with reigning champions Spain expected later and disgruntled Cameroon delaying their departure over a bonus row.England touched down in Rio de Janeiro after an overnight flight from Miami and were escorted to their hotel in the posh Sao Conrado district by military police.The hotel, the Royal Tulip, recently underwent a multi-million-dollar refit, but locals remember it as the scene of a 2010 shootout when gunmen took staff and several guests hostage.England, who play their opening Group D match against Italy in the Amazonian city of Manaus on Saturday, are taking over two of the hotel's 17 floors and will train out of public view at a nearby military base just beneath Rio's famed Sugar Loaf mountain.A hotel spokeswoman told AFP security has been stepped up and would be of the highest order but would not elaborate. Municipal police said they and the military police would have a round-the-clock presence outside.The Three Lions will get a daily glimpse of the huge gulf between the haves and have-nots in a city where the more than $11 billion spent on the World Cup has fueled months of protests.King-size suites at the hotel cost around $1,000 a night and a swanky mall and country club are nearby.But Rio's largest favela, Rocinha, is easily visible as well.England ended their pre-World Cup run with a bruising friendly against Honduras, but managed to escape unscathed with a 0-0 draw.The team is in good shape, we are all united and anxious for the first match against Italy, England manager Roy Hodgson said.The rest of the 32 World Cup teams continue trickling in ahead of the June 12 kick-off match between Brazil and Croatia.Including the hosts, 18 teams are now in Brazil, with Spain due to arrive Sunday evening.Several hundred cheering people greeted Germany as they arrived at Santa Cruz Cabralia in the northeastern state of Bahia and boarded a boat to take them to Santo Andre and their specially built Campo Bahia base camp.Fans waved Brazilian and German flags as the team, dressed in black suits, headed to their base camp.The expectations are high like every time a German team goes to a World Cup, said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.We are among the favorites and of course Brazil are favorites too, because they will play at home.Coach Joachim Loew put his squad through their paces shortly after their arrival to sweat off the long journey and get used to conditions.At their base camp the German squad will be split into four groups sharing six-room bungalows in a move designed to foster team spirit.Germany play their opening Group G match against Portugal on June 16.Russia, Greece and Algeria also touched down in Brazil on Sunday.Cameroon meanwhile delayed their arrival, originally scheduled for Sunday, after the players refused to board the plane, demanding bonuses larger than the 50 million CFA francs ($104,000) they were offered by the government.After prolonged talks, a deal was struck and the squad will depart Sunday night, a Cameroon Football Federation official told AFP on condition of anonymity.State broadcaster CRTV said the players would each receive six percent of the revenue generated by the federation during the World Cup, in addition to their cash bonuses.

Golf: Lundberg snatches victory in Austria

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ATZENBRUGG (AFP) - Sweden's Mikael Lundberg sntached victory in the Austrian Open on Sunday with a brilliant birdie to win a play-off with local favourite Bernd Wiesberger.Lundberg and Wiesberger finished tied on 12 under par after the Swede hit a closing 65 and the Austrian 69 after letting a one-shot lead slip with three holes to play.The pair returned to the par-three 18th for the first extra hole and it was advantage Wiesberger after their respective tee shots, only for Lundberg to hole from 45 feet for an unlikely birdie.Wiesberger was unable to match it from 18 feet and was left with an anxious wait to see if he had done enough to move inside the top 60 in the world rankings to qualify for his US Open debut.A victory would have guaranteed his place at Pinehurst, but the 28-year-old was left to rely on results in the FedEx St Jude Classic on the PGA Tour.I was happy to take the lead and I had it in my hands, I threw it away a little bit, said Wiesberger, who won the title in 2012.I hit five bad shots on the 16th which cost me.I hit a better shot in the play-off but he made a great putt. He has not been in the winner's circle for a while, he deserves it. But I lost it a bit. I would have taken getting into a play-off at the beginning of the day, but it's a bit cruel now.Lundberg had held the halfway lead after rounds of 67 and 68, but a 76 on Saturday left him six shots behind defending Dutch champion Joost Luiten starting the final round.The 40-year-old hit four birdies in his first five holes and after a bogey on the eighth, carded four more in five holes from the 11th to set the clubhouse target.Today just started off really well on the first couple of holes. I made some really nice putts that changed the whole attitude, said Lundberg, whose previous European Tour wins came in Russia in 2005 and 2008.As for the play-off, what can I say? I didn't hit a great shot and Bernd hit a fantastic shot but that's golf.Luiten's two-shot overnight lead had disappeared within two holes and he was unable to find a birdie on the last three holes to join the play-off, a disappointing round of 72 leaving the Ryder Cup hopeful alone in third, one shot ahead of England's Lee Slattery.

