Friday 7 November 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Obama approves sending 1,500 more troops to Iraq

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama has approved sending up to 1,500 additional troops to Iraq to aid Baghdad government and Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State group, roughly doubling the number of US troops in the country, the White House said Friday.The 1,500 troops will include a group of advisors to help Iraqi forces plan operations and a group of trainers who will be deployed across the country, officials said, as Washington steps up the pressure on the IS militants.Some of the advisors will be deployed to western Anbar province, where the Iraqi army has been forced to retreat from advancing IS jihadists, a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP.Some of the additional troops will begin to arrive in Iraq in the next several weeks, the official said.As a part of our strategy for strengthening partners on the ground, President Obama today authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional US military personnel in a non-combat role to train, advise, and assist Iraqi security forces, including Kurdish forces, a statement said.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recommended the move to Obama based on a request from the Iraqi government and the assessment of US Central Command, which is overseeing the air war against the IS militants, the Pentagon said.The deployment coincides with the development of a coalition campaign plan to defend key areas and go on the offensive against IS fighters who have grabbed large areas of Iraq and neighboring Syria, it said. The training will focus on 12 Iraqi brigades -- nine Iraqi army and three Peshmerga brigades, the Pentagon said. The training sites will be located in northern, western, and southern Iraq and coalition partners will join US personnel at these locations to help build Iraqi capacity and capability, it added.This is not just going to be a US mission, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity. Several coalition partners have come forward to contribute troops to the train and advise mission, the official said.There are now about 1,400 American troops in Iraq, including 600 advisers in Baghdad and Arbil, and 800 troops providing security for the US embassy in the capital and the Baghdad airport. Obama had previously authorized up to 1,600 troops. His decision Friday will raise the maximum troop footprint to 3,100.The US president had resisted keeping troops in Iraq earlier in his term, vowing to end the American presence that began with the 2003 invasion and continued as an occupation through 2011.US officials had discussed the possibility of keeping several thousand troops in Iraq after 2011, but talks with the Iraqi government, then led by prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, broke down over the issue of legal immunity, which Washington insisted on and Baghdad declined to provide.WIith Fridays announcement, Obama will be deploying a force to Iraq along the lines of that considered in 2011, under legal protections similar to those it rejected as insufficient three years ago.

