Sunday 4 January 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Fog in Punjab: Motorway closed, Lahore airport shut down

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Dense fog descended on Lahore and other cities of Punjab including Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sahiwal, Okara and Vehari on night between Sunday and Monday.The Allama Iqbal International airport’s operations have been shut down and the international and domestic flights coming to land there, have been deviated to other airports.Fog also affected road traffic. The Motorway has been closed from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian as visibility was down to zero due to dense fog.The Motorway police have appealed the drivers to use GT Road for travel from Lahore to Pindi Bhattian. The Motorway police have also urged the drivers to drive slowly and switch on fog lights. They also requested people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travelling.

NA likely to pass 21st Amendment Bill today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The National Assembly (NA) will resume its session today (Monday) to pass 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill to provide constitutional cover to the military-led speedy trial courts (STCs) in terrorism-related cases.The Bill seeking Amendment in the Constitution would be repealed after the two years. The National Assembly is also expected to approve a bill to amend the Pakistan Army Act.

ZABs 87th birth anniversary being observed today

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LARKANA (Dunya News) – The 87th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in being observed today (Monday) throughout the country.The programmes of 87th birth anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will start with the recitation of Holy Quran at his grave in Garhi Khuda Bux after which floral wreaths will be laid at the grave of founding father of PPP and special prayers will be held for the departed soul.

Al Qaeda bombing in Yemen kills at least 6

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SANAA (AP) - Al Qaeda militants bombed an office of Shiite Houthi rebels south of Yemens capital Sunday, killing six Houthis and wounding 31, officials said.Police said the bombing in Dhamar province, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Sanaa, targeted a local headquarters of the Houthi movement, which has seized a string of Yemeni cities, including the capital.One of the dead was a journalist who worked for a Houthi-affiliated television station, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists. Houthis have surrounded the area and were preventing people from taking photos.Al Qaedas local affiliate in Yemen claimed responsibility in a statement posted on its Twitter account.The Houthis, backed by ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are one of the strongest Yemeni factions locked in a bloody power struggle with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. They say they are taking on Al Qaeda and fighting corruption. Their critics view them as a proxy for Shiite Iran, though the rebels deny this.On Wednesday, a suicide bomber attacked a ceremony hosted by the Houthis commemorating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, killing at least 24 people and wounding nearly 50 further south of the capital. Other related clashes to the east between tribesmen and army troops killed six soldiers and two tribesmen a few days before the suicide bombing, while gunmen killed two Houthi fighters on Saturday.The Houthis have recently beefed up their security measures and public deployments in Sanaa for fear of attacks by militants from Al Qaeda.In a separate incident, the Defense Ministry said that a suspected Al Qaeda militant shot dead an army brigadier general in the countrys southeastern Shabwa province.