Formula One: Daniel Ricciardo wins Canadian Grand Prix

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MONTREAL (AFP) - Daniel Ricciardo beamed from ear to ear on Sunday when he ended Mercedes early-season domination by claiming his maiden Formula One victory for Red Bull in a dramatic crash-hit Canadian Grand Prix.The 24-year-old Australian took full advantage of power and electrical problems that hit both championship leader Nico Rosberg and his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to claim a stirring triumph.I am still a bit in shock, said Ricciardo. Thanks everyone. This is ridiculous There are lots of Australian flags... which is nice.The race really came to life for the last 15-20 laps... Hamilton had a problem and Rosberg was slow down the straights. I really struggled to get past (Sergio) Perez, but managed to do that and set my sights on Nico with a couple of laps to go.I finally managed to get in the right spot to use DRS -- and it's an amazing feeling right now.Ricciardo was close to a victory in his first race with Red Bull on home turf in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix in March, but after finishing second, he was disqualified for a technical infringement.Briton Hamilton was forced to retire, but German Rosberg managed to nurse his car home in second place ahead of Ricciardo's Red Bull team-mate defending four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel.We had a problem at the pit stop and that's why I dropped behind, said Rosberg. Then I lost a lot of power in the straights, but it did not quite work out. I couldn't hold off Daniel Ricciardo.Rosberg's second place allowed him to open up a 22-point lead on Hamilton in the championship standings. Ricciardo is third 71 points behind the German.The final lap was run behind a Safety Car after a horrifying high-speed collision between Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India and Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams saw them fly off into the barriers.Both were seen moving in their cockpits at the end of the 70-laps contest and appeared not to be seriously injured after the incident as the braked from speeds of more than 240 kph.Ricciardo's win meant he has now beaten Vettel in the last five races, a feat that saw him receive well-deserved congratulations from his team-mate in the aftermath of a drama-laden event.Congratulations to Daniel, said Vettel. It's his day. We had a big help from Mercedes, unlike other weekends, but we were there to capitalise. It's been a positive day.Daniel's first win and a first win for Renault in the new era of engines. They have had a good comeback although there is still plenty of work ahead of us because Mercedes are quicker down the straight, but all in all it's been a good day.Ricciardo's Red Bull team chief was equally delighted.Amazing, he said. Daniel has been unbelievable all season. Of all races we thought we could win, this would have been the most unlikely, but the way he drove, he thoroughly deserved the drive.He's proved his worth. He's exceeded all expectations.Briton Jenson Button came home fourth for McLaren ahead of fifth placed German Nico Hulkenberg in the second Force India with two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso sixth for Ferrari.Finn Valtteri Bottas finished seventh in the second Williams ahead of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso, Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen in the second McLaren and 10th placed Finn Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari.Perez and Massa, whose impacts were measured at 27G, were placed 11th and 12th respectively at the finish. After the race, both were taken to the circuit medical centre for precautionary examinations.

Rallying: Ogier extends lead with Rally of Italy win

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CAGLIARI (AFP) - World champion Sebastien Ogier in a Volkswagen Polo won the Rally of Italy for the second straight year on Sunday to extend his lead in this season's championship.The Frenchman finished the sixth leg of the rally world championship 1 minute 23.1 seconds clear of Norway's Mads Ostberg in a Citroen and 1 minute 32 seconds better than teammate Jari-Matti Latvala of Finland.Finland's Latvala lost time after being forced to stop to change a rear wheel after hitting a rock at the side of the road.It was Ogier's 20th overall victory on the rally circuit and his fourth this season, having already secured victories in Monaco, Mexico and Portugal this term.I had a very tough beginning on this rally and had to put pressure on Jari (Matti Latvala) yesterday. Luckily that paid off and this is a really good feeling, Ogier said.The Frenchman now heads the drivers' standings with a 33-point lead over Latvala mid-way through the season.The reigning world champion won three of Saturday's four stages to propel himself to the top of the timesheet ahead of Sunday's four concluding specials.Ogier's championship points were swelled by finishing third in the 8.98km Power Stage, SS17, which was won by Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen.I could let up a bit on Sunday having built up a 1min 40sec lead on Ostberg, said Ogier.The number one aim of the season is to hold our title. There are seven races to go. I have to give it everything to overcome Jari-Matti who is currently in great shape.The next race will be held in Poland from June 27-29.