Tanks cross from Russia, fighting kills five soldiers: Ukraine

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KIEV (AFP) - Ukraine said Friday that dozens of tanks and truckloads of soldiers had crossed from Russia into Kremlin-backed rebel territory, as five servicemen were killed in fighting that made a mockery of a supposed ceasefire.A column of 32 tanks, 16 howitzer cannons and 30 trucks carrying troops and equipment crossed the border into separatist-held Lugansk region Thursday, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said, adding that another convoy including three mobile radar stations had also entered the same area.There was no way to confirm the claims independently.Lysenko said five Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 16 injured in the past 24 hours in clashes between government forces and pro-Moscow rebels, underscoring the emptiness of a two-month truce that both continue to insist they are respecting.Fifteen civilians were wounded by shrapnel in the separatist bastion of Donetsk, the mayors office said, in a night of shelling in two neighbourhoods near the ruins of the airport, where government troops are holding out. An AFP journalist reported heavy artillery bombardments had resumed in the area around the strategic transport hub late Friday. While the September truce agreement has seen full-scale confrontations halt along most of the frontline, shelling has continued at flashpoints around the industrial east. Claims of fresh troop movements are stoking fears of a return to all-out fighting.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warned German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a phone call of an escalation in the conflict following significant departures from the agreed peace plan, his office said. The latest casualties came after Kiev had already moved to isolate the Kremlin-backed separatist regions, firming up the split of the ex-Soviet republic in a crisis that has sent East-West relations to their lowest ebb since the Cold War.Some 150 mourners attended an emotional memorial service in the ravaged industrial hub for two teenage boys killed when a shell hit a school playing field Wednesday. Kiev and the insurgents blamed each other for the incident.The rebels held leadership elections on Sunday, defying Kiev with a move that sought to formalise their control over the separatist-held territory.In response, Ukraines border guards announced obligatory passport controls around the rebel-held areas on Thursday, effectively setting up a de facto border despite Kievs insistence that it has not given up on reclaiming sovereignty.That move dovetailed with a government decision to sever state subsidies worth some $2.4 billion (1.8 billion euros) each year to the guerrilla regions, including pensions, though not heating gas and electricity.Kiev and the rebels inked peace accords in September aimed at saving Ukraines unity and ending a conflict that has claimed over 4,000 lives, with rebel zones being given autonomy, but not independence.However in the wake of Sundays rebel polls, Poroshenko said separatists had torpedoed the proposal and ordered troops to reinforce frontline cities, as he asked parliament to scrap the autonomy offer.The United States and European Union have already slapped tough sanctions on Moscow and Polands foreign minister has warned of a new Iron Curtain falling across Europe.Top EU diplomat Federica Mogherini said Thursday that the 28-nation bloc would review sanctions on Russia in 10 days, with pressure mounting to add to the punitive measures after Moscow endorsed the rebel elections.Moscows foreign ministry on Friday appeared keen to pull back slightly by specifying it respected -- but had not officially recognised -- the results of the vote, although it was not clear whether this semantic nicety would be enough to ease Western criticism.The financial isolation over the Ukraine crisis -- along with falling oil prices -- has hammered Russias flagging economy. The ruble plunged early on Friday by over three percent to a new record low of over 60 to the euro before recovering to around 57.As concerns mounted over the volatile currency, Russias central bank went back on a pledge Wednesday to limit interventions by saying it was now willing to splash the cash to prop up the ruble. In a rare chance for dialogue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet his US counterpart John Kerry Saturday ahead of the APEC summit in Beijing next week, Russian news agencies reported. But in a sign of how far relations have slumped, the Kremlin ruled out an official sit-down between President Vladimir Putin and US leader Barack Obama.

Ebola death toll hits 4,960: WHO

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GENEVA (AFP) - The World Health Organization said Friday that 13,268 people had been infected with Ebola across eight countries, and 4,960 of them had died.On Wednesday, it had reported 13,042 cases and 4,818 deaths.The UN health agency has acknowledged though that the number of deaths are likely far higher, since the fatality rate in the current outbreak is known to be around 70 percent.The deadliest Ebola outbreak ever has hit Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone the hardest.In its latest toll, the WHO said 2,766 deaths were recorded in Liberia, out of a total of 6,619 cases.In Sierra Leone, 1,130 people had died from the virus out of 4,862 cases. In Guinea, there were 1,054 deaths from 1,760 cases.Data from Nigeria and Senegal remained unchanged, and both countries have been declared Ebola free. Nigeria had eight deaths and 20 cases, while Senegal had one case and no deaths.Meanwhile, one death has been recorded in Mali -- that of a two-year-old girl from Guinea -- while one case of infection in Spain, a nurse, has been cured.In the United States, four cases have been recorded and one person -- a Liberian -- had died from Ebola.Ebola, one of the deadliest viruses known to man, is spread only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person showing symptoms such as fever or vomiting.People caring for the sick or handling the bodies of people infected Ebola are therefore especially exposed.WHO said Friday that a total of 549 healthcare workers were known to have contracted the virus, and 311 of them had died.

Suspects admit killing over 40 missing Mexico students

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MEXICO CITY (AFP) - Suspected gang members in Mexico have confessed to killing more than 40 missing students and incinerating their remains in a case that has shocked the country, the attorney general said Friday.But Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam warned that it would be difficult to identify the charred remains and that authorities will continue to consider the students as missing until DNA tests confirm the identities.Authorities have been searching for 43 students since police attacked their buses in the southern city of Iguala on September 26, allegedly under orders of the mayor and his wife in violence that also left six people dead.The three suspects said the students were killed after they were handed over to them between Iguala and the neighboring town of Cocula by police linked to the Guerreros Unidos drug gang, Murillo Karam said.The bodies were set on fire with gasoline, tires, firewood and plastic in an inferno that lasted 14 hours, he said.The fire lasted from midnight to 2:00 pm the next day. The criminals could not handle the bodies (for three hours) due to the heat, he said.The suspects then crushed the remains, stuffed them in bags and tossed them in a river.The suspects were not sure how many students they received but one of them said there were more than 40.Before the announcement, relatives of the missing said they would not accept that their children were killed until they get the results of independent Argentine forensic experts.