Boko Haram 'seizes military base' in Nigeria raids

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KANO (AFP) - Suspected Boko Haram militants have seized a military base in northeastern Nigeria in a series of blistering raids near Lake Chad, sending soldiers and civilians fleeing, witnesses said on Sunday.Local residents reported that the gunmen killed several people, burnt hundreds of homes and looted scores of businesses in Saturdays attacks, although there was no official death toll.The Islamists are believed to control large swathes of land in northeastern Nigeria since launching an uprising in 2009 that has now claimed more than 13,000 lives.The base outside the town of Baga is used by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which was established in 1998 to battle cross-border crime but whose mandate was expanded to fighting the deadly Boko Haram insurgency.The gunmen seized the base near Lake Chad after engaging troops in a fierce battle that lasted several hours, witnesses said.They (the militants) overwhelmed the troops and forced them to abandon the base which the gunmen took over, local resident Usman Dansubdu told AFP after fleeing to neighbouring Chad.Hundreds of fear-stricken residents from Baga and five other Nigerian towns and fishing villages poured into Chad to escape the Islamist raids on their homes, witnesses said.Maina Maaji Lawan, the senator representing northern Borno where Baga is located, confirmed the attack on the military base and other five locations.Boko Haram insurgents launched attacks in Baga area yesterday (Saturday), destroying six towns and several settlements, forcing the people in the affected places to flee into Chad.They came in unbelievably large numbers and overpowered the multinational troops and local vigilantes, he told AFP.They took over the multinational troop base in Baga and sent the soldiers fleeing, he told AFP.The force is made up of troops from Nigeria, Niger and Chad, Nigerian army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Laleye told AFP.Residents of Kauyen Kuros, Mile 3, Mile 4, Baga, Doron-Baga and Bundaram fled across the lake in fishing boats and canoes into Chad following the hours-long attacks by hundreds of militants from the Islamist group.We are now seeking refuge in Gubuwa, Kangallam and Kaiga villages inside Chad near the border with Nigeria, Dansubdu told AFP by telephone from Gubuwa.The gunmen killed several people, burnt hundreds of homes and looted scores of businesses in the attacks that lasted over seven hours, said Doron-Baga resident Lawan Ajikalumbu who also fled to Gubuwa.There was no official casualty toll.Abubakar Gamandi, head of the fishermens union in Borno state and a resident of Baga, said he received several calls from union members who fled to neighbouring Chad informing him of the attacks.Baga was the scene of the deadliest Boko Haram attack in April 2013 when 185 people were killed and more than 2,000 homes were destroyed in fighting between the Islamists and members of the multinational force.Suspected Boko Haram gunmen late Saturday also raided the town of Babban Gida, 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Damaturu, the capital of neighbouring Yobe state, according to residents.The militants destroyed the military barracks, torched a deserted government boarding school and a local administration building after overpowering soldiers in a gunfight, they said.

At least 100 dead in Burundi attack by rebel group: military source

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BUJUMBURA (AFP) - At least 100 rebels have been killed after a cross-border attack against the central African nation of Burundi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a top military source told AFP Sunday.A general in the Burundian army, speaking on condition that he not be named, said the attack by the unidentified rebel group had been defeated after five days of heavy fighting in the border area north of the capital Bujumbura.After five days of non-stop military operations, the armed group which attacked Burundi has been wiped out by our security forces. In total, we killed 105 of them and captured four, out of a total of the 121 who entered Cibitoke province from the DRCongo, the general said.We also seized a 60mm mortar, five rocket launchers, machine guns and more than 100 assault rifles, he said, adding the Burundian army had lost two soldiers. Other military sources said around 12 soldiers were killed in the fighting.There was no further confirmation of the claim, with army spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza declining to comment officially on the fighting while military operations in the area are still in progress.A previous toll given on Wednesday put the toll at 35 dead, including 34 rebels and one government soldier.Burundian officials and witnesses said the group of unidentified rebels crossed into Burundi overnight Monday from DRCongos eastern Kivu region, a chronically unstable and resource-rich area that is home to dozens of rebel groups.Colonel Baratuza said troops had seized documents allowing the army to get information on the size of the force and the identity of their leaders, but he did not disclose the identity of the group.Security forces then fought to prevent the rebels from reaching the Kibira forest, an area used in the past by rebel groups as a base to stage further attacks inside Burundi.The security forces, backed by the local population, surrounded the group in Murwi commune, and chased them without respite, giving them no time to recover or sleep, said the military source.Burundi opposition and civil society sources said they had heard reports of rebels being disarmed and then executed by shooting or with machetes, with the killings carried out by the Imbonerakure, a controversial youth wing of Burundis ruling CNDD-FDD party. The Burundian military denied the allegations, but the senior source acknowledge the security forces -- which included soldiers back from African Union operations in Somalia -- wanted to hit the rebels hard and teach a lesson to other rebel groups.Previous attacks in Burundis border region have been claimed by a splinter faction of the National Liberation Forces (FNL). The main body of FNL -- a highly disciplined group notorious for singing hymns as they carried out attacks -- signed a peace deal with the Burundian government in 2009 and have since become a political party.The rebels who still fight on have claimed a string of attacks in 2014, most recently in October when they claimed to have killed six soldiers, and vowed to intensify their raids ahead of presidential elections in June. The group, however, have denied they were behind the latest attack.Burundi, a small nation in Africas Great Lakes region, emerged in 2006 from a brutal 13-year civil war and its political climate remains fractious ahead of the elections when President Pierre Nkurunziza, in power since 2005, is expected to run for a third term in office despite opponents claims that that would violate Burundis constitution.