24 students washed away in north India river surge

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SHIMLA (AFP) - Twenty-four students were missing late Sunday after being washed downstream by a sudden surge of river water in a remote Himalayan valley in northern India, a state minister said.The students had stopped to take photographs on the edge of the Beas river in Himachal Pradesh when water released from a dam washed them downstream, transport minister G.S Bali said.Rescue workers using torches in the dark were attempting to find the students in the picturesque Kullu Valley, some 200 kilometres (130 miles) north of the state capital Shimla, the minister said.Rescue teams are looking downstream for the missing in the dark, he said.They are 24 engineering students of the VNR college in Hyderabad, he said.The students had got off the bus to take photographs at the edge of the river at around 7:30pm when the sudden rise of water washed them away, he said.The national government confirmed at least some of the students had drowned, with a rescue team sent to help search for survivors.I am deeply pained over the tragic incident of engineering students getting drowned in a flash flood in Himachal Pradesh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on his official Twitter account.I have instructed the authorities to despatch a rescue team for immediate action and save precious lives trapped in the floods, he said in a tweet.A local official blamed the surge of water on a hydroelectric power plant further upstream.The water was released by the Larji power project dam, said senior state official Rakesh Kanwar said.Angry locals and tourists blocked the main highway near the river in protest over the incident, saying authorities had failed to issue a warning about the release of water from the dam, according to local media.The students, from the VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology in the southern city of Hyderabad, had been travelling to the resort town of Manali further north.The stunning Kullu Valley is home to raging rivers, dense forests and steep gorges.Himachal Pradesh and other Himalayan states including neighbouring Uttarakhand are home to a string of hydroelectric projects as India rushes to expand power generation to meet rising demand.Governments are attempting to harness the power of rivers despite the risk of environmental damage to diversify away from costly and polluting coal and gas plants to meet the countrys electricity shortage.A government report in April concluded that hydropower projects in northern India were partly to blame for devastating floods last year that killed thousands.

Karachi airport attack leaves 26 dead

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KARACHI (AFP) - Heavily armed militants launched an assault on Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, leaving at least 26 dead including 10 militants in a six-hour siege that the army quelled at dawn.Explosions and gunfire rang out as the attackers, some dressed in military uniforms, battled security forces in one of the most brazen attacks in years on Pakistan's biggest city.Authorities said all 10 militants had been killed and that at least 16 dead bodies including ASF and PIA personnel and two civilians were received by the city's main Jinnah Hospital.Update: Area cleared. No damage to aircraft, fire visible in pics was not plane but a building, now extinguished. All vital assets intact, military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said in a tweet.The assault forced the closure of the Jinnah International Airport but Bajwa said it would be ready to resume services later in the day.The attack will raise fresh concerns about Pakistan's shaky security situation, and questions about how militants were able to penetrate the airport which serves one of the world's biggest cities.No one has yet claimed responsibility for the assault, but it came as talks between Pakistan and the Taliban which began earlier this year hit an impasse.Officials said the gunmen entered from at least two sides of the airport at around 11:00pm on Sunday -- the terminal used for the hajj pilgrimage and an engineering section close to an old terminal that is no longer in use.Armed with guns, grenades and rocket launchers, they clashed with the airport's security force, police, paramilitaries and later commandos. An AFP reporter at the airport witnessed three huge blasts, in what intelligence officials at the scene said they believed were suicide bombers detonating their explosives.Broken glass and spent gun magazines littered the engineering section where the first exchange of gunfire took place as smoke from grenade attacks began to die down.I heard fierce firing and then saw the terrorists firing at security forces. I don't know a lot more than that, said eyewitness Sarmad Hussain, an employee of national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).Thank God I am alive, this is very scary, he told AFP.Syed Saim Rizvi, who was on board a plane on the runway, tweeted: Huge blast I do not know whats going on outside -- heavy firing started again - full panic on boardThe director of the city's main Jinnah Hospital, Seemi Jamali, said that 16 dead bodies including seven ASF and six PIA personnel and two civilians had been brought in, along with the partial remains of two other unidentified bodies.Another 23 people were wounded, he told AFP.A spokesman for PIA, Mashud Tajwar, said that two domestic flights bound for Karachi had been diverted to nearby airports. There has so far been no claim of responsibility for Sunday night's incident but similar raids in the past have been claimed by Taliban militants who rose up against the Pakistani state in 2007 in an insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.Taliban gunmen attacked the Mehran naval base in 2011, which is three kilometres from the airport, destroying two US-made Orion aircraft and killing 10 personnel in a 17-hour siege.Taliban and other militants in uniform carried out a similar raid at Pakistan's military headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi in 2009, leaving 23 dead including 11 troops and three hostages.The raid will cast attention on the government's controversial decision to negotiate with the Taliban instead of using greater force to deal with them.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government began negotiations with the umbrella militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in February, with a ceasefire beginning March 1 but breaking down a month later.The TTP emerged in response to a raid on a radical mosque in Islamabad, but Islamist violence in the country began to surge in 2004 following the army's deployment in volatile tribal areas.