Tennis: Becker extends deal as Djokovic coach

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BERLIN (AFP) - Boris Becker has struck a new deal to remain coach of world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic, the German icon revealed in an interview with sports daily Bild on Friday. We have a written agreement, even if for sportsmen like us, a handshake is enough, said the 43-year-old who has been Djokovics main coach since December 2013. Our partnership has been crowned with success these past 12 months and Im delighted to continue our work with the whole team, added the triple Wimbledon champion, who when asked how long the deal was for replied; As long as the results are there. Under Beckers guidance, the 27-year-old Djokovic has won six titles in 2014, including a second Wimbledon success, after 2011, and now stands on the brink of finishing the year as world number one heading into next weeks ATP World Tour Finals in London. According to Becker, retaining the number one spot has been their main priority while the French Open title is the only Grand Slam still eluding the Serbian. The seven-time Grand Slam winner has a healthy lead over world number two Roger Federer heading to the English capital where he triumphed last year for the second time.

Tennis: Kvitova, Petkovic to clash in Fed Cup final opener

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PRAGUE (AFP) - Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will take on Andrea Petkovic in the opening rubber of the Fed Cup final between the Czech Republic and Germany starting in Prague on Saturday.After Fridays draw, world number four Kvitova will face 14th-ranked Petkovic on the hardcourt of Pragues O2 Arena at 1200 GMT on Saturday.Then 17th-ranked Lucie Safarova will take on Germanys world number ten Angelique Kerber.It really doesnt matter who is going to play first, said the 24-year-old Kvitova, who has lost four of seven encounters with Petkovic so far.Its been a long time since we last played each other in 2011, a lot of things have changed since that time. I know I really need to be focused on myself.I hope the home crowd will be an advantage for us, said Kvitova, who led the Czechs to Fed Cup wins in 2011 and in 2012 when they beat Serbia 3-1 at a packed Prague arena.Petkovic, who is 27, said she was happy to play the first match.Petras such a great player, she has a little more experience, shes already won two Wimbledon finals and she won the Fed Cup before, Petkovic said.We are nervous, definitely, in a good way, excited (but) well try to transfer it into an energy and into positive emotions, hopefully we can do it as a team together.Safarova lost her only rubber against Kerber in 2012, but she was upbeat ahead of the clash pitting two left-handers.Angies been a top ten player for a few years already so I expect a tough match, but Im excited, looking forward, and I hope I will bring a point for the team, said the 27-year-old Czech.Kerber, who is 26, said she knew Safarova well from common practices.Lucie is a great player, she has played very well in the last few months, she added.In Sundays reverse singles rubbers, Kvitova will take on Kerber in a clash of the teams number-one players and Safarova will then face Petkovic.A reunited Czech pair of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka are then due to take on Germanys Julia Goerges and Sabine Lisicki in the doubles.Hlavackova and Hradecka decided to team up again last month after a 2013 split following two Grand Slam titles and the 2012 Olympic silver medal from London.I have confidence in them and if it comes down to 2-2, its the best team I have, said Czech captain Petr Pala.By calling up Hlavackova, Pala sidelined rising Czech star Karolina Pliskova, the world number 24, who was originally nominated for the tie.While the Czechs are eyeing their third Fed Cup win in four years, Germany are looking for their first title since 1992, when a team led by Steffi Graf and current captain Barbara Rittner won the title.The hosts however lead Germany 6-1 in previous meetings.In their last Fed Cup encounter, the Czech Republic led by Kvitova beat Lisicki-led Germany 4-1 in Stuttgart in February 2012, with Hradecka, Goerges and Kerber also playing.Rittner said a message the team had received from Graf before the draw might turn out to be a lucky charm, but kept mum about its content.The girls liked it and we keep it as a secret, maybe well talk about it after a win.