Football: Valencia end Real Madrid's 22-match winning run

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MADRID (AFP) - Valencia came from behind to snap Real Madrids winning streak at 22 games and blow the La Liga title race wide open with a 2-1 win at Mestalla on Sunday.Cristiano Ronaldos first-half penalty had the visitors on course for a four-point lead at the top, but Valencia roared back after the break with goals from Antonio Barragan and Nicolas Otamendi to move back above Sevilla into fourth.Madrid now lead Barcelona by just a point with both sides having played 16 games, but the Catalans can move to the top with victory away to Real Sociedad later on Sunday.I dont think we deserved to lose, said Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.We just didnt have the luck to score when we had the chances to make it 2-0, then to go ahead 2-1 and finally at the end when we had many chances to make it 2-2.Victory for Valencia, meanwhile, was a huge boost to start the year they hope will culminate with a return to the Champions League.They are three very important points, Otamendi told Canal Plus.It was a key game to start 2015 well. We have started this year like we ended last year. We need to congratulate the group who trained all week for this.Roared on by a vociferous home support, Valencia started with the same intensity that had rocked Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on their visits to Mestalla previously this season.However, they couldnt convert that enthusiasm into chances and instead went behind on 19 minutes when Alvaro Negredo handled Gareth Bales flick on from Toni Krooss free-kick and Ronaldo duly stepped up to fire home his 33rd goal of the season from the penalty spot.The World Player of the Year should have doubled his tally and his sides lead 12 minutes later when Bales deflected cross fell perfectly into his path, but after rounding Diego Alves, Ronaldo could only turn the ball into the side-netting with the goal gaping.A slew of yellow cards then followed as referee Jesus Gil Manzano dished out seven bookings inside the opening 45 minutes, but the lack of flow seemed to benefit Valencia as they ended the half the stronger.Barragan should have done better when he fired straight at Pepe when well-placed inside the area and the visitors were fortunate to see Andre Gomess deflected shot come back off the post in the last action of the opening period.Valencia also started the second-half in the ascendency as Gomes sent another shot flying inches wide, but they were finally rewarded when Pepe this time turned a low drive from Barragan past the helpless Iker Casillas.Bale had a great chance to restore Madrids lead when he galloped in behind the Valencia defence seven minutes later, however the Welshman was denied by a fine saving challenge from Otamendi.And just moments later, the Argentine centre-back was the star at the other end of the pitch as he towered above Ramos to power a header high past Casillas.Barragan should have given the hosts a two-goal cushion when he shot wide with just Casillas to beat at the end of a lovely move.The European champions rallied in the final 15 minutes, but couldnt find an equaliser as Ramos sent a header inches wide before Alves denied Isco with a brilliant save from point-blank range and Otamendi cleared the danger before a Madrid player could pounce on the rebound.