Williamson, Latham put New Zealand in control

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KINGSTON (AFP) - Kane Williamson's sixth Test hundred and a battling 83 by opener Tom Latham put New Zealand in control at 240 for two at stumps on day one of the first Test against the West Indies on Sunday.Justifying captain Brendon McCullum's decision to bat first on a pitch devoid of grass, Williamson, who resumes Monday on 105 in partnership with former skipper Ross Taylor (34 not out), put on 165 for the second wicket with Latham.It came at the expense of a completely revamped West Indies bowling attack from the one that featured in the Caribbean side's last Test six months ago against the same opponents in Hamilton.Fast bowler Jerome Taylor impressed on his return after a four-and-a-half year absence through a series of injuries, taking the early wicket of Peter Fulton to a catch at the wicket by Denesh Ramdin, the home side's new Test captain. He should have added the scalp of Latham in the first over after lunch when the left-hander, on 39, edged a drive to gully only for television replays to confirm that the pacer had delivered a no-ball.Television technology had already proved critical to Latham's progress in the morning session. He survived one referral by the West Indies to overturn a not out verdict on a leg-before appeal and was then successful in having a ruling of a bat-pad catch off left-arm spinner Suliemen Benn reversed in his favour. He missed out on a maiden Test hundred in just his second match however, off-spinner Shane Shillingford completing a simple caught-and-bowled dismissal in the final session.Any hopes the West Indies had of further breakthroughs were dashed by Williamson and Taylor, who took a particularly heavy toll on the second new ball, slashing three boundaries in the comeback over of Kemar Roach. Williamson's patience and vigilance were eventually rewarded in the penultimate over of the day, cutting two fours to third man off Benn to reach the treasured landmark after 270 minutes at the crease and put the seal on an immensely satisfying day for the tourists.His third-wicket partnership with Taylor has so far realised 66 runs and with a wealth of batting to follow, there is every prospect of New Zealand pushing on to a formidable first innings total on the second day.In contrast to the protracted struggle that followed, West Indies started the match in a celebratory mood with a small ceremony to mark the 100th Test for local hero Chris Gayle.Any inspiration that Ramdin was hoping his players could have drawn from that landmark achievement disappeared however in the Sabina Park dust as New Zealand's top-order ground their way to a formidable position with the type of disciplined batting that the home side will have to replicate whenever their turn at the crease arrives.

Sri Lanka's Thirimanne upbeat after Northants draw

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NORTHAMPTON (AFP) - Sri Lankas Lahiru Thirimanne was in positive mood ahead of Thursdays first Test against England after the tourists warm-up match against Northamptonshire ended in a draw.Although Sri Lanka have won individual Tests in England, theyve never won a series of more than one match.But Thirimanne said he believed all that could change in a two-Test clash at Lords and Headingley, where the pitches are likely to be much different to the slow, low and spin-friendly surfaces Sri Lanka are used to in the sub-continent.Confidence levels are really high, Thirimanne, captain against Northamptonshire in the absence of the rested Angelo Mathews, told reporters after Sundays final day of four at Northampton.We havent had much luck in the past, we want to win a Test series here so that is the main concern.Left-hander Thirimanne, dropped first ball, made a career-best 156 and opener Kaushal Silva 152 retired not out in an imposing first innings total of 558 for eight declared.Northamptonshire responded with 345 all out featuring Rob Keoghs 120.Sri Lanka, after deciding against enforcing the follow-on, were 99 for four when a draw was agreed.Paceman Dhammika Prasad (four for 68) and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera (four for 92), both battling for a Test place, were Sri Lankas most successful bowlers.The often injury-prone Prasad played the last of his 12 Tests over a year ago but Thirimanne, Sri Lankas tour vice-captain, indicated the lively 31-year-old seamer was in line for a return at Lords.Batters had the chance to bat through the innings and the bowlers did well, because it was not a bowling-friendly wicket, Thirimanne said.Dhammika bowled really well, in good areas and with some good pace.We have some experienced bowlers but we dont have that extra pace.Thirimanne added: Its really tough (in England) because this is the early summer and we havent had that much practice.We have to take 20 wickets to win matches, thats the main thing we have to work on.For Northamptonshire, struggling at the foot of the First Division of the County Championship with five defeats from six matches, Keoghs innings -- the first first-class hundred by one of their batsmen this season -- was especially encouraging.The 22-year-olds century came in only his second game back for the Midlands county since he had his finger broken by Yorkshire fast bowler Liam Plunkett, in Englands squad for Lords, during a pre-season match.It was an international attack getting ready for a Test match so it was nice (to score a hundred), said Keogh, whose only other century at this level was the 221 he made against Hampshire last year.Keogh added playing against the likes of Sri Lanka greats Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara had been a surreal experience.I watched those guys as a kid growing up. Turning round and seeing them two in the slips nodding at you is a little bit surreal, but to score runs is even better.Sri Lankas 3-2 one-day series win over England ended in acrimony after Sachithra Senanayake ran out Jos Buttler when the non-striker backed up too far in the Lankans six-wicket victory at Edgbaston on Tuesday.However, Keogh said there was no needle between Northamptonshire and the tourists.There was just some friendly banter with the guys, he explained.They were really nice, I cant speak highly enough of them, and I wish them all the best for Thursday.