Golf: McDowell makes running as Bubba and Poulter go low

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SHANGHAI (AFP) - Graeme McDowell shot a second successive 67 on Friday to increase his lead to three shots at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.As on Thursday, the Northern Irishman was flawless over the Sheshan International Golf Club layout, posting five birdies and 13 pars.Second is fellow Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter and who also shot 67 to total seven-under par 137. A shot further adrift is double Masters champion Bubba Watson, who also shot 67 after finishing with five straight birdies, and Japans 33-year-old Hiroshi Iwata who had the round of the day, a seven-under 65, in his maiden WGC event.McDowell will tee off in the final group with Poulter and Watson Saturday, eerily reminiscent of a year ago when it was the same two Europeans and American Dustin Johnson who battled it out over the final two days.Johnson emerged victorious after a titanic final round three-ball a year ago. McDowell is hoping history doesnt repeat itself.Weve got fairly decent replacement for Dustin in Bubba whose got the same kind of talents in the way he drives it and his short game, McDowell said.In many ways its a very similar scenario. Myself and Poults against the long-hitting American.Poulter has had a lean year by his own standards, dropping to 44th in the world after a series of injury lay-offs.Thats probably the best Ive played all year, which is very exciting, Poulter told reporters after his five-under round. Chances started to go in at the end, and Im very happy.Weve got 36 holes to go. Youve got 36 potential birdies. So three shots is pretty close. I played with Graeme in the last round last year, and he likes this golf course.Watson exploded into life on the back nine, finishing with five birdies in a row and card that contained two rare chip-ins.It was a struggle, the American conceded. Hit some good shots but couldnt make some putts. Hit some bad shots and made some putts.I got two chip-ins. One was with a four-wood just off the green and lob wedge on the other one, the 2012 and 2014 Masters champion added.Yeah, obviously when you chip it in, it makes the day seem a little bit better.World number two Adam Scott put himself in contention by getting to six-under for the tournament with four birdies in the first seven holes of his round.Then dropped a horror six shots in two holes to tumble down the leaderboard.First up was a quadruple-bogey nine at the monster 603-yard par five eighth, followed by a double-bogey six at the next.Scotts tee shot at eight was into trees left and after a long search his ball was found but unplayable.He went all the way back to the tee for his third, which found the fairway. His fourth was into rough short of the green. Scott then mishit his pitch into a water hazard where he landed on the bank, but could not play because of a rock behind the ball.Back he went to the drop zone to play his seventh shot and two putts later his ball finally found the cup.In all it had taken a staggering 44 minutes to play the hole, or longer than a half of international rugby.More trouble followed at the next where his second shot found water and he couldnt get up and down.The Australian 2013 Masters champion recovered on the back nine and stands two over for the tournament after adding a level-par 72 to his first round 70.