Football: Chelsea cruise into FA Cup fourth round

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LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea showed their superiority to cruise past Championship side Watford with a 3-0 victory on Sunday and book their spot in the FA Cup fourth round.Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had warned that the punishing festive fixture schedule could leave his side vulnerable to a giant-killing, but there was no hint of an upset at Stamford Bridge.Three goals in 14 second-half minutes from Willian, Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma were enough to see the seven-time winners comfortably through.Having suffered humiliation at Tottenham Hotspur on their last outing, when they lost 5-3 in the Premier League, this was the perfect riposte by Chelsea, albeit against lower-league opposition.Chelsea might be vying for glory on four fronts, but Mourinhos starting line-up suggested he was keen on maintaining Chelseas love affair with this competition.He had little choice but to take the FA Cup seriously, given Watfords lofty position towards the top of their division.But perhaps his side also had a point to prove following their New Years Day mauling at Tottenham.Despite the home team making eight changes, Gary Cahill -- among the survivors from the White Hart Lane nightmare -- sounded an early warning, flicking Andre Schurrles free-kick over the bar after six minutes.Chelsea threatened again via Schurrle before Didier Drogba brought the best out of Jonathan Bond, the Watford goalkeeper, in the 32nd minute.Remys cross was met by the veteran Ivorian striker, but his header was turned aside by Bond.Watford, who have scored goals for fun in English footballs second tier, were quick to venture forward, but barely caused any alarm around Petr Cechs goal.Daniel Tozser and Troy Deeney fired down the throat of the Chelsea goalkeeper before Odion Ighalo wasted a good chance when he dragged an effort wide on the stroke of half-time.Mourinho would not have been pleased with what he had seen and he reacted by throwing on top scorer Diego Costa in attack and introducing Willian to inject some life into the Chelsea midfield.Yet Watford, who had ended the first half on top, began the second period in similar fashion.The Hertfordshire club were inches away from shocking Stamford Bridge to its foundations in the 55th minute, when Deeneys shot deflected off Filipe Luiss heel and Cechs outstretched foot to safety.It was a stroke of luck Chelsea needed and they delivered a moment of magic courtesy of Willian to make the breakthrough in the 58th minute.The Brazilian midfielder was afforded too much room and took advantage by curling home a sublime finish from 25 yards out.Chelsea needed breathing space and there looked no way back for Watford once Remy had lashed home after a fortunate rebound fell into his path with 70 minutes on the clock.The floodgates were starting to open and young French defender Zouma made it two goals in as many minutes with a towering header from Cesar Azpilicuetas cross. Watford had no reply.

Football: Herrera, Di Maria give United FA Cup win

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YEOVIL (AFP) - Manchester United started their FA Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 victory away to third-tier Yeovil Town at Huish Park in the third round on Sunday.United have not won this competition since 2004, but sealed their place in Mondays fourth-round draw thanks to Ander Herreras superb 64th-minute strike and substitute Angel di Marias cool finish against a side 65 places below them in the English league ladder.United manager Louis van Gaal made six changes to the team that had drawn 1-1 with Stoke City in their previous match, but forwards Wayne Rooney and Falcao remained in their line-up.With United sitting nine points behind both Chelsea and Manchester City in the Premier League, this competition is their most realistic chance of winning silverware this season and Van Gaal showed he was taking it seriously with the strength of his team.Adnan Januzaj had been expected to start, but had to make do with a place on the bench alongside Juan Mata and Di Maria, who returned from the hamstring and pelvic problems that have kept him out for a fortnight.Yeovils population of around 40,000 would fill just over half of the visitors Old Trafford stadium and the rural location meant that legendary former United manager Alex Ferguson arrived via a helicopter that landed within 200 metres of the ground shortly before kick-off.He would have been concerned by what he saw in the first half as Yeovils excellent work-rate allowed Uniteds players little time on the ball and the visitors passes continually went astray.Yeovil manager Gary Johnson had clearly instructed his team to put as much pressure on United goalkeeper David de Gea as possible, but the Spaniard dealt well with a number of crosses lofted towards him.His compatriot Herreras dipping drive was the first effort on goal on six minutes and Seth Twumasi was forced to clear another of his efforts two minutes later.Van Gaals side struggled for fluency from then on and, after Rooney had curled an effort just over the bar, the United captain was required to clear from the towering Stephen Arthurworreys header at a corner.United forward James Wilson might have done better with an effort from the edge of the area that he sent straight at goalkeeper Jed Steer before Arthurworrey denied Falcao with a brilliant tackle as the Colombian forward surged towards goal.The visitors frustration was clear to see as they finally got their passing game going just before half-time, only for the hosts to frustrate them, with Herrera slicing wide with his weaker left foot.Acknowledging Uniteds first-half struggles, Van Gaal made two changes at the break, with Mata and Jonny Evans replacing wing-backs Luke Shaw and Rafael da Silva as United moved from a three-man defence to a back four.However, with 55 minutes gone the chance Yeovil had prayed for came their way, but Kieffer Moore could only prod Kevin Dawsons cross straight at De Gea from 10 yards out.With an hour gone, Van Gaal made his final change as he replaced Falcao with Di Maria and four minutes later, he had the goal he desired.Herrera received a deflected pass from Darren Fletcher before turning and firing a superb, looping effort into the top-right corner from just outside the area.Herreras third goal of the season did not deflate Yeovil and Di Maria had to clear off the line from Joe Edwardss header eight minutes later.But United killed the game off with seconds remaining of the 90 minutes as Di Maria latched onto Rooneys pass and lofted over the advancing Steer.