Northamptonshire draw with Sri Lanka

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NORTHAMPTON (AFP) - Sri Lankas final tour match before next weeks first Test against England saw them draw with Northamptonshire at Northampton on Sunday.A draw was always the most likely outcome after Saturdays third day of four was washed out without a ball bowled and became all but inevitable after Sri Lanka opted against enforcing the follow-on on Sunday.Sri Lanka made 558 for eight declared with Lahiru Thirimanne -- captain for this match in the absence of the rested Angelo Mathews -- top-scoring with a career-best 156 after being dropped first ball and opener Kaushal Silva 152 before retiring hurt.The hosts responded with 345 all out featuring Rob Keoghs 120 -- the first first-class hundred by a Northamptonshire batsman this season.Paceman Dhammika Prasad (four for 68) and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera (four for 92), both battling for a Test place, were Sri Lankas most successful bowlers.Sri Lanka were 99 for four in their second innings, with Prasanna Jayawardene four not out and Dilruwan Perera nought not out, when a draw was agreed shortly after 5:00pm local time (1600GMT) with 17 overs left in the days play.Sri Lanka 558-8 dec (L Thirimanne 156, K Silva 152 ret no, D Perera 59; S Crook 3-98) and 99-4 drew with Northamptonshire 345 (R Keogh 120, R Levi 64; D Prasad 4-68, D Perera 4-92).

Karachi airport cleared; All 10 militants killed

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to DG ISPR, Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, Karachi airport has been cleared and all the 10 militants were killed by security forces in almost six-hour long battle.“Kci Update:Remaining 4 terrorists also killed in gunfight, bringing the total killed to 10,Alhamdulillah- at 0435”, Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on Twitter.“Kci Update:Area cleared.No damage to aircraft, fire visible in pics was not plane but a building,now extinguished.All vital assets intact”, Asim Bajwa further twitted.“Kci Update:Precautionary sweep after day light.Airport will be cleared by mid day for operations,handed back to CAA/ASF.Pakistan Zindabad”, DG ISPR twitted.

11 killed as gun battle continues at Karachi airport

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KARACHI (Dunya News) - At least 11 persons, including seven Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel, were killed when heavily armed militants attacked the Jinnah International Airports old terminal in Karachi on Sunday night.Gun battle between militants and security forces continues till filing of this report. Five of the attackers were also killed in fierce battle with security forces.Around 10 militants armed with explosives and ammunition dressed in airport security personnel uniforms entered the Fokker building at the old airport terminal, police sources said.Heavy contingents of paramilitary rangers and police have been called in and had surrounded the Fokker building where the attackers were holed up.All flight operations at Jinnah Terminal have been suspended and all routes to the airport have been sealed. Heavy firing is going on near a building located just next to the Pakistan International Airlines head office, one eye witness said.The old airport area houses the PIA engineering and other departments and also offices of civil aviation and ASF.

Karachi: Indian-made arms recovered from dead militants

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, around 10 militants armed with explosives and ammunition dressed in airport security personnel uniforms stormed the Jinnah International Airport at the old airport terminal on Sunday night.At least nine people, including seven ASF personnel, were killed in the attack while five of the attackers were also killed after fierce battle with security officials.A Rangers official has confirmed that Indian-made ammunition has been recovered from dead militants.Further details are awaited.
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