Formula One: Rosberg outshines Hamilton in Brazil practice

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Nico Rosberg made a bright start to his bid to end Lewis Hamiltons recent supremacy when he completed a rare Friday double by topping both free practice sessions for the Brazilian Grand Prix.On a sweltering day at the sprawling and demanding Interlagos circuit, the 29-year-old German made the most of the few opportunities to deliver fast and clear laps between three red-flag interruptions.He ended up clocking a fastest lap in one minute and 12.123 seconds to emerge fastest by 0.213 seconds ahead of the championship leading Briton for the second time in a day.Hamilton leads the championship standings with a 24-point lead ahead of Rosberg with two races remaining including the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where double points will be awarded.It was a pretty good day, said an upbeat Rosberg. It was very hot during the long run and there were a few interruptions, but it was ok. I had a lot of understeer to start with because of the new asphalt surface on the track and we had to deal with that.Hamilton also said he had a good day adding that he, too, felt it was very hot as the air temperature soared past 30 degrees Celsius and the track temperatures reached beyond 50 degrees.It was all good, but I just didnt get a chance to hook up a complete lap, said Hamilton, referring to his relative lack of outright pace compared to Rosberg.I was told it was the hottest track temperature ever recorded here, said Rosberg. Thats because of the heat but also because it is a newly-laid surface.Hamilton is seeking his sixth win in succession and 11th of the season in Sundays race, but Rosberg is bidding to end that momentum to set up a dramatic showdown in the season finale. Hamilton, however, appears to have the Brazilian supporters on his side after being given a warm reception on arrival and handed a mock Brazilian passport and football shirt by a television station.Local fans said they see that Hamilton drives with his heart and they also like his open admiration for their own legend Ayrton Senna.I really feel over the years Ive seen a lot of growth in my support here in Brazil, Hamilton said. I definitely feel Ill have great support here this weekend.Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari was third fastest ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo for Red Bull, Valtteri Bottas and his Williams team-mate and local hero Felipe Massa.Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was seventh in the second Ferrari, had to leap from his car during the session when he had an engine failure that burst into flames.He pulled up at a fire post, but there were no fire-fighters on duty and after waiting behind the barriers he chose to use an extinguisher himself.Russian Daniil Kvyat was eighth for Toro Rosso ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Kevin Magnussen in the leading McLaren.Jenson Button was 16th in the second McLaren while the prospective 18-car grid was reduced to 17 when Spanish test driver Daniel Juncadella crashed Mexican Sergio Perezs Force India car during morning free practice.Perez had to sit out the afternoon session which was equally disjointed with three separate red-flag interventions.These came when Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergnes Toro Rosso stopped on track, Alonsos Ferrari suffered its engine failure and Esteban Gutierrez pulled up in his Sauber. Meanwhile, back in the UK, the Marussia team ceased trading and made nearly 200 staff redundant.Frantic final efforts to save the team from failure and to keep alive hopes of an entry to the world championship in 2015 were dashed in a statement from the teams administrators, appointed last month.Fellow strugglers Caterham, who are also in administration and are skipping Brazil after missing the US Grand Prix, launched a crowd-funding project, RefuelCaterhamF1 in an effort to raise 2.35million pounds to get to the grid in the UAE on November 23.Fans are being asked to contribute as little as 10 pounds each to finance the teams return.

Motorcycling: Marquez fastest in Valencia practice

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VALENCIA (AFP) - Marc Marquez, seeking to create MotoGP history in Valencia on Sunday with a record 13th win of the season, topped the times in practice on Friday.The Spaniard, who wrapped up back-to-back world titles in Japan in October, won in Malaysia last time out to equal Australian rider Mick Doohans mark of 12 victories in 17 races in a season from 1997.As well as a record victory on Sunday, the 21-year-old Marquez and teammate Dani Pedrosa can also deliver Honda back-to-back team and constructors titles in the seasons 18th and final race.Marquez posted a best time for the combined sessions of 1min 31.296sec, with his compatriot, Jorge Lorenzo, next best on a Yamaha almost two tenths of a second adrift.The best thing was how I felt on the bike. Finishing fastest is a reference, but the most important thing is that the pace was good, and we have been improving and testing things out, said the champion.This afternoon the track was a little slower, but we hope to continue improving tomorrow. Im sure that there will be a nice fight for pole between myself, Jorge, Dani and Valentino.In third came the Ducati of Italian Andrea Dovizioso followed by Aleix Espargaro on a Ducati and Pedrosa, the teammate of Marquez.Lorenzos Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi, who has a 12-point lead in the battle for second spot in the championship, was down in seventh spot.Today, having a very good pace came easy from the beginning, said Lorenzo.The winner in Valencia in 2013 added: This is the first time this season that I got to ride such a good pace this easily, so Im very happy about the performance of the bike. Now we have to try some things and try to improve, but the pace of the bike is very good and Im really satisfied.

Dollar dips after mixed US jobs report

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar weakened against other major currencies Friday after a mixed US jobs report did little to change expectations of a change in the Federal Reserves interest rate outlook.The Labor Department reported the economy added 214,000 jobs last month, weaker than the 235,000 consensus analyst estimate.But the previous two months job gains were revised upward by a total of 31,000, and the department said the unemployment rate slipped a tenth of a percentage point to 5.8 percent, a six-year low.Analysts said although the report marked the ninth straight month of job growth above 200,000, it was not strong enough to prod the Federal Reserve to shift from its plan to keep interest rates low well into 2015.The data did not stoke up fears of the Fed being in a rush to hike the fed funds rate, Briefing.com said in a market note.Vassili Serebriakov, of French bank BNP Paribas in New York, said the report should keep the Fed on track to hike interest rates as expected, around mid-2015.