Football: Messi, Neymar benched for Sociedad visit

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MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi and Neymar will have to wait to make their first appearance of 2015 after Luis Enrique left both the South American stars on the bench for Barcelonas visit to Real Sociedad on Sunday.Both players only arrived back from their Christmas vacation on Friday after they and Dani Alves, who also starts on the bench, were given extra time off by the club.Munir El Haddadi and the in-form Pedro Rodriguez will accompany Luis Suarez in attack against David Moyess men.

Rallying: Al-Attiyah stripped of Dakar win and arrivederci Roma

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VILLA CARLOS PAZ (AFP) - Qatars Nasser Al-Attiyah was stripped of victory on the opening stage of the Dakar Rally on Sunday for exceeding the speed limit while defending champion Nani Roma saw his hopes shattered.Mini driver Al-Attiyah, the 2011 champion, had finished first on the 170km timed stage between Buenos Aires and Villa Carlos Paz, clocking 1 hour 12 minutes.That was 22 secs faster than Argentinas Orlando Terranova, also in a Mini, and 1min 04secs ahead of American Robby Gordon behind the wheel of a Hummer.But seven hours later, Al-Attiyah was punished for travelling at 68km/h in a section of the stage where the limit was 50km/h.He was penalised two minutes and relegated to seventh place on the stage with Terranova declared the winner ahead of Gordon and South Africas Giniel de Villiers in a Toyota.Veteran Peugeot drivers Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel placed eighth and 10th respectively at 2 mins 06secs and 2 mins 35secs.It was also a miserable first day for Roma as the Spaniards Mini broke down after just 10km and he eventually ended the day being towed home in 135th place and six and a half hours off the lead.Peterhansel, an 11-time champion, admitted that he did not drive flat out with a marathon stint to follow over the next two weeks.It was a bit stressful to tackle the first special when you dont know how strong you are, said the Frenchman.We eased into the race, without taking too many risks, gently, keeping a watchful eye on all the dials... Were trying to learn about the car. We had no clue how far we could go.In the motorbike section, Britains Sam Sunderland on a KTM was fastest in 1hr 18min 57secs, five seconds faster than Paulo Goncalves of Portugal on a Honda and 1min 12secs ahead of last years winner Marc Coma on a KTM.This years rally features a gruelling 9,000 kilometres trek through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia before arriving back in Buenos Aires for a January 17 finish.Former winners Sainz and Peterhansel were spearheading the Peugeot campaign as the French car-makers returned to the Dakar Rally for the first time in 25 years.Their ultimate goal was to win but at the very least they were expected to prevent the Minis from completing another clean sweep of the auto podium.Peterhansel took second place last year for Mini behind then teammate Roma.Peugeot won the Dakar for four successive years from 1987-1990 when it was still staged in Africa.This years event, the seventh in South America since its enforced transfer for security reasons from Africa, is the 37th of all time.The 2014 race takes the Dakar caravan from the Atacama, the driest spot on the planet, to the Iquique dunes and crossing the Andes at the highest point on Argentinas Route 40, the 4,970m mountain pass of Abra del Acay.In all, there will be 4,600km of special stages including a 781km time trial from the Bolivian city of Uyuni to Chiles Pacific Coast.

Windies star Brathwaite hits a seven

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CAPE TOWN (AFP) - West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite earned a footnote in cricket history on Sunday when he got off the mark with a seven in the third Test against South Africa at Newlands. The batsmen ran three and gained four extra runs when wicketkeeper AB de Villiers shied at the stumps at the bowlers end and the ball went to the boundary. According to South African statistician Andrew Samson, this was the first occasion in Test history when a batsmans first runs were a seven.Brathwaite was eventually dismissed for 16 as the West Indies closed the third day on 88-2 in their second innings, four runs behind the home team.Only three other batsmen have scored seven runs off one ball since 2001. All Australian, Michael Clarke scored a seven in 2006, Andrew Symonds in 2008 and Chris Rogers in 2014.