Oil prices climb after rough week of steep losses

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices climbed Friday as the market took a breather after a turbulent week that saw sharp sell-offs and a mixed US jobs report.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for December advanced 74 cents to $78.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Brent North Sea crude for delivery in December settled at $83.39 a barrel in London, up 53 cents from Thursdays closing level.Primarily the market is stabilizing after Tuesdays plunge, said Gene McGillian of Tradition Energy.WTI had dropped to a three-year low and Brent slid to a four-year low after leading producer Saudi Arabia cut its prices for crude sold to the US market.Now, McGillian said, its just the market catching its breath and traders were doing some corrective buying.The US jobs report for October was a mixed bag, rather neutral, said Matt Smith of Schneider Electric.The Labor Department reported job growth that was slightly less than expected and that the unemployment rate fell to 5.8 percent.The dollar weakened slightly after the jobs data, providing some support for oil prices, said James Williams of WTRG Economics.A weaker greenback makes dollar-priced commodities like crude oil cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies, which in turn tends to spur demand and prices.

Pakistan want whitewash momentum against New Zealand

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Pakistan will look to keep their winning momentum, which gave them a long-awaited series victory over Australia, when they face New Zealand in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.Pakistan achieved a rare 2-0 win with emphatic 221-run and 356-run victories for their first series win over Australia in 20 years.The win was more significant as Pakistan were without their match-winning spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended due to an illegal bowling action while spearheads Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz were both injured.But an inexperienced bowling attack of left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (14 wickets) and leggie Yasir Shah (12) forced spin-shy Australia into submission in both Tests.Pakistan will continue to attack a New Zealand team who also struggle against spin and have not won a Test series against Pakistan since a 2-0 triumph at home in 1985.More impressive is Pakistans home record, having not lost against the Black Caps since 1969. Of the 50 Tests between the two, Pakistan have won 23 and New Zealand just seven with 20 drawn.The New Zealanders will be huge underdogs.For Pakistan, Younis Khan mustered 468 runs in two Tests against Australia while Misbah-ul Haq and Azhar Ali notched a century in each innings of the second Test.Opener Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed also hit hundreds in the first Test, a confidence boost which Misbah is confident will be maintained. I am confident that we will play good cricket against New Zealand, and we should play that way, said Misbah. There is confidence in the side and not a weak link that you can see. The batsmen are in good form, the bowlers are delivering. Given that we are playing in the same conditions, we are confident that we can perform well.Pakistan have retained the same 16-man squad for the first Test and will likely make no changes from the second Test against Australia which was played at the same Abu Dhabi venue.New Zealand hope leg-spinner Ish Sodhi can come good after taking five wickets in the drawn side game against Pakistan A.The Kiwis will also hope their experienced middle-order batsman Ross Taylor is fully fit after suffering a calf injury and having managed just 11 in the tour game in Sharjah. New Zealand coach Mike Hesson admitted Pakistan will be tough in the familiar conditions of the United Arab Emirates where they have been forced to play since terrorist attacks caused a suspension of international cricket in their country in 2009.Pakistan are an incredibly tough team to play in conditions favourable to them. Our record against them is actually the worst against any of the Test playing nations, having won just two out of 19 series, both home and away.The remaining two Tests will be played in Dubai (November 17-21) and Sharjah (November 26-30).After the Tests, the teams will also play two Twenty20s and five one-day internationals.Teams (from):Pakistan: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Talha, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah. New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (capt), Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Luke Ronchi, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi.Umpires: Rodney Tucker (AUS) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI).TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS).Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).

Aussie-tormentor Shah encouraged by legend Warne

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah Friday said he was inspired by legendary Shane Warnes tweets during his spin demolition of Australia which helped Pakistan win a rare series last week.Shah, 28, took 12 wickets in two Tests -- his first five-day matches -- during Pakistans 2-0 win, their first over Australia in 20 years.Shah said Warnes tweets during the series encouraged him.Its very encouraging that a legend like Warne supported me so much and every day he tweeted, Shah told reporters. I have never met him but its my desire to meet him, said Shah of the Australian great who took 708 Test wickets during an illustrious career which ended in 2007.Warne is the second highest Test wicket taker behind Sri Lankas Muttiah Muralitharan who finished with a world record of 800.Shah said he started playing cricket only after watching the great spinner.I followed Warne in the beginning and my action was similar to his but then Aaqib Javed (former coach at Lahore academy) changed my action but he has always been my inspiration, said Shah.Shah said he was initially nervous when he made his debut in the Dubai Test.I was a bit nervous that I was in the Test team for the first time but coach Waqar (Younis) told me that you feel like you are playing a first class match, Mushtaq Ahmed (spin bowling coach) and then Misbah-ul Haq (captain) supported and motivated me a lot so I felt like playing a first class domestic match, said Shah.Misbah is captain of my first class team as well so it looked like I was playing a first class match.Shah disagreed Pakistans domestic cricket is less competitive.Look, our domestic cricket is competitive, we have green pitches and its tough for spinners to get wickets so we have to work very hard and thats helped me, said Shah, who reckoned Australian opener David Warners wicket as his most memorable.I got Warner after he got a hundred, said Shah of Australian openers dismissal for 133 in Dubai. I had planned to get him out and it worked, that was my best wicket.Shah said he was gearing up for the New Zealand series, starting with the first of three Tests in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Shakib leads Bangladesh to series win over Zimbabwe

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KHULNA (AFP) - Shakib Al Hasan became only the third player in history to score a century and take 10 wickets in a match as Bangladesh whipped Zimbabwe by 162 runs in the second Test on Friday to win the series.The left-arm spinner claimed five for 44 in Zimbabwes second innings as the tourists, set a victory target of 314, were bowled out for 151 after tea on the fifth and final day in Khulna.Bangladesh, who won the first Test in Dhaka by three wickets, took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Shakibs 10-wicket haul in the Test -- he took 5-80 in the first innings -- followed a crafty 137 on the second day and deservedly won the man of the match award.The 27-year-old joined Ian Botham of England and Imran Khan of Pakistan as the only cricketers to score a hundred and claim 10 wickets in a match.Hamilton Masakadza, who scored a century in the first innings, was the only Zimbabwean to defy the spinners in the second innings with 61.Shakib began by removing Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor, then dismissed Masakadza after lunch before grabbing the wickets of Elton Chigumbura and Natsai Mshangwe.Shakib was supported by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who took 3-44, and leg-spinner Jubair Hossain (2-42) as Zimbabwe lost their last five wickets for 14 runs.Earlier, Bangladesh declared their second innings at 248-9 in the morning session after Shuvagata Hom completed his maiden half-century. Mohammad Mahmudullah top-scored with 71.The third and final Test starts in Chittagong on November 12. The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals.

4000 bn tax can be collected in Pakistan through honesty: Imran Khan

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ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has said that Rs. 4000 billion tax can be collected in Pakistan through honesty. Criticizing the corruption in government departments, Imran Khan said that tax-collection ration is lowest in Pakistan. “Why should the public pay taxes when the leaders conceal their assets”, questioned Imran.Addressing the sit-in protesters today (Friday) in Islamabad, Imran Khan said that 4000 billion rupees can be collected in Pakistan as taxes. He strongly criticized Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari. He alleged that Asif Zardari’s visit to China on private jet cost Pakistan Rs. 25 million while police deployed in Raiwind costs the national exchequer Rs. 500 million annually.Imran Khan revealed that gas tariff will increase during the winter season. He said that Railways is in Rs. 125 billion loss while PIA is in Rs. 200 billion loss. But on the other hand, said he, motorway has cost Pakistan 14 million USD per kilometer.
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