Bangladesh recall Nasir for World Cup

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DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh on Sunday recalled batsman Nasir Hossain and picked all-rounder Soumya Sarkar in their 15-man squad for this years cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.Nasir missed the recent home series against Zimbabwe but returned to form in the domestic 50-over league. All-rounder Soumya, 21, was chosen ahead of the experienced Imrul Kayes and Shamsur Rahman despite having played just a single one-day international (ODI) so far. The return of Nasir will add depth in our batting, chief selector Faruque Ahmed told a press conference.Soumya is a utility player who can bat at the top order and his medium pace bowling can be handy in Australia-New Zealand conditions.Paceman Taskin Ahmed also returns at the expense of Shafiul Islam. Sabbir Rahman and Taijul Islam, who both made their ODI debuts in the Zimbabwe series, were retained.There was no room for veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, the countrys leading wicket-taker in ODIs with 207 wickets in 153 matches and their most successful bowler in the 50-over World Cup.Arafat Sunny, who claimed eight wickets in his last two ODIs, was preferred over Razzak.Sunny is a seasoned campaigner who has been playing in top domestic tournaments for the last 10 years, said Ahmed.But he did not get chances because of Razzak. Now he is in better form. Also, we thought Razzaks fielding could be an issue.Paceman Mashrafe Mortaza has been named captain while all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was made his deputy. Bangladesh will play in Pool B alongside co-hosts Australia and New Zealand as well as England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Scotland.They will start their campaign on February 18 against Afghanistan at Canberra.The World Cup 2015 will be staged from February 15 to March 29.Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Taijul Islam, and Arafat Sunny.

Pick takes bowling coach job with Afghanistan

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DUBAI (AFP) - Former county cricket stalwart Andy Pick was Sunday named as bowling coach of Afghanistan, six weeks away from the Asian minnows making their World Cup debut.The 51-year-old Pick played almost 200 matches for Nottinghamshire, ending his career with 495 first class wickets before going on to work with the Canada and United States cricket associations.He will join up with the Afghanistan squad in Dubai next week where they will play four practice games against fellow World Cup qualifiers Scotland and Ireland.Afghanistan are in Group A at the World Cup along with Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Scotland and Bangladesh.They open their campaign against Bangladesh in Canberra on February 18. Mohammad Nabi has been named the captain of Afghanistans 15-man squad for the World Cup with the core of the outfit centred on experienced players like Samiullah Shenwari, Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf and Hamid Hassan.Squad: Mohammad Nabi (captain), Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Afsar Zazai (wkt), Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani.

Six US peacekeeping troops injured in Mali blast

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BAMAKO (AFP) - Six UN peacekeeping troops were injured in a blast Sunday in northeastern Mali, where four UN trucks were also torched by gunmen, military sources said.The soldiers, who hail from Niger, were hurt when their vehicle rolled over an explosive device east of the town of Gao, an officer from the UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA, told AFP.Two of the soldiers were in very serious condition, the officer said.MINUSMA confirmed the report.In October, nine UN peacekeepers from Niger, which borders Mali to the east, were killed in an ambush that also took place on the same road east of Gao, between Menaka and Ansongo.A Malian jihadist close to MUJAO, one of the al-Qaeda-linked militia that controlled northern Mali for nearly a year, claimed responsibility for that attack.Elsewhere Sunday, armed men intercepted four UN trucks carrying materials north of Gao, another UN source told AFP.The gunmen ordered the drivers out of their vehicles and then set light to them, the source said.Three Islamist insurgent groups took advantage of a coup in the capital Bamako to seize most of northern Mali in 2012. They were routed from most urban areas by French forces in January 2013 but they regularly resurface to carry out attacks against the foreign forces that remained in the country for peacekeeping or counterterrorism operations.
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